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Geek Culture / it's finally happened ...

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 4th Nov 2012 13:44
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A Windows Update has actually fixed something.

I've noticed that a couple of shader demos don't work on my new laptop. Then yesterday I decided to see what Windows Updates had lined up for me (I was puzzled by the fact that it wasn't automatically prompting me for some reason) and noticed several "optional" updates waiting to be installed. Two of those concerned the machine's GFX card drivers so I decided perhaps they weren't "optional" after all. The combined updates were about 300MB to download which takes ages here but finally when it was all done I tested my problem demos - and "YEEESSS!" one of them now works perfectly.

The bad news is that it was one of Dark Coder's demos that now works - the remaining one which doesn't is one of mine .

Of course it could be pure coincidence that I'd done a windows update, couldn't it?
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Virtual Nomad
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Posted: 4th Nov 2012 14:35 Edited at: 4th Nov 2012 14:37
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Quote: "Windows Update has actually fixed something."

the new drivers actually "fixed" it; Update just showed you that they were available (vs your visiting your gfx card maker's site and checking for yourself like we used to do).

Quote: "it wasn't automatically prompting me"

that's a setting you can change to do what you expect it to. (incase you didn't notice):



i prefer that such updates remain "optional" vs "automatically install"ed as some of the updates might "break" something that's currently working fine (older software, especially) or aren't necessary, to me. ie, i'm having no network nor sound issues so i'm not gonna update those drivers until i do. i've no need to install Live™ right now so i won't. Silverlight™, neither. and, i hid the Skype™ update that MS was "pushing" on me since it's acquisition.

like you, i've been on a windows-based pc for some time (first one built ~'92... and still missing my Amiga™ 1200 and a "standard"). little by little, windows has assumed control over systems as effort to become more "user friendly" and to simplify things for the "average user". i miss windows 95 (and prior versions) and the ability to control every aspect of the environment. my system ran cleaner as i'd run it very "bare-bones minimum" with efficiency in mind, utilizing only what i needed, leaving maximum resources available for games/apps. since 98, i've given up the fight and allowed their brute-force approach to take over...

i'm not complaining as it's all been a necessary evil "to do more" at my desktop than ever before. and, i apologize for the slight rant. i'm simply revisiting the "good ol' days", feeling nostalgic for the time when I controlled my system and told IT what to do vs the other way 'round

Virtual Nomad @ California, USA . DBPro V7.7
AMD Phenom™ X4 9750 Quad-Core @ 2.4 GHz . 8 GB PC2-6400 RAM
ATI Radeon HD 3650 @ 512 MB . Vista Home Premium 64 Bit

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 4th Nov 2012 21:20 Edited at: 4th Nov 2012 21:20
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Quote: "the new drivers actually "fixed" it"


Of course - but it was still the first time that I'd actually noticed a tangible benefit by following the Windows update recommendations. Like you, I've avoided the Silverlight thing - mainly because I have no idea what it does (and can't be bothered to find out).

Quote: "i apologize for the slight rant. i'm simply revisiting the "good ol' days", feeling nostalgic for the time when I controlled my system and told IT what to do vs the other way 'round"


No need to apologize - I miss Windows 3.1 and there was a time when I missed the simplicity of the old Atari/Commodore 64/etc systems...

I still haven't ruled out the possibility of a fault on this laptop. For example, images in forum posts are often corrupted including the one you've just posted. They show up fine on other machines. Weird thing is that images are fine elsewhere so perhaps a setting needs fixing?

Here's what your post looks like:

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 4th Nov 2012 23:22
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Quote: "that's a setting you can change to do what you expect it to. (incase you didn't notice):"


I "noticed" it on Vista and XP but can't find it on W7 - on W7 I seem to have a choice between:

- automatic update
- download but let me choose whether to install
- not download and let me choose whether to download and install
- not update at all

None of these options say anything about prompting.

I've probably missed something simple (I usually do when it comes to Windows).
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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 01:01
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Quote: "- download but let me choose whether to install
- not download and let me choose whether to download and install"


These options do prompt when updates are available.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 01:55
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Neither seems to on my machine - it just waits for me to open up Windows Update from Control Panel.
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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 02:32
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Oh I see, check out this guide:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd492018.aspx

It's easy to ignore the action center because, for me, it's always there. But checkmark the options you need to be worried about, remember to keep an eye on it, and maybe it'll be more useful.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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Virtual Nomad
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 03:10 Edited at: 5th Nov 2012 03:17
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Quote: "Here's what your post looks like:"

ewww :/ it's a gpu thing you'll need to sort out. you installed new drivers but you may want to re-install them or (better yet) uninstall and start fresh.

meanwhile, on the advanced tab under IE internet options, check the accelerated graphics box to use software mode and see if that makes a difference (assuming you're using default gpu mode, that is. either way, toggle it).

add: i was gonna provide a screenie of the tab/options and then realized it wouldn't help you. i had to resort to more archaic communication using strictly WORDS, of all things. how... 1985.

