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How To: Fix a HP tx1000 laptop black screen with a penny

If your HP tx1000 tablet PC is stuck on a black screen, you are not alone. The HP tx1000 tablet has a defective NVIDIA chip which sometimes causes the laptop to get stuck at a black screen and not boot over time. This often happens (conveniently) after your 1 year warranty ends. If you are having this problem with your HP, check out this step by step tutorial. In it, you will learn how to open up your computer and easily fix the motherboard to prevent this from happening.

How To: Make a multitouch table computer pad

Multi-touch input has been spreading throughout a huge variety of devices, from phones to all-in-one PCs. However, most multitouch (table) displays that can function with your computer tend to be fairly expensive, so with this project we're going to make our own display, that can run on any operating system, and reuses some useless everyday materials.

How To: Make a speaker out of a tissue box

In an old video posted on YouTube, about how to make a speaker in a tissue box, they got a Kleenex box, foil, motor, and battery. Of course the motor ran off the battery and it made a sound, but there's no way to just plug in the audio jack from your Apple iPhone into the Kleenex box where it's contacts obviously aren't going to touch any electrical contacts and have it work. It's not possible.

How To: Draw a part in CAD and cut it out with the CNC router

A CNC router machine is probably the most useful tool a hobbyist can own, but the price for a CNC machine on the market is way more than the average hobbyist is willing to spend. You can build your own CNC with very basic tools, little knowledge of machinery, mechanics, or electronics, but be warned, these machines are inherently dangerous, so wear the proper protection and use common sense. At the very least, read the instructions and precautions on every tool you use.

How To: Make ''The Prototype'' Mask

For this project, I was inspired by the as-yet-to-be-released movie called The Prototype when making this mask. Paper strips and a mix of water and flour is the main things you'll need to make this Prototype-like mask. For the eyes, I used old halogen bulbs and inside them I put LEDs connected to a battery with switch.

How To: Build a styrofoam plate speaker

This magical electronics tutorial video will teach you how to make a decent sounding speaker from a disposable Styrofoam plate. A Styrofoam plate is, of course, not someone's first thought when they consider speaker materials, but give this one a try. This is an easy and cheap project with surprising results!

How To: Make Arduino circuit boards for robotics

This week on Make Magazine is a project with parts from the Arduino Starter Kit. Skip over building the Proto Shield. Otherwise, it's a simple build that doesn't require any soldering. Arduino is a speaking control for robotics. It can be used in other Make kits or robotic projects. This is a circuit bending and circuit board project that involves basic circuitry and wiring.

How To: Circuit bend a battery-powered toy

Take your old electronics and make them scream with glitchy goodness. This an extremely easy project and makes a great project for first-time solderers. Circuit bending involves taking electronic devices that make multiple sounds and wiring in switches to set off glitches or loops. Using an out-of-tune toy, the first part of this video series demonstrates how to apply a basic pitch bend using a potentiometer. In the second part, you'll learn how to bend the same toy by applying body contact. ...

How To: Rock Harder on GarageBand with a DIY Pringles Can Drum Kit

Damn right, you don't just eat 'em. When you're done with your next Pringles can, you can turn it into a kaleidoscope, a pinhole camera, and even a solar hot dog cooker. But Instructables user TheSpodShed may have just created the most awesome way to upcycle empty Pringles cans—use them as a mini MIDI drum kit for your mobile device. This tiny drum kit will let you rock your face off without pissing off all your neighbors.

How To: Solder a wire onto a switch when building circuits

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Strip the wire and make sure the wire is tied on tightly before soldering. Don't drip balls of solder. Make sure the tip is clean. Then hold it on the joint to be soldered for 4 seconds. Then poke the solder on the surface and it will melt with the heat.