Posts by Andrew Miller102

Adam Moore3 said:So who are we supposed to trust if not the stickers on the box? 🤷

You can take the labels and technical specs on some off-brand power supply to the grave for all I care. You really need to rely on actual benchmarks from a reputable testing site that puts these units through their paces. When it comes to those stickers, if you see it’s a Corsair unit, you don't even need to bother looking at the reviews—just pay the premium and get it over with.😁😉

Matthew Murphy7 said:Hey everyone,

I’m not entirely sure if this question belongs on this specific thread, but if anyone has any insight or could point me toward the right discussion, I’d certainly appreciate it.

I'm trying to figure out if it's actually possible to recover deleted files from an external hard drive; I can't tell if they're truly gone, but the drive itself won't mount properly. While I was installing Windows 7, I had the external drive plugged in and accidentally wiped the wrong partition, and now whenever I try to access the drive, the system tells me it needs to be formatted before it can be used. I have no intention of doing that, as I don't want to make a bad situation worse. It's a 500 GB external drive and it was pretty much full. I want to know if there's a way to restore it to its previous state, or at least salvage some of the files, and if so, which software works best and how should I go about it.
I checked out some quotes from professional data recovery services like DriveSavers, but they're asking for about $233, which is just a bit too steep for me. So, if anyone knows how to handle this kind of thing at home as an amateur, please let me know. Sorry for the off-topic post.

Thanks in advance.
Best.

Dealing with an external drive issue like yours is usually a fairly straightforward fix in practice. If you want to get the job done, Minitool Power Data Recovery is an excellent free option, so just download it and make sure you grab the right version and you shouldn't have any trouble.🙂

Everything you need, including links and instructions, is provided in the link below; your first move should be to transfer all your data from that external drive using the Minitool program. Once you've successfully moved all your important files onto another drive, then—and only then—can you go ahead and format that external drive, which will likely show you how the process went.☕

Start by running the "Damaged Partition Recovery" module, but if that doesn't pull up everything you need from the drive, then move on to the "Lost Partition Recovery" module.🍿

Brenda Barnes30 said:I ended up with an LG LCD TV that I've just been using for watching shows, but now I want to set it up as my computer monitor. I'm trying to figure out which cables I actually need to buy, what they usually cost, and all that kind of thing...
I think this might be the specific model, though I can't say for sure since I only have the paperwork handy
http://gandhiappliances.com/index.ph...oducts_id=8181

What kind of computer setup are you running at home—is it a laptop or a desktop? You should list out the full specs so we can actually tell what we're working with here, because the most important thing for us to know is which graphics card you have. If you aren't sure how to find those details, "Speccy" is a program you can download in that software bundle below.☕😉

That Samsung TV features an old VGA or D-Sub port, but it also includes a much better HDMI port, connection, so your best bet is to connect your computer to the screen through that.☕

Basically, if you have a standard PC with a graphics card that offers VGA and DVI ports but lacks HDMI, the smartest move is to pick up a DVI-to-HDMI cable. You just plug the DVI end into your graphics card and the HDMI end into the Samsung monitor's HDMI port, and everything should work fine.😉

Sam Lopez60 said:I’m running into an issue where my movies only play for about four seconds before cutting out, and I keep getting this error message saying: 'trying to play a HD file, aborting redirecting to the site.'
Is it a missing codec or something else? This has been happening with several different movies over the last few days.

Try dragging that file, or any other video you have, into VLC Media Player. If it won't play there either, then honestly, just let it go. Delete the useless file; it's either corrupted or some kind of scam, so stop downloading stuff from sketchy, unverified sites.😁😉

Patrick Moore53 said:I was thinking about sticking to a budget of maybe $267, though looking at your points, I’d rather just shell out a few extra bucks now to save myself the headache later. One thing I'm wondering, though—is having such a massive monitor sitting that close to my face going to mess with my eyesight?

