Tech Advice for all, and for all subjects

[mdmf007]

The old drive is fine, and I have cases for it so i can move files to the new laptop. Problem is I want to move the programs over from the old drive without having to reinstall software - Any hacks for that off an external drive?

[Popeye]

You will have to reinstall all your programs. Most Microsoft programs look at the way the computer is configured and will not run except on the original machine.
You could try installing the old drive on the new machine and supplying the software codes when asked. If the old OSD was XP don't bother, it is no longer supported.
I've found that most parts of any system will fail aproximately at the same time. I wouldn't expect your old HD to last. If it fails you will lose everything, programs and files. Note, this is just a guess- it could go another 10 years.

[mdmf007]

Gah,

thats what i figured - Just thought id bounce it off here in hopes ya know.....

thx.

[Box Burner]

Haven't used it for some time but I used to have a utility called ghost (an acronym for general hardware-oriented system transfer) which will copy one drive to another as long as the drive being copied to is the same size or bigger than the drive being copied from. I think Symantek (Norton) has it now. Again it will not work if the new system is very much different (hardware-wise) from the old system IF xp or later OS.

[tamarakay]

Why is it that whenever the hard core geeks at work figure out some really tricky thing at work they call me over and explain it in excruciating detail. Or, even more fun, the ones that call me over and talk their way through whatever it was that had them stumped. Usually as they talk they work out whatever it was that had them stuck. But really, I don't have time to stand here and watch you look for that random weird check box you found that unlocked that app-v thingy or unblocked the pipe and I really don't care what delivers the damn app, app-v or Citrix. Just pick one already and get it done! Deadlines people!

I must have a sympathetic uh-huh, oh I see, hmmmmm, I see, thing or something. I obviously can look more interested than I am lol

Ok, I feel better. Carry on with your thread.

*edited to add missing words* oh dyslexia

[BBadger]

The old drive is fine, and I have cases for it so i can move files to the new laptop. Problem is I want to move the programs over from the old drive without having to reinstall software - Any hacks for that off an external drive?

Sometimes you can get it to work, though on Windows XP it used to require changing your disk controllers to the non-motherboard-specific variants. I had systems I was able to use across multiple upgrades because I loathe having to reinstall. It might work fine with Windows 7 by just connecting it up. Worth a shot anyway.

[theCryptofishist]

Why is it that whenever the hard core geeks at work figure out some really tricky thing at work they call me over and explain it in excruciating detail. Or, even more fun, the ones that call me over and talk their way through whatever it was that had them stumped. Usually as they talk they work out whatever it was that had them stuck. But really, I don't have time to stand here and watch you look for that random weird check box you found that unlocked that app-v thingy or unblocked the pipe and I really don't care what delivers the damn app, app-v or Citrix. Just pick one already and get it done! Deadlines people!

I must have a sympathetic uh-huh, oh I see, hmmmmm, I see, thing or something. I obviously can look more interested than I am lol

Ok, I feel better. Carry on with your thread.

*edited to add missing words* oh dyslexia

Actually, that should be built into their time--and apparently yours. Perhaps you are just the calm presence that can bring the understanding to fulfillment. Not a common talent...

(I am steering away from that dodgy noun "muse".)

[BBadger]

Why is it that whenever the hard core geeks at work figure out some really tricky thing at work they call me over and explain it in excruciating detail. Or, even more fun, the ones that call me over and talk their way through whatever it was that had them stumped. Usually as they talk they work out whatever it was that had them stuck. But really, I don't have time to stand here and watch you look for that random weird check box you found that unlocked that app-v thingy or unblocked the pipe and I really don't care what delivers the damn app, app-v or Citrix. Just pick one already and get it done! Deadlines people!

It's like taking time to praise your cat when she brings a half-dead bird or mouse to your doorstep beaming with pride. Sure you don't want that thing in the house, and sure your porch will soon be covered with feathers and grizzle, but that cat took time to bring that prize all the way to you! Alive! That, after all that patience, ingenuity, frustration, and many failed attempts to land that bird.

