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FAQ-frequently asked questions
1. Where are
you located?
We are located near Exposition Blvd and Business 80 at 1824 Tribute Rd #D
Sacramento, CA 95815
2. What are your depot hours?
We are open Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. and Saturday by
appointment; closed on Sunday, as well as all major holidays.
3. What does refurbished mean?
Some of our laptops are refurbished, which means that they are used. We purchase
them from corporations when they upgrade their computers or when their lease is
up. All systems go through our rigorous certification process, during which we
ensure all hardware and software is completely functional.
4. What type of laptops do you sell?
We offer a variety of business grade laptops, including HP, Acer, ASUS, IBM, and
Toshiba and ohters.
5. What makes your laptops better than everyone else's?
All of our laptops are made for heavy usage. They are built to withstand
long-term use in which the machine is turned on and off and opened and closed
repeatedly throughout the day. Consumer grade machines fail under these
conditions, and we see evidence of this in our repair facility daily.
6. I’m a student and won’t be doing anything other than word processing
and internet access, so why shouldn’t I just get one of the cheap systems at
one of the retail stores?
Although you won’t be doing a lot of complicated things on your laptop, the
things you will be doing you’ll do quite a bit, such as opening and closing
the lid several times a day, turning it on and off, etc. Consumer grade machines
are not built for such use and will fail (usually the day before that midterm
paper is due)!
7. Why are your refurbished laptops almost as expensive as some new ones
found in retail stores?
Our grade of laptops can not be found in retail stores. They may be a bit
more expensive but the quality is significantly better, and will have a much
longer lifespan. All of our laptops were a minimum of $3,000 and some came close
to $6,000 brand new, and once we receive and certify these computers, depending
upon the system specifications, we then sell them for approximately a quarter of
the original price.
8. What software do your laptops come with?
The operating system that the laptop was originally licensed for when
manufactured is pre-installed on the machine and includes Antivirus and Anti-Spyware with
a one year subscription.
9. What kind of warranty do you offer?
We offer a 90 day parts and labor warranty with the original configuration
on all equipment we sell, unless the system is still under the factory warranty
(3 years when new, ranging from hardware only to accidental damage), and all
batteries come with a 30 day warranty. If you encounter any problems within the
90 day period, bring the laptop into the store and we will fix it and/or replace
whatever is necessary at no additional charge.
10. Do your laptops come with a CD burner or DVD players?
Our systems vary with the type of drive they come with, and include a CD-ROM,
DVD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM/CD-RW, and DVD-RW,
and we offer swappable drives for easy upgrades.
11. What do I get with my laptop?
Aside from the laptop you will receive a battery, A/C adapter (power supply),
restore CD for the Operating System, an Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware CD, and each
laptop is listed with all components that are included.
12. What is your cheapest and most expensive refurbished laptop?
We obtain a variety of laptops so the prices change from time to time. Usually
we offer between $325 and $1,395 for refurbished models
13. Do you do upgrades?
Yes, we can upgrade just about anything on your laptop, depending on your
laptop's make and model, include memory, hard drives, and operating
systems just to name a few.
14. Do you do repairs?
Yes, our certified technicians are able to diagnose and repair any type of
laptop in our complete repair facility at an hourly rate starting at $85
15. Do you have layaway programs?
We do not offer layaway programs at this time.
16. Do you offer any kind of financing programs?
We accept Visa and Mastercard.
17. Do you sell docking stations?
We do sell docking stations, priced from $40 - $175, depending on the type of
laptop you have.
18. Do you sell printers?
We currently offer an HP printers starting at $99
19. Do you sell software?
We offer some operating systems and commonly used applications.
20. Once I purchase my system is there follow up support?
Yes, we offer free support to answer any questions regarding the operation of
your system.
HP All-in-One Products - What Is the Difference between a USB
Cable and a Parallel Cable?
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Introduction |
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Do I have a USB or
parallel cable? |
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Can I use a USB to
parallel or parallel to USB adapter to connect the
all-in-one? |
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If the computer does not
have the correct port, what can I do? |
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Important things to know
about USB connections |
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Important things to know
about parallel connections |
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If my all-in-one has both
a parallel and a USB port, can I use both at the
same time? |
Introduction
This document will help you determine what type of
communication cable connection you are using and describes
the differences between Universal Serial Bus (USB) and
parallel cables. USB connections are generally better than
parallel port connections, but not every computer or
all-in-one has both options. The pictures and descriptions
below will help you determine the connection type on your
computer and all-in-one.
If you linked to this document from another document while
troubleshooting a problem, click the Back button on
your Web browser to return to the document you were
viewing after you have determined what type of connection
you have.
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NOTE: |
The HP
all-in-one software must be installed on the
computer before connecting the cable to the
all-in-one or the installation may fail. |
Do I have a USB or parallel cable?
| Computer end of the cable |
All-in-one end of the cable |
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Figure 1: USB cable
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Figure 2: USB cable
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Figure 3: Parallel cable type 1284-B
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Figure 4: Parallel cable type 1284-B
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Figure 5: Parallel cable type 1284-C
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Figure 6: Parallel cable type 1284-C
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Can I use a USB to parallel or parallel to USB adapter to
connect the all-in-one?
