Random Question Thread: Tech

**Caiyuo** · 2012-02-25 20:33

Anyone have suggestions for live images to throw on a USB stick for management, diagnosis and recovery? I'd been checking out YUMI Multiboot USB creator to make a flash drive with everything I'd need, but wasn't sure what to put on there. So far I think I have GParted and Clonezilla.

**Qeomash** · 2012-02-27 00:23

For some reason, Windower in my Start Menu doesn't actually launch Windower--it launches normal POL. I would really like to know why. Exact same shortcut as what is on my desktop, which always works.

**Tyr** · 2012-02-27 01:37

Anyone have any suggestions for Iphone 4s cases? Person I'm searching for wants protection but not having to shell out an arm and a leg for it.

OtterBox Commuter Series?

I can't wade through all the potential salesman bullshit of "this phone has eurythmic dual-band hypersonic elasticity." Help me BG, you're my only hope.

And yes I dropped Eurythmic.

**Senji** · 2012-02-27 01:49

These, in whatever color you want.

**Bleublood** · 2012-02-27 12:37

Is there a way to connect to FFXI from school? (I was told that I have to somehow get the ports open, and I want to force them open rather than ask an administrator to do it). I have tried Team Viewer to access FFXI from school using my home PC but it has too much lag. Is there any way I can get through these ports?

**Omniyoji** · 2012-02-27 12:51

The answer is no, unless you want to change it yourself....

Actually you could try running it from a data plan on a laptop or a cellphone's private/shared internet connection.

**Bleublood** · 2012-02-27 12:57

What would I have to do to do it myself?

**Omniyoji** · 2012-02-27 12:58

>_> I meant physical access to the router itself. Breaking into the administrator's lab...

*Oh for god's sake nevermind...

**Bleublood** · 2012-02-27 13:00

Oh okay! I have access to it :D didn't know it had to be done physically. Thanks

**hey** · 2012-02-27 14:43

You don't need physical access, you could hack into it remotely.

**Aragon of Odin** · 2012-02-28 18:34

Okay, my work recently upgraded my PC to Windows 7 and I'm having the most annoying issue ever.
My mouse cursor. Say I'm watching a video on Youtube or a gif in the RIT thread, all of it comes out very choppy UNLESS I put my cursor over it and start moving it around, then in streams properly......

Same as repeat on my KB, if I wanna do ".........." I have to type them individually, or hold it down and move my mouse around. I've tried going through all the mouse options in Control Panel, I assume I'm missing somthing here. Any help would be appreciated!

**Kerberoz** · 2012-02-28 18:41

Did you install mouse/kb drivers? GPU drivers? Latest flash/java/dx/visualc++/windows updates and all that shit? Turn off mouse acceleration, too. It probably won't fix anything, but it's a fucktarded "feature". By upgrade, do you mean a fresh install or an upgrade install? If the latter, reformat and do a proper fresh install.

**Aragon of Odin** · 2012-02-28 18:49

I didn't install anything, IT department did everything. By upgrade I mean we went from XP to Windows 7. I realize that now my mouse is simply lagging my entire system, if I simply hit the minimize button on a window, it will be choppy if I leave my mouse idle, but if I hit minimize and continue to move my mouse around, it minimizes smoothly.

I'll try turning off the mouse acceleration and try going from there.

**Aragon of Odin** · 2012-02-28 19:00

There is no mouse acceleration option!

Edit: Is there an option somwher that I can turn off in windows 7 that when my mouse hovers over a window in my taskbar, it pops open another little window showing me what's withing that window? Like if I place it over my Outlook window on my task bar, another small pop up appears just telling me it's outlook lol

**Almaut** · 2012-02-28 23:54

Turning off Aero should do the trick. Right click desktop -> Personalize -> pick any theme that isn't Aero.

**Anakron** · 2012-03-01 02:32

I recently read that when you buy a computer from a retailer, the Windows that they install are the linked to the mobo, is this correct? I'm looking into upgrading my laptop, and was wondering if I could simply move my existing HDD to my new laptop (which won't have any HDDs) and basically pick up where I left off, in terms of Windows, installed games, and such? Obviously, if the Windows is linked to my old mobo, this wouldn't work, but if it weren't linked, would it?

**hey** · 2012-03-01 02:37

Uh, not exactly.

tl;dr though, don't do that, it will not work properly, and trying to make it work will only cause massive headaches.

**Khamsin** · 2012-03-01 03:52

Originally Posted by Anakron

I recently read that when you buy a computer from a retailer, the Windows that they install are the linked to the mobo, is this correct? I'm looking into upgrading my laptop, and was wondering if I could simply move my existing HDD to my new laptop (which won't have any HDDs) and basically pick up where I left off, in terms of Windows, installed games, and such? Obviously, if the Windows is linked to my old mobo, this wouldn't work, but if it weren't linked, would it?

None of the drivers or other information the system thinks it knows about it's hardware will be consistent anymore. It's best to do a fresh install at that point.

**Isiolia** · 2012-03-01 09:39

Originally Posted by Anakron

I recently read that when you buy a computer from a retailer, the Windows that they install are the linked to the mobo, is this correct? I'm looking into upgrading my laptop, and was wondering if I could simply move my existing HDD to my new laptop (which won't have any HDDs) and basically pick up where I left off, in terms of Windows, installed games, and such? Obviously, if the Windows is linked to my old mobo, this wouldn't work, but if it weren't linked, would it?

There are a couple levels to that.

First, in general, any Windows install will have the particular drivers and settings for the hardware it has been installed on. In addition to that, since XP, Windows has had Activation - it generates a key based on your hardware config, takes the serial number, sends both to MS, and gets another authentication back. If you change the hardware config too much, it'll deactivate (which will mean it'll basically cease normal operation after a period of time).
Simply swapping a drive into a different set of hardware tends to be a bad idea. If it even boots - and there's a fair chance it'll just crash on startup - it won't be activated, and will still need you to futz with drivers and all.

In a way, most large OEMs do link the included copy of Windows to their computers. For one, OEM licenses in general don't permit transfer between machines. Some people have had luck doing it anyway, but really that's the main difference from a retail license in the first place. As such, the serial number you have may not activate on another set of hardware.

Second, while I think it may be more of an install-media deal, you do run across stuff like Dell install DVDs only working on Dell machines.

**Anakron** · 2012-03-01 12:51

Okay, yea, it makes sense that it wouldn't. Just wishful thinking on my part, I guess (and trying to save $100-$200 on a new HDD + Windows). Thanks for the answers, guys.

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