Recent Posts

5476

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 03:38 PM »

Thanks steeladept - you've more or less confirmed what I was thinking. I think I'm just "jonesing" for a new computer and see more RAM as a cheap fix until I can afford a new one. However, I don't think it's going to make a huge difference other than the dent in my bank account! Still, I'll try monitoring my resources for bottlenecks and see if there is any justification.

5477

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 02:27 PM »

Thanks. I didn't jump at the Gateway offer because I am convinced that I can do better elsewhere (and have never bought from the notebook supplier before for the same reason). However, their price *appears* to be competitive at the moment. Still, I am more inclined to try to find a Canadian supplier as I don't want to deal with currency exchanges and duties at the border. Now, what I really wanted feedback on is whether or not this is a sensible upgrade on a four year old machine? Am I likely to see a huge difference?

I am running XP Pro Sp-2, Office 2003 (including Access) and also run things like ESRI Arc-GIS 9.1. Is a bump from 1GB of RAM to 2GB REALLY going to energise my computer in a noticeable way?

5478

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 01:22 PM »

OK... I won't, at least not now. Gateway wants $195.99 USD + $5.50 S+H while Canadian sites are asking upwards of $133 a stick plus $23 S+H... I *think* that the Gateway quote is for 2GB of RAM as other US retailers on-line are quoting about $95 for a 1GB stick. As I'm going to be leaving for Belgium in two weeks, I don't want to be worrying about shipments from the States not arriving (also not too interested in courting Canada's bizarre, random, and draconian customs and revenue agency...). Thus, I'll do a little more research and continue to ask myself if I am likely to notice a difference or not and if I should be considering spending that kind of money on a four year old machine... 

5479

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 01:04 PM »

I'm chatting with Gateway now - apparently I CAN install 2GB RAM. Biting nails, drumming fingers on desk, sweating profusely, I'd be chain smoking if I smoked. Should I, or shouldn't I? OK, moot point - everyone knows that I will!

5480

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 12:36 PM »

urlwolf - ddr 333 RAM is what I have to run in my notebook - is your Dell a notebook, too? Did you pay 76 euros for a gig stick or two 512's? Enquring minds want to know...

  ddr 266... RAM.

5481

General Software Discussion / Re: Outlook 2007 - a rant

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 12:23 PM »

I remember howls of protest about this when Office 2007 was still in beta but can not for the life of me remember where (probably here!) I read about it. Too bad MS didn't listen... One assumes that this was done for security reasons, but it would have been nice to have retained the option of switching the engine.

On a related note, another thing that was made clear while Office was in beta is that Outlook 2007 can import pst files created in 2003 and earlier, but pst files created/updated in Outlook 2007 can not be exported back into Outlook 2003. I am SO glad that I caught that before blithely migrating everything into the beta, which is what I had planned to do!

5482

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 12:16 PM »

ha ha - thanks cmpm! Nice idea and just as easy as using a professional level defragger as in either case you're looking at a reboot anyway.

Carol, it's been a long time since I messed around with my paging file and I note that at the moment I have a fixed 50 MB (not a typo) custom sized paging file on my Windows and programs partition and a set 2048 MB (this is double my RAM - not sure why I did that) paging file on my documents partition, which is on the same physical drive. I'm off to create a 1536MB paging file on my Windows partition and to remove the paging file on the Documents partition.

5483

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 10:17 AM »

Well in a way but it doesn't really say that. It says that the preferred situation is to set the pagefile to a different physical drive. If you have multiple partitions on the same drive, moving the page file off the first partition will just move it further away from the fastest part of your harddrive (the beginning).

Yes, you're right. It doesn't really even caution against doing this but does imply that you're going to be thrashing your harddrive a lot more and slowing access times down to boot:

Simply using a different partition on the same drive will result in lots more head-seeking activity, as the drive jumps between the Windows and paging file partitions. Even though moving the paging file in this case can have the positive effect of defragmenting it, the loss in I/O performance out weighs any gains.

