Archive through May 12, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: 2003 May: Computer Problem - I need advice/help (ARCHIVES): Archive through May 12, 2003

Draheid

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 06:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju2bigdog: According to what I've read in the manual, the motherboard may not be able to properly determine the settings of the additional hard drive because it has already been formatted on another machine. I would recommend that you lookup the specifications of the drive and verify that the setup is properly detecting it before you proceed with partitioning and formatting the drive. For detailed instructions on using FDISK go to Microsoft Knowledgebase article #255867.

Let me know if you need help finding the specifications for the hard drive. Most manufacturers have the information online and you only need the brand & model number of the drive to look it up.

Hope this helps.

Willsmom

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It's me again. So I thought we had Office Depot here, but we have Office Max. Anyway I went there and looked for what I need. A salesman helped me and told me which one I needed, but the notches don't match up on my computer. I'm going to try to return it today...I hope they take it back. So now I'm confused. I have a HP Pavilion 6553. I believe I need SDRAM PC100 128 MB . The guy sold me Kingston Value Ram KVR-PC100/128. I went to the Kingston website and their configurator said I need KTH PVL100/128. The other brand Office Max had was K-Byte Reptron. Went to their website and it said I needed PC66/128 MB in their brand. I know my Office Max doesn't carry either one. I guess my confusion is in the numbers following the PC. Know of any websites that can guide me without being brand specific? I'd rather not buy online, but will if I have to. I cannot find any of the stuff that came with my computer, which is amazing because I keep manuals on everything. Thanks for your help!
Debbie

Bob2112

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Willsmom, www.crucial.com is probably the most common online site for memory. They have your 128MB module for $40.99 and there is no charge for shipping. I don't know what your paying locally, but I know many people that have purchased from Crucial (including myself and others at TVCH) and they are a reliable and fast shipping company.

Sia

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Aaaacckkk, my head is spinning!!

Willsmom

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Bob,
I paid 39.99 so a buck more is nothing. I just left their site and they had a pretty good explanation....I may just go with them. Thanks!

Juju2bigdog

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 08:01 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yay Willsmom!!! Yes, Office Max will most likely let you return the one you bought if you kept the packaging. I returned the wrong one I bought.

Draheid, thanks for your latest.

Draheid

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 08:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Willsmom: The number your curious about (PC###) is simply the maximum 'speed' the memory is capable of operating at. Your computer requires 100Mhz so anything equal or higher should work fine in your machine. You won't see any better performance with faster memory though, since the computer controls the speed.

The memory you purchased should be compatible with your computer. Did you by chance compare the new memory with your old one? I'm unclear how the 'notches' didn't match.

Moondance

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 02:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi Draheid... we need your help or any one that knows WebTv... TheOwl is trying to get to a webpage that has a secue connection and it is not allowing her to pull it up... are there any preferences she can change to allow her to get to my Run/Walk page?... thank you in advance!

https://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/secure/MyWebPage.cfm?pID=97427

Draheid

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 03:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Moondance: I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you or TheOwl on this one. My only suggestion would be if there is a way to get to a computer (maybe the local library or a friend/neighbor) just long enough to make the transaction. I suspect the problem is that the page you want to view is using Cold Fusion and I can't find specific references, however, my guess is that it's not compatible with the WebTV. Perhaps the newest versions have been enhanced to support it. I can not find any references either way.

If any other Webbies know different, please jump in here.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Draheid

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 03:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, I just looked and notice Sawheel17 has contributed and I'm pretty sure she's also a WebTV user. Hopefully we can get some help from her?

Willsmom

Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I have 191 MB of memory!!!!!! After Draheid said I had what I needed....I found my user manual...it was on a disk...was looking for paper. Anyway I guess I had been trying to put it into some other slot. I wouldn't fit and the slots and notches didn't match up...my memory was too long. It was on the mother board, but I don't have a clue what it was. I decided to take the side off too and there was the memory staring at me! I got it installed in like 10 minutes and turned it on and wala! 191 MB of Ram. Thank you so much to all of you...esp. Draheid!!!!!!! Sorry to rant but my son and husband are asleep and I'm just too excited! Night all and thanks!!!!
P.s...draheid does your work involve computers? If not...it should....

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 05:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Okay, got a really rookie question now. I figured out how to use the new CD burner and made my first CD today, just copied some pictures, froze up the computer a couple times, haven't spent a lot of time messing with it. BUT, here is my simple question, or maybe two or three questions:

How do you tell which side is supposed to be up on a CD that is shiny on both sides?

And once I figure out which side is up, i CAN PUT A LABEL ON THAT SIDE, RIGHT? oops, caps lock.

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 05:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Okay, got a really rookie question now. I figured out how to use the new CD burner and made my first CD today, just copied some pictures, froze up the computer a couple times, haven't spent a lot of time messing with it. BUT, here is my simple question, or maybe two or three questions:

How do you tell which side is supposed to be up on a CD that is shiny on both sides?

And once I figure out which side is up, i CAN PUT A LABEL ON THAT SIDE, RIGHT? oops, caps lock.

Zachsmom

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 05:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
both sides are shiny? I haven't seen those..how does the CD come? (did you get a spindle of them or are they in their own individual cases?)

