Recent Posts

2326

General Software Discussion / Re: Any tips for setting up a new Win7 laptop and installing lots of software fast?

« Last post by tomos on September 24, 2015, 02:17 PM »

Though what I meant by "fast" is that I will be installing 50+ software over a 48+ hr period. Some of them will prompt me for a reboot, by I was wondering if there is anything else to consider when intensively installing a lot of software, one after the other, all day long, for several days.

-dr_andus (September 24, 2015, 06:20 AM)

yeah, I got that

My point was a bit off-topic, but important:
be sure that you are happy with your partitons *before* you do all that work of installing all that software.

2327

General Software Discussion / Re: Any tips for setting up a new Win7 laptop and installing lots of software fast?

« Last post by tomos on September 24, 2015, 03:39 AM »

^ Yeah, partitioning is a consideration (and you wanted tips to speed you up!).
I recently partitioned a Win 7 laptop using Aomei Partition Manager (I posted about it here somewhere but dont have time now to search).

Spoiler

I went for:

C: OS
D: Data
E: a partition with space for two image backups of C partition

2328

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Tray Management Utilities Mini-Review

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 01:20 PM »

Any time you run Windows Update, just about anything can happen.  That is why I disable it.  Of course on the Windows support forums that is an unpopular bit of advice since MS needs to push out the updates to plug the security holes etc..

Other than going through the updates one by one to see if one is bad all I can suggest is open the tray option popup thingie and first uncheck the box that says "show all icons and notifications."  Then set each individual one to show both icons and notifications.  Then check the box again to always show all icons and notifications.  As a last resort you can try flushing the notification cache.  CCleaner has an option to do it I believe.

If all else fails if your system is good with restore points and you have one from just before the updates, you could try going back to then.

-MilesAhead (September 23, 2015, 09:44 AM)

that sounds like faaar too much work
I'm going to be lazy, and see if a reboot fixes it ;-)

I remembered why I restarted explorer and it could be related -- to the hang on shutdown at any rate:
I have a dodgy bank of USB ports on top-front of the (desktop) case. On a couple of occasions have completely stopped working, and have been very buggy beforehand.

Will get back if it remains a problem -- hoping it was just a once off.

2329

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 01:07 PM »

More complaints

The poll has nothing to do with the topic - it doesnt make any sense to have it here....

2330

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Tray Management Utilities Mini-Review

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 09:01 AM »

Look at *my* tray ...




Possibly related:
I did a bunch of Windows (7) security updates yesterday.
Rebooted fine.
I restarted explorer.exe later (via Process Explorer), tbh, I cant remember why
Later, Windows would not close down - I had to force a reboot.
Today, the tray was fine initially and I havent been doing any funny business...

PS the popup with hidden icons shows as expected

2331

Living Room / Re: Is it reasonable to *require* phone nr. when purchasing software?

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 07:57 AM »

I'll get an 'unwanted' call from a telemarketer maybe once every four months or so....just because some people refuse to play by the rules.

-Innuendo (September 23, 2015, 07:38 AM)

I never even get that much -  and would like to keep it that way
I also know from experience that once some people get your number, they never give up. But I suppose that the payment processors hopefully wont be getting into the business of passing on your phone number...

I've actually had the credit card company contact me based off of a purchase to make sure it's me.  My card hasn't been stolen... but it gives me a measure of peace to know that they do that.

-wraith808 (September 23, 2015, 07:33 AM)

I've had that too. I dont use the card much, and made a big purchase a while back. At first I thought it was someone trying to con me, which made for an interesting phonecall :-)

2332

Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 03:48 AM »

Also, this:
Red-Green & Blue-Yellow: The Stunning Colors You Can't See

-Edvard (September 22, 2015, 08:55 PM)

very interesting -- it is claimed there that the colours are not actually 'forbidden'.
I get almost an electric movement of bright colour along the edge and top of the paired colours in the image in that article. Each main body of colour does become a sort of a mix of the two.

In the video, looking at the black dot, both sides again ends up being a sort of a mix of the two colours, and the black dot becomes like an eclipse: there's a very bright back light leaking in a circular manner from 'behind' it.

Amazing how the eye works

2333

Official Announcements / Re: Forum Upgraded August 30, 2015 - Report issues here

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 03:31 AM »

RE search -- a minor suggestion:
in advanced search, move the [Search] button to the centre of the page.
Maybe it's just me, but everytime I use it, I have to look for it -- on a (regular) wide screen monitor, it's way over there in the right-hand corner...

