8232 Responses to "Member's Area Discussion" (displaying 4321 to 4340)

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10/24/20
09:13:27

lazee

@OldGeezer916

Besides for work, I guess the main reason people run home servers is for accessing media on their network.

My solution is my media/video manager is portable, and I simply update the other copies and archives manually via USB drives.

Thus, I have no need for a media server, and my video is never downgraded for streaming over the network, I don't need expensive hardware, no NAS, and I have backups that are in use on other systems in the house.

The downside is I can't stream to phones and tablets, but I don't care to do that, as I consume all my video on a big screen, and my music is portable and flash drives and such.

Also, I can't access my media over the web. Yet to be portable, I can store all of my media on a small laptop with and external drive, which I can take with me as need be.

Yet if I need to transfer/share many files over the web, I do that with FileZilla and Duck DNS. Yet I haven't had to do that in many years, and it's still faster and more secure to do large transfers without going over the web.

10/25/20
23:37:17

OldGeezer916

@lazee
I am not using a server. I just use an local ethernet connection. Because one of my ports on the Linux is connected to the router I can only connect my it to one Windows machine at a time which is usually the 8.1. If I want to transfer files to the 7, I would have to swap cables. I usually just use a USB drive instead. I have a 512 gig flash drive I load up with video files to view on Linux.

Since HEVC conversions with VidCoder take so long, I sometimes run both Windows & split seasons between them. I don't run my 2nd Windows 8.1 machine with a new motherboard except to occasionally update it. I don't trust Microsoft to let me automatically keep my keep my genuine key if I ever have to change motherboards in the one I use. It is supposed to be built into the system software to allow a hardware change if it has been long enough time since the last change. In their desperation to force everyone to 10 they could have put out an "update" to brick that function. With all the other malware level attempts to push 10, I wouldn't put it past them. In 2017, when I switched to 7th generation Intel processor it wasn't supposed to work, but for some motherboards it still did. Microsoft fixed that by bricking my security updates when I was supposed to have 7 more years support for 8. Besides my 4 machines with the same AsRock motherboard, I have 5 more fully assembled & tested of the same model on a shelf in the back of my workshop. I also keep new spare parts like video cards & power supplies, so if something goes bad I don't have to wait to order another.

Most people don't know their "free" Windows 10 won't allow a hardware change. If you need a new motherboard it will cost you $200 for a key to keep genuine. They don't sell Windows 7 & 8 keys anymore. Pure cooperate evil.

My only cell phone is a $20 TracPhone I only have for emergency use, like if my car breaks down when I'm out. Also since my landline is with my internet package, if my cable ever goes completely out it's dead too. This rarely happens, but I can call it in with my cell. I buy maximum time with minimum minutes. I use it so little, I have over 800 minutes accrued. TracPhone is a rip off for most people who get it because they don't have a good enough credit rating to get a regular cell contract & they get reamed on the minutes, but for me, it's the cheapest way to go.

I don't trust security of cloud services, so I don't use them. Hard drives are getting bigger & cheaper all the time. I have 3 premuim services I could upload to, but I don't. I don't post files on any board. That can get you in trouble. My Uploaded expires next February, but it's pretty much useless. I don't expect them to stay in business much longer.

10/26/20
03:36:32

lazee

@OldGeezer916

I thought you might be using a local network through a router, in which case would usually involve some sort of server/client with settings and permissions, as with file and folder sharing.

Still, your Linux box could deliver malware to your Win 7 box. Just plugging in a smart phone into a PC to charge it can deliver malware. Still, the chances are very low of such happening, IF everything is updated. Otherwise, who knows?

"Most people don't know their 'free' Windows 10 won't allow a hardware change. If you need a new motherboard it will cost you $200 for a key to keep genuine. They don't sell Windows 7 & 8 keys anymore. Pure cooperate evil."

Good news, you are wrong!

Even OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model, or if you replace a motherboard. It's always been that way, even with XP.

So MS isn't the evil corporation as you had thought. Ha.

Regardless, your security practices are close to mine, and likely way better than what most people do.

