Recent Posts

351

General Software Discussion / Re: download contents are not asked if wanted to be opened or saved

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 02, 2009, 04:08 AM »

Did you try my method? It's a bit overkill but nontheless...

352

Living Room / Re: Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 02, 2009, 03:44 AM »

@ Cloq - I tried using the Administrator account, and that didn't show any positive results. I am making backup and format preparations now.

More off-topicness (because we all love to be OT!)

I play with a group (clan) that I am in 2x a week (Friday and Saturday nights) every week. Not too much but not too little that I want to jump in and play randomly. Relaxed pace where I am ready to play but not bored/overly excited about it.

And yea, try using the d@mn mule in an MP game... if ANYTHING happens *BOOM* - server crash. Ugh!!!

I play on mostly BIG custom maps, so the weps are standard, but it takes everything that the group has to get the map complete (coop maps only). Fun, but annoying at times.

And yea - it is supposed to be stealth, but wtf? Once your cover is blown IRL you cannot just "hide" and wait, but the game acts otherwise - and the few seconds (or if your lucky, minutes) that your undetected by the majority of AI, your always worried that something has seen you that you don't know about yet (and it almost always has, be it the tank that's about to blow you away, or the sniper across the canyon just sitting there with the scope right on your *BOOM*.

Coop maps ftw though, end of story

</offtopic>

Oh yea, while I was/am preparing my backups, look what happened to my poor IDE hard drive that I toss all my backups onto (note that about 95%-98% of this was games... they are being moved to the 250GB drive now)...


  - And people say that "You'll NEVER use THAT much space!"

Last second edit (how many of these am I going to make... jeez): Can I use a (legit) Vista Upgrade DVD to install Vista w/o a key, then use my OEM key to activate Vista within the OS? I can't find the darned boatware eMachines DVD...

A second LSE: There is a total of 46.71GB of games on that IDE drive. That makes for over 100GB of games I have installed. Overkill?

353

Living Room / Re: Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 02, 2009, 12:51 AM »

I didn't partition the drive this time around (that's why I reformatted 2x before - Vista/Ubuntu/Xubuntu dual booting setups, both failing to work out with my style of computing, become annoying 15 and 20GB space hogs, respectively), so everything is on this one 120GB (111GB usable) drive. It is just a massive whole-disk partition, taking up every bit it can.

I have a games list that people literally awe at (GRAW2 is a great game, btw, I have it as well ) because it is just so long. 65.5GB on C:\, with an overflow of 17.1GB on an external drive, and 3 stacks/spools of not installed games. But that's beside the point

I have never done a full system hard drive image... "thingy" - I found out that I had the last 2 problems by trying to setup a backup scheme (the irony). So basically, if/when I give up and reformat, I should just make an image of the computer in that state for emergency recovery, and toss it on a DVD or something?

*checking links*

Thanks for the help, again

Last second edit (I'm really bad @ forgetting this stuff): Vista in safe mode shows the Recycle Bin context menu and Desktop folder just fine. I disabled all startup apps with StartupRun and the Recycle Bin/Desktop situation remains fixed. Now it is a game of cat and mouse to see what exactly is screwing me over.

Also, I was attempting to download Sauerbraten (a wonderful FPS, btw) and as the download completed (before I reset and did safe mode and disabled all startup apps), the WHOLE computer came to a standstill (much like gridlock @ 5PM on a Friday in New York). It was usable (if you consider "usable" to be "The mouse is moving! It's still alive! THERE IS HOPE!!!"), but the mouse would litterally "loop" my actions to it infinitely, until about 5 minutes later, when FF gave in and told me that it could not complete the download. This happened a second time over, but this time I waited the same amount of time and got not as positive results (ending with a press of the reset button and some not very kind words under my breath). (The download completed normally after rebooting with no startup apps.)

Bottom line: Something is screwing up FF and my RB/Desktop.

