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My Win8 ThinkPads finally arrived. I had them custom configured without bloatware and that's what took them so long to get here.

I downloaded Start Menu X to restore the easier function of the old start menu. It's free, but I'll buy the upgrade as soon as I get more essential programs installed. I like it better than the 8.1 start menu. There are others out there, this is the first one I tried, so I don't know if it's the best, but it's fine for what I do on the computer.

Couple of questions:

  1. Does Power Tracks Pro go in the Program Files folder or the Program Files (X86) folder? -- I'm guessing (X86)
  2. If I decide to install BiaB on the HD instead of running it from the external, does it go in C:\BB, C:\Program Files\BB or C:\Program Files (X86)\BB?
  3. New computers don't have a little LED that flashes when the hard drive is working. I find that to be useful visual feedback and I miss it. Does anybody know of an app that puts a little flashing "led" in the task bar when the HD is working. I googled it and found apps that do way more than that, and all I want is the flashing LED
  4. Anybody know of an open source app that reads Microsoft Publisher files (.pub)? - I know "Open Office" does everything but PUB and since that is the MS Office app I use the most, I'm thinking about downloading "Open Office" and either finding an app that runs .pub files, or purchasing "Publisher" - unfortunately my old 2003 "Publisher" is incompatible with Win 8.1.
  5. My purchased WinZip app that creates self-extracting zip files won't load in Win 8 - any good free substitutes?

I know some of that is OT, but I also know there are a lot of generous people who know a lot more about the nuts and bolts of the computer itself than I do.

I love new computers. The screen is so bright, it's so clear, it's so fast and even the keyboard is better --- but I hate the migration process. Fortunately it should be over in a week or so (depending on how much time I can devote to it).

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Notes


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Originally Posted By: Notes Norton

[*]Does Power Tracks Pro go in the Program Files folder or the Program Files (X86) folder? -- I'm guessing (X86)
[*]If I decide to install BiaB on the HD instead of running it from the external, does it go in C:\BB, C:\Program Files\BB or C:\Program Files (X86)\BB?
Notes

Bob: For many years I have found it slickest to keep them both segregated. If it's not infinitely troublesome, put them in a partition like D:/BB, or something. Doesn't matter what you call it. You just don't want to be copying huge, unchanging RealTrack files every time you run your disk image program to back up the OS partition. BB and RB will run normally from anywhere, so you can feel free to exile them anywhere.


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I've always let Power Tracks and BIAB go to the default folder: C:\bb Never had any problems over the years with installation. Others have had problems when installing to other than C:\bb. Later, Ray


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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I haven't used Power Tracks Pro, but assuming it's a 32-bit app and that it wants to go into one of your two Program Files folders, then (x86) is the one you want.

Do NOT install BIAB or RealBand into either /Program Files folder.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Originally Posted By: Notes Norton

[*]New computers don't have a little LED that flashes when the hard drive is working. I find that to be useful visual feedback and I miss it. Does anybody know of an app that puts a little flashing "led" in the task bar when the HD is working. I googled it and found apps that do way more than that, and all I want is the flashing LED


DriveGLEAM

HDD Led – Monitor Hard Drive Activity In Real Time From System Tray

Quote:
Anybody know of an open source app that reads Microsoft Publisher files (.pub)? - I know "Open Office" does everything but PUB and since that is the MS Office app I use the most, I'm thinking about downloading "Open Office" and either finding an app that runs .pub files, or purchasing "Publisher" - unfortunately my old 2003 "Publisher" is incompatible with Win 8.1.


workaround if you don't want to purchase publisher

Install Windows XP\vista\win 7 in a virtual machine

check out Libre Office
Libre Office
ver 4 or later. All versions - Mac, Linux, Windows, etc can now open MS Pub documents with reasonable accuracy.

consider alternatives to publisher

Scribus





Last edited by pghboemike; 05/08/14 06:33 AM.

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Thanks y'all!!!

Notes


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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