Virtual Nomad @ California, USA . DBPro V7.7
AMD Phenom™ X4 9750 Quad-Core @ 2.4 GHz . 8 GB PC2-6400 RAM
ATI Radeon HD 3650 @ 512 MB . Vista Home Premium 64 Bit
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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 04:31 Edited at: 5th Nov 2012 04:31
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Quote: "new laptop. "


Quote: "meanwhile, on the advanced tab under IE internet options, check the accelerated graphics box to use software mode and see if that makes a difference (assuming you're using default gpu mode, that is. either way, toggle it)."


Don't do that! Make sure you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website. If that doesn't fix it, replace the laptop if you can. Could be a faulty GPU. Most of the time people think brand new computers means no problems. It's not true. If computer hardware is gonna fail, it'll fail within the first couple months. If it makes it past that, it'll probably last for years. Many stores have a 30 day return policy.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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Virtual Nomad
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 05:00
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Quote: "Don't do that!"

won't doing that help narrow down the issue?

Virtual Nomad @ California, USA . DBPro V7.7
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ATI Radeon HD 3650 @ 512 MB . Vista Home Premium 64 Bit
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Kezzla
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 08:23
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well, I just checked for updates too after reading your post, I had a few lined up, they tried to sneak bing search bar into my desktop through an update. A bit cheeky and dodgy if you ask me. I thought mine was on auto update too.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 13:20
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Quote: "ewww :/ it's a gpu thing you'll need to sort out. you installed new drivers but you may want to re-install them or (better yet) uninstall and start fresh."


The forum image problem appeared shortly before the new drivers were installed if I recall correctly.

Quote: "Make sure you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website. If that doesn't fix it, replace the laptop if you can. Could be a faulty GPU. Most of the time people think brand new computers means no problems. It's not true. If computer hardware is gonna fail, it'll fail within the first couple months. If it makes it past that, it'll probably last for years. Many stores have a 30 day return policy."


Good advice. The problems are rather annoying - and time wasting.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Hopefully I'll get things sorted out soon.
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 16:48
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Quick update on the forum image problem.

Just checked a few threads and there seems to be a pattern: the problem only occurs when the poster's displayed image links to the view button (such as the ones on this thread). Images linking to other sources such as ImageShack display OK. Image dimensions or type don't seem to be involved.

This suggests to me that the problem is browser rather than GPU related. Any thoughts anyone?
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Sergey K
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 17:04 Edited at: 5th Nov 2012 17:06
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Quote: "I've noticed that a couple of shader demos don't work on my new laptop. Then yesterday I decided to see what Windows Updates had lined up for me (I was puzzled by the fact that it wasn't automatically prompting me for some reason) and noticed several "optional" updates waiting to be installed. Two of those concerned the machine's GFX card drivers so I decided perhaps they weren't "optional" after all. The combined updates were about 300MB to download which takes ages here but finally when it was all done I tested my problem demos - and "YEEESSS!" one of them now works perfectly.
"

do you think thats unbelivable?

wait till you hear my story that happend to me yesterday!

im playing this game called Torchlight II via Stream and for some reason i couldnt log into my account althought everyone else could log easily. i checked the internet for some help and found nothing.
i ended up uninstalling Torchlight and re-downloading it again and still no help
but then i decided to check the windows's firewall settings..
i saw on firewall dropdown menu -> currently running programs and when i right clicked on that, it told me some trouble shooting with button "fix the problem" so i pressed that, windows worked about 3 minuts and then i could log in again!


now thats unbelivalbe story. but all truth!

edit,screenshot attached..

Advanced Updater for your games!

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 5th Nov 2012 17:25
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That is unbelievable.

I had a similar message after a glitch in a game I was playing. I clicked and followed the link, downloaded the relevant patch and tried to install it. All I got was an error message saying that the patch couldn't be installed because an earlier version of the game didn't exist on my system. That's the sort of rubbish "help" I usually get from Windows "solutions". I was hoping W7 would be a step forward, but sadly not. The game software itself wasn't much better - there didn't seem to be any simple way of finding out which patch or version the game was actually using.
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 16th Nov 2012 17:08
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Quick update.

The forum image problems have mysteriously disappeared after I uninstalled the pre-installed trial version of Kaspersky that I'd been using - and haven't returned since I installed Norton which I already use on my other machines.

So, one more problem solved. I wonder if the other problems have disappeared too ... hmm, just noticed that another forum problem has ben solved too on this machine.

Don't you just love pre-installed software that you don't really want?
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mr Handy
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Posted: 16th Nov 2012 19:05
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Pre-installed?! No way. First thing I always do after purchasing device with OS (after unboxing) is "format c" (and, of course, format all that other crap like 6GB of restore data).
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 16th Nov 2012 19:29
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If I knew what I was doing I might try that sometime.
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mr Handy
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Posted: 16th Nov 2012 20:27
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You should definetely try that! I also recommend you to not install drivers from manufacturer's CD, but download and install latest from the manufacturer's site. I have gigabyte's drivers CD for M/B, and it has buggy net drivers, those are hard to fix completely.
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