No Sound

• First check Volume Control and make sure you are not on mute.
• If you still don't have sound then you can check type "services.msc" (without quotes) in the run box and make sure the WinAudio service is running. Then do the following:
  
  1. Copy machine.inf from %windir%\inf to your desktop
  2. Remove line ExcludeFromSelect=*
  3. Use Add new hardware wizard using the Have Disk option
  4. Select the machine.inf you saved on the desktop
  5. Install Plug and Play Software Device
  6. Unistall your soundcard driver
  6. Scan for new hardware

Slow Laptop

• Check your DMA Status on your hard drive and CD Drive - see here
• Check that the power profile CPU speed is Adaptive, not Low.
• To check double click the battery icon on the task bar.
• This will be a problem if you choose the Maximum Battery profile.

Networking

• Hubs are 'dumb'- switches are a 'smart hub'. Use a switch.
• If you connect a switch to a switch you must connect the regular port of one to the uplink port of the other with regular 'straight through' ethernet cable or connect two of the normal ports with a cross over cable. If you can just connect a switch to a router (both regular ports). This may not apply if ALL your switches are auto sensing.
• I recommend the WRT54GL router with Tomato or DD-WRT firmware.
• Your cable modem configuration is most likely http://192.168.100.1 and your router page is most likely http://192.168.1.1
• Please secure your wireless network. This means DO NOT USE WEP! Use WPA2 or at least WPA. AES vs TKIP really doesn't matter that much, for all intents and purposes to the average person. Choose a decent password (alphanumeric and one odd character).
• Article on Using a Wireless Router as an Access Point