Many older HDDs still get better price/GB ratio, and drive failure rates are usually on par/similar....at least with old HDDs if part of a drive failes you can usually recover SOME data from the rest of it with apps/tools....that's usually not so(afaik) ith SSDs if/when they fail.

Check the third part of the post you replied to. It's your new security system I have offered to you to match your parano...err security consciousness. :D
(And it itself is also a meme/play on the metal gear series which mentioned those very words...i.e. a weapon to surpass metal gear)

I find it all very confusing myself. The only thing we know for sure is that the community edition has to be activated online at least once, within 30 days of installation. Hopefully there's a fellow Gogger who has used the community edition and can confirm whether or not it needs to phone home again occasionally thereafter.

With respect to being anonymous, I think that's something that's very diificult to do 100%. I suppose once you've finalised your code, you could try to find a spare PC someone has discarded, find a public internet connection that you can connect the spare PC onto but which you don't need to personally identify yourself on, then install the community edition on that spare PC but leave it unactivated, and then just copy your project from your own PC to this spare PC (via e.g. a CD-ROM), compile your project and copy the executable to another external storage medium, and then do with it what you wish. However, that's assuming the communuty editon on your normal PC hasn't phoned home information such as your recent project names etc. On the spare PC you could always rename the project I suppose and compile it with a different filename...

...but I just work on the assumption that one can never be truly anonymous, and if one is doing something that requires 100% anonymity, one might just be better off by not doing it. /sermon ;)

Hey, sorry for the late reply. Here are the steps I noted to get VS2015 running on an offline windows7 pc (they were in german and since I don't have much time and patience I ran them through DeepL translation, so forgive some inaccuracies):

## Pre-Installation ##

-Start the following services/drivers
Intelligent background transmission service
Windows update
Server (Windows 10 SDK fails otherwise) -> needs additional dependencies first:
srvnet (driver)
Server SMB Driver 1.xxx (Driver)
Server SMB driver 2.xxx (driver)
Network storage interface service
network connections
HTTP (driver)

-Install Windows Update Pack (solved at least one problem, it also installed VC++Redist*, which maybe was the reason)
-Install Windows Preparation Update: Windows6.1-KB2999226-x64 (just to be on the safe side, also included in VS setup)
-Install Windows 10 SDK 10.0.10586 manually (the VS2015 installer wants to download it from the Internet, select only last option "Windows Software Dev. Kit")
Install -Python 2.7: python-2.7.13.amd64.msi

(don't know if you will need this)
-update root certificates (required by Dotfuscator package):
certmgr.msc -> trustssw. root certificate. -> Certificates -> right click free space -> import ->
roots.sst files (roots.sst was created with "certutil -generateSSTFromWU roots.sst")
(certmgr.exe was installed with the Windows 10 SDK)

-install -VC++-Redist* manually (important is probably 2015, if already installed then uninstall first)

## Installation ##

-mount vs2015.3.com_enu.iso (cdrom driver must be enabled and running)
-Run vs_community.exe (better run it via cmd with "vs_community.exe /NoWeb", then the setup won't try to access the internet at all)
-Select Custom Installation -> check in:
Programming Languages
Visual C++
+Common Tools for Visual C++ 2015
(Common Tools for Visual C++ 2015 is always displayed without check, even if already installed; therefore click again on resetup)

-If errors should still occur, try:
-enable all symlink evaluations
-Deleting VS stuff from C:\Users\***\AppData\Local\Microsoft\
-Deleting C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\*

Which is all great, but 2015 does not support .net core which is required for cross platform pc and Mac building.
Also, how do you access or install additional components and tools not embedded in the installer? For instance, say for instance I want caliburn.micro to use in my project, normally I would open nuget and install direct from there. Do you have a repo/search/install facility?

I FINALLY got the heater fixed and I'm going to probably put up the TV soon, but first I thought I'd provide a reply:

Really? Then I'll look into that and keep it in mind the next time I get a hard drive. Also, I was looking at reformatting programs and noticed that on called DBAN said on the website that supposedly it's harder to securely reformat a solid state drive. Why would that be?

Oh, yeah, I suppose I could have a guard crab. I don't know what it would to to block attacks through electronic wires but maybe I'm underestimating it.

Well that doesn't seem like something which would be feasible for me to do.

Thanks! I'll look through all of that as soon as I can, but I'm in the middle of replying to everyone, so I'll just do that first, and maybe a couple of other things (I've been busy, and everything's piling up right now!) but I'm so glad you got that to me!

