Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 10:18 AM, Hank wrote:
On 1/21/2014 9:48 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 1/21/2014 8:36 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/21/14, 12:59 AM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:10:56 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still have an older XP laptop but something recently died
in it. It won't boot up anymore.

Any idea of what is going on? Does it get through POST? Do you see
signs of life from the boot drive?

I hate seeing these things getting thrown in the land fill for a minor
problem.



If it is an old laptop, and it isn't a software or software update
problem, then you have to weigh the time and expense involved in a
repair versus buying a new laptops. Run of the mill laptops are pretty
cheap these days, and almost any of them would be many steps up from an
old XP-era laptop.

There also are plenty of used, operating laptops available at pawnshops.
I saw a whole showcase full of them when I was salivating over the
McIntosh amp I finally bought.


It's an old Compaq that I bought not too long before HP bought them. It
performed fine for years until recently. Now it just starts to boot,
disk drive whirrs and then it just shuts off and tries again, over and
over. Never see anything on the screen although the backlight lights up.

I took the hard drive out. I have one of those USB adapters that allows
you to connect it to another computer. Disk drive works as I can see
and copy the files on it. Suspect something on the motherboard and it's
not worth fixing.

I still have a small Averatec labtop running XP that I used on the boat
and in the RVs we had. It still works fine.

The last two laptops I got have been HPs. Both are supposedly optimized
for multi-media. I don't know what that means or if it makes any
difference in performance but I've never had any issues with either. One
Vista and one Win 7, both 64 bit machines.


I suspect you have a bad bootstrap. Do you still have that bootstrap
loader paper tape reader that came with the unit?


Sure I do. I collect them.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 10:36 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 19:21:55 -0800, thumper wrote:

On 1/20/2014 1:52 PM, Wayne.B wrote:

I have been using Windows based laptops for real time navigation on
all of my boats for the last 15 years, in all kinds of conditions,
several different operating systems, and a bunch of different GPS
devices. None of them has ever experienced a blue screen of death
while underway. BSDs are usually associated with new hardware devices
that do not yet have the correct driver installed. Once you are past
that, everything is usually very solid.

The only app that hangs on my Win7 desktop is iTunes. About 5-10% of
openings are non-responding.

I just reloaded iTunes thinking that was why I couldn't get some of the videos to run on the
internet. like the one Harry posted. That day I loaded three or four programs. None helped. iTunes
is about to get trashed...again.



I doubt your inability to play videos has anything to do with iTunes.
Something is screwy in your setup or you are missing some codex.

Even my ancient and little laptop that I used in the boat and RVs plays
videos fine and it's running XP.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 10:34 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:54:09 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:48:54 -0500, Poco Loco
wrote:

On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 09:40:44 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 1/20/2014 8:42 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/20/14, 8:41 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:15:28 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 19 Jan 2014 19:26:13 -0500, BAR wrote:



These days there are a bunch of better options if you can get in the
air.
Napalm is cheap ;-)

With mines you set them and forget them. Napalm and other munitions
requrire you to actively
drop them when the opposing force enters an area.

I think the next generation of drone will include a heavy lift bomber.

I'll bet there's a B-52 somewhere already capable of unmanned flight.



Just imagine the fun that will ensue when the Windows operating system
on that heavy bomber crashes, and the plane delivers the Blue Screen of
Death to a Virginia subdivision.


Harry, I think you are still living in the past when it comes to
Windows. It took many years but it has evolved into being a very stable
and reliable platform, especially with Win 7 and Win 8. Even Vista is
ok if you have enough RAM. I have *never* experienced the "Blue Screen
of Death" on either the Vista or Win 7 laptops. I bought the Vista
machine in 2009. It has had programs (or "apps) freeze up once in a
while, with the "program not responding" thing, but usually if I just
have patience and wait it will clear itself. If not, I just manually
close the program using the task manager and restart it.

BTW ... I've had the same thing happen on both my new iMac and on
Mrs.E's iMac, requiring a "forced quit".

I was reading the other day that 90 percent of ATM machines are still
running on Windows XP and there is going to be major employment
opportunities for techs as they are all upgraded or replaced with Win 7
based systems.

I've grown to like the iMac for what I do with it but I also realize
that 70 percent of computer users are using Windows. Of course there
will be a larger number of problems reported. That doesn't include
industrial applications like ATMs and even some aircraft avionics that
use Windows.

I've had XP for quite a while now and love it. My wife has had Vista and now Windows 7. I'll take XP
over both. Haven't seen the blue screen since Windows 95.

===

I've used them all and 7 is way better than Vista. I think you'd
like it.

I'll probably do it sooner or later. XP support ends in April. Not sure what I'll be without, other
than security upgrades. The guys that built my computer will give me an upgrade. Guess I'll bite the
bullet.


Yeah, I like win 7 best... Wife is going crazy with 8... hates it...

