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Building a new PC, about to press checkout, need the go ahead

By the time you wear out the DVD writer, they will be really cheap or you will have already replaced it or the entire system, unless you play DVDs almost constantly.
- mmnatas
- Post #8
- Feb 2, 2004
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Need help on picking out a cd recorder

My 12x10x32 Plextor is considerably quieter than my parents' 40x12x40 liteon. Granted it's also got a 20% slower top speed, but my plextor is also significantly quieter than my 40x16 Pioneer DVD drive. Plextor isn't the quietest, but it's not terribly loud either.
- mmnatas
- Post #7
- Jan 30, 2004
- Forum: Computer Building
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Creating a Hidden Partition

Both of my compaq laptops have had extra drives, which had the files necessary to reinstall, but since they also gave me emrgency restore disks, I blew it away and installed linux in its place. Internally, big companies just use a network connection to reinstall.
- mmnatas
- Post #17
- Jan 29, 2004
- Forum: Computer Building
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Best place to buy Windows XP B&M?

If you know a college student you might be able to get them to buy it with their student ID for that somewhere nearby.
- mmnatas
- Post #3
- Jan 17, 2004
- Forum: Computer Building
M
1 Gig Disabling the Virtual Memory ?

If you know you don't need much of a paging file, just set it really small (128-256 megs). Make the upper and lower limits equal to further help performance so Windows doesn't have to resize it. The likelihood of a program actually crashing due to low memory is pretty low, since Windows is...
- mmnatas
- Post #7
- Jan 17, 2004
- Forum: Computer Building
M
So I got my FX 51

Hopefully you have a real use for it? Assuming you bought it to play games more smoothly or do video encoding faster, I'd go do a bunch of either of those. That's always what makes me feel "fulfilled" about a system upgrade. If you just bought the fancy processor to have it, then you should...
- mmnatas
- Post #8
- Dec 21, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
What just happened to my Mozilla!!!??!!

As long as you're the only person on your system, you can also use `killall mozilla-bin` or `killall -9 mozilla-bin` if it won't go away. Of course, this assumes you're using linux. If you're using Windows, task manager can do the same thing by using the end task thing.
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Dec 20, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Will an LCD last longer if you keep it at a lower brightness?

Having it go into powersave mode is sufficient for "powering off", yes? I have my screen set to go into screensaver mode after 10 minutes for 5 minutes and then DPMS off.
- mmnatas
- Post #8
- Dec 20, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Building a Computational Server

If you're going to need a lot of space and want good speed, I'd also recommend SCSI drives. If you use RAID 5, you can pretty painlessly increase your disk space as you need it; if you get a good SCSI controller, you can put a decent amount of memory onboard which will further improve...
- mmnatas
- Post #6
- Dec 20, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
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How long should I burn in my cpu for?

Side question: Is Prime95 better than other distributed apps for burning in/testing stability of a newly overclocked box? Does it work more of the CPU than say, setiathome does? I know they both max out the processor's raw speed, but that doesn't mean they're both taxing the CPU in exactly the...
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Dec 12, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
My Mouse Freezes alot

A while back (a year ago?) this was a big issue. I had one of the original MS Intillimouse Explorers, which had a very high liklihood of the cord breaking right at the entrance to the mouse enclosure. The loose connection made the mouse "freeze" a lot. I think M$ has improved the design since...
- mmnatas
- Post #14
- Dec 7, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
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WTF: Microsoft's FAT charges

A friend of mine and I were speculating that this is also a tactic by Microsoft to attempt to (slightly) slow down the spread of Linux. The kernel and therefore just about every distro boasts some level of data interoperability between M$'s file formats, by making it cost money to have this...
- mmnatas
- Post #10
- Dec 5, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Small mousepad for optical mice?

