Hmm... Not that's a good thought, I'll have to stop in to some of the snowmobile shops. Thanks!
Hmm... Not that's a good thought, I'll have to stop in to some of the snowmobile shops. Thanks!
I only have three machines, all running Win10/Pro, and have limited, but not stopped, the updates. The "big" tower runs 24/7/365 and has an SSD boot drive along with almost 10TB of additional SATA drives. One of those is constantly written to and files are constantly being deleted. Updates on that box typically take under a minute and it's an "old" i7/6700K processor.
The machine I use for backups is an even older processor and doesn't have an SSD drive. It only gets turned on twice a week to run backup of the other machines. Updates are also limited there and when they occur it's usually under five minutes.
The craptop is on all day,every day, but does get to rest every night. It, too is limited with updates and is, by far, the slowest to update usually taking about ten minutes and it's an i5, mobile, processor with a SATA drive.
I have yet to have a problem with updates, but having backups handy makes that a much less worrisome process.
The Mrs. craptop is running Win10/Home and is, by far, the slowest to update so there is a significant difference, in my opinion, between Home and Pro that makes Pro worth the extra money. I've got to upgrade her machine.
All that said, I'm not a big fan of Win10. XP was rock solid and did everything I wanted. The "cloud", Cortana, touch screen ability and all the other bloatware that is included in Win10 is a total waste, at least to us. I think they're trying to make Windooohs more "millenial" friendly at the cost of a bloated OS loaded with potential vulnerabilities. The intrusiveness of it "phoning home", almost to the keystroke level, is something else and something I just plain don't like.
The machine I use for backups is an even older processor and doesn't have an SSD drive. It only gets turned on twice a week to run backup of the other machines. Updates are also limited there and when they occur it's usually under five minutes.
The craptop is on all day,every day, but does get to rest every night. It, too is limited with updates and is, by far, the slowest to update usually taking about ten minutes and it's an i5, mobile, processor with a SATA drive.
I have yet to have a problem with updates, but having backups handy makes that a much less worrisome process.
The Mrs. craptop is running Win10/Home and is, by far, the slowest to update so there is a significant difference, in my opinion, between Home and Pro that makes Pro worth the extra money. I've got to upgrade her machine.
All that said, I'm not a big fan of Win10. XP was rock solid and did everything I wanted. The "cloud", Cortana, touch screen ability and all the other bloatware that is included in Win10 is a total waste, at least to us. I think they're trying to make Windooohs more "millenial" friendly at the cost of a bloated OS loaded with potential vulnerabilities. The intrusiveness of it "phoning home", almost to the keystroke level, is something else and something I just plain don't like.
Hey Willie. You could set up a "cottage industry" making those snow blower shoes! I was going to ask you where you got them from 
"The intrusiveness of it "phoning home", almost to the keystroke level, is something else and something I just plain don't like."
When I switch over to 10 I'll be using VM machines with Win 7 loaded a lot more then I do now.
When I switch over to 10 I'll be using VM machines with Win 7 loaded a lot more then I do now.
Naw... that is time spend updating and time spent undoing the mess the update caused combined. A More frequent updating regime? I figure I have to spend 72 hours per year, just so I can use it one hour a year. Yeah well, that won't work for me.
Naw... nothing wrong with the hardware, I guarantee it!Maybe the manufacture made the wrong choice of matching up the components, I'll give you that. But they mostly do that anyway. And these are the so-called experts?
Great for you. My days of free beta testing is over. I am retired and I only run well tested software nowadays.
Which is obviously only half truth. Because individual use it could go either way. The way I use a computer, defragging does not benefit it. Plus others have noted they too don't benefit from such practices. While others claim they need to do so on a weekly bases.
Since Vista and newer, sure they do. As they setup a schedule from the start to routinely defrag your hard drives. And the only times my hard drive reaches critical temperatures is during updates and defragging.
How is the drive getting fragmented if you didn't change anything? It doesn't happen. It only happens when you create and delete files all of the time and those people benefit from defragmenting. And if you have plenty of disk space, Windows will automatically use the wide open space to write sequentially instead of filling in all the little spaces all over the place.
Yes well it is very popular on many budget machines since they save a few bucks. I say why bother?
Really? Well a group of us was trying to reduce Windows XP unnecessarily writing to the drive back in 2008. As SSD were a new thing back then and reducing the writes would increase their longevity. So I had an utility monitor and log all disk writes. And it was very shocking! XP at idle was still doing on average 4 to 6 writes per second. On a DOS machine, this would be zero per hour.
And in the course of the day, this would add up to like 6GB worth of writes that you don't even need. I'd call that extremely excessive since XP alone was that size. Since the goal was to reduce writes to the SSD down to nil, I had my work cutout. Got rid of the pagefile, stopped Windows from updating last access time stamps, etc. I got it down to like 400MB worth of writes per day.
And those I redirected all writes to a sandbox environment on a RAMDisk. So I achieved my goal of zero writes to the SSD per day under Windows XP. And man did that thing ran at lightning speeds. Plus it is now virus proof to boot. And I am sure Windows 10 even writes more excessively.