5484

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick search text box for Windows Explorer [XP]

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 10:13 AM »

FileLocator Pro will replace Windows Explorer and even comes with its own hotkeys (Win-Alt-F3 or Win-Alt-F) for use outside of Windows Explorer - it will replace the CTRL-F function within Windows Explorer. You could also try our very own Veign's Seeker. I've used it and like it a lot as well. Can't remember off-hand if it will replace the native search feature though...

5485

General Software Discussion / Re: Share Usb Devices

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 10:03 AM »

The logic doesn't elude me, but there are practical limits (or so it seems to me) to what can be accomplished with a device like a scanner over a network. How about this as an alternative: you could network your parent's computers together using something like Network Magic and then share the folder to which scanned images are sent. The advantage of Network Magic is that anyone can use it to share folders and devices (not USB scanners, though, as far as I can tell). So, even if your parents' computer skills are basic, they should have no problem with it. In this scenario, you're mum would scan an image using your dad's computer and scanner (or ask him to scan something for her if he's sitting next to her) and then access the image from her computer. Actually, it's pretty simple to accomplish this using the features built-in to Win2k/XP/Vista but, at least with 2k and XP, I've found things a bit flaky and have had to get my hands dirty a few times to repair shares and things. With Network Magic, connections are stable and if they do break the GUI is simple enough that my wife can sort things out if I am not around.

My final (and quite random) thought: you're mum should still be able to do most of the heavy lifiting involved, if dad is busy on his computer) - she just has to load the negative into the scanner and press a button on the front of it. All dad should have to do is accept the scan...

I need some ibuprofen and strong coffee!

5486

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 09:40 AM »

Yes - thanks tomos! I defragged my pagefile.sys file and all is well. Using PerfectDisk, this is done on reboot, before windows loads. In the past I've had the pagefile set to a fixed size on a different partition on my notebook harddrive but didn't notice any difference and went back to default (and deleted the partition). WinXP myths, as linked to above by justice seems to suggest that setting the pagefile to its own partition on the same physical drive is a no-no anyway (as Carol implied when she stated "preferably on a differnet physical drive"). 

Anyway, all is well now - except I'd still like more stinking RAM (but see my earlier post)!

5487

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick search text box for Windows Explorer [XP]

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 09:25 AM »

My gut is telling me that Lashiec and Hirudin are on the right track - surely the default hot keys are the quickest, easiest way to go? OR are you looking for a simpler interface for entering the search text into?

5488

General Software Discussion / Re: Share Usb Devices

« Last post by Darwin on June 05, 2007, 09:15 AM »

I think the objective of sharing a scanner would be to scan an image and have the scan sent to a different computer (ie not the scanner's host computer) on the network. However, I think that this is more easily accomplished by scanning to the host computer and then accessing the scanned image over the network (ie scan it to the computer to which the scanner is physically connected and then connect to that computer's hard drive oer over a network to access the scan)... I can imagine a number of scenarios that would make it possible to scan directly to a different computer on the network using software, but can't see how any would be an advance over just accessing the scanned image over the network. In fact every scenario I can think of would be significantly more complicated and labour intensive. The only time the extra steps would be an advantage is if one wished to scan sensitive information without other people on the network (particularly anyone with direct access to the scanner's host computer) having access to it. BUT if you're going to be scanning over the network, surely anyone on the network will have access to it, even if only briefly, anyway?

My brain hurts.

5489

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 04, 2007, 03:47 PM »

Hi steeladept - thank you for your reply and the tip. I can confirm that XP is handling my pf dynamically as when I wrote my first note here I was having PhotoCollector generate thumbnails and the pf was sitting at 1.22GB. Once I shut PC down, PF dropped to 700MB. I have licences for both Diskeeper and PerfectDisk and will explore defragging the PF.

5490

General Software Discussion / Re: how to reduce pagefile usage?

« Last post by Darwin on June 04, 2007, 03:26 PM »

urlwolf - I'm in the same boat. Unfortunately, I'm on an older Centrino notebook, and it's *apparently* only able to accept 1GB of slow RAM (PC2100). I've got it maxed out and would love to be able to reduce pagefile usage without having to risk $400 or so on RAM that may or may not be recognised and utilised by my system!