2334

Living Room / Re: Is it reasonable to *require* phone nr. when purchasing software?

« Last post by tomos on September 23, 2015, 03:19 AM »

I've added 'Give a fake number' to the Poll

2335

Living Room / Re: Is it reasonable to *require* phone nr. when purchasing software?

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 05:06 PM »

I have a throw away google voice number for this.  Many (Most?) Payment processors just require numbers.

-wraith808 (September 22, 2015, 04:22 PM)

google voice only works for incoming calls with a US number AFAIK --  will have a look tomorrow.

If the software publisher required a phone number just for funsies, then I'd go somewhere else.

-wraith808 (September 22, 2015, 04:22 PM)

It's just the payment processor (I think), but they are one that I'm not familiar with, and lately what with everyone wanting my location for no good reason, I'm getting a bit touchy about this kind of thing.

2336

Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 05:03 PM »

Same hills, but today and with cloud shadows. I think ICE did a good job.

-Arizona Hot (September 22, 2015, 04:17 PM)

yeah, it looks very good -- no hint of where the join is there.
I did notice what looks like a recurring mark though (could it be on the camera lens maybe?)

2337

Living Room / Is it reasonable to *require* phone nr. when purchasing software?

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 03:29 PM »

I was trying to upgrade a piece of software this evening.
The payment processor required my:

• Name
• Full Address
• email
• Phone nr.

For phone number, I gave them a number with my country code and the correct number of zeros after.
It looks like they check the number -- for too many zeros at least ;-)
They refused to process the payment without my phone number.
I canceled the order thinking I could use paypal or some other method -- but it all goes through the same payment processor.

Am I just being stubborn - or is this the norm these days? (or both?)
I dont believe it's the norm here in Germany - and it's a while since I updated anything via one of the bigger payment processors, so I cant even remember if I used give my number before...

(Feel free to make suggestions for poll imporvements.)

2338

General Software Discussion / Re: What's living in your taskbar notification area right now?

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 10:47 AM »

^ thanks Arizona

(and thanks wraith for asking the questions )

2339

General Software Discussion / Re: Which is faster: copying from mounted AOMEI image or from external HD via USB 2?

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 10:32 AM »

OK, this was a bit counterintuitive, but it looks like the USB 2.0 transfer was quicker for some reason:

• average: 15.9 MB/s
• peak: 38.6 MB/s

-dr_andus (September 22, 2015, 10:18 AM)

good to know
it's possibly because Aomei is trying to get the files out of a compressed image

2340

General Software Discussion / Re: Which is faster: copying from mounted AOMEI image or from external HD via USB 2?

« Last post by tomos on September 22, 2015, 08:39 AM »

I dont know.
You could try figuring it out --

• USB2 has a 60MB a second limit -- but the problem is it often only reaches ~30 maximum -- will depend on your external drive and file sizes
• 1GB is 1,000MB ....
• Aomei's 100GB per hour would be ~28MB.p.s. if I'm correct

I wouldnt bother starting again - would probably be about the same rate.

2341

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: MS Office 2013 US$9.95 Corporate/Enterprise Home Use Program - Mini-Review

« Last post by tomos on September 21, 2015, 09:39 AM »

For example, the other day I was sat down alongside my daughter, and we each had a laptop on our laps, and I introduced her to using OneNote and Excel and SC (Screenshot Captor) to:

    1. write up the notes for her latest science assignment (using OneNote), with me working collaboratively online;
    2. conduct a statistical analysis and charting of the time series data (observations) involved (using Excel and its graphing capability);
    3. save the Excel Workbook as an embedded file in her Notebook.
    4. manipulate images captured in OneNote (manipulation done using SC);


Having learned what drudgery it is to try and do that sort of thing by hand, even using a scientific calculator, and never having previously understood what OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) or collaborative online working implied, she was blown away by the experience - very impressed. There'll be no holding her back now!

-IainB (September 20, 2015, 08:04 PM)

sounds impressive

2342

Living Room / Re: Movies you've seen lately

« Last post by tomos on September 19, 2015, 09:18 AM »

I edited the first post and changed the thread title to "Movies you've seen lately"

(was previously "Movies or films you've seen lately" because where I grew up, movies are called films - but I realise this leads to confusion, as 'film' means something else to others than it does to me.)

