Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

A funny story...

When I returned to Cyprus back in 2002 I set about to get into the local IT industry to work but was soon met with some hurdles...

Cypriot businesses refused to pay for software and just couldn’t or wouldn’t understand the concept of software licensing for popular things like Windows and Ms Office.

I would get laughed at for suggesting a 5-pack Ms Office license for a small business for $300 odd or whatever it was selling for, and would get told that all previous IT guys would supply these for free!

Having no choice I met up with someone who was an expert in the fine art of software cracks and such.

He taught me all the tricks of the (Cyprus) trade with torrents and such and I soon had a fine collection of CDs with all the popular software and all the right password cracks and such to conform with the Cyprus market needs!

Adopting to the Cyprus way was a lifesaver and I was able to get back into the industry albeit with a guilty feeling.

The transition from a law-abiding country to the exact opposite wasn’t easy but it had to be done or I’d starve!

Anyway, fast-forward about 8 odd years when I met our very own DT in one of the many forum meets we had in those days.

DT and I soon hit it off and he asked if I could come over to his new business and help out to set up his new network needs etc.

Some weeks after getting the job done a small clue appeared on his workstation that his cracked version of Windows was playing up, so I went over to resolve the problem.

I explained about the cracked version needing to be “re-cracked” and as I wondered what might have gone wrong with a tried and tested method, he worriedly asked...

“Are you saying we’ve got cracked versions of Windows?”

And I replied...

“Why yes, isn’t that what everyone does in Cyprus? We saved about 100 bucks per workstation with the cracked versions of Windows… I thought you’d be happy!”

And he goes...

“Really? I don’t have a problem paying for the software... I’d rather pay than have issues.”

And I thought to myself...

“OMG... I’ve just run into the first HONEST Cypriot and it took me like 10 years to find one!”

So there you have it... that’s the kind of guy DT is!

[boomerang]

you are talking finetuning a pc and latrineboy thinks running mozzilla is the same...

why don't you unleash god mode on them...and sit back...

but seriously, a pc and only 1 screen?...wow...
you can use 1 screen as well if you get a min RTX3060 VGA card an 27" to 42" and run 2k res...tht would be the same as 2 x 1080P monitors...i am in the process of doing this...i would probably get a RTX4060 with 8GB memory and 128bit bus running 2k...not for games but more for performance balance...

I can’t think of any use for dual screens Boomers… I don’t play games these days and after 40+ years of using computers I manage the task-bar pretty well.

Maybe for porn I suppose...

Oh wait... I forgot that I’m talking with the grand master-bater!

no...2 screens or a 2k res monitor is the norm these days...i can't remember the last time i used my 1 screen on a pc...everything is open, no need to open and minimize apps...just open them up...

it sounds to me you never used 2 screens...once you try you will never go back...

also you are forgetting i used to manufacture VGA cards...

i think the crowd here is pretty savvy, you should introduce god mode to them...

Cmon Boomers... I had a play with two screens ages ago... dragging a dialog box from one screen to the other and back was kinda short-lived fun and weird.

I’m sure I’ve got a dual monitor KVM switch somewhere in my stuff if only I can find it... I can do it all over again right now but who cares!

One thing I learned early on in this industry is that everyone uses computers differently… what’s one man’s computer-panacea isn’t necessarily good for another.


On the other note... I wouldn’t call it “God mode”... more like protect yourself mode from Microsoft’s devious tactics introduced in the latest version of Windows but I can’t be bothered doing a writeup... especially for this crowd.

1...kvm switch, you are kidding me, right?...have you ever heard of extended desktop?...do you know what extended desktop is?...


my 2 x 27" screens in extended desktop, it looks like 54" screen
if you are running display port monitors, you can gang bang the monitors to achieve the same, extended desktop...

2...do you know what god mode is?...i don't think you do... it's just you have to know what you are doing that's all...very easy...you need to try it, google godmode...

3...did you know that when you cannot upgrade from win 10 to win 11 if your win 10 hardware is not tpm 2.0 compliant?....but if you are a microsoft partner to which i used to be and get their own software direcrtly, you can do it?... win 11 upgrade from win 10 can be done if you are a microsoft partner...no problem...

[boomerang]

Don't be silly GR, you can use an external monitor and it works just as well. I built a frame and house the laptop in it, it is perfect height.
If you use the desktop version of software it never asks for anything till the subscription runs out. Pay it and you are fine. With about 80 pounds a year with up to 5 devices, it is a steal. In fact you don't even have to pay as Microsoft are not that clever. There is a work around to using the software without paying. But I do because I am honest see, I like my uncle Bill. I write to him often telling him what is wrong with his software. I wish he would do something about his crashing MS Project.
Funny enough I also have 6 laptops at home but they are hardly used these days. I gave one to my brother who wiped it and loaded Lunix on it. It worked a treat. No use to me though, I like interacting with people.

