PC Tech Thread

Ok, progress, I paused Ublock origin and that solved it.
But I really like Ublock so what can I do? And why now? And why me?
Thanks for your help.

Seems to be a common issue on Chrome at the moment -

https://old.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/1coyygc/extension_is_broken/

I uninstalled it and reinstalled it and now everything works ok. Thanks again for your help.

By the way you can add these two custom filters to uBlock if you'd like to hide people @'ing you in threads and on the following page

lfgss.com##li.list-collection-row:matches-path(/updates/):has(.row-meta:has-text(/replied to your comment/))
lfgss.com##span.comment-item-in-reply-to:matches-path(/conversations/):has(a:has-text(/@WillMelling/))

Teach a man to fish

I'll teach you to stick your head up your arse you impertinent scamp.
Thanks for the custom filter tips but it's ok. People who do it to be hilarious just get blocked and their profiles cloned on to dating sites for lonely steeplejacks.

is this why everyone i try to match with has no idea what's going on?

edit: genuinely didn't mean to reply to you there, was only one reply box at bottom of the page... mea culpa.

Wireless peripherals. I've always hated them as assumed unreliable esp for semi pro gaming, but it's 2024. Are we there yet?

I've just installed the Ollin dual monitor mount thing and the only steps left from computing nirvana are a trackball type navigation option (would prefer via eyeball direction) and iffy cable management.

I'm looking at a G Pro Wireless as an upgrade from my G403 and then pairing it with a Logitech PowerPlay which acts as both a receiver and a charger for the G Pro. I wonder if there's an equivalent in the keyboard world? I currently use a Ducky Tuxedo which I like but would tolerate a a wider something with a number pad and if it had qi charging... ho boi..

Send me a PM.

Hello, noob here. I am having trouble creating and using a windows installation usb to install windows 11 on a laptop that currently has no OS. I've tried and retried, rewritten the usb etc. I get to various different stages in the install but I get various different errors that I can't get past. Question is, instead of creating an installation usb, is there a difference if I just put an ISO image on a USB? Will I be able to boot into that rather than going through the installation process? And if so, once I'm booted into the windows usb, can I then install windows onto the SSD from within that boot?

Send me a PM.

What are the errors you’re seeing? Which type of USB drive are you using? Could be a shit/failing drive.

I always use Rufus to create bootable drives from images, give it a go: https://rufus.ie/en/

Firstly I was having missing drivers. Downloaded drivers. Installation wizard couldn't see them. Just turned off raid in bios as I'm only using one M2 SSD.
Then the install started working, it went through the first step of downloading windows files, then got to about 25% on getting files ready for installation before throwing an error saying files missing.
Just started a fresh today with a fresh setup from windows media tool on the same usb but now I don't get even onto the install. It says Windows cannot open the required file D:\sources\install.wim
I can see mention online of this being due to the 4gb file size limit of fat32 but surely windows own tool should know this.
A big issue I have is that I don't have another windows computer. I have had access to one the last few days for trying but don't any more. I tried both windows media tool thing and rufus

It's a SanDisk usb flash stick, 16gb. I've also seen mention from people online that for some reason SanDisk doesn't work but thats pretty crazy. I've got another of the same usb stick but no other makes available

It won't be a problem with it being FAT32 - I have a working Win11 USB that's formatted as FAT32. Think I've used exFAT too without a problem. I definitely remember having issues with a USB drive a few years ago (Win10 days) but can't remember the brand. The two that I have which are both working are a 32GB Samsung 'Flash Drive FIT', and a random unbranded 16GB one that came with the motherboard that originally had the drivers on it (though I guess that at least meant it was likely to be compatible with the board)

Maybe also try a different USB port if some on the mobo are USB2 and other USB3

Maybe also try a different USB port if some on the mobo are USB2 and other USB3

The laptop doesn't have any USB A ports, only C so I am using either a USB dock which has only USB 3 ports on or else a little Samsung c to a adapter.
I've tried all the options I have and not noticed a difference. The only thing I haven't tried is a different usb stick. I could try the other identical one I have only I don't have a windows machine to burn it on now.
Is it worth buying a stick with windows already on from eBay or something?

What laptop are you installing onto? Have you got UEFI mode enabled in the bios? If you're anywhere near E10 you're welcome to borrow a usb with either W10 or W11 on it.

I have more laptops than I do kids, and same goes for usb sticks, so I am truly blessed. Except for the kids

It's a Dell XPS 13. UEFI, yeah.
I'm not, I'm down south but I could just come into town to take you up on that and get it sorted.

Happy to help too if SE7 is easier to get to than E10

One other thought (though maybe not helpful at this point if you don't have another machine to create it with...) - are there any BIOS updates available for the laptop?

I haven't checked. Would I do that via USB too?

Used to be bootable USB or a windows utility, but I think now they likely give you the .bin file you can then read from the usb from within the bios as an option too

Sorry for the dredge on this, but if I had £200 ish to spend how do I spec it?

WFH/browsing/making garmin stuff/ tv/ doing some R & python

Edit
Have a monitor and Bluetooth keyboard etc

So so many options on eBay tbh
You'll want at least an 8th gen intel (which will give you native W11 support, you can bodge earlier gens to work though)
Search for a combo of the following:
Dell / HP / Lenovo + SFF
Save budget back to max the RAM and buy yourself some more storage (most only come with 256gb )
Something like this would do:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305409594113

I have one of these (but heavily upgraded) connected to my TV. It's perfect, I would recommend once you find something suitable though search for that model number to see if you can get it cheaper. I only paid £85 for mine.

I've still got a GT 1030 low profile GFX card,(which would fit in the above) spare if you want it for cheap.

Wireless gaming mouse tech is a solved problem, with 2.4G dongles instead of Bluetooth. Polling rates are the new arms race.

Keyboards, everyone seems to still use wired, I suspect because losing the cable doesn't really make a material improvement to the functionality (whereas not having a mouse cable is a huge benefit). A wireless gaming keyboard will also use a 2.4G USB dongle.

I have a nearly-new Logitech G Pro X Superlight for sale if you're interested, only used a few times before I decided the shape wasn't for me. Not the v2 with the optical switches, the regular one. White. £135 on Amazon, would probably take £70?

Thanks for the link and the update!
If I go down this path I want to be able to stick it behind a monitor are they small enough to do that?