Your vision isn't going to be an issue, so there's really nothing to worry about there. As long as you're sitting about half a meter or so away, which is pretty much ideal, you'll be fine; even if you end up a little closer than that, it won't make a difference. Honestly, a 22-inch monitor isn't actually that big once you start using it, because you usually just adjust your distance based on whatever you're doing on the computer.☕

When you're browsing the web or working in macOS, you'll naturally sit a bit closer, but if you're watching a movie full-screen or using that 22-inch screen as a TV, you'll likely lean back to about a meter or a meter and a half, and that's plenty. It only feels huge at first when you're making the jump from a 17-inch screen, which used to be the standard back in the day, whereas nowadays people are moving toward 22-inch models or, more commonly, 24-inch ones.🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7uLNCOdFA

Patrick Moore53 said:I'm looking to swap out this old monitor casing that’s been sitting on my desk for seven years now. Since I only spend a few hours a day at the computer mostly just surfing the web, I have absolutely zero interest in some flashy "gamer" monitor; I just want something with a smaller footprint than my current setup, which feels like it's hogging half my entire desk.

Here’s what I’m running on this machine:

Intel Pentium 4 TRAY, socket 939

Corsair PC3200 RAM, 2x512 MB.

The Leadtek GeForce PX6800GT TD running on a PCI-E slot.

Antec SLK 3700 MIDI tower case, paired with a 350W power supply.

Gigabyte K8NF-9 motherboard featuring an nForce4 chipset and Gigabit Ethernet.

I'm looking for some monitor recommendations; I've always been a visual person, so I've been fixated on this particular model:



Thanks in advance to everyone for the help.

The most important thing you haven't mentioned yet is your upper limit—how much are you actually planning to drop on a monitor?Honestly, buying an 18.5-inch monitor these days just doesn't make sense. That size feels tiny by modern standards; it’s practically obsolete. You aren't exactly out there picking up a new monitor every single day, so if you don't go for something larger now, you're definitely going to regret it once you realize how cramped everything looks. It’s just common sense at this point.😁

If you’re out there shopping for a new monitor, you really ought to pay attention to the ports. An LCD screen should absolutely come equipped with DVI or HDMI connections in addition to that ancient, crumbling VGA port. If you find a model that lacks even a basic DVI connection and relies solely on VGA, just skip it. It isn't worth your time.☕

If you're looking for a monitor recommendation, aim for anything larger than 18.5 or 19 inches; at that point, the price jump for something bigger is negligible, even if the screen real estate is significantly improved. There’s an old saying that a larger monitor won't give you a headache, which is true enough, provided you aren't staring at something the size of a massive wardrobe. Weight isn't really a factor anymore since modern displays are light as a feather compared to those old CRT heavyweights, so sticking with a 20 or 22-inch model—or even larger—is definitely the right move these days. By the way, that 22-inch AOC in the second link looks pretty sharp if you happen to care about aesthetics and style.🍿

I was looking at this specific model online today, and honestly, if you’re still clinging to an old Intel Pentium 4 like it’s some kind of vintage treasure, you really need to take a hard look at your setup. This piece of gear is exactly what you need to actually get things moving. It isn't flashy, but it does exactly what it says on the box without any of the usual nonsense. If you want something that just works so you can stop tinkering and start actually using your computer, this is the move.

I took a look at that specific model from Protis, and honestly, if you’re looking for something that actually holds up under heavy use, it's worth considering. It isn't just some flashy gadget designed to look good on a desk; it feels like a tool built for someone who actually spends their day typing. The build quality seems solid enough to handle the daily grind without feeling flimsy, which is more than I can say for half the peripherals hitting the market lately. If you value something that does exactly what it says on the tin without unnecessary bells and whistles, this is a decent bet.

Jack Alvarez said:Ethan, this Taylor Morales31 guy 😁... Personally, I still run Norton even though I’m fully aware it doesn't actually achieve much beyond keeping things tidy—just a quick registry sweep here and there, making sure nothing has hitched a ride on my startup list, and running a monthly scan with Malwarebytes and Norton, and that does the trick; my macOS machines have been running for over a year now without a single drive wipe or a blue screen, and they feel incredibly snappy. 🙂

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy with Reddit

If you're convinced Norton provides zero benefit while it sits there constantly eating up resources as a background process on macOS, then there's really no logical reason to keep it running, is there?😁 It's like putting training wheels on a bicycle; they just create unnecessary drag when you already know how to balance on two wheels just fine.🙂🙂

crimsonfalcon67 said:No, I’m being serious. None of the other players I’ve messed around with offer everything that RealPlayer does.

