Comments for Computers & Technology

Comment on BIOS & Conclusion: Multiple Causes by Forbes Alex

Forbes Alex — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:05:50 +0000

Still haven’t had a Comcast Welcome screen since installing the new router. I may have an important clue: FM radio static. I live in a valley and FM reception can be a problem. The little compact receiver by my desk has a hard time pulling in a signal. It sits just in front of my LAN wiring cables. In the last year or so, static became so bad it obliterated my local classical station. I noticed this only happened when the computer was on. Much of the time it became necessary to just turn the radio OFF. Since installation of the new D-Link, reception of this hard-to-pull-in station has been almost crystal clear. Is it possible that a table radio could be an early warning detector for network signal issues?

Comment on BIOS & Conclusion: Multiple Causes by Forbes Alex

Forbes Alex — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:25:44 +0000

Actually, the problem DID come back after I made this post. The senior tech who left me with a new modem also left me with a remark: if the problem occurred again, all he could think of was to replace the router (NetGear FR114P). So I did that, with a newer and cheaper D-Link. That was about 4 days ago. I haven’t seen the “Comcast Welcome screen” since. Go figure.

Comment on Review: Super Flexible File Synchronizer by Forbes Alex

Forbes Alex — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:47:43 +0000

Addenda: (1) I find on very large file transfers that SuperFlexible is up to twice as fast as a straight Windows copy – either on the local machine or via Ethernet transfer. (2) File synch to and from a Mac Pro (Snow Leopard) is flawless. (3) SuperFlexible now offers an app build for Macintosh. I hope to check it out soon!

Comment on Use Wireless Router as “Repeater” Station by Alex

Alex — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:30:27 +0000

The day after I wrote this the wireless lost all its connections. After pouring more hours into the troubleshooting black hole, I ordered an Apple Airport Extreme.

Comment on WordPress Conversions by Alex Forbes

Alex Forbes — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:53:16 +0000

TextMate is for Mac only. Too bad!

Comment on WordPress Conversions by Forbes Alex

Forbes Alex — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:48:47 +0000

Thanks – though my solution is 100% old fashioned grunt work. Re-reading my post, I think the most important things are (1) setting up exact matches for all your categories in advance in the test installation, and (2) getting the database names right the first time. Exporting the old database to an sql file, you can use find/replace in a programming text editor, on a COPY of the exported file, before importing into the test installation. I used Homesite (which is hopelessly obsolete and unsupported) but am currently testing Komodo (I like it) and may try TextMate if not too much editor for my needs.

Be patient, take your time, check your work — and good luck!

Comment on WordPress Conversions by Salvia

Salvia — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:24:40 +0000

Very clever. I have the same problem, but I didn’t have enouge knowledge to even try to do this, but I think that based on your article I will do it right.

Comment on Barnes & Noble eReader by Gayle Montgomery

Gayle Montgomery — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:24:03 +0000

The e-reader is fine and I have used it to read several books. . . HOWEVER, the format now is confusing and if you accidentally hit digital you have bought yourself an e-book . . . no verification as to “do you want us to charge your cc” or “click here and your cc will be charged” or “put in your cc #” nooooo. . . they apparently are keeping your cc # on file when you sign up for e-reader and automatically charge it when you hit digital without any final verification. . . for somebody who occasionally hits a wrong button. . . you may end up with a teenage vampire book to read when you are trying to order the real book for your granddaughter. . . just be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!

Comment on Short and Unhappy Life of RegCure by Alex Forbes

Alex Forbes — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:04:28 +0000

Re-reading the above: I probably could have restored my system to an earlier restore checkpoint. Nonetheless, I was still left without a satisfactory registry cleaner. System Mechanic was recommended to me and I have used it for some years with caution – it is another one of those super-user-friendly apps that doesn\’t let you look at enough details of what it actually proposes to do. Does \"fix\" mean \"delete\"?

I bit the bullet and paid for a Norton Utilities 14.0 download (no, NOT the intrusive SystemWorks). Norton has always been the standard for egistry and disk cleanup. It found and repaired some 123 reg entries in Phoenix alone, and now even that machine runs lots better, maybe perfectly. I uninstalled System Mechanic.

I would NOT recommend Symantec download – buy the retail box, avoid the friendly but ineffective offshore Help, and avoid the broken labyrinth Symantec web timewaster. I wasted over an hour just trying to get the download I paid for.

Comment on Overheating CPU’s by You Know Who

You Know Who — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:45:56 +0000

Today the alarm went off at 60C. I had to shut off SETI to get CPU temp down to the 45-49C range. The interior case wasn’t that dusty but I blew out the dust anyway. I ordered a CoolerMaster 120mm CPU cooler that moves about 83.6 cfm air, maybe double the Arctic Cooling 92mm device. I will be interested to see how much dust has lodged in the Arctic Cooling fins when its replacement comes. I wouldn’t be surprised to find cooked thermal paste, either, since I haven’t run the ASUS Probe gallery of MB monitors in months. Gosh, it’s scarcely been 6 months!