Announcement: Done To Death Topic List v3.2! README (Updated 12-01-2007)

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about Alienware?

• Alienware overclocks your entire computer while not voiding your warranty. Anyone and their dog can build a computer much cheaper, but only mildly experienced overclockers can build a computer better. They have weird/cool cases, which is what you're really spending that extra grand or two on.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about an internet connection?

• If you're looking for a good ISP, check here, for broadband. After you do that, do a google search. You might want to discuss this with other people in your area as well. Speeds vary by location. We can't really help you with this, as experiences differ with location, and it's highly doubtful there's anyone living near you here. Just don't get AOL! 3nodding
  
• If you want to show off your speed/compare with others, go here, not C&T.
  
• For anything else, go there first, if it's broadband. Then come here. Leave your AOL disks at the door please.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What is better, a desktop or a laptop?

• Desktops are normally more powerful and easier to customize as well as easier to replace parts. They are not very portable. Laptops however are generally not as powerful as desktops, but are mobile.
  
• Laptops are getting far more powerful than they used to be, however.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about drawing tablets?

• There are two types of Wacom tablets, the Intuos and the Graphire. The graphire is the cheaper of the two, so if your starting out, it's a good choice. Wacom.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about iPods

• iPods are not cheap, however they are a decent piece of hardware. Lots of MP3 players match or equal some part of the iPod's design, however, there are very few players that have all the features the iPod offers. If you have lots of CDs and some money to spend, an iPod is great. If you are broke, a $30 dollar mp3 CD player and a lot of CD-RWs works reasonable well.
  
• The iPod's battery is built in and is expensive to replace. As of 1/07/04, the costs are $50 for do it yourself 3rd party battery, $70 for 3rd party service and $109 for an official Apple service. On every iPod except the first generation, the battery lasts a long time. The expected life span is 500+ charges, which when compared to the price of 1000 AA batteries, is a bit cheaper. iPod battery FAQ
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about the Zune?

• Much like the iPod, the Zune is not cheap. They are however, very decent pieces of hardware with most of the functionality of the iPod, and a lot of functionality that is all it's own. One of it's key features being it's large screen, another being it's wifi capabilities.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

I need BBCode, signature, profile or general Gaia help!

• These types of questions would better be put in the Questions & Assistance forum. Their sticky will answer a lot of your questions.
  
• How to make a random sig.
  
• How to make an image map.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

I feel like making a post where I help people with computer problems!

• Please don't. It's against the C&T Rules. Instead, visit C&T regularly and scan for people who are already asking for help. Read Kiretsu's FAQ above and try to become a member of the community. It's much more enjoyable than trying to give iffy answers about hard problems you know nothing about or could have been answered better by other gaians. If you like to sell your services, that belongs in the exchange.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

Why does IE only allow me to save images as .bmp files?

• This problem is usually caused by IE's cache either being full or corrupted. The easiest way to fix this is to clear your cache by selecting Tools->Internet Options and pressing the "Delete Files" button on the Internet Options dialog box. If that doesn't work, there are some other possible workarounds that are discussed at this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What is a bot? What is botting?

• A bot is a short word for robot. Normally this is a script or program that runs pretending to be a user. A bot can post messages on Gaia for gold, play WoW while your away or even attempt to chat with other humans. On AIM, the screen name VaVaVirgil is an example of a chatterbot, that will attempt to talk you out of smoking.
  
• Most places, including Gaia do not permit bots. You will be banned for using one, no questions asked.
  
• Botting is the act of actually using a bot.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

My Video doesn't work but I can hear audio!
My audio works but I can't see the video!
My software is complaining about a missing codec?

• You don't have the appropriate video codec installed on your machine. If the video is relatively recent then it's more than likely encoded using DivX.
  Windows users have a few options, choose one of them:
  
  
  
  • Install the latest DivX codec from http://www.divx.com or,
    
  • Install Xvid (free, opensource MPEG4 implementation) from http://www.divx-digest.com/software/xvid.html
    
  • Install ffdshow, A windows directshow filter utilising the ffmpeg codecs. (for advanced users)
    
  • Install the VideoLAN Media Player, a free player that also uses the ffmpeg codecs. It can play practically anything, including DVDs and uses far less CPU power than the "official" Divx Player / CODEC.
    
  • Linux users should probably use mplayer or VideoLAN.
    
  • Or for an all in one solution you can get the Combined Community Codec Pack also know as CCCP.
    
  
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

Are you a geek? Am I?

• Sorry, only the most popular cheerleaders, movie stars and football players hang around gaia and talk about computers. Nerd.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

Where can I get my website rated?

• Asking other to rate your website is fine, as long as your not blatantly advertising it. However, run it through a few of the validators listed below.
  
• Get your site rated here. Anywhere else is chatterbox material.
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

Where can I get my HTML code checked?

• These validators do numerous things, ranging from making sure your code is compliant with web standards, to checking that your page is accessible for people with disabilities. These tools are invaluable.
  
• If you have trouble with your code that you don't understand, by all means ask! 3nodding
  

[Pirogoth Wolfblood]

What about some free webhosting?

• Freewebs 100 megs, more avalible for purchase. Chat, webboard, guest-book. WYSIWYG Editor.
  
• Fateback 60 Megs, Unlimited Transfer, email FTP
  
• Brinkster 30 MB, 500MB / month transfer.
  
• Think-not Designed for artists. 100 megs of space, email and offsite linking.
  
• 1ASPHost.com 100 MB, unlimited bandwidth, ASP, Access, Shockwave. It is run on windows, so it's less reliable than other free servers. Also doesn't allow off-site linking.
  
• 100 Megs Free 100 megs, FTP, email, forum, guestbook.
  
• Lycos 50MB. Hourly transfer rate.