Quick [tech] Questions Thread

[Lantyssa]

Very much a virus behavior.

[MuffinMan]

It seems like I would have something else going on other than that but nothing else weird is happening. Always have had Avast running, never any red flags and scanning finds nothing. I can't really think of how I could have gotten a virus either, I don't really do anything except go to the same few websites every day.

[Engels]

If its really bugging you, burn a copy of Parted Magic, boot to it from CD, then navigate to C:\$Recycle.Bin and nuke it there. Be sure to have 'show hidden system folders' checked in the view options.

[Trippy]

He can delete it but it comes right back. The question is what is creating that directory in there?

[Vision]

Question, I need a new laptop and was toying with getting a new Mac Book Pro.
I play TF2 and WoW, so really dont need a powerful computer but I was wondering, for 2,500 what is the best PC laptop manufacturer to go with? I don't mind the wallet-rape for going with a mac, but if there was a solid PC laptop that wasn't an obtrusive looking pain to carry around, I might choose that instead.

[Pennilenko]

2500 should get you two or three times the machine with any manufacturer compared to a mac book.

[Engels]

What size are you looking for? The video card on a Mac Book Pro 13 isn't bad, but due to internal size restrictions, it has kept a Core 2 Duo class processor rather than going to the i3/i5/i7 series. For less money, you can get a seriously pimped out Alienware 17 inch from Dell. For the amount you want to spend, you have many many options open to you. Since your gaming is fairly light, I'd go for other features, such as a solid state drive. You could probably get away with a Dell Studio 15 with a 'decent' video card (the ATI radeon) and then splurge on an aftermarket solid state drive (only do this if you're comfortable and have access to disk cloning software). Alternately, a Dell Studio XPS 16 might do ya. With a 250 GB SSD, 4 gig of ram and an i7, you'd spend ~$1800

Another thing to note is that even if there are TF2 and Wow ports, the peformance for most games, especially TF2, are not very great on a Mac Book Pro. They are definately playable, don't get me wrong, but Macs have to use GL for graphics while Windows uses DirectX, which for now is a much better platform for games. It may change in the future, if Mac ever gets serious about their computer being a gaming platform, but I'm not holding my breath.

If there's a new game you want to play that's Windows only, you'd have to go the boot camp route too, so factor that pricing into the equation.

[Trippy]

What size are you looking for? The video card on a Mac Book Pro 13 isn't bad, but due to internal size restrictions, it has kept a Core 2 Duo class processor rather than going to the i3/i5/i7 series.

The latest MacBook Pros use the i5 and i7. The NVIDIA 330M is an okay gaming GPU but with a $2500 budget you can do a lot better than that.

[Segoris]

Any suggestions on an all-in-one printer? Shopping for my mom who uses scanning, copying, printing in both b&w and color. Both mac & pc compatible and wireless networking capable. She has a disliking of HP so it can't be that brand. Budget of ~$300

[Engels]

What size are you looking for? The video card on a Mac Book Pro 13 isn't bad, but due to internal size restrictions, it has kept a Core 2 Duo class processor rather than going to the i3/i5/i7 series.

The latest MacBook Pros use the i5 and i7. The NVIDIA 330M is an okay gaming GPU but with a $2500 budget you can do a lot better than that.

I was only referring to the 13 in ch MacBook Pro, which is stuck to the Core2Duo. The 15 and 17 do use the i series processors.

[apocrypha]

Any suggestions on an all-in-one printer? Shopping for my mom who uses scanning, copying, printing in both b&w and color. Both mac & pc compatible and wireless networking capable. She has a disliking of HP so it can't be that brand. Budget of ~$300

I've had very good experiences with Epson printers, but not that kind of all-in-one, only photo printers. All-in-ones have a habit of being very unreliable because there's too much packed into one box. It's like the TV+DVD combos... they're shit at the end of the day.

My approach would be to get a decent printer and then save up a bit longer and get a decent scanner too.

[Trippy]

What size are you looking for? The video card on a Mac Book Pro 13 isn't bad, but due to internal size restrictions, it has kept a Core 2 Duo class processor rather than going to the i3/i5/i7 series.

The latest MacBook Pros use the i5 and i7. The NVIDIA 330M is an okay gaming GPU but with a $2500 budget you can do a lot better than that.