MS Project was never part of Ms Office... you gotta buy that separately or get a cracked version... hey, maybe that’s why that guy’s is crushing!

Seriously though, if some software is crushing the machine needs a good system maintenance.

Btw Lordo... PCs are always faster than their laptop equivalents, and in conjunction with a wired network connection there’s just no comparison in performance.

if you are running win 10 you can re-install it via an upgrade over itself and you get to keep everything...this elimintes a lot of little shitty errors...

[Get Real!]

1...kvm switch, you are kidding me, right?...have you ever heard of extended desktop?...do you know what extended desktop is?…

Well then you must be using dual video cards or one with dual video ports, because there’s only two ways to physically connect two screens.

2...do you know what god mode is?...i don't think you do... ...it's just you have to know what you are doing that's all...very easy...you need to try it, google godmode…

There’s nothing new offered under what you’re suggesting that you can’t already access in the standard control panel.

In Windows 7 this “all tools under one roof” menu was available from a supplied executable but I don’t recall its name.

3...did you know that when you cannot upgrade from win 10 to win 11 if your win 10 hardware is not tpm 2.0 compliant?....but if you are a microsoft partner to which i used to be and get their own software directly, you can do it?... win 11 upgrade from win 10 can be done if you are a Microsoft partner...no problem…

Good for you Boomers, but why are you telling me this?

[boomerang]

1...kvm switch, you are kidding me, right?...have you ever heard of extended desktop?...do you know what extended desktop is?…

Well then you must be using dual video cards or one with dual video ports, because there’s only two ways to physically connect two screens.

yes GR a vga card with 2 screens...in the old days i was using a quadro with 4 outputs...i have downsize to 2 secreens a while back...can't go to 1 screen, too painful
OR you can have 2 vga cards and 2 monitors
OR you can have 2 vga cards and 1 monitor, connecting the VGA cards together and for nvidia it's caled SLI, for AMD it's called crossfire...

2...do you know what god mode is?...i don't think you do... ...it's just you have to know what you are doing that's all...very easy...you need to try it, google godmode…

There’s nothing new offered under what you’re suggesting that you can’t already access in the standard control panel.

In Windows 7 this “all tools under one roof” menu was available from a supplied executable but I don’t recall its name.
win7 win10 and win 11 the name is godmode...do you self a favour and have at look it...time saver when cofiguring new pcs

3...did you know that when you cannot upgrade from win 10 to win 11 if your win 10 hardware is not tpm 2.0 compliant?....but if you are a microsoft partner to which i used to be and get their own software directly, you can do it?... win 11 upgrade from win 10 can be done if you are a Microsoft partner...no problem…

Good for you Boomers, but why are you telling me this?
why?...because comes october win 10 support will finish...do you know how many pcs will required to be replaced due an industry con job?...well i just exposed the industry and also gave you a goldmine solution...think about it for minute...

[Get Real!]

yes GR a vga card with 2 screens...in the old days i was using a quadro with 4 outputs...i have downsize to 2 secreens a while back...can't go to 1 screen, too painful
OR you can have 2 vga cards and 2 monitors
OR you can have 2 vga cards and 1 monitor, connecting the VGA cards together and for nvidia it's caled SLI, for AMD it's called crossfire...

Yeah, and in the absence of a crash-hot video card like you have, you can always use a KVM switch, eh?

We’ve gone full circle mate!

win7 win10 and win 11 the name is godmode...do you self a favour and have at look it...time saver when cofiguring new pcs

This “godmode” name you’re using is just a “power users” level of jargon.

But no self-respecting true professional would ever use such a daft name for what is just a menu of Admin tools!

why?...because comes october win 10 support will finish...do you know how many pcs will required to be replaced due an industry con job?...well i just exposed the industry and also gave you a goldmine solution...think about it for minute...

Dude, I retired about two years ago so I only now need to worry about what’s in the house!

I'll let the youngsters worry about upgrades...

[Londonrake]

Dude, I retired about two years ago so I only now need to worry about what’s in the house!

I'll let the youngsters worry about upgrades...

As wary as I am of getting involved in such a technical hoo-ha. Yes.