Actually, I've read that 2015 does use .NET Core, and I'm pretty sure it says it on Microsoft's website. Just now I looked on Wikipedia and got this:

".NET Core 1.0, announced on November 12, 2014, was released on June 27, 2016,[1] along with Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Update 3, which enables .NET Core development."

So I guess it might need "Update 3", whatever that is, but it should work, shouldn't it?

I'm not sure that I'd ever need to install anything additional for what I intend to do with this version, anyway.



In light of the stuff about version 2017 and 2019 requiring periodic connection to validate the authenticity or whatever (does anyone know for certain that this is the case?), I read some post that says 2015 does NOT require it, so I think what I'll probably ultimately end up doing is reformatting and installing version 2015 from a link on the Microsoft website (it's somewhere in this mess of posts, but I copied it), to ensure that it's reliable, and do it with the newly reformatted computer connected online, so that I shouldn't get the kinds of errors that I was getting before. While I'm at it I can register VS and Windows, so that when I take it all offline, it shouldn't be a problem from then on.

That's good...you taught that heater who's the boss...yeah, it's Mr. Tony Danza :D

As to that last bit I don't know.....but I DO know that non-ssd HDDs are better for archival due to how they fail(i.e. one can often recover data easier off of them than SSDs), and also they are cheaper per GB & such. The only downside, iirc, is the noise on cheaper or faster(RPM) drives....and also some cheaper drives are slightly more prone to failure(some economy drive models for some brands).

SSDs do serve a purpose, though.....running some programs and games is better when done off of them, but for pure archival old HDDs work wonders and are more economical.

Never underestimate solid krab. o.0

Also he can ghost through wires, obviously. :)

I'm not sure what "iirc" means. But other than that I get your point.

So SSD is faster, and that's the only real advantage?



Anyway, at this point, I think my main concern is that if/when I reformat, I'll need software that can reformat the partition on which Windows happens to be installed. I used to be able to do that in programs like Fdisk when I boot the computer (before it even loaded Windows), but it doesn't seem to be compatible with new operating systems, and the only programs that I can find which can reformat, I'm not sure whether they'll allow me to reformat the C drive, or for that matter, erase it thoroughly.

I found this page, which lists a bunch of them:

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000520.htm

And I checked the links for all of the free ones (or ones which have a free version). It looks like DBAN doesn't think very highly of itself because it mostly advertises for Blancco (the DBAN page is where I read that it's harder to erase SSD). Blancco looks pretty good, and pretty secure, but some of its best features seem to only be available for trials to businesses, and must be registered or something. I'm not sure whether Eraser is even compatible with anything newer than Windows 2000! I'm not sure about Harddisk Eraser or it's compatibility, but I'll look into it. Permenant Erasure looks similar to Eraser. SDelete is directly by Microsoft, so I'm not sure how much I trust it, but it looks like it might only be for old versions of Winodws anyway.

And frankly, I'm not completely sure that ANY of these will allow me to erase the C drive!

The worst thing that could happen is that I try to reformat and somehow screw something up because I'm using a program that I don't understand, since I haven't used it before! But I REALLY don't want that to happen; I just want this to go smoothly.

It stands for If I recall correctly...meaning I am pretty sure but not fully sure.

IIRC, SSD might also use a bit less power, and have other minor pluses, but I think that speed is the biggest one....and I think that's mainly of use on larger/bigger games and to boot/run the OS faster. For archival, HDDs are usually better/more cost effective.

How about taking your other PC offline(after getting the right tools) then hooking that HDD from the air gapped PC to it and running the fdisk/etc tool before the OS on your other PC loads? Would that be safe enough for you/workable for you?

Read guides on the program, watch YT videos if there are any good ones, and ask here if anyone knows more on any program you decide to use....that should work. :)

On top of everything, the electricity went out! So much for the heater, TV, computer, and everything else! Obviously it's back on now.

That's very good to know, thanks!

Possibly but I don't even know if I have all of the tools necessary to do that, and I've really never been mechanically inclined for hardware and stuff like that. I'm an expert with programming, and I have some knowledge of the inner workings of certain hardware (like how a processor works) - alas, I'm worse than an average person at actually physically doing anything with any kind of machine, so I'm apprehensive that it wouldn't work.

Also, ideally it's best if the hard drive not be readable by that computer so that no data could possibly transfer to it and remain on it after it goes back online. Maybe this really is excessive paranoia; I'm not sure. I guess I'm just the sort of person who, when I think of a problem that I want to avoid, I think of every single possible thing that could theoretically cause it, and avoid all of those things.

