It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion2025: quests for April! :)(20 posts)(20 posts)
(20 posts)
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Posted April 01, 2025
The birth of a new month has unlocked a handful of quests for me to complete and that's no April Fool's joke. :P As per my ongoing 2025 game plan, the time has come again for me to respawn and tackle some new (and some old!) quests in the 30 days ahead. :D

Previous threads:
2025: resolutions for January
2025: resolutions for February
2025: quests for March


Here are my quests for April 2025:

- Back up ALL DATA on my PC (second attempt).
- Ask friend to install a 2nd SSD drive in my PC tower.
- Install Pop OS! or Mint onto this 2nd SSD drive.
- Read one book (ongoing attempt!).

I'm expecting to receive my purchased external hard drives early this week and when I do, I plan to create a thorough backup of all my data, to free up some valuable space on my PC and to protect my data from any accidental loss in case I screw up my Linux installation. I already own a 2nd SSD drive, but upon opening my tower, I could not figure out how to plug that thing in, but I've got a buddy who said he's willing to help me with this. Then I can finally do what I've been dreaming of doing for many years: install my very first Linus distro! These are my quests for April. :)

And, of course, to read one freaking book during the course of this month! LOL! Yes... it's like one of those game side quests that I keep failing at, every single time. :P

As always, everyone is invited to join in the fun and tackle some quests of your very own. Got any side quests that you'd like to complete for April 2025? If so, I'd love to hear from you!

Wishing all participants good luck with their personal quests!
Posted April 01, 2025
Trying to keep up my momentum with not smoking. Almost at the 3 week mark. Smelling someone else's smoke in my building tonight is a reminder why I want to quit. I've been trying for over 6 months. Each time I am able to put more time inbetween smokes. I'd really like for this to stick.