I was only referring to the 13 in ch MacBook Pro, which is stuck to the Core2Duo. The 15 and 17 do use the i series processors.

Ah, right, I missed that part.

[Segoris]

Any suggestions on an all-in-one printer? Shopping for my mom who uses scanning, copying, printing in both b&w and color. Both mac & pc compatible and wireless networking capable. She has a disliking of HP so it can't be that brand. Budget of ~$300

I've had very good experiences with Epson printers, but not that kind of all-in-one, only photo printers. All-in-ones have a habit of being very unreliable because there's too much packed into one box. It's like the TV+DVD combos... they're shit at the end of the day.

My approach would be to get a decent printer and then save up a bit longer and get a decent scanner too.

Thanks for the tip on epson, I never tried them that I know of. While I agree all in one are a bit of a waste and lower quality in the few I've seen, my mom likes having the all in one since she and my dad do a lot of traveling by RV during winter, so space is an issue as well as having the copier/scanner being really helpful for them on the road with the stuff they use it for. 

[Mrbloodworth]

Question: Can I mix DDR 2 with DDR 3 memory sticks?

I currently have 4gb of DDR 2 (2 x 2gb), was looking to fill the other slots. Was wondering if I can toss some DDR 3 in there to take me up to 8gb. I have this motherboard.

[Engels]

Uhm, from what I can see that motherboard only has DDR2 slots. But even if you had the fairly rare hybrid dual memory type board, you could only use one type at a time.

[Mrbloodworth]

Uhm, from what I can see that motherboard only has DDR2 slots. But even if you had the fairly rare hybrid dual memory type board, you could only use one type at a time.

Answers that then, I was slightly confused by the use of "standard" in that line.

Thanks!

[SnakeCharmer]

Weird start up issue.  Sometimes freezes on on bios, other times makes it all the way to desktop. Then it freezes.  If I can make it past the first 45 seconds, I'm good to go.  If it freezes, the only thing to do is press the power button and try a reboot.

Oddities noted:  Most often occurs just after opening IE.  When it freezes on bios, it freezes at the "INITIALIZING USB CONTROLLERS" message.

I5-750 at 3.8Ghz
MSI P55-GD65 mobo
8 GB of RAM
EVGA GTX 470 GPU
Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD
Corsair 850W PSU
Corsair H50 water cooler, using two Corsair fans in a push/pull exhaust configuration
Using latest bios (1.8 I think)
Windows is up to date - FWIW, this has occurred on two fresh installs of W7 64
Using onboard sound with Triton AX720 headphones connected via digital optical
Logitech X540 connected through other onboard sound.

Heat is not an issue (29-32C idle, 58-61C load under Prime95).  RAM has been tested with memtest and I've swapped it all out and tested a stick at a time.  I get spectacular results in all my games, so no performance problems there.  Just the odd hard freeze on boot/start up.

I'm thinking a flaky mobo, as the RAM has been tested and swapped.  I've yanked the GTX 470 out and put in a spare 8800GTS G92. 

Halp?

[Engels]

Bloodworth, I wouldn't sweat the extra ram too much, either. Folks are all agog over shittons of ram, but I have yet to throw anything at my PC that's needed more than 4.

SnakeCharmer, do you have anything odd plugged into your USB slots? Could be a dying keyboard (I have had MAJOR issues with a Razer keyboard which I had to trash cuz it bugged out my machine so bad) or a drive that powers off USB and has power issues, or something like that.

[Lantyssa]

Yeah.  What USB devices do you have plugged in?

[SnakeCharmer]

SnakeCharmer, do you have anything odd plugged into your USB slots? Could be a dying keyboard (I have had MAJOR issues with a Razer keyboard which I had to trash cuz it bugged out my machine so bad) or a drive that powers off USB and has power issues, or something like that.

No, nothing odd.  Just a new G110 keyboard (replacing a Lycosis keyboard) and a MX518 mouse.  No webcam, no external HDD.  The Triton AX720 connects to both optical and USB (for the mic).  The start up issue was there when I had the Lycosis as well.    I'm trying to remember if the Razer keyboard was used on my second Windows install trying to find a cure...Either way, the drivers and such for it have been long removed. 

But that's it.  Nothing else.

