Posted in General Discussion / Computer Talk
Author: FunDa Total-Replies: 45

Hi ,

My computer AMD64 256mb RAM / 80GB HDD / Windows XP Professional

recently started showing a blue screen while starting ..





Initially, if I restarted it would not come the next time. It used to come only randomly.

But later it started coming more often, and now it did not start for quite a few times consecutively.


Anybody knows what this is and how to solve it ?
(Other than formatting ...)

Please

Posted in General Discussion / Computer Talk
Author: Talenak Total-Replies: 22

If you can get it to load fine in another laptop, it seems like worst has already come to worst. I would have given up by now and stuck it back in the other laptop to back it up and format it. Then put the blank drive back into the original laptop and try installing XP fresh.

Or you can google "ultimate boot cd" I haven't used it, but I'm told it's *enter your diety here*'s gift to geek kind. I have a copy of it, just haven't needed to try it yet

Good Luck!

Posted in Computers & Tech / How-To's and Tutorials / Hardware related Stuff
Author: gregg Total-Replies: 19



Hi.,

here is one more option to wipe your drive permanently other than formatting and physical damage. You can erase your drive with the help of stellar phoenix drive wipe software which erase data beyond recovery so that no one can be recover your data. This software use advance algorithm to overwrite the data and wiping your hard drive

Posted in Computers & Tech / Operating Systems / GNU/Linux
Author: polarysekt Total-Replies: 4

^bump

another vote for SuSE --

And another note for linux noobs --- if you have plenty of HDD space free, you can actually install fairly easily with a dual-boot setup using Lilo or Grub... but you may want to research how much space to dedicate to "/" "/home" "swap" and/or any other partitions that might seem appropriate... I generally use a different HDD for each, leaving a slot for my CD/DVD+-RW drive... Assuming you don't possess an extra IDE or ATA expansion card....

However, probably the most recommended way to try is downloading a Live-CD or DVD, where the DVD version would obviously have plenty more features...

I started with Knoppix back when it was version 4.0, and I had some good results, especially with the ease with which it mounted my NTFS drives and properly detected "most" of my drivers... however, I noticed the knoppix-installer option left my system a bit sloppy... and I never really tried the 5.0 version...

Nowadays, I tend to refer people to the Kubuntu LiveDVD, which can be downloaded as a .torrent... And also gives a graphic installer option.... and of course, it comes with KDE, which I ultimately prefer to GNOME... initially because of the bouncy icons and Konqueror (image thumbnails, easy internet browsing, etc...)

If you're really stuck on "microsoft" apps... there's always wine... I just installed a few older systems with linux and wine to run Starcraft and Warcraft III (possibly Starcraft 2 ?) ---

Although if you're still calling software by its company name... (I knew a girl who insisted her photo editing software was called "adobe," lol) - you may just want to stick with what comes easy... although if you want to avoid virus/malware/spyware, and/or the propagation thereof... you should look into finding yourself a comfy release of linux (save for Lindows which just sucks...)...

and don't forget to look up and install "restricted packages" for proprietary formats, Java, flash, and the like... (Note: she never called Flash adobe, nor reader for that matter

Anyways, as you progress in experience, you'll find *nix to be the OS of choice by far too many reasons...

And I prefer .RPM / YaST2 to most other install managers anyways... (Kubuntu is Adept... apt-get, or whatever...)

In any case... check out LIVE CD releases of various distributions... and Kick the Windows... screw backslashes "\" ! lol

Posted in Computers & Tech / Hardware Workshop
Author: faulty.lee Total-Replies: 16

Do you have another working PC around? I guess so, since you can still post your problem here, right?

There's 4 ways to do it.

1.If it was due to missing or corrupted boot file, you can just run the recovery from Window's Installation disk. Btw, I'm assuming you're running at least Win2K or WinXP.

2. Take that harddisk out and plug into another pc to read it. Make sure to make it a slave drive, so you can still boot into windows with the existing one. What to do next, i don't think i need to spell it out.

3. If you have a recent copy of LiveCD linux, say Knoppix or Slax, you can boot from it and be access the hard disk from there. You need a recent one, how recent i'm not that sure. The one i downloaded last month already has NTFS support built in.

4. If your other smaller hard disk has some space left, around 2GB, and it has a primary partition, then you can temporarily disconnect the other hard disk, install a fresh copy of window, WITHOUT formatting. Then plug the other hard disk back, so you can access it.

That's about it. Hopefully it was due to missing or corrupted boot file. If not, that hard disk will be as good as a junk. Btw, did you notice some knocking sound coming from that hard disk lately? That might indicate a start of failure.

Posted in Computers & Tech / Operating Systems / GNU/Linux
Author: bakr_2k5 Total-Replies: 45


Yeah I know this. And it can't be called burn though don't have other words for it ...

Mark420, I came across those too today. Though they're very much linux specific since it uses the kernel from the ISO. And Windows ISO's don't have such a kernel (i think).

---

I've also seen some people that said: "Format the partition as CDFS / iso9660". Though can't seem to find ANYTHING that can do that. Or some howto or something.

