# useful info **URL:** https://cog.discourse.group/c/useful-info/8.md [Latest](https://cog.discourse.group/latest.md) · [Categories](https://cog.discourse.group/categories.md) --- ## [Building a PC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-pc/1793)
**Author:** [@sig](https://cog.discourse.group/u/sig)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-pc/1793 "2026-07-22T02:26:53Z")
How do we do this in 2020? I intend to build a budget gamer PC for Siglet Secundus in the next few months; I will inherit his machine, which I originally rebuilt for my own use as a budget gamer about 4 years ago. (It’s… --- ## [Mouse pointer goes bye-bye for a while](https://cog.discourse.group/t/mouse-pointer-goes-bye-bye-for-a-while/2025)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/mouse-pointer-goes-bye-bye-for-a-while/2025 "2026-07-15T03:14:04Z")
This is on the Windows 10 computer. I’ve got an issue where the mouse pointer will randomly stop being displayed when it moves over the window a program is in. For example, right now I have Notepad open while I type som… --- ## [It's time for a new smart phone](https://cog.discourse.group/t/its-time-for-a-new-smart-phone/1542)
**Author:** [@Nabiki](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Nabiki)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/its-time-for-a-new-smart-phone/1542 "2026-06-01T04:24:55Z")
My HTC 10 is 2 and a half years old now. I’ve had the battery replaced (and oh, that was an adventure from hell), but the new battery is dying and I have a small but spreading crack in the screen. My last three phones … --- ## [Buying a new car?](https://cog.discourse.group/t/buying-a-new-car/1335)
**Author:** [@Nabiki](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Nabiki)\ **Replies:** 285\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 4:19am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/buying-a-new-car/1335 "2026-05-22T04:19:49Z")
I've decided that I want a new car. I was planning on waiting until the end of the year, but now that I've made my decision, I kind of want it sooner. Here's a question for you guys out there. If the car I want has an… --- ## [Adobe Animate is only mostly dead](https://cog.discourse.group/t/adobe-animate-is-only-mostly-dead/2032)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/adobe-animate-is-only-mostly-dead/2032 "2026-02-06T23:18:34Z")
A long time ago in a computer system far, far away, FutureWave Software released FutureSplash Animator. Then Macromedia bought it and called it Macromedia Flash. Then Adobe bought it and called it Adobe Flash. Web conte… --- ## [Building a NAS](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-nas/1930)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-nas/1930 "2025-12-06T01:59:53Z")
It’s time to separate building a NAS from the building a PC topic. A moderator can move the relevant messages to here is they want. I’ll recap just in case. First, why do it yourself if you can buy one? To learn how. I… --- ## [Reducing available credit affecting credit score](https://cog.discourse.group/t/reducing-available-credit-affecting-credit-score/2012)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/reducing-available-credit-affecting-credit-score/2012 "2025-09-10T14:54:44Z")
I just got a letter from a company I have a credit card with, saying they will reduce my credit limit by a certain amount in X number of days. They say the decision was based on my credit report, so I’m going to check th… --- ## [Family planning app](https://cog.discourse.group/t/family-planning-app/2002)
**Author:** [@Rizak](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Rizak)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/family-planning-app/2002 "2024-11-03T11:29:07Z")
My wife and I need to find a good app that we can both use to schedule meals, appointments, other things. She is big on paper, me on computer. We’ve come to the realization that a magnetic board with movable tiles for … --- ## [Importing CSV files into Excel and LibreOffice Calc](https://cog.discourse.group/t/importing-csv-files-into-excel-and-libreoffice-calc/1996)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/importing-csv-files-into-excel-and-libreoffice-calc/1996 "2024-07-16T01:43:20Z")
I have a spreadsheet where I first take CSV data and manipulate it into a standardized format for searching, then run calculations to get the answers I need. I’ve been opening the CSV file in Notepad, then manually pasti… --- ## [Hard cider](https://cog.discourse.group/t/hard-cider/1991)
**Author:** [@Rizak](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Rizak)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/hard-cider/1991 "2024-05-31T20:24:14Z")
I can’t believe how easy and cheap it is to make a batch of hard cider. People complain about how much every goddam thing costs today, but aren’t willing to put in a tiny amount of effort to try to bring their costs dow… --- ## [New Camera Thread v3.0](https://cog.discourse.group/t/new-camera-thread-v3-0/1966)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2024, 6:16am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/new-camera-thread-v3-0/1966 "2024-04-30T06:16:34Z")
