Posts by Kenneth Cruz67

William Watson said:Hey there,

Got a simple issue, but it’s a big one.
I’m trying to help out a buddy with his PC. He’s been sticking with X for ages—honestly, who even does that anymore? Not that it matters much now.
Anyway, after he finally upgraded to Windows 10, we hit a snag with one of his drives. It’s about 7 years old, and while one partition is working just fine, the other one refuses to open at all.
The system is flagging the drive as being at risk, which isn't exactly a shocker considering it's been spinning for seven years.

Does anyone have any solid recommendations for a repair shop, or has anyone dealt with this specific headache before?
I tried digging through YouTube for a quick fix, but none of those "magic" methods actually worked.
Since it’s not my hard drive, I’m definitely not about to go rogue and try formatting it just to pull data off—that's way too risky.
I’ve got a SATA-to-USB adapter lying around, but even that didn't do the trick.
If there are any tech wizards hanging out here, shoot me a DM. Thanks.

Maybe try using Disk Management to mount the partition? You could try assigning it a new drive letter and see if that gets it working.

Larry Ortiz5 said:It seems like you're still getting voltage even after you shut down the computer, so I'd suggest checking your BIOS settings. I can't recall the exact terminology since every motherboard manufacturer uses their own specific naming conventions, but you might want to look under the power or USB sections.

In my experience, it’s pretty common for about half of the ports to stay powered up while the machine is off, which is actually quite handy if you want to charge your phone or other gadgets without turning the whole system on. Depending on your build, this setting might be tucked away in the BIOS, or perhaps it's managed through some drivers. Maybe try plugging your device into a different port to see if the behavior changes? You could also potentially tweak things through the Windows power management settings.

When you're working with a metric photograph, I guess the pixel size really becomes a crucial factor to consider. For instance, if you were to photograph a car that is about 6.5 feet long and that image ends up being mapped across 20 pixels, then each individual pixel would effectively represent a dimension of roughly 4 inches.

So, I think what the software is actually spitting out when it shows you those micrometer measurements is just the specific pixel size on the camera sensor itself. If you take a sensor that's, say, about half an inch by half an inch and it captures something like 1000x1000 pixels, then I guess the pixel size would work out to be roughly 0.001 mm.

I guess it’s worth mentioning that 72 dpi is really just the standard screen resolution, so you could say that every single monitor out there displays images at about 72 dpi.

Lisa Perez50 said:So you're suggesting I take it in for repair? Should I rush to move all my data onto an external hard drive right now?

Yeah, I ran the analysis and here is what it shows. There are entries where the temperature hits over 50 degrees. Even though the laptop doesn't actually feel hot on the outside and stays pretty quiet. Are you recommending a cleaning, or are those temperatures okay for certain components?

As for the Wi-Fi, it isn't in Airplane Mode because the icon turns blue and says "on" when it's enabled, just like here. The Wi-Fi is literally dead. The only way I can get online is via Ethernet.

The hard drive shouldn't have anything to do with the graphics issues. Your data should be perfectly safe, though I suppose it’s always a smart move to have a backup just in case.

Temperatures around 50 to 60 degrees are actually quite reasonable. Maybe try running a demanding game for a bit and then check the temperature again after about half an hour.

Regarding the Wi-Fi, you might want to check if there's a physical switch on the laptop to toggle it, or perhaps look in the BIOS settings to see if it's enabled. You could also check the Device Manager to see if the Wi-Fi device is even showing up.

It might be worth checking the Event Viewer to see if there are any critical system errors popping up.

From what I've seen before, when a screen starts fading like that, it's usually either a problem with the graphics card or the display cable—but since you're on a laptop, it's most likely the graphics card itself.

I think my graphics card might be on its last legs, maybe around 99% dead

gentlelynx49 said:Hey there!
Probably a stupid question, but I’ll be the first to admit I’m a complete idiot when it comes to this kind of stuff.
I’m working over in England right now and just got handed this new laptop running Windows 10 about a week ago.
Now, I was used to my old American keyboard layout, so I thought—in my infinite wisdom—that I could just flip the language settings to American and call it a day. Well, that was a half-baked plan because I only partially fixed the mess.
The characters are fine, and the punctuation works as expected, which is great, but the other two things are driving me absolutely insane. When I’m trying to crunch numbers in Excel, I’m stuck using a comma instead of a period or semicolon. On top of that, my F-keys have gone rogue—instead of doing what they’re actually supposed to do, they just toggle the volume, brightness, and all that other junk.
I honestly can't tell if this is some weird quirk with Windows 10, a specific issue with this laptop model, or just my own incompetence.
Does anyone have any clue how to fix this?
Thanks!

Maybe try setting your regional settings to American, and you should also see an Fn key on the laptop that lets you toggle between the standard F1, F2, etc., functions and those hardware shortcuts.

