8.9.1999

Are you irked by IRQs? I hope your answer is 'no,' because those puppies aren't fun to play with. According to WHATIS.COM, "the IRQ (interrupt request) value is an assigned location where the computer can expect a particular device to interrupt it when the device sends the computer signals about its operation." If there's a contention, certain components in your computer may not work properly. If you're having 'weird' problems, check your current IRQ settings. Right-click on 'My Computer,' select 'Properties,' click the 'Device Manager' tab, then right-click on the 'Computer' icon at the top of the sheet and pull up its properties. Are the devices with problems sharing an IRQ? You may be able to change IRQ settings by double-clicking on a designated icon in the 'Device Manager' tab and looking for the 'Resources' tab. Good luck!