Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[lndm]

You mean you say "Plug the HDD into the IDE thingy"? Or am I mistaking things here...

Not exactly. Although it's true I need to talk that way to most people (without being patronising, of course ). It's just that the term buss doesn't fit the application IMO. When talking to someone with technical skill, I'd just say plug in the hard drive, as Turner suggests.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I probably could figure out how to plug in an HDD. But don't they have several jumpers, and you have to use a certain one? Or am I mixing up my words again...

 

[Genocidicbunny]

IDE hard drives do. They have a Select, Master and Slave jumper setting, for one HDD, one being the primary, or one being the secondary, respectively.

 

[lndm]

Computers (except for the newest) typically have two IDE ports. If you run the typical one HDD and one optical, just put one on each cable and don't touch the jumpers.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have a slightly older mobo, I think it's got both IDE and SATA ports.

Also, can't you get these little converter things?

 

[lndm]

What's the point unless you have no choice. It's not going to help performance.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Probably not. But if you have only IDE connectors, and all you can get a hold of is a SATA drive, it'll probably be needed. This is why I'm glad my computer isn't too old.

 

[lndm]

Oh, you mean that way. Yeah. PCI SATA cards are cheap.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Also, how do you take a decent picture of a computer, to show problems (such as broken usb port)? Whenever I have the flash off, even if all the lights are on, it comes out dark. When I have the flash one, even if all the lights are off, it comes out a big flash. What do I do now, except get a better camera, which is right now out of the price range?

The one I took of my reset button is the only one that came out okay.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Oh, you mean that way. Yeah. PCI SATA cards are cheap.

Such as this one. (Not the best reviews, I know, but I grabbed the first that came up. I wouldn't buy it, only 54% were really happy. I usually go by newegg reviews for the decency of a hardware):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124020

 

[lndm]

Yes. I've seen the cards cheaper. Notice it also does RAID.

About the photo, if you don't want to go into the various aspects that comprise exposure, and assuming you have a point and click style camera, then just put a lamp behind you when you shoot.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I'll try that. Thanks.

Edit: This will be a tight squeeze. Sometimes it'd be nice to have a bigger bedroom.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

What's exactly are "expansion slots" and "RAID support"? From what it looks like, something to plug hard drives in.

 

[Cutlass]

Expansion slots are those connection slots towards the back that line up with the removable covers on the back of the case. They are below the slot for the video card. They are used to add hardware. Most commonly, but not exclusively, hardware that connects to the outside of the PC with some cables.

RAID support on a motherboard means that if you have 2 or more SATA hard drives you can create a RAID array with the motherboard's available software.

 

[Turner]

Expansion slots are the plugs where you put your cards in, be it graphic, usb/firewire, whatever. RAID support is support for RAIDs. A RAID is a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. Basically, having two disk drives that either mirror each other, or create a larger logical drive.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I've heard about RAIDS being "real-time backup." And expansion slots are just to stick the cards in. I get it now. The large logical drive is where you have two HDDs, but within the OS, it's seen as only one?

Apparently my mobo has some good reviews -- people have had trouble flashing it, and it's called a budget mobo for a reason, but otherwise good. Somebody told me to replace it "because it's old", but I'm doing just fine with it, so I'll continue with it. Until I either need more features or I zap it.

 

[Turner]

Right on the logical drives. And 'real-time backups' would be a good way to explain it, although there are more, well, technical terms for it.

 

[Cutlass]

One thing, those expansion slots are much less used these days than there used to be. Because many of the features they used to be used to expand the ability of the computer for are now integrated on the motherboard. For example printer cable connections, sound, internet connection, modems, all of these things and more were commonly expansion cards in the past, but integrated now.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

For example, I have an integrated graphics. So if I wanted to put a better video card in, I would put it into the expansion slot?

Today at flea market I bought a book from 1981 on "BASIC Computing." I don't know if it's referring to the programming BASIC or "basic" as in easy stuff. It spells it "floppy discettes."

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Probably the BASIC language since that's in capitals.

But 1981 era BASIC was a horrible beast, the bin is the best place for it