[LaW]Maverick

I also could have sworn that the house was from Hero's Quest (Quest for Glory I). However, it didn't like that so much, and I can't think of anything else it could be...which is driving me insane.

I am at 40 and completely at a loss as to the rest...though I have a nagging suspicion that I should know them.

I hate you...I can't stop.....lol...I have a score of 38 of 56...95% from memory... Edit: 39

Actually, I put Ubuntu on there before, but the software that installs for her to take her class doesn't like it. I will try a processor swap some time this weekend and let you guys know how it goes.

it meets the requirements and none of the parts are OEM--all bought off NewEgg individually (the processor is from 2004 or so, however). 3.6 ghz Pentium 4... Does anyone know if Windows 7 looks for the processor serial number or other identifying information for WGA Validation?

My mom was all in a scare about this--she saw some Dr. guy's daytime TV show and was freaking out. The guy even said not to use wired headsets for some reason. I don't know...but people are now saying crap like the BlueTooth headsets are doing damage too. The radio waves coming out of a bluetooth headsets can get disrupted by a thick jacked. Most skulls are a little more dense...the radio waves going to your car radio can have more power than your cell phone. Like Sam said, you've got radio waves going through you pretty much all the time. Don't worry about it unless you talk on your phone 24/7...and even then, I dunno. It's like microwave radiation--there was a scare about that a while back and people were slapping detection stickers all over their kitchen to see if their microwaves were leaking. That just went away...

I forgot to add this Preach: I spent a total of about 16 hours on the phone with MS and have tried 4 CD keys..it's not a bug. I've tried clean installs, and even forensically wiped the drive using DoD (Department of Defense) standards prior to install. I have tried different media, but I know this copy works on 2 other systems. One of which even has the same series mobo and processor (though the other processor is a 3.4 ghz or a 3.2 ghz--can't remember which). MS had NO IDEA how to fix the problem, and I figured I'd post here to see what you guys thought of my processor hypothesis before I give up another 3 to 4 hours of my life talking to people in India that know less about Windows than I do.

OK, here is the short story: 1.) Went to upgrade my Mom's computer to Windows 7 a while back (before Christmas). She was running XP -System: 3.6 ghz P4, 1 GB RAM, P5WD2 Premium ASUS mobo, GeForce 8600 video -Went to install, got a Windows Genuine Advantage Error when 7 was loaded. Said that she may have been the victim of software counterfeiting and says it needs to validate Windows -I say "poop" a lot, and try to resolve. Changed out the HDD twice, didn't fix the problem -Ended up buying a new computer, used SAME copy of Windows 7, no problems at all--smooth as silk 2.) Aunt needed a computer, Mom donated some of her old parts--basically the same system as before, but with a replacement mobo. We thought there must have been something wrong with the mobo before that wasn't allowing Windows to check the hardware. Aunt Leida doesn't have much money, so I figured I'd Frankenstein her a computer using the old processor, memory, HDD, and optic drive. -Installed Windows 7 (it's a family copy with 3 licenses currently running fine on 2 computers) -Got the same stupid validation error! -Tested the older HDD using Seagate tools, turns out to be bad. So I replaced the HDD with one I was using -installed Windows 7, worked fine! I did it without the key, intending to write it in later. That should mean it would work fine for 30 days. -Got a validation error today (after 3 days or so of normal operation) OK, here's the skinny--the ONLY original part from the original validation error computer in there is the processor...well, that and the optic drive. It has new RAM, new MOBO, and a new HDD. Ah, almost forgot, I'm still using the 8600 video card, but I can't see that causing the problem. My question is this: It's an old 3.6 ghz Pentium 4 that always ran REALLY hot...could a damaged processor possibly be incorrectly reporting back to windows its WGA information (serial number and what not)? Do you think that a damaged processor could cause this problem!? I mean, I honestly can't think of anything else that could be causing the issue . . . any ideas? thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated. She needs this computer--she's going back to school using online classes, and without it, she's kinda screwed.

I don't remember playing one...and I have X-Com: UFO Defense, X-Com: Terror From the Deep, and X-Com Apocalypse all on my computer...

There are X-Com maps here: http://www.joe.to/~nipper/css.html Hahaha...that kinda cracks me up...someone want to test one out for custom map night? X-Com was one of the greatest games ever made.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2360889,00.asp Very interesting...

http://kotaku.com/5484157/valves-portal-puzzle-so-far-the-files-recovered-from-aperture-science?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kotaku%2Ffull+%28Kotaku%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher This summarizes nicely...and I REALLY want a CS refresh...

