Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

[aimeeandbeatles]

I dont see any ~'s i think are called tildes

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Yep that is the correct name for them

So command.com has long filenames and says it is Windows as a message on startup? Is it the same message you get if you start cmd.exe? If it is, it's probably just the same program launched in a different way to satisfy the old schoolers

You'd only see long filenames if you started in a path which has a long filename, or do a DIR and look at the folder names.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well it might still work if cmd.exe is blocked

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I suppose so - might be worth a try. If it does work you can set up a shortcut to run that with a batch file to do what the poster wanted.

EDIT: Why would anyone block cmd.exe though? The only really bad thing it does (used to do?) is not put deleted files in the recycle bin, and not provide an undelete command. I think they got rid of the being able to low level format the boot partition thing a while back

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I think theres sometimes ways to bypass restrictions with a complex-enough batch file.. depends on the software though I think

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Question: I know in windows you can set the CTRL key to put a circle around your cursor if you lose it. But I use it a lot for games and keyboard shortcuts and it gets terribly annoying. Is there a way to set it to another key? Google didnt help but I have a feeing it maybe in the register.

 

[civ_king]

A GUI copier may work (dunno about XXCopy).

You could get python (and a GUI IDE which will run it) and write a small script to do it for you as well.

If you have MS Office you could write a VBA script too.

SO how would one make a VBA script doing that?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Try starting here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/sx7b3k7y(v=vs.85).aspx

Looks like something called Windows Script Host can be used instead of Office too.

EDIT: Hmm, looks like file I/O isn't included though. Oops!

EDIT2: You can use file I/O in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications, which is what Office uses though), just not in VBScript (which is what Windows Script Host uses)... so it probably is doable.

Here's an example using VBA

http://vbadud.blogspot.com/2008/07/copying-folders-in-vba-using-file.html

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Questions: Occasionally I make a somewhat complex batch file to do a task. Is this considered programming?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Probably not - unless you use loops, flow control, variables/parameters, etc.

You should learn some programming anyway since you are studying computery stuff - I'd recommend Python for starters. Are you going to do any programming stuff at college? That will probably be in Java I expect.

Personally, I consider programming in a Turing Complete language to be the basic definition of "programming". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_completeness

I'm not sure if batch files have that functionality.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I probably will take an introductory one -- really its a two-year program but Im spreading it out a little longer because Im slow.

But I mean if I can break the classic "Hello World" program Im terrible at this programming thing.

 

[Turner]

Programming is not necessary to have a career in computers. A lot of hardware stuff has nothing to do with programming.

But it does help.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I just seen a program that was released under two different licenses (GPL and AFPL. The program was GhostScript if it matters). Is this legit? I found it a bit weird.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I know you do-not move a running laptop. But if its hibernated should it be OK? I think the hard drive is turned off when that is.

 

[Turner]

That's not exactly accurate. You can move a running machine, I do it all the time.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

i mean its not a good idea.

 

[Turner]

What's the point in having a laptop if you can't move it around with you?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I think hard drives are more robust now. It was really old winchester style hard drives which needed the read/write heads to be disengaged because if they touched the disc they could corrupt the data.

I wouldn't recommend jogging with a laptop hard drive running or going on a bouncy castle with one.

 

[GenMarshall]

Unless you have one of those laptops with a solid state HD.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Even then, you dont want to be putting those kinds of stresses on the laptop. Jogging with one (or going to a bouncy castle for an extreme example), assuming you have it in a backpack on your back, will put quite a bit of stress on it. Moving up and down so rapidly means a fairly high g-force, which could dislodge some connectors, or if you have a laptop with a heavier thermal solution, dislodge that.