Recent Posts

5801

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 20, 2012, 03:43 AM »

As for snapshots vs. file-copying, snapshots are definitely prefarable, unless you're dealing with very small virtual drives, since snapshots don't copy the entire virtual disk image - instead, unless I've misunderstood things and the file sizes in my VM dirs , it "freezes" the previous image and stores modified blocks in a new file.

-f0dder (August 19, 2012, 02:26 PM)

with VMWare Workstation, I'm looking at a cost of 177.68 euros = almost US$220. (That's including tax.)
So I'll stick with the backup solution ;-)

I'm now using a backup programme that (after the initial backup) just backs up the modified blocks. I guess I could test it by restoring to a different folder and run it as a new VM. Maybe, sometime...

PS f0dder - 8,000 posts -

5802

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

« Last post by tomos on August 20, 2012, 03:24 AM »

a biggee
f0dder's 8,000th post

5803

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 19, 2012, 02:09 PM »

what's the story then for licenses?

if you want to actually use an app on both virtual and real OS's, do I (technically) need two licenses, (say the license is for one machine),
or does it depend on the individual software?

5804

General Software Discussion / Re: Audio Destortion during Video Playback

« Last post by tomos on August 19, 2012, 01:10 PM »

They suggested I uninstall and reinstall my brower (in my case mozilla firefox)

-artwritesyou (August 19, 2012, 12:38 PM)

have you tried a different browser to see how they compare ?

5805

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 19, 2012, 12:31 PM »

WMWare player does *not* have the snapshot ability, but simply copying the files seems to have worked fine - well, I haven't tried a "restore" yet -will only do so if thing screw up- but Ren says it works ;-)
Copying when it's not running is better: it's a lot smaller -minus the page file I guess, and the restore should work better.

@cyberdiva, my experience so far:

• it *is* easy
• avoid nlite
• I didnt have to load any drivers - in spite of installing the original XP (no service packs) that AFAIK normally needs SATA drivers before it will install
• I made the virtual machine 100GB - I remember original XP having problems with terabyte drives

5806

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: DC Mug/TShirt Designs that would be nice to have an artist for..

« Last post by tomos on August 19, 2012, 07:55 AM »

love the genealogy one

5807

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 18, 2012, 11:41 AM »

Well, after a couple of false starts (it wouldnt accept the key using [XP"0" + SP3 slipstreamed via nlite] so I had to install the XP"0", then SP2, then SP3...) I have XP installed. I've done a backup before installing more updates etc etc. - I was able to copy the files even though the virtual OS was running.

It's a bit weird going back to XP

If I connect printer or scanner etc, I get this message (note: in a win7 frame):



I dont need them yet (I actually have my scanner, printer, external HD on a seperate extension lead that is normally switched off until I need one of them) but it looks like that's an either/or choice (I mean it will only work for one OS at a time) - and I'm wondering: how this works, especially if you need to swap over and back between the real and virtual machines.

5808

General Software Discussion / Re: screen for reading and browsing

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 05:08 PM »

yes! but automatically

-kalos (August 17, 2012, 04:53 PM)

both of my suggestions are "manual".
They're both very quick though, as they use keyboard shortcuts.
Once you've used them a bit, the various windows should (I think) remember their positions.
You might also need an AHK script to quickly change from maximised to "normal" windows.

5809

General Software Discussion / Re: screen for reading and browsing

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 04:32 PM »

Manage windows via

Gridmove
or
MoveIt - windows management app - Mini-Review

(I use both myself)

5810

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 01:59 PM »

Thanks for the comments   .. the lack of snapshot feature would definitely make it less useful for me.

-Jibz (August 17, 2012, 12:46 PM)

Don't be so quick there. You can simply copy the files at a given point, and then you have a "snapshot". Yeah, might be a bit of a pain, but it still works.

-Renegade (August 17, 2012, 01:00 PM)

that's good to know,
I was going to ask whether to save the virtual disk as a single file or to split it into multiple files - for splitting files, they say may reduce performance with very large disks. I dont know if they mean large physical discs or large virtual discs (and WTF is "large" these days... )

But I think I'll take xtabber's recommendation anyway:

I suggest using the option to limit file sizes to 2GB because it makes it much easier to manage and copy or move large VMs than as a single huge file.

-xtabber (August 17, 2012, 01:53 PM)

it's great to get so much advice

5811

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 09:44 AM »

   thanks Josh

VmWare *Player* is not what you want;  You need the VmWare "Workstation" tool (not free), or one of the free alternative virtual machine tools, like VirtualBox.

-mouser (August 17, 2012, 09:33 AM)

why do you say that mouser? (Josh's reply makes it sound quite usable). Is it because I mention wanting to use files outside the VM?
I may want to use it for actual work; initially I want to do a couple of test installs, also to try run an older app that doesnt work for me on Win7.


ps. back later ;-)

5812

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 09:17 AM »

Possibly relevant:

I'm using a single Windows 7 machine (no network)
I do have an external drive that I could store files on for sharing with both OS's.

