The Frying Pan

> Introduction

To upgrade your PC from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll need to select the Custom option during Windows 7 installation. A custom installation doesn't preserve your programs, files, or settings. It's sometimes called a "clean" installation for that reason.

A custom installation is more complex, and it can sometimes take a couple of hours to complete. We created this five-step tutorial to help guide you through the entire process each step of the way.

What you need

An external hard disk. You'll need to move your files off of your PC before you install Windows 7. To make thi…

From Microsoft.

windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows7/help/…

ElendilTheTall

1:25 PM

I stand corrected.

Jay

oh you are talking about XP?

damn I havent dealt with XP since 2000?

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall Looks good on you.

ElendilTheTall

Thanks. I hope you have good virus protection in place.

(that's not a threat)

Cerberus

I am my own virus protection.

Jay

i just assumed we were talking about upgrading from win7 or 8 to win10

Cerberus

1:27 PM

I have my browser locked down tight.

Faheem Mitha

Wow, Windows users. How quaint.

Cerberus

Hehe.

Faheem Mitha

Cerberus

I was waiting for Faheem.

ElendilTheTall

@Jay no, cerb likes to live 14 years in the past

Jay

1:28 PM

@FaheemMitha we get it you dont like windows but your condescending comments about window is getting old.

Cerberus

More like 2000.

ElendilTheTall

yawn

Cerberus

@Jay I still like them.

Faheem Mitha

@Jay Sorry, I can't help myself.

You realise they are the Windows of a jail cell, right?

Cerberus

Yes, well, in practice Windows does not restrict me much, does it?

Jay

1:29 PM

Sorry it always raised my hackles when linux or max users disparage windows users.

I need to drink more coffee

Faheem Mitha

@Jay And yes, those comments are old. I've been saying similar things to people for going on 20 years. Most people expect it from me.

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus it's like driving a 40 year old car because "it still gets me from A to B". Sure it does, but it doesn't have ABS, air bags, or a sat nav.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Stockholm Syndrome.

Jay

Blah, so i installed this fitness app on my phone

and every so often it would tell me to "Run ____ minutes"

and i never do

and im thinking about uninstalling it because it makes me free sad lol

ElendilTheTall

seems like an odd idea

who is usually free to just start running at random intervals?

Faheem Mitha

1:32 PM

And Apple users are in no position to disparage anyone. Apple is worse than MS these days.

Jay

Its this app that lets you set regimens depending on your goal

i have it set to train me to easily run a 5k

ElendilTheTall

@FaheemMitha go on then Faheem, tell us what's 'wrong' with Microsoft and/or Apple

@Jay a couch to 5k app.

Faheem Mitha

@Stephie So, regarding the bread thing - what recipe would be suitable for something that I can use for sandwiches?

@ElendilTheTall How about a nice game of chess?

ElendilTheTall

I tried one once. It didn't work because running sucks balls and is a horrible way to exercise.

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall And yet nobody can tell me what features 7 has that really make me more productive in practice.

Jay

1:33 PM

@ElendilTheTall thats one of the regiments, they have data for getting ready for a half marathon or marathon also

ElendilTheTall

@FaheemMitha are you trying to bore me to death?

Faheem Mitha

The recipe under discussion looks fine, but it doesn't look like it would slice into equal pieces.

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha Fallacy. Name one thing that I would want to do but cannot.

Faheem Mitha

@ElendilTheTall It's a quote. Which I'm sure you recognize.

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus 7? Who cares about 7?

Faheem Mitha

1:34 PM

@Cerberus Be Free.

ElendilTheTall

@FaheemMitha Nope

Jay

@Cerberus im a very visual person and all the visual upgrades is a huge plus for me. Aero is really nice. it lets you see the tab you have highlighted

Faheem Mitha

@ElendilTheTall Huh.

Jay

better security

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus I would be happy if you upgraded to Linux. anything but windows frigging XP

Cerberus

1:34 PM

@FaheemMitha I agree: Apple is far more restricted than anything else. And it has the worst quality:price ratio.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Well, it's nice we agree on something.

So bread suitable for sandwiches, anyone?

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus there I have to disagree. I had the same Apple laptop for 9 years without having a single problem with it, hardware or software

Jay

I like linux and all and ive used it but fuck if Im going to use it if I cant use 95% of the programs i need

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall Why is it so horrible? I don't enjoy running at all, but it is bearable.