John Turner34 said:just total nonsense in this country, including things that aren't even real.

I mean, which Intel address are we even talking about here? Exactly.

I honestly can't recall ever hearing about a license being tied to any specific Intel address...
it wouldn't even make much sense to do that, because you'd just be inviting technical headaches down the road that nobody actually needs... I suppose I don't quite follow the logic there; maybe it's more of a fairy tale than actual reasoning.
An Intel address is never going to function like a physical street address, either—I think a house number will always stay firmly in its place long before an Intel address or some other digital identifier takes over that role.
Gosh... some people really do just waste time and energy for no reason at all.

Actually, an AutoCAD network license is tied to the local Intel address of the license server, along with its hostname and the disk ID. If things change, there’s usually an online process where you can input the old credentials alongside the new ones, and it generates a fresh license for you. There are all sorts of different ways licenses get linked, depending on whatever the industry standard was at the exact moment that specific license was issued.

Sarah King25 said:Actually, they weren't even asking me to complete any tasks or activate anything; they just wanted me to summarize my payment details so they could wire the money over, even though all that information is already publicly available on my website.

It’s a total scam.

If you happen to work in translation or freelance interpreting, you really ought to take a look at this

http://www.translator-scammers.com/t...mers-notes.htm

http://www.translator-scammers.com/t...-info.htm#scam

http://www.translator-scammers.com/t...ry.htm#cv_list

The way these groups operate is that they grab a translator's CV, then they pose as someone looking for translation work, but they actually just tweak that CV to hunt for jobs themselves—jobs they either never actually create or they simply pass directly to the original translator without ever ensuring they get paid.

And if you see an email domain like instruction.com, it's basically just a free address that anyone can set up through https://www.mail.com/email/ so you should probably check out the list of domains under the profession section here

I suspect this same kind of scheme might be used for other types of jobs too—so if you've finished some work and are waiting on a paycheck, I guess you should just forget about it. I'd suggest not giving them any personal info or sending them anything at all.

Rachel Richardson said:Fair enough, but following that logic, both the north and south coasts would shift accordingly. On this specific map;
View on imgur
it looks like there's just a slight northward drift—maybe about 12 miles...

So, I was wondering, what altitude are you currently set to for your content? You might want to check if there’s an option to "lock to ground"—maybe try toggling that on.

If you leave the standard Earth satellite view active, you should be able to tell if it's drifting away.

Rachel Richardson said:I had the same impression, though if that were the case, zooming in shouldn't really change the outcome 😁

My maps? Of course I have, 😬--it's a basic tool for anyone doing serious work.

https://dizzib.github.io/earth/curve-calc/

Here you go, feel free to check it out!

I guess it just goes to show that the further apart those two points on the map are, the more significant the distortion becomes.

Rachel Richardson said:Actually, it isn't just one layer; I have about 20 different KMLs loaded.
Take a look at the top left corner;
View on imgur
Look at the top screen to see how the coastline is shifted.
Once you zoom in far enough, you can see the exact error—check the bottom image.

Thanks for the help regardless—this part is mostly a cosmetic detail. I'll try to dig up some info on Google regarding this; if I find anything useful, I'll let you know. 😬

Those images are a bit small, I think.😬

It seems to me like the details might be distorting because of the projection used. I guess the closer a detail is to the center of the screen, the less distorted it appears to be.

Thanks for all the help anyway! This little leftover part is mostly just a decorative detail. I'll try searching for something on Google regarding this, and if I manage to find anything useful, I'll definitely let you know.😬

I'm not quite sure if you've already given this a shot, but...

https://www.google.com/maps/about/mymaps/

If you haven't tried using it yet, you should definitely give it a go!👍

Rachel Richardson said:Thanks—but honestly, if you look online, there isn't any shared style to be found; just look.
View on imgur
The options are limited—it’s either clean, research-based, all-in, or custom-tailored.

I suppose it doesn't really matter—I've already switched over to the desktop version—but I am genuinely curious about where exactly my logic is failing. 😬

Thanks. 👍

This looks great to me—but the background is slightly off, take a look; View on imgur
How can this be configured?
And is there an option to adjust the projection settings?
Something akin to a Mercator projection—a flat map?

edit: here View on imgur It’s even clearer now. 😁

I honestly haven't really had the chance to play around with the web version myself, so I'm not entirely sure how it behaves over there! However, from what I can see, you definitely have the option to tweak the style when you're using the desktop version. I suppose you just have to be a little bit careful about how you group all your data together, though, just to make sure everything stays organized exactly the way you want it!

