Calling All TT Computer Geeks

“Since when does computer software come as a DVD? Is this normal practice these days? Can I only run the software by getting a DVD drive?

The program is a Topo program. I have three other sets and they all came as CD-ROM. The one I most recently picked up is DVD and I guess I didn't notice that. The site didn't offer any other options (such as..."do you want CD-ROM or DVD) so I guess I didn't know to look for that. I just assumed it was CD-ROM.

Sometimes I really dislike computers...

Any ideas? Suggestions?”

“Everything will be moving to DVD, I suggest you get a DVD drive now, you're going to need one soon enough anyways. Actually I'm kind of shocked that you don't have one already, how old is your computer?

An inexpensive DVD drive for a desktop is only gonna cost you 20 or 30 dollars.
last edited: 9/07/05 7:27:12 PM”

“Are you talking an External Drive?

My computer is about 2 1/2 years old. I have a regular CD drive and a CD-RW. I didn't think I needed a DVD drive since the only DVDs I own are for watching movies on my TV. How was I to know?”

“Hate to tell you this but in human years your computer is already about 60 years old :)

No, not an external drive. Are we talking about a desktop? If so you should have drive bays where you can add an internal DVD-ROM drive. Actually you might as well spend about $50 and get an inexpensive DVD-RW drive.

An external drive would cost significantly more.

Is it a name brand computer? If so what brand and model?
last edited: 9/07/05 7:34:27 PM”

“Yes, a desktop. So, I can prolly add an internal drive? I'm not sure where, tho... it looks like I have only two bays? And, they've both got something in them.

What speed do I want?

(I'm not very computer literate so bear w/ me, here...)”

“A regular 'ol 16x drive should be fine. Most of your DVD drives will double as CD drives at probably 48x so you can just replace your existing CD drive. I'd suggest just taking it into Best Buy they should have cheap drives and will probably be able to install it for you if you don't want to do it yourself, I don't know what they charge for installation though.”

“Yes, a lot of software comes on DVD rather than CD, especially when there is over 640 MB of files, as there would most likely be on a topo program. You can buy an internal or external DVD drive and install it on your computer....

or...

You could find a friend with a CD\DVD drive on their laptop with enough space on their HD to copy the DVD. You could share your HD and connect the two computers via the NIC with a cross-over cable and copy the DVD contents to your HD...or you could share the drive on your computer and both plug into the same network, such as a home router (Linksys comes to mind). You could also plug into the same network (or use a cross-over cable from NIC to NIC) and have your friend's laptop share his DVD drive and install the software on your computer from there.

Sounds kinda like g(r)eek, doesn't it?

The point is that you have to share either your HD so you can initiate a copy from your friend's DVD or you can have your friend share his DVD drive and initiate the install from your computer. The two computers would somehow have to be connected, either through a network or using the NIC (Network Interface Card...where you plug in the RJ-45 [ethernet]cable) on both computers with a cross-over cable.

Pin assignments on RJ-45 connector:
1-3
2-6
3-1
6-2

More info on Crossover Cables.

Crossover Cable Diagram
last edited: 9/07/05 7:43:26 PM”

“I think you might have gone a little bit over the poor non-computer geek's head...”

“Jeez...and I tried to make it simple. ;-)

tarabull, the easiest way is to install, or have someone install, a DVD drive.

The cheapest way is to hook the two computers together and share the DVD drive or copy the DVD directly to your HD.”

“lol. You prolly right, Bison.


Ski - So, what if I own an external HD? Could I take that to said friend's desktop which has a DVD reader, copy the software to his HD then back it up to my external HD? Then, take the external HD back to my computer and pull that data back to my desktop?

BTW, how are ya? How's K? How's Merlin?”

“Tara,

I'm not a computer geek. I can't help ya out on this one.

But, how's it going? Are you done with school? What's the scoop? I'm doing my pre-student teaching this semester. Quit my job. Crazy stuff. :)”

“Yup, that would work, too.