Yes..you can put a labe on the non writable side..they do have special label programs and packages available. If you're interested I can look up or find ones that I have.

Draheid

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 06:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I've never seen double-sided CD-Rs before either. Most of mine have a blue/green hue to on the 'down side' (recorded side) of the disc. Every one I have has some writing on the label side.

Also, I use a "Sharpie" to label mine most times since I'm too lazy to do otherwise. Also, on my CD-RW discs, I also use a "Sharpie" and I have a 'special' eraser that actually will remove the Sharpie writing and let me write on it again. Great for RWs since the content can change but it does require this special kind of eraser to remove it.

I have used labels on them before but they can be a real hassle and must be put on very evenly in order to prevent the disc from being 'lopsided' which may cause damage to the drive over time.

Hope this helps.

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 10:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL, yes, these are identical on both sides, bright shiny silver on both sides. They came on a spindle; let me look at them. Don't even have a discernible brand name now that I have thrown away the outer wrapper. I seem to recall the brand was Spin-X. Well, they are kind of expendable, mostly to practice on. Hmmmm, wonder if it is bargain brand CD's that are freezing up0 my computer.

Draheid, I really like the Sharpie idea. What is the name of the Sharpie remover?

Zachsmom

Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 11:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
If they are on the spindle then the "writable" side is down. Just take it off the spindle and since you are going to use the sharpie, mark the top. From there I am sure you know what to do.

Jed245

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 06:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju bargain brand cd's shouldn't freeze up your computer. Are you sure that the cd's are compatible with the speed your burning? If you use a cd that is compatable with 4x 8x 12x 14x. But, you record at a 24x speed. Then it will likely freeze up a little. The end result is an unreadable data cd and an audio cd that sounds like your speakers are busted. :o0

If you use a sharpie becareful when marking some cd's can be scratched right through the cd by markers. There is a cd marker designed for marking on cd's. I've never used one myself, but, I've had bargain brand cd's that I've destroyed by making them with a sharpie... Then again I've had verbatrim cd's marked with sharpies and they are fine. :o)

Draheid

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 07:58 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju: The 'label' on the side of this grey eraser holder says "EF JetEraser". It is a long white erase inside a 'holder' that you click the top to get more of the eraser to come out. Silimar to a mechanical pencil. I got these in a kit with 'Re-Writable' tape/diskette labels along with a "Sharpie" brand pen. I will mention that all of my CD-RWs have painted writing area on them which is what keeps me from possibly damaging them by writing/erasing on them.

Hope this helps.

Juju2bigdog

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 12:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jed, have I mentioned that I don't really know what I am doing yet? I am still experimenting with how this thing works, and haven't spent a lot of time with it yet. I suppose I could read the directions. I did manage to find the Users Guide for my Nero software.

Cute joke, Zmom.
Zmom:

Quote:

From there I am sure you know what to do.




Thanks for the info, Dra.

Crossfire

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 12:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP

Quote:

How do you tell which side is supposed to be up on a CD that is shiny on both sides?



If by up, you mean the side that gets the label, that is the side that does not have the raised groove about 1cm from the center hole.

The writable side will have a raised groove in the plastic that is ~1mm thick all the way around the hole. It is fairly slight, but very easy to feel.

Bob2112

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 01:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
<...imagines everyone running off to feel the groove...>

Draheid

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 01:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju: Things to keep in mind when burning CDs.

The amount of processing that goes into the burning process is intense. The faster speed you burn with, the more intensive the work is. Typically, having any other programs running while you're attempting to burn a disc can cause the burn to fail.

Another good routine I recommend when making a disc is to create a folder specifically for the contents of the disc. Setup the folder to contain the information you want on CD and arrange it how you will want it to be laid out on the disc. Once you've got everything in place, shutdown any unnecessary processes and start your Nero software to burn with. Once the burning process is started, try not to use the computer again until it has completed the disc.

By organizing the files and folders how you want them on the disc, you also place them in a common area which means the hard drive has less work to do in order to 'stream' the data onto the disc, which will improve your chances of a successful process and result in a useable disc.

Hope this helps.

Grannyg

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju, Dra gave me this advice a while back and what he says is really the way to do it. Mine work just fine now and no more freezing up!! He's the greatest (of course, we all know that!!)

Juju2bigdog

Monday, May 12, 2003 - 09:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Found the groove Crossfire. Yay! Thanks.

Juju's got her groove workin'

Dra, I was sort of thinking that organization thingie might be a good idea. For example, if somebody had a whole bunch of eagle screencaps, they could put them all in a folder before moving them, eh? Uhhhhh, just as an example, of course. Does it matter how big a folder I move over?

Dra, when you say "improve your chances of success" I take it you mean the transfer does not always take? So I shouldn't be discouraged by the failures I am sometimes having?

Does it give me an option to choose my burn speed? I was thinking the first time I tried it, it did, and I chose 24, and it burned at 12. The other times I do not recall setting a burn speed, and once it burned at 4 and two other times at 48.

I'm sure if I just play with it more, I will answer all these questions for myself through trial and error (or I could always read the manual, I suppose). I am beginning to get an inkling of what Dra meant by the time being consumed in the preparation.