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2201
Living Room / Re: Micro Reviews of Board Games From a Non-Competetive Perspective
« Last post by Shades on September 06, 2010, 08:04 PM »
Ravenloft is only to be played when you have a good Dungeon Master who is up for it.

And I can tell you now that there are not that many.

This setting was tried by our group when it was still active, but our DM did not have the 'chops'. Reading the novels that are associated with this setting is a joy. As a character you have to be really able to survive any night outside the safety of your home in Ravenloft (played it when 2nd Edition rules were still king).

The game improved a lot when I aided our DM by playing the main evil character. My fellow players really hated me for all the mean streaks I introduced to the evil character. I think when you have enough players (5 or more) to let one of the imaginative players to be the main evil character.

After all, with Dungeons and Dragons games there is only one real rule...the DM is always right.

Besides, the 2nd Edition books start by saying that all the rules and stats from the books are optional and definitely not set in stone. Later rule books are unfamiliar to me.
2202
Living Room / Re: The Weather...
« Last post by Shades on September 06, 2010, 07:45 PM »
Melbourne. It's raining.

Overhead it's overcast.

North? Clear skies.

South? Clear skies.

East. Clear skies.

West. Overcast.

Just very odd. And it's always like that. 4 seasons in a day.

Anyone get bizarre weather?
-Renegade (September 06, 2010, 12:04 AM)

Come to think of it...was that not a (rather famous) song?  :)
2203
General Software Discussion / Re: What program can check what other programs load up ?
« Last post by Shades on September 01, 2010, 06:42 PM »
Process Explorer from SysInternals (free, closed source).
Process Hacker (free, open source).

Both of them are more than capable of fulfilling your request. For finding out which .dll file my personal preference would go to Process Hacker... although it's interface is very similar to Process Explorer, the UI from Process Explorer wins. 
2204
Living Room / Re: Simple way to connect two computers (both XP) ?
« Last post by Shades on August 28, 2010, 08:34 PM »
By now you already had moved all your data with a stick and ´sneakernet´... :P
2205
Living Room / Re: Simple way to connect two computers (both XP) ?
« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2010, 05:55 PM »
On each computer you can check (My computer > properties > computer name tab) the computer name but also the workgroup it belongs to. It helps if they are the same on both computers.

By default the workgroup name is set to...Workgroup (at least it does on my XP Pro). Although this should not be an issue, it never hurts to check.

When they are different, you can make them equal by hitting the appropriate button
2206
Living Room / Re: Simple way to connect two computers (both XP) ?
« Last post by Shades on August 23, 2010, 06:06 PM »
That was after XP SP1...at least I couldn't connect to my old, but remarkably solid Exchange server without supplying a password at the time I installed SP1.

I was in the same situation once a long time ago and could not be bothered to think twice about buying a small hub/switch for 8 USD, connecting normal network cables to it (which I already had) and manually filling in IP addresses on both systems.
2207
General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 + NAS drive := major suckage
« Last post by Shades on August 22, 2010, 01:29 PM »
Maybe a strange thing to mention here, but bear with me:
Last week I tried to install a trial version of Microsoft's Exchange Server 2007 onto a trial version of their Windows Server 2008. After a day of continuous re-installing and encountering some error of files that could not be found in the cache, I found out that disabling IPv6 on your NIC works mysterious wonders.

After I did that, the installation went allright in one go.

To my understanding the networking client from 2008 is related to the networking client of Vista...and Win7's network client is either the same or based on the one from Vista.

A free executable from Microsoft: Microsoft Fix it 50444 will disable IPv6 in the registry. The registry changes are also explained, so you can execute them yourself if you do not want to use their fix.

You will then have to reboot to activate the new settings. If you check the Network interface properties after the reboot, you will notice that IPv6 has not disappeared and is still activated. This is not a sign that IPv6 is still enabled though. Check with the console and the command ‘ipconfig’ to see if IPv6 is really gone.

WARNING:
After disabling the IPv6 protocol and re-enabling the protocol with the appropriate executables it is very likely that your PC crashes in an unsolvable way, requiring a re-install of the complete PC. My test PC did.
2208
Developer's Corner / Re: Java and braces ... how do you keep track of them?
« Last post by Shades on August 17, 2010, 07:34 PM »
A text editor that supports folding also shows (relatively) quickly if there is either an excess or a shortage on braces.

On Windows the big name (freeware) text editors support this functionality and I have to assume that Linux (with their mantra: everything is a text file) has several text editors available that support this as well.
2209
General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?
« Last post by Shades on August 17, 2010, 07:11 PM »
Your point is very true...with a high capacity connection.

However, I have to pull those files through a 512KBit connection which is costing about 120 USD/month. You can get cheaper, higher rated connections over here, but those lines here are really 'overbooked' and unreliable.  In my situation I simply lose too much time downloading. Besides that, my download is immediately ready to be stored on the least amount of DVD's.
-Shades (August 13, 2010, 10:06 PM)

I find your way of measuring efficiency odd...
1. It takes you longer to produce the smallest size zip but requires less download time.
or
2. It takes you longer to download a moderate size zip but saves you some compression time.

