[Trotter]

encaustic-absorbed Greetings Members!


We want to continue to grow Tech-Forums into an active community for web users worldwide. These rules are in place so that all members can enjoy their time here.

1) Be Respectful
Treat other members as you would have them treat you. This means no flaming, insulting, or belittling other members.

2) Stay on Topic
Posts in a thread should not deviate from the original topic. For a new discussion, make a separate post. Along with staying on topic, it should be noted to post in the right area! Before 40 posts you will have your post moved and advised where to post. If you are beyond the 40 post mark your post can be deleted without notice. Each area has a description on what is included in that area.

3) No inappropriate language or images
Avoid vulgar, racist, and sexist comments, as well as swearing. We have a Zero Profanity policy. There is an automatic censor, but that does not mean anything it misses is necessarily acceptable. The censor should never have to be used, as appropriate language should be used initially. Do not post pornographic, violent, gory, or otherwise offensive graphics or links. Images should be scaled down as necessary to maintain a consistent and readable forum layout.

4) No Spamming
Spamming is a broad term. Spamming includes unauthorized advertising, unproductive and useless posting, post-padding, empty posts, referral and associate links, pyramid schemes, etc.

Along similar lines, do not "double post". Double posting is making another post directly after a post of your own. The edit window for member posts is 24 hours, so any post within this time frame should be edited into the earlier post. While there may be case by case exceptions to this, such as new information or a price drop in a Buy/Sell/Trade thread, for the most part double posting is not allowed. Double (or multiple) postings will be either merged by the mod staff, or simply deleted. Since double posting is also form of spam, warnings and/or infractions may accompany this action.

Along with this, post in the right forum. Any member with 40 or fewer posts trying to learn the site and where things belong will just have their thread moved to the proper area and advice given. If you have more than 40 posts your thread can be deleted without warning and if it continues to happen a infraction given.

5) Keep Things Legal
Any discussion, links, or information on hacking, cracking, serial numbers, pirating, warez, or any other illegal matters is not allowed. This includes talks of Emulators and Torrents. The links provide the information needed.
Talks of items that are not yet available by any legal means will also be taken in under this rule. This includes Games, Operating Systems, Service Packs and Betas not released yet to the public. Since there will be no way for people to obtain these by any other means then by Piracy or Warez.

6) No Avatar or Custom Title Abuse
Avatars and custom titles are subject to Rule 3. Titles may not contain "Banned", "Administrator", "Moderator", or any of their abbreviations.

Using a copy of a moderator, super moderator, or admin badge, user title, or any other such identification will be grounds for this.

7) Signatures must adhere to the following specifications:

1. Text signatures may not exceed 15 lines in size 1, or 8 lines in size 2. Text size 3 and above is not allowed. Text size 1 may only be used with a graphic, with no more than 8 lines.
2. The combined size of all images in a sig is a maximum of 468x120. Please keep the file sizes small for loading times.
3. Any scripts that display a user's IP address and browser information are not allowed.
4. HTML is not allowed in signatures. Some HTML scripts disrupt the layout of the forum and so have been disabled.
5. Signatures are subject to Rule 3.
6. Signatures are a privilege. They are granted for use when you reach 40 posts. If you abuse the system and try to get to 40 posts as fast as possible you will lose this privilege.
7. F@H team members being allowed to break the image restriction by having a F@H stats signature and a milestone userbar.

8) The Buy/Trade/Sell area is a privilege.
It is not a right. You must earn you way into this area with having 100 posts. As with the signatures spamming you way to 100 posts will get you disbarred from this area. The B/S/T area has a very special set of rules to follow. Read up on them so you know them before you get access and start to post there.

9) Off-Topic Area is also a privilege.
It is not a right. You will gain access to this area at 40 posts just like your signature. This area has its own set of rules as well. Read up on them and get to know them before you enter so that you do not get into trouble upon gaining access.

10) Questions or Concerns
If you have a question, comment or concern contact the Moderator of the area you have the issue with. If they can not resolve the issue they will refer it to the next person in line.
Confidential concerns can be posted in the Confidential Discussions forum. Only the original poster and the moderator team can see these posts, and any discussions there are treated as both private and confidential.