I'm great, K's great (looking forward to being done with her doctorate..just another 14 months to go), Merlin is great, but he's really slowing down. He's liking the cooler weather..he certainly does not like the heat.”

“Tara, you could copy it over to your external drive, but really, its time to go ahead and get yourself a DVD drive installed.”

“Hey SG

I'm student teaching. Second Grade in the Farmington District. I'll graduate in December. I think I've decided to make a slight (um, that's an understatement) change in my focus and head right for a Masters in Special Education as soon as I graduate. We'll see if I can finance it...”

“...or you could put the money toward a newer, faster, bigger, better computer for probably a lot less than you paid for you current computer...and it could have a DVD drive. I was talking about the money for a DVD drive..not the money for your edgeumakashen.
last edited: 9/07/05 7:54:54 PM”

“I know no question is a dumb question but...

Does it matter the brand? Meaning, my computer is a Dell. Do I need a Dell drive?

I'm so freakin' frustrated!!”

“Nope, you don't need a Dell drive.”

“Thanks for all the help. Somehow I knew I'd get lots of help and FAST on TT.

And, as much as I love Bigger Better and Faster... I'm gonna have to hold off on that one. My current job (student teaching) doesn't pay. At all. So, I'm broke. (Man, where's Sarge when a girl needs some cheese?) In fact, a new DVD drive isn't really even in the budget. But, I'm dying to play w/ my new maps so I'll prolly buy it anyway.”

“Tara, funny how those, um, slight changes happen. With a special ed cert, you'll be sure to find a job.

I'll (hopefully) be in the Farmington district next semester. Power middle school. Keep your fingers crossed that Wayne State doesn't screw it up for me. :)

And good luck with that DVD!!”

“At all. So, I'm broke. (Man, where's Sarge when a girl needs some cheese?)

LOL, as I read your post I thought almost the same thing. Too funny.”

“I'm here!



Am I too late?






Dammit.




<stomps away>”

“Awww bit. Your input will still be appreciated!

So...?”

“Tarabull!
:-)

Give me and Thinkbubelz a call-- He's the computer whiz in my family :-) Maybe he can help you out... :-)”

“Installing a DVD drive is pretty simple if you know what you're doing. The only thing that makes it difficult is the Master/Slave setting on the drive. Most new systems use Cable Select (as I discovered when I installed a DVD-RW in my new system) but older ones may have one drive set to master and the other to slave. So when you replace the CD-ROM with a DVD-ROM or DVD-RW, you will have to make sure that the new drive is set to the same setting as the old drive. And that doesn't mean the same jumper setting, because that varies from drive to drive. Usually that info is actually on the drive itself, but I have come across one or two where it wasn't.

Clear as mud? lol...”

“If you watch the Comp USA, Staples, Office Max, etc. ads, you may well find a DVD drive free after rebate.

http://www.salescircular.com/”

“Tara how you been you sexy thang!”

“I'm doing just fine. Thanks for asking. Oh, you're talking to Tara. Silly me. ;o)
Hey Pete, ya bum, I have a new email address, brucejodoin@rcn.com
I lost everything during a pc crash and I need to get back on the "Phil and Dave Show's" mailing list.
btw - didya "pass the test" yet?

HI TARA!!
last edited: 9/08/05 7:43:56 PM”

“you will be happy to know that I am the proud father of a 5mm baby asteriod!

Now I can really start to get back into so serious recovery

I will send you a copy of one of their emails so you can let them know.”

“Dang, that must have stung, but congrats!”

“Hi SirPete. How ya doing? Gosh, it's been way to long. What was it? Red River Gorge? Yup... TOO LONG.

Hi Pennsy. So, now that the yamster has moved, how close are the two of you? Will you be making frequent bp'ing trips together? I'm soooo jealous. I haven't seen her since May :-(

Are you both planning to attend FYAO in '06? I would love to see you both there again.

