Geek stuff, computer misc

[Irulan]

AVG has been a solid product for a very long time, but they really sc***ed up everyone with a 64-bit machine this past week with an update. Thankfully I changed to Avast about a year ago. I was getting ready to go back to AVG but after this week I will not do that as I have a 64-bit machine.

There isn't any problem with running multiple versions of Office on a Windows machine, can't speak for Macs. Just be aware that if you decide to uninstall one of them then it might cause issues with the other - or not - I've seen both outcomes. Many of the people I know at work have both versions of Excel for the very same reason you mention.

Thanks Catrin. Maybe I'll just ask the geek child ( my elec. eng/comp sci kid) to help us set that up when he comes home for xmas.

[OakLeaf]

Catrin, what's the issue with the new version of AVG? I'm pretty sure my Windows "partition" running under Parallels is 64-bit, since the host computer is? I downloaded it whenever they released it and haven't had any trouble yet, but I basically use Windows only for SportTracks and nothing else.

[Catrin]

Catrin, what's the issue with the new version of AVG? I'm pretty sure my Windows "partition" running under Parallels is 64-bit, since the host computer is? I downloaded it whenever they released it and haven't had any trouble yet, but I basically use Windows only for SportTracks and nothing else.

You lucked out since you don't have a Windows 7 machine, you can find more information here, and here.

Basically they released an update for AVG that made Windows totally unusable on a Windows 7 64-bit machine. I know 6-7 people personally this happened to and heard of others. They had no choice but to reformat their hard-drive and to reinstall everything as the fix suggested by AVG did not work for them. AVG did remove that update version and took care of it, but the damage was already done.

Everyone makes mistakes, but after THAT size of a mistake I won't be risking their product again - sadly. I like the interface much better than Avast...

[Irulan]

Before I installed the update I did some googling on it and it appeared there was an issue that may or may not have been resolved, so I knew I was taking a chance when I installed it. I didn't have a full crash thank you but there were definitely problems.

How do I tell if my machine is 64 bit or not? It's a custom build that the geek child did for me a few years ago.

[Catrin]

Before I installed the update I did some googling on it and it appeared there was an issue that may or may not have been resolved, so I knew I was taking a chance when I installed it. I didn't have a full crash thank you but there were definitely problems.

How do I tell if my machine is 64 bit or not? It's a custom build that the geek child did for me a few years ago.

They haven't been common for all that long - but if you go to your start menu/control panel/system it will tell you if you have a 64-bit operating system or a 32. Also apparently Windows 7 was more susceptible than others - and I doubt that problem update was out there all that long before this was discovered and dealt with.

[Becky]

Sheesh....makes me glad that I've been dragging my feet on installing my Vista-to-7 upgrade!! I am running AVG 2011....

That's scary stuff!

[Catrin]

Windows 7 is great, I like it much better than Vista. AVG should have checked their installation on 64-bit machines more thoroughly. At one time they were not very common, but more and more PC manufacturers are selling a larger percentage of 64-bit operating systems and some ONLY sell 64-bit....

I suspect that AVG will not make that mistake again as this will hurt their reputation for at least a time.

[Irulan]

They haven't been common for all that long - but if you go to your start menu/control panel/system it will tell you if you have a 64-bit operating system or a 32. Also apparently Windows 7 was more susceptible than others - and I doubt that problem update was out there all that long before this was discovered and dealt with.

Athalon 64x2 Dual.... is that it?
Still running XP w/no issues

[Catrin]

Athalon 64x2 Dual.... is that it?
Still running XP w/no issues

It sounds like you do indeed have 64-bit processors - cool ---- but you still may have a 32-bit operating system. XP did come in a 64-bit option (I think it was the Professional version) and there should be something on your system display that says which version of the operating system you have. What information does it provide for your operating system when you go to the start menu/control panel/operating system?

My display has a line for operating system type - and this is where it says that I have a 64-bit OS, but XP may display that differently - it's been a long time since I've worked with XP.

[smilingcat]

Thanks Catrin. Maybe I'll just ask the geek child ( my elec. eng/comp sci kid) to help us set that up when he comes home for xmas.

Could you ask your Geek demi-god son on how to fix my mistake.