[Engels]

Do you have non-motherboard USB slots that are connected via cable to the motherboard? Front case USB ports connect that way. If so, are you using them? I'd do a process of elimination and unplug the front USB slots from the motherboard via the motherboard's connector, see if that clears it up.

If not, it sounds like some electronic fault on the motherboard's native USB functionality, in which case, do the reverse; use the front connectors through the motherboard's connector, and don't use the back native USB connectors. There may even be a way of disabling, through BIOS, certain USB ports. I don't know this for a fact, tho. You'd have to poke about in BIOS to see.

[Trippy]

Weird start up issue.  Sometimes freezes on on bios, other times makes it all the way to desktop. Then it freezes.  If I can make it past the first 45 seconds, I'm good to go.  If it freezes, the only thing to do is press the power button and try a reboot.

Oddities noted:  Most often occurs just after opening IE.  When it freezes on bios, it freezes at the "INITIALIZING USB CONTROLLERS" message.

I5-750 at 3.8Ghz
MSI P55-GD65 mobo
8 GB of RAM
EVGA GTX 470 GPU
Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD
Corsair 850W PSU
Corsair H50 water cooler, using two Corsair fans in a push/pull exhaust configuration
Using latest bios (1.8 I think)
Windows is up to date - FWIW, this has occurred on two fresh installs of W7 64
Using onboard sound with Triton AX720 headphones connected via digital optical
Logitech X540 connected through other onboard sound.

Heat is not an issue (29-32C idle, 58-61C load under Prime95).  RAM has been tested with memtest and I've swapped it all out and tested a stick at a time.  I get spectacular results in all my games, so no performance problems there.  Just the odd hard freeze on boot/start up.

I'm thinking a flaky mobo, as the RAM has been tested and swapped.  I've yanked the GTX 470 out and put in a spare 8800GTS G92. 

Halp?

I'd say MB or PS, probably MB. The fact it works okay after a bit suggests as the temperature of components increases some connection is being (re)made that isn't when things are cold. Once the system's working, if you turn it off and then immediately turn it back on does it startup okay? How does this behavior contrast with starting up the computer that's been off for a while (like overnight)?

Another thing is is there some weird delay in terms of the water cooling system kicking in? Do you have a convention cooling system you can install to test this out?

[SnakeCharmer]

Gotta SirBruce it...Sorry...

I'd say MB or PS, probably MB.

Not the PSU.  I swapped out a slightly smaller one (750W, but still plenty of power on the 12v rails) and still had the same issue.

The fact it works okay after a bit suggests as the temperature of components increases some connection is being (re)made that isn't when things are cold. Once the system's working, if you turn it off and then immediately turn it back on does it startup okay?

Sometimes.  It's hit or miss.  But what you're saying makes complete and total sense.

How does this behavior contrast with starting up the computer that's been off for a while (like overnight)?

Sometimes it starts up fine, other times it freezes.  I know I sound like a broken record, but there's really no constant theme to it.

Another thing is is there some weird delay in terms of the water cooling system kicking in? Do you have a convention cooling system you can install to test this out?

I thought about that.  Even when I have it at stock speeds, would it heat up enough in the first 5 seconds to freeze up?  Because even when it's not overclocked, it still has a pretty good chance of freezing up on the bios screen at start up.  You can hear the pump 'click' as it starts up on power up.  I hate to take off the water cooler, but at this point I'm willing to try anything.  I've got the stock fan that came with it (somewhere).  Soon as I get a free hour or two, I'll put it on and see what happens.  The cooler is the only thing I haven't swapped out to narrow it down.  

I really really hope it's not the cooler, because I absolutely LOVE that thing.

Do you have non-motherboard USB slots that are connected via cable to the motherboard? Front case USB ports connect that way. If so, are you using them? I'd do a process of elimination and unplug the front USB slots from the motherboard via the motherboard's connector, see if that clears it up.

Just the front USB ports which aren't being used.

If not, it sounds like some electronic fault on the motherboard's native USB functionality, in which case, do the reverse; use the front connectors through the motherboard's connector, and don't use the back native USB connectors. There may even be a way of disabling, through BIOS, certain USB ports. I don't know this for a fact, tho. You'd have to poke about in BIOS to see.