Bit - Thank you. No, it was not as clear as mud. Much less clear, in fact. lol
Actually, I think I could prolly replace the drive w/ success. I'll keep ya posted; I plan to run out on Saturday to find a drive cause I'm way to excited to use this software so waiting is just NOT an option.

Thanks for the link, V.”

“Sorry tara...but if you take digital pics of the jumper blocks of the drives and send them to me, I can probably tell you exactly what to do.”

“jumper blocks? shoot. i guess i do need help...
what's a jumper block?”

“Hang on just a minute...”

“

The white thing is called a jumper, it bridges the two pins to make an electrical connection that the drive's controller reads. Mine is set to Cable Select. If it were over the two pins in the middle, it would be in slave mode, controlled by the other drive on the same cable. If it were over the two pins on the other end, it would be in master mode, controlling another drive.”

“Oy Vey. I guess I was a little overly confident when I assumed I could do it myself.

So, that's the back of the.... drive?”

“Yup.

It's not that hard.

Shut down, turn off, and unplug your computer.
Open the case.
Gently remove the cables from the old drive. This may include an audio cable that goes to your sound card.
Remove the old drive. You will probably have to unscrew a screw or two. Save these, you'll need them again. Alternatively, the drive may have some sort of latch that holds it in the drive cage. If so, you will have to remove this from the old drive when you take it out, and attach it to the new drive. But that is a pretty rare setup.
Look at the jumper settings on the old drive. Set up your new drive the same way. There is almost always a legend on the drive that will help you do this.
Slide the drive back into the bay, and put the screws back in.
Reattach the cables. They're keyed, so it's very difficult to insert the cable plugs into the connectors the wrong way.
Put the case back on your computer.
Plug the computer back in and turn it on. The operating system will probably automagically recognize it. You probably won't even have to install a driver.”

“Oh, and it's best to use a non-magnetic screwdriver when you're working on computer innards.”

“... and wear one of these:

”

“Hey, the propellor keeps your head cool.”

“tarabull,
Give me and Thinkbubelz a call-- he might be able to help you install the new DVD drive into your computer. :-)”

“Hey, I installed a hard drive myself. BUT.... had to go to the shop to get things put back on.

I am still having my same DVD/CD drive problem that the computer will "update" them and then either they do or don't work, always switching off.

It is just bizarre!

good luck with yours, Tara!”

“lizs, that is evidence of a severe problem of some sort. Did you try disconnecting the power from one and seeing if the problem went away?”

“ok, i'm a little drunk...so my mind isn't working great...

all the fonts on the msg boards i visit, and i think most other pages, have shrunk....they have gotten alot smaller...is there an option besides the resolution setting on my desktop to bump these back up in IE?”

“In your browser's View menu (I'm assuming IE) there's a Text Size option. Or you can try holding down the Ctrl key while working the wheel on your mouse.”

“Awesome..that worked..thanks”

“No problem.”

“So, I bought a DVD drive today. Was planning to install it tonight but got sidetracked in the kitchen. I'll prolly be getting to it tomorrow morning. You'll know it isn't going well if you see me hollering on this thread...

Thanks for everyone's help.”

“I can't do a scan disk. I did the "basic" or whatever it's called. But when I try to do the "thorough" option, it just keeps cycling between "checking folder allocations" and "checking files" but after a couple of hours, it hasn't made any progress. Windows 98, BTW.

Proceed with posting solution please.

Thank you in advance.”

“I suspect there are to many processes running in the back ground and it keeps cycling.

Do you get a window that says it has restarted 10 times (or something like that) and do you want to continue?

I think you can run it in "safe mode" to get past that.”

“That's probably what it is. I think that scandisk restarts every time there is a disk access, so sometimes even if your screen saver starts up, that will cause it to restart. And certainly things like periodic virus scans, etc. will cause it to restart.

Do what mtnsteve suggested and run it in safe mode.”