1. C: drive; blind user e-mail; Kippax; mailing list - JohnS.
1. JohnS writes.
A. A most frustrating problem with my 'better half's' system running
Win ME using varously a Cyrix 200Mhz and AMD K6 200 Mhz CPUs.
Intermittant BSODs with error message "Unable to write to C: drive".
The HDDs are two Fujitsu 20 GB 5400 rpm. A reboot after the error
message indicates that the BIOS cannot find the drives. Here's what I
have tried.
1. Both disks - same problem with either. Updated (flashed the
Tyan MB BIOS).
2. Reformat & reinstall of ME - same problem
3. New IDE cable (tried both 40 and 39 pin types).
4. Installed both drives in a new system box. IE New MB/BIOS,
Memory, PSU unit etc. Same problem.
5. Can't believe that both drives have the same intermittent
problem.
What else can I try?
B. Fixed 3 systems in 3 different locations in one day last week. Will
not do that many again in a hurry. Last one was a totally blind lady.
Got her signed up with Bigpond (against my better judgement - $15.95
for 7 Hrs/month - but she insisted as her friends recommended it). She
was sending Emails shortly afterwards using speaking software and
touch typing. Most impressive. But it's hard work trying to find
keyboard short cuts for everything. Obviously a mouse is useless.....
C. Have ordered a Knoppix Linux disk for $12.75 total from Linux
System Labs Australia from
http://www.lsl.com.au/reference/knoppix-31-GPL-note.php? The
advantage is that apparently it can be run entirely from the CD so is
apparently an ideal way of 'dipping a toe in the water' without any
major installations. I'll report about that to the next meeting & have
promised AllanV not to complain about speed due to running from a CD.
2. Corrupted Excel spreadsheet - AlanV.
3. Upgrades and patches - Roger.
The following patches and upgrades are currently available. For those
that like to stay up-to-date.
Office XP: SR 1, 2 & 3, plus several updates for security.
Mailwasher: Version 2.0.15
Tick: Version 1.17
Zone Alarm: Version 3.1.395
Nero: Version 5.5.9.17
Enditall: Version 2
4. A terrible experience - Elizabeth.
One of Elizabeth's items was "how to construct a table".
In Winword: Type the items in like below:--
Column1 Column2 Column3 Column4
and so on in however many columns one wants. Then select the text and
from the menu choose "Table | convert text to table.
4. Jeff recommended a look and listen for the National Library site
www.musicaustralia.org
For examples of some early recordings and scores use Search for
Aeroplane Jelly, Where the dog sits on the tuckerbox, Waltzing
matilda, Advance Australia, Yarrawonga, Peter Dawson, and so on.
Their site www.pictureaustralia.org is also worth a visit.
Jeff
6. Recording 78s - BillP.
8. Difference between music and non-music CDs - JohnK.
The mysteries of CD Media
In researching information for my new system, I decided it was
necessary to find out more about CD media, a regular topic discussed
at C&C.
Media types of interest to me were CD-R and CD-RW but somewhat similar
considerations will apply to DVD-R and DVD-RW
The difference between CD-R (read only) and CD-RW (read write) lie in
the materials used for the recording layer. R uses organic dyes
whereas RW use a metallic alloy layer, also for RW there is a
difference in construction in that the recording layer will have
adjacent dielectric layers mainly to remove the heat generated in
recording.
The final components are the reflective backing, protective layer(s)
often coloured and a printable outer coating all put on a clear
plastics substrate. The gold colour you see is in the coloured layer
has nothing to do with the material of the reflective layer. Look
through the clear substrate to see this.
The importance of the reflective layer is to reflect the laser light
back so it can be read by the pick up head.
Reflective layers are usually gold, a gold silver mix or silver.
The organic dyes used are typically: cyanine (blue/green),
phthalocyanine (more or less colourless) or azo (deep blue).
Of importance is that certain reflective layers are said to work best
with certain dyes - one reason for the variability from gold to
silver. For example, Verbatim use Azo dyes for CD-R and need to use
silver as the reflective layer.
