No such thing as a dumb question

[Roled]

Hi
I've been playing ps since April, and I love the game aspects, the role playing, the quests and trying to figure them out, and exploring and discovering this very inventive world. My character has made a bunch of friends and a few enemies, and fun is had by all.

I read all the forum posts, and now more so, since the server's offline. Since my background is not in anything remotely having to do with computers, programing, code, etc., I don't really understand much of the technical advice given. It's all Sanscrit to me.

I notice folks help other folks solve their technical delimmas here, but so many of the explanations are so intricate. Sometimes those who are kind enough to answer questions seem to expect a level of technical competence that I certainly don't have. Perhaps others as well? I become hesitant to ask really basic stuff. And I wonder if others are hesitant as well?

I thought, hmm, why not start a thread where there is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.

My hope is that those of you who are patient, and enjoy teaching, might put some of your time into answering questions for those of us who are not technical, please?

• For example, even tho' I read the threads about 'IRCs', I don't really get it. What is an IRC? Is that something that all players should participate in? How do you join?
  
  Example #2. I have Windows 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_grd.: Service pack 2) copyright 1981-2001. ((Whatever the heck that means...)). After the ps 4.03 upgrade, I ran the updater several times, ran the psclient.exe-repair a couple of times, ran the updater again. When I tried to open psclient.exe, it got as far a the opening screen, then I got a 'blue screen of death' and my whole computer shut down. The blue screen said something long that I also didn't understand. but said that there was an access error and all information may be lost. So I am trembling in my boots trying to figure out if I should even try and start psclient.exe again, not knowing what to fix to prevent the 'blue death screen."
  
  Example #3: What is the "something something dill32" file that we're supposed to fix? Where is it? How do you 'fix' it?

This is not just a way for me to ask these three questions. My hope is this thread will attract both those who need basic information and have sincere questions and those who are patiently willing to impart basic information and answer questions without attempting to humiliate the questioner.

Thank you to any and all who might find this thread useful, and to any and all who are willing to teach the technically ignorant.
Roled

[Zontick]

• For example, even tho' I read the threads about 'IRCs', I don't really get it. What is an IRC? Is that something that all players should participate in? How do you join?
  

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It's the precursor to instant messaging. The gobblygook techese you don't speak would be here:
http://www.planeshift.it/irc.html

What I would suggest is scanning down that page until you see mIRC, and following those instructions. Having been in IRC for a few days with the folks there, my read is that it's an extension of the game for some - and kind of cliquish, as such things normally are. However, the GM channel which is available is very worthwhile if you have an issue for the GMs.

Example #2. I have Windows 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_grd.: Service pack 2) copyright 1981-2001. ((Whatever the heck that means...)). After the ps 4.03 upgrade, I ran the updater several times, ran the psclient.exe-repair a couple of times, ran the updater again. When I tried to open psclient.exe, it got as far a the opening screen, then I got a 'blue screen of death' and my whole computer shut down. The blue screen said something long that I also didn't understand. but said that there was an access error and all information may be lost. So I am trembling in my boots trying to figure out if I should even try and start psclient.exe again, not knowing what to fix to prevent the 'blue death screen."

Example #3: What is the "something something dill32" file that we're supposed to fix? Where is it? How do you 'fix' it?[/li][/list]

Issue 2... doesn't necessarily mean that there's a problem with psclient. Your operating system could be unstable, and as unfriendly as the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is, it's just Microsoft's way of trying to make friends. That said, a lot of different issues could cause that. What I would suggest is checking your taskbar (the stuff near the clock) and seeing just how much stuff you have running. Windows is not always good at keeping programs within their own fences and gets worse at it the more stuff that's running. Lots of things accumulate in that taskbar that can really overtax your system.

Other than that... if the problem starts showing up with other applications, I'd really recommend backing up your important files. You should be doing that anyway, but hey... nothing like a gentle nudge.

As to part 3, I had the same problem not too long ago. OpenAL32.dll is the name of the file. DarkArtistry covers it pretty well here:
http://www.darkartistry.com/content/view/180/41/

It's all Sanscrit to me.

Sanskrit. 

Hope all of that helps. Number 2 is something you really should delve into a bit further, since it could be that your system is unstable. I'm also running PlaneShift under XP (Windows 5.1) and haven't gotten the BSOD. Back up those files. [/list]

[Homik]

Well, for starters IRC stands for Instant Relay Comunications (someone correct me of i'm wrong  ) If you are familiar with instant messagers, it is something along those line except that there are many many users that can enter a "room" so to speak where everyone can chat with each other. You can check out mIRC, HydraIRC, XChat (free for linux), and many many others (Google is your friend!)

As for you errors (and others like it) it is better to post them in the technical sections, or go onto irc and join #planeshift where you can find help, and if not we can direct you somewhere where you can find such. Seeing as computers are finicky little beasts, these errors usually have to be dealt with on a case by case basis, as there are no panaceas in the realm of silicon 

[Roled]

Thank you both for your replies. I appreciate it, even the spelling lesson...

How about other folks? Anybody got a question you've wanted to ask but didn't want to risk looking like a trepor?