I'm not a big fan of smart phones. Too little for too much $ IMO. Right now I have a small dumb phone for real emergencies (911), which is 100% free with no service. Beyond that, I have a cheap 8" Android tablet that I use as a Wi-Fi phone, when I'm out and about. My ISP has a great Wi-Fi network in my area, at no extra cost to my bill. They use their routers as secure Wi-Fi hotspots, and they are most everywhere here. Unlike a smart phone, I can't receive calls when it's off, but I don't care about that. But, for the most part, I just bring my tiny laptop when I go out.

For travel maps, I did have a Magellan portable GPS device, but I sold it. It worked everywhere, with no cell towers required. It even showed where to get gas, food, camping spots, and more. I had no bills with that, with free map updates.

10/26/20
07:41:04

OldGeezer916

@lazee
I'm certain I read from a number of sources during the year they were giving the free version that activation would not be good for a motherboard change. Just checked & it turns out you are right. Perhaps they caught too much flack over it & changed their minds. So in the past I also could have been right too.

Figured OEM would be up-gradable. Been 20 years since I bought a brand name computer. Don't know if they still do this but no parts other than from Dell would fit it. Since then my son built my generic computers & taught me how.

Still contend Microsoft is evil. What have ever seen but malware that would start installing if you click the red X to close the box? People complained when they put the nagware in the important updates so they put it in optional.... for a couple months & then right back in important. You never actually uninstalled it. It looked like you were, but you were only temporarily disabling it. Then forcing hardware manufacturers to not support anything but 10 with their new CPU's. Don't think they want you putting outside links in here. Google "Intel kaby lake Microsoft made 'em do it" & read the article from PC World.

Linux is far more secure than Windows will ever be. There is still a possibility of malware, but if it works in Linux I don't think it would be compatible with Windows. Don't really know. I would have to ask my son. I've gotten infected in Windows. Caught one that completely deleted the Firewall. Good reason to clone.

10/26/20
14:25:25

lazee

"Most people don't know their 'free' Windows 10 won't allow a hardware change."

I took that to mean OEMs, which are almost free when you buy a new PC. But I now take you were talking about Windows 10 unactivated.

So they don't let you upgrade hardware with Windows 10 unactivated.

I didn't know that. I've read about the restrictions, but I guess my rose colored glasses didn't catch that info.

Good info to know, thanks. I've never used Windows 10 unactivated, but I thought that was an OK option if need be, yet not so much now.

So, before I had said Microsoft disabled access to Win 7, but in correction to that, I think that was actually with XP.

Microsoft evil? Perhaps, I just don't personify them that way. I treat them as a soulless machine, as with most big corporations. Yet I'll agree that most marketers are evil.

Note, malware can be deployed across operating systems, networks, and often do such at the server level, which includes Linux, big time. Malware packages are just files, designed to activate on the target system via various means. A malware package for Windows can sit on a Linux system with no issues detected, but then expose it to Windows.. not good. There's been exploits with most everything imaginable in IT, but most hackers like to at least target something that is clearly exploitable, as with Win 7. Also, running software via Wine on Linux is another risk. Also "modified" USB cables can deploy malware, and more, much more.

10/26/20
19:57:31

OldGeezer916

@lazee
No, I was talking about the year long free offer, not trying to use Windows 10 inactivated. 7 will actually work inactivated. It will bring up a black desktop & just above the time say This copy of Windows is not genuine. 8.1 will block off half the screen & be become unusable inactivated. I told you about my legit 8 once showing up not genuine. All I had to do was briefly enable the wireless & click to activate & it restored my key without having to enter it. If 8 is unusable inactivated, I doubt 10 is either. When you buy a machine with Windows 10 already on it, it is not free. The hardware vendor paid for the key & that is included in the price of the machine. I'm sure they pay a lot less for a bulk rate.

I suppose anything is possible with malware. Most of the time all it is just pretty much harmless adware, but can be much worse, even ransomware. I don't have to worry about that since I clone so often. I have had 2 attempts at that, but since you never run Linux as an administrator, all I had to do was a hard shutdown & when I booted back up it was gone. It temporarily locked me up, but nothing in Linux can install without your password. If that hadn't worked I could always boot up from the USB & clone over my NVME drive.

Have you tried one of the newer MVME chips? The speed on the new one I just installed is unreal!

Never used XP not genuine. I bought a laptop once with Vista on it & it was so bad I bought a genuine XP disk & wiped it out. XP was pretty good, but like 95 & Millennium it was still pretty much a glorified DOS shell.

