Another vote for AVG- it does quite well- especially for a free version- and has none of the bloatware annoyances of Symantec.

This one doesn't use Firefox...yet. Still using IE8 here. I found a free internet security suite though. Got good ratings from cnet, PC Magazine, and Bright Bulb. It is called COMODO. Installed it last night.

When I have to use Windoze, I really like Firefox.

Google Chrome is intriguing. I probably will get more familiar with it as I work on developing the website for my church.

I will not have IE8 (or any iteration of IE) on my computers.

As a Mac user, I run Safari, of course. Love that it's fast and quite streamlined. Haven't yet compared load speeds with GChrome yet, though.

Man, I've come a looong way since Netscape!

When I have to use Windoze, I really like Firefox.

Google Chrome is intriguing. I probably will get more familiar with it as I work on developing the website for my church.

I will not have IE8 (or any iteration of IE) on my computers.

As a Mac user, I run Safari, of course. Love that it's fast and quite streamlined. Haven't yet compared load speeds with GChrome yet, though.

Man, I've come a looong way since Netscape!

Have you tried firefox with adblock plus (I hate banner ads), quick java (great for stopping scripts from sites you don't trust) and flashblock (quick java technically can block flash but it's not as pretty about it)? Add in FireGestures for mouse gesture navigation and you have my base set-up, the other twenty or so add-on explain the massive weight of my install.

It's one of those things that you didn't realise you needed until you get it. Chrome is ok, but there aren't as many addons and I've found it a bit unstable.

As far as Anti-virus goes my advice would be:
Free trials of the better ones: NOD32 (the best by a long way IMO), Kaspersky, BitDefender and Panda are all good and free trials can keep you going for a while (though are a faff on).
The cheaper system I use now is:
Avast! Personally I prefer it to AVG, it doesn't catch everything and gives the odd false positive and is a bit heavier but AVG misses more and is a bit clunky. However it isn't as good so where getting a virus is likely I use Linux which doesn't get viruses (well tends not to, use something weirder if you're that worried).

This post has been edited by Olen: Apr 1 2011, 09:02 PM

Any way I can get around this?

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4710/mech...40123225679.jpg

It worked fine on Vista, but on windows 7 it doesn't. I've ruled out the GPU.

WOO HOO !!! Finally got it working, thanks TK !!!

The directions on the mod tell you to copy the file to Oblivion/data/shaders - they really need to detail that for people like me who don't know. You have to open the file "select all" and copy THAT to the Oblivion/data/shaders - (and replace all)

Well, I'm having a nightmare with my pc gamewise at the minute, and was just about to start a new topic when I saw this - and it kinda fits I suppose.

Some games (DA:O, DA2, Risen) I'm having no problems with, others (The Witcher & COD) crash with this message displayed:

"Display Driver NVLDDMKM stopped working and succesfully recovered"

I've done a google search, and there are thousands of posts going back to 2007 with this same problem, yet no solutions! Obviously it's the Nvidia card, but I'm just looking for a way to fix this.

Anybody else had this problem? Did you find a solution, or do I just forget about certain games until I buy a different graphics card?

Any help appreciated.

I'm guessing you will have but have you downloaded and installed the most recent drivers from nVidea? Windows often moans about them not being approved but they tend to be better.

Well, this is random...

My computer doesn't seem to like my joystick anymore. When I plug it in and start my computer, Windows BSODs on bootup...

...but when I unplug my joystick, the problem vanishes.

Yay Windows.

Can you reload the software for it?

Yeah, I have. To be honest I think it's just an issue with the combination of Vista & Nvidia, especially seeing how many people have been struck with it. But, getting on for four years since the issue started getting reported, no fix has come about from either Microsoft or Nvidia.

I'd upgrade to Windows 7, but people are reporting the same issue on the Nvidia and Witcher forums with Windows 7 as well, so...

I'm at a loss - not a clue how to fix this. I've gone back and installed previous drivers, latest drivers, just about every suggestion made on all the forums, and I still cannot get past the first frickin' cut scene at the start of The Witcher. Frustrating as hell. It's not like I can play it on console either, as it's PC only. Hate paying money for a game that I cannot actually play!!!!

/end rant

Dual boot XP?

Failing that run it under wine? By the time you've got it working(ish) the next version of windows will be out and two more sequels to the witcher and the problem will be moot anyway.


