Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have some audio files in the shn (Shorten) format. The plugin (ShnAmp) I use in Winamp to play them is slightly glitchy and rather outdated.

Is there any reason I should not transcode them to FLAC, providing I keep backups of the original?

 

[GoodGame]

I'
I think a closer comparison would be existing sites where you can by web-based software (I'm sure I've seen them, but forget any particular names). Again though, just because Google didn't invent it doesn't mean their site is a "rip-off".

I meant "rip-off" in the sense of overcharging users for functionality.

I.e. buying into a platform that is marketed as inexpensive, yet over-charges for add-on functionality to the point of not being competively priced with the netbooks with MS 7 functionality.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I believe at least part of the problem is that what you see on screen isn't in some convenient bit of memory that print screen accesses, but instead the graphics are constructed on the graphics card, and sent straight to the monitor.

Yes, that's basically what overlays (I did have the term right) do.

Question: Should I plug my external hard drive into my power strip or power surge bar?

I'm leaning towards the strip, mainly because my external hard drive is only plugged in a few times a week (not all the time). But any differing opinions would be appreciated.

(I'm not doing it right away though. My mom borrowed my power strip because another one lost a prong when it was packed improperly -- it snapped clean off! But I'm getting it back when she gets a new one when the stores open back up.)

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

What is a good freeware .bmp decompressing software? I downloaded an aircraft paint kit for M$ flight simulator, but apparently, the .bmp files can't be opened/decompressed by gimp or paint or paint.net.

 

[NickyJ]

Strange. My Paint works fine with .bmp files. I use it quite often.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Strange. My Paint works fine with .bmp files. I use it quite often.

Well, it works when I open it in paint shop pro 9, but I don't have it on my other computer, which is where I d/l'ed the plane (and where FS9 is installed on), and the disk is missing, and I'm too lazy to buy a new disk (plus, today is christmas -- I don't want to hurt my family's feelings buying new stuff on christmas day when I could've just sent them the list and they'd have gotten it themselves)

 

[Radio Noer]

Hello again, I just recieved an Evga GT 430 for Chistmas and installed it, anticipating a day of Syrim playing, however it seems that near the end of the opening cinematic, my computer crashes every single time and a strange sound is emitted from the speakers. I am fairly sure I installed correctly, as there was no input spot apparent to fit any power cables in so that it likely not the issue. I even tried turning the game down to low graphics and couldn't make it through. Any suggestions?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

What is a good freeware .bmp decompressing software? I downloaded an aircraft paint kit for M$ flight simulator, but apparently, the .bmp files can't be opened/decompressed by gimp or paint or paint.net.

Bitmap shouldn't need to be decompressed -- leaves me wondering if it's not really a bitmap.

 

[GoodGame]

Hello again, I just recieved an Evga GT 430 for Chistmas and installed it, anticipating a day of Syrim playing, however it seems that near the end of the opening cinematic, my computer crashes every single time and a strange sound is emitted from the speakers. I am fairly sure I installed correctly, as there was no input spot apparent to fit any power cables in so that it likely not the issue. I even tried turning the game down to low graphics and couldn't make it through. Any suggestions?

You're right that it doesn't need extra power connection. You can try double-checking recommended BIOS settings (e.g. do you have onboard video disabled? some video cards/drivers require that the onboard video be disabled in BIOS).

#1 See if you can force the game to run without cinematics in the commandline; if you can, does the game then run?

#2 EVGA has excellent support (I got a GT 450 from them) so it might also be that you need a driver update (after registering the card at their site). I'm guessing the cinematic wants some shader or other functionality to run properly, and your card can't provide it either natively, or because of a driver error.

 

[Radio Noer]

Well, it's not specifically the opening cinematic, I made it past to character selection and even got to walk around a bit before another crash, my cousin suggested reseating the graphics card, so I just did that and I'll see if that works. (It's not the power supply either, it's a 430 Watt, which I should have specified earlier) How would I go about disabling onboard graphics (I don't even know what BIOS is)? I also have installed and updated the drivers.

 

[GoodGame]

What is your CPU---an iCore or an older duo core? 430W might be cutting it a little close in power consumption (and is you PSU a name brand model ?), but if you can play other 3D games, then probably not.


You might also do a RAM test just to rule out something like a bad stick of RAM causing driver errors that cause the game to crash.

 

[Radio Noer]

My CPU is an AMD Athlon with a Corsair power supply. How would I go about testing the RAM?

EDIT: Upon restarting the computer, it displays an error at either checkpoint 09 or 2A, if that helps.

 

[GoodGame]

My CPU is an AMD Athlon with a Corsair power supply. How would I go about testing the RAM?

EDIT: Upon restarting the computer, it displays an error at either checkpoint 09 or 2A, if that helps.