I use the back of a notebook for a mousepad, nice and smooth, but the optical mouse picks it up great since the cardboard has a nice visual texture. The back of a small tablet might work. My 5-star notebook's back is very thick cardboard, so I could consider it a "hard" mousepad.
- mmnatas
- Post #6
- Dec 1, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Small mousepad for optical mice?
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Dec 1, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Infinite Reboot (Win2K)

Didn't the virus always reboot a minute after finishing booting? Not sure, but I don't think it caused the reboot right away... I had a similar problem when a heatsink fan came loose. The system would sometimes die right before the login screen came up, or sometimes let me just barely start...
- mmnatas
- Post #6
- Dec 1, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Does RAM brand matter?

I used to always buy generic ram, whatever was cheapest on pricewatch. Then two seperate times, I got stuck with bad memory using that approach, and won't settle for no name memory anymore. Unless you're buying cutting-edge memory, kingston or crucial are usually only $10-15 dollars more per...
- mmnatas
- Post #10
- Dec 1, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
need help on new PC build

I've been running AMD chips for several years and had no stability issues, running 24/7 for weeks at a time.
- mmnatas
- Post #12
- Dec 1, 2003
- Forum: Computer Building
M
How to use WinXP without logging in?

So your dad only wants one account too? You don't have to delete the other accounts, just download tweakUI from MS and have it autologon the account you want to start by default, that way you can keep the other accounts.
- mmnatas
- Post #7
- Dec 2, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
ASPI drivers for CDRWIN on WinXP?

I tried this a while back and it worked, 3rd party burning programs worked, but built-in burning stopped working...why is that?
- mmnatas
- Post #3
- Nov 29, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Laptops: Inspiron vs. Latitude

The Lattitude line looks much more professional (Thinkpadish) whereas the Inspiron is made to look "cool" (bad IMO). That coupled with the belief that the lattitude contains superior parts, you'd probably want to go for a lattitude unless you don't feel the price difference is worth it. If...
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Nov 13, 2001
- Forum: Laptops
M
k7s5a beep code questions

Awesome, that worked. I had actually reseated stuff a few times, but 4th time's a charm I guess. Unfortunately, now windows is giving me a blue screen complaining I switched mobo's on it without telling it...new forum I guess. Thanks guys.
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Nov 6, 2001
- Forum: Motherboards
M
k7s5a beep code questions

I've just had to switch over my video card/cpu/drives to a brand new k7s5a board. The old system had a short in it and either the ram or sound card had gone bad...threw them out. When I boot the system, I get no video, and an interesting combination of error beeps. I've looked up what they...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Nov 6, 2001
- Replies: 4
- Forum: Motherboards
M
Extreme minimum to get a system to post?

I know the recommended minimum components for starting a new system to test if it works is: mobo, cpu, ram, video...but, I'm in a situation where I have several components that could potentially not work (cpu and video card). Will the system at least give critical error beeps if I just stick...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Oct 27, 2001
- Replies: 2
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Laptop Max Memory Question

I am not the person evergreen96 was referring to, if that was causing confusion. That being said, I am almost certain my laptop does take the more standard PC1xx SOdimms, so where in SiSoft do I look for the max allowed ram? I have seen 256 sticks offered, and would pick one up in an instant if...
- mmnatas
- Post #9
- Oct 23, 2001
- Forum: Laptops
M
Laptop Max Memory Question

How do you know it is EDO? When I look up my specific laptop on crucial.com, it lists the ram for my system using descriptions identical to PC100 SDRAM, EDO ram is described differently on their site for the specs. There are PC100 SOdimms, why is it *certain* that I need EDO ram? Also, the EDO...
- mmnatas
- Post #7
- Oct 23, 2001
- Forum: Laptops
M
Laptop Max Memory Question

Well, assuming SOdimms in 256 size, it would work, but where in sisoft is the max number given? I see a few entries talking about my actual physical and system memory, and then information about how much ram is in each logical bank, but no "max system ram", I assume it's another entry, or...
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Oct 23, 2001
- Forum: Laptops
M
Laptop Max Memory Question

Cool, so my laptop that's speced to only take 192 megs of ram (builtin 64 + 128 max addin) could be wrong? I could actually put a 256 chip in to make it 320 or something like that? That's a major help for a laptop, not only speed wise, but batterywise too, as ram is much easier on the battery...
- mmnatas
- Post #3
- Oct 23, 2001
- Forum: Laptops
M
Components shorting out other components...

