Computer trivia

[hilary]

My computer has problems. Don't they all. Yes, but this is my lovely, shiny new computer where I do all my work. At first it froze up maybe once or twice a week... then once a day... then maybe five times a day - and this was getting beyond inconvenience.

Question: what do I need to do to fix this?
Answer: 26, unchanging.
A big operation... a large problem to get under control... self-discipline required... learn from past experience with collapsing computers...

What is causing the problem?
46, lines 2 and 6 changing, giving 52.
A cumulative effect within limited capacity? Too many programs running?
Or is this perhaps my 'incremental' backup program at work?

What if I uninstall that and replace it with some alternative?
45, unchanging
Hm... great investment, no particular outcome. There would be a good half-day's work in setting up backup routines again with some other program. Not trying this just yet.

This brings me to the crunch. I bought an organiser program where I keep everything. Is this the source of the problem? It better hadn't be... it would take weeks to transfer all the data. Taking a deep breath:

What effect is program x having on the system?
24 changing to 27.

!!!*!@#**!!*

(*Looking round for a messenger to shoot*)

Perhaps it doesn't really mean it - no, scrub that. But perhaps it wouldn't do any good to do without the organiser?

What effect from not running program x?
52, lines 1 and 6, changing to 36.
Checking the injury - remembering the 6th line of 46, too, in the original diagnosis reading.

So I've stopped running the organiser, and the backup program, and the clipboard extender. And have had just one, Windows-Media-Player-associated freeze since. Over the Christmas 'break', I'll see if I can track things down any further.

The purpose of this ramble? Entertainment value (

) apart, I'm linking to this thread from an 'opinion piece' (OK, a rant) in the coming newsletter about whether it is 'all right' to ask such questions. So I'd be interested in responses to that... and also any insights from anyone who speaks computer as well as Yi-speak.

 

[candid]

Hilary,

Very entertaining.

I would have interpreted similarly.

But there was one question that popped into my head when I noted your 26. Does your machine have enough RAM? I recently upgraded mine to 768 DDR and the improvement was phenomenal. I don't even run heavy programs and generally only run a couple at a time. I'm far from a 'puter type, but if this upgrade made such an improvement with my small applications, I'd imagine it may be relevant to your situation. I'm running a 2.4 gig P4, and up until the RAM upgrade I never would have known it.

Aside from your organizer, have you loaded any other software near when the problem began? You mentioned Media Player stalling out. If you also have RealPlayer, I'd suggest you dump it. Its never done anything but screw-up my machines in the past. I've also encountered big problems with various System Mechanic type "fix it" programs; Norton being the absolute worst offender, especially if you load the whole bundle.

Just some ideas. Don't shoot me!

C

 

[cheiron]

Hilary

One simple question... are you by any chance running Windows ME?

It is the death of any machine!

Unstable and bug ridden... a patch together of the Win NT and Win 98 lines... Dump it

Email me if you are...

Regards

--Kevin

 

[hilary]

XP, thank you. You have no idea how much I rejoiced when I got this machine: the previous one had completely run out of every kind of space, and passed out from the shock of being asked to open more than 2 programs at once... (So this is my stored experience!)

I will ask the other resident oracle (the one I married) whether I have enough RAM.

 

[candid]

Hilary, for what its worth, my guess is 256 isn't nearly enough, (XP uses much more than 98) even for light applications, if speed and stability are issues. 384 may be enough. 512 should be enough. 768 (as I've said) does wonders! 1 gig if you're running cad or other intensive programs.

I was quite disappointed with this machine until the upgrade. Its not only much quicker but its yet to have a single crash or glitch. (knock on wood)

 

[cal val]

Hilary...

Have you defragged recently? You probably have, but I'm just throwing that out just in case you haven't.

Love,

Val

 

[cal val]

Hi Candid, Hilary & Cheiron...

Realplayer isn't a program you can really dump because there are videos and stuff on the net that require it...that won't run in any of the other media player programs.

However, I know what you mean about Realplayer, Candid...my solution is to run a very old version (before it got so hoggy and became just another spyware app). And I don't allow upgrades, of course.

Love,

Val

 

[hilary]

In the spirit of 26, I'll let it scan and defragment while I do the washing up...

Thanks, everyone!

 

[candid]

Val, for the life of me I can not understand why some online services still use RealPlayer, especially since MediaPlayer 6 has been so reliable. I often sample various pieces of guitar/amp/speaker/effects online, and many still do require it. I simply refuse to load it, even though it limits what I can hear/download.

C