My partner's laptop PC has only 40G drive and we upped it to 160G. XP was pre-installed on the 40G so I had to create an XP install disk with service pack 2 (SP2) off the pre installed XP on the 40G, which I did. The disk is burned as a ISO disk, which you must if the disk is to become an install disk.

I loaded XP onto the 160G, typed in the appropriate product key code and it more or less installed. I also managed to get rid of all the junk it comes with, things like IE, AOL,...And we upped the RAM to 1.5G from mere 250K

Spend some extra time to load up the LAN driver, Modem not that we need it, fixed up the video, PCI driver etc. Loaded up with Firefox, Photoshop element, Quicktime, iTune, Acrobat Reader, open office, Flash...

Two things are still not working right.

No sound. Hardware is still there. SigmaTel drivers are there but it can't see the hardware. Control panel says huh? to sound. I may have to uninstall and do a fresh install. This normally fixes things.

The second one is something I've never seen before. sometimes, the message appears in Russian? but most of the time its in American English. As an example, I go into the control panel and click on the system, most options are in English, system, settings, but hardware option is in Russian. This is just bizarre. Regional language is set to American English.

Will your son have any clue?

As for AVG, I prefer running Linux for just this reason. I can import and export pdf files, word docs, excel, powerpoint, from open office and its a FREEBIE!!! What more do you want?? Open office allows me to create pdf files too. Oh I also run Adobe photoshop elements, Quicktime, and I tune on my Linux box.

I love my penguin!! Such a cutie!! My partner refused to budge from XP, windows 98, dos 3.3.

[Irulan]

Will your son have any clue?

Smilingcat, I have to beg my son to help and he'll only do it after I've done this...

[ny biker]

smilingcat, i have to beg my son to help and he'll only do it after i've done this...

i love this.

[smilingcat]

The flow chart is very funny. I loved it. Something every computer/electrical engineering geek would love.

I talked to some wizards about the Russian text and they told me that the registry is messed up somewhere. hmmm.... Well I could live with it. And my partner doesn't have to deal with control panel, system settings, so she wouldn't see it and don't care.

Soo just one problem. The speakers/sound.

Oh she's liking the quickness of the laptop. Noticeably faster without all that bloated junk and going from 250Meg memory to 1.5G. Everybody is a happy camper for now.

[Catrin]

The flow chart is very funny. I loved it. Something every computer/electrical engineering geek would love.

I talked to some wizards about the Russian text and they told me that the registry is messed up somewhere. hmmm.... Well I could live with it. And my partner doesn't have to deal with control panel, system settings, so she wouldn't see it and don't care.

So just one problem. The speakers/sound.

Oh she's liking the quickness of the laptop. Noticeably faster without all that bloated junk and going from 250Meg memory to 1.5G. Everybody is a happy camper for now.

Of course it is your choice whether to fix the registry problem - which would likely require a clean installation of Windows to be safe - but you might want to consider that at some point. You don't know what else might be wrong in the registry and that would have me uncomfortable. Of course your wizards likely have more experience than I and if they are not concerned then don't worry about it.

Have you uninstalled/reinstalled the drivers for your speakers/audio card?

I ran Linux for a few years, but my work requires that I have Windows and as I spend more and more time on the computer for my job, I find myself less inclined to play with different operating systems outside of work. All that being said, I have found Windows 7 to be just as fast on my computer at home as any Linux installation or other operating system. Imagine my surprise when I realized that! Of course, my computer at home is more robust than any computer I've ever worked with (so I can take home traffic microsimulation work) and that has a lot to do with it.

[Cataboo]

The flow chart is very funny. I loved it. Something every computer/electrical engineering geek would love.

I talked to some wizards about the Russian text and they told me that the registry is messed up somewhere. hmmm.... Well I could live with it. And my partner doesn't have to deal with control panel, system settings, so she wouldn't see it and don't care.

Soo just one problem. The speakers/sound.

Oh she's liking the quickness of the laptop. Noticeably faster without all that bloated junk and going from 250Meg memory to 1.5G. Everybody is a happy camper for now.

Were you using a legit copy of windows? There are some hacked versions out there that have different languages for the hacked parts.

Did you go to the manufacturers website and download the new drivers for the sound card? Delete/uninstall the drivers you have and reboot to let the computer detect new hardware?

I'd say you'd be better off with a fresh install to work out the quirks, but if your partner isn't going to mind?