821 posts shown.
fadedbear92 said:Fantastic news. The claim was approved. Now we just wait for the insurance company to cut the check to the repair shop, and then they should have the laptop fixed within five days.
Eric Alvarez said:It is entirely plausible that the battery swelled, creating enough internal pressure to physically eject itself from the laptop chassis while simultaneously damaging other components. Regardless, you should simply wait to see what the technicians at the repair shop conclude.
A single ray of light. It is a simple concept, yet we find ourselves constantly searching for it amidst the pervasive gloom of our modern existence. We chase these fleeting moments of clarity—be they a sudden insight, a momentary reprieve from the grind, or a brief flicker of genuine human connection—as if they might somehow illuminate the vast, encroaching shadows of an increasingly cynical world. One begins to wonder if we are merely staring into the sun, hoping to be blinded just to forget the darkness. kaže:
I burned those exact same discs without a single hiccup at my office, where we also run Windows 10 on our workstations.🤔
granitemason55 said:That’s precisely what I am doing. However, the icon appears—that blue and white one—and it displays the correct file size (matching what is shown on the computer), and Properties can be opened just fine, yet the image itself won't open; it's inaccessible. I even downloaded Geek Squad, but it didn't help at all.[/I]
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Try saving to two different drives or thumb drives simultaneously. I once had an experience where everything on some burned CDs passed verification perfectly; they showed as successfully burned and correctly reported the space occupied on the disc, yet nothing could actually be opened. When parts of the files are missing, regardless of whether the extensions are correct, you are essentially stuck.
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granitemason55 says:
[I]The same Geek Squad tool ran an analysis on my data and reported, "Windows Damage Severity - high." What does that actually signify?
If Windows 10 has betrayed you, a full reinstallation is likely necessary. I would personally recommend that you stop using the machine you're working on for internet access altogether. I have an old machine running XP 14 that has functioned flawlessly for over a decade on its original installation; it has only touched the web once to handle licensing. If you can, revert to Windows 7—specifically the 64-bit version so you can actually utilize more RAM.
I used to work with 300 MB! photographs in Photoshop using only 2GB of RAM without any issues, so while extra memory might not be strictly mandatory, it certainly doesn't hurt.granitemason55 said:And yes, which program is truly the most reliable for recovering unopenable files without interfering with antivirus software? I mean a program that doesn't try to sell me its own suite of security options, but simply focuses on repairing images. And ideally, it should be genuinely free, rather than masquerading as such only to trap me in a 14-day trial at the end.
That is a difficult question because it remains unclear how the computer corrupted the data or specifically what is missing from the file. I will need to consult a friend of mine who works in professional photography to see if there is an application capable of recognizing and somewhat rejuvenating a damaged file. You can send some examples to my email /ide pp/ so I can see if I can manage it with a professional program designed to read damaged disks...
granitemason55 said:It is entirely possible that I have overextended myself slightly. 😁In all seriousness, I’ve had photo shoots where I walk away with upwards of three hundred shots, only to find that perhaps five of them are actually worth exhibiting. It’s a sobering reality. I recall a renowned photographer—forgive me, the name escapes me at the moment—once remarked that his first 10,000 frames were nothing more than pure garbage. He insisted that it takes years of meticulous refinement to truly master the craft; talent, quite frankly, is never enough on its own.
granitemason55 As requested:
Upon further reflection, I suspect the culprit might actually be the USB port itself. I’ve been plugging my external drives into a four-port USB hub, and while I make a point of cleaning it regularly, there is a distinct possibility that dust has managed to infiltrate the connections. It is entirely plausible that the hub has simply reached the end of its functional lifespan and finally given up the ghost. However, if the fault lies within the actual port on the computer tower where the hub connects, I am facing a much more tedious prospect: hauling the entire machine back to the repair shop—which, mind you, I just had serviced only two months ago.
granitemason55 said:I am working like a maniac. 😁 I often find myself working at 600 DPI, much to the visible annoyance of my peers. They roll their eyes and dismiss it as pure megalomania, claiming I’m simply taxing my computer for no reason. However, they fail to grasp the practical necessity: that specific resolution is mandatory for the large-scale prints I sell. Alternatively, I might drop down to 300 DPI, but only if I compensate by doubling the physical dimensions of the canvas. It is a matter of technical requirement, not ego.
