HDTV: frequently asked questions

What do I need to connect my computer to an HDTV?

That depends on your television. Some HDTV sets can connect to a standard VGA cable, which is the most common connection for computers. If your television does not have a VGA input, though, you may need to use a DVI cable or component video cables. If your computer does not have these video outputs, you might be able to replace the video card in your computer with a newer, HDTV-compatible video card.

After connecting my computer to an HDTV, the display is stretched. How can I fix it?

You need to change the resolution settings using Display in Control Panel. Because most HDTV sets use the 16:9 format, you need to choose a screen resolution that matches the wide format of the TV. If your computer's video card has been designed with HDTV in mind, it might come with its own software for setting screen resolution to match the 16:9 format.

Can I connect a computer to both a monitor and an HDTV at the same time?
Yes. If your computer's video card is HDTV-compatible, it will probably have two or more video outputs. Connect one to your computer monitor and another to your HDTV. Both of them should automatically display what's on your computer.

After connecting my computer to an HDTV, why can't I see certain windows on my computer monitor anymore?
This is normal. Certain kinds of computer information, such as games and video, will only appear on the HDTV. You will see a blank screen or a blank window on the computer monitor. To see this information on the computer monitor, you must temporarily disconnect the HDTV.
For more help, please refer to the manufacturer supplied documentation or the Windows Help and Support where this information resides.

Connect a TV signal to your computer

If your computer has no TV tuner, an optional analog or digital TV tuner is required to play and record TV in Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center lets you set up a variety of TV signals. You can watch TV over an antenna, over cable TV, or from a satellite TV provider. The type of TV signal you set up is determined by the type of TV tuner you have installed on your computer and the area in which you live, as well as your cable or satellite provider. (In Windows Media Center, high-definition signals that are transmitted through a cable or satellite set-top box will be converted to standard signals.)

Windows Media Center supports both standard and high-definition TV (HDTV) signals that are broadcast over-the-air to an antenna. The following procedures describe the steps to set up a TV signal for the different types of TV signals and hardware installed on your computer.

You can watch and record a standard TV signal using Windows Media Center if:

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  The Windows Media Center computer has one or more tuners that supports a standard TV signal for your region.
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  You have an antenna connected to the Windows Media Center computer that is capable of receiving a standard TV signal for your region.

You can watch and record high-definition TV using Windows Media Center if:

• 
  
  The Windows Media Center computer has tuner hardware that supports a digital TV signal, such as ATSC or DVB-T.
• 
  
  You have an antenna connected to the Windows Media Center-compatible tuner that is capable of receiving a high-definition TV signal for your region.
• 
  
  You can receive a high-definition TV signal in your area.
• 
  
  Your computer has a Digital Cable Tuner device and you subscribe to digital cable in the United States.

HTC's real iPhone rival stands up: the Touch HD

High Tech Computer (HTC), the world's largest maker of smartphones that use Microsoft's Windows Mobile software, launched the Touch HD handset in Taipei on Wednesday, a 3.8-inch touchscreen mobile phone that more closely matches up to the iPhone 3G.

Earlier this year, HTC launched the Touch Diamond, a sleek 3G (third generation mobile telecommunications) handset meant to rival Apple's hit handset, but its screen is much smaller at 2.8-inches. The iPhone 3G sports a 3.5-inch screen.

HTC teamed up with network operator Taiwan Mobile to launch the Touch HD next month, and the retail price suggested by HTC is NT$25,900 (US$776, or approx Rs. 38,500). HTC representatives at the launch also could not give a time frame on when the Touch HD will launch in other parts of the world. Reports say the U.K. and Singapore will see the handset shortly.

The touchscreen on the Touch HD is the most responsive yet in the Touch series, but HTC representatives were unable to say why. The processor on board, a Qualcomm 7201A, is the same as that on the Touch Diamond, and both handsets use the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system.

The Touch HD was quicker and more responsive than the Touch Diamond, and more closely matched the touchscreen on HTC's latest development, the T-Mobile G1 (also known as the Google phone).

The Touch HD also sports a better onboard digital camera, with 5-megapixel resolution, than the Diamond.

The HD has on board GPS (global positioning system) and works with Google Maps. The 3G handset allows users to video chat, download information over mobile networks or via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. The smartphone works on WCDMA 900/2100MHz signals and supports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE.

The Touch HD weighs 147 grams, and measures 115 millimeters by 62.8mm by 12mm.

3G Auction for private telecom operators delayed

The auction for 3G spectrums to be held for private telecom operators has been postponed for almost a month. Earlier, the auction was supposed to be held on January 15th but now in an announcement made by the Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja, that date has been pushed back to 9th February. The official memorandum on the auction process will be released on December 8th and operators can finalize their decisions to bid by December 31st.

The minister further revealed that the North-East and Rajasthan would not be able to avail of 3G services because of unavailability of spectrums. However, among other regions, West Bengal will get two operators, Delhi and Gujarat will get three operators each and Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will get four operators. All other circles will be getting five operators.

How To Easily Remove the MonaRonaDona 'Virus'

The MonaRonaDona Trojan is designed to scam infected users into shelling out $40 for a bogus scanner dubbed Unigray Antivirus. The scammers completed the hoax by positioning several forum posts from alleged victims touting the bogus Unigray Antivirus as a miracle cure for the MonaRonaDona 'virus'. In reality, removal is very simple and requires absolutely no tools, nor parting with any of your hard-earned cash. Just boot into safe mode and follow the directions below. Original Article here

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How To Easily Remove the MonaRonaDona 'Virus':

1. If you haven't already done so, boot into safe mode.

2. Search for and delete the following folder, if found:

   C:\Program Files\UniGray Antivirus

   You may also wish to delete the following:

   C:\Program Files\RegistryCleanFix2008

3. Search the global startup folder for the following file and delete the file if found:

   SRVSPOOL.EXE

   By default, the global startup folder location is
   C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

4. Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK. The Registry Editor will now open.

   Note: To avoid unwanted page wrapping, the following abbreviations are used in the steps below:

   HKCU = HKEY_CURRENT_USER
   HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

5. To fix the title bar changes to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express caused by MonaRonaDona, browse to the following keys and delete the values indicated:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   Delete value: Window Title

   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   Delete value: Window Title

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
   Delete value: WindowTitle

6. To regain access to Task Manager, which was disabled by MonaRonaDona, browse to the following keys and delete the values indicated:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   Delete value: DisableTaskMgr

   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   Delete value: DisableTaskMgr

7. You may also wish to delete the following:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   Delete value: RegistryCleanFixMFC

8. Close the Registry editor by choosing File | Exit

9. Reboot the computer normally. The system should now be free of the MonaRonaDona 'virus' and the system changes made by the Trojan should now be reversed.

For begineers: How to Edit the System Registry & Windows System Registry Tutorial by About.com.