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 11:04 AM, KC wrote:
On 1/21/2014 10:34 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:54:09 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:48:54 -0500, Poco Loco
wrote:

On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 09:40:44 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 1/20/2014 8:42 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/20/14, 8:41 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:15:28 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 19 Jan 2014 19:26:13 -0500, BAR wrote:



These days there are a bunch of better options if you can get
in the
air.
Napalm is cheap ;-)

With mines you set them and forget them. Napalm and other
munitions
requrire you to actively
drop them when the opposing force enters an area.

I think the next generation of drone will include a heavy lift
bomber.

I'll bet there's a B-52 somewhere already capable of unmanned
flight.



Just imagine the fun that will ensue when the Windows operating
system
on that heavy bomber crashes, and the plane delivers the Blue
Screen of
Death to a Virginia subdivision.


Harry, I think you are still living in the past when it comes to
Windows. It took many years but it has evolved into being a very
stable
and reliable platform, especially with Win 7 and Win 8. Even Vista is
ok if you have enough RAM. I have *never* experienced the "Blue
Screen
of Death" on either the Vista or Win 7 laptops. I bought the Vista
machine in 2009. It has had programs (or "apps) freeze up once in a
while, with the "program not responding" thing, but usually if I just
have patience and wait it will clear itself. If not, I just manually
close the program using the task manager and restart it.

BTW ... I've had the same thing happen on both my new iMac and on
Mrs.E's iMac, requiring a "forced quit".

I was reading the other day that 90 percent of ATM machines are still
running on Windows XP and there is going to be major employment
opportunities for techs as they are all upgraded or replaced with
Win 7
based systems.

I've grown to like the iMac for what I do with it but I also realize
that 70 percent of computer users are using Windows. Of course there
will be a larger number of problems reported. That doesn't include
industrial applications like ATMs and even some aircraft avionics that
use Windows.

I've had XP for quite a while now and love it. My wife has had Vista
and now Windows 7. I'll take XP
over both. Haven't seen the blue screen since Windows 95.

===

I've used them all and 7 is way better than Vista. I think you'd
like it.

I'll probably do it sooner or later. XP support ends in April. Not
sure what I'll be without, other
than security upgrades. The guys that built my computer will give me
an upgrade. Guess I'll bite the
bullet.


Yeah, I like win 7 best... Wife is going crazy with 8... hates it...


We have a Win 8 laptop at the guitar shop. Different, but after playing
with it a bit it you get used to how it's organized. I agree though, I
like Win 7 better.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/14, 12:00 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:28:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/21/14, 9:17 AM, Hank wrote:


Oh Gee. I better mind my Ps and Qs eh? '-

Only old farts use that expression. Like us.

Guys who worked in a letter press print shop?



Only the uppercase P's and Q's are next to each other in a California
type case. :) I still have a couple of old Ludlow type sticks I
liberated from a composing room.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/14, 11:59 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:36:13 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/21/14, 12:59 AM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:10:56 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still have an older XP laptop but something recently died
in it. It won't boot up anymore.

Any idea of what is going on? Does it get through POST? Do you see
signs of life from the boot drive?

I hate seeing these things getting thrown in the land fill for a minor
problem.



If it is an old laptop, and it isn't a software or software update
problem, then you have to weigh the time and expense involved in a
repair versus buying a new laptops. Run of the mill laptops are pretty
cheap these days, and almost any of them would be many steps up from an
old XP-era laptop.

I suppose if you take it to a shop that wants to sell you a new
laptop, fixing it will always be more expensive but if you can take
out 2 screws yourself and throw a $50 hard drive at it you are at
least $450 ahead.
I am still not sure what is wrong with an XP machine. What can your
new I-Mac or W7 machine do that mine can't?

I tried to have this discussion with our HOA. They only manage a
$12,000 a year budget, maybe 200 transactions a year total and they
want to buy a new machine because the XP machine is "old".
My wife ran a quarter million dollar business on a 5150 (original PC)


There also are plenty of used, operating laptops available at pawnshops.
I saw a whole showcase full of them when I was salivating over the
McIntosh amp I finally bought.

At that point, why not fix the one you have?

I usually get mine from a surplus outfit that sells off lease machines
They come with legally licensed business software and a warranty.
You can reload the whole thing from scratch since you have the license
keys.
A pawn shop would be the last place I would get a machine.


That assumes one has the skills and tools to do it. Some laptops are not
easy to open, and you might not be able to find a replacement drive that
fits physically and electrically.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 11:59 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:36:13 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/21/14, 12:59 AM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:10:56 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still have an older XP laptop but something recently died
in it. It won't boot up anymore.

Any idea of what is going on? Does it get through POST? Do you see
signs of life from the boot drive?

I hate seeing these things getting thrown in the land fill for a minor
problem.



If it is an old laptop, and it isn't a software or software update
problem, then you have to weigh the time and expense involved in a
repair versus buying a new laptops. Run of the mill laptops are pretty
cheap these days, and almost any of them would be many steps up from an
old XP-era laptop.

