Random Question Thread: Tech

[Aldon]

I mean anything: The assignment is a pick-your-topic from the list provided, and I picked wide area networks. Then, through the course of the paper, the syllabus asks questions. One of the questions is "Conduct a SWOT analysis by analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, application opportunities, and threats from competitors of the chosen topic."

So I'm just looking for general competitors to wide area networks in general, then I can do research or make some logical deductions from there. One obvious competitor is Wireless wide area networks, but I'm striking out after that.

Being that a WAN is about as broad a term as possible for any network that conducts information, WWAN is about your only option for a 'competitor' to a WAN (though it's really still a WAN). You might as well ask for competition for transportation, there isn't one.

It sounds more like its asking for competitors within WAN technologies. You could go on about leased line protocols (who still uses leased lines?), frame relay protocol, ATM protocol, point-to-point etc.

[Melena]

Looking to get a desk clamp monitor mount for two monitors, but is there any argument over getting a single clamp with two arms versus two individual mounts? And any advice on what to look for?

Can't really give too much recommendation wise but my manager has a quad clamp for his displays at work and it's pretty awesome.

[Aylee]

nvm

[Shadowhusky]

I'm looking for an android FLV player that has an option for repeat/looping of videos and is free. VCL is not an option as it does not work on my tablet (a xoom).

[Aldon]

I'm looking for an flv player

is simply converting them to mp4 out of the question?

[chiyio]

handbrake?

[Dngnhack]

i use Oplayer it works out pretty well. the Lite version is free and not 2 bad to use.

[Moss]

To update a previous question, my laptop is still out of commission. I talked to lenovo support and it's still under warranty, so they are supposed to send me a box to ship it in for repair.

Now I'm worried I'm going to get it back with everything wiped. I've been told I need to buy a SATA (sneak attack trick attack obv) drive and insert my removed hard drive from my laptop to save my data.

Can anyone confirm? Is this easy to do without breaking anything or losing data? Do I need an external HD to move the data onto after I get it on the SATA drive?

[Meresgi]

Anyone know how to stop google drive from nagging you on startup to sign in? Packaging it and I don't want it to yell at students to login each time they turn on their machines.

[Callisto]

Does anyone know if there's some sort of switcher that I can use to send the signal from a USB webcam to 2 different PCs? It doesn't have to output simultaneously, as long as I can switch between the two. I've found USB switchers but I haven't found confirmation on if they work for video signal.

[Aldon]

Can anyone confirm? Is this easy to do without breaking anything or losing data? Do I need an external HD to move the data onto after I get it on the SATA drive?

Wiping customer hard-drives is a tried-and-true method of computer repair, and they most likely will wipe it. In fact, it's common enough that you should take it as a given that your hard drive will be formatted.
I would highly recommend an external hard drive to save your important data.

If you really want to go off the deep end you could do a complete image (think .iso) of your hard drive using software like Clonezilla or PING. Restoring an image from that will completely restore your hard drive. Windows install/software and all.
I personally recommend just backing up data (photos, documents, etc) only unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise.

[Aldon]

Anyone know how to stop google drive from nagging you on startup to sign in? Packaging it and I don't want it to yell at students to login each time they turn on their machines.

Run msconfig and turn it off in Startup. Could package the .exe to install it within an .msi that removes the entry.

[Mistahwiggles]

tunechy 2 tech

[Moss]

Wiping customer hard-drives is a tried-and-true method of computer repair, and they most likely will wipe it. In fact, it's common enough that you should take it as a given that your hard drive will be formatted.
I would highly recommend an external hard drive to save your important data.

If you really want to go off the deep end you could do a complete image (think .iso) of your hard drive using software like Clonezilla or PING. Restoring an image from that will completely restore your hard drive. Windows install/software and all.
I personally recommend just backing up data (photos, documents, etc) only unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise.

Thanks. Is the SATA Drive backing-up process as I described (i.e., not hard to do for someone that isn't super computer savvy)?

[Isiolia]

Thanks. Is the SATA Drive backing-up process as I described (i.e., not hard to do for someone that isn't super computer savvy)?

SATA is a type of interface. One that most modern HDDs use. The suggestion you got was basically to swap a new HDD into your machine before you send it in. The difficulty of that ranges from dead simple to "whoever designed this should be shot", but most are designed to be easily swapped.

In turn, you can get adapters of various kinds to hook up your existing system drive externally, allowing for easy access to your data. You wouldn't need to do any kind of backup process, just hook the original drive up via USB and copy your files over.

Barring a horrendous internal design (like some of the more recent Inspirons), it's very easy to do.

[MrDodo]

If your motherboard does not support AHCI is it worth upgrading to an SSD from an HDD? Alternatively does AHCI provide enough improvement in real world use with SSDs to warrant upgrading your motherboard?

[Bardicrune]

If your motherboard does not support AHCI is it worth upgrading to an SSD from an HDD? Alternatively does AHCI provide enough improvement in real world use with SSDs to warrant upgrading your motherboard?

If your motherboard is old enough that it doesn't support AHCI, it's worth upgrading your entire system.

But to be useful, yes, just in the loss of access and seek time alone, the upgrade from HDD to SSD is worth it.

[Isiolia]

The BIOS may simply label it SATA Native Mode or something too.

[Bardicrune]

Be forewarned, if you change your sata mode from IDE (legacy) to AHCI (SATA Native or RAID), your Windows OS WILL almost positively give you a BSoD due to invalid mode selection in OS. Use the following guide before you make the change in BIOS:

Source
1. Startup Regedit
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
3. Open msahci
4. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
5. In the value Data field enter "0" and click "ok"
6. exit "Regedit"
7. Reboot Rig and enter BIOS (press "Delete", "F2", "whatever key your bios requires" key while Booting)

In your BIOS select "Integrated Peripherals" and OnChip PATA/SATA Devices. Now change SATA Mode to AHCI from IDE.

You now boot into windows 7, the OS will recognize AHCI and install the devices. Now the system needs one more reboot and voilla .. enjoy the improved SSD performance.

[Moss]

SATA is a type of interface. One that most modern HDDs use. The suggestion you got was basically to swap a new HDD into your machine before you send it in. The difficulty of that ranges from dead simple to "whoever designed this should be shot", but most are designed to be easily swapped.

In turn, you can get adapters of various kinds to hook up your existing system drive externally, allowing for easy access to your data. You wouldn't need to do any kind of backup process, just hook the original drive up via USB and copy your files over.

Barring a horrendous internal design (like some of the more recent Inspirons), it's very easy to do.

Thanks. I ended up buying a case thing with a mini USB port to hook up my hard drive to. Wasn't too hard to take out of my lenovo. Then I moved all my shit to my friend's PC.

I then put it back in my pc, expecting to have to wipe everything to get it to boot. I decided to try one more system restore, which failed. Then my fucking computer booted up like it was nothing. wtf.