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Hardware Basics offers tips and tricks for good computer upkeep and explains things like "What does Alt+F do?" or "What are the different kinds of computers?"

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What does Alt+F4 do?

Will this keyboard combination shut your computer down or render it inoperable? It's not likely, but it's always better to ask … More »


> How is the LCD in a laptop computer so bright?
> How the Year 2000 Problem Worked

HARDWARE BASICS LIBRARY

How can a totally logical machine like a computer generate a random number?

C programming can create a formula for a computer to generate a random number, but there are other ways to. Check out this explanation and diagram.

How is the LCD in a laptop computer so bright?

Florescent tubes and backlighting help make a computer's LCD screen bright and readable. Find out how these parts work together to keep your screen aglow.

How the Year 2000 Problem Worked

The cause of the Y2K problem was pretty simple. Until recently, computer programmers used two-digit placeholders for the year portion of the date in their software. Guess what happened when we realized the system couldn't account for the first two numbers? Mass panic.

Is it better to turn my computer off when I am not using it or leave it on all the time?

Several factors determine whether you should leave your computer on or off overnight. Networking, economic factors, and stressed-out components all play a part.

What are system resources and why do I run out of them?

In many cases, an "out of memory" message is misleading, since your whole system really did not run out of memory. Instead, certain areas of memory used by Windows have run low on space.

What are the different types of computers?

The term "computer" can describe virtually any device that uses a microprocessor, but most people think of a computer as a machine that receives user input through a mouse or keyboard. Learn what else "computer" can mean.

What does Alt+F4 do?

Will this keyboard combination shut your computer down or render it inoperable? It's not likely, but it's always better to ask …


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