As for that DirectX Video Acceleration thing, I have to admit I don't really know what it actually is or what its purpose is, 🤷 though I know I’ve never once felt the need to use it.

Regarding Windows Media Player, you mentioned it's basically an upgraded version of QuickTime, which sounds plausible enough, so I might give it a shot. Here is what I had to say about QuickTime about a year back:

That’s just what the developer claims, so of course he’s going to call it an improved successor to QuickTime, 😁 but you can easily see for yourself once you test it out, and if you want to wrap your head around how DirectX Video Acceleration works, you can check the links below.☕😉

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX_Video_Acceleration

http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/DXVASupport.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Video_Decoder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo

crimsonfalcon67 said:RealPlayer is miles ahead of MPC or anything else on the market, but hey, people will believe whatever they want to believe, I guess. 🙂 🙂

I can't tell if you're joking or being dead serious with those compliments for RealPlayer, because honestly, it's a stretch.😁 Just try getting DirectX Video Acceleration to work in that thing and let me know if you actually succeed, or if you really need to trim a video, just grab Windows Media Player from the link below and give it a shot; it’ll work fine.🍿🙂

Taylor Morales31 said:First off, I don't really drink beer—rarely, at any rate—and second, I have zero interest in dealing with people like you, so thanks, but no thanks.

And what’s with this attitude? People like you who just love dictating terms and telling everyone else what they should or shouldn't have installed on their own machines... it reminds me of my buddy who constantly goes on about how he needs to swap out Firefox for Chrome, or why Mozilla isn't working for him when Opera is better, then follows it up with all this "blah blah blah" nonsense. What part of this actually concerns you? You're using your own computer, aren't you?

Look, whatever setup I have is my business, and honestly, I see you doing this kind of thing all the time—trying to tell people "don't do this" or "do that."

Man, just chill out. You have your own PC, and you certainly aren't an admin on mine, so let's leave it at that, okay?👍

I wasn't trying to force anything on you in this thread,😁 nor was I implying anything negative regarding what you highlighted. It seems you've completely misread my intentions, which is fine, but clearly, there's been a misunderstanding here.🙂

For the record, I haven't told anyone they absolutely have to use one thing or another,🤷 nor am I issuing ultimate commands; I don't dictate what anyone chooses to use.🤷 My point is simply to mention how certain programs behave, because there are plenty of users here who might not know the specifics, and since we're on a forum, that information is worth sharing.☕

A lot of people don't grasp the technical details under the hood, and unless something is explicitly banned, they aren't going to dig deeper into the mechanics of how software works—and that's perfectly fine. But you aren't the only one reading my posts; other users might find this technical info genuinely useful, and again, I'm not forcing anyone to change anything, so there's really no need for the drama.☕🙂

My approach is usually to suggest superior software as a replacement for inferior options, never the other way around. That's why I frame things as "you might want to try this instead" rather than a demand. If something is objectively better, why wouldn't I suggest it?🤷 That's how I operate, and I'll keep operating that way; it shouldn't be an issue.🍿

feralhound said:So here is my dilemma—though calling it a trilemma might be more accurate...

or

Since I haven't really kept up with computer hardware lately, which of these would you suggest, and is there actually any real advantage to getting an LED monitor over a standard LCD?

The AOC model is definitely your best bet here, especially considering it comes with a three-year warranty, whereas the Dell or General Electric models only offer two years.☕😉

fadedorca66 said:That Apple monitor doesn't even have DVI, so I'd skip it entirely, whereas this Microsoft model is decent and features an IPS panel.

