Nah, I've never used it. UBlock Origin has always worked well for me.

I've not tried it...yet. I use an add-on called Privacy Possum, which I suspect attempts the same thing, or something similar. That said, Badger seems quite popular. I might give it an audition as some point. BTW, aren't you a fairly recently Firefox convert? If so, how do you like it thus far?

Ublock Origin is my go to as well.

Hmmm....I use a competing blocker, AdBlocker Ultimate. But I use Privacy Possum in conjunction with it. I've always assumed they served different functions. Then again, maybe Ublock Origin is more feature rich than AdBlocker Ultimate?

I also use Facebook Container, which is advertised as "Prevent Facebook from tracking you around the web. The Facebook Container extension for Firefox helps you take control and isolate your web activity from Facebook." Not sure how effective it is, since I rarely do anything on Facebook.

Not using Facebook also prevents Facebook from tracking you...

That would be my go to.

They still track you in some way, I'd bet. That's where shitbook makes its money at. Facebook Container is a good one, also blocks Instagram.

I mean not having a Facebook account, ever.

Yes, I am a recent convert and I must say I really do like the church of Firefox. Being able to add stuff to the browser is KICKDONKEY!

So thanks to Kane for he was the one who persuaded me

"WHAT? You...you actually finally left IE?".

KABOOOOOM!!!!


*mALX's head explodes*






*mALX faints...*

Did that several months ago

Holy Cow! You have progressed into the current times now!!! Does this mean one day in the distant future we may see you playing a Steam game?

...

*mALX prepares to faint again ... *

Hold your horses, now. I'm not that far gone

Urgh = I've been sidelined by my PC!

I was in the middle of gameplay in ESO when suddenly my screen "pixelated" (the whole screen was all broken up into visible pixels) = then the monitor said it was going to sleep while my character was still running!

It then proceeded to go to sleep; meaning I had to do a hard shut down on it by clicking the surge protector off.

I wasn't sure if it was a virus attack; so immediately yanked the internet off it; and tried to boot it back up = the monitor kept saying it was going to sleep; but I did finally get it to boot into "Safe mode." The screen was covered with hundreds of little short white lines all over the screen.

The resolution had been bumped down to the lowest resolution = I think something like 800 X 600. The Event Viewer showed something happening; but with all those lines on the screen I couldn't read it.

Got on my son's old (and tiny) laptop and looked it up on the internet; it said my graphics card was probably going; and to activate the "Integrated Graphics" = did it; no change in the white lines everywhere.

Next = pulled out my old PC and hooked it up to the monitor; thinking at least I could use it to play old Elder Scrolls games till I got a new graphics card for my PC = couldn't boot it up; the monitor kept saying it was "going to sleep" even while the computer was actively booting.

So is it my graphics card or monitor that is shot? Is there some way to find out? (because if it is the monitor; I don't want to pay a 100 dollar diagnostics charge to the repair shop; then also have to buy a new monitor).

I also wondered if I could test it by attaching another monitor to the PC to see if it worked; but the only other monitor I have is my laptop screen (I am on the laptop right now; but it has a broken keyboard that overrides any external keyboards I add to it). Is there a way to get my laptop to work as a monitor for the PC?

Urgh; all this has me totally sidelined for gaming.

I see three possibilities here.

First, it could be your monitor. Try plugging the monitor into your laptop. You might have to use a different cable, since laptops often only have a VGA port. In any case the laptop can use the external monitor. Usually it automatically switches to one if you close the lid of the laptop. Though you might have to go into the laptop's video properties to set up the monitor. If the laptop cannot see the monitor at all, then that is probably your issue.

It might be your video cable. First up, check to make sure it is firmly plugged into both the monitor and computer. After that, it is the cheapest thing to replace.

Finally, it might indeed be your graphics card. The integrated graphics you read about is the video card that is built into your motherboard. Most PCs come with one. They tend to be cheaply made and terrible for gaming. This is as opposed to a video card that you buy and install into the motherboard. To switch to the integrated graphics, you have to move your monitor cable to from your add on video card to the video port that is built into your motherboard. Otherwise you are going to get nothing.

So the first question here is do you have a graphics card + the integrated graphics, or just the integrated graphics to begin with? You can tell by looking at the back of the PC. The integrated graphics port will often be at the side of the case. You will probably see a bunch of other ports for things like usb and audio and power running along the same side of the case with it. That is because they are all built into the motherboard, and so they all sit in the same place on the case as the board.

Your add on video card will typically run at a right angle to that, so if you have a tower case, it will sit horizontally. You will see a row of little horizontal slots in the back of the case. The add on card will occupy one. They will often have several different styles of video ports, like hdmi, vga, dvi, etc...

I just tried to take a picture of the back of my PC to give you an idea, and it turns out I don't have an integrated graphics card at all!

