The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:48 pm

Thanks PET, nice one, but I'm a little far away to just pop into Mr Martin's shop at will even though the service would be excellent I imagine.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:01 pm

sf, go into control panel, then 'add/remove programs' and uninstall anything you don't recognise or don't want.

In my book toolbars definitely come under 'crapware'

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:36 pm

Thanks for that Mr B,

,

While I'm on, can you clarify what "file assasin" is and what you should be aware of when you use it because the applications warn of certain eventualities etc that "could" be detrimental.

Do you ever use it?

If so, is there anything that us laymen should be aware of that you will share or should most leave it alone.

Sorry to bother you with this stuff but might be benefitial to others aswell.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:33 pm

Never heard of it but a quick search gave me this:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

I would be very careful deleting files without knowing what they are for, usually putting the file name into Google will tell you if it is known malware or a safe Windows component.

This resource gives you a good idea (while trying to sell you their product):
http://www.liutilities.com/products/win ... sslibrary/

If your machine is playing up, crashing, slow starting or slow on the network/internet then I would suspect something and give it a scan. If all is normal then take off the paranoia hat and get on with your computing!

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:32 am

Dark lords of the internet. i have a question.
I havent trawled through all the previous threads. Far too lazy for that.
Someone has given me a 6 year old apple laptop.
They have upgraded. I didn't buy it in a pub.

Being a bit geeky i just want to recycle it.
If i used killdisk & wiped the hard drive to 0.
Would it be possible to install windows xp.
Or would i have to find drivers from apple.
Can an apple become a window?
Bet no ones asked that.

Post by **Big Boy** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:09 am

While we're waiting for the experts, I think you'll find people buy Apples because they won't run Windows.

Post by **PeteC** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:14 am

The first thing Buks will ask you is what kind of processor is in it? If it's an Intel, it will run windows. They started using these a few years ago but I don't think 6 years ago. If it's their old chip (AMD?) not sure on the name...it won't. Pete

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:18 am

Fair point BB.
And i don't want to go down the Apple/Windows argument.
Just a feasiblity thought.

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:21 am

OMG hua hin has woken up.

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:34 am

Ok before the inteligent boys wake up.
it's white.
looks stylish. A little worn at the keys.
A 15 incher.
I suspect a slow old proccesor with a 20ish g of memory.
Ram is probaly slug like.
Accepting this is coal driven and i could install windows at the same age.
Can i install windows?
All i asked.
I don't want a philloshopical disscussion.

Post by **buksida** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:59 am

The new Macs can actually run Windows on top of OSX which is the only way to get it working. Considering this machine is a few years old I doubt it will even be able to run the latest Apple operating system, let alone Windows. Our local Apple aficionados will know more.

Post by **Wanderlust** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:54 am

kn,
I am pretty sure that a 6 year old Mac will not run Windows directly, although it can run it as a 'virtual machine'; there are a few bits of software around that enable this but for the spec of the laptop you have you will be a bit limited; go to www.macwindows.com/emulator.html#PCEmulators and look for the options for PowerPC systems. I used to use VirtualPC on my old G4 Mac but it is no good for playing graphic intensive games, although you can run other Windows applications such as Outlook, Word and the like. I only used it to open things sent to me by others that wouldn't open on the Mac, and to run a bit of software that wasn't available in a Mac version.

I would suggest that rather than trying to use it as a Windows computer that you actually play around with it as it is - you never know you might find you like it as a Mac! You didn't say what OS it has though but again it will not be possible to upgrade it beyond OSX Tiger (I think). However that was a good OS and you can get many, many applications that are either the same or similar to what you are used to in Windows. Macs are generally less memory intensive than Windows machines so you may find the RAM and hard disk space is not a problem, but both can be increased normally, although I have never had a Mac laptop. Finally if you really don't want to use it as a Mac I'm sure there are plenty of people out here who would take it off your hands - I might be interested myself!

P.S. If you go to the Apple logo in the top left of the screen and click on it, then select the first item, About This Mac, a window appears giving basic info about the computer (which OS, processor and memory) and clicking on the more info button will give you all the specs of the machine - it might be possible that it has an Intel processor so it is worth looking, as that will run Windows natively. If you need any help with it PM me.

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:40 pm

Thanks for the input guys.
I guess it would be best to reinstall the apple software.
i will have to see what this operating system apple/windows argument is all about. albeit on a steam driven machine.
One of my step girls has taken a shine to its sexy looks.
So if you see someone walking around HH with a very good looking lappy, that only tells the time. Thats the one.
Thanks again

Post by **Wanderlust** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:46 pm

kn,
I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what it can do, but when you say 'reinstall the apple software' do you mean that you had wiped it already? If not then you shouldn't have to do anything except switch it on.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:14 pm

Was wondering if someone could straighten this out for me in plain language, I ran this admin tool on my desktop about finding cloned files and.....well.....there appears to be many hundreds of them. It seems that they are the same thing but the files have slightly different names and are located in different places on the hard drive, even though the content is exactly the same

. So, I opened them both and they have the same picture/image/thing inside but at no point do I remember creating any duplicates. Had a look on the net for explanations but only vague techy answers that seem to imply caution. Thought I'd have a quick check here before casually deleting them.

Questions are:
"Is it OK to delete one of them, if so, which one?"
"Does it speed up the computer?"
"Why the hell are there so many?"

Or should they be left alone? Any comments would be welcome.