11) New Members have certain requirements that must be met before access is granted to certain features, namely Signatures, PM (Personal Message) System, B/S/T (Buy/Trade/Sell) Forums, and the OT (Off-Topic) Forums. The requirements are as follows.

• 40 good posts to get a signature. Posting things like "LOL" or "That is some good information" will get you noticed real fast and get your signature use blocked before you even get it. A couple posts like this are fine, but 40 posts just so you can put up a link to your site will not be allowed.
• 40 posts to gain access to the PM (Personal Messenger) System.
• 40 posts to gain access to the Off Topic forum.
• 100 good posts to reach the B/S/T Area.

For a full explanation as to why these measures are in place please refer to this topic started by our Administrator, Trotter.

12) Enjoy yourself! Have a great time posting and we look forward to your feedback.

When the rules are breached, the moderators and administrators may issue infractions, remove privileges, or choose to ban a user immediately, depending on the severity. Ignored warnings and continued offense usually result in banning.

The administrators and moderators reserve the right at all times to edit or remove any posts, images, signatures, avatars, and custom titles.

Tech-Forums reserves the right to change or alter these rules at any time without notice. Anything not expressly covered in these rules is subject to an Administrator/Moderator's approval. An Administrator and/or Moderator’s word is final.

Tech-Forums is here for informative purposes only. We are not here to help bypass, or otherwise negate, security or any other measures put in place by a Employer, School or Parent. We are not here to do your school work for you either. We will help explain results or help you to find information to get results but we will not flat out give answers to homework or school work questions. School is for learning. Getting the answers handed to you is not going to help anyone in the end. Any topic of such matter will be instantly closed.

Anyone impersonating a moderator, super moderator, or admin will be subject to an immediate ban. This includes if such a comment was made in jest or as a joke. Such matters are taken seriously no matter what the content of the message or your relationship with the member(s) included in the topic.

*** Note: Only ONE account is allowed per individual. Anyone who opens an additional account will be immediately and permanently banned from the site. If there will be more than one account in a household contact an Admin via PM or email before the new account is started. We are not mind-readers and will automatically assume that both accounts belong to a single person.

If you wish to contact a Forum Administrator with a question in regards to a Account or these rules we can be reached at:

Trotter: Trotter (@) tech-forums (DOT) net
Mak213: Mak213 (@) tech-forums (DOT) net

We will answer any and all your questions in regards to your account here at Tech-Forums.net, as well as to answer questions in regards to what is acceptable per our policies.

Updated: 03 April 2009

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Regarding avatars, signatures, and special areas:

Forum privileges have been set up on usergroups. These usergroups allow for different forum privileges to be earned as members participate in the community, and thus are based on the number of posts made by members. Here is a current breakdown of those permissions and the usergroups for them:

Registered Users (0 -39 posts):

• Only forum provided avatars
• Profile pic, 100x100
• Forum titles

Registered Users Extra (40 - 100 posts):

• Same as above
• Signature allowed, text only (according to the rules)
• Custom avatars allowed, 80x80

Registered Users Extra BST (100 - 249 posts):

• Same as above
• Custom avatars allowed, 100x100
• Graphics and text sigs allowed, maximum size of 300 x 100 (accoding to the rules)
• Buy/Sell/Trade forum available

Registered Users Extra 2 (250+ posts):

• Same as above
• Custom avatars allowed, 120x120
• Graphics and Text sigs allowed, maximum size of 600 x 150 (according to the rules)
• Custom forum titles.

Any and all of these privileges can be revoked, but will only be revoked if there is reasonable evidence that calls for it. Also, any member "spamming" their post count to try to gain access (such as a multitude of useless or very short "I agree" type posts) will quickly find either their posts deleted, their access revoked, or both.