354

Living Room / Re: Thumb trackball wanted

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 02, 2009, 12:33 AM »

You can also contact Microsoft directly via email for purchase inquiries - they still have copies of MS Bob (Yea, I asked) for like $15... I'm sure they can find a mouse somewhere in storage as well

355

General Software Discussion / Re: download contents are not asked if wanted to be opened or saved

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 02, 2009, 12:30 AM »

What browser are you using? If it is IE and you don't mind, you can revert the whole browser to its complete default settings via Tools > Options > Advanced (tab) > Reset... > Reset

It says to only use it if the browser is unstable, but I use it all the time when something goes nuts that is IE related.

Hope it helps

356

Living Room / Re: Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 05:27 PM »

I ran all the maintenance stuff that Vista ships with (checkdisk, disk cleanup, the resource monitors, event logs, everything). Safe mode was used when I was getting rid of (or attempting to) the infections - I don't remember TBH. Have to boot it and see.

Uninstalling updates might help, but after about 3 weeks of Googling there have been no solutions that work for me, but along with that, no mention of uninstalling any updates fixing the issue(s).

System Restore is... (I'm going to get shunned to death for this) - completely disabled. Disk space is EXTREMELY scarce (111GB for Vista, Programs, Games, Programming projects, and backups (before they are moved to a different location)). So that obviously is a lost cause.

And no, I have no place nor method of doing disk imaging (I was going to post asking about that later on here @ DC, my backup server PC needs 2 new HDs </offtopic>).

Normally I would go and just wipe the whole thing and go "Yay, fresh install!", except I used Windows Anytime Upgrade on this machine, and it is an absolute ***** to get working. Format, install, remove crap, install drivers, upgrade, remove crap, install programs, update for 8 hours, install games, replace documents & whatnot, reactivate Vista, call Microsoft, talk to machine... ugh. And Microsoft wonders why piracy for Windows is still common.

Anyways, I'm gonna reboot into safe mode and see if that fixes it. *Crosses fingers*

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll post back ASAP

357

Living Room / Re: End of year humor (I apologize in advance)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 02:37 PM »

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 7 minutes, a large pigeon with a wicked case of diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM (EDT) this afternoon. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of mine's next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician.

*Wreckedcarzz falls out of his chair and nearly suffocates due to laughter*

358

Living Room / Re: Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 01:51 PM »

I have only 3 network drives that are currently offline (show up in Computer, nowhere else) and no other cross-network shortcuts or other references (I checked into that right after posting, and should have edited to say so )

Also, I am using Spyware Terminator - however the "Real Time Shield Mode" is set to Disabled, and my other security is as well (only thing running is Windows Firewall).

Even if I shut down EVERYTHING under my user name but Desktop Window Manager and Explorer (via Task Manager), the "lag"/slowness remains. I also went over and enabled the "real" Administrator account, and the same issues are on that account as well.

Last second edit: ST shows all clear for any infections... , but I'll look into some Live-CD scanning

Last second edit 2: Everything else works great n the machine, though, and at the same speed before the infection. With no changes to how I work/play, no programs are any slower and games don't lag any more than they did already.

359

Living Room / Re: Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 01:39 AM »

I may have found the problem for Problem 1/2...

I moved all desktop contents but the Recycle Bin and an ISO that I am burning to a temp folder on my HD. When testing the download speed on ScreenshotCaptor it started the download as usual (1/2 second delay, to be expected as Download Statusbar fires up).

I'll wait it out and see if it still happens, or whether it is something on my desktop screwing it up

The context menu for the Recycle Bin still takes about 20 seconds, but downloads are much faster. Grr...

360

Living Room / Vista has gone nuts: [Major] Help please?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 12:34 AM »

Alright, I got a bunch of issues and I believe that they may all be interconnected. I'm hoping that someone here can help me out

In order to simplify this, I'm just going to break it down problem by problem...

