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Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8826: Jul 16th 2022 at 12:18:11 AM

I know users liked it, but there were still problems.

Ars had an article on it back in 2011:

Ten years of Windows XP: how longevity became a curse: Ten years ago today, Windows XP hit the retail market. After a rocky start, it …

As much as businesses have enjoyed the ability to standardize on one operating system for a decade, the effect of Windows XP's long life and massive market share has its downsides. Windows XP is today a very tired platform, one that hasn't kept up with modern developments. Installing it onto systems with new RAID or SATA controllers is a miserable experience. Installing it on systems without optical drives is also troublesome. Though Service Pack 2 took steps to improve security, it still falls a long way short of Windows Vista and Windows 7 in that regard, thanks to newer features such as address space layout randomization and User Account Control. The technology it uses is dated; Windows 7 and Mac OS X both use GP Us' powerful 3D capabilities to accelerate their user interfaces (to a greater or lesser extent). Windows XP does not. Windows XP also lacks a true 64-bit version; though a Windows XP for x86-64 processors was released, it was actually a rebranded version of Windows Server 2003, a decision which caused various compatibility issues. Windows Vista and Windows 7, in contrast, both have mainstream, well-supported 64-bit versions.

New versions of Windows offer value to developers, too. Direct 3 D 10, for example, only supports Windows Vista and Windows 7; it's not available on Windows XP. The continued widespread usage of the old operating system makes it much harder for developers to depend on these new features: every time they do, they rule out the ability to sell to half of all current Windows users, and that's a bitter pill to swallow. More aggressive migration away from Windows XP would enable the development of better third-party applications.

Edited by Redmess on Jul 16th 2022 at 9:22:45 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8827: Jul 16th 2022 at 12:31:13 AM

Yes, and I'm saying that the six-seven years between XP and SP 3 isn't inherently unreasonable for an OS generation.

XP also came at a particularly bad time where memory is concerned—as noted, it straddled the emergence of 64-bit systems in the mainstream that could address more than 3.2GB of memory (and also a complete readdressing of connection standards; I think PCI Express only really started to be common later into its life cycle, and the old connectors for drives were being totally replaced (and also the old BIOS was becoming a limitation).

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8828: Jul 16th 2022 at 12:36:32 AM

Oh, you're right, I was thinking about the era after SP 3. That was when its age was really starting to show.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#8829: Jul 16th 2022 at 9:16:18 AM

I have a challenging problem I thought I would share with the thread. Recently, I purchased a Levovo R61i Thinkpad for $20. The copyright underneath says "2007", so as you can see, I got my money's worth. It has a 1 Gig RAM, a 1.86 Ghz Intel Pentium Dual CPU, and runs Windows XP. It's a 32 bit OS.

I want to boot Linux to it, but to do that properly I have to add some RAM. It has two slots, one of which is currently occupied by the RAM chip. Doing some research online, it appears that this model can take up to 4 Gig RAM total. I bought a 2 gig RAM chip online and it didn't work. The manufacturer told me that I may have to update the Bios. Doing some more research, it appears that my pc doesn't have the most recent update from 2010. I tried to download it from the Lenovo website but no dice, the webpage wont open. So I tried downloading it to a USB drive using another laptop. I appear to have done that successfully, but the USB is unreadable by the Thinkpad. It tells me that the USB drive is unformatted and do I want to format it. I say yes (figuring I'll just reload the update again using the other laptop) but again no dice. I think it has something to do with the fact that the Thinkpad is trying to use a file system called "exFAT" to do the formatting. So I'm stuck.

Any ideas? I'm ready to throw this thing out the window.

Edited by DeMarquis on Jul 16th 2022 at 12:17:21 PM

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8830: Jul 16th 2022 at 9:37:39 AM

USB drives are usually formatted as FAT 32.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#8831: Jul 16th 2022 at 9:40:42 AM

I know that. That's why I think the "exFAT" thing (whatever that is) is a problem. Can you think of a solution?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8832: Jul 16th 2022 at 9:44:11 AM

Format it as exFAT on a working computer? That shouldn't be a problem, it's still supported by all major OS's nowadays (I think, dunno about mac), even if it was a Windows proprietary thing until 2019. Basically FAT with bigger file size limits.