Since I’ve been doing research on this more than I realized I had, time to share what I’ve learned so far. And as a result of typing in a topic title of “Buying a new camera?”, I see this has come up before. So, here’s w… --- ## [NFL Sunday Ticket](https://cog.discourse.group/t/nfl-sunday-ticket/1972)
**Author:** [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/nfl-sunday-ticket/1972 "2023-09-06T01:39:09Z")
So anyone use the NFL Sunday Ticket for football? My dad wants it, but it’s not clear if he needs to get YouTube TV first as well or if there’s some other option. They don’t need the basic plan as they’re reasonably hap… --- ## [Database and SQL questions](https://cog.discourse.group/t/database-and-sql-questions/605)
**Author:** [@Nabiki](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Nabiki)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/database-and-sql-questions/605 "2023-08-01T20:20:05Z")
I’ve been learning SQL Server and Crystal Reports, and I thought that this board would have some good resources for questions in general. I know we have some DBAs out there. Right now I don’t have any specific question… --- ## [Building a "SHTF Kit"](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-shtf-kit/1658)
**Author:** [@dakboy](https://cog.discourse.group/u/dakboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/building-a-shtf-kit/1658 "2023-07-23T13:30:57Z")
(where “SHTF” is also known as “when the brown hits the round”) My wife & I are preparing to go on a trip over the holiday, then we’ll be home for a bit, then I’m back on the road for work, then I’m going to a conferenc… --- ## [Password management and 2FA](https://cog.discourse.group/t/password-management-and-2fa/941)
**Author:** [@sig](https://cog.discourse.group/u/sig)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2023, 6:20am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/password-management-and-2fa/941 "2023-07-21T06:20:26Z")
Anyone have any thoughts or experience on LastPass (premium) in conjunction with the YubiKey NEO? I am dealing primarily with a Windows 7 desktop, an Android tablet with NFC, and various machines running Linux Mint. T… --- ## [DreamWorks' MoonRay render engine goes open source](https://cog.discourse.group/t/dreamworks-moonray-render-engine-goes-open-source/1925)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/dreamworks-moonray-render-engine-goes-open-source/1925 "2023-05-30T22:03:07Z")
DreamWorks has announced that the MoonRay render engine they developed in-house will be released later this year as open source software. Might be a good place to start if you’re interested. The website is at OpenMoonRa… --- ## [Tom Lehrer Fans](https://cog.discourse.group/t/tom-lehrer-fans/1941)
**Author:** [@Nick\_Burns](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Nick_Burns)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/tom-lehrer-fans/1941 "2023-01-09T00:55:10Z")
If you’re a fan of Tom Lehrer, he recently made his music Public Domain and can be downloaded free from his site: --- ## [3TB drives and up](https://cog.discourse.group/t/3tb-drives-and-up/1023)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/3tb-drives-and-up/1023 "2022-10-15T16:02:07Z")
3TB, 4TB and 5TB drives are now getting more and more common. But they have to be formatted a specific way in order for both Windows and Mac to recognize the full capacity. For Windows, it's with the "GUID partition tabl… --- ## [In the market for a laptop](https://cog.discourse.group/t/in-the-market-for-a-laptop/1110)
**Author:** [@sig](https://cog.discourse.group/u/sig)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/in-the-market-for-a-laptop/1110 "2022-08-24T12:26:35Z")
The Army finally paid me 10 months of the back language pay it owes me, about $3k, so we are making some long-deferred purchases. My 2009 edition Netbook (10" 1024x600, atom processor, 2 GB memory) is no longer adequate… --- ## [Photoshop Tips and Tricks](https://cog.discourse.group/t/photoshop-tips-and-tricks/1633)
**Author:** [@TechnoMistress](https://cog.discourse.group/u/TechnoMistress)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/photoshop-tips-and-tricks/1633 "2022-08-21T19:50:43Z")
I know we have a number of photogs here (myself included) and I’ve started playing around with Photoshop recently. I figured this would be a good place to share tips, tricks, and tutorials. I came across this one toda… --- ## [Repeatable checklist app?](https://cog.discourse.group/t/repeatable-checklist-app/1852)