10/27/20
03:36:46

lazee

@OldGeezer916

"No, I was talking about the year long free offer, not trying to use Windows 10 inactivated."

So now I guess you're talking about the free upgrade, from 7/8 to 10?

If so, then I now take it that you were rather wrong to say "their 'free' Windows 10 won't allow a hardware change". Yet being that you said "a hardware change" that could mean you were just talking about the motherboard, but still, your lack of detail leaves room for more obvious assumptions to be interpreted by the reader. Regardless, whatever license one had with 7/8 gets transferred to the 10 upgrade, which again involves this official policy: Windows allows all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model, or if you replace the motherboard.

"If 8 is unusable inactivated, I doubt 10 is either."

That's a big "if" and moot, as it's been well reported that both Windows 8 and 10 non-activated are usable, with 10 having very little restrictions. There have been many articles and videos about this.

"When you buy a machine with Windows 10 already on it, it is not free"

First of all, I said "almost free". Also, when a PC manufacturer acquires bulk OEM licenses from Microsoft, we are not privy to how much they paid or what deals were made, which may even include free OEMs that are passed on to the customer when they buy a new PC. Such as been speculated, as with the low cost HP Laptops sold to compete with Chromebooks. Furthermore, we do know that individual copies of OEM Windows 10 can be bought via online brokers for just $6, which means that broker paid even less.

"nothing in Linux can install without your password"

There are ways for a hacker to get and use your Linux password. Also, one can install compromised software and/or updates and not know it. Also, you can be owned and not know it. Which means, your clones/backups can just be copies of your owned system.

NVMe chips? I'll take it you mean NVMe SSDs. Yes, they are very fast, yet I still prefer to buy/use hard drives, as they are much cheaper and they reliably retain data longer (i.e. less data loss), as with cold storage of a lot data. Perhaps the latest SSDs will eventually retain data better, but I will have to wait and see, as time is the best test IMO. Also, I don't need the speed of SSDs. Yet I do have my eyes on portable/external SSDs, as unlike HDDs they can be dropped and such and still work. This would be handy for with my laptop, when I go on trips and such. Yet those are still too expensive for me right now, but more so they are still too small for my needs.

I had XP genuine, but I preferred XP pre-activated/hacked, as it was faster with all the extra crap removed, and it still got security updates through trusted yet unofficial means. So, I used "Tiny XP" and the like, with no issues, just for playing offline games. When I got locked out in XP, I think that was just a test before I upgrade to 7 legit, where I tried to update XP via MS to see what would happen, and alas I got my system locked, ha.

As for your MS hate, I reckon that's why you keep making these questionable claims, or perhaps I'm just hallucinating again, ha.

I at least reckon that MS is at least guilty of indirectly incurring PTSD and such on many dissatisfied users, who have found solidarity as devotees of the growing anti-MS cult, and perhaps some good will come from that, ha.

Which reminds me, "Google sued by DOJ in antitrust case over search dominance" .. hmm.

10/27/20
04:16:41

lazee

@OldGeezer916

Back in the day, we had a co-worker/friend who bought an expensive Microsoft ME laptop, after we warned him not to. He had issues with it, but we just laughed and gave him a hard time, ha. Then when Vista came out, we warned him against that, but he went ahead and bought an expensive Visa laptop, and he had issues with that too, ha. He then started getting into the stock market, and made some software on that Vista rig. He showed it to me a said "try to crash it". Just with a mouse, I crashed it in no time. It was a rather magical event, leaving him shocked. He later said it took him over a week to fix it and was all mad me, as if, ha. He then quit his job and got into investing. Then the market crashed and I was told he lost big time and went paranoid crazy, and became homeless, which isn't funny, but there you go. My point being, I guess we can blame MS for much of his downfall, with a little help from his friends, ha.

10/27/20
04:29:47

lazee

@OldGeezer916

Over the years, when friends/family have come to me for free computer advice, I've often told them to buy a Mac. And now I often tell them to buy a Chromebook.

Why?

Because I don't want to hear about their problems with Windows, ha.

10/27/20
12:28:37

Aussie67

Hi guys,

Long time user of the site, first time poster.