Updated 03 April 2009

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The Infraction System is a way to give points to members that break the rules. Here's the point system:

• Sig Rule Violation is 5 points and expires after 6 months.
• Inappropriate Language is 5 points and expires after 1 month.
• Small Infraction is 5 points and expires after 14 days.
• Flaming is 10 points and expires after 14 days.
• Necroposting is 10 points and expires after 14 days.
• Piracy/Warez is 15 points and expires after 1 month.
• Spam is 15 points and expires after 1 month.
• PM Spam is 15 points and expires after 1 month.
• Inappropriate Thread/Post is 20 points and expires after 1 month.
• Permanent Ban is 1000 points and never expires.

Custom Infraction is whatever points that an Admin wants to give and will expire whenever they want.

The points will accumulate until they expire. If a user accumulates a certain amount of points, there are automatic bans. The accumulated points are:
30 points is a 7 day suspension.
75 points is a 1 month suspension.
150 points is a permanent ban.


The Infraction System is a disciplinary system designed to help members conform to the rules. That's why this system has a set amount of points and a set amount of time for expiration of those points. The auto ban is also a great way to show that abiding by the rules is imperative. Note: Some of the infractions are extended. That means a user will receive extended expiration times if given a second infraction that matches an existing active infraction. For example, a user is given a small infraction that expires in 14 days. An hour later this user is given the same infraction for another post. Since the user already had an active small infraction, this new infraction's expiration time is added to the end time of the previous infraction. Effectively, this new infraction will now end 27 days and 23 hours later instead of the default of 14 days. If the user was given a third infraction, it would be added to the end of the second infraction as well, which in this case would put them in the temp ban.

Explanation of Infractions (this list is not all inclusive):

Sig Rule Violation is self-explanatory. See the sig thread.

Inappropriate Language is for bypassing the profanity filter, and may be for insinuations and inuendos.

Small Infraction is for small offenses that might not be covered in the other categories.

Flaming is self-explanatory.

Necroposting is when a thread older than 3 months and is posted in. If the thread is over 3 months old. Do not post in it. The 3 moth limit is not from the date the thread was created but from the date of the LAST post in the thread. The date can be found by the user name.

Piracy/Warez is self-explanatory.

Spam is a broad term. Spamming includes unauthorized advertising, unproductive and useless posting, post-padding, empty posts, referral and associate links, pyramid schemes, etc.

PM Spam is when a member is reported for sending spam via PMs.

Inappropriate Thread/Post is anything that is not allowed here. This is a tech forum.

Permanent Ban is 1000 points and no one will ever accumulatively achieve this. This amount of points is given to one time spammers and those that will never be allowed back.

If you receive an infraction, only you and the Forum Leaders will know. It is not a public record that everyone can see. I hope this helps with understanding the system.

*Please refer to the RULES, News and Announcements forum often to find any changes or additions made to these rules.

[Trotter]

Allowed:

1. Linux Distributions
2. GPL Software
3. Open Source Software
4. Free distribution software
5. Public Domain Software
6. Items on sites that are legal to torrent from as they have the distribution rights from the copyright owner.
7. Clients*
8. Open Beta (OS, Software, Games)

Not Allowed:

1. Specific site access**
2. Specific torrents within a client***
3. All other items that are not covered by the Allowed List above.
4. Any topic on games, software or other items which have leaked to the internet but are not available to the general public.****

* Topics about Clients is allowed when it is News of a release, beta version or configuration setup. General Guidelines on how to use a client will be allowed as long as no file names or descriptions are given. Discussion of specific torrent clients is allowed. Topics pertaining to µTorrent compared to Vuse, Azureus or any other client would fall under this heading. As long as no specifics on the files being used.

** Topics about specific site access is a touchy subject. As the site itself is not doing anything illegal. As it just indexes the files uploaded by its members.

But since these sites can have not only legal but illegal torrents listed in it search results, it is deemed that these topics will not be allowed. The search for legal torrents can take place on more than just such sites.

If the topics in regards to such a site is in the News and is posted, that is fine. This is a topic for informative purposes only. The topic is to stay about the News only. Any such remarks about what they are doing is illegal, morally wrong or anything other than the News that is mentioned is not allowed. Any such posts in the effect that are not about the news will be treated accordingly and action taken. Be it as a attempt to start a war about the moral ramifications of such actions or whatever. Action will be taken if it is not about the news. This is your 1 and only warning on that subject.

