Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

[Mise]

I prefer just numbering stuff. So the thing I want at the top is labelled "1. XXXXXX" then "2. YYYYYY" then "3. ZZZZZZ" and so on

One of my colleagues at work insists on using "_" to put things at the top of lists. But then later he wants something even higher than that, so be puts a double _ in it. Then he wants something higher still, so he puts 3 _ in there. So eventually the folder list ends up looking like

_______X
______Y
_____Z
____P
___Q
__R
_S
other stuff
more stuff
really need to delete this stuff cos nobody ever goes here


v. annoying.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

. signifies hidden in Linux.

Yeah I know, if I ever was to use them on a Linux system I'd change them.

Also, why is it that sometimes when I download ZIP files (icons, whatever) there's a __MACOSX folder in it? I tried to look that up and didn't get anything relevant other than someone trying to claim it was something malicious the Apple developers put in, which probably isn't all that accurate.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

If I'm playing a game of sims 3, and my computer just shuts off without warning, and turning it back on won't work since it just shuts itself off again after a few seconds, what does that mean?

 

[shadowplay]

Your PSU might need replacing, or the motherboard has gone flaky.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Will replacing either be a bit more difficult since my computer is a laptop?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

The PSU is the brick on the power cord, IIRC and it can be easily replaced (but will probably cost over $100). You can't really easily replace a motherboard on a laptop, you might as well replace the laptop itself at that point.

It could also be shutting down due to overheating. Clear out your vents and the fans and see if that helps. Or place it on a surface that allows better circulation.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Overheating was the first thing that came to mind, so since it was last night that the problem started, I figured letting it cool off overnight would help. Turned it on this morning, still had the problem. As for ventilation, I already have it on a lifted cooling stand 24/7.

Dust was the other thing I considered, but didn't have time to clean it right away, but I'll try it when I get home.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Why do people hate the .NET framework? Sometimes when I look for freeware I see people downrating software just because it uses it and they never even tried it. I know it doesnt work too good for OS interchangeibility but what other reasons are there?

 

[Souron]

The PSU is the brick on the power cord, IIRC and it can be easily replaced (but will probably cost over $100).

That's a bit much. I'd expect to pay under $30 for a universal laptop power adapter.

It could also be shutting down due to overheating. Clear out your vents and the fans and see if that helps. Or place it on a surface that allows better circulation.

This is more likely.

As far as I know, PSU's are most likely to go out with a blown capacitor, which will cause it to stop working permanently. A broken connection could cause intermittent shutdown, but not if the laptop is kept perfectly still. If it is a power connection problem, it can be fixed by taking the laptop apart and applying sodder at the weak connection.

Overheating due to dust is the most likely culprit here, IMO.

 

[Zelig]

Why do people hate the .NET framework? Sometimes when I look for freeware I see people downrating software just because it uses it and they never even tried it. I know it doesnt work too good for OS interchangeibility but what other reasons are there?

Those people are dumb and don't have any reasoning behind their words.

.NET (using Mono) is generally better for cross-platform use than plain Win32.

There's absolutely no reason for the end-user to care whether a product uses .NET or not, it's a development decision that doesn't impact the user.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Those people are dumb and don't have any reasoning behind their words.

.NET (using Mono) is generally better for cross-platform use than plain Win32.

There's absolutely no reason for the end-user to care whether a product uses .NET or not, it's a development decision that doesn't impact the user.

Thats odd, I was told otherwise about the cross-platform thing. Learn something new every day.

It's still pretty confusing, though. When I tried to look it up I got stuff about programmers hating it (which is okay) and stuff calling .NET developers mentally impaired, but in less polite terms.

 

[cardgame]

I don't know what to say about it overall, but KSP recently switched to Mono/.NET framework for cross-platform use and it had an absurdly specific installation process. I think they've since ironed it out, though.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

I tried cleaning out the dust, but it didn't work. Laptop still refuses to stay on for more than a second. Disconnecting the power cord and going with just battery power didn't work either.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Do you have another cord to try it with? Or battery? (I don't even remember if laptop batteries are interchangeble....ugh, I'm getting rusty).

Second, what does "RT" in "Windows RT" stand for?

Thirdly, is it true there was an experiment where Microsoft showed people Windows Vista without telling them it was Vista and the people (who originally didn't like Vista) changed their minds?

 

[shadowplay]

I tried cleaning out the dust, but it didn't work. Laptop still refuses to stay on for more than a second. Disconnecting the power cord and going with just battery power didn't work either.

It's not looking good. You could try reseating your RAM modules, but that's a shot in the dark at this point. It sounds to me like your motherboard has had the biscuit.

 

[Zelig]

Do you have another cord to try it with? Or battery? (I don't even remember if laptop batteries are interchangeble....ugh, I'm getting rusty).

Second, what does "RT" in "Windows RT" stand for?

Thirdly, is it true there was an experiment where Microsoft showed people Windows Vista without telling them it was Vista and the people (who originally didn't like Vista) changed their minds?

It doesn't stand for anything.

WinRT = Windows Runtime
Windows RT = Windows on ARM

Microsoft is consistently bad at branding.

Vista thing with was the Mojave Experiment.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yes I looked up the Mojave Experiment. That was interesting. Do you think it's applicable, considering it was more of a vendor demo?


Another question: What are the advantages of using TIFF when scanning document-files? I tried looking it up and got some overly-technical camera terms that I didn't understand.

Thirdly, can anyone point me to a program similiar to WinDirStat, but without that huge headache-inducing weird graph thingy?

 

[Zelig]

Applicable to what?

TIFF is basically the lossless image standard for source images, advantages versus what?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I mean applicable to ... general things. I'm not too good at words.

Usually I use BMP compressed to PNG.

 

[cardgame]

bmp is awful, there's a reason it's the only image available with the free version of fraps