Naw... it normally has nothing to do with how you maintain your computer. It's the workload of the OS plus the workload of the applications. It's like matching the right engine for the car. Like it doesn't make sense to throw a VW bug engine in a limo, now does it? But manufactures do it all of the time and Microsoft still sells them Windows licenses.
Take my two Dell ST (tablets) for example. They put on Windows 7 and matched it up with an Atom Z670 processor. Sure it boots fast enough thanks to the Intel 128GB SSD. But my gawd man! You can't do anything for the first 15 minutes since the CPU is pegged at 100% all of that time. Sure I hacked away at the OS trying to reduce the CPU workload. But I only could do so much since the OS' core is really overwhelming for that kind of processor.
Oh I know. Because Windows is nosy and the Vizios doesn't wake up from sleep on the network unless you address them individually. I never used them with that computer and I can't think why I would want to either.
Yeah well most updates take a second or two. How would I know it wanted to reboot to install build 1903? The 20GB whopper that I'll just have to uninstall anyway.
You do not have to spend hours upon hours to keep the computer updated. Turn it on and let Windows do the work while you go do something else. Seems pretty simple to me. I get the notion you own several computers, why it is so critical this one is used and that very specific time. Couldn’t you use another computer while this one was updating? Or, just turn updating off – takes mere seconds.
Why 12 hours invested? What was so wrong with the update(s) that forced you into spending so much time into trying to undue what MS had installed? It is common knowledge that you work toward fixing a problematic update, and not attempt at reverting back to a previous version unless that is the only solution. And even then you still run a risk.
Installing updates that add new features (whether you use those features or not) and correct deficiencies and vulerabilities is not beta testing.
Just booting a computer and doing nothing else with it writes logs to the disc. Any write action can lead to fragmenting regardless of the size of data that is being written. Obviously the more you write the greater chance you pose at fragmenting your disc. If your disc has low fragmentation, then the scheduled defrag process has very little work to do in order to optimize it. If your disc has 0 fragmentation, then the scheduled process does nothing but a quick scan - both actions barely uses any resources. And if defragging is raising your drives to critical temperatures, then you have other problems to worry about than just a fragmented disc.
Comparing Win XP to DOS is comparing a 7-course meal to a rock. Vastly different operating system so do not understand why the correlation. Every GUI interface is constantly modifying system files. And every consumer OS loads the necessary processes to cater to all. You can certainly optimize it through tweaking, but that would be a personal choice. All operating systems, Linux, OS X and Windows, loads common processes to enhance user experience, so users do not struggle when trying to install a printer or create a home network like one would with DOS.
Highly doubt Win XP was writing an additional 6 GB of data – if that was the case one would run out of disc space pretty quickly. Windows, Linux and Mac OS X is constantly modifying system files, which requires rewrites. This is not a destructive act to degrade components, but proper operation. Why not go back to mashing a keyboard with command line and dealing with floppy discs just like DOS if you feel writing to disc is so problematic?
And running RAMDisk does not prevent virus. A virus can easily be loaded into RAM and execute itself to spread to other machines on your network or even to your non volatile storage. How do you initiate the RAMDisk? A non volatile storage is needed to load the necessary files/software into RAM
Fail to see how is it Microsofts fault that OEM’s build computers with poor performing hardware. MS just sells a volume licences, and gives hardware recommendations based on the OS. It is entirely up to the OEM to build a competent machine. It is then the responsibility of the consumer to recognize whether said machine is up to his/her requirements. Would you buy a limo with a VW bug engine? Then why buy a computer that cannot cater to your needs due to lack luster hardware. You could buy a MAC and subscribe to a closed environment, but even they require updates – and I suspect you would have something to say about that as well.
Think this topic has run it’s course. If you feel updates are a nuisance, then it is your responsibility to turn them off. Problem solved! And if you feel MS is destroying your hardware, then load Linux - it's free. Or go buy a Mac or Chrome book.
Anyone watching the Giants game? Looks the same here, mix of freezing rain and a tiny bit of snow all day. Everything is coated with ice outside, had to put my ice grippers on my shoes to go out to the shop and back.
Well, we'll see how these work on the blower. I dug in my scrap metal bin and found a pair of old runners, one was worn flat and actually looked like this would be better. I cut the other runner to match, cut some thick flat stock (more scraps) I had and got to welding, heating, bending and more welding. A couple hours and I've got em done. I'll let the paint dry overnight then throw them on, only takes a few minuets to attach and adjust them. If these don't work, I'll try something else.
Go ahead and laugh at my welds, it's OK, I laugh too. I'm not a professional welder, not pretty but they'll hold.
(Click the thumbnails)
Well, we'll see how these work on the blower. I dug in my scrap metal bin and found a pair of old runners, one was worn flat and actually looked like this would be better. I cut the other runner to match, cut some thick flat stock (more scraps) I had and got to welding, heating, bending and more welding. A couple hours and I've got em done. I'll let the paint dry overnight then throw them on, only takes a few minuets to attach and adjust them. If these don't work, I'll try something else.