5491

General Software Discussion / Re: Increasing Notebook PC Volume

« Last post by Darwin on June 03, 2007, 11:28 AM »

Yeah - I should qualify/clarify the sound quality issue I mentioned - the presets aren't very impressive; I'm sure that if I played around with the settings I could improve upon it. For now, I've uninstalled it. It's completely useless to me as it stands and if I don't hear from the developer I won't be buying, anyway. If I do, I'll reload the trial and see...

5492

General Software Discussion / Re: Increasing Notebook PC Volume

« Last post by Darwin on June 03, 2007, 08:28 AM »

Just an update - I still haven't heard from the developer - not a good sign. I *did* receive the links for the 10% discount if I purchase during the 14 day trial (I'm on day 5, apparently). Meanwhile the problem persists and I can see no way to fix it. I'll wait until the trial is finished, but I'm not feeling too motivated to purchase. I'm also not hugely impressed by the sound quality, which is quite tinny to my ears. DFX is much warmer... Anyway, Vincent - have you had any response from the developer to your suggestions? Just curious.

5493

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Darwin on June 02, 2007, 10:42 PM »

I disagree, mouser - at least based on the pictures, I'd say it's MORE impressive filled with books! WELL DONE  !

5494

Living Room / Re: UK pc con (sorry, i mean repair) man captured for TV show

« Last post by Darwin on June 02, 2007, 09:37 AM »

I'm probably naive - but what percentage of XP installations in Derbyshire are likely to be dodgy? I *think* the majority of users probably buy their computers ready-made with the OS pre-installed and then never think about it again. If you do run across a machine with a pirated OS, tell the customer that you can fix the computer but as it's an illegal copy of the OS you won't be able to reinstall it if you have to wipe the harddrive for any reason. If there is illegal software loaded that you concude is causing a problem (virus, adware, spyware, malware, etc.) tell the customer that it's the cause and that to solve the problem it must be removed, but that you can't provide a "clean" copy so the decision is their's to take. You could have an agreement that the customer signs up front acknoweldeging all of this up front. Actually, you'll need an agreement anyway that covers you against loss of data and hardware failure, etc. - you could just incorporate it.

You should/could also ask that customers provide you with the media for their OS... I *guess* if they provide it to you and it's a pirated copy, it's up to you whether you hold your nose and load it or not. I'm talking in circles this morning - late night and early morning - not pretty!

5495

General Software Discussion / Re: Lightweight alternatives to FeedDemon

« Last post by Darwin on June 01, 2007, 08:12 PM »

I could be wrong in this case, but usually it means "trademark"...

5496

What's the Best? / Re: cd burning

« Last post by Darwin on June 01, 2007, 08:01 PM »

BTW Welcome to Donationcoder, roady!

5497

What's the Best? / Re: cd burning

« Last post by Darwin on June 01, 2007, 08:00 PM »

Interesting Roady - I'll take a look! Thanks 

5498

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« Last post by Darwin on June 01, 2007, 08:22 AM »

Congratulations Curt! Keep 'em coming!

5499

What's the Best? / Re: cd burning

« Last post by Darwin on June 01, 2007, 08:21 AM »

after all this discussion on adhampoo burning studio 6, what should appear on the cover disk of not 1 but 2 of the local pc magazines, yep you guessed it, ashampoo 6 (for free, but i wont comment on free software, seems to be another theread for that) 

-Grorgy (May 26, 2007, 03:30 PM)

Just got it also........

-CleverCat (June 01, 2007, 07:07 AM)

Guess I'm not such a clever cat after all 

5500

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Power Desk 6 Pro, half prize until Friday

« Last post by Darwin on May 31, 2007, 08:06 AM »

Thanks, Jeff! Not so much discipline as the result of lessons hard learned - I keep buying licences for software that I don't need just because it's on sale and then wind up never using it (and with DOpus already installed, I *know* that I would never use - why would I need to?). One of those situations that exemplifies the expression: "I'm saving so much money I'm going broke"!