Does anyone know a decent program which records video from a webcam? I just got one and the software which came with it is predictably awful.

Though I'm a proud Mac user (and MS-phobe thanks to my work experience), I have been following this discussion with great interest.

The console game has been interesting, and the DLC on Xbox Live has kept TES IV fresh for me, but as I'm writing my fiction, I've been growing increasingly frustrated by the limitations of the format.

Now that my Mac Pro (professional level tower) is out of warranty, I'm ready to crack the box open and install some upgrades. I'm adding 8 GB RAM (for a total of 12 GB - not the max the 'puter can take, but the max I can afford!). I'm also installing two new HD's, each 1TB in size. Because of my photography, web site work and newsletter publishing, the original 325 GB HD is filling up fast. I like the idea of internal HD's (the Mac Pro has four HD bays). Because it is an Intel Mac, it has the capability to run Windows under Boot Camp. I just never liked the idea of having Windows on the same HD as the MacOS. But thanks to my tax rebate --

Guess what that means?

I pick up the hardware today. I'm so excited!

Good that you have a tower. The ones that have the computer and display as 1 unit are a pain assets to do anything with. To add RAM you have to actually take the display out. Facepalm.

Yeah, the iMacs are for those who don't touch their 'puters except to turn them on and off.

I've had towers (pro-level) since the G3 iteration (blue and white). Wouldn't switch to iMacs for anything. The towers just make better financial sense. And I love the DIY aspect of them.

What made me go ahead and get the PC installed inside my Mac was the fact that I already have a vid card that runs Oblivion just fine according to comments earlier in this discussion (GeForce 8800 series).

For 400 bucks I've got a whole new computer added to the trusty workhorse I've already got!

Still a Mac geek here, but I hear Windows run better on Intel Macs anyway, so there! *sticks tongue out*

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Apr 12 2011, 08:14 PM

So, hautee wishes to play Oblivion on the PC, it looks like?

You will not regret it.

And yes, I am running Oblivion swimmingly well with numerous graphics enhancing mods and several high-res texture packs on an nVidia GeForce 8800GT, so you are definitely good to go on video hardware.

Oh, by the way, my computer has only truly BSOD'd once over the four-year period I've had it, so there! Indie towers aren't that bad, either!

(That above escapade doesn't count, it was because of an outside source screwing with Windows' operation).

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Apr 12 2011, 09:39 PM

Well, it's done. Most of it anyway.

It took me longer to blow out the dust out of my box than it did to install the actual components themselves. The hard drives are ridiculously easy to put in. The new RAM booted up without a peep.

So now I have the original 320 GB HD, two 1 TB HD's, and one more empty drive bay. Gee, wonder what I could put in there? A Linux OS?

I've also upgraded from 4 to 8 GB of RAM.

Windows 7 was almost as expensive as the RAM, but also ridiculously easy to install thanks to Boot Camp. So now I have a HD dedicated to just Windows (one of the new 1TB's) that will be running Oblivion. Skyrim? I'm not so sure. We'll see . . .

I've just got back from the game store with my Oblivion GOTY PC disc. After supper I plan on installing that sucker on my MAC and firing it up!

Then it's modding time (loading 'em, not coding 'em!)!

"loading 'em, not coding 'em!"

Shame, this is so much fun, and I have to admit the CS is starting to hook me in. I might try my hand at a few villages and quests of my own if I can get enough experience at some point.

And remember, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask in the thread.

Computers are a lot easier to work on now than they used to be. I remember having to position hard drives in the right spot on the IDE cable, and moving around jumpers to put one as master and the other slave. Things like SATA make life so much simpler. Not to mention cases are designed much better now, usually with an eye toward making it easy to pop drives in and out.

I hope the rest of your PC gaming experience goes just as swimmingly! Oh, here is a thought. Once you are done installing Oblivion, copy the entire game folder and everything in it to a new folder somewhere on your drive. You have plenty of space, so no worries there. Call it something like Oblivion Vanilla, or Oblivion Backup, etc... That will give you a fresh version of the game if you ever screw something up royally with it. Rather than reinstall the game, all you would have to do is delete the contents of your Oblivion folder, and copy over everything from the backup folder.

Except of course your savegames, and .ini file, which are located in the Users\<User Name>\My Documents\My Games\Oblivion folder.