Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[Aramazd]

The page file and master file table. But seriously aimee, just google it!

 

[lndm]

^^^


In W98 I used to have the same problem with files that were in use or which had read only or system attributes IIRC. I'd remove the swap file (don't think it's necessary with XP) go to DOS mode and do an [attrib -h -r etc....] to the whole drive.

This may not be helpful to you ATM but I thought you might like the perspective.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The only reason I have a swap file is because for some reason, SimTown (a Maxis game I like to play from time to time) doesn't recognize my memory and I had to increase the swap to get it to run and I haven't bothered to change it back.

 

[Macha]

Occasionally my keyboard will kind of weird out. It's effects vary from app to app. On VMs, HL2 and gmod, the current button sort of locks (not physically) and doesn't realize I let go until I press it gain. On total war games, civ, photoshop and office it activates every keyboard shortcut ( including ctrl, alt or shift ones(not alt-tab)) at once. It's my laptops keyboard and no driver updates exist.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Is it possible to plug in another keyboard to the laptop? I think I saw an arrangement like that before, but maybe not.

Also, are you sure you don't have any accessbility settings on? I think StickyKeys does something similar to what you say,

 

[Zelig]

The only reason I have a swap file is because for some reason, SimTown (a Maxis game I like to play from time to time) doesn't recognize my memory and I had to increase the swap to get it to run and I haven't bothered to change it back.

Getting rid of the swap file is generally a bad idea.

If you set it to disabled, Windows tends to ignore the setting anyway.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I did have a small swap file, I increased it by about 500 MB, but haven't changed it back. For some reason, when I reinstalled Windows, the swap file stayed the same.

 

[Cutlass]

Is it possible to plug in another keyboard to the laptop? I think I saw an arrangement like that before, but maybe not.

Also, are you sure you don't have any accessbility settings on? I think StickyKeys does something similar to what you say,

If it has the right port, you can. If it doesn't have a keyboard port, then see if you can find a USB keyboard and drivers that will allow it.

 

[Cutlass]

I did have a small swap file, I increased it by about 500 MB, but haven't changed it back. For some reason, when I reinstalled Windows, the swap file stayed the same.

The default swap file is the size of you physical RAM. You can increase it. It's a bad idea to decrease it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The default swap file is the size of you physical RAM. You can increase it. It's a bad idea to decrease it.

Thanks.

Also, another thing: Is the page file the same thing as the swap file? I googled it, but it wasn't too clear.

 

[Cutlass]

In computer operating systems that have their main memory divided into pages, paging (sometimes called swapping) is a transfer of pages between main memory and an auxiliary store, such as hard disk drive.[1] Paging is an important part of virtual memory implementation in most contemporary general-purpose operating systems, allowing them to use disk storage for data that does not fit into physical RAM. Paging is usually implemented as architecture-specific code built into the kernel of the operating system.

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

So, yes The thing is, between Windows and any programs and all the services you have running, your physical memory runs out of room really easy unless it's very large. So the "swap" or "page" file is "virtual memory" (as opposed to physical memory). It's a faster way to write the things you have in memory back and forth to your hard drive in a format that's faster and easier to use than more conventional use of the HDD. Microsoft will tell you that it's recommended to page file on each partition, or at least each physical hard drive. I use 4 page files on 4 partitions on 2 physical HDDs.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I remember one time getting an error I was out of virtual memory, I was maybe 11 at the time. I figured it was memory that Windows pulled out of thin air when it ran out of RAM.

 

[Cutlass]

In a sense it does. It invents it out of spare room on the HDD. But there is a range of what it will create on it's own. So you can run into trouble that way. Also, if your hard drive is very nearly full, you can squeeze the page file and run out of room that way.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I know when I went to change it, the other option was to let Windows manage it. So I guess it the PF usage needed and then pulls it out, and puts it back when it deosn't need it anymore. Like taking pencils and pens out of a drawer and putting them back.

That's as far as I understand it.

 

[Cutlass]

It's close enough

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Can running the processor on 100% for a long time destabilize it? (Assuming it's not overclocked.) Sometimes when playing games, when my fan's blowing really hard, I turn the game off for a little while to give both the processor, fan, and myself a break. I think someone on this forum said that fans wear out easily but are cheap to replace.

Another question: When I turn off the computer, even if the power is out, when it starts back up the time is correct. A teacher told me there's a little "clicker" inside there somewhere. Is this true, and where would it be?

 

[Cutlass]

It's pretty uncommon to have the CPU at 100% all the time. If it is, you need a stronger computer. It should only peak occasionally. As far as that wearing things out, pay attention to your temperatures. If they stay ok, you shouldn't have a problem.

Your clock is kept up to date 2 ways. One is the CMOS, and the CMOS has a battery on the main board. That stores some information and keeps the clock. The other way, which is standard on WinXP and above computers that are connected to the net is that the PC pings a time server every time you log into the net in order to correct the clock settings.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thank you.
The CPU is only on 100% all the time if I'm gaming or encoding media.
I assume the battery is charged up when the computer is on. I disabled the internet time synchronization since it kept putting me ahead or behind an hour.

 

[warpus]

What's a good video capture program? I need it to capture stuff I'm doing in Google Earth - so that I can edit it in Adobe after effects & premiere.

Basically what I'm doing is mapping out a hiking trip I did in google earth and setting up pre-defined "action" points (along the trail. ie. camping site 2, cool bridge, etc.), each with its own pre-defined viewing perspective.. I then queue them up and double click one after the other - and the effect is a smooth fly-over of the trail, with changing camera angles, zoom-ins, etc.

I want to capture that somehow and throw it into a bigger video, with pictures, a narrative,etc. How do I do that?

 

[Cutlass]

Well then your syncing wasn't set right

The CMOS battery is like a larger watch battery, it'll last several years under normal use.