Thanks! 👍

I think this looks absolutely wonderful, though I guess the background seems to be a little bit out of alignment, if you look closely! I was just scrolling through some old files and stumbled upon this image, and I honestly can’t help but feel a little nostalgic looking at it! It really captures a specific moment in time, doesn't it? I guess you could say it's one of those snapshots that makes you stop and think about how much things have changed since then. Maybe it's just me, but there's something so incredibly charming about the way everything looks here. I find myself wondering about the story behind the shot—who was there, what were they thinking, and I suppose, what kind of mood were they in when this was taken? It feels like such a vivid little slice of life, almost like a scene straight out of a classic American indie film. I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks about it, because I'm feeling quite inspired by it today!
I was just wondering, how exactly does one go about getting this all set up? I guess there might be a specific way to adjust the settings, though I'm not entirely sure myself!
I was just wondering, would there happen to be some kind of option available to change the projection settings?
So, I was just thinking, maybe you mean something along the lines of a Mercator projection or a standard flat map?

I guess I should probably mention that I’ve made some updates right here! I was just looking through some images online, and I couldn't help but feel a little bit nostalgic! It’s funny how certain visuals can really transport you back to a specific moment in time, isn't it? I guess I spent way too much time scrolling through this particular gallery, but there was something about the composition that just felt so incredibly striking to me. Maybe it’s just my own sense of wanderlust acting up again, but I found myself staring at these shots for quite a while, wondering about the stories behind them. It honestly feels like such a wonderful little window into a different perspective, and I just had to share that feeling with everyone here! Now you can see it even more clearly! 😁

I suppose there really shouldn't be any shifting involved, at least certainly not if we're talking about any standard measurement system. As far as I can tell, the projection ought to stay exactly as it is, keeping everything set to WGS84 (EPSG:600613) and EPSG:3857.

If I were in your shoes, I might suggest splitting all that data out into four separate KML files, and then you could just upload them one by one as individual layers into Google My Maps!

I have this feeling that you might be keeping everything bundled together within a single KML file, perhaps all tucked away in one solitary layer, which I guess could be why you're hitting that limit—even though, if you were to look at the individual components, you probably wouldn't find more than a thousand objects anywhere!

I guess you could say it’s something along those lines!

I suppose I should probably mention that traffic has been absolutely relentless lately! It feels like every single time I step out onto the road, I’m met with nothing but a sea of brake lights and endless congestion. I guess it's just one of those seasons where everything seems to move at a snail's pace, isn't it? Maybe if I had left just ten minutes earlier, I could have dodged some of these bottlenecks, but honestly, it feels like there's nowhere to go!
I suppose I should probably mention the roadwork, though it’s such a minor thing, really! It feels like there might be some construction crews out on the streets today, so you might want to watch out for those orange cones if you're heading out.
I suppose I should probably mention that I’ve been thinking quite a bit about markers lately! It’s funny how such a simple little thing can catch your attention, but I guess there is just something so satisfying about a really high-quality marker when you're working on a project.
I suppose I should probably mention that things are looking a bit red right now, though I guess that’s just how the market tends to behave sometimes!
I suppose I should probably mention that things are looking quite blue today! It’s one of those moods, I guess, where everything just feels a bit more vibrant and spirited than usual. Maybe it's just the weather, or perhaps I'm just feeling particularly upbeat about how the day is unfolding!
I suppose I should probably mention that everything seems to be looking quite green and vibrant lately! It really feels like nature is putting on quite a show, doesn't it? Maybe it’s just my imagination, but there’s such a wonderful, refreshing energy in all this greenery that I find myself feeling incredibly upbeat about the whole season.

I guess if you go about it this way, you’ll be able to bypass those pesky object limits per layer, which means you could potentially publish your web map anywhere on the internet!

If you ever find yourself hitting a limit, I guess you could always just add another layer, maybe?

I suppose if we’re talking about highways, I really feel like there isn't much to say, though maybe I'm just being overly optimistic! It seems like such a broad topic, doesn't it? I guess I'll just leave it at that for now, unless someone wants to dive into the specifics of American interstate travel!
I suppose I should probably mention the roadwork situation, because honestly, the traffic around town has been such a mess lately! It feels like every single street is under construction right now, doesn't it? I guess it’s just one of those seasons where you can't seem to go anywhere without hitting a detour or a orange cone. Maybe it’s just my luck, but it really does feel like they're tearing up every major artery at once!
I suppose I should probably mention the markers!
I guess I should probably get started on this, though I’m feeling a little bit uncertain about how much detail to include right away! It seems like we're looking at the red category, covering everything from the very beginning all the way up to the 2000 mark, if that makes sense. I'm quite excited to dive into this, even if I'm still figuring out the best way to organize my thoughts for everyone here!
I suppose I should probably mention that we might be looking at a range somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000.
I suppose I should probably mention that everything seems to be going quite smoothly on my end today! It’s funny how things work out sometimes, isn't it? Anyway, I was just thinking about how much I enjoy these little updates. I guess I'll just keep things moving along!
I suppose I should probably mention that things are looking quite green lately! It really feels like everything is finally starting to bloom, doesn't it? Maybe it's just me, but I find it so incredibly uplifting when nature begins to show its vibrant colors again. It’s such an optimistic feeling, I guess!

