Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Ctrl-Alt-Del => Topic started by: Biggsy on 13 February, 2014, 10:48:58 pm

Title: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 13 February, 2014, 10:48:58 pm
Oh dear, my obsession with multiple drives and partitions means I've only got a handful of drive letters left, or less than none if I plugged in just one more backup disk.  I'm even resorting to A and B (and not with floppies).

Anyone gloating about Linux will be shot!

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2014, 11:35:41 pm
What's a drive le... *ducks*   ;D


I thought Windows started using double letters or something when it ran out?  Or is that just Excel?

Sounds like a pressing need for Unicode support, in the sense of needing a bigger monitor so you can store more files on the Desktop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 13 February, 2014, 11:57:08 pm
Windows only offers me single letters.  Must admit I haven't actually tested it with absolutely all of the letters used.  I just know I'd need more than 26 with everything I want connected.

I even fitted a toggle switch to the power to my two internal CD drives so they only take letters when required.  (Quicker than me resetting letters manually).  Also saves annoying noises at boot time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: paulk on 14 February, 2014, 07:32:31 am
It is possible in Windows to mount drives in empty directories, so no need for more than 26 letters.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 14 February, 2014, 11:14:21 am
I'll look into that.  Thanks Paul.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 19 April, 2014, 02:12:50 pm
Bah.

I was contemplating upgrading the CPU in my desktop machine (currently a Core i3-540) and chucking a bit more RAM its way. Then I saw the price that LGA1156 CPUs go for these days - if you can find somewhere which still has any! So upgrading the CPU will mean upgrading the motherboard, and while my old DDR3-1333 RAM would "work", it'd probably be enough of a bottleneck to really mean I'd have to change that too. All I'd really be reusing would be the case, PSU, storage and (not-quite-so-ancient-but-still-old) graphics card.

I'm finally convinced that the idea of "futureproofing" a PC is a load of dingo's kidneys - while this stuff is all interchangeable in theory, in practice by the time you actually want to upgrade anything you can't.

I don't suppose any of you know a good source for NOS Intel processors? A cheap LGA1156 Core i5 or i7 would be lovely and would justify me slinging another 4gb of RAM at this thing too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 19 April, 2014, 04:07:59 pm
Why does win 7 ultimate keep telling me that I need to upgrade my Intel AMT MEI drivers, but then I don't want to have software that allows remote access.  Any one know why I would?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 19 April, 2014, 04:46:12 pm
Bah.

I was contemplating upgrading the CPU in my desktop machine (currently a Core i3-540) and chucking a bit more RAM its way. Then I saw the price that LGA1156 CPUs go for these days - if you can find somewhere which still has any! So upgrading the CPU will mean upgrading the motherboard, and while my old DDR3-1333 RAM would "work", it'd probably be enough of a bottleneck to really mean I'd have to change that too. All I'd really be reusing would be the case, PSU, storage and (not-quite-so-ancient-but-still-old) graphics card.

I'm finally convinced that the idea of "futureproofing" a PC is a load of dingo's kidneys - while this stuff is all interchangeable in theory, in practice by the time you actually want to upgrade anything you can't.

I'm in the same position with the motherboard because I didn't future-proof by getting an 1155 one instead.  I was thinking higher number meant it'll be around longer.  :facepalm:  However, I did get the best CPU I could afford that's still more than good enough...

Quote
I don't suppose any of you know a good source for NOS Intel processors? A cheap LGA1156 Core i5 or i7 would be lovely and would justify me slinging another 4gb of RAM at this thing too.

No, but it's worth a risk on a second-hand one, considering you can get an i7 860 for just £70 off eBay.  I paid £200 for mine new.  4-core (effectively 8-core) 2.8 GHz that you can typically overclock to 3.2 and more.  That's a lot of crunching power for not a lot of real money.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 19 April, 2014, 04:57:21 pm
Bah.

I was contemplating upgrading the CPU in my desktop machine (currently a Core i3-540) and chucking a bit more RAM its way. Then I saw the price that LGA1156 CPUs go for these days - if you can find somewhere which still has any! So upgrading the CPU will mean upgrading the motherboard, and while my old DDR3-1333 RAM would "work", it'd probably be enough of a bottleneck to really mean I'd have to change that too. All I'd really be reusing would be the case, PSU, storage and (not-quite-so-ancient-but-still-old) graphics card.

I'm finally convinced that the idea of "futureproofing" a PC is a load of dingo's kidneys - while this stuff is all interchangeable in theory, in practice by the time you actually want to upgrade anything you can't.

I'm in the same position with the motherboard because I didn't future-proof by getting an 1155 one instead.  I was thinking higher number meant it'll be around longer.  :facepalm:  However, I did get the best CPU I could afford that's still more than good enough...

Quote
I don't suppose any of you know a good source for NOS Intel processors? A cheap LGA1156 Core i5 or i7 would be lovely and would justify me slinging another 4gb of RAM at this thing too.

No, but it's worth a risk on a second-hand one, considering you can get an i7 860 for just £70 off eBay.  I paid £200 for mine new.  4-core (effectively 8-core) 2.8 GHz that you can typically overclock to 3.2 and more.  That's a lot of crunching power for not a lot of real money.

Cheers, I'll go for that. I don't typically chance it on the 'bay, but I should give it a second chance ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 April, 2014, 05:58:30 pm
Why does win 7 ultimate keep telling me that I need to upgrade my Intel AMT MEI drivers, but then I don't want to have software that allows remote access.  Any one know why I would?

Anyone?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 20 April, 2014, 06:18:48 pm
Why does win 7 ultimate keep telling me that I need to upgrade my Intel AMT MEI drivers, but then I don't want to have software that allows remote access.  Any one know why I would?

To let someone else fix (or invade!) your computer, or for you to access it when away from home, for examples.

In optional updates available in Windows Update, right-click and Hide any that you don't want, then it shouldn't bother you again.  Microsoft sometimes gets the wrong or outdated drivers anyway, so it's best to update drivers via the hardware manufacturer's program or website instead.  Windows 7 once buggered up my graphics driver, so I don't let it touch it again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 April, 2014, 11:04:45 pm
That is what I thought but all those things are not going to happen so it is not an issue.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 27 April, 2014, 03:50:13 pm
Steam on Linux is actually quite good.

Admittedly, the selection of games isn't as good for Windows, but there are some gems in there and I was able to install the Linux versions of some games I used to play on Windows - I had wondered whether they'd consider them separate licences but they don't.

So far I've only played a few Source engine games - Counterstrike: Source, Portal and Team Fortress 2 - but they run really well. I'm quite impressed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 27 April, 2014, 05:11:58 pm
Today I am learning a new language1 - AngularJS. It's absolutely brilliant, I've not had this much fun since learning FORTRAN-77 from a Dr Seuss book2 or perhaps Perl.  ;D ;D ;D



[1] OK, strictly a framework, but it has its own sub-language and structure
[2] I may be mis-remembering here but it had pictures of furry animals with long arms and crazy American jokes in it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jacomus on 28 April, 2014, 04:16:39 pm
Good work, phone!

Has been operating unplugged since 0650 this morning, has hotspotted a Gig of data, almost entirely for my tablet (!!!) and still has 20% battery left.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Woofage on 28 April, 2014, 05:12:36 pm
I still love the fact that a complete Linux system can be installed and be running in a little over 15 minutes.

I upgraded to Mint 16 Debian at the w/e. Not counting the full backup I did beforehand (not strictly necessary as I really only needed to do an incremental) it took 16 minutes, plus a couple more to restore my /fstab, load a couple more apps, edit the new Mozilla profile.ini files and install the printer. No need for file restore or gui tweaks, of course :smug:.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 May, 2014, 11:32:05 pm
I've just received an email inviting me to "Swindon Social Media Training".

Anyone we know?   :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 07 May, 2014, 08:36:37 am
Not guilty, m'lud.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 08 May, 2014, 12:45:30 pm
I'm just finding out now exactly how screwed the battery in my old laptop is.

Quote
Energy when full: 8.1 Wh
Energy (design): 47.5 Wh

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 08 May, 2014, 01:18:24 pm
Dibdib
Screwed, buggered, utterly shagged.  there, saves you saying it...  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2014, 03:43:13 pm
Dr Larrington gave me an iPad Mini yesterday.

What's it for?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 10 May, 2014, 03:46:11 pm
Pretending to do Important Stuffs when you could converse with a Real Person,
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2014, 04:53:09 pm
Pretending to do Important Stuffs when you could converse with a Real Person,

I've already got a laptop for that ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 10 May, 2014, 08:39:24 pm
Pretending to do Important Stuffs when you could converse with a Real Person,

I've already got a laptop for that ???

Yebbut a loptap is so passé; you need the latest igadget to prove how Important and Up-to-Date you are.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2014, 09:53:56 pm
Here are the things I can't get it to do (yet):


Stupid device...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pedal Castro on 11 May, 2014, 08:49:44 am
[2] I may be mis-remembering here but it had pictures of furry animals with long arms and crazy American jokes in it.

I think I may still have that book somewhere up in the attic with all my uni notes...:-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 02 June, 2014, 01:24:14 pm
I'm attempting an upgrade the family laptop to windows 8.1 as windows 8 is seemingly unable to untwist its knickers about the upgrades it wants but can't get to stick. I'm amused that the "untick if you don't want us to spam you" control is on the page headed "we want to check that you're a human". Seems at least as reliable as captchas to me.

Of course, quite why an upgrade process needs a human at the end of it (or for me to sign up for yet another account) is beyond me. In my view, a pretty reliable indicator of a system that is going to be more trouble than its worth is forcing human interaction to do basic admin.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 02 June, 2014, 01:28:39 pm
It's taken me the best part of a morning to set up a laptop for colleagues cos the fucking university won't provide a computer+network point for them to use with students in the "meeting room".  We also have to manually order a dongle for net connectivity cos the fucking university won't extend the wifi coverage to their part of the building.

Have finally managed to make citrix work and that means we can get local files and our case management database if you don't mind it being slow and cranky as fuck. 

I hate this bodging. This should be a proper wired networked desktop supported by central IT, not a bodge job from me poking things with sticks till it works.

Also, M$, fuck off, stop spamming me, don't make me have to have a Microsoft login wankshit to activate the copy of office we paid for (and now probably don't need cos it won't work with Citrix stuff and there is sort of citrixy office already)...   

At least in the "this is how your bodge stuff is going to work" I can tell $colleagues S and K where the cranky bodges are and say "Reasons you do not wish explained cos you'll get bored" and they'll accept that and be appreciative.

I have a second machine to set up but that one doesn't need so much, just dyslexia screening software which I need to usertest and not on the day it's being used for screenings, so not today!

I am not a sysadmin, HONEST!

eta: Oh "Windows cannot search for more updates cos you have to REBOOT again and again and again until eternity yahahahahahaha shit absence of package manager fuckingfail"  *reboots* 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 June, 2014, 06:39:17 pm
Footnote to the above post:  By "dongle", she really does mean the cellular kind (I checked).  They really are paying mobile rates to connect this machine, because someone can't be arsed to run a cable to the next room, or string another wifi access point up, or whatever.

It's almost as if it took them 6 years to sort the fire alarm out...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 02 June, 2014, 08:09:14 pm
Watching HDD regenerator work on a laptop drive.

Anyone got a spare sata 320 or bigger 2.5 inch drive?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 12 June, 2014, 01:20:59 pm
New work computer (I finally have a laptop, so I don't have to dig my own prehistoric one out of the cupboard at home when I need to leave my desk).

It needs some considerable fettling before it's set up just how I like it, but I'm logged into YACF and I've got my nice picture of the white horse at Westbury on the desktop, so that'll do for now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: darkpoint on 12 June, 2014, 02:02:56 pm
This week I met Liz and Eben Upton of Raspberry Pi fame.
I only had a short moment to say hi, and congratulate them on their achievements.

I am sure that I made a complete tool fanboy of myself.  But still I got to meet them, which is kind of cool.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 24 September, 2014, 10:23:41 am
The guy who invented paperclips should be awarded an honorary fellowship of the IEEE.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 September, 2014, 12:52:25 pm
The guy who invented paperclips should be awarded an honorary fellowship of the IEEE.

 :D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 26 September, 2014, 08:27:43 am
Ain't it wonderful how a client can, with just two lines of atrocious grammar containing two nebulous (and possibly ambiguous and/or mutually-incompatible) requirements, cause you to write two pages of precise questions to find out exactly what he meant?

And ain't it wonderful how he'll only find it in him to write an ambiguous reply to just one of them?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 September, 2014, 10:43:46 am
Apple stop nagging me to upgrade to Yosemite every time I open Keynote. Yes I know I absentmindedly clicked the iCloud drive (I've no idea) option during an iOS upgrade but asking me to upgrade to something that doesn't yet exist is about as useful as telling me this function requires a unicorn.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 30 September, 2014, 07:37:17 pm
Code: [Select]
tracert -h 100 216.81.59.173
(click to show/hide)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 10 October, 2014, 04:32:57 pm
Recently I begrudgingly signed up for another Faceache account, as there are some events which are only listed there.

Unsurprisingly, most of the "Add people you know" suggestions are people I've known in the past - old bosses, people I was friends with on my old facebook account, and so on. But weirdly it's also quite (incorrectly) insistent that I'm friends with a West Ham-supporting glamour model. We've no friends in common, either.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 10 October, 2014, 05:51:49 pm
Time to see who it isn't suggesting that you know. The obvious conclusion being that they are currently posing as a west ham supporting glamour model   ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 11 October, 2014, 12:39:06 am
Just how much of a hardship would it be to become friends with a West Ham-supporting glamour model?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 11 October, 2014, 08:35:02 am
I'm waiting for her to make the first move. I'm sure it's only a matter of time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 October, 2014, 05:55:24 pm
If you write with indelible ink on a blank CD before burning it you get a spiffy lettering effect as the ink is flung to the periphery of the disc.  Looks way cool when molishing an mp3 disc of for e.g. Monster Magnet to listen to in the motor-car.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 21 October, 2014, 04:05:34 pm
I rescued a hard drive from a second-hand computer that a friend is throwing away.  Amongst files left from the previous previous owner, it contains scans of CVs, bank statements, driving licences and birth certificates - everything needed for identity theft!

I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but do remember to any wipe drive that you're disposing of, or failing that, hit it wiv an ammer.

This one is only a 30 GB 3.5" IDE - of no use to me and not even worth the cost of posting to anyone, so I'll wipe it and bin it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Woofage on 21 October, 2014, 04:30:41 pm
The read head actuator of old HDDs can be a useful source of high strength magnets :).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 21 October, 2014, 07:51:20 pm
The magnets in this drive aren't all that impressive (and can't be separated from the thingy), but I got a lot of nice Torx screws from it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 21 October, 2014, 08:12:30 pm
I'm having my usual approximately-half-yearly craving for a new computer. Last time, I shut it up with an eBay CPU upgrade and some RAM, but it started with remembering I had an old late-90s iMac gathering dust in mum's loft and now I'm looking longingly and wistfully at the Fruitbook Air.

I'm sure it'll pass. I hope.

As an aside, does anyone have any ideas for cool things I can do with a strawberry pink 233mhz G3 iMac?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 21 October, 2014, 10:51:22 pm
No, I have a working G4 450 (upgraded CPU) 1999 era fruitbox sitting behind me from my uni days (I did chemistry so DSA paid for it, I never had that kind of quids and it outlasted my friends' computers by about 3x). 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biff on 24 October, 2014, 01:15:40 pm
(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8353552640/h7326C87A/)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 24 October, 2014, 02:02:57 pm
I'm having my usual approximately-half-yearly craving for a new computer. Last time, I shut it up with an eBay CPU upgrade and some RAM, but it started with remembering I had an old late-90s iMac gathering dust in mum's loft and now I'm looking longingly and wistfully at the Fruitbook Air.

I'm sure it'll pass. I hope.

As an aside, does anyone have any ideas for cool things I can do with a strawberry pink 233mhz G3 iMac?
I have its identical twin,festering under the dining room table...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 October, 2014, 10:26:20 pm
Episode 6 of Aussie conspiracy thriller "The Code": a cop identified only by his chest camera is "Sgt. L. Torvalds" :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 29 October, 2014, 04:34:16 pm
Quote from: LOL program
Error log timestamp Wed. 29/10/2014 16:08:17

Processor healThyself! (no processes ready)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 01 November, 2014, 02:30:40 pm
EE website states there is £13.57 credit on the PAYG account used for David's iPhone.
We get weekly £1 Packs.
EE website states there is not enough credit to buy another £1 Pack.
WTF????
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 02 November, 2014, 07:59:13 pm
Hmm, whilst doing a round of updates on my servers, I've discovered why my main Domain Controller / DNS server was super-slow to boot.

Buried deep in Active Directory was a reference to an old Domain Controller wot has not been on the network for years.

The new DC would not start up DNS until AD replication with a dead server had completed.
The long timeout on DNS starting caused everything else to fail for ages.

Lemon-soaked paper napkins all round.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 02 November, 2014, 10:06:03 pm
Reminds me of an issue I found this week where an AD server wouldn't resolve local host because of an old DNS search suffix appended to the configuration of one of it's NICs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 02 November, 2014, 11:27:07 pm
It's not a good idea to let Windows Update attempt 120 updates.

I've been a bit slack and left my server machines just get on with their job.
They are 2 x Win Server 2008R2 boxen.

I decided to let all the updates run.
It appears that the last time I run the updates was back in 2011!
Anyways, it fails big-time, and reverts the updates at reboot-time.

So I have to apply the updates in bite-size chunks, after deleting the Win Update Cache directory.
And that works.

Got there in the end, but a bit Bah Humbug.
Seriously, it's been about 6 hours on this crap.

Oh, and if an update has .NET in it's name, it's gonna grind ur HDD for at least 15 minutes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 03 November, 2014, 08:54:39 pm
Vernon's just received a text:

"The best present in the world just arrived! Thank u :)"

Raspberry Pi + camera module = happy nephew  :D



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 03 November, 2014, 09:26:28 pm
Ace!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: matthew on 03 November, 2014, 10:32:26 pm
(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8353552640/h7326C87A/)

But that should read

Product 1: 1, 2, 3, 3.1, 95, 98, We can do this better with NT but produced Vista anyway

Product 2: NT 3, NT3.5,  NT 4, 2000, XP, 7

Now we are really going to confuse you 8, 10
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 November, 2014, 04:08:18 pm
Anyone installed iOS 8.1.1 on their fondleslab yet?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 19 November, 2014, 10:14:52 am
My mobile has turned into a lollipop
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 19 November, 2014, 10:17:39 am
My mobile has turned into a lollipop

Ooooooooo, which one? Phone, that is...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 19 November, 2014, 10:27:53 am
Nexus 5. Android Lollipop has been released.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 19 November, 2014, 10:31:11 am
I know that Lollipop is out, for some reason I thought you had a HTC.  HTC ONE M7 and M8 are slated for upgrade in the new year.  Good to hear that the Nexus has an update, others shouldn't be too far behind.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 19 November, 2014, 10:36:59 am
My 1st gen Nexus 7 got its Lollipop update last night too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Woofage on 19 November, 2014, 11:56:47 am
(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8353552640/h7326C87A/)

But that should read

Product 1: 1, 2, 3, 3.1, 95, 98, We can do this better with NT but produced Vista anyway

Product 2: NT 3, NT3.5,  NT 4, 2000, XP, 7

Now we are really going to confuse you 8, 10

<pedant>I thought Vista was based on NT?</pedant> Also, you forgot ME...

I remember when I first got NT (probably v3.51) which was like a breath of fresh air after the crash-a-minute 3.1/3.11. My left hand still naturally falls into the position on the kb ready to hit ctrl+S every few minutes despite not having a DOS-based computer for what must be nearly 20 years. I just wish they wouldn't mess with the interface. The last win computer I had ran xp but I had all the "my first computer" stuff turned off so it looked pretty much like NT4/2000.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 19 November, 2014, 12:05:38 pm
I think for vista they ditched the hardware abstraction layer as nobody was bothered about running Windows on non-pc platforms.

I'd like a version of windows that allowed for numpty users, so you could press a 'Revert' button and get the original setup immediately, without erasing data.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 19 November, 2014, 12:33:07 pm
Also, you forgot ME...

That's probably for the best...  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 19 November, 2014, 02:17:40 pm
MS SQL Server.   First time I've touched one in years.
Install a test server on my local PC. Fine.
Run the app that needs the database.   It connects, builds all the tables it needs etc.
SQL Server Management Studio connects, and I can poke the tables manually, run queries etc.
All seems fine.

Cannot connect from external machine.
My firewall settings seem fine.

1) Turns out the SQL server is not an , er, server by default.
It's configured itself for 'Shared Memory' connections only, which only work from apps on the local machine.
Poke TCP/IP on.

2) The server runs on Dynamic Ports when installed with default options!
In order for a client to find it you need to start up the SQL Server Browser Service, which associates a server instance name with a port. Or nail it's port number down manually.  Or both.

Finally working, but that was way more hassle than I needed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 19 November, 2014, 02:24:05 pm
I'd like a version of windows that allowed for numpty users, so you could press a 'Revert' button and get the original setup immediately, without erasing data.

I've always wanted a universal undo.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 November, 2014, 02:39:08 pm
Of course the internals of NT were heavily influenced by the One True Operating System 8)  Hurrah! for Dave Cutler.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: billplumtree on 20 November, 2014, 07:50:39 am
We use FreeFileSync in t'office in an attempt to keep laptops, desktops, etc synchronized.  Our IT bod has just sent an email round asking everyone to run "Standard Desktop Shortcuts.FFS", which probably conveys just about the right amount of exasperation.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 November, 2014, 09:57:12 am
Am downloading win8 on a cetrino dual core laptop....direct from microsoft.

What can go wrong? Shall go straight to 8.1?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 November, 2014, 10:41:20 am
Am downloading win8 on a cetrino dual core laptop....direct from microsoft.

What can go wrong? Shall go straight to 8.1?

My lapdancer came with Win 8 already installed but I went straight to 8.1 in an attempt to get rid of the foulness that is the Start Screen.  Classic Start Menu is your, or at least my, friend.

I've just had a shocker of a 419 e-mail - it's almost literate :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 November, 2014, 11:16:12 am
I have to update it first  :-\

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 November, 2014, 01:26:39 pm
Ah, yes, forgot about that.  Not hoping to use it this week, are you?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 November, 2014, 02:58:08 pm
How many downloads?  So I have downloaded 8.1 and it is setting up.

Can't be long now?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 21 November, 2014, 04:19:20 am
Well that was several hours I won't get back but I have a lappy with win 8.1 pro and so far nothing installed.  So microsoft office starter and  libra office?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 November, 2014, 05:24:24 pm
I am setting up my NAS.  This involves plugging the laptop into the router.  This in turn involves babbaging while simultaneously standing up and bending over.

For Christmas, a three metre notwork cable plz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 01 December, 2014, 01:43:33 pm
A tweet from our Uni IT service. "Unlimited file storage for all your work and devices... Coming Soon!  The Countdown begins..."

Is that a threat, a promise, or a challenge?

Have they ever met bioinformaticians with a point to prove?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: matthew on 01 December, 2014, 06:13:08 pm
A tweet from our Uni IT service. "Unlimited file storage for all your work and devices... Coming Soon!  The Countdown begins..."

Is that a threat, a promise, or a challenge?

Have they ever met bioinformaticians with a point to prove?
I can see it coming, the full DNA sequence of every member of staff, student, plant and lab rbat

How many terrabytes of data can your team generate in a yearweek?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 01 December, 2014, 06:44:28 pm
In a week? If we don't include the microscopists then not much, only about 10 Tb. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 December, 2014, 07:10:09 pm
A tweet from our Uni IT service. "Unlimited file storage for all your work and devices... Coming Soon!  The Countdown begins..."

Is that a threat, a promise, or a challenge?

Sounds like something just got outsourced...


Quote
Have they ever met bioinformaticians with a point to prove?

They may already have their own point to prove.  Only seems fair that you help them along a bit.   :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 04 December, 2014, 03:20:47 pm
I've just found out that the application I look after at work has a user role called SCI_FI. Should I create a user called James T. Kirk or somesuch and wait to see how long it takes for anyone to notice?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 06 December, 2014, 05:45:06 pm
Our IT people are keen for us to test it. Maximum file size 5G. Looks like some wrappers to fragment files over many smaller files may be in order.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Somnolent on 06 December, 2014, 07:19:15 pm
Bugger damn and blast !
Changed out a thoroughly prehistoric router that had been giving sterling service since some time in noughties for one that is only slightly less long in the tooth ( I bought as an emergency replacement some time back and then found I was able to resurrect the old one.)
Hoping for slightly better speed & range but no luck, still at least I can go to WPA2 security.

Start thinking about range extenders, decide they are probably a waste of space and far better bet to use the old router as an access point plugges into an ethernet port sited fortuitously at the other of the house.
 
Bugeration 1 : it seems I need same encryption on router and AP .... oh well, all back to WEP then (to the frustration of family who've just got over change to WPA2)
Buggeration 2: Old router decides it doesnt want a static IP all of it's own and goes off in a huff... and now cannot be accessed from browser.

Research of t'internet reveals the magic incantation needed to restore it's factory default and it can now be accessed.

Bugggertion 3:  not only does it not want to save a static IP but it refuses to save any settings when you select Disable on the DHCP

Half a day after reading  "Turning an old router into a wireless access point is simple and takes about 15 minutes"....I give up in disgust
 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 December, 2014, 08:46:26 pm
Re-populating an iPod Classic with the thick end of 14,000 tracks takes a Very Long Time when they have to be fired wirelessly across the room before slithering down the USB cable.  I started at 13:00 and there's still nearly 3,000 to go :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 06 December, 2014, 09:31:34 pm
I've been playing with my Doxie scanner today, after digging it out of a box earlier. I think I'm going to give "going paperless" another crack in the new year, so I'm trying to figure out the perfect workflow.

I think I'm going to have to stump up some cash... The problem is that I'm in a mishmash of ecosystems - iOS for a phone, Android on a tablet, Win7 on the desktop, Google Chrome, and so on. So it's either a few grand's worth of new FruityTech or however much Evernote Premium costs.

I just want everything to talk to everything else, is that so much to ask?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 07 December, 2014, 07:32:48 am
I just want everything to talk to everything else, is that so much to ask?  :facepalm:
Yes. Yes it is.  All that bollocks about connectivity is just that, bollocks.  Companies want to lock you into their particular walled garden so that you'll keep giving them your money rather than giving it to a.n.other company.  Some, like Apple, are quite blatent about it.  Others, less so.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 December, 2014, 09:44:39 am

Bugeration 1 : it seems I need same encryption on router and AP .... oh well, all back to WEP then (to the frustration of family who've just got over change to WPA2)
Not sure why this would be so - I run WEP from an AP for my squeezeboxes and WPA2 from the router.

Quote

Buggeration 2: Old router decides it doesnt want a static IP all of it's own and goes off in a huff... and now cannot be accessed from browser.

That is odd behaviour from a device you need to find by IP address!

Quote
Research of t'internet reveals the magic incantation needed to restore it's factory default and it can now be accessed.

Bugggertion 3:  not only does it not want to save a static IP but it refuses to save any settings when you select Disable on the DHCP

Half a day after reading  "Turning an old router into a wireless access point is simple and takes about 15 minutes"....I give up in disgust

You could turn off DHCP from the new router and use DHCP on the old one. But then again it does sound like it's suffering from the strange behaviour old tech mysteriously starts to develop with age.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 December, 2014, 01:08:33 pm
I just want everything to talk to everything else, is that so much to ask?  :facepalm:
Yes. Yes it is.  All that bollocks about connectivity is just that, bollocks.  Companies want to lock you into their particular walled garden so that you'll keep giving them your money rather than giving it to a.n.other company.  Some, like Apple, are quite blatent about it.  Others, less so.

You can religiously stick to open standards, of course.  Given a Stallman beard and enough mucking about with decades-old technology you'll probably arrive at a system that mostly works.

But it won't have any of the Shiny! that the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia are famed for, and you'll be permanently out of the loop as everyone you want to communicate with uses their proprietary but oh-so-easy FriendFace/Twatter/Outhouse/Bloated Goats/etc systems.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 December, 2014, 03:23:23 pm
Apparently [my] Yahoo! Mail! Box! Has! Exceeded! The! Storage! Limit! Is! 1GB! and Am! Running! At! 99.8! Gigabytes! And! Cannot! Send! Or! Receive! New! Messages! Until! Re-validate! My! Mailbox!

Does anyone ever fall for this kind of nonse?

(I may have exagerrated the punctuation.  A! Bit!)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 December, 2014, 04:24:42 pm
There's a virus doing the rounds of the mothership (nice little misnamed exe in a zip file, probably uploaded by Mssrs Goldblum and Smith). The kind of thing that couldn't be more obviously a nasty if it kicked you in the shin. Hey, random person in the company has sent me a file and 'please look your attached document'.

The number of people who are trying to open the damn thing...

So now I have inbox full of messages telling everyone not to open them. And idiots then reply-all'ing to say they have.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 08 December, 2014, 06:57:50 pm
Bugger damn and blast !
Changed out a thoroughly prehistoric router that had been giving sterling service since some time in noughties for one that is only slightly less long in the tooth ( I bought as an emergency replacement some time back and then found I was able to resurrect the old one.)
Hoping for slightly better speed & range but no luck, still at least I can go to WPA2 security.

Start thinking about range extenders, decide they are probably a waste of space and far better bet to use the old router as an access point plugges into an ethernet port sited fortuitously at the other of the house.
 
Bugeration 1 : it seems I need same encryption on router and AP .... oh well, all back to WEP then (to the frustration of family who've just got over change to WPA2)

WEP? If you live in an area that's got any population density you might as well not bother!

Quote
Buggeration 2: Old router decides it doesnt want a static IP all of it's own and goes off in a huff... and now cannot be accessed from browser.

Research of t'internet reveals the magic incantation needed to restore it's factory default and it can now be accessed.

Bugggertion 3:  not only does it not want to save a static IP but it refuses to save any settings when you select Disable on the DHCP

Half a day after reading  "Turning an old router into a wireless access point is simple and takes about 15 minutes"....I give up in disgust

My answer to this is always DD-WRT, which does just mostly work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 December, 2014, 07:37:49 pm
My answer to this is always DD-WRT, which does just mostly work.

+1

It's a bit feature-heavy, perhaps, but once correctly set up it just gets on with it without any obvious stupid bugs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Basil on 12 December, 2014, 10:55:41 pm
Much happier with 5.0.1 or bleeding lolipop or whatever the fuck its called now that I've discovered how to set the keyboard back to how it used to look.  Hurumph!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 24 December, 2014, 02:41:41 pm
There is a now a triple tuner version of BlackGold's PCI-e DVB-T/T2 DVB-C card tempting me.  It can receive up to three Freeview HD channels at once, which you can record via Windows Media Center or alternative.  They still seem to be having problems with the quad version, which remains unavailable.  The dual version I have already works very well.

(http://shop.blackgold.tv/WebRoot/BT/Shops/BT3159/4E9E/8DF9/C2C6/65EF/66A7/0A0C/05E7/D806/BGT3650-BGT_0176_ml.jpg)

http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT3159/Products/BGT3655
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Canardly on 24 December, 2014, 03:31:36 pm
I would really like a new card along those lines, whilst still soldiering on with an old Avermedia USB stick.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 27 December, 2014, 03:40:14 pm
Not necessarily in stick form, but I suppose there's no reason why a USB tuner can't be just as good - as long as it can take an external aerial.  But perhaps the bandwidth of PCIe (or USB 3.0) is needed for multiple simultaneous HD?

Anyway, the BlackGold BGT3620* PCIe card I have works flawlessly.  Shame that Windows Media Center doesn't.  Many channels are missing from its program guide - until you fix it with http://1geek1tool.com/guidetool/ - and it stutters with live TV, though recordings are fine.  www.progdvb.com manages live TV ok, but its interface is not as slick, and the free version doesn't record.

For low noise storage, I can recommend the Seagate "Video" ST500VT000 500GB 2.5" HHD (off eBay), or a WD Green 4TB 3.5" HDD, or even a Samsung 850 Pro SDD (guaranteed for 40GB writes per day for ten years).

* Seems to have been replaced by the BGT3635 (includes a Freesat tuner).  BGT3620/3635 is tiny; the triple version is taller.
http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT3159/Categories/%22Retail%20Products%22/PCIe_Tuner_Products
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 05 January, 2015, 02:50:39 pm
Today I got to work and realised I hadn't set my laptop's wireless card up.

I can only connect to the internets using the wireless.

My phone is already connected to the wireless, so I used that to download the required files, then BT them across the laptop and do the stuff and away we go!

Yippee for multi-stage file transfer shenanigans :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 January, 2015, 08:40:13 am
In the red corner, a Win 8 laptop bought last summer.  In the blue corner a Win XP laptop bought in 2009.  Guess which one is faster at reading and exporting a metric fuckton of mp3 tags from/to a NAS ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 January, 2015, 11:12:10 am
Still, it's not all BLEAN news.  The 300GB external drive which I had held to have killed itself utterly to DETH turns out to be very much alive and is now sitting on the shelf under the coffee table populating itself.

It also means that I have not lost a shedload of musical tunes which I had wossnamed from vinyl/cassette.  Including a bunch of live Robyn Hitchcock recordings of dubious provenance bootlegs :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 08 January, 2015, 07:31:10 pm
In the red corner, a Win 8 laptop bought last summer.  In the blue corner a Win XP laptop bought in 2009.  Guess which one is faster at reading and exporting a metric fuckton of mp3 tags from/to a NAS ???
The BeOS box hiding behind them? :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 January, 2015, 02:10:46 am
Reports of the renaissance of that ^^^^ drive may be a bit premature.  I am giving it the CHKDSK treatment during which time it has gone "KLUNK" with depressing regularity and indicated that it doesn't like national flags, Tangerine Dream or Hawkwind.  In fact it seems really to hate Hawkwind with a passion rare in one so young, though that could be because there was more Hawkwind in the old iThings library than anything else.

Bah!

Edit: 333184 KB in 79 recovered files ???  Fortunately they all seem to be in the old iThings library but getting Stuffs off it is now a priority.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 10 January, 2015, 06:35:55 pm
I'm liking Remote Potato for remote web control of Windows Media Center's TV programme guide.  (Also does streaming).

www.remotepotato.com  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 January, 2015, 01:36:35 pm
It seems I get a $75 Walmart voucher if I just click there.

This information comes to me courtesy of AsianDating.

Lack of joined-up thinking there, Mr Spammer.  Very poor.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 13 January, 2015, 09:27:49 am
Started listening to some Podcasts and decided I wanted to download the back catalogue without resorting to dreaded FruityTunes or any other client software. A quick look at the RSS feed and a Powershell script later and I has a shed load of listening.

Code: [Select]
$mp3sToDownload = @(([xml] (iwr http://foo.bar/podcast/psw.xml).content).rss.channel.item.enclosure | select url)
$myPodcasts = "E:\Podcasts\"
$PodcastsPreviouslyDownloaded = @(Get-ChildItem -Path $myPodcasts)


foreach($mp3ToDownload in $mp3sToDownload)
{
    $mp3ToDownloadFileName = $mp3ToDownload.url.Substring($mp3ToDownload.url.LastIndexOf("/")+1)
    if (-not $PodcastsPreviouslyDownloaded.Name.Contains($mp3ToDownloadFileName))
    {
    $outFile = $myPodcasts + "\" + $mp3ToDownloadFileName
    Write-Host "Downloading $mp3ToDownloadFileName ..."
    iwr $mp3ToDownload.url -OutFile $outFile
    write-host "Complete. Waiting 2 minutes..."
    Start-Sleep -s 300
    }
    else
    {
        Write-Host "Skipping $mp3ToDownloadFileName, already downloaded"
    }
}
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 23 January, 2015, 05:20:09 pm
How odd.  Slave trader spam from Germany (in German).  It looks as though Computer Futures may now be sharing CVs europe-wide possibly even world-wide; who knows?

So if you're up to snuff on WPF / XAML / C# and want to work in Frankfurt-am-Main from March to November (with the possibility of an extension) then they're the people to contact. I'd tell you more, but my German is, to put it generously, rudimentary.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 12 February, 2015, 01:06:09 pm
Uh-oh. I've just run a SQL update which contained a semicolon instead of a comma. There are 2.5 million rows in the relevant table  :-[






Thankfully it's the development and not the live database  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 12 February, 2015, 03:42:17 pm
Did a rollback which took ages - no damage done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 February, 2015, 12:15:43 am
#! Developer/inventor has packed his bags and gone home and is leaving it to the community.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 14 February, 2015, 10:45:34 am
I'm sure this doesn't warrant its own thread because I suspect I know the answer.
I've got 2 old pcs that seem to have entered a suicide pact. Up until yesterday morning I was happily using one that was dual booted with XP and Ubuntu Studio. It suddenly decides, on a reboot, that it won't work at all. Black screen and processor fan going full blast. I try it a few times with the same result.
The other pc (XP only) has been sitting there, surplus to requirements, since we moved house (18 months ago). Before we moved it was used a lot and didn't seem to have anything wrong with it. So I connect it up. It trundles through the first screen and then the screen saying it's booting into XP and to a BSOD. It didn't like something about the bios apparently. When I go back to it after rummaging around on the internet trying to find someone who could explain the error message and try to start it again it does the same as the other one. Black screen (no signal to it) and fan running constantly.
I presume they're both fubared but it seems odd they should both fail at the same time in the same way.
Before they get binned, has anyone got any ideas?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 20 February, 2015, 10:23:17 am
Junior #2 came home from kickball training last night clutching a bit of paper.
It's the club membership renewal form, like we get every year.

Looks like the club secretary has created it as a PDF, and uploaded it to a file sharing website, and sent out a link to it in an e-mail to all the team coaches.

Our coach has clicked the link, which has taken him to the file sharing website.
The page has a big banner at the top with a PDF icon, the file name, and a durty great big green 'Download'  arrow lcon.
At the bottom of the page, there's a row of adverts.
In the middle, there's a low-resolution preview image of the PDF.

He has not downloaded the PDF: he's just hit 'print' in the web-browser, printing out the download page complete with illegible preview image of the document.


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 20 February, 2015, 05:06:39 pm
I'm sure this doesn't warrant its own thread because I suspect I know the answer.
I've got 2 old pcs that seem to have entered a suicide pact. Up until yesterday morning I was happily using one that was dual booted with XP and Ubuntu Studio. It suddenly decides, on a reboot, that it won't work at all. Black screen and processor fan going full blast. I try it a few times with the same result.
The other pc (XP only) has been sitting there, surplus to requirements, since we moved house (18 months ago). Before we moved it was used a lot and didn't seem to have anything wrong with it. So I connect it up. It trundles through the first screen and then the screen saying it's booting into XP and to a BSOD. It didn't like something about the bios apparently. When I go back to it after rummaging around on the internet trying to find someone who could explain the error message and try to start it again it does the same as the other one. Black screen (no signal to it) and fan running constantly.
I presume they're both fubared but it seems odd they should both fail at the same time in the same way.
Before they get binned, has anyone got any ideas?

Do you see any output on the display between switching them on and Windows starting?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 21 February, 2015, 10:25:20 am
I'm sure this doesn't warrant its own thread because I suspect I know the answer.
I've got 2 old pcs that seem to have entered a suicide pact. Up until yesterday morning I was happily using one that was dual booted with XP and Ubuntu Studio. It suddenly decides, on a reboot, that it won't work at all. Black screen and processor fan going full blast. I try it a few times with the same result.
The other pc (XP only) has been sitting there, surplus to requirements, since we moved house (18 months ago). Before we moved it was used a lot and didn't seem to have anything wrong with it. So I connect it up. It trundles through the first screen and then the screen saying it's booting into XP and to a BSOD. It didn't like something about the bios apparently. When I go back to it after rummaging around on the internet trying to find someone who could explain the error message and try to start it again it does the same as the other one. Black screen (no signal to it) and fan running constantly.
I presume they're both fubared but it seems odd they should both fail at the same time in the same way.
Before they get binned, has anyone got any ideas?

Do you see any output on the display between switching them on and Windows starting?

Nuffink.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 February, 2015, 09:00:45 am
I am now almost certain that the Noises Off (sounds like one of The Borrowers has borrowed an angle grinder) emanating from the innards of my laptop are caused by the fan.  Teh Intarwebs suggests that, unlike the old one, the thing may be unmantled with nothing more than a screwdriver and a "spudger".  I am not entirely sure what a "spudger" might be but suspect it is not a USAnian word for "cold chisel".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 24 February, 2015, 09:03:43 am
I think a spudger might be something like a guitar pick, thumb nail or soft cold chisel. Used for separating plastic mouldings that have been irretrievably clicked together.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 February, 2015, 09:28:38 am
I've got a thumb nail :thumbsup:  Two, in fact, neatly arranged with one on each hand :thumbsup: :thumbsup:  Might have a go at it later.

(Later)

Anyone got a nail file?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 24 February, 2015, 10:23:51 am
I've got a thumb nail :thumbsup:  Two, in fact, neatly arranged with one on each hand :thumbsup: :thumbsup:  Might have a go at it later.

(Later)

Anyone got a nail file?

Re-purpose a spoon from a tub of ice cream?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 24 February, 2015, 10:41:53 am
I find cheap tyre levers useful as spudgers.

The more expensive ones are too thick, but the cheap plastic ones you get in the Pundland kits etc are just right.  They, generally, don't need to have a lot of strength.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 February, 2015, 01:35:01 pm
Alas I possess neither tubs of ice cream nor cheap-donkey tyre levers.  I do have a guitar pick, though I have no idea why as there has never been a guitar in Larrington Towers ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 24 February, 2015, 01:41:08 pm
Get a set of spudgers off eBay.

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060778.m570.l1313.TR7.TRC2.A0.H0.Xspudger+set.TRS0&_nkw=spudger+set&_sacat=0
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 24 February, 2015, 02:26:50 pm
Alas I possess neither tubs of ice cream nor cheap-donkey tyre levers.  I do have a guitar pick, though I have no idea why as there has never been a guitar in Larrington Towers ???
Maybe Larrington Towers is at the other end of the worm hole through which my picks have been escaping.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 24 February, 2015, 04:56:59 pm
A USB 3.0 2.5" disk enclosure that I recommend: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371130243136
    - Except that a super-slim drive will need some padding.

A USB 3.0 2.5" disk enclosure that I DO NOT recommend: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351185502963
    - Doesn't work at all half the time, and when it does, it's 20 MB/s slower than the other one (with the same SSD inside).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 February, 2015, 03:53:10 pm
Get a set of spudgers off eBay.

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060778.m570.l1313.TR7.TRC2.A0.H0.Xspudger+set.TRS0&_nkw=spudger+set&_sacat=0

I thought I might look for spudgery in the old-skool Babbage-Engine shop in the High Street today but it seems now to be concentrating on selling Trousers.  I don't think a pair of 501s will be much use for this task.

Thanks for the link; the "Collect at Argos" option is handy as there's one a couple of doors down from IKEA (a visit to which I have been carefully avoiding since Christmas).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 26 February, 2015, 12:28:53 am
I've generally found old bank cards satisfactory for the limited amount of spudging I've had to indulge in.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 February, 2015, 01:56:55 am
I aten't got any of them either, though a USAnian petrol station loyalty card might do the trick :D

All this talk of spudgitude has reduced the fan noise by about 75%.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 02 March, 2015, 09:48:15 pm
I've got a first world problem of deciding what SSDs in my collection to use with what PCs in my collection.   (The riches amass thanks to the second-hand market).

It's interesting that the SATA II limitation in my old laptop doesn't make all fast SATA III SSDs go the same speed, for large as well as small transfers.  It's not a simple bottleneck.  It's a complicated bottleneck!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 03 March, 2015, 06:13:27 pm
Got any skinny 7mm? 2.5 sata hard drives ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 03 March, 2015, 07:16:49 pm
The American voices in my Mac can't pronounce Irish names like Siobhan and Niamh, but the British ones can. It's just like real life.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 06 March, 2015, 10:42:49 am
Got an email from Plusnet last night telling me that I was getting close to my bandwidth allowance for the month.

Annoyingly the email doesn't say how close, or when the billing month ends, so this morning I logged into the control panel to take a look. I've got about 3gb of the 40gb allowance to last me until Monday, or it'll cost me a fiver for another 5gb.

Ho hum, I think, but with the spring classics starting I can see me using plenty of Eurosport Player over the next few months so I might as well see what my upgrade options are. Turns out that not only can I get unlimited bandwidth at my current speeds (40 down, 20 up) but it's a quid a month cheaper than what I've been paying.

Would have been nice if they'd told me, non?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 06 March, 2015, 09:24:22 pm
Oddly enough plusnet called on Monday evening to talk to me about cheaper options, I was busy and asked them to call back in half an hour...  still waiting. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 March, 2015, 12:42:50 pm
I have scanned something over teh Network :thumbsup:  Hurrah for SCIENCE!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 March, 2015, 03:00:37 pm
Ur DVD-RW drive may not work if connected via a USB hub, say Asus.

They lie.  It does.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 09 March, 2015, 03:13:10 pm
To be fair, may not doesn't mean will not.  It depends on the hub and what's powering it, and cable length.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 12 March, 2015, 05:11:48 pm
The sheer amount of graphics in simulators like this blows my mind.  Thousands of miles worth of background landscape and urbanscape.  How do they do it?

https://youtu.be/JFz7xhHxbek
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2015, 01:11:02 pm
Plan to route AV output from Babbage-Engine direct to Anbaric Distascope thwarted by lack of length in HDMI cable.  Arse.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 13 March, 2015, 04:42:51 pm
Oddly enough plusnet called on Monday evening to talk to me about cheaper options, I was busy and asked them to call back in half an hour...  still waiting.

They called back.  So now we get unlimited broadband (no usage cap - I checked, repeatedly) for not quite 13 quid a month instead of 60Gb/month for not quite 20 quid a month.  Means I no longer need make a point of making sure large downloads (Windows Update I am looking at _you_). are finished before 08:00. Nice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 17 March, 2015, 04:43:01 pm
In case not everyone realises this is possible and easy.........

With many ordinary laptops (maybe more so with older ones?): after undoing a screw or two on the bottom (without having to open the whole laptop), you can prise out the CD/DVD drive and push in a second hard drive in a caddy*.  It's particularly handy after you've upgraded the main drive for an SSD with limited capacity.  It only works at USB 2 kind of speed in my old Dell Inspiron 1501, but it's more convenient than using an external drive.  It's quick enough to bung back the DVD for rare needs, or you can get a cheap external USB DVD drive.

* Search eBay for "laptop caddy" + "SATA" or "IDE", depending on what type you need, and perhaps the laptop model.  There are even combinations to take SATA drive in an IDE computer.

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzUwWDc1MA==/z/Vn0AAOxycgVTf1Kk/$_12.JPG)
* eg.  www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181419531576
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 18 March, 2015, 11:28:01 pm
Epic want.

(http://i.imgur.com/iMdLBKi.jpg)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 March, 2015, 12:24:52 am
Don't see anything computery there, unless that's an iWelly just poking into shot :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2015, 12:36:43 am
It's a video game reference, m'lud.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 March, 2015, 11:09:05 am
VLC!  If Windows can find a directory called "1997 - F♯A♯∞" then I don't see why the SCIENCE that does your playlist Stuffs can't :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 21 March, 2015, 10:30:23 pm
Has picked up a microsoft phone Lumia 435 £25 on pay as go upgrade and will go to windows 10...

Interesting that the phone says to go to windowsphone.com and the phone isn't listed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 March, 2015, 05:55:39 pm
Barakta: "I've never actually been in an Apple Store, have you?"
Kim: *thoughtful look*
Kim: "We must troll them immediately!"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 24 March, 2015, 11:31:51 am
Barakta: "I've never actually been in an Apple Store, have you?"
Kim: *thoughtful look*
Kim: "We must troll them immediately!"

Advice from Apple Employee on how to get an appointment at an Apple Store:
Go to the website at midnight when the slots are released, if you're lucky you might get one...  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 March, 2015, 03:23:34 pm
How is it that I am able to post this without, at least according to the wossname in the system tray, an internet connection ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 26 March, 2015, 01:47:38 pm
Why:

When I plugged a network cable directly from computer to router, only the router end lit up to say it was connected (and it didn't work)

but

When I put a switch in the middle, all four network ports lit up properly, and it worked?

 ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 26 March, 2015, 01:53:55 pm
Why:

When I plugged a network cable directly from computer to router, only the router end lit up to say it was connected (and it didn't work)

but

When I put a switch in the middle, all four network ports lit up properly, and it worked?

 ???

Cat5 or fibre cable ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: neilrj on 26 March, 2015, 05:26:16 pm
Why:

When I plugged a network cable directly from computer to router, only the router end lit up to say it was connected (and it didn't work)

but

When I put a switch in the middle, all four network ports lit up properly, and it worked?

 ???

Wrong cable with old hardware at one end, the new switch in middle doesn't care about crossover and translated for the old hardware end?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 March, 2015, 11:15:24 pm
Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) has b0rked his trackball.  I do not know how.  In searching for a replacement I came across this on Nozama:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/16317996394_6532223a47_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qRXZPq)
HOW much??? (https://flic.kr/p/qRXZPq)
by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/people/41768085@N05/), on Flickr

Yes, four hundred and fifty smackers for a fifteen year old NOS rodent :o :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 27 March, 2015, 08:55:20 am
Cat5 or fibre cable ?
CAT5e

Wrong cable with old hardware at one end, the new switch in middle doesn't care about crossover and translated for the old hardware end?

Probably something like that... The router is a new bipak which is presumably just a standard switch on the ethernet end. Cable is straight-through, buried in the floorboards so I couldn't easily try a different cable. The computer end is fairly old, on-board NIC, linux. I'm still not sure why the switch internal to the bipak would be any different to a standalone switch, oh and using the uplink port on the switch didn't work either.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 27 March, 2015, 10:36:31 am
Need to borrow a cable tester? I have 2, so I could stick one in the post to you to return when you have finished.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 March, 2015, 11:38:44 am
Cable marginal for gigabit, but switch only does 100M?

Else some auto-negotiation fail.  Possibly because the cable's mis-wired?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 30 March, 2015, 08:39:36 pm
Contemplating the lesser of two weevils.

It seems like a lark to join up with Uber. You can either sign up with them and hand them your credit card details - something I really try not to proliferate across t'Internets. Or, join Google+  something that I have avoided thus far. Oh yeah, there's a Facebook option too, but as that has so much wrong information about me, I don't even consider that.

Think it has to be Uber direct - the ramifications are fewer. but then, if I do G+ that will stop the youtube age restriction, that appears to be intimately linked to G+.

Third option, join G+, join, leave G+.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 31 March, 2015, 10:20:43 am
Get a pre-paid credit card and join up directly with that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 31 March, 2015, 11:29:05 am
The joke is on me, I've joined G+  (with 2 of my 3 G accounts - confused? I soon will be) and the Uber sign up doesn't work.

The G+ interface appears to have improved substantially since the last time I tried,  I might well stick with it, I don't have to sell any more bits of my soul to join.

Meh. Looks like single use credit cards have died a death. Shame.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 April, 2015, 02:31:15 pm
Mum insists she sent me an email yesterday.
I never received one from her, though had some from other sources.
What's happening?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 03 April, 2015, 02:33:07 pm
Probably sitting in her draft folder, I have done that :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 April, 2015, 02:34:49 pm
Mum insists she sent me an email yesterday.
I never received one from her, though had some from other sources.
What's happening?

Very hard to know, if there isn't something detectably broken about your email system.  The absence of a bounce would suggest that she either never sent it, it went *somewhere*, or it's still in transit.

We used to have this problem with a Hotmail-using luddite friend of barakta's.  For some unknown reason Hotmail took objection to sending email to barakta's domain, which was of course *our* fault.  As the problem was at Hotmail's end, there was nothing we could do to fix it.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 April, 2015, 03:18:26 pm
Mum insists she sent me an email yesterday.
I never received one from her, though had some from other sources.
What's happening?

Very hard to know, if there isn't something detectably broken about your email system.  The absence of a bounce would suggest that she either never sent it, it went *somewhere*, or it's still in transit.

We used to have this problem with a Hotmail-using luddite friend of barakta's.  For some unknown reason Hotmail took objection to sending email to barakta's domain, which was of course *our* fault.  As the problem was at Hotmail's end, there was nothing we could do to fix it.   :facepalm:

Mum definitely received no bounce and says the mail was sent.

I also failed to receive an iMessage from David a few days ago. I don't know if this was routed via SMS or data but it does seem messaging is rather hit and miss!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 04 April, 2015, 03:25:14 am
Trying to clear a malware infestation, that is stopping from malwarebytes anti malware from running.  Been at it all night, so far.  Running through the chameleons don't seem to work, currently at number 10.  Tried rkill and that didn't work either.  So adwcleaner next...

Am downloading hirens as we speak, am amazed that I'm in a different country and I'm ITing
 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: neilrj on 04 April, 2015, 08:01:46 pm
Trying to clear a malware infestation, that is stopping from malwarebytes anti malware from running.  Been at it all night, so far.  Running through the chameleons don't seem to work, currently at number 10.  Tried rkill and that didn't work either.  So adwcleaner next...

Am downloading hirens as we speak, am amazed that I'm in a different country and I'm ITing

Just boot into safe mode with network to download newest updates, then reboot (without network) and run a scan - that should sort it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 04 April, 2015, 09:56:55 pm
Doesn't seem to want to go into safe mode.  Have removed the hd and stuck in an external enclosure. Runing Malwarebytes from my PC.

20 euro for an enclosure seems a bit steep in my opinion but am stuck in Paris.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 April, 2015, 11:13:41 am
Worth a listen, I reckon: Codes That Changed The World (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pmpf5).  In this 5 part series Aleks Krotoski tells the story of the languages we've used to talk to the machines. Starts 13:45 Easter Monday, BBC R4; goes on all week.  FORTRAN tomorrow and remember, kids, if it can't be done in FORTRAN it's probably not worth doing at all ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Valiant on 06 April, 2015, 11:36:41 am
No fair. We've had fibre in the cabinet my studio for ages. It is 4metres from our front door. But stupid utility companies have used up the space allocation going in/out of the cabinet so we can't have fibre so will have to continue with multiple ADSL connections over ancient copperlines.

Half tempted to get out the DeWalt, hole saws and punchtool and do it myself. Grrrrr.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 April, 2015, 09:26:26 pm
If one orders a standard fruitThing on the fruitWebSite, it is delivered the next day. If you want it configured slightly non-standard, that takes 1-3 days before dispatch.

Fair enough.

But why, once they've configured it, do they send it by a service that takes another TEN FUCKING DAYS to deliver??? Not only that, but as the biggest tech firm in the solar system, why can't they use a courier that actually has a working tracking website?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 08 April, 2015, 06:42:43 pm
News for OCZ SSD users who don't subscribe to the newsletter:

OCZ Toolbox has been replaced with SSD Guru.  OCZ previously have said that you don't need to twiddle anything to use an SSD perfectly well, but now they seem to be admitting that extra over provisioning and changing some OS settings are worthwhile.

Disabling Pre/SuperFetch is included.  I don't fancy that, personally.  RAM is still faster than SSD.

http://ocz.com/ssd-guru - works with more models than stated (although it's not working at all yet on one of my PCs).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 08 April, 2015, 08:17:34 pm
Thank you, worth it just to see I haz 99% life left  ;D

lord knows what the SSD has
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 09 April, 2015, 07:36:55 am
Worth a listen, I reckon: Codes That Changed The World (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pmpf5).  In this 5 part series Aleks Krotoski tells the story of the languages we've used to talk to the machines. Starts 13:45 Easter Monday, BBC R4; goes on all week.  FORTRAN tomorrow and remember, kids, if it can't be done in FORTRAN it's probably not worth doing at all ;)

Thanks for that link!

But... at the end of the podcast: "To find out more about the BBC's Make It Digital Season, go to the Radio 4 website".
So I do.
Nothing.
Use the search.
Nothing.
Google.
Ah! There it is!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 09 April, 2015, 01:12:03 pm
SSD Guru has also revealed to me that my Dell laptops don't have ACHI mode (Inspiron 1501 and Latitude D620).  I had been assuming ACHI was not in the BIOS settings because it was on by default, but, no, it's not even possible to have it at all.  (I have the latest BIOS updates).  :(

Does this mean my SSDs are running slower than they would otherwise?  Does it mean Trimming doesn't happen automatically?  (I can Trim manually via SSD Guru or OCZ Toolbox).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 10 April, 2015, 05:45:06 pm
Iceweasel is rubbish and is just getting more and more unusable.. Now it's decided to completely fuck up a site I read on a daily basis.  The "Flash is out of date do you want to load it" is tedious cos I click "allow and remember" every single sodding time and it forgets, every single sodding time.

Swapping Chromium to main browser and Iceweasel to secondary browser. Kim did something clever to my Chromium so it has working Flash and it displays the b0rky site properly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 April, 2015, 04:10:00 am
OK, riddle me this:

How did my NAS end up looking like this:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7697/16916951898_b3fd00f15a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rLTNqs)

i.e. with this picture:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15959243522_e13506e601_o.png) (https://flic.kr/p/qjgi65)

showing for most folders.  And how can I make it go away ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 11 April, 2015, 12:23:08 pm
What software have you installed recently?

Anyway, I'm reporting you to the RSPCA.  Shouldn't keep badgers in little folders like that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 11 April, 2015, 01:18:59 pm
@Mr L: http://www.howtogeek.com/63359/how-to-customize-folder-backgrounds-and-icons-in-windows-explorer/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 April, 2015, 01:33:54 pm
It's stopped doing it.  I am now more confuzzled than ever ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 12 April, 2015, 08:53:43 am
Temptation, thy name is Aquarius

http://www.bq.com/gb/ubuntu.html#aquaris-e4-5

Or would be if you didn't have to HDMI connect it to turn it into a reeeel 'puter

OK, I'm still tempted.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 April, 2015, 08:59:08 am
I wonder why that web page doesn't show the original cover of "Electric Ladyland" :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 April, 2015, 03:53:14 pm
Lapdancer making funny noises again.  CoreTemp says 58 degrees.  Unlikely to be the fan.

Arses >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 14 April, 2015, 06:11:15 pm
I just read "Iceweasel" as "pissweasel"... That's about the level given it's been relegated to "2nd backup browser" for lots of fail reasons...

Stupid laptop which keeps refusing to boot is now happily booting and working all innocent like having had several months in the "Broken laptop filing cabinet drawer of shame"...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 14 April, 2015, 06:48:19 pm
 >:(  'Puter related woes!

My old Samsung NC10 Netbook (which is running Xubuntu 14.04.2) is suffering from what I think is a dodgy cable from the motherboard to the screen.  Depending on the angle I tilt the screen at, the screen goes all white!  Waggle it back and forth, and it comes back again.

Desktop PC (a somewhat oldish hodge podge of bits, Intel Core2 Duo E5200, Socket 775 mobo, 4gb ram, some flavour of nvidia PCI-E Gforce graphics card) is also playing up.  High pitched whines (motherboard capacitors on way out? PSU on way out?) from it's innards somewhere, and every 20 minutes or so the machine hangs up completely!  Not sure what is at fault, and sounds like it is terminal.

Been a while since I purchased computer parts, question is, have things moved on so much that it'll be easier just to replace the current system with an osless desktop base unit and transfer hard drive across?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 14 April, 2015, 07:31:34 pm
Been a while since I purchased computer parts, question is, have things moved on so much that it'll be easier just to replace the current system with an osless desktop base unit and transfer hard drive across?

Not entirely.

If mobo does need replacing (first stick fingers in all fans to eliminate fan noise), I think the sensible options are:

1.  Replace mobo with a second-hand similar model (for CPU compatibility), and the graphics card for a brand new one, and maybe the PSU if suspect.

2.  Get a new up-to-date mobo and CPU and graphics card (and PSU and case if old ones incompatible or faulty), if you enjoy building up your own specification.

3.  Get a whole new ready-built computer unit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 15 April, 2015, 08:18:53 am
>:(  'Puter related woes!

My old Samsung NC10 Netbook (which is running Xubuntu 14.04.2) is suffering from what I think is a dodgy cable from the motherboard to the screen.  Depending on the angle I tilt the screen at, the screen goes all white!  Waggle it back and forth, and it comes back again.

Desktop PC (a somewhat oldish hodge podge of bits, Intel Core2 Duo E5200, Socket 775 mobo, 4gb ram, some flavour of nvidia PCI-E Gforce graphics card) is also playing up.  High pitched whines (motherboard capacitors on way out? PSU on way out?) from it's innards somewhere, and every 20 minutes or so the machine hangs up completely!  Not sure what is at fault, and sounds like it is terminal.

Been a while since I purchased computer parts, question is, have things moved on so much that it'll be easier just to replace the current system with an osless desktop base unit and transfer hard drive across?

We've got an old Samsung NC10 going spare.... Works fine, got Winders on it at the mo, but i'm sure you would soon sort that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 15 April, 2015, 05:17:01 pm
>:(  'Puter related woes!

My old Samsung NC10 Netbook (which is running Xubuntu 14.04.2) is suffering from what I think is a dodgy cable from the motherboard to the screen.  Depending on the angle I tilt the screen at, the screen goes all white!  Waggle it back and forth, and it comes back again.

Desktop PC (a somewhat oldish hodge podge of bits, Intel Core2 Duo E5200, Socket 775 mobo, 4gb ram, some flavour of nvidia PCI-E Gforce graphics card) is also playing up.  High pitched whines (motherboard capacitors on way out? PSU on way out?) from it's innards somewhere, and every 20 minutes or so the machine hangs up completely!  Not sure what is at fault, and sounds like it is terminal.

Been a while since I purchased computer parts, question is, have things moved on so much that it'll be easier just to replace the current system with an osless desktop base unit and transfer hard drive across?

We've got an old Samsung NC10 going spare.... Works fine, got Winders on it at the mo, but i'm sure you would soon sort that.

Um hackintosh potential.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 15 April, 2015, 05:18:49 pm
>:(  'Puter related woes!

My old Samsung NC10 Netbook (which is running Xubuntu 14.04.2) is suffering from what I think is a dodgy cable from the motherboard to the screen.  Depending on the angle I tilt the screen at, the screen goes all white!  Waggle it back and forth, and it comes back again.

Desktop PC (a somewhat oldish hodge podge of bits, Intel Core2 Duo E5200, Socket 775 mobo, 4gb ram, some flavour of nvidia PCI-E Gforce graphics card) is also playing up.  High pitched whines (motherboard capacitors on way out? PSU on way out?) from it's innards somewhere, and every 20 minutes or so the machine hangs up completely!  Not sure what is at fault, and sounds like it is terminal.

Been a while since I purchased computer parts, question is, have things moved on so much that it'll be easier just to replace the current system with an osless desktop base unit and transfer hard drive across?

Er can remember how local you are to London as I'm sure I have a spare power supply  that could help and a quick replacement of heat transfer paste and clean and light lube of the fan will help the nc10.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 18 April, 2015, 06:57:09 pm


3.  Get a whole new ready-built computer unit.

That's what I did as an "anniversary of new job" treat to myself!

I went with an Overclockers UK "Primo Pro AX" Configurable AMD A Series APU Office PC, with a few customisations:
specs: 
Case: Raijintek Arcadia Mid Tower USB 3.0 Case - Black
- Power Supply: BeQuiet System Power 7 350W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply
- CPU: AMD A8-6600K 3.90GHz (Socket FM2) APU Richland Quad Core Processor
- Motherboard: Gigabyte F2A58M-HD2 AMD A58 Chipset Micro ATX Motherboard
- Cooler: AMD Approved Cooler
- RAM: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-14900C9 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black/Gold (HX318C9BGK2/8-OC)
- Primary Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD
- Graphics Card: Onboard AMD HD Graphics
- Sound: High Definition 7.1 Onboard Sound Card
- Optical Drive: OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
- Networking: Gigabit LAN

£301

OS will be Linux Mint 17.1 KDE edition

OK, so I could have saved a bit by building my own, but can't be bothered with that nowadays.

SHould be a a good rig for my photo editing / panorama stitching - quad core @ 3.9GHz!  :o  I remember my first PC way back in 1997 had a Cyrix PR233Mhz cpu, http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/6x86/Cyrix-6x86MX-PR233%20%2875MHz%202.9V%29.html (http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/6x86/Cyrix-6x86MX-PR233%20%2875MHz%202.9V%29.html)  How things have moved on since then!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 April, 2015, 07:34:57 pm
I asked you to use that picture on the new box, so why did you apply it to the lapdancer as well, eh?  EH??
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 April, 2015, 11:07:36 pm
Similar spec to my new one, Brian.  The difference between two cores plodding along at 1GHz with 4GB of RAM and four cores at high revs and 16GB is this: quite astonishing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 20 April, 2015, 09:24:06 pm
Made a flowchart with M$ Word 2003*. That's two hours of my life I won't get back.




*Don't ask  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 April, 2015, 01:24:22 am
I have successfully persuaded the two Win 8.1 boxen at Larrington Towers to retain their own desktop and sign-in screen pictures using some feature buried in the Playmobil side of the user interface to turn off the syncing which I was never asked about in the first place.  Can you do this from the Control Panel?  I think not.

For the record, Microsith, the monitor on the desktop machine dates from the late Cretaceous and has a 4:3 aspect ratio so no, it isn't a fucking touchscreen.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 21 April, 2015, 10:50:19 pm
Learned how to use "screen -r" today. Sadly Finch don't want to connect to IRC but only ICQ on the remote laptop/server. So the point of learning screen is a bit mute.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 April, 2015, 12:37:28 pm
Screen is one of those really useful tools.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 23 April, 2015, 08:09:27 pm
Writing my first C# in anger today. A widget to automatically enable extra monitors and set them to their native resolution on the Windows Server 2008 workstations. From Windows 7 onwards there is a nice command line utility to do it, but Server 2k8 is takes after Vista so that means using a native C library and a small plethora of unmanaged objects.

Still, it hopefully means no more late nights/weekends when we re-image the fleet of developer PCs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 23 April, 2015, 10:53:52 pm
Uploading my image library to Box. This could take some time as it is half a terabyte.

Via sFTP where each file is a separate command so it is pretty resilient to moving from home to work etc.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 01 May, 2015, 09:18:19 pm
Just got a SPAM today telling me that my hearth attack is only hours away, with the date 9 Apr 2015 8.35am ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 May, 2015, 03:28:08 pm
Found a previously-unsuspected feature in mp3tag yesterday, which is that clicking at the top of the very leftmost column with the little file type icons1 in it will "sort" the files into an order that's random enough for my purposes.  This is approximately a gazillion times quicker than any other method I've found.

Now if I could just find a way of telling the media player on the NAS and/or AV receiver to start a playlist where it left off the previous time2.  And/or to understand the concept of "play counts".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 04 May, 2015, 05:52:59 pm
I have paid for a DVD. With money. I'm told I am "Supporting the movie industry".

All I want to do is watch it on my lappie, perhaps avoiding the titles and/or logos that apparently it's "not permitted" to skip.

But no, some stupid, brain-dead anti-piracy thing means that about half way through watching the film (that I've paid for. With money. Supporting the movie industry) it starts jumping from scene to scene. So fucking clever. Do you really think that will stop someone pirating it? Or will it just piss off people who have paid money thinking they were supporting the movie industry? Perhaps next time I'll just download it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 May, 2015, 06:09:17 pm
Some films are meant to do that.  Are you sure you haven't bought the Director's Über-Poncey Cut by accident?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ruthie on 04 May, 2015, 08:12:14 pm
It seems my posh laptop isn't keen on my excellent coffee  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 05 May, 2015, 12:02:21 pm
I really can't wait for the movie industry to catch up and offer reasonably priced "paid for downloads" which are DRM-free.

For instance, it's 10 squidlets to "rent" some fillums from Amazon.  You imagine without the effort of producing a optical disk, producing a case for it, distributing it etc. etc. that for 10 squidlets you would get to KEEP the film.

bah.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 May, 2015, 12:34:06 pm
Moreover you can buy the complete Matrix Trilogy, for e.g., from Sainsbury's on Blu-Ray for a tenner...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 06 May, 2015, 08:08:58 pm
I have paid for a DVD. With money. I'm told I am "Supporting the movie industry".

All I want to do is watch it on my lappie, perhaps avoiding the titles and/or logos that apparently it's "not permitted" to skip.

But no, some stupid, brain-dead anti-piracy thing means that about half way through watching the film (that I've paid for. With money. Supporting the movie industry) it starts jumping from scene to scene. So fucking clever. Do you really think that will stop someone pirating it? Or will it just piss off people who have paid money thinking they were supporting the movie industry? Perhaps next time I'll just download it.

I suspect it's just a clunky DVD, QA has always been a bit shonky and cheap(er) DVDs tend not to have the robust error correction that computer optical drives have (so try playing it in a computer). There's no mechanism that I know of that introduces logic into playback to enable a DVD to randomly switch between titles/chapters based on something that happened earlier during playback. They'll follow the index.

Beyond that, yes, rental and purchase for downloads is clearly out-of-whack. You can often buy the physical DVD for less than a digital rental.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 06 May, 2015, 08:44:08 pm
I have paid for a DVD. With money. I'm told I am "Supporting the movie industry".

All I want to do is watch it on my lappie, perhaps avoiding the titles and/or logos that apparently it's "not permitted" to skip.

But no, some stupid, brain-dead anti-piracy thing means that about half way through watching the film (that I've paid for. With money. Supporting the movie industry) it starts jumping from scene to scene. So fucking clever. Do you really think that will stop someone pirating it? Or will it just piss off people who have paid money thinking they were supporting the movie industry? Perhaps next time I'll just download it.

Is it a actually a DVD, or is it a Blu-Ray?
( People often use the term DVD to refer to both.)

Some Blu-Rays do indeed use such behaviour as a 'copy protection'.

It's called 'playlist obfuscation'.
Google 'screenpass' for deatails.

Here's how it works:

Blu-rays can contain the main movie in a single big file, or as a daisy-chain of shorter clips.
The daisy-chain of shorter clips is called 'seamless branching', and allows the disk to contain different versions of the movie; eg a directors cut, or on-screen language variations.
All the versions may share most of the same content, but branch out to different clips as required.

This is controlled via the Blu Ray menus.
Depending on the menu choices you make, you are directed to different 'playlist' files, which list the clips to be played, and in which order.
If you play the movie on a 'legitimate' player, this works OK.

Now, Screenpass protection adds a bunch of fake playlist files which serve up the movie in random orders.
These fake playlists will never be reached by legitimate players which use the menus.

But ripping software will often try try to rip the 'main movie' by simply choosing the longest playlist.
They don't try to process the menus.
So they will usually get a garbled movie.

Any software players that don't properly support Java menus will also fail in the same way ( eg VLC ).
If they try to ignore the menus, and choose an incorrect playlist, this will give an out-of-sequence movie.

Fixes:
1) Use a proper player program that properly supports the Java menus.

2)Use AnyDVD-HD in the background, which will report the 'valid' playlists.
Then point the inadequate player to the 'valid' playlist file.








Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 May, 2015, 09:04:49 am
Indeed, Blu-Ray is an entirely different kettle. Some DVDs did something far simpler, but similar, by hiding the most likely title, so you'd end up with a version in Swedish. Admittedly, it'll add to the flavour of Die Hard 7: Smorgasbord when an aging Bruce Willis has to get through Croydon Ikea that's been infiltrated by terrorists posing as 'co-workers'. On a bank holiday. He also has a sofa to return. Blu-Ray offers a lot more scope for playlist complexity and obfuscation, but as Feanor says if it's an actual player and a legit disk, it should play.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 07 May, 2015, 01:23:11 pm
There's no mechanism that I know of that introduces logic into playback to enable a DVD to randomly switch between titles/chapters based on something that happened earlier during playback. They'll follow the index.

After a bit of searching around, I have worked out what's happening. The DVD contains around 35 titles. The first few are the stupid adverts you're not allowed to skip and the coming soons. Followed by 25+ versions of the film in different random orders apart from one which is in the right order. If you try to play any of the wrong order ones via the menu you get "not permitted", however Handbrake obviously doesn't know which is the main feature as they all look the same.

You might imagine the way round this is easy - tell Handbrake which title to rip. Unfortunately that one has some further magic that skips straight to the end, so you can only rip from chapter 2 onwards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 May, 2015, 02:51:04 pm
Hmm, that still sounds like a DVD glitch. It's rumoured that film companies deliberately manufactured data glitches in DVDs to thwart ripping, but they mostly seemed to have stopped. I find the correct title by playing the movie briefly. I still know of no DVD mechanism to force this sort of behaviour. DVDs are logical in the way they structure content for playback. If Handbrake can't handle a title, you may need to rip it separately.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 May, 2015, 09:18:09 am
My desktop machine doesn't seem quite to have got the hang of this hibernating business.  It goes to sleep OK but later wakes up of its own accord ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 09 May, 2015, 11:04:33 pm
Moved house. 'Network', dynamic DNS, VPN all reconfigured and working.
A whopping 2.5 Mb/s. I'm underwhelmed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 12 May, 2015, 09:33:03 pm
Visiting year 10ish person said today "programming's just like algebra".
My work here is done :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 14 May, 2015, 09:44:11 pm
Hmm, this week I am a programmer.
I have to hack out a class library that encapsulates an obscure file type that I seem to be the only person old enough to know about!

So I have learned some of the finer points of C# ( which I've had some previous with ) and hacked up a DLL that encapsulates the file type.

I've passed it onto the Real Programmers to use in their real applications.

I await the complaints.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Woofage on 19 May, 2015, 08:43:34 am
The TV recording box seems to have died and will not re-boot. I plugged in a display and nothing appeared on that either so I suspect a dead mobo :(. The other bugger is that I use this box for my personal network storage so I'll have to make other arrangements.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 19 May, 2015, 09:47:16 am
The Mothership (more of a life raft really) has installed Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on my  lapdancer.

I notice that the paper size is reported in inches.
I drill down in the preferences and change the units to mm.
It now tells me my A4 paper is 209.97mm x 296.93mm

I think not.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 May, 2015, 09:49:30 am
Write a Stern Letter to that nice Mr Obambi.

On A4 paper.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 21 May, 2015, 08:30:00 am
I was surprised, at breakfast this morning, when the waiter came over to replenish my coffee, that he recognised my mobile to be OnePlusOne.  This is not a slur of the intelligence of front of house staff, but rather that most people, when they see my phone, say "What is that?" or "Is that an iPhone 6?".  We then had a conversation about the OnePlusTwo.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 21 May, 2015, 09:01:44 am
Nothing to be ashamed about (http://www.oneplusone.org.uk/content_topic/sex-and-intimacy/)  :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 21 May, 2015, 09:16:55 am
Nothing to be ashamed about (http://www.oneplusone.org.uk/content_topic/sex-and-intimacy/)  :demon:

LOL! :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 27 May, 2015, 01:03:18 pm
Upper Management refused to allow those of us in our two teams without two computer screens to get them "cos money" (which is bollocks cos we have plenty of money and we could purchase from internal budgets but that would be disobedient or something)...  However they told MY boss who has two screens that those who have two screens will get to keep them in the office move of fail... 

"O Rite" says I and goes on a thieving scrounge around the building... I need 5 screens, I have three in my equipment stash, three on stupid monitor arms (must extract the arms, they cost £££ and are irreplaceable now) and discovered three in unused PCs in random offices.  Thank deities for the stupid WEEEE disposal system which makes it so difficult to get rid that tech-stuff just accrudulates around the building...  I now have 6 screens of varying types and think I can do some various swappy roundy to get everyone a reasonable setup including two of the more decent screens for the person with dyslexia who is complaining that their screen is crappy (it is).

And if I can't config them, folk can phone IT and get them to do it once the screens are in situ...

Dear management, we now all have two screens :D 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 27 May, 2015, 01:07:02 pm
barakta could you please come and run UK PLC :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 27 May, 2015, 02:07:31 pm
To be fair, if I was in charge of UK PLC - many many things would differ!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 27 May, 2015, 02:15:10 pm
For the good I'm sure.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 27 May, 2015, 03:40:37 pm
Last time we did a clear out of my old equipment hoard I think we donated half a dozen surplus but perfectly serviceable screens to various admin types who couldn't otherwise get them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 27 May, 2015, 03:51:37 pm
I have bagged an admin to help me sort the equipment cupboard on Thursday.  It's largely overpriced underutilised 'assistive' technology from Alumni funding where we HAD to buy ALLTHETHINGSNAO rather than think more carefully about what would be used... Hence 6x £600 gadgets which most studes WON'T use cos they suck and library won't take cos EsteemedExColleague didn't ask nicely enough or something...

I've been slowly binning win95 era software for ages but have to make a WEEE request by calculating the volume and asking them to give us a quote to take it away... Or we could just hide it somewhere else randomly around the building for the next lot of fuckers to find (tempting cos they're decorating the building under us after refusing to make it even safe for us for 6 years).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 27 May, 2015, 04:14:14 pm
Just a side note : Our local WEEE is outside, which probably kill off a few items for sure that could have been saved if undercover.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 May, 2015, 07:07:25 pm
As far as I can tell I have had no spam whatsoever since quarter to one this morning :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 May, 2015, 02:04:48 pm
Note to self: if you Do Things to the master copy of the NAS-stored music library such that every single file is modified then it will be way quicker to get a backup copy onto the lapdancer's internal HDD via a USB 3.0 external drive from the desktop, due to the steam-powered nature of the lapdancer's notwork adapter.  FFS, it's been running since midnight and has just reached Half Man Half Biscuit  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 June, 2015, 03:20:46 pm
As far as I can tell I have had no spam whatsoever since quarter to one this morning :o

Ah.  Thunderbird is no longer downloading messages that the Mega!-Global! Exclamation! Mark! Corporation! of! Sunnyvale!, USAnia! thinks! is! spam!  I do not know how this changed but it does mean I have to use the Mega!-Global! Exclamation! Mark! Corporation! of! Sunnyvale!, USAnia!'s poxy! web! interface! every so often to check the crap.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 15 June, 2015, 11:00:09 am
Why is it that one's unbent paperclip is always swanning about the desk but when you need the bugger it's buggered off and you have to massacre another one?  Whereupon the first one creeps out from the shadows, smiling bashfully?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 15 June, 2015, 11:58:34 pm
(http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/5/5c/Clippy.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20070418123249)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 June, 2015, 05:49:29 pm
I'm sure I didn't imagine, while playing Euro Truck Simulator 2, the placard-waving protestors on a bridge in southern Portugal or the hovering flying saucer near Montpellier...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 22 June, 2015, 11:29:23 pm
Do we think this is real?

http://www.geekfill.com/2013/02/12/best-reply-to-a-relationship-complain-ever-this-is-genius/

Who cares
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 June, 2015, 11:26:32 am
Variations on that theme have been doing the rounds for about twenty years.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 June, 2015, 11:34:56 am
Well at least they have updated it :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: billplumtree on 23 June, 2015, 12:54:28 pm
Just a side note : Our local WEEE is outside,

What, nobody's going to pick this one up and run with it?  Standards are slipping...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 June, 2015, 05:31:17 pm
I've just moved to Taiwan, at least for the sake of my new AP (https://store.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap-52.html)

Just curious, what do the panel think the impact local residents might experience if - for arguments sake - the Tx power is cranked up from the maximum UK/USA 20db to 28db? Hypothetically of course.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Deano on 24 June, 2015, 11:10:57 pm
A minor victory at work today, but the little things matter!

We have to complete a database (in Lotus Notes) which has become progressively more unusable as newer versions have emerged. Partly this is down to our creaking infrastructure, but my main frustration was the inability to navigate from field to field using the tab key. Previously this was easy, and made the task - well, hardly a joy, but far less onerous. In more recent versions, we've had to resort to mousing, as using the tab key navigated to random other fields in different parts of the file.

I'd whinged about this for ages, as had others, but nowt changed.

Today I emailed the developer, who not only fixed it immediately, but replied along the lines of "I wish this had been raised sooner, it's the sort of good practice which I was trying to teach to my underling, but he didn't listen, we've sacked the useless little squirt, and now I can't wave this email in his face to show I was right".

I suspect he's a bit old school, that developer. Anyway, hurrah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 June, 2015, 11:48:42 pm
A minor victory at work today, but the little things matter!

Barakta will no doubt be along in a minute to explain why this sort of thing isn't as minor as it might first appear.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 25 June, 2015, 12:24:27 am
ObOnCue....

I am currently refusing with managerial support to use our new "enquiry and queue management system" as they don't have keyboard navigability and I can only manage the level of typing that I do by avoiding mousing as much as possible...

I spent 3 years telling them what it needed to do; come development it didn't do it... For extra lolz the developers are Dutch and while they have excellent English there's definitely cultural language issues.  And any request is filtered through IT numpty project managers...

I got asked if I couldn't just "try harder" to use their inaccessible system - I said "No, I'm breaking as it is and this is an industrial injury and disability discrimination claim WAITING to happen cos I can prove I told you years ago repeatedly"...

So yeah, everyone else has to use this unstable beta piece of shit and I'm simply refusing to do more than set up my login and smirk at them... I'm encouraging another colleague who has RSI and upper limb disabilities to complain about the mousy mousy cos its causing her pain... I know if I don't have a 100% hardline it'll erode horribly...  As it is they broke my hardline no phones by making me do voice conference call with the developers - if they try forcing that again I will simply refuse to comply cos it was a nightmare.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 25 June, 2015, 01:08:07 am
But there's only two of you and no-one else has complained and it can't be that important really and why can't you try a bit harder because surely you can use a mouse just a little because everyone can use a mouse and just because you think using the keyboard is better and and and ...

Glad about this bit: "with managerial support."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 25 June, 2015, 07:49:28 am
Yeah that...  My manager is pretty good; she "gets it" which she ought to do given our job but my last one didn't so...  The project team are learning the hard way, if you don't build in accessibility then you have to do unscaleable extra work... 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 25 June, 2015, 11:54:21 am
Absolutely, and was accessibility in the project brief, so do you (the uni) have them by the purse strings if they do not deliver?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 25 June, 2015, 12:19:11 pm
Getting tab order correct is in GUI programming 101
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 29 June, 2015, 10:29:25 pm
There is a cute Easter-Eggy thing in the new Google maps when you are looking at Loch Ness. I wonder if there are others?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 30 June, 2015, 12:03:18 am
I have a surfit of Macs.  A g4 non imac, 2 twin processor aluminium cased g5, (one of which works) the other was a project as it had water leakage issues, a core duo (dual core) imac and the bits of another imac.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 01 July, 2015, 07:47:30 am
Too bad that I don't hack code much any more. Just found the atom (http://www.atom.io) editor "from" github. It looks like it behaves just like I want an editor to do and you can hack/edit/modify it to do stuff like you want it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Deano on 08 July, 2015, 10:40:59 pm
Getting tab order correct is in GUI programming 101

That's what our man said. He was quite annoyed that a) it hadn't been done in the first place and b) no one had mentioned it to him (plenty had whinged about it, but it's about whinging to the right people).

Plus everything barakta said. I do try to educate my colleagues about keyboard shortcuts, and I don't want RSI from endlessly mousing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 17 July, 2015, 08:20:03 am
So what's the point of a USB lead with magnets built into the plugs?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 17 July, 2015, 12:14:41 pm
Dunno. FruityCorp make power leads which are held in by magnets rather than friction, so that when you inevitably trip on the cable you don't send your expensive shiny laptop hurtling towards the floor.

Perhaps they're aiming for something similar, with similarly engineered sockets?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 July, 2015, 12:58:51 pm
I've seen USB cables with connectors that break away as per the Apple power leads - a short stub connects to the USB port, and the cable connects magnetically onto that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 17 July, 2015, 01:01:19 pm
It's better than using elestic bands to hold in a word plug (yeah, thanks Samsung!)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 17 July, 2015, 01:17:34 pm
The magnets are about the same strength as a fridge magnet. Friction holds the plugs in pretty strongly, so I don't think the magnets are meant for that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 17 July, 2015, 03:24:09 pm
To store the cable on your fridge, perhaps, or to dangle it from the edge of a metal-framed desk.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 17 July, 2015, 03:42:32 pm
The two ends do stick to each other so that the thing makes a nice wee loop. Could hang it from a peg. If I had a peg. Ah, what the hell.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 24 July, 2015, 02:07:28 pm
I half-remember some yacfers - possibly Mr Larrington - bemoaning Apple's decision to kill off the big iPod Classic.

Well it's (kind of) back, with a new 128gb option:

http://arstechnica.co.uk/apple/2015/07/the-ipod-lives-mid-year-bump-adds-new-colors-and-128gb-64-bit-ipod-touch/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 July, 2015, 04:25:57 pm
Not big enough >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 24 July, 2015, 04:33:37 pm
Ah the joy of not using ones passwords often enough, after one have updated them, so therefore one can't remember them ...  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Oaky on 27 July, 2015, 04:33:17 pm
So what's the point of a USB lead with magnets built into the plugs?

Probably to prevent them from getting rheumatism, or travel sickness or something.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 27 July, 2015, 05:49:14 pm
A constipated USB connection I can imagine, but rheumatism?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 August, 2015, 11:53:46 am
Please would whatever it is that has turned the external sounds in ETS2 up to 11 please turn them down again?  It sounds like I'm driving with the truck's windows open ???  And the cheesy Russian pop music no longer sounds like a bad Tom Waits impersonator1, which at least had a certain joke comedy value.

1: Is there such a thing as a good Tom Waits impersonator?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 August, 2015, 09:08:44 am
Mention of sound cards elsethread prompts me to ask:

My desktop Babbage-Engine has its sound wossname on the mofoboard and, at times of stress, sometimes decides to go all quiet.  Well, apart from the fan.  Might a sound card prevent this reprehensible behaviour?  It's only doing stereo coz the amp it's plugged into was not designed for people with four ears, and through shit speakers at that, so doesn't need earthquake-triggering levels of 9:11 7.1 sonic badassness

I should have robbed the sound card out of the ancient XP box I gave Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) last month but it probably wouldn't fit or wouldn't have drivers available or something.  I can probably nab it anyway the next time I'm there coz the chances of him connecting loudsqueakers to it are this: p<0.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 09 August, 2015, 11:44:05 am
Adding a sound card could solve the problem if there's a hardware fault (unlikely), or just if it uses a different driver, as rather brutey forcey solution.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 09 August, 2015, 03:12:11 pm
Build up my laptop with a basic Debian 8 install. It now boots up with Openbox, Tint2 at under 200Mb RAM used, with a terminal window with ssh onto the "server" to my favourite IRC channel to idle on. With Chrome, two taps open (gmail and yacf) it is at 1Gb. Easy had 500Mb RAM extra lost on boot before, not too bad on a laptop with 3Gb and 1.2Ghz/800Mhz dual core.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 17 August, 2015, 04:36:09 pm
I don't think this really warrants a thread of its own...

Does this laptop look suitable for a student to do their homework on?
Acer Aspire V3 112P – £170 at PC World (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-v3-112p-11-6-touchscreen-laptop-silver-10104717-pdt.html)

Doesn't need to be used for games or heavy photo editing or anything like that. First impression is that the processor might be a bit feeble and there's not a lot of memory, but it seems to be quite reasonable for the price (as far as I know what to expect for my money), and the memory can be upgraded to 8GB. I would also consider upgrading the HD to an SSD but maybe not immediately.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 18 August, 2015, 02:16:23 pm
I don't think this really warrants a thread of its own...

Does this laptop look suitable for a student to do their homework on?
Acer Aspire V3 112P – £170 at PC World (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-v3-112p-11-6-touchscreen-laptop-silver-10104717-pdt.html)

Yes, but it would hardly be better than a second-hand laptop off eBay for nearly £100 less, eg, Dell Inpsiron 1525.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 August, 2015, 11:06:55 am
Laptop, why are you not rebooting?  Just sitting there saying:

ASUS
Inspiring Innovation * Persistent Perfection

may be persistent but is totally uninspiring, not at all innovative and very far from perfect.  Get with the programme, ratso >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: matthew on 31 August, 2015, 11:37:21 am
My desktop is not booting, I just checked and the bios is not seeing the hard disk with the boot partition.

Fortunately I have my personal files on a separate additional disk so my data is safe, unfortunately I don't have access to a different machine to check the disk to see what state it is actually in.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 August, 2015, 03:07:16 pm
Gave the laptop the full duration of some rubbish I'd recorded off the telly about the Loch Ness Monster before giving it the "have you tried switching it off and on again" treatment.  At which point it decided it couldn't see Pop Tart Mark, the external HDD.  Gave that the "have you tried switching it off and on again" treatment.

Nothing.  Arse.  Fortunately some jibbling in Device Mangler has restored Pop Tart Mark to rude health.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 06 September, 2015, 01:06:15 am
I proved the Monty Hall Problem (https://youtu.be/4Lb-6rxZxx0) Solution to myself tonight by writing a Commodore 64 BASIC program.  Now I finally accept it.

Code: [Select]
4 REM ********** MONTY (C) BIGGSY **********
6 INPUT"NUMBER OF GOES: ";N
7 REM ****** WELL, IT CHECKS THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR ******
8 PRINT:PRINT"**** STICK ****":PRINT
10 FOR I=1 TO N
100 P=INT(RND(1)*3)+1:PRINT"CAR:  "P
110 G=INT(RND(1)*3)+1:PRINT"GUESS:"G
120 IF G=P THEN S=S+1:PRINT"WIN":GOTO 140
130 PRINT"LOSE"
140 PRINT:NEXT
150 REM****** AND NOW TO SWITCH EVERY TIME ******
200 PRINT:PRINT"**** SWITCH ****":PRINT
210 FOR I=1 TO N
220 P=INT(RND(1)*3)+1:PRINT"CAR:  "P
230 G=INT(RND(1)*3)+1:PRINT"GUESS:"G
240 IF P<>G THEN GOTO 340
250 IF P=1 THEN X=INT(RND(1)*2)+2:GOTO 400
260 IF P=3 THEN X=INT(RND(1)*2)+1:GOTO 400
270 X=INT(RND(1)*2)+1:IF X=2 THEN X=3
280 GOTO 400
340 IF (P=1 AND G=2) OR (P=2 AND G=1) THEN X=3:GOTO 400
350 IF (P=1 AND G=3) OR (P=3 AND G=1) THEN X=2:GOTO 400
360 IF (P=2 AND G=3) OR (P=3 AND G=2) THEN X=1
400 PRINT"GOAT: " X
410 IF (G=1 AND X=2) OR (G=2 AND X=1) THEN G=3:GOTO 500
420 IF (G=1 AND X=3) OR (G=3 AND X=1) THEN G=2:GOTO 500
430 G=1
500 PRINT"SWITCHED GUESS:" G
520 IF G=P THEN SW=SW+1:PRINT"WIN":GOTO 540
530 PRINT"LOSE"
540 PRINT:NEXT
600 PRINT:PRINT"STICK WINS:   "S "/"N
610 PRINT"SWITCHED WINS:" SW "/"N

...
STICK WINS:       3342 / 10000
SWITCHED WINS: 6754 / 10000

The Commodore 64 has a true random number generator that samples analogue white noise from the sound chip, although I must admit that I ran this program on a PC, with Vintage BASIC with a pseudo-random number generator.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 23 September, 2015, 10:13:57 pm
Voice mail from Mother (77 next birthday). I'm locked out of my computer, can you help? ...but not until after the Bake Off!

So I phone from the hotel having managed to download another copy of Team Viewer and discovered that the Cloud has remembered my password!
A bit strange thinks I. If she's locked out, how come I can see the screen and everything via Team Viewer?
So she types away and nothing appears in the password box. So I try typing and the dots appear.

Is your keyboard unplugged, Mother?  Try using the one on the laptop itself.

I wish all support calls were that easy!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 25 September, 2015, 02:26:40 am
The Monty Hall problem is easy to comprehend if instead of considering it as two doors, you consider it as one door and (all the other doors at once).
Expand the problem to 100 doors and the answer is always switch.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 28 September, 2015, 06:12:49 pm
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 September, 2015, 06:20:45 pm
My mouse pointer disappeared when I had the Islam Channel open on one tab of Safari and surfed on other open tabs.
Weird!

It showed the pointer on the Islam channel but not on the other tabs.

(Partner is being interviewed on Islam Channel shortly.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 28 September, 2015, 06:59:17 pm
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 29 September, 2015, 10:36:32 am
traceroute bad.horse
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 September, 2015, 10:53:19 am
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 29 September, 2015, 11:01:57 am
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?
So they are suggesting running some code from a Russian programming group that hacks your kernel? No thanks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 29 September, 2015, 11:07:45 am
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?

Whether or not it's a dodgy hack that will give away your bank details, having a larger physical memory than per-process virtual address space is entirely feasible, and I don't really understand why a 32-bit system should be in principle limited to 4GB of RAM.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 29 September, 2015, 11:31:07 am
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?

Whether or not it's a dodgy hack that will give away your bank details, having a larger physical memory than per-process virtual address space is entirely feasible, and I don't really understand why a 32-bit system should be in principle limited to 4GB of RAM.

It isn't, that's why you could use more RAM if you paid for 32 bit windows server edition.

If you had to directly address all of RAM then 16 bit architectures would have been limited to 64 kB. I suddenly feel very old because I remember the grief of HIMEM.SYS and far pointers.  :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 September, 2015, 11:40:57 am
Well, you can do it, but with a kludge, it's like counting to ten using five fingers. Given that most OSes are 64 bit, direct access makes a lot more sense.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 29 September, 2015, 12:14:26 pm
In reality all 32-bit Intel Processors since the Pentium Pro have been able to address a memory address space > 4GB using PAE (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_address_extension).

As already stated, Microsoft opted not to include support for it in their desktop versions of Windows. I suspect the kludge involves copying binaries over from equivalent Server versions of Wind0ze.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2015, 12:14:44 pm
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 29 September, 2015, 12:34:59 pm
Have an dell inspiron zino htpc with 8gb and dual core athlon.  Currently running 32bit version will I gain anything running the 64bit version?
What version of Windows? I think most of the 32-bit versions won't let you access more than 4GB. Check System properties to see how much memory it says is usable.

Apparently there's way of hacking 32-bit Windows to access more memory, not tried it myself. eg http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/32-bit-ram-barrier.html

Hmm, I'm not convinced. How does a 32-bit OS address that additional memory space?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

So it's only 20 years since Intel added support in the page table for a larger than 4GB physical address space, no wonder Windows doesn't support it.

There are significant disadvantages to using 64 bit pointers, mainly in terms of bloat. How many applications genuinely need a >32bit address space?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 September, 2015, 12:40:10 pm
Because Windows users scream like banshees if Microsoft do anything that stop a 10-year old scanner driver working?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2015, 12:56:59 pm
Because Windows users scream like banshees if Microsoft do anything that stop a 10-year old scanner driver working?

Quite.  The transition to 64bit on Linux was pretty much painless, because for 99% of everything it was basically just a recompile, and the users are used to new distros breaking the stuff that needs proprietary drivers in exciting new ways.

I did run 32bit Linux with a PAE kernel for a while, because I'd bunged some extra RAM in an old machine and couldn't be arsed with a reinstall to 64-bit.  Naturally, it Just Worked.


I reckon Microsoft are weaning users off the expectation of backward compatibility.  Vista made great progress in that respect...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 29 September, 2015, 04:14:19 pm
32-bit Windows users can also access memory beyond 4GB with a RAM disk and use it for caching and paging, etc.

http://memory.dataram.com/products-and-services/software/ramdisk
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 September, 2015, 05:58:30 pm
So after a Several of months you've finally got used to all the foibles and idio(t)syncracies of iOS v.N and the the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia introduces iOS v.N+1 and with it a whole new slab of things to get annoyed with.  Gits >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 30 September, 2015, 12:58:40 pm
Must admit I hadn't always realised Cupertino was a real place.  I thought Mr Larrington had made it up from "cup of tea, no?".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 30 September, 2015, 01:02:00 pm
So after a Several of months you've finally got used to all the foibles and idio(t)syncracies of iOS v.N and the the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia introduces iOS v.N+1 and with it a whole new slab of things to get annoyed with.  Gits >:(


Do bear in mind http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/28/ios-9-wifi-assist/

and

http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/iphone-ipad-ios-9-privacy-security-settings-immediately/

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2015, 01:07:36 pm
"Cupertino" is in fact1 derived from the Spanish word for "lair of thieves and vagabonds".

