Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 February 11

= February 11 =

Windows update seems to be locked up
There was a large number of Windows update tonight. My primary computer uses Win 8.1 but right now I'm on my secondary computer, which uses Windows 7. The W7 had something like 24 updates and the update went OK, except it took a while. The W8.1 computer has 36 updates, and it has been saying "Keep your PC on until this is done. Installing update 3 of 36..." The circle of dots are spinning and it as been saying this for quite some time. It appears to be locked up on the third update. I'm going to give it some more time, but if it doesn't make progress in a couple of hours, is powering off and restarting the best thing to do? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 09:45, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Press the power button until it shuts down. Power it back up and hopefully it restarts Windows properly. Reset the Windows Update components. Run Windows Update and install a few at a time. --  Gadget850talk 10:56, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks, that worked. It took a few more cycles to get all of the updates installed, but I did. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 14:17, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * You are welcome. Just had to do that on a laptop I had not used in a while. And for a friend. --  Gadget850talk 21:24, 11 February 2015 (UTC)

Using DDRESCUE with Drives Over 2TB
This question is a follow-up to this one. I attempted to use Ubuntu Rescue Remix (with ddrescue built-in) to recover my data; however, it stops at around 2198GB and gives the error "file too large". I assume this is due to the 2TB limit of the EXT3 filesystem. Is there any other method I could use (perhaps with ddrescue) to recover my data using a filesystem with higher limits? -- 143.85.169.18 (talk) 15:40, 11 February 2015 (UTC)
 * I have no experience with ddrescue, but you should be able to continue by specifying --input-position=[size of the first file in bytes] and a different output file. That'll give you a split disk image, which probably something out there will be able to mount.
 * You could also convert the ext3 drive to ext4 (which can be done without losing data), or use an NTFS volume. -- BenRG (talk) 20:46, 11 February 2015 (UTC)

Lightweight Ubuntu dialect
Hi all! We are running Ubuntu on a somewhat oldish, but basically adequate laptop. However, since Unity (user interface) became the default, the computer has been painfully slow.I'll try switching it to another UI on the weekend - options seem to be Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu. At the moment, the last one looks like the best option - any comments or different suggestions? --Stephan Schulz (talk) 15:49, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * I use Xubuntu in virtual machines where the VM system does not accelerate graphics adequately for Unity. Other than the Windows-98-ishness of the UI, it is functionally indistinguishable from Ubuntu proper. -- Finlay McWalterᚠTalk 16:00, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * I've been using Xubuntu on my 7-year-old laptop that didn't get along with Unity. It works pretty well. Mr.Z-man 16:12, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * I also think Xubuntu may give the OP the same experience he had before Unity.--Aspro (talk) 19:10, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks! Keep your fingers crossed! --Stephan Schulz (talk) 22:46, 11 February 2015 (UTC)

Microsoft: the font of all disgruntlement
After the latest set of Vista patches, the Windows font suddenly changed on my HP PC and the minimizing and unminimizing of windows also feels a little jerky. How can I fix this? Clarityfiend (talk) 23:28, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * I will try to resist my urge to tell you to dump Vista.


 * You could try a reboot, but beyond that I doubt if there's an easy fix, so you might do best to just live with it. How bad is the new font ? StuRat (talk) 23:50, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Haven't updated my Vista VM yet. Let me start that. You could try uninstalling the latest updates one at a time. --  Gadget850talk 23:55, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * And checking the MS forums looks like the culprit is KB3013455. Uninstall it. Per Microsoft:

After you install security update 3013455, you may notice some text quality degradation in certain scenarios. The problem occurs on computers that are running the following operating systems:


 * Windows Server 2008 SP2
 * Windows Server 2003 SP2
 * Windows Vista SP2

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post more information in this article when the information becomes available.
 * --  Gadget850talk 00:02, 12 February 2015 (UTC)


 * You sir/maam/other are a gentleman/woman/being from a higher plane of existence and a scholar. I bow to your munificent sagacity. Clarityfiend (talk) 00:59, 12 February 2015 (UTC)