Here is a sample pic. The integrated graphics port is under that person's finger. That blue cable is a VGA monitor cable. The external graphics card is under their thumb. Those are two DVI video ports.

If you just have the integrated graphics then you are kind of out of luck. I would say try buying an add on video card, and hope that it is just the integrated graphics, and not the entire motherboard.

If you have add on card, and your video cable is plugged into that, move it to the integrated graphics port. You might have to remove the video card too, but I would just move the cable first and see what happens.


So in short, I recommend the following:

Make sure the video cable is in tight at both ends.

Move the cable.

Replace the cable.

Plug the monitor into laptop and see if it works. If it works, your monitor is good. If not, it is probably a bad monitor. See if you can borrow a monitor from your son or a neighbor too and try that.

Buy a new video card.

Okay, the computer has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti graphics card installed; plus is supposed to have integrated graphics. It has worked just fine since 2015 when I bought it = just suddenly went out mid game last night.

I didn't know to try moving the monitor when I turn on the Integrated graphics in the BIOS; I'll try that.

The monitor is old; the only hookup it has is one of those old time fat connections that you plug in and then screw down. Unfortunately, my laptop has no adapters for that, urk.

I did try hooking up an HDMI cable to the PC and run it to the TV = got no signal at all on the TV.

Next = I have DirectX 11; which is suddenly saying that my graphics card is not supported by them even though it has worked fine for 5 years. When I ran a diagnostics to see why it wasn't supported suddenly after all this time it says:

DDI Version: unknown
Driver Model: unknown

That should be where the Video card is showing.

So either my video card is shot or it has somehow come loose or something = it isn't showing up.

It is showing in my Device Manager, but when I go to the NVidia site and download new drivers, I get an error message 003 and it doesn't change my screen issues (thousands of white horizontal lines on screen).

Also, my son noticed that he can move the mouse through those white lines and leave a trail where there are no white lines = not sure what that means; but he said that means it isn't the monitor because the mouse wouldn't effect white lines caused by the monitor.





Here is an image of my screen:


https://imgur.com/a/HVr76y9







PS: Can't find any other place to connect the monitor; so = might not have it set up for integrated graphics, even though the BIOS shows it as having them.







PSS: Not sure if related; but = the day before this happened the PC fan kicked on and ran LOUDLY while I was in game; I shut the game off because I was afraid something might be overheating.

It sort of reminds me when my lovely 21" screen gave up its ghost. Started acting weird alluvasudden. But I'm no expert at this unfortunately so I can't help much

Couple of things:

First, you see to be able to reach the PC BIOS. If the monitor looks okay displaying those BIOS screens, then your problem is more likely with the graphics card. (But that's NOT 100% certain.)

Second, as to your BIOS indicating you have onboard graphics, but not finding a physical onboard graphics receptacle. PC manufacturing companies with sometimes place a plug/covering over that receptacle when the PC is sold with an added graphics card. This keeps the untutored from plugging their monitor into onboard graphics by mistake. Then again, you may well be correct in that, for whatever reason, it doesn't actually have the receptacle.

If you got the same symptom when the only thing in common was the monitor, then it is definitely the monitor. However, you could still have an issue with the video card that caused it, like an overload voltage on one of the lines. You don't want to break a new monitor in that case.

I'm with both SubRosa and ghastley - since the problem persists when you connect the old monitor to your laptop, I doubt it's the graphics card. That said, do double check and make sure the connection is good - i.e. it's not the cable gone bad. Do a visual inspection for damage (such as teeth marks) and kinks (which can indicate hidden damage to the copper wires within). You can always buy a replacement cable first and try that before replacing the monitor.

If the monitor is a VGA monitor, it might be time to replace it anyway: you can get a decent LCD monitor with higher resolution and sharper detail at a fairly reasonable price. It might help your visual deficits, too.

If a new cable doesn't solve the problem with the monitor (on either PC or laptop) then you might have to have to take the PC in for diagnostics. This isn't really something I'd recommend doing on your own.

Fallout 3 mod related

I've been setting up my backup Win7 computer and it all seems to work fine except a few mods for Fallout 3. As it's been quite some time since I dabbled with FOMM, can anyone help me with adding mods to the list? I don't remember how!

It should automatically see all the .esp files in your data folder. Adding .fomod files is just a matter of clicking on the Package Manager button on the right. It will bring up a new window with all your .fomods. Just put a check in the box of those you want active. Then their .esps will show up in the main screen, so you can change their load order if you want.

Yes, all the esp. are there, it's the other ones I need to add. I'll try this - thanks!

I could barely see the type on the BIOS because of the thousands of little white lines all over the screen; but I don't know whether that indicates the graphics or the Monitor (or something else)


***** HEY!!! I am on a laptop right now; not my PC = I just looked at the link I posted of all the white lines on my screen = and in the screenshot there aren't any white lines showing! But when I took the screenshot; they were everywhere!!!!