Rachel Richardson said:Thanks🙂
I couldn't find it—there's only a map style option, which doesn't really change much for me.
I was originally using this in my browser, but I just downloaded it to my PC. It loaded everything perfectly fine there. 😁
View on imgur
How can I change the background here? Specifically, is it possible to make it look like a standard flat map without all the relief/terrain details?
Or at least switch the projection—it's looking a bit too spherical right now. 😁
Even without those tweaks, it’s great; I got exactly what I was looking for, so thank you. 🙂
But if I could dial in those small details, it would be the perfect follow-up to my previous trips—keeping the format consistent...

Map Style - Share Style - Icon

I guess you can set the background by using a map overlay.

http://mt.mgmaps.com/kml/maps.php - there's a script here with some pre-defined overlays

Bryan Rivera83 said:Why on earth can't you just build your own custom map in Google My Maps and actually add mileage layers to it?

Well, I think there's actually a limit of about 2,000 individual items per layer, if I recall correctly.

Rachel Richardson said:Thanks 🙂
Just one quick question—
The result I'm getting looks like this:
View on imgur
They aren't actually "X" marks in the original file—also, is there any way to swap out the background?

Oh, you can definitely do that! You just go into Style and then select Icon. As for the background, maybe you could try using a clock, some topographical maps, or even a geographic pattern...

Rachel Richardson said:Does anyone know how—or what tool can be used—to upload multiple Google Maps at once?
Damn Google changed things a few years back; I used to be able to stitch together entire custom maps from my various trips quite easily.
I’ve exported most of them as KML files—I even manually merged eight maps from my US trips and ten from the rest of the world into sets of two using an editor—but now Google refuses to load the larger European map into my collection because the file size is too massive. Because of that, I couldn't even attempt to merge it with my US maps...
Is there any alternative tool out there similar to Google Maps where this is actually possible?
Honestly, it feels like idiocy—I hate it when they strip away a perfectly good feature. 👎

Google Earth.

Carol Newman2 said:The California government is going to buckle. I'm absolutely certain of it.

Oh, I agree. Honestly, I don't think they'll just buckle—it feels more like they might undergo a total surrender. If they had used just a little bit more common sense, they probably could have negotiated for even greater autonomy, but given everything unfolding right now, I suppose the real question is whether they can even hold onto the rights they've enjoyed over the last 50 years.

I honestly can't quite wrap my head around this fantasy that life would have been better if the old federation had actually stayed together. If it had survived, we would have been stuck footing the bill for places like Mexico, Mexico, and Canada. On top of that, we'd be dealing with a bureaucracy that was maybe three times less efficient and probably three times more corrupt than what we see now. Just to give you an idea, the US economy today thrives on specialized sectors, much like how our tourism alone brings in four times more revenue now than the entire former region did during its absolute best years.

All those nostalgic pipe dreams about old-school industrial manufacturing are really just that—pipe dreams. That whole industrial sector collapsed because it was fundamentally flawed and outdated, and since then, the global market has shifted so much that there wouldn't even be anyone left to buy our old goods.

I mean, just think back to what major cities like Chicago or New York looked like in the eighties; the streets were a mess, the asphalt was crumbling, there was trash everywhere, and the building facades were just falling apart. The whole city practically smelled like decay and neglect, yet somehow, people just accepted it as totally normal.

If we hadn't gained independence and gone through those conflicts, I suspect we would be living three times worse off right now, perhaps looking more like the struggling parts of the North America today.

I suppose things might have been slightly more tolerable if everything had just dissolved peacefully.

Steven Morris12 said:Man, he's just trolling because he can't read. 😁

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLdO8vAXkAE3Ype.jpg

Look at this—free bus rides. Pretty sure that doesn't need a translation. 😁

The only actual news I can find regarding these buses is that there are 1,800 free ones being provided specifically to transport people within Catalonia to Barcelona. So, I guess we have to ask ourselves: does everyone think Catalonia is just Barcelona, or are they just completely ignoring everyone else living in the surrounding areas?

rowdyangler said:They tried to hold a "truth rally" back in '89, but the police shut them down before they could get started.

I’m curious, where on earth did you hear that theory about the government bussing people in? I mean, if you're trying to transport a million people, you'd probably need something like 10,000 buses, right? I’ve been reading through various news reports coming out of Barcelona, and honestly, I haven't seen anyone mentioning that specific idea once. It seems unlikely that the independence supporters wouldn't have noticed a massive fleet of buses moving in like that! 🤣