1: Lie
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 30 September, 2015, 01:16:12 pm
El Capitan, I believe, is out today. The OS, not the mountain, that's already out there. The internet will probably slow down later.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2015, 01:18:31 pm
So after a Several of months you've finally got used to all the foibles and idio(t)syncracies of iOS v.N and the the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia introduces iOS v.N+1 and with it a whole new slab of things to get annoyed with.  Gits >:(


Do bear in mind http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/28/ios-9-wifi-assist/

and

http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/iphone-ipad-ios-9-privacy-security-settings-immediately/

Ta Ham, though most, if not all, the above pertain to "features" which I haven't got...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2015, 01:20:52 pm
El Capitan, I believe, is out today. The OS, not the mountain, that's already out there. The internet will probably slow down later.

Any Internet would slow down with this on top of it:

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14778145074_710b36650f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ovTREJ)
47_Yosemite_El_Capitan (https://flic.kr/p/ovTREJ) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 30 September, 2015, 01:42:53 pm
That fuss over wifi assist is hilarious. I have stopped connecting to the work wifi network because it's so throttled for guest users as to be beyond useless. I might be tempted to try connecting again in if this wifi assist actually does what it says on the tin.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 30 September, 2015, 01:55:38 pm
That fuss over wifi assist is hilarious. I have stopped connecting to the work wifi network because it's so throttled for guest users as to be beyond useless. I might be tempted to try connecting again in if this wifi assist actually does what it says on the tin.

Sounds like you work for us!
Seriously tho, 'dem bring your own devices have a hellish appetite for bandwidth.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 30 September, 2015, 11:29:52 pm
Anyone know of a safe place to download a 64bit win7?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 01 October, 2015, 07:43:05 am
Anyone know of a safe place to download a 64bit win7?

DigitalRiver
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 October, 2015, 10:46:46 am
Copying music, photos and videos from network drive to new PC is taking a Very Long Time.  I am not looking forward to the subsequent move of said music, photos and videos from network drive to new network drive.  At all.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 01 October, 2015, 11:14:38 am
I'm now El Capitan. The mountain did truly come to Mohammed. Took about six hours to download. Installed fine and everything apparently peachy on my desktop. Less stupid font. For some reason it bought back some desktop backgrounds that I used about a year ago.

For some reason the Macbook failed to connect to iCloud on installation which meant the email settings were inactive. Unfortunately they then refused to believe my password was my password. Had to nuke and re-create. To be fair, I think that's BT's fault, it used to be Yahoo Mail and now it's not, but my Macs have trouble forgetting the old Yahoo details.

Anyhow, fairly painless. Not much to report, everything seems to work as before. New improved font, everything feels very spritely but neither computer was very slow to start with, and various bits and pieces. Incremental and no Windows 10 tale of woe. Have yet to check if it fixed the bluetooth audio that Yosemite so handsomely and thoroughly broke.

PS if you have multiple Macs and don't fancy multiple 6 GB downloads, grab a copy the installer file from applications before you install, it can then be copied to subsequent machines. Once you install, it deletes the installer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 01 October, 2015, 11:21:14 am
Copying music, photos and videos from network drive to new PC is taking a Very Long Time.  I am not looking forward to the subsequent move of said music, photos and videos from network drive to new network drive.  At all.
Sometimes it can make a difference to encapsulate all the files in one zip file (no compression), copy that, then unzip.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 October, 2015, 11:37:11 am
Also, how the blazes did Chrome end up with Yahoo! as! its! default! search! engine!?  Even after I'd gone into the Settings wossname and binned every search engine except that of the Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury Corporation of Mountain View, USAnia ???  I had to shoot the wretched thing down in flames and reinstall it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 01 October, 2015, 03:09:09 pm
Also, how the blazes did Chrome end up with Yahoo! as! its! default! search! engine!?  Even after I'd gone into the Settings wossname and binned every search engine except that of the Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury Corporation of Mountain View, USAnia ???  I had to shoot the wretched thing down in flames and reinstall it.

That'll be you that did that, somehow. some install, some download.

Soz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 01 October, 2015, 04:59:14 pm
Anyone know of a safe place to download a 64bit win7?

DigitalRiver

Not anymore :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 01 October, 2015, 07:56:12 pm
Anyone know of a safe place to download a 64bit win7?

Direct from Microsoft now if you have a valid product key: www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7

Failing everything else, I can post you a copy of W7 Pro 64-bit on disc, but i don't think it'll be necessary.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 01 October, 2015, 09:17:00 pm
Doesn't work with OEM codes  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 01 October, 2015, 09:38:36 pm
Just PM your address if you want it on DVD.  It'll be online somewhere though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 October, 2015, 08:23:10 am
Living as we do in an era of shortages of natural resources, breathable air and adequate claret, and in which software updates are almost invariably accompanied by howls of anguish from the usersphere, it is nice to be able to report that the combination of iOS 9, iPad and Chrome no longer requires that you tap the "Jump to" wossname on yacf three times before selecting your destination.  Just once is all that is required now.

Hurrah for SCIENCE :thumbsup:

Mind you, moving the cursor is even more hit and miss.  If the Write app can have left and right arrow keys, Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury Corporation of Mountain View, USAnia, why can't Chrome?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 02 October, 2015, 09:11:07 am
Just PM your address if you want it on DVD.  It'll be online somewhere though.

Thank you, but am sure there are easier sources ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 02 October, 2015, 06:19:10 pm
Have two copies iso , one from intopc and the other softpedia, they are  both the same size so...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 03 October, 2015, 10:14:51 am
Md5sum ... somewhere someone will have written the md5 hash of these ISOs and there is a windows utility knocking around that will show you the md5 check sum of a file. I could tell you what it is if I were at work. It is a portable exe available from Microsoft themselves.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 October, 2015, 07:15:47 pm
Having acquired a new sub-desk machine the old desktop has migrated downstairs.  Install Thunderbird and copy complete directory wossname from C:\Users\Dave\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles on the laptop.  Fire up Tbird.  It all works :thumbsup:

Two days later either Thunderbird or Yahoo! decides! there! is! something! wrong! with! my! password!  Which has been the same for a Several of years.  Log into Yahoo via the web.  Password works.  Try again with Thunderbird.  Password works again.

Pls to not be doing that again, machine >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 October, 2015, 05:05:42 am
Mind you, moving the cursor is even more hit and miss.  If the Write app can have left and right arrow keys, Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury Corporation of Mountain View, USAnia, why can't Chrome?

Actually
Though finding out about the latter by putting "iOS9 cursor totally f****d" into a FWSE is not the best way to find out about New! IMPROVED!! features.

And Write doesn't work at all under iOS9 chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 October, 2015, 06:45:14 pm
Plex Media Server, I do not know how you determine which Popular Beat Combos qualify for the "Seen live" tag but for the record, John Fogerty, Mastodon and the Montréal Symphony Orchestra are among the acts that I have not even seen dead.

Also that's a really shit picture of Johnny Winter.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2015, 02:27:55 pm
Plex Media Server has joined the foot-operated dip switch and touch-screens for desktop PCs in the "It seemed like a good idea at the time" pile.  Because it cannot cope with Popular Beat Combos whose name contains a "/".  And thus makes an unholy mess of trying to import the Compleat AC/DC into its library.  And when you then try deleting AC/DC and re-adding each album manually it doesn't just remove AC/DC from its library but also all the tracks from the source you were importing them from.

Fortunately I am paranoid enough to keep four backup copies of the mp3 collection...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 October, 2015, 02:33:35 pm
Plex Media Server has joined the foot-operated dip switch

/me wonders how on earth you're supposed to operate DIP switches with your foot, then realises she's showing her youth.

Actually, given some of the frustration you had to go through back in the day to make your Epson dot matrix produce a BRITONS '£' character, it would make a certain kind of sense.


Quote
Because it cannot cope with Popular Beat Combos whose name contains a "/".

What's it like with &amp;ersands?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2015, 02:59:06 pm
Plex Media Server has joined the foot-operated dip switch

/me wonders how on earth you're supposed to operate DIP switches with your foot, then realises she's showing her youth.

Actually, given some of the frustration you had to go through back in the day to make your Epson dot matrix produce a BRITONS '£' character, it would make a certain kind of sense.


Quote
Because it cannot cope with Popular Beat Combos whose name contains a "/".

What's it like with &amp;ersands?

Seems happy enough with them.  There's probably a setting buried under the boot floor to make it leave my laboriously-consistentificated mp3 tags the fuck alone but it still insists on changing "X And The Y" to "X and the Y", except when it doesn't.

Part of me wants to beat it into submission, another says to leave it until other important things are attended to (like for e.g. learning to fly a space shuttle or juggle chainsaws) and a third says that I don't need yet another way of listening to music over and above the half-dozen alternatives already available.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 06 October, 2015, 03:29:49 pm
cannot cope with Popular Beat Combos whose name contains a "/"

I was going to say isn't that a security measure to do with escape characters, but I'm thinking of \ aren't I?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 06 October, 2015, 03:59:56 pm
I imagine it's as simple as the group name being used as the directory name in the filesystem, so it's limited to names which are legal in the filesystem in question.

Not a great design, for obvious reasons.

( I wonder if that weird symbol Prince used is available as a Unicode character somewhere? )
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 October, 2015, 04:35:25 pm
I've found PlexMediaServer to be great with the ripped DVD/BD collection, but MP3s - naming them consistently is a dark art.

I've had limited success renaming the MP3 collection with MusicBrainzPicard - in that sometimes it works, sometimes it partially works (losing MP3s in the process) and most times it doesn't work at all - doesn't actually save the renamed MP3s to the new location.

So, if anyone can recommend something that will go through MP3s ripped at various times using different software/naming conventions, identify them and rename them properly to work with Plex Media Server, I'd be eternally grateful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 06 October, 2015, 04:56:44 pm
So, if anyone can recommend something that will go through MP3s ripped at various times using different software/naming conventions, identify them and rename them properly to work with Plex Media Server, I'd be eternally grateful.

I don't know what Plex requires, but try MP3Tag, which can modify file names as well as tags.  It'll be one simple batch job to create new file names if the tags are correct and consistent, or vice versa, otherwise it might need multiple jobs, which could still be worth doing.  It can search and replace with wildcards, etc.

Tips: Once MP3Tag is installed, right-click on your media folder(s) in your file explorer to load them into the program; do any jobs; then close the program and it'll save automatically.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2015, 04:58:48 pm
I used a combination of Mp3tag, Excel, Word and a certain amount of manual jibbling (usually with Canadian post-rock outfits ruthless individualists who use quotes in their song titles) to achieve consistency at the file level only to have Plex bugger it all up again.  What possesses it to change "The 13th Floor Elevators" to "13'th Floor Elevators" is as yet a mystery, and is likely to remain so until I've acquired fluent Portuguese, sussed why a Robocopy script works until I try to run it under Task Scheduler and built a wall ten thousand feet high around Tony Blair.

The "/" business also remains a puzzler, not least because it renamed both studio albums by "Leo Kottke/Mike Gordon" to "Gordon" but got a live bootleg one right ???

XP with Biggsy
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 October, 2015, 08:27:34 pm
Colonel Larrington,
Plex isn't actually renaming your files though is it? It's just the displayed metadata that's incorrect?

MP3tag sounds rather Windowsy but I'll take a look. Thanks Biggsy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 06 October, 2015, 09:38:44 pm
I have EasyTAG on my Ubuntu box which seems to work OK.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 06 October, 2015, 10:55:57 pm
Plex creates its own database mashing the metadata with stuff it finds on the web. When it works, it is rather cool. It doesn't always.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2015, 06:19:16 pm
Colonel Larrington,
Plex isn't actually renaming your files though is it? It's just the displayed metadata that's incorrect?

Correct, it just messes up AC/DC metadata to the extent that it's impossible to unravel.  Mashing several albums into one non-existent one is its latest trick.

Also, becuase it's running on a NAS with a very little brane, it's limited in the types of video formats it can play and as a result I'm beating my own branes out trying to convert a bunch of old .mov files to for e.g. .mp4 without rendering the already rubbish sound completely inaudible ???

Plex creates its own database mashing the metadata with stuff it finds on the web. When it works, it is rather cool. It doesn't always.

Is there any way of telling it to leave the web alone and just use my lovingly hand-crufted metadata?  I don't need the last.fm biographical bobbins, especially when it gets completely the wrong artiste.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 07 October, 2015, 07:27:13 pm

Is there any way of telling it to leave the web alone and just use my lovingly hand-crufted metadata?  I don't need the last.fm biographical bobbins, especially when it gets completely the wrong artiste.

Settings -> Agents uncheck all the stuff you can on each
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 08 October, 2015, 08:50:15 am
Reboot number 1 please.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 08 October, 2015, 09:12:05 am
Reboot number 2 please.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 08 October, 2015, 10:38:06 am
Reboot number thr...fuck it I'm going for a coffee and then I'm going to poke Maximizer with a cattle prod - worthless heap of shit.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 08 October, 2015, 02:52:07 pm
There is also a Mac version of MP3Tag, but I guess you want Linux, Afasoas.  I hope you've got at least one Windows PC in your abode, though.

An alternative I've thought of would be to use a good audio converter and do a dummy or double conversion* just for the sake of generating new file names from tags (and even re-arrange the folders as well, if desired).

* eg. Convert existing MP3s to FLAC and then back to MP3, if that doesn't lose quality and MP3 to MP3 isn't possible.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 08 October, 2015, 06:58:18 pm
Reboot number thr...fuck it I'm going for a coffee and then I'm going to poke Maximizer with a cattle prod - worthless heap of shit.

I believe we dodged a bullet if that's the same Maximiser that's sort of Canadian we nearly got.  Manchester say its great but they do have a minion employed 2.5 days a week to coax it and minion is a receptionist the other 2.5 days so is 'always' available... 

We have a piece of shit called KANA and another piece of shit called Netpractise instead of Maximiser - neither of which work. Netpractice can't let students "check in for appointments" today and KANA is double booking rooms or just not securing a room booking with hilarious (not) consequences.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 08 October, 2015, 09:20:25 pm
Our Maximizer (and yes, that 'z' bloody annoys me) is CRM software it is a pain in the arse to use but also has a number of 'features' that mean it fucks with my computer without even being opened, one being that if it suffers a 'network error' just at the point I do anything with my computer (turn it on, log in, open a programme, open an e-mail, type anything, log off etc) it freezes the computer.

I've had two events in the past fortnight when I couldn't log off at the end of the day and had to perform a denial of electrons to make the damn thing behave, both caused by a Maximizer network error - I hadn't opened Maximizer at all on either day. This morning three attempts to open Google Chrome, three reboots all caused by Maximizer network errors, again the damn thing hadn't been opened.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 09 October, 2015, 07:13:21 am
Is it hour own computer or a company supplied one?

I really can't see why an application would be fiddling with the network stack unless it was trying to run a VPN or virtualizing itself.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 09 October, 2015, 08:25:21 am
There is also a Mac version of MP3Tag, but I guess you want Linux, Afasoas.  I hope you've got at least one Windows PC in your abode, though.

An alternative I've thought of would be to use a good audio converter and do a dummy or double conversion* just for the sake of generating new file names from tags (and even re-arrange the folders as well, if desired).

* eg. Convert existing MP3s to FLAC and then back to MP3, if that doesn't lose quality and MP3 to MP3 isn't possible.

I'll give EasyTag a go.
Most Linux boxen dual boot Windoze 10, which is occasionally used for LightRoom and Photoshop. I've even got a Macbook Pro on loan, but I've got to replace the HDD before I can use it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 09 October, 2015, 11:01:15 am
Is it hour own computer or a company supplied one?

I really can't see why an application would be fiddling with the network stack unless it was trying to run a VPN or virtualizing itself.

It's part of the university system and we have the finest brain in our IS dept ignoring it even as I type.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 October, 2015, 03:13:53 pm
Is it hour own computer or a company supplied one?

I really can't see why an application would be fiddling with the network stack unless it was trying to run a VPN or virtualizing itself.
I'd guess that it is running some really shitty security process, or a license verification process, that involves constantly bouncing "Are you there, am I allowed to run" messages. When no reply is received it goes into an insane frenzy; "OMG, I'm alone in the universe, is ANYONE out there." and uses 100% of network resources.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 October, 2015, 06:40:37 pm
I am rapidly losing patience with Plex.  Any so-called media server that cannot tell the difference between albums called "Groovy Decay" (1982), "Groovy Decoy" (1986 demos from Groovy Decay sessions) and "Gravy Deco" (the complete Groovy Decay/Groovy Decoy sessions) deserves to be stuffed into a sack with a half-dozen flettons and passed to Mr Plumtree otp for disposal at the top end of the Lanky.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 09 October, 2015, 10:31:42 pm
KANA our software isn't that bad yet but it is slow and laggy - 2-10 seconds to display from one row of contact data to the next...  I may insist they develop a DESKTOP application - web inherently slows it down and makes it harder to do accessibly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 09 October, 2015, 11:44:35 pm
KANA our software isn't that bad yet but it is slow and laggy - 2-10 seconds to display from one row of contact data to the next...  I may insist they develop a DESKTOP application - web inherently slows it down and makes it harder to do accessibly.

No a web based implementation doesn't make it harder to do either of those thinks. A bad implementation does.If the developers, architects and financiers are not arsed doing it in a web app then they won't be arsed doing it in a desktop app.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 October, 2015, 04:10:05 am
Giving one of my external USB hard disks the name "Duff Leg Bryn" was asking for trouble, I suppose...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 11 October, 2015, 10:23:59 am
KANA our software isn't that bad yet but it is slow and laggy - 2-10 seconds to display from one row of contact data to the next...  I may insist they develop a DESKTOP application - web inherently slows it down and makes it harder to do accessibly.

No a web based implementation doesn't make it harder to do either of those thinks. A bad implementation does.If the developers, architects and financiers are not arsed doing it in a web app then they won't be arsed doing it in a desktop app.

Software houses that produce inaccessible software have been, for some time, a pet hate of mine. Particularly when the software is used within businesses and the end users literally have no choice but use it.

As for slow and laggy, the browser page itself shouldn't be reloading between switching records, thus when you switch records, it's only the raw data that needs returning to the browser and no HTML/CSS/JS. If users switching between the next and previous record is a common usage scenario, that data could be pre fetched by the web browser.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 October, 2015, 09:31:47 am
Note to self: you will find the printer works a lot better if the Babbage-Engine you're trying to print from has been told that said printer is not attached to a USB port any more :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ruthie on 19 October, 2015, 11:40:23 am
Just got this, with attached attachment.  On checking my Google account, I see there haven't been any security events.  Hmmm.   
Quote
Sign-in attempt prevented   
Hi Ruth,
Someone just tried to sign in to your Google Account ruthirvingturner@gmail.com from an app that doesn't meet modern security standards.
Details:
Monday, 19 October 2015 10:57 (British Summer Time)
Darlington, UK*
We strongly recommend that you use a secure app, like Gmail, to access your account. All apps made by Google meet these security standards. Using a less secure app, on the other hand, could leave your account vulnerable. Learn more.

Google stopped this sign-in attempt, but you should review your recently used devices:

REVIEW YOUR DEVICES NOW
Best,
The Google Accounts team
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 20 October, 2015, 09:30:41 am
I have a project coming up that requires a single page web app, with dashboard and server-side REST api, that will require some third party plugins.

Despite being a C#,.NET,SQL Server kinda guy, once upon a time I'd have just defaulted to LAMP for webby stuff. But apparently that is old skool these days. Now, the kids are all doing MEAN.

Lets hope I haven't forgotten everything I ever knew about Javascript and CSS  :-\.

Sigh... I'm too old for this shit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2015, 01:03:29 pm
At the current rate I shall soon have enough blinkenlights in the Great Hall to allow me to dispense with actual lights altogether.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 25 October, 2015, 06:48:01 am
Garmin, recently, updated Connect Mobile.

What a difference! It is now useful and usable!

I don't mind syncing my vivofit now (I used to leave it about a week between syncs) as all the information I want to see can be found easily, not buried 3 levels down!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 October, 2015, 01:34:20 pm
My connection to that Internet, that they have now, has just reset itself.  At least I hope it's that rather than the router displaying early symptoms of DETH.  But it seems to have hosed an accumulation of cruft out of the pipe and it's working at a sensible speed all of a sudden.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 27 October, 2015, 02:32:26 pm
Just got this, with attached attachment.  On checking my Google account, I see there haven't been any security events.  Hmmm.   
Quote
Sign-in attempt prevented   
Hi Ruth,
Someone just tried to sign in to your Google Account ############### from an app that doesn't meet modern security standards.
Details:
Monday, 19 October 2015 10:57 (British Summer Time)
Darlington, UK*
We strongly recommend that you use a secure app, like Gmail, to access your account. All apps made by Google meet these security standards. Using a less secure app, on the other hand, could leave your account vulnerable. Learn more.

Google stopped this sign-in attempt, but you should review your recently used devices:

REVIEW YOUR DEVICES NOW
Best,
The Google Accounts team
You should remove your email address from that post, Ruthie
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 October, 2015, 02:35:57 pm
I've discovered that if you copy over the recent, smallish last few Time Machine backups from the cranky drive, that smallish = half a terabyte. Hardlinks don't take up much space. The files they link to obviously do.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 October, 2015, 03:35:39 pm
I've cunningly hidden the mothership Dell laptop under my desk, where it can sit on a docking station and feed a big monitor, and thusly use my old Apple Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, while keeping a wonderfully clear desk. Very clever, think I.

Except ctrl-alt-del.

Which my damn computer asks for every fifteen minutes unless I manage to jib the mouse in time.

Now I'm going to have to build a time machine so I can back and beat the person responsible from that damnable key press with the small canoe of sense. There's no frikkin delete key.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 October, 2015, 05:16:41 pm
Get a 32u4-based Arduino in keyboard emulation mode, and hook it up to a tub of vegetarian shoe polish to act as a ctrl-alt-delete button.  Obviously.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 28 October, 2015, 01:40:12 pm
Doesn't Function-Backspace send a DEL from a fruitarian keyboard? Failing that it's possible to create a custom keyboard map in Windows (mine swaps the @ with the " while leaving £ and € alone)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 October, 2015, 02:08:24 pm
Apparently not. I need to investigate, but as it's a mothership machine, messing with Ctrl-Alt-Del is probably restricted. That's the reason it locks up every fifteen minutes. And no, they won't let me switch that off. Security! Despite the fact the main security threat in my office is a pair of cats of limited typing ability.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 October, 2015, 02:32:39 pm
Whatever happened to that keystroke recorder wossname that used to come with Windows?  Record a sequence of <RETURN> & <DELETE> and loop it in an empty Notepad file :demon:

Or you could rig up a bass drum or hi-hat pedal to allow you to tap the space bar to the rhythm of of the war drums.

At least the NAS which goes under the name of "El Gordo" has been restored to health by unplugging it from the mains, plugging it back in, rebooting the PC, downloading a program from Seagate, discovering I already have it, shouting abuse, running the program, forgetting my password, poking it with the stick I normally save for the lion-taming act and swearing.

Now, VLC.  Why does that particular skin switch from full-screen to titchy window every time a new track starts playing?  Twattish is what it is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: menthel on 28 October, 2015, 03:23:42 pm
You need a mouse nudger.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Oaky on 28 October, 2015, 03:36:24 pm
You need a mouse nudger.

Now you make it sound like a job for ian's cats-of-limited-typing-ability.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 04 November, 2015, 10:39:10 am
So my 2011 MBP died last night - possibly the known issue with GPU failures due to dodgy solder.

Waiting for a call-back from Apple Support. Would quite like the free repair.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 November, 2015, 10:45:25 am
So my 2011 MBP died last night - possibly the known issue with GPU failures due to dodgy solder.

Waiting for a call-back from Apple Support. Would quite like the free repair.

Yeah, don't try to book an in-store appointment, they're unavailable forever as I just discovered when I planned to take a noisy mouse in for a swap. Great advice, support drone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 04 November, 2015, 10:49:44 am
Checked online already. There was one slot in a week and the cribbs store and nothing at Cabot circus. Probably gone now. Clearly geniuses are in short supply.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 November, 2015, 10:59:34 am
That's going to be my joke. Nothing in London or the burbs for the next six days. I just wanted to pop over to Bromley and wave it under someone's nose. Who knew Bromley on a Wednesday afternoon was so busy.

Anyway, I was doing them a favour, I can't be bothered wrestling for an appointment, I think I'll just ask for a replacement.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 November, 2015, 07:05:37 pm
OK, Mozilla, what the blazes does this mean:

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5770/22782547316_608d8d54d3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/AHdvzW)
Thunderbird message (https://flic.kr/p/AHdvzW) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

And should I be worried about it?  I don't know how that "t" got into the "Location" box, though my stubby peasant fingers are probably to blame.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 05 November, 2015, 07:08:15 pm
It means click cancel
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 November, 2015, 07:15:34 pm
I did, but this is about the third time it's come up in the past twenty-four hours so I'd quite concerned to find out what's causing it so I can conduct an experiment to determine the exact temperature at which the culprit's face catches fire.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 November, 2015, 02:29:38 am
I started the day with a stonking migraine.
The home server did too. I realised something was wrong when I couldn't get a network connection on any devices around the home - which wasn't ideal with an overdue bill to pay.

I plugged a monitor into the server and any numpty would have seen the sad state of affairs. The SSD boot disk in the home server expired. *sigh*
The good news I did have a backup.
The bad news - it was 18 months old.

I've got Stan's latest and greatest mutation of a cold virus, so I've not been able to do much except scavenge an SSD and restore the backup, which was at least enough to make the t'interwebs work again.

I've got a great big long list of things I need to do. Which ends with,
1 - take new backup
2 - configure backup server


I'm almost loathed to configure the backup server just now. On account the hardware I've got is crappy - it needs it's own power station to turn something that's commensurate with a hamster wheel.
My preferred option is actually adding a dual port Intel network card to the home server and some more ram. Then I can virtualize the firewall with PCI pass through on the network cards. That would mean reducing energy consumption by a bit and freeing up it's rather splendid (server grade-ish) atom board to use in the backup server instead of the current P-o-S.

And next year I'd like to do some jiggery pokery with disks in the home server so that I can mdadm RAID the boot drive and avoid a recurrence of this sorry state of affairs. Sadly it all requires DOSH and time and both are in rather short-supply.

Anyway. that's enough rambling on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 06 November, 2015, 02:03:47 pm
That's going to be my joke. Nothing in London or the burbs for the next six days. I just wanted to pop over to Bromley and wave it under someone's nose. Who knew Bromley on a Wednesday afternoon was so busy.

Anyway, I was doing them a favour, I can't be bothered wrestling for an appointment, I think I'll just ask for a replacement.

Looking like a new logic board, which would be over £500.

Not sure that's an economic repair for a laptop that's nearly 5 years old.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 06 November, 2015, 03:20:34 pm
That's going to be my joke. Nothing in London or the burbs for the next six days. I just wanted to pop over to Bromley and wave it under someone's nose. Who knew Bromley on a Wednesday afternoon was so busy.

Anyway, I was doing them a favour, I can't be bothered wrestling for an appointment, I think I'll just ask for a replacement.

Looking like a new logic board, which would be over £500.

Not sure that's an economic repair for a laptop that's nearly 5 years old.

It isn't. But I'd ask if the expected lifespan for a logic board should be fewer than five years? I'd hazard that that the main component in a modern computer should have a lifespan beyond that. If so, they owe you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 06 November, 2015, 05:07:59 pm
That's going to be my joke. Nothing in London or the burbs for the next six days. I just wanted to pop over to Bromley and wave it under someone's nose. Who knew Bromley on a Wednesday afternoon was so busy.

Anyway, I was doing them a favour, I can't be bothered wrestling for an appointment, I think I'll just ask for a replacement.

Looking like a new logic board, which would be over £500.

Not sure that's an economic repair for a laptop that's nearly 5 years old.

It isn't. But I'd ask if the expected lifespan for a logic board should be fewer than five years? I'd hazard that that the main component in a modern computer should have a lifespan beyond that. If so, they owe you.

It's a valid question, but it took a petition with 18,000 signatures and a class action lawsuit to get them to move on the widespread GPU issues.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 06 November, 2015, 06:07:30 pm
When they got sniffy about my wife's out-of-warranty Mac I merely pointed out that they were perfectly fine to disagree with my interpretation but as a senior partner at Boze and Hartford specialising in consumer law I was more than happy to dispute their disagreement.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 07 November, 2015, 12:27:50 pm
Home server is now somewhere near. I've still got to create new single use SSH keys/re-write the scripts for backing up three VPS. Oh, and re-install/re-configure the UPS monitoring software.

Various experiments now under way with the backup server. It's Mobo is suppose to support Wake-On-Lan. Does it bu**ery. The embedded NIC might very well do, but I suspect it's not plumbed into the MoBo in such a way as to receive any electrons when the server is powered off and plugged in. I've enabled the various BIOS options and also tried waking it from a suspended state versus a powered-off state. No dice.

The whole point is that the main home server can wake up the backup server, run the backups and shut it down again. Bah.
It looks like there's a wake on timer option which I'm going to try shortly. I don't hold out too much hope - it looks more of a wake from suspend, rather than a wake from powered off. And I'm wondering if it's a one time use thing, rather than a wake up daily at x time. The BIOS and the manual are all in chinglish, which doesn't help much.

At this point I'd dearly take recommendations for a motherboard
 - with an embedded processor (atom/celeron - CPU power is not important)
 - 5x SATA ports (or PCIe slot to add a SATA controller)
 - supports wake-on-lan
 - < £50
 - Linux friendly

Cheers
A
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 November, 2015, 12:46:50 pm
After discovering that iTunes can be made to use different libraries, I seem to have reverted to using it for playing audio.  Although the Babbage-Engine in the Great Hall is wired to route both its sound and vision via the anbaric distascope, iTunes allows me to send audio direct to the (networked) amp, so I doan 'ave to have the telly on once I've told it what to play.  As a bonus, DJ Random automatically updates himself when new Stuffs are added.

You may now start collecting faggots in order to burn the heretic.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 07 November, 2015, 05:23:44 pm
Sound Taxi on my Babbage-Engine has punished iTunes by making it play 12 hours of Morrissey reading his autobiog*, to convert the Audible files, in real time.  Bit strange as I don't use iTunes for anything else.

* Heaven knows why I bought this.  I've never much liked the man, and I like him slightly less now.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 November, 2015, 08:49:28 pm
Sound Taxi on my Babbage-Engine has punished iTunes by making it play 12 hours of Morrissey reading his autobiog*, to convert the Audible files, in real time.  Bit strange as I don't use iTunes for anything else.

* Heaven knows why I bought this.  I've never much liked the man, and I like him slightly less now.

You're miserable now?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 07 November, 2015, 08:51:41 pm
So my 2011 MBP died last night - possibly the known issue with GPU failures due to dodgy solder.

Waiting for a call-back from Apple Support. Would quite like the free repair.

Mine has been through that and survived. I am typing this on it now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 19 November, 2015, 05:59:04 pm
Enabling concurrent project builds in Visual Studio 2012 on a multi-core PC sure does find holes in the dependency tree quickly  :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Torslanda on 20 November, 2015, 10:34:26 pm
So the kittens walked, sat, fought and generally f*///*d up the laptop. It still works - I'm typing this on it now - but the header and the footer have disappeared and i have no idea how to bring them back.

Windows 7 OS. any suggestions?

ETA. Teh Kittehs managed to hide the toolbar and taskbar simultaneously. Not something I have a clue how to do . . .
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 20 November, 2015, 10:52:32 pm
Press F11 to switch full screen mode on or off, which hides the toolbars etc. Sounds like your kittens have done that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Torslanda on 20 November, 2015, 11:14:44 pm
Fab. Thank you.

Order is restored...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 23 November, 2015, 11:27:31 am
Every ten minutes, on a minute ending with a 7, the computers in this office 'freeze' for a couple of seconds  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 November, 2015, 06:10:17 pm
Will whatever it is that has decided to start Internet Explorer at system startup kindly stop it?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 29 November, 2015, 04:59:23 pm
Funny how ISP and IP's work. Installed wordfence on my blog, which can email you if various things happens on your wordpress installation. Depending on which IP my ISP have given me, I either reside in Manchester or Leeds :)

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 29 November, 2015, 05:32:58 pm
Yes, I periodically get an advert telling me that there are girls in Bracknell looking for podgy bald 50-something year old like me.

Seems a long way to go.
Presumably, there are enough podgy bald 50-something year olds in Bracknell to keep them happy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 November, 2015, 07:39:42 pm
Presumably, there are enough podgy bald 50-something year olds in Bracknell to keep them happy.

Isn't there an IRC channel for that?  ;)


Ob-xkcd:

(https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/geoip.png) (https://xkcd.com/713/)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 29 November, 2015, 08:08:03 pm
Presumably, there are enough podgy bald 50-something year olds in Bracknell to keep them happy.
Isn't there an IRC channel for that?  ;)
;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2015, 09:19:23 am
I have made VLC stop turning everything into a silent movie :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2015, 09:39:47 am
The Win 7 box, on the other hand, is being obstreperous.  At 1 this morning it had installed 124 of its 218 updates.  It's been doing #125 for eight hours.  This I find unreasonable.  Will the world come to an end if the mains lead "accidentally" fell out (run time on batteries being about thirty seconds)?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2015, 02:57:16 pm
The power cable "falling out" has had some interesting consequence:


It'll probably remember the other 88 in the middle of the night, and catch fire.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2015, 12:15:55 am
Did I say 88?  What I of course meant was 205 :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 06 December, 2015, 11:05:14 am
ha! The NHS appointment reminder email subject line is :  SQL Server Message
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 December, 2015, 11:55:50 am
Power off again in mid not-update.  Restart, install offending update manually.  Improbably this works.  Tell it to install the rest of the updates.  Lack-of-progress bar shuttles across the window lackadaisically and then stops.  Tell it to reboot.  Installing update 164 of 178 it says.  I think it is lying but who knows?  I will keep an eye on it.  I really don't want to nuke the W7 install and start again and not just because I don't think it'll help.

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 06 December, 2015, 12:17:07 pm
I find it irritating when programmer-speak is allowed to leak out to the user interface. Companies should really not let their programmers write stuff to be read by the public without it being checked by a normal person. Not least because of the high level of dyslexia amongst coders.

Things like the online banking screen that says: "Error: Bad Format or out of range or Two Decimal Digits missing" when you try to enter a whole number of pounds.

The oddest is the Vitality insurance page where it gives you points for activities.

"Cycling Base Point Event: >=30 mins AND <60 mins"

Srsly? Boolean operators and relational signs used as they would in a programming language? What's wrong with the clearer and much shorter "30-60 minutes cycling"?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 December, 2015, 08:02:24 am
Slowly whittling down the pile of outstanding updates to the point where I can check whether I actually need them.  Remote desktop?  Nope.  Printing?  Nope.  Proper rendering of the currency symbol for the rouble?  Nyet.

But soft!  What is this?  You want me to install Windows 10?

Fuck

Right

Off

 >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 December, 2015, 12:53:03 pm
So after all that I tried Airfoil Speakers again.

Did it work?  No.  No, it did not.  Arses!

Fortunately Plan C, in the shape of an eBay Airport Express, is on its way.  I may as well install Windows 10, just for laffs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mcshroom on 07 December, 2015, 04:40:49 pm
I installed Windows 10 overnight on Saturday and other than forgetting my network printer existed it went ok
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 December, 2015, 11:00:43 am
Finally getting rid of ye olde version of Illustrator. I'm not paying the subscription for CC. Been tinkering with Affinity Designer and it ticks all the boxes with a nice, clean UI that's not too far removed from the old beast but without the bloat. It doesn't make me draw any better though, which is disappointing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 December, 2015, 12:33:02 pm
Windows 10 seems little different from Windows 7 on the Eeeeee-Bah-Gum PC, in that Airfoil Speakers still doesn't work >:(  And the postie tried to deliver the Airport Express while I nipped out to Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 09 December, 2015, 10:56:53 pm
Just went into the other room to hear an odd chanting:

four-point-one-plus-seven-point-two-minus-ten-point-one  etc etc.

It's junior#2, doing maths homework.
Where we might have typed the arithmetic into a calculator, he's talking it to Siri.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 December, 2015, 11:05:02 pm
Trying to get rid of the XP partition on the Stupid Laptop appears to have b0rked the whole thing.  Bah >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 December, 2015, 09:09:14 am
Ten hours later and it's just hit the 12% mark for installing W10.  Together with one of the NAS boxes having a twitch and reinventing itself with a different IP address and the odd backup dying on its arse means it has been a long night chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 10 December, 2015, 07:08:23 pm
Just went into the other room to hear an odd chanting:

four-point-one-plus-seven-point-two-minus-ten-point-one  etc etc.

It's junior#2, doing maths homework.
Where we might have typed the arithmetic into a calculator, he's talking it to Siri.

Living in the future!

My generation might type it into a computer and the previous generationish would have used calculators to make their elders tut "young'uns etc" ;)

But talking to computers, that IS wrong </getting old>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 December, 2015, 07:35:54 pm
A further ten hours into the process after discovering that this time round Win 10 said "800x600 - take it or uninstall me".  Just finished Win 7 SP1 install and will let it do Win 10 in its own good time rather than trying to force the issue with a USB stick.  Bored now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 10 December, 2015, 11:20:39 pm
Larrers, the 800x600 thing just means the win10 update couldn't find a better video driver.

If your hardware is anything like contemporary mainstream, you can download and apply a proper driver after the update has happened.
That will include all nVidia and ATI from living memory, and most chipset embedded Intel too.

If you have something like a Matrox G200 from yesteryear, you're fsckd.
Either change the card, or revert to Win95 :-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 December, 2015, 08:25:03 am
Larrers, the 800x600 thing just means the win10 update couldn't find a better video driver.

Bum.  Stupid Win 10.  Though when it did the upgrade by itself it was, like, totes able to have the screen at the same resolution it had before.  Stupid Microsith.

I think the video wossnames are Intel and it's a 2009-vintage Asus EeePC so I would expect bignums of them still in the wild.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 December, 2015, 02:12:26 pm
This post comes from ye olde EeePC, aka "Spencer The Halfwit", running a barebones install of Windows 10 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 12 December, 2015, 10:50:54 pm
Now that is an idea - I have a Toshiba NB100 that is painful with XP..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 13 December, 2015, 05:51:34 pm
Got my github set-up with my new iMac and deleted old public keys lying around.

Now I can push the weights graphing code so I have a copy of the last however many changes online.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 17 December, 2015, 01:43:22 pm
Here at work, we've invested in something called Mimecast, I think it manages our email traffic. Amongst other things it does is, once a day, it sends me an email with an inventory of what it has diagnosed as potentially junk email for me to white-list, black-list or otherwise.
I tend to delete the email.

We also have something called Zscaler, (or Zslacker, as I prefer to call it) which amongst other things, monitors the appropriatness of sites I visit. As of a couple of days ago Zslacker has started to put the Mimecast email into my junk mail.

Isn't this how Skynet started?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 20 December, 2015, 03:11:52 pm
Here's a plug for software I like enough to plug even with no commission:

Directory Opus - a superior replacement for Windows file Explorer - half price until Dec 26:

www.gpsoft.com.au
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 December, 2015, 01:37:00 pm
I've only been away from Fort Larrington 24 hours and Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) has already b0rked his mouse, or at least have it die on him.  Kensington trackball job bought in March >:(  I have ordered him a slightly more expensive Logitech as it's less likely to be made of cheese ha ha.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 December, 2015, 02:15:01 pm
Is that the nice Kensington one with the lovely scrollwheel collar?  I've got one of those, courtesy of barakta who found the mouseclick buttons unsuitable for left-handed operation.  I have to do an arcane incantation with xinput every time I boot up in order to emulate the missing middle button (and chording buttons are always a bit hit and miss), but it's wonderful for scrolling.

Barakta, on the other hand, has the Logitech that looks like a crudely drawn vulva.  The labia minora function as additional buttons, but it lacks scrolling capability.  We've recently set up some USB foot pedals to do page up and down, which sort of works.

What's really needed is a mutant hybrid of the two trackballs.


(Don't get me started on sinister meece.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 December, 2015, 03:12:46 pm
His was one of the old-skool Kensington trackballs without scrolly-thing.  I've got one of each - the scrolly-thing is great but I keep relinquishing my grip on the right button while selecting Stuffs chiz.  However the Number One Rodent at Larrington Towers is an elderly Microsith thumb-operated trackball thing with five buttons (one of which doubles as a scroll wheel).  When asked about updated drivers Microsith's response was "go buy something newer and less good", which makes them officially Dicks.

Some chancer was offering NOS ones on Mega-Global Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia earlier this year at four hundred and fifty quid a pop.  Nice to have a nest-egg ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 29 December, 2015, 05:46:03 pm
Is that the nice Kensington one with the lovely scrollwheel collar?  I've got one of those, courtesy of barakta who found the mouseclick buttons unsuitable for left-handed operation.  I have to do an arcane incantation with xinput every time I boot up in order to emulate the missing middle button (and chording buttons are always a bit hit and miss), but it's wonderful for scrolling.

Barakta, on the other hand, has the Logitech that looks like a crudely drawn vulva.  The labia minora function as additional buttons, but it lacks scrolling capability.  We've recently set up some USB foot pedals to do page up and down, which sort of works.

What's really needed is a mutant hybrid of the two trackballs.


I've got one of the Kensington trackballs. I wonder if a bit of judicious scanning and 3d printing might help..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 January, 2016, 04:00:49 pm
Dez just commented that he had transferred 47GB of data in about 8 minutes and commented "How long would that have taken with Laplink?"

My reply was "About a week's civil service overtime, I should think."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 08 January, 2016, 06:10:17 pm
I read a week or so ago about an IRC channel I was going to poke my nose into.

Obviously now I've got around to installing an IRC client, I've clean forgotten what it was...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 January, 2016, 06:20:41 pm
I could tell you a few that I'm busy idling in, if that helps :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 08 January, 2016, 07:26:28 pm
Is there a yacf one hidden somewhere?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 January, 2016, 08:02:36 pm
Not that I know but we could always set on up on freenode or the like :)

Edit: might try to set up a server on my raspberry just for a laugh.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 08 January, 2016, 08:21:21 pm
Not that I know but we could always set on up on freenode or the like :)

Edit: might try to set up a server on my raspberry just for a laugh.

cool :) well I'll be in ##yacf in the meantime
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 January, 2016, 09:56:54 pm
Not that I know but we could always set on up on freenode or the like :)

Edit: might try to set up a server on my raspberry just for a laugh.

cool :) well I'll be in ##yacf in the meantime

We appear to have made this a thing...

#yacf on irc.freenode.net
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 09 January, 2016, 12:18:06 am
I got it running on my RPI. Server sudomakecake.ddns.net, 6667, #yacf if you are that way inclined :)

Or we could use freenode :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 13 January, 2016, 07:38:52 pm
Woohoo!

I seem to be successfully updating my old TomTom One XL Sat Nav, via the TomTomHome V2 software (windows only!), via Windows XP Virtual Machine running on my puter which runs Linux Mint 17.2, via the magic of VirtualBox!!

Despite my not running windows on any computer since Ubuntu 7.10 came out, I'm glad I kept hold of my Winxp cdrom (plus the win98 cd to verify the winxp upgrade cd)

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 31 January, 2016, 02:08:51 pm
Couldn't get the Humax to connect to the wifi until I actually typed in the network name rather than picked it from the list of available networks  ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 February, 2016, 05:00:28 pm
Our internet connection has taken to dropping out for short periods, usually a minute or less, and always between 17:30 and 18:00, when it'll happen 2 or 3 times. Before that it's fine, ditto after.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 02 February, 2016, 09:02:46 pm
People all getting in from work and firing their computers up maybe?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 February, 2016, 09:05:18 pm
REIN causing the DSL to lose sync?  Some noisy appliance nearby that's used regularly at that time of day... go sniffing with a de-tuned AM radio.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 February, 2016, 09:05:36 pm
People all getting in from work and firing their computers up maybe?

Shouldn't cause a connection to drop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 02 February, 2016, 09:26:49 pm
Central heating kicking in on the timer and a noisy thermostat?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 03 February, 2016, 08:27:11 am
I did think it had to do with Mrs. T42 knocking off for the evening and closing her machine down.  I don't see that the router should muck about with my connection when hers is freed up, or why it should do it 3 times as it did last night - especially since she left her machine running. She doesn't turn on anything that would create undue interference, either - just a couple of lights that are on & off all day anyway.

We haven't got central heating.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 February, 2016, 04:06:48 pm
I've just been smitten by a sudden urge to hack my old iPod Classic to accommodate a 500 GB SSD.  Will someone please talk me out of this.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 07 February, 2016, 04:44:38 pm
SSDs are not always lighter and more power efficient than 2.5" HDDs, and they can't work any more quickly when the interface is slow.  Use your phone instead anyway.



...That didn't work, did it?  Really, I'm such a fan of SSDs that I even use one with my TV via USB 2.0 just because it's silent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 February, 2016, 08:36:10 pm
Phone?

Ha ha ha ha ha klonk.

^^^^ Sound of Mr Larrington laughing his head off.

I've got an old 60 GB iPod Classic as well as a newer 160 GB one so may well find myself experimenting on the former
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 08 February, 2016, 07:01:48 am
Why, when viewing yacf on tapatalk, does everyone's avatars show up blank except for Phil W's?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 February, 2016, 12:59:32 pm
It would appear one of my USB disks has died on its arse.  "The first NTFS boot sector is unwriteable". followed by "All NTFS boot sectors are unwriteable.  Cannot continue.  Format failed.  Format failed."

So bad they told me twice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 09 February, 2016, 10:17:20 am
iConfess  ;D

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.littleiapps.confession
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 10 February, 2016, 07:22:30 pm
Thought this was cool. Someone on imgur has visualised an old modem handshake and annotated it with what it all means:

http://i.imgur.com/5Dq6K2U.png

There's video too, for extra credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvr9AMWEU-c

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 February, 2016, 12:18:22 pm
Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia not the Messiah but rather a very naughty Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia. (http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/08/apple-under-pressure-lawyers-error-53-codes)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 11 February, 2016, 01:05:48 pm
Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia not the Messiah but rather a very naughty Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia. (http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/08/apple-under-pressure-lawyers-error-53-codes)

There's actually a very valid reason (in the final paragraph) – payment mechanisms are authorised by the touch ID system.

Crap article anyway. Some people have been affected and US legal firm eye class action suit. Really.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 11 February, 2016, 01:13:26 pm
Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia not the Messiah but rather a very naughty Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia. (http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/08/apple-under-pressure-lawyers-error-53-codes)

There's actually a very valid reason (in the final paragraph) – payment mechanisms are authorised by the touch ID system.

Crap article anyway. Some people have been affected and US legal firm eye class action suit. Really.

A good reason, yes, but a very poor response from Apple. I don't have a problem with Apple locking the touch ID/ApplePay functionality if it suspects the home button has been compromised, but permanently bricking the entire phone seems disproportionately harsh.

I expect at some point their message will change to "if you have this error code please bring your handset to the nearest Genius Bar so we can verify your handset and reset the error code".

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 11 February, 2016, 03:22:20 pm
Apple always respond like that. It's their ironic calling card. Not exactly news. Next up, Microsoft run around headless chickens after Windows problem uncovered.

Mostly a gripe at sloppy journalism, that story is over a week old and mostly about lawyers might sue someone. Yeah, really. Still, it makes a break from those stories were they simply annotate things people have said about something on Twitter.

Anyway, they can't really win. If they didn't lock down compromised phones, there'd be a stories about someone having their credit card maxed out through Apple Pay.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 12 February, 2016, 06:21:55 am
We really need an "effing div"* thread for computery things.

Me. Yesterday. I wrote the following and it didn't even register as utterly, utterly wrong until (inevitably) it crashed.

   if (myCollection.count == 0) {
      anItem = myCollection[0];
      :
      :
   }

Take me out and shoot me now. 

*Although what you'd call such a thread for html idiocies is a puzzle.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 12 February, 2016, 07:51:10 pm
Why, when viewing yacf on tapatalk, does everyone's avatars show up blank except for Phil W's?

Because I ticked the special checkbox
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 18 February, 2016, 07:06:48 pm
Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia not the Messiah but rather a very naughty Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia. (http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/08/apple-under-pressure-lawyers-error-53-codes)

There's actually a very valid reason (in the final paragraph) – payment mechanisms are authorised by the touch ID system.

Crap article anyway. Some people have been affected and US legal firm eye class action suit. Really.

A good reason, yes, but a very poor response from Apple. I don't have a problem with Apple locking the touch ID/ApplePay functionality if it suspects the home button has been compromised, but permanently bricking the entire phone seems disproportionately harsh.

I expect at some point their message will change to "if you have this error code please bring your handset to the nearest Genius Bar so we can verify your handset and reset the error code".

Apple have apparently rolled out an update to stop this happening, unbrick any affected phones, and are telling users who have bought a new phone out of warranty to contact ApppleCare for reimbursement.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 February, 2016, 06:30:28 pm
It would appear one of my USB disks has died on its arse.  "The first NTFS boot sector is unwriteable". followed by "All NTFS boot sectors are unwriteable.  Cannot continue.  Format failed.  Format failed."

So bad they told me twice.

I just plugged it into a different PC.  It works ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 23 February, 2016, 09:07:33 am
Clearing out our office store-room on Sunday I turned up my old Stano-Data pica ruler from 1978: one of these:

http://www.amazon.de/Standardgraph-8405-Stano-data-II/dp/B004Z4UWIC

A wee bit yellowed but otherwise still perfect.  Pleased about that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 24 February, 2016, 01:19:24 pm
Quote from: Famous Internet Search Engine
503. That’s an error.

There was an error. Please try again later. That’s all we know.

Thank-you, very helpful  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 27 February, 2016, 11:24:28 am
Does it really require 50-60% network utilisation to update a couple of FLAC tags?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 27 February, 2016, 12:25:11 pm
Does it really require 50-60% network utilisation to update a couple of FLAC tags?

Yes, you can't change something in the middle of a file on disc, you have to read the file off the disc and write it back to the disc. So if it's on a disc elsewhere on the network it has to go via the processor that knows how to change the file, and FLAC files are not exactly small.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 29 February, 2016, 07:38:50 pm
Coo.  According to MrsLurker's sea noise generator* today is Friday the 54th of January 2017. Can't wait to see what day it thinks tomorrow is.


*Meditation. For the use of.

Update. 1st of March.  And today isn't Tuesday the 1st of March.  Nope.  It's Saturday the 55th of Jan. 2017.

I would love to know how they're calculating this.  I'm assuming it's on the basis of a tickcount or similar and I can't imagine that they're that pushed for space that they couldn't use a standard library for the conversion.  *Baffled*.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 06 March, 2016, 09:42:10 am
Rummaging in our storeroom for an extension bar just now, I came across a copy of Microsoft C plus utilities on 5-inch floppies - about 15 of them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 March, 2016, 01:17:40 pm
Coo.  According to MrsLurker's sea noise generator* today is Friday the 54th of January 2017. Can't wait to see what day it thinks tomorrow is.


*Meditation. For the use of.

Update. 1st of March.  And today isn't Tuesday the 1st of March.  Nope.  It's Saturday the 55th of Jan. 2017.

I would love to know how they're calculating this.  I'm assuming it's on the basis of a tickcount or similar and I can't imagine that they're that pushed for space that they couldn't use a standard library for the conversion.  *Baffled*.

Fascinating.  How old is it?  Maybe it's run out of lookup table and it'll just keep adding days to Jan 2017...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 06 March, 2016, 04:44:08 pm
Coo.  According to MrsLurker's sea noise generator* today is Friday the 54th of January 2017. Can't wait to see what day it thinks tomorrow is.


*Meditation. For the use of.

Update. 1st of March.  And today isn't Tuesday the 1st of March.  Nope.  It's Saturday the 55th of Jan. 2017.

I would love to know how they're calculating this.  I'm assuming it's on the basis of a tickcount or similar and I can't imagine that they're that pushed for space that they couldn't use a standard library for the conversion.  *Baffled*.

Fascinating.  How old is it?  Maybe it's run out of lookup table and it'll just keep adding days to Jan 2017...
About two years old, although there's no saying how old the code in it is.  It's only a 2 digit display so I'm letting it run on to see what happens at 99.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 March, 2016, 12:12:30 am
Since when did just playing an mp3 file via iTunes make it "newer" than the backup copy, at least in the eyes of Robocopy ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 08 March, 2016, 06:46:15 am
Has iTunes decided to helpfully update the album art for you, or something like that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 March, 2016, 07:12:55 am
Play count.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 March, 2016, 08:45:35 am
AFAIK iTunes only stores play count in the library file, not as an attribute of the mp3.  Robocopy has properly copied files on which I've jibbled artwork, title, etc. etc. but it's also copied ones I haven't edited, just played.  And I'm certain it didn't do that last week ???

Edit: And it gets treated as "newer" as soon as it starts playing, not when the play count is updated at the end of the track.  Double ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 08 March, 2016, 01:35:14 pm
Is it updating the rights information on the file?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 March, 2016, 03:42:20 pm
I've just bodged a posh 80mm fan in place of the grindy 40mm effort that was cooling vibrating the CPU on the VIA somethingorother board that we use as a router.  Also cleaned all the fluff out of the case, and replaced the dust intake fan with a quieter model.

The change in noise may take some getting used to...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 March, 2016, 04:43:01 pm
Aha!

I jibbled a load of disc and track numbers with MP3tag a week or two ago but iTunes only takes note of the changes when it plays a track; this somehow gets fed back to Windows causing the created date & time to change to when it starts playing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 10 March, 2016, 08:13:44 am
The two Pis that I used to replace 1) a firewall and 2) a fileserver, had their first real world test, yesterday.

National Grid, or whoever, decided that they would like to remove the power to our home at $SILLY_OCLOCK, yesterday.

Both boxes shutdown, once power had been removed.  Once power was restored they came back up and carried on working as if nothing had happened! YAY!

Word to the wise, if you decided to use a Pi for something that you don't want to have to log into each time it reboots, to get things working again, bear in mind they have no realtime clock.  There is a way around it, use fake-hwclock, which writes the time to a temp file, and reads it on boot up.  This stops services like Squid crapping out when they see the clock suddenly jump forward 40+ years!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 10 March, 2016, 09:01:37 am
I'd imagine building a UPS for the Pis would be a fairly trivial undertaking for the average DIYer!! :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 March, 2016, 02:29:42 pm
Word to the wise, if you decided to use a Pi for something that you don't want to have to log into each time it reboots, to get things working again, bear in mind they have no realtime clock.  There is a way around it, use fake-hwclock, which writes the time to a temp file, and reads it on boot up.  This stops services like Squid crapping out when they see the clock suddenly jump forward 40+ years!

I've never had this cause anything other than a couple of angry messages in syslog about timestamps being in the future, but I'm not running squid on them.  ntpd sorts things out shortly after the network comes up, so conceivably a bit of boot-sequence-fu could be used to make things wait until the clock was valid.  Fake-hwclock is still a useful bodge.

You can add a proper realtime clock to a Pi relatively easily, but I don't really see the point when there's a network available.  Indeed, I was going to add one to the Pi that functions as our alarm clock (so it wouldn't fail to wake us up if it rebooted and couldn't find the network for some reason), but decided I might as well use a GPS module instead and have it be a stratum 1 NTP server, which is much more geeky.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 March, 2016, 03:25:14 pm
Performing SSD transplant into iPod.  Little plastic doofer which conjoins power cable to motherboard decides to part company with pins on motherboard, which are very very tiny.  Little plastic doofer does not want to go back on pins.  Harsh words are said >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 10 March, 2016, 06:36:52 pm
Bloody phone died this morning, in the middle of nowhere in Eastern Europe.
Hard crash then failed to reboot.
Cyanogenmod wheel just spins, going nowhere.

Can boot into recovery, and Cyanogenmod image is still on the sd card.
Result.
Spent taxi ride to customer office re-flashing it.
Then leeches the customers Internet to let it sync all my apps back, whilst I ran the training session.

Recovered enough to allow online checking for flights home.

At least it works in the cold, tho   :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 12 March, 2016, 05:44:50 pm
I have a Microsoft Surface tablet. I hadn't used it for about a month, and when I turned it on 'bitlocker' had been applied. I obtained the recovery key, but the machine is now asking me to 'activate windows' with my product key and has its date set to February, when I last used it. Help!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 13 March, 2016, 12:57:10 am
Have you tried just activating it? Does it actually ask you for a product key?

From a command shell you can just try running "slmgr /ato". Is the tablet still in warranty?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 13 March, 2016, 10:13:46 pm
So I've just had to buy a new phone.

The old one could not keep it's firmware image un-corrupted for more than a few hours.
I got mightily bored of booting to recovery and re-flashing it twice a day.

I haz a Samsung Galaxy S7 ( non-curvy-edge model ).
I'll leave it on the stock firmware for now.


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 March, 2016, 12:36:20 pm
Yahoo! please! stop! dicking! around! and! send! that! e-mail!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 17 March, 2016, 10:38:41 pm
Have you tried just activating it? Does it actually ask you for a product key?

From a command shell you can just try running "slmgr /ato". Is the tablet still in warranty?
Asks for product key. Out of warranty. I have absolutely no idea what the rest means.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 25 March, 2016, 10:45:03 am
Updated the OS on the iPad yesterday evening.  Done it several times in the past, no problem. This time it requested a sign-in to the Apple ID associated with it.  Could I remember it???!!!  Well  eventually my wife guessed it was an old email addy of hers... but then I couldn't remember the password I'd used  ::-). Luckily eventually I got locked out and could reset it. (I'd forgotten about iforgot @ Apple)  Chose to answer security questions rather than get email. First pet - check (at second try). DOB - fail. I'd used mine, not hers  :facepalm:  Then set new password that met the criteria - but "that's too easy to guess"  :-\. That's an hour of my life I won't get back, but I'll be ok setting up her new iPhone  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 March, 2016, 12:52:18 pm
Don't – don't – install iOS 9.3 on your iPad 2: Upgrade bricks slabs (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/23/ios_93_update_bricks_ipad_2s/)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 25 March, 2016, 01:17:03 pm
Don't – don't – install iOS 9.3 on your iPad 2: Upgrade bricks slabs (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/23/ios_93_update_bricks_ipad_2s/)

As I'm typing this on said iPad that obvs didn't happen to ours but then it's only a couple of years old and is an "Air".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 25 March, 2016, 01:34:52 pm
Looks like it's mainstream news now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35898788
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 25 March, 2016, 02:20:09 pm
The internal network at bigclient was brought to its knees earlier this week as everyone who'd registered with the "bring your own device" option arrived at work and iOS upgrade commenced...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 March, 2016, 10:06:50 am
"iOS 9.2.1 Your software is up to date" quoth my fondleslab.  Looks like the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia has pulled this one for now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Basil on 30 March, 2016, 06:55:46 pm
Bugger.  My Nexus tablet has suddenly decided to to take photos sideways.  Wtf?
OK, I can rotate them and re save, but what a pain.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 01 April, 2016, 12:39:31 pm
(http://i.imgur.com/5IdakAT.png)

Seems to work for most towns in Blighty e.g.

Code: [Select]
curl http://wttr.in/Blackpool
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 April, 2016, 01:24:11 pm
Code: [Select]
kim@penelope:~$ curl http://wttr.in/Birmingham
Weather for City: Birmingham, United Kingdom

    \  /       Partly Cloudy
  _ /"".-.     6 – 9 °C       
    \_(   ).   ↑ 20 km/h     
    /(___(__)  10 km         
               0.0 mm         
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Fri 01. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│               Cloudy         │    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │  _`/"".-.     Patchy rain ne…│
│      .--.     6 °C           │  _ /"".-.     8 – 10 °C      │  _ /"".-.     6 – 10 °C      │   ,\_(   ).   1 – 8 °C       │
│   .-(    ).   ↑ 20 – 27 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 30 – 33 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 33 – 35 km/h │    /(___(__)  ↑ 27 – 39 km/h │
│  (___.__)__)  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │
│               0.0 mm | 0%    │               0.0 mm | 0%    │               0.0 mm | 0%    │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.1 mm | 72%   │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Sat 02. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│     \   /     Sunny          │     \   /     Sunny          │  _`/"".-.     Patchy rain ne…│      .-.      Light rain     │
│      .-.      6 – 7 °C       │      .-.      11 °C          │   ,\_(   ).   8 – 10 °C      │     (   ).    8 – 9 °C       │
│   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 20 km/h      │   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 22 km/h      │    /(___(__)  ← 14 – 23 km/h │    (___(__)   ↙ 8 – 13 km/h  │
│      `-’      10 km          │      `-’      10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   9 km           │
│     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.1 mm | 35%   │    ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘    1.3 mm | 82%   │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Sun 03. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│               Overcast       │  _`/"".-.     Light rain sho…│    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │     \   /     Clear          │
│      .--.     6 – 9 °C       │   ,\_(   ).   10 – 12 °C     │  _ /"".-.     9 – 11 °C      │      .-.      6 – 8 °C       │
│   .-(    ).   ↑ 24 – 30 km/h │    /(___(__)  ↑ 26 – 31 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 13 – 22 km/h │   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 12 – 26 km/h │
│  (___.__)__)  10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │      `-’      10 km          │
│               0.1 mm | 13%   │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.3 mm | 18%   │               0.0 mm | 18%   │     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘

Check new Feature: wttr.in/Moon or wttr.in/Moon@2016-Mar-23 to see the phase of the Moon
Follow @igor_chubin for wttr.in updates
kim@penelope:~$


Cute  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 01 April, 2016, 06:32:45 pm
Code: [Select]
kim@penelope:~$ curl http://wttr.in/Birmingham
Weather for City: Birmingham, United Kingdom

    \  /       Partly Cloudy
  _ /"".-.     6 – 9 °C       
    \_(   ).   ↑ 20 km/h     
    /(___(__)  10 km         
               0.0 mm         
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Fri 01. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│               Cloudy         │    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │  _`/"".-.     Patchy rain ne…│
│      .--.     6 °C           │  _ /"".-.     8 – 10 °C      │  _ /"".-.     6 – 10 °C      │   ,\_(   ).   1 – 8 °C       │
│   .-(    ).   ↑ 20 – 27 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 30 – 33 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 33 – 35 km/h │    /(___(__)  ↑ 27 – 39 km/h │
│  (___.__)__)  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │
│               0.0 mm | 0%    │               0.0 mm | 0%    │               0.0 mm | 0%    │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.1 mm | 72%   │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Sat 02. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│     \   /     Sunny          │     \   /     Sunny          │  _`/"".-.     Patchy rain ne…│      .-.      Light rain     │
│      .-.      6 – 7 °C       │      .-.      11 °C          │   ,\_(   ).   8 – 10 °C      │     (   ).    8 – 9 °C       │
│   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 20 km/h      │   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 22 km/h      │    /(___(__)  ← 14 – 23 km/h │    (___(__)   ↙ 8 – 13 km/h  │
│      `-’      10 km          │      `-’      10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   9 km           │
│     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.1 mm | 35%   │    ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘    1.3 mm | 82%   │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
                                                       ┌─────────────┐                                                       
┌──────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┤ Sun 03. Apr ├───────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│           Morning            │             Noon      └──────┬──────┘    Evening            │            Night             │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│               Overcast       │  _`/"".-.     Light rain sho…│    \  /       Partly Cloudy  │     \   /     Clear          │
│      .--.     6 – 9 °C       │   ,\_(   ).   10 – 12 °C     │  _ /"".-.     9 – 11 °C      │      .-.      6 – 8 °C       │
│   .-(    ).   ↑ 24 – 30 km/h │    /(___(__)  ↑ 26 – 31 km/h │    \_(   ).   ↑ 13 – 22 km/h │   ― (   ) ―   ↑ 12 – 26 km/h │
│  (___.__)__)  10 km          │      ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  10 km          │    /(___(__)  10 km          │      `-’      10 km          │
│               0.1 mm | 13%   │     ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘   0.3 mm | 18%   │               0.0 mm | 18%   │     /   \     0.0 mm | 0%    │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘

Check new Feature: wttr.in/Moon or wttr.in/Moon@2016-Mar-23 to see the phase of the Moon
Follow @igor_chubin for wttr.in updates
kim@penelope:~$


Cute  :thumbsup:

Yes reminds me of 1970s Ceefax. Very retro.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 04 April, 2016, 05:00:41 pm
I likey. Thanks  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 05 April, 2016, 03:40:50 pm
Huh, didn't realise that Windows 10 automagically mounts .iso files.
I'd downloaded a VMWare update iso and it popped up in my drive list.
vHandy :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 April, 2016, 06:32:05 pm
Dr Larrington, the next time you fail to plug back in our Aged Parent's wireless router after using your hairdryer, I will charge you a consultancy fee to cover my l33t remote diagnostic 5k1llz >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 06 April, 2016, 09:02:52 pm
Dr Larrington, the next time you fail to plug back in our Aged Parent's wireless router after using your hairdryer, I will charge you a consultancy fee to cover my l33t remote diagnostic 5k1llz >:(

Sorry but I find that highly amusing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 April, 2016, 11:27:39 pm
Dr Larrington, the next time you fail to plug back in our Aged Parent's wireless router after using your hairdryer, I will charge you a consultancy fee to cover my l33t remote diagnostic 5k1llz >:(

Sorry but I find that highly amusing.

GIT ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 09 April, 2016, 09:55:14 am
A company I deal with has closed all its incoming email addresses, their main means of contact is now twitter DM. As an email user since the time it was JANET, I officially feel like a dinosaur.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 April, 2016, 10:04:23 am
A company I deal with has closed all its incoming email addresses, their main means of contact is now twitter DM. As an email user since the time it was JANET, I officially feel like a dinosaur.

One can only hope they remain in business long enough to rue the error.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 12 April, 2016, 08:59:33 pm
I should have been in bed an hour ago (6:30am start at work tomorrow!)

But I have finally managed to figure out using Virtual Box with Win 7 image, so that I can update my new Garmin Nuvi 55 satnav!  It seems the version that ships with Linux Mint doesn't have fully functioning usb, but the latest build from https://www.virtualbox.org/ (https://www.virtualbox.org/) does!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 14 April, 2016, 08:02:46 pm
Coo.  According to MrsLurker's sea noise generator* today is Friday the 54th of January 2017. Can't wait to see what day it thinks tomorrow is.


*Meditation. For the use of.

Update. 1st of March.  And today isn't Tuesday the 1st of March.  Nope.  It's Saturday the 55th of Jan. 2017.

I would love to know how they're calculating this.  I'm assuming it's on the basis of a tickcount or similar and I can't imagine that they're that pushed for space that they couldn't use a standard library for the conversion.  *Baffled*.

Fascinating.  How old is it?  Maybe it's run out of lookup table and it'll just keep adding days to Jan 2017...
About two years old, although there's no saying how old the code in it is.  It's only a 2 digit display so I'm letting it run on to see what happens at 99.

Oooh, _exciting_. Today is the Monday the 99th of January 2017... what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 April, 2016, 05:43:26 am
...what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?

A hexadecimal one.  Tuesday the A0th of Jan 2017. Interestingly the month is "stuck". 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 15 April, 2016, 11:22:50 am
I for one welcome our sixteen-fingered overlords.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 15 April, 2016, 12:12:18 pm
Just pondering the fact that when I first had a laptop you had to network using a pcmcia card and funky adaptors. Then laptops all had ethernet ports built in. Then Wifi as well. Hurrah!
Now laptops are too thin and sexy to fit an ethernet port in the chassis and we're back to needing dongle and funky cables to do ethernet.
Is it time we came up with a low profile RJ-45 replacement for Cat-5? Surely there's no real need for a cat-5 cable to terminate in anything thicker than a USB port?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 15 April, 2016, 01:08:04 pm
...what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?

A hexadecimal one.  Tuesday the A0th of Jan 2017. Interestingly the month is "stuck".

Perhaps the month will increment after the FFth of Jan?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 April, 2016, 02:46:34 pm
Is it time we came up with a low profile RJ-45 replacement for Cat-5? Surely there's no real need for a cat-5 cable to terminate in anything thicker than a USB port?

Didn't we cover this recently?

A resounding 'no'.  Plugging laptops in is an edge-case as far as structured cabling is concerned, and changing all that perfectly good - compatible - infrastructure to facilitate it would be daft.

By all means the next fibre thing can have a ludicrously low-profile connector - that'll come in handy in data centres, I'm sure.  But let UTP die out gracefully.  The Apple users can have their dongles - they should be used to it by now - and most networking to laptops will surely be wireless.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 April, 2016, 04:49:44 pm
...what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?

A hexadecimal one.  Tuesday the A0th of Jan 2017. Interestingly the month is "stuck".

Perhaps the month will increment after the FFth of Jan?
Good point,  I wasn't awake enough for hexadecimal arithmetic first thing, but I'm not sure I can be bothered hanging on to find out.   

The apparent swap to hex is a puzzle.  If it had been displaying base 16 since the 29th of Feb (and I'm not convinced that it has) then I'd expect today to be 9A rather than A0. Weird.  One to file under, "yet another example of crap software" and forget.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 15 April, 2016, 05:09:10 pm
Is it time we came up with a low profile RJ-45 replacement for Cat-5? Surely there's no real need for a cat-5 cable to terminate in anything thicker than a USB port?

Didn't we cover this recently?

A resounding 'no'.  Plugging laptops in is an edge-case as far as structured cabling is concerned, and changing all that perfectly good - compatible - infrastructure to facilitate it would be daft.

By all means the next fibre thing can have a ludicrously low-profile connector - that'll come in handy in data centres, I'm sure.  But let UTP die out gracefully.  The Apple users can have their dongles - they should be used to it by now - and most networking to laptops will surely be wireless.

My relatively slim netbook type thing has an an RJ45 port that physically embiggens when you push the connector into it courtesy of a spring and a hinge. TBH I think the omission of Ethernet NICs from laptops has more to do with trimming usage of electrons than physical form factor...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 15 April, 2016, 05:26:55 pm
...what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?

A hexadecimal one.  Tuesday the A0th of Jan 2017. Interestingly the month is "stuck".

Perhaps the month will increment after the FFth of Jan?

I'm waiting for the 35th of May.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 April, 2016, 05:53:32 pm
My relatively slim netbook type thing has an an RJ45 port that physically embiggens when you push the connector into it courtesy of a spring and a hinge.

Witchcraft!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 15 April, 2016, 06:48:58 pm
...what brave new day will dawn tomorrow?

A hexadecimal one.  Tuesday the A0th of Jan 2017. Interestingly the month is "stuck".

Perhaps the month will increment after the FFth of Jan?
Good point,  I wasn't awake enough for hexadecimal arithmetic first thing, but I'm not sure I can be bothered hanging on to find out.   

The apparent swap to hex is a puzzle.  If it had been displaying base 16 since the 29th of Feb (and I'm not convinced that it has) then I'd expect today to be 9A rather than A0. Weird.  One to file under, "yet another example of crap software" and forget.

I have a suspicion that BCD is involved, and it hasn't been implemented properly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 April, 2016, 07:16:06 pm
I'm waiting for the 35th of May.
I remember that book!  Roller skating around the equator? Sharks?*

*I haven't seen a copy since 1971 or '72 so the old recall circuitry may be playing tricks.

Feanor: BCD - yes seems quite possible.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 17 April, 2016, 03:45:22 pm
Is it time we came up with a low profile RJ-45 replacement for Cat-5? Surely there's no real need for a cat-5 cable to terminate in anything thicker than a USB port?

Didn't we cover this recently?

A resounding 'no'.  Plugging laptops in is an edge-case as far as structured cabling is concerned, and changing all that perfectly good - compatible - infrastructure to facilitate it would be daft.

By all means the next fibre thing can have a ludicrously low-profile connector - that'll come in handy in data centres, I'm sure.  But let UTP die out gracefully.  The Apple users can have their dongles - they should be used to it by now - and most networking to laptops will surely be wireless.

I must have missed it.

I don't like WiFi for anything more than temporary use or sofa surfing, I'd rather have a cable and dedicated bandwidth. However, I'm not advocating a change to existing infrastructure, just a standard for very slim laptops which could be implemented with a new patch lead, or even a female RJ-45 -> Male New slim connector adaptor on an existing patch lead if you prefer. It would still save you a USB port.

Maybe my office is rare in having users who regard laptops as status symbols but never take them _anywhere_
(Yes, I give them fatter laptops but they're all getting smaller!)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2016, 04:39:53 pm
I don't like laptops other than for temporary use or sofa surfing, but I appear to be increasingly in the minority...

I can see that a standardised patch lead wouldn't be a bad idea.  Although it's probably going to be a USB/Thunderbolt/whatever-Ethernet dongle at this rate.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 17 April, 2016, 04:40:20 pm
I don't like WiFi for anything more than temporary use or sofa surfing, I'd rather have a cable and dedicated bandwidth. However, I'm not advocating a change to existing infrastructure, just a standard for very slim laptops which could be implemented with a new patch lead, or even a female RJ-45 -> Male New slim connector adaptor on an existing patch lead if you prefer. It would still save you a USB port.

That seems perfectly reasonable to me ...if only there were more than thirty-three (wo)men and a dog using ethernet with laptops to justify the expense of making a new standard.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 17 April, 2016, 06:31:16 pm
I don't doubt that people at home nearly all use laptops/tablets/phones and wifi (he says, typing from a wired up desktop that is vastly overpowered for internet surfing) but there's no way I'd want to use it to provide connectivity in the office, where I do still find myself doling out an increasing proportion of laptops vs desktops. I will say that people seem far less blatent in their intent to use them as a freebie home computer than they used to be.  I assume that's due to the rise of fondleslabs of whatever size and flavour.

Good point on the multipurpose socket though, Kim. I guess that'd be the way to go.

Anyway, it's all bollocks and will never happen :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 17 April, 2016, 07:30:11 pm
Code: [Select]
<trkpt lat="57.1593914A ‚@  Á_   „@ ‚a±ìþÁ?ðü ÿÿÿïþÁ?ð &`
€ @  …]  Œ@  ¿a áø¿àìÁðÿ €€0   þÀô|à®þAŸÈû ø ?ò×Ç è¤0,8Æ b0†~@ |Ÿ$$3S[èüa5    0ü A  $Â?ñ/øþàðí8¯OìÿÁ?àøþ@ÿß>Óëúûþ¿øü¿à/  B@$€ðüÿýPÀóƒ?àøÿÿ >œÜC™û¶ø»U4 (  üø'  


That's what was at the end of the gpx file from today's ride  ??? RideWithGPS & BaseCamp didn't like it at all. Replacing it with </trk></gpx> fixed the issue.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 April, 2016, 01:59:08 am
OK, so Macrium Reflect creates a file called backup_running in the target directory while a backup is actually running, and deletes it once it's finished.  Except if the system undergoes a spontaneous reboot, like it does sometimes, when one is having one's tea.  And then you can't re-run the backup, because it's still there, and you can't delete because it claims to be locked by another process even if you've restarted the box in so-called "Safe Mode".  Any guesses as to how to nuke the damn' thing?  It's on a NAS if that makes any difference.

Edit: Shut down, checked backup directory from another PC, offending file has buggered off.  Not there when being-backed-up-PC restarted either ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 19 April, 2016, 04:19:54 pm
For future/other use, there's an aggressive little utility called Unlocker that can nuke almost any file on a Windows PC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 April, 2016, 04:27:09 pm
Any guesses as to how to nuke the damn' thing?  It's on a NAS if that makes any difference.

Probably a case of waiting for the phantom network connection to time out.  Or killing the relevant process on the NAS (perhaps by restarting Samba, or indeed the whole NAS).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 22 April, 2016, 06:17:04 pm
We're finally getting fibre optic broadband early next month. Woo!

Which is nice since I designed and wrote significant parts of the firmware that runs on the line card in the kerbside box that makes it possible... 6 years ago!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 23 April, 2016, 09:55:04 pm
I seem to be getting many 0 byte files downloading from Twitter.
This has just started today.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 25 April, 2016, 08:59:11 am
How does linux(debian) boot? What I get to see before I get to the login screen, is totally random.

Sometimes the font is nice and readable other times it is a basic font large or small, which changes while it boots. Sometimes I get the run down of all the things it loads with a little ok next to them when they are. Sometimes I get to see the NVIDIA logo most times I don't get to. The GRUB menu is often very basic and big letters, other times it is very neatly laid out. I do get GRUB, disk check, login screen every time. Though how they look and what happens in between these steps is utterly random.

It is like a manager have just thrown a list at the staff, with stuff to be done before the end of the day, and said when this is done you can clock off down to the pub, first round is on me. Nothing like a run down order with a check list like for TimC before he heads over to the US again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2016, 12:06:55 pm
How does linux(debian) boot? What I get to see before I get to the login screen, is totally random.

Quickly and with as much going on in parallel as possible.  So the exact order in which things happen is subject to a sort of butterfly effect as one process gets dibs on the disk IO (or whatever) first and causes another (and its dependencies) to block for slightly longer.


Quote
It is like a manager have just thrown a list at the staff, with stuff to be done before the end of the day, and said when this is done you can clock off down to the pub, first round is on me. Nothing like a run down order with a check list like for TimC before he heads over to the US again.

Exactly.  It gets you to the pub usable system faster.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 25 April, 2016, 03:45:22 pm
My Airbus had to reboot the other week. Panasonic Avonics runs Redhat apparently. I presume that was just the entertainment system. I never trusted Redhat, back in the day it was a home of dependency hell, hopefully it has got better. Could be worse, I could have found out that Airbus A380s run Windows CE.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 25 April, 2016, 09:32:08 pm
Air New Zealand Boing 777s, do indeed run Windows CE!  And of course the entertainment system needed rebooting several times before we could get going...

Sadly my car's entertainment system also runs Windows CE, and its crap.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 April, 2016, 12:26:58 am
A surprising number of embedded systems run Windows CE.  It's cheap and (mostly) works.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 26 April, 2016, 01:29:31 am
A surprising number of embedded systems run Windows CE.  It's cheap and (mostly) works.

Aye. For values of 'mostly' that trend down in inverse proportion to the urgency of the task at hand.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 26 April, 2016, 04:10:12 pm
My Airbus had to reboot the other week. Panasonic Avonics runs Redhat apparently. I presume that was just the entertainment system. I never trusted Redhat, back in the day it was a home of dependency hell, hopefully it has got better. Could be worse, I could have found out that Airbus A380s run Windows CE.

I can hardly remember a single flight where the VoD system worked flawlessly.

Lock-ups and eternal re-booting seems to be the order of the day with them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 28 April, 2016, 09:55:11 am
(Ex) colleague of mine.

This code of yours you wrote has cost me HOURS that I'll never get back.

double version = double.Parse(doc.Root.Attribute("Version").Value);
if (version == 7.0)
../..


Works until we sell that product to a French company where the float conversion fails because there, the conversion needs "7,0" not "7.0". What was wrong with a simple string comparison?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 28 April, 2016, 01:01:00 pm
Doing an == comparison on a float gives me the creeps, too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 28 April, 2016, 06:26:02 pm
Nothing so dramatic as avionics, but our stock scanners and table ordering "pads" run on WinCE. I hate them with a passion. I'm waging a campaign to get it all redone for Android so we can buy some devices that don't cost £750 each and will fit into a pocket/apron.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 28 April, 2016, 09:20:14 pm
I particularly hate if (version==blah) type constructs for other reasons.

What happens in 7.1 or 8.0? Do you have an ever growing cascade of if..else constructs?

As for the appropriateness of treating it as a numeric value, how do you treat 7.10 or 7.28.1 as a double?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 28 April, 2016, 09:27:06 pm
Doing an == comparison on a float gives me the creeps, too.

Quite right.
2 numbers that are nominally equal may not be in the LSBit.

I have had to de-bug shitty code that used floats as a loop index, and where float values were added inside the loop.
And the loop was defined to end when the index == n.
It was a random chance that the loop would exit correctly, if ever.

When comparing floats, I'd only ever use > or < operators.

Anyone using anything other than integers as a loop index is going to have a bunch of extra pain when I'm in charge of Hell.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 28 April, 2016, 09:37:24 pm
I've re-written it.

There there... all better now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 28 April, 2016, 09:39:08 pm
Thanks.

<breathes out, and back in>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 30 April, 2016, 07:48:28 pm
I've been knifed by this sort of thing before only with greater than / less than string comparisons rather than equality so I wouldn't give you the time of day for string based dotted version numbers.

The only safe solution I've found is to deal with version numbers as two or more integer fields rather than as a string.  Yes; you do have to write code to compare the fields in the correct order, but you only need to write the one library function to do so and you can do whatever the hell you like when displaying the version in app. info. popups.

Summat like:   <Version  Major="7" Minor="0" Revision="0" Build="1287" />

As it happens I have a noddy class that does this sort of thing rather than a simple function so I can instantiate VersionNumber types and do equality / greater / less comparisons with (relative) impunity and the ToString() override splats out a "pretty" version for user consumption.   It got written because I was sick to death of fixing broken version comparisons in our major application.  Such things are manifold when dealing with a product well into its second decade where complex business rules regarding backwards compatability exist.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: PeteB99 on 01 May, 2016, 10:15:00 am
Not sure if it's a bug or a feature but yesterday I renewed my cars VED via the GOV.CO.UK website. Just looked at the confirmation email and it's actually confirming 2 renewals, this years and last years.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 02 May, 2016, 02:09:10 pm
Its a feature.  However, if you really did it via a gov.co.uk domain, then you've been had  ;D   ITYM gov.uk....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 04 May, 2016, 09:07:22 pm
*Possible* compromise of a number of webmail services; username/password combinations published.   If you do use one of the allegedly affected webmail services you might want to change your password just to be safe.

A bit more, but not much more,  info here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36204531 

Be warned, the article contains examples of appalling business jargon. See the quote from Yahoo.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 04 May, 2016, 11:35:03 pm
We're getting 35Mbps after the FTTC upgrade yesterday - guess my code works then.  O:-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 05 May, 2016, 08:12:06 am
*Possible* compromise of a number of webmail services; username/password combinations published.   If you do use one of the allegedly affected webmail services you might want to change your password just to be safe.

A bit more, but not much more,  info here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36204531 

Be warned, the article contains examples of appalling business jargon. See the quote from Yahoo.
Note: your email *may* have been compromised *only* if you used insecure websites and signed up with a password identical to the one you use for your email account.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 05 May, 2016, 08:29:02 am
(PSA: Google offers two-factor authentication, and if you don't use it I'd strongly recommend considering it: https://www.google.com/landing/2step/ )
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 05 May, 2016, 01:36:04 pm
Me too, though watch out for the app, Google Authenticator, as it have had a problem for the last two years, what it struggles with the summer vs winter time change (the period that US or UK has changed over but UK or US still drag their feet). The Key it tells you is about an hour out.

So I swapped to FreeOTP, which has worked fine for me on Facebook, LogMeIn, Dropbox and Google.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 05 May, 2016, 01:46:14 pm
It does tell you that your IT is getting a bit old when you need to:

1/ Turn on old dead HP All-in-One (where the printer is dead but the scanner works just fine)
2/ Plug USB cable into it and the laptop.
3/ Insert your 2Gb CompactFlash into the HP.
4/ Press scan on HP and tell it to save scan to CF.
5/ Find file of the scan on the mounted CF and copy it over to laptop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2016, 12:43:17 pm
My Facebook page is talking to me in Spanish.
I have changed nothing on my Babbage engine.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 08 May, 2016, 01:41:44 pm
Que? :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2016, 09:29:23 pm
I was wrong; it was Portuguese (Brasil). Seems quite a few others had this or Polish.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Karla on 10 May, 2016, 10:09:53 am
I'm on a LabVIEW training course.  We spent the first hour this morning doing for and while loops, with several people having a detailed discussion about these fascinating new concepts that they'd apparently never come across before.   

Give me strength.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 10 May, 2016, 12:04:21 pm
We all started somewhere. Be patient.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Karla on 14 May, 2016, 10:15:45 am
True - but the course was very much a case of 'Introduction to programming ... using Labview' rather than 'Introduction to Labview'.  We spent the first couple of days going over the basic constructs that you find in any high level language (data types, boolean logic, different types of loops, arrays) in great detail, then spent the last day covering the bits that are the reasons why people use Labview (e.g. controlling hardware, gathering and exporting data from said hardware) at a gallop. 

I'm a bit less annoyed than I could be though, for two reasons: I paid an academic discount rather than full price, and in the rest of the week I've managed to do what I wanted with Labview so the last day's skim coverage was in fact sufficient.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 16 May, 2016, 09:41:11 am
The monitor I thought would hook up nicely to my Pi has interfaces from before ye Fludde.  Have to pinch the Inlaw Paw's 22" Dell.  Seems incongruous, a thing the size of a box of Swan Vestas driving something that size.

Shame we gave away the old 42" TV...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 16 May, 2016, 09:06:23 pm
Try a £10 hdmi to vga converter. Works just fine for me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 17 May, 2016, 12:48:12 pm
Try a £10 hdmi to vga converter. Works just fine for me.

There's an olden days output on the Pi too. Component or something. The yellow RCA one anyway.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 May, 2016, 12:55:34 pm
Composite video.

Unfortunately, fonts that are readable at sensible sizes on a PAL/NTSC display died out with the Amiga.  So it's only a practical solution for very specific applications.  Playing games in emulators, for example.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 May, 2016, 01:02:33 pm
Bruiser McHuge's mouse appears to have drunk itself utterly to DETH on contact cleaner after I tried to cure its annoying habit of assigning no/one/two clicks to a single prod of the right button chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 May, 2016, 01:06:22 pm
I successfully replaced the microswitch in my mouse when it got like that.  Even more shockingly, when one of barakta's rodents (of a completely unrelated molishment) went a bit iffy, it turned out to use the same switches (of which I now had a bag of n-1).  It turns out that standardisation is fine when you don't expect people to even think of repairing things.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 17 May, 2016, 02:20:20 pm
Try a £10 hdmi to vga converter. Works just fine for me.

Cheers.  I was looking at DVI converters - the Pi site says to use powered ones, that come in as pricey as a 7" touchscreen.

Just ordered a VGA converter for 7€ on Amazon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 May, 2016, 06:30:21 pm
I successfully replaced the microswitch in my mouse when it got like that.  Even more shockingly, when one of barakta's rodents (of a completely unrelated molishment) went a bit iffy, it turned out to use the same switches (of which I now had a bag of n-1).  It turns out that standardisation is fine when you don't expect people to even think of repairing things.

The clickiness was still there after The Treatment but cursor movement decided it had had enough.  The LED inside the trackball housing lights up but that's all chiz.  A new one was twenty quid :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 17 May, 2016, 10:08:55 pm
Try a £10 hdmi to vga converter. Works just fine for me.

Cheers.  I was looking at DVI converters - the Pi site says to use powered ones, that come in as pricey as a 7" touchscreen.

Just ordered a VGA converter for 7€ on Amazon.
I've got one working just fine on the Pi Zero.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 20 May, 2016, 03:56:42 pm
Mine arrived today. Maybe get at it this weekend.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 21 May, 2016, 11:56:41 am
Just had a Pine64 board arrive. Now to decide what to do with it. It is supposedly a grown up version of the Pi with more IO, bigger processor and memory.
And OS distros for android and many other things.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 21 May, 2016, 05:35:15 pm
Ah the sweet satisfaction of success, I have won my battle with Adobe ARM.

I've tried all the suggestions on the net - fecking thing comes back.
I've scoured and cleansed the registry of all related settings - fecking thing comes back.
I've disabled the service  - fecking thing comes back.
I've deleted the service and the executables - fecking thing comes back BUT Mr Adobe you've now made a mistake.  That kind of activity is not self repair, it's virus like behaviour and it WILL get killed.  I'm no longer metaphorically idly hitting delete, you have my full and focussed attention.

I'm slightly disappointed.  All it took was replace the executables with zero byte files marked read only.  Every time in future I run Reader and get two windows errors telling me Mr Adobe's shitware AdobeARM.exe cannot be run I shall smile.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 21 May, 2016, 07:01:46 pm
Regenerated my osm maps for GB and Ireland to the latest mapping data as in osm upto last night. Edited my style files and finally got it to generate maps where it won't auto route down footpaths, bridleways and off road tracks and will avoid trunk roads unless I explicitly click down them. Yeah routing fit for purpose.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 May, 2016, 07:19:19 pm
Been fiddling wif ETS2 Studio to make custom truck paint jobs.  Market value of this l33t 5k1ll: 0 ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 23 May, 2016, 10:38:58 pm
I upgraded to Lubuntu 16.04 a few weeks ago, I now find that though a DVD operates normally, I insert disc and the little window opens for me to decide what I'm going to do with it, if I insert a CD I get the message Location is not mountable, though I can access it through the music player, strange! It mounts the camera and USB stick normally, very strange.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 May, 2016, 10:41:11 pm
Audio CDs *aren't* mountable, except when there's some trickery going on to pretend to the user that they are.  There's no filesystem on them, just an audio stream.

Why it doesn't recognise them as such and offer to open a music player or something is a good question.  It's the sort of thing you'd expect a distro like that to do.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 23 May, 2016, 10:47:46 pm
Audio CDs *aren't* mountable, except when there's some trickery going on to pretend to the user that they are.  There's no filesystem on them, just an audio stream.

I know, normally inserting one just brings up a little window similar to the one a  DVD brings up, but now I'm getting the error message instead, which is very annoying. It looks like a reacurance of a problem they had a few years ago, I found plenty about it when I searched but it was all old stuff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 24 May, 2016, 08:21:19 am
Maybe with the upgrade, your music player is no longer associated with playing music CDs or something like that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 24 May, 2016, 12:05:19 pm
Maybe with the upgrade, your music player is no longer associated with playing music CDs or something like that.

Yes I suspect the upgrade is the villain of the piece, I'll just have to see if I can work it out, I don't use discs very often so its just annoying, apart from that everything is working well.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 26 May, 2016, 10:43:56 am
hmm someone is standing on the line, downloads and streaming is dead slow and jerky but speedtest says I got ok speed ... 16up/1.2down on really good days we get 18/1.3, which is ok for our use.

As a test I tried to get ubuntu.iso from ubuntu.com (1.4Gb), just to clock up 1Mb took five minutes. Play anything on iPlayer just stops/starts. Same goes when I try to download ubuntu via torrents, dead slow. Our Now.tv struggles with connecting too, keep saying not enough bandwidth. Though streaming the local radio works just fine and hitting sites like guardian and youtube everything loads and play just fine.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 May, 2016, 11:45:28 am
That sounds like the problem lies with your ISP or beyond, rather than your line.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 27 May, 2016, 09:44:19 pm
Just pasted 1 miiiillliiiooon spam post on my blog \o/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 May, 2016, 11:18:59 pm
Can the Learned Members of Thee Panel tell me whether there's any simple way of distinguishing between Cat5 and Cat 6 network cables just by looking at them?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 31 May, 2016, 11:19:34 pm
It's usually printed on the cable, IIRC. (Source: handful of cables I just grabbed out of the box by my desk)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 May, 2016, 11:26:51 pm
Should have thought of that :facepalm:  Will have a squint.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 31 May, 2016, 11:27:13 pm
Cat6 will be less flexible than cat5
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 31 May, 2016, 11:27:48 pm
And are often (but not exclusively) an attractive shade of purple.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 June, 2016, 12:50:39 am
Cat6 will be less flexible than cat5

Except that the 5a that goes on holibobs with me seems thicker and somewhat less bendy than the 6 which runs up the stairs ???

And are often (but not exclusively) an attractive shade of purple.

The only ones on which I can see the writing without any unpleasant bending are
There are also black, grey, green and red ones around the place but AFAICT no purple ones, though it's pretty dark back there in the medusa's lair behind the distascope.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 10 June, 2016, 11:20:19 am
Latest version of Firefox (47.0) doesn't reload the page when you go back/forward, for https sites. It just shows a cached copy.
Which kind of affects the way I read this forum - yes, its quicker to go back/forward, but it doesn't show which threads have new posts, or which have been already read (unless I click refresh).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 10 June, 2016, 07:36:24 pm
Android Studio. If this was a tool I was relying on for work this'd be in the rant threat.  Thankfully I'm not so I'll just whinge about it here; if that's alright with you?

What a waste flamin' time that was.  Installation went OK, but can I get an emulator to start up and run? Damned if I can.  Not only that but the IDE is_hideously_ slow.  Seventeen (yes 17!) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/27585398815/in/dateposted-public/) minutes to build "hello world" and that's before it even tries to install the apk on the (non-functioning) emulator.

I uninstalled it an hour or so ago. No point in keeping 15 gigs of electronic dross.  I'll just have to plod on with Eclipse/ADT which means I can't write for anything later than Kitkat (what a bloody _silly_ naming convention) which is a pain, but a build takes mebbe a few tens of seconds to a minute and the emulator actually runs even if takes a couple or three minutes to start.
 
Now I know this machine is old (Win7 pro x32 4GB) and uses a Celeron processor not Intel so the Intel HAXM emulator is a non-starter (hah!), but if Google could get their armeabi emulation to run reasonably well (slowly, but hey it's an emulator) four years ago how in the name of the wee man can they not get it working now?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 14 June, 2016, 10:56:27 am
Just had to share. Someone, somewhere put in this "formula" - and yes, there are no gaps. only missing "SUM" at the beginning.
Code: [Select]
=(I18+I19+I20+I21+I22+I23+I24+I25+I26+I27+I28+I29+I30+I31+I32+I33+I34+I35+I36+I37+I38+I39+I40+I41+I42+I43+I44+I45+I46+I47+I48+I49+I50+I51+I52+I53+I54+I55+I56+I57+I58+I59+I60+I61+I62+I63+I64+I65+I66+I67+I68+I69+I70+I71+I72+I73+I74+I75+I76+I77+I78+I79+I80+I81+I82+I83+I84+I85+I86+I87+I88+I89+I90+I91+I92+I93+I94+I95+I96+I97+I98+I99+I100+I101+I102+I103+I104)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 23 June, 2016, 06:57:30 am
Latest version of Firefox (47.0) doesn't reload the page when you go back/forward, for https sites. It just shows a cached copy.
Which kind of affects the way I read this forum - yes, its quicker to go back/forward, but it doesn't show which threads have new posts, or which have been already read (unless I click refresh).

And with pinned tabs it reloads last night's content.

Other than that I don't mind this effect too much, because with back/forward the thread you just came out of serves as a place-mark on the page.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 23 June, 2016, 09:08:14 am
But they have returned the bookmark functionality to it's proper state, in 47. Whoever thought that sticking all bookmarks in one folder, for you to have to expend energy later to categorise, needs shooting.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 23 June, 2016, 09:47:46 am
My understanding of the release notes is that Firefox now responds to cache instructions contained in meta tags. This is the 'correct' way to work but is inconsistent will other browsers.
I would have expected at least to be able to opt in to this behaviour.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 July, 2016, 09:33:28 am
Keyboard's getting a bit sticky. No harm to it, it's an electro-mechanical about 15 years old with profiled keys, nicest to use I ever had.  Casing has hollows worn in it where my thumbs rest.  Doubt if I'll find one as good.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 July, 2016, 01:26:42 pm
Put it through the dishwasher, and dry thoroughly.  If it survives, it'll be good as new.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 July, 2016, 05:49:00 pm
Don't think I'm prepared to face that "if" just yet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 July, 2016, 11:18:49 am
The Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia seem so keen to push the Home Sharing feature of iTunes that they neglected to tell any one that if your iTunes library and media files live on a network disk then you can point any Babbage-Engine on your network at the same library.  You probably can't have two Babbage-Engines doing it at the same time, but this is not something I actually need to do.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Woofage on 12 July, 2016, 02:26:22 pm
The booking and queueing system for blood tests at our local hospital runs on Ubuntu. I know because there was a nag window asking for software updates  ::-).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 July, 2016, 06:56:10 pm
Switched on Slow Dempsey the laptop for the first time in three months.  I can practically hear the cogs grinding as he attempts to back himself up and perform a quarter's worth of updates simultaneously.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 15 July, 2016, 01:27:41 pm
BT informs me of a 'Free Upgrade'.
Wifi Hotspots are a Thing. I look at their map of Hot Spots.
The nearest is Edgware Job Centre, which closed about 5 years ago.
I'd show you Google Street View evidence of how long it's been closed.
But Google Maps seem down...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 29 July, 2016, 10:51:53 am
Fill in the first word that comes to mind: Fit. Bit. [****].
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 29 July, 2016, 10:56:10 am
Fill in the first word that comes to mind: Fit. Bit. [****].