Or could I network the two machines: real/virtual (remember here: I'm a noob - also with networking :p)

5813

General Software Discussion / Help me understand Virtual Machine [VMWare]

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 09:11 AM »

OK

• I've installed VMWare Player
• I have my winXP iso ready to roll

I've been reading the documentation, it's confusing, because there seems to be many versions/aspects to VMWare. But mainly confusing cause they dont cater to users who dont already understand (there's got to be a name for that - insider-manual-syndrome maybe).

I understand it's going to be a completely separate virtual install, but I'm not sure if this completely seperate (virtual) machine can see the real machine, and vice versa.

What I dont know (so far) is:

1) I suspect ideally an empty partition would be good for the virtual machine(s) - but dont know.
2) I presume it will create a virtual drive anyway?
3) if yes to #2: can it create virtual partitions on the virtual drive?
4) if yes to #3: can files on virtual partitions be accessed from outside the virtual OS?
5) within the virtual OS, will I be able to access and modify files from the "real" machine i.e. outside of the virtual machine

Any help much appreciated

5814

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple "overlay" to CHM (Help) file which allows highlighting, annotation

« Last post by tomos on August 17, 2012, 05:34 AM »

One virtue of .chm is it is compiled html pages.  You can use free Html Help Workshop to decompile into html pages.  You can then use whatever tools will work on html. Change images or annotate them, etc..  Then recompile to .chm help.

-MilesAhead (September 16, 2011, 03:24 PM)

dunno if this of interest -
dc member Jibz compiled the InfoQube online manual to CHM. He gives instructions here (InfoQube forums).

Re: HTML Help (CHM) version of User Manual - Updated Apr ...
Submitted by Jibz on Sun, 2011-04-03 04:49
____________________________________________

I wanted to make a note here of the exact steps I am currently using to create the chm version to make it easier
for other people to produce the same result.
 
Make sure you have Perl and the HTML Help Workshop installed.
...

5815

Living Room / Re: waiting list at library...for an e-book?

« Last post by tomos on August 16, 2012, 03:05 PM »

http://www.unshelved.com/2012-8-13




edit/ it's well worth reading the folowing couple of days as well ;-)

5816

General Software Discussion / Re: Why Everything 1.2.1.451a still Alpha?

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 03:28 PM »

You mean This?

-Stephen66515 (August 14, 2012, 03:19 PM)

... this I guess

5817

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 03:24 PM »

I was clicking the forward and back buttons in the main window & I heard a couple of "pops".
I notice this in the clipboard

-tomos (August 14, 2012, 12:15 PM)

Odd, there is no code in there to do that.  Does it do it even after restarting sWeather?

-skwire (August 14, 2012, 12:26 PM)

it copies a couple of times for each icon, I cant figure out when it happens - e.g. it might happen on the fourth click of the back icon. Happens with back/forward/refresh icons. It seems to happen less often after restarting but it does happen again. (with V.1.2.9 Build1)
I cannot figure out an exact pattern.

It's no big deal, but it is odd.

I'm using mouser's CH&S.

5818

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 12:15 PM »

I seem to be have a sWeather hour:

I was clicking the forward and back buttons in the main window & I heard a couple of "pops".
I notice this in the clipboard



it seems to be copying the filepath of the clicked button-icon.
is that expected behaviour?

Is it correct that these be in a $$$$$_sWeather_temp temp folder:

Spoiler

1.png
2.png
3.png
4.png
5.png
about.png
changelog.txt
icon.ico
resources.dll
yahoo.ico

5819

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 12:04 PM »

I like discreet myself :-)

5820

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 12:00 PM »

What do you all think of this layout with buttons at the bottom?
 (see attachment in previous post)

-skwire (August 14, 2012, 11:52 AM)

looks well, but I think the other one above (as it currently is) is more discreet

5821

Living Room / Re: "Magic Pig Powder" May Heal My Wife

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 11:55 AM »

That was a difficult read,
I cant hardly begin to imagine what it was like for you all...

Wish us luck

-y0himba (August 14, 2012, 08:22 AM)

all the very best of luck !!

5822

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 11:38 AM »

Enjoying the weather here with sWeather, of course

I have a question about the Yahoo site
-
does *anyone* know if it gives it's sources anywhere? - I mean the location of whatever weather station it uses?
I cant find anything on the page myself...

My problem is that, for the village I live in it currently says 26°C, for the nearest city it says 16°C. The city is less than 10 miles away, with no noticable difference in weather apart from usually being warmer due to being built-up.
So, something is quite wrong there, yet I would have thought that the forecast for a small city would be more accurate than the forecast for a village pop. 600...

I dont even have a thermometer to check, but it definitely is well over 20° here at the moment.

5823

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

« Last post by tomos on August 14, 2012, 03:59 AM »

It hasn't snowed this far North since we've been here!

-CleverCat (August 14, 2012, 03:46 AM)

I love that when you get a dusting of snow. Like icing sugar :-)
Looks like some plants are in flower still?


PS photos #1 and #3 are the same

5824

Living Room / Re: Typing Speed Competition!

« Last post by tomos on August 13, 2012, 02:14 PM »

it doesnt seem to be able to handle my logitech (old) media keyboard

2 try. Way too much errors!   
 (see attachment in previous post)

-Mark0 (August 13, 2012, 07:29 AM)

500

5825

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

« Last post by tomos on August 13, 2012, 02:12 PM »

Mark0 types