To take that screenshot I just pressed "Print Screen" and pasted it into "MS Paint," and the screen was covedred in white lines at the time!!!! Now, looking at that screenshot from my laptop = the same screenshot looks beautiful, no white lines!!! How weird!!! So ... what does that mean, if I only see the white lines on the PC; but they don't show up in a "Print Screen" shot?

GAAAAAH! What would cause that? A loose wire arc'ing or something?

I think that means the issue is on your monitor, or the video cable. I suggest replacing the cable first, and if that does work, then buy a new monitor.

Oh yeah, I am not able to even open up my PC to spray the dust off of it; I am completely incapable of anything technical at all, urgh. I still want to pull out the "Bowing Down" emote everytime I think about you building your own PC!

The cable is as old as the monitor = 2005 was the year it was bought; so could very well be bad; but that wouldn't cause the DirectX 11 to suddenly not see the graphics card; though = so really not sure what to think.

Oh, that would be fantastic if that is all it is! I looked up the price of replacing my graphics card, (thinking it would be really low now that five years has passed since it was considered a good card) = Newegg had it for 400-500 still, If replacing the cable would fix it, that would be Awesome!

Good luck, mALX! Hopefully it's just the cable


What with the internet down last night I finally took the time to set up my backup Win7 I bought months ago. Copied everything over from a flashdrive and installed Oblivion and Fallout 3. Oblivion worked instantly but Fallout 3 required the DLC to be installed, otherwise it just wouldn't work and wanted to revert to "seven basic colors" or something.

It's 32-bit* as opposed to my main 64-bit* but apart from some minor tweaks I'll get to today it all seems to work just fine. Well, it should seeing as it's almost the same computer, but still. Btw, are there graphics cards now that you can just USB, like sound cards? That would be snassy!




*My god, haven't talked about "bits" since the '80's!

I doubt very much that you can USB graphics cards the way you can sound cards - I believe graphics still require wider bandwidth for data transmission than can be achieved via USB. The only eGPU’s I’m aware of require Thunderbolt 3 or the PC equivalent, and those provide up to 40 GIGABYTES per second of data transfer. In fact, the only usable eGPU’s I”m aware of require thunderbolt 3 connections, so if you don’t have a thunderbolt 3 (NOT a USB-C) port, you’re out of luck.

Guess then I should focus on acquiring more RAM. Thanks for the info though, Rider

Okay, well = continuing with the issue of my PC; I happened to notice in tiny print (which is probably why I didn't see it originally) that in my Device Manager/Display Drivers/Nvidia GPU = it said "Windows has shut down this device due to error 43.

I looked that up; and it says that usually happens after either a Windows Update changes a driver so it is no longer recognized; or if you have installed some software recently that conflicts with your Nvidia card.

The last time I was on the PC, I was most def able to access the internet through Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. For some reason Mozilla is no longer showing anywhere on my desktop now; and Google Chrome is showing but nothing happens anymore when I click on the icon.

So now I'm stuck getting online via Internet Explorer, urgh. So, in trying to resolve my PC issues myself I followed the advice on some website that was attacking the Nvidia Error 43 issue. They said to make sure the computer booted in safe mode; and make sure all the Windows Updates were taken.

So I did. Grrrrrr. Well, Windows Updates can't install without access to the processes that are shut off in Safe Mode; but won't stop trying to install. So now my PC is stuck in a loop every time it tries to boot up/can't due to Safe Mode; restarts; tries to boot up; can't due to Safe Mode; etc. etc. etc.

Grrrrrr.

Computers used to have a way to get into DOS and bypass Windows to give commands = I might have been able to get into msconfig that way and change the command from safe mode to normal boot = maybe. But the only two things I can access now are the BIOS and the shell.

The BIOS boot options does give me the option of booting via either a USB or disk (I don't have any boot disk or thumb drive boot program; but a computer repair shop might)

I don't know how to work the shell; but I got the feeling it might be the way to either stall the Windows Update long enough to boot into Safe Mode or possibly command it to boot up in normal mode = I don't know.

Does anyone know if there is a way to stop that looping of the Windows Update vs. Safe Mode without a boot disk?

Yesterday I took the time to properly set up my backup Win7 when it comes to internet.

I activated it on the computer and went online to update Windows Defender and Firefox as well as install my favourite extensions like Adblock, Privacy Badger etc. I also set up links to the forums, youtube and UESP. Everything to keep me going if need be without too much headache. I also copied over the very latest FO3 and Oblivion saves. Not that it was really needed but it doesn't hurt

Wow, you accomplished a whole lot in one day!!!


** On my PC issues = PC is in the shop. It is the graphics card. They are going to attempt to fix it; but said I'll probably need a new one. It was a relatively new card! (just five years old).

