The Geniuses' Thread

shadowninty · 31-12-2011 8:50pm

Deise... you really don't need an SSD :P Your RAMs fine, your processors fine.
Vista is a bit meh, I wouldn't touch it, but could be worse.

Run Ccleaner as Roland says, failing that reinstall Windows.

External hard drives are well worth getting, although now is not the best time to purchase them what with the devastating aftermath of the Thai floods

Jackobyte · 31-12-2011 9:09pm

Deisei I'd recommend a harddrive defrag if you decide to keep your current harddrive. It basically reorders the files on your system so all the windows files are kept together in the first blocks of your hard drive. It takes ages though so running it overnight is advisable. The company that make cleaner also make a defrag program which I have used in the past. [URL="http://www.piriform.com/defragglr] Link[/URL]

suitcasepink · 31-12-2011 9:12pm

Am I dont know what to leave checked out of these

But like thanks everybody for all yee help! Much

**Timbuk2** · 31-12-2011 9:14pm

Deise, on that little menu on the left side, press Cleaner, and run it from there. Leave everything ticked, you can't do any harm using the programs (but your browsers won't remember your login usernames and passwords afterwards).

When you have that done you can probably run registry, I never do as I'm not sure exactly what it does - it probably isn't hugely important. Cleaner is the main thing!

shadowninty · 31-12-2011 9:15pm

deise_girl wrote: »

Am I dont know what to leave checked out of these
" alt="But like thanks everybody for all yee help! Much " />

Just go ahead like that I guess. Be graaaand.

Also, in case your hard drives does go to ****e, do you have anything precious you'd like to keep backed up? Might be a plan to keep stuff in Dropbox or some other cloud based file storage (Box.net give you 5GB free storage...).

RolandIRL · 31-12-2011 9:19pm

Leave everything ticked in the registry tab, it won't make any difference. The Cleaner tab doesn't need to have everything ticked though.

suitcasepink · 31-12-2011 9:27pm

Thanks everybody sooooo much for your help! Yee're all seriously so nice and helpful, and smart, really smart!

Im gonna try all this, cleaning and defragmenting and hopefully all will be cool!

Already I can load hotmail, which I havnt been able to do in a while

Jackobyte · 31-12-2011 10:15pm

deise_girl wrote: »

Thanks everybody sooooo much for your help! Yee're all seriously so nice and helpful, and smart, really smart!

Im gonna try all this, cleaning and defragmenting and hopefully all will be cool! Already I can load hotmail, which I havnt been able to do in a while

Just be aware that defragmenting is a slow process so do not be surprised if it comes up with an expected time greater than 12 hours. It is likely it may even be closer to 20 so don't just jump into it. Plan for it at a time when you won't need your computer for a while.

shadowninty · 31-12-2011 10:19pm

Jackobyte wrote: »

Just be aware that defragmenting is a slow process so do not be surprised if it comes up with an expected time greater than 12 hours. It is likely it may even be closer to 20 so don't just jump into it. Plan for it at a time when you won't need your computer for a while.

Thats only if she has 10 GB of cache files and ten times that in pictures and videos tbf. You can always stop a defragment if its going to slow. If you do one every few months it should only take an hour or three each time. Shame that they didn't introduce a new filesystem or Ext2/3/4 support in Windows 8, defragging is a nuisance I'm glad I've almost forgotten.

PseudoFamous · 31-12-2011 10:48pm

Since we're here.. Anyone have any experience with surface transducers? I'm debating getting some sort of battery powered mini-amp, and rigging it to two of them.

I'm not an audio or electronics nerd, though, so I've no idea which brand of amp to get, or even how large a transducer I'm going to need.

Colm! · 31-12-2011 11:34pm

shadowninty wrote: »

Shame that they didn't introduce a new filesystem or Ext2/3/4 support in Windows 8, defragging is a nuisance I'm glad I've almost forgotten.

I heard they're introducing something called WinFS? Or is that some NTFS variant that still has nuisances like that.

suitcasepink · 31-12-2011 11:38pm

Jackobyte wrote: »

Just be aware that defragmenting is a slow process so do not be surprised if it comes up with an expected time greater than 12 hours. It is likely it may even be closer to 20 so don't just jump into it. Plan for it at a time when you won't need your computer for a while.

Done in 2 hours!

I think my sister did it back the start of the summer or something so it wasnt too bad!

Altho, are you meant to end up with less free space then when you started <.< I did have around 67GB free now its 50.9...

Jackobyte · 31-12-2011 11:54pm

deise_girl wrote: »

Done in 2 hours!
I think my sister did it back the start of the summer or something so it wasnt too bad!