No. If your computer does not have the correct type of
port on it, you cannot connect the all-in-one with a port
adapter.
If the computer does not have the correct port, what can I
do?
If the computer does not have the correct port but meets
the minimum system requirements (as printed on the box),
review the options below.
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Portable computers (Laptop, notebook, or tablet
PCs): If your portable computer does not have the
correct type of port, you may be able to purchase a
docking station with the correct port type. Contact
the computer manufacturer to check for availability
of a docking station that meets your needs.
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Desktop computers (desktop or towers): If there is a
free expansion slot, add either a USB or parallel
expansion card to the computer. Both types are
available through computer retail stores and many
stores can even install them for you. Consult your
computer manufacturer if you have any questions
about your computers expansion slots.
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Thin clients: A thin client is a basic computer
normally only used in businesses. These computers
can not be expanded and are always connected to
other computers through a network. Any resources not
provided by the thin client are intended to be
provided through the network.
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Important things to know about USB connections
Install the software first
Install the HP all-in-one software on the computer
before connecting the USB cable to the all-in-one or the
installation may fail. Windows will detect the
all-in-one when the cable is connected. Unless the
all-in-one software is already installed on the computer
when the all-in-one is connected, Windows will store the
wrong device driver information.
Advantages of USB
Using a USB connection allows you to connect many
different devices such as all-in-ones, scanners,
cameras, and drives, with a common connection. For more
information about USB cables and connections, read HP
document USB 1.0/1.1 and USB 2.0 Overview (BPU03056).
This document describes the differences between USB and
other connection methods as well as the differences
between USB 1.0/1.1 and USB 2.0 in addition to
information about how USB works.
Supported operating systems
All-in-ones support USB in the following operating
systems:
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Microsoft Windows XP
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Windows 2000
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Windows Me
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Windows 98
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If all of the USB ports are in use, what can I
do?
Unlike a parallel port, which can connect one device at
a time, USB ports can support additional devices with an
external USB hub. A USB hub is plugged into a USB port
on the computer and provides additional USB ports. These
devices come in a variety of sizes and types and can be
purchased at most computer retail stores.
Use only powered USB hubs (hubs that have a separate
power supply that is plugged into a power outlet) with
the all-in-one.
USB cables
USB cables are typically not included with many products
unless a special connector must be used (such as those
for cameras) because many people already have one. Any
USB cable under 5 meters (16.5 feet) in length is
suitable to connect the HP all-in-one. USB cables are
available from most retail stores in a variety of
lengths.
The wires in USB cables are thin and can be easily
damaged. Pinching or crushing the cable even slightly
can render the cable inoperative. Replace any cable that
shows damage.
Connecting the USB cable to the computer
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Figure 7: USB Cable end that attaches
to the computer
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Figure 8: Connecting the cable to the
computer
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Use only the USB
ports on the back of the computer.
The connector on the end of the cable is shaped
so it inserts into the computer only one way.
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Compare the inside of the cable connection
with the port on the computer.
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Attach the cable by inserting it into the
port on the back of the computer.
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Connecting the USB cable to the all-in-one
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Figure 9: USB cable end that attaches
to the all-in-one
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Figure 10: Connecting the cable to the
all-in-one
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The connector on the
end of the cable is shaped to fit only one way
into the all-in-one. Attach the cable by
inserting it into the USB port on the back of
the all-in-one.
The USB port on the back of the all-in-one may
be located on the right, left, or middle of the
all-in-one. |
Important things to know about parallel connections
IEEE 1284 compliance
The cable type is very important. The all-in-one cable
must be IEEE 1284 compliant and meet standards set by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE). All IEEE 1284 compliant cables are marked as
"IEEE Std 1284-1994 Compliant" on the cable.
If the cable is not IEEE1284 compliant, the all-in-one
and computer may not communicate correctly so the
all-in-one may print strange characters or you may see
some of the following error messages:
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Error writing to LPT1
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Two way communication cannot be established
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Out of paper
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Printer not responding
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Print cartridge not responding
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If the cable is connected at the wrong time in Windows
XP, the all-in-one may not offer all the available
features.
Supported operating systems
Connecting the all-in-one with a parallel cable is
compatible in all Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Connecting the parallel cable to the computer
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Figure 11: Cable end that attaches to
the computer
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Figure 12: Connecting the parallel
cable
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The connector on the
end of the cable is shaped to fit only one way
into the computer.
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Attach the cable by inserting it into the
parallel port on the back of the computer.
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After the cable is inserted, lightly
tighten the screws to hold the cable in
place.
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Connecting the parallel cable to the all-in-one
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Figure 13: 1284-B cable end that
attaches to the all-in-one
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Figure 14: 1284-C cable end that
attaches to the all-in-one
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Figure 15: Connecting the cable to the
all-in-one
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The connector on the
end of the cable is shaped to fit only one way
into the all-in-one.
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Attach the cable by inserting it into the
parallel port on the back of the
all-in-one.
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After the cable is inserted, press the
wires on the computer port down onto the
cable to lock it into place.
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If my all-in-one has both a parallel and a USB port, can I
use both at the same time?
No. Although a few all-in-ones have both a parallel and a
USB port, only one computer can be connected at a time.
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