eCollegePC.com Technical Support and FAQ Page:

Please read if you are having any problems setting up your computer or any questions.

If your question can’t be answered then send us an email to techsupport@ecollegepc.com

Question: My harddrive is only registering as 130GB but it should be larger.

Answer: Older versions of Windows XP and 2K only support 130GB Harddrives. You will need update to SP2 to recover the lost space using disk management or use a SP1 or SP2 CD when you install Windows. Below is a link from Microsoft explaining the issue.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B303013

Question: I purchased a computer without an operating system like Windows so what do I need to do.

Answer: The computers we sell come ready to boot from a Windows XP or 2K CD. To install just place your CD in the CD-ROM and restart your computer. The computer will then boot from your CD and start the installation process. The CD needs to be a full version and Microsoft original copies from other manufacturers won’t work and are not allowed by Microsoft. Once Windows is installed you will need to run the drivers CD’s to load the drivers for the video, sound and Ethernet.

Question: I have installed Windows on my new computer but I am not getting any Sound from my speakers, my video is scrolling slow, and my Internet connection will not work.

Answer: You need to install the drivers for your devices. First you will need to run your motherboard CD to install the drivers for your sound, Ethernet, and video if your video is onboard. Then run the VGA drivers CD to install the drivers for your video card and if you have a modem you will need to install the drivers for it from the modem driver CD.

An easy way to install most drivers without loading all the motherboard programs is to do the following. First go into the control panel, then to system => hardware => device manager. All the devices that do not have drivers installed will either have a ! next to them or be under other devices. You can right click on the unknown device then go to update driver and then let Windows search for the driver on the driver CD that was included. Windows will then load the driver. For the onboard sound adapters you will also need to have amplified speakers since the output is low.

Question: I’m trying to run my driver CD’s but I’m getting an error message.

Answer: Some of the newer motherboard and video driver CD’s have problems with older versions of Windows make sure you update to the latest version of Windows if you are experiencing problems like this.

Question: I am trying to play DVD’s or burn a CD or DVD on my new computer. How do I do that?

Answer: Most of our drives come with Nero and PowerDVD software. You will need to run the CD’s and install both. With PowerDVD you will be able to play DVD’s and Nero will allow you to burn both CD’s and DVD’s.

Question: I started to load Windows and it is saying no harddrive attached.

Answer: More than likely the serial ATA cable that connects the harddrive to the computer or the serial ATA power cable came loose during shipping. To fix you will need to open the side of the case and make sure the red cable is plugged firmly into both the motherboard and the harddrive then make sure the power cable going into the harddrive is also firmly attached.

Question: Computer will not boot from the CD Drive.

Answer: The power or IDE cable may have came loose during shipping. You will need to open the side of the case and make sure that there is a ribbon cable and power cable both firmly plugged into the drive. Then make sure the ribbon cable is firmly plugged into the motherboard.

Question: I just turned on my computer and the fans are spinning but no video is coming on the screen.

Answer: If you are not getting any video then first make sure your monitor is plugged into the correct spot. On some systems we sell they have both onboard video and a video card. If this is the case then you must have the video cable plugged into the video card and not the onboard adapter since it will be disabled.

If this is not the problem and the computer also might be beeping then something inside the PC came loose during shipping. This can either be the video card or the memory. You will need to remove the side of the case and press down firmly on both the end of the video card and the memory modules. When they are all the way into place you should not be able to see any of the gold leads at the bottom. If you can still see quite a bit of the gold leads then you will need to push down harder.

Question: I just pushed the power button on the computer and nothing happened.

Answer: First check and make sure the switch on the back of the case is set to the on position. After that is done press the power button on the front of the case. If that does not work then it is possible that a power cable inside the case came loose. You will need to open the side of the case and make sure that both the 20 pin ATX connector and the 4 pin ATX connector from the power supply are firmly secured to the motherboard. In rare cases these can come loose during shipping.

Any other questions or problems send us an email at techsupport@ecollegepc.com

Expect a response within an hour on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.