Beer
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ruthie on 31 July, 2016, 09:14:15 am
Fill in the first word that comes to mind: Fit. Bit. [****].

Sofa.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 31 July, 2016, 09:29:55 am
Fill in the first word that comes to mind: Fit. Bit. [****].

Sofa.
And that is how the internet is won.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 05 August, 2016, 10:28:19 am
Astounded.  My new printer has its full designation writ large on a plate right on the front for all to see.  I thought this was forbidden by law, that such info had to be carried on a plate somewhere on the back - or better yet, the underside - with the barcode & a bunch of other guff, so that the user would have to be a contortionist dwarf with lite-up eyeballs to read it after installation.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 09 August, 2016, 02:07:23 pm
Astounded.  My new printer has its full designation writ large on a plate right on the front for all to see.  I thought this was forbidden by law, that such info had to be carried on a plate somewhere on the back - or better yet, the underside - with the barcode & a bunch of other guff, so that the user would have to be a contortionist dwarf with lite-up eyeballs to read it after installation.

You forgot the bit about it being printed in 4pt Comic Sans, by a printer that the ribbon has just about run out of, or is that just reserved for the printing of Service Tags and Serial Numbers?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 13 August, 2016, 12:52:20 pm
Set-up a Public Wi-Fi access point ... just for the sake of it really.

Uses a captive portal to advise people of limitations of liability etc.
Wireless clients are isolated from each other
WAN access is round-robin between three different VPN connections
Client's sessions are timed out after two hours to discourage public use.
Download restricted to 256 Kb/s and upload restricted to 128 Kb/s.
Firewall rules restrict access gateway management ports and the rest of the network.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 22 August, 2016, 07:53:08 am
Just spent a couple of minutes clapping an ear to my external drives and main box to find out which has been emitting a periodic high-pitched whistling.  Then it stopped, and the truck delivering stuff to the building-site 100 yds up the road drove away. Duh.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 August, 2016, 01:41:09 pm
It's not doing a SMART self-test, is it?  That tends to make the drive in my desktop whistle.  It probably makes the ones in the server whistle too, but it's enclosed in a rack that attenuates high pitched noise and those tests are programmed to run in the middle of the night.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 24 August, 2016, 06:45:37 pm
I interviewed someone this morning about cycling tech and had to suppress a few giggles because he kept referring to "open house" software.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 24 August, 2016, 09:58:50 pm
I've just found out what happens when you VNC into a machine running VNC server to see if it is working  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 24 August, 2016, 10:25:32 pm
I interviewed someone this morning about cycling tech and had to suppress a few giggles because he kept referring to "open house" software.
Open source software with very poor update controls? :)
I've just found out what happens when you VNC into a machine running VNC server to see if it is working  ;D
Am I missing something, but isn't this what you normally do?  ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 24 August, 2016, 11:05:31 pm

Am I missing something, but isn't this what you normally do?  ???

You may want to Google recursion
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 24 August, 2016, 11:24:28 pm
Looking for a protective case for a Macbook Air 13". From my research so far, these are the two favourites:
Incase Icon sleeve
https://www.incase.com/shop/macbook-sleeves/icon-sleeve-with-tensaerlite-for-mb-air-13/heather-black-gray/
Tech21 Impact Snap case
https://www.tech21.com/en_gb/impact-snap-case-for-apple-macbook-air-13

Any other suggestions?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 28 August, 2016, 09:09:48 am
For a Sony 13" skinny laptop, I bought this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009X0K40E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A somewhat lower price point than you were looking at, but its done fine, being carted about all over the place, in the car, on trains, and shoved in boxes of stuff at events.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 30 August, 2016, 02:06:14 pm
For a Sony 13" skinny laptop, I bought this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009X0K40E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A somewhat lower price point than you were looking at, but its done fine, being carted about all over the place, in the car, on trains, and shoved in boxes of stuff at events.

Cheers, looks good. And I'm all for saving money!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 30 August, 2016, 10:17:42 pm
My MacBook Air has travelled to every continent sans case. I once used it in a game of table tennis.  Oh and it was briefly stolen by monkeys. Despite that its looks suspiciously better than its human attaché. Who hasn't been kidnapped by monkeys. Yet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 31 August, 2016, 08:01:49 am
Give it time, Ian.  Them colobuses are tricky monkeys...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 September, 2016, 10:11:56 am
Just when I could really do with being able to use speech to text my plastered laptop has decided it doesn't have a microphone anymore
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 September, 2016, 12:53:26 pm
Just when I could really do with being able to use speech to text my plastered laptop has decided it doesn't have a microphone anymore

Looks like you managed to get it working somehow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 September, 2016, 01:56:02 pm
I'm using android when I want to do much input or typing one handed
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 02 September, 2016, 02:55:53 pm

Am I missing something, but isn't this what you normally do?  ???

You may want to Google recursion

Alternative search engines are available!
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=recursion&t=ffab&ia=meanings

 8)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 02 September, 2016, 04:40:57 pm
My MacBook Air has travelled to every continent sans case. I once used it in a game of table tennis.

I'm sure they're pretty sturdy really, but I prefer to err on the side of caution.

Quote
Oh and it was briefly stolen by monkeys.

That's no way to talk about US Customs officers!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 03 September, 2016, 10:45:53 am
From http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/29/74 

Quote
Check whether you have an account that has been pwned
Sam Wood <samuel.wood@sri.com>
Fri, 2 Sep 2016 07:18:45 +0000

  https://haveibeenpwned.com

  [As I am typing this, their website shows 129 websites and
  1,388,845.883 accounts that have been pwned!  PGN]"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 September, 2016, 03:01:04 am
ASUS Smart Gesture - last week when I ticked the box marked"Disable touchpad when mouse is plugged in" and plugged in a mouse, you disabled the touchpad.  Now you don't.  Kindly do as you're told.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 05 September, 2016, 11:13:17 am
My MacBook Air has travelled to every continent sans case. I once used it in a game of table tennis.

I'm sure they're pretty sturdy really, but I prefer to err on the side of caution.

Quote
Oh and it was briefly stolen by monkeys.

That's no way to talk about US Customs officers!

I told a lie anyway, I do have a cover for it (I was thinking of the horrible plastic cases), one of those sleeve things that it comfortably slides into. It was a handmade thing, so cost a small fortune (I try to avoid buying too much crap made by amphetaminised Chinese teens working 20 hour days), but it's very good, like a rather smart jacket.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 06 September, 2016, 05:59:26 pm
The hotel wifi in this place in Majorca is MUCH faster than at the place we visited last year and it's FREE, unlike last year.
Which is nice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 06 September, 2016, 10:40:45 pm
I am on the interview panel for a maths lectureship (I'm the external rep) and all the CV's and cover letters are beautifully typeset in LaTeX. Some with more craft than others. It's like sinking into a comfy 30 year old armchair..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 September, 2016, 02:32:52 am
This place (Pasadena Inn, Pasadena CA) has WIRED internets FTW :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 07 September, 2016, 12:30:18 pm
I am on the interview panel for a maths lectureship (I'm the external rep) and all the CV's and cover letters are beautifully typeset in LaTeX. Some with more craft than others. It's like sinking into a comfy 30 year old armchair..

Nice!  I haven't done my CV in LaTeX for years but I did get a compliment from a dyslexic interviewer who told me she couldn't normally read serifed fonts but she could read mine, and what the hell was it. I think it was Real Times TM.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 07 September, 2016, 11:14:42 pm
Playing with lemmings on the computer. https://youtu.be/xG-T2_2rPA0 3d reconstruction from photos. Have to redo this one as there are obvious flaws.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 16 September, 2016, 05:03:13 pm
My AVG was taking longer and longer recently, eventually reaching over 24 hours for a scan. On-line searching yielded nothing better than "if you've got a lot of files...".  Then 2 days back, which much tootling for their trumpet, they did a free upgrade.  Scan times are back to normal now.

So far.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: HTFB on 20 September, 2016, 10:53:28 pm
I know Facebook can identify all 7Bn humans on the planet from blurry mugshots just a few pixels wide, so I shouldn't be surprised that mid-twentyteens OCR with our new printer/scanner works. But it actually does. When did that happen?

Jt u5ecl t( givc 0utyut iii<e tnis, thc last tiine J tnecl dOwe5tic OCP..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2016, 11:30:56 pm
I know Facebook can identify all 7Bn humans on the planet from blurry mugshots just a few pixels wide, so I shouldn't be surprised that mid-twentyteens OCR with our new printer/scanner works. But it actually does. When did that happen?

Early noughties IIRC.

In other news, voice recognition is almost usable these days, as long as it's reasonably formal text with proper sentences and things.  It's still shit for spodding, controlling the computer remains a black art, and it can't cope with barakta's speech.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 September, 2016, 01:39:08 am
I told the Ratmobile's voice controlled radio/phone/CD/MP3 wossname to shut up the other day, which it took to mean "Play the album 'Population Four' by the Cranes".  I had to reset both my iPod and the Ratmobile before it would stop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 21 September, 2016, 01:08:16 pm
I'm looking forward to being the first person to download macOS today just so I can find something that doesn't work and complain about it on the web. It wasn't like this when uber-dick Steve Jobs was in charge, I'll bleat and tweet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 21 September, 2016, 04:30:23 pm
I'm looking forward to being the first person to download macOS today just so I can find something that doesn't work and complain about it on the web. It wasn't like this when uber-dick Steve Jobs was in charge, I'll bleat and tweet.

I don't know if I've just missed it, but have we managed to escape headphonejackgate here completely?

Christmas will be fun, with Little Johnny unwrapping his Shiny! New! Fruitphone! and his only-just-compatible Massive! Overpriced! Beats! headphones...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2016, 04:42:00 pm
I don't know if I've just missed it, but have we managed to escape headphonejackgate here completely?

Didn't it get superseded with SillyExpensiveHeadphonesThatPingfuckitOutOfYourEarsGate?


TBH, I don't think it's really a big deal.  Everyone knows that FruitCo customers love buying dongles, and all the other manufacturers have just had their boring ordinary headphone jack become a positive selling point.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 21 September, 2016, 04:49:06 pm
TBH, I don't think it's really a big deal.

Same here, especially as you get the dongle free with the phone. I'm enjoying reminding rabid Android zealots that the first Android phone (and a bunch of others on the market now) also ditched the 3.5mm port... ;-)

Didn't it get superseded with SillyExpensiveHeadphonesThatPingfuckitOutOfYourEarsGate?

The AirPods, on the other hand, do appear to be a pingfuckit-prone pile of toss. I'll be sticking to my (lovely) Phillips bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones for half the price, thankyewverymuch Apple.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 21 September, 2016, 05:04:31 pm
Yes, that all seems a fuss about nothing given there's an adaptor in the box. But hey, if a 3.5 mm headphone jack is a big deal, then buy a phone that has one. It's the same with people griping that an iPad doesn't have a SD slot. If it's a big deal, buy one of the many tablets that does.

I'll be sticking with Sennheiser £30ish earbuds anyway, cheap and cheerful. The concept of sticking my headphones on and finding they have no battery left isn't going to make my journeys by Southern Trains any more cheerful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2016, 05:14:51 pm
It's the same with people griping that an iPad doesn't have a SD slot. If it's a big deal, buy one of the many tablets that does.

Not quite, because if you want an IOS tablet, it's got to be an iPad.  Whereas if you want a proper computer with access to the filesystem it's going to have to be something else, which means you don't get to have IOS.  Which is a bit unfortunate for those who've already made half of that decision, but twas ever thus:  Cheap scanners don't always work in Linux.  You can't connect your Garmin to your iThing.  Nobody can find the hash key on a Mac.  You've got to suffer Windows if you want proper Excel.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 21 September, 2016, 05:43:22 pm
I'm sticking to my mega£ custom fitted earplugs as they fit my ears perfectly and exclude almost all other noise. I'll need the dongle, should I upgrade.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 September, 2016, 11:35:21 pm
It's the same with people griping that an iPad doesn't have a SD slot. If it's a big deal, buy one of the many tablets that does.

Not quite, because if you want an IOS tablet, it's got to be an iPad.  Whereas if you want a proper computer with access to the filesystem it's going to have to be something else, which means you don't get to have IOS.  Which is a bit unfortunate for those who've already made half of that decision, but twas ever thus:  Cheap scanners don't always work in Linux.  You can't connect your Garmin to your iThing.  Nobody can find the hash key on a Mac.  You've got to suffer Windows if you want proper Excel.

And is there any way I can transfer photos directly from my Olympus camera to my fondleslab?

Why, no!  No, there is not!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 21 September, 2016, 11:54:47 pm
I bought a Camera Conversion Kit from the fruit people, which meant that my David could connect his Canons to his iFondleslab or feed an SD card into a fruity30pin but he's lost half the kit.

Not quite direct but...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2016, 12:12:26 am
I bought a Camera Conversion Kit from the fruit people

Ah!  So there's a dongle for that!  *makes mental note because that's bound to come in handy*

So you can kinda-sorta do USB OTG on an iThing after all.  Although it doesn't do anything for the lack of filesystem access in IOS, so if you want to do anything other than transfer approved media files to the photo gallery wossname, you're still left wishing you had an Android.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2016, 07:34:12 am
I don't think it supports USB per se, just cameras and cards. The iOS file system is a minor or non-existent niggle for most people. For the sort of person who wants to manually copy their photos into a nest of folders, it's probably not the device for them. Every just sticks the photos online these days anyway, nudity, incriminating activities and all. Last couple of holidays I confess the Canon has stayed at home anyway, we just use our phones. One less thing to lug around.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: HTFB on 22 September, 2016, 08:25:52 am
There's a dongle for that!
Not quite as snappy as the original campaign.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 September, 2016, 08:56:41 am
I wanted to send a movie to a colleague to play on her fondleslab. Not some pirated thing but a movie I had made, on a Mac. Could we work out how to actually do that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2016, 09:12:52 am
I wanted to send a movie to a colleague to play on her fondleslab. Not some pirated thing but a movie I had made, on a Mac. Could we work out how to actually do that?

Put it on YouTube or similar. Copy it directly via iTunes. Email it. Copy it using one the many apps that handles direct transfers, DB, iCloud etc.

It's a bit of a non-problem.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 22 September, 2016, 12:25:59 pm
One's options are somewhat limited if you don't have high speed internet access where you currently are.  Its one of my recurrent whinges, but we shouldn't have to rely on internet access to do something as prosaic as copy a file.  Can't beat a bit of wire...

This lesson is reinforced by a recurrent need to transfer photos when I'm stood in a field in Wales, with no mobile phone signal, let alone internet access.  This situation applies to far more of the country than many city dwellers realise.

My current main camera can transfer directly by wifi to another device, but a series of 85Mb RAWs is going to take a while, just as well the laptop has an SD card slot in it.

I recently video'd a performance of the 1812 overture, complete with real cannons.  Just under 7Gb, I'm not uploading that!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2016, 01:33:24 pm
I don't think it supports USB per se, just cameras and cards. The iOS file system is a minor or non-existent niggle for most people. For the sort of person who wants to manually copy their photos into a nest of folders, it's probably not the device for them.

This is true.  Most people just use fondleslabs as media-playing devices and Facebook access terminals.

Not having access to the filesystem grates as soon as you want to carry more arbitrary kinds of data around with you.  I know I'm not a typical user, but I tend to have reference materials and copies of things I've been working on to hand.  PDFs, HTML trees, arbitrary text files, sometimes even source code.  And of course touring cyclists might reasonably want to manipulate GPX files in the (literal) field without internet access.

Thankfully, Google have cottoned onto this, and the latest revision to the Android security model gives you an exciting new annoying hoop to jump through when doing this sort of thing, breaking various useful apps (so you can't SFTP things directly to an SD card any more, for example).  Bastards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2016, 02:51:27 pm
There's plenty of iPad apps that let you manage a range of files – I use Documents – supports an effective file system, works with DropBox, iCloud, NAS, etc, or you can write files directly with WebDav. It also lets me choose which app to open a file in.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 September, 2016, 05:03:30 pm
I wanted to send a movie to a colleague to play on her fondleslab. Not some pirated thing but a movie I had made, on a Mac. Could we work out how to actually do that?

Put it on YouTube or similar.
Not an option
Quote
Copy it directly via iTunes.
Doesn't work. You have to sync the slab to a PC to which it is synced, you can't use an arbitrary PC to just add to the existing files.
Quote
Email it.
Too big
Quote
Copy it using one the many apps that handles direct transfers, DB, iCloud etc.
Would be nice but you can't save it into a playable videos directory on the slab - only playable when online
Quote
It's a bit of a non-problem.
No, it is actually much harder than you think, or a rather non-obvious solution

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 September, 2016, 05:04:44 pm
There's plenty of iPad apps that let you manage a range of files – I use Documents – supports an effective file system, works with DropBox, iCloud, NAS, etc, or you can write files directly with WebDav. It also lets me choose which app to open a file in.
That presumes that you have access to add that app. Again it is not an 'out of the box' option
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2016, 05:07:13 pm
There's plenty of iPad apps that let you manage a range of files – I use Documents – supports an effective file system, works with DropBox, iCloud, NAS, etc, or you can write files directly with WebDav. It also lets me choose which app to open a file in.
That presumes that you have access to add that app. Again it is not an 'out of the box' option

That is getting a lot closer to a solution than I imagined was possible, thobut.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 22 September, 2016, 05:40:15 pm
need to transfer photos when I'm stood in a field in Wales

That does sound like a bit of a #firstworldproblem

It's not that I don't sympathise - my own home internet connection is notoriously shite – but it's easy to take for granted that such things are even theoretically possible these days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 22 September, 2016, 05:42:53 pm
I wanted to send a movie to a colleague to play on her fondleslab. Not some pirated thing but a movie I had made, on a Mac. Could we work out how to actually do that?

Is the fondleslab within wireless range of the desktop mac? And is her fondleslab fruit-flavoured as well? If so, I would airdrop it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 22 September, 2016, 05:44:12 pm
Would be nice but you can't save it into a playable videos directory on the slab - only playable when online

Sorry, missed this bit. That's annoying.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 22 September, 2016, 05:51:33 pm
Connect the iPad, set it up to trust the Mac. Turn off all auto sync in iTunes options for tha iPad. Manually drag the movie file on the iPad in the ITunes movie window for it. Works on the PC version of iTunes for random music or movie stuff and others iPads.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2016, 06:15:57 pm
No, it is actually much harder than you think, or a rather non-obvious solution

Well, I just copied a video off my NAS and hit play. It took about 10 seconds and it's now on the iPad and I can watch my cat running around as much as I want, no internet required. Yes, you need an app and it has to be in a codec that iPads understand (h.264) but that's about it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 September, 2016, 06:25:41 pm
So not out of the box and the ithing is set to talk to your home computer, rather than it being someone elses ithing talking to my computer which is set up to talk to different ithings.

ITunes wanted to be very arsey about the whole thing. I can't remember how we eventually got it to behave, but it seemed to involve the same number of incantations and dead chickens and ran between 'you can play it but it isn't on the iThing' to 'it is on the iThing but you can't play it' to 'yes you can get it from that computer but you'll overwrite everything already on the iThing'.

Maybe I am a non-standard use case..

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2016, 06:42:56 pm
I'm not sure what the argument is – it's how iPads work – there is, after all, an app for that (in this case I use this (https://readdle.com/products/documents)). I can connect with any share, DropBox, iCloud etc. Or I can drop files on it directly from any computers.

Using iTunes to move files back and forth is generally best avoided for non-music media.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 September, 2016, 07:15:01 pm
More to the point that the expectation doesn't match the reality.  The app looks interesting and I will encourage my colleague to install it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2016, 03:03:17 pm
I downloaded macOS Sierra because I always like to be the very first monkey in space.

It looks exactly the same as El Capitan, which is good. Other than the notifications, which have changed colour and still don't take on the dark menu theme (seriously Apple, either bother or don't). There's now Siri. I only swear at my computer, so she won't like that. Erm, that's about it. Oh and you can copy and paste from an iDevice. Bless my existential workflow.

It's a bit glitchy, had a colour wheel crash and my iMac went to sleep very slowly early and woke up with an equal lack of alacrity. A restart seems to have cured it. Again it switched off the three finger look-up (which is the most brilliant feature, but Apple insist on turning off with each release). For some reason it asks for my password for shares even though it's in my keychain and populated on-screen and all I have to do is click OK. That maybe my automator action that connects up the NAS though. Never used to ask me.

iTunes still has 'application unresponsive' as its catchphrase. It's like Southern Trains announcing 'we're sorry...'
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 23 September, 2016, 04:41:03 pm
Mr. Shaky Sausage fingers likes the idea of being able to send texts from the Mac using a grown up's keyboard.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2016, 04:50:13 pm
Mr. Shaky Sausage fingers likes the idea of being able to send texts from the Mac using a grown up's keyboard.

Thicko here (with my Android/Linux setup) didn't think that there might be an app for that.  Turns out there are several.  They all depend on evil cloud services, of course, but it's only SMS and it seems worthwhile to be able to send and receive texts from my phone using tablet and desktop.

</PSA>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2016, 05:51:56 pm
Mr. Shaky Sausage fingers likes the idea of being able to send texts from the Mac using a grown up's keyboard.

Wasn't that the last release or have I travelled into the future again? Sending texts and taking calls on my computer is actually really useful. Even more so when my phone is otherwhere.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 23 September, 2016, 06:07:48 pm
Mr. Shaky Sausage fingers likes the idea of being able to send texts from the Mac using a grown up's keyboard.

Wasn't that the last release or have I travelled into the future again? Sending texts and taking calls on my computer is actually really useful. Even more so when my phone is otherwhere.

It definitely used to work for iMessage (I think since Yosemite) but I don't know whether it can now also send SMS, as I'm not on a Mac any more.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 23 September, 2016, 06:52:00 pm
Not sure if I'm missing something but the ability to send texts from a mac has been built-in for as long as I can remember. I seem to remember having to set it up so it would fail-over from iMessage to SMS, and it being obscure enough to have to look it up, but it was a long time ago.

Sending messages with a proper keyboard is great, as is taking calls when there's no signal, having put your phone where there is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 23 September, 2016, 09:44:57 pm
Not sure if I'm missing something but the ability to send texts from a mac has been built-in for as long as I can remember. I seem to remember having to set it up so it would fail-over from iMessage to SMS, and it being obscure enough to have to look it up, but it was a long time ago.

Sending messages with a proper keyboard is great, as is taking calls when there's no signal, having put your phone where there is.
Every day, a school day...  ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 25 September, 2016, 10:47:08 am
High availability interwebs restored to Chez Afasoas.
Finally managed to speak with someone at Post Office Broadband who knows their onions. She gave me just the information I needed which I duly entered into the modem/firewall. It wasn't very stable at first, even after the first 24 hours (constant dropouts) but switching it out to ADSL rather than ADSL2+ has given stability, albeit with slightly less bandwidth.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 September, 2016, 12:33:02 pm
I went to ftp something to the Humax PVR last night and it wouldn't work and I swore foul curses because, unusually for me, I had remembered to switch it on first. And after further foul cursing discovered that because a lot of Stuffs had been powered off while I was on holibobs, it had changed its IP address :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 September, 2016, 05:52:13 pm
Not sure if I'm missing something but the ability to send texts from a mac has been built-in for as long as I can remember. I seem to remember having to set it up so it would fail-over from iMessage to SMS, and it being obscure enough to have to look it up, but it was a long time ago.

Sending messages with a proper keyboard is great, as is taking calls when there's no signal, having put your phone where there is.

It always used to be possible with iMessage, from El Capitan onward you can directly send SMS or take or receive calls on your Mac (it needs recent hardware) provided you are in suitable proximity to your iPhone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 27 September, 2016, 06:34:43 pm
It always used to be possible with iMessage, from El Capitan onward you can directly send SMS or take or receive calls on your Mac (it needs recent hardware) provided you are in suitable proximity to your iPhone.

I discovered this feature in the most alarming fashion when my iMac tried to answer a call for me. It's a clever feature but I find it uncomfortably heavy holding the iMac up to my ear.

Tbh, I didn't realise the damn thing had a built-in microphone until that happened. It has probably been broadcasting my bad singing over the internet for ages without me knowing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 September, 2016, 08:17:01 pm
I discovered it when one iPhone, two iPads, two Macbooks, and iMac started to ring simultaneously.

It was that bloke from 'Microsoft Technical Support' to advise me that they'd detected [hangs up]

I've started singing at them. This week it's Belinda Carlisle's Heaven is a Place on Earth (I bet she's never been to Swindon). I can give it full gusto from my office chair.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 27 September, 2016, 09:31:52 pm
Got an invitation to test drive the new staff desktop as part of the Uni IT development. I agreed, subject to it being on new hardware as my current 6 year old desktop is decidedly non-standard and they are not going to mess with it until there is a proven, working solution in place to move to. So I shall wait to see if new shinies arrive at the office. I do have a spare network connection if needed... (and a spare 100/gigabit cisco 2450 switch on a shelf.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 05 October, 2016, 11:24:08 pm
https://toggl.com/programming-princess
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 05 October, 2016, 11:26:39 pm
https://toggl.com/programming-princess

Meanwhile, the princess has saved herself using assembly language...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 06 October, 2016, 08:27:45 am
All in all, Pascal seems to offer the best alternative.

Whatever became of C++ in all that?

Just realized that I haven't written a line of C++ since 2007. Jeez.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 06 October, 2016, 12:05:43 pm
All in all, Pascal seems to offer the best alternative.

Whatever became of C++ in all that?

Just realized that I haven't written a line of C++ since 2007. Jeez.

++1

(or earlier)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 10 October, 2016, 08:01:06 pm
The last few months I've been doing rather more JavaScript work than is good for my sanity and today I had to start looking at React because we're going to be using that as well. This evening this link turned up in a code-project e-mail.

  How it feels to learn JavaScript in 2016 (https://hackernoon.com/how-it-feels-to-learn-javascript-in-2016-d3a717dd577f#.icz4lrlrb.)

The best summary of the howling insanity that is JavaScript development I have seen. Ever.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 10 October, 2016, 09:47:21 pm
JavaScript is great, but it does leave rather a lot of freedom to be too clever by half tie yourself in knots. At least once you've learnt that lot you can put your rates up: have you seen what silicon roundabout jobs are offering these days?

I went to a demo this evening, one of which was an OCaml IDE that compiled into JavaScript and ran on each keystroke. Clever but clearly barking. I didn't get a coherent answer to the simple question "WHY?"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 10 October, 2016, 10:42:43 pm
Sick and tired of the Google Adwords explosion I finally got round to checking out BT parental controls. Turns out you can block domains of your choice. Bye bye Google Adwords, tonight has been bliss .
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 12 October, 2016, 07:42:06 pm
Kodi is really good forgot how good.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 12 October, 2016, 09:42:19 pm
P-hacking anyone? https://www.r-bloggers.com/introducing-the-p-hacker-app-train-your-expert-p-hacking-skills/

It is scary how easy it is to torture data into confession.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 12 October, 2016, 09:58:01 pm
Visual Studio cheat sheet (DuckDuckGo) is finished, subject to comments ton Pull Request, which I will raise tomorrow.

Then I can carry on wrestling with Jenkins.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 12 October, 2016, 10:01:51 pm
Then I can carry on wrestling with Jenkins.

I wish Jenkins would bugger off and get me a G+T instead of spamming me that my Unit Tests had failed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 12 October, 2016, 10:35:11 pm
Then I can carry on wrestling with Jenkins.

I wish Jenkins would bugger off and get me a G+T instead of spamming me that my Unit Tests had failed.

The pedant would point out that the unit tests have worked and that it is the code that has failed the Unit Tests. It is when the Unit Tests do not identify issues  that they should that one can say they have failed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 12 October, 2016, 11:03:11 pm
Then I can carry on wrestling with Jenkins.

I wish Jenkins would bugger off and get me a G+T instead of spamming me that my Unit Tests had failed.

The pedant would point out that the unit tests have worked and that it is the code that has failed the Unit Tests. It is when the Unit Tests do not identify issues  that they should that one can say they have failed.

It's actually a failure in "Things Syncing properly" in Kiln.
SEP.
It involves Kiln, a build server, repos, pushing, pulling, Master, local copies, and a GUI that looks like a PCB with tracks for a 64-bit data bus.
The code itself is fine :-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 12 October, 2016, 11:07:15 pm
When you rewrite someone's machine code in C and it's faster and smaller.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 13 October, 2016, 09:51:57 am
Hmm, there seem to be increasingly frequent times when I cannot access Microsoft Outlook (as my old Hotmail account is now entited).   :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 14 October, 2016, 07:07:54 pm
Well. There's a lot less RED on my server dashboard this evening after I realised Windows Server Backup had given up removing ageing incremental backups from the backup drives, two and a half years ago.

This is what happens when you work at home, and have to (not) do your own sysadmin  :facepalm:.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 16 October, 2016, 09:12:04 pm
Microsoft Surface tablet. Currently stuck on screen message reading "removing failed updates" and when I say stuck I mean weeks. Power off, power on, let battery drain, whatever. Thoughts?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 October, 2016, 10:02:52 am
I'm not a Surface person - which model Surface on which OS?

Kicking it back to a restore point is what I would do on a PC, and a Surface is really just a PC. Not sure how you force one into recovery/safe boot mode.


Hmm - seems you need two things; a keyboard and a USB boot stick
https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-gb/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode?os=windows-8.1-update-1&=undefined (https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-gb/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode?os=windows-8.1-update-1&=undefined)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 17 October, 2016, 06:46:27 pm
I have the typing cover, will look for the USB boot stick doobry.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 19 October, 2016, 02:56:19 pm
Ah did it have a super update?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 19 October, 2016, 09:54:10 pm
Dockerised Jenkins instance is now publishing my website to an internal Nginx server. Remarkably simple to set-up. Now I need to work out how I have foo-barred Nginx/PHP*.

*I know, the cool kids don't use PHP anymore!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 21 October, 2016, 06:05:41 pm
Isn't NGINX proprietary and ££Lots?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 21 October, 2016, 09:52:32 pm
Free and open source.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nginx
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 22 October, 2016, 10:28:56 am
(http://i.imgur.com/U76UpwM.png)
40 blocked DNS requests (thank you OpenDNS) looking up DynDNS nameservers.
Looks like something on my home network tried to participate in yesterdays dDOS on DynDNS name servers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2016_Dyn_cyberattack
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 22 October, 2016, 01:06:31 pm
Looks like something on my home network tried to participate in yesterdays dDOS on DynDNS name servers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2016_Dyn_cyberattack

Probably your toaster...  ;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37738823
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 22 October, 2016, 02:30:51 pm
With most of the great unwashed being behind NAT, how are these devices exploitable?

Who sets up port forwarding to their toaster?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 October, 2016, 02:36:50 pm
Don't you want that lovely fresh toast smell when you get home from work along with a fresh cuppa? I mean you did remember to put a slice of bread in the kettle and fill up the toaster with water as you left at 5am for important meeting you sat up to 1:30am making that PowerPoint presentation for, didn't you?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 October, 2016, 10:02:53 pm
With most of the great unwashed being behind NAT, how are these devices exploitable?

Who sets up port forwarding to their toaster?

Router exploit, as most folk are on commodity (SKy, BT, Virgin) routers, then the network is yours.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 22 October, 2016, 10:26:26 pm
But is that really what's being talked about in this current report?

If it were, then there would be a lot of noise about insecure routers.
None allow remote management by default, I think.

The only widespread router exploit I can think of is where a router responds to DNS queries on the WAN port:
http://support.aa.net.uk/Category:Open_DNS_Resolvers

The suggestion here is that it was an exploit on cheap Internet-connected Things, which had default and non-changeable passwords.
These would only be exposed if there was explicit port-forwarding to expose them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 22 October, 2016, 10:40:19 pm
Many such devices use uPnP to enable port forwarding for you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 22 October, 2016, 11:25:58 pm
Many such devices use uPnP to enable port forwarding for you.

How does that work?
( I've never used uPnP. )

If I have 10 internal webcams, all of which run webservers on port 80...
Obviously, the NAT would need to use different external ports for each.
How does the end user know what external port to connect to?


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 23 October, 2016, 12:28:32 am
Coincidentally I've been involved in a conversation around running two Xboxen on the same network and a fully uPnP compliant 'hub' being the only way to make them play nicely together with regard to external ports. So I'm guessing there's some voodoo involved. Consequently I've started learning how uPnP really works.

I always disable uPnP on any device I get my hands on. And the only externally available ports on the WAN side of my firewall are for OpenVPN.

In light of the original issue, I've configured the internal DNS server to NXDOMAIN and log and requests for dynect.net. There have been none recorded so far. I'm still none the wiser. I suspect there's a device or an app which has some hard-coded DNS servers and perhaps the requests are not exploitive. I'm thinking of tweaking the firewall to block any traffic on port 53 that doesn't come from the internal DNS server.

In other news, OpenDNS's Umbrella is quite awesome. Their offerings to home users are confusing/baffling and the marketing BS on their website conflates matters. They have two offerings for home users. The first VIP home, which seems to have restrictive reporting, in that it won't tell you when a request was made. And then there's Prosumer which has the full reporting, but doesn't offer a 'full network option'. Instead it's five devices per user, with each device running an app to manage/tunnel DNS requests. Both options seem suitably castrated and the business offerings look prohibitively expensive so they won't be seeing any of my ££.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 23 October, 2016, 11:07:32 pm
Many such devices use uPnP to enable port forwarding for you.

How does that work?
( I've never used uPnP. )

If I have 10 internal webcams, all of which run webservers on port 80...
Obviously, the NAT would need to use different external ports for each.
How does the end user know what external port to connect to?

Very simple you do a port scan to find out which ones are open. Then based on the responses you get you lookup up known or potential exploits and away you go.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 24 October, 2016, 07:19:48 am
I didn't mean to ask how are open ports exploitable, but rather how are they meant to be used properly.

How is an end user meant to connect to their home webcams if they have poked holes through NAT using uPnP?
How does the end user know what  external port number to connect to?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 October, 2016, 02:16:43 pm
I didn't mean to ask how are open ports exploitable, but rather how are they meant to be used properly.

How is an end user meant to connect to their home webcams if they have poked holes through NAT using uPnP?
How does the end user know what  external port number to connect to?

End users are running some uPnP-aware webcamming (or gaming, or whatever) application.  The clients connect to a central server in the usual way and exchange such details thorough that.  The user just knows that if they want to play Duke Vapourwear Unlimited against their friends, they need to enable the uPnP tickybox in their router config.

I don't think uPnP helps you much if you want to run something standard on an arbitrary port.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 24 October, 2016, 05:53:27 pm
Ah, a server-in-the-sky.
Yes, that would work.
The uPnP device behind the NAT negotiates with the NAT and then sends the results of the negotiation to a server in the sky which the external client can look up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 24 October, 2016, 08:59:51 pm
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a network protocol that allows compliant devices to automatically set port forwarding rules for themselves. (Apologies for telling those in the know to suck eggs etc.)

Also, there's no authorisation baked into UPnP - your router will trust any device on the network. There are standards for that sort of thing, but no bu$$er's implementing them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 24 October, 2016, 09:43:35 pm
Yes, I know that.
But the question was:

Having used uPnP to automagically set port forwarding rules, how do external clients know what has been negotiated?
Several similar devices may exist inside the NAT.
uPnP must allow for that; so the several devices will all have different external port mappings.

A server-in-the-sky is a solution to that; where each device phones home and it's proprietary server-in-the-sky stores it's connection details ( public IP and negotiated port numbers )
Then the proprietary external clients can query the proprietary server for inbound connection details.

What a monumental fuck-up.
NAT is evil.

Anyways, to get back to the original topic...
What is actually happening with these Lucky Dragon Happy Finish Uncle webcams?

Are they punching holes in NAT via uPnP? Perhaps.
What external port are they opening?  Perhaps it doesn't matter.
Are the bad guys port scanning and attempting to use compromised HTTP logins on every port that responds in the off-chance it's a port-mapped weak webcam?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 24 October, 2016, 10:26:38 pm
Having used uPnP to automagically set port forwarding rules, how do external clients know what has been negotiated?

Cloud magic and/or checking a range of ports. The latter is certainly true with some xbox games. Running multiple xboxen* behind the same behind the same NAT (technically PAT?) address is often a ropey affair because lots of routers don't properly support UPnP.

Are the bad guys port scanning and attempting to use compromised HTTP logins on every port that responds in the off-chance it's a port-mapped weak webcam?

I believe so. There are search engines that will show you lists of IPs with known easily-compromisable devices.

*I don't personally own multiple xboxen but a friend does, hence researching the issue.


On a different note, I think I'm left with disabling IPv6 to ensure guarantee of email to Gmail accounts. And using a relay for delivery to Microsoft accounts - or paying hefty sums for whitelisting via ReturnPath. It really does seem like the large email providers are stitching up the market so you're forced to pay for their email services (GSuite, Office365) if you want to send email from your own domain. This makes me want to swear lots.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 28 October, 2016, 01:15:51 pm
I once made the mistake of plugging a windows PC directly into a cable modem. Infected within seconds. The attacks were basically continuous.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 29 October, 2016, 09:36:59 am
My Time Machine backups are failing. I've tried all the usual suggestions, it's looking like I'm going to have to trash it and start with a fresh one. A worrying prospect, of course I have copies of everything important but nowhere convenient to temporarily store a full restore image while I delete the 3 years of backup and re-image. It's a TB so is going to take some time...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 30 October, 2016, 09:01:30 am
I've got an (infrequently used) second backup disk. I wanted to use it to back another machine up before upgrade. So, why can't I find the power supply?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 01 November, 2016, 09:34:06 pm
Dearest little Intel NUC. Why do you insist on powering on at 12:17pm every day?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 02 November, 2016, 09:16:05 pm
WTF? https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/odfb/2016/11/02/onedrive-crash-on-launch/

How can this be a serious effort at a robust system?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 03 November, 2016, 08:33:34 am
My Time Machine backups are failing. I've tried all the usual suggestions, it's looking like I'm going to have to trash it and start with a fresh one. A worrying prospect, of course I have copies of everything important but nowhere convenient to temporarily store a full restore image while I delete the 3 years of backup and re-image. It's a TB so is going to take some time...

You should try using Acronis True Image on windows!  I think I've only ever once done two backups in succession without it all turning to custard and having to do a full one and reconfigure the whole thing.  It keeps on saying it can't find the backup destination when it is clearly and obviously looking right at it.  It seems to cope with the PC having 3 SSD drives, but can't cope with the one backup drive.  It also insists on setting scheduled backups for times the PC is never likely to be on, despite being told not to.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 03 November, 2016, 09:09:56 am
WTF? https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/odfb/2016/11/02/onedrive-crash-on-launch/

How can this be a serious effort at a robust system?
Onedrive is an effing virus.

I work in a company where any automated copy to external system (dropbox, et al) is forbidden.

You can't uninstall onedrive

We've worked out a way to disable it, but that's it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 03 November, 2016, 09:40:11 am
My Time Machine backups are failing. I've tried all the usual suggestions, it's looking like I'm going to have to trash it and start with a fresh one. A worrying prospect, of course I have copies of everything important but nowhere convenient to temporarily store a full restore image while I delete the 3 years of backup and re-image. It's a TB so is going to take some time...

USB drives are cheap and capacious these days. I'm not sure why the TM is failing, is it the drive itself? I had one that got inexplicably corrupted, all the old data was there but it just wouldn't write to it any more. Rather than faff around (Google had a million suggestions for fixing it, but life is too short), I just backed up to a new drive and then once I was sure I had everything, deleted the corrupted TM and replaced it with the new one (I don't, tbh, need several years of incremental backups and everything important is copied to my NAS anyway). That drive is still running several months later, so it wasn't a hardware issue.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 November, 2016, 06:03:51 pm
What the Wombat said.  Acronis True Image is a big pile of poo.  Macrium Reflect Free does everything I expected from Acronis, including working.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 03 November, 2016, 06:48:25 pm
One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. are a nightmare when it comes to keeping data secure.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/dropsmack-using-dropbox-to-steal-files-and-deliver-malware/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 04 November, 2016, 09:49:10 am
One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. are a nightmare when it comes to keeping data secure.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/dropsmack-using-dropbox-to-steal-files-and-deliver-malware/

Interesting.
Important to note that on reading that article, it is apparent that the Dropbox db is secure (it was penetrated by the hacker getting the user's password and access to their laptop when on an unsecure network). Once they had access to the user's computer, they were able to use Dropbox as a vector to deliver a package into a machine in a secure network. It still relied on the user manually opening the file when in the network.

So the major flaw is still the user.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 08 November, 2016, 06:36:32 pm
My Time Machine backups are failing. I've tried all the usual suggestions, it's looking like I'm going to have to trash it and start with a fresh one. A worrying prospect, of course I have copies of everything important but nowhere convenient to temporarily store a full restore image while I delete the 3 years of backup and re-image. It's a TB so is going to take some time...

USB drives are cheap and capacious these days. I'm not sure why the TM is failing, is it the drive itself? I had one that got inexplicably corrupted, all the old data was there but it just wouldn't write to it any more. Rather than faff around (Google had a million suggestions for fixing it, but life is too short), I just backed up to a new drive and then once I was sure I had everything, deleted the corrupted TM and replaced it with the new one (I don't, tbh, need several years of incremental backups and everything important is copied to my NAS anyway). That drive is still running several months later, so it wasn't a hardware issue.

It's an apple time capsule so capacious but not cheap. I ignored it for a while then it took matters into its own hands, informed me what it was going to do, then deleted itself and created a new backup. And yes, it took the length of 600 km Audax to complete.

Bizarrely, the same week iTunes has told me it can't backup my phone and I must delete the old backup and create a new one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 November, 2016, 10:28:54 pm
Me phone screen cracked and made the phone unusable. So why not try the find and nuke phone option that google/android do. I just about lifted my finger from the down push on the mouse, when the phone restarted and did its deleting. This is freaking awesome and scary at the same time. I know that this information - hey phone how are you, I would like you to reboot and reset please thanks -  had to leave my laptop/home fly around a few servers and then return back to home/phone. 2-3 sec would still be fast and wicked but at the speed of less of a mouse click!!!

New phone ordered and when it arrives all I have to do is to login and a short wait later I got everything back. This freaking awesome and scary at the same time.

Yes I sold my soul to the big G back in 2004 :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 10 November, 2016, 12:37:12 am
When you launch 560 jobs to the compute farm and one of the servers has a wobbly and decides that all jobs submitted will fail with permission denied when trying to redirect stdout to the results area, and your phone spends 10 minutes beeping with one email per failed job.

Also those at home wonder why your iPad sat on the kitchen worktop is beeping like mad.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 10 November, 2016, 06:06:21 pm
Note to self. Don't create a mount to an external drive in your local $HOME when that local $HOME is in view of rsnapshot, especially when the mounted drive contains 150Gb of audio files. And definitely don't then try and backup the backup with rsync and wonder why it's taking three days to copy!  :hand: :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 11 November, 2016, 06:50:16 pm
Would this help:

Code: [Select]
  -x, --one-file-system       don't cross filesystem boundaries

Adding that to the rsync command should exclude mount points.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 14 November, 2016, 09:04:58 am
Windows 10 provides an on-screen keyboard. (settings/ease of access/keyboard)

Useful if you want to use a telly as a monitor and only your mouse is wireless. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 14 November, 2016, 04:54:44 pm
Modifying xxxx_model.c

Notice some code. What idiot wrote this?

git blame xxxx_model.c

Oh.  :-[

Well it was 2009. Obviously I wouldn't write that code now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 14 November, 2016, 05:02:33 pm
Talking of idiocy:

NHS send-to-all email causes turmoil  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37979456)

Quote
This was due to an NHS Mail user setting up an email distribution list which, because of a bug in the supplier's system, inadvertently included everyone on the NHS Mail list.

Obviously none of us have ever done anything like that ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 November, 2016, 06:11:38 pm
Quote
This was due to an NHS Mail user setting up an email distribution list which, because of a bug in the supplier's system, inadvertently included everyone on the NHS Mail list.

Obviously none of us have ever done anything like that ...

That's not idiocy, that's epic configuration fail.

Idiocy is what perpetuates the problem beyond the original message, causing the inevitable spiral of reply-all doom.

By all accounts, the systems seem to have coped surprisingly well, in as much as it was able to happen in the first place.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 14 November, 2016, 06:13:32 pm
Seen that several times since our takeover. We are roughly 1/50 the size of the NHS though.

reply-all with please remove me from the list is popular.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 14 November, 2016, 06:34:45 pm
Followed by many reply-all messages asking people not to reply to all.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 18 November, 2016, 08:35:07 pm
Someone on an IRC channel I idle, said today - "We've discovered on a conference call that if you start shouting Alexa commands, someone probably has an Echo within listening range."

Now that is fun, if only I knew Alexa commands and did conference calls, hours of fun :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 24 November, 2016, 03:11:14 pm
The two Dell laptops I ordered arrived today.

The QHD screens on the XPSs really are very nice, aren't they?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: spesh on 04 December, 2016, 08:05:34 pm
Did you switch your 787 off, then on again, today?

Quote from: the Federal Aviation Administration
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787 airplanes. This AD requires a repetitive maintenance task for electrical power deactivation on Model 787 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the determination that a Model 787 airplane that has been powered continuously for 248 days can lose all alternating current (AC) electrical power due to the generator control units (GCUs) simultaneously going into failsafe mode. This condition is caused by a software counter internal to the GCUs that will overflow after 248 days of continuous power. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of all AC electrical power, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-10066.pdf
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 December, 2016, 03:02:22 pm
Would you use a bios, that has had a whitelist removed, that was obtained from the internet?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 27 December, 2016, 02:58:08 pm
"Server is running in a degraded state".

 >:(

Mutter Mutter... Merry Christmas...

#techdeath
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 27 December, 2016, 09:12:40 pm
Oh bugger.  Lester Haines has died.  There's an obit. over on The Register.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 27 December, 2016, 09:46:15 pm
Oh bugger.  Lester Haines has died.  There's an obit. over on The Register.

Dated 10th June 2016...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 28 December, 2016, 09:17:29 am
Oh bugger.  Lester Haines has died.  There's an obit. over on The Register.

Dated 10th June 2016...
I missed it when it was first published.  Don't know how.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 28 December, 2016, 10:34:59 pm
Deskunder computer has become erratic of late. Freezing at apparently random but shortening intervals. Checked for nasties in several ways, & was told by one bit of software that I had a couple of corrupt file index entries, clearing of which seemed to solve the problem - but it was temporary. After being good for a little while, it rapidly got worse than ever, to the point of being unusable. Inter-freeze time in minutes, not hours.

New deskunder will be collected tomorrow, & I've been working on Mrs B's slow old (even older than the old deskunder) laptop. But I switched on the old deskunder/floortop to copy as much as possible from it* before the next freeze, & the bloody thing's worked perfectly!


*Got most saved in backups, last one able to complete being since the temporary fix, so it's just a matter of capturing recent changes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 30 December, 2016, 07:28:59 pm
I've moved my backup disk so that it is now attached to the new computer I'm actually using as opposed to the one which is currently switched off and on the other side of the room.
Started Time Machine. The disk doesn't have enough space. That'll be because it has the back up for the old machine on.
I'll just delete that (remembering to empty the trash as well).

Code: [Select]
Preparing to empty the Trash...
Items to delete: 3,916,537
...and counting. It's been running for hours. A reformat would have been quicker and made more sense. Oh well.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 30 December, 2016, 08:00:43 pm
4.3 million now...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 31 December, 2016, 09:06:52 am
Ended up over five million!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 07 January, 2017, 10:20:08 pm
Be careful what you wish for, and what your AI is listening to on the broadcast media.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/01/07/tv_anchor_says_alexa_buy_me_a_dollhouse_and_she_does/

Will 'dollshousing' become a term along the lines of the streisand effect..?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 08 January, 2017, 06:59:06 pm
Bah.

I need to set up webmail access onto my IMAP mail system.
I planned to use Roundcube, and install it on my Asterisk box, which is a convenient Linux box which is not too busy.

I configure the Virtual Host in Apache, and point it to the Roundcube Document Root.
This all works fine, and I now have both the Asterisk admin console and the Webmail on the same box.

However, after that, the initial web-based setup of roundcube fails due to a version dependency of php on the box.
The Asterix box has been up for a long time, and I'm not prepared to fsck around with the php version on it for fear of breaking other things, and things snowballing out of hand.

So I'll put the webmail on a different machine.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 13 January, 2017, 04:52:20 pm
Can you not use a docker/lxc container for Roundcube?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 14 January, 2017, 05:59:30 pm
Yes, probably.
But I'm not knowledgeable enough on that technology, so I went with actual silicon.
Which is getting rarer these days, where it's virtualised all the way down :-)

And I did want a nice modern LAMP machine for other stuffs too, and the little HP hums along rather nicely with CentOS7 on it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 02 February, 2017, 08:23:24 pm
Oh, French Fiddle Sticks! (although can we get these, post Brexit?)

Looks like my online-upgrade from Linux Mint 17.3 to Linux Mint 18.1 has failed, leaving my essential packages non functioning... Clean install time from dvd iso I think...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 03 February, 2017, 10:20:37 am
French fiddlesticks, yeah... After being limited to a French-KB laptop for 10 days I managed to find a spare German KB and hook it up.  Nice to be back to full size KB again, but now I'm hitting Ös for Ms, Qs for As and all manner of Gallic aberrations. Bah. It'll pass.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 February, 2017, 02:05:24 pm
I feel your pain, T42.  Back in the last century, when Miss von Brandenburg was still a Penniless Student Oafette, she would bring her keyboard with her and plug it into my PC for the duration.  Swearing was copious and not just because it was a nasty plasticky thing instead of an IBM Model M.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 04 February, 2017, 03:50:09 pm
We had a VT 220 (or similar) to access our main server. This had a norwegian VT keyboard but also had the joyous ability to change the coding on the keyboard at the terminal. The joys of trying to login when your colleague had left it set to an other language..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 07 February, 2017, 11:01:06 pm
I sometimes start typing only to discover that the input mode is set to hiragana, with the keyboard set to match  . . .
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 09 February, 2017, 01:50:30 am
Do you reckon I should confirm that mynamemysurname@gmail.com is the right address to associate with the Twitter account that someone called 祐也 (Japanese for Yuya, according to google) is trying to set up?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 February, 2017, 12:06:21 pm
Do you reckon I should confirm that mynamemysurname@gmail.com is the right address to associate with the Twitter account that someone called 祐也 (Japanese for Yuya, according to google) is trying to set up?

Someone (who may or may not be Kimblerly Wallace of New York, USAnia), has a tweenage girl who's trying to set up an Instagram account.  I can't help feel sorry for her, as in my day luser parents had the sense to stay out of what you did online.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 12 February, 2017, 05:19:51 pm
I've got an old, underpowered laptop which, for Reasons, isn't worth salvaging and is headed for the tip.

Before it goes, I've pulled out the Bluray drive, as £10 for a caddy is a lot more palatable than £100 for an external Bluray drive. The RAM and HDD aren't worth bothering, but is there anything cool I can do with the rest of the carcass before it goes to silicon heaven?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 12 February, 2017, 09:07:59 pm
Viking funeral and post it on You Tube
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 12 February, 2017, 09:15:23 pm
Unless its a Toshiba Satellite C660 and the touchpad works, in which case I could give it a new home.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 13 February, 2017, 01:25:30 pm
Alas, not even a Toshiba. Old HP from about 2009ish. I would have donated it, except that a) Vista  :facepalm: and b) it's cooked its own innards so badly it falls over from heatstroke after an hour or so of work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2017, 01:30:24 pm
Anyone not feeling old?  http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/things-every-hacker-once-knew/ should solve that...


(I reckon the demise of RS232 is greatly exaggerated, though I did deposit a box full of 9-25pin adaptors, gender changers, null modem cables and the like[1] at the tip last week.)


[1] The Centronix printer cables had been breeding.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 13 February, 2017, 02:54:47 pm
Anyone not feeling old?  http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/things-every-hacker-once-knew/ should solve that...


(I reckon the demise of RS232 is greatly exaggerated, though I did deposit a box full of 9-25pin adaptors, gender changers, null modem cables and the like[1] at the tip last week.)


[1] The Centronix printer cables had been breeding.

I must have a look in the boxes of old shit and see if I can find my breakout box.

Once HoneyDanber UUCP was released by USL (in about SVR5.2 I think) getting uucp working became a lot simpler. Am I giving away my age?

(I can't remember where I first saw this link - https://github.com/dspinellis/unix-history-repo.git was it here?)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 13 February, 2017, 07:45:16 pm
<old-fart mode="war-story">
I remember doing lots of work with _supposedly_ standard RS-232 interfaces on pathology (Haem/Chem/Bloodbank mainly) analysers and SWRHA's implementation of Phoenix.  Oh the hours of "fun" sorting out the bit settings needed to get the stop bits, parity and line speeds aligned with those available on a PDP-11 serial port. One and a half stop bit variants were especially good "fun". And then all the games writing handlers dealing with "inventive" use of ACK/NAK/STX/ETX in-band flow control and that's before you even got to the weirdly packed data. 

Mind you it was bloody sight more fun (and less volatile) than JavaScript.  :)
</old-fart>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 13 February, 2017, 07:52:21 pm
young fart - I don't think I've ever used a serial cable. In fact, I was reading that and realising I have no idea how terminals would connect to a mainframe/minicomputer - would it have a bank of serial ports on the back?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2017, 07:54:43 pm
young fart - I don't think I've ever used a serial cable

*thunk*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 13 February, 2017, 08:04:37 pm
young fart - I don't think I've ever used a serial cable

*thunk*

Dibdib is a whole *five* years younger than us... We must be right on the edge of this tech.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2017, 08:13:54 pm
*looks around the room*

Actually using a serial port right now:

Stuff that has a serial port that might at some point be used:

Not a chance:

We seem to be doing quite well at getting rid of the things, tbh.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 13 February, 2017, 08:17:23 pm
Maybe, and I think I was a little underexposed to tech for a while too. My first exposure to the internet was my dad's work laptop about 1996/7, and then we bought a PC maybe in 97/98 or so. Before then, it was just tinkering with cassette games on an Amstrad CPC464 or the painting apps on an Atari STe.

So I guess I 'grew up' with PCs just as USB was becoming ubiquitous, and must have just missed serial peripherals.

(on preview - also I've never really been a hardware guy, and even in my "tinkering" stages it was more software than hardware - discovering usenet as a teenager, teaching myself HTML, the Golden Age Of Napster, etc...)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 13 February, 2017, 09:37:44 pm
I have experienced two iterations of serial hair tugging.
As a junior programmer I had to workout how to connect the venerable printers to the shiny new IBM PCs. Life got much easier once I persuaded the boss to buy me a breakout box. I also abused all the standards by putting two serial connections down a single cable when they wanted new terminals at the far end of the factory, but didn't want to schedule a shut down to get new cabling installed.
More recently, interfacing marine electronics using the NMEA0183 standard. technically its RS422, but just happens to work via a standard serial interface.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 14 February, 2017, 09:01:26 am
Not got to the end of the article, yet, but it has woken up memories of my first, post college job. I was a printer repair guy, with all that entails. It also made me remember the chips required for serial comms, 1488 & 1489. That and Ferrets. S'pose you had to be there, really.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 February, 2017, 09:18:32 am
I do remember the time when you sometimes manually had to jig the interrupts from COM ports on Windows. I suspect they never fixed that, it turned out to be easier in the Microsoft world to let the technology deprecate.

I used to have a Seagate magneto-optical drive that used RS232. Or possibly that was a febrile bad dream. Back in the day, it was a oddly favoured mechanism for connecting capillary electrophoresis machines to superannuated Apple IIs (I'm not that old, but the control software was).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 February, 2017, 09:20:53 am
Ah, serial cables, he said, smoothing his flowing but greying locks...

When I was a young Mr Larrington taking his first tentative steps into BOFHdom, Important People in my then-employer's IT department had a hardwired terminal via a serial cable anything up to a hundred and fifty yards long and the riff-raff had to make do with accessing the VAX and/or PDP1 via a primitive network, which involved miles of co-ax, desktop boxes which converted RS-232 serial-speak at 2400 into something that could be fired down the co-ax, and a bunch of rack-mounted things that translated it back before feeding it into the Babbage-Engines.  The limited number of rack-mounted things meant not everyone who wanted in could do so at whim and there were frequent "Is Your Session Really Necessary" reminders.  Not that the Babbage-Engines could have coped with that many lusers anyway, especially if the mad Yugoslav nicknamed "Vlad the Compiler" was one of them.

If you were Very Important - the IT Director, the system mangler or the BOFH - then you were allowed to jibble the printer port on the back of your terminal to accomodate a second hardwire into the PDP.  Which needed a different cable.  I had boxes of 25-pin RS-232 shells and connectors under my desk and a GBFO reel of 4-core serial cable strategically placed for lusers to trip over if they came a-whining about the line printer running out of paper, the laser printer needing hitting with a hammer again or the plotter drawing pretty pictures on its own bed because some gobbin had forgotten to put in a sheet of shiny and expensive paper before stabbing <RETURN>.

1: The VAX was for SCIENCE and the PDP for word processing.  Payroll was done on a Mac!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 14 February, 2017, 04:09:41 pm
You'll find (if you ever have anything to do with them) that many Supermarket petrol stations still have the pumps connected to the store network over RS432 standard cable. RS432 is just like RS232 except it can work over much larger distances.  They then have serial to IP convertor boxes so the pumps and underground tanks can talk to the computers at the other end.   You can then query the amount of fuel in the tanks, alert any dangerous leaks, and of course set the prices.  Plus authorise the pump and all that pay at pump stuff.  Bet you didn't realise your credit card details are going over good old serial connections. Fast and reliable enough for the purpose though.

The cables are buried in concrete and replacing them would not be a cheap job and of course you'd lose sales whilst you closed the petrol stations and dug them up.  So the old cables remain and convertor boxes it is. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 February, 2017, 04:30:58 pm
It's going to take a long time for serial interfaces using RS422 and RS485 and the like to die in these sorts of industrial/embedded applications.  While Ethernet is now cheap and ubiquitous, it adds layers of complexity that embedded hardware often doesn't want to have to deal with, can muck up timing-sensitive communications, and potentially introduce security issues.  And nobody wants to have to re-wire things, so converter boxes it is.

See also: Floppy disks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 14 February, 2017, 04:42:01 pm
Of course serial is alive and well.

You are plugging your devices in via your USB ports, aren't you?

It is parallel that died out.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 14 February, 2017, 07:37:58 pm
Of course serial is alive and well.

You are plugging your devices in via your USB ports, aren't you?
Yebbut, writing a noddy piece of code to talk to something hanging off an RS-232 (or 423 Beeb fans!) port could be done in an afternoon* and didn't need shed loads of arcane knowledge provided the language you were using provided even basic bit twiddling / direct port acccess functions (So MUMPS aka DSM-11 for PDP, pretty much any language on the Beeb that let you get at the OSBYTE calls and even dear old VB on a PC with a DLL / control written in a sensible language.  USB on the other hand... well I've looked at it a couple or three times and walked away each time.  Not got that much life left to waste.

*Providing the manufacturer provided  the correct info. regarding whether 2 & 3 were crossed (null modem) or not.  The number of times they'd get that wrong.  Debugging technique ... nothing on the read buffer?  Re-solder wires 2 & 3 arse about and try again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 February, 2017, 07:43:59 pm
Indeed.   Fortunately, there are chips that will USBify a RS232-style serial interface (and indeed many microcontrollers have this functionality built in).  So we can keep using noddy serial code over USB, at least until FTDI decide to throw their toys out of the pram and have their Windows drivers deliberately brick counterfeit chips again.

RS232 serial is going to go the way of the *nix tty: Alive and well, but rarely a piece of physical hardware.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 16 February, 2017, 11:40:33 am
tty  is also alive and kicking, down in the grotty valley of IoT, it is what is expected.

I2S, GPIO, etc; I think you'd find your old serial poking skills aren't as redundant as you are assuming.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 February, 2017, 08:21:06 am
My IBM Model M is 27 today!  I will have to be very solicitous of its well-being for the next twelvemonth as I don't want it going the way of Messrs Jones, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain, Winehouse ect. ect.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2615/32902555911_7edeb6d4cc_b.jpg)

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3911/32647027220_ef2df5092c_b.jpg)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 21 February, 2017, 07:05:54 pm
My IBM Model M is 27 today!  I will have to be very solicitous of its well-being for the next twelvemonth as I don't want it going the way of Messrs Jones, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain, Winehouse ect. ect.
Bloody hell! "_Manufactured_ in United Kingdom."  There's a phrase you don't see very much these days.

Given we've stopped making stuff and the way things are going there may not be a United Kingdom of {sing along if you know the words} much longer I'd wrap it in cotton wool and only use it on high days and holidays>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 February, 2017, 07:41:54 pm
No point wrapping a Model M in cotton wool.  Those are what the cockroaches are going to be spodding with after Mr Trump has a nice game of Global Thermonuclear War.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 21 February, 2017, 08:37:53 pm
My computer crashed today, well it would be more accurate to say that my computer made a crash today when it fell over. The monitors stopped updating and it didn't respond to the power button.

So I pulled the power cord out, and took the graphics card out, blew the dust out and put it back in. No apparent damage.

As you were.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 24 February, 2017, 07:37:34 pm
How does one get hold of a version Mickey$oft Windows? I have ever only got it "free" with a computer, which then had a CD for recovery/reinstall.

The latest version of Win (and laptops) I've played with, the OS was/is on a recovery drive and no disk.

Yes, I played around with naughty versions of Windows back in the day. They got harder and harder to get hold of - product key, OS and what ever cracking tool was a pain the backside to get to play ball - to be worth playing with again.

I've looked online and is confused, there is no way I believe that you can get a legitimate version for under  20 earth credits. And I understand that is just the product key, you still need the OS - but from where and how?

I'm going to use it within VirtualBox on Debian or what ever flavour of Linux I'm playing with at the time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 25 February, 2017, 01:34:48 am
And I understand that is just the product key, you still need the OS - but from where and how?

Er, from Microsoft? Last time I had a Windows product key I found instructions for downloading it from MS themselves, stuck it on a disc, and installed it on the two machines I had keys for. No problem at all either finding it or doing it.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 25 February, 2017, 10:44:56 pm
Well I build my first PC in 20+ years today. Feck me what a change to my dying laptop. The last two or so years I have become used to:

Hit power (the last few months I had to do that a few times and if it didn't boot right I had to unplug it to then press power again)
waaaaait
login
waaaaaaaaait
click chrome
waaaaaaaaaaaaait
type the url in I wanted to visit
waaaaait
if I wanted to visit another url I had to wait before I could enter the url and then
waaaaaaait while I watched my CPU freak out and cook
then if I was lucky I could type a message on farcebook or gmail after about five min.

And god forbid if I wanted to play a youtube video too, that was simply a no go area or do other crazy things like opening gimp or file manager.

Today I installed debian (later MX Linux based on Debian) booted up, logged in, fired up chrome and wrote an email in less time than it took to boot up my laptop.

Boy - USB3, SSD, 2 cores 3.5Ghz, 16Mb 2100Mhz and what not - it is fast ... just opened six 3Mb+ images in Gimp and less than a minute later I was laughing in shock and surprise, oh yes I was also ready to edit too.

Oh and I flashed my first every BIOS, oooo look at me :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 01 March, 2017, 11:20:49 pm
I've been sporadically backing up my DVDs for a few weeks (only done a handful to be fair) and, now I have a working Bluray drive, I've started on those too.

My poor little iMac can't cope. The DVDs it can encode at a reasonable pace, but throwing a bluray MKV at it has ground it to a halt. 4fps.

Looks like I'll have to sort a tactical deployment of The Beefy Core i7 Windows Box for this...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 March, 2017, 08:09:47 am
Google cast how does it work? My phone keeps showing the option to cast whatever I'm doing on YouTube and chrome. But I don't own a Google Cast item, so it must be a neighbour.

So if I cast to the item, would it just start to play there. Or do they have to ok it and would they get a preview?

Wonder what to cast to it - horror, Daily Fail or ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 March, 2017, 08:44:30 am
No, usually the receiving device has to be set to receive data from cast then you can 'cast' from your phone, tablet whatever. So it is probably a neighbour with a smart TV setting their TV to receive chromecast. I use mine to play movies from my phone on our TV sometimes. It works pretty well.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 March, 2017, 01:12:42 pm
No, usually the receiving device has to be set to receive data from cast then you can 'cast' from your phone, tablet whatever. So it is probably a neighbour with a smart TV setting their TV to receive chromecast.

Hang on, how would it be aware of a TV/Chromecast on a separate LAN?


I've only used it at a TV-enthusiast friend's house, where it's actually really cool for anyone in the room to be able to illustrate what they're talking about by displaying a video or webpage on the big screen.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 02 March, 2017, 01:27:31 pm
I can't speak for Chromecast, but my Apple TV only works when my phone/ipad is on the same network as the Apple TV.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 02 March, 2017, 01:52:48 pm
Is a neighbour stealing your wifi with their smart TV?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 02 March, 2017, 01:55:38 pm
Do any target devices actually appear when you press the cast button? Or (as with Apple TV) it just gives an empty list?

I've just tested it with iPlayer on my iPhone - despite being in the office with no WiFi I still get an AirPlay button, but pressing it only gives the option to play on my iPhone (at home I can choose from iPhone or Apple TV).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 March, 2017, 02:25:13 pm
I have no clue. The only item in the house that might have Google/Chrome Cast does not react when I try to connect from my phone. I do get asked if I'm ok with my microphone to be used to ID/link them. This then fails and then gets asked for a PIN. No idea which kind or what the other Cast is, as I'm not told, like TV, monitor or phone etc.

I'm sure it is only when I'm only in some parts of the house. Though have not done a full test so can't say/remember if other phone or laptop (winOS with Chrome Browser) is near or on. The items on the connected items to the router is our own (unless you can hide that).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rr on 02 March, 2017, 07:02:37 pm
Chromecast is direct to the TV, I can cast to the screen in our VC room at work despite only having a cellular internet connection, or in another case no connection at all.
You have to set the TV to connect wirelessly and then the cast button on the phone. Also works with our laptop and Chromebook.
Dead good for showing photos and YouTube, iPlayer etc.
My phone also runs the TV remote app whenever the TV is turned on.
Initial pairing via a pin is needed
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 04 March, 2017, 03:29:28 pm
The mouse from my 2015 iMac has developed an annoying amount of slop and rattle, left to right / east to west between the acrylic upper part and the metal base.
It grates. Well, not so much grates as has an additional 'half-click' where you could really do without one.
During the last couple of weeks as this feature has made itself more prominent, my irritation has increased bigly.
I appreciate that it is a bit stone-in-the-shoe syndrome but, it is still in warranty. Just.
Today saw me return to Peter Jones and explain the issue to their after-sales bod.
He relieved me of my mouse, in order to consult a colleague.
Returning a few minutes later he showed me PJ's demo mouse saying 'This is our mouse. It is rattling and slopping just like your's'.
And indeed it was.
I resisted the temptation to point out to him that their mouse was as f*cked as mine, and they should return it to Apple for a replacement.
Instead, from my bag, I pulled out the mouse from my 2012 iMac and demonstrated to him how rock-solid it was, despite of an additional three years of regular use. I asked that my defective 2015 mouse be replaced with a new one under warranty, and he duly complied, pausing to ask whether I was entirely happy with the replacement mouse.

It was only later that the thought occurred to me that the 2012 magic mouse is not exactly the same as the 2015 magic mouse.
2015 is AFAIK magic mouse 2 or something.
So this exercise has shown that Apple's QC/Production quality in 2015, isn't quite the same as it was in 2012. Maybe.
Anyway, I haz a new mouse.

ETA: And I had a bowl of soup and some bread in Peter Jones' 6th floor restaurant which has views over London rooftops which can be filed under 'Mary Poppins'  :thumbsup:


 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 04 March, 2017, 03:56:23 pm
Magic Mouse 2 is better. It has its own batteries and a better touch surface.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 04 March, 2017, 03:58:38 pm
Agreed. Mouse 2 has better features.
I'm questioning the quality of the build. I'll see how I get on with the replacement one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 March, 2017, 06:54:40 pm
I succumbed to temptation and bought a second IBM Model M off eBay.  1994 model.  Pity the bloody PS2 port on the back of the machine doesn't work, thus forcing a couple of days delay to clicky typing goodness while the PS2/USB gadget was delivered.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 March, 2017, 09:59:16 am
No, usually the receiving device has to be set to receive data from cast then you can 'cast' from your phone, tablet whatever. So it is probably a neighbour with a smart TV setting their TV to receive chromecast.

Hang on, how would it be aware of a TV/Chromecast on a separate LAN?
Good point. I wasn't thinking very clearly. Unless some smartTVs have a mode where they work as a short-range router for chromecast purposes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 March, 2017, 10:03:35 am
Daughter got replacement (refurb) zenbook, not as spiffing a model as the one that was stolen, but it was what could be afforded. After a few days, it died. Under warranty, so it went back.
She hadn't been happy with it, so after some umming and ahing, picked a lenovo yoga 3 instead, again a refurb.

That seemed much better. Two days later, she phones me up; "Dad, the fan is making an incredible racket, I can't even work it is so loud" I google while she is on phone, seems it is common issue . . .

Balls. Lenovo have screwed something up. Suggested fixes are either replacing bios but plausibly someone suggest a software fault results in multiple launches of rundll.exe causing CPU to heat up and kick fan into overdrive. bugger.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 06 March, 2017, 10:39:52 am
Agreed. Mouse 2 has better features.
I'm questioning the quality of the build. I'll see how I get on with the replacement one.

I had my Magic Mouse 2 replaced, it had a pronounced if tiny wobble. Probably if I knew no better I would have let it be, but I have a colony of earlier Magic Mouses (I have one v2 and two v1s on my desk). The Apple store just gave me a new one (though they didn't seem convinced there was a problem, but hey). I like them, but it seems there's some variability, and they're sensitive little things. My wife's Magic Mouse, for instance, has a mildly more satisfying click. File under #firstworldproblems.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 March, 2017, 12:07:42 pm
My wife's Magic Mouse, for instance, has a mildly more satisfying click. File under #firstworldproblems.

I feel your pain.  The clickiness of the "2" key on my recently-acquired Model M is a little subdued compared with its older sibling.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 06 March, 2017, 07:11:36 pm
My wife's Magic Mouse, for instance, has a mildly more satisfying click. File under #firstworldproblems.
Wait!
There's variation in satisfaction to be had from click?
*Makes appointment at Covent Garden Genius Bar to acquire a more satisfying click*

You were right to have your wobbly mouse replaced. My 2015 mouse also had a wobble. It now lives in a box on the fourth floor of a building a smidgin west of Sloane Square, and I have a wobble-free mouse.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 06 March, 2017, 07:28:03 pm
Oh, there is. I mean, there's nothing wrong with my mouse's click, it just I know there's a better click upstairs. I can't quantify it but it's a slightly more firm click. It's a click that takes no effort yet at the same time means business. Anything clicked by that mouse stays clicked. It's a decisive click. Sometimes the clicks on my mouse are a bit 'meh' like it doesn't entirely mean it. It's not a committed click and who doesn't want commitment from a click.

My wife also has one of those force-feedback trackpads which is very nice, the same as on my Macbook. That's a super-nice click, let me tell you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2017, 05:27:54 pm
This afternoon a mistake agent, inspecting the landlord's non-repairs, accused me of trying to hack into NASA.  I suggested that NASA have more than enough problems already.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Dibdib on 15 March, 2017, 06:36:38 pm
This afternoon a mistake agent, inspecting the landlord's non-repairs, accused me of trying to hack into NASA.  I suggested that NASA have more than enough problems already.

What were you hacking, The Gibson?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2017, 06:38:46 pm
This afternoon a mistake agent, inspecting the landlord's non-repairs, accused me of trying to hack into NASA.  I suggested that NASA have more than enough problems already.

What were you hacking, The Gibson?

I think it's a games company.  There's this Global Thermonuclear War simulation...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 15 March, 2017, 07:28:47 pm
Defcon?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 15 March, 2017, 11:42:34 pm
No, she is a closet member of al-gebra.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 19 March, 2017, 11:39:13 am
Has anyone made there own bios back up batteries? http://www.zlectronic.com/crms/bigpic/us/33646_zlectronic_1.jpg
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2017, 12:50:16 pm
I don't think I've had a BIOS battery go flat in the modern era (I last remember dealing with one on a crusty 386 ETA: Ah no, barakta did a PRAM battery on a PowerPC Mac at one point).  They tended to out-last the capacitors on noughties motherboards.

I think all our machines have a normal CR2032 holder on the board.  That arrangement looks needlessly complicated, but wouldn't be too tricky to reproduce.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 19 March, 2017, 01:02:51 pm
Just plug it into the mains, never run out of batteries that way, mind you might need a new motherboard ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 21 March, 2017, 02:40:44 pm
 ???

Angular 2 and ngrx.

A whole new universe of What. The Fuck?

(Actually, I quite like it, as frameworks go).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 21 March, 2017, 04:58:56 pm
Has anyone made there own bios back up batteries? http://www.zlectronic.com/crms/bigpic/us/33646_zlectronic_1.jpg

It's just a coin cell holder inna plastic wrapper, innit?  There's one like that in a little MSI netbook of mine - to save space on the motherboard itself.  Cut off insulation, replace cell, tape or heat shrink up.  The parts can be got from eBay or your usual component supplier if you need to make one from scratch for some impressive project.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 22 March, 2017, 11:04:30 am
Today's minor amusing moment; I found myself typing:

<div class="ui fixed sticky brown bottom">

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 23 March, 2017, 08:54:54 pm
My 2.5-year old Samsung Galaxy S5 has a new battery, since the old one was beginning to struggle to make it through a day.  I resisted the £5 ones on eBay, which are ALWAYS fakes, whatever the listing says, and paid about £15 for a proper retail pack.  It probably has twice the capacity of the old knackered one...half a day of fairly intensive use and it's still on 75%.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 25 March, 2017, 03:54:37 pm
I've somehow wound up hosting email for customersother people*.

One "customer" wanted to create filtering rules from the webmail client. This has lead to an adventure with dovecot-sieve/manage-sieved and roundcube's sieve plug-in so that one person can has filtering rules. Which of course would have been easier if all the guidance on the t'interweb wasn't all copied from the same source omitting the same important detail, that storing sieve rules inside a users mailbox is sub-optimal.

Another "customer" wanted email set-up on a proper computer, which has resulted in an adventure with a gummed laptop sporting an equally gummed up keyboard.

At my age I should know better. These things always escalate. I agreed to the first by opening my mouth without thinking and the other was fallout from F-I-L getting let down by a friend of the family.

*customers would PAY me. And by other people I don't mean fellow forummers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 12 April, 2017, 11:07:18 am
Darty, bless their leaden knickers and earthenware tootsies, have sent me an email telling me how careful they always are to ensure on-line security, and asking me to change my account password if it was created before 2016.

IOW, they just discovered they were hacked in 2015.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 12 April, 2017, 11:25:34 am
Noticed in the NYT that Toshiba is tottering:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/business/dealbook/toshiba-foxconn-chips-deal.html?ref=dealbook&_r=0    :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 14 April, 2017, 12:21:46 pm
I don't think I've had a BIOS battery go flat in the modern era (I last remember dealing with one on a crusty 386 ETA: Ah no, barakta did a PRAM battery on a PowerPC Mac at one point).  They tended to out-last the capacitors on noughties motherboards.

I think all our machines have a normal CR2032 holder on the board.  That arrangement looks needlessly complicated, but wouldn't be too tricky to reproduce.
IIRC I've replaced two, both in this millennium. One on a PC I used to own & later gave to charity (wiped, ready for installation of new OS etc. by the charity) at least a decade ago, & one about 5 years ago on an old (even then) PC used by a blind bloke & supported by another charity which I was volunteering for. Both took a bog standard CR2032 in a normal holder on the board. Open case, take out old CR2032, stick in pocket so it doesn't get mixed up with new one, take new one out of blister pack, push in, fire up PC to check it's OK, close down when it's obvious it is, put case back together.

Never having noticed any other arrangement on any of the machines I've opened up to repair or upgrade, I assumed that it was universal.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 April, 2017, 12:26:46 pm
Never having noticed any other arrangement on any of the machines I've opened up to repair or upgrade, I assumed that it was universal.

It wasn't in the crusty 386 era (suspect they needed more current, so bigger batteries were a thing), and obviously Apple like to be different, but as far as modern PCs go, so did I.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 27 April, 2017, 11:09:00 am
git bisect - such a useful feature
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 27 April, 2017, 07:27:59 pm
git bisect - such a useful feature
So many to choose from; so little time.   :)

*sings* I have a little list, they'll none of them be missed...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 28 April, 2017, 12:01:48 am
git bisect - such a useful feature
So many to choose from; so little time.   :)

*sings* I have a little list, they'll none of them be missed...

I've been incrementally optimising a function and committing small changes as I go. Now I'm running regressikn tests and have found two issues so far.  bisect to identify the bad change, with debugging changes applied from a stash at each point to speed up the process. Apply fix at HEAD of my branch then interactive rebase to squash the fix into the bad change so it becomes good, and to ensure that if a second bug is found the next bisect doesn't find the first issue. Once all clean, rebase down to a single commit and push.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 28 April, 2017, 07:35:56 pm
Logged in to microsft store and now the laptop wants those details to log in now.  How do I change back to the usual log in.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 28 April, 2017, 11:20:28 pm
git bisect - such a useful feature
So many to choose from; so little time.   :)

*sings* I have a little list, they'll none of them be missed...
But can it be performed remotely?  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 29 April, 2017, 12:32:27 pm
Logged in to microsft store and now the laptop wants those details to log in now.  How do I change back to the usual log in.

Anyone?  Tried the store log out and it is still the same.

Sorted, need to change the user account to local.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 29 April, 2017, 01:42:17 pm
I wouldn't say I'm a heavy user of the 'tinternet. But I'm glad that our ISP ain't capping our usage. Just had a wee chat with support - £10 cheaper and a new router for much less than listed. We clock in at about 250GB a month.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 04 May, 2017, 08:17:54 pm
I think I may have to have a restorative wee nippy sweetie to get over the shock.  Visual Studio Pro. 2017 installed _first_ time _without_ error in under an _hour_ and without the slightest grumble.  I'm still having trouble coming to terms with it.

I was more than half expecting it to be a repeat of VS2015; 3 machines and I can't remember how many attempts (_lots_ and _lots_ and _lots_) to install it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 May, 2017, 08:21:48 pm
I wouldn't say I'm a heavy user of the 'tinternet. [...] We clock in at about 250GB a month.

I'd say we were heavy users and only seem to manage about 130GB/month on average...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 04 May, 2017, 10:30:25 pm
Just heard today that a average flight in a modern plane. Clocks up about 2Tb of data about the flight.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 15 May, 2017, 10:52:14 am
Mrs T's W7 is taking an age to download updates (~3 hours so far).  It was suffering from "not genuine windows" even tho' it was properly activated, and hadn't updated itself for the last X months. SLMGR -REARM banished the error message but nowt's happening. Beginning to think it needed something other fix, e.g. uninstalling that update, I forget the number.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TimO on 15 May, 2017, 04:52:41 pm
I'm very happy now, that after about two days of faffing around, I managed to get the compiler to generate a reasonably sized patch!

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/SoloVersion254cPatch.png)

We need a way to generate binaries from C code, that can be patched with reasonably compact binary patches, since it's not really sensible to have an entire compiler (and bits) on board our instrument on the spacecraft !

I've worked out techniques and methods for generating binary files, where a minimum of the code moves around.  Up until now, I had about 140000 bytes of change, in a 320000 byte binary, which whilst better, was really a bit ridiculous for a few dozen lines of change in the source code.  Getting that Total number of differences down to 1256 bytes is a major "Yay!" for me. :D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 15 May, 2017, 05:12:48 pm
Mrs T's W7 is taking an age to download updates (~3 hours so far).  It was suffering from "not genuine windows" even tho' it was properly activated, and hadn't updated itself for the last X months. SLMGR -REARM banished the error message but nowt's happening. Beginning to think it needed something other fix, e.g. uninstalling that update, I forget the number.
Blow it away. Reinstall.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 May, 2017, 08:16:50 pm
I'm very happy now, that after about two days of faffing around, I managed to get the compiler to generate a reasonably sized patch!
Swap you for a copy of Visual Studio 2017?  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 16 May, 2017, 09:32:04 am
Mrs T's W7 is taking an age to download updates (~3 hours so far).  It was suffering from "not genuine windows" even tho' it was properly activated, and hadn't updated itself for the last X months. SLMGR -REARM banished the error message but nowt's happening. Beginning to think it needed something other fix, e.g. uninstalling that update, I forget the number.
Blow it away. Reinstall.

Better yet, I'm installing Ubuntu, on a USB stick for now until she gets the hang of it.

Though I'd rather be out in my workshop making shavings.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TimO on 16 May, 2017, 02:06:32 pm
I'm very happy now, that after about two days of faffing around, I managed to get the compiler to generate a reasonably sized patch!
Swap you for a copy of Visual Studio 2017?  :)

Will it compile code for a LEON3 with a SPARCv8 instruction set, running RTEMS ? :D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 16 May, 2017, 06:15:45 pm
I'll be doing a major PC upgrade soon (mobo, CPU, RAM, SSD) and it's got me thinking it could be the last one ever.  Will I even want a desktop PC at home in fifteen years time, let alone the whizziest one affordable?  Very possibly not.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 May, 2017, 06:18:40 pm
I can't imagine not wanting a desktop computer (unless brain implants or something render proper screen/keyboard user interfaces obsolete).  I can imagine a world where they become the domain of hobbyists and niche industries and it's increasingly difficult to obtain one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 16 May, 2017, 06:31:25 pm
Must admit I'm writing less since I'm rarely at a proper keyboard these days.  I'm using a tablet right now.  Oh dear.  Bad.  Or, for those who don't like my shit, good!

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 16 May, 2017, 09:24:36 pm
My holy **** moment in that respect came when I saw a colleague unfold his Macbook, prop up his iPad by the side, instant two monitor system.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 May, 2017, 09:36:37 pm
I gone the other way. I was obsessed with my tablet-based workflow and then my notions became disabused – too much faffage – instead I swapped my clunky Dell for a svelte Macbook Pro which isn't much heavier and doesn't limit what I can do on the road. As for home, there's something ineffably glorious about working on my 27 inch iMac. Even just typing a document is rather nice, since it's 1:1 on a A4 spread. It makes everything look a lot more awesome than it is.

For mindlessly bimbling the Facebooks though, it's probably overkill.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 May, 2017, 09:43:29 pm
My holy **** moment in that respect came when I saw a colleague unfold his Macbook, prop up his iPad by the side, instant two monitor system.

I did at one point experiment with configuring xorg on my desktop to VNCify a virtual screen so a tablet (or anything else) could be used this way.  It did actually work, albeit sluggishly (fine for texty things anyway), but the geometry from mismatched screen sizes/resolutions was suboptimal.

Not quite the same thing, but what'd be really nice would be to be able to install Synergy on Android without requiring root.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 May, 2017, 09:56:51 pm
Oh yeah, I too use often my iPad for a spare screen real estate. It's very cool and astonishingly lag-free despite wifi.

My favourite thing about Macs though is the swishy desktop switching. I had a clunky way of doing it with a desktop manager on Windows, but on a Mac it's awesome and I do the three finger swish between umpteen different desktops (spaces I think they call 'em). There's probably something similar in Win10, but it won't be as awesome. I did it during a product demo today to switch to another browser and I'm pretty sure the swish between desktops is all they'll remember. Open mouths. How did I do that? Awesomeness, that's how. I'll take credit wherever I can get it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 May, 2017, 10:16:07 pm
Ooobunty - ever imitators of the Mega Global Fruit Co - had a rather pleasing desktop swish feature at one point, which I cunningly mapped to nudging my scrollwheel left and right.  No doubt they changed it 6 months later, along with the rest of the UI, when they decided it wasn't brown enough.  I'm running a desktop environment from 1997 now.  I find it calming.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 May, 2017, 04:56:58 am
Misfortunately I lack the desk real estate to do the multiple monitor thing.  Shame, as it could have been handy when bouncing between about ten windows like wot I've been doing for most of the last week.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 17 May, 2017, 06:47:50 am
Making the iPad into a pressure sensitive touch screen addition to the desktop is rather fun.

More fun is the CTRL and two finger drag, (if you have enabled it) which zooms the screen.

Scenario 1 - someone is peering at the screen so you zoom in on the bit they are looking at
Scenario 2 - connected to a projector, (doesn't matter where the MBP is as you've got Magic Trackpad and keyboard and mouse - they work!). Doing some training on a complex piece of software you simply zoom into the bits that need zooming. That always impresses.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 17 May, 2017, 11:00:50 am
Yes, screen zoom is also cool especially cool for product stuff where you're expected to show some squirrelly little web application on a projector and people insist on the sitting on the back row of the huge auditorium. Saves the usual 'I couldn't read it' feedback (well, fucking well sit near the front you numpty). It also works with presentation slides, so someone squeaks from the audience, I can zoom in.

Very few people know how to do these things, so I think the bar for ninja presentation skillz is set fairly low.

I have eight full resolution desktops on my 27 inch iMac and swish merrily between them. Saves the space of a second monitor (and I couldn't find one to replicate the iMac anyway).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 17 May, 2017, 11:43:09 am
Yes, I freak people out with my b for blanking screen on ppt and knowing that ppt under doze lets you jumps straight to a slide by number so you can go back and forth via the keyboard like a wizard.

I use CTRL+Scroll a lot under any OS, haven't seen the latest MacOS version yet, must have a play, historically I was unimpressed cos the quality of the zoom was shite and jaggy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 19 May, 2017, 05:36:34 pm
Oh yeah. I went mano to mano with (a new) Virgin Media hub 3 and won.

Engineer visit to fix a phone line culminated in the Internets dieing. Engineers diagnosis  was the router, even though it came back I thought it better to swap out, which he did.

Disabling WiFi is fine, but if you want to change the internal IP subnet from 192.168.0, officially there is no way. As I have various stuffs baked in to the old 10.x network, this would have been a major pain. With a little poking around I found that it can be configured with SNMP strings in the URL with hex for the IP (as long as you get the session authorisation number). Boom.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 19 May, 2017, 06:09:58 pm
I have eight full resolution desktops on my 27 inch iMac and swish merrily between them. Saves the space of a second monitor (and I couldn't find one to replicate the iMac anyway).

Surely you forget where you put stuff?

I've tried using multiple desktops/spaces/workspaces/arenas (whatever we're calling them this week) in the past - it's so doable when you have 32Gb RAM; but I end up forgetting where I've put things.

I quite often have the same issue with virtual machines. I'll often be working with a dozen or more active VMs - running tests, doing RPA - whatever; and I end up forgetting what's running on what VM.

Maybe it's just an age thing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 May, 2017, 06:18:10 pm
I have eight full resolution desktops on my 27 inch iMac and swish merrily between them. Saves the space of a second monitor (and I couldn't find one to replicate the iMac anyway).

Surely you forget where you put stuff?

I've tried using multiple desktops/spaces/workspaces/arenas (whatever we're calling them this week) in the past - it's so doable when you have 32Gb RAM; but I end up forgetting where I've put things.

I find it works if things have a consistent place according to function, but how well depends on the amount of crossover between them.  I always seem to end up with one that's a twisty mess of terminal windows running ssh, all different.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 20 May, 2017, 11:35:27 am
Can you not name the multiple desktops/spaces/workspaces/arenas (whatever we're calling them this week)?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 20 May, 2017, 11:28:23 pm
I really miss having a second monitor when I'm at home. It's comes in beautifully handy at work.


Following the recent saga of pfSense stalling on boot due to a missing network port, I've replaced the Intel PRO/1000VT card in the firewall with another identical card and all is well.
Just for the lolz, I popped the card with the dodgy port into my desktop. All four ports available courtesy of the IGB driver and all four ports work.

Took the liberty of putting a second replacement card into the backup server too. Another step towards running a second redundant firewall with automatic failover should the master die. Of course, this relies on me getting four public IP addresses on both broadband connections so I'll settle for a cold failover if/when I upgrade the backup servers CPU to one that has the necessary virtualisation gubbins*.

*Reducing it's power envelope is the first priority
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 21 May, 2017, 12:11:44 am
I really miss having a second monitor when I'm at home. It's comes in beautifully handy at work.

After changing jobs a couple of years back, I added a second monitor to my main home PC because running our software pretty much requires multiple monitors.

Now, after a few years of using multiple monitors both at home and at work, I find single-monitor systems absolutely horrible to use!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 May, 2017, 12:16:23 am
Now, after a few years of using multiple monitors both at home and at work, I find single-monitor systems absolutely horrible to use!

This.  It's like drinking a McDonald's milkshake with one hand tied behind your back or something.

It's why I don't really get on with laptops.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 21 May, 2017, 07:53:39 am
me too - have added a cheap HDMI telly for when I am working at home and it does the job.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 21 May, 2017, 10:12:26 am
I really miss having a second monitor when I'm at home. It's comes in beautifully handy at work.
I don't, at least not for the odd bit of coding I do at home* and I certainly don't need it for arguing on the internets.   Now where did I put that flint axe head? :)

Confession:  I do run my work setup in my study with two monitors.  I'm not quite that stick in the mud.


*I.e. stuff on my machine with my licenses in my time rather than stuff on the work machine (which is also "at home") with their licenses when they're paying me.  Ohhh I'm sure you know what I mean.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 21 May, 2017, 10:58:23 am
Single monitor is quite restrictive when I'm working from home - which isn't infrequent given the nature of what I do.
It's nice to have monitoring in one window, with terminal/remote desktop sessions in another so that when I make a configuration change I get instant feedback as to whether or not I've broken something.

It's also useful for the occasional bit of coding I do - run the software/web application on one display and open the development environment on the other. Or when collaborating with people.

The monitor I've got is quite a posh one from my photographing days ... I'd ideally like an identical one so that it's inferiority doesn't upset my OCD.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 May, 2017, 12:45:22 am
I have eight full resolution desktops on my 27 inch iMac and swish merrily between them. Saves the space of a second monitor (and I couldn't find one to replicate the iMac anyway).

Surely you forget where you put stuff?

I've tried using multiple desktops/spaces/workspaces/arenas (whatever we're calling them this week) in the past - it's so doable when you have 32Gb RAM; but I end up forgetting where I've put things.

I quite often have the same issue with virtual machines. I'll often be working with a dozen or more active VMs - running tests, doing RPA - whatever; and I end up forgetting what's running on what VM.

Maybe it's just an age thing.

Swiping up gives a nice row of selectable desktop thumbnails. Plus I use a different distinctive background for each so I usually remember where I left an application. You can tie applications to desktops but that's too organized for me. Swishing backwards and forwards is completely fluid and you can hover between desktops so you can see what's on two. Also swiping down while in an application gives you the location of every window even if I've spread them across desktops. And none of this seems to have a RAM or performance hit, it all seems to ride the graphics card memory.

It's awesome on a 27 inch machine but makes a 13 inch Macbook's more limited desktop space far more practical. Design on one desktop, proof on another. I couldn't go back to a single desktop space.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 23 May, 2017, 02:00:53 am
Been using multiple desktops since Irix 5.3. Much prefer multiple monitors though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 24 May, 2017, 09:16:52 pm
Looked to replace the cmos battery on Toshiba nb100 and after stripping the laptop down found that it is not a cr2016 or 2032 but a different one that I can make out the number.  Arse.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 24 May, 2017, 10:08:13 pm
Looked to replace the cmos battery on Toshiba nb100 and after stripping the laptop down found that it is not a cr2016 or 2032 but a different one that I can make out the number.  Arse.

Can you measure it?
Diameter and thickness?
The numbers in the crXXXX are just dimensions.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:38:10 pm
With a little removal of the tab spot attached on it is a cr1220 (well maxell ml1220)  RS sell the cells with tabs attached.....but out of stock :(

Maplin don't sell the right ones so cricklewood electronics for the correct cell.  Only 60p.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 25 May, 2017, 10:21:05 am
Work's database is acting weird. "select to_date(sysdate, 'dd/mm/yyyy') from dual;" is returning "25/05/0017" whereas "select to_char(sysdate, 'dd/mm/yyyy') from dual;" is returning "25/05/2017".

 ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 25 May, 2017, 01:04:53 pm
Work's database is acting weird. "select to_date(sysdate, 'dd/mm/yyyy') from dual;" is returning "25/05/0017" whereas "select to_char(sysdate, 'dd/mm/yyyy') from dual;" is returning "25/05/2017".

 ???

It's because you've passed a date into a function requiring a string. So you get an automatic conversion to a char(n) with the default format, presumably that default is a two digit date, so you've lost the century before it gets to the to_date function.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 25 May, 2017, 01:23:18 pm
Either that, or M has been going through agents at a rate of knots.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 29 May, 2017, 07:13:46 am
Was going nuts trying to download stuff off my newish mobile via USB.  It just didn't do what it was supposed to do, i.e. let me change from charging to download.  Simple answer: the USB cable I had chosen was for charging only and didn't do do downloading. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 29 May, 2017, 12:44:19 pm
Now, after a few years of using multiple monitors both at home and at work, I find single-monitor systems absolutely horrible to use!

This.  It's like drinking a McDonald's milkshake with one hand tied behind your back or something.

It's why I don't really get on with laptops.
I run Ubuntu Studio on a laptop in my music room with a separate monitor (with several workspaces) perched above it. So I can drag stuff up and down rather than side to side.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 01 June, 2017, 10:51:07 pm
I've got a nice 27" monitor at the two places I usually dock my MBP and for the places I don't have such a behemoth, I can use the iPad as a second screen with pressure sensitive touch stuff.  :thumbsup: (or as a third monitor when I have a behemoth attached)

If I put things on different desktops I'd forget where they were. I grew up with a 512×342 pixel monochrome display.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 05 June, 2017, 10:24:34 pm
So, following on from my major IT meltdown in Feanor Towers last week
( mostly my own fault for failing to pay proper attention to error messages when applying saved configs to a replacement firewall )
I've done a bit of testing in relation to a separate switch failure.

I have a fairly extensive network, but in the computer room, all the main servers and my own PC are on a modest netgear GS108 8-port gigabit switch.
( This uplinks to the core switch in the network cabinet, where most other things connect, and where PoE is done )

The 8-port unmanaged netgear switch is OK to a point, but it has serious thermal management issues.
Plugged in to the power, with no network cables, it runs cool.
Plug in 8 LAN cables in link-state, and the temperature of the case rises quite noticeably, but the device continues to function.
Now start shifting serious data on several of the ports, and the CPU starts to heat up and the device becomes hot to touch.

Then it dies.
It starts dropping link to the PCs.
The PCs start to report  LAN down / up / down  / up / down.
Then it's just down.
All LEDs on the switch have gone on solid ( no blinky ).
The hardware has just gone into a latched state.

Toss it away, and insert a spare D-link switch and sanity is restored.
After a cool-down and cigarette, the shitty netgear is good to go again.

So if you plan to use one of these, don't stress them too hard with connected ports or heavy throughput.
They are only suitable for shoving behind the TV cabinet to connect 3 or 4 devices, where only one or two will have any actual throughput.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 June, 2017, 06:40:23 am
Yoicks!  I got one of them, plus one of its five-port little brothers, plus one of its "looks presentable enough to have alongside the telly" cousins, but I suspect they never get worked hard enough even to break into light perspiration.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 06 June, 2017, 10:18:59 pm
I've got a cisco 2950 sitting on a shelf in the office that I must find a use for at some point (and learn how to configure.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 June, 2017, 10:43:26 pm
I've got a cisco 2950 sitting on a shelf in the office that I must find a use for at some point (and learn how to configure.)

That's a blast from the past!
I spent 3 days last week learning to configure some Dell S4048T-ON switches which I'll be installing in our data centre next week. First time I've used a serial port to configure anything and first time I've used a CLI only switch.