Each manufacturer argues that their particular combination of dye and
reflective layer is best. Irrespective of what combination is used,
the top quality discs now have a life of at least 100 years and are
said to work with all current recorders. How long do RW's last? best
quality now 1,000 RW cycles.
The other choice is between Music and Data CDs. Is there a difference
in construction and quality of materials used? No, they are exactly
the same.
The only difference is that music CD-Rs are provided with a
Macrovision approved code in their manufacture. What effect does this
have, depends on where you read the info, but basically it means that
data CDs, if used to record ripped music, may not record it accurately
and may not or will not work in the latest Hi Fi or in-car CD players.
They will, however, both work in all computer Cd players. This info
is based on US sources and it will depend on which manufacturers of
audio CD equipment have introduced the security coding and in which
countries it is being applied. Something to be said for older
equipment. It is also said that some software will not now allow
(accurate) ripping of Music CDs to other than the special blank Music
CD-Rs. This is not the same approach as used for the security
encoding on some music CDs in Europe.
What about prices, well looking at Harris Technology prices: 10
Verbatim 700 MB 48x data CD-Rs $11 and similar music CD-Rs $13, CD-RW
16x-24x $2 each all provided in compact jewel cases. 4.7GB DVD-R $9
each and DVD-RW $12 each. The price at the markets last weekend (Nov
2002) for comparable products was not much different.
Other issues I came across: don't use low speed discs in higher speed
drives, the dyes and reflective layer combinations are fine tuned to
the top speed of the drive and may not reliably work. Some reports
say will not work. Don't record a lower speed identified CD at higher
than its nominated speed. A trap here, Kodak openly admit they were
selling 24x as 12x for some time last year until they had used up
their old packaging. All say check that the CD is compatible with
your drive, some may not be and nobody definitively knows why.
Suggested it is due to the interaction of the laser beam with the
recording and reflective layer. What does this mean, don't go
out and buy 50 or 100 unless you have tested first and don't archive
important material until you know you can read it all back. The
quality disk makers claim it should not now be a problem with their
top disks on the latest hardware but all have a caveat to test first.
Recording speed, latest info suggests to me that using max speed
available with the latest disks, software and hardware should be no
problem, providing your computer can handle it, but again it's try it
and listen or see. Early (dated) info I read suggested for ripping
exact copies of music CDs use 1x speed and let it take 74mins or so to
write 650MB of data, a longish music Cd, 24x reduces this to 3mins
plus time to write index information.
One final item, it appears CD lasers are going to change, the initial
move will be to go to DVD lasers. DVD lasers have a finer beam, what
this means nobody is commenting. Initially it will probably mean we
will have to take more care of the surface. DVD lasers more easily
identify fine scratches. Anybody tried to play a scratched music CD
that plays well in a HI Fi player, in a DVD player it may not play,
Took a lot of work on the surface to get one of mine to play. My
perception is that DVD lasers give a crisper tone to music with less
smoothing. Some like it some don't.
John Kennedy
9. Help calibrating a scanner - Ian.
10. Training in Photoshop and/or Paint Shop Pro accessible to a
pensioner - Ian.
In an earlier post I mentioned Paint Shop Pro, but here are some for
PhotoShop:
http://www.myjanee.com/
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/tutorials.html
http://www.sketchpad.net/photoshp.htm
http://www.teamphotoshop.com/index.php
http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/daily/bltad_aps.htm
http://photoshopwire.tripod.com/tutorial/color_correction_theory.htm
http://robouk.mchost.com/tuts/ps.php
www.thewebmachine.com
Trevor
11. Legacy - registered version in Australia. Trevor wanted to know
from where in Australia can a registered version of Legacy be obtained
at a reasonable cost. The answer was that it probably was best to
register it via the Internet and have your code e-mailed to you.
Regards, Trevor
-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*--*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*-.,,.-
Can I yell 'movie' in a crowded firehouse?
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