[X] My Assistant

This is an idea I've been mulling over making a thread for for a while now.

I don't want to call it a "Q&A thread" because that sort of implies the "answer the question posted above you." That'd die fast from a ridiculous question.

Anyway, if you're trying to do something and can't figure out how to do it, whether it be computer/digital, electrical, physical, or whatever else, try explaining the situation and see if any of us want to take a try at tackling it. There's a chance no one will, of course, but there's no harm in trying.

I'd like to try to answer as many as I can for a few days at least.

Example good questions:
"How do I extract a flash SWF from this old EXE file?"
"How do I extract images from a flash SWF?"
"How do people translate visual novels that use [engine]?"
"What engine does my visual novel use?"
"Does my car need a new transmission?"
"How does emulation actually work?"
"How do plasma screens actually work?"
"Why is my volume dial scratchy on my game boy?"
"Can anyone explain what this circuit does?"
"How do I compile this program?"
"Why did my GPU stop working?"

Example bad questions:
"Can someone teach me how to hack?"
"Can someone help me find a keygen for [program]?"

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Jul 6 2022, 09:27

anyone BE GOOD AT DOCKER?

Docker sucks and I refuse to use it.

But depending on the problem, maybe I'd know what's going on.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Sep 6 2022, 13:41

Would you say don't opt for cheapest option below for my use case: daily overnight running a BitTorrent client (both download & seeding)?

Seagate Barracuda Compute: ~ US$80-90
Seagate (non-Barracuda): ~ US$67
Toshiba L200: ~ US$60

All three have the warranty period: 2 years and come in 2.5" form factor.

Would you say don't opt for cheapest option below for my use case: daily overnight running a BitTorrent client (both download & seeding)?

Seagate Barracuda Compute: ~ US$80-90
Seagate (non-Barracuda): ~ US$67
Toshiba L200: ~ US$60

All three have the warranty period: 2 years and come in 2.5" form factor.

I'd say the more pressing concern is whether the disks are SMR or not. I believe, though I might be wrong here, that them being 2.5" drives increases the chances of them being SMR too.

I'd say the more pressing concern is whether the disks are SMR or not. I believe, though I might be wrong here, that them being 2.5" drives increases the chances of them being SMR too.

You are correct.
If it is over one terabyte, a spinning disk, and 2.5" form factor, I don't think non-SMR drives currently exist.

I have a question I think Wayward Vagabond may be able to answer (although anyone else can speak up if they know, too).

I have this JVC (read: Matsushita/Panasonic) amplifier from the early 80's. It sometimes gets a loud "ground loop" style hum (through the speakers), which goes away if I squeeze on the flux band (copper band) of the transformer (top right) - or alternatively slap the chassis.
[i.imgur.com]

After my last squeeze, it went away for several weeks, but as always it just came back.

What are my options? Should I just get another transformer (there's one of the same model number on ebay for $35 or so)? Or is there something I can be doing to save this one? - I'd rather save this one if at all feasible.

And yes, I know I need to recap this amp.

This isn't technically an El-core, is it? It looks like it has one extra winding. But I am very limited in my experience with power transformers.

More pics
[i.imgur.com]
[i.imgur.com]

There's a service manual out there for this amp (JVC R-S5), but the schematic scans are craptastic.
[files.catbox.moe] https://files.catbox.moe/82tb6i.pdf
I extracted the "Y" channel from the jpeg images of the schematic to try to get a little more legibility, in case it helps.
[i.imgur.com]
[i.imgur.com]

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Sep 11 2022, 12:28

I'd say the more pressing concern is whether the disks are SMR or not. I believe, though I might be wrong here, that them being 2.5" drives increases the chances of them being SMR too.

According to Seagate's spec sheet, the Barracuda compute are SMR drives. The Barracuda Pro on other hand uses CMR but there doesn't appear any to come in 2.5" form factor. Meanwhile, Toshiba claims CMR in its spec sheet.

This post has been edited by elda88: Sep 10 2022, 08:13

According to Seagate's spec sheet, the Barracuda compute are SMR drives. The Barracuda Pro on other hand uses CMR but there doesn't appear any to come in 2.5" form factor. Meanwhile, Toshiba claims CMR in its spec sheet.

If that's the case then the Toshiba is the easy choice..

Mine's 3.5" but my most recent HDD buy was a Toshiba CMR. Been excellent so far.

Their documentation/spec sheets seem a little more straightforward, too.

Last I knew WD made some CMR 1TB 2.5" HDD's. But beware - there are WD Black SMR drives, too.

Found an alternate scan of the schematic. Somewhat better in most ways, but also has problems.
[i.imgur.com] [i.imgur.com]

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Sep 11 2022, 13:41

WD Black SMR drives, too.

Man WD is really going hard on the "devalue your branding" speedrun aren't they. "High Performance" SMRs and NAS SMRs, ridiculous.

Scratch that. After taking a second look at Toshiba L200 spec sheets, it actually comes in CMR & SMR variants. I didn't spot the word SMR the first time because I just gave the spec sheet a quick glance and only the models at the top half of the list are actually CMR drives.

Is it true that all CMR drives are 9.5mm thick while drives that uses SMR are 7mm thick? It's because a buyer review of a Toshiba L200 listing on an online store claimed it is. According to my laptop's spec, the 2.5 HDD slot can only support up to 1TB. I can guess the reason when I saw some sellers specified the 2TB models as 9.5mm thick while the 500GB & 1TB's thickness are listed as 7mm.

If that's the case, then my choice might be limited to 1TB SMR drives.

No, that is not true.

I am sure you can get a low capacity 7mm disk that is CMR. There is nothing about how HDD heads are constructed that would require SMR in order to fit in that form factor.

But it is true that thinner disks are inherently shittier because you have to store more data on fewer platters. And more likely to be SMR at any given size, because again, fewer platters means you have to pack things more densely.

Once again, the macbook air ruined laptops.

And again, you should be able to find 1tb CMR 2.5" hdd's, unless you have one of those slim meme laptops.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Sep 13 2022, 11:25