{"id":1880,"date":"2019-02-01T07:00:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1880"},"modified":"2019-02-01T10:18:32","modified_gmt":"2019-02-01T15:18:32","slug":"from-the-inbox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/01\/from-the-inbox\/","title":{"rendered":"From the InBox…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few days ago, in “Taking my own advice<\/a>,” I told you how I used Task Manager to objectively determine that I’ve maxed out my current hardware. It’s time for a new PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several readers had interesting reactions, suggestions, and questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, App103<\/a> wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Before you run out and buy a new computer, perhaps you should try something like:

Process Tamer:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

http:\/\/www.donationcoder.com\/software\/mouser\/popular-apps\/process-tamer<\/em><\/a>

And Process Piglet:<\/strong><\/em> http:\/\/www.donationcoder.com\/software\/mouser\/other-windows-apps\/process-piglet<\/em><\/a>

I say this because I have multiple computers in my home, one of the oldest of which is an 11 year old Dell Vostro 410, Q6600 CPU, 4GB RAM, uses SATA drives, (multi-boot with WinXP, Win7, Win10, and Xubuntu) and it\u2019s plenty zippy enough for heavy duty work. In fact, it\u2019s more capable than some of the ones I have with 4X the RAM.

And before you go thinking that I don\u2019t do much with my computers other than e-mail and web surfing, I\u2019d like you to know that I have a reputation for working my computers to death, and getting them to do things they shouldn\u2019t be able to do.

Those 2 applications I mentioned can really help. <\/em><\/p>

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Reader Bill Zigrang suggested a different, but similar, app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Re: “Taking my own advice”: Obviously, a new laptop or more RAM are the ideal solutions, but you might give <\/em>Process Lasso<\/em><\/a> a try to see if it results in better memory utilization. — Zig<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

And Reader Greg A asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May I ask what you’re doing on this laptop when the RAM and CPU are taxed that much?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Answering Greg’s question also addresses the earlier suggestions re: taming processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I use virtual PCs (VPCs) to research and answer many reader questions. Over the years, I’ve developed and maintained a library of such VPCs covering all versions of Windows back to Win98; several DOSes; and several Linuxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do my writing on a heavily personalized\/modified Win10 setup. When I’m answering a reader question, I’ll try to reproduce their problem on a virtual PC running a clean, unmodified copy of the same OS as the reader; and then work out a solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, for my next AskWoody newsletter<\/a> column, I needed to see how a proposed answer worked on Win10 Pro, Win10 Home, Win8 and Win7. My PC can’t run them all at once but, in routine use, it’s common for my PC to be running two or three VPCs simultaneously, in addition to running itself. Toss in Chrome (my primary browser, with mail, calendar, Keep, and other tabs always open) and Edge (which I use for WordPress-related proofing), Word (which I use for basic composing), a graphics editor, an HTML editor, and a few other things, and you can see why my system has maxed out. It’s genuine overwork! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could always simply ask the PC to do less, at any given time; I’d work more in serial fashion rather than having many parallel operations going on at once. But that means I’d have to work slower, and my tasks would take much longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the “process tamer” apps — while very cool! — really won’t help in my case. I’m running the stuff I need to do my work; paring back might keep the PC from becoming RAM-starved; and reducing process priorities might keep the UI more responsive; but at the expense of accomplishing less work overall in a given time frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greg<\/strong>, thanks for the question! App103<\/strong> and Bill<\/strong>, thanks for the suggestions! When a hardware upgrade isn’t an option, those process\/memory tamers could be very helpful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permalink: <\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1880<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to ask Fred a question? Have a comment? Click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want free notification of new content like this? Click here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few days ago, in “Taking my own advice,” I told you how I used Task Manager to objectively determine that I’ve maxed out my current hardware. It’s time for a new PC. Several readers had interesting reactions, suggestions, and questions. For example, App103 wrote: Before you run out and buy a new computer, perhaps…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,25,23,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-from-the-inbox","category-interesting-site","category-reader-comment"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-uk","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1284,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/10\/from-the-langa-com-inbox\/","url_meta":{"origin":1880,"position":0},"title":"From the Langa.Com InBox","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-10","format":false,"excerpt":"It's great to hear from readers again!","rel":"","context":"In "From the InBox"","block_context":{"text":"From the InBox","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/from-the-inbox\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2157,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/01\/from-the-inbox-an-odd-way-for-a-drive-to-die\/","url_meta":{"origin":1880,"position":1},"title":"From the inbox: An odd way for a drive to die","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-03-01","format":false,"excerpt":"After reading \"Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?\" (2019-02-18 AskWoody Plus), reader Daniel Loyd wrote with a real-life anecdote of a rather usual drive problem he encountered: \u201cFred, I had a hard drive that worked great, check disk and several 3rd party tools showed the drive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "From the InBox"","block_context":{"text":"From the InBox","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/from-the-inbox\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5578,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/15\/from-the-inbox-pdf-woes-a-cleanup-tool-kills-two-pcs\/","url_meta":{"origin":1880,"position":2},"title":"From the Inbox: PDF woes; a cleanup tool kills two PCs!","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2021-02-15","format":false,"excerpt":"One reader-submitted email asks for the fastest, easiest way to print or save-as-PDF only\u00a0limited portions\u00a0of AskWoody Plus \u2014 or any other email or web page! The second details a reader\u2019s first-hand experience with the destructive power of a\u00a0too\u00a0heavy-duty PC maintenance tool. Read the full story in\u00a0AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.6.0\u00a0(2021-02-15). Also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AskWoody Plus"","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"black and gray digital device","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-photo-193003.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-photo-193003.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-photo-193003.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-photo-193003.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-photo-193003.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1961,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/09\/german-researchers-find-flaw-in-password-checker\/","url_meta":{"origin":1880,"position":3},"title":"German researchers find ‘flaw’ in Password Checker","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-02-09","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Doug* sent in this report\u00a0after\u00a0reading, \u201cNew, free Chrome extension checks for password hacks in real time.\u201d \"Fred ...found this in a forum.....a security flaw in the Password Checker extension...from Google...unfortunately it is in German....but perhaps you can further research the security flaw:https:\/\/www.kuketz-blog.de\/chrome-add-on-password-checkup-uebermittelt-domainname\/andhttps:\/\/www.deskmodder.de\/blog\/2019\/02\/06\/password-checkup-google-uebermittelt-doch-nicht-alles-verschluesselt\/ \" Thanks, Doug! Yes, a German researcher\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5993,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/21\/wide-ranging-reader-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":1880,"position":4},"title":"Wide-ranging reader questions","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2022-02-21","format":false,"excerpt":"The AskWoody email servers have been busy! This week\u2019s column features three of the most interesting questions and tips submitted by your fellow subscribers. First up: We look at several potential workarounds for OneDrive backup issues. Second: A reader encounters the\u00a0one time\u00a0when an unexpected reboot\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0necessarily signify trouble. 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