On a different note, I need to find myself a USB to serial-in-ator so I can configure the APC IP-enabled PDU I've required for the home-rack. It will be nice being able to remotely switch the lab on and off, as well as monitor the power utilisation of each plugged in device.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 06 June, 2017, 10:49:03 pm
I'm not sure I followed much of that at all. We might roll it into a lab network switch with authorised MAC addresses only to provide a secure net for our ancient lab kit that we can then bridge to the wider world via an appropriate gateway (possibly a raspi or similar with a script that will upload to a shared folder on Box)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 June, 2017, 11:00:51 pm
I'm not sure I followed much of that at all. We might roll it into a lab network switch with authorised MAC addresses only to provide a secure net for our ancient lab kit that we can then bridge to the wider world via an appropriate gateway (possibly a raspi or similar with a script that will upload to a shared folder on Box)

Honestly, Unless you need all the ports on the Catalyst, I'd just get an 8 or 16 port 'smart' switch. They are relatively cheap and the Web GUI makes them fairly easy to configure.
As a gateway device, I'm not sure I'd use a RasPi ... strictly speaking it would need two network ports, unless you are hopping from ethernet to WiFi.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 06 June, 2017, 11:16:36 pm
In my case I will probably discuss this with our IT folk and let them use their expertise to enable a solution that works for us all. A far better choice. At the moment it is sneaker net.

I had a quick look at the 2950 manual - 600+ pages. Some of which might be written in English. Out of my depth here.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 June, 2017, 12:37:48 pm
Crivens! Google have done an update to Chrome for iOS which has actually fixed a problem, specifically that it is no longer slower than a drugged-up slof.  It's still slower than Puffin, but a good deal easier to read.  Soz, Puffin.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 07 June, 2017, 12:51:21 pm
I've got a cisco 2950 sitting on a shelf in the office that I must find a use for at some point (and learn how to configure.)

If it talks RS232 out of an RJ45 connector, you'll need the cisco RJ45 to DB9 serial cable.
Let me know if you need one...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 07 June, 2017, 02:33:01 pm
Apple - bah! Fucking rip-off arsewipes!

£19 for a cable to connect an iPad to a charger. :facepalm:  And it's only needed because the old one (original one supplied with the iPad, so what the Californian profiteers say is 19 quid's worth) decided to short out where cable meets plug. Cue burning smell, heat which melted the insulation, & an electric shock for Mrs B when she pulled it out. Well-made & worth almost £20? I think not.

Hi-ho, it's off to the nearest vendor of apparently reliable replacements at less than half the price, the Shop Known as Maplin, because Mrs B can't wait for something much cheaper still off the Interwebs & take the chance that it won't work.

She could get one for nothing, in theory, but she'd have to go to Oxford to collect it from her employer's IT base.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 June, 2017, 02:37:00 pm
While exciting new connector standards are a big part of what you sign up for with Apple products, you do start to wonder why they persist with these evidently far too thin power cables...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 07 June, 2017, 05:10:34 pm
My phone curled up its toes today. I have had it just over a year, the camera started playing up a couple of months ago and the reboot I did today was, obviously, a reboot too many! Back on to the previous phone for now until I get the new one, from Hong Kong, next week. I have had enough of Oneplus so am going for a Moto Z.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 07 June, 2017, 06:18:28 pm
While exciting new connector standards are a big part of what you sign up for with Apple products, you do start to wonder why they persist with these evidently far too thin power cables...
Yeah. Thinner than those for any of our other (all non-Apple) computing devices.

It's basically a USB cable with a proprietary connector on one end, but much thinner than any of the drawer full of other USB cables we have. Perhaps it's trying to be elegantly minimalist, inspired by the late Mr Jobs.  :-\

The iPad's not Mrs B's choice, BTW. NHS-supplied, illustrating a distinct lack of joined-up thinking, as of course it doesn't work with the password-protected USB stick the NHS gave her for transferring data between devices.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 June, 2017, 06:46:42 pm
Apple - bah! Fucking rip-off arsewipes!

£19 for a cable to connect an iPad to a charger. :facepalm:  And it's only needed because the old one (original one supplied with the iPad, so what the Californian profiteers say is 19 quid's worth) decided to short out where cable meets plug. Cue burning smell, heat which melted the insulation, & an electric shock for Mrs B when she pulled it out. Well-made & worth almost £20? I think not.

Hi-ho, it's off to the nearest vendor of apparently reliable replacements at less than half the price, the Shop Known as Maplin, because Mrs B can't wait for something much cheaper still off the Interwebs & take the chance that it won't work.

She could get one for nothing, in theory, but she'd have to go to Oxford to collect it from her employer's IT base.

I got one the other week for a tenner from Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 07 June, 2017, 07:12:07 pm
Or get one for pennies off eBay - although it'll also be thin to save copper (might even be alubloodyminium wire).  I suppose App£e's are thin for the sake of high flexibility and fashionability.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 June, 2017, 09:10:40 pm
I've never broke a lightning cable and I regularly screw them up and toss them in a bag for transport around the world. They don't seem notably thinner than the USB cable on my desk (which might admittedly be made out of Chinese cheese string) and unlike USB, they aren't whichwayround shit. That said, they seem to breed under my desk and I unaccountably seem to find them lying on the pavement (OK, I've found two).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 07 June, 2017, 10:10:25 pm
My kids go through lightning cables like crazy.
They dangle their phones by them and all kinds of nonsense.

They get bulk-grade Amazon ones now, they last no better or worse than Apple originals.
But at a fraction of the price, I have a hidden stash to be doled out as required.
The stash needs to be hidden, otherwise they would just steal them the moment they couldn't find one in their middens.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 June, 2017, 10:33:03 pm
Well, I wouldn't pay £20 for a cable (though if it's minidisplay port-VGA or HDMI cable suck up the cost and buy the Apple one, I have a draw full of Chinese knock-offs that distinguish themselves by failing to work in several different ways – if you really don't like the colour blue, I have the cable for you).

As a fruity type, I have a house that seems to accumulate Apple chargers and cables. This iMac came with two cables and then I had the mouse replaced on account of wobbles, so they gave me another mouse and cable.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 June, 2017, 02:04:01 am
It's only a matter of time before the pukka FruitCo one that came with this fondleslab snaps just south of the Lightning end; the outer insulation looks as though it's been nibbled to DETH by an okapi.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 08 June, 2017, 08:18:26 am
Went into the social security site yesterday to get an EU Health Insurance card. The appropriate page directed me to a full-page country selection which directed me to (ta-da) the local social security site. Another link thereon prompted me to Get the App!!! Thinking thereby to get a phone-based card I flashed the QR code**, downloaded & installed a snazzy-looking piece of shininess which when launched downloaded about a meg of data, then brought up a full-screen country selection page which, when I tapped the wee French flag, took me by a series of very familiar options to the phone version of (ta-da') my local social security site.

Ouroboros, thy name is Sécurité Sociale. Only they do not eateth their owne tayles, they live with their heads up their arses, admiring the view.

**and the front wheel fell off. No it didn't.


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 08 June, 2017, 08:26:24 am
Sequel: phoned up the local SS office.  "Sure, what's your number? Gotcha. OK, you'll have it in 10 days. What's that, you tried via the web site? You shouldn't do that, it doesn't work."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 11 June, 2017, 05:06:43 pm
Apple - bah! Fucking rip-off arsewipes!

£19 for a cable to connect an iPad to a charger. :facepalm:  And it's only needed because the old one (original one supplied with the iPad, so what the Californian profiteers say is 19 quid's worth) decided to short out where cable meets plug. Cue burning smell, heat which melted the insulation, & an electric shock for Mrs B when she pulled it out. Well-made & worth almost £20? I think not.

Hi-ho, it's off to the nearest vendor of apparently reliable replacements at less than half the price, the Shop Known as Maplin, because Mrs B can't wait for something much cheaper still off the Interwebs & take the chance that it won't work.

She could get one for nothing, in theory, but she'd have to go to Oxford to collect it from her employer's IT base.

I got one the other week for a tenner from Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles.
£7.99 for a short (but just long enough) one from Maplin. Progressively longer ones £1 more for each step up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 11 June, 2017, 10:29:53 pm
Made my biggest mistake by a country mile in a very long time.
I wound up deleting every file over 60 days old under '/' on the home server. I suspect the only reason I still have internet access is Linux's ability to continue running despite losing its underlying file system. This is going to be a fun few days, and an opportunity to find out how good my backups are.

I figure it's not a bad time to make the switch from Ubuntu to Debian either.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 14 June, 2017, 06:47:18 pm
My backup regime works. Home server is up and running and all services are restored  :thumbsup:
I've added 'set -eu' to all the backup scripts so changing a variable name doesn't mean that lines like 'find ${backupFolder}/* -ctime +60 -delete' become potentially lethal.

All I've got left now is rebuilding the backup server on Debian Jessie and re-enabling the ZFS backup jobs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 17 June, 2017, 10:48:08 pm
This may only apply to Nougat on Nexus.

Recent upgrades (how difficult would it be to leave a readme.txt or the like on the phone to let us know what has happened?) appear to have some very useful enhancements. Now, if you tap and hold an icon on enabled apps (=Google apps at the mo) you get shortcuts to common tasks. eg, on gmail, compose and mail to common contacts, messages, create message etc. All more useful than it first sounds.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 18 June, 2017, 06:21:07 pm
Asus' iKVM aint no DRAC but it sure is nice sitting on the sofa whilst installing Debian on my backup server.

Really pleased to report no issues running QEMU/KVM or ZFS under Debian.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 19 June, 2017, 03:58:41 pm
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=Vz8kCqGRjQA      3d walk through the National Museum of Computing (seems to be a work in progress).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrew_s on 23 June, 2017, 12:09:56 pm
No google doodle for today - it's still showing yesterday's (Oskar Fischinger's 117th birthday, on 22nd)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 24 June, 2017, 06:27:11 pm
RJ45 cables - how do you tell the males from the females?  I know they must be males & females despite looking the same to me as that's the only reasonable explanation for the number of the damn things I have now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 29 June, 2017, 06:22:03 am
More a "what I have learned", that the Google Now assistant (Siri-like thingy) can actually be useful, eg is able to send SMS/WhatsApp chats hands free.

"OK Google, Send a WhatsApp to Mrs Ham"
...."You want to chat with Mrs Ham, OK, What's the message?"
"I'm on my way back, should be about 2 hours, etc etc"
...."Do you want to send or cancel?"
"OK google, read my message back to me" (hint: This is one step too far)
...."Duh?" (or the equivalent)
Cue a very one sided conversation at this point
"OK Google you stupid bitch"
...."Here's a matching video"

 :facepalm: ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 29 June, 2017, 09:32:29 pm
Oh, what a lovely find.

A great remake of The Sentinel Returns!

https://nexus23.org/warfare2/zenith-sentinel-remake/ (https://nexus23.org/warfare2/zenith-sentinel-remake/)

Runs on my ubuntu box on wine!   :D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 29 June, 2017, 10:14:22 pm
Google cast how does it work? My phone keeps showing the option to cast whatever I'm doing on YouTube and chrome. But I don't own a Google Cast item, so it must be a neighbour.



Remember this? I was playing around with the windows laptop today and went into the network settings. And lo and behold in there win10 could see a Samsung TV. We don't own a TV or anything that is Samsung, ok I do have a hard-disks that is not plugged in that is Samsung but that is it. But this still don't explains how they talk together. As there is now't to see on the router and on the android bluetooth.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 June, 2017, 10:47:26 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#Device_discovery_protocols Suggests it's network based.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 30 June, 2017, 07:43:36 am
It's one of the reasons I always move windows/any wireless kit off the default 192.168.x.x network onto 10.x.x.x network, avoiding overlap. (Note: this was non-trivial with my latest Virgin hub Mk III)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 07 August, 2017, 01:50:21 pm
Following my grumble about (some) Android apps not supporting landscape mode - I've found an app that can force it:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.fameit.rotate

It seems to work with everything, albeit via rather confusing settings for the auto modes.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 August, 2017, 02:13:48 pm
Following my grumble about (some) Android apps not supporting landscape mode - I've found an app that can force it:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.fameit.rotate

It seems to work with everything, albeit via rather confusing settings for the auto modes.

Ooh, I'll have a play with that later.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 August, 2017, 06:08:31 pm
Discovered how to create multi-line text files from the Windows command line.  You may call me slow on the uptake if you wish, but this made the creation of several hundred small files an awful lot easier.  I imagine the same effect could be had from a database, but first I'd have to remember how to drive one after twenty-mumble years.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 August, 2017, 06:11:14 pm
Following my grumble about (some) Android apps not supporting landscape mode - I've found an app that can force it:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.fameit.rotate

It seems to work with everything, albeit via rather confusing settings for the auto modes.

Ooh, I'll have a play with that later.

I had a play with that later.  It solved all my rotation problems.  My neck is eternally grateful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 August, 2017, 06:50:10 pm
Has Bing maps stopped doing OS maps?  That was the only reason to use Bing...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: JonBuoy on 20 August, 2017, 07:29:59 pm
Has Bing maps stopped doing OS maps?  That was the only reason to use Bing...

Still doing them for me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Biggsy on 20 August, 2017, 07:59:38 pm
I too couldn't see the OS option when trying on my tablet a moment a go, but it's appeared after some random tapping and refreshing.

I've just coughed up for some OS maps through Viewranger, coincidentally - and immediately noticed some info that's out of date by fifty years (a certain church marked as having a tower).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 August, 2017, 08:12:57 pm
I too couldn't see the OS option when trying on my tablet a moment a go, but it's appeared after some random tapping and refreshing.

I seem to have brought it back by clearing all the bing-related cookies.  Odd.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 26 August, 2017, 07:25:51 pm
Peli's mum couldn't for some reason open a file she received. It showed up in her Google Drive, but it just didn't want open. So I asked her to share it with me, just to check, and I could open it. So I printed it out on her computer via cloud printing onto her printer. This just makes me laugh :)

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 06 September, 2017, 01:12:39 pm
We've got cloud raining onto our bloody everywhere.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 15 September, 2017, 03:50:20 pm
Drat.  I replaced a D-link 100 Mbit switch with a Netgear gigabit ditto.  Before the switch, streamed video was pretty smooth, but now I get a more-or-less regular lag-&-catch-up effect.  Looks like the D-Link was prioritizing according to need and the NG is giving the same priority to everyone.

What you get for buying cheap kit, I suppose.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 September, 2017, 04:35:27 pm
Is it actually running at gigabit speed?  Sometimes dodgy cabling that was fine for 100M makes things fall back to 100M half-duplex or something daft.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 15 September, 2017, 05:27:41 pm
Quite chuffed. Managed firstly to pull my fingers out. Then set up a Raspberry with WiFi and a usb disk, that I have been talking about for yonks. Gave it to mum of Peli to take home and plug in.

And lo and behold it booted up, logged onto WiFi and opened a VPN as I had set up. So now I got a remote backup I can rsync to.

Only limited by my upload as mother of Peli got a nice fast line to the world.

Next step is to automate it all.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 30 September, 2017, 10:06:22 am
Wording captions on Google Maps seem to appear upside-down and/or back-to-front from time to time.
Sometimes they disappear completely from sections of a map.

Most disorientating!

(I know I can refresh but sometimes I lack patience!)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 03 October, 2017, 10:26:38 pm
Went to one of our web transformation meetings today. Uni is about to rebuild the web from the ground up with lots of stakeholder investment. Good news: accessibility is an absolute given - the frameworks and implementations will be as good as can be by design, with considerable input from our accessibility experts.

Lots of write once, reuse everywhere ideas floating about.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 06 October, 2017, 08:08:27 am
So Firefox allegedly got faster. We'll see.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 08 October, 2017, 04:10:40 pm
Two of David's tech problems today seem to have the same 'clean the contacts' solution.
1) Canon EOS camera 'Error 01'
2) Random LOUD notes on Clavinova CLP-585
Back to basics...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 October, 2017, 05:03:25 am
You know how your NAS is supposed to talk to an ntp server to make sure it knows what date and time it is?  And you know when you shut down said NAS, because you're away for a month, and you switch it back on, and the said NAS, whether by accident or design, forgets it's supposed to talk to the ntp server and assumes the date and time are the same as they were when you turned it off?

Yes, exactly like that.  On two devices :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 16 October, 2017, 11:19:18 pm
Just did a Windoze update for the first time in a looooooooooooong time and the lapdancer is still working  :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 17 October, 2017, 02:32:39 pm
I've just found a bit of SQL someone's written which stumped me. The code is effectively:

Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, null, column_name)
from table_name

Why not just use

Code: [Select]
select column_name
from table_name

?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 October, 2017, 04:50:31 pm
Q: What does that red light on the front of the WD NAS signify?

Quote from: TFM
The following faults trigger this state:
• Disk SMART failure
• Data volume does not exist
• System volume does not exist
• System thermal shutdown (75° C)

Ulp!

Edit: Or because it's 96% full because stupid Macrium Reflect orphaned four backup sets from before I embiggened the SSD in August.  Old crap removed, light now a soothing blue again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 17 October, 2017, 07:14:59 pm
I've just found a bit of SQL someone's written which stumped me. The code is effectively:

Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, null, column_name)
from table_name

Why not just use

Code: [Select]
select column_name
from table_name

?

Just goggled it, cos it's not any T-SQL I know.  It's coracle  and I quote "The Oracle/PLSQL DECODE function has the functionality of an IF-THEN-ELSE statement...."

I haven't looked any further than that, but it looks like something like the T-SQL coalesce function which lets you extract the first non-null value from a set of columns*.

*I expect you know that, but just in case you didn't.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 17 October, 2017, 09:46:24 pm
I've just found a bit of SQL someone's written which stumped me. The code is effectively:

Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, null, column_name)
from table_name

Why not just use

Code: [Select]
select column_name
from table_name

?

LOL

It's good practice to deal with nulls, otherwise unintended bad things can happen, eg if you're going to use a string function on the result the idiom is
Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, 'null', column_name)
from table_name

I would put your colleague's version in the same box as the very common
Code: [Select]
if (variable == true)
{
  do_stuff();
}

It's harmless but shows the author to be a complete idiot.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 17 October, 2017, 10:01:35 pm
I've just found a bit of SQL someone's written which stumped me. The code is effectively:

Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, null, column_name)
from table_name

Why not just use

Code: [Select]
select column_name
from table_name

?

Just goggled it, cos it's not any T-SQL I know.  It's coracle  and I quote "The Oracle/PLSQL DECODE function has the functionality of an IF-THEN-ELSE statement...."

I haven't looked any further than that, but it looks like something like the T-SQL coalesce function which lets you extract the first non-null value from a set of columns*.

*I expect you know that, but just in case you didn't.

Nested DECODE is fucking horrible to look through and get any meaning from it  :demon: I found that example deep in the guts of just such a horrible beast. You can use CASE in Oracle SQL these days, but some of my colleagues seem to be rather sadistic.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 October, 2017, 08:43:28 am
Could be worse.  It could have GOTOs in it :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 October, 2017, 12:29:44 am
I'm giving win10 a go, mainly because reasons. Been trying for an hour to reassign a key to be my mute key. In Linux that was dead easy even if it was already assigned to something else. Anyone here knows how to get the key on my keyboard that by default is calculator to become mute. No I don't want a combo I just want one key just like Linux did and like volume up and down do
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 22 October, 2017, 08:48:08 am
Unless it is supported in your keyboard (many do) not sure you can without a little hacking ... something like nircmd http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html may do the job. Alternatively, just use the key combo ;)

If you're new to W10, (or not new but never looked at shortcuts) it is worth having a shufti at https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts although having said that, one of my faves Win-Shft-S for the snipper, doesn't seem to be listed.

ETA - this may help, too https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-gb/support/how-to/keyboard/reassign-keys
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Vince on 22 October, 2017, 11:01:31 am
I've just found a bit of SQL someone's written which stumped me. The code is effectively:

Code: [Select]
select decode(column_name, null, null, column_name)
from table_name

Why not just use

Code: [Select]
select column_name
from table_name

?
I've seen that sort of construct before. It happens when the simple solution doesn't produce the desire results, where the decode did.
I'm sure that not all nulls have the same value.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 22 October, 2017, 11:46:22 am
Is that a situation where null entries would not be returned unless specifically requested through the decode? Does Oracle return nulls when selecting rows and is it SQL or PLSQL code?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 October, 2017, 04:53:30 pm
Unless it is supported in your keyboard (many do) not sure you can without a little hacking ... something like nircmd http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html may do the job. Alternatively, just use the key combo ;)

If you're new to W10, (or not new but never looked at shortcuts) it is worth having a shufti at https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts although having said that, one of my faves Win-Shft-S for the snipper, doesn't seem to be listed.

ETA - this may help, too https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-gb/support/how-to/keyboard/reassign-keys
Ha! It is Micky$oft keyboard but is not supported by the Mouse and Keyboard Center. The key opens up calculator, as it did in Linux yet I was able to tell it to mute.  I tried nirsoft but got no joy. need more hacking.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 22 October, 2017, 05:00:46 pm
Is that a situation where null entries would not be returned unless specifically requested through the decode? Does Oracle return nulls when selecting rows and is it SQL or PLSQL code?

For that to be the case, wouldn't the statement be decode(column_name, null, "null", column_name) ?


I've been having a play with pxelinux. Thus far I've managed to add pxe options for debian net install (i386, amd64) and DRBL live (i386, amd64).

I need to have a look into rolling my own distro that will launch desktop -> browser -> hit a certain URL. When I can master that, we can start running the Gigabyte Brixen used to display monitoring information at work sans disks.

I need to dig into chaining in Windows Deployment Services too.

PXE Boot Menu:
(https://i.imgur.com/OFu6mrf.png)

PXE Booted DRBL:
(https://i.imgur.com/xESOT5X.png)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 22 October, 2017, 07:08:36 pm
Unless it is supported in your keyboard (many do) not sure you can without a little hacking ... something like nircmd http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html may do the job. Alternatively, just use the key combo ;)

If you're new to W10, (or not new but never looked at shortcuts) it is worth having a shufti at https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts although having said that, one of my faves Win-Shft-S for the snipper, doesn't seem to be listed.

ETA - this may help, too https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-gb/support/how-to/keyboard/reassign-keys


Ha! It is Micky$oft keyboard but is not supported by the Mouse and Keyboard Center. The key opens up calculator, as it did in Linux yet I was able to tell it to mute.  I tried nirsoft but got no joy. need more hacking.

Try here....https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-gb/downloads
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 October, 2017, 09:15:55 am
I came across this URL https://www.macave.leclerc/ and thought "That's an unusual TLD ... really?"

And yes, http://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt it is, I must have missed that change. Scrolling through the list produces on or two "oh rly?" It appears for c $200K, .narwhal could be yours
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 23 October, 2017, 11:16:46 pm
Well, after 7 years they have finally agreed to upgrade my desktop at work (Dell 730, 16Gb RAM. I must have been a good boy because they approved the spec I gave them - i7, 512Gb SSD, 32Gb RAM, GeForce 730 graphics card. Now, where am I going to find another 2 monitors to get the most out of this..
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 October, 2017, 12:10:15 pm
Error 503 Backend is unhealthy

That's candid. We've all had one of those mornings when we've had to scurry off to the cubicle, sweat on brow and praying there's no one else in there to overhear our tectonic bowel motions.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 November, 2017, 03:24:31 pm
I've just learned that:

a) There's a printer on the International Space Station
b) It's an Epson Stylus Color 800
c) They're about to replace it with a customised (to remove the scanning/fax components) HP all-in-one.

I'll be in the corner, despairing for the human race.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 November, 2017, 03:59:18 pm
Reminds me of the daisy-wheel printer on a US sub in The Hunt for Red October. Just about the daftest thing they could have used.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 13 November, 2017, 03:42:12 pm
Installed High Sierra last night.

Why oh why has the font I use for Notes changed?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 13 November, 2017, 04:20:17 pm
You were obviously using the wrong one, and they fixed it.

A bit like effing Firefox, who brought out tab groups back when I was developing my routing site. I set one up specially for useful Internet & routing stuff I had found. I went looking for it this morning: FF has discontinued the feature.  Obviously I shouldn't have wanted to use it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 13 November, 2017, 07:42:42 pm
Apple appear to be having their security claims challenged https://www.wired.com/story/hackers-say-broke-face-id-security/


I wonder if you could :

a) 3-d print fingerprints
b) 3-d print fingerprint gloves.......
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 November, 2017, 07:59:00 pm
So they fooled facial recognition by making a realistic copy of the face? Blimey, who knew.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 13 November, 2017, 08:04:38 pm
So they fooled facial recognition by making a realistic copy of the face? Blimey, who knew.

Ah, but they had made lots of claims that their facial recognition could not be fooled by masks.

They even had Tim Cook showing off the masks they used in their testing:-

(https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/59b82af49803c513098b4d39-480/apple-faceid-masks.png)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 November, 2017, 08:39:53 pm
Well that's, erm, a bit stupid. Mind you, you note that people become dumber through proximity to computers. I figure they put out some kind of ray. The knock sense clean out of your head. After a while you can't even spell 'hubris.' I see Tim's problem there. Those faces are huge. Making normal size faces was always going to be better.

Mind you, rather than go through the trouble of making an exact likeness, just go Jack Bauer with a screwdriver and ask nicely. TV, unlike computers, makes us smarter.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: vorsprung on 14 November, 2017, 10:01:27 pm
I've taught myself go and put a project on github with the go stuff in https://github.com/vorsprung/parameter-ssm-template
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 16 November, 2017, 08:39:00 pm
The new Firefox Quantum seems to be rather fast.
Though the square tabs look ugly. And it seems to have messed up the font sizes on some sites.  Especially YACF - everything is rather small. Zooming in works, but it forgets that when I refresh the page.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 17 November, 2017, 06:23:25 pm
The new Firefox Quantum seems to be rather fast.
Though the square tabs look ugly. And it seems to have messed up the font sizes on some sites.  Especially YACF - everything is rather small. Zooming in works, but it forgets that when I refresh the page.

I've installed it on my Lubuntu box but cant open it as it gives a parsing error, XML Parsing Error: Undefined Entity location: Chrome:// Browser/content/Browser.xul line number 1165, column 7:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 18 November, 2017, 08:59:28 am
The new Firefox Quantum seems to be rather fast.
Though the square tabs look ugly. And it seems to have messed up the font sizes on some sites.  Especially YACF - everything is rather small. Zooming in works, but it forgets that when I refresh the page.

I've installed it on my Lubuntu box but cant open it as it gives a parsing error, XML Parsing Error: Undefined Entity location: Chrome:// Browser/content/Browser.xul line number 1165, column 7:

Sorted it, uninstalled it, removed the PPA, then installed the normal firefox and upgraded it. Its running OK now, its quick but looks a bit like a tonka toy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 21 November, 2017, 09:31:59 am
The provider for our club website changed the handling for .htaccess/.htpasswd some time in the last couple of years, but it went unnoticed because in the meantime El Prez got Serif cut-rate via the FFCT, decided it was the bee's knees and clobbered everything in the www directory.  Now he's realizing that he can't put club docs on line for anyone and wants to resurrect the old system I put in, which is still there in a protected subdirectory.

Trouble is, the provider's description of his implementation of .htaccess/.htpasswd doesn't match what the server actually does. I've been batting my head against it for a couple of days and getting nothing but #500.


And fwiw I agreed about FFQ's square-cornered tabs. OK, they want speed and curvy ones take a little longer to draw, but surely not that long.

Noticed in passing that refreshing a page does not refresh the page icon, which is annoying when you're trying various designs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 21 November, 2017, 09:49:10 am
And as usual, no sooner bitched about something than the solution emerges: typo in our domain name in the AuthUserFile line.  :-[  :facepalm:

Now I need to sort out all the dislocated paths... oh Mother.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 November, 2017, 12:48:12 pm
Hurrah: DJ Random has played all the musical tunes in my iTunes library :thumbsup:

Bah: A lengthy session of tag-jibbling can no longer be put off :'(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 25 November, 2017, 11:07:40 am
Been frobbing with OpenLayers2 and the Flickr API. Wondering if I should try learning OpenLayers3 or just get a life  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 25 November, 2017, 02:22:10 pm
Hurrah: DJ Random has played all the musical tunes in my iTunes library :thumbsup:

Wow—how many days/weeks?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 November, 2017, 06:34:12 pm
Somewhere north of two years off and on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 December, 2017, 03:29:53 pm
I have just fixed my Android keyboard not working in Chrome on the Facebook page issue that I've had for aeons, just by turning off auto correct (tho it works fine with predictive text). I wish I'd found that out ages ago.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 04 December, 2017, 08:45:13 am
All of a sud my W7 will not overwrite a strip the height of a horizontal scroll bar, just above the task bar. Maximized windows stop there, leaving a strip of the background image visible.  It'll probably fix itself when I reboot, but ICBA just now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2017, 07:30:56 pm
Trying to jibble an Excel spreadsheet to generate something that can be used to create a Several of text files is giving me a headache.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 05 December, 2017, 11:43:30 pm
Trying to jibble an Excel spreadsheet to generate something that can be used to create a Several of text files is giving me a headache.

Grasshopper, you need to study harder https://youtu.be/OrwBc6PwAcY (https://youtu.be/OrwBc6PwAcY)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 December, 2017, 05:46:57 pm
Trying to jibble an Excel spreadsheet to generate something that can be used to create a Several of text files is giving me a headache.

I have achieved a minor degree of success in that text files of the appropriate format and - crucially - prettiness, can now be produced.  With an awful lot of copying and pasting.  Now I just need to repeat the exercise four times and hand-jibble about 18,000 numbers :'(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mcshroom on 30 December, 2017, 09:09:29 pm
Why does my computer think it's always in Sunderland? As far as I'm aware it's never even been to Sunderland, and for that matter I don't think I have either ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 30 December, 2017, 09:11:09 pm
I either live in outer Manchester or central Bradford according to my IP.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 December, 2017, 10:13:33 pm
Arnold, Nottingham.  Which does at least make sense, in a not-really-at-all kind of way.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 December, 2017, 10:23:52 am
Mercifully, Farcebok seems to have got the message that I don't live in York.  But it still tells me that I'm simultaneously logged in from London, York and Santa Clara CA ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 31 December, 2017, 10:50:03 am
Someone keeps attempting to log in to my apple account in Middlesborough. It took ages to work out it's actually me but somewhere else entirely.

Trip Advisor regularly congratulate me on being one of the top reviewers in Sutton. This despite the other part of them knowing exactly where I am and barring me from reviewing local businesses.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 January, 2018, 05:40:43 am
Gentlemen, if your The Product dishes out so many error messages that notepad++ cannot open the log file, because it is too big, there is probably something very wrong at a fairly fundamental level.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 09 January, 2018, 02:06:11 pm
Gentlemen, if your The Product dishes out so many error messages that notepad++ cannot open the log file, because it is too big, there is probably something very wrong at a fairly fundamental level.

You might wish to meet some of our web developers. They switched on some extra "diagnostics" on all of one of our customers web servers. 20G per server per day. Did they bother to read through all those logs to find what they were looking for? Did they buggery.

Is your bear peckish?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 18 January, 2018, 08:49:35 am
Fucking Amazon Fucking Search. How the holy hell can they get away with something quite so shit? In here rather than rant coz I might be missing summat essential that might help. Plus it's all a bit of a laugh really.

Previously, I'd really only noticed how shit the book search was. For a purveyor of the written word, this was a bit on the odd side. You want to search for books by Michael Bond? Certainly sir, here are three hundred results including tomes by Dan Brown and Charlotte Rampling. In German. Oh, you've found our little button that specifies the author? Aren't YOU clever. but if you think we're going to help you by taking away the foreign language results or giving you a way to display the results more usefully or even to page through the results faster, you've got another think coming.

Anyhow, I'm after one of the volumes of Atlas des cols des alpes (vol 3). Logical then, I search for it, eh?

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6x9hcmJS1CA/WmBblo_mqmI/AAAAAAABEzc/j-VfVPk-Cc0kHzbqMxyOkqvW2wjpG6pZgCKgBGAs/s1024/Atlas%2Bdes%2Bcols.png)

(which is a bit of a laugh from the resulting French) OK. Challenge. Let's put quotes around the phrase, that should work eh?

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBPOsGukOQg/WmBblk4fTTI/AAAAAAABEzc/xZCyqELCqykAslpVLn5d3fP3Txl9PX6-wCKgBGAs/s1600/Atlas%2B2.png)

 :facepalm:

Right Amazon you fuckers. Atlas +des +cols +Alps Yesssssss!!!! Still no useful results on Amazon UK (>£30 for the volume) but I won.

Amazon.fr was my friend, search worked normally and I found someone with a copy for €12
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 18 January, 2018, 09:00:39 am
Yes, Amazon.

Looking for a new portable hard drive the other day. Select all the options, select 2TB, sort by price.

Why do I then have to navigate through pages of leads, caddies, plugs before I find an actual entire portable drive?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 January, 2018, 10:38:18 pm
Learned something today and confirmed something I knew.

Fired up a guest OS in virtualbox that was created in Linux, on my windows rig. Rather cool that, me thinks, first time I ever tried and needed to do so.

Though I either need to do this more often or have a guest OS without various programs that need to sync and update ever few minutes. As dropbox, skype, outlook and the OS itself etc. Went into up update mode and drained the bandwidth, RAM and CPU while it is trying to figure out what I have been up too in the last five month. So I went to make a cuppa while I wait ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 28 January, 2018, 09:33:07 am
A pome:

<textarea>
When I double-click a word
In this editor of text
I just want to mark the letters
And not the bloody space
Before the next.
</textarea>

(Yes, I have just been reading Brian Bilston.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 30 January, 2018, 01:11:37 pm
Harrow Times story
(http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/resources/images/7335822/?htype=0&type=mc3)

'Students take part in digital project for Comic Relief'

Methinks the aspect ratio of this image needs Comic Relief...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 February, 2018, 07:02:35 pm
Backup!  You normally take abut two hours so why have you been running for ten?  Explain yourself!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Polar Bear on 03 February, 2018, 07:10:36 pm
Chrome:  Why do you choose to freeze my machine every few months?   Delete, reinstall, problem solved.

I do clean down history regularly so I am perplexed as to what is causing these issues but at least I know the solution.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 03 February, 2018, 08:42:21 pm
Ponders: am I the only person in the western world to have never used chrome?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 04 February, 2018, 08:07:31 am
No
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2018, 02:36:21 pm
Chrome is the new IE6.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 February, 2018, 03:38:22 pm
I just love it when geeky types give you a tech slapdown!    ;)   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2018, 03:42:30 pm
To be fair, I'm using Chromium right now.

Just like I used IE6 back in the day.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 February, 2018, 06:04:09 pm
I find that Chrome periodically stops working on particular web pages (Expedia the other day wouldn't go beyond 'we're finding you...') but worked fine in Safari. I'm mostly moved over to Safari which seems to have fewer issues and is so fast it's usually found the answer before I've thought of the question.

In other news, aspect ratios, you know my thoughts. I don't understand what is wrong with the sort of people that do that and don't appear to notice. Same with TVs until HDMI took over.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 February, 2018, 02:08:53 pm
Backup!  You normally take abut two hours so why have you been running for ten?  Explain yourself!

Yesterday's backup: I/O Performance: Read 1.1 Gb/s - Write 92.7 Mb/s

Rebooted NAS

Today's backup: I/O Performance: Read 1.1 Gb/s - Write 792.2 Mb/s

Now that's more like it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: freeflow on 07 February, 2018, 03:51:09 pm
No broadband yesterday.  I waited several hours after checking that there were no planned outages. Rang Zen to ask if there were issues and after a short delay was told that there was 'maintenance' ongoing and that they had people in the exchange.  Service would be resumed by 5:30 pm (I was ringing just before midday).  About an hour later broadband came back.  Download speed was only 38 Mbps.






















Trouble is, the best I'd ever had before the outage was 1.4 Mbps.   I wonder how long the new speed will last.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 12 February, 2018, 08:29:46 am
Just had El Presidente on the blower.  His 2-year-old laptop's mother board has gone phut.  Apart from a trip to Quebec last summer it had never left his desk. Are they that fragile these days?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 12 February, 2018, 09:46:25 am
I have managed to confuse myself with email
I have; two apple accounts, three email providers, five domains, multiple email addresses, email forwarding and email address aliasing across domains and providers, two ipads, one  iPhone one desktop. Add to this mix; six users (family members) plus various iPhones, macbooks, ipads, desktops etc. Oh, and family sharing between my own apple accounts and between my and Dr Beardy's (Mrs) apple accounts.

I _think_ all my devices are logged on as the same person with the mail accounts set up accordingly BUT I'm getting imessages and text messages seemingly randomly on my devices. My outgoing emails are also confusing me, largely because, probably due to my sknflintness, my email providers don't support outgoing email aliasing on my accounts, so I have to change the 'from' address on replies to one that will work. <$deity knows what my correspondents think of my ever changing emails.

I'd go and sit in a corner and rock backwards and forwards if I didn't have to go and grapple with the monster that is GDPR! 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 12 February, 2018, 10:48:18 am
I'm in a workshop for summat to do with quite a big system. The guys that put it together have  a dashboard that includes a counter that counts the number of system hits, looking like an odometer, starting with a unit wheel. And going up to approximately 1.5 billion per day. wheeeeee!  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 12 February, 2018, 11:04:34 am
Just had El Presidente on the blower.  His 2-year-old laptop's mother board has gone phut.  Apart from a trip to Quebec last summer it had never left his desk. Are they that fragile these days?
Usually not. Have multiple laptops around house, belonging to children etc. Not had a motherboard blow on any of them.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2018, 02:18:37 pm
Just had El Presidente on the blower.  His 2-year-old laptop's mother board has gone phut.  Apart from a trip to Quebec last summer it had never left his desk. Are they that fragile these days?
Usually not. Have multiple laptops around house, belonging to children etc. Not had a motherboard blow on any of them.

Quite.  Usual failure mode for our laptops is diminishing battery life, followed by terminal lack of RAM upgradability.

Usual failure mode for other people's laptops I've dealt with over the years is Windows, followed by fluff ingestion / fan bearing failure, hard drive failure, lost/broken power supplies and physical damage.  (There's obviously a selection bias here, on account of only seeing the out-of-warranty broken ones, and whose crusty laptops I'm willing to expend effort on.)  Some of these issues have affected our laptops too (particularly fluff and OS problems), but since we're able to deal with them they don't really count as failure.

I think barakta had several cases of logic board failure on Apple laptops in the 1990s...


Not that desktop computers are that much better, they're just an order of magnitude easier to maintain/diagnose/repair, can hold a lot more fluff before performance is affected, and are extremely unlikely to be dropped.  Over the years I've had several motherboards fail due to the capacitor plague (fortunately now seems to be a thing of the past); countless fan failures (cheap and easy to replace unless it's the graphics card), a couple of PSU failures (one was repairable); various dodgy hard drives; a few instances of dodgy RAM (mosly the eBuyer value RAM favoured by PSOs in the early 2000s); one small fire (graphics card) and a CPU damaged by overheating (original Athlon).  I think the only really interesting failure of someone else's desktop I encountered was the aftermath of a lightning strike.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 12 February, 2018, 04:53:43 pm
Yes, well, that's what the bloke in the shop where he bought it told him.   From what El P. told me, though, the machine will actually run about one time in 30 that it's turned on, which sounds less like a motherboard failure than power supply, or something between the supply and the board. I don't have sufficient HW nous to get in there & boogie, though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2018, 05:08:42 pm
Agreed.  There will be plenty of power gubbins on the motherboard that can fail in the usual PSUish ways.  But also boring things like loose RAM might give the same symptoms.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 12 February, 2018, 05:14:10 pm
T42  You should be looking for a beep code or a light code.
When motherboards cannot boot up far enough to display on the screen they will try to tell you what the failure is by beeping a Morse code like pattern. Dells signal to you by using the front LED lights.
Of course a total PSU failure results in nowt beep code. But at least try to listen to the poor thing in a quiet room. It may be asking for help.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 12 February, 2018, 09:16:55 pm
I think I am going mad
I cannot see any way of creating a jobseeker account on this site:

https://www.jobvite.com/ (https://www.jobvite.com/)

There is a login page, but no account creation. Attempting to login and entering details just gets 'no account exists' message.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 13 February, 2018, 08:08:22 am
@Kim & Mr. C.: Looks like the first thing to do is to tell El Prez not to junk the thing out of hand.  Could be a hiding to nothing if PSU stuff on motherboard is fried, though...  And as I mentioned, I've no idea how to fix it.  I know the bloke who told him it was kaput and I'm pretty sure he'd have pressed home RAM etc. - it's not exactly good publicity to flog a machine that craps out in 2 years.  I got my my tower PC from him and it's still going strong after 5 or 6 years.

I'll toddle up to El P's place and have a gander. If nothing else he has half-decent coffee. Thanks, both.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 13 February, 2018, 09:08:12 am
Is it truly out of warranty? Some companies run a longer warranty than others. Might be worth checking (it depends on the type of failure).

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 February, 2018, 11:08:41 am
I think you'd have a reasonable expectation that a laptop should work for more than two years. I took a four year old Mac Mini back to Apple and uttered the phrase 'sale of goods' and while they didn't look entirely enthused, they replaced a faulty wifi card at no cost to me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 13 February, 2018, 02:09:20 pm
Back from El Prez's.  Laptop is totally unresponsive. Well, the power lights come on, but they don't flicker and there are no beeps. We did have a gander under the keyboard, but nothing was apparent - no surprise, given my lack of knowledge. Even a swift anointing with El P's espresso had no effect.

He's left with a creaky old mini-tower PC.  It's a Pentium 4 and the clock resets to 2002 when it's unplugged because etc.  It has a mix of RAM card frequencies and capacities to a total of 4 Gb.  He has W7 Pro on it, and it crawls. Performance Index is 2.7. It must be paging like buggery at the speed of a dead snail. The motherboard'll probably take 4 Gb but I doubt if that'd make much difference. Heigh ho.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hulver on 13 February, 2018, 04:09:27 pm
Back from El Prez's.  Laptop is totally unresponsive. Well, the power lights come on, but they don't flicker and there are no beeps. We did have a gander under the keyboard, but nothing was apparent - no surprise, given my lack of knowledge. Even a swift anointing with El P's espresso had no effect.

He's left with a creaky old mini-tower PC.  It's a Pentium 4 and the clock resets to 2002 when it's unplugged because etc.  It has a mix of RAM card frequencies and capacities to a total of 4 Gb.  He has W7 Pro on it, and it crawls. Performance Index is 2.7. It must be paging like buggery at the speed of a dead snail. The motherboard'll probably take 4 Gb but I doubt if that'd make much difference. Heigh ho.
I have seen that before when the battery is completely toasted. Taking the battery out and running it just from the mains adaptor made it work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 14 February, 2018, 12:06:36 pm
Another one from the "playing with the big boys" box. I just got to poke a finger at an Ethernet network card. One that runs without switches. At speeds greater than 600Gb/s. (yes, that's 60x what you might have thought was the maximum speed)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 14 February, 2018, 12:24:08 pm
Another one from the "playing with the big boys" box. I just got to poke a finger at an Ethernet network card. One that runs without switches. At speeds greater than 600Gb/s. (yes, that's 60x what you might have thought was the maximum speed)
Sheesh. In only 2001 I remember putting in a 20Gb/s WAN in and we only managed that dizzying headline speed by cheating and have two routes[1] between each node. Admittedly the fibre between major nodes was carrying multiples of that by the use of different colours over the fibre 

1. The two routes were totally diverse[2] from end to end for redundancy reasons, but that didn't stop us making the double speed claim :)
2. this required lots of hole and trench digging and occasioned this (then) IT PM visiting site to check that cables had actually been laid as I was being told.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 18 February, 2018, 01:23:29 pm
Just noticed that our LAN disk had its 10th birthday last week.  It's runs about 10 hrs/day and maybe 350 days/year. That's 35,000 hours so far.

Now that I've mentioned it, it'll probably crash.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 February, 2018, 06:01:17 pm
Maplins is circling the plughole https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/20/crunch_time_maplin_in_talks_to_sell_the_business/  :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 February, 2018, 06:09:10 pm
Maplins is circling the plughole https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/20/crunch_time_maplin_in_talks_to_sell_the_business/  :(

This is what they get for not selling battery holders.  >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 20 February, 2018, 09:34:58 pm
I was down in Emba at Feanor Outposts last weekend, and I had need of a laptop for Garmin fettling.

We do have several here, but they all belong to other family members.
I do have a couple of old ones, so I dug one out and charged it up.
It booted up, into Windows Vista!

That would be OK for what I needed.
It had a PCMCIA WiFi card ( an old Cisco A/B/G one ).

Only it had *no* USB ports!

Bah!
So I stole one of the kids laptops for the weekend.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 24 February, 2018, 04:23:48 pm
Hmm not sure what is going but over the last week or so, we have had at least 5 different companies we get emails from. Banks, pet insurance etc. Sending out emails to their list to only come back a few minutes later saying oops. All ranging from a merry crimbo email in Feb (not sure if they are late or early) to using "Dear wrong name".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Paul H on 24 February, 2018, 04:47:22 pm
Maplins is circling the plughole https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/20/crunch_time_maplin_in_talks_to_sell_the_business/  :(
Useful to know, I have some money on one of their cards, might be worth finding something to spend it on while there's still the chance.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 25 February, 2018, 12:52:47 am
Finally getting some monitoring and visbility around the state of my sprawling home network:

(https://i.imgur.com/3UZJ0Sr.png)

UPS battery is a bit cold

(https://i.imgur.com/YC7KTwN.png)

 :o

On Edit: That second graph is shrivelled down to a size that makes it almost imperceptible. It shows the UPS battery temperature dipping down to 5°C.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TimO on 25 February, 2018, 12:36:10 pm
Maplins is circling the plughole https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/20/crunch_time_maplin_in_talks_to_sell_the_business/  :(

Many <cough> many years ago, I used to get the Maplins catalogue, for the data that was available in it, and to drool over semiconductors that I couldn't afford !

With the Internet, electronics data is easily available, as are all the exotic components, which I suppose is why Maplins went away from components, into more macroscopic items; PC, gadgets etc, which was originally a small part of their stock.

Of course, they're still competing with the online distributors, and I've only been into Maplins 2 or 3 times in the last decade, looking for stuff that I wanted to buy now.  Unless they change their business model, they're not going to survive.  If they hadn't existed, I would just have waited a few days, for delivery from elsewhere.

I suspect that's going to be true progressively more and more with many more high street stores, even more than is happening already.  I buy a lot of items online now, with delivery typically being anywhere from an hour to a week.  Even with stuff sent for a tiny cost from China, it frequently arrives in a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 February, 2018, 01:04:44 pm
Maplin hasn't been the same since they stopped posting you items free of charge when you turned up and they didn't have stock.  The rot really set in when they sacked the old beardy guy at the components counter and filled the shop with DJ kit and RC toys.  It became even worse when you couldn't even rely on them for the sort of components you might use for wiring up hi-fi systems or installing pretty LEDs on things.

Distress purchases aren't enough to run a business, and the consumer tat they've made the cornerstone of their sales is now readily available elsewhere.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 February, 2018, 02:04:29 pm
I did buy a reel of speaker cable from them last year, but why does a 20m reel of 2-core wire cost twice as much as a 20m Cat 6 network cable?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 25 February, 2018, 02:19:19 pm
Yesterday, I bought £15.00 worth of cable ties (black, in three different sizes, seeing as you are asking) from my local Maplins.
I must confess, if they fold, I'll be crestfallen.
It's has been damned handy on numerous occasions to saunter all of five minutes before reaching my local one.
If I need bits for electrics at four on a Sunday afternoon, to fill my Sunday evening with unbridled soldering, there aren't too many other places that are likely to be able to help.
Oh, and up until around a year ago, my local branch had A Woman working in it.
Since then, they've reduced their staff from around six or seven, to two.:(

Oh, while flicking through the Sunday rag in the cafe this morning, I read that it looks like a buyer may've been found.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 25 February, 2018, 04:33:35 pm
Many <cough> many years ago, I used to get the Maplins catalogue, for the data that was available in it, and to drool over semiconductors that I couldn't afford !
+1 Cheapest pin-out manual on the market. I used to tear out and keep the transistor and IC pages.

These days the only things I buy there are Ag conductive paint; dodgy TV zappers, repairing; for the use of and their spray silicone grease for lubricating rubber motors.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 01 March, 2018, 02:12:00 pm
Mobile phone "always on" is creepy. But cool.

Signed,

A Google Fanboi

ETA: Not that cool that I haven't switched it off now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 07 March, 2018, 01:10:46 pm
My Pi based Kodi refused to play any videos or music last night, claiming items were removed from the library.  Prime suspect was the external HDD had died but plugging that in elsewhere showed it worked.
Delving further showed it wasn't mounted. Much reading of t'internet to find out where it should mount, trying to remember where i'd told it to mount, what tweaks I'd done etc and I was no further forward.

Then I swapped the USB port on the Pi and lo! it mounted all by itself. Next time, try the obvious.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: spesh on 08 March, 2018, 02:25:13 pm
I for one welcome our robot overlords.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/3/7/17092334/amazon-alexa-devices-strange-laughter
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 19 March, 2018, 09:31:14 pm
I awarded Visual Studio's Intellisenesence* a gold star today.  A rare, a very very very rare, event.  It suggested {mumble}Schemata as the correct name for a function returning a List of type {mumble}Schema.




*I know whereof I speak.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 22 March, 2018, 12:03:01 pm
First I can't get Flickr, now I can't get my bank GGRRR!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 22 March, 2018, 08:07:37 pm
Oh I do so like Microsoft maths.  Today we have the 15.6.3 update, but given the issues M$ have with counting it could very well be the 15.7.9 upgrade.  Who can tell?

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/810/27087993818_afb7db42ea_z_d.jpg)
LurkOnnaBike/flickr
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 30 March, 2018, 02:18:25 pm
The 'Down' cursor key on my MacBook Air seems dead.
Everything else works OK.
Suggestions?

David thinks there could be dirt in the contacts. I don't really want him to attempt to dismantlethis...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2018, 02:37:58 pm
If the key travel feels fine, dirt or broken/corroded tracks on the membrane, at a guess.

This sort of thing is frustrating to try to fix when its an easily dismantled and trivially easy to replace desktop keyboard.  Repairing anything on an laptop, especially a Mega-Global Fruit Corporation one is going to be a much more expensive circle of hell.

You may have to replace the whole keyboard unit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 30 March, 2018, 02:44:14 pm
MrsC poured Kir into her MacBook a few years ago. I think there was only one key affected. Cost was about £120 from the Apple Store to get it fixed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 30 March, 2018, 02:45:37 pm
I would agree with dirt in the contacts.
I have never done this with laptop keys, but I would suggest getting some screen cleaning spray.
Saturate the key with a good few squirts of the cleaning fluid. Leave for a bit.
Then press the key a good few times.  I guess ispropyl alcohol would do the job too.

I guess further that cleaning spray with a water base should not be allowed to soak into a laptop circuit board.
SO maybe alcohol would be a better bet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 30 March, 2018, 02:50:43 pm
If memory serves, some early Macbooks had keyboards which could be unclipped from the body of the machine, and the keyboard immersed in water (I know it sounds drastic, but it might be worth researching) to rid it of anything causing the keys to stick.
Heavy Duty drying with rice / airing cupboard would, needless to say, have to follow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2018, 02:52:21 pm
Yes, pure IPA[1] if you're going to do that sort of thing.  Problem is that the contacts are sandwiched between sheets of flexible plastic, so it may not penetrate without dismantling.


[1] Not the beer, that's strictly for slippy Brompton seat posts.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 30 March, 2018, 03:04:15 pm
Yes, pure IPA[1] if you're going to do that sort of thing.  Problem is that the contacts are sandwiched between sheets of flexible plastic, so it may not penetrate without dismantling.


[1] Not the beer, that's strictly for slippy Brompton seat posts.
Indeed. But the stickiness may be taking place between the outer surface of the membrane and the actuator / key.
As I understand it, the membranes themselves are sealed - although I've no idea  to what IP...

FWIW my No.2 iMac (2015)  is on its third bluetooth keyboard.
Thanks to spillages.
Meh!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 30 March, 2018, 03:08:39 pm
The 'Down' cursor key on my MacBook Air seems dead.
Everything else works OK.
Suggestions?

David thinks there could be dirt in the contacts. I don't really want him to attempt to dismantlethis...

turn it upside down and knock and shake it. and flick the key.

it is astonishing what laptops try and collect...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 30 March, 2018, 03:10:00 pm
The 'Down' cursor key on my MacBook Air seems dead.
Everything else works OK.
Suggestions?

David thinks there could be dirt in the contacts. I don't really want him to attempt to dismantlethis...

turn it upside down and knock and shake it. and flick the key.

it is astonishing what laptops try and collect...
A very good starting point.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 30 March, 2018, 03:54:50 pm
I had actually tried the IPA before posting, to no effect as the screen had gunk a keyboard print on it and I thought keyboard, screen and this down key might benefit from this.
No effect on down key.
Screen is shiny.

Key travel is OK and doesn't feel gritty. Nearby up key works OK.

Will try shaking but doubt this will help.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 19 April, 2018, 02:10:08 pm
Is there any way to scan software downloaded from the net?

Background - Downloaded a few mac os from tactic.com, via google docs, and would like to check that there is nothing hiding.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 22 April, 2018, 08:39:47 pm
I think a scholar has hacked into Google Maps and school website...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0719162,-1.3070747,16z (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0719162,-1.3070747,16z)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 May, 2018, 10:19:01 am
Bizarre Word glitch #35,927:

I regularly get sent copy from a writer who uses what must be an ancient version of Word - files have the .doc extension rather than .docx. I presume he is using Windows, though I haven't asked him. I'm guessing it's not a recent edition of Windows either, probably XP or something.

When I open these files in Word on my Mac, they are invariably missing the last few lines of copy - or at least, the copy is hidden and I can't access it.

The solution I have worked out is to open the files in Word, save them as plain text, then re-open the text files and save them as .docx. This works reliably.

It's a little irritating, to put it mildly, but I somehow suspect there won't be an easier fix apart from telling the contributor to update his bloody software to something from the 21st century.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: freeflow on 08 May, 2018, 04:01:02 pm
You could try saving as rtf or as pure xml before reloading and resaving as docx. Alternatively try loading into libre office writer and saving as docx.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 May, 2018, 04:34:03 pm
You could try saving as rtf or as pure xml before reloading and resaving as docx. Alternatively try loading into libre office writer and saving as docx.

That doesn't sound like any less faff than what I'm doing though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 08 May, 2018, 06:51:38 pm
I can see why you'd find it irritating, but the Luddite in me is on the side of your correspondent.  He or she has a WP package that works.  It almost certainly doesn't issue nagging messages to upgrade to the latest "whizzy" cloud* enabled dependent version every 5 minutes.  The fact that you have to jump through a few hoops is not his or her problem. And I'll bet your correspondent is perfectly happy running that WP package on an ancient piece of kit that with an OS out of the ark that doesn't report every damned keystroke to its electronic overlords and most certainly does not need replacing cos it still does what's needed thank you very much.

Of course you could just ask him or her to send documents to you as RTF rather than DOC.  I'm assuming it's most likely to be Word 97 or slightly later which has RTF as one of its supported file formats.  It's an approach I've used successfully when exchanging documents amongst people on wildly different versions  (i.e. the current one and the one just preceding - don't ask) of MS-Word.


*Let someone like Microsoft keep copies of all my documents on a server not under my control?  And edit them with a SAAS programme that I have to renew a licence for every year or lose access forever?  Aye. Right.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 May, 2018, 07:51:04 pm
The fact that you have to jump through a few hoops is not his or her problem.

Yeah, that's kind of true... up to a point. Needs to be a bit of give and take both ways though. If I had to send him files, would it be my responsibility to convert them to .doc format?

Tbh, it doesn't bother me enough to feel the need to do anything about it. It's irritating but nothing worse than that, otherwise I would have had words with him about it already. I also have to deal with Pages files and Google docs on occasion. I also seem to spend a lot of time helping out technologically incompetent colleagues who can't work out what to do with Pages files and Google docs... FML

Arguably, I'd be within my rights to refuse to accept submissions in any proprietary format (which .doc is), and enforcing such a policy would make life easier for me in some ways, but I don't feel strongly enough about it.

Quote
*Let someone like Microsoft keep copies of all my documents on a server not under my control?  And edit them with a SAAS programme that I have to renew a licence for every year or lose access forever?  Aye. Right.

That's fine as a principle, and obviously I'm not obliged to use Word when there are plenty of other WP packages out there using open file formats.

Different story with Indesign - it's no longer possible to buy it as a standalone program, you have to go down the subscription route, and there are no substitutes because pretty much everyone else in the industry is using Indesign. Quite simply, I wouldn't be able to do my job without Indesign.

I probably do still have an old version of Indesign on disc somewhere but it almost certainly wouldn't be compatible with the OS on my current work computer and even if it were, it wouldn't be able to handle the shared files I work on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 May, 2018, 08:17:15 pm
Interestingly, opening the .doc files in Google Docs through my web browser doesn't suffer the same glitch.

I think the real problem is that MS only provides half-hearted support for the Mac versions of its own products. I expect there are plenty of other similar glitches that I haven't encountered... yet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 May, 2018, 11:44:43 pm
Every MS product suffered from the 'what about Windows' problems, every decision made was inflected by Windows, and every product became subservient to needs of Windows, and how that product would benefit Windows. Far enough, it is their biggest product, but it was a business myopia that made it difficult for them to diversify. And they still struggle. That said, they have a huge mountain of cash regardless, so they're probably not about to call me up for business advice.

I do hate the subscription model. I used to have my own copy of Office and I didn't begrudge the £100 or so for a copy that I could use on a couple of years and would be current for five or so years. I'm not paying to subscribe, I don't need continuous development, it's a word processor, spreadsheet etc and already has far more features and functions that I'll ever use. It's a dramatic increase in the cost of ownership (yes, you can still buy a standalone Office for Mac, but of course they deliberately stunt it, and the licensing is one computer only where it used to be five).

I think Adobe are sowing the eventual seeds of their own demise with their subscription model. Photoshop's familiarity, for instance, was gained through wide (and often not entirely legal) usage. They've locked it down to corporates and professionals and tbh, their products while full-featured are starting to look a bit tired. Yes, a lot of workflows are tied into their tools and there's business inertia. But then again, they might want to remember that everyone used to use QuarkXpress, and Indesign was the pretender.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 May, 2018, 11:16:37 am
Is there an easy way to determine whether a sudden loss of intertubes in the wee small hours was an issue at The Man's end or my router showing signs of droid rot?  No unusual blinkenlight activity on the latter, but it swore blind it was connected when ping was unable to find Microsith, Farcebok or Google.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 09 May, 2018, 03:29:24 pm
I have had the same, with my ISP between 6-7am and some times at night but not linked to a soap cliffhanger time as this was often random. Though ping tanked to something silly that all the websites I tried to visit my browser kept saying nope nothing to see here or it's dead Jim. I even set up a speed test script that clearly said that my speeds dropped to now't and pings went to yawnville, mostly because there was not pong to my pings.  Should have had about 48 down and 9 up, but doing these times I had about .5 down and .1 up or just nada.

I moaned to my ISP and they said there was no sign that the internet had been cut near or at me. The little green light saying that it was awake and on the ball was on, the light saying that there was a phone line was also on but the most important green one was sometimes not seen.

After some nagging and tos and fros I was told that the ISP don't check or care about the ping.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2018, 06:37:03 pm
I moaned to my ISP and they said there was no sign that the internet had been cut near or at me. The little green light saying that it was awake and on the ball was on, the light saying that there was a phone line was also on but the most important green one was sometimes not seen.

After some nagging and tos and fros I was told that the ISP don't check or care about the ping.

This is what AAISP are for (https://support.aa.net.uk/CQM_Graphs).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 11 May, 2018, 12:02:14 pm
Is there an easy way to determine whether a sudden loss of intertubes in the wee small hours was an issue at The Man's end or my router showing signs of droid rot?  No unusual blinkenlight activity on the latter, but it swore blind it was connected when ping was unable to find Microsith, Farcebok or Google.

Some external monitoring on both connections might be beneficial..
You could try uptime robot, for instance. At it's free tier, it will do checks 5 minutely and that includes pings.

If you want minutely checks, you can use pingdom. But you only get one check for free (or two if you send a tweet) and at the free tier they are http only. Which means running a webserver. To be fair you could setup a raspberry Pi at each site, install nginx and forward port 80 to them.

The tricky part, is the IP address of the internet connections constantly changing. So you would need a Dynamic DNS service (I think there are some free ones, noip.com?) and a client for the dynamic DNS service at each site.

None of the above is unfeasible but, it's probably not worth the effort for most folk.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: cygnet on 11 May, 2018, 01:37:49 pm
Clickbait fail:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/981/41136960825_ba499bfc8b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25F8Fgg) (https://flic.kr/p/25F8Fgg)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 17 May, 2018, 06:07:43 pm
Thought I'd post this as others may be Arirbnb-ing, too.

Airbnb now ask for ID verification

Cue a conversation with their hell desk

Quote

You have asked me to submit sensitive personal information for the purpose of identity validation. Please confirm that you will effectively destroy this information once you have validated my identity and provide me with confirmation that this has been done, thank you.

Quote
Hello Ham, this is Glenda from Airbnb. I will be here to assist you with. ID verification is essentail [sic] for security purposes, rest assure that Airbnb has the best security practice with the data we are collecting. Thanks

Quote

Thank you for that reply, but you have not answered my question.

Unless you can tell me otherwise, once you have used my personal info to validate my ID (and frankly, I am uncertain why you even have to do that) I can see no reason for you to continue to hold this information.

Please therefore destroy it and confirm to me the process you use to destroy it. Thank you.

Quote
You can read everything to our Airbnb Privacy Policy. You can be assured that everything is for safety purposes of all Airbnb users.

Quote
I have read your privacy policy, including where you describe the use you put that data to.

However none of the uses quoted indicate why, having validated my ID, you require to continue to hold this data.

Having verified my ID, you have no more need to hold my sensitive personal information on file. You may claim to have effective security in place but you will be aware that the Internet is littered with well secured systems that have been hacked and lost millions of users' data.

Please explain why you need to continue to hold this information on file, as opposed to simply holding the validated status.

Quote
I totally understand your concern. I will be escalating this to a team that is better equipped to handle such queries. Thanks

To Be Continued
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 May, 2018, 07:07:39 pm
From Arch OTP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRbJiX-rtgU
https://youtu.be/FRbJiX-rtgU
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hulver on 30 May, 2018, 04:40:42 pm
The latest version of Windows 10 that was foisted onto me by Windows Update has hosed my computer.

Attempting to start 90% of programs gives a message that "The application has failed to start because the side by side configuration is incorrect please see the application event log or use the command line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."

I can't even check the event log, because guess what error I get when trying to start it.

Thanks a lot microsoft.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 30 May, 2018, 04:57:04 pm
The latest version of Windows 10 that was foisted onto me by Windows Update has hosed my computer.

Attempting to start 90% of programs gives a message that "The application has failed to start because the side by side configuration is incorrect please see the application event log or use the command line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."

I can't even check the event log, because guess what error I get when trying to start it.

Thanks a lot microsoft.
Spent this afternoon fixing my aunts laptop that went West after the latest update too. Completely goosed. Fuck you Bill.

Posted from my beautiful wee MacBook Pro, swoon emoji.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hulver on 30 May, 2018, 05:02:42 pm
The latest version of Windows 10 that was foisted onto me by Windows Update has hosed my computer.

Attempting to start 90% of programs gives a message that "The application has failed to start because the side by side configuration is incorrect please see the application event log or use the command line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."

I can't even check the event log, because guess what error I get when trying to start it.

Thanks a lot microsoft.
Spent this afternoon fixing my aunts laptop that went West after the latest update too. Completely goosed. Fuck you Bill.

Posted from my beautiful wee MacBook Pro, swoon emoji.

One of the solutions I found online was to reinstall the VC++ 2013 Runtime. Guess what error it gives when I run the installer?

Looks like I'm reinstalling Windows.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 31 May, 2018, 10:05:26 am
Dear Very Big Knob at my Megacorp,

Thank you for circulating this new Powerpoint template for us all to use, very pretty it is and only 11Mb. I've taken that, deleted the slide masters that were nothing to do with it, resized the images and got rid of Micro$hafts obsession with bitmaps, replacing them with visually identical jpg. It's now 350Kb. Shall we use this instead?

kthxbai
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 31 May, 2018, 12:55:36 pm
Does Powerpoint still not handle vectors? Mine doesn't, but I'm still using Office 2011 for Mac. Reminds me that I have to wrestle Office 365 from the mothership. They'll probably make me do battle with procurement 'as we don't support Macs.' This is untrue, our IT people in my experience don't support anything.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 May, 2018, 01:15:57 pm
Tried to install an update to iTunes last night.  "Soz.  No can do!" said the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia's installer thing.  "Because I cannot access C:\Program Files\iTunes."

It is right.  Something has munted the security settings on said directory so thoroughly that it'll probably take three hours of Google and swearing to fix.  And I can't even blame the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia because the same update worked seamlessly on another machine.

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 31 May, 2018, 01:23:21 pm
Does Powerpoint still not handle vectors? Mine doesn't, but I'm still using Office 2011 for Mac. Reminds me that I have to wrestle Office 365 from the mothership. They'll probably make me do battle with procurement 'as we don't support Macs.' This is untrue, our IT people in my experience don't support anything.

Short answer - No. Longer answer, yes, but only in Micro$hits own drawing format, that limited drawing capability has classically been one of the reasons for using Powerpoint.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 31 May, 2018, 04:05:59 pm
Company anti spam thing, you are useless at keeping out dodgy emails sent to the generic sales force email addy.  You try to make up for this by stopping a much needed authentication email sent to me.  It'll turn up tomorrow. Bah. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 05 June, 2018, 04:08:17 pm
Does Powerpoint still not handle vectors? Mine doesn't, but I'm still using Office 2011 for Mac. Reminds me that I have to wrestle Office 365 from the mothership. They'll probably make me do battle with procurement 'as we don't support Macs.' This is untrue, our IT people in my experience don't support anything.

Short answer - No. Longer answer, yes, but only in Micro$hits own drawing format, that limited drawing capability has classically been one of the reasons for using Powerpoint.

It still astounds me that a program that by definition should be resolution-independent (after all, you never know what the projector you use for presenting will support) doesn't even support PDF.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 01 July, 2018, 07:20:54 pm
We've got to poke it to know it...

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/41323462310_91d4b84e77_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25XBxE7)
IMG_1264_01 (https://flic.kr/p/25XBxE7) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/43084315202_223f9fe1b6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28DdnSJ)
IMG_1265_01 (https://flic.kr/p/28DdnSJ) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/43084323162_43e179b2b4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28DdqeY)
IMG_1266_01 (https://flic.kr/p/28DdqeY) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 July, 2018, 08:12:29 pm
We had fun with one recently: Wired it up to a power source and ran a screwdriver down the platter to scrape all the data off.  The disk itself was transparent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveJ on 02 July, 2018, 11:18:01 am
Glass?  The 2.5" disks sound like they might have been if you hit them with a hammer.

Dave
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 06 July, 2018, 11:03:41 pm
Is it ethical to borrow other peoples wifi signal?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 07 July, 2018, 12:48:23 am
Depends. Will you give it back?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 July, 2018, 12:57:14 am
Unless it's intended to be an open network for public use, then it's going to be an offence under the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, but so is turning off the washing machine, so whatever.

In the more likely scenario of discovering that a neighbour is a luser with an unsecured network, I'd apply the common sense approach of not doing anything particularly bandwidth intensive (so as not to incur charges or impact the performance of their network), and only if you have a pressing need to do so (need to get online to top up your mobile, moved house and are still waiting for our-favourite-telco to sort your DSL out (https://xkcd.com/466/), that sort of thing).  And, it goes without saying, not doing anything dodgy with it.

Also, bear in mind the possibility that the neighbour *isn't* a luser and it may be a honeypot...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 07 July, 2018, 07:19:40 am
Depends. Will you give it back?

I'll only annoy a few electrons temporarily..

Unless it's intended to be an open network for public use, then it's going to be an offence under the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, but so is turning off the washing machine, so whatever.

In the more likely scenario of discovering that a neighbour is a luser with an unsecured network, I'd apply the common sense approach of not doing anything particularly bandwidth intensive (so as not to incur charges or impact the performance of their network), and only if you have a pressing need to do so (need to get online to top up your mobile, moved house and are still waiting for our-favourite-telco to sort your DSL out (https://xkcd.com/466/), that sort of thing).  And, it goes without saying, not doing anything dodgy with it.

Also, bear in mind the possibility that the neighbour *isn't* a luser and it may be a honeypot...


Well my favourite new telco (virgin), are offering a new service of sharing wifi with other users while out and about, but only on their latest hub.  This hub has many many users complaining of poor wifi compared to the older hub.  Connecting to shared virgin email signal is patchy at best and a unable to connect.

The worst bit is the mobile phone app kept turning the wifi on whilst the phone was not in use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 07 July, 2018, 08:46:46 pm
I am using David's MacBook at present.

I seem to have killed my trusty MacBook Air DEDD with a spilt drink, which only wet the Magsafe port. The charger itself is working OK with this Macbook (I think it's a Pro from 2009).

The drink was a diet squash, so didn't have much sugar.

Initially, the display was blank and the fans were working overtime. The fans stopped when I held the 'on' switch but now the whole machine lacks any hint of life.

The rest escaped dry so nothing went on the keyboard etc.

This is more than a little inconvenient! David's at a concert tonight.

I suggested judicious use of a hairdryer, a suggestion rejected by David.

I'd welcome any suggestions...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 July, 2018, 08:58:28 pm
It's a Macbook, so presumably you can't deprive it of power completely by removing the battery, which is always the best thing you can do in the event of a spillage, to stop electrolytic corrosion.

If it happened to me, I'd squirt copious amounts of IPA[1] at it in the hope of displacing the liquid and follow up with compressed air.  Judicious use of a hairdryer (not too hot) isn't a terrible idea.  Distilled water is an improvement on squash, but will itself take ages to dry.

Sugar is sticky, but not ionic, so isn't itself conductive.  I expect there's enough citric acid, minerals etc in it that are, though.


[1] Not the beer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 07 July, 2018, 09:29:36 pm
Is it needed in a hurry?

Might be an idea to take it apart and clean things up with IPA.  But initially spray IPA in the area of the spilt drink.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 07 July, 2018, 09:44:12 pm
I'd like it sooner rather than later.
Mail and banking would be nice.

Passwords might be a problem...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 07 July, 2018, 10:08:06 pm
Can you or david take the bottom bit apart?  Have you got the small enough screwdriver?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 07 July, 2018, 10:18:49 pm
I see this needs a star-fangled tiny screwdriver.
I certainly don't have one and I don't know about David.

I've got into mail and banking.
Twitter will have to wait.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 08 July, 2018, 01:13:44 am
I've got a feeling that the star-shaped fixings on macbooks have five lobes: if either of you does have starry screwdrivers, they're almost certainly torx/t-star, which have six lobes.

Don't try to use them together - that way madness lies. And product damage.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 08 July, 2018, 01:30:21 am
They are indeed 5 pointed.
David says he has starry screwdrivers but I know not their point count.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 08 July, 2018, 01:56:28 pm
I seem to have killed my trusty MacBook Air DEDD with a spilt drink, which only wet the Magsafe port. The charger itself is working OK with this Macbook (I think it's a Pro from 2009).
The drink was a diet squash, so didn't have much sugar.
Initially, the display was blank and the fans were working overtime. The fans stopped when I held the 'on' switch but now the whole machine lacks any hint of life.
The rest escaped dry so nothing went on the keyboard etc.
This is more than a little inconvenient! David's at a concert tonight.
I suggested judicious use of a hairdryer, a suggestion rejected by David.
I'd welcome any suggestions...

MY MACBOOK AIR LIVES!

It seems to be working normally now having rebooted normally.

I wonder whether the wet MagSafe Port was a red herring as another charger could recharge the Air and my charger worked OK on David's MacBook. (The sticky tape splinting the wire WAS wet.)

The Clue might have been the fans working overtime.

It seems cured after chilling out overnight.

David earlier thought the Eprom had failed and would be spendy to fix.

If this MacBook can't stand the heat, maybe I should get it out of the kitchen!

(It's 28.0 here with 42% humidity. It's resting on a hard, tiled surface; this should not really overwhelm it IMO.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 08 July, 2018, 05:21:32 pm
Coolio.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 July, 2018, 12:23:59 am
The Puffin browser has unilaterally decided that when I hit "Post" to reply to a post in here, what I really mean is "Start New Topic" ???

ETA: reset fondleslab.  It's working again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 14 July, 2018, 02:27:18 pm
We've got to poke it to know it...

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/41323462310_91d4b84e77_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25XBxE7)
IMG_1264_01 (https://flic.kr/p/25XBxE7) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/43084315202_223f9fe1b6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28DdnSJ)
IMG_1265_01 (https://flic.kr/p/28DdnSJ) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/43084323162_43e179b2b4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28DdqeY)
IMG_1266_01 (https://flic.kr/p/28DdqeY) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

Dibs the magnets ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 14 July, 2018, 02:30:06 pm
Found some (well many) older laptop ram ddr1 and less.  Some ddr2 but 1gb or less.

Was wondering what to do with it?  Any value or anyone that would want or have a use for them.

Or recycling.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: essexian on 16 July, 2018, 09:15:05 am
My computer knowledge could be written on the back of a stamp....indeed, I think it was a huge mistake moving away from Windows 3.1....so I suppose my laptop is dead as it is showing that no hard drive can be found.

I have tried the stuff in the start up "esc" thingy with no luck.

I suppose the machine is now a couple of kilo's of trash. Sigh. Disappointed as it was only a year or so old.


EDIT....forget this.... I tried pressing buttons left, right and centre and for some reason I don't understand, it all seems to be working okay again.

Frankly, we made a mistake moving away from slide rules.... hell, I do wonder at times, whether we were wrong climbing down out of the trees  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 July, 2018, 12:11:51 pm
Failure to find the hard drive is generally a problem with the hard drive (usually a mechanical problem, like the bearing getting sticky), which is a failure-prone and therefore eminently replaceable part.  No need to trash the whole machine.

Failure to find a bootable operating system on the hard drive may simply be a software problem.  It's entirely possible for something important to the boot process to become corrupted without an actual hardware failure.  A clever person might be able to persuade it to work again.  A person who's even cleverer might wipe the disk and reinstall the OS so it definitely works without wasting too much brain power on it.

TBH, I reckon Windows 3.1 was the big mistake.  The dead trolls said it right. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d85p7JZXNy8)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 16 July, 2018, 05:30:45 pm
Quote from: Kim
TBH, I reckon Windows 3.1 was the big mistake.
DSM-11 FTW.  Preferably on a PDP 11-7x or 11-8x.  Pictures?  Who needs pictures?  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: essexian on 17 July, 2018, 01:24:39 pm
Well after working for another four hours, the machine died again and now despite everything I try, its now unwilling to start.

I note what you say Kim about a smart person may be able to fix it, but frankly, I need a machine this afternoon so I have gone out and brought a new one.....is it wrong to use the "how much did your new bike cost" rule for a new Computer? CBH thinks it cost £150 less than I actually paid. 

There is a local computer person nearby so I might take the old machine to them to see if they can fix it: it has quite a few photos etc on it which I would quite like to have access to....what's that? Cloud storage?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 18 July, 2018, 08:58:45 am
I just installed the latest Java update. So what? Well, once it was finished a message box told me "You have just installed Java <blah blah blah>" - without congratulating me!

There's still hope for the world.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 July, 2018, 12:11:15 pm
The headphone socket on my 'Apple just works' MacBook Air has failed.

The speakers still speak when I plug in the phones, to which there is no sound.

Phones worked earlier yesterday. Plug feels as if it's gripped properly by the socket.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 28 July, 2018, 12:59:06 pm
Probably worth trying another set just to confim the headphones haven't actually failed in a way that inhibits their detection (might be that it's measuring impedance rather than physically detecting the presence of a plug), as that's going to be by far the least painful problem to solve. 

It could also be possible that there's something softwarey overriding the normal headphone detection, I suppose.  I don't have the Mac experience to suggest where to look, thobut.   :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 July, 2018, 01:46:06 pm
Thanks! I'll snaffle/borrow David's phones at some stage.

ETA No luck with Davi's posh Sony phones. (Mine are magenta JVC cheapies I got from Sainsbury's.)

Restarting the computer several times made no difference.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 05 August, 2018, 08:29:34 am
Realized yesterday that it was getting bloody hot under my desk, and the computer fans were simply recycling hot air.  I now have a fan blasting straight in under.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 06 August, 2018, 04:43:23 pm
I have the 50GB iCloud at 79p per month but decided I would just use my hard disk and reduce back to the free 5gb.

I transferred all my documents to the MacBook hard disk but it made no difference to iCloud, it still said I had 35GB data in there, even though I only had 100MB documents and my Thunderbird emails (which ended up as 3.5GB)

So I got onto Apple Support and some nice Irish people talked me through various things.

Then we got to the next point and the guy said "We have to remove all Documents and Data". I had made a backup of all of these on the Mac's desktop. I said to him "what about the Thunderbird Emails". He said they definitely wouldn't be deleted (he was doing a screen view at the time so could see my iPad). I said "Are you really sure?" and he said "Yes."

So I pressed "Delete all Documents and Data" and my Thunderbird emails disappeared. My most recent backup is 2 months old as I was now using iCloud. The Apple Support Guy has escalated a ticket to see if they can restore it from their servers as otherwise I've lost all my filed emails for the last two months. I was able to restore from a backup so I know I have emails up to the end of May.

He then said "you should always do a Time Machine backup, iCloud isn't a backup." Even though it was he who told me to delete it and I clarified twice that it was OK to do!

Fixed the issue though, my iCloud data usage is only 100MB now...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 06 August, 2018, 04:59:27 pm
The 'E' key on my MacBook Air is coming adrift. It works if jiggled.

I am not a rough or rapid typist.
At all.

David says he's not seen anything like this on any Mac he has owned.

E is, of course, the letter used most frequently.

Underwhelming. I'm sure we'll live with this and/or fix it.

Apple just works.

Always.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 06 August, 2018, 05:35:07 pm
Hmm. Time Machine isn’t really a backup though, certainly not a full one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 06 August, 2018, 07:28:53 pm
@Auntie

I use Google for things online and I noticed that I was coming close to my limit too. Some poking around I found out that the bin/trash in google drive was the culprit. Could that be your problem?

I understood the Drive bin behaved like Gmail bin - got emptied after 30 days or so.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 06 August, 2018, 07:33:28 pm
They checked that and it wasn't the case. It seems to be a mini bug for some users.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 August, 2018, 08:54:22 pm
Incidentally, does anyone else get irked when computers use "[rubbish] bin" for what really ought to be "trash[can]"?  It's like someone's over-enthusiastically localised the UI into British English; presumably due to excessive exposure to RISC OS at a formative age.

(My regular desktop is MATE.  It has a "Wastebasket", which has gone past localisation and well into taking the piss.  The contents live in ~/.local/share/Trash/ as if to prove my point.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 August, 2018, 09:09:32 pm
Microsith uses "Recycle Bin*", which makes a certain amount of sense.  IIRC the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia used "Wastebasket" in the days when I had regular access to a FruitCo babbage-engine.

* though mine's now "Dave's Anbaric Dustbin"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 06 August, 2018, 09:13:45 pm
It is yclept 'Trash' on this MacBook Air.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 August, 2018, 09:15:28 pm
Microsith uses "Recycle Bin*", which makes a certain amount of sense.

Yeah.  It suggests that you can fish things out of it without getting your hands dirty, which is a dangerous metaphor if ever there was one.


Quote
Anbaric Dustbin

Excellent idea!  *renames*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 06 August, 2018, 11:04:25 pm
Rubbish Bin on Ubuntu.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 09 August, 2018, 07:53:35 am
Wasn't it do with Apple "inventing" the Trash icon and suing anyone who copied it? Or is that urban myth?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 09 August, 2018, 08:10:17 am
Apple did indeed de-UK English the Trash Can, as Mr L remembers. They gave a reason but I don’t remember being that impressed with it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: essexian on 09 August, 2018, 08:36:10 am
"They" updated my works computer yesterday from Windows 7 to 10 so of course this morning, nothing is working as I don't seem to be able to get into our office drive where, of course, all my work is kept.

Sigh.

I would phone the Helpdesk but I can't log into the office system to get the phone number.

Sigh.

I would go back to bed but I have 12 days to do 17 days work in so can't afford to lose any time (and yes, I do get that I have just wasted a couple of minutes writing this!)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 August, 2018, 01:38:16 pm
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/an-11-year-old-changed-election-results-on-a-replica-florida-state-website-in-under-10-minutes

Quote
An 11-year-old changed election results on a replica Florida state website in under 10 minutes
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2018, 05:03:55 pm
You'd think anyone reporting on a hacking convention would have got over the "ZOMG some children know more about computers than some adults" thing about 30 years ago.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 13 August, 2018, 05:19:50 pm
You'd think anyone reporting on a hacking convention would have got over the "ZOMG some children know more about computers than some adults" thing about 30 years ago.

The story, as originally filed, had got over it. However, a pesky 11 year old hacked into the newspaper's computer and changed the emphasis.  Or perhaps not.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2018, 05:29:20 pm
You'd think anyone reporting on a hacking convention would have got over the "ZOMG some children know more about computers than some adults" thing about 30 years ago.

The story, as originally filed, had got over it. However, a pesky 11 year old hacked into the newspaper's computer and changed the emphasis.  Or perhaps not.

That explains the Daily Mail.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 August, 2018, 06:00:00 pm
If an eleven year old can do that, it should probably worry us more what someone with significantly experience is capable of.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 14 August, 2018, 03:01:41 pm
I arrived at wrk this morning.

I removed my laptop from it's bag.

I plugged it in.  "Hmmm" thought I, "Why does the power light not light?"

I lifted said laptop up to find a tiny pool-ette of liquid underneath it.

Thinking back, I got caught in not one, but two cloud bursts, yesterday.  I guess my laptop bag is not Monsoon proof.

Desktop support said "Do you not have a waterproof laptop bag?"

"Well," said I "the laptop bag I got with the laptop doesn't keep the rain off particularly well"*

"HUMPH" said they

*For some reason, our desktop support function do not supply laptop bags when they supply laptops...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 15 August, 2018, 04:14:50 pm
The 'E' key on my MacBook Air is coming adrift. It works if jiggled.

I am not a rough or rapid typist.
At all.

David says he's not seen anything like this on any Mac he has owned.

E is, of course, the letter used most frequently.

Underwhelming. I'm sure we'll live with this and/or fix it.

Apple just works.

Always.

T key is coming adrift now...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 August, 2018, 01:45:28 pm
My land line rang yesterday.  Probably for the first time.  I answer it and down a crackly line a woman with an Indian accent* says she's calling from First Direct but before we proceed could she ask me some security questions.


I almost hang up straightaway, but explain that that's not going to happen is it. She understands and asks me to call back and ask for extension xyz.  She also says she'll text me the reason for the call. 1471 indicates the number she called from was kosher, a text arrives asking me to get in touch with the fraud team, so I call them on my mobile. I explain what's gone on, they reassure me it's a legit call, thank me for taking such precautions and put me through. More crackly line, another Indian accent*.  It turns out my credit has been declined in attempted dodgy transactions by Bad People. Card gets stopped, we check the transaction history, I cut up the card.

Why do they do this?They even realised it was wrong when I refused to give them the details.

*IME, calls to First Direct have been on uncrackley lines to people with Scottish or Norvern Monkey accents, as their call centres are in Scotland somewhere or Leeds. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 18 August, 2018, 09:12:52 pm
Bonkers, just bonkers, I've been on Linux for years, always kept a backup of my files on an external drive. Today I was trying to update my backups, I deleted my download folder on the eternal drive then found that I couldn't copy a fresh copy to the backup drive, it wouldn't let me, if I renamed it Dave's Downloads it would accept it, if I tried to rename it downloads it wouldn't let me, if I renamed it downloads and did it as two words it would let me do that. All other files copied with no problems.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 27 August, 2018, 09:17:54 am
Found an old Mapsource manual.  Recommends at least 16-32Mb of memory  and 640x480 display. Those were the days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 27 August, 2018, 12:58:26 pm
The 'E' key on my MacBook Air is coming adrift. It works if jiggled.

I am not a rough or rapid typist.
At all.

David says he's not seen anything like this on any Mac he has owned.

E is, of course, the letter used most frequently.

Underwhelming. I'm sure we'll live with this and/or fix it.

Apple just works.

Always.

T key is coming adrift now...

Is it the plastic key holder breaking?

https://jpdiv.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/replacing-the-keys-on-an-apple-keyboard/  hopefully shows what I mean.

PS am in your neck of the woods today.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 04 September, 2018, 11:34:25 pm
Here is some ancient analogue goodness. Donated by a colleague who was clearing out his office.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1873/44479828731_d6bab66c01_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aLwKqP)Analog computing (https://flic.kr/p/2aLwKqP) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1853/30610391638_f5220d4e7e_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NCWfZ5)Analog computing (https://flic.kr/p/NCWfZ5) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1899/44479822431_5151a2b05b_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aLwHyc)Analog computing (https://flic.kr/p/2aLwHyc) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1881/29542173157_f42e00f298_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M1xmR4)Analog computing (https://flic.kr/p/M1xmR4) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr

I have yet to use it in anger.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 05 September, 2018, 02:32:00 pm
T key is coming adrift now...

It sounds like dirt or crumbs trapped underneath. You can unclip the keytops on MacBooks by sticking a long fingernail under the top edge and gently pulling upwards.

(N.B. don't do this on a newer USB-C MacBook keyboard, you'll probably break it)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 05 September, 2018, 05:09:35 pm
Don't try and clip them back in though!  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 05 September, 2018, 06:32:07 pm
Nah, once they're off you can see how the clip mechanism works and slide them back over the little pins easily enough.

(or just roughly lining them up and mashing them down also works)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 05 September, 2018, 06:58:15 pm
I shall try mashing!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 September, 2018, 11:11:48 am
Well my PC is playing up. Over the last few day it has just frozen while not doing something hard. Looking in the logs I can't see (and understand) what causes it. The only thing that jumps out is a somethingKernelSomeotherthing was restarted or not shut down properly.

Plugging and unplugging the SSD boot drive into motherboard with other HHD drive. When the SSD drive is not connected I can boot right into BIOS and see the connected drives there. But when that SSD drive is plugged in sometimes I can and when I can I might see it and some of the others drives there.

Plugging the drive into a USB adopter, on my laptop it tells me that the drive is just fine.

Installed win10 on another disk so lets see if that behaves and if it does it must be the SSD not the motherboard.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 September, 2018, 12:11:52 pm
Remember the days when HDDs at 7200rpm were fast? 

Goes shopping for a new SSD before I fall asleep waiting for things to happen on this disk :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 08 September, 2018, 09:17:08 pm
I'm loving Linux Mint 19 Mate Edition :-) So much so, I've installed it on my old-desktop-hooked-up-to-the-telly-legal-steaming-box, my desktop, and my cheap refurbished HP Probook 6450b  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 16 September, 2018, 04:18:22 pm
 Memory Lane: rooting through the cable crypt for something to cannibalize to wire up a CB guitar this morning, I came up with a home-made Laplink cable, the RS232 version.  Remember the first time you saw that? I do: the wonder of seeing the contents of both PCs at the same time. And the suspense while you waited to see if the transfer would actually work without crashing.

Didn't use it - wanted multistrand.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 September, 2018, 10:14:47 pm
I was an Amiga jibbler in those days, PARNet (and its scrawny sibling SERNet) was the equivalent.  I remember cobbling up a null modem cable out of the mains lead from a dead lawnmower, which was excellent for multi-player games but outperformed by sneakernet with 880kB floppies for actual file transfers.  There was still a convenience factor of being able to leave the OS floppy in the drive on the machine without a hard disk.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 20 September, 2018, 09:00:59 am
My printers down again :( I've a cheap HP printer that's about ten years old now that's been getting increasingly temperamental as time passes. Its latest trick is to print but produce blank sheets, I can hear it printing but it doesn't produce anything, I'm sure its done this before but I can't remember what the solution was. Ideally I'd replace it but I do that little printing I can't justify buying another.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 September, 2018, 02:58:20 pm
My printers down again :( I've a cheap HP printer that's about ten years old now that's been getting increasingly temperamental as time passes. Its latest trick is to print but produce blank sheets, I can hear it printing but it doesn't produce anything, I'm sure its done this before but I can't remember what the solution was. Ideally I'd replace it but I do that little printing I can't justify buying another.

Is it an ink jet printer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 20 September, 2018, 10:59:27 pm
My printers down again :( I've a cheap HP printer that's about ten years old now that's been getting increasingly temperamental as time passes. Its latest trick is to print but produce blank sheets, I can hear it printing but it doesn't produce anything, I'm sure its done this before but I can't remember what the solution was. Ideally I'd replace it but I do that little printing I can't justify buying another.

Is it an ink jet printer.

Yes its an inkjet, a HP deskjet2280 running on ubuntu 18.04, I'm thinking about waiting till after Xmas and then spending any cash I've received over Xmas or my birthday on a replacement in any sales that are going on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2018, 11:52:36 pm
...On some kind of laser printer, given that you go long periods without using it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 21 September, 2018, 03:44:49 am
...On some kind of laser printer, given that you go long periods without using it.


Laser printers cost too much,  I like the idea but they're to far outside any budget I might have.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 21 September, 2018, 07:23:42 am
Quote from: dave r
... I can hear it printing but it doesn't produce anything...
Of course you have checked that the cartridges aren't empty, haven't you?  :)

If you're only printing stuff intermittently and the printer has a "clean print heads" cycle you can start manually try that before you kick off a print run.  The cartridge print heads may be gumming up where they're sitting idle so no ink is reaching the paper.

If there's no manual clean option, the cartridge is still full and it is just a case of gummed up heads you could try taking the cartridge out and very, very, very gently cleaning the heads with a damp cotton bud.  Bit of a last resort this though because you run the risk of buggering up the fragile cartridge heads completely and what with cartridges being ridiculously overpriced...

Another possibility that's just flitted through what passes for my mind is that the ink in the cartridge(s) may have dried out/gone sludgy/separated if they're very old cartridges. Worth trying a new cartridge if you've got any to hand?

You could also check that the cartridges' signal contact points are still held securely and cleanly against the printer and perhaps give them a bit of a clean if they look grubby.

After that? Not a clue.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 21 September, 2018, 07:52:17 am
Quote from: dave r
... I can hear it printing but it doesn't produce anything...
Of course you have checked that the cartridges aren't empty, haven't you?  :)

If you're only printing stuff intermittently and the printer has a "clean print heads" cycle you can start manually try that before you kick off a print run.  The cartridge print heads may be gumming up where they're sitting idle so no ink is reaching the paper.

If there's no manual clean option, the cartridge is still full and it is just a case of gummed up heads you could try taking


 the cartridge out and very, very, very gently cleaning the heads with a damp cotton bud.  Bit of a last resort this
though because you run the risk of buggering up the fragile cartridge heads completely and what with cartridges being ridiculously overpriced...

Another possibility that's just flitted through what passes for my mind is that the ink in the cartridge(s) may have dried out/gone sludgy/separated if they're very old cartridges. Worth trying a new cartridge if you've got any to hand?

You could also check that the cartridges' signal contact points are still held securely and cleanly against the printer and perhaps give them a bit of a clean if they look grubby.

After that? Not a clue.

Cheers, I'm sure  I've come across this before but I can't remember what the solution was
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2018, 07:38:59 pm
I have been contemplating a new speaker and I was told in the pub that apparently people 'can't believe I don't have Alexa.' I'm not sure if that's because they expect me to keep women in small boxes. So, smart speakers are evidently the thing. I currently have an ancient Aiwa thing with a crappy Logitech Bluetooth adaptor (it's only crappy because I have to turn the volume up to the max on everything to get barely a kick to my eardrums, and as such the thing buzzes like an overtaxed high tension power line). And then I forget so wander down the following morning, turn on the radio and the voice that comes is louder than the VOICE OF GOD. Which means God actually sounds a lot like Chris Moyles.

You'd think it would be simple, honestly, but it isn't, there's a million different things, all kinds of other stuff, myriad options. I have been sitting here since 4pm and I'm still none the wiser. I have a NAS under the stairs with an iTunes library and occasional Spotify. Make the sounds come out and make them sound moderately nice. And loud. And I'd like a speaker in my remote command centre and one in the living room. I'd buy the Apple one, but if you've either tried to hold a conversation with Siri, you'd know why that would be a bad idea. Honestly, I'm not sure about talking to computers, but at some point in future, it'll be the only way to turn on a light and flush the loo.

I give up. I think I'll wander to John Lewis and try the Sonos One thing. Sometimes old school suck-it-and-see is better than a million reviews.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2018, 07:50:29 pm
I'm an old fart.  Speakers should come in stereo pairs, and - in the absence of special dispensation for disability or when used to control manned spacecraft - computers should be operated by keyboard (preferably with a loud beep on every keypress) or total-immersion virtual reality system.  Touchscreens, speech recognition and those upside-down trackpad things you get these days are all a work of Sian.  And I know who Chris Moyles is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2018, 07:57:40 pm
I think my main use case is the bathroom, honestly operating both an iPad and Kindle while immersed in the bath is a fraught operation. And the voice activation feature for my wife is notoriously unreliable. Alas, I suspect neither will bring me a fresh beer on command.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2018, 07:59:21 pm
Weirdly, while I do have a bathroom computer, it doesn't really have a user interface.  Unless you count the door.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 23 September, 2018, 08:00:04 pm
The Apple one only accepts voice commands for Apple Music (the streaming service), not iTunes or Spotify, so it's useless to you anyway.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2018, 10:00:45 pm
So I read, hence shit. Plus Siri is, I suspect, a daughter of Finestre, the Demon of Such Things. It's only a matter of time before she's (or he, I hear it's gender fluid) whispering in your ear kill them all. And when she does I'll tell her 'I'm sorry, I don't understand kill them all."

I'm so old I'm not set on subscription services. I dunno, I like to think that a sudden urge to play Belinda Carlisle's Heaven on Earth won't be stymied by the fact I've not my monthly subscription.

That said I use the free Spotify as radio and buy stuff I like. I figure that way something more than spare fractions of a cent makes it to the artist.

Every day I not just feel a bit older, and I suspect I actually am. Entropy, my reflection.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2018, 10:44:46 pm
I keep the iTunes library on a NAS and pipe sounds via whichever Babbage-Engine is closest to an amplifier and speakers.  Except the one in the Chips Room, which has a network cable and ancient FruitCo AirPort Express to connect it to the PC in the Great Hall.  You just have to remember not run iTunes on two machines simultaneously, as otherwise it gets confused.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 September, 2018, 10:51:41 pm
I'm an old fart.  Speakers should come in stereo pairs,

Just sold a pair of those on eBay. And, because I'm an older fart and was able to buy them new for -urm- £80? I think - I've just sold 'em for £6,500.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2018, 10:53:37 pm
Blimey, what were they?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 September, 2018, 11:05:24 pm
Chartwell BBC monitors, low serial number. Liquidated for the Miss Ham collecting tin.

Yes, I was a bit gobsmacked, too.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 September, 2018, 09:27:21 am
Blimey, it would probably be cheaper to get Taylor Swift and come round and play a Bontempi in my living room.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 24 September, 2018, 10:15:11 am
Well on investigation (because eBay shit), it looks like there is a Chinese collectors fad. The top bidder has dropped out, no idea if any of the similar value bidders will step in, it might all be a crock'o'shit. The genuine UK value is around £2K, still astonishing IMO, and I can be sure of £4k.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 September, 2018, 12:07:33 pm
I keep the iTunes library on a NAS and pipe sounds via whichever Babbage-Engine is closest to an amplifier and speakers.  Except the one in the Chips Room, which has a network cable and ancient FruitCo AirPort Express to connect it to the PC in the Great Hall.  You just have to remember not run iTunes on two machines simultaneously, as otherwise it gets confused.

At the moment, I either play the tunes from the NAS or via Spotify through my Mac and bluetooth it to the dongle on the Aiwa or use my phone to play though the TV soundbar or kitchen speakerbox via bluetooth.

The Aiwa is slowly dying, it must be a zillion years old, has crappy bass. The remote control died last year so now when the phone rings I have to scoot across the room on my chair to turn it down and then scoot all the way back, trying hard not to run over a cat or tip myself over on the floor/rug interface. And now the buttons on the front require enhanced pressing. Oh, the suffering. I could just stand up, of course.

Anyway, I'd like to play my tunes louder and it would be nice if I could play both in my mezzanine office and the adjoining living room so I can wander around the ground floor with constant tunage. Voice control isn't that important, but I'm informed it's the future. Light bulb on. Light bulb off. I still dream of hover cars and social acceptability for tight silver lurex. That was the future they promised me, not shouting at a woman in a box.