Love all the hard work each and every one of you do.

Was wondering if any of you fine people would be able to either upload or point me in the direction of (a download link for) "The Dog Doc" currently on Amazon Prime and recently released on BluRay.

With thanks

10/27/20
20:10:47

OldGeezer916

@lazee
Yes, by hardware change I meant replacing the motherboard. I should have been more specific. I know they don't don't care about things like video or audio cards.

Since I have always been legit on my 8.1, my only experience with it running not genuine was when for some unknown reason it mistakenly said it wasn't. Half the screen was blank when trying to run programs with a message that I needed to activate it. I don't know if it was necessary, but I enabled the wireless & had my key ready, but just clicking to activate was all it took. Guess it found it in the registry.

My problem with Vista was so many 3rd party programs it wouldn't let me install. I let me install Office & not much more. My biggest complaint about XP was if I was copying several files, in the middle it would tell me a file already existed & if I told it no,it would cancel the rest of the transfer just like in DOS. In 7 & 8 it waits until the end for the duplicates & you could tell it to skip one at a time or all of them. Don't know about Vista. I gave up on it after just a few hours.

7 would let me install most of my XP programs, but some of them didn't work right. Using compatibility mode fixed most of them. Upgrading from 7 to 8 I lost one barely used program. Upgrading Ubuntu from 16.04 to 18.04, I not only didn't lose any programs, I found many new programs came with it.

My new NVME chip is supposed to be good for 288 TB written. I was reading that the SMART value for percentage of life used can even go negative & still be good as long as it shows you have a decent amount of reserve blocks. Gsmartcontrol will not read the SMART on it, but the command line "sudo smartctl -a /dev/nvme0" gives you everything.

I know any password can be hacked if they want to go to the trouble, but it's still unlikely they would for just the average Linux home user. I'm sure Windows is a much more tempting target. Most malware is spread by people dumb enough to open attachments or click links in scam emails.

Did you read that PC World article about Microsoft forcing Intel & others to only support 10? It goes on to talk about a lot or other ways they were trying to force 10 on everyone. Trying to MAKE someone give up a system they like by even malware tricks is just wrong. Google "Microsoft Uses Malware Tactics To Push Windows 10" Unless you were using GWX Control Panel, Most 7 & 8 machines had secretly downloaded it as the deadline approached. Ever think you would have to do a hard shutdown to stop something from Microsoft from installing? They went from starting the install by clicking the red X to a window without an X with the only buttons "Install now" & "Install tonight".

10/27/20
20:45:12

lazee

@Aussie67

Perhaps I can find. Check back tomorrow.

Also note that FilmRise is the distributor, thus it may pop up later on their YouTube channel "FilmRise Documentaries".

10/27/20
21:38:46

lazee

@OldGeezer916

I never had such issues with Windows 10 being forced on me with 7. And I skipped 8 as I thought it sucked.

I guess I've been lucky.

I still keep XP mainly for Jasc Paint Shop Pro and the zillions of plugins I have for it. I also have a printer and scanner hooked to it, and extra parts as need be. You know the gig.

My 7 box is collecting dust. I'm pretty sure all the software I used on it is available for 10. I guess I'll put Zorin OS on it eventually.

Note that beyond the high read/write ratings and redundancy for top SSDs, those drives will die long before they ever reach such levels. When will they die? No one is sure, but they don't expect them to last as long as HDDs. In other words, even if you never use an SSD, it still gets old, and exponentially becomes more and more unstable over time, which means a higher rate of lost data, and more so than HDDs. Again, this loss has nothing to do with read/write ratings or redundancy. Think of SSDs like batteries.

That said, SSDs are great for an OS drive and such when you want speed, but best not to use them for archiving data.

10/27/20
22:37:38

lazee

@Aussie67

No can find. Ask again next year if you still can't find it.

10/27/20
22:41:18

Aussie67

@MenOfMayhem

Thanks and I certainly agree, doco's are a niche market.

10/27/20
22:44:12

Aussie67

@lazee

Thank you for trying and I'll keep my eyes peeled on their YouTube channel (great tip).

And I will make another inquiry/plea next year if I don't have any luck.

10/27/20
22:47:08

lazee

@MeH

K-Lite Codec Pack is a player? Hmm.

