Wildcard: tekkie ?s - non BJ

Wildcard · 11-02-2002, 01:16 PM

Well, I finally got upgraded to 256Mb of RAM...must admit, things do seem to run more smoothly and somewhat faster in access of files. And, like Parker said, a breeze to do, although I didn't do it...perhaps it saved me the metal cut someone else got on the box cover! :-(

1st - How can I disable the dial tone accessing the net? I can see when I get connected, I'm just tired of the "jingle". I almost always get connected at 44,000 bps, is this the norm?

2nd - If I use task scheduler to perform scandisk and defrag at say 3AM, doesn't my computer have to be at least on? I was under the impression these tasks could be done in the background with the computer off, thus my selection of 3AM.

3rd - If (re: the above), the computer has to be on, is it the norm to just leave the computer on all the time. Of course when there's a known storm that's different and being away from home for any lengthy period.

4th - When running scandisk do you guys run the full version or the shorter one? When should the full version be run in terms of frequency?

5th - How often should defrag be run?

Thanks for responses...have a great weekend! 38 degrees in Atlanta this AM...I love it!!

Regards,
Wildcard

Parker · 11-02-2002, 01:23 PM

This is exactly the sort of question for which this page was created.

> 1st - How can I disable the dial tone
> accessing the net? I can see when I get
> connected, I'm just tired of the
> "jingle". I almost always get
> connected at 44,000 bps, is this the norm?

Start - Settings - Control Panel - Modems - Properties. Here you can adjust the modem volume, or turn it off entirely.

The speed at which you connect is mostly dependent on the quality of your telephone line. In my travels I have connected at anywhere from 21K to 51K at various hotels, depending on the quality of their phone lines.

> 2nd - If I use task scheduler to perform
> scandisk and defrag at say 3AM, doesn't my
> computer have to be at least on? I was under
> the impression these tasks could be done in
> the background with the computer off, thus
> my selection of 3AM.

The computer must be turned on.

> 3rd - If (re: the above), the computer has
> to be on, is it the norm to just leave the
> computer on all the time. Of course when
> there's a known storm that's different and
> being away from home for any lengthy period.

This is one of those topics of hot debate among computer geeks. I leave my computers on all the time. This saves time (no waiting for the computer to boot) and is (IMHO) better for the computer, since it stays at a constant temperature, rather than being frequently heated up and cooled down. You can go to "Power Management" at the control panel (see above) and set the computer to turn off the monitor and hard drive after a specified period of inactivity, if you wish to conserve energy. This will not interfere with scheduling programs to run.

> 4th - When running scandisk do you guys run
> the full version or the shorter one? When
> should the full version be run in terms of
> frequency?

I use an operating system with a properly constructed file system, so i don't need patches like scandisk. Seriously, if you're running the quick version every time you reboot after a crash, that should be often enough. Run the full version every month or two.

> 5th - How often should defrag be run?

See my comment regarding operating systems above. If you aren't constantly adding and removing software, Defrag need only be run every three months or so. If you do do a lot of that sort of thing, it should be run more often. You can tell if it needs it when you start to run Defrag. Defrag will tell you that your drive is xx% fragmented. If that figure is less than 10%, you probably don't need to run defrag.

> Thanks for responses...have a great weekend!
> 38 degrees in Atlanta this AM...I love it!!

It's 65 and sunny in San Diego. :-)

Wildcard · 11-02-2002, 01:32 PM

> It's 65 and sunny in San Diego. :-)

Yea, but you don't have the Fall colors, just that nasty old bay and warm weather...drool. :-)

BTW, was that you all painted in silver playing Mr. Statue when I exited the ferry at the pier?

It should still be a Federal crime for Monday night football to start at 6 PM for you and 9 PM for us...don't give me that Vegas stuff. I think I'll circulate a petition that the starting times should at least alternate every other year.

Thanks for the pointers...I assume you deleted the BJ main thread.

Parker · 11-02-2002, 02:09 PM

> Yea, but you don't have the Fall colors,
> just that nasty old bay and warm
> weather...drool. :-)

Sure we do - about an hour's drive due east (and 4,000 feet up). I see all kinds of fall colors while driving to the Indian casinos.

> BTW, was that you all painted in silver
> playing Mr. Statue when I exited the ferry
> at the pier?

???

> It should still be a Federal crime for
> Monday night football to start at 6 PM for
> you and 9 PM for us...don't give me that
> Vegas stuff. I think I'll circulate a
> petition that the starting times should at
> least alternate every other year.

It's not all that great. Sometimes, when I have to work a little late and hit traffic coming home, I actually miss the kickoff.

> Thanks for the pointers...I assume you
> deleted the BJ main thread.

You assume correctly. First time I've ever deleted a post from Don. :-)

Wildcard · 11-02-2002, 03:31 PM

There was a guy painted and dressed from head to toe in sliver paint at the pier area. He was pretending to be a statue, and as people walked by he would come to life and scare the s*** out of them. Much like you'd see at the Venice Beach area.

Must be a catchy way to make a buck, I also saw a guy in Portland, Oregon in the square painted silver, but he was walking along the street. Very odd to see, musth've been going to his special spot.

Can't be good for the skin!

Anyway, next time you're near the ferry area take a gander over near the last ferry boat, where the bike pedalers hang out for fares.

Another job possibility? :-)

Well, I'm honored to be busted along with Don Schlesinger. Not many can say that! :-)

Wow, miss the kickoff...what a pity. Try staying awake past midnight! You Californians would die if you had to begin watching MNF at 9PM. It's even more strange in Hawaii when you're on vacation and see the kickoff at 3PM!!

Take care,
Al