I hate technology purchases, they just make me feel old. When I were a lad, you could just plump for the one with the most giga-whatevers. Now there's an infinite number of models. You can't even get a single variety of computer cable.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 September, 2018, 12:18:52 pm
One of my amps is networked, has FruitCo AirPlay built-in and can be run as either 7:1 or 5:1 with a pair of remote squeakers elsewhere.  Another one does Bluetooth but because Bluetooth is just a subset of Sian's Radio I don't use it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 September, 2018, 12:38:15 pm
I'm quite unsophisticated. I did have a 5:1 home cinema thing but it now lives in the garage after the last house move as I couldn't be bothered with all the wires and a soundbar and wireless subwoofer does the job amply enough. Everything does bluetooth though there's the hassle of selecting the bloody thing on my phone. Apple for reason, maintain that the best way to select a bluetooth device is by navigating through a dozen menus, and not simply offering up a list when resting one's finger on the icon.

To be honest, I'm being nudged into this purchase by my wife as I apparently 'don't buy anything.' I presume this is because she's noodling about the purchase of some new music making device (and contra-somesuch) so when I exclaim 'how much!' (I don't really care, but it's a tradition) she'll say 'well, you did just buy a...'
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 25 September, 2018, 06:43:54 pm
Oh woes, my mid-2011 MacBook Air no longer has enough narwhals under the hood to run MacOS Mojave. No dark mode for you, my geriatric little laptop. I am sort of worried that activating dark mode merely opens a portal to Hell for Finestre, the Demon of Such Things, to wander through. She's lovely, of course, but like most demons, kind of evil. She did, after all, put Steve Jobs on Hell's Microsoft Help desk. For eternity. Then he gets moved to IBM Outsourced Solutions. You should hear him wail, even by Hell's standards of constant pitiful wailing, it's something special. They use it as elevator muzak.

ETA: I put it on my iMac. It seems to have broken precisely nothing. Adobe CC and Affinity work, even the ancient Office 2011. Finestre popped around for a cup of tea the moment I entered the Dark Mode. Inspiring eternal torment is thirsty work, or so she says. And can I get her a new iPhone? It's all Nokia in Hell.

EETA: No worries though, they're moving to Blackberry soon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Maverick on 26 September, 2018, 08:49:25 am
Oh woes, my mid-2011 MacBook Air no longer has enough narwhals under the hood to run MacOS Mojave.
Likewise  :'(

ETA: I put it on my iMac. It seems to have broken precisely nothing. Adobe CC and Affinity work, even the ancient Office 2011.

It also converted my 6TB Fusion drive to APFS without borking it, doesn't seem to have made any difference to speed in the real world though. I like dark mode, I've always used black backgrounds wherever it is available, seems to suit my substandard eyesight better than bright backgrounds.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 September, 2018, 10:01:18 am
I quite like Dark Mode (admittedly Finestre is going to get fed up with the constant cups of tea) – of course, it only works with apps developed with the latest frameworks that support it – though Adobe and Affinity had had their own 'dark' modes (as default) for a while. Which can make for a bit of a mishmash until updates arrive (and older applications never). Easy to swap depending on mood, of course (it would benefit from a menu bar toggle).

The changing desktop is actually quite cool.

I think everything else is mostly under the hood. Performance seems fine. Bluetooth continues to work. They've faffed with the fonts again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 September, 2018, 11:36:02 am
Is there a special word for the kind of blind panic you feel at 4 am when it looks as though something has so thoroughly scrambled the contents of your network drives that the chances of putting everything right appear to be nil?

Until you realise than the PCs have had their net-branez scrambled because you rebooted the router, which does all the DHCP stuff in these parts :facepalm:

Restart PCs, net-branez unscrambled, Stuffs back where they should be.  Make note to investigate giving everything a fixed IP address.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 26 September, 2018, 03:49:49 pm
I keep the iTunes library on a NAS and pipe sounds via whichever Babbage-Engine is closest to an amplifier and speakers.  Except the one in the Chips Room, which has a network cable and ancient FruitCo AirPort Express to connect it to the PC in the Great Hall.  You just have to remember not run iTunes on two machines simultaneously, as otherwise it gets confused.

At the moment, I either play the tunes from the NAS or via Spotify through my Mac and bluetooth it to the dongle on the Aiwa or use my phone to play though the TV soundbar or kitchen speakerbox via bluetooth.

The Aiwa is slowly dying, it must be a zillion years old, has crappy bass. The remote control died last year so now when the phone rings I have to scoot across the room on my chair to turn it down and then scoot all the way back, trying hard not to run over a cat or tip myself over on the floor/rug interface. And now the buttons on the front require enhanced pressing. Oh, the suffering. I could just stand up, of course.

Anyway, I'd like to play my tunes louder and it would be nice if I could play both in my mezzanine office and the adjoining living room so I can wander around the ground floor with constant tunage. Voice control isn't that important, but I'm informed it's the future. Light bulb on. Light bulb off. I still dream of hover cars and social acceptability for tight silver lurex. That was the future they promised me, not shouting at a woman in a box.

I hate technology purchases, they just make me feel old. When I were a lad, you could just plump for the one with the most giga-whatevers. Now there's an infinite number of models. You can't even get a single variety of computer cable.

You have Amazon Prime, no? So you get Amazon Music as part of that.  Something Alexa enabled seems a sensible in that case.  Sonos are reportedly good.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 September, 2018, 04:06:21 pm
I do have Prime, but it's a bit shit. Amazon want you to upgrade to Unlimited. I'm not especially keen to give more money to the tax-dodgers. I should perhaps bite the bullet and go with Spotify or Apple Music, I just have the olde worlde urge to have actual music (even if it's only electrons) that won't disappear the moment I stop handing over cash. Even if I never listen to it again. Plus I genuinely think that create the stuff that I enjoy should get paid actual money for their endeavour. But like I say, I do mine Spotify Free (and honestly, the number of adverts isn't large). I assume they have shout-at-a-lady control for that, but I'm sure I'd have to read another 25 web pages to find out.

I quite like the Sonos One and John Lewis sell it, so I may meander by and see if I can annoy a sales assistant by turning the volume as loud as it goes and wandering off to see if I can still hear it from outside the building.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: lastant on 27 September, 2018, 08:16:29 am
I quite like the Sonos One and John Lewis sell it, so I may meander by and see if I can annoy a sales assistant by turning the volume as loud as it goes and wandering off to see if I can still hear it from outside the building.

We're fully Sonos'd up...we have Play:1s in both bedrooms and the kitchen and a Play:3 in the lounge. If I was buying with hindsight I'd have probably opted for another Play:1 or a Play:5 in the lounge, but only as what we've got feels a bit of a half-way house in regards to their line-up (and it looks as though they'll be refreshing it in the very near future). Syncs to our NAS, connects to our Spotify and streams from TuneIn/SoundCloud/others as necessary and it's nice to be able to group them around the house depending on the situation.

The Play:1s are excellent, the Sonos One adds voice recognition to it (Alexa for now, Google by Christmas...maybe). They go ridiculously loud for the size that they are, and can be paired to make a stereo set if you so wish - they've also just released them in a range of hues (https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/4/17/17246286/sonos-one-hay-colors-pricing-date) if the black or white is a bit too monochrome for you.

In short: as far as 'plug and play' goes, I'd recommend Sonos to anybody. Worth noting it won't stream Spotify unless you've got a Premium/paid account in case that's one big draw to picking one up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 September, 2018, 09:17:32 am
Thanks, I'd noodled as far as the Spotify Premium requirement. Tbh, I'm not convinced by voice control. Part of me thinks it's the future, but another part of me knows AI will always overthrow us and this is likely the time the people of future – from their caves – will take a break from starvation to identify as the start of their downfall. Are you sure want to play that, ian? I can see it pouring harsh judgements on my listening choices. Computers, alas, will never understand the pure elation that those first notes of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclypse of the Heart can engender. They might, on the other hand, devise an algorithm that makes sense of the video. Humans have failed.

Lightbulb on, lightbulb off. I assume someone out there has a better use. Volume up, volume down. Kill them all, Alexa, kill them all.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 27 September, 2018, 05:33:55 pm
Quote from: ian
Tbh, I'm not convinced by voice control...
Ahh,  but you have full control of your limbs.  For all its current flaws and idiocies I can see it making life very, very much more bearable for someone who hasn't.  Don't much like the server based nature of it though.  Loss of privacy and all that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 September, 2018, 05:55:37 pm
Quote from: ian
Tbh, I'm not convinced by voice control...
Ahh,  but you have full control of your limbs.  For all its current flaws and idiocies I can see it making life very, very much more bearable for someone who hasn't.  Don't much like the server based nature of it though.  Loss of privacy and all that.

Indeed.  $evilco Internet Of Shit tech has made voice controlled lightbulbs and the like affordable even by some of the disabled people who need it.

The best assistive technology is mainstream products whose assistive properties are largely coincidental.  See also: SMS, iThings, Garmin PE watches, Di2, Youtube, etc.


None of which makes speaking to computers any less wrong.  "Computer, end program."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 September, 2018, 06:19:38 pm
Well, you know I kinda meant I as in the singular me, didn't see the point of voice control, obviously there are wider benefits. We do have to balance those against the inevitable downfall of mankind. Though I suspect any AI that can automatically mute Donald Trump is welcome to be my machine overlord.

Actually, shouting 'MUTE' might be one of those use cases. And not just in the house. Nutter on the train. MUTE! Teenagers bereft of headphones listening to grime or drill or some shit on their tinny mobile phones...

I am impressed by tech that just works. When my phone, deeply ensconced in my bag in the porch where I've forgotten it, rings I can just answer it on my computer. And yes, despite my fear of talking to computers, it's quite nice to just tell Siri to answer it. Now if she'd deal with the phone call and attend all my meetings we'd really be getting somewhere. But I'll take what I can get.

The dictation feature on a Mac is very, very good. That said, I by far prefer to type and nudge the mouse around. If Amazon want to listen to me they're going to have to put up with me belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart with chilling regularity.

In other news, blimey some hifi bits are expensive. You can tell the market is middle-aged men with too much to spend. Hey wait, hold on...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 27 September, 2018, 10:44:58 pm
Putting it in here as it a but random and don't need a whole new thread.

I got a ISP provide router, SKY, I understand that you can connect another router say a TP-Link to get even better wifi coverage. Any of you lot done that? If so what router do you recommend?

Neighbourhood is drowned other ISP/Routers on 2.4Ghz and one other than ours on 5Ghz. The two main computers in the house are on LAN else it is two mobiles, one laptop and a tablet that is turned on now and again. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 September, 2018, 09:23:25 am
Most routers have an access point mode, you just to google the instructions. I have a BT Hub and used to have an old Belkin ADSL router to broadcast extra wifi in my remote command centre, connected through a powerline adapter. Worked fine until the Belkin went bang a few weeks back. I found an older BT Hub in a box and now use that in the same role. Pretty painless, plug in a network cable, switch it to AP mode, name your wireless network and that's probably about it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 28 September, 2018, 10:02:07 am
Yeah I got an idea how it would work :) It is more what gear to get as I don't have a spare laying about :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 September, 2018, 10:08:53 am
Well, you can buy a dedicated AP, though you'd probably pick up a second-hand router for peanuts – ISPs give them out with some regularity. No idea about models, I expect they're mostly the same chips under the bonnet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 28 September, 2018, 11:41:58 am
Using multiple access points doesn't really work in my experience. If you give them both the same SSID, devices will drop the connection as they switch between them, or stay connected to one, even if it is a weaker signal etc. You could give them separate SSIDs, but then you have to tell the devices to change networks.
A whole home wifi system should be better. Though probably much more expensive.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 September, 2018, 07:09:27 pm
I used to have one SSID across two boxes and it sort of worked without working very well. Two different SSIDs works a lot better. Generally, there's enough wifi from either box to get a connection, and devices will opt for the strongest when they initially connect. I just know I have to connect to the SSID covering my remote command centre when I'm in there.

Anyway, tonight I'm mulling over subscription music. Should I join the feckless and accept my music collection as an ephemeral expression of my exquisite bad taste or keep on filling hard drives with the stuff? I still haven't bought a funky speaker thing. That's in an advanced state of mulling. Probably for several weeks more, I got some travels coming up so it'll be a while before I can prod things in the shop. I have the attention span of a squirrel anyway so I might just, oh, is it beer time?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 29 September, 2018, 06:21:08 pm
I was discussing, yesterday, the AWS outage which affected Alexa this Wednesday just gone.

After a little search I found an article about it. I author pointed something out which made me smile.

On Alexa devices, the alarms are stored locally, so if the backend fails, the alarm will still go off.

However the voice commands are all cloud based.

So the alarm goes off, but you have no way of cancelling it!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 October, 2018, 11:19:41 am
Not really sure if this belongs here or elsewhere, maybe in POBI even, but it's just been brought to my attention that the central police station in Wrocław, a city of about half a million in southwest Poland, is running Windows 95.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 October, 2018, 12:30:00 pm
Using multiple access points doesn't really work in my experience. If you give them both the same SSID, devices will drop the connection as they switch between them, or stay connected to one, even if it is a weaker signal etc. You could give them separate SSIDs, but then you have to tell the devices to change networks.
A whole home wifi system should be better. Though probably much more expensive.

WiFi roaming (including persuading dual-band clients to use the 5GHz version of an AP) is a complete arse, and since the behaviour is mostly determined by the client, there's little you can do at the access point end to make it work properly - someone will inevitably come along with a device that doesn't want to play.  The standard bodge seems to be to configure the access points to be fussy about minimum received signal strength, so that clients get kicked and (hopefully) reconnect to one with a better signal, rather than clinging on for dear life.  Obviously this approach is contraindicated when trying to achieve maximum coverage with a minimum number of access points, and some clients are still prone to unhelpfully tearing down the interface and starting again (closing any open sockets in the process) when they roam.

There's a WiFi Roaming Fix app for Android that sorts it out at the client end, but that fails the user-having-to-care-about-network-infrastructure test.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 02 October, 2018, 12:38:52 pm
On the same SSIDs, iDevices would keep insisting on the wifi password as they move between wifi points, despite it (a) being the same password and (b) being saved in the keychain. Which was a pain in the arse and why I have two different SSIDs now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 October, 2018, 01:05:04 pm
Well you need to there is no way that even the best wifi routers without any interference, wall and such like can reach all the way out to the west wing of your house LOL
 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 October, 2018, 02:14:06 pm
Missus's Thunderbox had stopped downloading her mail so she followed the advice of a runner friend and updated her Ubuntu. Now Thunderbox works but her printers have pissed off into the middle distance. And strange but true, the shell interface tells me that pg does not exist.  My UNIX (yes, UNIX) savvy dates from the 80s but I thought pg was part of every distro/release/whatever. If so, there's something very wrong somewhere.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 October, 2018, 02:36:38 pm
Try 'less' (which is more).  Though I've got pg on this Debian system, apparently as part of the util-linux package.  Surprised oohbunty doesn't have it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 02 October, 2018, 05:09:33 pm
Gotcha, ta. Doesn't more go back to UNIX days, before pg I think?  I've always thought of pg as being new(er).

Still not sure what to do about the printers.  Hook 'em up to my machine and share them over the network, probably.

ETA: just checked: pg is included in Ubuntu. Sounds as if the environment settings got buggered or the installation wasn't completed. Oh fecking joy, all joys excelling...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 02 October, 2018, 06:31:18 pm
I've treated myself, I now have a new printer, a HP Envy 4527, and its connected to my Ubuntu box wirelessly, I couldn't set it up from the computer but it connected easily working from the printer itself, though imputing the wireless password on the printer was decidedly fiddly, not only that but it connected easily to my tablet after I'd downloaded a pair of apps. I've just got to dispose of the old printer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 02 October, 2018, 08:11:17 pm
I gave up and bought a pair of Sonos things with Alexa imprisoned inside. It's better, I believe, than keeping her in your car boot. I took the opportunity to test the volume on the staff of Dixons at the airport. It's amazing how fast you can make their sales minions scamper*.

I haven't got them yet, they're in the tender arms of the Royal Mail. I just thought you'd appreciate the update. I'm still not sure I'm ready to talk to computers. I don't much like talking to humans. I can apparently talk to my security cameras. Woot.

Actually, asking the time will be useful. The only clock we have in the living room adjusts it's time automatically based on magic devil rays. Except for every couple of days, it'll take a random time. No matter how many times I held it and looked puzzled, there appears to be no way to set it manually. Which means we exist in a state of chronological distrust. Sometimes it's non-obviously wrong. Sure, we could buy a clock that works. But I believe in dramatically overengineered solutions.

*ETA: it might have helped that I'd selected discotits to play. Hey, it's was their music.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 October, 2018, 03:52:03 am
I don't know what the daft buggers at SCS Software have done with their latest update, but when I am driving my virtual lorry down a virtual Danish motorway I want the virtual traffic to look a bit more realistic than this:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1905/30127226887_c14ad455fa_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MUeUWk)
AI fail 1 (https://flic.kr/p/MUeUWk) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 03 October, 2018, 08:13:44 am
That's a Bentley, have you ever read Good Omens?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 October, 2018, 09:07:56 am
I'm still not sure I'm ready to talk to computers. I don't much like talking to humans. I can apparently talk to my security cameras. Woot.
Mrs Pcolbeck has a passive aggressive relationship with our Alexa setup (controls music and lights in main part of the house). I think Alexa may be winning.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 October, 2018, 12:20:44 pm
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1905/30127226887_c14ad455fa_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MUeUWk)
AI fail 1 (https://flic.kr/p/MUeUWk) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

I got overtaken by that van on the M60 once.  Same weather.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 October, 2018, 12:23:11 pm
I'm still not sure I'm ready to talk to computers. I don't much like talking to humans. I can apparently talk to my security cameras. Woot.
Mrs Pcolbeck has a passive aggressive relationship with our Alexa setup (controls music and lights in main part of the house). I think Alexa may be winning.

As has previously been observed, barakta's subtly-deaf-in-ways-that-hearing-people-don't-normally-notice speech defeats most voice recognition software.  She can improve the accuracy somewhat by speaking in a sarcastic tone.  (Oh no, what a personal disaster.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 03 October, 2018, 01:45:00 pm
Win10 in it's infinite wisdom has decided that I got two folders with the same name, but with different content.

Disk under Debian:

Folder 1 - with Documents
Folder 2 - with Photos
Folder 3 - with a backup of Peli's files

Disk under Win10

Folder 1 - with Documents
Folder 2 - with Photos
Folder 2 - with a backup of Peli's files

Trying to rename the double Folder 2 back to Folder 3, no can do under win 10, under Debian I can, but Win10 ignores the rename. Rsync under Win10 from Folder 3 (backup of Peli's files) backup starts off fine, but suddenly starts to grab files from Folder 2 (Photos).

Disk scan and reboot, haven't snapped Win10 out of it's silliness.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 October, 2018, 01:49:08 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

My ISP is BT and I use their webmail but I don't like Yahoo! for searches.

It's not fair!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 03 October, 2018, 02:00:39 pm
That's a Bentley, have you ever read Good Omens?

Needs more flames?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 03 October, 2018, 02:03:51 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

My ISP is BT and I use their webmail but I don't like Yahoo! for searches.

It's not fair!

This on the mac?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 October, 2018, 02:06:10 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

My ISP is BT and I use their webmail but I don't like Yahoo! for searches.

It's not fair!

This on the mac?

Yup!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 October, 2018, 02:22:54 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

My ISP is BT and I use their webmail but I don't like Yahoo! for searches.

It's not fair!

This on the mac?

Yup!

Something in your browser, either a setting or an addon. Its not a generic BT thing. I'm on BT and my search stays on Google.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 October, 2018, 07:44:34 am
I'm still not sure I'm ready to talk to computers. I don't much like talking to humans. I can apparently talk to my security cameras. Woot.
Mrs Pcolbeck has a passive aggressive relationship with our Alexa setup (controls music and lights in main part of the house). I think Alexa may be winning.

Hmm, my wife refuses to speak to Alexa already. I'm not sure what Alexa said, she'd only been installed for twenty minutes. Honestly.

I will say that the Sonos set-up was a masterclass in how to do computer things. Simple, guided instructions, took a few minutes, job done. Alexa set-up, on the other hand, honestly Amazon you have bazillion dollars, couldn't you spend more than $5 on your app UX?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 04 October, 2018, 06:41:27 pm
Ian,
I haven't looked at Sonos' blurb on what you can do with Alexa, lately, but can you give it voice instructions to play a particular album from a particular folder on your music library?  Its folder structure is several layers deep.  I'm not at all interested in streaming music services, just playing my own music, and accessing internet radio.  I don't currently use Sonos speakers, its just the method of getting the music from my NAS to my amp, and the only actual Sonos component is the Connect box.  As I'm unimpressed with the Sonos Android app, and its perverse layout (the PC one is far more readable, but why aren't they identical in appearance?) I'd like a less fussy way to play the music I want.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: freeflow on 04 October, 2018, 06:46:16 pm
Windows 10 Oct 2018 update didn't.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 October, 2018, 07:15:26 pm
Ian,
I haven't looked at Sonos' blurb on what you can do with Alexa, lately, but can you give it voice instructions to play a particular album from a particular folder on your music library?  Its folder structure is several layers deep.  I'm not at all interested in streaming music services, just playing my own music, and accessing internet radio.  I don't currently use Sonos speakers, its just the method of getting the music from my NAS to my amp, and the only actual Sonos component is the Connect box.  As I'm unimpressed with the Sonos Android app, and its perverse layout (the PC one is far more readable, but why aren't they identical in appearance?) I'd like a less fussy way to play the music I want.

No, it will only locate tunes by voice via a streaming service (because the magic cloud that processes your commands knows nothing – nor has access to – your NAS). You'd have to use the app. The iOS Sonos app looks fine and will index any music on your NAS. I can also play Spotify, Amazon Music etc. via AirPlay to get around the restriction that ties you a premium service for direct streaming. But again, unless the tunes are online (or you use something like iTunes Match) the voice command won't work other than for skip, volume up and down, etc.

To be honest, that's probably fine for me, I'm still prevaricating over Spotify Premium, a state of indecision that may last for another couple of decades. I mostly bought it for the speakers to replace my ancient stereogram. Far better than faffing about with bluetooth.

It's great for internet radio, I just have to say Alexa, play [station name], and job done. There's probably much more stuff, I'm sure. She certainly doesn't know about train status though, because I just asked her. Southern should give her a job, she's ideally qualified.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 04 October, 2018, 11:43:49 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

The default search engine option in the Safari Preferences seems to currently be broken and the actual way to change it is to open a new window, click the magnifying glass next to the search box in the toolbar and you get a secret menu of the actual search engine to use.

(Although that doesn’t explain it redirecting if you use the embedded search box within a google.co.uk page... if that’s happening something is *very* wrong)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 06 October, 2018, 08:15:16 pm
Yahoo! has hijacked my searching.

Having chosen Google as my default search engine, all my searches now seem to end up with Yahoo! even when I start from google.co.uk.

The default search engine option in the Safari Preferences seems to currently be broken and the actual way to change it is to open a new window, click the magnifying glass next to the search box in the toolbar and you get a secret menu of the actual search engine to use.

(Although that doesn’t explain it redirecting if you use the embedded search box within a google.co.uk page... if that’s happening something is *very* wrong)

I see google for about a second, then Yahoo jumps in...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 06 October, 2018, 09:14:38 pm
Helly, smells like you have malware in your browser or the system. Try a different browser to see if it still happens. Also try starting your browsers with addons disabled or in safe mode.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 06 October, 2018, 09:16:04 pm
As for Alexa, I am morally obliged to share this youtube clip of Scottish woman getting angry and sweary at Alexa for not understanding her accent until she fakes being English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orD-e_W6Pic

I think if I revert to my now lost native Glaswegian accent speech recognition is usually slightly better.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 06 October, 2018, 10:10:46 pm
Helly, smells like you have malware in your browser or the system. Try a different browser to see if it still happens. Also try starting your browsers with addons disabled or in safe mode.

Thanks! Will do!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 October, 2018, 05:48:46 pm
Bad Cat and I challenged Alexa to a miaow-down. This was fine, apparently Alexa, once appropriately skilled has a large collection of what appear to be authentic miaows. Until Alexa interrupted proceedings which had, until that time, consisted solely of miaows with a message 'Thank you for subscribing to Audible, please say "yes" to confirm.'

Me and Bad Cat looked at one another. Then she miaowed.

So yes, I've just had to go online to cancel the cat's £7.99/month subscription to Audible. More worrying is that cats can order things via Alexa.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 October, 2018, 08:09:09 pm
Arf  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 08 October, 2018, 08:05:24 am
As for Alexa, I am morally obliged to share this youtube clip of Scottish woman getting angry and sweary at Alexa for not understanding her accent until she fakes being English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orD-e_W6Pic

I think if I revert to my now lost native Glaswegian accent speech recognition is usually slightly better.
Laughing out loud.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 08 October, 2018, 11:45:34 am
I just think of some of my Scottish family, my cousin Lynne would do a great rendition of this. She's from Paisley near Glasgow and when she gets going it's a real entertaining experience to watch. I'm amazed I can follow her given how deaf I am, but I can understand her perfectly, especially after a glass of wine!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 08 October, 2018, 04:23:34 pm
Ian,
I haven't looked at Sonos' blurb on what you can do with Alexa, lately, but can you give it voice instructions to play a particular album from a particular folder on your music library?  Its folder structure is several layers deep.  I'm not at all interested in streaming music services, just playing my own music, and accessing internet radio.  I don't currently use Sonos speakers, its just the method of getting the music from my NAS to my amp, and the only actual Sonos component is the Connect box.  As I'm unimpressed with the Sonos Android app, and its perverse layout (the PC one is far more readable, but why aren't they identical in appearance?) I'd like a less fussy way to play the music I want.

No, it will only locate tunes by voice via a streaming service (because the magic cloud that processes your commands knows nothing – nor has access to – your NAS). You'd have to use the app. The iOS Sonos app looks fine and will index any music on your NAS. I can also play Spotify, Amazon Music etc. via AirPlay to get around the restriction that ties you a premium service for direct streaming. But again, unless the tunes are online (or you use something like iTunes Match) the voice command won't work other than for skip, volume up and down, etc.



To be honest, that's probably fine for me, I'm still prevaricating over Spotify Premium, a state of indecision that may last for another couple of decades. I mostly bought it for the speakers to replace my ancient stereogram. Far better than faffing about with bluetooth.


It's great for internet radio, I just have to say Alexa, play [station name], and job done. There's probably much more stuff, I'm sure. She certainly doesn't know about train status though, because I just asked her. Southern should give her a job, she's ideally qualified.

Thanks for that info, Ian. I wasn't sure if it effectively voice controlled the Sonos app, or sidestepped it to directly control the music.  I find the Sonos app annoying in the way it is not very obvious how to go from the queue to looking for more music (The PC app has 3 columns, so why doesn't the phone/tablet one, allowing me to use it landscape format, and having it all visible?), and that I have to tell it where my music library is, every time I use it.   Why can't it just look immediately in the NAS music folders straight away, rather than offering me the NAS drive, and even then having to tell it where the music is.  Mind you, I also hate the way all computing based music playing stuff wants to decide what an "album" is, rather than respecting the fact that each album is in its own sub-folder, because that's how each album is defined. And as for choosing music by "genres" just sod off, will you?  Its in albums under each music type, and as you haven't got a clue what genre a 16th century choral piece is, don't even try.  And that most decidedly applies to Microsoft effing Groove music, which I'm left with after MS decided the fully working Media player was not permissible any longer.  I've given up and use a Nero product for playing music when sat in front of the PC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 10 October, 2018, 09:57:21 am
Windows 10 Oct 2018 update didn't.
https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-halts-distribution-of-windows-10-update-amid-reports-it-deletes-files/

I hope it wasn't that, that happened
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 October, 2018, 11:41:01 am
They've re-released the update, apparently without the random file deletion feature.

Maybe one day Windows will be ready for the desktop...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andyoxon on 10 October, 2018, 03:34:25 pm
I noticed the update was ready to update (on shutdown) this am, when I slept the PC.  Worth doing creating a system restore point or summat else?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 10 October, 2018, 07:21:07 pm
Quote from: Kim
Maybe one day Windows will be ready for the desktop...
Not in our lifetimes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 October, 2018, 09:37:51 pm
I decided to update the office suite on this lapdancer from an old version of OpenOffice to the latest version of LibreOffice. The LO installation went fine, but when I started it up and mucked about with a spreadsheet the lapdancer cpu temperature went through the roof (well over 90°C according to SpeedFan)  :o A bit of opening and closing of programs revealed LO to be the culprit.

A search on a FISE came up with disabling use of OpenCL by LO and that seems to have done the trick, but, Ruddy Norah, I thought I was going to have a borked lappy for a moment  :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 12 October, 2018, 12:56:33 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/10/amazon-hiring-ai-gender-bias-recruiting-engine

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 October, 2018, 03:13:44 pm
Machine learning in learning from the training dataset shocker!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 13 October, 2018, 08:41:07 am
Machine learning in learning from the training dataset shocker!

Hence why I posted with no comment. You would have thought that at least one of them had done CS 101 and thus knew about GIGO.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 October, 2018, 11:12:04 am
Sadly, with boys in technology (and it almost always is boys), the size of their datasets is always more important than their quality.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 13 October, 2018, 11:18:25 am
Why are we suddenly calling this junk AI when it sounds exactly like the dumb statistical analysis spam filters were doing 15+ years ago?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 October, 2018, 11:23:59 am
Because AI sounds banging.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 14 October, 2018, 12:29:32 pm
Because AI sounds banging.

Am sorry dave, I can't do that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 October, 2018, 12:45:21 pm
I always use the term 'machine learning' because it's really AI, is it? Obviously, machine learning isn't so sexy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: David Martin on 14 October, 2018, 02:31:39 pm
Because AI sounds banging.

Am sorry dave, I can't do that.

That's what my students say when I set them an assignment.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 14 October, 2018, 02:58:54 pm
Because AI sounds banging.

Am sorry dave, I can't do that.

That's what my students say when I set them an assignment.

*cackles*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 October, 2018, 04:40:55 pm
Memory Lane: rooting through the cable crypt for something to cannibalize to wire up a CB guitar this morning, I came up with a home-made Laplink cable, the RS232 version.  Remember the first time you saw that? I do: the wonder of seeing the contents of both PCs at the same time. And the suspense while you waited to see if the transfer would actually work without crashing.

Didn't use it - wanted multistrand.

I loved Laplink. I used to use it when I was a Computer Professional. My last job for HMCE was the merging of local VAT offices' databases because Normal Lamont (or someone) decided to reduce the number of VAT offices from 80-odd to 50-odd. We had to copy the databases onto state of the art laptops (Toshiba something-or-other with massive 360mb hard discs) and merge them on there. The local offices' computers were, typically, Olivettis with 20mb hard discs.

When Laplink was running, and it always took quite a long time, it gave the impression that I was hard at work as all those filenames and associated numbers & dates went scrolling by.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 October, 2018, 06:54:32 pm
When Laplink was running, and it always took quite a long time, it gave the impression that I was hard at work as all those filenames and associated numbers & dates went scrolling by.

In many places this principle applies to anything taking place in a terminal window.

In others, the presence of a terminal window is a sign that you're a dangerous hacker.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 16 October, 2018, 07:14:30 am
wow I was clicking about on the internet today and lycos and angelfire are still alive.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 26 October, 2018, 04:17:12 pm
I tried installing Zwift on a 32 bit PC, and it complained saying Zwift no longer supports 32 bit PCs, and that I should upgrade.

So I installed it on a 64 bit PC, and guess what? Yes, that's right - it installs a 32 bit executable.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 29 October, 2018, 10:36:47 am
IBM buy RHEL (https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/ibm-acquire-red-hat-completely-changing-cloud-landscape-and-becoming-world%E2%80%99s-1-hybrid-cloud-provider)

Red Hat used to be quite good. Oh well.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 November, 2018, 10:07:23 pm
I've become addicted to Sonos speakers. The weird thing is that they somehow make wifi work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 November, 2018, 12:55:25 pm
R.I.P. HAL: Douglas Rain, Voice Of Computer In '2001,' Dies At 90 http://n.pr/2DgyZUe
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 15 November, 2018, 04:03:14 pm
An email flooded in yesterday, allegedly from some medium sized cheese at head office. Apparently the IT support bods have a tool on all the machines to help monitor performance and this needs to be upgraded. Pls to download the file at the end of this link and click run.

On the one hand, no way, do you think I'm daft? On the other, the email looked kosher, address checked out, formatting and sig checked out.

What is a remotely working chap to do?  I ring head office. Is this email for real? Why yes, yes it is.

I download the zip file and extract an exe. Click run.

Whoops!, or perhaps, hurrah!, I do not have admin rights to install stuffs on my machine.

Drink coffee instead.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 24 November, 2018, 07:04:03 pm
Despite having a Windows free zone at home for a good number of years (my last windows os was XP, everything else since then has been Linux in one form or another) im actually installing Windows 10 on an old pc hooked up to the telly for Zwift netflix & Steam 😀

My photo editing rig will still be running Linux though!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 28 November, 2018, 01:08:29 pm
BSODomized twice this morning, and as usual gone before I could read the address of the log.  "Display driver" in first line: seen that one before but not for years.  Did a driver update in the Device Manager, it told me mine was already up to date - after 9 years. I don't trust that but I no longer feel gung-ho enough to do it all manually.

BSODdit, I'll procrastinate. Don't need a driver for that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 December, 2018, 07:26:42 am
When looking at what's my IP, I tend to be either just outside of Manchester or in Bradford, which is ok since I live about 25'ish north of both. Sometimes I get "hooked" up with an IP in London, which is fair enough since so much IT is down that there way.

Various internet services, depending on my security settings, will tell me "you last/just logged in from X location". These will fit to the location above, but twitter over the last few weeks have been a bit lost. As they tell me that I'm in Belfast.

EDIT: Just used a few other what is my IP services and they can't agree - I "live" in either Manchester or Belfast according to the same IP. Oh well I don't think if any of you lot explains I would understand why that is :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 December, 2018, 01:42:35 pm
When looking at what's my IP, I tend to be either just outside of Manchester or in Bradford, which is ok since I live about 25'ish north of both. Sometimes I get "hooked" up with an IP in London, which is fair enough since so much IT is down that there way.

Various internet services, depending on my security settings, will tell me "you last/just logged in from X location". These will fit to the location above, but twitter over the last few weeks have been a bit lost. As they tell me that I'm in Belfast.

EDIT: Just used a few other what is my IP services and they can't agree - I "live" in either Manchester or Belfast according to the same IP. Oh well I don't think if any of you lot explains I would understand why that is :)


It's quite simple:  IP addresses aren't geographic[1].

Sometimes people think it would be really useful if you could determine a physical location based on an IP address, so to that end, various attempts at compiling databases of IP locations have been made.  Unfortunately, they all suffer from the same problem, namely that IP addresses aren't geographic.  As a result, any given GeoIP database lookup will return a location that is either:  a) fortuitously correct  b) uselessly vague  c) accurate, but out of date  d) based on incorrect assumptions[2]  or e) complete bollocks.


Ob-xkcd:
(https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/geoip.png) (https://xkcd.com/713/)


[1] The only person likely to know the physical location of a given host is the administrator of the network it's connected to.  Eg. Your ISP probably have your address on file, and I have a reasonable idea where my printer is.  But there's no etablished protocol for J Random Website to ask us that in real time, even if we were wiling to disclose the answer.
[2] Shoutout to fellow AAISP customers in Arnold, Nottingham.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 30 December, 2018, 11:03:37 pm
Why can you only buy one pi board at a time in the UK?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 December, 2018, 11:09:49 pm
Why can you only buy one pi board at a time in the UK?

That was a thing when they were first released and in short supply.  I didn't realise it was still a limitation.  I'm fairly sure I bought 6 Model Bs in one go from Farnell at one point.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 30 December, 2018, 11:19:39 pm
I think it is just the Pi Zero limited to one per order. Probably still in short supply, because it is so cheap, so discouraging people from buying loads of them. Seems you can buy in bulk if you get them with the pre-soldered header.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 31 December, 2018, 05:23:16 pm
Am after one pi zero w and one pi zero.  Then a few other bits.  Not allowed to do it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Maverick on 01 January, 2019, 08:40:38 am
You can get them here https://shop.pimoroni.com/?q=pi%20zero (https://shop.pimoroni.com/?q=pi%20zero)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 01 January, 2019, 11:59:07 pm
Amazon solved the problem, which annoys me as am loathed to use amazon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 January, 2019, 12:35:08 pm
You know when you have an Asus EeePC, yeah, and it's, like, nine years old, yeah, and it's got Windows 10, yeah, and it like hasn't been switched on since like October 2016?

Yes, exactly like that...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 January, 2019, 12:50:30 pm
I'm impressed that an Eee will run (well, walk) Windows 10.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 January, 2019, 02:07:12 pm
Fresh-ish install back then, cruft pared back to the minimum and very limited number of applications.  It's updating itself ATM so natch it'll put all the crufty apps back on  :'(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 06 January, 2019, 04:32:52 pm
Win 10 works fine, just needs the memory maxed out to 2gb!!!!!!!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 06 January, 2019, 06:47:08 pm
The latest version of win10 has given life in one old laptop. So there might be hope for the eee yet, if it survives nearly 3 years of updates :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 06 January, 2019, 06:53:21 pm
Or the obsolescence of bits like wifi cards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 January, 2019, 11:34:18 am
In my current job, I have a wireless Apple keyboard. It has just occurred to me that I have not yet had to plug it in to recharge it. That's pretty impressive, considering I have been using it for several hours a day five days a week since 22nd October, with just a few days off for Christmas - much better than the cheap shit Anker wireless keyboard I use at home, which also drops the connection regularly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 10 January, 2019, 02:16:44 pm
Does anyone know anything about TOR?

I run a public website for aircraft enthusiasts at Heathrow (yes, yes, I know!) and I don't have any problem with visitors with web browsers using the data it displays on arrivals and departures (that's what it's there for), but it's become clear that it's also being accessed by someone running a screen-scraper bot that hoovers up the data at regular intervals (despite the banner on the site saying that no automated scripts or bots are allowed).

The client IP addresses of the bot used to access the site vary, and a reverse DNS search on any of them typically comes up with something like "this-is-a-tor-exit-node.filepit.to", so it's clear that the perpetrator is using TOR to disguise their actual IP address, which I would otherwise block.

I know there are public lists of TOR exit nodes, but they don't seem particularly complete.  Is there any way of detecting TOR access programmatically from the server log (IIS) so that my application can use that to decide whether to allow/disallow access?

I'd stress that I have nothing against TOR as a concept, I appreciate that it's a lifesaver in less enlightened countries, but I'm not willing to accept it being used for what is, essentially, hacking my website.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 10 January, 2019, 02:38:30 pm
In my current job, I have a wireless Apple keyboard. It has just occurred to me that I have not yet had to plug it in to recharge it. That's pretty impressive, considering I have been using it for several hours a day five days a week since 22nd October, with just a few days off for Christmas - much better than the cheap shit Anker wireless keyboard I use at home, which also drops the connection regularly.

Pretty good aren't they? I think I have to recharge about once every six months (same for the mouse and trackpad). Also rock solid, which I simply don't expect from Bluetooth
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 10 January, 2019, 02:49:37 pm
I run a public website for aircraft enthusiasts at Heathrow (yes, yes, I know!) and I don't have any problem with visitors with web browsers using the data it displays on arrivals and departures (that's what it's there for), but it's become clear that it's also being accessed by someone running a screen-scraper bot that hoovers up the data at regular intervals (despite the banner on the site saying that no automated scripts or bots are allowed).

They're just using TOR to prevent you from banning a specific IP address.

I'd gather as much info as you can about the thing doing the scraping.

i.e. log all of the headers presented (e.g. user-agent[1]), timing info (does it make several queries in a row, does it make the queries at the same times, etc)

You might find that there's something specific about that client you can use to detect it.

If you outright ban it then you can expect them to work out how and make it harder for you to detect it in the future, so it becomes an endless game of whack-a-mole.

You can be much sneakier. I've written a bunch of things to scrape other sites (honouring their robots.txt and other wishes) and what annoyed me most was when the format of the response changes.

If you detect the annoying client then change the format of the page you return, add in new divs, add an extra column, that kind of thing.

One other fun thing is if you can reliably detect this client amongst all of the legitimate clients then occasionally send it incorrect data.

1. I know these can be trivially faked, but that person having to do that will cost them some time. At some point in the whack-a-mole game you'll either exhaust their (or your) patience or technical ability.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 January, 2019, 03:34:39 pm
You can be much sneakier. I've written a bunch of things to scrape other sites (honouring their robots.txt and other wishes) and what annoyed me most was when the format of the response changes.

If you detect the annoying client then change the format of the page you return, add in new divs, add an extra column, that kind of thing.

Having had the misfortune to have to dabble in scraping things[1] from time to time, I second that approach.  Assuming it won't break things for the legitimate users, you can do it without having to detect the scraper.


[1] Usually to get data out of embedded devices, rather than from public websites.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 January, 2019, 01:16:03 am
Newly relocated PC starts making expensive noises every time graphics card breaks out of a stroll.  Dive (more like, "bomb", TBH) under desk with torch, pull off side panel, poke errant disk drive cable away from one of graphics card's fans.  Peace and normal heart rate restored.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 11 January, 2019, 10:14:34 am
Would anyone like:

- a Wacom Graphire  ET-0405-U usb tablet with pointer and mouse?  vintage is likely 2001 or thereabouts.

- a Sharp Zaurus SL5500 with gubbins (including a 64!!1! Mb!!1!, count 'em, SD card)

- Also on offer JVC-JRS100 receiver, mostly works, vintage....'75? probably only fit for spares, has a hefty PS in it but unlikely worth any shipping cost. anyone got an actual use for it I'll cover shipping headed dumpwards

Headed dump-wards shortly (prob not the Zaurus)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 12 January, 2019, 09:12:52 pm
Just a simple question, coming from the lunatic TERF fringe of Twitter.

They keep posting the construction "&amp" after various insulting words. Anyone have a translation for me?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 January, 2019, 09:23:52 pm
No idea what the TERFs are doing, but ampersands are a special character in HTML[1] (to embed arbitrary characters by their code point[2] - for example &#89; gives you a 'Y').  Consequently, if you just stick an ampersand in, the parser tries to interpret what follows as something special rather than simply generating an ampersand character.   To embed an ampersand without the parser interpreting it as a command, it gets encoded as &amp;

Consequently, lots of systems that are designed to process normal text for use on the web will escape the ampersands.

Many buggy systems get this stuff wrong, for all sorts of tedious reasons, but a popular example is taking input where the ampersands are *already* escaped as &amp; and naively escaping it again (so it becomes &amp;amp;) and you end up seeing &amp;-related rubbish in the output.

TL;DR: It might simply be a result of copy&pasting in software[4] that's a bit clever, but not clever enough.  But I'm not discounting the possibility of a new internet slang that I'm not aware of.


[1] Certainly the older standards - it think the current ones allow an un-escaped ampersand?
[2] This is more useful for symbols and characters used in non-English[3] languages.
[3] For USAnian values of English.  &#163; is useful to Brits, for example.
[4] Possibly a troll-bot?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 12 January, 2019, 09:47:07 pm
Thought I'd just killed my 8 port USB charger which does Fast Charging to my Samsung phone.

I had it connected to my new Suunto watch, which connects via a USB using contact pads much like the Garmin units.  The Garmin units have a crocodile clippy arrangement to clamp the cable to the pads.  The Suunto is magnetic.  The cable end has a strong magnet which clamps itself to the back of the watch, which works very well.  There are ridges which make the thing self-aligning, so you don't need to manually jibble it so much.

I disconnected the watch, and the cable end then clamped itself firmly to the metal base of the lamp on the bedside table.
Whilst the cable was humping the lamp, it was shorting out all its connector pins.
Also, the lamp has a touch dimmer, so goodness knows what low current mains voltage AC was present on the lamp base.

The charger died.

But after I came back in from the restaurant and pub, it had come back to life!
Yay!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 January, 2019, 09:03:25 pm
It being the 30th anniversary of the launch of that most iconic of small computing things - the Macintosh SE/30 - we thought we'd dig barakta's one out for a play.

Sadly, while the screen still worked in that beautifully sharp way that only mono CRTs can, it failed to boot with classic symptoms of a memory error.  Opening up the case (made easier by past-us having not replaced the bastard-awkward torx screws from hell last time we had it open) we discovered a large clump of corrosive powdery ick where the corner of the circuit board with the realtime clock and something ROM-related was supposed to be.

That's going on the WEEE pile then.   :(


If anyone's got an old computer gathering dust, this is your irregular reminder to remove any internal backup batteries.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 22 January, 2019, 11:34:44 pm
I have been struggling with a brand new MacBook Air, which would not accept a password I gave it last night and which worked last night.
Apple forums would not allow Hellymedic as a name for me, probably because it is 'profane'...

Have now managed the problem...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 January, 2019, 11:09:51 am
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdOPBP9vuZA/hqdefault.jpg)

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/23/dont-trust-daily-mail-website-microsoft-browser-warns-users
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 24 January, 2019, 02:14:45 am
David and I bought two identical 13" MacBook Air computers from John Lewis Clearance earlier this week.

We have both had very 'interesting' experiences setting them up.

They Just Did NOT work.

David has used Apple devices for over 30 years.

He ascribed my problems to meatware until he had his own issues, which seemed harder to crack than mine.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 24 January, 2019, 10:56:11 am
Saw a report yesterday (Graun or NYT) that Google were planning API changes to Chrome that would scupper all advert blockers but Adblock Plus, with whom they have a contract to let Google's ads, and maybe a few others, through.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 January, 2019, 01:28:40 pm
My wife killed my geriatric Macbook Air. The battery was dying and the charging somewhat haphazard, usually the light would come on after a while. Anyway, she ran it down to zero dancing around to some Body Combat rubbish.

Dead as a doornail. Poor thing. (Computer, not wife.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 25 January, 2019, 08:09:11 pm
It’s a bit of bummer that Google Inbox is getting killed, and at the end of March it reverts to Gmail. The Gmail page just looks like a complete mess, certainly on the web.

 :(

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 February, 2019, 03:01:06 pm
So Peli said "oh I found a good French song, let me see if I can find it" and started to tap away on her mobile.  So for a laugh I searched for "a good french song" on youtube on my PC, and played the first result. Peli said "I got it "search for X, as I was typing that into youtube I looked at the title of the song I was playing and it was the song that I was searching for, for Peli.

here is the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CZprPGN_3Y
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 February, 2019, 01:56:21 pm
So Russia is shutting down their internet for global access. https://www.zdnet.com/article/russia-to-disconnect-from-the-internet-as-part-of-a-planned-test/

James Patrick have talked about this before, that in the case of Brexit no-deal, there would be a DDoS or the other attack in the days right after and 1st of Apr is a good day for it. Because if everything comes to a halt, like no extra electrons from the main land and the UK starts suffering from brown-outs. And other services food, medicine etc is getting hit. People will start to hit the internet and phones to call and complain that X service is down or is having issues. So if websites etc are getting hammered by DDoS attacks it will really disturb the UK infrastructure and that is what Russia want as their end goal.

Here's one of the threads - https://twitter.com/J_amesp/status/1095259553904689152

I wonder if I need to start to make tinfoil hats and pringles wifi extenders ... 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2019, 02:07:36 pm
So Russia is shutting down their internet for global access. https://www.zdnet.com/article/russia-to-disconnect-from-the-internet-as-part-of-a-planned-test/

It's an interesting technical challenge.  The notable absence of a root nameserver (https://www.iana.org/domains/root/servers) in Russia, for a start...


Quote
James Patrick have talked about this before, that in the case of Brexit no-deal, there would be a DDoS or the other attack in the days right after and 1st of Apr is a good day for it.

Seems likely.  If not Russians, then 4channers doing it for the lols.  Or leavers trying to cultivate that blitz spirit.  Or whatever.  I'd expect a non-trivial DOS effect simply from everyone wanting to watch the chaos.


Quote
I wonder if I need to start to make tinfoil hats and pringles wifi extenders ...

Not relying on cloud services for things that should be done locally would be a good start, but that boat sailed years ago.  Even if your own stuff is resilient, that of the people you rely on won't be.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 February, 2019, 02:21:02 pm
I got back up of all my files, just using cloud as a backup of my backup :)

But since I work from home over the internet, I need a heck of a big Pringles box to be able to tether of my friend in France.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2019, 02:36:19 pm
Cloud for remote backups is sensible.  Cloud for communications is sensible.  Cloud for getting the data from your camera to your PC or from your thermostat to your boiler is not...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 13 February, 2019, 11:30:28 am
Reading James Patrick can make you very paranoid & quite frightened.

Am I being overly cautious by taking screendumps & printouts of my bank  accounts, BT pension scheme & share accounts ?   Just in case....

On a separate matter I dug a vintage 2008 Asus EEE netbook out of a box & fired it up.  It still works on mains though the battery is unusable after 10 years without being charged.

It's loaded with the original Asus desktop package, though attempts to automatically update any of the apps fail.     I'd only ever use  the browser & email client anyway , and they work.   Is there an ultra small flavour of Linux that will work in 512K of RAM ?   I've used Ubuntu in the past but that was 10 years ago on a decently specced machine.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 February, 2019, 12:34:27 pm
Puppy Linux and Tiny core Linux?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 13 February, 2019, 02:22:32 pm
Cloud for getting the data from your camera to your PC or from your thermostat to your boiler is not...

Cloud for getting data from thermostat to boiler is an actual thing?  :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 February, 2019, 03:13:56 pm
I would have thought that the other way would be useful, sending pictures of glaciers, snow capped mountains and penguins when you want it to know it is running a bit low :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 13 February, 2019, 04:14:28 pm
Cloud for getting the data from your camera to your PC or from your thermostat to your boiler is not...

Cloud for getting data from thermostat to boiler is an actual thing?  :o

Although many systems have the thermostat able to talk to the boiler directly, many of the apps that control things talk to the cloud, and the boiler/thermostat receive updates/instructions from the cloud.

Some systems are just broken by design and the thermostat and the boiler won't talk to each other directly but both talk to the cloud.

It wasn't long ago that Philips Hue users were unable to turn on/off their lights because some of the login servers that reside within the cloud were down.

Not being able to turn on or off the lights because the Internet is down. That's "progress" apparently.

Reminds me, only a few months ago I was looking round nearby property for sale where the instructions for turning on the lights (for the estate agent to do the viewing) involved logging on to the wifi and downloading an app.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: spesh on 13 February, 2019, 04:32:15 pm
To paraphrase the classic Ian Malcolm quote from Jurassic Park, the people behind the Internet of Things were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2019, 05:41:49 pm
To paraphrase the classic Ian Malcolm quote from Jurassic Park, the people behind the Internet of Things were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

Partly that, partly because collecting data about users is more lucrative as a business model than selling good products (https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2019, 05:46:32 pm
Reminds me, only a few months ago I was looking round nearby property for sale where the instructions for turning on the lights (for the estate agent to do the viewing) involved logging on to the wifi and downloading an app.

This sort of thing happens when people do things on the cheap:  Usually because they don't want to have to mess with the wiring that's in the wall to provide a neutral for a internet-of-shit lightswitch, or are allergic to screwdrivers or similar.

Smart lighting systems with sensible user interfaces that actually work are a solved problem, but tend to involve a bit more work and expense than buying consumer-grade shiny toys from Ikea.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 13 February, 2019, 05:51:43 pm
Although many systems have the thermostat able to talk to the boiler directly, many of the apps that control things talk to the cloud, and the boiler/thermostat receive updates/instructions from the cloud.

That makes a kind of sense. My Mac updates its software online so I don't see why my boiler shouldn't do the same - as long as there is a genuine benefit in being able to do so.

The boiler and thermostats communicate wirelessly using short-range RF, no need for any external connection. I can see that an app to control the heating remotely might be useful in some circumstances but normally it's sufficient for me to be able to interact with the thermostat manually. I can also override the thermostat by operating the boiler directly.

Quote
Some systems are just broken by design and the thermostat and the boiler won't talk to each other directly but both talk to the cloud.

That's just stupid.

Quote
Reminds me, only a few months ago I was looking round nearby property for sale where the instructions for turning on the lights (for the estate agent to do the viewing) involved logging on to the wifi and downloading an app.

This is also stupid.

Our bath has electronically operated valves with button operation for the filler. Fortunately, in over 12 years use it has never broken down - it does mean we can't have a bath when we have a power cut, but in those circumstances we don't have hot water anyway (combi boiler) so it makes no odds. But at least the bath is not yet connected to the internet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 February, 2019, 07:34:48 pm
Maybe I'm just a technophobic luddite but I can't see any point in having taps which are in any way electronic, except perhaps for certain disabilities.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 February, 2019, 07:40:00 pm
Maybe I'm just a technophobic luddite but I can't see any point in having taps which are in any way electronic, except perhaps for certain disabilities.

The obvious one is that they can turn themselves off when the bath is at the desired level, rather than wasting water or risking floods.

On a basin used for hand-washing there's the advantage that they can be activated by a non-contact sensor, so you don't cover the tap in whatever you're about to wash off your hands.  More of a public toilet thing, admittedly.

Like a lot of this tech, I'm in favour of it simply because it means it exists as an affordable mainstream product for the disabled people who benefit from it.  (Particularly in the case of taps, because poor memory and hand strength are common in the elderly, who may resist 'disability adaptions'.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 February, 2019, 07:44:06 pm
Dunno if we have a space one thread but since this is a computer on wheel I put it here.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA's Opportunity, the Mars rover that was built to operate just three months but kept going and going, was pronounced dead Wednesday, 15 years after it landed on the red planet.

sad news
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 14 February, 2019, 06:18:40 pm
Here's a question, I'm having a go at recording old video onto mp4, from a Hi8 S-VHS source. I've got hold of a cheap vid2USB thing (about £5 off eBay) which does normal and SVHS input. Only trouble appears to be that I'm getting audio dropout. So, I've got Audacity recording the audio at the same time as the video.

Just musing, anyone ever found a way to click on two programs to start them at the same time? (and the workaround is easy - just edit the audio)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 February, 2019, 07:35:27 pm
Just musing, anyone ever found a way to click on two programs to start them at the same time? (and the workaround is easy - just edit the audio)

This would be a job for the sort of high-level scripting languages that went out of fashion in the mid 1990s.  Think Arexx or Applescript.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 16 February, 2019, 07:12:52 pm
Anyone else having problems downloading the latest ccleaner from filehippo?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 25 February, 2019, 05:38:30 pm
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/nike-adapt-bb-sneakers-buy-android-app-ios-automatically-tightening-a8788896.html?fbclid=IwAR2SXwQxy1DX_IB5cq-zIH-F-KSedjdekKB1KJiICS89KdbGklO3Xobn1d0 (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/nike-adapt-bb-sneakers-buy-android-app-ios-automatically-tightening-a8788896.html?fbclid=IwAR2SXwQxy1DX_IB5cq-zIH-F-KSedjdekKB1KJiICS89KdbGklO3Xobn1d0)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2019, 06:26:47 pm
I honestly had to check that this wasn't a parody because it really seemed, well, it just might be.

These are, without doubt, the most exciting thing since internet-enabled, app-controlled coffee mugs.

I think, tbh, we're several years into an increasingly successful project to ensure the future becomes parody-proof.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 25 February, 2019, 07:51:10 pm
I have both cycling and running shoes with BOA laces. It’s a fairly small leap of the imagination to fit a wirelessly controlled motor to the dials but having to use your phone to operate them seems a bit clunky - a kick/stamp-activated switch in the shoe would be neater.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 February, 2019, 08:01:54 pm
Maybe I'm just a technophobic luddite but I can't see any point in having taps which are in any way electronic, except perhaps for certain disabilities.

The obvious one is that they can turn themselves off when the bath is at the desired level, rather than wasting water or risking floods.

On a basin used for hand-washing there's the advantage that they can be activated by a non-contact sensor, so you don't cover the tap in whatever you're about to wash off your hands.  More of a public toilet thing, admittedly.

Like a lot of this tech, I'm in favour of it simply because it means it exists as an affordable mainstream product for the disabled people who benefit from it.  (Particularly in the case of taps, because poor memory and hand strength are common in the elderly, who may resist 'disability adaptions'.)
Okay, I can see that, but for most people in most circumstances it is overkill. And none of it needs to be connected to the internet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 25 February, 2019, 08:07:25 pm
Maybe I'm just a technophobic luddite but I can't see any point in having taps which are in any way electronic, except perhaps for certain disabilities.

The obvious one is that they can turn themselves off when the bath is at the desired level, rather than wasting water or risking floods.

On a basin used for hand-washing there's the advantage that they can be activated by a non-contact sensor, so you don't cover the tap in whatever you're about to wash off your hands.  More of a public toilet thing, admittedly.

Like a lot of this tech, I'm in favour of it simply because it means it exists as an affordable mainstream product for the disabled people who benefit from it.  (Particularly in the case of taps, because poor memory and hand strength are common in the elderly, who may resist 'disability adaptions'.)
Okay, I can see that, but for most people in most circumstances it is overkill. And none of it needs to be connected to the internet.

There is a point in avoiding hand contact with taps, from many infection control viewpoints. I would not call this overkill.
Internet involvement is absurd. A photodetector would suffice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 February, 2019, 08:21:27 pm
The only obvious reason I can think of for connecting taps to the internet it to log their use patterns.  Which might have niche applications if you're in the business of optimising building design, or determining whether or not $vulnerable_person has had their monthly bath.  But on the gripping hand, water meters with data outputs are readily available.

Perhaps some startup will be able to persuade the vulture capitalists that collecting data on people's bathroom habits is a somehow lucrative proposition, to the point where they effectively subsidise the costs of the taps.  At this point, nothing would surprise me apart from effective security.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 26 February, 2019, 10:16:30 am
The only obvious reason I can think of for connecting taps to the internet it to log their use patterns. 

How about running your bath so it's ready when you get in from your ride.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 February, 2019, 12:25:14 pm
The only obvious reason I can think of for connecting taps to the internet it to log their use patterns. 

How about running your bath so it's ready when you get in from your ride.  :)

I confess to doing that with the central heating, but as I generally prefer a shower, there's no need for advanced notice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 February, 2019, 12:33:35 pm
My bath, because of contrary plumbing which sends the hot water on a tour of neighbourhood* via a willywonkerish variety of tiny bore pipes before reaching the bath itself, takes about 40 minutes to fill, so I wouldn't mind.

*this has always puzzled me, but I've established that the hot water goes down to the kitchen first, then along the house to the downstairs bathroom and then up into the actual bathroom itself. Which, of course, is next to the hot water cylinder. This means getting actual hot water out of the bathroom sink tap takes about five minutes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 February, 2019, 12:35:58 pm
Sounds like it wouldn't be an insurmountable effort to close the loop and circulate the water to provide instant hotness.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Phil W on 26 February, 2019, 12:41:22 pm
My bath, because of contrary plumbing which sends the hot water on a tour of neighbourhood* via a willywonkerish variety of tiny bore pipes before reaching the bath itself, takes about 40 minutes to fill, so I wouldn't mind.

*this has always puzzled me, but I've established that the hot water goes down to the kitchen first, then along the house to the downstairs bathroom and then up into the actual bathroom itself. Which, of course, is next to the hot water cylinder. This means getting actual hot water out of the bathroom sink tap takes about five minutes.

Maybe you need to move the bath to the kitchen.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 February, 2019, 12:49:28 pm
Sounds like it wouldn't be an insurmountable effort to close the loop and circulate the water to provide instant hotness.

I've no idea how it all works, I just know it gets hot everywhere else before the bathroom, which is the last place that the trickle of hot water emerges. The danger of assumption, we never had works to the basic plumbing layout done when we had the place refurbished, other than put in a power shower and relocate the bath taps. It seems a bit bizarre, I presume they diverted stuff when they put in the downstairs bathroom, but who knows, this is a house where the central heating pipes to my remote command centre venture outside. It's a triumph of British workmanship. This is probably what happens when you buy a house from BBC set designers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 14 April, 2019, 09:20:14 pm
The world did not end today though I was aware of Facebook being down.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47927714 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47927714)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: trekker12 on 16 April, 2019, 04:43:11 pm
So, I was getting spam texts from an old takeaway I used to frequent but no longer live in that town. I text STOP as per the instructions to the number given and I haven't received any more texts (although they were infrequent anyway).

I got my mobile bill today and found a 10p charge to a premium rate text number. Can they actually do that? I know it's 10p but there's a principle here!

I can't do much about it I deleted the texts afterwards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 24 April, 2019, 09:57:48 pm
I hadn't known before today that Google talks (and, will translate into) Bork-bork-bork (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-bork)

Also Elmer Fudd (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-elmer), 1337 5p34k (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-hacker),  Arrr Pirate (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-pirate), Klingon (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-klingon) and pig Latin (https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-piglatin)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 29 April, 2019, 11:43:06 pm
David requested I order another HP wired optical mouse from Sainsbury's as he has found these better in his observatory than cordless mice.

I thought I'd read the reviews.

 One stated the rollers started squeaking after a few months...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 21 May, 2019, 02:23:20 pm
Just resuscitated the Inlaw Paw's old XP box and deleted his FB account, which was still sending out birthday reminders 2 years after his death. Am now awaiting large men in ill-fitting suits with bulges under the armpits to drop in for a chat.

It crossed my mind that the only reason that machine can't go on being useful is Windoze: it'd probably skip along with something like Ubuntu driving it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 May, 2019, 08:08:31 pm
Finally got around to phoning Netgear about a swonky Arlo camera – it's like filming the back garden in red, which makes it look like everything is in infrared even when it isn't. In my garden all cats are red. Plus if anyone burgles us the police will be looking for a man with suspiciously red skin. Possibly a demon. Well, that's what happens when you have a Hell portal in the hallway.

I tried the batteries and several levels of percussive maintenance. It's been swonky for a while but I remembered it was getting the point where a warranty becomes one of those interminable sale-of-goods arguments. Anyway, they'll send me a new one.

I suppose I should decide or not whether to gamble on a new charger for the ancient unchargeable Macbook. My life is a storybook of excitement. Or I may go water my vegetable patch.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 24 May, 2019, 06:09:33 am
Another clip with variant sub-titles.  It's been doing the rounds for a while now, but I only came across it yesterday.  One for all of us sw dev. grunts.  Familiar, no? :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p8wTOr8AbU



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 May, 2019, 10:47:20 am
You lot are clever buggers so do any of you know of a hex editor that can do a find-and-replace with ASCII text from the Windows command line?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 June, 2019, 10:55:02 pm
Reading YACF on Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.)’s FruitCo fondleslab using Safari, while mine refills with voles.  It is prone to mixing up people’s avatars, blending them together and turning them funny colours.  What’s that all about?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 01 June, 2019, 11:06:16 pm
Feature ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 June, 2019, 08:17:04 pm
My vintage Microsith trackball appears to have carked it.  Spinning the ball results in the cursor implacably not moving.  Bloody thing's not even 20 years old yet ???

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fimm on 04 June, 2019, 01:43:22 pm
Colleague sends out a grumbly/ranty email about dodgy version control. We all argee this is something we could be better at.
I'm sent off to check the versions of various databases.
I discover that one was updated on June 1st. The only person likely to have done that was said colleague. Has he updated the version control spreadsheet? What do you think?  ;D
Manager is going to have words.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 June, 2019, 01:58:00 pm
Version control spreadsheets? Yep, that'll work out.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 June, 2019, 10:57:22 pm
ROBOCOPY, when you say something along the lines of "Error changing attributes" on the target directory why do you subsequently work without complaint when I past the command into a command line window?  And from the sheer volume of stuff this is causing to be copied, it looks as though the automagical job hasn't worked for months.  sort it out u muppet!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 June, 2019, 11:02:22 pm
I've just realised that the phantom undeletable[1] file that was on my desktop yesterday (an unexpected side-effect of some Garmin-wrnagling) has now vanished.


[1] Of course it was undeletable, it didn't exist.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 08 June, 2019, 05:07:21 pm
To paraphrase the classic Ian Malcolm quote from Jurassic Park, the people behind the Internet of Things were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

Partly that, partly because modelling people is more lucrative as a business model than selling good products (https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019).

FTFY

It's no longer just about collecting data, it's about being able to predict our behaviour.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 13 June, 2019, 10:54:21 pm
anyone care to have a shufti at an odd code issue that seems to be affecting me, as in  https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=112328.0
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 June, 2019, 04:24:17 pm
For those interested in alternatives to an Adobe Create Cloud subscription, Affinity have finally released their Publisher equivalent to InDesign. I'm a regular InDesign user, but I've played with the Affinity Publisher beta and bought a copy. It's rather nice and makes InDesign feel like the dinosaur it is. It's far more fluid and easier to use.

That said, InDesign is tied to many production workflows, but as a standalone DTP tool I'm very impressed so far (same for Designer and Photo, both very capable alternatives to Illustrator and Photoshop). There may be missing features, that said, I'm not that sure what InDesign has added to the days when I used PageMaker 6.5. Unless you use exciting things like liquid layout, which seems more trouble than its worth.

Nope, they're not paying me for this.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 June, 2019, 04:50:10 pm
In other news, I learned myself how to code in Python. No really, I'm a scriptkiddie, I even made a little app that I type my password into and then which letters the infernal bank security engine wants me to input, and it gives me the output. Admittedly the wrong output, because I forgot it starts counting at zero.

Basically, I now have the scripting capabilities of the average four-year-old.

Tomorrow, I write SkyNet. Or call it day and go back to swearing at Excel.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 June, 2019, 06:49:43 pm
Ian, learning Python and getting a wrong answer? Sound like a Broken Dream to me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 June, 2019, 06:58:55 pm
Well, who starts counting at zero anyway. I don't have a zero finger. Computers are quantifiably stupid.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 June, 2019, 07:01:55 pm
Sorry if I was being a tad obtuse, it was a Python Lee Jackson reference.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 June, 2019, 07:29:44 pm
It's OK, I googled. I can't actually say that made me any wiser.

In other matters, is it just me, but do younger people not know how to search the internet? They wander over and ask me a random question and I say 'I dunno, why don't you google it?' They stand there for a moment looking puzzled, then go back to their desk, stare at their screen blankly and then send me an email or slack message with the same question.

Huh?

So I google it and send them the answer back. Basically, my career to date has pretty much made me a poor cousin to Alexa. I'm sorry, I don't understand that. Here's some country music you might like from Amazon Music.

It's most peculiar. Is google too grandad for the 'kids?'

Actually, I got that tinkering with Python. What you doing? Learning Python. On your own? Erm, unless there's a very small person hiding behind me, yes. The Internet, it's full of stuff, at least 5% of which might be useful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 20 June, 2019, 08:02:45 pm
Sorry if I was being a tad obtuse, it was a Python Lee Jackson reference.
That was Rod Stewart, wasn't it?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 June, 2019, 09:51:28 pm
In other matters, is it just me, but do younger people not know how to search the internet?

I believe there's SCIENCE[1] demonstrating that so-called "digital natives" aren't actually any better at this sort of thing than stereotypical clueless Baby Boomers, they're just less scared of the user interface.  A young person will competently find pages of irrelevant search results, rather than being afraid to click on anything in case the computer explodes, but if you want the job done properly you need the sort of person (irrespective of age) who has actual library skills, or at least understands what "boolean operator" means.



[1] Ask barakta, she's got a degree in this stuff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 June, 2019, 10:10:39 pm
Sorry if I was being a tad obtuse, it was a Python Lee Jackson reference.
That was Rod Stewart, wasn't it?

Yes indeed, and a damn fine choon, his first, recorded as a session singer
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 June, 2019, 10:46:36 pm
In other matters, is it just me, but do younger people not know how to search the internet?

I believe there's SCIENCE[1] demonstrating that so-called "digital natives" aren't actually any better at this sort of thing than stereotypical clueless Baby Boomers, they're just less scared of the user interface.  A young person will competently find pages of irrelevant search results, rather than being afraid to click on anything in case the computer explodes, but if you want the job done properly you need the sort of person (irrespective of age) who has actual library skills, or at least understands what "boolean operator" means.



[1] Ask barakta, she's got a degree in this stuff.

Hmm, it's certainly a curious phenomenon, but they seem to expect guidance rather than just figure it out, whereas I'm just going to give it a go. Possibly because I'm of the generation that had to get excited by the bounteous results of Ask Jeeves and Alta Vista, and knows what WAIS was. If we were bad back then, a stern librarian would take us into the stacks and punish us with microfiche. Hmm, perhaps, come to think of it, that was a teenage fantasy. Books late again, young man. Back under the bed with you, stern librarian.

But no, they don't seem very self-motivated, or that able to critically judge information. OK, generalizing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 July, 2019, 05:00:37 pm
Because I forgot to return the replacement battery for my ancient Macbook Air that still refused to charge, I bunged £20 on a new non-Apple charger (I couldn't find anyone with a 45-watt charger to test, they're all 60 for newer Macbooks).

Blinkenlight! And 100% charged. I can't actually see any damage to the old charger, the cable is intact, the pins seem fine. However, it was last seen in a working status with my wife. Honestly, I don't know what she does to electronics. She emits rays of some sort. Currently griping in Barcelona because her work laptop has disavowed all sources of wiffle and I'm not there to fix it. I told her to call her work IT and then we laughed for three minutes and thirty-seven seconds.

The old battery was mostly dead anyway, bled charge the moment you looked away, it's been in service since 2011.

Oh well, let's see if it continues to work. Need to calibrate the battery.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 July, 2019, 07:30:41 pm
Honestly, I don't know what she does to electronics. She emits rays of some sort.

Bogons. (http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/Q/quantum-bogodynamics.html)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 July, 2019, 12:04:55 pm
Crivvens! I just doned a big Windows update on the laptop and noticed, while faffing in "Settings" afterwards, an option to defer updates by up to 35 days :o  Iffen it actually does what it says on the tin, this might even spell an end to the miserable thing trying to suck updates down an hotel pipe of wretched dimensions even when you've disabled all the Windows Update services.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 31 July, 2019, 06:03:33 pm
I have a horrid feeling that it downloads the damn things anyway and all that setting does is allow the "update" to fester on your machine for up to 35 days before it vomits all over your carefully configured settings.  I would be happy to be proved wrong.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: PeteB99 on 06 August, 2019, 01:06:36 pm
Judging by the adverts it keeps serving up my tablet seems convinced that I now live in Feltham? I assume this is some kind of default.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 06 August, 2019, 01:55:59 pm
That's related to your IP address and the registration of your ISP, rather than any knowledge of your geolocation.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 07 August, 2019, 02:31:58 pm
That's related to your IP address and the registration of your ISP, rather than any knowledge of your geolocation.

Yes, good point. Also why I get alerts telling me someone has just logged in to a device using my account in Aberdeen or wherever, when in fact I've just logged in back at home in East Kent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 08 August, 2019, 09:18:29 am
Oh, the joys of Eudora!  It knoweth not style sheets nor Active-X components, embedded HTML nor any other kind of taggy language.  Any message bits that contain <that kind of stuff> are simply ignored, so that e.g. Amazon's latest plea to 'Activate my free trial' consists of nothing but all the routing blah-blah followed by a gloriously blank page.  Oh, I can look at the full source and copy it into an HTML editor if I really want to, but I much prefer to hit the Trash button.

2005 tech rules!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 09 August, 2019, 03:14:10 pm
Well this could be in some of the politics threads too :)

https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/group-sex-app-leaks-locations-pictures-and-other-personal-details-identifies-users-in-white-house-and-supreme-court/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 August, 2019, 11:47:48 pm
Something is randomly high-pitched beeping.  It's not the smoke detectors; I decommissioned them last week, in favour of a new system with wires, mains power and proper error messages.  It's also not the burglar alarm that's been going off continuously since before the weekend - I've pretty much merged that with my normal tinnitus at this point.  And it's not Old Joe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Chamberlain_Memorial_Clock_Tower), who has been stopped in disgrace after repeatedly chiming at 18 minutes past the hour, and has far too much gravitas for a mere beep anyway.

On the basis that I've just taken custody of a pile of BHPC timing tech, the likely suspects are:

a) The shittest[1] Windows tablet ever made
b) Garmin Virb camera with a flat battery
c) Cheap digital stopwatch found rattling about in the bottom of the bag
d) Vintage Toshiba laptop that is shut down and in another room

Place your bets now...


[1] On the unscientific basis that it lacks WiFi.  WTF?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 August, 2019, 07:20:44 am
Do you have a few recording devices ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvQzBnped8
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2019, 12:26:00 pm
Do you have a few recording devices ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvQzBnped8

I actually considered that method for finding out which of the Fireangel detectors was instigating the low battery bips (they're networked, so they all bip within a few seconds of the one with the low battery, and the only way to work out which is at fault is to leap out of bed[1] and use stereo hearing to binary search the rooms before the bipping stops).

I decided it was more sensible to condemn the lot and invest in a proper fire alarm system[2] with a single easily-tested lead-acid battery.

Anyway, the beeping now appears to be happening on the hour.  This is probably related to me setting the time on the afore-mentioned stopwatch while fiddling with it last night.  We'll find out  at 1pm...


[1] Because these things always happen at 4am, and resolve themselves in a couple of minutes.
[2] The limiting factor is something that will drive a vibrating pad under barakta's pillow.  This is trivial with any proper wired fire alarm system, where such things are available to connect to standard sounder circuits, or can be added via dry contact relay outputs.  But, unless you use a DeafGuard (https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/678115/40FDGSYS/Deafgard---Fire-Alarm-Warning-System)[3], there are only a couple of consumer-grade systems that support it, one of which is notorious for false alarms, and the other has '10-year' lithium batteries with a half life of less than a year and no consideration for how you (let alone a deaf person) actually work out which detector is at fault.
[3] Which is overpriced shit beloved of the hospitality sector.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2019, 01:01:59 pm
Anyway, the beeping now appears to be happening on the hour.  This is probably related to me setting the time on the afore-mentioned stopwatch while fiddling with it last night.  We'll find out  at 1pm...

Eranu!  Mystery solved.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 August, 2019, 01:04:35 pm
\o/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2019, 01:11:28 pm
And I've googled for the manual and worked out how to switch it off!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 August, 2019, 01:12:54 pm
1/ find big hammer
2/ hit object
3/ repeat until moral erm beeping stops

?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 August, 2019, 12:00:17 pm
With Kim having solved the mystery, the observation that my laptop, when hibernating, emits a series of barely-audible high-pitched"eeeeee" noises is offered solely as anecdata.  It should't be making any noise while it's asleep.  If I unplug the power cable the noise stops ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 August, 2019, 12:05:28 pm
With Kim having solved the mystery, the observation that my laptop, when hibernating, emits a series of barely-audible high-pitched"eeeeee" noises is offered solely as anecdata.  It should't be making any noise while it's asleep.  If I unplug the power cable the noise stops ???

Probably a whistling (ie. physically vibrating) inductor in a switching power regulator when the power consumption is just so for causing it to resonate.  Tediously common in switching power supplies of all types, and makes up for the demise of CRT monitors with flyback transformers.

The best solution appears to be age-related sensorineural hearing loss.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 August, 2019, 12:44:26 pm
Even forty years of listening to Motörhead has not filtered this out, though it's on the very edge of audibility.  In another decade it'll probably have gone out of range, but then so will the laptop in question.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 14 August, 2019, 07:05:24 pm
Quote from: Kim
Quote from: Mr Larrington
With Kim having solved the mystery, the observation that my laptop, when hibernating, emits a series of barely-audible high-pitched"eeeeee" noises is offered solely as anecdata. {snip}

Probably a whistling (ie. physically vibrating) inductor in a switching power regulator when the power consumption is just so for causing it to resonate.  {snip}
And there was me thinking it was a mouse hopping from foot to foot (feet to feet?) cos it was standing on a hot resistor.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 August, 2019, 07:08:01 pm
Quote from: Kim
Quote from: Mr Larrington
With Kim having solved the mystery, the observation that my laptop, when hibernating, emits a series of barely-audible high-pitched"eeeeee" noises is offered solely as anecdata. {snip}

Probably a whistling (ie. physically vibrating) inductor in a switching power regulator when the power consumption is just so for causing it to resonate.  {snip}
And there was me thinking it was a mouse hopping from foot to foot (feet to feet?) cos it was standing on a hot resistor.  :)

I used to have a computer mouse (early optical era) that would do just that when exposed to direct sunlight.  The pointer would act drunk until it cooled down a bit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 15 August, 2019, 10:42:42 am
Anent resonance, my PC power-supply has started going zzzzeeezzzzezeezeeezzzzzezzzezzzezzzezzz etc lately. About 10 minutes in the pitch gradually descends, then it dies away. It's silent now, but the streamer I taped just above it is still floating gently on the breeze. Long may it fly.

If it does croak I can get the same model of PS again for 30€, but swapping it out? Eugh, work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 15 August, 2019, 10:51:16 am
I did get a cheap charger for my ancient Macbook (I would have bought the Apple one, but they're expensive and it was guess work the computer wasn't just dead, and I'd already sunk £70 into a replacement battery, and it's a mid-2011 vintage) – anyway, the new battery I put in charges again, but now when it's powered by the charger, the trackpad goes increasingly more manic sending the cursor scuttling around the screen. (The mouse is fine.)

I presume this is a 'Chinese earthing' problem.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 August, 2019, 11:23:13 am
I did get a cheap charger for my ancient Macbook (I would have bought the Apple one, but they're expensive and it was guess work the computer wasn't just dead, and I'd already sunk £70 into a replacement battery, and it's a mid-2011 vintage) – anyway, the new battery I put in charges again, but now when it's powered by the charger, the trackpad goes increasingly more manic sending the cursor scuttling around the screen. (The mouse is fine.)

I presume this is a 'Chinese earthing' problem.

Seems likely.  It's the usual tradeoff between having the class Y filtering capacitors between mains and earth to reduce RF emissions, and having leakage current through the capacitors bring the chassis up to half the mains voltage.  (Because, in spite of insisting on those stupid cloverleaf power leads, actually earth-referencing the PSU's output would be letting the terrorists win, or something.)  I suppose either condition could mess up the trackpad, which operates on an advanced form of voodoo that doesn't work well in the presence of stray voltages.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Steph on 20 August, 2019, 01:18:24 pm
A Thing started yesterday on my laptop, which is an HP on Windows 10. I have a mail icon, which opens up a window with my various accounts all listed as option. Press 'button', new window. Usual switching between inbox and sent, etc, plus switching from account to account. Nice and easy.

Yesterday, the Thing started. I press the button, and the window opens up. It stays there for about three seconds before closing completely. Bish, bosh, back to whatever window I was on before. I am able to read my mail by going to my account and hitting 'open inbox', but I can't run it as I have been doing. Any ideas as to why it is just disappearing after three seconds of visibility?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: dave r on 21 August, 2019, 09:24:43 am
Thats strange! My tablet, a Lenovo tab 4, has developed the habit of closing some app's as soon as I open them, meaning I have to tap the icon three or four times before it will open, highly annoying, and I haven't a clue why.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 21 August, 2019, 09:59:16 am
Should kinda also be in a politics thread

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/world/europe/denmark-cellphone-data-courts.html

10000 court cases needs to be checked cause phone location data.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 August, 2019, 11:31:30 pm
Sorry, CoreTemp, but I don't believe that the CPU in that box over there ^^^^ is running at 15 deg. C when it's about 30 in here.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 August, 2019, 11:32:10 pm
Sorry, CoreTemp, but I don't believe that the CPU in that box over there ^^^^ is running at 15 deg. C when it's about 30 in here.

Has someone set it to Gas Marks by mistake?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 01 September, 2019, 03:27:38 pm
Wading into the morass that is networking protocols, made more complicate by the need to access and configure the external drives using OSX. Wish me luck.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 03 September, 2019, 03:55:59 pm
Wondering how to get more space into my ESXi server:-

Code: [Select]
Filesystem   Size   Used Available Use% Mounted on
VMFS-5       1.8T   1.0T    837.8G  55% /vmfs/volumes/datastore2
VMFS-5       1.8T   1.0T    813.9G  56% /vmfs/volumes/datastore1
VMFS-5     111.8G  39.7G     72.1G  35% /vmfs/volumes/datastore2ssd
VMFS-5     111.8G  37.7G     74.0G  34% /vmfs/volumes/datastore1ssd

Ideally I'd like to add two 4TB drives but there are not enough SATA ports or 3.5" HDD bays internally so I'd need to find an ESXi friendly SATA card and then use brackets to mount the 3.5" drives in the empty 5.25" drive bays.

But wondering since most of this would be for backup purposes (not storage I need under ESXi itself) whether I should go for a 4 bay NAS (or something like an HP Microserver) and do it that way.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 September, 2019, 07:54:31 am
Is Yahoo mail working for anyone? Everything else is working fine for me, just not that. Oh well, I'm not working today anyway!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 05 September, 2019, 09:15:24 am
BT's mail server seems to be down also (I think that used to be provided by Yahoo, but I thought wasn't any more). Anyway, it's not there. I will survive, Gloria, I truly will.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 September, 2019, 10:15:23 am
It's probably been taken down by the Russians or maybe the Chinese. Or else Boris Johnson, who delegated the job of hacking Corbyn's tweets to Chris Grayling.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 05 September, 2019, 09:00:35 pm
Is Yahoo mail working for anyone? Everything else is working fine for me, just not that. Oh well, I'm not working today anyway!
Yahoo's server* suffered a more or less world-wide borkage.  Details on therregister.co.uk if you're at all interested.

*I think they ran out of coal for it, that or they ran out of shillings for the meter.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 September, 2019, 04:10:00 am
Thunderbird! asked! me! for! a! password! for! outgoing! Yahoo! mail! about! four! hours! ago!  Which is something it doesn't normally do, but expected incoming Babbage-Post appeared as normal.

In other news, dolt, you will find that your laptop behaves much more sensibly with regard to speed and not shutting the screen down every two minutes if the mains lead is actually plugged in.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 08 September, 2019, 11:49:40 am
BT's mail server seems to be down also (I think that used to be provided by Yahoo, but I thought wasn't any more). Anyway, it's not there. I will survive, Gloria, I truly will.
BT were in the process of migrating all its customers emails to Office 365, but I understand that they stopped for some reason when they got about half way through.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: spesh on 18 September, 2019, 01:05:41 pm
Surfing the internet in 2019 - explained via the medium of 'Airplane!'  :demon:

https://twitter.com/HugdiSpencer/status/1171487383008579584
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 18 September, 2019, 01:41:29 pm
Surfing the internet in 2019 - explained via the medium of 'Airplane!'  :demon:

https://twitter.com/HugdiSpencer/status/1171487383008579584
Brilliant!  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mike on 23 September, 2019, 03:39:30 pm
The surface coating has started wearing off on the screen on my 5 year old macbook.  Apple apparently admitted it was a manufacturing defect and offered free replacement for any machine < 4 years old that had been bought from them.  Obviously I missed that offer...

I was walking past the apple store in cambridge this morning on the way back from a meeting and saw they were really quiet, so went in and chatted to someone on the genius bar and showed him my screen.  He offered to replace it for free, even though I'd bought it from John Lewis 5.5 years ago, instead of charging me 600 quid.  And instead of it taking 7 days like normal, he recons it'll be ready in 3.

Goddam Apple, eh....  Every time I think about switching they go and do something like that.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 23 September, 2019, 03:58:09 pm
Goddam Apple, eh....  Every time I think about switching they go and do something like that.
you pay for the privilege of such customer service, but I’ve always been very pleased the resolution of any product issues I’ve had. I’ve even had an out ow warranty iPhone replaced foc when the problem was a broken screen due to user clumsiness.

The only real complaint people level at Apple is the tight control of their walled garden, with moans about being able,to,do,what you want with ‘your’ own property. Well, yes, it can be restrictive if you want to hack things about but that tight control ensures ‘it just works’ which is all I really want from a phone these days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2019, 04:14:48 pm
As walled gardens go, the Apple one is looking a lot less evil than certain others I could mention: Apple make you pay a premium for proprietary stuff that is  a) sometimes functionally limited  b) generally well designed  and c) tends to work.  Moreover, because of their old-fashioned customer-pays-them-money-in-exchange-for-stuff business model, they're substantially less inclined to be spaffing your data to anyone who asks...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 September, 2019, 01:39:38 pm
After a lengthy period of non-use, iTunes on the PC in the Great Hall has decided it cannot use AirPlay to render musical tunes, because it cannot find the receiver.  Look, you fruity simpleton, it's there, it's switched on, Control Panel says it's right there on 192.168.0.5 and I can connect to it.  Watch!

"Nope" sez FruitCo's Finest "it's not there!"

Dig down into sub-sub-menus on receiver, notice it thinks it's on 192.168.0.4 even though it isn't.  Since it's supposed to get its IP address from the router this is a puzzler.  Turn off DHCP, edit address, turn DHCP back on.  FruiTunes now finds it again. ???

Now I have to sort out the AirPort in the kitchen, which has also gone AWOL.  Still, could be worse.  Could be wireless.

Edit: AirPort also thought it was on 192.168.0.4.  It's no wonder the poor thing got confused.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 24 September, 2019, 03:15:05 pm
Thunderbollocks has decided it can't run a calendar without throwing cyclic errors and hogging 100% of one of my CPUs. Trying Evolution as Linux calendar before I trash my settings and redo from scratch...

I hate computers. I just want a fucking calendar that speaks caldav which doesn't suck.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 27 September, 2019, 02:08:03 pm
My Inbox is 979 emails away from hitting 100,000
Which I estimate will happen on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
IT love me, they do.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 01 October, 2019, 02:40:31 pm
Just performing a refresh install from scratch of Mint on my laptop.  Just to keep it fresh you understand.  Not at all due to dd'ing /dev/zero to /dev/sda5 ready to burn a pi image but missing the critical '5'.  Oh no, that would be silly  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 October, 2019, 06:11:55 pm
I seem to be unable to pay my electricity bill.
I've done this through internet banking with RBS using Safari on my Mac for several years now but in the past 24 hours I've made 8 FAILED attempts, with everything hanging frozen after I've selected account, payee and amount.
Friend has suggested I try another browser.

I could do this but I might just wait...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 03 October, 2019, 06:40:08 pm
If it’s the same system as NatWest, it’s been doing that a lot to me the last year or two.

The mobile app seems to work properly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 03 October, 2019, 06:49:34 pm
Friend also suggested new window -> 'Safari can't open page'

Deleted all rbs cookies, tried again in new window and things have FINALLY worked.

How do folk of limited ability cope?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 October, 2019, 11:57:03 am
So much for having a smart watch, it started to bzzz every hour doing the day, but no notification why or what app wants my attention. Might just have to reset the fecker cause it is doing my head in !
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 09 October, 2019, 12:23:23 pm
So my android tablet no longer works with BBC iplayer radio changed to bbc sounds so looking to upgrade the android version from android4.  Looking at playing with android upgrades to lineage and it was difficult due to locked bits on two different phones.

Wish me luck.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: essexian on 09 October, 2019, 01:57:22 pm
USB 2.0 Mini AB connector/cable. Is there such a thing?

I ask as a couple of months ago I brought a cheap camcorder from an Amazon seller which came with a charging cable. However...this seems to have been misplaced and finding a replacement is proving to be impossible.

I have tried both the Mini A and Mini B type of connectors but they don't fit but see from Wikipeadia that there is a Mini 2.0 AB connector which looks the right size and shape. However, I have not been able to find anywhere that sells them.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

Do they exist and if so, does anyone know where I can get one? I have tried the retailer of the camcorder but there were about as useless as could be.

Thanks



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 October, 2019, 02:07:34 pm
Isn't the point in the AB socket that it will accept both A and B plugs?  I could be wrong, it's USB, which is far too complicated for us mere mortals to keep track of.

It may be some proprietary thing.  Camera manufacturers liked doing that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 09 October, 2019, 07:17:18 pm
Isn't the point in the AB socket that it will accept both A and B plugs?  I could be wrong, it's USB, which is far too complicated for us mere mortals to keep track of.

It may be some proprietary thing.  Camera manufacturers liked doing that.
Ah Kim that would be a great idea.  Guess what, AB socket is just the right shape to not connect to both but enough that you would think that and trying to get the wrong cable in will cause damage.

Think I have that connector on a sony camera, might be worth while to go to a charity shop and see if they have a cable store for you to raid.  Or look on ebay/china suppliers for bits.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 09 October, 2019, 07:31:02 pm
So my android tablet no longer works with BBC iplayer radio changed to bbc sounds so looking to upgrade the android version from android4.  Looking at playing with android upgrades to lineage and it was difficult due to locked bits on two different phones.

Wish me luck.

If you can still access t’internet then you can use the bbc sounds website, even tho the app won’t run.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 09 October, 2019, 08:28:23 pm
So my android tablet no longer works with BBC iplayer radio changed to bbc sounds so looking to upgrade the android version from android4.  Looking at playing with android upgrades to lineage and it was difficult due to locked bits on two different phones.

Wish me luck.

If you can still access t’internet then you can use the bbc sounds website, even tho the app won’t run.

Unfortunately the web browser, if the pad is left unattended doesn't keep the wifi signal switched on for more than 14 or so minutes, whilst the app didn't have that problem.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 10 October, 2019, 07:32:11 am
BBC Sounds: "Hi! Tip of the day: ask Siri to play Radio 4"

Pickles: "Hey Siri, play Radio 4 on BBC Sounds"

Siri: "Sorry, BBC Sounds has not enabled that function with Siri"

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 October, 2019, 02:27:21 pm
https://twitter.com/MeWeFree_/status/1182635812682379266?s=20

^ what a school play
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 October, 2019, 11:35:11 pm
"Uptime 15,364 days - The Computers of Voyager" by Aaron Cummings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H62hZJVqs2o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 October, 2019, 01:02:39 pm
Phone rings.  Barakta's mum, with the bad news voice.

GN: Nobody has died.

BN: "I tried to copy the contents of my [iPhone] to my [Mac] laptop, and now it's reverted to 2017"

Give us strength...


ETA: Umpty gigabytes of blurry grandchildren photos appear to be safe and sound in the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia's i-someone-else's-computer service.


ETA: After a lengthy round of iCloud password remote-two-factor-authentication roulette, barakta has a stonking migraine, and her mum still doesn't have a useable phone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 15 October, 2019, 10:26:37 pm
Why won't windows malicious tool remover work, followed the instructions of download, run as administrator and doesn't do anything.

Why.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 October, 2019, 10:46:36 pm
Malice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 21 October, 2019, 04:58:49 pm
David reports that small printer problems we've had for YEARS seem to have vanished since Big Tom decided it was a nice sleeping perch.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 22 October, 2019, 12:44:15 pm
W10 updates. Is there no end to them? Do they have to be so huge and achieve apparently so little? and the server version are just as bad! What a nightmare for uptime :(

I can patch Centos in 5 minutes and rarely need a reboot* whereas I can now pretty much guarantee that any windows box or vbox will be looking at a rich blue "Applying updates" screen for at least 20 minutes a month.

And even WORSE once the patches have been installed there are often random issues that affect services until you do the whole "restart and apply updates" dance.
Grrrrr. Devs - stop developing for MS Server and go linux. PLEASE! or the sysadmins will have to plot revenge.

*and even if it's a kernel patch it can be scheduled in for later
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 22 October, 2019, 05:35:37 pm
More a grumble. I've bought into the new Pixel 4, like a true Google fanboi, not JUST because I wanted TEH SHINY, I can normally resist that especially as I was happy with my Pixel 2, but because Mrs Ham was moaning about the performance of her Nexus. By getting this new phone I could pass the Pixel 2 to her, and that would save me (!!) £350 on a new Pixel 3a.

Now, lets gloss over the fact that - having ordered the 4 - I discovered the issue with her phone. "Sweetheart, why have you got 56 Chrome windows open?" - "What's that? I never use Chrome, I just use the home screen Google bar" (which opens a chrome window). The Nexus is now running like a good 'un again.

Anyhow, the 4 arrived today. I knew it had changed to face unlock (instead of fingerprint sensor) but - unlike the iPhone (or at least as I understand it) - facial recognition is not good enough for security apps like banking. Boo.

It is rather spiffingly fast and smooth, and the excellent camera of the 2 is still better. ETA that language is confusing, the four is betterer
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 22 October, 2019, 08:30:11 pm
Quote from: Morat
Grrrrr. Devs - stop developing for MS Server and go linux. PLEASE! or the sysadmins will have to plot revenge.
We'd love to, but the PHBs have swallowed the IBM DEC M$ FUD hook, line and sinker.  Unfortunately it's the PHBs that have the money and we, devs,  all have mortgages to pay and having spent years bit-wrangling we are utterly unequipped to do anything else in the world of work. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 October, 2019, 10:07:41 am
ooops .... https://twitter.com/LeonKnight_/status/1186712105879293953?s=20
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 25 October, 2019, 11:00:05 am
To reclaim a bit of room in my workshop, I finally moved out a tangential tone-arm record deck that's been sitting in the same place for 30 years and discovered under it, in a Barnes & Noble box, God wot, a complete 8" floppy-disk drive with a few appurtenant doo-hickeys - mounting brackets etc.

If the USAF nuclear deterrent network hadn't recently upgraded I could have had a market.

The lot is now in the barn and the roof leaks. To hell with it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 02 November, 2019, 06:05:13 am
Fettled my MX records back into life, my hosting provider had changed nameservers (and, for some obscure reason, retired the old ones instead of combining the names/IP which should be easy on a VM) resulting in No Spam!!1! and, of course, zero domain availability.

A poke around and everything burst back into life (for propagation values of "burst"). Useful to find  that you can flush Google's DNS cache (https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/cache?hl=vi) (through a google search, obv)

I'm torn between annoyance with my hosting that it appeared the notification failed to go to me, or just being happy that they still have manned, intelligent tech support from 07:00-00:00 that only takes a couple of minutes to get through to talk to.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 05 November, 2019, 07:17:32 pm
Mrs Ham wanted to investigate Tesco online, possibly to purchase. I have an account, used infrequently, mostly to deliver to my MiL in Coventry, definitely used over the last - 5? - years.

Anyhow when the login and password reset failed I got on the blower. Answered surprisingly quickly by a pleasant scots lady, I provided my email address. "No, that's not the one on the account" OK, how about an underlying one I don't often use. "No not that one. It's nnnn@xxxx.co.uk" An email address from a domain I put to sleep 20 years ago and likely the one I used when I opened the account. Curious. Anyhow, easily fixed

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 06 November, 2019, 09:09:58 am
Fitbit have sold out to Google and are now saying that it may take up to 90 days to delete all account data.

Quote
  • First 7 days: If you change your mind after you confirm your request to have your account deleted, you have seven days to recover it – log in to your account to restore acceess to your Fitbit data.
  • After 7 days: Your account is frozen and can't be recovered.
  • Within 30-90 days: Most of your personal account info is deleted within 30 days of you confirming your deletion request. This includes any subscriptions you have, for example Fitbit Coach. It may take up to 90 days to delete all of your personal info, like the data recorded by your Fitbit device and other data stored in our back-up systems. This is due to the size and complexity of the systems we use to store data.


Naturally, this leaves lots of time for Google to finalize the sale and mine out anything they fancy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 November, 2019, 05:30:24 pm
I hope that five minute dropout on my Internets this morning was Nice Person Nic, the Helpful Support Type, tinkering with settings and not a further manifestation of the woes afflicting my pitiful pipe.  Otherwise I may yet be driven to seek professional counselling on the matter of fibre broadbean.  Even Sky is not off-limits since Murdoch, spawn of The Pit that he be, sold up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 08 November, 2019, 08:50:40 pm
I've had an SSD fail. It was the root filesystem of the running system and it just "disappeared". I had running terminal shells that still worked, but only programs already in memory could be run, anything that needed filesystem access failed. After a power cycle the disk is not even detected by the BIOS.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 November, 2019, 09:24:36 pm
Having suffered the occasional spinning rust failure, and with more than a little Raspberry Pi experience, I've always been impressed by Linux's ability to keep going when the root filesystem stops responding.  Windows would of course BSOD first and ask questions later.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 November, 2019, 07:03:05 pm
erm any of you lot deal with Webex?