Altho, are you meant to end up with less free space then when you started <.< I did have around 67GB free now its 50.9...

If that happened, there must be lots of dead sectors in your harddrive or something which isn't good. But even so, I wouldn't have thought that would have reduced the detected size.

Is there a notable difference in boot-time or performance yet?

amacachi · 31-12-2011 11:56pm

Download and run windirstat to see what's taking up space on your harddrive.

Jackobyte · 01-01-2012 12:02am

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Since we're here.. Anyone have any experience with surface transducers? I'm debating getting some sort of battery powered mini-amp, and rigging it to two of them.

I'm not an audio or electronics nerd, though, so I've no idea which brand of amp to get, or even how large a transducer I'm going to need.

Building a CMOY? I've no experience with them but would love to know how you get on with one if you do build one.

suitcasepink · 01-01-2012 12:14am

Jackobyte wrote: »

If that happened, there must be lots of dead sectors in your harddrive or something which isn't good. But even so, I wouldn't have thought that would have reduced the detected size.

Is there a notable difference in boot-time or performance yet?

Yea its loading things faster anyway, but this time when my itunes update failed it seems to have fucked the whole thing and it cant open..

Now I think its time to call a computer fixing guy :pac:

Jackobyte · 01-01-2012 12:25am

deise_girl wrote: »

Yea its loading things faster anyway, but this time when my itunes update failed it seems to have fucked the whole thing and it cant open..

Now I think its time to call a computer fixing guy :pac:

Itunes is f'ed or eveything is f'ed? If it is just itunes, try an uninstall/reinstall.

shadowninty · 01-01-2012 1:09am

^Yeah uninstall iTunes (which is an awful piece of software anyway) and reinstall before wasting money on a computer man. Money is hard earned these days

Colm! · 01-01-2012 4:07am

Or you could use foobar2000, Winamp or Songbird instead of iTunes. They all work with iPod and are way faster.

suitcasepink · 01-01-2012 12:44pm

Ermmm it just mucked up my itunes but after doing this thing
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16017192#16017192 I think I got it back

I still cant update my avg or windows thing tho.. But Im not gonna try them, it i going a bit faster and loads hotmail so that will most certainly keep me happy for now :P

shadowninty · 01-01-2012 1:55pm

If you still can't update AVG (or windows thing?), then you still have a messed up laptop tbh

I presume you've rebooted? And you ran Ccleaner? And a virus scan?

You could be looking at a reinstall of Windows, unless others have better ideas

Lawliet · 01-01-2012 4:56pm

I was trying to watch megavideo today and got this message saying "This player requires the access to 'local storage' where it saves the user settings. Please enable local storage as without this permission it cannot continue."
It was working last night and I haven't done anything to disable local storage, and according to the Flash players settings panel I'm nowhere close to the storage limit. Anyone know what the problem could be?

shadowninty · 01-01-2012 5:04pm

Lawliet wrote: »

I was trying to watch megavideo today and got this message saying "This player requires the access to 'local storage' where it saves the user settings. Please enable local storage as without this permission it cannot continue."
It was working last night and I haven't done anything to disable local storage, and according to the Flash players settings panel I'm nowhere close to the storage limit. Anyone know what the problem could be?

Any chance that the browser you were using Megavideo in somehow uses a diffrent flash plugin to the one you checked?

RolandIRL · 01-01-2012 5:05pm

Try clearing cache, cookies and restart browser.

You could always go to megaupload and download it and watch it that way. Just change the "megavideo.com" to "megaupload.com" in the URL and you'll get the download link for it.

PseudoFamous · 01-01-2012 6:04pm

Right click any megavideo video, select setting, slide slider to a larger number. How I fixed it for kongregate a million years ago.

Lawliet · 01-01-2012 6:31pm

shadowninty wrote: »

Any chance that the browser you were using Megavideo in somehow uses a diffrent flash plugin to the one you checked?

I check the plugin from the same browser so I doubt it

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Right click any megavideo video, select setting, slide slider to a larger number. How I fixed it for kongregate a million years ago.

First thing I tired, made no difference

RolandIRL wrote: »

Try clearing cache, cookies and restart browser.

You could always go to megaupload and download it and watch it that way. Just change the "megavideo.com" to "megaupload.com" in the URL and you'll get the download link for it.

Just tried all that, made no difference and megaupload automatically redirects me to megavideo.

It's not a huge deal, I'm able watch megavideo in another browser it's just annoying. But thanks for help anyway guys!