*** Topics about why X Torrent downloads faster than Y Torrent will not be allowed. As they will have to have files names mentioned which could result in the rules being broken and action having to be taken.

Any such topic is tough to regulate. As research would have to be done on a topic by topic basis. As such if you require assistance in regards to a legal torrent, provide such information showing that it is legal in the first post so that no questions about the legality of the topic can be brought up. If no such information is provided and it is found that the subject matter is not legal, action will be taken which could include a permanent ban from the site.

**** News about a game leak, beta leak or other such topics is allowed. But as such remarks about where to obtain the file, that you already have it, or anything that can be shown as a personal reflection of your experience using said item will not be allowed. As that would show that you have broken the piracy/warez rule and as such action will be taken.

[Dave]

The Off Topic forum is for open discussions AS LONG AS every post is:

Intellectual or Academic or Computer Related or Thoughtful or Beneficial to the Majority of TF members and CIVIL!

ANY and ALL posts that do not adhere to the above will be deleted. If you can't post something civil, meaningful and useful then don't post. Opinions are welcome. Threads about Religion, Politics, and/or Sex have not been manageable and are not allowed.

NOTE: ANY type of spamming, flaming, or advertising will be deleted!


Please do NOT offend others!

Someday, you’ll be having a good time posting and are posting answers to questions when you get a following reply that bluntly tells you that you have either insulted another member or they insult you because they were insulted. Then, the thread is hijacked and everyone is insulting and flaming each other. In steps a Mod and threatens to close the thread if everyone doesn’t act civil. Now, everyone is angry at you and the Mod! Maybe the thread is closed and/or deleted and all those words were worthless. (Also, a member may get an infraction or be banned.)

Or it maybe you’ve tried to answer a post to be helpful to the best of your knowledge and someone makes a reply that seems to be rude and offensive. Sometimes it’s directed right at you. Isn’t that hard to handle? Yes, but it is not impossible.

Maybe you have read these types of threads or maybe you have never, BUT please help Tech-Forums because a better place for our visitors and members by remembering these few suggestions when posting...

FIRST, remember that it is very easy to misunderstand what someone is trying to say in their post. You can't hear the connotations inferred by the tone of their voice. That simply makes it harder to clearly understand what is written in their sentences. Neither can you see their facial expressions that would help you to understand their intended meaning. So, you may be reading something into their post that is not there.

Secondly, remember that this forum is broadcast all around the world and this forum has a diverse membership. The main language here is English. Even though a non-native speaking English person may well understand proper sentences, they may not know little about the idioms used by a native speaking English person. And there is a lot of different English being spoken. Let alone all the little shortcuts we take in our posts like no punctuation, nor capital letters, whatever. There are many cultures represented here and a “slip of the tongue” can cause confusion. (Or maybe that’s a “slip of the fingers”!)

Thirdly, remember that all members are all unique. There are sub-cultures inside of cultures, and many different beliefs and value systems. There are many different opinions, as you can well see when reading posts.

As a valuable member of Tech-Forums, as you all are, you need to remember the things listed above and use extra care in your posts. There is no reason to insult someone to get your point or your opinion across to them and others. When being insulting, your point is usually lost in the emotions that it stirred up.

It will also be good to give the poster a benefit of the doubt. They may be saying something in sarcasm, or they may be innocently stating something in a way that is not the way you normally say it. As stated in other posts, it is best not to ASSUME that everything is an insult. It is even better not to REACT to the post. Give yourself time to think, which also gives the poster time to make it clear what they are saying. Is it too hard to ask what someone means by a certain statement rather than flaming them for it? No, it’s not. If you’re not certain they are insulting, don’t answer back with an insult. If you are sure they are insulting, then report it to a mod for them to take action. Yes, if you think the inappropriate post is by a Mod, report the post and do NOT respond to it.