**Author:** [@dakboy](https://cog.discourse.group/u/dakboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/repeatable-checklist-app/1852 "2022-04-26T14:47:56Z")
Anyone have a recommendation for checklist software that lets you create reusable checklists? Use case: As we learn more about and prepare for hitting the road with our camper this year, we’re creating inventories and t… --- ## [Documentation Tools](https://cog.discourse.group/t/documentation-tools/1914)
**Author:** [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/documentation-tools/1914 "2022-04-19T14:58:57Z")
I’m looking for something weird here, but we have some unwieldy documentation for a project and wondering if anyone has any suggestions. For the immediate need, we’re using a Word Doc which has several failings. Some ar… --- ## [Win11 laptop declines to install Microsoft products](https://cog.discourse.group/t/win11-laptop-declines-to-install-microsoft-products/1910)
**Author:** [@sig](https://cog.discourse.group/u/sig)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/win11-laptop-declines-to-install-microsoft-products/1910 "2022-03-12T14:04:11Z")
which OK is often something you could consider a feature, I guess, but my wife sort of needs Microsoft Office 2016, which we’ve otherwise been pretty happy with for years. However, she gets this error when she tries to … --- ## [DIY Solar installations](https://cog.discourse.group/t/diy-solar-installations/1898)
**Author:** [@Ook](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Ook)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/diy-solar-installations/1898 "2022-01-04T14:19:44Z")
When doing solar PV installations, it is best to buy from a reputable brand and supplier, as cheap is dodgy, and not worth it. --- ## [Powershell Snippets](https://cog.discourse.group/t/powershell-snippets/1893)
**Author:** [@Ook](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Ook)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2021, 11:38am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/powershell-snippets/1893 "2021-12-02T11:38:40Z")
Code to check for replication between two (or more) HyperV hosts, and restart replication on any critical VM’s. This script can be run on a PDC or any HyperV server : # Powershell Replication Health Script v2.00 # Writ… --- ## [Harvesting water from fog](https://cog.discourse.group/t/harvesting-water-from-fog/1886)
**Author:** [@Ook](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Ook)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/harvesting-water-from-fog/1886 "2021-09-16T19:27:27Z")
Posting it in general info, because it may come handy for other people later on. So as you know, we have relocated to the Eastern Cape. It is a winter rainfall region. However, we do get clouds coming over and envelopi… --- ## [PrintNightmare](https://cog.discourse.group/t/printnightmare/1870)
**Author:** [@RRabbit42](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RRabbit42)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2021, 7:51am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/printnightmare/1870 "2021-08-21T07:51:32Z")
I think this explains why my computer was rebooted last night. A research team found another vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler. They were going to show it off at the Black Hat security conference this month, bu… --- ## [Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3](https://cog.discourse.group/t/samsung-galaxy-tab-active3/1878)
**Author:** [@Rizak](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Rizak)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2021, 7:49am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/samsung-galaxy-tab-active3/1878 "2021-08-21T07:49:24Z")
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung\_galaxy\_tab\_active3-10476.php I just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 tablet direct from the Samsung website. They took my money right away, but it may take a couple of days … --- ## [Miracast info](https://cog.discourse.group/t/miracast-info/1879)
**Author:** [@Rizak](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Rizak)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/miracast-info/1879 "2021-08-15T13:21:26Z")
Looking for anyone with information about using Miracast tech to send content from their device to a tv. My tv is dumb and doesn’t have any kind of connectivity, which is really the way that I prefer it. Now that I’m ge… --- ## [Ads and a Windows tablet](https://cog.discourse.group/t/ads-and-a-windows-tablet/1874)
**Author:** [@Rizak](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Rizak)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/ads-and-a-windows-tablet/1874 "2021-07-18T14:22:55Z")
Everybody talks about the ‘mobile experience’. Well, for me, the mobile experience sucks. I am bombarded with ads (my trigger) on every app. I hate ads. I avoid them at all costs. I haven’t paid for television for over … [Next page](https://cog.discourse.group/c/useful-info/8.md?page=1)