I'm not sure where you saw that it has an IPS panel because it definitely doesn't, as it's actually just a standard TN panel. Regardless, that Microsoft model is way overpriced for a 22-inch screen, and it's worth noting again that Microsoft only offers a two-year warranty while companies like Apple or CNN provide three.😁 ☕

Bottom line is, forget about that Apple monitor since it only has a VGA or D-SUB port and lacks anything useful like DisplayPort or HDMI, so it's pretty much a dead end. If you're looking for a monitor around $333 or maybe a bit more, check out the models in the first and second links below, but if you want something slightly higher-end with an IPS panel, the second and third links should be fine.🙂🍿

fadedorca66 said:All those budget options are pretty much identical in quality anyway, so it doesn't really matter. Just make sure it has a DVI port and you're good to go with LED:
http://www.amazon.com/monitor-1...kl=100.320.010
http://www.amazon.com/monitor-1...kl=100.320.009

It’s too small and way overpriced, which isn't how you shop when there are better options out there,😁 so for that kind of cash you can get a 22-inch monitor for roughly $267 plus a little extra, and since it has a DVI connection, you won't have any issues. That AOC model from earlier tonight is the smarter move, and even if it costs slightly more than $267, it's definitely worth it.😉🙂

http://www.bestbuy.com/products/detail...ms-black/48922

http://www.bestbuy.com/products/detail...ms-black/30571

Taylor Morales31 said:It runs its cleaning routine while the PC is idling rather than when it’s actively being used, and it consistently pops up a notification beforehand so I can go brew a cup of coffee while it handles business.

My machine stays snappy enough given my specs, so I have no complaints... for dealing with malware, I rely on a different toolkit involving Malwarebytes, SAS, and HitmanPro, along with some cloud antimalware, plus I keep IObit Malware Fighter Pro running in real time.

Beyond that, I also use their Game Booster, which is pretty much essential if I want to squeeze any performance out of my integrated hd3200 to play anything like Grand Theft Auto IV or Dirt 2; with its help and some ATI Extreme drivers, things run well enough, though it isn't top-tier performance—not that I mind, since I've been gaming since the days of the Spectrum, Commodore, Amstrad, and Schneider.

So, I use IObit daily and honestly, I don't have any issues with it; if it weren't working for me, I wouldn't be keeping it around to cause trouble.

It doesn't really hog any significant resources either, whereas Opera pulls about 10 to 15 times more, but I'm not going to ditch a browser I actually like just because of that.🙂



That's basically it; everyone should just try what works for them, because this setup works fine for me, and if it stops being useful, we'll just find something else.👍

It's easy to manage the memory taken up by Opera or any single process unless it's truly excessive, and honestly, RAM is practically a commodity these days given current prices, so you shouldn't be running short. Memory consumption isn't the real issue unless you're actually starved for it, but unnecessary background processes that shouldn't be running are always a headache.☕

And look, Game Booster is often unnecessary in practice too,🤷 because whenever you sit down to play, whether your GPU is weak or powerful, you absolutely need to disable your Antivirus, shut down uTorrent if it's running, close your browser, and kill off things like MSN or Skype to clear the way. If you're working with a low-end graphics card, nothing is going to magically make it perform better, but you can certainly make it perform worse if you fail to kill off those useless background processes; that's just how it goes.🙂

Hmm, I wouldn't touch IObit Malware Fighter Pro even if they paid me,😵 I'd much rather just disable it or torpedo the whole thing and install Avira Free + WOT instead, then you're sorted.🍿

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZXW2uA1zYc

I see your computer carries the distinguished name Damir, and if that's your official name, then we're namesakes, which is just another problem easily solved with a few beers over on Chat.😂 🙂

Taylor Morales31 said:Look, Andrew Miller102, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around your obsession with those specific accent marks for ages now, but honestly, you really stand out for all the wrong reasons when you insist on using them where they don't belong.

I’ll happily play the toddler while Advanced SystemCare keeps my PC running smoothly. If I were actually satisfied with the situation, he’d be right here.

If you're hanging around this forum, you really ought to have CCleaner installed. Look, I don't even have it anymore, so I'm officially out of this conversation. That’s on me, and I’m fine with that. At the end of the day, people should just pick whatever works for them; I made my choice, and I'm sticking to my own decisions.