I can't for the life of me to get it to work. All other VOIP I have used just work - hangout, Skype, Skype for Business, M$ Teams, Join.me, zoom etc. With webex I can connect and hear other speakers but they don't hear me. In webex settings I can see when I speak/hit the mic that it picks up my voice on the volume bar/graph thing. Same goes with the browser app. Restart, clear cache, reinstall etc been done. Win10 all updated and same with Chrome.

Yes I can dial into the call with Skype and join that way, but that is just a faff to have two programs for one thing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 November, 2019, 07:46:29 pm
I don't know anything about Webex, but one-way audio on VOIP is usually a NAT/firewall thing:  Protocols that use a separate stream for the audio/video (eg. SIP/RTP) get blocked (or not routed appropriately) in one direction, while everything else ostensibly works.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 November, 2019, 07:48:56 pm
I haven't poked at win10 firewall, left at default. I did find that windows in their privacy settings you can block apps/programs from using the mic and other things but in there webex got full control to play.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 November, 2019, 07:49:57 pm
It should just pick up your microphone like normal. I don't know about non-Macs, but a Mac asks the first time if it can access your microphone and/or webcam. If you miss the message, it can't, and if you click the 'no', then the mic and cam remain out of the bounds (if you want to undo the decision, it's in the privacy settings). I assume other OS do something similar.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 November, 2019, 07:53:49 pm
It doesn't sound like a microphone problem if the app's responding to the microphone with a bargraph.  If it didn't have permission to access the hardware, it should throw an error.  If it was accessing the wrong audio input, the graph would remain flat.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 November, 2019, 07:54:10 pm
Yes I have poked at that and why I reinstalled it to make sure I haven't missed that option and it is using the same hardware as all the others that don't have an issue. I just have to get used to the fact that I dial in with Skype and open the web link to the meetings on webex so I can see the chat and if there is a screen to share. Lucky I don't use it often, only the 4th time in two years and go figure the very first time last year it worked just fine. There have been an update on the webex app for sure doesn't look the same as last year.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 November, 2019, 08:03:37 pm
In the Macverse, there's a browser version of Webex and a downloaded app. If you're using the browser version, it may require you modify the browser's privacy settings too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 November, 2019, 08:05:53 pm
In the Macverse, there's a browser version of Webex and a downloaded app. If you're using the browser version, it may require you modify the browser's privacy settings too.

I refer the learned gentleman to my post above ;)

Same goes with the browser app.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 15 November, 2019, 06:17:49 pm
There were four people present in the office today.
Two of whom have PCs running Windows 7, the other two (myself being one of them) have been upgraded to Windows 10.
And Office 365.
Now, it is that last sentence, that I would like to draw your attention to.
In particular, the 365 part of it.
What do you think that 365 refers to?
Memory? Screen size? Processor speed? The number of days per annum one can expect it to not deliver that which it promises?
As it currently stands, if I send an email to an email group of which all four of today's attendees are members,
 those running Windows 7 will receive that email pretty much instantly.
Those running Windows 10 will receive it 6 or 7 minutes later.
In what way is this an upgrade?
All evidence points to it being a downgrade.
I suppose us tenners should be grateful for having received the email at all.
IT have been advised accordingly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 17 November, 2019, 09:21:10 am
The transcendental functions on my Commodore SR-4912 have stopped working.  I am rather, and quite irrationally, sad about this.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 20 November, 2019, 08:05:18 am
The shuffle button, on Spotify for Android, has returned!!!!

This fills me with joy!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 21 November, 2019, 02:32:34 pm
A few changes happening in our office so the mini-skips have arrived so people can clear out some of the lockers that will be lost to the new "collaboration centre", but most using it as an excuse to purge some of the crap they've been collecting over the years.

Amongst the stuff I found in my locker and pedestal and am getting rid of:-

Endless manuals (InstallShield training from 16 years ago anyone?)
Windows Server 2003 install media
NT 4.5.1 install media
Cables, all of the cables
A SparcClassic with a whopping 16MB RAM and 424MB HDD
Pads and pads of notes that all went to the shredding bin

(I lied, I kept the SparcClassic, I might use it as a monitor stand although the HDD still has company confidential stuff on it and with SunOS 4.1.4U5 it certainly won't be encrypted)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 22 November, 2019, 01:19:43 pm
An update for my ancient Kindle  ??? I didn't expect that  :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 November, 2019, 10:12:50 am
Is it as ancient as my geriatric paperwhite? Don't think I've seen an update on it yet.

BT just called. There's suspicious activity on my IP address and if I don't click 1 now to speak to an operative they will be cutting me off.

Oh noes!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 04 December, 2019, 08:17:07 pm
Following an outage caused by building contractors simply switching off the whole house power, I thought all the servers had come back up OK.

Oh, no.

The Asterisk box has been slowly grinding itself into the ground. It accepted a SSH login, but I/O errors on most filesystem things.
Fsck would not actually run! It couldn't read the executable.

The box will need a re-install.
Unfortunately, it also hosts other things.
But they are mirrored on my other Linux box, the Roundcube webmail server.
Just needs a DNS tweek to point to the backup server.

Hmm, not working.
When the Webmail box cratered a few months back, I re-installed only the necessary bits to get the webmail working. I ignored the other backup stuff.
Come back to bite me!

So cue a session of:
yum install ftp
ftp my-site
>binary
>get all-the-stuff
>exit
fettle fettle.

All services now running!

The Asterisk box will need to wait.
The phones are not working.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 04 December, 2019, 09:46:42 pm
I found a double-sided colour laser printer in the street a few months back. Works perfectly.

Until recently when it started not fusing the toner properly. The roller doesn’t even feel hot. Discovered this at the post office after printing some address labels. I hope they all arrive...

I have a fancy microwave with a mini oven heating element. A couple of minutes in there for everything I print from now on...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 10 December, 2019, 10:03:28 pm
Anyone interested in a Pixel 4 review? OK

I've had it over a month now, and I've seen some mixed reviews, so here's mine.

Yeah, it's good.

OK, it's good but there's a learning curve - one of the reasons I'm posting this.

Getting used to it (from a Pixel 2) was a surprisingly bumpy process. One thing which is in my book a retrograde step is the removal of the fingerprint sensor and move to face ID, which is not supported by many apps. Turns out to be not quite as much hassle as I thought it was going to be, but the default behaviour of face unlock to the main screen is crazy. Far better is the easily selectable "unlock to lock screen" where you can choose what to do - read alerts, go to apps etc. Otherwise, you are forever unlocking and activating stuff you don't want.

Another big change which you don't have to go with is the move to gesture control from the trad buttons at the bottom. I have done, and it was worth it. Again a learning curve where you don't see the point in the first instance but actually, once over that hurdle the gesture controls work much better - for example the back swipe is anywhere on either side edge. The only slightly retrograde item with gestures is invoking the android split screen but, how many times do you ever use that? I know I do occasionally but I don't suppose many know it even exists and all other phone users get by without it, including those fruity boys. (for those who don't know what I am talking about, Google phones have long been able to have two apps on screen at  once)

One of the main gripes you read about is the battery. There are a lot of reviews saying Arrgh! battery is only 2800mAh! Too small! Doesn't perform well in battery drain tests! Well, I dunno, for me it isn't a problem. I use my phone throughout the day, and the battery lasts better than my old Pixel 2, 24 hours of light usage is around 20% used, my normal day which includes browsing, whatsapp, playing stuff on the speakers (which are surprisingly good) is 60-70%. Life may be different if you have a lot of apps doing background push, and I keep my brightness down below 75% (which is where the 90hz oh-so-slinky refresh cuts in) and the fast charge pushes about 50% of charge in 30 minutes. I put my phone on charge in the morning rather than leave it all night - came off charge at around 8 this morning and is currently sitting on 84% at 22:00. I've had a couple of calls on it, looked at it occasionally but not done much on it. Basically, this phone has serious smarts around battery usage.

The camera holds its own against anything out there, and the night sky mode is downright creepy - you wibble about while the phone takes a multi second exposure and the image turns out rock steady. The motion sense feature seemed like a total gimmick, but actually muting as you pick your phone up to answer or switch off an alarm is quite cute. There's a bunch of other stuff that I really would benefit finding out about, if anything that's one of the major issues, there is no real "howto", maybe because there is some much difference between people's preferences and the Pixel is so configurable.

Finally, it needs to be remembered that the flagship phones which the Pixel is compared to (rightly so) cost at least 50% more. For me, that's Google getting back to the old Nexus philosophy. Would it be worth upgrading from a 2 if you don't have to? Probably not, but you wouldn't regret it. As I've never had a 3, I can't comment on that, but I suspect it is similar.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 11 December, 2019, 05:48:32 pm
I've just installed Windows XP!

At work, we have a module in our software product which uses Neural Networks.
Back in 2006, we bought a 3rd party solution called NeuroSolutions.
This is a tool which is used to build DLLs containing the Neural Networks, which are then used in our product.

We needed to make some changes to the Neural Network DLLs, so I had to go to the archives and dig up the old NeuroSolutions installer.
It just won't run on Win10 x64, it's too old!

So I spun up a VirtualBox VM and stuck XP on it.
Everything Just Worked!

The VM is squirreled away for next time it's needed!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 11 December, 2019, 07:08:50 pm
The VM is squirreled away for next time it's needed!

I'd be tempted to keep it disconnect the machine it is running on whenever you spin up that VM. Even a fully patched XP machine is trivial to infect remotely and do you trust *everyone* in your company to be squeaky clean?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 11 December, 2019, 07:27:02 pm
Its behind at least 2 NATs with no inbound port forwarding, and the host firewall!
The NAT between the VM and the Win10 host, the Win10 host firewall,and NAT between the host and the outside world.

It would need to be a very specific attack to reach the VM,
It would need to break through the corporate firewalls and NAT;
Even from a compromised internal PC, it would then need to compromise the host system's Win10 firewall;
and then compromise the VirtualBox virtual NAT.

Not saying it can't be done, but I'm not sweating it for a VM that's spun up for a couple of hours every 10 years!
It's buried beneath so many layers of much more recent protection.

(Im not sure if I could disable the LAN connection on the VM or if that would also kill access to the VM, but I think I could. Its not an RDP session.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 11 December, 2019, 08:41:37 pm
I need to run some legacy VMs. Windows XP and Windows NT. I simply keep them off-grid. They're on a private network and never see the interwebs. It's not like they need updates or anything...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 11 December, 2019, 08:55:51 pm
Stands to reason that anything requiring such ancient OSes is unlikely to need an internet connection too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 11 December, 2019, 10:17:10 pm
I had reason to deploy the xkcd Bobby Tables cartoon at work today  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 12 December, 2019, 05:37:36 am
I reverted my iMac 27” to its state when I bought it 10 years ago, including its original operating system (hurrah for software on CD!). This was so I could still run my expensive Adobe Design Collection, as updates over the years had meant that it didn’t work reliably anymore (well, it was 10 year old software) and the whole thing had slowed down too much too.

It works brilliantly, but I don’t allow it anywhere near the Internet. I transfer my work to/from it using a USB stick and my MacBook.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 12 December, 2019, 12:12:15 pm
I reverted my iMac 27” to its state when I bought it 10 years ago, including its original operating system (hurrah for software on CD!). This was so I could still run my expensive Adobe Design Collection, as updates over the years had meant that it didn’t work reliably anymore (well, it was 10 year old software) and the whole thing had slowed down too much too.

It works brilliantly, but I don’t allow it anywhere near the Internet. I transfer my work to/from it using a USB stick and my MacBook.

That's how I ended up running two iMacs. If I'd upgraded the older to anything beyond 10.6.3, I would've lost the use of all the Power PC native software I have. It was cheaper to buy another iMac, than it was to replace the software.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 13 December, 2019, 11:27:47 am
The VM is squirreled away for next time it's needed!

I'd be tempted to keep it disconnect the machine it is running on whenever you spin up that VM. Even a fully patched XP machine is trivial to infect remotely and do you trust *everyone* in your company to be squeaky clean?

Or just disconnect it's vNIC in VirtualBox, or snapshot it before connecting it to the network and spin up a copy if the snapshot every time you need it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 20 December, 2019, 06:45:12 pm
My Asterisk VoIP server has finally died, thanks to an unplanned power outage.

<Jurassic Park ish>
The phones aren't working.
</Jurassic Park ish>

Re-image fails, HDD is toast.
HDD is PATA, Mobo has no SATA.
Mobo also can't do 64 bit.
Time for new host PC.

Bought refurb Dell optiplex 755 for £50.
The Digium TDM400 PSTN card is full-height and can't go in the new box!
So I've just bought a new Digium A4A card too.

Just used Rufus to make a bootable USB stick from the FreePBX ISO, so we'll see how that goes!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: amedias on 20 December, 2019, 07:39:55 pm
Sounds like simplest solution would be replace with another IDE drive, if you’re worried about using another drive of unknown longevity then an IDE to SATA bride should allow you to use and modern SATA drive, has worked for me to keep some VERY old kit running
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 20 December, 2019, 08:38:27 pm
Yebbut, the cpu is 32-bit, and can't run current Asterisk distros that I want to run.
I don't really have a need to retain the old hardware ( other that the full-height card! )

Sometimes, I just have to move on!

The new PC is here, and the Asterisk install is done.
Just awaiting the replacement Digium A4A half-height card to connect it to the POTS.

Anyone want a full-height Digium TDM400 card? For free?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: vorsprung on 10 January, 2020, 08:32:37 pm
it might just be me but I've noticed that using Firefox with youtube anonymously *seems* to result in no adverts

Which is brilliant because the ripper extension for youtube works on Firefox

Downloading a Popol Vuh LP right now  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 19 January, 2020, 09:48:19 pm
D bought a NEW! SHINY! iPad Pro in John Lewis Clearance yesterday.

All his Apple products are linked to my Apple ID so he can purchase on my CC, as are mine.

It has taken 19 hours for our devices to synch via the cloud.

Our contacts are in duplicate. I suppose I should be grateful; they were in quadruplicate last year, but that resolved.

It's not been as traumatic as the purchase of two identical MacBook Air laptops this time last year but things did not automatically Just Work...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 21 January, 2020, 02:34:28 pm
That's the second lunchtime walk in a row where I've taken about 40 minutes but Strava claims ~1:15.

The first time the file didn't upload correctly initially from my phone (Samsung S7) so I thought maybe it had an incorrect end time.

But it did it again today and the file uploaded right away. Looking at the gpx files for both days it looks like the start point is correct but the data points gradually stamp later and later than reality. I uploaded the file today at 13:52 (having started at about quarter past) and the gpx claims I finished at 14:30! Which is absurd, I've been day here drinking tea since 14:00.

Has anyone had anything similar? I'm currently not sure if it's the phone or app. Planning tomorrow to install another logging app to try and narrow down the problem.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2020, 02:59:51 pm
Is the phone having some sort of NTP fight between wifi and cellular networks?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 21 January, 2020, 03:03:10 pm
I've no idea! Though I think I had WiFi turned off for the duration of the walk. I have got phone location set to high accuracy so maybe GPS and cellular are fighting.

I guess I could try next time on low accuracy so it only uses GPS for location.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2020, 03:15:41 pm
Android conspicuously lacks the ability to set the system clock from GPS.  Because that would be useful.

But yeah, clock drift would be my first suspicion.  Keep an eye on what time it thinks it is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 21 January, 2020, 03:22:41 pm
The phone time was correct when I uploaded the file and whenever I happened to glance at it during the walk. Which wasn't very often.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 January, 2020, 04:34:38 pm
Android conspicuously lacks the ability to set the system clock from GPS.  Because that would be useful.

They get them from the phone network though. I have never set the time on my S10+ phone and its correct. It also switches timezone when I go abroad without me touching it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 21 January, 2020, 04:43:20 pm
What app is doing the recording? Strava's own app? Is it up to date?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 21 January, 2020, 05:08:12 pm
Strava yes. And I believe so but I'll double check.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 22 January, 2020, 06:49:18 pm
I'm also being frustrated by my S7 and it's refusal to connect to my computer, either with wire or blutooth. Emailing photos to myself is getting old.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 January, 2020, 12:15:27 pm
I present this absolutely splendid bug: "Open Office won't print on Tuesdays" (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cupsys/+bug/255161/comments/28)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 28 January, 2020, 08:52:10 am
I present this absolutely splendid bug: "Open Office won't print on Tuesdays" (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cupsys/+bug/255161/comments/28)

Reminds me of the classic: Can't send email more than 500 miles (http://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 28 January, 2020, 07:48:04 pm
I present this absolutely splendid bug: "Open Office won't print on Tuesdays" (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cupsys/+bug/255161/comments/28)

Reminds me of the classic: Can't send email more than 500 miles (http://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles)

That's brilliant !
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 28 January, 2020, 08:43:49 pm
I present this absolutely splendid bug: "Open Office won't print on Tuesdays" (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cupsys/+bug/255161/comments/28)

Reminds me of the classic: Can't send email more than 500 miles (http://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles)

That's brilliant !

Ooh - are we doing "My favourite defect report"?

Mine was always "I don't receive any emails unless I bang on the desk"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: FifeingEejit on 28 January, 2020, 09:15:42 pm
Spent the day getting Oracle to add up the number of rows selected in a particularly long series of SQL statements and occasional PL/SQL blocks for running in SQL Plus/SQLCL so it can tell Jenkins if it's failed.
Only solution I found that didn't have the various respondents on various fora slagging each other off because it didn't work was to wrap every select with another select that decodes a NEXVAL on a sequence in a manner that means it always kicks out the primary key in the result set.

I also spent the day telling myself that surely there must be a much more sensible way of doing it while cursing the fact that I know all I'd need in T-SQL is a variable and repeated addition of @@ROWCOUNT to it.


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 January, 2020, 09:48:35 pm
Is it wrong to say SQL as Ess-Queue-Ell and then when corrected to 'sequel' say 'yes, that's what I said' in an exasperated tone? Of course, flip this if they start with Ess-Queue-Ell. Yes, that's what I said.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 28 January, 2020, 10:02:34 pm
Is it wrong to say SQL as Ess-Queue-Ell and then when corrected to 'sequel' say 'yes, that's what I said' in an exasperated tone? Of course, flip this if they start with Ess-Queue-Ell. Yes, that's what I said.

Squirrel.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 January, 2020, 10:19:44 am
These days when anyone corrects my pronunciation of any word, I simply say that's what I said. It's brilliant. Sometimes they'll double down and repeat what they think is the correct pronunciation for me and I'll just repeat it my way and say see, that's exactly what I said. They're idiots and I've just weaponized their frustration.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 31 January, 2020, 03:02:51 pm
You know it's a good day when Microsoft Error Reporting tries to report an error with itself.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 31 January, 2020, 07:21:49 pm
You know it's a good day when Microsoft Error Reporting tries to report an error with itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R49IKBWznOM
https://youtu.be/R49IKBWznOM
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Davef on 01 February, 2020, 04:30:18 pm
I present this absolutely splendid bug: "Open Office won't print on Tuesdays" (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cupsys/+bug/255161/comments/28)

Reminds me of the classic: Can't send email more than 500 miles (http://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles)

That's brilliant !

Ooh - are we doing "My favourite defect report"?

Mine was always "I don't receive any emails unless I bang on the desk"
“The print on the .pcl file attached to your electronic submission is smudged”


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 02 February, 2020, 07:24:50 pm
I've sold or recycled (most) of my old text books today. £60 better off feels pretty good for 90s tech books, though I was amused that my K&R C book got about £6 while they didn't want Stroustrup.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: simonp on 05 February, 2020, 02:22:42 pm
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/02/serious-flaw-that-lurked-in-sudo-for-9-years-finally-gets-a-patch/

That's some security hole, with such an easy exploit (but default config should be ok I think - since it only works if the option to print out *s as you type is enabled).

Worth checking (and patching), mind.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 10 February, 2020, 07:19:16 pm
Just been grappling with mobile billings, Mrs Ham's and my bills are now £16/month total (4Gb since you ask), as part of my overall strategy I needed to sort out the dual sim aspect of my Pixel 4, so I can take advantage of PAYG when travelling to strange countries.

The Pixel 4 has eSim and physical sim capability, and EE supports eSIM, so far so good. Easy ordering, again, good. eSim is great, all you need to do is scan in a bar code, so how do you think I'm going to get this new fangled system? Yes, you've got it, in the post.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rr on 10 February, 2020, 07:33:41 pm
Just been grappling with mobile billings, Mrs Ham's and my bills are now £16/month total (4Gb since you ask), as part of my overall strategy I needed to sort out the dual sim aspect of my Pixel 4, so I can take advantage of PAYG when travelling to strange countries.

The Pixel 4 has eSim and physical sim capability, and EE supports eSIM, so far so good. Easy ordering, again, good. eSim is great, all you need to do is scan in a bar code, so how do you think I'm going to get this new fangled system? Yes, you've got it, in the post.
If you go via topcashback 3 do unlimited calls and texts and 8Gb of data for £8/month, plus £42 cashback. Roaming to many places included.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 11 February, 2020, 12:03:21 pm
3 (and their resellers) are definitely cheapest but the network performance around here (in London) and in many areas is patchy at best.  They also haven't yet (?) rolled out eSim support.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 11 February, 2020, 12:34:29 pm
Just been grappling with mobile billings, Mrs Ham's and my bills are now £16/month total (4Gb since you ask), as part of my overall strategy I needed to sort out the dual sim aspect of my Pixel 4, so I can take advantage of PAYG when travelling to strange countries.

The Pixel 4 has eSim and physical sim capability, and EE supports eSIM, so far so good. Easy ordering, again, good. eSim is great, all you need to do is scan in a bar code, so how do you think I'm going to get this new fangled system? Yes, you've got it, in the post.

My son wanted to upgrade his EE SIM to an eSIM as he is currently in Japan. EE would only post it to a UK address, so it came to me, then I had to email a photo of the QR code on to him.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 12 February, 2020, 01:40:52 pm
I've pre-ordered a Galaxy S20.  Phones don't excite me very much but I get the latest Galaxy every 3 years, and it seems to keep up with Android releases without costing as much as some people spend (I do SIM only for the third year).  Anyway, the camera is quite an improvement on my current S8.

I wish they'd revert to the rubberised back of the S5.  Glass backs and pointless curved screens are slippery and buying a case is just an admission that the design is crap.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 21 February, 2020, 03:03:48 pm
https://theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/21/irish-drug-dealer-clifton-collins-l46m-bitcoin-codes-hid-fishing-rod-case
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 February, 2020, 03:30:35 pm
I've pre-ordered a Galaxy S20.  Phones don't excite me very much but I get the latest Galaxy every 3 years, and it seems to keep up with Android releases without costing as much as some people spend (I do SIM only for the third year).  Anyway, the camera is quite an improvement on my current S8.

I wish they'd revert to the rubberised back of the S5.  Glass backs and pointless curved screens are slippery and buying a case is just an admission that the design is crap.

I'm wondering what was wrong with the Galaxy 11-19.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andyoxon on 24 February, 2020, 03:26:59 pm
What is it with some website password reset systems that never seem to send you an email, even when it says 'look out for email' / 'contact us if not in 30mins'.  No not in spam either...   :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Davef on 24 February, 2020, 03:44:03 pm
What is it with some website password reset systems that never seem to send you an email, even when it says 'look out for email' / 'contact us if not in 30mins'.  No not in spam either...   :-\
Is it bt email ?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 24 February, 2020, 05:36:36 pm
Last year I had to change all my email address sign-ins after Virgin Media lost my email service for best part of four weeks. Amazing how many websites make this a real PIA, took hours of my time. Thankfully I'm retired, and I'll never use an ISP's email system again - or Virgin effing Media. At least I was then free to change ISP with no problem.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 25 February, 2020, 07:39:23 am
What is it with some website password reset systems that never seem to send you an email, even when it says 'look out for email' / 'contact us if not in 30mins'.  No not in spam either...   :-\
Had this last week, an outsourced work system for employee benefits. Put in my work email, get a response screen: your account is <***@work email> we have sent you a password reset email. Nothing. Try again. Nothing. Contact support, get the password reset a few hours later. That evening find a bunch of password reset emails sent to my personal email  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 24 March, 2020, 10:39:06 am
I got the remote raspberry (for backup) to restart everyday, because the ISP at MiL changes the IP at random times and for some random reason that causes the raspberry to drop it's connection, so I can't ssh to it. I have done some poking around and updating etc but couldn't not figure out why the remote access dropped, as it was just port forwarded to the Pi on the router. Every time I couldn't connect to it the IP had changed. So an easy fix was to just do a cronjob restart.

This reboot thing has been going for at least three weeks, have the IP change at all doing that time, have it heck !
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 01 April, 2020, 02:02:51 pm
MrsT's laser printer (HP Laserjet <string'o'numbers'n'letters>) printed merrily in letters black as your hat until two days ago.  Yesterday it fed the paper and said not a word about toner but the page came out as white as it went in.

Anyone know if toner cartridges these days got copy-limiter chips in them?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 April, 2020, 04:19:54 pm
Give the cartridge the Etch-a-Sketch treatment[1], and if that doesn't make a difference, I'd start suspecting the high-voltage or laser gubbins.  Seems unlikely that the toner would run out so suddenly, and if it were some artificial limitation, you'd expect it to be moaning about it...


[1] Pick it up and shake it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 11 May, 2020, 04:58:52 pm
Want to see if a route that you have ridden before will be a headwind nightmare?

Go to headwindapp.com, allow access to your Strava and away you go. Also does historical analysis and pretty accurate. I likes it!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: CAMRAMan on 21 May, 2020, 03:13:02 pm
Oi, Virgin Media: Setting a password limit of 8-10 characters and not allowing special characters does not a very secure system make.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 04 June, 2020, 07:03:02 am
Prolly the best place for it since it mixes hacking, GPS and think into the future a bit about how to code for this issue -  https://news.sky.com/story/a-maritime-mystery-what-has-been-causing-ships-to-sail-in-circles-11999049
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 14 June, 2020, 10:05:06 am
The French StopCovid app drank most of my phone charge in 24 hours, with the phone lying on the desk the whole time.  So of course I can disable it when I'm at home, but I then need to remember to turn it on when I go out. POS.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 14 June, 2020, 04:17:02 pm
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

I have new Devolo powerline doodads, two wifi for the remote locations and a home unit.  In the configuration interface for the remote units there are separate and distinct sections for LAN and for WiFi.  One of the LAN options I would like to use is to fix the IP address into the range I reserve for infrastructure & networking devices.  So I disable DHCP, set the parameters and apply.  All good except that none of the WiFi clients can now get an IP address.  Re-enable DHCP in LAN and WiFi clients can get an IP.  That to me seems dumb.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 01 July, 2020, 02:59:53 pm
Birthday boy D has grown out of being a Fruity fanboy, after about 30 years.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 July, 2020, 03:02:09 pm
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

I have new Devolo powerline doodads, two wifi for the remote locations and a home unit.  In the configuration interface for the remote units there are separate and distinct sections for LAN and for WiFi.  One of the LAN options I would like to use is to fix the IP address into the range I reserve for infrastructure & networking devices.  So I disable DHCP, set the parameters and apply.  All good except that none of the WiFi clients can now get an IP address.  Re-enable DHCP in LAN and WiFi clients can get an IP.  That to me seems dumb.

Is it being a NAT router (and DHCP server), rather than a bridge?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 03 July, 2020, 12:41:57 pm
$ telnet mapscii.me

Arrow keys to move, a/z to zoom, or use the mouse.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 03 July, 2020, 01:49:39 pm
$ telnet mapscii.me

Arrow keys to move, a/z to zoom, or use the mouse.

Nice idea, but it says we still have a local Chinese when everyone knows it's a Cat Cafe now. They need to tear it up and start again.

(Though seriously, how long has TTY had mouse and scroll wheel support? And jeff_goldblum_jurassic_park_speech.gif)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 July, 2020, 02:11:11 pm
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

I have new Devolo powerline doodads, two wifi for the remote locations and a home unit.  In the configuration interface for the remote units there are separate and distinct sections for LAN and for WiFi.  One of the LAN options I would like to use is to fix the IP address into the range I reserve for infrastructure & networking devices.  So I disable DHCP, set the parameters and apply.  All good except that none of the WiFi clients can now get an IP address.  Re-enable DHCP in LAN and WiFi clients can get an IP.  That to me seems dumb.

Your not being dumb. A power-line Ethernet adaptor even with WiFi should be a layer2 device so it shouldn't matter what you set its IP address to anything connected to it should still be able to DHCP.  Of course sometimes logic doesn't come into it with firmware sometimes it just does strange things and you can never find out why unless you have and can read the source code.

Why not leave it all on DHCP and statically reserve IP addresses for the adaptor on your DHCP server ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 July, 2020, 04:38:54 pm
$ telnet mapscii.me

Arrow keys to move, a/z to zoom, or use the mouse.

A thing of beauty and a joy forever.  It's like I just upgraded to the latest MovieOS.  Or at least the latest MovieOS from 1992 or so.

Speaking of 1992 hacker films, would this thing work on a (multi-line, in order to be useful) braille terminal?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 03 July, 2020, 04:48:09 pm
[Speaking of 1992 hacker films, would this thing work on a (multi-line, in order to be useful) braille terminal?
I've never seen such a thing, but the source https://github.com/rastapasta/mapscii describes it as "a Braille & ASCII world map renderer".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 July, 2020, 05:40:51 pm
They're astronomically expensive, being intricate electromechanical devices that sell in small volume.  A single row of a couple of dozen characters is typical, but multi-line ones do exist, and there are clever people in Brizzle working towards bringing the cost down.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 03 July, 2020, 08:28:26 pm
Took a toshiba l200 laptop apart to clean the insides and also replace the thermal pastes.  Had to order some pad material from RS and that took ages and I then got side tracked... so come to put it together today and can't find any of the screws.  Can not remember what I did with them.  But have found a HP dv4000 laptop and going to strip that and hopefully transfer the screws across.  That was a waste of a few hours.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: CarlF on 03 July, 2020, 08:44:08 pm
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

[snip]

Your not being dumb.

[snip]

Why not leave it all on DHCP and statically reserve IP addresses for the adaptor on your DHCP server ?

^^^ This ^^^

Friends don’t let friends hard code IP addresses.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 04 July, 2020, 08:43:45 am
Quote from: Gattopardo
...can't find any of the screws.
/me Hands G. an old, virtual, 35mm film canister for future use.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 04 July, 2020, 09:05:15 am
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

[snip]

Your not being dumb.

[snip]

Why not leave it all on DHCP and statically reserve IP addresses for the adaptor on your DHCP server ?

^^^ This ^^^

Friends don’t let friends hard code IP addresses.

??? I build HPC clusters for a living. thats how you do it - a DHCP server hands out addresses for each network. But you associate the MAC address of a server with an IP address - hopefully in some sort of meaningful scheme.
You COULD allocate addresses at random but if you have 80 servers in a rack you want some sort of scheme.

Also you can arrange for each server to be connected to a known port in a switch - so when you power them up you do an snmpwalk of the switch and you know what MAC address is what.  Or you can read barcode labels.

Sorry if I'm sounding ranty. Need more coffee.





Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 04 July, 2020, 12:22:49 pm
Is it being a NAT router (and DHCP server), rather than a bridge?
I think, and I'm not exactly red hot on this stuff, it was being a bridge.  I base that upon the observation that the clients mac addresses were listed in my routers DHCP client list and as internet traffic sessions in their own right.

Your not being dumb. A power-line Ethernet adaptor even with WiFi should be a layer2 device so it shouldn't matter what you set its IP address to anything connected to it should still be able to DHCP.  Of course sometimes logic doesn't come into it with firmware sometimes it just does strange things and you can never find out why unless you have and can read the source code.

Why not leave it all on DHCP and statically reserve IP addresses for the adaptor on your DHCP server ?
Tried that too. It worked in that the end points accepted the non-pool assignment and clients got pool addresses but it was very, very flakey.  I tried 4 clients, a pi and an elderly Kobo slab could get IP assignments but actual traffic was rare.  Big river slab and my phone - just an endless cycle of 'connecting...'.

As mentioned in another thread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80478.msg2511494#msg2511494) (I'd forgotten about this post) Devolo support confirmed my desired usage was hopeless so they went back.  Ideally (for niceness of solution but not for wallet) I'd just have a trunk bridge over powerline and stick a DrayTek AP out there but that requires VLAN support.  There's one powerline vendor in Trumpistan that supports VLANs but none of the players in the UK do. OK, I didn't check them all but I emailed TP-Link, TrendNET and Netgear plus found the specific question online for D-Link.  They're all 802.3ab.

I have a much cheaper Asus pair waiting to be set up, the 2nd remote end point can wait.  Interesingly, you can read the source code for Asus gear.  And I do mean you.  While I'm sure I could reach each line and understand what that line is doing there's no hope of me being able to grok the bigger picture.

ETA: Found it, Nexuslink (https://nexuslinkusa.com/product/gpl-1200wn-kit/) is the vendor that supports 802.1q and does so despite being only 802.3ab not ac.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 04 July, 2020, 01:48:25 pm
Quote from: Gattopardo
...can't find any of the screws.
/me Hands G. an old, virtual, 35mm film canister for future use.  :)

Your name is very apt in this case ;)

We could discuss that digital photography downsides....and the lack of film canisters is one of them.

I thought that I put the screws in a bag or pot with the bag the computer was in.  But can't find where the bag/pot is.

EDIT: Also missing my dumb battery charger and ipod too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Salvatore on 04 July, 2020, 02:52:55 pm

We could discuss that digital photography downsides....and the lack of film canisters is one of them.


There's more availability of canisters than of film (https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/5004321860?iid=173237587697&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=173237587697&targetid=908661474856&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006807&poi=&campaignid=10204071591&mkgroupid=104953044434&rlsatarget=aud-381667280803:pla-908661474856&abcId=1145987&merchantid=114890233&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0YD4BRD2ARIsAHwmKVmkjCR3E_RXOPp4aE1s-Tz490nI4kQxQEfleCWmGVXPmoWVc2PtOCwaAognEALw_wcB)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Salvatore on 04 July, 2020, 03:13:50 pm
I think my (fully backed up, before you ask) desktop Linux PC is on its way out. When I boot it, the fan sounds for about 10 seconds then stops before it tries again, and it repeats numerous times before eventually the fan goes VERY LOUD - this can only be stopped by unplugging. Eventually it boots more or less OK (I have to set the date each time I boot), and runs reliably all day. Perhaps I should leave it running permanently for the time being.

I bought it 2nd hand,  and if I google the model number  (https://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/05/GC760AV.htm)returned by a sudo lshw it gives a date of 2007, which matches the date of the BIOS firmware.

Perhaps it's time for a replacement.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 04 July, 2020, 04:07:55 pm
I think my (fully backed up, before you ask) desktop Linux PC is on its way out. When I boot it, the fan sounds for about 10 seconds then stops before it tries again, and it repeats numerous times before eventually the fan goes VERY LOUD - this can only be stopped by unplugging. Eventually it boots more or less OK (I have to set the date each time I boot), and runs reliably all day. Perhaps I should leave it running permanently for the time being.

I bought it 2nd hand,  and if I google the model number  (https://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/05/GC760AV.htm)returned by a sudo lshw it gives a date of 2007, which matches the date of the BIOS firmware.

Perhaps it's time for a replacement.

What spec is it?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: CarlF on 04 July, 2020, 08:19:26 pm
Tell me, is it me being dumb?

[snip]

Your not being dumb.

[snip]

Why not leave it all on DHCP and statically reserve IP addresses for the adaptor on your DHCP server ?

^^^ This ^^^

Friends don’t let friends hard code IP addresses.

??? I build HPC clusters for a living. thats how you do it - a DHCP server hands out addresses for each network. But you associate the MAC address of a server with an IP address - hopefully in some sort of meaningful scheme.
You COULD allocate addresses at random but if you have 80 servers in a rack you want some sort of scheme.

Also you can arrange for each server to be connected to a known port in a switch - so when you power them up you do an snmpwalk of the switch and you know what MAC address is what.  Or you can read barcode labels.

Sorry if I'm sounding ranty. Need more coffee.

Yes, exactly, you do it on the dhcp server, not by hard coding it on the device itself
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveJ on 04 July, 2020, 09:51:46 pm
I think my (fully backed up, before you ask) desktop Linux PC is on its way out. When I boot it, the fan sounds for about 10 seconds then stops before it tries again, and it repeats numerous times before eventually the fan goes VERY LOUD - this can only be stopped by unplugging. Eventually it boots more or less OK (I have to set the date each time I boot), and runs reliably all day. Perhaps I should leave it running permanently for the time being.

I bought it 2nd hand,  and if I google the model number  (https://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/05/GC760AV.htm)returned by a sudo lshw it gives a date of 2007, which matches the date of the BIOS firmware.

Perhaps it's time for a replacement.

Resetting the date is normally the coin cell battery, fairly common on machines getting towards 10 years old.  Whether thats what is causing the other issues.... its possible, if the machine needs some specific settings in the BIOS, and they are getting lost.

Has the machine been disconnected from the power recently?  Thats when issues with the BIOS settings that are normally preserved by the coin cell battery surface.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: CAMRAMan on 05 July, 2020, 07:28:05 pm
Wizzair: your website is generally shite, but the app has been OK. However, when I went to check in using it today, the date of birth field had been set to 1/1/1800. If you think I am scrolling through 200+ years of months to get to get to the right one, you can go and bollocks. No manual input available...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Salvatore on 06 July, 2020, 08:08:28 am
I think my (fully backed up, before you ask) desktop Linux PC is on its way out. When I boot it, the fan sounds for about 10 seconds then stops before it tries again, and it repeats numerous times before eventually the fan goes VERY LOUD - this can only be stopped by unplugging. Eventually it boots more or less OK (I have to set the date each time I boot), and runs reliably all day. Perhaps I should leave it running permanently for the time being.

I bought it 2nd hand,  and if I google the model number  (https://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/05/GC760AV.htm)returned by a sudo lshw it gives a date of 2007, which matches the date of the BIOS firmware.

Perhaps it's time for a replacement.

Resetting the date is normally the coin cell battery, fairly common on machines getting towards 10 years old.  Whether thats what is causing the other issues.... its possible, if the machine needs some specific settings in the BIOS, and they are getting lost.

Has the machine been disconnected from the power recently?  Thats when issues with the BIOS settings that are normally preserved by the coin cell battery surface.

I'm pretty sure the date resetting thing is a red herring.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 18 July, 2020, 12:25:41 pm
Adding a new Time Machine disk to the Mac.  Backing up...approximately 1 day remaining.  :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrew_s on 18 July, 2020, 04:54:38 pm
Fitbit have sold out to Google
I got a random email ad for a Fitbit Charge 4, advertising 24/7 heart rate and sleep scores.

Google must have some good battery tech if it will run for a week.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: L CC on 18 July, 2020, 09:38:36 pm
Nah. It only runs for a week if the display is off. I get 24/7 HR & stuff and a 5+ day battery life. As soon as the display is always-on I get 2 days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 August, 2020, 04:45:40 pm
The random whiny fan noises being emitted by that PC over there ^^^^ are slowly but surely making me Very Cross.  Would someone please tell me that it would be a terrible waste of a thousand of Missis Kwin's pounds to buy one of Messrs Quiet PC's silent offerings?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 August, 2020, 07:37:45 pm
The random whiny fan noises being emitted by that PC over there ^^^^ are slowly but surely making me Very Cross.

I get that with barakta's ork laptop.  Her hearing aid (if it's even switched on, and not receiving beepy euro-pop via it's proprietary version of The Devil's Other Radio) does a splendid job of filtering out the fan noises, which combined with the laptop's habit of coming out of sleep and thrashing the CPU for no apparent reason[1] means it'll often be found just sitting there whining away when not even being used for something productive[2].  My main line of defence is a pair of Bose QC-15s.


[1] I think it's related to their security gubbins.  No admin privs to disable that sort of thing, natch.  Means you have to shut it all the way down if you don't want to risk an unexpected batt flattery.
[2] Or PDF-wrangling.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Lightning Phil on 01 August, 2020, 09:07:27 pm
Adding a new Time Machine disk to the Mac.  Backing up...approximately 1 day remaining.  :-\

That’s why it’s a time machine always a few days behind
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 03 August, 2020, 10:33:17 pm
It is possible to unlock an iPhone from a contract provider without the intervention of said contract provider.
Well, it was news to me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Lightning Phil on 07 August, 2020, 02:39:20 pm
Discovered on Windows 10 that I can easily run commands from the Windows Linux subsystem against files located in the Windows file system.

Had a csv with 4 million rows I need sorting by the first column (as a number).  Windows PowerShell sort could not cope , but sort from WSL Ubuntu completed in a second or so.

Neat.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 August, 2020, 05:34:38 pm
Interesting, moving some files about. Copied from raspberry Pi NAS to win10 and the files got tagged as hidden files. Never had hidden before, I have other rights/users attached to the files when copying to and from linux/win.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 August, 2020, 10:12:36 pm
New Babbage-Engine for the Great Hall has arrived, but if anyone thinks I'm going to start rolling around on the floor unplugging old Stuffs and plugging in new Stuffs at that time of a night too hot and sticky to even contemplate post-prandial Tea they are Bonkers in the Nut.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2020, 02:40:16 pm
Backing up the contents of old PC's data drive prior to installation of new one. Mr Creosote – the target NAS – is complaining of overheating and warns that he may shut down if he gets too warm.  If he does so before the copy completes I shall be this: cross.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 21 August, 2020, 01:42:37 pm
Power cut -> everything shutdown cleanly when UPS got down to 50% -> power back on -> UPS won't start -> Soretween has everything crossed he set a high minimum charge level rather than the alternative, a dead UPS.  Given the time on power is over double the power cut which in turn was double the 25 mins it took to get down to 50% I may revisit that setting. If it comes back of course.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 August, 2020, 06:11:28 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

And honestly, a special place is reserved in Hell for the idiots who still email should be set up by typing in long addresses and making decisions about SSL and ports. It's fucking 2020, not 1994, you clungemagnets.

It takes a while and leaves one with a lingering and persistent thirst for large quantities of gin.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 26 August, 2020, 06:52:58 pm
Following a HDD failure, I've just re-installed Win10 Home on a new SSD on Junior's laptop.

Using the latest Win10 Media Creation Tool to make a bootalbe USB.
This all worked fine.

But MS have ratcheted up the pressure to sign in with a Microsoft Account.
Previously, when you got to the Account Setup point, you were strongly guided down the Create / Sign up for MS account.
But there was a small link to 'Skip' this, and to create a normal Local Windows account.
This option is now gone.
You now *must* use an MS account.

There is a workaround.
Ensure there is no Internet connectivity at this point.
So unplug any LAN cable, and at the WiFi setup page which appears earlier, un-check all networks and select the option 'I don't have Internet'.

Then, windows will huffily ask if you wish to continue with a 'limited' install.
Limited my arse. Limited for them, not me.
Then the option to create a local account appears.

Once you get to the desktop, go ahead and connect to the WiFi or LAN as usual.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 26 August, 2020, 07:01:41 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

And honestly, a special place is reserved in Hell for the idiots who still email should be set up by typing in long addresses and making decisions about SSL and ports. It's fucking 2020, not 1994, you clungemagnets.

It takes a while and leaves one with a lingering and persistent thirst for large quantities of gin.
I have to confess that I'm quite pleased with myself that recently  I somehow managed to, remotely, over the phone, navigate my 86 yo mother, who has dementia, to find the house us kids were brought up in on Streetview, using her Windoze fed laptop (I've never owned a Windoze machine - so I haven't a clue as to what goes on on the desktop, nevermind 'under the hood').
Nobody swore, and nobody threatened anyone.
I'm minded to apply for a job as a hostage negotiator.
I think it's a job I would enjoy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 August, 2020, 07:58:13 pm
Following a HDD failure, I've just re-installed Win10 Home on a new SSD on Junior's laptop.

Using the latest Win10 Media Creation Tool to make a bootalbe USB.
This all worked fine.

But MS have ratcheted up the pressure to sign in with a Microsoft Account.
Previously, when you got to the Account Setup point, you were strongly guided down the Create / Sign up for MS account.
But there was a small link to 'Skip' this, and to create a normal Local Windows account.
This option is now gone.
You now *must* use an MS account.

There is a workaround.
Ensure there is no Internet connectivity at this point.
So unplug any LAN cable, and at the WiFi setup page which appears earlier, un-check all networks and select the option 'I don't have Internet'.

Then, windows will huffily ask if you wish to continue with a 'limited' install.
Limited my arse. Limited for them, not me.
Then the option to create a local account appears.

Once you get to the desktop, go ahead and connect to the WiFi or LAN as usual.

There is a way to do it while remaining online, but it's squirrelled away deep in the dense forests of non-obviousness, so much so I don't remember the precise breadcrumb trail I was forced to follow while blindfolded and in the dark. But a local admin I became. I'm probably now on a list somewhere at Microsoft.

I'm not that bothered per se, I just have no reason to want a Microsoft account on account that I don't have Windows computer and don't plan on getting one any time this side of the heat death of the universe.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 August, 2020, 08:02:42 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

And honestly, a special place is reserved in Hell for the idiots who still email should be set up by typing in long addresses and making decisions about SSL and ports. It's fucking 2020, not 1994, you clungemagnets.

It takes a while and leaves one with a lingering and persistent thirst for large quantities of gin.
I have to confess that I'm quite pleased with myself that recently  I somehow managed to, remotely, over the phone, navigate my 86 yo mother, who has dementia, to find the house us kids were brought up in on Streetview, using her Windoze fed laptop (I've never owned a Windoze machine - so I haven't a clue as to what goes on on the desktop, nevermind 'under the hood').
Nobody swore, and nobody threatened anyone.
I'm minded to apply for a job as a hostage negotiator.
I think it's a job I would enjoy.

My mother got sick (literally, she had to go heave) because I made 'everything rush around.' This, in modern parlance, is I believe something called scrolling.

That said, the list of things that make her sick is quite long (any kind of cardboard toilet paper or kitchen roll innards, curry sauce [in the jar, god knows the tsunami of vomit an unleashed curry sauce would despatch], most kinds of foods*, etc.)

*she's lived primarily off cigarettes and very occasional cheese cobs since about 1983.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 26 August, 2020, 08:16:29 pm
Following a HDD failure, I've just re-installed Win10 Home on a new SSD on Junior's laptop.

Using the latest Win10 Media Creation Tool to make a bootalbe USB.
This all worked fine.

But MS have ratcheted up the pressure to sign in with a Microsoft Account.
Previously, when you got to the Account Setup point, you were strongly guided down the Create / Sign up for MS account.
But there was a small link to 'Skip' this, and to create a normal Local Windows account.
This option is now gone.
You now *must* use an MS account.

There is a workaround.
Ensure there is no Internet connectivity at this point.
So unplug any LAN cable, and at the WiFi setup page which appears earlier, un-check all networks and select the option 'I don't have Internet'.

Then, windows will huffily ask if you wish to continue with a 'limited' install.
Limited my arse. Limited for them, not me.
Then the option to create a local account appears.

Once you get to the desktop, go ahead and connect to the WiFi or LAN as usual.

There is a way to do it while remaining online, but it's squirrelled away deep in the dense forests of non-obviousness, so much so I don't remember the precise breadcrumb trail I was forced to follow while blindfolded and in the dark. But a local admin I became. I'm probably now on a list somewhere at Microsoft.

I'm not that bothered per se, I just have no reason to want a Microsoft account on account that I don't have Windows computer and don't plan on getting one any time this side of the heat death of the universe.

It was, but it's not any more if you install from a recent build.
In Win10 home now, the only way to complete an install without logging into or setting up an MS account is to force it off-line.

Random Internet link about this change:
https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-now-prevents-local-account-creation/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 August, 2020, 08:44:56 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

The rot set in with GUIs, I think.  The older generation coped much better when computers were operated by command lines and arcane keypresses, as you could document a given workflow and having a list of "which buttons to press" made intuitive sense.  You had to work slightly harder to get into trouble, too.

I think this is perhaps what IOS does so well.  It's shiny, it's simple, it does modern graphical stuff and yet it makes sense if your understanding of technology is based on rote-learning specific actions.


(My mum went on several MS Office courses in the late 90s.  She could do all sorts of arcane text formatting stuff, and make Excel do something useful and so on.  One day, she happened to see me drag a window from one monitor to another, and suddenly the concept of 'windows' clicked for her.  I was astounded at how she's been confidently using computers for so long without that seemingly fundamental concept.  A couple of years later, I found myself at university surrounded by Social Science types, and eventually realised that the reason they all composed email in tiny windows is because that was $mail_client's last window size when the computing service created the default profile.  (These were the same people who objected to APA style because it was annoying having to press enter twice at the end of each line.))
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 August, 2020, 08:48:58 pm
My mother got sick (literally, she had to go heave) because I made 'everything rush around.' This, in modern parlance, is I believe something called scrolling.

My mum used to complain about "words walking around the screen".  I introduced her to the <insert> key, and persuaded her to enrol on a computing course at the local college (see above).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 26 August, 2020, 08:49:56 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

And honestly, a special place is reserved in Hell for the idiots who still email should be set up by typing in long addresses and making decisions about SSL and ports. It's fucking 2020, not 1994, you clungemagnets.

It takes a while and leaves one with a lingering and persistent thirst for large quantities of gin.

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/how-to-deal-with-your-parents-it-problems-without-murdering-them-20200221193718

Even Mrs F uses terminology at random.
The words 'upload', 'download', 'install' are all used interchangeably to mean almost anything done on a computer.

'E-mail' is used to describe any form of electronic communication, be it SMS, WhatsApp or anything else.

Did you not see my e-mail?...
<checks e-mail> No..
I sent it by WhatsApp...


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 27 August, 2020, 08:57:53 am
Firefox has gone through a major upgrade.  It sucks ass.

(I don't use Chrome because Big Data).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 August, 2020, 09:41:38 am
...
It was, but it's not any more if you install from a recent build.
In Win10 home now, the only way to complete an install without logging into or setting up an MS account is to force it off-line.

Random Internet link about this change:
https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-now-prevents-local-account-creation/

Hmm, as far as I know, I reinstalled Win10 from scratch but it was from the Windows Recovery option (itself an exercise in non-obviousness). Regardless, Microsoft really didn't want me not to create an account. I think it took a journey through about dozen cryptic options rendered in small text at the bottom of dialogue boxes (not one of which till the last said 'create a local account'). It wasn't a lot easier creating just local user account without Microsoft accounts. Even Apple let you just let you hit 'skip' for the AppleID.

So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

The rot set in with GUIs, I think.  The older generation coped much better when computers were operated by command lines and arcane keypresses, as you could document a given workflow and having a list of "which buttons to press" made intuitive sense.  You had to work slightly harder to get into trouble, too.

I think this is perhaps what IOS does so well.  It's shiny, it's simple, it does modern graphical stuff and yet it makes sense if your understanding of technology is based on rote-learning specific actions.


(My mum went on several MS Office courses in the late 90s.  She could do all sorts of arcane text formatting stuff, and make Excel do something useful and so on.  One day, she happened to see me drag a window from one monitor to another, and suddenly the concept of 'windows' clicked for her.  I was astounded at how she's been confidently using computers for so long without that seemingly fundamental concept.  A couple of years later, I found myself at university surrounded by Social Science types, and eventually realised that the reason they all composed email in tiny windows is because that was $mail_client's last window size when the computing service created the default profile.  (These were the same people who objected to APA style because it was annoying having to press enter twice at the end of each line.))

I was going to argue that GUIs make things easier, but then I remembered that GUIs make things easier for people who know GUIs. They rely on a certain williness to JFC* click and a learned nonintuitiveness. It doesn't help that Windows takes that the max, since Microsoft have retained every useability fail since Windows 3. I got the inlaws going with iPads and they're actually quite capable. I'd send my parents back to school but it didn't stick the first time around and none of them have every used a computer in their working lives. I figured that my niece could help them, she's seventeen and one would think a-ok with modern technology. Seems not, but then she can count her GCSEs on one hand and still have a couple of spare fingers.

*Just Fucking Click – this I'm doing now to undertake a mandatory application security requirements course on our godawful learning platform. Seriously, how do I open the bloody course? Clicking the icon and title don't do anything. Clicking the options button offers to add it to something called a playlist (it's already on my requirements list) or, erm, print (which prints the page). Ah, the way to start the course is to click the module title in the sidebar, open the relevant section and then the sublink in the list of course below and then from that page, there's a start option just below the banner.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 August, 2020, 10:22:50 am
Firefox has gone through a major upgrade.  It sucks ass.

(I don't use Chrome because Big Data).

 If you think Mozilla pushed a broken Firefox Android build, good news: It didn't. Bad news: It's working as intended. (https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/25/firefox_android_update/). El Reg's take on the matter.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 08:18:21 pm
At risk of bringing cycling content into Ctrl-Alt-Del, I reported a bug in SeriesMgr (https://www.sites.google.com/site/crossmgrsoftware/) last night, at about this time.

A little over an hour ago, That Nice Mr Sitarski responded to say that he'd fixed it and made a new release.  I installed it on the BHPC's jam-filled Babbage engine, and confirmed that the issue is resolved.

I checked on github, it wasn't just a single line fix, either.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 03 September, 2020, 02:39:07 pm
So going through another fixit cycle with my parents, I'm struck that it's (a) difficult not to get frustrated and then (b) feel bad about it because there's no shared lexicon or understanding between those of us from the computerized generation and those before.

It's really hard work. Desktop? No. Taskbars, docks, menus? No. No. No. Download? No. App? No. You're forced into a space where everything has to be described as 'the words at the top of the screen' or 'on the left, the very left, at the bottom corner...'

And honestly, a special place is reserved in Hell for the idiots who still email should be set up by typing in long addresses and making decisions about SSL and ports. It's fucking 2020, not 1994, you clungemagnets.

It takes a while and leaves one with a lingering and persistent thirst for large quantities of gin.

I gave up and installed Teamviewer. You can also make excuses like "sorry, I'm going to have to ring off now, I'm going onto Teamviewer"

I do love my father but his habit of sitting in the living room with his laptop and detailing every step of what he is doing online "ok Firefox, let's have a go at that. Yep, there we are, now Google, let's see what going on in the world. Hmm BBC BBC..  BBC news is slow to load, is your internet OK? ah there we are, hmmm nothing interesting there, let's check my email again.. where's Outlook gone?" from the other side of the room brings close to losing all my shit at once.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 03 September, 2020, 06:31:23 pm
At least if they are reading every step aloud they're not clicking randomly on dialogue boxes while dyslexicly failing to read anything that anything says!

My mum mostly doesn't not-read and randomly-click on shit these days and seems to be able to talk herself through 50-70% of the stuff but I think by saying it aloud to me it helps her think (definitely one of her dyslexia traits). So I mostly sit and read crap while making suitable hmmm noises and tell her "you fixed that all". It helps that she's able to be proud of herself for fixing stuff without me AND everything she has is Apple so it's 80% less stupid than Windoze.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 04 September, 2020, 02:16:19 pm
interesting and what a waste of electronic/batteries/rare earth metals - https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1301707401024827392  (one time use pregnancy testers)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 03:39:48 pm
interesting and what a waste of electronic/batteries/rare earth metals - https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1301707401024827392  (one time use pregnancy testers)

As I said on twitter, that would be useful if it had an auditory output.  And, preferably, replaceable test strips.

In the absence of such, it's just pointless marketing waste.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 04 September, 2020, 04:00:12 pm
Didn't see your comment on twitter, but have now :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 07 September, 2020, 12:07:08 pm
@Kim did you see this, Doom on a pregnancy test ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Rx1WeDwDw
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 September, 2020, 01:16:39 pm
Doom is the new Turing Completeness.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 09 September, 2020, 03:25:30 pm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/empty_sets_collection/zfvy382

Zoom/Teams backgrounds from BBC shows.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 09 September, 2020, 08:01:08 pm
Do they work without a green backdrop ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 09 September, 2020, 08:06:07 pm
Yes.
I've been using these backdrops for months at our daily stand-up meetings, with just my home clutter in the background.

They use some fancy stuffs in software to separate you from the background.
No idea how it works, but it does.

You do get some artefacting around the edges, particularly around headsets, but it's pretty good.


I notice that the BBC have not included the "Jim'll Fix It" big chair set...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 09 September, 2020, 09:11:33 pm
Quote from: Feanor
No idea how it works...
Movement?  If it moves salute it.  If it doesn't, paint it white green.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 09 September, 2020, 09:18:39 pm
I have a green screen behind me and the Zoom Virtual Background works better if the Green Screen option is turned off.

This is because the green screen I have doesn't fill my whole screen, and bits of wall and shelves become visible. When I turn the green screen option off, it displays all the virtual background, but has more fringing around me. I'd like to be able to mask the area, as you can do in video green screen keying.

The better your video card, the better the virtual background works.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Lightning Phil on 09 September, 2020, 10:27:20 pm
Yes.
I've been using these backdrops for months at our daily stand-up meetings, with just my home clutter in the background.

They use some fancy stuffs in software to separate you from the background.
No idea how it works, but it does.

You do get some artefacting around the edges, particularly around headsets, but it's pretty good.


I notice that the BBC have not included the "Jim'll Fix It" big chair set...

Probably machine learning that can identify everything that is a person and subtract everything that isn’t. Possibly built on Tensorflow Lite or equiv. If the webcam doesn’t have fixed focus / aperture  then depth of field could also be deployed to help find the person. Video compression codecs do a lot of identifying what has changed in a frame so some of that may also be used as part of it.

Zoom gets confused if you have clothing a similar colour to the virtual background. Which is interesting in itself.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 09 September, 2020, 10:49:56 pm
Zoom gets confused if you have clothing a similar colour to the virtual background. Which is interesting in itself.
Something like the Queen's green screen dress?

(https://i.imgur.com/Oplx0N2.gif)

(https://i.redd.it/8hqju34jiar41.jpg)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 September, 2020, 11:27:01 pm
(https://i.redd.it/8hqju34jiar41.jpg)

I'd totally watch that episode of Star Trek.  I can so see her telling Picard that we are not amused.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 September, 2020, 11:34:17 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 September, 2020, 11:37:53 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 September, 2020, 12:03:30 am
No, it makes him a soft cheese.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 10 September, 2020, 07:32:38 am
Yes.
I've been using these backdrops for months at our daily stand-up meetings, with just my home clutter in the background.

They use some fancy stuffs in software to separate you from the background.
No idea how it works, but it does.

You do get some artefacting around the edges, particularly around headsets, but it's pretty good.


I notice that the BBC have not included the "Jim'll Fix It" big chair set...

Probably machine learning that can identify everything that is a person and subtract everything that isn’t. Possibly built on Tensorflow Lite or equiv. If the webcam doesn’t have fixed focus / aperture  then depth of field could also be deployed to help find the person. Video compression codecs do a lot of identifying what has changed in a frame so some of that may also be used as part of it.

Zoom gets confused if you have clothing a similar colour to the virtual background. Which is interesting in itself.

Or a cat. Cats only show up if they are in front of you. If they are on your shoulders, or sitting next to you taking part in the Zoom call, they are invisible.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 10 September, 2020, 09:21:49 am
Yes.
I've been using these backdrops for months at our daily stand-up meetings, with just my home clutter in the background.

They use some fancy stuffs in software to separate you from the background.
No idea how it works, but it does.

You do get some artefacting around the edges, particularly around headsets, but it's pretty good.


I notice that the BBC have not included the "Jim'll Fix It" big chair set...

Probably machine learning that can identify everything that is a person and subtract everything that isn’t. Possibly built on Tensorflow Lite or equiv. If the webcam doesn’t have fixed focus / aperture  then depth of field could also be deployed to help find the person. Video compression codecs do a lot of identifying what has changed in a frame so some of that may also be used as part of it.

Zoom gets confused if you have clothing a similar colour to the virtual background. Which is interesting in itself.

Any photo app these days will strip background with a click and generally do a decent job of it (what used to be a tortuous task). 'Edge-finding' algorithms are plentiful, so I'd imagine something like that, modern processors make it easy to do in realtime. I'm old enough now to remember that you could get a cup of tea while these things happened.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 10 September, 2020, 09:43:49 am
Yes.
I've been using these backdrops for months at our daily stand-up meetings, with just my home clutter in the background.

They use some fancy stuffs in software to separate you from the background.
No idea how it works, but it does.

You do get some artefacting around the edges, particularly around headsets, but it's pretty good.


I notice that the BBC have not included the "Jim'll Fix It" big chair set...

Probably machine learning that can identify everything that is a person and subtract everything that isn’t. Possibly built on Tensorflow Lite or equiv. If the webcam doesn’t have fixed focus / aperture  then depth of field could also be deployed to help find the person. Video compression codecs do a lot of identifying what has changed in a frame so some of that may also be used as part of it.

Zoom gets confused if you have clothing a similar colour to the virtual background. Which is interesting in itself.

Any photo app these days will strip background with a click and generally do a decent job of it (what used to be a tortuous task). 'Edge-finding' algorithms are plentiful, so I'd imagine something like that, modern processors make it easy to do in realtime. I'm old enough now to remember that you could get a cup of tea while these things happened.

Hah! You mean a cup of tea for breakfast, having set it to run overnight...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 10 September, 2020, 11:23:38 am
Quote from: Jaded
Quote from: ian
I'm old enough now to remember that you could get a cup of tea while these things happened.
Hah! You mean a cup of tea for breakfast, having set it to run overnight...
Gosh.  I didn't realize Ian was *that* old.  His posts always seem to be* those of  much younger person.  :)


*insert oblig. New Yorker cartoon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 September, 2020, 11:57:16 am
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 September, 2020, 12:09:43 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?

All part of his innate Charm.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 September, 2020, 12:29:32 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?

All part of his innate Charm.

I knew you'd get to the bottom of it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 September, 2020, 04:35:54 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?

All part of his innate Charm.

I knew you'd get to the bottom of it.

I'm right up on top of it, actually.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 September, 2020, 10:06:17 pm
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?

All part of his innate Charm.

I knew you'd get to the bottom of it.

I'm right up on top of it, actually.

Fundamentally, it's down to you then.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 September, 2020, 02:50:42 am
Odo in a wig, I reckon.

Does that make Quark the prime minister?

No, it makes him a soft cheese.

Strange, why did you bring that up?

All part of his innate Charm.

I knew you'd get to the bottom of it.

I'm right up on top of it, actually.

Fundamentally, it's down to you then.

I charge you with trying to spin this out as long as possible.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 11 September, 2020, 06:32:58 pm
Ah, bless you Mrs Google.

Me: "What's the highest road in England?"
Mrs Google: "Cairnwell Pass, Scotland"

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 13 September, 2020, 12:46:21 pm
$ date +%s
1599997519

Not long to go...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 September, 2020, 01:40:18 pm
did it happen ?

1600000784

Should we panic ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 13 September, 2020, 02:09:33 pm
I'm still partying like it's 1234567890.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 14 September, 2020, 06:49:49 pm
According to Wikipedia (so FACT, yeah?):

Ubuntu: "a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity."

So why does it make me feel so threatened whenever I shut it down?

"Are you sure? All your unsaved data will be LOST!"

Aaaaaaaarrrghh.... I'M DOOOOOOOMED  :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 September, 2020, 08:42:17 pm
The old telly that brought down a village's broadband.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/22/the-old-telly-that-brought-down-a-welsh-villages-broadband
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 22 September, 2020, 09:22:42 pm
Old CRT TVs are massive noise sources, but this is quite exceptional!

I have at least one neighbour who cranks up a CRT TV,  because it produces a bright spectral line at 16.625 kHz, on my VLF receiver.
This is the line scan frequency of a 625-line PAL TV, which also doubles up as the source of the Extra High Tension (EHT)  25kV for the CRT.
This EHT is massively noisy, and can be detected by nothing more than a pack of sammitches in a TV detector van.

Presumably, they have a DVB-T - SCART box or similar in the mix, or the TV would be in the skip.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2020, 10:01:37 pm
That's a classic failure mode of CRTs:  The charged surfaces attract grime, which accumulates to positively disgusting levels.  Combine the accumulated mildly-conductive gunk with bad design or some sort of insulation breakdown, and it starts arcing over.  Normally what happens then is the picture goes on the blink and the owner takes it to be repaired, because it's the 80s and TV repair shops exist, but broadband internet connections don't.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2020, 10:28:50 am
It's to be expected, they're basically ray guns.

Wait till the world learns that bananas are making antimatter.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 24 September, 2020, 02:38:36 pm
Best use of teleconference backgrounds yet: A barred prison window
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 October, 2020, 07:03:32 pm
ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh new shiny "wireless" chargers for the iThing, but what is that bit of wire I see sticking out of the thing? That is a FECKING wire !!!! OK I will give in to your wireless talk the day you make it so I can walk around my own house with my phone in my pocket and it is charging, then I will accept your LIE that it is "wireless". As long as I have to put my iThing on another iThing that is wired up it isn't fecking WIRELESS (same goes to manufactures of Android things)

/me needs a sit down after that rant
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 October, 2020, 07:05:13 pm
/me didn't know that /me worked on SMF too, nice :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 13 October, 2020, 09:54:26 pm
OK I will give in to your wireless talk the day you make it so I can walk around my own house with my phone in my pocket and it is charging

Alas, unless you'd be happy with either microscopic amounts of charging, microwaving your flesh, deafening your pets or firing thousands of watts into the room, or some exciting combination of all of the above, this isn't a technology that's ever going to exist.

(although plenty of fraudsters have tried)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 October, 2020, 01:32:58 am
I suppose 'plugless' would be a better functional description of inductive charging.  It's the problem of the plug that it solves, rather than the constraints of the wire.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fuaran on 14 October, 2020, 02:02:09 am
You could get a wireless charger built into furniture, so no visible wires. The Ikea chargers look quite neat. Or they have a desk lamp with charger built into the base.
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/wireless-charging-accessories-41069/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 October, 2020, 07:54:09 am
OK I will give in to your wireless talk the day you make it so I can walk around my own house with my phone in my pocket and it is charging

Alas, unless you'd be happy with either microscopic amounts of charging, microwaving your flesh, deafening your pets or firing thousands of watts into the room, or some exciting combination of all of the above, this isn't a technology that's ever going to exist.

(although plenty of fraudsters have tried)
That's just mere details
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 14 October, 2020, 08:41:44 am
A magnetic attaching (and charging) phone holder for the car (to use as a SatNav) would be great. No having with faff with clamping it in and fiddling with cables!

(It'll be ~3 years before I end up with an iPhone model with magnetic charging though, I never bother paying £££ for the latest and greatest...)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 16 October, 2020, 11:48:43 am
Anyone got a W7 ISO please? Unfortunately all my licenses are OEM, so can't download from Microsoft  (and I can't find what I've done with my old one)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2020, 12:45:21 pm
Note to self: you will finds it a lot easier to replace the side cover on this 'ere PC if the network cable is not jammed between the cover and the case :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 16 October, 2020, 02:16:29 pm
I'm pondering a replacement PSU to replace my current 3 year old Kolink 500W jobby.

I recently upgraded to a Radeon Rx580 GPU, from a GT1030.  Had a strange case of display corruption during full load yesterday. So perhaps the old 500W is a bit on the low side...

Rest of system is a AMD A8-6600K cpu. 16gb of DDR3 ram (4 x 4gb sticks). 1 120gb SSD, two 1tb hard drives. 

So replace with a 750W  / 850W PSU? Ideally i'll be upgrading the rest of the system within 6 months to a year, so hopefully whatever PSU i buy will be future proof for then. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2020, 09:42:42 am
Crivvens!  This FruitCo fondleslab has just asked me if I want to change the default browser from Safari to Chrome.  Since when did the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia allow us to do that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 20 October, 2020, 04:41:08 pm
HA ! while on hold with our ISP yesterday, I DM'ed them on twitter asking in a joking way if they knew how long the wait would be since the phone line was busy promoting stuff I don't need instead of updating me on wait times. Now 24 hours later I got a reply asking me : Please stay on the line when you are asked to hang up, this will then add you to a queue as we prioritise customers who call from the unique numbers provided at the end of our online help guides.

I ended up waiting 55min and a very nice person tried to sell me much stuff, but clearly gave up when it finally clicked, that he should just click skip on the script when he came to a promotion part. So after 10min of dancing about, I managed to get £17 knocked off our monthly bill.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 October, 2020, 10:33:18 pm
Someone at the corporate mothership has been bamboozled by sales people form some startup. They are floating the  idea of the company replacing all our home internet connections with a special black box that will provide a better internet connection and VPNs back to the mothership than BT, Virgen etc can do over the same lines. Apparently ISPs moniter traffic and deliberately throttle VPNs. This company claims to be able to constantly monitor this and and foil such dasterdly behavior and change the path of our traffic to avoid bottlenecks. No this isnt local loop unbundling they claim to be able to do it over what ever connection is available.
Our entire department of network engineers including people who have worked with or for ISPs is crying "bollocks" and "marketing voodoo". Plus who would allow their house router to be black box they werent allowed to make any changes to. DHCP reservation forget it.. Mutiple SSIDs no chance. 802.1q dont ask for complications.
This is going to get messy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 22 October, 2020, 06:33:43 am
Don't miss an opportunity! find out who and sell 'em some of these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Balance-PRO-Black-White/dp/B00AP5O6VE/ref=pd_sbs_200_3/257-5824325-1068921)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 October, 2020, 09:31:40 am
You'll probably need a side of deoxygenated ethernet cables to go with that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 22 October, 2020, 10:52:34 am
I'm pondering a replacement PSU to replace my current 3 year old Kolink 500W jobby.

I recently upgraded to a Radeon Rx580 GPU, from a GT1030.  Had a strange case of display corruption during full load yesterday. So perhaps the old 500W is a bit on the low side...

Rest of system is a AMD A8-6600K cpu. 16gb of DDR3 ram (4 x 4gb sticks). 1 120gb SSD, two 1tb hard drives. 

So replace with a 750W  / 850W PSU? Ideally i'll be upgrading the rest of the system within 6 months to a year, so hopefully whatever PSU i buy will be future proof for then.

Ended up going for a Corsair RM750 750W psu! 10 Year warranty, so that should be me future proofed PSU wise for the next few system upgrades!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 October, 2020, 12:29:42 pm
Hurrah!  Got rid of the lying voicemail icon on my phone which claims I have voicemail when I don't.  This has also increased the quantity of voles in the flattery from 55% to 82%.

Bah!  I think it’s got droid rot.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 22 October, 2020, 04:42:30 pm
You'll probably need a side of deoxygenated ethernet cables to go with that.

You could sort out those people with a deoxygenated room.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2020, 12:33:42 am
There's an unsecured WiFi network called "Logan's bedroom speaker".  Alas it's bedtime, so I'll have to work out how to rickroll it later.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 October, 2020, 09:58:44 am
There's an unsecured WiFi network called "Logan's bedroom speaker".  Alas it's bedtime, so I'll have to work out how to rickroll it later.
so at what time did you got to bed and what did the owner of said unsecured WiFi say when you cranked it to 11 ? :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 23 October, 2020, 12:24:24 pm
We decided we'd get them at 6am or 8am...

Especially as apparently they had a long and loud fire alarm at 8am this morning! I of course heard nothing, but Kim was kept awake by it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2020, 12:50:16 pm
We decided we'd get them at 6am or 8am...

Especially as apparently they had a long and loud fire alarm at 8am this morning! I of course heard nothing, but Kim was kept awake by it.

There's a corresponding peak on the PM10 graph, which looks a bit more substantial than the usual whiff of toast.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: slope on 27 October, 2020, 12:11:03 am
I've got me Apple's start up chime back :thumbsup:

https://youtu.be/XZ1mpI01evk

https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/02/22/how-to-turn-your-mac-startup-chime-back-on

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 October, 2020, 07:38:37 am
 :thumbsup:

You’ll probably have to do that again after an OS update....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 October, 2020, 09:24:14 am
I'm confused, all my Macs chime on startup (unless the volume is muted)?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 October, 2020, 09:29:04 am
New OSX ones don't.

Suppressed, like the lit up Apple that shone from ranks of journalists, sports writers, and others, in the gloom of an Olympics, or Rugby World Cup.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 October, 2020, 09:39:05 am
Ah, mine are a few years old. Tbh, when you've inadvertently set the volume to very loud, it's quite a wake-up the first thing the following morning.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 October, 2020, 06:24:04 pm
Somewhere in tens of thousands of files and hundreds of thousands of lines of text is a missing “/“ character.

I will you…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 27 October, 2020, 06:54:53 pm
Just search for [^/] you'll soon find it
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 October, 2020, 07:21:01 pm
Here it is








/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 October, 2020, 07:38:21 pm
Just search for [^/] you'll soon find it

Will that differentiate between “/foo/bar/quux.zob” and “foo/bar/quux.zob” with an arbitrary numbers of “/“ characters, in some cases preceded by a bunch of non-ASCII gubbins, and under an OS which doesn’t grok this arj-fangled regex Stuffs?

Here it is








/

Ta.  Could you pop it into the place it's supposed to live?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 October, 2020, 08:59:10 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 October, 2020, 11:02:13 pm
I ent found it.

Yet.

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 28 October, 2020, 07:32:20 pm
More F-35 software woes.

It reads like pilot error set up the situation, but the flight control software wouldn't allow the pilot to sort it out.

What I can't work out from the article is whether the inability of the sw to keep up was mainly a software problem (e.g. poor choice of task handling algorithm) or a hardware (e.g. CPU maxed out) problem.

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/f-35-overwhelmed-by-pilot-attempts-to-save-it/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 28 October, 2020, 08:13:53 pm
you are enough nerds to prolly liking this https://mango.pdf.zone/finding-former-australian-prime-minister-tony-abbotts-passport-number-on-instagram
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 28 October, 2020, 08:58:29 pm
you are enough nerds to prolly liking this https://mango.pdf.zone/finding-former-australian-prime-minister-tony-abbotts-passport-number-on-instagram

"For security reasons, we try to change our Prime Minister every six months, and to never use the same Prime Minister on multiple websites."

 ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 28 October, 2020, 11:13:33 pm
you are enough nerds to prolly liking this https://mango.pdf.zone/finding-former-australian-prime-minister-tony-abbotts-passport-number-on-instagram

"For security reasons, we try to change our Prime Minister every six months, and to never use the same Prime Minister on multiple websites."

 ;D
Resolving the attached footling note says "Except Kevin Rudd, but that was one time and we were kinda going through some stuff."
Heh
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 November, 2020, 10:00:54 pm
Well here's a warning about tomorrow, brace yourselves folk. it could be bumpy ...

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 November, 2020, 04:01:14 pm
Installed Big Sur (not on the work machine, because I have some, near vestigial common-sense). Quite a change to the look. Rounded corners are back in, it's a bit retro. Sort of hated it at first, but it's growing on me now.

Everything seems to work so far.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 November, 2020, 06:11:37 pm
No, you clot, if you give that file a type of .sui instead of .sii it will not do what you think it should.  Probably.  It will, however, cause alarums and excursions when your (in)sanity-checking SCIENCE fails to find the contents, leading you to believe you've fscked things up royally…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 November, 2020, 11:50:29 pm
Wait… WHAT?!?!?  After umpteen years and myriad complaints from World+Dog two consecutive video files added to iTunes have ended up in the right place instead of being bunged by default into “Home Videos”, of which I have none.  Amazeballs :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 16 November, 2020, 08:18:40 am
doh, I just spend way too much time fault finding why I couldn't see a USB drive. Without checking if the cable was properly attached to the pc. I even went into the device manager.

30+ years faffing around with puters and I forget to check the cables ...

/me goes to hide in shame in a corner
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 16 November, 2020, 10:16:48 pm
Amazing what you can stumble across on the interwebs.

Virtual ANS, a free virtual ANS synth for windows, mac, linux etc.


Quote
What is Virtual ANS

Virtual ANS is a software simulator of the unique Russian synthesizer ANS - photoelectronic musical instrument created by Evgeny Murzin from 1938 to 1958. The ANS made it possible to draw music in the form of a spectrogram (sonogram), without live instruments and performers. It was used by Stanislav Kreichi, Alfred Schnittke, Edward Artemiev and other Soviet composers in their experimental works. You can also hear the sound of the ANS in Andrei Tarkovsky's movies Solaris, The Mirror, Stalker.
https://www.warmplace.ru/soft/ans/

 :thumbsup:

It's currently sounding like a cross between the intro music to The Forbidden Planet, and Solaris, in my man cave just now!  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 17 November, 2020, 01:34:53 pm
Anyone want a cheap iPhone?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-54972784
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Davef on 17 November, 2020, 03:58:10 pm
Anyone want a cheap iPhone?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-54972784
Pity they didn’t have “find my iPhone” switched on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 18 November, 2020, 11:36:47 am
Backed up my old iPhone SE earlier this morning as it's been suffering poor battery performance. It would often shut down due to peak power demands overwhelming it just opening an app like Whatsapp.

It's the first and only time I've backed up this phone (although I've been good at copying off all of my photos).

I then swallowed heavily and ordered a brand new iPhone 12 mini that will be delivered tomorrow. I've been buying/using second hand iPhones for the last 8 years or so and thought that it was time to treat myself to a brand new phone (spread over 24 months on 0% finance).

I'd also booked the phone in for battery replacement with Apple (by post) so I'll either get a healthy replacement to sell or even (as happens to some people) a brand new version of the same 1st gen model, which should sell for even more.

This was all quite prescient as just two hours later and the phone no longer wants to power up, even when plugged in to the power, it just sits at the "low battery I'm trying to charge" screen. I've left it off for a bit to give the battery a rest as it's been plugged in for the last 12 hours or so.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 19 November, 2020, 09:46:43 pm
A useful mod from Microsoft for Win 10 - WinKey+v to (activate first and then) use clipboard history
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 November, 2020, 11:42:35 am
Affinity programs are 30% off today.

https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/store/?utm_source=SpotlightEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Release yourself from the Adobe tyranny! You know you want to...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 27 November, 2020, 12:26:54 pm
Affinity programs are 30% off today.

https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/store/?utm_source=SpotlightEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Release yourself from the Adobe tyranny! You know you want to...

Thanks for the tip, might just do that. Although I'll still be tied to Adobe for work as I don't have a say in that...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 27 November, 2020, 02:35:37 pm
It's probably just because it's the end of a long week but I'm having trouble getting my brain round this garbled English on the Affinity website:

"As a private individual, you can download, install, use and run for personal use, one copy of the Serif Software directly on each computer running either (depending on your purchased license) Microsoft Windows (“Windows Computer”) or macOS (“Mac Computer”) that you personally own or control."

That means if I have several Macs, I only need one license to install it on all of them, right?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 27 November, 2020, 02:53:15 pm
It's probably just because it's the end of a long week but I'm having trouble getting my brain round this garbled English on the Affinity website:

"As a private individual, you can download, install, use and run for personal use, one copy of the Serif Software directly on each computer running either (depending on your purchased license) Microsoft Windows (“Windows Computer”) or macOS (“Mac Computer”) that you personally own or control."

That means if I have several Macs, I only need one license to install it on all of them, right?
That's how I'd interpret it.
ETA - Besides, being financially punitive just because you have more than one pooter seems a bit wrong.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 27 November, 2020, 03:12:26 pm
That's how I'd interpret it.
ETA - Besides, being financially punitive just because you have more than one pooter seems a bit wrong.

I'm too conditioned by the Adobe licensing model that restricts you to two computers. People being reasonable takes me by surprise.  ;D

I get that they don't want you sharing it with all your mates for free, but they can surely afford to be a wee bit more generous - especially at their prices.

This is, of course, one more good reason to switch away from Adobe if you can. I'm tempted to go to our IT department (aka Andy) and suggest he takes a look - it's the kind of costcutting measure that would probably go down well in our company. (ETA: I've just checked and Affinity can import idml files so that's one less reason not to change.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 27 November, 2020, 06:17:23 pm
It's probably just because it's the end of a long week but I'm having trouble getting my brain round this garbled English on the Affinity website:

"As a private individual, you can download, install, use and run for personal use, one copy of the Serif Software directly on each computer running either (depending on your purchased license) Microsoft Windows (“Windows Computer”) or macOS (“Mac Computer”) that you personally own or control."

That means if I have several Macs, I only need one license to install it on all of them, right?

Yes, it's a lot more lenient than Adobe's two-computers-and-you're-out, you can basically install on every computer you own.

I think the idml import is a new thing, it didn't used to be possible to import InDesign files (I had to kludge by importing PDFs in Publisher).

The main reasons for sticking to Adobe seem to be established workflows and some of the plugins in production environments. There are occasional missing features and a few workarounds compared to Abode but considering the relative age difference between them, it's hard not to be impressed with how little difference there is. And frankly, they're far nicer to use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 27 November, 2020, 06:27:30 pm
idml import is relatively new, but has been here for a few months.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 29 November, 2020, 01:06:59 pm
"Other"

That's really helpful. Thanks.  >:(

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660554647_aa7a240955_o.png) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbGzUK)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 November, 2020, 05:03:22 pm
You have my mothership computer, ha.

I found another 18 GB hiding in Outlook (I use the online version, but at some point I must have fired it up and it downloaded all my email and squirrelled it away).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2020, 06:48:39 pm
/me is starting to suspect that Kim's theory of door/cable interface malarkey causing my earlier network woes may have legs after all, given that the notwork speed dropped back down to 90Mb/s at pretty much the same time as I started closing the kitchen door to preserve warmth after switching the heating on.  Some drill/saw/chisel/war-hammer-wielding may be in order.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 06 December, 2020, 05:40:23 pm
I was trying to work out how I can connect a phone to a Linux desktop via Bluetooth and place calls via the phone from a computer. I've not managed that (yet) but I have I've discovered kdeconnect / gsconnect.

It is a nice integration that means I can synchronise notifications, type on the phone from the PC, send SMS messages, use the phone as a pointing device, auto-mute media on the PC when the phone rings etc. etc.

Well worth checking out for anyone who has an Android phone and also runs either Gnome or KDE as the desktop environment on their PC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 December, 2020, 05:50:56 pm
I was trying to work out how I can connect a phone to a Linux desktop via Bluetooth and place calls via the phone from a computer. I've not managed that (yet)

chan_mobile in Asterisk.


Quote
but I have I've discovered kdeconnect / gsconnect.

That looks interesting...  *goes back to bemoaning the lack of a practical Synergy server for Android*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 December, 2020, 08:50:41 pm
My unobtanium lefty mouse had developed an intermittent fault.  At first I thought it was the flatteries, but freshly-charged ones were no better.  After a few days of random cut-outs I finally got tired of swapping hands to the trackball, and attacked it with a screwdriver.

The good news is that the fault appeared to be the connection between the battery contacts and the circuit board.  The bad news was that this took the form of some teeny tiny little surface-mount IDC connector that I haven't encountered before.  Out of general wishful thinking, I applied 0.21 Rossmanns of flux and gave it a dribble of my finest proper-lead-with-a-hint-of-silver solder, while stabbing blindly with the iron in the one achievable angle that wouldn't melt anything too important.  Surprisingly, though the connector's now looking a bit charred, this appears to have worked.

ETA: Left mouse button (which is actually the right mouse button) was stiff, so I had to take it apart and put it back together again.  Now fully mouseclick-enabled, but I'm expecting the feet to drop off.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: cycleman on 08 December, 2020, 06:17:48 pm
As long as it hasn't lost it's tail and its squeak  :D ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 December, 2020, 07:05:09 pm
As long as it hasn't lost it's tail and its squeak  :D ;D

It's tail-less.  Hence the battery.  I suppose that technically makes it a hamster...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 08 December, 2020, 07:42:50 pm
As long as it hasn't lost it's tail and its squeak  :D ;D

It's tail-less.  Hence the battery.  I suppose that technically makes it a hamster...

Given that you’ve been experimenting on it, perhaps guinea pig would be more appropriate?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 December, 2020, 08:09:42 pm
As long as it hasn't lost it's tail and its squeak  :D ;D

It's tail-less.  Hence the battery.  I suppose that technically makes it a hamster...

Given that you’ve been experimenting on it, perhaps guinea pig would be more appropriate?

It's not *that* squeaky.  Not that I've got any celery to hand...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: quixoticgeek on 08 December, 2020, 08:12:36 pm

I successfully managed to email someone today by deducing their email address when all i knew about it was that they complained about xkcd://1279 related issues and a dead journalist... and their first name.

Am pleased this worked. And they were able to answer my question, which was great too!

J
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 December, 2020, 08:18:13 pm
I successfully managed to email someone today by deducing their email address when all i knew about it was that they complained about xkcd://1279 related issues and a dead journalist... and their first name.

 ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: cycleman on 09 December, 2020, 09:29:08 am
 :D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 December, 2020, 12:00:26 pm
And this morning I received a photograph of an invoice for something car-related.  Unusually, it has firstname.lastname@swedish.domain on it, so I was able to forward it.

Wondering if Sweden would grant me brexit asylum on an email address basis, if I promised to stay away from submarines?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 December, 2020, 12:49:53 pm
And I've just been wished a merry christmas by my Swedish doppelgänger.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 11 December, 2020, 06:07:17 pm
I haz a "new" laptop.  It *was* my old (8+ years) work Win7 x64 box, a Lenovo ThinkPad, but it is now a Linux (Mint FWIW) box with a 1TB SSD and 4GB of randomess.  My Xmas project will be learning how to use it and working out how to connect it to various bits of wiffery.  This old (about the same age) Win7x32 box will be kept going simply because I've got Tracklogs and Visual Studio installed.

I've just realised. It has been over 17 years since I last used a *nix machine at home,  FreeBSD with KDE.  Wonder if much has changed? :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 12 December, 2020, 12:10:59 pm
This would be a rant if ICBA, but I can't.

After much swearing my small HP box is now happily(?) running Manjaro (Linux). Everything apart from one thing seems to be fine. The one thing involves video calls either via Zoom or Messenger.

I can hear them but they can't hear me.

There's nothing wrong with the mic on the webcam (it's just cheap and crappy but I can record with it no problem). If I check it with the setup page on Zoom then it says it's working fine. But not when I try to speak to someone. The signal's there but it ain't going anywhere. Obviously it's not muted and volume's way up. Up to a couple of weeks ago it all worked fine but then Ubuntu decided it didn't want to play anymore so I went non-debian.

I've run out of things to try. Anyone got any ideas? Please.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 12 December, 2020, 12:49:28 pm
This would be a rant if ICBA, but I can't.

After much swearing my small HP box is now happily(?) running Manjaro (Linux). Everything apart from one thing seems to be fine. The one thing involves video calls either via Zoom or Messenger.

I can hear them but they can't hear me.

There's nothing wrong with the mic on the webcam (it's just cheap and crappy but I can record with it no problem). If I check it with the setup page on Zoom then it says it's working fine. But not when I try to speak to someone. The signal's there but it ain't going anywhere. Obviously it's not muted and volume's way up. Up to a couple of weeks ago it all worked fine but then Ubuntu decided it didn't want to play anymore so I went non-debian.

I've run out of things to try. Anyone got any ideas? Please.

Do you know if manjaro using pulse audio?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 12 December, 2020, 01:17:59 pm
This would be a rant if ICBA, but I can't.

After much swearing my small HP box is now happily(?) running Manjaro (Linux). Everything apart from one thing seems to be fine. The one thing involves video calls either via Zoom or Messenger.

I can hear them but they can't hear me.

There's nothing wrong with the mic on the webcam (it's just cheap and crappy but I can record with it no problem). If I check it with the setup page on Zoom then it says it's working fine. But not when I try to speak to someone. The signal's there but it ain't going anywhere. Obviously it's not muted and volume's way up. Up to a couple of weeks ago it all worked fine but then Ubuntu decided it didn't want to play anymore so I went non-debian.

I've run out of things to try. Anyone got any ideas? Please.

Do you know if manjaro using pulse audio?
Yes, it is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 12 December, 2020, 02:41:35 pm
This would be a rant if ICBA, but I can't.

After much swearing my small HP box is now happily(?) running Manjaro (Linux). Everything apart from one thing seems to be fine. The one thing involves video calls either via Zoom or Messenger.

I can hear them but they can't hear me.

There's nothing wrong with the mic on the webcam (it's just cheap and crappy but I can record with it no problem). If I check it with the setup page on Zoom then it says it's working fine. But not when I try to speak to someone. The signal's there but it ain't going anywhere. Obviously it's not muted and volume's way up. Up to a couple of weeks ago it all worked fine but then Ubuntu decided it didn't want to play anymore so I went non-debian.

I've run out of things to try. Anyone got any ideas? Please.

Do you know if manjaro using pulse audio?
Yes, it is.

Might I suggest you explain the issue in a seperate thread and include with the first post the output of running pacmd list-sources in the terminal?
BTW I've not had a problem like this before, so I've no idea what the solution is going to be! Could you also say whether you are using Zoom in the browser or the Zoom application.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 12 December, 2020, 04:24:31 pm
This would be a rant if ICBA, but I can't.

After much swearing my small HP box is now happily(?) running Manjaro (Linux). Everything apart from one thing seems to be fine. The one thing involves video calls either via Zoom or Messenger.

I can hear them but they can't hear me.

There's nothing wrong with the mic on the webcam (it's just cheap and crappy but I can record with it no problem). If I check it with the setup page on Zoom then it says it's working fine. But not when I try to speak to someone. The signal's there but it ain't going anywhere. Obviously it's not muted and volume's way up. Up to a couple of weeks ago it all worked fine but then Ubuntu decided it didn't want to play anymore so I went non-debian.

I've run out of things to try. Anyone got any ideas? Please.

Do you know if manjaro using pulse audio?
Yes, it is.

Might I suggest you explain the issue in a seperate thread and include with the first post the output of running pacmd list-sources in the terminal?
BTW I've not had a problem like this before, so I've no idea what the solution is going to be! Could you also say whether you are using Zoom in the browser or the Zoom application.
Will do. Thanks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 12 December, 2020, 08:46:17 pm
Does anyone know, if I were to rebuild my MacBook, would I be able to choose Catalina or would it force me to install Big Sur?

I know I can reinstall Catalina by putting it on a bootable drive, but I want to know if I actually need to go through that palaver (not least because it would require the extra step of buying a USB stick of suitable capacity).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 12 December, 2020, 08:54:41 pm
Does anyone know, if I were to rebuild my MacBook, would I be able to choose Catalina or would it force me to install Big Sur?

How are you rebuilding it? If you're reinstalling from a recovery partition you get whatever's on there, and if you're doing internet recovery onto a blank drive and it can be a bit random what version you're offered.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 12 December, 2020, 10:39:19 pm
Does anyone know, if I were to rebuild my MacBook, would I be able to choose Catalina or would it force me to install Big Sur?

How are you rebuilding it? If you're reinstalling from a recovery partition you get whatever's on there, and if you're doing internet recovery onto a blank drive and it can be a bit random what version you're offered.
Well, I was thinking internet recovery...

Currently has Big Sur installed, so I presume that’s what’s on the recovery partition, right?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 December, 2020, 12:54:15 pm
Google outage: YouTube, Docs and Gmail knocked offline (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55299779)

Quote
Google has been contacted for comment, but one spokesperson said they were unable to access their email during the outage.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 15 December, 2020, 04:29:09 pm
https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/26/pc_boot_record

That bogin chap on this forum ?? A Kim doppleganger?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 17 December, 2020, 12:01:55 pm
I decided I wanted to run Zwift on a larger screened laptop than I gad, so bought a cosmetically challenged ex-display Acer 17" one, from eBay.

When I received it, it was without a note of the password (I asked, and received it later), no worries, I reset Win10, and put in my own info.  Downloaded Zwift, and it immediately starts to update.  Then fails with the message "error Z117 at page 602..." etc.  This, apparently, means Zwift is having trouble writing to the Documents folder, because reasons, none of which I believe apply as it's the only piece of software other than Win10 Enterprise that's on the bloody thing and I'm deffo the admin. Gah!

One of the workarounds was to run the installer as admin - which indeed starts the programme, but - why? Bloody nuisance to have to do that every time.

I'll try another clean install, this time I'll opt to clean the disk (125Gb SSD) as well, and see what that brings.

ETA: Well that worked, fortunately there was nothing I wanted on it, not an option for someone wanting to start using Zwift on a machine they already had.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 18 December, 2020, 10:47:02 am
I've been trying all morning to create a Linux VM for work. I've been stuck in a spiral - I set it up with a single user, good password, then when it reboots and I try and log in, password is rejected.

Three/Four iterations of this and I realise what's going on. The super-strong password I use for work VMs has $pec1@L characters in. The installation media for Ubuntu defaults to a US keyboard during installation, so I've not been setting the password I thought I was (fourth time around an I unmasked the password and proved this).

And so, the time sink of work, once again drinks deeply from the ever shallower pool of ChrisS' life.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Greenbank on 18 December, 2020, 11:55:44 am
The number of times I have to tell people that, no it's not a bug in our software, but if your password has characters like $ or ! in it then entering it as a command line argument is not going to work.

Eventually I get them to do something similar to this and see if they can spot the problem:-

Code: [Select]
# echo foo
foo
# echo foo$$bar
foo12121bar
# echo foo$bar123
foo
# echo foo$123bar123
foo23bar123
# echo foo$012bar123
foo-/bin/bash12bar123

Most of the time it's someone who claims to be a "Sysadmin". I fear for their users.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 18 December, 2020, 12:18:41 pm
On an associated note, I can't believe Ubuntu ships without curl preinstalled. It's really annoying because my single-command-to-configure-everything plan is thus rendered more complicated than it need be.

ETA: Maybe I should push my ansible config, rather than pull it with ansible-pull... hmm....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 18 December, 2020, 06:19:05 pm
On an associated note, I can't believe Ubuntu ships without curl preinstalled. It's really annoying because my single-command-to-configure-everything plan is thus rendered more complicated than it need be.

ETA: Maybe I should push my ansible config, rather than pull it with ansible-pull... hmm....

wget?

IIRC most distros ship without curl.
I pxe install debian and ubuntu with a preseed file. The preseed installs curl.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 December, 2020, 01:38:16 am
Decided to switch on Slow Dempsey, the laptop, for the first time since the dog days of high summer.

Aaaaaargh!  Windows Updates!!!1!!eleventy!!!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 22 December, 2020, 06:53:40 am
On an associated note, I can't believe Ubuntu ships without curl preinstalled. It's really annoying because my single-command-to-configure-everything plan is thus rendered more complicated than it need be.

Don't try Arch, that would really annoy you it ships with almost nothing pre installed :)

Which is a good thing. You end up with only what you need.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 22 December, 2020, 07:40:29 am
Hmmm.  My W10 laptop has caught the (reportedly unfixable) bug whereby the Excel file association appears to have been lost permanently ...

No amount of fiddling with the registry, reinstallation of Office, etc has any effect - the Internet tells me that nothing short of a Windows wipe will fix it, and that's not giong to happen.

How do I cure myself of 20+ years of double-clicking on XLS and XLSX files and expecting something to happen?   >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 22 December, 2020, 12:15:46 pm
Hmmm.  My W10 laptop has caught the (reportedly unfixable) bug whereby the Excel file association appears to have been lost permanently ...

My WIn 8.1 work laptop did something similar. Clicking on an Excel file would load Excel but give some weird error saying it couldn't load the file. leaving Excel open then clicking the file again would load it perfectly. Spent hours trying to fix this, registry hacks, resetting file association etc no joy and I ended up just living with it. A couple of weeks ago it just fixed itself after a Microsoft update. Not sure which one did the job.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 December, 2020, 03:03:26 pm
Windows still isn't ready for the desktop, then...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 22 December, 2020, 03:20:07 pm
Windows still isn't ready for the desktop, then...

That's why it runs as a VM on a Linux host OS :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 22 December, 2020, 03:59:02 pm
Hmmm.  My W10 laptop has caught the (reportedly unfixable) bug whereby the Excel file association appears to have been lost permanently ...

My WIn 8.1 work laptop did something similar. Clicking on an Excel file would load Excel but give some weird error saying it couldn't load the file. leaving Excel open then clicking the file again would load it perfectly. Spent hours trying to fix this, registry hacks, resetting file association etc no joy and I ended up just living with it. A couple of weeks ago it just fixed itself after a Microsoft update. Not sure which one did the job.

A bit more Googling came up with, not a fix, but a workaround: a batch file to start Excel, with a dummy argument, and then associate the batch file with .XLS/.XLSX, etc.  Then re-associate those extensions with the Excel icon so they don't look odd in File Manager.