ElendilTheTall

Very few windows laptops could say the same

Cerberus

1:35 PM

@ElendilTheTall Then what other version, and what functions?

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus It's boring and hard on the knees

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus People vary greatly in their attitude to exercise.

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha I said "in practice".

Faheem Mitha

Probably partly physiological and partly psychological.

ElendilTheTall

Exercise is great. I just prefer doing it in the form of organised sport. Something with a goal other than fitness.

Faheem Mitha

1:36 PM

@Cerberus Get less viruses?

Cerberus

@Jay Okay, that does little for me, I'm afraid. I have used Windows 7 a lot.

Jay

@ElendilTheTall I like to do my exercising in the form on bedroom activities if you know what i mean

Jolenealaska

Marv is gone.

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall That's nice, but I'm afraid I'm going to need more to go through all that trouble.

Jay

@Jolenealaska oh? how was the ravioli

ElendilTheTall

1:37 PM

@Cerberus 10. It's more secure and faster. Snapping windows is great. Multiple desktops are great. Windows search is great (leave that mouse alone - just hit the Windows key and type)

Faheem Mitha

Personally, I like running. At least in theory. I haven't done it for a long time, though.

But it's not really over-all exercise. I mean, not sufficient in itself.

Jay

were you able to distract him from nonplatonic activities

Faheem Mitha

It's good for the cardio-vascular system, I guess.

Jay

running is good core foundation workout

Faheem Mitha

Heart and so forth. Assuming one does not have a heart condition or serious knee issues, of course. For example.

Cerberus

1:38 PM

@ElendilTheTall Well, I don't have any problems with my Windows computer either. And I have seen lots of people who had problems with their Macs. Bottom line: a very cheap laptop may be worse than a Mac for the average person's usage scenario, but a medium-priced Windows will work just as well for him as an (expensive) Mac.

Jay

similar to how when using makeup just using foundation isnt enough

wait why am i equating it to makeup in a room full of guys

Faheem Mitha

But I hear lots of runners develop knee problems because they aren't careful enough.

Jay

for the record i dont use makeup hahaha

Jolenealaska

@Jay I didn't end up making it. Too tired, too rushed. We ended up ordering a pizza.

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall I agree: that is more fun. However, it also requires more organising, and it comes with obligations. The one reason why I run is that I can go out and do it right now.

@FaheemMitha I have no viruses.

Faheem Mitha

1:39 PM

I used to run in Cambridge. Good place to run. Though windy.

@Cerberus That's nice. Do you run anti-virus software?

Jay

@Jolenealaska Aww

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus I didn't ask :P

Jay

@FaheemMitha running against the wind is rough on my throat

it really dries up my mouth

especially when its colder

Faheem Mitha

@Jay Yes, wind and temperature can be a problem. And if you have bronchial problems, that can aggravate them.

That's one of the reasons I stopped doing it.

Plus much of the time, I'm not close to good places to run.

Jay

yea running in the cold normally triggers my yearly strep throat

Cerberus

1:41 PM

@ElendilTheTall Maybe snapping Windows is handy for some people...but there are plenty of programmes out there that let you do that on XP. Multiple desktops, you'd have to explain to me what's so good about that, because it doesn't sound very appealing at the moment. I use different programmes to search for files and/or programmes; they work faster than the search function does in Windows 7.

Jay

of course if i want to get it out of the way while im not busy i sometimes on purposely trigger it so i dont have to deal with it later on

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus jeez, will you forget windows bloody 7?

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus What programs do you use on Windows which you would find difficult to replace on a free system? Just curious.

Jay

is the multiple desktops similar to the linux multiple desktops?

Faheem Mitha

I have one example myself. Tax software.

ElendilTheTall

1:42 PM

@Jay identical

Jay

@ElendilTheTall neat

ElendilTheTall

@Jolenealaska hey hon

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha I always wonder how that happens. My knees never bother me at all; does one usually see it coming when it happens?

@FaheemMitha No. I just have my browser locked down tight and am very careful about opening files from the Internet. You?

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus I think it's a gradual thing. But I have no first hand experience of problems. Nor have I ever been close to anyone who was a serious runner. As far as I can recall.

@Cerberus No, I don't run anti-virus software. Is that what you are asking about?