At first glance, one can hardly tell if the poster is being funny, sarcastic, or right down mean. Certainly there are some really mean people out there that have every intent to insult others and hijack threads. Their only purpose is to stir up the emotions of others and to get them to react. These people need to be reported in their posts and not answered. Please, don’t react and make yourself like them. They feed on your reactions, so don’t help them to grow with flaming of your own. There is no benefit to you to take offense and answer back. If you do take offense and you feel you must answer their post, take the time to think and don’t become a flamer by “slinging mud”, making “jabs”, “gouging”, or being mean as they were.

Please take care in choosing the words that you put in your posts. When we all think out our responses first, we will all find that the forum is a comfortable place to talk about anything. Being comfortable with our posts will also be fun and remove stress. This is not to say that one can’t kid or jest. This is to say that you do it in a way that others realize that.

In summation, please do not readily take offense. By no means, offer something offensive. Be civil. Treat all members with respect, the same respect that you should be offered to you. And you will enjoy your stay!


FROM PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:
From this day forward, ANY post or thread containing Pyramid Schemes, Work from home, Fast Cash schemes, or any other questionables, will be DELETED immediatly and without warning.

The same goes for the sale or request of any illegal or questionably legal items.

This is a privately owned forum and we, the Forum Leaders, have been asked to keep it clean, professional, and free from useless advertising. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please!, use of Foul Language, Cursing, Hostile words, etc. are not needed and against the rules, whether your talking about yourself, your own post, someone else, or some other post.

THANKS Tech-Forum MEMBERS for helping us make this website a better place for everyone!

Note: this applies to all of Tech-Forums, not only this forum.

While Tech-Forums IS A COMPUTER website, we all agreed it is a good thing to have this type of Off Topic forum.

With that said, the forum is Off-Topic, which means you can talk about whatever, BUT PLEASE KEEP IT CIVIL. In the past, this forum has caused negative feelings towards members. It seems that some topics can cause people to post negative message towards another member, faster than other topics.

So, The Off Topic forum is for open discussions AS LONG AS every post is:

Intellectual or Academic or Computer Related or Thoughtful or Beneficial to the Majority of TF members and CIVIL!

ANY and ALL posts that do not adhere to the above will be deleted. If you can't post something civil, meaningful and useful then don't post. Opinions are welcome. Threads about Religion, Politics, and/or Sex have not been manageable and are not allowed.

NOTE: ANY type of spamming, flaming, or advertising will be deleted!

Thanks for your cooperation!!

[Nitestick]

You may have heard of Folding@Home before, you may have seen the userbars or you may not have a clue what I'm talking about. Whatever the case, Tech-Forums has a Folding@Home team and we would like you to join. Our team number is 12864.

What is Folding@Home?
Folding@Home is a project conducted by Stanford University. It's purpose is to investigate the folding and misfolding of proteins. While it may sound insignificant, this work is actually very important. The behaviour of proteins can cause diseases such as cancer, so studying them can provide valuble information towards prevention and cures.

Stanford's project revolves around computer generated simulations and analysis. Performing the simulations requires an incredible amount of computational power................

This is where you come in.

The "Folding@Home Client" fetches small pieces of work from the F@H server, your computer will perform this small simulation and then send all the resulting data back to Stanford. The great thing about the client is it will only use "idle" computer time. In other words it will only use computer power that is not being used by you so you practically won't even notice a difference, you can help out without any detriment to your computing experience.

What do you need?
To run Folding@Home all you need is a working internet connection and either a computer (running a windows 98 or higher/Mac OSX/Linux) or a PS3. PS3s work great for Folding so if you have one please consider running the PS3 client. You can also fold using certain ATI graphics cards.

Are there any benefits for running Folding@Home?
Aside from the satisfaction of having played a small part in research that may well cure a multitude of diseases, there are a few perks. For your dedication you can have your name added to our milestone list. You also get a break on your signature restrictions with F@H team members being allowed to break the image restriction by having a F@H stats signature and a milestone userbar.

You can find more information at Stanford's website here
The client can be downloaded from this page.
Our team page is here.
And our milestone list is here.

For setting up an ATI card, see Ethereal_Dragon's guide.

Please don't forget that our team number for Tech-Forums is 12864!

Thanks,
Nitestick