I own a collection of Verbatim, Maxtor, and Toshiba drives, though I must assert that Maxtor has historically proven itself to be the most reliable and consistent among them. Unlike the others, it doesn't suffer from those infuriating cycles of failing to spin up or shutting down randomly upon activation; it remains a steady, constant presence. However, my most recent Maxtor acquisition has been a complete disappointment—it has failed me entirely. I suspect the issue might stem from my internal drives being hopelessly overcrowded. Both my E-drive and F-drive are currently sitting at about 25 GB of free space out of roughly 370 GB. They have been deep in the "red zone" for quite some time now, and it is highly probable that this lack of breathing room is dragging down my system performance and throttling the efficiency of my external storage as well.
granitemason55 said:The drives have been tucked away in a secure, cool, dark spot, so my conscience remains entirely clear on that front. My only lingering concern is the power strip; the cord is frustratingly short, and I’m forced to plug it into one of the rear outlets because the two front ones are both busted—bent out of shape, really. Consequently, I have to keep the external drives sitting on the floor. It feels like a potential liability, though I am attempting to mitigate the risk by rotating them regularly, letting each individual drive sit on the floor for no more than three days at a time.
granitemason55 said:If I take one massive directory of documents and save it onto the same external drive, but split it into two distinct folders, does that count as a backup? My assumption is that if a specific file becomes corrupted, the damage won't spread to the identical version stored elsewhere on that same drive.
granitemason55 said:Is it actually possible that force-closing Photoshop while working on an illustration saved to an external drive—specifically by hitting Ctrl + Alt + Delete, pulling up the Task Manager, and selecting "End Task"—could have caused the file itself to become corrupted?
fadedbear92 said:So, I find myself facing yet another frustrating encounter with Windows 10. Every time I attempt to burn a CD, the system insists on asking for a format. It’s a repetitive, nonsensical cycle: either it claims the formatting failed halfway through, or it actually starts the burning process only to throw an error message right at the finish line, claiming it couldn't complete the task. I am genuinely at a loss here. Why is it even demanding a format in the first place? To make matters worse, it keeps questioning whether I have the necessary firmware. What exactly does that entail? Is this something I am required to download? If so, which specific driver or update am I looking for to resolve this incompetence?
Anonymous said:His fear is tied directly to his health. Since his wellbeing is his top priority, he’s terrified of doing anything until he is 100% recovered. I totally get where he's coming from, and I feel for him, but I also know I have to stay grounded and keep living my life. Moping around won't solve anything. It’s actually a blessing that sports aren't his entire identity; he has two other major pillars to lean on: his family and his career (and the business goals he's working toward). Whatever happened, happened. He won't compete now, but in a year or two, he'll be ready for another tournament or match. That's just how it goes. With Lacrosse, he tore two ligaments, had two titanium plates inserted, and a fracture (or maybe two 🤔 I can't quite remember), and it'll take about three months just to get his shoulder functioning again—plus a few more months to regain full strength. At least his left hand is fine, and he's right-handed.
It's not fear, it's just concern—worrying that he might spiral into depression or that I won't be able to help him enough. But worrying is natural, at least when it comes to the people you love. At least, that's how I see it. 🤷
I think this hits home. Look, I’m not a sociopath or anything—I actually feel for him—but that doesn't mean I'm sitting here crushed and devastated by everything. Maybe a little bit? Honestly, part of it is just the feeling that I sacrificed a lot to help reach that goal. And I don't mean I was being a martyr; it's more that I spent so much time alone. There were plenty of holidays or big milestones where I really wished he could have been there, you know? But at the end of the day, I still have my own life, and it makes no sense for my entire world to fall apart just because of his situation. If I'm being totally honest, the hardest part has been the guilt. Like, while he was stuck in the hospital, I went out for coffee with my girlfriends and actually had a good time. I hated the idea of him feeling like I was rubbing my life in his face. Luckily, he doesn't see it that way, and he's being just as understanding of me as I am of him.