I suppose if you take it to a shop that wants to sell you a new
laptop, fixing it will always be more expensive but if you can take
out 2 screws yourself and throw a $50 hard drive at it you are at
least $450 ahead.
I am still not sure what is wrong with an XP machine. What can your
new I-Mac or W7 machine do that mine can't?

I tried to have this discussion with our HOA. They only manage a
$12,000 a year budget, maybe 200 transactions a year total and they
want to buy a new machine because the XP machine is "old".
My wife ran a quarter million dollar business on a 5150 (original PC)


There also are plenty of used, operating laptops available at pawnshops.
I saw a whole showcase full of them when I was salivating over the
McIntosh amp I finally bought.

At that point, why not fix the one you have?

I usually get mine from a surplus outfit that sells off lease machines
They come with legally licensed business software and a warranty.
You can reload the whole thing from scratch since you have the license
keys.
A pawn shop would be the last place I would get a machine.

Win 7 comes with a widget I like. It's called sticky notes.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 12:13 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/21/14, 11:59 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:36:13 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/21/14, 12:59 AM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:10:56 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still have an older XP laptop but something recently died
in it. It won't boot up anymore.

Any idea of what is going on? Does it get through POST? Do you see
signs of life from the boot drive?

I hate seeing these things getting thrown in the land fill for a minor
problem.



If it is an old laptop, and it isn't a software or software update
problem, then you have to weigh the time and expense involved in a
repair versus buying a new laptops. Run of the mill laptops are pretty
cheap these days, and almost any of them would be many steps up from an
old XP-era laptop.

I suppose if you take it to a shop that wants to sell you a new
laptop, fixing it will always be more expensive but if you can take
out 2 screws yourself and throw a $50 hard drive at it you are at
least $450 ahead.
I am still not sure what is wrong with an XP machine. What can your
new I-Mac or W7 machine do that mine can't?

I tried to have this discussion with our HOA. They only manage a
$12,000 a year budget, maybe 200 transactions a year total and they
want to buy a new machine because the XP machine is "old".
My wife ran a quarter million dollar business on a 5150 (original PC)


There also are plenty of used, operating laptops available at pawnshops.
I saw a whole showcase full of them when I was salivating over the
McIntosh amp I finally bought.

At that point, why not fix the one you have?

I usually get mine from a surplus outfit that sells off lease machines
They come with legally licensed business software and a warranty.
You can reload the whole thing from scratch since you have the license
keys.
A pawn shop would be the last place I would get a machine.


That assumes one has the skills and tools to do it. Some laptops are not
easy to open, and you might not be able to find a replacement drive that
fits physically and electrically.
Computers are getting to be about as disposable as lightbulbs. Oops, bad
example. Some folks are reluctant to part with their cfl's and incand.s.

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 12:09 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/21/14, 12:00 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:28:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/21/14, 9:17 AM, Hank wrote:


Oh Gee. I better mind my Ps and Qs eh? '-

Only old farts use that expression. Like us.

Guys who worked in a letter press print shop?



Only the uppercase P's and Q's are next to each other in a California
type case. :) I still have a couple of old Ludlow type sticks I
liberated from a composing room.


You are a sticky fingered dude aren't you?

Question on ...
 

On 1/21/2014 12:11 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:48:17 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 1/21/2014 8:36 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/21/14, 12:59 AM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:10:56 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still have an older XP laptop but something recently died
in it. It won't boot up anymore.

Any idea of what is going on? Does it get through POST? Do you see
signs of life from the boot drive?

I hate seeing these things getting thrown in the land fill for a minor
problem.



If it is an old laptop, and it isn't a software or software update
problem, then you have to weigh the time and expense involved in a
repair versus buying a new laptops. Run of the mill laptops are pretty
cheap these days, and almost any of them would be many steps up from an
old XP-era laptop.

There also are plenty of used, operating laptops available at pawnshops.
I saw a whole showcase full of them when I was salivating over the
McIntosh amp I finally bought.


It's an old Compaq that I bought not too long before HP bought them. It
performed fine for years until recently. Now it just starts to boot,
disk drive whirrs and then it just shuts off and tries again, over and
over. Never see anything on the screen although the backlight lights up.

I took the hard drive out. I have one of those USB adapters that allows
you to connect it to another computer. Disk drive works as I can see
and copy the files on it. Suspect something on the motherboard and it's
not worth fixing.


Did you try it with the battery out, on the charger?
Can you get it into BIOS setup? That is the best way to start.
You may have a bad power supply but it could just be a memory stick.
I agree if it is anything but a commodity part like a battery, memory
or a drive, it is probably trash.
Someone might give you a few bucks for it as parts.

I still have a small Averatec labtop running XP that I used on the boat
and in the RVs we had. It still works fine.

The last two laptops I got have been HPs. Both are supposedly optimized
for multi-media. I don't know what that means or if it makes any
difference in performance but I've never had any issues with either.
One Vista and one Win 7, both 64 bit machines.

It probably has to do with the display adapter but most machines have
good display adapters these days. I have an old Dell with TV out and
dual console support. I used to carry that on vacation before TVs
started having VGA ports.

Don't you mean HDMI ports?