Sound card interfaces and Windows error sounds

[N2RJ]

Ever notice when listening to some of the "big guns" operating, especially in contests, that sometimes you'll hear a Windows error sound in the background?

I sometimes have to LOL when Windows crashes in the heat of a contest. More reason to install Linux or get a mac, or do like some hams do - run DOS!

Any funny windows/operating stories you gotta share?

[KI4NGN]

Hams are the only people I know who use such old versions of Windows that they see crashes, or use DOS.

I use Windows both at home and work for many years now, and I've only had an OS crash one time with Windows XP, and that was because of a major hardware failure.

Even Vista, with it's problems and as much as I dislike some things about it, it has never crashed.

Mike

[N5USR]

I have heard Windows system sounds on the local talk radio station - never quite understood that, you'd think if anyone would go to the trouble of setting things up correctly it would be a large radio station...

I personally stay as far from Windows as I can - Linux all the way at home - but have certainly seen all Windows versions right up to and including XP crash plenty of times. What's fun and interesting with an XP crash (and just about drove me nuts before I found what was up when helping a coworker) is that by default MS has the system just instantly reboot if it bluescreens. So many people don't *know* they had a good 'ol BSOD, they just know they were working along, did something, and the machine rebooted.

Now, XP is certainly far more stable than preceding versions (and I haven't had much trouble with Win2K either - the last version I used at home) and most of the time it is just an application crashing. But many people still generically call that "Windows crashed".

I haven't had any experience with Vista, and don't intend to anytime soon...

On the other hand, I've also seen plenty of Linux apps crash as well. It's all in how well the code was written, and there's plenty of shoddy code (and lazy programmers) to go around. While my Linux OS may be able to run for months at a time without a hitch, and most server-side apps are rock-solid as well, plenty of end-user apps leave a lot to be desired - mostly because the writer either got tired of messing with it or just never bothered to thoroughly test all possible combinations of keypresses and button clicks.

Of course, that applies equally to Windows or Linux (or OS X or FreeBSD or...) software. I just get a LOT more annoyed with it on Windows, since I usually had to PAY for that level of lousy software. It's especially bad when the lousy code is in a driver for some piece of hardware that was purchased. There are usually no alternatives in that case, and you either live with the flakiness or you're SOL...

[N4AUD]

Turn the error sounds off. Works for me.

[W3MIV]

Turn the error sounds off. Works for me.

But then you don't get to whine about how bad Windows is. ;)

[AC0H]

Hams are the only people I know who use such old versions of Windows that they see crashes, or use DOS.

I use Windows both at home and work for many years now, and I've only had an OS crash one time with Windows XP, and that was because of a major hardware failure.

Even Vista, with it's problems and as much as I dislike some things about it, it has never crashed.

Mike

I guarantee you've had windows crash more than once.
Microsoft decided with Windows XP to not show the user the errors that windows can recover from. The only time you get a BSOD with XP or Wishta is during an error windows can't recover from. Usually associated with hard drive corruption or hardware failure of some sort.

Ever been using XP and all of a sudden have the desktop icons go away then have the desktop reload? That's a windows crash, specifically a windows explorer crash. Check the event log.

[N5PVL]

Note that Dell offers PC's with XP, Linux or FreeDOS operating systems.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/e510_nseries?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

The Linux and FreeDOS stuff are open-source, if that is important to you.

[KI4NGN]

I guarantee you've had windows crash more than once.
Microsoft decided with Windows XP to not show the user the errors that windows can recover from. The only time you get a BSOD with XP or Wishta is during an error windows can't recover from. Usually associated with hard drive corruption or hardware failure of some sort.

Ever been using XP and all of a sudden have the desktop icons go away then have the desktop reload? That's a windows crash, specifically a windows explorer crash. Check the event log.
And I guarantee you that I haven't. I'm a software developer for 37 years now, not just some home user, and have some idea of my own level of experiences.

After XP SP2, which has been stable for a long time, the ONLY crash I ever had was caused by a major PC hardware malfunction.

No, never had the desktop disappear.

As a software developer, working from home many times over the years, I can assure you that I examine the event logs much more often than the average home user would.

If the OS does experience some sort of error that it recovers from, I would not call that a crash. It's called exception handling, and a part of any OS.

Your experience may differ, but that is my experience and that of most people that I know.