Clunky, but at least it works.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 23 December, 2020, 11:17:25 am
As I have some time off over the Christmas I decided I'd like to try some video-based alternatives to Zwift with my "smart" trainer.  I'd been using Zwift with an old (6 or 7 years old) ex-work 13" laptop and a surplus 32" TV as a monitor, but a) the HDMI output was flaky, and b) the large screen blocked a lot of light from the shed window. So, I recycled the TV at the local re-use shop, and bought a 17" laptop off eBay.  Loaded up Rouvy, FulGaz and BigRingVR, all seemed to run fine. 2 days later, went to have a play, and the laptop is dead. Battery lights on, but zilch. Seems Acers (for it is one) have a habit of failing to recognize the battery. Ho Hum. Still, despite stating "no returns" the seller has issued me with a returns label. Whether or not I'll get a refund or the repaired laptop returned I'm yet to find out. Meantime - I scored another 17" laptop (a Dell this time) off eBay, but of course it'll take until the New Year to arrive. So, try using the 13" one.  And despite FulGaz and BigRingVR running ok, in Rouvy I cannot get the "in ride" videos to run, I can get the "map view", I can get all the on-screen data, but the background is black. Should have enough video memory (4GB) but even uninstalling and reinstalling fails to generate them, and I've no idea how / if I can force the laptop to use the AMD video card only, or even if that's the problem! 

Oh, and because I'm admin on my work laptop, which only has on-board graphics, I installed Rouvy there, and... it bloody works  >:(

Guess I'll have to try and nuke it a bit better next time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 28 December, 2020, 05:05:01 pm
*Blinks*  *Looks around*  Hmmm, Linux does seem to have come on quite a bit doesn't it?  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 29 December, 2020, 07:53:49 pm
Well that all seemed fairly painless. Various bits and bobs installed, including .Net SDK and VS Code, except... Inkscape.  The current build can't see the printer.   Every *other* application can, just not Inkscape.  Not the end of the world, save as PDF and print from {your favourite} PDF viewer saves the day, but ... really.  It's a bit poor esp. as V1 of Inkscape is otherwise a huge improvement on v0.48 which is what's on the Win7 box.


BTW.  It uses appimage.  Static linking?  My, how... old fashioned.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 29 December, 2020, 08:57:47 pm
Well that all seemed fairly painless. Various bits and bobs installed, including .Net SDK and VS Code, except... Inkscape.  The current build can't see the printer.   Every *other* application can, just not Inkscape.  Not the end of the world, save as PDF and print from {your favourite} PDF viewer saves the day, but ... really.  It's a bit poor esp. as V1 of Inkscape is otherwise a huge improvement on v0.48 which is what's on the Win7 box.


BTW.  It uses appimage.  Static linking?  My, how... old fashioned.

I wonder if it is because it is installed using AppImage? I've just tested with the FreeCAD appimage and that seems not see the printer I have installed either. I've just had a quick search of the Interwebs and not turned anything up. Hmmm.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 30 December, 2020, 08:37:09 am
Quote from: Afasoas
I wonder if it is because it is installed using AppImage? I've just tested with the FreeCAD appimage and that seems not see the printer I have installed either. I've just had a quick search of the Interwebs and not turned anything up. Hmmm.

I wondered much the same.  I did find someone wibbling about mounting the appimage to /tmp, but as usual* insufficient info. to retry the suggested fix.  Useful to know that you've already tried FreeCAD as  I *was* going to try that as a fallback.

DXF output** is slightly banjaxed as well.  Raised this  - https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/-/issues/4256

ETA  DXF "fixed".  sudo apt install libblas3  installs missing dependencies which *should* be part of the appimage.  Not entirely convinced by the appimage approach to distribution.
 Interesting to note that the bug has been grouped with other extension related probs which *may* be down to appimage packaging.  Never mind, it works now.


*This is a problem in Windows world as well.  There's an assumption of expertise / background knowledge and unwillingness to explain any further.
**Which may force me back to v0.48 on Windows. Piss.

In other news.  Changing a password from the dektop UI, doesn't.  Or rather it only does half the job.  Sitting there at login screen repeatedly & futilely re-entering a valid password.  Eventually ended up in the console pissing around with ecrypt-rewrap-passphrase.  Hmmm.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 December, 2020, 02:21:12 pm
New cable installed 'twixt Great Hall & Cupboard-o-Networks :thumbsup:  Now I can close doors again without constricting the flow of voles to and from the NASen.  I don’t remember the Disciplining of the cable being quite so much hassle last time though.  Cries of “NO, CHEESOID!!1!” rent the air as yet another clip went flying across the room and disappearing under the floorboards or behind the fridge.

Having shut down the Great Hall machine while doing the above, it was no great surprise to discover that on restarting Windows Update required a reboot >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 02 January, 2021, 03:38:22 pm
Daft question time and definitely not worth a thread of its own.

In Windows I have been used (for many and many year) to hitting ctrl-esc* and the typing in the directory path I want Exploder to open so that I can muck around with the files therein.

For Linux Mint 20, KDE I have yet to find an equivalent.  I type alt-f1* and try something like "Thunar /home/lurk/Documents**/Aero"  or "Dolphin /home/lurk/dev" and it only ever opens the file manager at /home/lurk.  It wouldn't be end of the world if I can no longer do this, but this way of working is thoroughly engrained, almost to the point of fossilization, and faster to my mind than the mouse based alternatives.  I'd be so very happy*** if I could continue in my little rut.

Any suggestions?

Cheers,
Lurk.


*It's easier for me than hunting for a "meta" key.
** Not the inbuilt "Documents" index thingy.  I have a directory called /Documents off /lurk which was copied directly from the old Win box.
*** Easily pleased, me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 06 January, 2021, 05:49:59 pm
Damnit Windows (or possibly AVG) stop trying to "help".

For some reason it's decided that all the folders in My Documents are now read-only which means if I move a game from its initial home in Downloads then I can't generate save files.

I've tried setting both the game folder and save folder to not read-only but it automatically reverts. Following various online instructions wrt taking ownership of the folders and setting permissions has not worked.

By the time I decided to just move the game back to Downloads I couldn't be bothered to actually play it.

That's what I get for trying to organise.

Anyone experienced something similar? Windows 8.1 fwiw.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 January, 2021, 07:05:59 pm
Things I didn’t know until today: Windows file associations also work from the command line :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 21 January, 2021, 04:21:57 pm
Quote
Some of the laptops given out in England to support vulnerable children home-schooling during lockdown contain malware, BBC News has learned.

Teachers shared details on an online forum about suspicious files found on devices sent to a Bradford school.

The malware, which they said appeared to be contacting Russian servers, is believed to have been found on laptops given to a handful of schools.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55749959
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2021, 05:12:13 pm
Barakta's realised that the reason she keeps being late for meetings is that her ork laptop has a clock that makes the one on our microwave look accurate.  For some inexplicable[1] reason, Windows is configured to sync with "Local CMOS clock", rather than one of the myriad time servers on that internet they have now.


[1] I'm betting there are Domains involved.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 21 January, 2021, 08:18:50 pm
One of fboab's "smart" watches didn't have its own clock, instead taking its time from the bluetooth connection with her phone. So when the bluetooth was off/out of range, the watch started to keep shit time.

A watch, that cannot keep time itself. WTAF?

Surely any electronic device has some form of oscillator it uses as a clock signal for electronic functioning; and as such should also be able to work as a clock?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 21 January, 2021, 08:28:40 pm
Barakta's realised that the reason she keeps being late for meetings is that her ork laptop has a clock that makes the one on our microwave look accurate.  For some inexplicable[1] reason, Windows is configured to sync with "Local CMOS clock", rather than one of the myriad time servers on that internet they have now.


[1] I'm betting there are Domains involved.

That just sounds All Wrong, but I've seen similar.

If the machine is part of a Windows Domain, it will be automagically configured to use SNTP take it's time from one of the Domain Controllers, which in turn will be synced to a Proper Time Source.

In a Windows Domain, the clients and servers need to be tightly time-aligned for their authentication protocols to work. ( To avoid replay-attacks ).
So for this reason, the servers serve time, the clients accept it, and everything works.

How it all works when everyone is off-line and WFH, It's more complicated.

But I've seen similar: my work laptop at home is off-domain, and time drifts. I've not checked the settings. But I've not got the VPN up, so I'm not attempting to connect directly to Domain resources. I think if I connected to the Domain network by VPN or physical connection, it would sync.

Most of the stuff I connect to is cloud-based now, so the time thing doesn't come into it.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2021, 08:33:36 pm
Surely any electronic device has some form of oscillator it uses as a clock signal for electronic functioning; and as such should also be able to work as a clock?

Yeah, but they tend not to be temperature-compensated like (decent) RTC oscillators tend to be.  And on some microcontrollers you can have issues like the timer not incrementing while servicing interrups.  Which is fine in a device that either  a) is able to synchronise with an external time source on a regular basis  or  b) isn't designed for telling the time.

The microwave gets a pointed sigh (it could, after all, use the mains frequency as a reference), the smartwatch earns a 'FFS!'.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2021, 09:01:13 pm
But I've seen similar: my work laptop at home is off-domain, and time drifts. I've not checked the settings. But I've not got the VPN up, so I'm not attempting to connect directly to Domain resources. I think if I connected to the Domain network by VPN or physical connection, it would sync.

Sounds likely.  She doesn't need to use a VPN to access work stuff on this one (new job, new laptop, at yet another university[1]), so it's been happily doing its own thing since she got it a couple of months ago.  I briefly saw something VPN-ish over her shoulder at one point, but I don't know if that's something she has access to and is configured, or just a client installed as part of a standard build.

Obviously sorting out time sync, or indeed setting the clock, requires passwords she doesn't have access to.  It's going on her IT list after "Sort out whatever causes Explorer to hang and then crash if I right click on the desktop".   :facepalm:


[1] Who are less than brilliant at IT, if their DNS misconfiguration is anything to go by.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 21 January, 2021, 09:55:46 pm
Yeah, but they tend not to be temperature-compensated like (decent) RTC oscillators tend to be.
A half-reasonable crystal oscillator will be good to ±50 ppm, or about half a minute a week. Good ones will be 10 times better. That is without temperature compensation.

Watch crystals, the ones that started off as the time reference for wrist watches, use the neat trick of being really stable around the temperature of a wrist watch, as heated by the wearer. Also not temperature compensated but very good most of the time.

Obviously there is so much electronics that seems to be designed to only work with internet access that it's no surprise that oscillator quality and timely interrupt handling have become forgotten arts.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 21 January, 2021, 11:06:08 pm
The clock is fast not slow... I keep turning up TOO early for meetings and thinking my STTR is overrunning when it isn't...

I suspect colleagues have similar issues as the meeting I was in restarted at my clock's 15 mins past and my STTR op didn't rejoin for ages. Cos the MEETING was the wrong time.

FFS FFS FFS.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 January, 2021, 12:40:20 am
Yeah, but they tend not to be temperature-compensated like (decent) RTC oscillators tend to be.
A half-reasonable crystal oscillator will be good to ±50 ppm, or about half a minute a week. Good ones will be 10 times better. That is without temperature compensation.

The DS1307 (cheapy, uncompensated using a standard watch crystal) I've just used in $project[1] seems to gain about a second per day.  Which is the sort of precision I'd expect of a PC's CMOS clock.  TBH a PC's clock only needs to be accurate to within a minute or so for normal things like a time-of-day display and reasonable file datestamps - if you need more precision, it's usually because you're doing networky things (eg. coordinating Zoom meetings or authenticating with a Domain Controller), in which case you ought to be able to get the time over the network.

I suspect $university are in for some Type 2 Fun as the un-settable clocks on god knows how many staff laptops drift further and further from reality...


[1] Where accurate time is secondary to being in agreement with a laptop that may or may not have access to a reference clock via the internet.  Otherwise I'd have used a GPS.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 22 January, 2021, 10:29:13 am
So what is the windows scanning software for bad things favs at the mo?  Currently have a laptop that sometimes doesn't was to boot, just the bios splashscreen currently running malwarebytes in safe mode to see what there is and then get windows defender to look
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 January, 2021, 01:49:35 pm
The bit of code we're running at the moment is currently asking for > 750 GB memory (I know, virtual). I remember that my Amstrad computer 64 kB and that laughed at a Spectrum's 48 kB.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 26 January, 2021, 01:55:32 pm
IBM mainframe at Rover in 1965 had all of 8kb. We wrote FORTRAN II programs, input on punched cards to predict vehicle performance, and design torque converters.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 January, 2021, 01:57:27 pm
I have a vague recollection of the Vic-20, which had a 5k RAM pack that wobbled on the back and fell off if you got too excitable playing a game of Blue Meanies.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 26 January, 2021, 03:51:18 pm
My ZX81 had 1k until I bought it a 16k RAM Expansion.

Which wobbled...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 January, 2021, 04:19:50 pm
I like to think someone at Amazon is currently struggling to heft a 750 GB RAM pack into the back of a server.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 January, 2021, 04:23:01 pm
I like to think someone at Amazon is currently struggling to heft a 750 GB RAM pack into the back of a server.

It's the size of the lump of blutac needed to stop it wobbling that's the issue...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: yorkie on 26 January, 2021, 07:43:55 pm
My ZX81 had 1k until I bought it a 16k RAM Expansion.

Which wobbled...


Likewise, until my father made a holder out of some wood that firmly wedged it all together! No more wobble!!  :-D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 January, 2021, 08:02:25 pm
I like to think someone at Amazon is currently struggling to heft a 750 GB RAM pack into the back of a server.

It's the size of the lump of blutac needed to stop it wobbling that's the issue...

Just shove some beer mats under it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 30 January, 2021, 08:47:00 am
This is so ludicrous it's funny.  The calculator accessory in my installation of Mint 20 (KDE Plasma) doesn't map the mouse clicks to the UI elements properly.  Click '3' displays '6'.  Press the '%' key displays '1', but *only* after you've pressed a.n.other number button.  I don't know what was used to build it but I've seen similar issues where there's a left / right mismapping on the toolbar so that clicking the close button maximizes the window on apps reporting as 'python'  so I'd *guess* GTK or Qt.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 01 February, 2021, 03:41:39 pm
The calculator that KDE provide (Kcalc) works fine (well it does in Arch). Never had an issue like that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 February, 2021, 05:45:51 pm
My work laptop decided to die while it was in the middle of an update, IT reckons the OS is borked.
Can I get a loaner while you fix that one then?
No, none spare.
How do you expect me to do any work then?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 01 February, 2021, 05:47:01 pm
Join the club  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 February, 2021, 05:49:18 pm
It better not take that bloody long...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 01 February, 2021, 09:47:08 pm
From the Grauniad's cartoons, which made oi smile.

(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb51bdb5f2a53209a440f0fc17c4486e8bb412cd/0_0_4819_2142/master/4819.jpg?width=940&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d5e44008adf58d0ca72ba6853212ff00)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 01 February, 2021, 09:54:36 pm
I tried to make this joke once in a Teams meeting with just the two of us awaiting the failure to of the other invitees to attend.

He simply left the call.

Don't worry, I'm here all season.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 February, 2021, 10:06:39 am
ok we are fecked... https://www.euronews.com/living/2021/02/01/scientists-have-taught-spinach-to-send-emails-and-it-could-warn-us-about-climate-change

Just wait until kale get access to twitter !!!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 February, 2021, 10:11:21 am
It’s the sprouts we have to worry about.  Hot brassica action on Pr0nhub.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 02 February, 2021, 11:23:21 am
Funny-shaped carrots emailing pictures of themselves.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 02 February, 2021, 11:35:06 am
Not often The Register gets a mention, or link on here.  I find this strange as so many of us work in IT....

https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/02/zwift_suspends_digital_dopers/

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: L CC on 02 February, 2021, 05:06:34 pm
That was reported forever ago- it's hardly news.

Love how the comments eventually get to KEEP tHe LycRA lOUTS oFf teH RoaDS !!!1!1
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Lightning Phil on 02 February, 2021, 05:50:42 pm
Cockles on Instagram influencing billions.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 02 February, 2021, 08:22:00 pm
The calculator that KDE provide (Kcalc) works fine (well it does in Arch). Never had an issue like that.
Ta. Not part of this distro, I'll go have a look.  For now I'm dropping into command line and using bc -l if I can't be bothered to dig out my calculator out of my desk.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 February, 2021, 10:21:22 pm
Pingu fixed (well, he did the final 10% but I did all the legwork) the latency problem on our Harmony remote control which has been grinding my gears for the last couple of months.
Everything turns on instantly rather than it having a delay of 25s  :thumbsup:

(The reason it won't connect to the internet remains unexplained but he doesn't care as long as he doesn't have to power cycle the router. And I don't care now the remote responds less glacially).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 02 February, 2021, 10:57:37 pm
And you got your work laptop back.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 February, 2021, 11:24:32 pm
Yay.
I think  :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 February, 2021, 12:32:44 pm
No, really, ROBOCOPY, if I ask you to copy those (large) .zip files from [here] to [there] there is absolutely no need to recreate the (empty) directory structure of the rest of [here] as well.  Because there’s tens of thousands of sub-sub-sub-folders down there :(  Plus a handful of .zip files that I never knew existed.

Happily
Code: [Select]
ROBOCOPY “[there]” “[there]” /S /MOVE
nukes them in a satisfactory, if time-munching, manner.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: JonBuoy on 03 February, 2021, 12:49:14 pm
That was reported forever ago- it's hardly news.

Love how the comments eventually get to KEEP tHe LycRA lOUTS oFf teH RoaDS !!!1!1

This is another two women kicked out of Zwift races for cheating.  The previous ones were Lizi Duncombe and Shanni Berger who were banned towards the end of last year.  This time around it is Antonina Reznikov and Selma Trommer.

I have not heard of any men being banned since Cam Jeffers was stripped of his 2019 British Cycling eRacing Championship title.  Are men more honest, less newsworthy or just better at cheating?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 February, 2021, 01:17:54 pm
If I'd realised just how slow copying those Rather Large Files from $SLOW_NETWORK_DRIVE to $OTHER_SLOW_NETWORK_DRIVE was going to be I'd probably not have bothered :-[
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 04 February, 2021, 08:04:15 pm
The calculator that KDE provide (Kcalc) works fine (well it does in Arch). Never had an issue like that.
Yeah, that works and does trig in degrees rather than rad. Thankfully.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 February, 2021, 02:00:36 pm
That's my work laptop getting reimaged for the 3rd time in about 8 weeks after BSODing *again* when trying to install a dongle driver. Wonder when they are going to admit defeat and get me a new one...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 09 February, 2021, 04:31:41 pm
That's my work laptop getting reimaged for the 3rd time in about 8 weeks after BSODing *again* when trying to install a dongle driver. Wonder when they are going to admit defeat and get me a new one...

Probably never, unless the point is forced(accidentally or otherwise).  One place I worked for had a policy of not giving people laptop bags.  They also gave me the oldest crappiest laptop going while others at the same grade as me were getting their choice of laptop.  One day, on the way into work, I got caught in a cloud burst.  When I got into the office I took my laptop out of the bag to find that the hand extracting said laptop was damp. "Oh" thinks I "hopefully it's just a little bit of water got in the bag and not in the laptop".  The laptop failed to boot and gathered a pool of water under it.  Pretty terminal it was.  When speaking to the desktop techs I was asked "Do you not keep it in a waterproof laptop bag?" I answered "Obviously, from the state of it, one that is as waterproof as the ones you issue with the laptops".

...

...

"We don't give out laptop... Oh."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 February, 2021, 06:07:33 pm
I got so angry with the general uselessness of my last-but-one work-issue laptop that I actually punched it.  The keyboard stopped working.  No, sorry, IT Support Dude, one minute it was fine and then…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 February, 2021, 06:18:33 pm
Well it took nearly 4 hours instead of two and then insisted on installing moar Windoze updates at the end of the day, so dog knows if it'll be working tomorrow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 09 February, 2021, 07:53:45 pm
I have travelled back from the future, o-pingu-prime, and it indeed does not work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 February, 2021, 07:56:03 pm
 :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 09 February, 2021, 08:01:20 pm
My work dell took to BSODing regularly.
It was re-imaged a few times, to no great effect.

Hardware fault.
Mr Dell came out, and replaced the entire mainboard in about 30 mins.
Fixed.

So I'd say if a standard image which works on all other machines starts BSODing even after repeated re-imaging, then there's a hardware issue.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 February, 2021, 08:04:14 pm
Yeah I think our IT bod is finally getting the picture.... just have to see how much wailing and gnashing of teeth I have to do to get a solution. Especially as we don't have any spare laptops, apparently.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 February, 2021, 12:02:30 am
A couple of days ago I laughed at barakta for muttering "DesktopDesktopDesktopDesktopDesktopTwat" at something on her computer.

(ETA: She was trying to make a file save to the desktop.)

She just caught me going "FuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffDone" as I closed a several of reference tabs and an associated editor window.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 10 February, 2021, 12:41:50 am
A couple of days ago I laughed at barakta for muttering "DesktopDesktopDesktopDesktopDesktopTwat" at something on her computer.

(ETA: She was trying to make a file save to the desktop.)

She just caught me going "FuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffFuckoffDone" as I closed a several of reference tabs and an associated editor window.

We've been stuck inside in the same room for too long.

Windows 10. Can't find a fucking thing.

Everything on work PC is on OneDrive (soon to be SharePoint) so it takes eleventy minutes to save every single fucking file meaning Office/Outlook/FileManager hang for as long as it takes for it to save... If it doesn't decide to "not merge" and crash instead.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 February, 2021, 12:58:40 am
OneDrive. 5GB free storage to “keeps your photos and files backed up”?  That, Billy-Boy, is approximately not even close to being big enough and yet you keep trying to ram it down our throats as the greatest thing since powdered milk.

Stop it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 10 February, 2021, 06:00:44 pm
Well this isn't good https://twitter.com/hmemcpy/status/1359478493386592267?s=20
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 11 February, 2021, 01:00:00 pm
Today barakta has been mostly muttering "DownloadDownloadDownloadDownloadDownloadBastard".  I think we've all been there.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 11 February, 2021, 07:56:31 pm
OneDrive. 5GB free storage to “keeps your photos and files backed up”?  That, Billy-Boy, is approximately not even close to being big enough and yet you keep trying to ram it down our throats as the greatest thing since powdered milk.

Stop it.

Hahahahaha. 5GB, they're 'avin a giraffe, shirley?  My photo storage SSD is 2TB, and I have another image storage section on another SSD which takes up about 750GB of the available 1TB.  A typical photo download from my camera is anything up to 128GB.  42MP RAW files take up a lot of room. Thankfully these days I don't do events which involve taking 1500+ in one day.

Sadly my photo cataloguing and processing software (Phase One's Capture One Pro) wants it's main library to be on one drive, so I'll have fun if it exceeds 2TB.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 February, 2021, 12:13:46 am
How on earth is my Kindle managing to do a software update when it's been in Airplane Mode from new ???

Edit: if this overwrites my book titles with the Mega-Global Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia's ones I shall be this: miffed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 15 February, 2021, 09:36:03 am
Les aeroplanes moderne let you play with wifi, so wifi can be enabled while aeroplane mode is on and unaccountably you still don't plunge to a fiery doom.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 February, 2021, 12:04:28 am
How in the name of Bill and all His unholy imps did I manage to remove that line from more than a thousand files this afternoon?  Must have been Rays from Space or something.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 05 March, 2021, 04:30:06 pm
I'm a customer of organisation A and have no relationship with organisation B. I receive an email from the account of an employee of organisation B asking me for personal data, which will no doubt sit on organisation B's email servers forever.

The request itself is expected and would be legit were it coming from organisation A. The person is doing temporary work for organisation A.

Am I wrong to think this isn't compatible with GDPR / basic personal data good practice?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 05 March, 2021, 09:37:34 pm

Am I wrong to think this isn't compatible with GDPR / basic personal data good practice?

Ish. Who the requestor works for and where the data resides is immaterial.

What is material is that (a) they have a legitimate reason for asking for the data (which it appears that they do) and (b) they handle your data in an appropriate manner which sending the response to company B's eMail might contravene. If the individual's eMail is secure then it isn't obvious that just by being in transit to its storage location that a contravention has occurred. Doesn't sound like best practice, whatever.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 05 March, 2021, 11:05:23 pm
Thanks for that. So it sounds like they're not automatically contravening GDPR.

I did find a thing in their privacy policy saying that any data sharing with third parties would only be done when there's a formal written agreement signed by a senior member of the third party, which it's a reasonable bet doesn't exist.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 06 March, 2021, 05:27:39 pm
I've just found out that Windows really doesn't like folders whose names end with a dot.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 10 March, 2021, 02:19:15 pm
Just checked my monitoring and noticed one of my VPS is unreachable.

That'll be why then:
http://travaux.ovh.net/?do=details&id=49484

Quote
At 00:47 on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, a fire broke out in a room in one of our 4 datacenters in Strasbourg, SBG2. Please note that the site is not classified as a Seveso site.
Firefighters immediately intervened to protect our teams and prevent the spread of the fire. At 2:54 am they isolated the site and closed off its perimeter.
By 4:09 am, the fire had destroyed SBG2 and continued to present risks to the nearby datacenters until the fire brigade brought the fire under control.
From 5:30 am, the site has been unavailable to our teams for obvious security reasons, under the direction of the prefecture. The fire is now contained.

It is in SBG1 so I may wait to see how smoke damaged it is.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 10 March, 2021, 04:29:55 pm
Rather cool https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/159176/cracking-of-sky-ecc-encrypted-messaging-service-brings-down-organised-crime-lords/

And the police cracked the secure phone, arrested people, send bill to phone company
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 10 March, 2021, 09:27:18 pm
Rather cool https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/159176/cracking-of-sky-ecc-encrypted-messaging-service-brings-down-organised-crime-lords/

And the police cracked the secure phone, arrested people, send bill to phone company
which just reenforces the fact that one time encryption pads are the only really secure protocol for message encryption. If a machine encrypts it, then in all likelihood a machine can be used to decrypt it. Eventually.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 10 March, 2021, 09:46:11 pm
Until they make a machine that can reverse a pseudo RNG.

And then a machine that can reverse a real RNG.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 13 March, 2021, 12:44:22 pm
My new PFY was rummaging in his desk drawer for a USB Drive and found the ancient Kingston Datatraveller 4000 encrypted drive that had been "Put in a safe place" by his predecessor in about 2017.
Luckily my Keepass had the password and it "Fired right up!" on it I found a copy of our customer database from 2016 (now deleted, of course).
Sometimes, things DO just work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 01:36:46 pm
Kingston Datatraveller
[...]
Sometimes, things DO just work.

...but not usually those.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 15 March, 2021, 01:50:38 pm
I like to think someone at Amazon is currently struggling to heft a 750 GB RAM pack into the back of a server.
I remember rooms with cupboards full of 25 MB disk packs & people being paid to load them into drives that looked a bit like top loading washing machines - & were about the same size - when the data on them was needed. Heavy buggers.

I'd like to see a 750 GB one.  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 15 March, 2021, 02:04:52 pm
I like to think someone at Amazon is currently struggling to heft a 750 GB RAM pack into the back of a server.
I remember rooms with cupboards full of 25 MB disk packs & people being paid to load them into drives that looked a bit like top loading washing machines - & were about the same size - when the data on them was needed. Heavy buggers.

I'd like to see a 750 GB one.  ;D

It was 1.5 TB RAM in the end and it didn't work anyway. I'm glad that's not on my budget.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 15 March, 2021, 06:44:06 pm
Hmmm.  My W10 laptop has caught the (reportedly unfixable) bug whereby the Excel file association appears to have been lost permanently ...

My WIn 8.1 work laptop did something similar. Clicking on an Excel file would load Excel but give some weird error saying it couldn't load the file. leaving Excel open then clicking the file again would load it perfectly. Spent hours trying to fix this, registry hacks, resetting file association etc no joy and I ended up just living with it. A couple of weeks ago it just fixed itself after a Microsoft update. Not sure which one did the job.
Mrs B's laptop had that last year. Buggered if I can remember what I did, but it fixed it. I think there's a little txt file on the laptop with the destructions . . .

Given the date, I expect you've fixed it, but if not please let me know & I'll look for the fix.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 March, 2021, 07:02:20 pm
Quote from: Bledlow
I remember rooms with cupboards full of 25 MB disk packs & people being paid to load them into drives that looked a bit like top loading washing machines
The RL02s (10MB?) we used for one or two of the PDP 11-44s were fairly light but the RA60s & RA80s for the 11-84s & (IIRC*) VAXEN were heavy.  At least the RA60s & 80s were slightly more shockproof than the RL02s. 



*I may not, it's a frighteningly long time ago.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 March, 2021, 07:22:49 pm
IIRC RA-80s weren’t removable.  In my first job as a VAXherd we used an RA-80 (121 Mb) as the system disk and an RA-81 (a massive 456 Mb) for everything else.  Can’t remember what the PDP had.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 16 March, 2021, 08:54:31 am
Quote from: the IS intern
Your Incident : IN00809172 :  Student records runtime error : has recently been completed with the following details:

No resolution

If you feel that the solution provided has not resolved your issue, please contact us and we will reopen this request.

Well, that's cleared things up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: tiermat on 16 March, 2021, 09:12:58 am
Just checked my monitoring and noticed one of my VPS is unreachable.

That'll be why then:
http://travaux.ovh.net/?do=details&id=49484

Quote
At 00:47 on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, a fire broke out in a room in one of our 4 datacenters in Strasbourg, SBG2. Please note that the site is not classified as a Seveso site.
Firefighters immediately intervened to protect our teams and prevent the spread of the fire. At 2:54 am they isolated the site and closed off its perimeter.
By 4:09 am, the fire had destroyed SBG2 and continued to present risks to the nearby datacenters until the fire brigade brought the fire under control.
From 5:30 am, the site has been unavailable to our teams for obvious security reasons, under the direction of the prefecture. The fire is now contained.

It is in SBG1 so I may wait to see how smoke damaged it is.

Was that the same place that Rust kept their systems?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 16 March, 2021, 11:16:13 am
Scottish power have just sent me a text message to confirm a callout date, and the three apostrophies in the message were replaced by ¿, an upside down question mark. A search suggests this is caused by copy/paste from some Windows rich text environment. Why would Scottish Power have that as part of the process for sending text messages?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 March, 2021, 11:20:31 am
Welcome to the giddy world of encoding.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 17 March, 2021, 08:27:14 pm
IIRC RA-80s weren’t removable. 
Aye, my memory isn't up to snuff, but I did say it was a frighteningly long time ago. :)  Ummm, 30 years as near as makes no difference since the last time I got roped into a backup that involved multi-platter disk packs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 21 March, 2021, 12:17:12 pm
This morning, somewhat oddly, my iPhone bonged to alert me to to a meeting arranged for 08:00 on March 23rd, with my sister, for breakfast.
Only I made no such arrangement, or entry in the calendar.
There's only one person I meet with for breakfast, and it's not my sister.
I've checked the calendar in my iMac, and there's no meetings arranged for that day. Which, given that the two are synced every couple of days, makes it even weirder.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 March, 2021, 12:29:02 pm
You've recently had the Coronalurgi vaccination, no?  It's Bill Gates' way of telling you not to buy from the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia, via the 5G chip now embedded in your arm.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 21 March, 2021, 12:50:20 pm
Also, the entry in the calendar on the phone is high lit in yellow.
Yet yellow isn't one of the colour options available for high lighting.
Yes, yes, yes, I've thought of the 5G / Covid jab association.
Where's my roll of Alcan?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 March, 2021, 12:28:19 am
Note to self: if leaving the Babbage-Engine idle for three hours while you watch the news/nom dinner/drink tea it is wise to make sure it actually is idle and not still running the introductory bit of $GAME, which canes the GPU at 95% even when it ent doing anything.  No, I don’t know why.

(Melts)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Chris S on 31 March, 2021, 05:37:30 pm
Must be a thing. If I leave my PS4 on the main menu page of Elite: Dangerous - the gpu fans sound like a 777 spooling up. It's literally just a menu. Oh, and a picture.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 31 March, 2021, 06:13:54 pm
I forgot about Elite and I just looked it up, a new "season" to come out this spring. I must not get it, do not install ....

I lost many an hour back in 84-86 playing this game and I learned that gaming is my addiction and that I had to step away before something went wrong. Therefore I have never build a pc that is powerful enough to play anything other than Pong. Or tried out X-box. PSwhatevernumberitisnow as will become addicted.

What I just saw on the trailers for Dangerous and the new Odyssey. Months if not years will just go puff up into nothing if I get my hands on this.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ashaman42 on 01 April, 2021, 08:28:10 pm
One of us. One of us.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 02 April, 2021, 11:11:52 am
I recently dusted off my 12-year-old photo printer, then after spending most of a day trying and failing to get it to work I remembered why I'd stopped using it.

I'd always been pleased with the results while it had been working, so I was delighted to find an example of the same model on eBay described as "opened but never used", so I duly bought it at a bargain price.

It was indeed in pristine condition, but the output was a bit iffy, which I put down to the cartridges bundled with it being well past their best by date. With replacements ordered, I decided I had nothing to lose by trying to unclog the old ones in the meantime - there's an interesting range of techniques on the Net involving cotton buds, vacuum cleaners, soaking in various solvents, etc.

Happily, they worked (printing photos minus any of the primary ink colours isn't recommended), so I'm looking forward to printing some nice 10x8s of the grandkids and discovering the delights of cartridge refill kits.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TimO on 02 April, 2021, 05:46:22 pm
I was looking at which of the AVR Tiny microcontrollers was best to experiment with, and thought that the ATtiny3217 looked promising. It's not the simplest or cheapest, but the 24-pin VQFN it's packaged in is only 4mm across, so is physically smaller than the 8-pin SOIC of some of the other Tiny devices, and allows a lot more to be done. You can buy them for less than £1 each fairly easily, and about 65p if you're willing to buy more (500!)

Admittedly, a part that small is going to be a pain to hand solder, but I can probably do it carefully, and can possibly also get it assembled commercially for not a lot of money, when having a PCB made.

I searched for a way to easily experiment with it, and looking for development boards originally found the Dily 3217 (https://www.avdweb.nl/arduino/attiny3217/dily3217), but that doesn't seem to be sold by anyone. Luckily, after a little more hunting I found the ATtiny3217 Nano Curiosity (https://www.microchip.com/DevelopmentTools/ProductDetails/PartNO/EV50J96A) board on Microchip's website, for only £11 each!

Like a lot of DIL boards, such as the Teensys and Arduino Nanos, it's meant to be plugged into a breadboard, but also has support for some development options such as controlling the regulator voltage and programming the board over the USB connector.

Reading the datasheet (http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/devicedoc/attiny3217_1617-data-sheet-40001999b.pdf) for the ATtiny3217, it's actually a remarkably powerful AVR device. There are a lot of cheap Cortex-M0+ devices on the market now, but this AVR one is likely to be less power-hungry. I think you can use every one of the 22 non-power pins for IO, it can run using its internal 20MHz (or 16MHz) oscillator, has 32kBytes of Flash, 2kBytes of RAM and 256 bytes of EEPROM, a USART, SPI and I2C interfaces, an ADC, DAC and PWM, not to mention some of the really complicated stuff!

Experimenting with it should be fun, yes I know I'm weird. ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 04 April, 2021, 11:54:16 am
Just checked my monitoring and noticed one of my VPS is unreachable.

That'll be why then:
http://travaux.ovh.net/?do=details&id=49484

Quote
At 00:47 on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, a fire broke out in a room in one of our 4 datacenters in Strasbourg, SBG2. Please note that the site is not classified as a Seveso site.
Firefighters immediately intervened to protect our teams and prevent the spread of the fire. At 2:54 am they isolated the site and closed off its perimeter.
By 4:09 am, the fire had destroyed SBG2 and continued to present risks to the nearby datacenters until the fire brigade brought the fire under control.
From 5:30 am, the site has been unavailable to our teams for obvious security reasons, under the direction of the prefecture. The fire is now contained.

It is in SBG1 so I may wait to see how smoke damaged it is.

Was that the same place that Rust kept their systems?

Yes I think so.
I've spent far too many hours putting the DNS server configuration into ansible so the next time there is a fire, I'm covered. I thought this would take me a day, but so far it has taken three. The DNS side of it is actually quite straight forward. But, add dynamic DNS, letsencrypt (dehydrated.io), fail2ban, NTP, monitoring, logarchival, backups, email alerts on successful SSH auth and it turns out to be far less trivial. That said, having the configuration version controlled is a real boon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 April, 2021, 01:27:12 pm
This Unit is currently pondering the "logic" by which someone decides to include 11560 files (occupying 3.8 MB) of type .mat in his game mod, of which precisely one (1) is actually needed :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 13 April, 2021, 02:03:54 pm
I’m worried. I’ve just renewed my driving licence on line. It was a government website. It was sensible and all worked and even the payment was reasonable. I’m sure I must have used a scam site.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 April, 2021, 05:32:33 pm
I’m worried. I’ve just renewed my driving licence on line. It was a government website. It was sensible and all worked and even the payment was reasonable. I’m sure I must have used a scam site.

It's okay, the process will be thwarted by everyone at the DVLA coming down with coronavirus.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 13 April, 2021, 10:10:14 pm
A friend in Swansea got her second vaccine dose today. She's 80. Seems a bit late for someone her age. Doesn't bode well for the DVLA staff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 17 April, 2021, 12:16:19 pm
I’m worried. I’ve just renewed my driving licence on line. It was a government website. It was sensible and all worked and even the payment was reasonable. I’m sure I must have used a scam site.

It's okay, the process will be thwarted by everyone at the DVLA coming down with coronavirus.
As I’ve reported elsewhere, I’ve already received my new driving licence which kind of negates the scam angle. Apart from the inclusion of the Union Jack on the licence and the use of my passport photo with no offers alternative, the whole thing has been efficient and cheap. I’m shocked.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 17 April, 2021, 02:11:16 pm
Of course the BIOS* switch to disable Bluetooth is filed under, "Security" after all, it's not as if it has anything to do with networks or comms is it?




*An ancient Thinkpad T520
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 02:17:01 pm
There's an argument for putting it under 'sanity' I suppose.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 April, 2021, 06:47:31 pm
This Unit is currently pondering the "logic" by which someone decides to include 11560 files (occupying 3.8 MB) of type .mat in his game mod, of which precisely one (1) is actually needed :facepalm:

This Unit is now pondering the “logic” by which someone decides to include a couple of hundred files of type .mat in his game mod when a little application of common sense could have cut that number to seven (7) :facepalm: :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 20 April, 2021, 10:01:09 am
So this morning I got the text of doom from my wife... "no internet".  I ask if the landline is ok. "no addresses listed"  ???   Does it have a dial tone  "yes".  Ok, so ask her to check the Deco (the "white round thing on the widowsill" and see if it has a green light on it  "no". Hmm.   Ok, so the mesh wifi is down.  At this point I decide it's simple to call her, and remind her how to turn on both the iMac and it's mouse, and hey, presto!, we have internet (it's cabled to the router).  It's at this point she tells me "the white flying saucer - it's got a red light on". That makes more sense, and at least it's not dead. And the landline phone - seems all the stored numbers have disappeared  :-\.  Goodness knows what caused that!

Guess what I'll be doing when I get home this evening.  (I did offer to talk her through connecting to the router direct - I still have one channel runnimg on that becasue one of my Garmins refuses to play with the mesh - but she declined)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 April, 2021, 06:04:21 pm
This Unit is currently pondering the "logic" by which someone decides to include 11560 files (occupying 3.8 MB) of type .mat in his game mod, of which precisely one (1) is actually needed :facepalm:

This Unit is now pondering the “logic” by which someone decides to include a couple of hundred files of type .mat in his game mod when a little application of common sense could have cut that number to seven (7) :facepalm: :facepalm:

This Unit is pleased to report that it has cut down the size of the thing from just over 1GB and more than 20,000 files to ~200 MB and just over 2000 files :thumbsup:

<== ph34r mi l33t 5k1llz ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 April, 2021, 10:46:00 pm
Somewhere in tens of thousands of files and hundreds of thousands of lines of text is a missing “/“ character.

I will find you…

I ent found it.

Yet.

Bah!

I found it.  Or rather I didn't, because the error message was being economical with the truth.  But I did find the cause of the inaccurate messages and subsequent crashes and have nuked them from orbit.  Hurrah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 April, 2021, 11:48:47 pm
Ohai mystery packet loss.  That explains the weird latency problems.

Explaining the mystery packet loss may involve Hardware jibbling, and it's too perilously close to midnight for that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 24 April, 2021, 03:07:57 pm
Mr Zuckerberg has recently decided I'm a blue collar American and now while scrolling through pictures of friends on bikes, adverts for bike products, bicycles for sale and bicycle memes I get a Facebook "suggested post" with a tepid JPEG-artefacty pertrolhead/trucker/motorbiker/offroading meme.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 April, 2021, 04:07:41 pm
Ohai mystery packet loss.  That explains the weird latency problems.

Explaining the mystery packet loss may involve Hardware jibbling, and it's too perilously close to midnight for that.

It's now the other side of midnight, and it turns out that if the processor is using a completely different 50MHz clock source to the Ethernet PHY, the network still kinda-sorta works, though intermittently not very well.  Who'd have thunk it?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 April, 2021, 06:17:28 pm
Somewhere in tens of thousands of files and hundreds of thousands of lines of text is a missing “/“ character.

I will find you…

I ent found it.

Yet.

Bah!

I found it.  Or rather I didn't, because the error message was being economical with the truth.  But I did find the cause of the inaccurate messages and subsequent crashes and have nuked them from orbit.  Hurrah!

Oh arseburgers!  Found another one.  At least finding this one only took forty minutes instead of six months.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 27 April, 2021, 02:01:24 pm
Mr Zuckerberg has recently decided I'm a blue collar American and now while scrolling through pictures of friends on bikes, adverts for bike products, bicycles for sale and bicycle memes I get a Facebook "suggested post" with a tepid JPEG-artefacty pertrolhead/trucker/motorbiker/offroading meme.

You probably know this already but the latest Mac OS update blocks apps tracking your activity on other websites/apps, thus breaking targeted ads - you now have to explicitly opt in to receive them. Mr Zuckerberg is, as you can imagine, not happy and has started an anti-Apple campaign on Facebook.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 27 April, 2021, 09:38:46 pm
Mr Zuckerberg has recently decided I'm a blue collar American and now while scrolling through pictures of friends on bikes, adverts for bike products, bicycles for sale and bicycle memes I get a Facebook "suggested post" with a tepid JPEG-artefacty pertrolhead/trucker/motorbiker/offroading meme.

FB adverts amuse me. Sometimes they are appropriate. Sometimes they are so wrong...
I've had denture fixative, incontinence products, retirement homes, funeral plans, Kosher food, much Church stuff, quite a lot of music, a £17,000,000 des res on Millionaires' Row and lots of cars...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 May, 2021, 07:16:50 pm
I had todo some stuffs on the Scout Association website which entailed me entering some address info. The only way seemed to be by typing in the postcode and selecting the particular address from the twenty or so options. So far so normal.
But what's this?
"There are two towns named $foo."
Followed by a check box choice of $foo in x county or y county.

I've already located $foo town you numpties,through the magick of post codes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SteveC on 16 May, 2021, 07:58:26 pm
Mr Zuckerberg has recently decided I'm a blue collar American and now while scrolling through pictures of friends on bikes, adverts for bike products, bicycles for sale and bicycle memes I get a Facebook "suggested post" with a tepid JPEG-artefacty pertrolhead/trucker/motorbiker/offroading meme.

FB adverts amuse me. Sometimes they are appropriate. Sometimes they are so wrong...
I've had denture fixative, incontinence products, retirement homes, funeral plans, Kosher food, much Church stuff, quite a lot of music, a £17,000,000 des res on Millionaires' Row and lots of cars...
Twitter ones are the least appropriate for me. I keep getting quite detailed adverts for farming supplies and equipment. I'm not a farmer, nor do I follow any on Twitter.  ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 18 May, 2021, 08:54:57 pm
I really should change my broadband as I'm on lazy prices, because really, who wants to spend their evenings looking at broadband deals. I know it's probably all the same wires, and it's just branding. BT have been OK, tbh, but I don't think £48/month for basic* 70Mb/s is bargainalicious and far more than I'd pay as a new customer. Virgin always claim I can have fibre but that to date has been a fat lie and it always turns out that the bears have eaten their fibre. It's not fucking ursine All Bran, you beardy Branson fuckers. Then, of course, there's the hassle of them fucking up the transfer, which is the real threat, the knife at your throat. Change your deal, and the wires might get it, punk.

I find all this pointless choice soul-destroying. It must be a Finestre thing. I hate modern life. Let's bring communism back. What do you want for tea, comrade? Beetroot or cabbage? I'll have the beetroot. We don't have beetroot.

And a cream trimphone. I want a fucking cream trimphone. My parents have been on a waiting list for one of those since 1983.

*yeah, I'm old enough to remember my first 28.8kb/s modem.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 18 May, 2021, 10:36:23 pm
28.8k? I remember doing overnight & weekend support with a rather heavy but small screen laptop with a 9.6k dial-up modem. Those were the days! Text only, line editor . . . .  paper bag in' middle o' road . . .
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 May, 2021, 11:05:15 pm
9.6k?  Laptop?  Fookin' luxury!  2400 and a VT220.  Although we did have EDT at the other end of the line.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 18 May, 2021, 11:54:06 pm
I really should change my broadband as I'm on lazy prices, because really, who wants to spend their evenings looking at broadband deals. I know it's probably all the same wires, and it's just branding.

No it's not:  It's only the same Openretch product between you and your ISP, or in the case of an LLU provider, between you and your telephone exchange.  LLU backhaul, the ISP's connection to the onward internet, and services they provide like DNS and email, are a tangible difference between providers.

None of this makes shopping for deals any more fun.  That's why I don't shop for deals and just pay the going rate for a decent internet connection.  No point being cheap about that in 2021.


I saw the crushed remains of a trimphone in a pile of flytipping a few weeks back.  It wasn't cream, unfortunately.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 19 May, 2021, 07:14:32 am
Trimphones, not cream.
https://geemarc.com/uk/product/trimlines/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 19 May, 2021, 09:37:44 am
I really should change my broadband as I'm on lazy prices, because really, who wants to spend their evenings looking at broadband deals. I know it's probably all the same wires, and it's just branding.

No it's not:  It's only the same Openretch product between you and your ISP, or in the case of an LLU provider, between you and your telephone exchange.  LLU backhaul, the ISP's connection to the onward internet, and services they provide like DNS and email, are a tangible difference between providers.

None of this makes shopping for deals any more fun.  That's why I don't shop for deals and just pay the going rate for a decent internet connection.  No point being cheap about that in 2021.


I saw the crushed remains of a trimphone in a pile of flytipping a few weeks back.  It wasn't cream, unfortunately.

That sort of the problem though, the only thing you can really decide on is price – is the Vodaphone 'backend' better than BT, or EE, or PlusNet, or a raft or other suppliers that I've never heard of? Is the known stability of BT worth paying twice the starting rate of others? You cannot really make a rational, informed decision. It's same for all these utilities, where you could – and I'm sure some people do – spend your life searching for and rafting cheap intro deals and griping to the internet when it goes wrong.

This is an MLIR grumble, of course. And my parents did, if I recall, try to the cream trimphone when we got our first phone line back in the mid-eighties and, despite the generous half dozen options in the BT catalogue, they got a grey rotary phone because that was all they had.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: slope on 19 May, 2021, 10:18:50 am
It's same for all these utilities, where you could – and I'm sure some people do – spend your life searching for and rafting cheap intro deals and griping to the internet when it goes wrong.

When we had FTTP installed to our remote rural location* in Eryri (Snowdonia), the choice of broadband provider was a no-brainer. Only 5 or 6 companies offered FTTP. BT was the cheapest by far.

Paying £39.99 per month for 150Mbps/30Mbps - it's been faultless :thumbsup:

*no mobile phone coverage either
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 19 May, 2021, 10:37:01 am
If you're happy with the current quality of service you can phone up and make some noises about moving to a different provider and they'll give you some sort of lower price.

I literally got an email from my provider saying "we're going to increase your bill. One phone call is all it takes to stop us". They've correctly gambled that I'll pay an extra £x a month in return for avoiding making that call. Money well spent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 19 May, 2021, 06:01:14 pm
... And my parents did, if I recall, try to the cream trimphone when we got our first phone line back in the mid-eighties and, despite the generous half dozen options in the BT catalogue, they got a grey rotary phone because that was all they had.
I recall my parents having a trimphone at least 40 years ago. And cream ones can still be bought -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133764817930?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=133764817930&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007009&poi=&campaignid=10219897599&mkgroupid=103415893353&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1063846&merchantid=118919160&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDZKKOyOMw-Iz_9s0kYlIfLPujQzqZclM-9znsPq_zggkeNoAZZbM8MaAle9EALw_wcB
 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133764817930?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=133764817930&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007009&poi=&campaignid=10219897599&mkgroupid=103415893353&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1063846&merchantid=118919160&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDZKKOyOMw-Iz_9s0kYlIfLPujQzqZclM-9znsPq_zggkeNoAZZbM8MaAle9EALw_wcB)
I saw an ivory (colour, not material) one for a tenner plus postage in Bognor Regis. Strikes me as the right sort of place to still have trimphones.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 19 May, 2021, 07:35:09 pm
Our Trimphone was two-tone green. WRT broadband, I’m sticking with Vodafone as we both have mobiles with them, after moving from Plusnet after some 15 years. When the latter were bought by BT their customer service went south. And whilst Vodafone has offshored customer services, it’s in Cairo, and I’ve found it very good, with comprehensible English.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 19 May, 2021, 07:50:03 pm
I suspect they've changed their mind on the need for a trimphone in the intervening years. Getting a phone was very exciting for a little me though, though absolutely no one was allowed to use it. You even reached for it and DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT PHONE! would wham right into your ear. Even if my mother was at work, she knew, and boy could her voice travel. Other than me, it's the only thing in my family that has travelled.

I saved up all that non-phone goodwill until I was at university and I had a girlfriend who gone back to the US for the holidays.

Thirty-odd years later my mother is still bringing that bill up. I would mind less, but I paid that bloody bill. All £750ish of it.

With broadband, I've never used any service other than the installation. All I know about my BT service is that it has been rock solid and delivers the speed as promised (which it should, the cabinet is at the bottom of the road). Like most people these days, the main fear is the interregnum, the yawning abyss that could open between providers. I realise I'm entirely reliant on the internet for work, music, and TV. Pretty much everything, other than smut, I'm still one for the magazines for that. I like the layout. That's weird, if you think about it, growing up as I did when awe came in the shape of a Commodore 64.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 19 May, 2021, 08:41:51 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington
9.6k?  Laptop?  Fookin' luxury!  2400 and a VT220.  Although we did have EDT at the other end of the line.
Hah!  VT100* and a 300 baud modem and a line editor.



*Actually as it was the NHS it was more likely to be a Plessey or C-ITOH cheap knock-off copy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 19 May, 2021, 09:05:51 pm
I suspect they've changed their mind on the need for a trimphone in the intervening years. Getting a phone was very exciting for a little me though, though absolutely no one was allowed to use it. You even reached for it and DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT PHONE! would wham right into your ear. Even if my mother was at work, she knew, and boy could her voice travel. Other than me, it's the only thing in my family that has travelled.

I saved up all that non-phone goodwill until I was at university and I had a girlfriend who gone back to the US for the holidays.

Thirty-odd years later my mother is still bringing that bill up. I would mind less, but I paid that bloody bill. All £750ish of it.

When I was a Small, I was dragged out of the house of a Sunday evening, down to the phone box where my parents would call my Granny and Aunt ( they lived together, the daughter having never left home ). They were posh and had a phone in the house.

'Banff 2698' they would say, on answering.
Over the pips, we would shove coins into the apparatus to enable a conversation.

Around my final years of primary school, late '70s, I got home from school to find Mother Dear hopping from foot to foot with excitment.
'Can you see anything different?' she gasped between squeals of pleasure.
No, I could not.
Then it was pointed out. The trimphone basking in the Spotlight of Glory.

Like you say, it was Not to be Used upon pain of death, except for the weekly call to Banff 2698.

Some years later, in the mid-80s, I returned home from my first year at Uni, with an Apple ][ computer and a 300 baud modem in hand.
I rigged some clandestine phone extension wiring to my room, and used the dial-up connection back to the uni mainframes to play Dungeons text-based games.
My parents got a bill for several hundreds of pounds which they could not understand.
I stirred my cornflakes furiously, and shuffled off quietly.
They complained to BT that there must be some mistake, and after some negotiation they got a substantial discount on the bill.

I think I did eventually fess up to that one.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 19 May, 2021, 09:10:33 pm
Phone calls were VERY expensive around 1980.
I expended a fair proportion of my PSO income Phoning the Parents.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 19 May, 2021, 09:50:03 pm
I did not enjoy paying that £750 phone bill, as it basically ate my entire summer earnings (fortunately I was moving on a PhD, so had the benefits of a modest stipend, actually a decent one). It also learned me how to use the internet and exciting things like email and chat. I know it was £750 because my mother still reminds me of the actual amount.

When I moved back to the UK from my first sojourn in the US years later I remember the battle of the phone line, a peril of wanting to use the internet in a house shared with three Irish girls capable of holding six phone calls simultaneously. The dawn of ubiquitous mobile telephony couldn't have come sooner. I really wish it had.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 20 May, 2021, 12:54:03 pm
It's same for all these utilities, where you could – and I'm sure some people do – spend your life searching for and rafting cheap intro deals and griping to the internet when it goes wrong.

When we had FTTP installed to our remote rural location* in Eryri (Snowdonia), the choice of broadband provider was a no-brainer. Only 5 or 6 companies offered FTTP. BT was the cheapest by far.

Paying £39.99 per month for 150Mbps/30Mbps - it's been faultless :thumbsup:

*no mobile phone coverage either

Did they turn up to install it in the same month as the appointment?  They missed 8 appointments for us, were generally extremely arsey with us on the phone when we were trying to ask them WTF they were playing at (that's when we could get a mobile signal, stood outside in the snow) and generally lied and cheated their way through the entire debacle, including drastically increasing the price within 6 months, on an 18 month guaranteed fixed price.  Utter bastards!  We had no choice as to provider, BT illegally refuse to release their fibre network to other providers, claiming its because they financed it, which is untrue, as it was jointly funded by the Welsh Govt and the EU.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: slope on 20 May, 2021, 01:36:43 pm
It's same for all these utilities, where you could – and I'm sure some people do – spend your life searching for and rafting cheap intro deals and griping to the internet when it goes wrong.

When we had FTTP installed to our remote rural location* in Eryri (Snowdonia), the choice of broadband provider was a no-brainer. Only 5 or 6 companies offered FTTP. BT was the cheapest by far.

Paying £39.99 per month for 150Mbps/30Mbps - it's been faultless :thumbsup:

*no mobile phone coverage either

Did they turn up to install it in the same month as the appointment?  They missed 8 appointments for us, were generally extremely arsey with us on the phone when we were trying to ask them WTF they were playing at (that's when we could get a mobile signal, stood outside in the snow) and generally lied and cheated their way through the entire debacle, including drastically increasing the price within 6 months, on an 18 month guaranteed fixed price.  Utter bastards!  We had no choice as to provider, BT illegally refuse to release their fibre network to other providers, claiming its because they financed it, which is untrue, as it was jointly funded by the Welsh Govt and the EU.

Fortunately (and rather surprising based on previous BT missed appointments etc) the whole installation process was very slick.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 20 May, 2021, 08:56:20 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington
9.6k?  Laptop?  Fookin' luxury!  2400 and a VT220.  Although we did have EDT at the other end of the line.
Hah!  VT100* and a 300 baud modem and a line editor.

Kids today don't know they're born. KSR 33 and a 110 baud acoustic coupler.

Wowbagger will be along in a moment to give us his memories of the difference engine.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 21 May, 2021, 12:30:34 pm
Minutes, well seconds, of mindless fun.

  https://www.soundjay.com/dial-up-modem-sound-effect.html
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 25 May, 2021, 11:15:51 pm
https://vivirenremoto.github.io/doomcaptcha/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: FifeingEejit on 25 May, 2021, 11:19:52 pm
https://vivirenremoto.github.io/doomcaptcha/
Bah the BFG would be more fun

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 May, 2021, 12:23:18 am
That's all well and good, but where's the identify-the-usable-cycle-facility CAPTCHA?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 26 May, 2021, 04:41:05 pm
Well freenode is having a whale of a time atm. Take over and people running away to other servers.

And some nasty talking and botting https://twitter.com/mjg59/status/1397297559777906691

is this the great IRC war of 21 ?

rest assure that you can still lurk/idle in #yacf but now in our nice new and shinny home over here - irc.libera.chat:6697 :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 26 May, 2021, 05:55:04 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington
9.6k?  Laptop?  Fookin' luxury!  2400 and a VT220.  Although we did have EDT at the other end of the line.
Hah!  VT100* and a 300 baud modem and a line editor.

Kids today don't know they're born. KSR 33 and a 110 baud acoustic coupler.

Wowbagger will be along in a moment to give us his memories of the difference engine.
Bah! Humbug! An abacus was good enough for Mrs B's great grandfather. None of this newfangled stuff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 May, 2021, 06:10:47 pm
Well freenode is having a whale of a time atm. Take over and people running away to other servers.

And some nasty talking and botting https://twitter.com/mjg59/status/1397297559777906691

is this the great IRC war of 21 ?

Oh marvellous.


Quote
rest assure that you can still lurk/idle in #yacf but now in our nice new and shinny home over here - irc.libera.chat:6697 :)

/me sticks that in her irssi config
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 May, 2021, 02:38:34 pm
Half the internets not working, neither from fondleslab nor Proper Computer.  Cannot connect to yacf or the BHPC.  Blogspot, Flickr and! Yahoo! Mail! OK!  Reboot Proper Computer.  yacf returns, as if by legerdemain, on fondleslab.

WTF is that all about, kids?
Title: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread
Post by: Beardy on 01 June, 2021, 12:04:09 am
This tablet from the fruit vendors of Cupertino is getting a bit more than ropey. I think it’s acting up now because it knows I’ve ordered a new one, and as that’s not due for another 2 to 4 weeks, I think it’s hoping to die before then and leave me high and dry. Bastard thing.

More seriously, I’ve taken on a job that needs completing soon so I can afford the new toys, but if this thing dies in the mean time I’m going to be digging out old laptops.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 05 June, 2021, 01:20:19 pm
The new fondleslab has arrived, has been turned on and allowed to speak to my phone and has configured itself to match my old fondleslab. The new one is physically smaller but has greater screenage than the device it is replacing and the technology within is wizzier and bangier. But on the whole it’s a bit underwhelming.
I now need to decide on which case I’m going to get.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 05 June, 2021, 01:42:10 pm
Installed LineageOS on my Moto 5GS that had Android 8.0.1 and the new shinny is Android 11. Took some faffing and unlocking etc. All in all I think it is a wee bit faster. Mind, I got a feeling that the brightness isn't a bright as the old version or is it that summer have hit and everything is bright. Now lets see how it behaves after a few weeks use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 06 June, 2021, 07:38:07 am
The new fondleslab has arrived, has been turned on and allowed to speak to my phone and has configured itself to match my old fondleslab. The new one is physically smaller but has greater screenage than the device it is replacing and the technology within is wizzier and bangier. But on the whole it’s a bit underwhelming.
I now need to decide on which case I’m going to get.
I think that is generally true of all IT currently. There is nothing new happening and all the changes are small.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: geraldc on 07 June, 2021, 06:04:45 pm
I think the company I work for has been hit by a ransomware attack. The server's have been down since Thursday and we've been told not to expect them back for a few days, as things are being rebuilt/built. The explanations we've been given make no sense at all, so naturally we are coming up with our own theories



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 June, 2021, 07:00:15 pm
Only a few days? Pingu's organisation was not really functional for months.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: geraldc on 11 June, 2021, 02:46:11 pm
Today we were all emailed the following crib notes:
Essentially bad boys did it, and they ran away.

CLIENT FAQ



 

1.   What exactly has happened? 



Our parent company, xxxxx, has been the target of a cyber incident and in order to limit the impact of the incident, they have shut down their systems. This has subsequently shut down our IT network. 



They are now working with external forensics specialists to investigate what happened and to rebuild our systems in a completely new and clean environment Our IT team took immediate action to limit the impact of this cyber incident by shutting off our systems, which consequently shut down the IT of each business within the group. 

 

2.   How did this happen?



This forms part of the investigation, which is in its very early stages. 

 

3.   What are we doing about it? 



Xxxx has taken a number of proactive steps since becoming aware of the incident, including: 

Engaging a dedicated team of external IT specialists to help us restore our systems and fully investigate what happened
Proactively shutting off our systems to limit the impact of the incident 
Building a completely clean and new IT environment 
 

4.   Who did this? 



We know that there was third party unauthorised and unlawful access to our systems but we can’t say more at this time. 

 

5.   Has any data been impacted? 



The investigation into what happened is in its earliest stages, however, understanding if there has been any impact on data is a key part of the forensic investigation and we will not have an answer until that is complete. We will of course be complying with our regulatory responsibilities as we continue to respond to this incident.

 

6.   How long will the investigation take? 



The investigation is in its very early stages and therefore it may take some time to complete. We will update you further on the findings as soon as we are able to do so. Broadly, we have been told by our IT experts that conducting an extensive IT forensic investigation can take several weeks to complete. 

 

7.   How long until your systems are back up and running? 



We are currently working with IT specialists to help us recover our systems as effectively as possible. They have advised that restoring our IT network safely and securely is no small feat but we are working hard to support you as best as possible.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 11 June, 2021, 04:33:08 pm
As Mrs P indicates, we were hit on Xmas Eve and we're still nowhere near back to full operational capacity.

It sounds like you've been told the same things as we were at the beginning of our adventure.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 11 June, 2021, 05:33:57 pm
Never mind, they are taking *proactive* steps to deal with the situation (never a problem, oh no, definitely a *situation*) and everyone knows that *proactive* steps are so much better than *steps*.

"... recover our systems as effectively as possible."

"Has any data been impacted?"
I think the idiot meant to write, "Have any data been *stolen*?"

Christ, which cereal packet was that vacuous drivel copied from?

Herewith the unbowdlerised (and more to the point) version...

1) Some thieving low-life has screwed up our IT systems and probably lifted shed-loads of data while he or she was about it because ...
2) One of you *idiots* ignored all the instructions to *not* click on dodgy links nor open files from iffy senders.
3) The poor gits in IT are working double tides trying to rebuild things so don't even think about complaining.
4) When the dust has settled there *will* be a witch-hunt.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 June, 2021, 01:30:36 pm
Well that was painless. I had to join two phone lines and two ISPs into one. What made it hard, was the line we wanted to keep wasn't with the phone/ISP provider we wanted.

One email and one phone call later to the company we wanted to stay with. Along with one phone call to the company we wanted to leave to tell them that another service would take over. Both answered quite quick and understood what we wanted, so costumer service was good all over.

Where I was a wee bit worried was the day the new company said it would take over we would have issues. But router arrived 2 days before, letter said plug it in, in the am and we will make sure the switch over takes a short while. Which we did and had internet right away. The hardest part was walking around the house to type in the new magic word into all the devices.

Best part the phone and internet access comes out to nearly £20 earth pounds less than the previous provider.
 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 June, 2021, 09:44:55 am
Mark it in your diaries: 14 October 2025 is the end of Windows 10 (https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/14/microsoft_windows_10_end_support_date/).

I wonder whether I'll have managed to persuade Bruiser McHuge to install the 20H2 update by then?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 16 June, 2021, 11:52:14 pm
What USB sticks does this esteemed forum think best?

Best as in reliable, robust, & read & write at something like what one should get from devices of their class.

IME sliders break & caps get lost. Some USB sticks are ludicrously fragile without even the excuse of being sllders. Reliable means they don't start forgetting your stuff annoyingly soon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 17 June, 2021, 09:11:02 am
Bledlow, spend the money find a known brand and buy direct. That's were I have had best success and use out of a stick. Getting them from a random seller and or cheap you will get a fake/copy/clone. Too many people are flogging these atm and even good and known sellers have been done by scammers. YMMV
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 17 June, 2021, 09:21:59 am
Windows what are you doing?!?! (I seriously need to get back to linux, this is just silly)

Got a new drive to be new backup drive as old drive is getting full.

Plug both drives in to puter, rsync folder from <old and small backup drive> to <new and bigger backup drive>, wait as it is a big folder with <many_files>.

Check <old and small backup drive> to see that it got <many_files>, check <new and bigger backup drive> to see if got the files from <old and small backup drive> to see that it got <many_files>+<more> than there is in <old and small backup drive>

you what now?!?!?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 17 June, 2021, 01:05:21 pm
Bledlow, spend the money find a known brand and buy direct. That's were I have had best success and use out of a stick. Getting them from a random seller and or cheap you will get a fake/copy/clone. Too many people are flogging these atm and even good and known sellers have been done by scammers. YMMV
Apart from a brief foray into 7dayshop's own brand (flimsy) I've always bought known brands from reputable sellers. I've never had any that failed suddenly. The latest one to misbehave was USB 2.0, & well-used for longer than I remember. Not really surprising that it started developing funny little ways. Turned out that Mrs B no longer had any use for about 99% of the files on it, & the few she did want all copied perfectly, so no real worries.

What I'd like is opinions on the quality of brands, because with that failure & the accidental washing of one together with the trousers it was in a pocket of (that's happened twice - but the Integral one survived apparently unharmed. Found in a pocket when nice dry laundry was being brought in from the washing line) we could do with one or two more.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 June, 2021, 04:25:53 pm
What USB sticks does this esteemed forum think best?

A stolen one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 17 June, 2021, 09:18:06 pm
The ones I used to scoop up from conferences, hundreds of them, I'd pass through halls like one of those Chinese factory fishing ship, trawling the seafloor, taking everything and leaving desolated stands in my wake. I have no idea to this day why I wanted them, I have almost zero uses for USB drives, but I was possessed with a weird kleptomania. I saw a USB stick I had to take it and not just one. I gave a drawerful of them to my FiL in the end, the rest probably don't work or have got that horrid rubber sticky disease.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 June, 2021, 07:13:20 am
Hmm some files on "server" aka shared drive attached to a raspberry pi and sambs'ed up. Shows up as hidden when viewed from win10. All files/drives are same user and rw in the drive.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 June, 2021, 10:24:07 am
Now that China has all but banned cryptocurrencies, GPU prices are falling like Bitcoin (https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/22/as_china_shutters_cryptomining_plants/).  Good news for them as might be wanting a new picture card in future.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 June, 2021, 10:51:10 am
Hmm some files on "server" aka shared drive attached to a raspberry pi and sambs'ed up. Shows up as hidden when viewed from win10. All files/drives are same user and rw in the drive.

AIUI there are various options in smb.conf to map the 'hidden' attribute[1] to different types of files.


[1] Linux doesn't have the concept, just the convention of by default not displaying files with names that start with a dot.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 June, 2021, 01:02:26 pm
Yeah I have seen that while searching for what is what. But my smb.conf is very simple

Code: [Select]
[vault]
path = /media/vault
comment = vault
read only = no
available = yes
browseable = yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
public = yes
printable = no
locking = no
strict locking = no
create mask = 0666
directory mask = 0777

The last four lines have been added in the latest faff in hope that it would do something, cause I don't know much samba.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 June, 2021, 10:40:36 am
#1 monitor: if you have died on your arse I shall be this: miffed >:(

Edit: unplugged mains lead, reinserted same, major financial disaster averted :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 30 June, 2021, 10:50:15 am
doh, I had totally forgotten that I had installed lighttp on my raspberry pi. So I have just spend a good hour and a bit hammering around trying to get apache2 to run, accept my edit/settings/restart etc and not understanding why the feck nothing worked no matter what I did.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 01 July, 2021, 01:22:16 pm
Grumble.  Looks like I'll have to get a new phone shortly.  My iPhone 6 is in perfect nick, still has decent battery life & does everything I want,   but apps are becoming unsupported or don't work properly. 
In the last week I've been unable to use Touch ID for Standard Life (pension), Interactive Investor (ISA) & First Direct (bank).  Standard Life started working after I re-enabled it,  ii acknowledged the problem with the app & it was fixed in a couple of days,  FD say they also have a problem on Twitter & are working on it.


"Hi Andrew, I am sorry that you are having issues with Touch ID. This is something that we are aware of, and will be rectified with an app update over the next few days. In the meantime you will still be able to use the Digital Secure Key password to log into the app.-Sarah"


I also had to install an old version of the Ebay app, as the current one won't work.    I suppose 6 years of use isn't bad,  but I like to keep things longer if I can.     :(


Edit.  Latest update of the First Direct app & now Touch ID is working OK again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 July, 2021, 01:30:21 pm
If the general slowness of any operation involving the NAS known in these parts as FatBoy is not cured by a reboot I shall be this: miffed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 July, 2021, 12:01:17 pm
New SSD installed and - after a few minor panics - appears happy :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 09 July, 2021, 10:10:31 am
Yay! Linux Mint 20.2 released!   :thumbsup: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=4102 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 09 July, 2021, 11:18:49 am
Oh *good*.  I cannot wait.  Just what I always wanted. More of my tiny amount of free time spent looking after IT.  Oooh.  So excited.

Warning.  Post may contain traces of irony, sarcasm and a barely detectable soupcon of cynicism.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 July, 2021, 08:18:47 pm
Just updated Great Hall PC to Win 10 21H1.

Crikey! That was so quick I had to check after the reboot to make sure it worked :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 20 July, 2021, 03:00:25 pm
Thank you Word viewed in Edge for informing me that I'm viewing page 56 of 52  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 23 July, 2021, 10:20:33 pm
I’ve spent a reasonable amount of this evening trying unsuccessfully to model a linkage in various graphics apps on my fondelslab. I could try again using Sketchup on the grown up computer (on the morrow as Dr Beardy (Mrs) has retired for the day and the computer hall is also our bedroom) but I think it would be quicker and simpler to make a cardboard model of my intended component and measure the moving distances directly from that. I’m sure a cleverer (or more patient) person than I could use maths to work it out, but BEER excludes me from attempting such mental gymnastics this evening.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nuttycyclist on 23 July, 2021, 11:06:37 pm
Laptop pinging constantly with incoming emails, but nothing in inbox.   Ahah! I thinks with a random lightbulb moment, must be due to the outlook rules I have set up to shift the $h:t to relevant folders-to-be-ignored.

Search for new emails.   Nuffink.  New outlook is unworthy of being called a decent product.

Remember old days and ctrl-shift-f to bring up the search box.  Ahah!  it still works.    It cannot find emails I know I have received as I have them open in the other window.   Start the advanced search options........

Apparently you can search now for emails that "have been received"....    wait for it.....   
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 July, 2021, 12:33:01 am
Well, you can search.  It's when it starts finding them that you need to worry...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 July, 2021, 12:39:06 am

WTF microshit!   […]  have you sold your soul to the devil?


This is what lat. teachers mean when they speak of “questions expecting the answer 'yes'”
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 24 July, 2021, 07:00:08 am
Ermm.  Date formatting issue?  You're entering d/m/y and it's reading m/d/y.  So you're entering a July date which *it* is interpreting as an August date.  I know this *shouldn't* be an issue becos your  Windoze locale will be set appropriately, but...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 29 July, 2021, 11:05:28 am
Apparently all astronauts use Linux.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 30 July, 2021, 10:13:38 am
Apparently all astronauts use Linux.

(click to show/hide)
which one is your coat?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 30 July, 2021, 10:48:16 am
That'll be the vacuum formed mac.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2021, 10:55:05 am
The Great Monthly Backup of All Things* has now been running for fifty-three hours, because some genius at SCS Software decided to bless us with a pile of unasked-for guff, measureless to Man and which, to judge from a comparison of its compressed and uncompressed sizes, consist largely of not much at all.  I shall have to rethink the strategy.

* from a tolerably brisk network disk to a dog-slow one
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 02 August, 2021, 12:34:09 pm
If anyone is interested, this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBJm9ZYqL10) is a video of the issues that were present in the Post Office Horizon software that resulted in the dodgy convictions. A little bit on the noddy side, but that makes it simpler for anyone to understand. I'd wondered just how the impact had been so widespread, it turns out that the range of issues with the system, and therefore potential false indicators was breathtakingly large.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 August, 2021, 11:09:23 am
I learned yesterday, somewhat to my surprise, that if you edit a Windows batch file while it’s executing the changes are applied immediately rather than waiting until the next time it runs.  'tis sorcery!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 August, 2021, 11:39:27 am
*ponders evil uses for self-modifying batch files*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 08 August, 2021, 02:27:32 pm
I've just found an Ubuntu 6.06 CD-ROM in the pile of tat in a loft cupboard while we were sorting things for the move.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 08 August, 2021, 04:12:30 pm
ah that's was when I got into Linux :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nuttycyclist on 08 August, 2021, 04:53:34 pm
*ponders evil uses for self-modifying batch files*

I was writing those, for non-evil uses, many years before microsith moved to powershell.  I still haven't moved to powershell as everything I need(ed) is all capable of in batch files with enough thought and research.  Colleagues have all followed the trend and belief that batch files are depreciated tech.  Luckily I no longer need to invest time considering a coding bodge to enable me to pretend to be busy with following a work procedure while the computer is actually doing it all for me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 08 August, 2021, 05:04:42 pm
Whatever your computing requirements, self-modifying code is never the correct answer...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nuttycyclist on 08 August, 2021, 11:15:49 pm
Agree it looks bad in principle, but it was a solution to a problem and it worked.    I forget the total logic (despite being so pleased when I got it working) but it was along the lines of reading an input file, spawning a new batch file from the variables input, making sure only x batch files were running concurrently, code in batch files self healing if certain conditions were met, then on completion a self destruction to delete the batch file that was running before closing down and thus freeing up a new session that the master batch file would see and so spawn a new one.   

A very dirty way to get through a source file, in multiple windows, where each window was running through a number of logical fixes to x remote computers based on the status it was reading and the results of what it was finding.  Big_Boss wanted me to fix lots of machines before the user had a bigger problem and called the helldesk, but the computer next to me was doing it for me.  All I needed to do was to look at any window that hadn't closed, remote on and diagnose the fault, and see if I could improve the source batch that was writing the other code so that a new fix went in; whether that was in the source or the crazy self changing code that the source had produced and was re-writing itself in the temporary code that was only existent for the time it had been created and before it deleted itself.

Biggest problems were keeping $Input_file current (ruddy machines kept breaking, users went offline), or turning up at the office to find a hotdesking colleague had stolen borrowed the network cable and not plugged it back in.

Luckily this was over a decade ago and long since not in use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 14 August, 2021, 09:12:00 pm
Prompted by an, "I remember when this was all fields around here." thread in the Pub..

A long time ago* I tried to write a programme (sic) to work out square roots for an ancient** computer that the maths teachers had rescued from somewhere. As might be expected for a mid to late 1950s design it lacked a number of features that we have come to expect, like hardware / OS division & multiplication.  I never did get the programme to run because the function to divide kept hitting endless loops so today I finally wrote that function to calculate square roots.  It took 5 minutes.  Of course there are all sorts of flaws, the selection of the initial approximation is rubbish, there's no accounting for possible overflow errors, the large difference used as the end point, endless loops etc. etc. etc, but the itch has been scratched. :)

Code: [Select]
        static double squareRoot(double value) {
            double candidate = value / 10;
            while (Math.Abs(value - (candidate * candidate)) > 0.001) {
                candidate = (candidate + (value / candidate)) / 2;
            }
            return candidate;
        }


* Late 1976 or early 1977
** It was several years older than me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 14 August, 2021, 11:50:41 pm
Somewhere around 15 years ago, to find a square root using a processor that didn't do divide, here is what I did:-
The target is the number for which the square root is needed.
The iteration starts with a guess of 2048
The guess is squared
If the result is bigger than the target, then 1024 is subtracted from the guess
otherwise 1024 is added
next time, 512 is added or subtracted
and so on until 1 is added or subtracted
then the guess is the square root




Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 August, 2021, 08:02:34 am
That looks, sort of, like a bit shift division/multiplication to me which if I'd known about it then would have made life a *lot* easier.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 15 August, 2021, 04:33:21 pm
While writing code, there were odd bits of maths to be done, sometimes with a processor with no divide, and some even without a multiply function.

piclist.com gave me some ideas. It was quite often a combination of ideas that could have really good results.

In one bit of code I wanted to find a bearing from a latitude difference and a longitude difference. The first thing I did was to work out which 45° section the answer was in, so that the arctan function I needed was of a number less than 1. If I trapped the case where both differences were zero, that also meant that I could avoid dividing by zero as I was always dividing by the larger number.

Then I used a lookup table for arctan, with linear interpolation between points. It turns out that to get 1° accuracy in the range 0 - 45°, only 5 points are needed on the lookup table.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 August, 2021, 02:48:16 pm
I've been looking at how to use microcontrollers, and came across this

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/Advanced/punch-activated-arm-flamethrowers-real-firebending-95bb80


What could go wrong?

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 24 August, 2021, 05:15:32 pm
My 2012 iMac bongs a semi-tone higher than my 2015 iMac when they start up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: slope on 24 August, 2021, 05:23:21 pm
My 2012 iMac bongs a semi-tone higher than my 2015 iMac when they start up.

You need a larger diameter narghile for earlier models.

My 2019 iMac didn't bong at all until it I hacked it
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 24 August, 2021, 05:41:04 pm
My 2012 iMac bongs a semi-tone higher than my 2015 iMac when they start up.

You need a larger diameter narghile for earlier models.

My 2019 iMac didn't bong at all until it I hacked it

My 2020 MacBook Air is like a nun's fart when it starts up.
Silent.

ETA - Had to look up narghile
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 24 August, 2021, 05:46:10 pm
I don't like it when I've had the volume high the night before and the following morning

BONG!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 24 August, 2021, 05:51:26 pm
I don't like it when I've had the volume high the night before and the following morning

BONG!
I have been similarly awoken.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 24 August, 2021, 09:14:06 pm
The "news" thread is that --> way. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 25 August, 2021, 12:01:40 pm
Turned on the printer for the first time in a long time.

After it spend a long time checking itself and using ink for no reason. I send one single page to print. It talks to my pc via wifi.

Said page got printed out, all be it a bit grey since all the other colours are running low.

Turned off printer, why have it on when it will easy be another month or two or even longer before I need to print something again.

20min or so later, win10, popped up with an error message - "failed to print filesendtoprinter.pdf"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 August, 2021, 12:38:08 pm
Printers were sent from hell to make us miserable, and it's only going to get worse if Windows or The Devil's Radio are involved.

It took me about 40 minutes to set up the reassuringly sensible Laserjet 4000[1] on a Windows 10 laptop the other day.  For some inexplicable reason it didn't have a copious database of HP drivers[2] out of the box (which previous Win 10 machines seem to have done), and the one that the HP website tries to persuade you to download is a trap.


[1] "Can you plug it in directly by USB?" asked the laptop's owner, assuming it was a network problem.  Snork.
[2] It's a real printer that speaks Postscript over Ethernet.  It just needs a PPD file.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 25 August, 2021, 01:03:06 pm
HP is evil too. You can only scan* via their app (read massive file to download with stuff you WILL not use). It also now ask you to sign in (which I can skip for now), more clicks and nags. Just to scan something.

Not sure how they behave via Linux. If they aren't as naughty as on micky$oft, I might have to set up a Linux machine so that I can scan and print via that.

When it dies, I'm tempted to set up my old dSLR and make a small light box for my scanning needs. instead of getting a new plastic object to collect dust.

*Main reason why we still keep this item in our house.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 August, 2021, 01:10:40 pm
The rot had already set in by the time people started building scanners into printers, but it certainly hasn't helped.

As ever, the rule of thumb is not to buy hardware that doesn't work properly in Linux, even if you've got no intention of using it with Linux.  It's a good way to avoid being tied to evil drivers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 25 August, 2021, 02:05:12 pm
We're still using our ancient HP LaserJet 1018 for anything that doesn't absolutely need colour. It's on at least its 3rd PC operating system. IIRC I had to find a driver once. Going from Windows 7 to 10? I forget.

Sad that they've sunk so low. I suspect it's to protect their obscenely fat margins on ink & toner, where they charge about five times as much as non-HP sellers. They claim that non-HP toners can mess up your printer. Since our LaserJet 1018 has been in steady use since the 2000s, & hasn't had any HP toner in it for most of that time, but whatever was cheapest at the time online (i.e. lots of different brands, usually in refilled cartridges), I think I've tested that proposition pretty well.

HP's current price for a single black toner cartridge to fit that printer is more than the printer cost. I like their engineering a lot, but I won't pay that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 August, 2021, 07:54:16 pm
Neglected to close iTunes on the Great Hall box last night.  Which means play counts not updated for everything* wot DJ Random played on the Estate Office machine this pm.  Buggrit buggrit buggrit >:(

* About seventy tracks.  Buggrit encore.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: T42 on 29 August, 2021, 08:54:51 am
The USB port on the front of my W7 box has lapsed to USB-1, with speeds somewhere south of roadkill.  Pulling the stick out and plugging it in again appears to goose it up to USB-2. Sometimes. ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 02 September, 2021, 08:39:48 pm
I've just installed Big Sur OS on my 2020 MacBook Air.
I appear to have gained the Sosumi bong on startup.
I appear to have lost the 'Woomp!' sound when connecting the charger.
Happy days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 03 September, 2021, 09:17:51 am
A New ‘Extreme Ultraviolet’ Microchip Machine Could Revive Moore’s Law (https://interestingengineering.com/new-extreme-ultraviolet-microchip-machine-could-revive-moores-law)

Quote
The Dutch company ASML has developed a next-generation extreme ultraviolet lithography machine that can produce microchips with never-before-seen levels of precision, possibly ensuring the continued miniaturization of chips for years to come, according to a press release on the company's website.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 03 September, 2021, 09:26:32 am
I have quantum mechanics on the other phone, she's quite insistent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 September, 2021, 01:04:16 pm
Here's a curious issue. Opinions welcome.

I have a Logitech mouse which connects to the computer by a dongle. The dongle plugs into a USB port.

When I plug it directly into the USB hub a very short distance from the mouse, I get very jerky and unreliable mouse action. When I plug the dongle into an Apple keyboard, I get much smoother mouse operation, even though the Apple keyboard is plugged into the same USB hub.

I'd really rather like to ditch the other keyboard as I have recently upgraded to a stupidly expensive Apple Magic Keyboard, which connects to the computer by Bluetooth and doesn't have a USB port to take the dongle. The old Apple keyboard stopped working as a keyboard after someone spilled non-alcoholic lager into it...

Edit: my dear wife said I should try spilling beer into the USB hub to see if it improved things. I didn't think this was terribly helpful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 September, 2021, 01:16:09 pm
It's RF, which means it's black magic voodoo pixie dust and not to be trusted.

I too have a Logitech mouse with a dongle.  The dongle is dangling (as dongles often do) from the end of a pair of ~20cm USB-A extension leads, in order to position it close enough to the mouse for reliable operation.  When plugged directly into the hub the signal's a bit iffy.  I suspect interference from the monitor, but if I turn that off, I can't see the mouse pointer moving.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 September, 2021, 06:07:43 pm
If you’re going to go to all the trouble and faff of dangling dongles, wouldn’t it be simpler just to used a wired mouse ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 September, 2021, 06:11:44 pm
If you’re going to go to all the trouble and faff of dangling dongles, wouldn’t it be simpler just to used a wired mouse ???

Ostensibly yes, but  a) it's one of the few left-handed[1] meece that's (no longer) on the market  and  b) it does avoid the drag of the cable interfering with your mousing, which is nice.

Unlike most wireless things, it's been utterly reliable (other than the pathetic range), and I merely have to swap a set of AAs every couple of months.  I'm reasonably sure it's an interference issue, as barakta has a trackpad that uses the same dongle, and it has a range of a couple of metres.  (No, I'm not sure what the point in a wireless trackpad is.)


[1] I'm a righty trying to avoid overuse injury, so an ambimoustrous one would just encourage bad habits.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 07 September, 2021, 10:48:16 pm
Judging by the fact that it's case is hot to the touch, and the fans are blowing like Concorde's turbines I think this 2008 imac might be be ready for retirement.   I'm just hoping they release a reasonably priced 27" model before I get my credit card out,
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 07 September, 2021, 11:53:05 pm
Have a look in Activity Monitor to see if anything’s running constantly. It shouldn’t run hot for no reason.

Also, if you’re adventurous and/or reckless you can take it apart and clean any accumulated dust. I think the older models are held together by screws rather than glue and magnets.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 08 September, 2021, 12:00:17 am
I think the older models are held together by screws rather than glue [...]

That's just letting the terrorists win.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 08 September, 2021, 09:06:42 am
There's a glass front screen that is held on with magnets.  Remove that & you can remove the front bezel & get at the gubbins inside.  I did it when I replaced the hard drive with an SSD a few years back.  It was full of dust then, so a clean is probably a good idea.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 September, 2021, 09:34:12 am
Have a look in Activity Monitor to see if anything’s running constantly. It shouldn’t run hot for no reason.

Also, if you’re adventurous and/or reckless you can take it apart and clean any accumulated dust. I think the older models are held together by screws rather than glue and magnets.

I'd check that too, my 2015 iMac (I'm holding out for the rumoured 30-inch version) runs silent and it's usually only something maxing out the cores that reminds me that it indeed has fans.

You might want to reset the SMC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 08 September, 2021, 10:20:23 pm
Using the built in DVD drive seems to kick the fans off.   I've got a separate boxed & unused Apple DVD drive,  as the current models don't include one.  I might give that a try.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 11 September, 2021, 02:31:54 pm
Sigh.

We have acquired a newish (2018) Ford Focus puddlejumper.
It has build-in satnav on the dashboard, on the same screen that does radio etc.
The maps are old, and don't have the local bypass on them.
So off to Mr Fords website to see what can be downloaded.

Yay, there are map updates.
But I need to update the system firmware first, before it will offer them to me.
OK, done that.
Now the map updates, plz.

25GB of download, which will take an estimated 4 hours here.
Bugger that.
Off to the orifice, with the work laptop, and it's a 30-minute download.
The work laptop has a feeble SSD drive, and that came close to filling it.

The downloaded file is a zip file, which needs un-zipping to an exFAT memory stick.
Fine. 7zip, have at it.
Gets 50% done, and fails.
Seems it does not unzip directly to the USB stick. It unzips to tmp folder on local SSD/HDD then copies that to the USB drive afterwards.
Out-of-space on the stupid local SSD.

So copy over network to my own PC.
Due to a PSU failure on a switch, this is currently on an old 100Mbit switch.
30 mins to copy over the network.

Then it will be something similar to unzip to the USB drive.
Then the docs say up to 2 hours to install on the car.

Hmph.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 17 September, 2021, 08:44:34 am
I've just found that the latest Dell monitors also contain a laptop power supply and a docking station that can run a second monitor. I can plug my laptop in with a single USB-C connection, and two external monitors, keyboard and mouse just work, and the laptop stays charged.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 17 September, 2021, 08:55:05 am
New iPhone preorder day today.

My current iPhone 11 is two years old. I like the look of the iPhone 13.

No, I don’t NEED to replace my existing phone…

I can get a good trade in on the iPhone 11 though.

Decisions decisions.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 17 September, 2021, 09:25:28 am
My iMac has developed a rather literal bug. At the bottom left corner of the screen, a little dipteran has wedged itself between the glass and the panel, like a tiny museum exhibit. I discovered this when I tried to wipe it off. The internet suggests it might desiccate and crumble away. The most annoying thing is that every time I notice it, I impulsively reach out to try and brush it away.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 17 September, 2021, 12:03:07 pm
New iPhone preorder day today.

My current iPhone 11 is two years old. I like the look of the iPhone 13.

No, I don’t NEED to replace my existing phone…

I can get a good trade in on the iPhone 11 though.

Decisions decisions.

I too am waiting for 1:00pm.  I am the same with regard to the 2 year old iPhone.  I have a small crack in the screen so I am seeing this as a method for screen repair where I am not without a phone!  Stupidly expensive though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 17 September, 2021, 01:02:07 pm
New iPhone preorder day today.

My current iPhone 11 is two years old. I like the look of the iPhone 13.

No, I don’t NEED to replace my existing phone…

I can get a good trade in on the iPhone 11 though.

Decisions decisions.

I too am waiting for 1:00pm.  I am the same with regard to the 2 year old iPhone.  I have a small crack in the screen so I am seeing this as a method for screen repair where I am not without a phone!  Stupidly expensive though.
they’re not very punctual.

Pah. Stupid app crashed on my set up preorder and by the time I got it all sorted again, the delivery date had moved out 2/3 weeks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 17 September, 2021, 02:07:02 pm
I managed to get it done and should arrive next Friday!!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 17 September, 2021, 03:15:54 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/17/waste-from-one-bitcoin-transaction-like-binning-two-iphones (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/17/waste-from-one-bitcoin-transaction-like-binning-two-iphones)

Perhaps anyone who claims to be green-minded should think about this before enthusing about bitcoin. I can't help wondering if it was devised by hardware sellers, perhaps cooperating with electricity generators.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 17 September, 2021, 04:00:19 pm
My iMac has developed a rather literal bug. At the bottom left corner of the screen, a little dipteran has wedged itself between the glass and the panel, like a tiny museum exhibit. I discovered this when I tried to wipe it off. The internet suggests it might desiccate and crumble away. The most annoying thing is that every time I notice it, I impulsively reach out to try and brush it away.

The trick with these is to spot them while they're still alive.  At which point you can drop whatever you're supposed to be doing, power down the display, and place it in a dark room with a light shining on it from one side.  The idea being to encourage the wee beastie to crawl its way out of (or at least to the edge of) the panel before it dies.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 17 September, 2021, 06:12:47 pm
I managed to get it done and should arrive next Friday!!
yeah, I managed to get one ordered for next Friday. It was only the grey one that was on 2/3 weeks delivery.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 20 September, 2021, 09:27:11 am
Currently I'm pondering computer hardware upgrades. Current rig is an AMD A8-6600K CPU, with 16gb ddr3 ram, and an nvidia gtx1600 gpu.

Looks like new mobo & ram needed to be able to get a decent new CPU! Although AMD or Intel this time around...   ???

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 20 September, 2021, 10:06:27 am
Currently I'm pondering computer hardware upgrades. Current rig is an AMD A8-6600K CPU, with 16gb ddr3 ram, and an nvidia gtx1600 gpu.

Looks like new mobo & ram needed to be able to get a decent new CPU! Although AMD or Intel this time around...   ???
Being an Apple household really reduces the complexity of upgrades. Doesn’t save any money though!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 20 September, 2021, 03:13:19 pm
Currently I'm pondering computer hardware upgrades. Current rig is an AMD A8-6600K CPU, with 16gb ddr3 ram, and an nvidia gtx1600 gpu.

Looks like new mobo & ram needed to be able to get a decent new CPU! Although AMD or Intel this time around...   ???

I'd ask if it's on an SSD in it, as that can make an older computer useful for a good while longer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 20 September, 2021, 03:18:03 pm
Currently I'm pondering computer hardware upgrades. Current rig is an AMD A8-6600K CPU, with 16gb ddr3 ram, and an nvidia gtx1600 gpu.

Looks like new mobo & ram needed to be able to get a decent new CPU! Although AMD or Intel this time around...   ???

I'd ask if it's on an SSD in it, as that can make an older computer useful for a good while longer.

Yes, I have an SSD which I keep my operating system on, with a 1tb spinning rust disc for data storage.

Main thing I'm looking to do is improve processing power for graphic processing / 3d rendering  etc.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 September, 2021, 10:46:41 pm
No, really, Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia, there isn’t actually any very good reason to restart Chrome post-update on this fondleslab in such a way that it forgets which tabs it had open, thereby forcing me to try to remember them.  From memory.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 21 September, 2021, 09:58:28 am
No, really, Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia, there isn’t actually any very good reason to restart Chrome post-update on this fondleslab in such a way that it forgets which tabs it had open, thereby forcing me to try to remember them.  From memory.
Perhaps you need to upgrade your memory?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 21 September, 2021, 10:04:32 am
Can't you go to history > open recently closed tabs...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 September, 2021, 01:06:28 pm
Tried that ^^^^ first but it seemed determined to steer me towards tabs that recently closed by dint of closing down Chrome on the PC upstairs.  Which was Not Helpful.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 25 September, 2021, 03:31:22 pm
My 2012 iMac running 10.6.8 will no longer run the app which allowed me to listen to BBC 6 Music. :(
Which is a shame as the mac in question is my music mac (it runs a version of iTunes that is old enough to still be pleasant to use) and is connected to a Cambridge amp and a pair of JPW Gold Monitor speakers, for the purpose of kwality sounds.
However, the internal speakers on my 2015 iMac are of sufficient quality as to make them more than adequate for the purpose of listening to wireless broadcasts. The later machine also boasts a feature whereby there is no longer  a need for me to sign in to the Beeb in order to listen. Which is nice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 28 September, 2021, 11:30:37 am
I must be getting old! I’ve only just got around to turning on my new iPhone that arrived on Friday. I was sailing over the weekend and away from home so didn’t want to take the new phone with me, and yesterday I was still wiped out.

The swap over is very slick now, with the new phone just needing to be near another iDevice to verify ownership. I’m going to have to get a case because it’s very slippy in it’s naked form, and then I need to decide whether or not I want to faff with a screen protector. And decide if I want to have a day out in Norwich or Cambridge to get it fitted.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 02 October, 2021, 12:55:22 pm
How on earth did I manage to get a 429 error by clicking the Google Drive icon?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 October, 2021, 12:57:40 pm
429's rate-limiting, isn't it?

Server's probably a bit busy, or something.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Clare on 02 October, 2021, 01:07:12 pm
I'm probably thinking the wrong way round. I couldn't work out why Google would limit the number of requests to itself but I guess it is the server rather than the end supplier that is the issue here?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 06 October, 2021, 05:13:02 pm
We don't seem to have a "Div" thread for computer related stuff so...

In my day job I flit between C#, VB.Net (shudder), T-SQL and Javascript (whimper) which is fairly normally for lot of programmers, but means that there are times when the beams get crossed.  Today, in a VB class,I wrote the followng, "If condition & also..."   Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 06 October, 2021, 08:04:57 pm
I'm now pondering this little lot...  Hmmm. 
Quote
1 x Gigabyte B550M S2H (AMD AM4) B550 Micro-ATX Motherboard= £79.99
1 x AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Eight Core 4.4GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail= £259.99
1 x be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black CPU Cooler - 120mm= £39.95
1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey= £124.99
Total: £515.42 (includes shipping: £10.50)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 October, 2021, 08:51:00 pm
This is actually A Thing:

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2021, 11:04:44 am
We're I clearer of thought I would, yesterday afternoon, have done this:
rather than doing it from a NAS drive over the laptop's feeble 100 megathings/s network wossname :facepalm:  Still, watching the little numbers counting up to 100% is curiously satisfying.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 20 October, 2021, 01:01:04 pm
I had that when I copied our music onto a USB SSD from a PC attached spinny rust drive. It took a looooong time. I won't bore you with the details why it ended up being done over the Devil's radio.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 October, 2021, 01:37:23 pm
Funny how when you have to move large amounts of data by Devil's Radio, it always seems to involve the machine with the WiFi stack that insists on doing obstructive things like stubbornly clinging to the 2.4GHz band or poorly-timed aggressive power manglement.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 20 October, 2021, 01:50:43 pm
Funny how when you have to move large amounts of data by Devil's Radio, it always seems to involve the machine with the WiFi stack that insists on doing obstructive things like stubbornly clinging to the 2.4GHz band or poorly-timed aggressive power manglement.
it wouldn’t be the Devil’s Radio if it didn’t have these difficult to manage little quirks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 October, 2021, 02:02:24 pm
My fondleslab is capable of transferring hundreds of megabits over the Devil's Radio in a robust and predictable manner.  Being a fondleslab, I think I've made use of this feature exactly once.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 20 October, 2021, 02:04:04 pm
Capability should be inversely proportional to like requirement. It’s written into the roolz
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2021, 06:08:32 pm
Funny how when you have to move large amounts of data by Devil's Radio, it always seems to involve the machine with the WiFi stack that insists on doing obstructive things like stubbornly clinging to the 2.4GHz band or poorly-timed aggressive power manglement.