I posted about this 2 days ago, but might have overworded it, I'll try to simplify my quesiton... I plugged a sound card (sb live) into my mobo that had been causing restarts into my system because the sound card was using had stopped working (driver issues). I figured it might work, and the...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Oct 21, 2001
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Computer Building
M
2 mobos killed :( - what to do...

Crap, running on a minimal install didn't help, so I was transfering over the ram and new/generic sound card into a lesser machine while I wait for a new mobo to arrive, unfortunately, doing this seems to have ruined this system too. I am really concerned now. Why would the ram chips and/or...
- mmnatas
- Post #3
- Oct 19, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
2 mobos killed :( - what to do...

Edit: memory and/or the second sound card appear to be damaged, need assistance with identifing what is damaged. More info 2 posts down. [/edit] Summary: I think a bad sound card shorted out my mobo/cmos/bios/something... About a month ago I was trying to connect my AIW Radeon's internal...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Oct 19, 2001
- Replies: 2
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Reliable Online Hardware Vendor

buy.com I had to return something cheap (wasn't broke, just wasn't what I wanted) they said keep it and they'd pay for it. I've also returned stuff and gotten my cc refunded within 30 days, fairly good IMO.
- mmnatas
- Post #4
- Sep 27, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
DOES RETAIL CPU'S COME WITH THERMAL GREASE?

<< ok, now im really confused, what is thermal pad? and I read something about copper shim, what is this? This system is not going to be overclocked, so would the stock HSF and thermal pad be sufficient? >> If you won't be overclocking, there is no need for extra conduction material. The...
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Sep 21, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Sound Blaster Live Platinium 5.1

You're looking at the recording volume controls. Change your view to playback volume and you should have no problems changing what's muted and what's not.
- mmnatas
- Post #2
- Sep 13, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
XP problems, won't install

Win2k doesn't like the onboard raid on the KT7A (at least it used to not), the solution was just to switch your hard drive (as long as it's not RAIDed) to a standard IDE controller, then just switch it back when it's installed. But it sounds like you're all ready trying that, and it should work.
- mmnatas
- Post #11
- Sep 9, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to encode a large amount of video in a short time?

There are some issues here that seem to be getting overlooked. The original image is being recorded in mpeg1 format, at 500 kbit/sec that's still nearly 3 gigs per hour. I very much want to avoid using lossy compression until the final compression. Converting the outputted mpeg to divx doesn't...
- mmnatas
- Post #8
- Sep 4, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to encode a large amount of video in a short time?

I don't see anything about SVCD format in my player's (MMC) options (I'm using an AIW Radeon as well).
- mmnatas
- Post #5
- Sep 4, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to encode a large amount of video in a short time?

Thanks for the insights. Is there a good compression program/format that you would reccomend? I currently use windows movie maker (which I know is very basic, but I don't need any fancy features) to splice out commercials. All the program has to do is have the capability to splice the input file...
- mmnatas
- Post #3
- Sep 4, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to encode a large amount of video in a short time?

I believe my last post was closed because someone wanted illegal copies of what I am doing, do not make such posts, I will not acknowledge them. If this type of discussion is not permitted, please explain why, as recording television for a person's own personal use is not illegal. TNN will be...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Sep 4, 2001
- Replies: 9
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to archive a huge ammount of video in a short time?

Sorry, I didn't think that was very relavent. I figured anyone that cared about this would know (the bit about it being Star Trek, I've edited it to reduce ambiguity).
- mmnatas
- Post #4
- Sep 4, 2001
- Forum: Computer Building
M
Best way to archive a huge ammount of video in a short time?

Before I get into my lengthy details, is there anything cheaper for storage, including startup costs, than getting another hard drive? TNN will be showing 77 of the most popular Star Trek TNG episodes in a one-week time period starting August 1 (I think), I want to record all of them. I have...
- mmnatas
- Thread
- Sep 4, 2001
- Replies: 4
- Forum: Computer Building

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