Grindylow · 01-01-2012 6:37pm

Lawliet wrote: »

I check the plugin from the same browser so I doubt it

First thing I tired, made no difference

Just tried all that, made no difference and megaupload automatically redirects me to megavideo.

It's not a huge deal, I'm able watch megavideo in another browser it's just annoying. But thanks for help anyway guys!

Try and find a link to Putlocker! It's a lot better, no timelimits either!

Conor108 · 02-01-2012 11:44am

Disappointed nobody recommended deleting system 32. Everyone knows it makes your computer run faster.

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 8:31pm

Here genuises..

We recently changed to Vodafone home phone and broadband here (we're with Eircom atm) and like how do I know when it's changed? I'm still on eircom broadband but and email told me I may need to ring them and cancel the broadband once it changes to Vodafone but like.. how do I know?

Cakes. · 02-01-2012 8:33pm

Grindylow wrote: »

Here genuises..

We recently changed to Vodafone home phone and broadband here (we're with Eircom atm) and like how do I know when it's changed? I'm still on eircom broadband but and email told me I may need to ring them and cancel the broadband once it changes to Vodafone but like.. how do I know?

http://www.ip-adress.com/

It tells you there :P

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 8:42pm

Yeah but like what if I'm both eircom and vodafone cos eircom haven't cancelled it and the eircom is overpowering the vodafone? :eek:

Cakes. · 02-01-2012 9:46pm

Grindylow wrote: »

Yeah but like what if I'm both eircom and vodafone cos eircom haven't cancelled it and the eircom is overpowering the vodafone? :eek:

Just phone vodafone and see if it's been activated yet :pac:

Then phone eircom, we never had to phone and cancel though

Colm! · 02-01-2012 9:51pm

Grindylow wrote: »

Here genuises..

We recently changed to Vodafone home phone and broadband here (we're with Eircom atm) and like how do I know when it's changed? I'm still on eircom broadband but and email told me I may need to ring them and cancel the broadband once it changes to Vodafone but like.. how do I know?

If you've an Eircom router, go here:
http://192.168.1.254/
and it should show your "user name", which is either vodafone@vodafone.ie or eircom@eircom.net.

At least, that's how it was for me.

Cakes. · 02-01-2012 9:58pm

Colm! wrote: »

If you've an Eircom router, go here:
http://192.168.1.254/
and it should show your "user name", which is either vodafone@vodafone.ie or eircom@eircom.net.

At least, that's how it was for me.

That depends on the router I think.

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 9:59pm

Yeah it's on eircom@eircom.net atm.. but the Vodafone guy told me to change it to the vodafone settings once it changes which is why I'm really confused!

Colm! · 02-01-2012 10:04pm

Assuming your router is like mine, to switch to Vodafone you need to do this:

Go to: http://192.168.1.254/indexExptCfgRES.htm?confConnRES.htm (bookmark it)

Change settings like so:

Username: vodafone@vodafone.ie
Password: broadband
Primary DNS Server: 89.19.64.164
Secondary DNS Server: 89.19.64.36

Although I don't know, are you meant to do that now? :L Try it, if it breaks your internet, switch back to this
Username: eircom@eircom.net
Password: eircom@eircom.net
DNS: (leave both blank)

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 10:05pm

Is that definitely the eircom password? :L Because I'm not even sure if the home phones gone to Vodafone yet.. it's so confusing :P

Colm! · 02-01-2012 10:07pm

That's what it was for me, but apparently there are other passwords? ("broadband1" is another one I've seen) Hold up and I'll get back to you before you try it

EDIT: if it's "eircom@eircom.net", password will be the same. if it's just "eircom", password is "broadband1"

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 10:09pm

Yeah mine isn't long enough for eircom@blabla but it's the same size as broadband1 :P

Grindylow · 02-01-2012 10:23pm

Lads, Colm! is a genius

Tradceol · 06-01-2012 5:01pm

Hey all,
Does anyone know how to cancel Blackberry messenger?
Thanks

Pigwidgeon · 10-01-2012 12:45pm

Hello there computer literate folk.

Right, as I mentioned elsewhere my laptop has been really slow recently, and in general I can't stand vista. Do any of ye know if this is a legit website for buying an upgrade to windows 7?

Also what's the difference between the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions? Will one of them not work on my laptop or something?

I have included for you the thing you asked deise for before.

Or do ye reckon I really need to upgrade it? The laptop is nearly 3 years old. Is there anything else I can attempt to try and improve the speed of it?

Conor108 · 10-01-2012 1:32pm

Yeah I bought Microsoft Office because the mammy needed it, from that site many moons ago.

32-bit and 64-bit just refer to how the CPU handles information.