Well that's certainly good advice. I just recently found the programs and as you know, I've been in a hurry for everything I do since things have been hectic around here, so I'm not sure whether any manuals are available. I hadn't thought to check YouTube as well but it's a good idea. But to that point, what do you (or anyone else who can provide information) know about the ones I listed, especially Blancco? That one seems like a good one, but of course, looks can be deceiving, and I don't know whether it can format a drive which has the operating system currently running on it.

Alternatively, would it be possible to install Windows onto a USB drive and then boot from that, so that I could then reformat the C drive without actually running from it? I never tried installing an OS on that type of drive, nor do I know if it's even possible to boot from that kind of drive. I know that I can boot from a CD/DVD, but I don't know if I can install anything directly onto it, because that's not really exactly the same thing as burning onto it.



EDIT: Due to a combination of the crazy stuff that's been going on around here, the fact that I need to make sure to get the best reformatting tool and know for certain how to use it properly, and also the fact I may need to back up some stuff on the computer and do some more things with my program before I reformat (like for example, I want to make sure that even the current version of it is as upgraded as it can be, just in case I can't adjust it later for possible incompatibilities due to the upgrade) - for all of those reasons, it may be a few days or even a couple of weeks before I actually do the reformat (I really am a very careful person, aren't I?), but regardless, all of this information has been tremendously helpful and I'll take it all into account for planning what to do when the time comes.



Nice turkey, BTW. And why are your posts always low rated? You're always nice and helpful! I guess people don't like that about you for some inexplicable reason.

Then get someone you trust to install the drive for you...he/she could be like mickey in the sorcerer's apprentice(ya know, but minus the flooding and copious amounts of brooms).

Install the drive while the other PC is off and run fdisk via a thumb drive BEFORE that PC boots to the OS...that should work.

I don't know, sadly....I never had much use for such tools.

Perhaps....search for thumb drive OS and boot from thumb drive online and on yt for starters.

Some who dislike me/who like to troll me or the ones they've convinced that i'm a troll low rate me, likely using some script or tool that hits every post I make.......pay them no mind.

I vaguely understand the reference from watching Fantasia like 30+ years ago, but I'm not sure what you're implying. Anyway, I'll see what I can do about that when I can get around to it.

So then it is possible to boot from a USB drive? That would be very convenient! I didn't think Fdisk was compatible with new versions of Windows, but if it is then I'll try to get a copy. Otherwise I'll just go with one of those other ones.

Oh... maybe I spoke too soon. Well, I'll check that out. In any case, I'm sure there's some way to do this, but the information doesn't seem to be as readily available as one might assume on these websites for formatting software. I'll check YouTube though.

To be fair, you really should stop hanging out on bridges and demanding that everyone should pay a fee to cross (there are actually easier ways to make money).

(Basically if you get help make sure its competent help, is what I was trying to say via a silly example)

I don't know for sure, but it possibly might be. As for me saying fdisk, it was a brainfart...I meant using whatever program you use but BEFORE the OS boots, obviously. :)

Youtube and other sites often have tutorials for many things and are often very helpful....just one reason why the latest COPPA changes and YT's implementation of them has me worried more so than usual.

Hey, I was young and need the money. :\

;) :D

(Also don't look now, but your mention of low rating got the attention of the trolls and haters here...you've been low rated a bit yerself. o.0)

Oh, now I see. I just need to hire a broom to do it for me. That was really amazing animation with the water spilling!

A child protection law? What exactly has changed, and how would that mess up YouTube?

Are you kidding me? I don't see it, but that's really stupid!

Well the heater broke again and was fixed again, I put up the TV and had a bunch of problems but fixed them, and I put up a Christmas tree. So at least I'm finally being productive.

You mean they didn't even use Flash? You should see Watership Down if you haven't already.

Children don't typically have money, so I don't see how they'd get money from them. And I don't see how they could be fined, considering that first of all, I don't see how it's illegal to advertise, and second of all, they have no way of knowing whether their viewers are children (and even then it's still legal to advertise to them). I also don't see why they would want to not allow any free videos, because it's not like it costs them anything, except a bit of bandwidth perhaps, but then it brings in more people to the website who are likely to also see advertisements and possibly subscribe to some videos.

A fine for what exactly? I still don't understand what law they've broken. And how would refusing to upload anything protest against the FTC? If anything, it would protest against YouTube, but I don't think it would affect the FTC, and if I understand all of this correctly, they're the ones to blame, and YouTube is just going along with whatever restrictions they're imposing.