Either way, you are simply swithcing the "wait" between the 2 processes.

If the zip is prepared by someone else, then he/she always produces a bigger zip to save his/her time, that is a matter of his/her choice and should not be taken as a factor in determining WinRar's efficiency.

-tslim (August 17, 2010, 03:23 PM)

Granted, you have a point there...if you are using a system (or work-flow) where the bottleneck is almost the same size than the rest of the system.

However you do not seem to grok that the bottleneck in my complete work-flow is the internet connection...let me clarify with an example. Imagine a bucket of water, an empty bucket similar to the first one and a straw to get the water from one bucket to the other.

I use a VPN connection to let a quad core PC create the archive in 2 to 2,5 hours the download will take an x amount of time. Downloading the moderately compressed archive easily takes x + 6 to 8 hours more (if I am lucky, internet here in Paraguay is really not as stable, as in the northern hemisphere of the globe...even with business subscriptions).

Over here I use an i7 PC that takes 30 to 40 minutes to unpack the highly compressed archive and I am already way into the importing process when the moderately compressed would be in. As I am paid by the hour, my benefactor does not complain at all.

Besides that, with all the computing power that is available in modern PC's, do you really think it should be wasted by playing the latest games or editing/encoding your home video alone?







 
2210
General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?
« Last post by Shades on August 15, 2010, 06:29 PM »
No, not really. (over-)Eager database admins change always so much that a complete dump is necessary. 

if it was always the same database then I agree with your point...but unfortunately that isn't the case.
2211
DonationCoder.com Newsletters / Re: --> Newsletter for August 13th, 2010 - "Heat Waving"
« Last post by Shades on August 14, 2010, 06:52 PM »
...and the 200 pound rabbit that still was attached to it?  :P
2212
Living Room / Re: Flicks that struck you as odd or different in a good way?
« Last post by Shades on August 14, 2010, 06:09 PM »
Lately I liked 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'. Another pearl on the crown of Terry Gilliam.
2213
General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?
« Last post by Shades on August 13, 2010, 10:06 PM »
I believe you are right about the dump that I receive in RAR format is not packed using the most extreme settings RAR has to offer.
But still, I expect 7-zip to be at least 30% to 50% more efficient than anything winRAR can bring to the table. Regarding my dumpfiles that is.
-Shades (August 12, 2010, 05:52 PM)

At the cost of time.

I tried packing 2 GB of Access databases. 7z (Ultra) was about 26% smaller, but needed 20 minutes, while RAR (best) needed 6 minutes.

26% more effective, but 3x slower.

I'm not sure if "smallest archive size" is the only way to find the "best archiving utility". I think RAR's compression time/size ratio is quite OK. I also like its ability to detected CRC errors in (split) archives, report missing archives, repair defective files using recovery records, keep broken files, extract from split archives even without the full set,... and so on.


Just guessing, but perhaps your 200 GB file is packed with "super fast" because it would need longer to compress / decompress a strong compressed file (7z "ultra" or RAR "best"), than downloading the extra 11 GB (because of weak compression).
-wr975 (August 13, 2010, 09:04 AM)

Your point is very true...with a high capacity connection.

However, I have to pull those files through a 512KBit connection which is costing about 120 USD/month. You can get cheaper, higher rated connections over here, but those lines here are really 'overbooked' and unreliable.  In my situation I simply lose too much time downloading. Besides that, my download is immediately ready to be stored on the least amount of DVD's.
2214
General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?
« Last post by Shades on August 12, 2010, 05:52 PM »
7-zip here. I regularly have to download database dump files. The biggest one is a 200GByte database and it is always made available to me as a rar-archive...of 16+ GByte.
-Shades (August 11, 2010, 08:23 PM)

Now that's a MAN'S file there, baby!  :P
-zridling (August 11, 2010, 08:46 PM)

Yeah. Muy macho! I like it!!!

I have a client that regularly transfers huge files, although none are anywhere near as big as 200Gb.

But in their case, they found it quicker and less expensive to just dump to encrypted external hard drives and have them delivered on a rotating schedule by secure courier.

-40hz (August 12, 2010, 10:48 AM)

Unfortunately not an option for me...or do you know a very cheap intercontinental courier that delivers within a day?

Post is something funny here in Paraguay anyway. Items/letters send to me take either 3 days or 3 months to arrive. And no, there is no difference between priority post or normal post. It just comes when it comes.

Sure, there's going to be size differences between RAR and 7z, both are improved every now and then... but 16 vs 7 gigs sounds like too much
Fortunately it isn't.

I believe you are right about the dump that I receive in RAR format is not packed using the most extreme settings RAR has to offer.
But still, I expect 7-zip to be at least 30% to 50% more efficient than anything winRAR can bring to the table. Regarding my dumpfiles that is.
2215
General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?
« Last post by Shades on August 11, 2010, 08:23 PM »
7-zip here. I regularly have to download database dump files. The biggest one is a 200GByte database and it is always made available to me as a rar-archive...of 16+ GByte.