Edited by RainehDaze on Jul 16th 2022 at 5:44:19 PM

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#8833: Jul 16th 2022 at 7:13:03 PM

So why wouldn't the 2007 thinkpad be able to format the USB drive?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8834: Jul 16th 2022 at 7:27:37 PM

Maybe it's just screwing up? Maybe it's interacting with a much newer USB drive incorrectly? I dunno, but seeing if something else can format what it wants to read seems like an obvious step.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#8835: Jul 16th 2022 at 7:29:32 PM

You mean involve a third laptop? Sure, I'll try that.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8836: Jul 16th 2022 at 7:39:45 PM

I meant use the second laptop you were using to format the drive normally but set it to exFAT instead?

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#8837: Jul 24th 2022 at 4:27:58 PM

How would it make money?

It would have to be purely from the initial sale. Which is probably why nobody has tried to sell one, our data is worth enough that the markup would be substantial.

Though I’m curious, does Siri data harvest the way other virtual assistants do? My understanding is that Apple does have a bigger privacy focus than other companies.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8838: Jul 25th 2022 at 10:41:44 AM

Hardcoded password in Confluence app has been leaked on Twitter: Advisory had already warned hardcoded password was "trivial to obtain."

What's worse than a widely used Internet-connected enterprise app with a hardcoded password? Try said enterprise app after the hardcoded password has been leaked to the world.

What planet are these programmers from?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8840: Aug 8th 2022 at 2:32:36 AM

Microsoft’s $3M anti-abortion donations under fire from activists, shareholders: A new annual report could detail which candidates and causes Microsoft supports.

Microsoft might be donating to these groups for any number of reasons, but a UK activist shareholder group called Tulipshare says the company should change its political giving policy to resist political contradictions and increase transparency. To put pressure on Microsoft, Tulipshare partnered with CPA. Together, they propose that Microsoft release an annual report that would publicly connect the dots between the money Microsoft donates, the elected officials those donations support, and the specific causes that those elected officials support. Such a report could end any company claims about incidental anti-abortion donations.

Microsoft historically donates to both Democrats and Republicans through its corporate PA Cs, and Open Secrets notes that out of all 15 companies, Microsoft was the only company showing “a trend of contributing more to Democratic groups over time.” This could suggest the company is working to be more cognizant of how political giving contradicts its politics not just on abortion, but also on other Democratic issues that Microsoft supports, like climate change or LGBTQ+ protections.

It seems Microsoft has been trying to have it both ways by donating to both Democrats and Republicans (presumably to keep in good favours by both sides), but this is coming back to bite them now.

Edited by Redmess on Aug 8th 2022 at 11:32:48 AM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#8841: Aug 10th 2022 at 7:27:15 AM

My computer was just -talks like that stoner from Super Troopers- freaking out, man. surprised Firefox was automatically opening links in new tabs instead of the one I was in and I couldn't switch between the tabs, and the wheel on my mouse made the pages bigger and smaller instead of scrolling up and down. x_x Thank God it turned back to normal when I turned it off and on. [tup]

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#8842: Aug 10th 2022 at 7:41:56 AM

Uh, you somehow got the ctrl key stuck on. Don't ask me how.

Keyboard might need cleaning. Or replacing, if it's old enough (if it's a laptop, the keys eventually failing kinda forces an external keyboard if the whole thing's not replaced)

Edited by RainehDaze on Aug 10th 2022 at 3:42:37 PM

Mullon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
#8843: Aug 10th 2022 at 8:27:29 AM

Why are there so many movies about Steve Jobs and why do they all look the same?

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8845: Aug 10th 2022 at 2:19:49 PM

Because Steve Jobs is seen as a pivotal figure in tech design and innovation, who had quite the tech cult following?

