Random Questions...

[ThaddeusMcKlown]

Ok take a few steps back.

When you put a CD in a PC and view it's contents in WindowsExplorer; what you see a CDA files, not m4a.

 

You should be able to open/play the WinAmp just fine.

 

 

If you still want to go the; burn the 'mystery' files to audio CD and then rip the proper to mp3. Then Nero or Roxio should be able to do that easily.

 

You can try just using a ripping tool that can also convert/encode files to mp3 on those CDA files.

Well, regardless, the files I'm dealing with are m4a. It says so in their file properties:

 

So what program should I use to burn them? Or is there one I can jsut use to reformat them? BTW I care not a bit about audio quality.

-TMcK-

[Wolf68k]

Nero should be able to do it burn them as an audio CD.

 

If you still want to just conver them to MP3, try this http://www.mp3-cd-converter.com/convert_mp...m4a_to_mp3.html

NOTE: I make no promisses that it'll work, that it really is free, and/or that it doesn't have any ad/spyware.

[Shoofly]

Well, im buying a MB, and gosh, isnt a new socket already on its way.. In Q2, 06.. Damn socket changes.. Therefore I want to buy a proc that will last for a good while so I no need to change any time soon..

 

AMD CPU ATHLON-64 X2 3800+ S-939 2.0GHz 512KB

 

AMD CPU ATHLON-64 4000+ S-939 2.4GHz 1MB

 

Why sure, not the best ones, but its all i can afford.. Anyway, wichone of those should I choose?

[Wolf68k]

Ok here's something to think about.

With the x2 chip you'll have an easier time being able to play games while other things run in the background.

I've also heard that as of right now no games suppport multi-core or multi-threading CPUs (they don't utilize them that is) however games are said to start coming out sometime in '06 that do make use of those CPUs and when that happens the x2 chip should show a noticeable increase in performance.

 

With the 4000, you should see a noticeable performance difference in games, benchmarking results ofcourse, not just because it's got a slightly faster clock speed but because of the L2 cache being 1MB compared to 512K

 

 

Personally I think I would get the x2 chip

[Lawley]

Can anyone recommend a good DVD ripping program, can only find them with trials.

 

Thanks in advance.

[CrazyDude]

I don't think you'll be able to find one for free so trials are gonna be the best you can do without paying.

Here's a bunch though.

 

Question: I would like to set up a vpn. The server will be an Xp and the client will be an XP. I have some concerns about the server ip address. Or more correctly the server-side router's modem's ip address. The connect is dsl so the ip of course isn't static. What can I do as a solution? DNS?

[Wolf68k]

No free DVD rippers...psst

 

DVD Shrink http://www.dvdshrink.org/

ShrinkTo5 http://www.shrinkto5.com/

Neither one can rip copy protected DVDs, for that you need DVD Decrypter which I because of legal reason I can't link any more but you might still be ablet to find it in a Google search

 

 

 

@Pilate

You can get something like DNS redirect service like fom DynDNS http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/

Do a Google search for others...keywords: dns redirect

[DJDJ]

does anyone know where i can get FREE sounds for windows - like the startup and log off sound effects??? Also is there any other XP themes that don't require programs to be installed?

(XP home btw)

[Luke15]

If you search for themes inparticular you can install them yourself.

[Wolf68k]

does anyone know where i can get FREE sounds for windows - like the startup and log off sound effects??? Also is there any other XP themes that don't require programs to be installed?

(XP home btw)

Windows Sounds: Do a google search for WAV and browse the 1000s of wav sites

 

Themes: Stay away from themexp.org while everything there is free, the a-holes wrap anything your download in an EXE that installs an IE toolbar then extracts the files, plus you can get anything and everything they have some place else usually

 

So instead try;

http://themes.belchfire.net/ - listed as XP Styles

http://www.tss2000.nl/ - does require a free registry before downloading, other than that it's clean....use bugmenot.com for open logins

http://www.getskinned.org/ - listed as MS Styles

http://www.deviantart.com/ - should have some...as of this writting the site is blogged down

http://www.dotproject.org/

 

That should get you started. Most of these sites also have custom BootScreens and Logins

 

[DJDJ]

Thanks. Kinda obvious though

[E.A.B.]

I got a question, its a small one but a question nonetheless.

 

First off, any details I can give:

Firefox

Installed small things on it like:Google toolbar

I don't know what its called but its a plug in for GTAF

 

Heres my problem: You know your bookmarks page? Yeah, I try going to my bookmarks and everything goes okay, until I finally click a bookmark. I right click on the website and nothing goes. A small white box comes up. Its a cube, and thats it. If I click away from it, everything goes back to normal. Its not too big a problem, but I want it fixed. I got a good deal of bookmarks. Is there a way to fix it? I can click it and will be directed to the site, but I can't open it up in a new tab.

[Wolf68k]

You right-click on the bookmark and a small white box shows up?

