Use Steam With Windows 7 By Disabling GPU Acceleration

Cannot Enter Steam?

Recent updates to the Steam client seem to have broken use with Windows 7. One symptom is the computer hanging after the Steam client starts opening windows. Something to try when this happens is to add the -cef-disable-gpu switch to the target line of the properties dialog box of the Steam.exe shortcut. This will disable GPU acceleration which may help to avoid some glitches related to rendering.

Solution

On the Desktop: 

Right click on the Steam shortcut.

Select Properties.

Select the Target line.

Depending on the Steam installation folder on your computer change it to something like 

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" -cef-disable-gpu 

Select OK.

Run Steam.

If all goes well one may be able to bypass any problems with rendering causing the computer to freeze. This has worked with older versions of the Steam client but whether it works with newer versions cannot be guaranteed.

Linux Mint - How to Automatically Log In

Logging in to Linux Mint a Problem?

So you installed Linux Mint and have decided that you want to cut down on having to input a password to login and just want to login automatically. The option to automatically login was given during the installation process but you either unintentionally skipped by it or have changed your mind.  The answer often given is from the Linux Mint Menu button on the bottom left of the screen to type in and go to Login Window, enter your password, select Users, input your username, and then add a value for the timeout. However sometimes following these instructions still leads to a login screen showing up asking for your password. What's going on?

The problem is likely that you are using a username that has some capitalized letters. Linux can be picky about this. The solution is when asked in the Login Window - Users interface to input your username that you input it all in small letters.

Logitech K120 Keyboard Problem

Logitech K120 Keyboard Not Working in Windows 7?

Keyboard seems dead. Typing on the keyboard does nothing. Under Device Manager there is an exclamation point next to an entry for USB Keyboard. Windows Update cannot seem to find it. No worries, it's from Logitech right? They probably have a device driver for it that you can download on there site. Uh, no. Logitech doesn't provide any downloadable software for the keyboard. What can you do now?

Solution for Logitech K120 Keyboard Missing Drivers

Find the file usb.inf on your computer and copy it into the Windows/inf folder. Restart your computer. See if your previously dead keyboard is working. Under Device Manager uninstall the device and scan for hardware changes again if necessary to refresh.

Casue USB KB Problem in Windows 7

Keyboard not working?

Keyboard seems dead. Typing on the keyboard does nothing. Under Device Manager there is an exclamation point next to an entry for Casue USB KB. Windows Update cannot seem to find it. You're unsure who the manufacturer of the device is. Does this mean you are stuck missing a device driver? Probably not. 

Solution

Find the file usb.inf on your computer and copy it into the Windows/inf folder. Restart your computer. See if your previously dead keyboard is working. Under Device Manager uninstall the device and scan for hardware changes again if necessary to refresh.

USB Device Not Working In Windows 7

Plug and play problems? 

USB devices not being recognized can be really annoying. There you are expecting to instantly start using your new gadget and instead of quickly getting up and running you are forced to plumb the depths of the internet for solutions that might not even work if you can even find mention of one.

The problem presents itself pretty simply. You attach a supposedly plug and play USB device to your computer and instead of working you see a drawn out search for the device driver which cannot be found with Windows Update. Under Device Manager you see an entry under Other devices with an exclamation point beside it indicating a missing device driver. With that as the explanation given by Windows you are led to look for the missing device driver. Thing is you cannot find it anyware. If you do find something it is being offered from a site that is probably sketchy and you need to worry what is is really offering is malware. You try generic drivers. They don't work. You try drivers from different manufacturers. They don't work. Here's the likely reason the foregoing doesn't seem to work: the device driver that is giving you problems likely isn't particular to your device. It's probably a USB problem.

Solutions

It's possible the missing drivers are the USB drivers that should be installed for your motherboard. So reinstall or update them. But before doing so try the following two possible ideas beforehand. First try attaching your device to a different USB port. Some devices work only with USB 2.0 ports. Different ports on the same computer may also be run by different controllers. Second find a copy of the usb.inf file on your computer and make a copy of it in the Windows/inf folder. Restart your computer and check if the previously not working USB device comes to life. You may need to uninstall and then scan for hardware changes first under Device Manager to see updaed results.