Editing 1888: Still in Use
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Rough draft, can still use elaboration. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | + | Cueball is trying to remove the trash bag from his garbage can. However, the trash refuses to let him do so, citing that a paper towel in the trash is being used by some object in his home. | |
− | + | By itself, the comic is patently ridiculous; it is meant as a reflection of a common problem in computer use, specifically that of storage devices. If a file currently held on a storage device is still open, the computer will often refuse to perform the "safely remove" function until all applications have been closed. However, occasionally the system will false-read a file as still being active; this frequently happens if the user closes a file after triggering the "safely remove" function but before the alert comes up. (Newer versions of Windows alleviate this problem somewhat for flash drives by adding a "Continue" button to the still-in-use dialog box; pressing "Continue" forces Windows to perform the "safely remove" function and unmount the drive even if one or more files on it are still in use>) | |
− | + | The title text may be a reference to a simple solution to these sorts of problems: shut down the system to make absolutely sure that nothing is using anything, and then remove the storage device. In some situations, this is the ''only'' way (at least in Windows) to safely remove an external hard drive from a computer. | |
− | + | This comic draws parallels between the act of emptying a physical rubbish bin and performing garbage collection on a filesystem, iconically represented by Microsoft as the emptying of a virtual wastebin on the desktop. Sometimes when attempting to delete files the software may still have the file marked as in use, because the file is still marked as open by at least one process. The software will therefore prevent its deletion. This may be correct behaviour, as in when a document is still being worked on in a program, or it may happen erroneously, perhaps because the program has not closed the file properly, maybe because of incorrect behaviour. The user is then required to find the cause of the problem and rectify it before the file can be deleted. This may be difficult if the user is not familiar with the file in question, or the program that would have used it. | |
− | + | In the case of the physical bin, the absurdity of this is highlighted by imagining that a paper towel is still locked as "in use" and that the rubbish bin won't allow it to be taken out for final disposal until the household object that was "using" the towel has been identified. | |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball is trying to take out | + | :[Cueball is trying to take out the trash] |
:Trash: Sorry, you can't empty the garbage yet. A paper towel in here is currently in use by some object in your house. | :Trash: Sorry, you can't empty the garbage yet. A paper towel in here is currently in use by some object in your house. | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Computers]] | [[Category:Computers]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Programming]] |