But the bird isn't the real prize -- at least that first time. It's the praise of the owner the cat really wants. All that feeding and cleaning and raising that cat, and finally she's brought something back of her own to show you what's she's made of.

You give praise vocally behind the glass of the door because know the cat wants to bring it inside. No matter. The cat responds with a meow in kind, but caught up in that moment of praise, the bird is momentarily forgotten.

The grip loosened, the bird flies away to live another day.

The cat may be disappointed despite your consolation, but she'll work twice as hard for the next one.

[tamarakay]

user: You need to uninstall windows 7 and put XP back on this machine. my Kofax doesn't work on XP and that's all I do.
Me: Let me take a look. ok, you haven't been upgraded to win7 yet.
user: Then why won't my scanner work?
me: is it plugged in?
user: shit. (click)

Me: (dialing phone)
user: This is (redacted) how can I help you?
Me: Your welcome. (click)

[ygmir]

user: You need to uninstall windows 7 and put XP back on this machine. my Kofax doesn't work on XP and that's all I do.
Me: Let me take a look. ok, you haven't been upgraded to win7 yet.
user: Then why won't my scanner work?
me: is it plugged in?
user: shit. (click)

Me: (dialing phone)
user: This is (redacted) how can I help you?
Me: Your welcome. (click)

love

[Elliot]

So... Microshaft abandoned all us Windows XP users in April. But this morning I found that my computer had apparently been accessed and updated during the night, and then I see on a news-site that there is a new bug that Microshaft is scrambling to patch in "all" versions of Windows.

So... did they "support" me a little anyway? Or is that the bug, disguised as a "security update"?

[Tin Halo]

That's not a bug, that's a feature!

I'd be more concerned that your computer was up, running, and connected to the internet all night...

[Patsh]

That's not a bug, that's a feature!

(that's what they all say...)

[Elliot]

So.... I am cobbling together a website for my camp, using something called GoDaddy.
I will spare you, for now, the battle of wits I am having with them (him?), but I have a question about my end of it:

When I am working in GoDaddy's "Website Builder", I am often interrupted by a pop-up that warns me of an "unresponsive script", and so long as that little box is on the screen, everything is frozen. I get rid of it by clicking on the various buttons and being patient, but it comes back, and it becomes more and more insistent until I give up and log out of the Website Builder.

That "unresponsive scrip" box does come up at other times, but quite seldom.

Whadda dickens is a "script" in this context?

There is a little check-box in that pop-up which asks if I want it to "not ask me again". Could I solve this... that simply?
I have not dared try it, lest some never-before-known-to-humanity catastrophe befall me.

I'm using a desktop computer with Windows XP Pro and Firefox. The computer tells me it has an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, something called E4400 @ 2.00 GHz, perhaps something else that is 2.00 GHZ, and 0.99 GB RAM. The hard drive has so little Stuff on it that it doesn't even have any interest in defragging. But I get frequent warnings that I am low on memory -- I think it sometimes says "virtual" memory, and maybe other times not. Not quite sure. I'm on an AT&T DSL line.

On GoDaddy's suggestion, I have tried working in a "Private Window" to avoid caching problems, but that does not seem to help.

Link to site in my sig line.

[FIGJAM]

[media]

[Elliot]

Holy cow.... If I manage to do all five of those, it will be a medium miracle.

Under "Use YesScript Plug-in", it says to enter the relevant website URL. Does this mean that I copy the whole address in the address bar when the problem occurs, and for each such? The website has nine pages, Would I have to do this nine times?

[FIGJAM]

I don't have a clue.

My nephew inlaw is an IT troubleshooter and I found out his secret.

When he comes up against something new, he does just what we do and Googles it.

That was one of many choices when I searched "unresponsive script".

[Elliot]

Awwwww.... I figured you knew all this stuff.