I'm not sure it is possible to run anti-virus software on Debian.

Jay

Not enough common user base for it to be worth making viruses for linux still

Jolenealaska

1:45 PM

well, I'm going back to bed for a while.cya in a bit.

Faheem Mitha

@Jay That's probably true. It's also a better security model.

Jay

@Jolenealaska bye

ElendilTheTall

@Jolenealaska bye

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha Autohotkey, Oxford English Dictionary, many games, Strokes Plus, MyImgur, and probably tens of other programmes. For most programmes, I don't even know whether they have Linux variants. Finding alternatives and replicating settings would be a ton of work, if it were possible at all.

@ElendilTheTall Okay, well, I haven't heard enough to convince me. Not that much has changed, so far as I know.

Jay

There is generally a linux variant for almost all the programs

Cerberus

1:49 PM

@FaheemMitha A friend of mine told me about how he damages his knees. He noticed something was wrong during a certain run, but his rowing coach urged everybody to go on, he was under pressure (he probably didn't tell his coach about this particular pain in his knee). So he kept running. The next day, his knee really hurt, and he couldn't run for a long time.

@FaheemMitha Yes.

@Jolenealaska Sleep well!

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus fine, fine. suit yourself

Cerberus

@Jay Depends on how you define that: a programme that can do all the things that the Windows programme can? Probably unlikely. One that can do all the things that you need from the old programme? Possible.

ElendilTheTall

Program

Programme is what you watch on TV

Cerberus

Me.

We've talked about this in the English room.

ElendilTheTall

And apparently come to an incorrect conclusion

Cerberus

1:51 PM

I used to distinguish between program for computers and programme for anything scheduled, but a Brit convinced me that there is no need for that.

ElendilTheTall

then he was a cretin

check your OED program

Jay

oh we can just use program for everything and leave it at that

damn brits

Cerberus

It introduces an anomaly into British English to transform the same word in two ways.

ElendilTheTall

What's one more anomaly?

Cerberus

Your spaceship could get lost in it.

Unless you switch the shield polarity.

ElendilTheTall

2:02 PM

killer argument

Cerberus

Thank you.

You could of course also remodulate the forward nacelle.

We watched Star Trek again this week.

The mumbo jumbo is funny.

ElendilTheTall

tut. there are no forward nacelles

Cerberus

The series would have been so much better if they had cut out all the soap-opera-like petty emotional problems.

ElendilTheTall

nacelles are always laterally aligned so as to project a balanced warp effect bubble

Cerberus

And all the of the holodeck, which is just an excuse to use cheap décors.

@ElendilTheTall Umm, yes, quite so.

ElendilTheTall

2:07 PM

but yes, it is amazing what one can do with a phased tachyon pulse or by remodulating the forward deflector array

Cerberus

(And replaced those things with a bit more consistency with respect to the science part of the series. Explain more about the shield polarity. Etc.)

Exactly!

ElendilTheTall

if you had a decent OS, you could do it too

I can't tell you how useful a charged neutrino beam is for solving Excel problems

Faheem Mitha

2:43 PM

@Cerberus One can find a substitute for most basic stuff on Debian for example. It's got like 20,000 source packages these days. For some things, e.g. Mathematica, there isn't really a good alternative. There's Maxima and Axiom, but I don't think they are competitive. Or tax software. There is nothing on Linux for that, afaik.

Specific games might not have a Linux version.

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall I.e. you burn down the offending computer?

@FaheemMitha Yes. Etc. etc.

Faheem Mitha

OTOH, Debian comes with a ton of functionality out of the box. Which Windows users can only dream of.

Cerberus

Such as?

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus no, the neutrinos penetrate the CPU via subspace and realign the micoswitches to solve the problem. Duh.

Faheem Mitha

Personally, I don't care about games, but YMMV.

Cerberus

2:45 PM

@ElendilTheTall Ohh of course.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus See the above 20,000 source packages. Pretty much anything you can think of. Games, editors, language implementations of all sorts, browsers, multimedia... I don't know, what kind of things interest you?

Cerberus

Why didn't I think of that.

@FaheemMitha Umm no offence, but that means little. The fact that some OS has a browser tells me little. What I want is a browser that can do exactly the things I need, and well.

Faheem Mitha

KDE and Gnome also have a lot of stuff these days.