After unpacking it and re-archiving it with 7-zip (in extreme mode) by using a self-made script, I only have to download 7+ GByte. That difference is a huge one for me and unless winRAR can do the same trick I will take a look at it again.

Now I do agree that both archivers are great at what they do...and also agree that the interface of winRAR is as least as ugly as the one from 7-zip. 
2216
Living Room / Re: Router Q: Bandwidth thottling
« Last post by Shades on August 01, 2010, 06:48 PM »
I use an old Pentium II PC (with Linux) as a router/DNS/Gateway/DHCP/Proxy/Squid/Firewall. Throttling is relatively easy to do when you can have a dedicated PC to do this kind of "heavy lifting".

Actually I have two incoming connections and diverting which user uses which connection is also relatively easy to do as well. And with Squid I have a clear picture of what everybody in the household is doing on the net as well.

By using a dedicated PC, one can use whatever (external) modem that is available at any time (a dealbreaker in my case).
2217
Best E-mail Client / Re: How to install a local IMAP server on Windows XP Pro?
« Last post by Shades on July 30, 2010, 07:48 PM »
Try these links (1 and 2). Don´t worry, you will stay on this forum.

Although the subject is about SMTP servers, a lot of the suggested Windows mail server software is also capable to deliver IMAP functionality for your purpose.
2218
Living Room / Re: Build a $200 Linux PC -- How-to by ExtremeTech
« Last post by Shades on July 30, 2010, 07:37 PM »
Hot swappable motherboards are not that necessary...you have redundancy for that. Besides, the default motherboards you buy from vendors is not hot swappable anyway, because of the power management.

So special motherboards, special power supply, special (rack) case...you likely see already that it is cheaper to run a second system, hardware wise. Let alone the software and maintenance fees...

Solaris is nice, but you do not see me shed any tears if it would go the way of the dodo.

2219
General Software Discussion / Re: Synchronizing a few folders between two machines?
« Last post by Shades on July 29, 2010, 09:23 PM »
Pathsync is my suggestion to the table.

Small, clean, simple, fast, portable and free. Very good qualities in software I would say.

At the time (2 years ago) I tried several freeware backup/synchronization software pieces as I had to sync between a Windows XP PC (source) and a Linux file-server. Most of them would not even copy, some would copy partially. And then I found Pathsync.

Not only did it copy everything, it also did it fast. Not the copying in itself per se, but checking which files that were changed/added/deleted. It still amazes me. As it is only in version 0.35 and not actively developed anymore, there is a lot to be desired in the software. Still, as it is the software will fit perfectly with you.

All the other suggested tools are fine too.

*EDIT*
It appears there is a new beta out since last month.
2220
Living Room / Re: lap top cooling pad
« Last post by Shades on July 29, 2010, 07:54 PM »
now I'm confused  :tellme:

I installed  Speedfan on her computer  .  It reads 26 C  for Core 0
                                                                         29 C  for Core 1

What are the safe parameters ?  I tried googling  " Safe Temps ' and found a range of 20 to 65 C.  Seems pretty big spread to me.
-ljbirns (July 29, 2010, 05:47 PM)

I have no trouble reaching the high temperature extreme here in Paraguay where ambient temperatures of 50 C (or higher, in the shade) are quite common throughout the year (in case the airco doesn't work, because the grid station for my neighborhood has 'melted'...again).
2221
Living Room / Re: sarcopaths unite!
« Last post by Shades on July 26, 2010, 09:19 PM »
or cut to the chase.
-Shades (July 26, 2010, 08:50 PM)

Chase? I usually cut to the cheese~! :P
-Renegade (July 26, 2010, 09:13 PM)

Hmmm, I'd like a slice of that pie...
2222
Living Room / Re: sarcopaths unite!
« Last post by Shades on July 26, 2010, 08:50 PM »
or cut to the chase.
2223
General Software Discussion / Re: Problem: The connection to the server was reset ...
« Last post by Shades on July 25, 2010, 02:55 PM »
You can see also the time it takes for packets to make their hop. During the worldcup, I had the same problem as you are experiencing now. After using the command I could pinpoint the problem.

A Telefonica server based in Argentina was not up for the task (or setup to serve Argentinians first, I don't know). I live in Paraguay, a neighboring country, so that was a simple case of: too bad for me. But also a reassurance that it was not my hardware or software.
2224
General Software Discussion / Re: Problem: The connection to the server was reset ...
« Last post by Shades on July 24, 2010, 10:20 PM »
Type in the command-box the following:
     tracert <url-of-your-choice>

This will give you a more precise idea where your packets take (too) long to pass. And likely also a better clue of where to begin the problem-solving.
2225
General Software Discussion / Re: Partition Alignment increases performance
« Last post by Shades on July 15, 2010, 07:24 PM »
Personally, I did not note that much speed difference in reading or writing to aligned partitions, but the resource use of my system dropped significantly when performing (lots of) read/write operations.

Hence my 5 year old system doesn't drag its feet anymore, which is why I am happy to have used it.
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