JDoors

Aha! Looks like the disk is a reissue from that source. Thanks EVERSOMUCH!

Thanks. That's on ongoing process as I discover what's in Vista that I never had before and learn what everything does (or doesn't do). I've looked up a few things in online "process libraries," but they are often limited in the information provided.

So I'm rippin' my CD's to my new computer using Windows Media Center. When I put in Black Sabbath's Sabotage, the title is displayed as: Sabotage [ESM] I can't find what "[ESM]" means. I searched Acronym Attic and they had over 200 possible meanings, some made SOME kind of sense, but I'm not so sure. Is it a Windows thing, a Media Center thing, a music catalog thing, or my particular copy of Sabotage is somehow uncommon or unique? I used to buy imports, but I don't think this is one of them (my Sabbath Bloody Sabbath CD is an import and Media Center was unable to list one of the tracks

Whoa, I don't remember you sayin' it was playing while off. That WOULD freak me out (sort of, since I hear voices sometimes anyway ... whole 'nother story though). Sure sounds like an obvious clue that box was defective though.

Yay! That didn't take long: I crashed the heck outta the OS. I have two thumb drives with various backups that I used to leave plugged into my old computer. One of them started acting flaky, sometimes not showing up. I plugged them into the new system and Vista tried installing them -- and failed. That locked up Explorer as it continued to try to resolve the problem. So ... stupidly (and I wouldn't have done this with '98 as I knew it would lock it up) ... I accessed the drive that DID work. That ... was a mistake. Explorer, the GUI for Windows, locked up solid as it continued to try to res

Uber Tech! Or-r-r-rr ... She saw all the personal notations on your account and figured you weren't worth messin' around with.

Thanks, I haven't had start/shut-down problems but at least -- if I can remember it -- I'll have a clue where to start. I did have IE8 automatically close a tab that had crashed (partly my fault, I tried to do several things in a row before the previous items had finished - a better written page may have avoided that kind of problem but there's nothing I could do about that). And, I never had to restart -- even if I COULD recover without crashing the OS in '98, I knew to save what I could and restart or the entire system would become unstable. With IE8 I just kept goin' for the rest of the da

I have a subscription that runs for some time yet so I figured I'd better get my money's worth. I like the extra features, but Windows security features plus aftermarket freebies sure make me wonder just how much longer I'll be payin' for McAfee. An aside: Whoa! IE8 (maybe IE7, I never had it) RECOVERS FROM CRASHES ELEGANTLY! Get a poorly written site that confounds the browser and it doesn't make a mess of things! I love it.

Yeah, the Pictures and Documents folders for each user is in the Users\*name of user* folder. That would be the folder of the only user if you haven't set up a non-administrator account yet -- you really should do this for security reasons: Malicious programs that somehow infiltrate your system while you're running an administrator account will have administrator access. That's not good. The downside of a non-admin account is if you're trying to do something that requires admin access you have to type in your password before you can complete whatever it is you're doing (hardly an imposition si

I'm Allstate all the way, from WAY back (mostly, now, out of loyalty, whatever that is). For many reasons rates are going up in general and insurance companies are getting stingier with their payouts. Aside from all the disasterous weather, they also have to deal with the economic downturn. State Farm is generally acknowledged as the best company for consumers, while newer companies generally have the cheapest rates. I have a friend who's been involved with insurance companies for a long time and he's mostly insured by Farmer's.

I'm new to Vista so forgive any inaccuracies. Open the "Computer" app (locations; an icon on the desktop, an item in the Start menu, or just type Computer in the search window in the Start menu and hit Enter). You can also use Windows Explorer (Start menu) but it "assumes" you want to start in a default location that won't be familar to you (though you can navigate FROM there to get the directory tree location you're used to). In the left pane is the closest thing to the directory tree you're used to (in the pic "Computer" and the folder tree is shown on the left, the CONTENTS of "Computer"

I'm skittish on using aftermarket players, they've rarely worked to my satisfaction, but then, I was trying to use them in Windows 98, so ... that's probably not an issue any more.

From what I understand, when it does happen, it's due to an error of some kind. Generally a previously failed update that "upsets" the "permissions" you've set. Essentially Windows says, "OK, you SAID I could install this older update, but it didn't work so we'll try again, and since we got your permission already why not install all these other updates while we're at it?" "They're working on it."

Another question: My Taskbar (which is "Auto-hidden") "flashes" onscreen. It appears ever-so-briefly -- it's almost unnoticeable -- Just a distracting flicker, nothing more. I keep the Quick Launch toolbar turned off, the Notification Area has just the following icons; Volume Control, McAfee SecurityCenter, Windows Sidebar and the RealTek Audio Manager. All but the Volume Control (which I set to "Always Show") remain "Hidden" nearly all the time, so they're not "doing" anything that requires attention. I would guess it's McAfee, every time it checks for updates or whatever it momentarily gr

If I haven't had any trouble running any media (yet), I don't need a codec pack?

I don't remember the exact year they changed the criteria but I remember it happening. I knew at the time at what weight I feel best, and according to that "new" criteria I'd have to lose another forty pounds to be "healthy." That's just so freakin' ridiculous I don't even know how to respond. Who set that standard? Why is it even being used? To "scare" the populice, to give the government the power to legislate action, or am I being paranoid? ***** The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless seri

Err, I'm lazy -- Links please?

Hey, that's what we're here for! Do show.

Wait ... What?

(God help us if they ever manage that kind of surveillance, technologically speaking.)

That highlights something that's bothered me for some time: The criteria for determining if someone was "obese" has changed. Suddenly, with an accounting change, twice as many people who were considered to be "healthy" for all their lives, were suddenly "obese" and at risk. Headlines screamed, doctors and lawyers salivated, people were shocked to learn they were now "sick." And all for nothin' IMO. I suspect it's just a sign of my gettin' old, but sometimes I think our whole world is based on nothing but lies.

Pete, those sites/links were more along the lines of what I was looking for: What should I change RIGHT NOW. But several ideas were outdated and some were suggestions on how to avoid the annoyances of Vista the early adopters didn't care for, things that are there for a reason (Like UAC) that I would rather suffer through than do without the added functionality or security (I actually LIKE UAC -- imagine that!). I did learn a thing or two however, and it helped me to figure out a couple of changes I did want (like how to permanently show the old-fashioned "menu" bar in Explorer). I did myself

I too always "hide" the taskbar so it never takes up unnecessary space, but I've tried it on the side in the past and I liked it (though I never stuck with it for long because some icons/program names didn't "fit" or look right). Hey, there's a REASON putting the task bar someplace other than the bottom exists! It just might BE a better option for some people.

Pete, that was part of my thinking: I didn't know for a FACT it was the power supply, it was just the most (or even only) logical thing that could cause the problem I had. And I didn't think of it, but I agree, what if I replace the power supply, the computer finally boots, and nothing comes up? Now what? It's ten years old, even if there was no other damage and I was back in business, how long before something ELSE, completely unrelated to the original problem, fails? Then what? Deciding just HOW FAR to upgrade was far more complicated than I was ready to decide; CPUs, hard drive capacity, O