Cerberus

If it lacks a single function that I use every day, that is reason enough not to switch.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Chrome/Chromium and Firefox are available.

Cerberus

2:47 PM

I know.

Just an example.

Faheem Mitha

Any program will be missing the functionality of some other program.

Cerberus

I think I gave enough examples of programmes that have no Linux variants and that are practically impossible to replace with something else.

Faheem Mitha

One should not get too tied down to UI.

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha Yes. Which is why switching OSes is a nightmare to be avoided at all cost.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus How do you know they don't have nix variants?

@Cerberus Not really. People do it all the time.

Cerberus

2:48 PM

@FaheemMitha Because I Googled.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Hardly a definitive test.

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha For people who use their computer extensively, that is a nightmare.

@FaheemMitha sigh I am 99% sure that they have no Linux versions, at least none accessible to me.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus The kind of people who move to e.g. Linux-based systems are exactly the kind of people who use their computers extensively.

Cerberus

It must be a nightmare for them, then.

Faheem Mitha

Debian users, for example, are something of a technological elite, in my experience.

@Cerberus Not at all. What an odd thing to say.

ElendilTheTall

2:50 PM

@FaheemMitha you can't talk someone out of something they haven't been talked into in the first place

let him live with his antiquated operating system

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha I bet they don't switch between OSes on their main computer a lot.

Faheem Mitha

@ElendilTheTall I'm not trying to talk him in (or out) of anything. Just presenting the facts.

For the record, I don't do OS advocacy. Just a little sarcasm.

@Cerberus Lots of Unix/Linux users use Windows too. Typically at work. Where they don't have a choice.

ElendilTheTall

I have Ubuntu installed on this computer

Faheem Mitha

And they typically use different Linux distributions. Sometimes BSDs too.

ElendilTheTall

I can't remember why

Faheem Mitha

2:52 PM

@ElendilTheTall Ok. How do you like it?

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha I use Linux at work.

ElendilTheTall

It's fine ¯\ _(ツ)_/¯

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Oh? Which distribution?

ElendilTheTall

it's just an OS. I can't remember why I installed it now

Cerberus

Ubuntu.

I can never find where all the buttons and functions are.

Faheem Mitha

2:54 PM

Linux based systems aren't the second coming. But they are at least free. Which is very important.

Cerberus

I agree.

In general.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Ok.

Cerberus

Another thing is that we never got the admin password.

Which causes problems.

When the router goes down, we can't tether the computer.

Another thing is that the printer often won't work in Linux.

You have to boot the computer while the printer is turned off, or something.

ElendilTheTall

I think at some point or another I use or have used most common operating systems

Cerberus

Oh, and maybe you can help me with this one:

Faheem Mitha

2:56 PM

Free systems do have practical advantages. They are very flexible. Though, to get to the point where you can take advantage of that does involve something of a learning curve.

Cerberus

When I turn off the computer, by using the physical button, it demands that I enter a password. I don't want to do that for 4 computers, I just want to turn them off immediately.

Faheem Mitha

We get an endless stream of people through U&L daily who have no clue. And AU is much worse, I hear.

ElendilTheTall

I have Windows 10 and Ubuntu here, Windows 8 at home (which I very rarely use), OSX El Capitan at home on an MBP, a Raspberry Pi running a Debian variant, and an Android phone

and a Kindle running Kindle OS!

Cerberus

@FaheemMitha Yeah, that is exactly what I mean, combined with a smaller ecosystem of Linux.

@ElendilTheTall Wowie!

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus You typically want to power down the OS before switching off. Unless I'm missing something.

Cerberus

2:58 PM

@FaheemMitha I just want to walk up to the computer and press a single button to turn it off, without having to complete any other actions such as typing in passwords.

If it needs some time to shut down, that's fine; but I don't want to have to do anything extra.

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Ah. Well, I suppose it's possible to set it up like that. But I have never done so. And usually one is not required to enter a password to power down. What OS is this?

Cerberus

Ubuntu.

ElendilTheTall

9

Q: How do I turn off all the password prompts?

I've been using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS since release and am trying to figure out a couple things about all of these passwords and key-ring prompts that I've just been living with for a while. Ever since install it seems that every time I boot up my computer and want to do anything (ie. use the interne...

password

Faheem Mitha

@Cerberus Huh. And this is set up by default? Weird.

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