Author Topic: I have computer related questions. Can you help? (Read 149337 times)

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #400 on:** January 24, 2014, 06:52:34 PM »

Yeah, I just finished the self test and figured out that the screen I was on was a window (it was cut off on the right side) so that I could grab and move with the mouse and actually read the results.

Surface of the disc is bad and they recommend replacing the drive...
So much for salvaging this piece of crap into a small mobile media player with a fairly large mobile screen. at least not without putting money into it first.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #401 on:** January 24, 2014, 07:00:18 PM »

If you want to familiarize yourself with Ubuntu I would recommend using VMWare on your PC to make a virtual machine and give it a whirl. I haven't been using it since I don't have to (had to compile Filezilla for Windows...in Linux...in a WM on Windows) but I really liked it a lot. If I spent a few weeks using just Ubuntu I'd probably never go back (aside from having to use things like Visual Studio 2013).

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #402 on:** January 24, 2014, 07:34:11 PM »

Ununtu from the flash drive seems to work on it just fine, I just wish Dell has some actual useful spec on the machine so that I didn't have to open it up before purchasing a replacement drive for it.

I don't know if it's an SSD or not, even though I suspect it is, but I also don't know if it's SATA II or III
as a SATA II drive might be a little cheaper for more GB's than a SATA III. This isn't my computer, so I'm only trying to put in it what will be at it's best use, and the owner is on a budget.

edit:
It appears that this thing takes a Half Mini 2 PCIE Solid State Drive. and a 32GB version of one of these will cost at least $55.00 on Amazon and a 64GB was 74.99.
Guess I should upgrade the RAM while I'm in there up to 2GB for $25. it's all incredibly easy to replace too.
Although she could spend a little more than double that (~$220+) and just get a chrome book.... This is still the cheaper option though. budgets gotta budget.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #403 on:** January 24, 2014, 08:03:41 PM »

The Inspiron 910 uses an SSD on a mini PCIe card. You can get a 32gb version for about $50. Not sure how big a pain it is to replace the drive in one of those. Some Minis have an easy access panel, some of them you have to pull the motherboard.

edit:

found a video, looks easy enough.

You could bump the RAM to 2gb at the same time.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #404 on:** January 24, 2014, 08:12:28 PM »

Ha, I was in an open edit when you posted. saw the same thing and came to the same conclusions.

thanks. I think I'll slap a 64GB SSD in there and 2 GB of ram.
she should then have no issues with her Ubuntu 12.04. It seemed pretty straight forward, unlike 8.04 which was just empty and confusing for a first time user.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #405 on:** January 24, 2014, 10:22:04 PM »

Quick Question:
64GB from an unknown for $75 (mixed ratings)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KWD0Z2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A34JWT04R7KMFW

32 GB from Samsung for $46 (w/ shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PCI-E-mSATA-Solid-MZMPA032HMCD/dp/B00B47I00U/ref=pd_sbs_pc_5

I'm not sure which one to go with.

Also for my Wii project, I'm looking to enclose an old 500GB IDE HDD
Am I gonna find anything better than this? $14.39 (seems like a good deal, but I don't want to buy crap if I can avoid it)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-2-5-inch-USB-2-0-IDE-SATA-HDD-Hard-Drive-Disk-External-Case-Box-Enclosure-/141028272244?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #406 on:** January 24, 2014, 10:31:36 PM »

I bought an enclosure years ago but it was when they were pretty new and it was like $40. I also bought an external DVD-ROM enclosure for my Xbox 360 when I did a dual fan mod back in the day.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #407 on:** January 27, 2014, 06:16:42 PM »

Just my luck. I get the parts for the Dell mini, install them, boot up, install Ubuntu everything is fine so far... except I can't get the wireless internet to work. The Broadcom wireless drivers won't install.

I look up the solutions online, but it's in some programming language for an already unfamiliar OS.
I can kinda follow it, but this is just more complicated than it needed to be.
So I have it wired for now while it's updating everything.

I've attempted 1 of 3 possible fixes and just need to reboot and try again. It was some command to uninstall/remove the driver... my results weren't as they explained, so I don't know if it worked, but the computer is installing all the updates right now (343MB worth), so I'll reboot after that.