That’s exactly why I’m trying to be so careful about how I word things and weigh every situation. Until he truly gets his head straight and makes sense of everything he's feeling, there's a real risk that anything I say could be totally misinterpreted. Because of that, I’m focusing on being there for him—offering all the emotional and physical support I can—without pushing him too hard. I’m only reaching out here because I want to figure out the best way to handle things and navigate this relationship more effectively.
Looking back at all the advice I've received, if I had to boil it down to one big takeaway, it’s this: the best thing I can do is just be there for him. I need to offer support and show I care without being overbearing or pushing too hard. It’s perfectly okay for him to feel a bit down or worried right now, but I can't let his struggle—or our shared stress—drag us both into a deep depression. This is just a temporary setback. We're still young, and we have our whole lives ahead of us. 😁
P.S. Seriously, thanks everyone. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before, and honestly, I was just flying blind.
Anonymous said:I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place for this, and I’m having a hard time navigating this PDF to find the right search terms, but I’m dealing with a situation and really need some advice. I’ve tried looking things up online, but nothing has really hit home. My boyfriend is an athlete, and his absolute dream was to compete in the World Championships this year. But out of nowhere, just a few days ago, he suffered a shoulder dislocation—basically, his collarbone popped out of the socket—and he had to go under the knife. It looks like he’s going to miss the championships, which means all the grueling training, time, and money he poured into this might just go down the drain. Beyond just being a lifelong dream, this was his big shot to get noticed by scouts, which would have opened doors to professional opportunities that are now completely vanishing. His next real chance won't come for another four years, and by then, he'll be past the prime age for this kind of thing. He told me himself, and I can see it in him, that he is in a complete state of mental chaos. Not only has he given up on everything and lost his drive, but he’s also developed this intense, almost irrational fear. He literally told me he’s terrified to even step back onto the field because he’s scared of getting hurt even worse; he says he doesn't care anymore and feels like he wouldn't mind quitting sports altogether. He’s never been this way—he’s always been a fighter who never backs down. Even when he lost his dad to cancer, he handled it with incredible strength, but this... this is different. When I look into his eyes, I see pure terror. I’ve never seen him like this, not even when he realized there was nothing more we could do for his father, and even then, it wasn't this level of paralyzing fear. I want to help him so badly, but I’m at a loss. I’m just as devastated as he is, though I’m still clinging to hope while he has completely lost it. I don't know what to say or do, because this is so heavy for both of us. It’s hard for me because I feel helpless and I'm grieving all the sacrifices we made for his career—the missed anniversaries, birthdays, the distance, the lack of quality time—and it’s even harder for him because he gave 150% every single day, only to watch his life's goal slip through his fingers.
Please let me know if I should move this to a different thread; I don't want to clutter the board.
Joseph Bailey41 said:This is just the introduction...
Can someone shoot me a DM with a link to that movie? I’d rather not shell out the cash for it if I don't have to. 😁 If it’s something I truly value, I make sure to track down the original version sooner or later.
One of those endings that just leaves you in tears.
It’s not just about the fungus causing that confusion. There's something else going on here—it looks like a specific case of PKD, which is honestly pretty fascinating in its own way.[/I]
Can you drop the link? 🙂
I still think my favorite Rorschach is the one in... About this movie.I'm guessing you already know exactly what I'm talking about without even having to click. 😁
I read that exact same comic strip once too... you know, the one where they see a dog's head and start seeing butterflies instead? I ended up getting a little lost in the panels myself after a while. It was honestly brilliant. 😍
Joseph Bailey41 said:Thanks for the link. To be honest, I found the book a little too heavy on the speed-induced paranoia, but I absolutely love dark humor.
That said, I thought that part where the fake identity takes over the real one was pretty clever. A classic Dick move—totally struck dumb and confused. 🤣