I'll give it a shot and see what happens.  I need to see if I have something plugged into one of the new fangled 3.0 USB ports that shouldn't be and see if that is the issue...

[Mrbloodworth]

Bloodworth, I wouldn't sweat the extra ram too much, either. Folks are all agog over shittons of ram, but I have yet to throw anything at my PC that's needed more than 4.

I do a lot of 3d + Photoshop layers (Non-destructive editing) work, so it helps a great deal.

[Engels]

Oh, well, yep, there is that.

[Mrbloodworth]

It also makes games awesome.   Correct key or not, Lightwave 9.6 SCREAMS in 64 bit.

[Trippy]

It also makes games awesome.   Correct key or not, Lightwave 9.6 SCREAMS in 64 bit.

There's only a handful of PC games that are 64-bit -- i.e. that can take advantage of more than 2 GB of RAM.

[Salamok]

It also makes games awesome.   Correct key or not, Lightwave 9.6 SCREAMS in 64 bit.

There's only a handful of PC games that are 64-bit -- i.e. that can take advantage of more than 2 GB of RAM.

Much like multiple cores, can't the OS take advantage of it though?  For example if you are on a multiple core machine with 4 gigs of ram, won't a 64bit OS be able to dedicate a relatively unused core and a full 2 gigs of RAM to your 32 bit game?

edit: for spelling and clarity.

[Trippy]

It also makes games awesome.   Correct key or not, Lightwave 9.6 SCREAMS in 64 bit.

There's only a handful of PC games that are 64-bit -- i.e. that can take advantage of more than 2 GB of RAM.

Much like multiple cores, can't the OS take advantage of it though?  For example if you are on a multiple core machine with 4 gigs of ram, won't a 64bit OS be able to dedicate a relatively unused core and a full 2 gigs of RAM to your 32 bit game?

edit: for spelling and clarity.

Yes but unless you are playing, say, multiple City of Heroes accounts at the same time on the same box, it's not likely you are going to be running multiple 3D games (the biggest memory hogs) at the same time.

[Sky]

Anyone have a list of 64-bit games? I think HL2 is. I googled it! And I found a cool mod for HL2 http://www.cinematicmod.com/

[SnakeCharmer]

Do you have a convention cooling system you can install to test this out?

Just as a follow up...

Took off the water cooler, put on a Cooler Master Hyper 212.  So far, a day and a half without any freezing.  Which is a relief that nothing else was wrong, but bummed that I have to replace it.  Maybe in a few months I'll get another one, but for now I'm just going to go back to traditional cooling.  It's amazing how quiet it was, and how loud my machine sounds now.

Just froze.

Goddamn it.

[Chimpy]

Have you tried to run the windows memory test at startup?

Could have a stick of RAM that went bad.

[Mrbloodworth]

It also makes games awesome.   Correct key or not, Lightwave 9.6 SCREAMS in 64 bit.

There's only a handful of PC games that are 64-bit -- i.e. that can take advantage of more than 2 GB of RAM.

Much like multiple cores, can't the OS take advantage of it though?  For example if you are on a multiple core machine with 4 gigs of ram, won't a 64bit OS be able to dedicate a relatively unused core and a full 2 gigs of RAM to your 32 bit game?

edit: for spelling and clarity.

Yes but unless you are playing, say, multiple City of Heroes accounts at the same time on the same box, it's not likely you are going to be running multiple 3D games (the biggest memory hogs) at the same time.

Well, i know for a fact that APB runs in 32 bit mode, however its able to address all the ram you throw at it on a 64 bit system. How? I dunno, magic?

Anyway, I mostly did it so I can avoid slowdowns with my art tools. I have never been one to keep unnecessary things open, but now I can worry about it less, also, photoshop is a bitch when you are working with files in the 200 mb range (not saved size, but active file memory size).

And ram is cheap.

[SnakeCharmer]

Have you tried to run the windows memory test at startup?

Could have a stick of RAM that went bad.

Yeah, comes up fine using both the windows memory test and memtest.  I've tried one/either/both sticks.  Same result.

[Engels]

Can you check to see if your BIOS has a built in volt meter for the 3, 5, and 12 volt rails? Maybe post the readings here? A certain degree of fluctuation is normal, but over a certain amount is considered sing of a failing PSU.