2343

Living Room / Re: Movies you've seen lately

« Last post by tomos on September 19, 2015, 09:15 AM »

Ultimate Door Knocker

-bit (September 19, 2015, 06:48 AM)

I especially enjoyed the doorknocker bit (no pun intended )

2344

Living Room / Re: 14 year-old boy arrested for creating a digital clock

« Last post by tomos on September 19, 2015, 09:02 AM »

^ hmm, I dont think there are 'rules' about this kind of thing - i.e. I wouldnt be so quick to put it in a box and tie a ribbon round it...
Mouser has made that clear elsewhere:

the decision of whether a post should be moved to the basement is made by me often based on a quick and imperfect gut feeling -- and you guys need to help me figure out when i move something that i shouldn't have, so i can move it back.

If I jump the gun and move something you think there should/could be a useful wider discussion about, please do let me know -- sometimes i jump the gun -- perhaps most of the time(?).

-mouser (September 18, 2015, 04:40 PM)

2345

General Software Discussion / Re: What's living in your taskbar notification area right now?

« Last post by tomos on September 19, 2015, 04:41 AM »

As you can see my notifications area is small and managed.

-Arizona Hot (September 18, 2015, 10:29 PM)

I dont recognise some of those icons - any chance of a tour ? :-)

2346

General Software Discussion / Re: Is Windows 10 a trojan?

« Last post by tomos on September 18, 2015, 05:00 PM »

It's not always possible to get a plan without a data cap. And even when it's an option, it's not always an affordable option.

Honestly, I could do with a much lower "top speed" if it came with a much larger (or unlimited) data cap.

-Deozaan (September 18, 2015, 04:43 PM)

I'm always a bit stunned when I hear how bad the internet packages are in the States
Here (.de) it's always flat rate (which is no guarantee of speed though).

2347

Living Room / Re: 14 year-old boy arrested for creating a digital clock

« Last post by tomos on September 18, 2015, 04:43 PM »

And now that I suddenly realized this is in the basement, I'll bow out of the conversation. Because I still don't do basement. Later!

-40hz (September 18, 2015, 04:15 PM)

now we know you read it though 

2348

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Clipboard Help and Spell - New Name?

« Last post by tomos on September 18, 2015, 01:40 PM »

How about Magic Spell?

-MilesAhead (September 18, 2015, 01:13 PM)

  that's a good one

2349

Living Room / Re: 14 year-old boy arrested for creating a digital clock

« Last post by tomos on September 18, 2015, 09:42 AM »

^ I agree completely wraith.
Note that I'm not blaming society -- I'm looking at it. Also (as I'm sure you're well aware), in order to take on this 'personal accountability', we will along the way have to reject ideas that are encouraged and approved by society and / or government.

EDIT//
I think it's a sort of a circular thing - if people take on the personal accountability - and reject dodgy ideas that are actively or passively part of society, everything improves.
OTOH if everyone drifts, then things tend to get worse rather than better.
So, I believe that both aspects - individual, and society, are of importance.

2350

Living Room / Re: 14 year-old boy arrested for creating a digital clock

« Last post by tomos on September 18, 2015, 03:09 AM »

I feel partially responsible here for this being dumped in the basement (by even suggesting the possibility):

It's an unfortunate state of affairs. I can understand the frustration, but if you ignore the context of recent history, you're just leaving out too much.
And if that context is introduced, I think it's going to be unfortunately pretty much Basement material...

-tomos (September 16, 2015, 05:02 PM)

but if you ignore the context of recent history, you're just leaving out too much.

I'd disagree.  Looking at the item in question, you can see that there are no explosives.  And the original teacher told him "not to show it to anyone" without telling him why.  So the original teacher knew, and even after he told the sequence of events, was not consulted.  And they took him away in handcuffs.

A little more common sense and a little less alarmism would have defused this situation before it escalated to the point that it did.  After all, if he really was an extremist and they really did think it was a problem- why wasn't the school evacuated?  Why was the item taken without a EOD specialist being there first?  The excuses don't add up.

-wraith808 (September 16, 2015, 08:31 PM)

you're talking about the details of what happened - all these questions will hopefully be asked enough that it will bring about some change.

But my point was this:
if you look at why this has happened, and happens again and again, you have to look at all those things. The context. The history. The way society/people have chosen to cope/deal with things.

1) why people/a society chooses fear over (I'm unsure here - maybe it's simply that they choose it)
2) why people are afraid of muslims
3) why people are afraid of what is different

these are not easy questions to answer, especially #1 - people have fear, I think it's a case of then finding an outlet for that fear in them. They can let of steam in a semi-officially approved manner (#2) and sleep well without having to really look at WTF is going on inside of themselves...