None of us are actually out here dropping cash on CCleaner or Advanced SystemCare, so maybe it’s time we start taking these companies more seriously when they try to sell us nothing but smoke and mirrors; personally, I'm certainly not buying what they're peddling. 👍

I don't own any of those tools, nor have I ever actually bothered using a cleaning program like that.😁 There isn't much point in running some utility that constantly chugs away in the background alongside a mountain of other processes just to "clean" things; it’s honestly a redundant exercise. And look, don't take it personally—I wasn't trying to insult you or anything like that.🙂 If you’re judging things based on my mention of Vrtič, you’ve missed the point entirely. I brought up Vrtič to highlight how serious this whole situation actually is. When one company starts stealing from another, everything becomes crystal clear, doesn't it?😁

It’s the exact same deal whether you’re using the Free version of ASC or that paid one they’ve got sitting there for twelve bucks; honestly, if it costs twelve dollars, it's worth exactly zero. When I say they’re selling nothing but smoke and mirrors, I mean it, because they really are just peddling hot air, regardless of whether you go with the Free edition or the paid ASC. They’ve even crammed it full of some junk cleaner that’s a complete joke when you actually compare it to something useful like Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware, which is just an old story at this point.☕

Advanced SystemCare looks pretty slick on the surface—it’s definitely got that polished, high-end aesthetic designed to impress—but once you actually pop the hood, it’s nothing more than a glorified junk pile. Like I’ve said before, this entire suite of cleaning tools is absolute garbage. It’s packed with all these little bells and whistles like Quick Care and Quick Boost, just a bunch of useless fluff, and don't even get me started on the sheer number of background processes it forces onto Windows.🤷

If you look at the screenshot, it’s pretty obvious he’s running ASC in a virtual machine. On my setup, after the installation finishes, you can see three distinct processes sitting right there in Windows; ASC just tosses a process into the Startup folder and runs its own service, so what else should we expect? It’s loaded with a lot of extra junk shoved into Windows, and honestly, I don't see the point—what's the actual benefit of having it constantly running in the background to "clean" things when you can't even tell what it's actually doing.☕

Look, CCleaner is your go-to for standard cleaning and everything else it offers remains the most reliable tool on the market, so you grab that, run Defragger if you need to tidy up the drive, and you're pretty much set. Cleaning the Registry is generally a waste of time anyway, unless you're dealing with a specific issue, because it isn't like we're still running Windows XP. With a setup like this, you aren't bloating your Windows installation with unnecessary background processes or a massive pile of services, so everything stays smooth. You can keep using ASC if you want—I’m not here to force anyone to change their ways—but there really isn't a reason to bother when you should be looking under the hood to see what's actually happening with your system.🙂

When you pick up ASC from IObit, they throw in their IObit Uninstaller as part of the package, essentially giving you this free uninstallation tool alongside the main software. But let’s be honest, anyone who actually knows what they're doing knows that compared to the free version of Revo Uninstaller, which is miles ahead of anything else out there, IObit is just offering nothing of substance. They're basically trying to sell you smoke and mirrors when it comes to uninstallation tools.🙂

Taylor Morales31 said:Andrew Miller102 thinks their internal drama isn't our concern,

I'll stick with Advanced SystemCare; I have it on my machine and it works fine, hasn't crashed my computer once, and if we're debating whether it beats CCleaner, I’d say it actually holds its own since it doesn't force programs into my startup just to satisfy its own needs like CCleaner does, nor is it as annoying about blacklisting registry keys. 👍

You can't just brush this stuff under the rug because it matters; this isn't some playground, 😁 it's straight-up theft, and what kind of logic is that—one company stealing from another by taking a free tool like Malwarebytes and bundling it into their paid software like IObit? That's exactly why IObit earned a bad reputation they likely won't ever shake, especially since their software isn't anything special anyway; they mostly just sell smoke and mirrors to naive users online, so honestly, they can go wherever they please. ☕😉

The bottom line is that companies engaging in these shady practices 🙂 need to be called out or exposed so people know exactly what kind of amateurs or scammers they're dealing with. You should just bypass their programs entirely and let the company fail; they certainly haven't earned any other outcome. 🙂🍿

Keith Lee94 said:Thanks a ton for the time, the recommendation, and the reply!
So I went ahead and picked up the software and I'm already getting the hang of it; it arrived quickly in nice packaging with a smooth activation code, haha!
At first glance, it seems better than CCleaner since there are more options, though I still need to test out how those boost modes actually perform. Honestly, most of these programs seem pretty much the same once you dig in. Thanks again!

