Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[SS-18 ICBM]

And I guess some Internet browsing would modify files.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Also, what are safe things to do on a computer while its hard drive is defragging?

Dance around it, going "HOY YAY HOY YAY HOY YAY" before sprinkling spices on it as a sacrifice to the computer gods.

 

[Bratmon]

Also, what are safe things to do on a computer while its hard drive is defragging?

Wish you had Linux, so you didn't need to waste your time defragging.

 

[Zelig]

Also, what are safe things to do on a computer while its hard drive is defragging?

Anything, Vista takes care of it automatically.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

It does? How come I never notice it? It runs in the background without being disturbed?

 

[Aramazd]

It does? How come I never notice it? It runs in the background without being disturbed?

That's what it does.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

That's fantastic.

Wish you had Linux, so you didn't need to waste your time defragging.

Linux seems to have everything. No need for antivirus, no need for defragging...it's like the Second Coming in OS form.

 

[Macha]

Windows can no longer burn a disc on my laptop. Proper burning software, and Linux are able to, but Window's inbuilt one now has a 100% coaster rate. Any ideas?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Don't use the inbuilt one?

ImgBurn is a good free one.

 

[Macha]

Don't use the inbuilt one?

ImgBurn is a good free one.

I have ImgBurn. But when I just want to give someone a few simple files, (as opposed to copying a CD), I like the simplicity of just dropping them onto my CD burner.

Another question as well: Why do so many games die horribly if you alt-tab out of them, and back in?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Another question as well: Why do so many games die horribly if you alt-tab out of them, and back in?

DirectX, I'd guess. I once tried using a program called DXWind, and a few programs crashed to the desktop before it even began to load.

 

[Macha]

Odd. It wouldn't allow me to continue to run free without paying for 8.5

They try to hide the free version, pretend it's not there, and make it hard to get, BUT it's still there. They've made it progressivly harder to get every version since 6.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

A question -- When I first got my new computer, I noticed some dead pixels in the middle of it, very prominent. Now the dead pixels seem to be fading out, I can barely see it anymore unless the screen is pure white (e.g. word processor). Is this normal?

Also, how can I convince mom its not a good idea to use Windex and a paper towel on LCD? I even keep the microfiber cloth beside it but she seems to be blind to it!

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Wait, so wiping an LCD monitor with a paper towel and water isn't a good idea?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

A paper towel is abrasive, especially the "textured" ones. Best to use a microfiber cloth. Not so sure about water.

 

[Cutlass]

They try to hide the free version, pretend it's not there, and make it hard to get, BUT it's still there. They've made it progressivly harder to get every version since 6.

I suppose that makes sense. The free version I had stopped updating definitions and had multiple nag screens per use, and I couldn't find a free upgrade, they wanted me to pay for one. So even though I had good luck with it for a couple of years, I stopped using it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Is it just me or does this really suck? I wrote it for school

Spoiler :

The Blue Screen of Death
Flashes on the screen
I know this computer's cursed
And I want to scream

Microsoft is the devil
And Windows helps along
I would have been using Linux
But the installation went wrong

I threaten the computer,
The damn thing laughs at my pain
So I pull out a sledgehammer
Now I have full reign

The Blue Screen suddenly vanishes
Leaving me where I was
The PC understands my threats
That's the only cause.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Another question as well: Why do so many games die horribly if you alt-tab out of them, and back in?

Some games, especially older ones are paletted and the palette can get corrupted when you minimize them. For others, they're just not coded very well to deal with being minimized/losing focus.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Is it just me or does this really suck? I wrote it for school

The Blue Screen of Death
Flashes -- bright and mean on the screen
I know this computer's cursed
And I want to scream

Microsoft is the devil
And Windows helps along
I would have been using Linux I should be using linux
But the installation went all wrong

I threaten my the computer,
The damn thing laughs at my pain
So I pull out a sledgehammer So I hoist a five pound sledge
And now I have full reign

The Blue Screen quickly suddenly vanishes
Leaving me where I was
The PC understands my threats
And the fevor of my cause That's the only cause.

If you wrote it for a grade, you should clean up the meter in a few places where it is off.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thank you Too bad I already passed it in.