Q: How do I check the status of my order?
A: That's a very simple process, simply log into our customer user interface and you'll have all the information you need about your order. Click here to access the customer user interface.

Q: Where can I find my warranty information?
A: Inside the system binder that ships with your system is a page that contains all of your warranty information on your Radioactive PC system. You can also go to our warranty page to read about it online if you wish.

Q: I just received my new computer. How long should I wait before I install new hardware?
A: We recommend that you run the system for at least 3 days before the installation of any new hardware. This 3 day period will allow you to get familiar with the system as configured, before any changes are introduced. Often technical support issues can be caused by a user immediately connecting their older hardware to a new system that they are not yet familiar with.

Q: When I attempt to power on my new computer, nothing shows up on the monitor.
A: The most common cause of this problem is the loose monitor cable.  Check the connection from the monitor to the back of the system. In some rare instances, the video card or another internal component can be unseated during transit. The common symptom of an unseated video card is a series of 4 beeps when you turn the system on. Please contact our technical support department if you suspect the problem to be related to a loose part.

Q: What are the technical support hours?
A: Our normal hours of operation are from 8am to 6pm Pacific Standard Time. Our technical support department is available Monday through Saturday. We are closed on all major holidays as in Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Easter.

Q: I'm having problems with only one game or with all games from the same company.  What can I do?
A: This is generally a sign that the specific game or game manufacturer is having configuration problems. Consult the game's readme, help files, website, or technical support for direction.

Q: My computer makes weird noises.  What's up?
A: There are several different noises which can be emitted from inside the case.  Some noises are normal and some can be indicative of a problem.

It is common for the internal fans to emit more noise when you first turn on the system, they will quiet down when they reach full speed and balance out.  Under general usage, the fan will accumulate dust.  Dust build-up can cause the fans to operate much louder than normal and cause grinding or loud whirring noises.  Cleaning the dust build-up with a can of pure compressed air can help.

You may notice a whirring noise when inserting a disc into the CDROM drive or access the CDROM drive.  This symptom usually occurs only when a disc is spinning up to reach normal speed and will quiet down when the drive reaches full speed and the disc balances.

If you believe that the sound is not a normal operating sound please shut down your system immediately and get a hold of our tech support department by either emailing them at support@radioactivepc.com or by calling us at 1-888-323-1232.

Q: How should I set up my scanner, printer, or other peripheral?
A: Consult the installation directions which come with the device.  You will want to follow the directions with one very important exception:  Don't install the drivers from the CD or floppy disk! Always go to the Internet and check the manufacturer's web site for the current version of the drivers.  Outdated scanner, printer, joystick, and mouse software can make the system very unstable.  You can avoid these problems by starting with the newest drivers available.

Q: My system is out of warranty.  Can I still call you for help?
A: Yes, we continue to support out of warranty systems at no charge.

Q: How do I update my BIOS?
A: Updating the motherboard BIOS is not a part of system maintenance.  Updating the BIOS should only be performed when the newer BIOS revision includes a fix which specifically addresses a problem you are having.  Please contact our technical support if you are in  need of assistance with this process.

Q: How often should I update the drivers on my computer?
A: As a basic rule of thumb: If it aint broke, don't fix it! When your system is running perfectly, installing a driver update which results in problems can be extremely frustrating. Driver updates rarely provide any noticeable increases in performance. As such, we recommend that you update drivers only when they are providing you with a specific advantage or solution to a problem.

Q: In what order should I turn everything on?
A: Monitor, then the computer, and finally the speakers.

Q: How much ventilation does the computer require?
A: We recommend approximately one foot of ventilation room to the front and rear of the case.  Enclosed computer desk cabinets are not recommended and tend to trap heat.

Q: What should I use to clean my monitor?
A: Ammonia-free glass cleaner works best.  Many monitors have a protective coating which can be damaged by ammonia-based cleaners.  Avoid using such cleaners.

Q: Should I keep the shipping boxes and packing materials?
A: Yes, we recommend you keep the original boxes and packing materials.  The original boxes serve great for storage and protecting the system during a move.  We cannot provide replacement boxes and packing material in the event of sending the system to us for repair or an upgrade.