Why does everything have to be more complicated than it should be?

ShyGuy · « **Reply #408 on:** January 27, 2014, 06:55:06 PM »

what flavor of Ubuntu?

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #409 on:** January 27, 2014, 07:51:37 PM »

12.04 since it was the LTS version

ShyGuy · « **Reply #410 on:** January 27, 2014, 08:57:12 PM »

did you find this thread?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2161433

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #411 on:** January 27, 2014, 09:06:22 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on January 27, 2014, 08:57:12 PM

did you find this thread?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2161433

I did not find that thread, I found something entirely different. With many step directions that are not working. I will halt on what I was doing and try that instead as it looks much simpler and more specific.

That was a bust. It's like it doesn't even recognize the wireless card or something. It's not finding any of the wireless signals around.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #412 on:** January 27, 2014, 09:53:24 PM »

If you type the lspci in the terminal it will list detected devices. The wireless chip should be listed in there. It looks like a broadcom chipset.

Two other things. Make sure it isn't disabled in BIOS, and make sure it didn't become unseated or lose its antennae wire connections when you installed the larger SSD.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #413 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:03:10 PM »

it looked all tight and secure as the chip under the RAM (I believe) it had two wired screwed into it that looked like antenna, but I'll double check. I'm rebooting right now after trying one of the lengthier methods that require me to gedit and all that to not block the wireless.

This is getting frustrating. I could never work IT.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #414 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:06:50 PM »

Think of the high you will have once you fix it.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #415 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:08:35 PM »

And we have LIFTOFF!!!!

Finally.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #416 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:10:09 PM »

ShyGuy · « **Reply #417 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:15:27 PM »

Now install Steam and throw on some indie games.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #418 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:39:24 PM »

I'm not sure this thing could run Tetris in color....

Although I do have plenty that I have never played. Damn cheap Humble Bundles and Steam Sales.

Ceric · « **Reply #419 on:** January 29, 2014, 09:43:03 AM »

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1 on January 27, 2014, 06:16:42 PM

...
Why does everything have to be more complicated than it should be?

Because its Open Source.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #420 on:** February 01, 2014, 10:53:38 PM »

I just installed Win 8.1 on my primary computer after a positive experience with the OS on the other computer I installed it on. (Thanks BDogg - classic shell really does make a difference too). My Win7 install has been giving me issues on this new computer, so before I just settle into it, I might as well start with a new OS on a new build and just get used to that instead.

I rally love the Netflix app on here. the setup is nice. and it's it took 2 seconds to accidentally figure out how to flip it over to the other screen too. Super smooth installation, unlike the other computer. took all of 10 minutes and I was up and running. no problems at all. it even configured everythign for me and brought over my background from the other computer.

Now I'm off to install classic shell on this computer. I just stopped in this thread to look for the link, so I decided to post about it while I was here.

Sarail · « **Reply #421 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:09:51 PM »

BnM, did you download that classic shell thing from .com or .net? Both are sites with downloads for bringing back the start menu, but .net's looks like the actual Windows 7 shell.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #422 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:11:39 PM »

Quote from: Racht on February 01, 2014, 11:09:51 PM

BnM, did you download that classic shell thing from .com or .net? Both are sites with downloads for bringing back the start menu, but .net's looks like the actual Windows 7 shell.

I used .net
http://www.classicshell.net/

Sarail · « **Reply #423 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:12:44 PM »

Ah, thanks. Any clue how it handles multiple monitors?

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #424 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:15:52 PM »

the task bar is at the bottom of both screens.

I use Ultramon to manage my monitors, but it doesn't appear to be updated for Win8.1 just yet, so I can't remove the duplicate taskbar on my TV (it only shows the icons on the left, none of the stuff on the right, like the clock on the volume.), but it's really not that big of a deal.

edit:
I just installed Ultramon, and now I can't figure out how to switch the Netflix app back up to the TV (monitor 2).
but it installed all the drivers and Win8 handled the dual monitors just fine.

edit2:
and the command to move Win 8.1 App to second screen is.... drumroll please..... Win Key+"P" then click on extend.
it will move the app you are in to the other monitor and leave your desktop on the primary monitor.

News:

Author Topic: I have computer related questions. Can you help? (Read 149337 times)