You lost me on that part.

A screenshot might help

 

 

Also try this:

1) Exit FF

2) Go to C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_ACCOUNT\Application Data\Mozilla

If you don't see the Application Data folder; Start->Control Panel->Folder Options->View->Hidden Files and Folders

Select: SHow hidden files and folders

Click OK

3) Rename that folder; Mozilla-OLD is just good as any

4) Start up FF, it'll create a new Mozilla folder and a new profile

5) Exit FF again

6) Go to C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_ACCOUNT\Application Data\Mozilla-OLD\Firefox\Profiles\default.oaw (the last folder name may be different)

7) Find the file named: bookmark.html right click and select COPY

8) Go to C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_ACCOUNT\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.oaw (the last folder name may be different)

9) PASTE the bookmark.html there, if says there is file there already with that name if you want to overwrite it, say YES

10) Start up FF again and do whatever it was you were doing, now with no extensions or themes installed, and see if you get the same problem

 

The problem maybe with an extension and/or theme.....atleast most porblems on FF are.

[Hunter¥]

Can someone give me a link to a decent host for the countdown in my sig?

[E.A.B.]

A screenshot might help

how do you take one? Any programs?

[gta_player5]

ive asked in the GFX Gen Chat but have not gotten an answer, i know its not required,but i would just like to know if photo shop is a vital ingredient in makin a sig?

[GTA3Freak-2001]

ive asked in the GFX Gen Chat but have not gotten an answer, i know its not required,but i would just like to know if photo shop is a vital ingredient in makin a sig?

To make really great ones it is, MS Paint rarely cuts it except for maybe pixelart. There are many Photoshop alternates including a few free ones but generally Photoshop is a very commonly used tool in making sigs or any sort of graphics worlk.

[Wolf68k]

@E.A.B.

Hit the PrintScreen key then open MSPaint and use Edit->Paste

Then save as JPG and then use something like imageshack.us to host it

 

 

 

@Hunter

If you want to save the image and then host it someplace else? You can't.

The image is created using PHP. Hit refresh and notice the image change.

 

 

 

@gta_player5

I know that GTA3Freak-2001 but I can't stop now.

I'm on a roll....that's why there's butter on my pant (think about it later it'll be funny then)

 

Photoshop isn't required to make a sig, or even an avatar. You can use PaintShop (shareware), MSPaint, GiMP (free and open source), Paint .NET (free and no that's the URL) or anything else that can create and edit images....you can go to snapfiles.com and find a few others, freeware and shareware.

Most people just prefer Photoshop is all. Plus there are tons of plugins, tutorials and books about using Photoshop. I can't remember seeing a book about MSPaint

[Lazlowrocks.]

Is 256 MB of ram enough to run current games, or will 512 MB be the only way to go?

[Wolf68k]

To run current games like BF2 and FEAR and so on? Personaly I think you need atleast 1GB in the shape of 2x512MB dual-channel.

To run older games or just normal things and the OS; 512MB

[GTA3Freak-2001]

I've never really despised Microsoft until now, you see I've just done a re-format of my system and all was good and dandy until it came to activate Windows. You see I type in my legit Serial Key and it tells me that the amount of times this serial has been used has now been exceded meaning I am not stuck with 30 days of Windows use. Now the only thing that comes to mind would be that this CD Key came with my since dead HP Pavilion and that HP only got a limited use serial number key. That's would be fine if I knew about it and could get some explantion from MS but I can't even get customer support from MS because you need an activated copy to access that. I can't access Windows Updates either for the same reason.

 

Why should I have to buy Windows again when I payed for it when I bought my old HP Pavilion!

[fido2]

The same thing happened to my copy of Norton Systemworks (my parents bought it for me, I would never pay for that crap) and it decided it had been activated enough and doesnt work anymore. That was when I reformatted every week, now I do it every month.

 

I actually bought a copy of XP Home but use a Pro copy mainly because of the lack of activation required.

[TwoZero]

I've got a quite simple question I think, if the power suply says a certain wattage, is that the Max, or just what it is using all the time?

I'm just wondering because, in total the hardware doesn't use all that much if you don't put in some AMD 64bit and a power whoring video card.

And I'm running 4 pc's pretty much 24/7 and I would really love to know if I'm using 1KwH all the time, or a lot less

[Wolf68k]

@GTA3Freak-2001

On this HP, you got a full copy of Windows to install with and using their CD key?

Not a recovery disc?

Strange.

 

 

@fido2

You use to reformat each week and now each month? Damn...that's just nuts.

XP Pro still requires an activation, from what I understand. XP Pro Corp Edition doesn't.

 

 

 

@Both of you

If you're both going to be reformatting that much or whatever the reason you don't want to have to worry about getting reactivited each time. Create an unattended CD.