I am scarred for life now...

I tried playing this for a while, but I hate the control scheme. I believe that in an MMO, where you've got powers out the wazoo, clicking for something as mundane as swinging a sword is...well, just annoying. I also don't like the whole brake things open with your sword to get treasure bit. I dunno...I have yet to find an MMO that really gets me hooked...not since the glory days of UO.

The repair would cost around $1,050 to do both sides from what I'm told. That's why I original brought it in. They have now decided that only one side needs to be done. The insurance company called me back after I raised quite a bit of ruckas and they are willing to pay for the right side, but if I do the left, it's out of my pocket. My mechanic says that my struts are in such good shape (other than the broken one) that it should be fine to only replace one side vs. both. They are gas-charged Bilstien struts...kind of pricey...they're the ones they design for high performance German sports cars . . .Grand Prix came with them stock. All said and done the repair to the one side including what I've already paid, would be right around $900, plus I needed a car for work and I have rental coverage on my plan. That's why I claimed it.

I know there's a car section, but I'm posting it here so it gets some quick views. Basically my insurance company is trying to screw me. I just wrote a mechanic about the problem when it occurred to me that we have at least one gc mechanic! So I will just paste the E-mail here: I have a 2006 Grand Prix GXP. That's the 5.3L V8 model with the Bilstien gas charged struts, sports suspension, and Alcoa wheels. I give you this detail because it pertains to my question. Basically, I hit a pothole on a left turn with my front right tire. It was a long, fairly narrow, and deep hole that my tire fit into like an oversize quarter. It bent the wheel in and after that, I would hear a horrible noise every time I hit even a minor bump with that wheel. It was like someone slamming a bat into the frame of my car, and impacts became jarringly bad to myself and passengers. I took it to my mechanic and he found that the bracket holding the strut assembly on that side was broken. He replaced it, and I drove off. A few days later, I hit a minor bump (I think it was a sewer plate), and the same noise was still there. I took it back to my mechanic and he eliminated everything but an internally damaged strut as there was no severe damage visible with the wheel off. I decided...well, that's what I have insurance for, and filed a claim. Today, the adjuster came out, looked underneath the car, and, because he didn't see anything bent, declared that this was normal wear and tear and thus not covered. When I told him that struts don't magically go bad on just one side instantly, rather they wear down gradually, he would not listen. The car has 80,000 miles on it, and I'm anal about taking care of it. The mechanic keeps asking me if I've already replaced the struts as they look new to him--I have not. I apologize for the lengthy background story, but that leads me to my question. Do you think the impact depicted above could have caused internal strut damage without any other overt damage visible outside of the assembly in my car? It's a sports suspension that doesn't have a huge stroke, and normally rides rough, but I'm sure you already knew that. What do you guys think? The insurance agent even sounded weasely on the phone, trying every loophole she could think of to try to get me to back down. Thanks for any help/advice!

Aw....man, I would love Fallout 3.....is it PC? Have you sold it yet?

That was...interesting...but I couldn't figure out how to fire the missiles...

OK, I don't think the game is new or anything, but it's on sale this weekend for $9.99 on Steam. It looks pretty sweet from the screenshots..has anyone tried this game? Heard anything about it?

I'm with SJ on this one...buy a Zune! :-) I don't pirate music anymore either, really--it's too easy to get with the subscription.

Boiler, you should be alright with that set-up--this game isn't top-crust graphically BECAUSE it is on consoles. Keep in mind the 360 is getting old and computers have kept improving. :-)

WE better get dedicated servers...this match-making crap ticks me off. Oh, and Dragon Age looks better on my laptop than it does on the 360...so does Borderlands, for that matter. My laptop DOES have a 260 GTX with 1GB dedicated RAM...but that's not COMPLETELY top-o-the-line.

This game sounds like something GC could really get into. Look in the Steam demos section and you will see the new Aliens Vs Predator game demo is out. I'm downloading it now (at work), but might give it a go tonight. It's a multiplayer only demo, but some of the game modes I've heard about sound awesome. Take, for instance, infestation mode. It starts out with a bunch of marines vs one alien. The alien player kills a marine, it respawns as an alien and now you have two! :-) Sound familiar? *cough* zombies *cough*. Sounds like a blast though!

LOL

lol, OK, meant 2, not 3...and that bit wasn't up when I read it. I was...surprised to say the least