The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by eric generic

mouse > any other "controller"

False.

The mouse doesn't do it all by itself unless you keybind everything to one of those gaming mouses

mouse + keyboard < one single controller

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by djchameleon

False.

The mouse doesn't do it all by itself unless you keybind everything to one of those gaming mouses

mouse + keyboard < one single controller

The fact that a controller has all the functions on one object doesn't even begin to make up for the fact that you have far more control, accuracy, and customization options with a mouse + keyboard.

Most mice have plenty of buttons too. I have a standard Microsoft wireless mouse and it has seven, and they can all be mapped to any key or command. Coupled with the WASD keys, the only other button on the keyboard I use is the space bar. Having all that on one physical object is irrelevant.

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

The fact that a controller has all the functions on one object doesn't even begin to make up for the fact that you have far more control, accuracy, and customization options with a mouse + keyboard.

Most mice have plenty of buttons too. I have a standard Microsoft wireless mouse and it has seven, and they can all be mapped to any key or command. Coupled with the WASD keys, the only other button on the keyboard I use is the space bar. Having all that on one physical object is irrelevant.

I see your concerns are about FPS games which I don't care about but yes mouse would be better for FPS games.

I still prefer a controller though. My accuracy sucks when I use mouse + keyboard compared to when I use a controller but that's just my personal experience. I'm more used to a controller so I know how to get the best out of it.

[s_k]

Originally Posted by djchameleon

False.

The mouse doesn't do it all by itself unless you keybind everything to one of those gaming mouses

mouse + keyboard < one single controller

Keyboard + Trackball > Any other controller

tab tab space

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Ok so Dad reckons I should just get a desktop hard drive and use my laptop as the monitor. Eventually I'll get a big ass flat screen TV to use as a monitor. That's suits me. Gaming ahoy!

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

Ok so Dad reckons I should just get a desktop hard drive and use my laptop as the monitor. Eventually I'll get a big ass flat screen TV to use as a monitor. That's suits me. Gaming ahoy!

You mean the entire desktop computer (sans monitor), right?

[ThePhanastasio]

I am desperately in need of help. My favorite laptop has bit the dust, and I no longer want to share a computer.

What I'm working with:
Dell inspiron 1420
Windows Vista

I have lost my installation disk. And here is my problem:

The thing won't start up! (Windows won't open).

I turn it on - Dell start screen with option for F2 or F12

Then Windows error recovery. My options are:

Launch start-up repair (recommended)
Start Windows normally

When I launch startIup repair, it shows the loading bar for a bit, then goes to a black screen (although still backlit). It stays this way infinitely, as far as I can tell. I've given it an hour before.

The latter option: loading bar, then - brief flash of BSoD, then cpu restarts itself.

Really - is there anything I can do? :/

[Scarlett O'Hara]

It could be a software problem, you may need to get ahold of a new instalation disc (such as a copy of WIN7. Let's wait for the technical gurus to answer on here first though. That's what happened to my last lap top, I got the windows reinstalled and sold it for $300.

[ThePhanastasio]

Thanks - that's what I was afraid I'd have to do, although I really wanted to save some of the files on the computer. Fortunately, the really important ones are backed up and safely available elsewhere for me. Just a lot of music I don't want to have to download again.

I'm probably going to go for Windows 7 as the OS. I hate Vista.

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

Thanks - that's what I was afraid I'd have to do, although I really wanted to save some of the files on the computer. Fortunately, the really important ones are backed up and safely available elsewhere for me. Just a lot of music I don't want to have to download again.

I'm probably going to go for Windows 7 as the OS. I hate Vista.

If Dell made a recovery partition on your PC, you might be able to run startup repair from that. Have you tried using that option?

Also, you can try using the advanced boot options. Usually this key is F8 (although it could be different on your machine) and you repeatedly hit it after you turn on the computer, until you get to a boot screen that displays Safe mode, etc.. On that list there's an option to use "last known good configuration". Choose that and see if there's any difference.

If all fails, you may still be able to get in and retrieve your files. There's a program called ERD Commander (you'll have to find the one for Vista) that should come as a .iso file, and you burn it onto a CD/DVD as a bootable disk (nero can do this) then simply boot up to the disk and select your OS, and it will give you access to your file system, among other things, where you can then do any backups necessary.