Problem 1: File downloads take 3-15 seconds to "unfreeze" the browser (FF particularly)
FF will halt for a matter of several seconds when I hit Save File. No idea why. IE kinda of lags a bit too.
Possible relation: Problem 2 (because it saves to the Desktop)
Steps taken to fix: Reinstalled FF, safe mode FF, no addons/themes

Problem 2: The Desktop folder takes a LONG time to load, Right Clicking in the Desktop (folder or the actual Desktop) takes 3-30 seconds to open the context menu, Desktop does not auto organize (even though it is on), refreshing takes anywhere from 5-30 seconds
Yea, tons of issues. No clue whats causing em
Possible relation: Problem 1 (causing problem 1)
Steps taken to fix: Cleaning, defragging, registry cleaning, registry compation, IOBit Advanced WindowsCare, everything Windows has as far as diagnostics

Problem 3: Task Scheduler is broken... completely
The Task Scheduler WILL NOT WORK! The service is running and Automatic, but I can't schedule tasks!!!
Possible relation: Problem 4 (causing problem 4)
Steps taken to fix: Cleaning, defragging, registry cleaning, registry compation, IOBit Advanced WindowsCare, everything Windows has as far as diagnostics

Problem 4: Windows Backup will not work
It won't let me schedule the backup (see Problem 3)
Possible relation: Problem 3
Steps taken to fix: Cleaning, defragging, registry cleaning, registry compation, IOBit Advanced WindowsCare, everything Windows has as far as diagnostics

I also had previous issues with Start Search not working, along with some other problems (since resolved). These are driving me NUTS and I simply cannot find solutions ANYWHERE. Spyware/virus scans come up clean, but this computer WAS infected a month or so ago. Also tried to repair Vista via the DVD's "Startup Repair" - no dice.

I can't really figure out what is going on, and I need help before I go nuts!!!

Help? Anyone? Please?

-Brandon

EDIT: As far as problems 3/4, I have the EXACT problem as this person: http://forum.soft32....n-ftopict170481.html

361

Living Room / Re: End of year humor (I apologize in advance)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on January 01, 2009, 12:23 AM »

ROFL @ the toilet one

I've seen most of these pictures, but they are still funny over and over

(That's what you do when you have too much time and not enough work - scan the WWW for geeky images )

362

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: MiniBrowseIE

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 31, 2008, 03:25 PM »

Just for convenience (those of you using DC Post Notifier) - MiniBrowseIE 0.2 is up now! Still portable as well!

363

Living Room / Re: site:donationcoder.com [your username]

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 29, 2008, 02:46 AM »

I get "about 5,830 from donationcoder.com for wreckedcarzz"

Not bad I guess

364

Living Room / Re: [Humour] Never ask for help on the Internet

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 25, 2008, 03:15 PM »

It's amusing to read the FacePunch Event Log - stuff like getting banned for 700 days, being registered for one hour (at most), because of "losing lots of smartness in a single post" is really... interesting.

I will now proceed to ROFL

Also, on a related note: Asking about the Intel waterbottle on Facepunch - goes from capacity to overclockability (you may need to scroll to the top to understand it)

365

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRLDD Champaign, IL - New Years

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 24, 2008, 05:00 PM »

So far, I'm planning to spend the day at the beach.

-OldElmerFudd (December 24, 2008, 01:36 AM)

That's just plain cruel!
Where I am, we just had yet another foot of snow.
I don't need a snow thrower, I need a tunneling machine.

Merry Christmas!

-cranioscopical (December 24, 2008, 11:10 AM)

Wreckedcarzz sits back in his chair and admires the "cold" weather outside - its 59 degrees (F) outside! I might even have to put some jeans on! These shorts and t-shirt should do, though.

Merry Christmas to all as well

366

Living Room / Re: Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 23, 2008, 09:10 PM »

Print a gift certificate for each recipient.
It should bear this legend.

I was going to sing to you but I will not do so.

You'll be amazed by the displays of gratitude.