Well, everything went smoothly so it was done pretty quick


That's no bueno. A five year old graphics card already busted? And a Nvidia to boot?

Hope the computer shop can fix it!

That was my feelings exactly. How can something so expensive only last 5 years? And if it can be built; it should be able to be repaired. NVidia should extend the warranty on them if they are that faulty; and let us send them in for free repairs (like XBox did over the RROD!)

Well, if I thought I was going to be able to play the old games on my laptop until my PC was fixed; I was wrong. My laptop is not handling Oblivion or Fallout 3 for more than about five minutes at a time before the fan starts racing and it shuts down. (and that is just playing it through Steam; not inserting a disk in the laptop or anything!) This is the laptop I used to game on, what happened to it?

The only games it seems to handle for more than a few minutes is the ones built into it when I bought it = solitaire, etc.

Did it get "upgraded" to Windows 10? There appears to be an unacknowledged bug in that which makes it spend all its CPU resources trying to find new Windows Updates. Turning off Windows Update stops it, but it also prevents you getting updates you need.

I gave the laptop infected with Win 10 to my mother, who does not have internet, so she can safely turn that off.

I've always wondered about these Windows updates one "needs". I disabled it first thing eleven years ago and I'm still wondering what those important updates are.

I do update Essentials, Advanced Systemcare and Firefox though as none of those updates seem to fudge up my computer.

No, everything I own is still in Windows 7. I never update the OS's until they become stable options because I am just not technically savvy enough to work through all the issues.

Bill Gates making their OS's obsolete every couple years just really makes me not want to keep using Microsoft products; but...I know them; so they are easier to figure out for me.









I ALWAYS shut off the automatic updates; and then just pick when I want to update them after making sure there are no issues with them. That "Windows Critical Update" that installed itself right before my PC broke actually bypassed my settings and installed despite them.

That is one of the reasons I love the MacOS - it's upgraded every year, true, but each upgrade is FREE. Also, you can continue using older OS on older 'puters even after Apple stops supporting them. My previous Mac shipped with 10.5, I was able to upgrade the OS all the way to 10.11, which is something I haven't yet seen on Windows machines.

I know, many people say they can't game on Macs, and that isn't necessarily true, but I get it. There are not as many options available for Mac users, but I've been happy to run Win7 under BootCamp on that old Mac, and it was the best PC I've ever used. The only thing I didn't like about it was the amount of babysitting I had to do to keep Win7 running smoothly, and that was the BEST version of Windows I've ever used!

Not trying to start a Mac vs. PC war here - I talk to people every day and they love their Windows machines, even though they prefer iPhones to everything else out there. So I respect their choices.

The verdict is in from the computer repair shop. My Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti is officially declared dead; they said they can't repair it. My new Daughter-in-Law just happened to have bought a new PC recently that had a junky card in it that she didn't want; so she gave it to me. I am hugely grateful to her; despite it is an enormous step down in rendering = it will have to do.

The new card is a GTX 1650. I should have my PC back in a few days. It will be good to have my PC back; I have really missed it.

I'm glad you'll have your PC back soon!

That is good news indeed, mALX. At least you can play and enjoy ESO, even as you strive toward an better graphics card. Woot!

It was so sweet of her to give me that card; and I really needed help if I wanted to play again anytime soon = so greatly appreciate it! I'm just still mourning my 780 Ti. It was the best GPU I ever had.

Really hoping this one will at least play ESO and Fallout 4. The benchmarks on it don't promise much.

Don't know how it compares--- but I have an MSI N750 Ti-2GD5/OC that I am not using....?

It may not be that bad. The newer cards tend to get extra VRAM to keep up with newer monitor resolution, and the processor speeds and numbers of core also keep pace. That card is several generations later than your 780, and the reviews will be comparing it to its contemporaries, not the older cards, and likely with a higher resolution screen than you have.

I'm still running two GTX680's in mine for the triple-monitor setup, and I notice a bit of frame rate droop, but it's quite acceptable. I'd expect your results on a single monitor to be decent with a newish card.

Aw, thanks Treydoggie! I can't use it; they have already put my Daughter-in-Law's card in; but thank you so very much for the offer!




Oh, I so hope you are right! Yes, my monitor is an old one = an HP I bought in 2005; so really not sure if it will help or hinder.

On the 1650 = I spent some time the other day looking at Fallout 4 vids of the GTX 1650 in action on both "High" and "Ultra" (couldn't find any playing ESO at all) = it didn't impress at all. I don't know how the rest of my PC stacked up against what rigs they were playing on; but ... really hope mine is good enough to play better than what I saw on there.

Picked up the PC on Friday. I have been able to play ESO; (though with VERY reduced graphics settings). The game froze up after a couple hours gameplay; and I got a Windows warning message saying the computer had slowed down; and did I want to change the color scheme to "Windows 7 Basic?"

What would cause that?