You’re probably better off just leaving those Boost features in Advanced SystemCare alone,😁 just so you don't end up messing things up; honestly, that program isn't anything special and is actually inferior to CCleaner. You see, Advanced SystemCare is an IObit product, and they have a reputation for being shady—they actually got caught stealing from Malwarebytes a few years back, so their shady dealings are pretty well documented.🙂🙂

http://antivirus.about.com/b/2009/11...l-property.htm

Just stick with CCleaner and you won't have any issues, for sure; meanwhile, check out the link below and grab that little bundle of software and you'll be all set.☕

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=715867

mistyotter35 said:Sometimes I use the video capture feature in KMPlayer to convert .mkv files over to .avi, mainly because I have an older, lower-spec PC and I don't want to stress it out with heavy encoding just to get things running on a legacy DVD/DivX player. I've noticed PotPlayer handles this even more efficiently, but there's a catch when capturing video from an analog TV tuner; PotPlayer seems stuck with a limited input resolution of 320x240, whereas KMPlayer doesn't impose those kinds of restrictions.

Honestly, using video capture from an analog card is pretty much obsolete these days,😁 and converting that kind of footage doesn't offer much of a payoff since the quality is predictably mediocre, but if you absolutely have to, fine—it's secondary. However, the real utility lies in being able to clip out segments of an HD movie, a standard SD film, or even some home movies with your partner😂, and then having the freedom to combine those pieces into whatever you want, which makes that video capture tool quite practical for real-world use.🙂

You can easily and simply cut out whatever parts you need and then assemble your own video project later using a program like the free Format Factory, specifically by using the video Joiner under its Advanced settings; all you really need now is a processor with plenty of cores to speed up the process, and then you're all set.☕😉

Daniel Moore3 said:I’ve never actually heard of madVR, though I have used Haali and ffdshow. They certainly sharpen up the image, but honestly, Splash Player has its own built-in detail boost, which makes all those extra plugins and unnecessary headaches pretty much redundant.
You already mentioned that PotPlayer, KMPlayer, and MPC-HC all have that same boost, so it’s all essentially the same thing; the difference is negligible.
If you were to actually run your madVR alongside an ffdshow enhancement and still couldn't see a difference, then we’d have something to talk about.

🙂

Comparing Splash Player Pro or EX to the rest isn't really a fair fight because they aren't free, and frankly, most people don't even need them. But if you're talking about comparing the free Splash Player Lite, it's a joke—it's incredibly limited. PotPlayer offers a massive amount of options compared to Splash Player Pro or EX, which are nice enough programs and easy to use, looking quite polished for people who care about aesthetics, but once you weigh their features against PotPlayer, the gap is staggering.🙂

It's common knowledge that madVR provides the best picture quality; you just install it, activate it, and you're done. Most people are just too lazy for that kind of setup, preferring something like PotPlayer which looks good right out of the box. Not all players are created equal, and they aren't even close. It might look that way to a casual user since KMPlayer is basically retired at this point. PotPlayer has one standout feature, which is the video capture function that lets you grab any part of a video you want; in practice, it works just like cropping a clip. It's an excellent tool, and anyone who has tried it usually wonders why other players don't include such a straightforward option.😁

Anyway, just download the pack and see what's available; I explained how to use that video capture feature in PotPlayer, so there shouldn't be any trouble.😉

Daniel Moore3 said:Good grief, what nonsense. All the modern players are basically identical; it just comes down to which one happens to click with a specific user.
I’ve cycled through pretty much everything out there, and they’re all more or less the same deal, though I’ve found Splash is easily my favorite. It has a superior interface that looks fantastic while staying minimal.
Some people will prefer GOM, others might lean toward KMPlayer, and some will stick with VLC Media Player.

You should probably read this tutorial written by a guy on a different forum who actually knows his stuff.

Sure, if you think they'll all be the same tomorrow, you clearly can't see the forest for the trees.🙂 Putting GOM Player in the same category as MPC-HC or PotPlayer is like comparing apples to oranges; you're about as knowledgeable about this as a layman is about high-end machining.😁

Do you even know what madVR is? If not, just Google it and you'll get the picture. Most of them, like PotPlayer, the old version of KMPlayer, and even MPC-HC, support it, whereas clunky GOM or that ancient BS Player—along with most other players—don't. It's pretty straightforward.😉😁