Go ahead and laugh at my welds, it's OK, I laugh too. I'm not a professional welder, not pretty but they'll hold.
(Click the thumbnails)
Good deal on a decent little wall safe, know there won't be much debpth to it but for a easy to install wall safe to keep things in you likely won't find a better deal for $27 shipped (w/Prime). You can use it with or without the shelf, check the feedback for buyers uploaded pictures. I'd grab one myself but I already have enough safes and they are all made by Stack On. They really aren't a "safe", they are sheet metal cabinets that someone with tools could get into if they wanted too. But they will keep kids out, are decent and a good value.
https://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-IWC-11-in-Wall-Pistol-Cabinet/dp/B002TOKR6C
https://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-IWC-11-in-Wall-Pistol-Cabinet/dp/B002TOKR6C
Hey SlickWilly, 2 feet of snow here already and it's still snowing. Looks like it is in a counterclockwise motion out to your place. Here it is picking up moisture from Lake Huron and Michigan and dumping it at my place.
Looking at the weather on the local news, it looks like Willie is gonna get hammered, too. I think it's too early to tell for certain because the low that will produce the snow hasn't formed yet, but I'm betting the central upstate area gets the most.
Well we might get out of it easy, according to last nights reports we should have been half way through this storm, we've got just a lite coat of white on the ground and most of that is from freezing rain. I'm not complaining!
Well, woke up to about 5 inches of snow, started the 1st dig out, just enough to make the driveways passable, no reason to make it perfect, there's more to come. Snowing moderate right now, says it will snow until evening with a lot more coming, winter's here...
Those runners are a winner! Can't believe how well they work, I set them low so the blower's scraper bar is about a 3/4 inch above ground and it never touched one piece of gravel so far. These don't sink into the gravel, appears there is enough of a shoe now that it stays floating on top of the gravel. When I got off the edge of the driveway and onto the still mushy yard they did sink in letting the blower grab some grass and soil but that doesn't surprise me, once the ground is frozen solid it will be a different story. Yeah these work great, I wish I had them decades ago, there is a couple areas in my yard where if you dig it's 3-4 inches of gravel under the grass from all the gravel that's been tossed out in the yard after all these years.
Those runners are a winner! Can't believe how well they work, I set them low so the blower's scraper bar is about a 3/4 inch above ground and it never touched one piece of gravel so far. These don't sink into the gravel, appears there is enough of a shoe now that it stays floating on top of the gravel. When I got off the edge of the driveway and onto the still mushy yard they did sink in letting the blower grab some grass and soil but that doesn't surprise me, once the ground is frozen solid it will be a different story. Yeah these work great, I wish I had them decades ago, there is a couple areas in my yard where if you dig it's 3-4 inches of gravel under the grass from all the gravel that's been tossed out in the yard after all these years.
Why do you keep coming up with these "little" projects for me to do like this, Willie?
LoL, glad to "help"
You know I looked around on the web last night and discovered there are a ton of aftermarket runner's (also called skids or shoes) for snow blowers of all kinds of designs, looks like a lot of people are chasing after the better mouse trap for this problem. I found there are some that have very thick polymer molded onto the shoes, those would be great for paved or concrete driveways. There are a bunch of them on ebay and Amazon, some are reasonably priced, you might want to look around before going to too much work. Unless you're like me, if I can make it and save a buck I'll give it a try, especially if I have stuff kicking around the shop to make something with. I save all kinds of old nuts, bolts, pieces of metal and scrap sheet metal, often comes in handy. I've had people think my shop just looks like a mess and I'm a little over the top for keeping all that old stuff but they don't realize just how often I'll dig around and find just what I need right there in my shop. It doesn't cost me a cent and when I'm in the middle of a job I don't have to jump in the car, make a 45 minute trip spending time, money on gas and on a small part that's holding me up.
I grew up watching my grandfather and dad work on stuff, there wasn't anything they wouldn't try to fix themselves, they took care of what they had and if it still functioned, even if it was old, they didn't see a need to buy something new & shiny just to impress the neighbors. Both of them lived during some very hard times (WWI, WWII) when they had to make due and they did it out of necessity, later in life after those times past they didn't change much. I guess I got it from them, I hold the same ideologies. And I do love to tinker.
Good deal on H&R tax software, best price I've ever seen for the Deluxe + State, I picked the download rather than shipping the disk, same price. I've been using H&B for a few years, works as well as TurboTax and you can import your TurboTax files from last year right into H&R.
This SlickDeals website has save me a lot of money in just the last few weeks since I signed up for it, I get a ton of "deal" emails to weed through but it doesn't take long and it's been well worth it! Been a lot of stuff I don't "need" (need to tailor my self control LoL) but there's been just as much that I was going to buy anyways and it saved me money!
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This SlickDeals website has save me a lot of money in just the last few weeks since I signed up for it, I get a ton of "deal" emails to weed through but it doesn't take long and it's been well worth it! Been a lot of stuff I don't "need" (need to tailor my self control LoL) but there's been just as much that I was going to buy anyways and it saved me money!
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