So I'd guess your power requirements might not be the problem.


To read BSOD's you have to set the OS to not re-boot on a BSOD so you can read the full error. Is the BSOD error PFN_LIST corrupt? That's usually a driver issue. Try updating the driver first from EVGA. If it still reoccurs after a driver update, then I'd suspect you might have a faulty RAM stick.

The hexadecimal number the BSOD generates is also generally important and can be googled. Sometimes it is just saying a certain address in memory had an error, but sometimes it means a specific instruction had an error, which is usually diagnostic of what the hardware problem is. Try writing down the full BSOD and googling it for an answer.

At any rate, try reseating the RAM as well as the video card (powered off of course).


You can do a RAM test by going to CNET and getting MemTest or Memtest86 (DOS version, requires burning a CD and booting with it). There's also BurnIn which lets you stress test the computer for errors from the OS. If you got RAM errors then you'll have to remove/rearrange the RAM sticks in the motherboard and re-test until you get error free results in RAM tests. Or go out to the store and buy a matching dual channel set (e.g. Best Buy) that is the same DDR type as the one you had.

 

[Radio Noer]

Well, it's just getting sent back, it was a faulty fan or something like that, as it heated up insanely quickly, up to about 100 degrees C in a minute, so the tech guys at EVGA just told me to return it and get a new one . I have to say, the EVGA tech support is some of the quickest support I've ever recieved, only a maximum of 2 minutes on hold .

 

[mdwh]

I meant "rip-off" in the sense of overcharging users for functionality.

I.e. buying into a platform that is marketed as inexpensive, yet over-charges for add-on functionality to the point of not being competively priced with the netbooks with MS 7 functionality.

Ah sorry, interpreted it in a completely different sense In that case I agree entirely with your OP - it does annoy me the trend on certain mobile platforms of it costing money even for downright simple stuff (and the OS vendor getting a 30% of all of it). Sadly I suspect that the Chrome store (which you can see now at https://chrome.google.com/webstore ) is trying to push the same idea of trying to commercialise things (which for the web seems even worse - so far, we've been used to getting most things on the web for free, where as at least for apps, commercial software isn't new).

Presumably there's some stuff available for free, but basically it's not something you get given as a Chromebook user, rather, you the user are the market to sell products too

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Here's a few questions:

1. I have an older CD with no visible scratches whatsoever. However, in the CD drive it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, while other discs from that time tend to not do this. Is this an indication that the CD may be damaged, or is it just because of the material? (I read that certain types of CD material can be noisier than others.

2. I am making an ISO of the CD (the game requires the disc to be in but its too noisy). I put ImgBurn at 2.4x (read speed), mainly to quiet it, but also for data integrity issues (I get the idea that doing it too fast might end up with not-so-good data if the disc is damaged). Is the second point something I should consider? Could data be lost if I did that at too fast a speed?

3. Is there a way to compare an ISO image to a CD for data integrity? I know of programs for doing it the other way (for when you burn ISO).

4. As well, I just removed the CD and it felt rather hot to the touch. Should I worry?

 

[Narnia]

From what I understand, an iso is basicly all of the information on a cd/dvd. I have a videogame that is begining to quit working because it is pretty scratched up. Is it possible and legal for me to copy the iso (or what-ever the name is) to make a backup so that when it finally gives up the ghost I can just burn a replacement disk? I'm not going to distribute it or anything like that, I just want a backup copy. Is this legal? If so, how do I do this?

 

[cardgame]

It is legal to create a backup from what I have heard. If it is not, who's going to notice - and how could they possibly claim wrongdoing if they did?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

From what I understand, an iso is basicly all of the information on a cd/dvd. I have a videogame that is begining to quit working because it is pretty scratched up. Is it possible and legal for me to copy the iso (or what-ever the name is) to make a backup so that when it finally gives up the ghost I can just burn a replacement disk? I'm not going to distribute it or anything like that, I just want a backup copy. Is this legal? If so, how do I do this?

Yes, its legal, unless you're in the U.S. and you break the DRM doing it.

ImgBurn can create ISO images. You put the disk in, and select the "Create Image from Disc" option from the program's menu. It'll do it for you.

I would recommend doing it slowly as, if the disc is damaged, it might have read errors.

Also, instead of burning a replacement, try getting Virtual CloneDrive. It's free. I won't link to it (as on the website there is also software which I believe it circumventing DRM, and that may be a one-click rule issue) but Google will bring it up.

 

[NickyJ]

Question: I'm trying to reduce the image size of an image in Paint.net so that I can keep the transparent background in my avatar. (Currently, it is 6.9 KB, and the background changes to white.) I remember being able to reduce the image quality of the avatar I'm using now, but I forgot how to do it. So, could someone please explain how to do it?

This is the image, by the way.