What should I expect when switching from Windows to Linux?
I'm considering moving from Windows to Linux, probably Linux Mint, but I'm unsure how the transition would affect my files, applications, and hardware. If I back up my…
file formats
How do you decide when a data storage format is final?
I repeatedly get stuck when designing a storage format for an application or engine, especially for binary or otherwise rigid data. I start worrying about every feature I…
How can I save a certificate as a PDF instead of a JSF file?
I'm trying to download an Army certificate using Chrome or Opera, but the browser only offers JSF as the file type. Right-clicking the document and choosing Save As…
Can you review my proposed binary data format?
I've been drafting a binary format for describing, storing, and transmitting data, mainly for future personal projects. I plan to write a parser for it eventually, but before…
Why do my USB drives keep getting corrupted?
I'm having a frustrating problem with USB drives. Every time I plug one into my computer, they get corrupted and the files I transfer seem to vanish. When…
How Often Should I Update My File Formats? Is JPEG Becoming Obsolete?
I've learned that it's important to convert files like photos, videos, and documents to new formats every ten years due to the constant advancement of technology. What formats…
Best Approaches for Extracting Data from Varied Document Formats
Hi there! We're working with a client who has a bunch of Excel and PDF files that come in all sorts of formats, and they're likely to keep…
How Can I Edit .st Files for an Old PS2 Game?
I'm trying to customize textures for a single-player game that was originally on the PS2, but I'm clueless about how to open or edit the .st files related…
What's the best way to play movies from an external SSD on my TV?
I'm looking for a way to watch movies stored on my external SSD directly on my TV. I usually just use VLC to watch them on my laptop,…
How can my sister-in-law access files on her external hard drive using her new Windows computer?
My sister has an external hard drive that works fine on her Mac, but she can't see any of the files when she connects it to her new…
Issues Burning and Playing New CD-Rs, Need Help!
I've recently started burning my own CDs using some old stock of Verbatim CD-Rs (700MB, 52x speed, 80 min) that belonged to my dad, and they worked perfectly…
Can't Play Most Movies from My Pendrive, Help!
I downloaded 14 movies that work perfectly on my PC, but when I transferred them to my pendrive, only 4 of them play. The rest are definitely fine,…
Can You Include Non-Java Files in a JAR?
I'm curious about the flexibility of JAR files. I know they're mainly used for sharing Java code in a compressed format, but could I throw in a PDF…