 

Normally this site is great, but it's a bit slow as of this writting; http://unattended.msfn.org/

Shows you how to create the CD the easy way or the hard way. Have the CD key and the current activation key pre-installed along with; slip-streaming the Windows Updates, user accounts, third-party programs, themes and other things.

 

Of course you can also get something like Norton Ghost.

Format and create a clean install. Get all of the updates to date. Create all of your accounts and configure them. Install whatever programs you want. Then ghost the drive.

Just besure the system is clean of spyware and viruses before the ghost is made.

[gta_player5]

quick question are there any free online downloads of photoshop or do i need to buy the disk?

[Wolf68k]

Yes you must pay for Photoshop to get Photoshop

There is a demo you can get at adobe.com but it's limited...you cannot save the file

 

You can however get something like The GIMP which is open source and free and pretty damn close to Photoshop, but not exactly the same.

[Lawley]

I have a folder full of images that need to be rotated clockwise 90 degrees, is there a program available that will do the whole directory in one go.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

 

@GTA3Freak-2001

On this HP, you got a full copy of Windows to install with and using their CD key?

Not a recovery disc?

Strange.

 

 

 

Well no I got a HP Recovery Disc with the HP complete with serial key sticker thing. When I got the HP overhauled with a new system the computer store used the serial key to install windows and everything has been fine since then including several reformats and repairs of windows requiring activation of windows. I guess the copy of Windows is a limited one only allowing a dozen or so activations. Oh well I guess only option is to buy Windows rigt?

 

Umm what happens when the 30 Days are up or if Windows thinks its 30 days are already up, sure I know it won't let me use Windows but will I be able to enter a activitation code if I went and bought a copy of XP or is Windows just going to quit working and the only way to get it running again is to reinstall windows?

 

EDIT: Oh dear its telling me its expired already, what version of XP should I get? I mean obviously Home but like there are the upgrade versions etc.?

[Wolf68k]

I feel like I'm hogging the answers in here most of the time....I'm sorry if I am

Now back to answer more questions

 

 

@Lawley

If you have Photoshop, you can create an Action that does it and then use the Action->Batch to do a folder of images.

 

Other wise try this E-Mage http://www.v-methods.com/emp/index.html

I've never used it, it just showed up in a search

Same goes for this; Image Genius http://www.imagegenius.co.uk/Home.aspx

EdTech MASSGraphics http://www.edtech-corp.com/

One of those should work for you

 

//edit

PicSizer http://www.axiomx.com/picsizer.htm FREE and confirmed it can do batch rotation along with many other things; it was 'free file of the day' on Call For Help this past Friday.

 

 

 

@GTA3Freak-2001

Ah ok. So someone else put in a new mobo and then installed XP on there using one of their CD-Keys. You need to contact them and let them know what's going on.

However if you want to get your own copy of XP, which is a smart move. Getting the update version might be the cheapest way to go, but everytime you go to install it it's going to stop and ask you put in a CD that is a full copy of an older version of Windows; 98, ME, NT or 2000...and I can't remember if 98 1st Edition is allowed or if it's 98SE only.

For maybe a bit more you should be able to get XP Home SP2 OEM (currently at newegg.com for under $90US) which is a full version the only real difference is that with the retail version you get a manual book and the OEM you don't. Also you do have to buy a piece of hardware to qualify for the OEM purchase, newegg.com takes care of that for you by automaticlly adding in a molex splitter which is $5 but then they deduct that $5 anyway so it cost you nothing for it.

Edited November 19, 2005 by wolf68k

[GTA3Freak-2001]

No the person who put in the new mobo and cpu etc used the product key printed on the sticker of the HP's Case and ever since then I've used a burnt copy of XP in conjunction with my product key from the HP.

 

Now I don't know if this has anything to do with it but for this re-installation of XP I created a slipstreamed copy of XP Home by combining the SP1 copy of XP and the downloaded SP2 from MS so I essentially had a XP Home Edition SP2 disc that I used to install Windows. Could that be a problem too? Like the message I get when I try and use my product key is that I've exceded my activations, from my understanding is that I've previously activated it too many times. Is that right or is it telling me that the product number has been used already to activate a copy of XP which would suggest that this SP2 installation thinks I've still got my SP1 version activated.

 

So there are actually three versions, Upgrade, OEM, and then Full? Neweeg is out of the question since I am in Australia. A local computer store that I've bought stuff from before has the OEM for a resonable price with no mention of needing to purchase any hardware so I've emailed them and hopefully if they do require a hardware purchase they will do a similar thing to what Neweeg does as you explained.

 

 

Right now I've been locked out of windows and I am only able to post through a loop-hole I guess in the activation thing where it tells me to click a link that is supposed to lead to a activation help website so up comes IE and I can surf the net. Of course the activation help page doesn't exsist and only sends you to the product info page for XP. So far I've been able to access Thunderbird for emails by clicking on links on webpages to email people and going from there lol .