Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

[Takhisis]

Have you checked that your hard drive is not on fire?

I'm not letting you anywhere near it.
Apparently one valid option is to simply delete almost all files and folders in the installation, except for the actual Steam executable one, and then start up Steam and let it redownload a few gygabytes's worth of gaming material.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Question: Is there a way to monitor write operations to the registry? I only know of tools that let you take snapshots and compare them.

 

[Michkov]

Question: Is there a way to monitor write operations to the registry? I only know of tools that let you take snapshots and compare them.

Try this
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/process-monitor-track-events-generate-log-file/

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thank you. I actually have Process Monitor (I use Windows System Control Center to keep all the NirSoft/Sysinternals stuff in one place) so I'll use that.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Question: I have a command-line program running on task scheduler. It pops up a command prompt window in the foreground and steals focus. Aside from "run with highest privileges," is there any way to make it not do that?

 

[Michkov]

There should be a no console command you can tag onto the line in the task scheduler that specifies the program to run.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have an alternate file manager. It's set as the default file manager instead of Windows Explorer. Most of the time this works. But I have a few programs that when I try to open a folder from them they instead open Windows Explorer specifically. (I'm currently emailing a developer about this.) Why would this happen?

 

[Rosen165]

I have an alternate file manager. It's set as the default file manager instead of Windows Explorer. Most of the time this works. But I have a few programs that when I try to open a folder from them they instead open Windows Explorer specifically. (I'm currently emailing a developer about this.) Why would this happen?

Have you received an Email from the developer?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Anyone here have experience using Twitch to publish non gaming videos or move streaming videos to a youtube channel for future watching?

 

[Quintillus]

I have an alternate file manager. It's set as the default file manager instead of Windows Explorer. Most of the time this works. But I have a few programs that when I try to open a folder from them they instead open Windows Explorer specifically. (I'm currently emailing a developer about this.) Why would this happen?

Most likely it is hard-coded to run Explorer, the equivalent of running the following in a Run prompt:

explorer C:\

This is the equivalent of programs that assume that Windows is is installed at C:\Windows, that Program Files are at C:\Program Files, or that user documents are at C:\Users\<username>\Documents, instead of using the proper ways to check for that. The developer most likely uses Windows Explorer themselves, and was probably unaware of the issue.

 

[shadowplay]

Anyone else still have this message when they open windows update:

The Windows 10 May 2020 Update is on its way. Once it’s ready for your device, you’ll see the update available on this page.

Seems I should have the May 2020 update by now, no? This computer is 4 years old and runs well.

 

[Synobun]

Anyone else still have this message when they open windows update:



Seems I should have the May 2020 update by now, no? This computer is 4 years old and runs well.

Likely a compatibility issue. Microsoft has been having... issues... lately with their larger OS updates. Mine still won't download update 2004, which is the "May 2020" update.

 

[cardgame]

Anyone here have experience using Twitch to publish non gaming videos or move streaming videos to a youtube channel for future watching?

I only know that it's completely possible to do so, but not how.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I think Commodore once mentioned some non-game YouTubers moving to Twitch because of demonetization. Unfortunately asking him for more info isn't really possible.

 

[Sarin]

Does anyone here have any experience with low end Intel NUC mini computers, and how well do they perform as alternative to very basic desktop computers?

 

[Zelig]

Anyone else still have this message when they open windows update:



Seems I should have the May 2020 update by now, no? This computer is 4 years old and runs well.

Yeah, my home desktop won’t update. I’m planning on replacing it soon so haven’t bothered to troubleshoot.

 

[Zelig]

Does anyone here have any experience with low end Intel NUC mini computers, and how well do they perform as alternative to very basic desktop computers?

Pretty much as you’d expect from the specs. They’re typically not super quiet under load, and are more expensive than Chinese mini-PCs, but they’ll get better driver support from Intel than Chinese mini-PCs.

Unless I need to pick out specific parts for some reason, I typically go for pre-built business-class mini PCs, just because they’re easier. (HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple all make PCs in this category. I got my dad an HP and my mom a Lenovo, and they’ve both been working well for years.)

 

[Sarin]

Pretty much as you’d expect from the specs. They’re typically not super quiet under load, and are more expensive than Chinese mini-PCs, but they’ll get better driver support from Intel than Chinese mini-PCs.

Unless I need to pick out specific parts for some reason, I typically go for pre-built business-class mini PCs, just because they’re easier. (HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple all make PCs in this category. I got my dad an HP and my mom a Lenovo, and they’ve both been working well for years.)

I don't know what you mean exactly by Chinese mini-PCs, the NUC was a cheapest computer I could find here that wasn't a Raspberry Pi puzzle. For the purpose I wanted, which was absolutely basic computer for my mom that could run Linux Mint for those few things she does like internet browsing and Solitaire, it was enough. Ended up being cheaper than any prebuilt, and faster since all prebuilts in lowest price category come with Windows 10, mere 2GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. I have no idea if such configuration would even run without hogging all space for Windows updates.

 

[Zelig]

I don't know what you mean exactly by Chinese mini-PCs, the NUC was a cheapest computer I could find here that wasn't a Raspberry Pi puzzle. For the purpose I wanted, which was absolutely basic computer for my mom that could run Linux Mint for those few things she does like internet browsing and Solitaire, it was enough. Ended up being cheaper than any prebuilt, and faster since all prebuilts in lowest price category come with Windows 10, mere 2GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. I have no idea if such configuration would even run without hogging all space for Windows updates.

Chinese mini-PCs like these: https://www.amazon.com/CHUWI-Fanless-X7-E3950-Computer-Ethernet/dp/B07THWPRS1/

NUCs are great if you're okay with the assembly though.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Question: Is it possible to create a shortcut to directly trigger a task from the task scheduler?

I've been using a bat file with schtasks /Run /TN "My Task" and pointing a shortcut to that.