Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[aimeeandbeatles]

I didn't see one. I also didn't see anything in the start menu.

 

[lndm]

If you're licensed to use Vista (as you are) then you should hold the CD. As far as I know, those are the rules. Anyway, a computer is useless without the facility to reinstall. Does it seem suspicious to you that they won't give you the ability to reinstall but they gave you a single copy of windows to begin with?

 

[Zelig]

If you're licensed to use Vista (as you are) then you should hold the CD. As far as I know, those are the rules. Anyway, a computer is useless without the facility to reinstall. Does it seem suspicious to you that they won't give you the ability to reinstall but they gave you a single copy of windows to begin with?

This is from the place that charges in the area of 1000% interest to purchase a computer.

 

[lndm]

I apologise if I'm stepping over the line here, but if a person must borrow money on a tight budget, better make it a personal loan from a bank or something like it, which is regular and predictable.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

This is from the place that charges in the area of 1000% interest to purchase a computer.

I apologise if I'm stepping over the line here, but if a person must borrow money on a tight budget, better make it a personal loan from a bank or something like it, which is regular and predictable.

Indeed. Although its not 1000% interest, even at something like 15%, you're going to end up paying a large sum over the course of the contract. And better yet, unlike at a bank, if you miss a payment, they can just take it back and keep your money.

/Off Topic

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

There was apparently a recovery partition when I first got the computer which was passworded, as I tried pressing several keys and got into it, but the recovery partition was passworded as well! And when it came back from the shop for me to use (this is when my other one died), it was gone.

Notice the "ghost drive" which is about 5 gigs and 100% free:

Spoiler :

 

[Zelig]

Indeed. Although its not 1000% interest, even at something like 15%, you're going to end up paying a large sum over the course of the contract. And better yet, unlike at a bank, if you miss a payment, they can just take it back and keep your money.

/Off Topic

No, it's around 1000%. APR is 30% and the actual cost of the product is inflated by nearly 10x over retail value.

 

[lndm]

when it came back from the shop for me to use (this is when my other one died), it was gone.

You should pursue this with them.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I tried that -- the guys at the rent-to-own place don't really know computers even when I tried to simplify it. I do have the tech guy's business card ... somewhere.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Weirdness: I accidentally dropped some safety pins into the box where I also keep my portable drive. I just pulled the drive out to do a backup and the safety pins were attached to it, like a magnet! What gives? I thought a magnet would kill the HDD....

 

[Turner]

You're kidding, right? You do know that disks (and diskettes, for that matter) are magnetic media, right?

 

[Zelig]

And regular fridge magnets aren't nearly strong enough to mess up hard drives.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yeah, I know they're magnetic media. And that's probably why not to put a magnet near them.

 

[lndm]

The pins needn't be magnetic, just ferrous. They may be magnetic now. (remember the rare earth magnets?)

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Aha!

So the HDD has a rare earth magnet so it can read/write? That's what I understand, google isn't much help today.

 

[Zelig]

Aha!

So the HDD has a rare earth magnet so it can read/write? That's what I understand, google isn't much help today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_magnet

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thanks.

Also found this.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Also found this.

Well then, that answer doesnt do anything to actually answer the question.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Silly question, I guess my brain decayed as I used to be able to do this:

Suppose you rip a DVD and get VOB files. How do you demux those so you can get the video and audio streams (I want the audio as I have a T.P. and the Heartbreakers concert which I want to put on a CD). A free program or something?

Thanks.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

http://www.videohelp.com/ <- Plenty of guides on all things Audio/Video