Also, MPC-BE is rated as the top free player for Windows on videohelp, and I concur.

10/27/20
23:18:45

lazee

@MeH

Oh. I would just install MPC-HC (if that's what one wants), and then install any needed coded if and when need be, or perhaps a codec pack. See, adding too many codecs can make things buggy with conflicts and such.

I've used MPC-HC and it came with all the popular codecs.

I see little need for a codec pack, but perhaps I'm hallucinating again.

So I take it that "mega" pack is full of all sorts codecs and more?

Also, doesn't K-Lite Codec Pack have ads?

Back in the day I used CCCP, as that codec pack had no ads. IDK if they are still around.

I haven't had to install a codec pack in over 10 years, as the players I've used include more codecs than I'll ever use, as with MPC-BE and foobar2000.

What does K-Lite Codec Pack do most for you?

10/27/20
23:30:29

OldGeezer916

@lazee
GWX Control Panel was available as soon as the nagware started & it blocked all the windows popping up too. It also blocked any secret 10 downloads, so it was never a problem for me. Microsoft did get sued over the forced installs especially for making people click through several screens on every boot up before they could say no to the update. They had to pay the bills for repair shops to clean it out. Some forced upgrades failed & rendered the machine useless. Early on, the forced firmware updates were crashing things, especially some Nvidia cards. A lot of people were sheep & just started clicking OK, which is what Microsoft was counting on.

I ran my first NVME 24/7 for 3 & a half years. It was rated for 180 TB's & I had written 130. It was still good when I replaced it. It was just the prices have fallen & the new one was so much faster. I have been using SSD's for my system disks & clones for about 5 years including the main machine I ran all the time & never had one fail. I stuck with Crucial brand only because I had such good luck with them.

I only dim my monitors when I sleep. You never actually turn off a monitor unless you unplug them anyway. I have 2 70 inch screens, one on a cabinet to the side of my waterbed & the other mounted to the base. One reason I run it around clock is I'm on 4 medications on different timing that pop up reminders. Since I have frequent wake ups, I'm never far off schedule.

8 got a bad rap for that metro desktop everyone hated. I installed classic shell right away because I already knew about it. It can give you back your 7 desktop, only with lots of options. It can even emulate an XP desktop. There are improvements in the file explorer I like. I've also read there is better background disk monitoring. 8 removed all gadgets. Some of them I liked. It wasn't long before there were programs out to put them back.

10/28/20
00:51:22

lazee

@OldGeezer916

Okay, yes, I now remember reports of such MS issues with that. I imagine that was less than acceptable for some folks as you. Wow! Seriously though, that was indeed an evil move.

Perhaps MS didn't get around to attacking my 7 PC with that forced update until after they toned that process down, or I read about it and thus proactively turned my MS updates off.

As I remember, some users would get it, yet others would not. Perhaps that has something to do with that "X" click thingy you mentioned? But no worries about explaining it all further, as I know about that event now.

Crucial, good to know. Noted.

Yup, I too use big displays. My main one is on 24/7, because it's my best friend, ha. I also have my own radio station going 24/7, with a playlist that lasts well over a week.

As an alarm, I use an old Nexus 7. I keep it plugged in and on 24/7. If the power fails it sill keeps on working. It no longer gets updates, so that's pretty much all it's good for now. Otherwise I'd use the alarm on my Casio watch, if I could find it. It's one of those classic calculator watches from the '80s, ha.

Yup, I know folks with 8 who like it, as with the fixes and such. If I was on 8 now, I'm sure I'd be happy with it. Too bad they just didn't keep updating 8 before moving of with 10. I'm sure those evil marketers are to blame, ha.

I used classic shell, until support ended. I don't use my start menu in 10 that much as it's sucky. I just make shortcuts to everything in a dropdown toolbar in my taskbar.

Gadgets, widgets, yup. I played around with those back in the day. Now like to keeps things minimal, but I do always have folders on my desktop, as a staging area to sort files.

I had a housemate that always kept his desktop clean. He was a extreme neat freak. I'm a moderate slob, yet still rather organized, where I allow the lazy me to dictate where I keep things. For example, if I keep putting my dirty clothes in that corner of my room, then that's where the dirty clothes basket goes, regardless if I had wanted it in the closet, ha.