And yes, that does sound like a stuck CTRL key to me, too.

I do have another weird Firefox bug: sometimes when I go to reload a closed tab, it will instead reload the tab from a different browser window. It's really weird and I'm not sure what's going on, and it only happens sporadically.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#8846: Aug 13th 2022 at 10:42:43 PM

Because Steve Jobs is seen as a pivotal figure in tech design and innovation, who had quite the tech cult following?

Jobs caught a wave -because he could see where the PC was going- if not for Xerox PARC labs giving Apple a tour, he would have fallen flat on his face.

Apple was able to play up the image of the "inventor in his garage" while downplaying both Steve Wozniak and the legions of Apple employees who worked 90-100 hour weeks to get the Mac out the door.

Pirates of Silicon Valley is the best portrayal of that era, a Warts and All look at Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

I tried to walk like an Egyptian and now I need to see a Cairo practor....
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8848: Aug 14th 2022 at 12:40:01 AM

That may be true, but that's the image, so that's why he gets all the movies.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#8849: Aug 18th 2022 at 11:59:18 AM

Old laptop hard drives will allegedly crash when exposed to Janet Jackson music: Problem has been assigned an official CVE ID, despite lack of specifics.

t sounds like something out of an urban legend: Some Windows XP-era laptops using 5400 RPM spinning hard drives can allegedly be forced to crash when exposed to Janet Jackson's 1989 hit "Rhythm Nation."

But Microsoft Software Engineer Raymond Chen stands by the story in a blog post published earlier this week, and the vulnerability has been issued an official CVE ID by The Mitre Corporation, lending it more credibility.

According to Chen, CVE-2022-38392 was originally discovered by "a major computer manufacturer," and it can affect not just the laptop playing the song but adjacent laptops from other PC companies as well. The specific hard drive model at issue—again from an unnamed manufacturer—would crash because "Rhythm Nation" used some of the same "natural resonant frequencies" that the drives used, interfering with their operation.

Anyone trying to independently recreate this problem will face several obstacles, including the age of the laptops involved and a total lack of specificity about the hard drives or computer models. The CVE entry mentions "a certain 5400 RPM OEM hard drive, as shipped with laptop P Cs in approximately 2005" and links back to Chen's post as a primary source. And while some Windows XP-era laptop hard drives may still be kicking out there somewhere, after almost two decades, it's more likely that most of them have died of natural causes.

The issue was also apparently partially resolved by the PC manufacturer at the time. Chen says the company addressed the problem "by adding a custom filter in the audio pipeline that detected and removed the offending frequencies during audio playback." This wouldn't completely fix things since these laptops' hard drives would still crash if they were exposed to another device that was playing the song. But "Rhythm Nation" had apparently declined enough in popularity by the early 2000s that the issue didn't become a widespread problem.

Sound frequencies can interfere with the operation of spinning hard drives, as demonstrated in this popular, old You Tube video of a man increasing disk latency and hurting performance by screaming at a server rack. So even if we can't confirm firsthand that "Rhythm Nation" wrecks old laptops, we can definitely say that stranger things have happened.

What a strange story. Apparently some songs could crash hard drives due to resonant frequencies.

Here's a video of a guy raising the latency of a server by screaming at it:

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#8850: Aug 19th 2022 at 6:28:49 PM

I have a question. Ever since I restarted and updated my computer a few days ago, it's been acting funny. It seems like I can only watch a certain amount of videos before they just won't play anymore. It's not all videos, either, just things like videos on Twitter or Youtube videos using the pop-out player. The regular Youtube player works fine, but if I pop out the video, then pause, it won't resume playing again, it'll just be stuck reloading until I refresh the page. And videos on Twitter stop playing entirely, they're just stuck in the loading animation forever. It takes less than a day of watching videos for this to happen, and the only way to fix it seems to be restarting my computer entirely, which just resets the timer.

Anyone know what's up with this, and how I could fix it?

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Aug 19th 2022 at 6:31:41 AM


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