Anyway, I don't want it to be Linux specific. Because of my Windows ISO. So those methods you (Mark420) mentioned won't work I guess.

I hope I'll get some more replies here. In the mean time I'll build a bootable floppy disk, and try some stuff with that. It might work in some way!

bakr_2k5

Posted in Computers & Tech / How-To's and Tutorials / Hardware related Stuff
Author: 8ennett Total-Replies: 56



A 3.5" disk that can hold that amount of data would make massive leaps forward for multimedia. The quality of our movies was greatly improved with the invention of HD, however that medium was not available to purchase in shops until the creation of Blue Ray and HD DVD's because standard DVD's were not capable of storing that much data.

There are many things which are limited by space, people reduce the size of their applications and media formats so they will be available to more people. An operating system isn't usually more than 5-15gb because for some people they don't have a large enough hard disk for anything else. Just imagine though the type of operating systems that would become available if the industry standard for hard disks becomes even 0.5pb. The computers with a disk that size in it could probably be used to run your own house with state of the art artificial intelligence.

Posted in Computers & Tech / Operating Systems / Windows (All Versions)
Author: Alegis Total-Replies: 73


Their lesson? What is your problem with MS (that's an S). Reason Bill Gates is/was richest man on earth while being the single most charity donating person on earth is by starting a business riddled with failures in the past. It seems you lot that represent the company as leeches should do some history. Certainly there is an extensive bad side of their way with formats etc in the past, but by far done more good than bad.
What is their lesson. Your assumption of them changing file systems because Linux does so and their idea of trying to imitate them is ludicrous. Especially with Vista they've gone a grand other way than Linux.



Which is the reason for both your assumptions. Ignorance. Which can be fixed by actually reading lists to know the changes. I know you have almost no idea of the OS by making that file system comment xboxrulz, even though you claim you've tried RC1.

For an indepth changelog and review see Paul Thurrott's site. Not everything is done, because it is so extensive. Yes, there are a lot more changes than merely look and Aero.
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_05.asp
And roughly summarised: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_vista

On the contrary to Apple, they tend to release the omitted features in free patches. Microsoft releases an OS every ~4 years, while Apple tends to release smaller OS versions. In total, MS is cheaper and they do not force you to move. While Direct X 10 is a great change integrated in the OS, Safari for example is not. Yet apple forces you to buy the new OS X version for features such as Airport and proper Safari versiosn which work perfectly well int he current OS version instead of free patches. That is ripping off people. I don't see where this $ comes from in M$, backed by anything reasonable. Do tell me.

Because "microsoft is finally learning their lesson" is yet another ludicrous statement. You have no idea what you mean by it yourself. That linux is superior? How come this change with Vista then (the way they take the OS on a new path) which is definitely different. Much more integrated features (no hassle manually installing flash, printers and so on in linux) and graphically even more pleasing. Saying they are going the way of Linux is bs. Even if they changed one feature that is similiar to Linux, so do the new distributions.

Consider 2 products with different features and them upgrading their next versions taking the best of the other. Some may call this stealing, especially if they're more or less 'fanboy' and it's the other company doing it - but I applaud this doing. It is all in the interest of the customer. And it is certainly not unique to MS in this business, every distrubution has their share in doing so. Which, again, is good for us.


It is okay to love Linux and embrace it because it is, for example, Open-source. It becomes wrong however when bashing another product and abandoning reason by doing so. If you made your choice of OS be happy with it. You shouldn't only feel happy after claiming the other products are inferior. I think this is mostly plaguing new Linux users. It's actually funny you're still using "m$" with such a nickname. Actually it isn't funny but as sad as the fervent window users taking all their opportunity to bash on microsoft, yet complimenting Apple's farts on its lovely smell.

Notice I'm only taking a defensive position and not attacking anything business wise of Apple/Linux. I state that just in advance if you care to reply. If you feel offended you may feel that, but it is not my intention to impress or insult. It's not as if this is the only topic where you're spouting nonsense about MS/Windows - it's as if you hunt every opportunity.

In summary:

1. Stating Vista is heading the way of Linux is demonstration of very poor judgement.
   
2. No reason to bash MS and abandon reason just because one loves apple/linux.
   
3. Gates isn't evil
   
4. Competition is good.
   

Posted in Computers & Tech / Hardware Workshop
Author: FeedBacker Total-Replies: 195

computer specs
Boast Your Computers Specs.

This is my newly arrived computer, from www.Cyberpowersystem.Co.Uk, just cos they are great, thought I shoud let people know!! :D

?Proc'are: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz 1066FSB 8MB L2 Cache 64-bit

?DiskDrive: SONY DUAL FORMAT 18X DVD?are/?RW + CD-are/RW DRIVE

?HDD: Western Digital 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache 7200RPM

?Motherboard: (QX9650 Support) Asus P5N-D nForce 750i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 4xDDR2 slots

?RAM: 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 Corsair XMS2 Xtreme Memory w/ Heat Spreader

?GFX: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express Video Card

?Soundcard: Creative Sound Blaster SE 2 7.1

-reply by Naph