Long gone, but now back… sort of. :)
A reader asks: “Why do files on an external hard drive run slower than files on my internal hard drive (not SSD)?” They use two very different means of connection, and the speeds aren’t even close. Internal drives usually connect directly to the mainboard via purpose-built high-speed interfaces meant specifically for moving hard drive data….
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Several days ago, I posted four videos of a tornado chase I went on a few years back. (For info and links, see A reader asks for reposts of my tornado chase videos.) That prompted another reader — Peter Wharton, who was in fact the driver of our van during the chase — to ask…
Windows 1.0 was released 33 years ago, in November 1985. It wasn’t much: Just a standard DOS setup (on a single 5.25″ floppy disk) wrapped in a simple point-and-click interface and displayed in CGA 640×200px resolution or Hercules monochrome green or amber. This combination of OS and “shell” was primitive, but it could run and display…
Reader Drew Foster was hoping I could resurrect some videos from a tornado chase I went on in 2008, and he asked me about it via the Contact link: “Fred: Please re-upload your videos of the Quinter tornado. Part 2 is available on YT but that’s it.” Sure, Drew! In a week’s chasing from Texas…
A reader asks: “If I safely store away a 2TB HDD and never plug it in again, how long will all my data be retained?” Retained? Or “retained in useful form?” The magnetic encoding will be detectable for a very long time — centuries, even — provided that the drive is physically undamaged and undisturbed….
Q: My new keyboard keeps on typing the same letter. I tried it on another PC, but there, it worked fine. I also tried formatting my PC, but it’s still an issue. How can I fix this? (via Quora) A: I assume you mean it’s doing something like thisssssssssssssss? I think we can fix that! …
Q: How do I remove a hard disk bad sector? (via Quora) A: Try chkdsk (Windows) or fsck (Linux); both can detect and repair some kinds of damage to a hard drive. But have a care: Although some software can restore some bad sectors to service, it may be best not to! Tools like fsck…
Q: Did your hand writing go for a toss after using electronic keyboards? (via Quora) A: Well, any skill that’s not regularly practiced will atrophy. But in my case, there was little to lose; and I can’t blame keyboards! My handwriting was hard for others to read from grade school on. Formal penmanship was too…
Vietnam joins the parade of countries from which I’ve received for-real, private, and personal emails intended for others due to email shenanigans and a likely soft-hijacking of the Langa.com web domain. Today’s email-meant-for-others is from Vietnam. It’s pretty benign in itself, but is one of thousands and thousands of emails from all over the world, some…