This must be what going mad feels like.

Simon ,'Jaynestown'


Buffistechnology 2: You Made Her So She Growls?  

Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!


tommyrot - Jul 10, 2006 2:38:00 pm PDT #8440 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Is it possible to scan over a network if the scanner software doesn't support it? (Yeah, stupid question....)

Scanner is HP Officejet 6210 all-in-one....

eta: Network is four XP computers, without server software (just file sharing).

eta²: Well, there's this: [link] $100 for business use....


DXMachina - Jul 11, 2006 3:52:23 am PDT #8441 of 10003
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.

Ooh! A Dell laptop suffers "a thermal incident." At least, that's what their what VP for corporate communications called it.


§ ita § - Jul 11, 2006 10:07:41 pm PDT #8442 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

I've finally gotten my sister's laptop. I'm dressing it up for her.

So far my install list looks like:

  • iTunes
  • Office
  • Trillian (basic)
  • Opera
  • Firefox
  • the latest Flash plugin

She's not going to have a broadband connection--any recommendations for anything a not-intense computer user might like pre-installed? She's basically a web surfer, document creator, DVD watcher.

Oh! The latest Acrobat Reader.


Gris - Jul 12, 2006 4:23:36 am PDT #8443 of 10003
Hey. New board.

Adaware. Spybot. Maybe VLC if it doesn't come with a good DVD player. Picasa if she likes pictures.


§ ita § - Jul 12, 2006 4:29:36 am PDT #8444 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

It came with an adblocker and spyware software. Big name commercial stuff, so I'm not that familiar.

Her Norton, for instance, expires in 60 days. If I had more time, I'd just uninstall it, and put AVG on, but I don't think I'll have a chance.

I've become so spoiled with broadband and informed choice that I can't think of the simple stuff.


vw bug - Jul 12, 2006 8:00:18 am PDT #8445 of 10003
Mostly lurking...

Anyone know anything about this software: [link] I need to somehow figure out how to get my music from my iPod back into iTunes. Not only did I lose almost $200 worth of purchased music, but also many cds that I don't know where/when I copied them. Blech. This is a pain in the arse.


§ ita § - Jul 12, 2006 8:10:44 am PDT #8446 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

vw, there's a free way you can try first--I just did it.

On a PC, connect the iPod. Make sure your folder settings allow you to see hidden files. Windows Explorer should have a drive now that's the iPod. Drill down the folder structure (dammit, I forget the highest one, but there are only a few) and copy the Music folder onto your PC.

Start iTunes, and import the Music folder back in. Make sure your Preferences are set to copy the music files.

That's a little vague, so if someone with iTunes around could give more details, that'd be great. But it was what I was doing at midnight last night.

One thing: Not sure how that works with your iTunes store music. Best thing to do is make sure you're logged into the store with your original ID before you do the copying. Not sure if you have to do more.


Gris - Jul 12, 2006 9:10:52 am PDT #8447 of 10003
Hey. New board.

It should work fine with the purchased iTunes music. When you try to play the copied file, you'll need to log in. That's it.

Be careful with the "copy to music library" setting, though. You'll end up with two copies of ALL of your music - the folder you originally copied over from your iPod, and the (newly copied) stuff in your library. Thus, if you have a 20 GB iPod that's nearly full, you'll be spending 40 GB of disk space on it. That's fine if you remember to delete the original copied-from-iPod folder. Still, you're probably better off just copying the folder into "My Documents/iTunes/iTunes Music" (or whatever the iTunes folder is on Windows) in the first place, and just letting iTunes organize the music rather than copy it all. Saves time.

ETA: If you're willing to wait awhile, I could help you do this in a more step-by-step manner using AIM or some such later this evening. I won't be home until about 8 Eastern time, though. Be very careful not to let your new, unfilled iTunes syc with your iPod, though, whatever you do. That's the biggest danger at this point.


tommyrot - Jul 12, 2006 9:18:38 am PDT #8448 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Just by coincedence, I ran across this article:

Rebuild a lost iTunes library from an iPod?

eta: from the above link, a tutorial: How to get songs off your iPod w/ iTunes


§ ita § - Jul 12, 2006 9:27:13 am PDT #8449 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

That's fine if you remember to delete the original copied-from-iPod folder.

That's why I put it on my desktop, so it stares balefully at me.