After 5 years or so my PC died a natural death. I used to build them myself but since Brexit that's become difficult. Even importing bits from Amazon DE sometimes results in having to pay up to 50% to bring them to your door.

So, I resorted to having one built to spec at a Custom PC outfit here. And very good they were.

Basically, whilst you can get immersed in the thing, to me it's fundamentally just a tool. I'm sure there are lots of guys out there who could strip down and reassemble a better car engine but I'm happy just driving it - sorta thing.

[boomerang]

kvm switch...like a switch box with rotary wheels?... so you telling me you are gonna run extended mode with a kvm switch?...really...kvm is switch is like 1 monitor shared by 2 computers...like using a monitor to cycle through computers when they are under test or loading an image, or installing or whatever...
any vga card these cards can do 2 monitors, unless you opted with graphics on board...no self respecting professional would use a kvm switch or vga on board these days...

my VGA card was made in 2012...yes it's fucking old but works well with 2 monitors but max res is 1080p....getting sick of it, this is why i am opting for the rtx 4060 around AUS$250-AUS$300 from china...not so bad and this is last year model...the differnce in performance is phenomenal for just 15 big mac meals...

godmode is a microsoft tool released for the professionals, hence as to why not many people heard of it and why is not included with the operating system...

i also have retired last year, very hard, and boring, so this year i started import goods from china and selling then at saturday and sunday markets...not bad, keeps me busy i sell a lot of interesting products and bect of all the cash money is good...5 days off and 2 days on...not a bad balance...i recently bought a van and plan to deck it out for long fishing trips up north...

[Get Real!]

Boomers,

The “extended desktop” or support for dual monitors, first appeared in Windows 98 which is most likely when I first tested the use of dual monitors as a young eager techie who wanted to know "everything".

This is going back many decades now… and if I remember well I was either working at Toshiba or Canon Australia over in Osborne park at the time... I think.


So for you to come here in 2025 and ask a 40+ year IT veteran, stupid questions like:

“have you ever heard of extended desktop?...do you know what extended desktop is?”

Is like watching a Benny Hill comedy show... I can almost hear the catchy music!


I really don’t know what makes some people like you so rude and stupid but it reminds me why I’m so glad I’ve retired and don’t have to deal with ignorant idiots and their computers any more!

Take care mate.

[Lordo]

A funny story...

When I returned to Cyprus back in 2002 I set about to get into the local IT industry to work but was soon met with some hurdles...

Cypriot businesses refused to pay for software and just couldn’t or wouldn’t understand the concept of software licensing for popular things like Windows and Ms Office.

I would get laughed at for suggesting a 5-pack Ms Office license for a small business for $300 odd or whatever it was selling for, and would get told that all previous IT guys would supply these for free!

Having no choice I met up with someone who was an expert in the fine art of software cracks and such.

He taught me all the tricks of the (Cyprus) trade with torrents and such and I soon had a fine collection of CDs with all the popular software and all the right password cracks and such to conform with the Cyprus market needs!

Adopting to the Cyprus way was a lifesaver and I was able to get back into the industry albeit with a guilty feeling.

The transition from a law-abiding country to the exact opposite wasn’t easy but it had to be done or I’d starve!

Anyway, fast-forward about 8 odd years when I met our very own DT in one of the many forum meets we had in those days.

DT and I soon hit it off and he asked if I could come over to his new business and help out to set up his new network needs etc.

Some weeks after getting the job done a small clue appeared on his workstation that his cracked version of Windows was playing up, so I went over to resolve the problem.

I explained about the cracked version needing to be “re-cracked” and as I wondered what might have gone wrong with a tried and tested method, he worriedly asked...

“Are you saying we’ve got cracked versions of Windows?”

And I replied...

“Why yes, isn’t that what everyone does in Cyprus? We saved about 100 bucks per workstation with the cracked versions of Windows… I thought you’d be happy!”

And he goes...

“Really? I don’t have a problem paying for the software... I’d rather pay than have issues.”

And I thought to myself...

“OMG... I’ve just run into the first HONEST Cypriot and it took me like 10 years to find one!”

So there you have it... that’s the kind of guy DT is!

You got it wrong GR. The price was for 400 pounds a year in the UK and it was for:
10 licenses of MS Office inc. MS Access
One MS Project license
One MS Visio license
Windows Server
Exchange Server
MS Project Server
SharePoint Server
SQL server.

There were lots of other stuff in it but I was only interested in the above.

Why would anybody get a cracked Windows when the original was included on the machine for no extra charge. You telling me Cypriots would buy a PC without windows so they could install a cracked version.