Oh, yes, I google all the time. ("Google" is a verb also now, yes.) But it can be difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff on the interweb. So I try to get several opinions.

Apavlin is a pro, and he is helping me via PMs.

[Elliot]

Apavlin has been helping me a bunch, and now I think the problem is gone.
Extending the script run time may have helped a little bit, but the biggie was starting Firefox in safe mode. I have no idea what that means, but it is super easy -- just hold down the shift key while launching Firefox. And I just worked on the site for a loooooong time without interruption -- for the first time.
Thanks to both of you!

[theCryptofishist]

An 8 amp battery charger is going to charge faster than a 5 amp charger?
(and do watts have any place in this equation?)

[MikeGyver]

An 8 amp battery charger is going to charge faster than a 5 amp charger?
(and do watts have any place in this equation?)

Yes an 8 amp charger will charge faster. But you have to be careful, if you charge a battery too fast it will kill it faster. Make sure the volts are the same also.
I couldn't tell you about watts, Hopefully someone with more electrical knowledge will be able to answer that.

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe I meant volts. So if I copy the specs on the one it came with, instead of using the other, random one I have, that would work?

[robbidobbs]

Ok I give up. I just successfully loaded 3 albums from my Mac to an iPod. When I tried to load the 4th album, I keep only getting the first 2 tracks. I've tried deleting and re-adding the playlist, and keep getting same 2 tracks out of 20. Do I need to let the equipment rest a while?

[Popeye]

Sounds like you are talking about a battery charger for your wheel chair?
First thing to watch is that your new charger is designed for the type of battery you have. Different batterys require a different charging and float voltage. "Float" is the voltage on the battery when charging is done. Sometime there is a selector switch on the charger for different types of batterys.
If you have not changed battery type you can use the original nameplate specs to order a new battery charger. Don't buy a random no name charger off the internet because the regulation circuits in the charger are important.
The 8 amps or whatever on the nameplate is the maximum amps that the charger can handle. The amps drawn by the battery depends on its state of charge and temperature/internal resistance which the charger circuitry looks at.
If you went from an 8A charger to say a 20A, and assuming it is a quality charger with the correct circuitry, it might charge faster when discharged to the point of slow or not moving at all. But I would not expect a huge difference.
Charging to fast overheats and damages batterys.

[MikeGyver]

Maybe I meant volts. So if I copy the specs on the one it came with, instead of using the other, random one I have, that would work?

Im pretty sure you were right saying amps, 5v and 8v battery's aren't too common. If you do have a 5v battery and try charging it with a 8v charger you will kill it. If youd take a picture of the stickers that say all this information and post it that would give us a better idea.

Ok I give up. I just successfully loaded 3 albums from my Mac to an iPod. When I tried to load the 4th album, I keep only getting the first 2 tracks. I've tried deleting and re-adding the playlist, and keep getting same 2 tracks out of 20. Do I need to let the equipment rest a while?

Are you out of space on your ipod? Try deleting and loading a single song (of the ones that wont load)

[robbidobbs]

I have more than enough space. It's actually my old 4S w 16G. Only one other recording in it.
Meh, last night I pulled out my janky Dell and moved the stuff onto a little $10 4G MP3 player.
Will revisit later today.

[Elliot]

Used to be... when I downloaded a PDF, it opened on the screen by itself. Now it disappears into Downloads, and I have to find it there. I looked at Properties, but don't see a setting I can change to fix this. This is Reader XI. Suggestions?

[EspressoDude]

assuming it in win doze or something.. go to control panel then default programs. then associate a file type with program. find .pdf make sure listed program is same as new acrobatic reeder

[Elliot]

Ah... I should have mentioned; Windows XP Professional. But there is no "default programs" in the Control Panel.

[ygmir]

on the computer note:
do I need to back anything up before adding new RAM chips to upgrade me laptop RAM?
IE: is there anything on them, when the computer is off, that could be lost?

good luck, Elliot!!