Good luck with your goals, Matterbandit!
Post edited April 01, 2025 by user deleted
Posted April 01, 2025
avatar
matterbandit: I already own a 2nd SSD drive, but upon opening my tower, I could not figure out how to plug that thing in
If it's a SATA drive, you need a SATA cable, a free SATA connector on the motherboard, and a free SATA power connector from the PSU, then plug the power connector into the drive and one end of the cable into the MB's slot and the other into the drive. And then, while that has nothing to do with it functioning, you should also screw it in in a bay, depending on drive size and any spacers it may come with.
If it's an M.2 drive, you need a free M.2 slot in the motherboard (and that's it, no separate power connector), then take out the screw or move it into the "open" position, depending on the locking mechanism, slide the drive in, push it down and then lock the closing mechanism again. If the motherboard has a heatsink on the M.2 slot, you need to remove that first, and then put it back in if you desire.
Post edited April 01, 2025 by Cavalary
Posted April 02, 2025
avatar
Cavalary: If it's a SATA drive, you need a SATA cable, a free SATA connector on the motherboard, and a free SATA power connector from the PSU, then plug the power connector into the drive and one end of the cable into the MB's slot and the other into the drive.
I'm sure it's a SATA drive, because I needed to purchase two separate cables with this internal drive: one for powering it up and the other, I guess, is for "communicating" with it (sorry for my lack of proper tech lingo). I appreciate your help, thanks Cavalary. :) I might open up my tower and share a photo here..., but I'm a bit embarrassed at how old my rig is! Purchased in 2016! xD
If I had the cash, I'd simply buy a new PC.
avatar
Plasticine879: Trying to keep up my momentum with not smoking. Almost at the 3 week mark.
I wish you good luck as well, Plasticine879. Your quest requires more strength and courage and determination than all of my four quests combined! Hang in there... And congrats on your 3-week mark! :D
Post edited April 02, 2025 by matterbandit
Posted April 02, 2025
avatar
matterbandit: Back up ALL DATA on my PC (second attempt).
Because I'm a laptop user, I remove the hard drive from dead laptops to use as backup storage drives. When a laptop dies on me, it's never been the hard drive. I find keeping a backup easier if you download and backup immediately after purchasing.
Posted April 02, 2025
avatar
matterbandit: I'm sure it's a SATA drive, because I needed to purchase two separate cables with this internal drive: one for powering it up and the other, I guess, is for "communicating" with it (sorry for my lack of proper tech lingo). I appreciate your help, thanks Cavalary. :) I might open up my tower and share a photo here..., but I'm a bit embarrassed at how old my rig is! Purchased in 2016! xD
If I had the cash, I'd simply buy a new PC.
There shouldn't have been a separate power cable. Well, unless you don't have a free SATA power connector from your PSU but have free molex connectors and you need an adapter. But I really wouldn't use adapters of any kind for drives when any little issue may mean data corruption or loss.
Posted April 08, 2025
Last Friday, I picked up my two portable external drives at the post office. Spent the weekend formatting them using VeraCrypt. Starting today, I will organize my PC data and back up all of my stuff onto these drives. I reckon it'll take a couple of days before I complete this quest of mine. ;)
Posted April 11, 2025
How fares your quest for knowledge, valiant adventurer? My reading has been lacking as of late, so I am also trying to ensure that I complete this repeatable quest.
Posted April 20, 2025
avatar
SultanOfSuave: How fares your quest for knowledge, valiant adventurer? My reading has been lacking as of late, so I am also trying to ensure that I complete this repeatable quest.
You know, I carry my book with me inside my "inventory" (backpack) wherever and whenever I venture, and yet, it baffles me that this seemingly simple quest remains my most challenging of all! xD
Posted April 21, 2025
avatar
SultanOfSuave: How fares your quest for knowledge, valiant adventurer? My reading has been lacking as of late, so I am also trying to ensure that I complete this repeatable quest.
avatar
matterbandit: You know, I carry my book with me inside my "inventory" (backpack) wherever and whenever I venture, and yet, it baffles me that this seemingly simple quest remains my most challenging of all! xD
I still say you shouldn't force yourself to do something you obviously don't want to.
But if you want to keep trying, I wonder if this constant and guaranteed availability doesn't actually lower your chances. What about borrowing from a library a short book on something that interests you, maybe trying nonfiction on a topic you enjoy, to create a narrow window of time during which to read it, until it's due back?
Posted April 21, 2025
avatar
matterbandit: Back up ALL DATA on my PC (second attempt).
avatar
Catventurer: Because I'm a laptop user, I remove the hard drive from dead laptops to use as backup storage drives. When a laptop dies on me, it's never been the hard drive. I find keeping a backup easier if you download and backup immediately after purchasing.
HDD? Those laptops must be very... very old.
Posted April 21, 2025
avatar
Catventurer: Because I'm a laptop user, I remove the hard drive from dead laptops to use as backup storage drives. When a laptop dies on me, it's never been the hard drive. I find keeping a backup easier if you download and backup immediately after purchasing.
avatar
Xeshra: HDD? Those laptops must be very... very old.
Not necessarily. I use HDD's for storage as SSD's get really expensive when going above 2TB. Plus long term storage without power is not a good idea for an SSD.
Posted April 21, 2025
But they are rarely inside a Laptop...
Posted April 21, 2025
avatar
Xeshra: But they are rarely inside a Laptop...
I guess not. I thought you could still get laptops with HDD's in them. It has been a while since i last bought one.
Posted April 21, 2025
The issues with HDDs is, there is a certain minimum price that can not become reduced. A SSD on the other hand with just a few NAND is very cheap nowadays and it will even make the OS way more performant, got a smaller size and weight (important for mobile). So HDDs usually are only provided by rather clunky business laptops, usually as a secondary drive not the OS drive, but rarely by the average notebook anymore.

A 1-2 TB HDD is now priced nearly the same such as a not to performant 1-2 TB SSD (50-100 USD), makes it even less favorable for modern Notebooks.

HDDs was common in notebooks more than 5 years ago, because SSD prices was way higher in relation to its capacity. HDD prices on the other hand was barely coming down in price per TB... they just get bigger but price per TB is barely changing.

Ultimately... bigger 2.5 inch HDDs are barely becoming produced anymore (so their capacity is pretty much stuck), instead big 3.5 inch datacenter HDDs (stationary, way to big for notebooks), because those still got a big demand on many spots.
Post edited April 21, 2025 by Xeshra
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion2025: quests for April! :)(20 posts)(20 posts)
(20 posts)