Go into

control panel
Performance Information and Tools
View and print details
System

And then if your laptop can handle 64-bit it'll say 64-bit capable or something like that.

You'l get an error if you try to install 64-bit on a computer that can't support it and then be told to install the 32-bit version. I don't think you'll see much benfit from 64-bit with 3GB of ram anyway. And some programs/devices might not work if theres only 32-bit versions/drivers for them.

I'd just try the usual; go into program manager and uninstal what you don't use. Try this too. Clean the registry. etc. My laptops nearly 4 years old and it's grand. I didn't like vista at all though and uninstalled it for an XP/Ubuntu dual-boot when I got my laptop.

OldManJenkin · 10-01-2012 1:51pm

For general speedy uppy-ness:
Start > run > type "msconfig", go to the "startup" tab, and untick anything you don't want to run autoamtically when you turn your computer on.

Download CCleaner and run it; it should help.

And If you have Norton or McAfee, consider replacing it with a more lightweight anti-virus, like MSE.

RolandIRL · 10-01-2012 1:59pm

Try downloading SP2 for Vista. It should appear in your Windows updates. I think it resolves a lot of the issues that Vista had.

I would go with 64-bit Windows tbh. If you ever want to upgrade your laptop RAM (easy enough to do), you'll need 64-bit so your laptop can utilise it. The only trouble i've had with 64-bit windows (or it may have been windows 7 in general) is that really old programs (i play a few 90s games) won't run, but for most people that isn't a problem

Other than that, CCleaner is an excellent program to clean out your computer.

Pigwidgeon · 10-01-2012 2:07pm

Cool, thanks guys I'll try all that later. I assume if I'm going to use CCleaner I should back everything up to my external hard drive first? Or do I need to bother?

**Timbuk2** · 10-01-2012 2:14pm

Another option (if it was seriously slow) is to reinstall Windows Vista using the disc that came with your laptop (or may you have another restore disc which allows you to restore to factory settings).

This deletes everything, however, so any photos / documents / bookmarks etc. would need to be backed up on an external HD / usb key / DVD (any external form).

It isn't difficult to do, I've done it numerous times, it's just a matter of making sure to back up anything you need (even things like savegames for computer games etc.). Once you're finished, your computer will be back to the way it was when you bought it at first, which I'm assuming was faster than it is now.

Once you have it reinstalled, you'll need to update it (windows usually automatically does this), reinstall print drivers, reinstall any programs you need (e.g. browsers, Microsoft Office, etc.) and copy back your backed up files.

This is effectively the same thing as would happen if you did a fresh install of Windows 7 (admittedly a better OS than Vista, but you have to pay for it, whereas you should have Vista on a DVD that came with your laptop).

And you can back up the files for CCleaner if you want, but there isn't much need - it only deletes things like history/temporary files/cookies/cache etc., it shouldn't delete anything important!

RolandIRL · 10-01-2012 4:18pm

Pigwidgeon wrote: »

Cool, thanks guys I'll try all that later. I assume if I'm going to use CCleaner I should back everything up to my external hard drive first? Or do I need to bother?

For CCleaner, no, you don't need to backup. Just make sure there's nothing in the Recycle Bin you accidently deleted or just untick that option in CCleaner. Also run through the list and see what's ticked. Stuff like saved passwords in browsers you probably don't want deleting. Unsure of anything, just post back here and we'll let ya know what it does

As well as running CCleaner, uninstall any unnecessary programs like browser toolbars. If you have less than 10% (ballpark figure) of your hard drive capacity left, try and delete some unwanted stuff or backup big files.
If you're using Firefox and finding it slow in general, try switching to Chrome (or SRWare Iron, it's like Chrome minus the spying stuff), and you'll have a faster browsing experience. Firefox has gotten very bloaty and bulky the last few releases.

10-01-2012 9:53pm

Hey Fergus, regarding your file copying problem from IRC (I won't be at a computer for a few days so I'll post it here so that you see it), just make sure all the files on your external hard-drive have all the relevant permissions as shown here:

Pigwidgeon · 11-01-2012 1:30am

I've tried the un-installing programmes to free up some memory before, but that didn't overly help.

Also, Roland I stopped using firefox ages ago because it takes forever for pages to load and constantly crashes, I've been using chrome since.

I'm currently waiting for everything to back up onto my external drive and then I'll decide what else to do. I'm also doing a full virus scan, I have avira antivirus, as a matter of fact is it any use? I also did a spybot scan earlier and ran the CCleaner thing. So hopefully some of that will work.

If not I found the disk for installing Vista so if worst comes to worst I'll try install that again.

The Geniuses' Thread

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