Mike

[n2jso]

Ever been using XP and all of a sudden have the desktop icons go away then have the desktop reload? That's a windows crash, specifically a windows explorer crash. Check the event log.

That's not limited to Windows, it happens in Linux also. I've had Gnome and/or X do similar things, or lock up entirely. The mouse has quit working, the sound card is suddenly unavailable, USB stops working, etc. Just being realistic, Linux is not perfect either. I like Linux, and have been using it on my main home PC for several years, and I have 24 years of professional experience with various flavors of UNIX.

[ab3fl]

Another simple option is to use a rigexpert for digital modes. They have a built in USB device. My windows sounds go through the regular (default) sound card and HAM sounds :) go through the rigexpert.

[KI4NGN]

I've been using the RigExpert Plus since last spring/early summer. It's a great device.

[KD6NIG]

I've always thought that "DOH!" from Homer Simpson should be the default error sound in Windows.

At least Mac had a sense of humor when it couldn't find the operating system, you'd get the infamous "Sad Mac" on the screen.....

[WA6MHZ]

When operating a contest, I do the tried and true 1968 method of logging: BY PENCIL!!!! After the contest, the logs can be transcribed into a computer, but I trust computers as far as I can throw them!! I had to give our local radio club a big "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!" one Field Day when the 15 meter station, logging hundreds of contacts, suddenly lost them all to a "computer error!". Sure, the program writes the contacts to disk, but what happens when you have a DISK ERROR?? ALL GONE! So they said I was a Dinosaur for refusing to use a Duper and computer while operating. But at the end of the contest, I had all mine on the paper there. Sure it took extra time to transcribe them, but there is always plenty of time AFTER the contest! You can't trust a computer no matter what! I was watching the new BS7H video where they were operating on a platform above the rock. What would have happened if the laptop suddenly fell in the drink? All those contacts ALL GONE! But with paper, atleast you could have fished them out and had a chance they were still readable!

[N2RJ]

I've always thought that "DOH!" from Homer Simpson should be the default error sound in Windows.

They'd have probably liked that as well, but that sound is copyright 20th Century Fox.

[N2RJ]

I've been using the RigExpert Plus since last spring/early summer. It's a great device.

I have as well. Bought mine at Dayton last year. It's a GREAT device.

Only problem is that some programs such as MMSSTV tend to use the default sound card - which in my case is my PC's Sound Blaster Live. So I often set the default sound card to the RigExpert. But often I find that if someone calls me on skype or messages me, that the sound would come thru on the air.

Very annoying.

So now I am looking for alternative SSTV software that allows me to choose sound cards.

[KD6NIG]

They'd have probably liked that as well, but that sound is copyright 20th Century Fox.

I'm sure Microsoft could have told Bill he was getting a .00000001% paycut and afforded the licensing rights to it :D

[KD6NIG]

When operating a contest, I do the tried and true 1968 method of logging: BY PENCIL!!!! After the contest, the logs can be transcribed into a computer, but I trust computers as far as I can throw them!! I had to give our local radio club a big "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!" one Field Day when the 15 meter station, logging hundreds of contacts, suddenly lost them all to a "computer error!". Sure, the program writes the contacts to disk, but what happens when you have a DISK ERROR?? ALL GONE! So they said I was a Dinosaur for refusing to use a Duper and computer while operating. But at the end of the contest, I had all mine on the paper there. Sure it took extra time to transcribe them, but there is always plenty of time AFTER the contest! You can't trust a computer no matter what! I was watching the new BS7H video where they were operating on a platform above the rock. What would have happened if the laptop suddenly fell in the drink? All those contacts ALL GONE! But with paper, atleast you could have fished them out and had a chance they were still readable!

Just remember, in California, if you're using a "lead" pencil you have to have the appropriate warning signs up, lest you attract the attention of some savvy lawyer. ;)

I've seen many guys use both methods, and been faster than those just using the computer method.

The more fancy Field Day setups I've seen had wireless setup where the "server" stored the information (and it resided in a nice cozy trailer or something) and the laptops out in the "wild" (ok, under a nice tarped area) transmitted the data to them. Worked pretty well too-with one "master log" they could all tell dupes immedietely.

Some of them are pretty high-tech.

But I do agree with the old pen method. I know where I work everything is computer based-if the power goes out, everything stops. Period. Sure they increase efficency, but you better have good backups and power :)