 

-cranioscopical (December 23, 2008, 05:56 AM)

 

367

Living Room / Re: Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 23, 2008, 09:09 PM »

Perform a song

-Perry Mowbray (December 21, 2008, 07:03 PM)

Perry, are you INSANE? (ref: https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=14621.0)
As for wrecked's gift ideas...
http://www.budget101...com/gaggift/gg36.htm
http://www.budget101...com/gaggift/gg58.htm <--  LOL
http://www.budget101...com/gaggift/gg16.htm <-- <3
Good luck!

-scancode (December 22, 2008, 10:33 PM)

Scannie, you have failed to see my latest singing endeavor!

It appears I am going with the draw a "cookie" version of our family in Photoshop, rounded off with construction paper frames. It's thoughtful and I can pull it off without hurting anyone's ears.

368

DC Gamer Club / Re: [FIXED TOPIC] TrackMania Nations Forever - Free, fun, and totally awesome!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 23, 2008, 01:13 PM »

Blah! BUMP!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have Trackmania United Forever (the "full" version of Trackmania Nations Forever) - if anyone is interested, I am doing Xfire Broadcasts of it (Xfire needed).

An Xfire Broadcast is simply an almost-live (because of internet speeds and latency) video/audio (because I'm so nice and I use my CPU cycles to add audio, too ) stream onto the Xfire Broadcast website. All you need to do to watch is have Xfire installed and be logged in, IM me to have me start the Broadcast (or just to let me know your coming, if someone else is already watching) go to the above link, login to the webpage (it doesn't sync client <-> website logins), and find my video (you have to be on my friends list to watch, however; its my usual username ).

When you connect it will add you to the video chat room, so no need to IM me separately after just letting me know your interested. I'm more than happy to show you what's different in United vs Nations, along with anything else that I can in-game; it is a really great upgrade, and IMO is worth it all. It would definably be a blast to get a couple DC friends on the new environments and see what else can be made outside of the Stadium!

NOTE: The video system needs ActiveX or a FF plugin (only IE/FF are supported). IMO it would be easier to use IE for it.

Last second edit: More info here: http://www.xfire.com...faq/#FAQ_category_32

369

DC Gamer Club / Re: Combat Arms another free FPS shooter

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 23, 2008, 12:30 PM »

I've been playing CA for about 6 months or so, maybe a little longer. It's alright... IMO its the new WarRock (and if you want to know why I don't play WarRock anymore...). It's headed in that direction, but it is much better - I'll give it that. Didn't hold my attention like WR though (no vehicles).

Why WarRock sucks (long list):

Spoiler

• It was great in closed and open beta (it was a BLAST in closed beta!)
• The bugs were fun before the hackers came in
• Everyone with a mic hasn't hit puberty yet (this was with TS, Vent, and there was an in-game voice for a while... dunno if it still exists)
• The sounds are redundant
• Its $15 a month for a premium membership that's worth anything. That's the same as WoW. "Wow", what a RIP.
• The guns are sub-par, unless you have the hign end OMGWTFIRTEHPWNZ11111 guns
• The graphics SUCK. OMG! It was actually WAY higher quality in the early betas, but I guess they "sh*tified" the graphics so that more people on their 500MHz 64MB machines (no offense to those of you @ DC) could play.
• The lag is wayyyyyy too much. Its FPS and latency. And it makes no sense - the physics engine is 5/10 at best, and the graphics are... see above.
• The website hasn't changed appearance in 2 years. Wtf?
• The signup process is annoying.
• You can't lock rooms (mini servers) unless your a premium member (silver or Gold only, I believe). Uhh... what???
• You can't use the good guns unless your a premium member

Personal grudge: I was a HUGE fan of WR. I went out and got the preorder box at Best Buy for $25. First of all: No dogtags (all boxes were promised to have them, this store had NONE). Ok... thats fine then. I get home, login to the website, go to enter my code - the freaking pre-order expired the DAY BEFORE, yet they still sell the damn boxes - don't regard my email requests for help, or even reply. I got the gun I wanted too (special pre-order only guns that stayed with you permanently, rather than being prem+buying them every week). Can't return it - its an open box tech item! FU*KERS!! </rant>

Call me over-specific, Crysis loving, everything-has-to-be-perfect nutjob, but I like my games to be polished, pretty, and playable. CA delivers, (graphics could/should be better) but more arcadey than I'm into. WR does too (minus the pretty part), if you could manage to get a private server with a few friends. As long as CA doesn't get WR's hackers, it will remain on my hard drive.

370

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRLDD Champaign, IL - New Years

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 22, 2008, 09:36 PM »

I would attend, if I could - maybe sometime soon (within the next year or so?) when I have cash (and lack of annoying constant parental supervision ) to get to the next major get-together (AZ -> IL = $$).

371

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Teaser: MiniBrowseIE

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 22, 2008, 09:32 PM »

For quick reference (added to main post as well)...

RSS should be done by the deadline, printing will be worked on afterwards (I will setup automatic updating ) - I had to backtrack due to lost data (!) but I have recovered and made a few tweaks and improvements (works a lot like IE7, that could be good or bad), more info soon!

372

Living Room / Re: Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 22, 2008, 10:24 AM »

I like the framed picture idea, there are a few dollar/99 cent stores nearby...

I can't do anything with food but the quiz sounds cool... its unique.

I don't have any scrap wood large enough to work with, unfortunately, and we won't be making a trip to the local hardware store (Lowes) anytime before Christmas now. It would be a really awesome idea if I had the supplies and could keep my parents out of the garage for a couple hours.


Maybe I can Photoshop up a cookie family, then frame it (or have my sister make the frame... somehow? - she's good with that kind of paper/creative works and stuff). Then just make individual copies for each person (their own cookie alone).

Last second edit: My mom doesn't do any sewing (we have VERY minimal supplies, and (trying to keep the project quiet) with me and my sister, about the same amount of experience) and all older clothes get donated/trashed.. my dad and I are the only two packrats

So many awesome ideas... gah. So much stuff but never the right kind!

373

Living Room / Re: Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 21, 2008, 07:42 PM »

Can you be with them for the day? Just being together is a gift.

if they are over the age of 30 this might work.

under the age of 18 and you are likely to get a giant "WTF!?# "

-mouser (December 21, 2008, 06:16 PM)

Yea... my thoughts exactly. And its hard to keep a 9 year old girl under control/paying attention for any longer than - hey, was that a butterfly?

374

Living Room / Re: Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 21, 2008, 07:37 PM »

Thanks for the link cmpm, checking it out now

For our family Kris Kringle, which is limited to less than $5, I make general suggestions like:

• A Poem
• A drawing/painting
• A personal recipe book
• A special photo
• Grow a plant (you're probably a bit late for that now  )
• Write a short story (it may need to be very short now  )
• Cook a special cake
• Perform a song

In the past I've done things like a personal journal (they certainly wont be blogging if they're not techie), this year a grew a persimmon from seed and have put some recipes together.

-Perry Mowbray (December 21, 2008, 07:03 PM)

Good list, I'll probably draw a (complex but bad) family portrait or something

375

Living Room / Last second home-made gift ideas: HELP!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on December 21, 2008, 04:58 PM »

Ahh! I've done it again (this makes 4 years in a row, now) - I don't have ANY money for Christmas presents (paying back loans) and I need some suggestions for home made gifts. Last year I made a picture DVD, the year before I made cards and gave out what little money I had... I'm not creative. Anyone got ideas?

Anything simple will do, me and my sister need to make something up for 5 people each (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and me/her respectively)... I just need ideas. My dad uses his computer a lot so I thought maybe programming him something, but the rest of the family isn't "techy" enough to use anything I might make for a computer.

Any ideas? I can't be the only one out there that is going "oh ****" and panicking... right? Right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!

EDIT: A friend of mine on Xfire brought up food - that's out, I've been sick for almost two weeks now.