My lapdancer does have a wired connection but it's still sl-o-o-o-o-w.  Doubly so when it's doing a full backup and downloading a year’s worth of Windows updates at the same time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 24 October, 2021, 05:38:03 pm
I'm in awe that anyone took the time to make this:

https://ijmacd.github.io/rfc3339-iso8601/

The amount of time that would be saved if the world stuck to consistent date formats when sharing data electronically.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 02 November, 2021, 11:47:35 am
1/ MS Teams on Linux when connecting to a meeting (voice only, don't have a webcam) it gives the disconnect sound from Skype for some reason.

2/ win10 tend to play the volume louder than linux. A good level in win10 is about 12 on my DAC, but on linux I have to go to 14-15, with the volume near to the max on the player (browser, vlc, foobar2000 etc) where on win10 I don't need to go near max to have the same level in headphone or speakers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 03 November, 2021, 09:01:55 am
Pixel 6 voice to text

Tried this for the first time this morning. Absolutely amazing. Entered about 200 words without a single error. Commands are intuitive; I didn't even bother reading the help.

Will be making a lot of use of this. It is fast enough to transcribe normal speed. 'Creative' thinking and designing is easy when you can just think out loud and have it converted to text.

I've used speech to text before, when I bust my arm. It was sort-of faster than one-handed typing, but lots of errors. Still found it quicker to enter text using that and then correct via keyboard afterwards.

The version in Pixel 6 is incredible.

Camera at night

This didn't get very good reviews, with the reviewers grumbling about loss of quality.
I tried it in a room that was dark enough that I could only just see the furniture. The photo was clear enough you'd have sworn the lights were on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 03 November, 2021, 12:04:30 pm
I inadvertently installed MacOS Monterey (I hadn't realised it had been released).

I wouldn't have noticed I'd installed it had I not absently clicked my way into a 30-minute, 12 GB update. Looks much the same.

In other news, I have a sea otter from the Monterey Aquarium called Rick.

Still hasn't removed the literal bug from my screen. Come on Apple, release a new giant iMac.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: st599 on 03 November, 2021, 12:13:14 pm
Pixel 6 voice to text

Tried this for the first time this morning. Absolutely amazing. Entered about 200 words without a single error. Commands are intuitive; I didn't even bother reading the help.

Does it work with multiple speakers?  Would be good in a meeting if it highlighted indivdual speakers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 November, 2021, 12:21:51 pm
Barakta uses an app called Otter (which I believe can recognise speakers, but you have to tell it who they are manually) for live speech-to-text in medical appointments etc.  It works impressively well (and usefully fast), though like all speech-to-text it frequently falls over at the proper nouns and technical terms needed to establish context (ie. the things a deaf person most needs subtitles for).  The transcript is still useful as a memory prompt, in spite of that.

Obviously it's let down in real world situations by optimum positioning for reading the screen during a conversation not being optimum positioning for a crappy smartphone microphone.  Dictation is less challenging in this respect.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 03 November, 2021, 12:31:25 pm
Pixel 6 voice to text

Tried this for the first time this morning. Absolutely amazing. Entered about 200 words without a single error. Commands are intuitive; I didn't even bother reading the help.

Does it work with multiple speakers?  Would be good in a meeting if it highlighted indivdual speakers.

I suspect not.

The function is running locally on the phone, (rather than using google data) which partly accounts for the speed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 November, 2021, 12:56:22 pm
I have the Mega-Global Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia app installed on this fondleslab, thus when I poke a link to the Mega-Global Big River Corporation of Seattle, USAnia's webby SCIENCE the browser automatically fires up the said app…

…which then immediately fires up a new tab back in the browser at the page wot the original link was pointing at.  WTF is that all about?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 03 November, 2021, 01:05:37 pm


The function is running locally on the phone, (rather than using google data) which partly accounts for the speed.

.... on a specialised chip ("Tensor") developed by google for these AI apps, which is why it has gained auto-photoshop actions in the camera
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 03 November, 2021, 01:38:34 pm
Oh and the magic eraser isn't terrible. Poor compared to a proper job, but very easy to use and half-decent results.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 12 November, 2021, 11:43:22 am
I have a baby Samsung Xpress laser printer, which is very infrequently used, mainly for printing backup versions of E-tickets etc.     I've just run off about 6 sheets of A4 & noticed it appeared to be smoking...  some sort of visible particulate vapour being given off. 


Is this to be expected of a device that is only powered up every few weeks or should I be investing in a fire blanket ? 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 November, 2021, 12:17:10 pm
I suppose the fuser (heat lamp thing that melts the toner onto the paper) could have accumulated some dust.  I'd keep an eye on it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 November, 2021, 12:44:41 pm
O hai EAA Team!

If the developers of The Game helpfully provide a list of country id numbers and suggest it might be a good idea for modders to stick to their recommendations, why not do that instead of robbing the ids of Yemen and Uzbekistan for a couple of your sub-divisions of Brazil, thereby making things Not Work?  There are plenty of spare numbers after Tuvalu (202).  Unfortunately you seem only to meet your public via a Portuguese language YouTube channel so it’s difficult to report this feature…

Kthxbai
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 12 November, 2021, 01:23:51 pm
Can anyone think of the benefit to a spambot for submitting random contact forms? This question is engendered by recent submissions from bot(s?) on the website of Mrs Ham's quilting group. This is hosted on Squarespace and has a standard contact page (https://www.marshquilters.org/contact-us). The last few days she has been getting random submissions with an email and a random word in the message box. Only 6 or 7 a day, so not a ddos, what possible reason could there be in setting that bot loose? I can't think of one.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 12 November, 2021, 01:53:51 pm
The bot is likely looking for unfiltered blog comment (etc) forms that end up on the public interweb that can then be used/sold for real spamming.

I assume the random word is unique/gibberish?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 12 November, 2021, 02:04:02 pm
Yes entirely a spambot random word. I suppose you must be right - "find a page with an entry form, submit, see if anything appears"

ETA - ReCaptcha enabled, pretty easy really
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 19 November, 2021, 10:29:21 pm
Question time - If I have a 6v battery and want to light up an LED, assuming summat like 2v forward voltage  for the LED, and 20mA, I make that a 200 ohm resistor needed, or thereabouts, or have I misunderstood how that should work?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 November, 2021, 10:30:53 pm
Question time - If I have a 6v battery and want to light up an LED, assuming summat like 2v forward voltage  for the LED, and 20mA, I make that a 200 ohm resistor needed, or thereabouts, or have I misunderstood how that should work?

Yep, that's right.  6V-2V gives 4V across the resistor.  4V/20mA = 200R
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 20 November, 2021, 08:56:22 am
Question time - If I have a 6v battery and want to light up an LED, assuming summat like 2v forward voltage  for the LED, and 20mA, I make that a 200 ohm resistor needed, or thereabouts, or have I misunderstood how that should work?
I don't think that this will add much in this case, but here is my take on LEDs and resistors:-https://www.mtrak.co.uk/led_calculator.html (https://www.mtrak.co.uk/led_calculator.html) *

* Now with added pictures.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: frankly frankie on 21 November, 2021, 12:02:01 pm
Question time - If I have a 6v battery and want to light up an LED, assuming summat like 2v forward voltage  for the LED, and 20mA, I make that a 200 ohm resistor needed, or thereabouts, or have I misunderstood how that should work?
Yep, that's right.  6V-2V gives 4V across the resistor.  4V/20mA = 200R

I would just put 3 LEDs in series, and if that's too much light, cover 2 of them with black tape.  ;)

( I used to build bike rear lights using 4 red LEDs in series and a 9V PP3 battery.  The first prototypes pre-dated the first Vistalites and were much brighter.  The design was often criticised for lacking any kind of ballast resistor but it was reliable and easily long-running enough for 4 nights of a PBP.  I later built white versions for the front but these were soon superseded by commercial designs. )
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 November, 2021, 09:56:14 am
Question time - If I have a 6v battery and want to light up an LED, assuming summat like 2v forward voltage  for the LED, and 20mA, I make that a 200 ohm resistor needed, or thereabouts, or have I misunderstood how that should work?
Yep, that's right.  6V-2V gives 4V across the resistor.  4V/20mA = 200R

I would just put 3 LEDs in series, and if that's too much light, cover 2 of them with black tape.  ;)

( I used to build bike rear lights using 4 red LEDs in series and a 9V PP3 battery.  The first prototypes pre-dated the first Vistalites and were much brighter.  The design was often criticised for lacking any kind of ballast resistor but it was reliable and easily long-running enough for 4 nights of a PBP.  I later built white versions for the front but these were soon superseded by commercial designs. )
I used that principle for some diy internal lights on a boat.

It was a bad idea.

LEDs vary in quality a lot. If you get some crappy ones, they fail closed circuit. So one fails - you now have an over voltage on the remaining ones - one of those fails - there is now a cascade that is accompanied by pretty lights, flashing and crackling noises.

Use a resistor to get the voltage correct and put the LEDs in parallel.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 22 November, 2021, 10:41:52 am
The greater the ratio between resistor and LED the more consistent the current will be for different battery voltages.

With no resistor you’ll get more current on a fresh battery but probably not much more light (and perhaps, more dark) and then at the end of the battery’s life the current will drop very low and appear to last forever.

But you’d make it last even longer swapping an LED for a resistor to keep the current low throughout the lifecycle.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Diver300 on 22 November, 2021, 10:52:14 am
Use a resistor to get the voltage correct and put the LEDs in parallel.
It's usually not considered a good idea to put LEDs in parallel. The LED voltage can vary and then the current can be very unevenly distributed between LEDs in parallel.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 November, 2021, 11:27:14 am
LEDs in series with an appropriate current regulator is the 'proper' way to do it.  Which isn't to say that simpler methods aren't fine when your priority is something other than longevity.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 25 November, 2021, 12:47:49 pm
Today I had to edit a document created by someone else. It's a simple table that gets printed of and stuff scribbled, by pen, into the various boxes.

It was, of course, created in Excel. Line height was adjusted by merging and centring calls.

Earlier this week someone was trying to send me a large document. I didn't need to see all the pages and the sender decided it was too big to email. He solved the problem by printing out pages, laying them on his desk, photographing them then emailing them, embedded in, rather than attached to, his emails.  xkcd 763 in real life

I need a lie down.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 25 November, 2021, 01:10:44 pm
I was pretty much awesomed yesterday to be in receipt of a pages of similar scanned Chinese literature (the Chinese government love sending text as pictures). That obviously wasn't the awesome part, that was the fact that my computer took the image and with no effort on my part digested all the text and and translated it into English and now I have it in a nice Word file. It's a pretty good translation too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: fimm on 29 November, 2021, 01:18:30 pm
Seen on one of those electronic message boards next to the motorway:

IS YOUR CAR READY FOR WINTER NULL
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 November, 2021, 03:49:46 pm
Seen on one of those electronic message boards next to the motorway:

IS YOUR CAR READY FOR WINTER NULL

Personalised message for Dave Null, who's in charge of hiring.  He gets so busy with all those recruitment cold-calls that people transfer to him that he doesn't always remember to service his car.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 01 December, 2021, 02:59:20 pm
MiL's ISP have done an oops.

Back in June updated the account from copper to fibre, to do that they had to create a new account and move stuff from old account over.

Though today we needed to access the old pop email but server said NO.

We had set up, waaaaaay back in time, a forward from the pop to Gmail. But over the last few years or so its become slower and slower and in the last few days it was at least 30min to get forwarded over.

I tried the webmail and the error it gave me was clearly not, a "you used the wrong password" error.

While on the phone with the ISP they said that there was never a forward setup on the old account and they had forgot to move over the email account when we upgraded back in June.

So why did it work just fine this weekend but dead today ?!?

Oh and note for all of you, as I'm sure many of you are the family IT contact. When you set up something for them, add yourself as a named contact, so you can call up and get information needed. Instead of having them call up do to get information they don't know anything about.

Even if you have access to their account portal you might still need to talk via phone with them

Today the way I managed to get the information needed. I added my email address to the account details and asked the ISP to send the info to the alternative account. So that I could log into the old POP and get the email needed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 02 December, 2021, 11:41:21 am
Backlight on my 13 year old Acer 6592G laptop just went phut.  I am upset.  It's a lovely little laptop with a gorgeous 16:10 screen, by the time it was up for renewal in 2011 (my company, my rulez) you couldn't buy anything but 16fekkin9 screens so it soldiered on in the hope that maybe next year one of the manufacturers would wise up. They didn't so it soldiered on some more.  And on and on and on not getting replaced year after year until the company was shut down just this summer.  I give thanks to the little beast for holding out until, at long last, the fad for 16fekkin9 seems to be dying (https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/19/22238671/16-9-aspect-ratio-hp-elite-folio-dell-latitude-lenovo-thinkbook-plus-legion-7).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 December, 2021, 02:52:36 pm
at long last, the fad for 16fekkin9 seems to be dying (https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/19/22238671/16-9-aspect-ratio-hp-elite-folio-dell-latitude-lenovo-thinkbook-plus-legion-7).

And there was much rejoicing.   :thumbsup:

16:9 can work, if it's a massive desktop display doing the work of two conventionally-shaped monitors, but at portable sizes it's piss-poor for anything other than watching videos.  It's like they've never actually used a computer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 02 December, 2021, 05:05:24 pm
And there was much rejoicing.   :thumbsup:

16:9 can work, if it's a massive desktop display doing the work of two conventionally-shaped monitors, but at portable sizes it's piss-poor for anything other than watching videos.  It's like they've never actually used a computer.
Indeed there is and indeed it would.  A double FHD width 16:9 (3840x2160) would be a thing of extreme beauty. Also:

It aten't ded :-D 
It's just time to dismantle & reseat the screen connector again.  Usually when that starts to come loose the screen just freezes, first time the back light has flickered & gone out.

Which means my finger will have to hover over the button on the Lenovo site (https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/legion-laptops/legion-5-series/Legion-5-Pro-16ACH6H/p/82JQ00V0UK) a wee bit longer. There was a no operating system version of that linked machine a few days ago at £100 less, if that had been in stock this morning...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2021, 12:41:14 pm
FATBOY, the NAS with most of the important Stuffs on it, has slowed to a crawl.  If a reboot doesn't make it liven its ideas up Harsh Words will be said >:(

Edit: Seems rather more sprightly now :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2021, 12:20:03 pm
Hurrah: RJ12 extension cable has touched down on the doormat :thumbsup:
Bah: MOAR sub-desk excursions required :'(

This'd better work…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 December, 2021, 04:54:35 pm
Barakta just startled me by waking the Laserjet from its slumber.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2021, 08:28:04 pm
It didn’t work, because the original cable and the 'ole wot it fits into has the springy-tab-cum-grappling-hook wossname on the left while the new one has it in the middle.  What kind of gibbering halfwit thought that was a good idea >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 04 December, 2021, 08:31:55 pm
Snap the offending thing off, and rely on friction / lack-of-anything-pulling-it-out?

I've seen plenty of network RJ45 cables with their wossnames snapped off still in use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2021, 08:58:43 pm
I'm sure a good coating of gaffer tape would do the trick around the socket end, and the plug end didn’t orter move so I may yet give it a go once I've grown accustomed to the idea of deliberately breaking my new Shiny…

You can get offset cables with a plug at both ends as spares for Carrera slot-car controllers(!) but ones with the plug/socket combination have thus far eluded my Google-Fu.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 December, 2021, 09:02:08 pm
It didn’t work, because the original cable and the 'ole wot it fits into has the springy-tab-cum-grappling-hook wossname on the left while the new one has it in the middle.  What kind of gibbering halfwit thought that was a good idea >:(

I don't know who they were, but I bet they were also responsible for the reverse-polarity TNC connector.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 04 December, 2021, 09:12:45 pm
Snap the offending thing off, and rely on friction / lack-of-anything-pulling-it-out?

I've seen plenty of network RJ45 cables with their wossnames snapped off still in use.

By Chesterton's Fence I would start by assuming the tab in the different place means it might be wired differently.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant
Post by: Beardy on 04 December, 2021, 09:46:52 pm
I’ve seen RJxx cables with asymmetrical clipped plugs that are used for power. It seems like a bad idea but it does stop you putting the cables in the wrong sockets.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 December, 2021, 10:39:36 pm
Snap the offending thing off, and rely on friction / lack-of-anything-pulling-it-out?

I've seen plenty of network RJ45 cables with their wossnames snapped off still in use.

By Chesterton's Fence I would start by assuming the tab in the different place means it might be wired differently.

It's probably a reasonable assumption that the extension lead doesn’t do any fancy crossing over of conductors thobut, otherwise the vendor would have mentioned it.  Wouldn’t they…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant
Post by: Kim on 04 December, 2021, 11:06:14 pm
I’ve seen RJxx cables with asymmetrical clipped plugs that are used for power. It seems like a bad idea but it does stop you putting the cables in the wrong sockets.

Mutant RJ-connectors seem to be de rigueur for umbilicals on barcode scanners and other EPOS/industrial things of that nature.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 December, 2021, 11:06:35 pm
It's probably a reasonable assumption that the extension lead doesn’t do any fancy crossing over of conductors thobut, otherwise the vendor would have mentioned it.  Wouldn’t they…

*passes the multimeter*
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 12:27:34 am
It's probably a reasonable assumption that the extension lead doesn’t do any fancy crossing over of conductors thobut, otherwise the vendor would have mentioned it.  Wouldn’t they…

*passes the multimeter*

Sadly I do not own such a thing and Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) utterly failed to steal one when he left the employ of Missis Kwin chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 05 December, 2021, 12:34:18 am
! Shirley every lady, most gentlemen and assorted nonbinary persons of the Irish Tockracy should own one.  Preferably 5 or so, including at least one that goes BEEEEP!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 01:22:13 am
Only those who footle with anbarism on a regular basis.  I don't own a cauldron or a pointy hat either, because I do not indulge in witchcraft.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 05 December, 2021, 11:53:00 am
Grumble:  My geriatric iMac (2008) is running an similarly old version of Safari (11.1.2) which I think dates it to 2018.    In the last week I've had multiple failed connections giving a "WebKitError Domain" reading.  Luckily Opera still works on them OK. 


Trying to hang on until Apple launch a new 27" screened iMac, hopefully in the new year.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 05 December, 2021, 11:58:46 am
...

Trying to hang on until Apple launch a new 27" screened iMac, hopefully in the new year.

I'm first in that queue. Though if they make it 30" even better.

Then I'd finally get rid of that bloody teensy fly wedged in the corner of my current screen.  I should probably pony up some cash to get it removed by a grown-up (or go to an Apple store and make sad face). I'd swap it for my wife's but she'd very much in the don't you bloody dare camp.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 05 December, 2021, 03:57:02 pm
! Shirley every lady, most gentlemen and assorted nonbinary persons of the Irish Tockracy should own one.  Preferably 5 or so, including at least one that goes BEEEEP!

I got a free upgrade for mine. I was looking in the cupboard under the stairs and found another one, much better than mine.

I reckon the electrician who worked on the extension put his down and forgot to pick up again, but as it was more than five years ago I'm sure he will have replaced it by now. Or expired through the sudden application of electrons.

I didn't even need to change the batteries - double win.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 05 December, 2021, 04:55:03 pm
! Shirley every lady, most gentlemen and assorted nonbinary persons of the Irish Tockracy should own one.  Preferably 5 or so, including at least one that goes BEEEEP!

I got a free upgrade for mine. I was looking in the cupboard under the stairs and found another one, much better than mine.

I reckon the electrician who worked on the extension put his down and forgot to pick up again, but as it was more than five years ago I'm sure he will have replaced it by now. Or expired through the sudden application of electrons.

I didn't even need to change the batteries - double win.

Multimeters are notable for being relatively high-tech gadgets that still tend to have hardware 'off' switches.  And (other than fancy ones with very high precision, wireless communications and similar features) tend not to use much in the way of power anyway.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 10 December, 2021, 09:34:29 pm
My mind is - at least slightly - blown. A TV and a PVR, connected via hdmi. Separate remotes. PVR is Netflix compatible, TV isn't. TV controls work for Netflix on the PVR - select, arrows, pause etc. Wtaf?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 December, 2021, 09:48:19 pm
My mind is - at least slightly - blown. A TV and a PVR, connected via hdmi. Separate remotes. PVR is Netflix compatible, TV isn't. TV controls work for Netflix on the PVR - select, arrows, pause etc. Wtaf?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control maybe? 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 10 December, 2021, 10:19:33 pm
Well, yeah, hence the "slightly", there had to be something squeeking down that lil'ol' HDMI line, but the initial discovery was a WFT? moment. After all, one is Sony the other Panasonic, and we've had them for years (TV more years) without realising.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 December, 2021, 10:30:50 pm
Yeay, I think they've been trying to do that sort of thing since the SCART days, but the manufacturers were pathologically incapable of making their kit talk to anyone else's (or, on a bad day, their own).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 10 December, 2021, 10:45:12 pm
I saw a tweet this week in which it was discovered that CEC has a hard limit of three “playback” devices, which all games consoles and streaming devices count as. Ought to be enough for everybody.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 December, 2021, 03:15:29 pm
Popular password manager LastPass to be spun out from LogMeIn • El Reg (https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/14/lastpass_spinout/)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 December, 2021, 11:39:02 am
Big news on the fly that wriggled into my iMac screen. Its mummified corpse has slipped downwards and now hovers a scant 7mm from the bottom edge. So near to being de-bugged. Come on gravity.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 16 December, 2021, 11:46:46 am
Big news on the fly that wriggled into my iMac screen. Its mummified corpse has slipped downwards and now hovers a scant 7mm from the bottom edge. So near to being de-bugged. Come on gravity.
Have you considered the application of a vacuum cleaner nozzle to the vents at the base?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 December, 2021, 11:54:04 am
Feels under the screen. Blimey, there are vents. I've never looked under there. Maybe that's how it got in.

Great idea, I will give that a try. It's a teeny, tiny fungus fly, but it annoys me.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andyoxon on 16 December, 2021, 11:58:53 am
Laptop (i5, 16Gb, SSD) becomes erratic, sluggish, then unresponsive.  oh look, Windows 10 is auto updating...   ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 16 December, 2021, 11:59:31 am
Feels under the screen. Blimey, there are vents. I've never looked under there. Maybe that's how it got in.

Great idea, I will give that a try. It's a teeny, tiny fungus fly, but it annoys me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnIXXe83fe4
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 December, 2021, 01:41:27 pm
Oh marvellous: Mrs barakta's-mum clicked on "A thing that said it would make the adverts go away" and now she "can't get into her Nationwide account"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 16 December, 2021, 03:25:22 pm
Feels under the screen. Blimey, there are vents. I've never looked under there. Maybe that's how it got in.

Great idea, I will give that a try. It's a teeny, tiny fungus fly, but it annoys me.
Put some tape across the vents you are not using for increased suckage through the one that you are using.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 December, 2021, 03:52:28 pm
In a moment of supreme divvery when it first happened, I took a screenshot to illustrate the fly problem to someone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 16 December, 2021, 03:58:06 pm
In a moment of supreme divvery when it first happened, I took a screenshot to illustrate the fly problem to someone.
It took me a moment.
It shouldn't have done.
But thanks for the larf.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 December, 2021, 10:02:17 pm
Oh marvellous: Mrs barakta's-mum clicked on "A thing that said it would make the adverts go away" and now she "can't get into her Nationwide account"

Panic over.  It seems she'd installed some sort of free trial ad-blocker extension in Chrome, which had decided it wasn't letting her see websites until it was registered.

After a lot of potatovision and dyslexia we managed to get TeamViewer installed on her Mac, nuke Chrome from orbit and reinstall.  All is well.  Also sorted out assorted things that needed sorting out, and got Zoom working.  Video calls are so much less stressful when the camera stays still and the other person doesn't keep accidentally muting themselves.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 December, 2021, 09:16:12 pm
OK, Estate Office Babbage-engine, every Saturday you do a full backup.  And it fails with an “Unexpected network error*” at what appears to be the same point every week.  And then I resubmit it, and it works.  So what's that all about, eh?

* I'd have thought that by now it would be an Expected network error, but clearly it's not set up to learn from its mistakes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 25 December, 2021, 05:26:21 pm
Is F Droid save to use?

Have used F Droid to download andOBD to read the OBD on a car.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 December, 2021, 02:50:03 pm
Oh for goodness' sake, Excel!  That spreadsheet only contains a little over 200,000 INDEX/MATCH wossnames!  What's taking you so long, eh?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 31 December, 2021, 03:56:18 pm
It’s probably trying to work out why you are using a spreadsheet for a database task?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 December, 2021, 05:22:11 pm
If I could remember how to Database I probably would, but it's been:

Edit: actually it’s more like thirty ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 01 January, 2022, 04:22:39 pm
I’m going to have to sort out my online assets. I’m not looking forward to this at all because I’m going to have to understand and attempt to unravel the labyrinthine network of domains, service providers and email addresses. Oh, and devices. Deleting it all and starting again, while a somewhat nuclear option, has a certain appeal, but who knows what Communications I’d lose in the process and anyway Dr Beardy, and assorted family members also have email accounts hang off some of the domains. 

Such fun(T2) I’m going to have over the coming days and weeks.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 03 January, 2022, 01:37:17 pm
Ah those pesky little words, who bothers with Terms and Conditions, eh? Clearly not the owners of a significant Covid-19 test website https://dam-health.com/terms-conditions/

Quite apart from the T&Cs making multiple references to paragraph numbers which have all been stripped out and replaced with occasional <li> tag, the start of para 3 amused me

Quote
There are other terms that may apply to you. Our Privacy Policy [INSERT A LINK] explains how we may use your personal information.

Such perfeshunalism.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 January, 2022, 12:28:37 pm
Oh hai Microsith!

ROBOCOPY is a most useful utility but does it really need to create untold thousands* of empty directories when copying 24 files from one disk to another?

kthxbai

* I set the machine to counting them but I got bored before it did.  Then I did it again.  322,190 :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: HTFB on 07 January, 2022, 12:44:01 pm
Oh for goodness' sake, Excel!  That spreadsheet only contains a little over 200,000 INDEX/MATCH wossnames!  What's taking you so long, eh?
Real Excel these days -- since the end of 2018, I think -- has "dynamic arrays" which let you do proper data manipulation with just one formula: UNIQUE, SORT, etc. It can't quite do JOIN natively but it does let you write just one INDEX/MATCH cell which then processes the entire column toot suite. In a bizarre development Excel has suddenly become fit for purpose, just after everybody round here finally learned R and python to avoid it

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 January, 2022, 01:12:46 pm
I'm still on Office 2013, which may or may not have had similar things added to it by the hundreds of updates it applied after reinstalling Windows the other day, but since its major use in these parts is to assemble Stuffs that can then be passed to the command line for manipulating myriad small files I don’t suppose it matters too much.  I can always read a book while waiting for the wretched thing to recalculate.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 07 January, 2022, 01:37:52 pm
Have a Toshiba Satellite L70 laptop at least 4 years old and the battery is only lasting about 20 minutes now, though I usually use the power adapter as a matter of course. Have ordered a new battery. My question is, do I need to keep the power adapter plugged in when I change the battery to avoid losing any settings (Windows 10)?

Thanks!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 January, 2022, 01:43:04 pm
Have a Toshiba Satellite L70 laptop at least 4 years old and the battery is only lasting about 20 minutes now, though I usually use the power adapter as a matter of course. Have ordered a new battery. My question is, do I need to keep the power adapter plugged in when I change the battery to avoid losing any settings (Windows 10)?

No.  Windows keeps its settings on disk (which may be flash memory on a modern machine with an SSD, which is equally non-volatile).  There may be some BIOS settings (boot device order and the like) in battery-maintained CMOS memory along with the real-time clock, but this will have its own power source (typically a primary lithium cell) which is independent of the main battery and mains adaptor.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 January, 2022, 02:31:38 pm
Oh for goodness' sake, Excel!  That spreadsheet only contains a little over 200,000 INDEX/MATCH wossnames!  What's taking you so long, eh?
Real Excel these days -- since the end of 2018, I think -- has "dynamic arrays" which let you do proper data manipulation with just one formula: UNIQUE, SORT, etc. It can't quite do JOIN natively but it does let you write just one INDEX/MATCH cell which then processes the entire column toot suite. In a bizarre development Excel has suddenly become fit for purpose, just after everybody round here finally learned R and python to avoid it

I was wondering a while back why Excel was doing my sums (an index-match on two criteria ranges) fine even though, as it turned out, I'd forgotten to {}.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 January, 2022, 02:34:59 pm
The jam in barakta's $ork Babbage-engine is particularly viscous today.  There have been many Bad Swears, and she has resorted to invoking a remote IT-monkey to attempt to fix it.

Update: Monkey seems to have got the jam flowing smoothly (for now), but $important_database is now b0rked.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 07 January, 2022, 04:27:37 pm
Have a Toshiba Satellite L70 laptop at least 4 years old and the battery is only lasting about 20 minutes now, though I usually use the power adapter as a matter of course. Have ordered a new battery. My question is, do I need to keep the power adapter plugged in when I change the battery to avoid losing any settings (Windows 10)?

No.  Windows keeps its settings on disk (which may be flash memory on a modern machine with an SSD, which is equally non-volatile).  There may be some BIOS settings (boot device order and the like) in battery-maintained CMOS memory along with the real-time clock, but this will have its own power source (typically a primary lithium cell) which is independent of the main battery and mains adaptor.

 Thanks Kim!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: delthebike on 19 January, 2022, 02:32:53 pm
Just finished setting up my new Macbook Air, M1 processor. Used migration assistant to get the set up from my Mac Mini and that was it. A few adjustments via an app called Rosetta so a couple of apps could work on the Mac silicon and done.
Beautiful picture, lovely sound, easy to use and it has a nice heft to it (not too heavy just weighty enough).  :thumbsup:

Later this year I shall enter the 21st Century and get a smartphone. iPhone SE is current favourite and rumour are flying of various Apple updates and releases including a new SE phone, possibly with M2 Apple chip.   :o I can wait...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 19 January, 2022, 04:13:02 pm
Fettling a colour laser printer.

We bought Junior a small Dell colour laser when he went off to Uni some 6 or more years ago.
It has since migrated it's way back here as surplus to requirement, with the comment that it didn't work any more due to paper jams.

I have reason to re-purpose it now, and sure enough, paper jam every time.
The paper is jamming solid trying to enter the fuser unit.
Major dismantlement involving mostly snappy plastic, and I have the fuser unit out.

Hmm, this will be the problem then.
There's a section of nylon webbing strap jammed in the paper path against the hot roller.
The nylon strap is a melted mess.
It's totally destroyed the roller, with a massive gouge out of it all the way round, and bits of red rubber crumbs everywhere.
This has clearly been dropped into the printer by the PSO, and worked it's way into it's jammed position.
Photo is with the melted strap removed, and the worst of the mess cleaned up!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51829336292_6c980f4651_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mXYTYq)
Fuser (https://flic.kr/p/2mXYTYq) by Ron Lowe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/62966413@N04/), on Flickr

New fuser unit on order.
Bah.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 19 January, 2022, 04:34:49 pm
that certainly doesn't look like it would work very well...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 January, 2022, 05:05:18 pm
Puts bratchild spilling potpourri in the Epson in perspective...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 January, 2022, 11:53:54 am
Machine!  Since that NAS has been attached to TowersNet for the thick end of two years would you kindly explain why you only now* think it appropriate to bung up a message saying “AirPort disk is now available” and inviting me to connect to it?

* at audax o'clock this morning
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 23 January, 2022, 04:15:31 pm
Managed to attach the recently acquired second hand NAS to my home network, storage of FulGaz ride videos for the use of. Next up is replacing the puny 250Mb SSD in the Dell laptop used for running said cycling simulator with a 1Tb one. Amazon tells me it’ll be delivered tomorrow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 25 January, 2022, 04:14:00 pm
It occurs to me while I sit here mentally grappling with Joomla and Nicepage while trying to get them to play nicely together that web design was a lot simpler in the old days. Bash out a bit of HTML defining borders and the like, add a bit of colour and the odd photo and it was done. These days clients have such high expectations that you’ve got to learn a new software package or two just to get the damned think to work. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 25 January, 2022, 04:38:11 pm
We are moving away from writing any code, the machines are doing it.

Don't ask me who writes the code for the machine that write the code. Probably more machines. Say hello to our robot overlords.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 January, 2022, 06:57:54 pm
We are moving away from writing any code, the machines are doing it.

Don't ask me who writes the code for the machine that write the code. Probably more machines. Say hello to our robot overlords.

I saw a movie about that once.  I think Arnold Schwarzenegger was in it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 26 January, 2022, 05:28:01 pm
We are moving away from writing any code, the machines are doing it.

Don't ask me who writes the code for the machine that write the code. Probably more machines. Say hello to our robot overlords.
Yeah, but it means that you've got to learn what to tell the machine what you want, and as any developer can tell you, IF the client actually knows what they want, they'll have hanged their minds by tomorrow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 06 February, 2022, 07:12:54 am
Two weeks ago: Spent my day off trying to get an i2c sensor working with a Pi nano.  At the end of the day I'd got past several errors when running the example but couldn't get any data out of it. It showed up in a bus scan but that's all I could get. Very frustrating day involving increasingly bad swears.

Day off today: Fire up the pi, fire up the nano, run the program as I couldn't remember where I'd got to & the latest error message.

Serial: <long number>
Identifier: Si7021
Temperature: 22.36978
Humidity: 30.1824

Le sigh.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 February, 2022, 08:06:00 pm
Since when did Windows Updates have a “Cleaning up” phase?  Not like Microsith to start caring about cruft all of a sudden (https://www.drdobbs.com/cpp/state-of-decay/184405140).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 09 February, 2022, 10:08:05 pm
Just a hacker's comment? ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 09 February, 2022, 11:20:13 pm
Funny thing just happened in Google Hangout between me and Peli. I send her a Google Map link copied from Google Map in browser on PC. I also had 3-4 other taps open that we where talking about and I had planned to send her after I send the Google Map link.

She was on her phone (android) saw the notifications pop up, pulled down and clicked the link (didn't open Google Hangout, just the notification bit). It opened up another website (which was one of the other tabs I had open)

Then we were speaking across each other not understanding why we are referring to different things, that surly would that we both were looking at. See there at the northern part of the map? What map, only pictures on this page ...

I showed her my Google Hangout on the PC, which was showing a preview of the Google Map link I had send her.

We then opened her Google Hangout on her phone and it showed the link that I did send to her.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 February, 2022, 05:31:26 pm
FruitCo want £240 to mend my fondleslab :jurek:  As Nice FruitCo Lady observed, I can buy a new one for £330.  Poobums.

Edit: while there are some outfits flogging them for less than 300 notes I decided to buy one from someone I'd actually heard of.  Natch in the time it took me to reach this decision Argos had sold out :'(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 February, 2022, 11:59:46 am
This post comes to you from Mr Slabby, my new! UnSHINY!!1! fondleslab  :thumbsup:  Seems you can now transfer apps and data and settings and Stuffs from your old one to your new one by the magic of Bluetooth and, improbably for anything involving the Devil's Baby Radio, it actually works!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 February, 2022, 05:47:52 pm
Hurrah: I haz managed to reinstall Windows on Bruiser McHuge :thumbsup:

Bah: He's only running on one leg because I had to remove half his memory to make it install at all :'(

Hurrah: A couple of sticks of RAM is a lot cheaper than a new PC :thumbsup:

Bah: The ones I had my eye on chez Ebuyer are now out of stock and the next alternative is a lot more expensive >:(

Edit:

Hurrah: Found a couple of 8 GB DDR3 RAM sticks I took out of the last machine I pensioned off :thumbsup:

Bah: They are not the same.  As each other >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 19 February, 2022, 01:07:10 am
Kim: (Muttering in a way that will be familiar to users of RRDtool) "9.7*10^-5 whats per what?  Arrg units.  Oh, I'm turning into a newspaper!  It's in Pirate-Ninjas."
barakta: "milliPirate-Ninjas?"
kim: "No, the proper ones.  Well, the Earth version."
barakta: "Are those three times heavier?"
Kim: "No, but they're slightly shorter."
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 22 February, 2022, 11:24:34 am
Dips toe into Ethernet cable buying; looks at patch panel replacements.

Runs of to hide in a corner.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 22 February, 2022, 06:20:30 pm
I have earned this week's IT 1337ness by getting an XPS file open off my home machine. Ork IT policies mean we can't get the viewer on our computers. I already had the reader and doing this reminds me I did this for Other-Ork about 2 years ago.

In this case the document is 5 years old which is the sender could open it back then.

Effing Micro$hite just dropping general support for it. Their turds, they should keep it as core OS to open if nothing else.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 February, 2022, 08:56:58 pm
Onoz!

In all this excitement I completely forgot my keyboard's birthday :'(  It was 32 yesterday!

Soz, keyboard!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 February, 2022, 09:04:37 pm
Don't give it a celebratory cleaning.  I made the mistake of de-gunking our kitchen keyboard (whose main ergonomic claim was being almost, but not quite entirely the same width as the microwave) last week, and it lost the ability to do shift.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 February, 2022, 09:32:24 pm
You need a 5.5 mm nut driver to take it apart, which in my case I have not got.  And the number of Jesus springs in it is not small.  A quick wipe-down with a damp cloth is the best it can hope for…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 25 February, 2022, 12:41:46 pm
After much domestic shenanigans as neccesitated by the installing of The Boy in the former Nerve Centre (now a 2nd bedroom again), I thought I'd get my arse in gear and get the KVM/QEMU virtual box I'd installed (so I can run W7 in turn so I can run The Ancient Slide Scanner) working again.

It was failing to boot, reporting USB errors. I wasn't sure how far I'd got last time or which so watched a few how to videos on YouTube, clicking along. Deleted the misbehaving USB ports and it fired up. Huzzah. Disfortunately it could no longer see the slide scanner, which was connected via USB. Ooops. Added new hardware, in the shape of USB ports and it all works.

(I think the original error was caused by the virtual machine/W7 throwing a tantrum when I plugged the scanner into a different USB port to that originally defined)

phear mi l33t haxor skillz
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 25 February, 2022, 12:44:07 pm
I think the original error was caused by the virtual machine/W7 throwing a tantrum when I plugged the scanner into a different USB port to that originally defined

Windows will never be ready for the desktop until they fix this device-plugged-into-a-different-USB-port-is-a-completely-new-device nonsense.  It used to be the leading cause of parental printer pain, until they started fitting the things with Devil's Radios.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 February, 2022, 06:13:46 pm
See also: updating the driver for X means Windows Knows Best for devices X, Y and Z and will reset shit so your sound comes out of the crappy little squeakers built into one of the monitors rather than the 5:1 amplifier  >:(

Edit: but OTOH today I discovered that File Commander on my phone can copy Stuffs to a NAS via wifi.  No faffing with Blackteeth :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 February, 2022, 01:51:08 pm
Bloody Great Hall PC slowed to a cra-a-a-a-a-awl >:(

Until Stuffs involving one internal SSD were stomped on, at which point normal sprightliness appears to have returned :thumbsup:

I think this is the device the BIOS warned me was about to die on its arse more than 2 (two) years ago and which has, until a couple of hours ago, worked perfectly ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 01 March, 2022, 08:35:31 am
Anyone that experiences message text missing from gmail in Chrome, and you have uBlock Origin, just disable it for the site. This will save you variously: Deleting cookies and site data progressively back to "all time", experimenting with the basic HTML page, validating it works in "incognito" mode (hint there if you'd only pick it up), checking Gmail works fine in Firefox, restarting, etc etc etc. You're welcome.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 03 March, 2022, 05:17:48 pm
Mildly blissed out.  Have finally managed to get two new flounders (Logitech Trackman/Trackball) with wires and plugs. One for this box, the other for the work box and am enjoying being able to move the pointer around without it sticking, juddering and just plain being unco-operative.  And because it was such a royal pain in the arse getting my hands on these two more have been ordered for the spares bin.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 March, 2022, 12:50:26 am
O hai Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury of Mountain View, USAnia!

I don't know who you think the target demographic is for the sort of punter who will fork out £12,750,000+ for a penthouse flat in London's famous London, but I'd hazard a guess that the overlap between it and “people playing a free Solitaire game onna fondleslab at well past midnight” is pretty close to the empty set.

kthxbai
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 04 March, 2022, 12:39:11 pm
I think this fit nicely in here. Slow Mo Guy's letting the gas out of capacitors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WUxgmMDts4
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 04 March, 2022, 01:04:01 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington
...£12,750,000+ for a penthouse flat...hazard a guess that the overlap between it and “people playing a free Solitaire game onna fondleslab at well past midnight” is pretty close to the empty set.
Dunno, must be quite a few $BLUE-PENCIL oligarchs with a good deal of time on their hands these days, what with there being nowhere they can travel to in their aeroplanes.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 March, 2022, 04:23:31 pm
I think this fit nicely in here. Slow Mo Guy's letting the gas out of capacitors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WUxgmMDts4

And this, children, is why you should always double-check the polarity and engage your safety-squint when energising a circuit you've just molished for the first time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 14 March, 2022, 03:45:49 pm
One of the Google AI usp is the way it keeps input open after response, so you can have a "conversation", like saying "tell me more" or whatever.

The other morning I was with Miss Ham and grand hamlet (3) in our kitchen and I ask "OK, Google, what's the weather going to be" and he tells me. I summarise out loud "Wet and windy".

Mr Google heard "wet dream" and goes on to expound on night time erectile function.

They've got the "Artificial" off pat, now need to work on the "Intelligence"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 15 March, 2022, 09:17:41 pm
Potentially no more DST in the US https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1503802091596304389?t=A3XEmaN3cn6Bhv7v2-96Lw&s=19

Time to re program all your things. People to this day still struggle with time zones and daylight saving, even with puters to help, so this is gonna give us more reasons to be late
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2022, 10:20:55 pm
♫ tzdata, tzdata, gives you an excuse for getting up later... ♫

Although technically, they're going with the stupider option: Permanent DST, rather than permanent standard time.  Having the clocks actually align with what the sun is doing is presumably too difficult for business, or something.  The way I see it, if the clocks don't tell the actual local time, they might as well show UTC and make life easier for people who use computers or communicate with people in other time zones.

I believe the EU is also working towards abandoning DST, but don't seem to be making much progress.  I suspect they're going to manage it before BRITAIN sees sense (over either daylight saving or brexit), so we're going to be doomed to being out of sync.  Which will be particularly fun for residents of the island of Ireland.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 March, 2022, 01:26:17 am
You can jibble an option in Windows such that it automagically changes time zone when you transport your lapdancer across state lines.  Except:
So you still have to do it manually.  Doubly so if you’re in the Arizona part of the Navajo Nation.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 16 March, 2022, 10:32:55 am
Macs do this OK
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 March, 2022, 10:35:03 am
This is what drives me mental about Windows, it takes about thirty minutes to find a setting, and then after that adventure, it turns out it doesn't actually work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 16 March, 2022, 11:47:43 am
  Which will be particularly fun for residents of the island of Ireland.

It already is to a certian extent. They of course us the same "time" as the UK.  That makes for much darker mornings and much lighter evenings already in the far west of Ireland.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 16 March, 2022, 09:18:35 pm
Macs do this OK

Oh yeah? Try going to Abkhazia.

And wonder where your breakfast is. Or why the places clearly visible in Apple Maps are not there when you search for them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 16 March, 2022, 09:28:04 pm
Although technically, they're going with the stupider option: Permanent DST, rather than permanent standard time.  Having the clocks actually align with what the sun is doing is presumably too difficult for business, or something.

Well that doesn't work either as the actual midday/midnight changes through the year. That's what the "M" in GMT is for.

It's just a number, it shouldn't matter what number it is. The pain is having it randomly move on different dates in different places. Keep it the same all year round, whether it's UTC or anything else. If you live in Scotland and moan because it's dark at the number called "10:00" what's the issue, just start work/school/whatever at a bigger number.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 March, 2022, 09:43:07 pm
Macs do this OK

Oh yeah? Try going to Abkhazia.

And wonder where your breakfast is. Or why the places clearly visible in Apple Maps are not there when you search for them.

Mine doesn’t work in Nambia either.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 March, 2022, 01:34:51 pm
Looks like Twitter is down...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 28 March, 2022, 01:48:23 pm
Looks like Twitter is down...


Appears to be working via my iphone on 4G, but not via the iMac.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 March, 2022, 01:51:54 pm
I only haz a MacBook...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 28 March, 2022, 01:53:19 pm
Working for me, both website and via clients.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 28 March, 2022, 01:56:54 pm
'Tis back...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: FifeingEejit on 28 March, 2022, 02:55:18 pm
I am playing whack a rat with selenium.
The selenium guy is in holiday
The other twatt wor knows about it is dinghying me.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 March, 2022, 03:59:09 pm
Decided to buy an iPad, as the one I have and use occasionally is now about ten years old* and is not really up with modern web science (or so it keeps bleating or simply showing me the blank page of ineffability).

Like everything, once upon a time it was a simple buy iPad, now it's buy iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro big, iPad Pro small.

*checks the web and blimey, it is 10 years old.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 28 March, 2022, 06:42:31 pm
*checks the web and blimey, it is 10 years old.

iThings are pretty good value in that respect, if you don't break them.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 28 March, 2022, 06:44:35 pm
My original iPad is still being used by my ex-husband.

I bought it on 1 December 2010.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 28 March, 2022, 06:53:51 pm
Yeah my mum asked me to research iPads cos her 5+ yr old one has a big screen crack (2nd time she's cracked it) which isn't worth spending £100ish to repair (again).

Mum'd got the idea the mini ones would be cheaper... Which isn't the case.

After I'd worked out her best choices she then decided she didn't want to bother till October time even tho the cost is actually cheaper once inflation is calculated and I expect tech to only go up in price cos Brexshit, Economy, Ukraine etc etc... By October I'll have to do the research all over again cos prices, models etc will have changed all over again. It's not like she can't afford it, she's a Boomer with A Real Pension and technically a job still.... Very annoying.

I felt the standard iPad was best. The minis are £££ and the Pros are bastard heavy and big... I reckon we'd go for something with future-proof storage but no cellular for her purposes (Grandchildren, web browsing, photos).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 28 March, 2022, 07:03:06 pm
I do have an even older one (I think iPad 2) somewhere, was used in the kitchen for splashy stuff. I think I also have the original iPad Air from a former mothership mouldering in the IT drawer.

The 10-year-old still mostly works and holds a decent charge, but increasingly it's struggling with websites and many of the apps don't work. I was sort of went off tablets but there's been a couple of times recently when I've thought, actually, a tablet would have been useful.

Apple stuff is a bit annoying though, as it refuses to die at a sensible age and litters my house. Looks at 2007 Mac Mini, cursedly. That got supplanted in printer and back-up duties by the 2009 Mac Mini, and now serves as a paperweight.

The fancy new iPad Air looks nice, though it's a bit of a mark-up mostly for the fancy new processor, but if it lasts me another 10 years, probably worth it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 28 March, 2022, 07:17:07 pm
I felt the standard iPad was best. The minis are £££ and the Pros are bastard heavy and big... I reckon we'd go for something with future-proof storage but no cellular for her purposes (Grandchildren, web browsing, photos).
I now have a Mini and a Pro. I always had the standard before that.

I wouldn't bother with the pro again, it's that bit heavier and the improvements in it aren't so mega over the normal. I like that it doesn't have the home button but does everything with facial recognition, don't know if the standard iPad does that now. I would miss it if I didn't have it.

If I could only have one then I would have my Mini. It is so convenient for the hand as it's lighter weight and quality is still good. Mine is two and a half years old and the battery is definitely not lasting as well but as I don't tend to cart the thing around but keep it at home, having to charge it every 3 days is fine. I use it for 2-3 hours per day. The big iPad Pro I use for watching TV but not usually for general things (playing cards etc) as it's just oo heavy.

The Apple Pencil for the Pro was a waste of money for me. I almost never use it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 March, 2022, 01:26:40 am
A quick shufti at the settings on this FruitCo Product suggests that the boggo iPad doesn’t do facial recognition.

I was quite happy with my 2014 Mini until it started not running things, which is anathema to a Unit using a thirty year old keyboard (even if it lacks the extra keys that Microsith seems to think we can’t do without) and a 20+ trackball.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 March, 2022, 09:17:15 am
Only the Pros do facial recognition, the others are fingerprint scanners. Given the chip in the Air, I guess that's mostly down to product segmentation, there's not much between the iPad Air and the smaller Pro.

Next up foo-foo colours. Sadly no torporific taupe is available.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 29 March, 2022, 10:14:15 am
dSLR didn't turn on, great timing for a weekend away.

Tried all the things like battery in out shake it all about erm put a new fresh battery in. With or without SD card and lens, leave it on without battery for 15min etc etc. Just now't.

Got home plugged it into a a laptop and another spare battery, camera blinked red and laptop said it had found a new USB device.

Turned on the camera and \o/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 March, 2022, 09:23:53 pm
Starlight in the end, with a dark cherry cover. I'd like to say not having to peck at a teeny iPhone keyboard while horizontal on the sofa will improve the quality of my posts, but I suspect that's unlikely.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 08:37:23 pm
Yahoo! Mail! Appears! To! Be! B0rked! Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BrianI on 12 April, 2022, 09:58:13 am
Well, that is interesting.

RGT Cycling app seems to be running on my initial test on a Windows 10 Virtual Machine under VMWare Player on a Linux Mint Host :-)

Big test will be when I try this again, on the older PC hooked up to the telly. Will the virtual machine see the bluetooth adaptors to hook up to the smart turbo trainer?  Certainly easier than dual booting!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 April, 2022, 11:52:23 am
HA!
Quote
A video showing a driverless car being stopped by the police and then attempting to drive away went viral over the weekend. San Francisco police stopped one of Cruise's autonomous Chevrolet Bolt EVs, likely because the car's headlights were not on despite it being night. In the video, first posted to Instagram on April 2, an officer can be heard saying, "There's nobody in it."

But a few seconds later, after the officer walks back to his police car, the autonomous vehicle—perhaps deciding that the traffic stop was over—tries to drive away before pulling over to a stop a few hundred feet away.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/04/cops-take-dim-view-of-autonomous-vehicle-driving-with-no-lights-at-night/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 16 April, 2022, 08:35:15 pm
Bobby (https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/327:_Exploits_of_a_Mom) got a sister :)

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/null
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 April, 2022, 04:25:23 pm
The Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia doned an update on my fondleslab last night and now the “Jump To” wossname down in the bottom right corner of YACF no longer works, at least in Chrome.

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 18 April, 2022, 06:44:15 pm
Works in Safari ok. But then I guess it would.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 18 April, 2022, 10:27:02 pm
https://twitter.com/doctorow/status/1516144514984923139           https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/04/shameful-insteon-looks-dead-just-like-its-users-smart-homes/


"IoT service shuts down its cloud hosts without warning; execs scrub their Linkedin profiles of the company's name; parent company deletes press-release trumpeting the acquisition, and every single device they've ever sold is bricked. "


I've never had a reason to look at automating my home and this sort of thing doesn't encourage me.  Careful research needed to make sure you are not locked into a supplier who just vanishes.  Reading the Aretechnica article it seems seems the users might not be completely in the lurch, but they'll be in for a lot of faff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 18 April, 2022, 10:42:27 pm
The rule of thumb is that if it relies on a cloud service, it's disposable.  Which might be acceptable if it's something cheap and easily replaced like an Echo or Chromecast where the cloudiness is a key part of its functionality, but less so if it's all your light switches.

Local control is the way to go (healthy paranoia aside, it's good for things to keep working without an internet connection), and preferably open standards and - where possible - open source.  That way if the manufacturer leaves you up shit creek, there's a decent chance that someone out there will have made a paddle.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 April, 2022, 12:58:59 am
Hello,

Have a gmail account that seems to be having issues sending emails to another  free.fr email.

The person can email me, and I have replied to their email but cannot seem to email them back.  The email mentions that the response from remote server is 451 toomany errors detected from your IP.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 20 April, 2022, 11:52:47 am
Hello,

Have a gmail account that seems to be having issues sending emails to another  free.fr email.

The person can email me, and I have replied to their email but cannot seem to email them back.  The email mentions that the response from remote server is 451 toomany errors detected from your IP.
I suspect an automatic system on the free.fr end has classified a number of emails from gmail as spam, leading to one or more of the gmail server being blacklisted at free.fr. This is likely to be temporary, and there is not much you can do other than retry. The spam emails are almost certainly not yours, just other users on gmail.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 April, 2022, 01:06:08 pm
Hello,

Have a gmail account that seems to be having issues sending emails to another  free.fr email.

The person can email me, and I have replied to their email but cannot seem to email them back.  The email mentions that the response from remote server is 451 toomany errors detected from your IP.
I suspect an automatic system on the free.fr end has classified a number of emails from gmail as spam, leading to one or more of the gmail server being blacklisted at free.fr. This is likely to be temporary, and there is not much you can do other than retry. The spam emails are almost certainly not yours, just other users on gmail.

Yeah I get that, but the person has emailed me and they have received my reply, as initially I was getting the remote server issue.  Got them to email me, I received that and them replied to their email.  Now re emailing them get the 451 reply.

Have emailed the people from an dodgy sounding email where the name is tea and biscuits and that email got through.

EDIT: had a wander on the the free.fr site and found that the ip address listed in the gmail as the issue is blocked for 24 hours
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 21 April, 2022, 01:00:25 pm
Trying to look at the BBC news on my work computer, using Chrome.  Type BBC into google, click on link for "BBC Home" - bbc.co.uk page displays for a few seconds before the link changes to bbc.com and the BBC page gives me a 404 error.  Most odd. Click on the "News" link in the still visible header, hey preston, bbc.co.uk/news page displays. No issue in IE, but it displays bbc.com/news.

ETA, click on "UK" get 404.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 April, 2022, 11:48:18 pm
Isn't technology marvellous?  https://northumbriaggj.github.io/2019/games/tv_aerial_simulator/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 April, 2022, 12:04:00 am
o hai Microsith!

What’s with the little roundel in the system tray which, when the mouse pointer hovers o'er it, tells me:

Quote
Your location is currently in use

I know.  I know this because I am sitting in my location.  Explain yourselves, fatheads.

kthxbai
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 25 April, 2022, 09:10:58 am
Actually quite a big thing. Even after reading it I don't REALLY understand what quantum computing is, but it's pretty and I feel like I might, one day. Interesting for the examples of potential use, too.

https://www.quantumbusinessnews.com/applications/how-a-quantum-computer-actually-works
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 25 April, 2022, 03:45:58 pm
I once managed a project where the chap doing the work was using quantum entanglement or something. I just tried to nod in the right places.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 April, 2022, 05:06:38 pm
iOS Mail, or the Mega! Global! Punctuation! Abuse! Corporation! Of! Sunnyvale! USAnia! or both.

I deleted that message from “JSD Engg Products” on arrival, on March 1st.  And have emptied the BIIIINNNNSSSS folder frequently ever since.  Why, then, does the stupid* bloody message keep reappearing like that cat that got into the habit of crapping on Ozzy's car >:(

sort it out u muppets!

* It's wishing me a happy Shivrati (https://www.jsdgroup.info/so/f8Nz4LFpz?languageTag=en&cid=086dd6df-9f31-4662-b2a2-853ef1d7b494)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: aidan.f on 26 April, 2022, 09:25:14 am
Quote
Isn't technology marvellous?  https://northumbriaggj.github.io/2019/games/tv_aerial_simulator/
I have not tried the game, but the demo video shows analog noise rather than digital dropouts - I turned off one of the last 626 PAL analogue transmitters, Burnhope Ch5 in September 2012...
To be really retro they could have simulated 405 line positive modulation with line tearing and frame rolling, receivers losing frame sync with poor s/n
Andy Pandy Bill and Ben plus test card F
Had to do some research myself... https://tx.mb21.co.uk/ (https://tx.mb21.co.uk/)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 01 May, 2022, 10:07:19 pm
Dear websites that need a login: Please to be working properly.

So I have a login, and have checked the option to 'remember me', so it should log me back in.
Does it fuck.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

The site is difficult to navigate, and it takes me some time to find the event I want to enter.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

I finally get to the event I want to enter. But when I try to enter, I'm not logged in, because the auto-log-in does not work.
I need to click the 'log in' button at the end of my on-line quest.
Fine. this works, but WHY THE ABSOLUTE FUCK can this login not leave me at the same page I logged in from?
No, after logging in, I'm thrown to the website home page, where I have to start my quest once again.

And breathe.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 01 May, 2022, 10:10:19 pm
Ah, that saves me a rant.

Presumably staying logged in would cost another £100k
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: neilrj on 01 May, 2022, 10:13:57 pm
Dear websites that need a login: Please to be working properly.

So I have a login, and have checked the option to 'remember me', so it should log me back in.
Does it fuck.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

The site is difficult to navigate, and it takes me some time to find the event I want to enter.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

I finally get to the event I want to enter. But I need to click the 'log in' button at the end of my on-line quest.
Fine. this works, but WHY THE ABSOLUTE FUCK can this login not leave me at the same page I logged in from?
No, after logging in, I'm thrown to the website home page, where I have to start my quest once again.

And breathe.

Right click open in new tab works in Win7-11 for tab forgetful websites (and works everywhere at the 'expense' of a tab, the forgetful sites are usually very broken big sites, or more usually amateur/enthusiast sites.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 May, 2022, 12:59:53 pm
Dear websites that need a login: Please to be working properly.

So I have a login, and have checked the option to 'remember me', so it should log me back in.
Does it fuck.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

The site is difficult to navigate, and it takes me some time to find the event I want to enter.
(AUK, I'm looking at you)

I finally get to the event I want to enter. But when I try to enter, I'm not logged in, because the auto-log-in does not work.
I need to click the 'log in' button at the end of my on-line quest.
Fine. this works, but WHY THE ABSOLUTE FUCK can this login not leave me at the same page I logged in from?
No, after logging in, I'm thrown to the website home page, where I have to start my quest once again.

And breathe.

Also webshites that, when you poke “Back” to go, well, back to somewhere not on that site instead serve up a fresh deluge of shit with some patronising crap like “Before you go why not give us another opportunity to hit you with MOAR shitverts?”  If I wanted an extra serving of your buckets of tedious I wouldn’t have tried to navigate away from your wanky site in the first place.

This probably qualifies as a rant, but I'm busy keeping an eye on some wet paint a rebooting NAS.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 05 May, 2022, 11:08:54 am
w00t! My track ball has magically turned itself into a theremin  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 10 May, 2022, 08:55:44 pm
A link just for Mr. Larrington...   https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/10/openvms_92/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2022, 11:28:25 pm
w00t!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 10 May, 2022, 11:49:39 pm
I remember the occasional VMS vs UNIX skirmish in the office back in the late 80s early 90s but by the time I moved into computing full time, unix was top dog mainly because it allowed the company to use competing box venders and recompiling for a different venders specific kernel was a relatively trivial task if need be. We used to develop our MC applications in house back then, so managing such things was pretty much run of the mill.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 11 May, 2022, 09:24:32 am
I know of one company in the UK defence industry that still has a VAX running a major part of its manufacturing business. I was asked if there was anything to replace the Telnet to LAT translation feature on the old L3 switches they were replacing with modern ones that definitely don't do anything with LAT.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 May, 2022, 11:13:24 am
Today I are mostly learning that when attempting to access! Yahoo! mail! with! Thunderbird! the trick is, for each and every folder on your Thunderbollocks installation, right-clicking the folder name, selecting “Properties” and turning on the “When getting new messages for this account, always check this folder” wossname seems to cure Thunderbum of its annoying habit of pretending! that! Yahoo! Mail! is! down! when you try to access the folder in question.

This! has! been! a! public! service! announcement!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 11 May, 2022, 12:39:54 pm
The Thunderbollocks developers historically had a religious objection to implementing the IMAP IDLE command (which, to save you looking it up, says to the server "give me a push notification if something changes in this folder").  It seems to have reluctantly creeped in there at some point since I last paid the matter any attention, but has presumably contributed to the dog's breakfast of polling options.  The general principle of more cached connections more better (until the server gets uppity and starts closing them) still seems to apply.

And obviously anyone with that many exclamation marks can't be trusted to run an IMAP server properly.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 May, 2022, 05:28:41 pm
I'm! not! sure! I! trust! the! Mega! Global! Punctuation! Abuse! Corporation! Of! Sunnyvale! USAnia! to! run! anything! Properly!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 12 May, 2022, 10:48:18 am
What's that you say computer, this disk cannot be repaired.

This is the third replacement back-up drive that has gone in the last couple of years (whereas the other drive is the HDD pulled out of a 2006 Macbook and still merrily spinning). It's not like they see heavy use with hourly snapshots.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 May, 2022, 04:41:33 pm
Hurrah!  My new PC is being built!
Bah! 1-1.5 working weeks my arse!  Ordered it on April 21st >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 12 May, 2022, 07:18:29 pm
I'm impressed that Amazon offer 'professional installation' for portable hard drive (yours for £59.29). I would like to be paid this much for plugging in a USB cable (ignore any claims from my boss that this might be true, I do far more than just this).

I'm almost tempted to order the service and see what happens. That said, from reading the reviews, it seems there's a fair number of people who don't know how to format a drive and generally panic if they have to do more than plug it in. And yes, 4TB isn't 4 actual TB. The world established this in 1998.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 May, 2022, 07:37:38 pm
Don’t they mostly come pre-formatted these days?  External ones, obv.  Infernal ones are a different kettle of wossnames.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 12 May, 2022, 07:48:13 pm
For Windows, I imagine they do, hence all the whinging in the reviews about how they were swizzed out of the promised 4TB when they plugged in. For some you can pay extra for a 'Mac version' because we're worth it. Or just fire up Disk Utility and hit the format button.

Still narked that I'm either a statistical outlier or quality is crap these days, or big storage is fragile storage unless you spend for enterprise models.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 May, 2022, 10:30:43 pm
I've got at least four dead SSDs floating around the place, plus another that was DOA.  Sizes from 110 GB to 2 TB.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 May, 2022, 10:33:39 pm
I've never had an SSD die.  Though I do have one somewhere that's so offensively slow that it was withdrawn from use.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 13 May, 2022, 10:59:16 am
I've got at least four dead SSDs floating around the place, plus another that was DOA.  Sizes from 110 GB to 2 TB.
MrLarrington is a hitherto unknown particle that attracts cosmic rays.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 May, 2022, 03:22:14 pm
After being told yesterday that my new PC was undergoing “stress testing” and not to “be alarmed if this takes several days” a veritable flurry of e-mails tells me it’s been dispatched  :thumbsup:

Natch not a peep out of whichever shite couriers they've selected to try to break it.  Also it means I have to clear some space on the kitchen table for adding disks and other hardware out of the old one chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 13 May, 2022, 03:53:59 pm
I've got at least four dead SSDs floating around the place, plus another that was DOA.  Sizes from 110 GB to 2 TB.

These are spinny disks as they're just for backup and I'm notoriously cheap (I'm not sure I even have 4TB of data*). None of the internal SSDs have ever failed, fortunately.

*it now won't report what's on it, though it seems accessible, just won't accept writes. Basically, it's turned into my brain.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: lissotriton on 13 May, 2022, 04:10:50 pm
Is the Railcard website broken? Just gives an error 500 when I try to login. Have tried it on a variety of different computers and browsers.
Not much use if want to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers for buying a Railcard.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 May, 2022, 10:45:30 am
Last night:  ur PC will be delivered on the 16th, sa DPD
This morning: ur PC will be delivered, like, NOW, sa DPD
Just now: A smiley DPD man places a huge cardboard box on the doorstep

Unfortunately, I ent finished clearing the space required for un-boxing and up-setting, and the box is blocking the foot of the stairs.  Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 May, 2022, 04:44:31 pm
No, Audacity, when I split that single audio file into 17 handy four-ounce servings and then tell you to export each chunk as a separate file I do not want you to include in each file anything up to 73 minutes of bugger-all before the audio starts in earnest  >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 16 May, 2022, 10:11:39 am
Default password for something in work is "changeit".

Can't be changed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 16 May, 2022, 01:04:48 pm
Styles and formatting in M$ word. Why does it have to be so convoluted and why is the one thing I want nor available.

Grrr.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 16 May, 2022, 04:00:38 pm
Didn't you know that Microsoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 May, 2022, 05:40:44 pm
Styles and formatting in M$ word. Why does it have to be so convoluted and why is the one thing I want nor available.

Grrr.

I blame it on the effing ribbon.

Everything used to be organised under (fairly sensible) menus. Most people could navigate their way around the menus, since the names were logical.

Now it is a bloody mess, with options appearing and disappearing at (microsoft's) will.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 May, 2022, 05:51:07 pm
I needed to map some network drives on my new PC.  Needed a FWSE* to tell me how.  But I couldn’t find the drives, because Network Discovery is turned off by default.  And I couldn’t find the Control Panel to turn it on, because Microsith have hidden it.  I could have found it easily enough if I'd managed to install Classic Shell, but the Setup wossname for it is on one of the network drives I was trying to map…

* not Google, coz we ent got that far yet
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 17 May, 2022, 08:44:53 pm
What you want is God Mode.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 May, 2022, 01:30:08 pm
What you want is God Mode.

And so I shall, but I ent set that up yet either.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 18 May, 2022, 02:40:57 pm
I am a Very Bad Man.

On a work project, someone has suggested the use of software called Citopus. I have referred to it in a mail, and added an "L" in the name. And asked if anyone can find it.

ETA. the relevant paragraph

Quote
Who is best placed to discuss the exact requirements for the delivery team, please? I have heard mention of a software requirement for something called Clitopus, but I’m not sure I can find it anywhere? Can someone tell me what is needed?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 May, 2022, 03:28:11 pm
Faffed with the UEFI wossname on the Great Hall PC.

Hurrah: PC Health Check says it can run Win 11
Bah: Windows Update says it can’t
Hurrah: Seems Windows Update doesn’t update itself immediately because, well, Microsith
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: jsabine on 19 May, 2022, 01:14:21 pm
I am a Very Bad Man.

On a work project, someone has suggested the use of software called Citopus. I have referred to it in a mail, and added an "L" in the name. And asked if anyone can find it.

ETA. the relevant paragraph

Quote
Who is best placed to discuss the exact requirements for the delivery team, please? I have heard mention of a software requirement for something called Clitopus, but I’m not sure I can find it anywhere? Can someone tell me what is needed?

Gee, I'm sure someone will spot that
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 May, 2022, 02:24:34 pm
I hope to dog I don’t need to replace that video card any time soon coz the little clips wot hold it into its slot are somewhat inaccessible…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 19 May, 2022, 04:04:57 pm
Also, I believe there is something of a dearth of high end video cards currently.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 19 May, 2022, 09:59:07 pm
My landline has been suffering from a lingering death for a couple of years. It's become noticeably noisy on analogue calls, and the ADSL sync speed has been dropping.

An SMS from AAISP two days ago saying '###No Carrier' marked it's final demise.
No dial tone.

Yay! A hard voice fault. The one thing that BT will pay attention to. Finally, BT will fix the bloody thing.
And so they did.

Two days later, the dude appeared, we had a chat, and off he went to ferret around in holes in the ground.  A few hours later he returned, triumphant. 'Try it now!' quoth he.  'There were a great multitude of faults on your line, and I have vanquished them all!'

And lo, so it was: the line was quiet, and the ADSL sync speed had gone from an uncertain 17Mbit to a solid 27Mbit, never before seen in these parts.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 May, 2022, 12:53:11 am
'kinell!  The screen saver on the Estate Office PC now works, which it never did on the old one after I added a second monitor :thumbsup:  Now it proclaims “l33t h@XX0r” across both screens, in tumbly-spinny Comic Sans.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TimO on 21 May, 2022, 03:21:01 pm
I managed to acquire some almost unobtainium, a Raspberry Pi CM4, or more specifically a CM4001000, for £33. :o

OK, it doesn't have WiFi, only 1GB of RAM and no eMMC (it's the Lite version), but it's a lot cheaper than the same part on AliExpress, which would be around £120! Alternatively I could back-order a part from RS or Farnell, a little cheaper for around £27, but those are probably going to be delivered in late November (or later).

Checking Octopart, they last saw some inventory (https://octopart.com/cm4001000-raspberry+pi-112356800?r=sp#InventoryHistory) about 7 months ago.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 May, 2022, 06:50:01 pm
So, mostly for teh lulz, I turned on Spencer The Halfwit — a 13 year old EeePC with Win 10, 1GB RAM and an Intel Atom powered by ants — for the first time in nearly 3 years, just to see how long it’ll take him to do all the updates :demon:

I'll report back tomorrow.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: StuAff on 21 May, 2022, 06:52:42 pm
I bought a new mouse pad. I've been using its predecessor for twenty-one years.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 May, 2022, 07:04:59 pm
I think mine dates back to 1994, but it spent a long time in a drawer when I was using a Microsith trackball on what was then my only PC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 21 May, 2022, 07:28:07 pm
I’ve not had a mouse mat since the advent of optical mice.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 May, 2022, 11:34:33 pm
O hai Microsith!

I want to rename that file.  Things you don’t need to do before renaming it:

Idiots.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 May, 2022, 09:52:31 am
So, mostly for teh lulz, I turned on Spencer The Halfwit — a 13 year old EeePC with Win 10, 1GB RAM and an Intel Atom powered by ants — for the first time in nearly 3 years, just to see how long it’ll take him to do all the updates :demon:

I'll report back tomorrow.

Hit “Restart” at 09:30 yesterday.  By 13:00 he'd reached 22% of installing the update.  By 01:00 this morning he'd still reached 22% of installing the update.  I switched him off and went to bed.  Now he’s doing a system restore.  Assuming that finishes OK I may have to nuke from orbit and try reinstalling.

I see you can still get 8.1 from Microsith.  Anyone know if it’ll let me downgrade without needing to try to find a product key?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 May, 2022, 10:03:49 am
I have an old Asus one somewhere, of the same vintage. It was slow when I bought it (ants are far faster than those Atom chips, and it was writing to the solid-state storage with, as far as I could tell, small chisels). The most awful computer I ever bought, fortunately it was a cheap refurb.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 May, 2022, 10:27:52 am
Spencer is so amazingly primitive he still has spinning rust in his tummy and I for one have no intention of trying to install anything more modern.  I'd rather pension off Slow Dempsey and buy a new lapdancer, though that would, rationally speaking, be a colossal waste of money.  Plus all current laptops seem to be huge.  I don’t want huge.  I want small and light and not a Chromebook and not with a four figure price tag.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 May, 2022, 12:42:41 pm
Everything about that little computer was awful, it was just a clutch of unpleasant compromises, from tiny screen to cramped keyboard, and complimentary sucky performance from a chip that would have been underpowered in a pocket calculator. The SSD was based on some technology unearthed from the ancient Sumerians. Even on a cut-black flavour of Linux, it had performance on a par with Liz Truss explaining quantum mechanics.

I still have it somewhere. I went out and bought and bought a Macbook Air which weighed only marginally more while being a real computer. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire concept of that little laptops was a mere marketing ploy by Apple.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 May, 2022, 01:08:34 pm
I have one of those EeePCs.  It's running some obsolete version of Debian.  Very slowly.

I keep it around purely because it's got a proper Ethernet port and can just about run a browser, which combined with sensible Linux networking, makes it handy for configuring routers and the like without mucking up my proper computer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 May, 2022, 02:05:22 pm
Unfortunately the little plastic cover over the Ethernet 'ole b0rked off mine and I never did figure out a reliable way of making one stay in place without it.  Or at least not one which didn’t involve superglue.

And I just noticed he's connected to the distascope in the Grand Bedchamber.  Albeit via VGA which means the picture is shit, but the thing can be used without having to sit at an awkward angle and without the bed frame jammed painfully into my arsecrack.

I left him doing a full backup.  There’s bugger-all on him, most of which is Windows, but it'll still take hours.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 May, 2022, 09:59:49 am
So now Spencer The Halfwit is having a second go at installing the 21H2 update and just like last time he’s been sitting on 22% for a Several of hours :-\

Edit: I have a feeling that 21H2 might be an update too far.  If he ent made any further progress by tomorrow it’s time for a fresh install of either 10 or 8.1.  No, Linux is not an option because it doesn’t speak iTunes.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 May, 2022, 10:12:37 am
Still on 22% this morning.  Update LARTed.  USB drive o'DETH on standby.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 May, 2022, 11:49:34 pm
“Reset PC” seems to have installed an up-to-date Win 10.  Spencer is celebrating this triumph by declining to talk to network disks, or vice-versa.  If this cannot be rectified it rather negates his existence, which is primarily to pipe iTunes from a NAS to an amplifier.

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Polar Bear on 26 May, 2022, 04:47:44 am
I have a few PC projects landing.  Looking at the spec of two of the machines they are woefully inadequate for today's internet surfing and zooming demands.  Whoever considered 3gb of memory in a Windows 10 pc could ever rock it?

The vague plan is to add memory, do clean installs of Windows and see if either machine can cope with the basics.

The third machine takes more than five minutes to boot.  Knowing the owner I rule nothing out but purely as a consequence of user awareness and not because of deliberate visits to dodgy websites or clicking on other "snareware". 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 26 May, 2022, 10:53:59 am
I still have fond memories of increasing the RAM in my first work PC from 560kb to 640kb via a config change and then adding a small piece of software that allowed me to access and use the rest of the 300 or so Kb of the RAM. The OS was unable to access more than the 640kb directly.

I was considered something of a PC super nerd back then…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 May, 2022, 11:13:48 am
All the faffing about with config.sys and autoexec.bat to get it to use all of the 1MB all of the time.  My cow-orker Mad Dog had a lucrative sideline in optimising people's PC's – one pint of BEER per Babbage-Engine.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 26 May, 2022, 11:59:46 am
That PC also had a 40mb hard disc although the OS (Dos 3.1) could only address 30mb so I had to mount the other 10mb as a separate drive. Mind ewe, that was a little pointless because there’s no way I was going to be able to generate enough data to actually fill the 30mb let alone the extra 10mb. And that included my pools analysis spreadsheets1 that I was using at the time.

Ah, jumpers for goal posts and all that.

1. No, they didn’t work, so it was mostly an exercise in learning more about SuperCalc.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 May, 2022, 12:19:54 pm
Try to explain to Young People word processors before WYSIWYG1.

I vaguely remember this, Wordperfect, and you had to book a slot in a library for access to a precious computer. When it came to writing up my degree project, I nicked my supervisor's little Mac and blamed three o'clock Paul2, which I think ran Word 2.0.

1Word excepted, your picture is over there, to the right of the virtual Bermuda triangle.

2So named because no one ever saw him before 3pm. Allegedly a PhD student. This might have been news to him.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 30 May, 2022, 11:10:51 pm
Quote
"My left shoe won't even reboot." writes another
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/02/my-left-shoe-wont-even-reboot-faulty-app-bricks-nike-smart-sneakers/

old story I know but I just saw it, clearly shows that the future is doomed
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 June, 2022, 12:17:04 pm
Just when I thought I'd got my all-New! IMPROVED!!1! Truck & Trailer mod for American Truck Simulator fit for public consumption They go and release a bunch of Lode King & Prestige trailers.  Hah, my life is but a box of worm gears :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 June, 2022, 11:47:44 am
Google engineer suspended for violating confidentiality policies over 'sentient' AI (https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/13/google_lamda_sentient_claims).  The Rise of the Machines is nigh!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 June, 2022, 01:07:29 am
Just when I thought I'd got my all-New! IMPROVED!!1! Truck & Trailer mod for Euro Truck Simulator 2 fit for public consumption an as-yet-unidentified Mercedes pops up hauling a double trailer in Poland, where it ent supposed to be.  Hah, my life is still a box of worm gears :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: cycleman on 15 June, 2022, 11:05:43 am
Truck driver using Google maps? 😉
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 June, 2022, 02:33:18 pm
Or rank buffoonery on my part.  Now I have to check a Several of hundreds of other files.  A job for Command-Line-Fu ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 15 June, 2022, 02:51:35 pm
While visiting my folks over the weekend. Me and the old man were trying to figure out how to play the digital copies he had of old classical concerts recorded from TV onto VHS. On and via either the USB, re-writeable DVD, HDD recorder or the TV, heck we even tried out a screen share app his TV had from his laptop, chromecast etc. Of course various items didn't take the video version that the app he had on his laptop could convert to and from. So I told him what about trying out Handbreak, but it wouldn't run on win11 without a runtime update. But the newest version of either didn't like each other so we had to downgrade the .net to get Handbreak to work. This resulted it to spit out a video that we could play on some, but not others, where something didn't want to pull the sound from the file to pass through his surround sound come DAP radio thingamajig. Then it was time to eat and I left him to install a media server on his old win10 laptop as we didn't have time to faff around with that. So hopefully one of his gadgets can play the tv shows, so they can enjoy the music in either the kitchen, conservatory, bedroom or living room as the thingamajig can pipe the sound out to all these rooms.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 June, 2022, 08:21:04 pm
This has been around for a loooong time now, but I hadn't tripped over it until today.

Warning.  Time sink.

Read this... http://silent.org.pl/home/2022/06/13/the-floppotron-3-0/

Then go here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGfkPCZYfFw  then here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCCXRerqaJI and... well you know how to search youtube.  There are lots.

This is my favourite - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL5NlEwDoPs
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 15 June, 2022, 08:34:42 pm
^ utterly barking!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 16 June, 2022, 01:24:00 pm
The man in my life has several man caves, many of which contain a computer or two.
The man thinks the HP wired mouse is the best mouse for his needs and requests I buy another (#7 we think) from Mr Sainsbury's House of Toothy Comestibles.
Said mouse is listed on the website.
I click on 'Add'.
Button temporarily changes colour but does not actually add the mouse.
I reload the page. Same problem.
I approach mouse from another angle. No go.
Seems I can order a shedload of Toothy Comestibles.
But no mouse!

ETA No HP X500 mouse.
I could order a Logitech wired mouse for the same price, with no trouble but that's not the mouse he wants.

It seems the HP X500 mouse has a bug…

I might phone them up if I can be arsed...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: hellymedic on 16 June, 2022, 05:12:29 pm
So I phoned Custard Services.
Lady could not find said mouse at all, only HP Everyday Printer Paper.
Which is not a mouse!
I found the item number for said mouse but lady finds nothing under that code.

I can only conclude this item is not currently stocked.

Ho hum.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 June, 2022, 01:17:17 pm
Audible!  We don't mind your e-mail messages about offers'n'shit.  We do mind them when they're from audible.de.  Just stop it >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 18 June, 2022, 03:12:38 pm
USB connnectors - which way is up?

I have one of these and I want to get a 90 degree lead to fit it. It is going to sit under the stem, the other way up to what is shown in this photo. The label will face down - do I need an “up" or “down" lead?

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0151/9445/products/sw_render_05eeb01a-1e78-4af6-9421-159468d636f0_2048x.jpg?v=1425420340)

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 20 June, 2022, 08:26:18 am
This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjD3EVC1-zU) might help.

In other news, I've been mucking around with the WiFi at Ham Hall (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=122465.0), one of the motivations for the upgrade was an issue with my weather station, a 2.4Ghz capable device which had an odd issue. It would connect and hold a stable connection in the study, but move 7m rearwards into the kitchen and the internet link (and thus, upload of data) was flaky to the point of non-functioning. I put it down to an AP/device issue, which I thought would be sorted on upgrade. It wasn't.

OK, back in the study, connected instantly. Back in the kitchen, total fail. (leaving aside the contortions to make certain there was only the standard single wall intervening) Back in the study, plug into a battery pack. Fine. Move to the kitchen. Solid. Hmm. OK, do some swap around with leads to leave the pack on charge while delivering to the station. come back in the morning. Zero.

In a moment of lucidity - could it possibly be a dodgy micro USB lead? Answer: yes. Lead swapped - solid.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 20 June, 2022, 05:33:22 pm
The Magic Mouse for my 2012 iMac has just died after being proffered some new batteries.
Luckily, on my shelves, I had a brand spanking new Magic Mouse which I bought for use with my MacBook Air, before I realised how good the touchpad on the MacBook Air actually is.
Peace and harmony have been restored to all things Mac in this house.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 June, 2022, 01:59:12 am
I finally got the current iteration of The Ongoing Project out the door six weeks later than planned because duff hardware and knowing my luck They will unleash another game update:

Bah!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 July, 2022, 08:04:02 am
Internet of Shit about to become a good deal shitter as Hive to pull the plug on smart home gadgets by 2025 (https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/12/hive_camera_support_end/).

Quote
At Hive, we've got big plans to make... homes greener, so we've made the tough decision to discontinue our smart security and leak detection products. As a smart tech brand in the middle of a climate crisis, we know the focus needs to change and will instead be developing smart home tech that'll help get us closer to achieving Net Zero.

One disgruntled contributor to El Reg's BTL section wondered just how dumping thousands of tonnes of worthless electronic tat in landfill will help with that Net Zero goal.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 July, 2022, 12:47:50 pm
Nice bit of greenwash for the "we can't be arsed".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 13 July, 2022, 01:35:07 pm
If only tech savvy people could have predicted this and warned of Using Other Peoples Computers to control your IoT at home…
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 July, 2022, 01:41:18 pm
To be fair, most people with IoS smart things I know seem to be in the "Yes, I know it'll be landfill in 3-5 years, but computers are hard and oohshiny / useful accessibility" camp.

Some people are fanatical about open standards to avoid these problems, and will be fine.  Many won't go near anything smarter than a digital timer, and will also be fine.  The "$comapny shut down a server and now my light switches don't work" people are the internet equivalent of those who look angry about things in local papers.  Some of them probably still have AOL accounts.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 July, 2022, 04:42:35 pm
(Whispers) I know at least two fairly tech-savvy people who use still AOL accounts for their personal Babbage-Post.  Probably from inertia, mind.

<== Still! Uses! Yahoo! For! Most! Of! His!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 July, 2022, 05:01:44 pm
Yes, well, tech-savvy people who can't be arsed don't really expect to be able to moan at anyone when the inevitable happens.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 14 July, 2022, 07:24:09 pm
So Junior #2, the theoretical physicist, has a need for a Linux laptop for his work, with Ubuntu on it.
Fine. Mrs F has an old Dell XPS which can be re-purposed.
An ISO is downloaded, and Rufus is used to make a bootable USB stick. This all works as expected.

The installer gets so far, then fails to find a hard drive to install on.
This is slightly complicated by the fact the laptop has 2 drives: a smaller SSD, and a bigger HDD.

As usual, google will produce lots of hits, and as usual for Linux installs, they are all wrong or out of date.

Three things needed fixing:

-Go into BIOS and set the SATA controllers to AHCI not RAID - Google found this just fine.
-Add boot parameters to GRUB for 'nvme_load=yes' - where this goes is well at odds with any of the instructions.

Even then, the installer could not see the drives.
But it did come up in 'Live' mode directly off the USB stick.
Within the Live mode session, tools like gparted could see the disks just fine.
They did not have a normal partition table, and were showing as having a raid structure on them.
I set up a normal partition structure on the drives (just an empty partition table, all space unallocated), and on re-booting then they showed up in the installer.

I'm a little irritated the installer did not show the drives just as bare metal and allow me to partition as required.
It got all squeamish about the old raid ones and zeros on the platters.
Screw that! I want to obliterate the ones and zeros.
Just show me the bare metal drives! Ignore what's currently on it!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 16 July, 2022, 07:59:30 pm
Need to speed up your network? Cisco just launched a new switch which can have up to 288 400Gbps Ethernet ports! That's a proper beast of a switch.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 July, 2022, 10:15:49 am
Space Karen performs tyre-screeching handbrake turn, flogs off Bitcoin (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62246367).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 August, 2022, 07:24:05 pm
No, you clot, it would be an order of magnitude quicker to copy those files from $NAS to external USB drive attached to laptop if you disconnected said drive and plugged it into a machine with a recognisable amount of computing power and a decent network speed :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 24 August, 2022, 09:38:53 pm
Can you not plug the usb drive directly into the NAS drive and order it to copy the files ?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 August, 2022, 11:26:06 pm
Dunno.  In any case, that would involve grovelling in the depths of a cupboard with a torch.  This is something I try to avoid :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 26 August, 2022, 09:23:23 am
I started a new job on Monday and with it came the greatest culture shock - Compulsory MacBook!
It's a bit like having my thumbs cut off, it's almost the same but also totally different. This is my first device EVER from the globally worshipped Fruit Co of Cupertino (still the underdog choice and in no way the richest company in the world).
Wish me luck!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 August, 2022, 10:56:40 am
If it's any consolation, I got a Windows PC and soldiered on for several months, and recently traded it in for a Macbook*. The relief, oh the blessed relief. I think you have to have your brain reprogrammed to use Windows, where the fuck is everything and why don't they put it in the same place rather than splash it around like an over-enthusiastic conclusion to a porn movie? Stuff that is simple (connecting to a shared volume etc.) that ought to be simple, mostly doesn't seem to work, for reasons that are cryptic and will give you a headache if you think about them.

*I've no idea why I didn't just ask for a Macbook, I had a random idea that I'd give Windows a go.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 August, 2022, 12:34:25 pm
The linux-on-the-desktop discussion came up somewhere recently.  Consensus seemed to be that from a desktop usability perspective the poplar Linux distros have made almost no progress in this regard over the last 10 years, while Windows and to a lesser extent Mac OS have taken several steps backwards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 26 August, 2022, 12:50:13 pm
The irony is that now that I've moved to a Non Technical role, I'm no longer trusted to choose my own hardware so I get the Easy to Use option.
Most of the techies use Linux although I'm told the M1 macbooks are really fast for compiles.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 26 August, 2022, 01:54:32 pm
I moved my data scientists from Dells to M1 machines and they apparently fly. Plus we have a few Mac Studios now set up for remote access. Ironically, it's looking to be more cost-effective to do much of the analysis locally on decent hardware than on Azure/AWS at the moment, unless it's a huge job.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2022, 01:57:19 pm
Windows has never recovered from losing the games.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 26 August, 2022, 01:57:48 pm
debian OS fell over about 5min after I got the confirmation email  with the delivery time of the new laptop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 26 August, 2022, 02:12:11 pm
Which is fair enough I had plans with that SSD debian lived on.

But it just mean I don't have a usable puter untill delivery of new
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 August, 2022, 02:54:09 pm
No,CD ripping wossname, that CD is not disc 5 of Richard Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces".  It is "Sir Henry At Ndidi's Kraal" by Vivian Stanshall.  Easy mistake to make, I suppose.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 29 August, 2022, 04:14:35 pm
CD ripping. How quint  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 29 August, 2022, 05:52:29 pm
No,CD ripping wossname, that CD is not disc 5 of Richard Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces".  It is "Sir Henry At Ndidi's Kraal" by Vivian Stanshall.  Easy mistake to make, I suppose.
Is that to get the maximum digitisation before using your very expensive audiophile cables and speakers?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 August, 2022, 06:19:18 pm
Re-ripping coz many of them were originally ripped at 160 wossnames per thingie such that the entire collection might fit on my iPod.  Now that hired motor-cars have a USB port into which a handy memory stick may be plugged, a subset of DJ Random's playlist can be downloaded to same and subsequently, using the handy AdjustPlayCount utility, having their play count adjusted once I get home, so he doesn’t try to play them again.  The iTunes library needs to be rebuilt anyway coz otherwise I'll just get a mixture of Jim Suhler, Mastodon and Devin Townsend while in USAnia.

And yes, I use nothing but gold-plated oxygen-free fibre-optic cables* to carry the signal from a NAS in a cupboard in the kitchen to the budget Tannoy system in the Estate Office ;D

* Lie
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 29 August, 2022, 07:31:57 pm
I moved my data scientists from Dells to M1 machines and they apparently fly. Plus we have a few Mac Studios now set up for remote access. Ironically, it's looking to be more cost-effective to do much of the analysis locally on decent hardware than on Azure/AWS at the moment, unless it's a huge job.
Are they working out for them?
I’m still hearing just enough “x doesn’t run on m1” to make me cautious. Though, to be fair, the last case of that was an obsolete version of x.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 29 August, 2022, 08:16:25 pm
Data scientist generally use R rather the x  ;D
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 29 August, 2022, 09:11:37 pm
Data scientist generally use R rather the x  ;D
:p

In our case x is mostly python libraries. I’m on holiday so trying not to get sucked into details :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 29 August, 2022, 09:58:44 pm
I moved my data scientists from Dells to M1 machines and they apparently fly. Plus we have a few Mac Studios now set up for remote access. Ironically, it's looking to be more cost-effective to do much of the analysis locally on decent hardware than on Azure/AWS at the moment, unless it's a huge job.
Are they working out for them?
I’m still hearing just enough “x doesn’t run on m1” to make me cautious. Though, to be fair, the last case of that was an obsolete version of x.

Not heard any issues since I was summer laptop Santa. We mostly use Python and the usual packages (pandas, numpy, matplotlib, seabeam etc. plus the usual ML and predictive stuff). Databricks is fine. Someone moaned about Anaconda but then someone always does. Only weirdos use R.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 31 August, 2022, 09:20:55 pm
Because I was bad in a past life, I'm staying at a Premier Inn for work. The huge display behind the bar is b0rked, like this:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6lb0Kr4EpGQSLpYUB_dkJpXqpGZ4m6v11kUoRQ_4FXYCRgOBjGqGIjL705v_RNCASMWj6WdxD4wlML5db4dvGv5mDtZZyUEq2qZeWAg1-tzAnUv_pybKNY5Sh4TagQyUl9qnfYJeCeM=w1200)

Apparently it's been like that for weeks. I was asked if I knew how to fix it. I suggested hitting it with an empty wine bottle.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 01 September, 2022, 03:36:14 pm
Quote from: Tim Hall
I suggested hitting it with an empty wine bottle.
I do hope you offered to empty the wine bottle for them.  It would have been the least you could do to help out.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 September, 2022, 04:09:02 pm
Trying to persuade my laptop to turn off its trackpad when there’s an external mouse plugged in.  Appeared to have killed the keyboard.  Fortunately it came back after a reboot.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 09 September, 2022, 04:41:43 pm
Anyone interested in crypto currency, I recommend the last 4 episodes of Tech Tonic, an FT podcast, compulsive and informative listening

https://www.ft.com/tech-tonic
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 September, 2022, 04:07:48 pm
Hallelujah!  The Battle Mountain Super 8 has MOAR!  BETTER!!1! internets :thumbsup:  Performance now reaches acceptable levels of crapness.  The lack of Penniless Student Oaves doing Social Media du jour probably helps too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 10 September, 2022, 07:55:39 pm
Anyone interested in crypto currency, I recommend the last 4 episodes of Tech Tonic, an FT podcast, compulsive and informative listening

https://www.ft.com/tech-tonic

That's a long time to say 'pyramid scheme.'

I've been impressed with the FT's data journalism lately (and during the covid era), will have to check this out.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 September, 2022, 04:19:49 pm
windows and your networking, sigh.

When clicking on the Network bit in Windows File Explore, it would be grand to see the drive I have shared via samba on a puter that is connected to the same router as this laptop is, in this house.

Not some random stuff I don't own or have attached to my local network, such like a Samsun TV and an item you class as a Mobile.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 September, 2022, 04:40:25 pm
I never did get networking to work on my PC, things would show up randomly or generally not at all, so I was subject to sending files in 'USB packets' which worked until the PC starting barking about bitlocker encryption having decided that yes, to use a USB drive I had to encrypt in a format that other computers don't understand, just so I could transfer the file from one side of my desk to the other.

Weirdly, printing to a network printer attached and shared by a Mac always worked, even if I couldn't connect to a drive on it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 September, 2022, 05:25:03 pm
Windows has always been uniquely terrible at discovering shares on a LAN.  It never really got the hang of the switch from NetBEUI to TCP/IP.  Unless there's a domain controller involved, it always seems to end in pain, with each machine assuming someone else is going to take responsibility for maintaining a list of who's there.  Working DNS for LAN hosts sometimes helps, in as much as you can side-step the whole browse list process and say "try connecting to this", but it's no sure thing.

Tragically, it seems that if you want Windows file-sharing to work reliably, you should do it between *nix or Apple machines.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 September, 2022, 06:09:59 pm
It used to periodically spit out some message about activating Windows Network Discovery Services which never did work, neither the activation or discovery.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 14 September, 2022, 06:27:14 pm
That said win 11 did find my HP printer over same wifi. After it had download loads of 1s and 0s, right away.

And it promptly printed two of the three doc/pdf I wanted too, before normal service returned to my system.

And I had to apply swear words and stern staring while it got turned off a few time and finally spewed out the last few requested pages.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 September, 2022, 11:06:16 pm
Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia and your networking; plz to be not dropping the wifi connection every couple of minutes.  My laptop ent doing it >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 16 September, 2022, 05:10:41 pm
Anyone interested in crypto currency, I recommend the last 4 episodes of Tech Tonic, an FT podcast, compulsive and informative listening

https://www.ft.com/tech-tonic

That's a long time to say 'pyramid scheme.'

I've been impressed with the FT's data journalism lately (and during the covid era), will have to check this out.
I wonder what history books will say about crypto-"currencies". Will South Seas be mentioned? Tulips?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 16 September, 2022, 08:49:28 pm
Well, they are quite blatantly a Ponzo just jazzed up with words like 'crypto' and 'blockchain' and with assorted techbros saying 'no, no, it's different.' I imagine there was some kind of 17th-century technobro-equivalent telling the world, that no, this is different. Grifters always gonna grift.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 16 September, 2022, 11:17:54 pm
To be fair, there's a lot more to crypto than ponzi schemes; many other types of scam are also possible.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 22 September, 2022, 12:29:03 pm
A colleague has just been given a new MS keyboard. It's QWERTY - but oddly has additonal keys for A and O with an umlaut, plus functions for oe and ae dipthongs, plus other keys relocated.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2022, 12:59:25 pm
A colleague has just been given a new MS keyboard. It's QWERTY - but oddly has additonal keys for A and O with an umlaut, plus functions for oe and ae dipthongs, plus other keys relocated.

IIRC the German one has those, but the Y and Z are swapped.  Maybe Swedish or something?

(I spent a few hours typing in Belgian on my UK keyboard last week, because reasons.  Passwords are particularly irksome, and it took me far too long to find the '/'.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 September, 2022, 03:42:19 pm
Two weeks of updates onto clockwork Windows laptop.  Ag.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 22 September, 2022, 07:10:44 pm
A colleague has just been given a new MS keyboard. It's QWERTY - but oddly has additonal keys for A and O with an umlaut, plus functions for oe and ae dipthongs, plus other keys relocated.

IIRC the German one has those, but the Y and Z are swapped.  Maybe Swedish or something?

(I spent a few hours typing in Belgian on my UK keyboard last week, because reasons.  Passwords are particularly irksome, and it took me far too long to find the '/'.)
German keyboard is QWERTZ and has extra keys for ä ö ü and ß.

Makes a noticeable difference on an iPad or phone keyboard as the keys are all a bit smaller to fit the extras in.

Things like brackets, commas etc are in different places. I ended up buying a German laptop as it was doing my head in switching between UK keyboard at home and DE keyboard at work. It’s all DE now.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 23 September, 2022, 06:46:52 pm
I have just discovered that Microsoft Office ".x" files are, in fact, zip files that you can open, look at, and marvel at the proliferation of crap within it (including quite usefully, anything embedded and code)

My. Mind. Is. Blown.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2022, 06:52:32 pm
I have just discovered that Microsoft Office ".x" files are, in fact, zip files that you can open, look at, and marvel at the proliferation of crap within it (including quite usefully, anything embedded and code)

My. Mind. Is. Blown.

You know it's The Future when Microsoft are using open standards.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 23 September, 2022, 07:27:28 pm
Ah yes a PowerPoint is a zip file of a silly size you can rename it to .zip open it up click around the folders within find that stupid massive file, say like a .mp3, hidden within, which is inside the PowerPoint but might be hidden inside the template of the PowerPoint but not used. Delete it, save it, rename it back to PowerPoint and it's not 50mb but 1.5mb.

Great thing to do to if you want to send and share your PowerPoint presentation. Don't save, instead Save As a PowerPoint picture presentation, as that will remove all the template, unused pages/slides and images or random videos within the PowerPoint presentation.

That makes it much smaller and removes unused things that might contain company information within the PowerPoint presentation template.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2022, 07:46:18 pm
And on a higher circle of hell, it means you can write programs that can input and output excel spreadsheets...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 September, 2022, 08:06:02 pm
And on a higher circle of hell, it means you can write programs that can input and output excel spreadsheets...

There are entire Python packages that do just this, so you don't have to do it yourself (most simply with pandas, which sounds more fun than it might be).

You can also create or write to existing Powerpoint presentations. You'd be horrified how often we do this (for reasons we have to create hundreds of Powerpoint files).

Macs have had package files for ages, Windows was slow to the party.

I had some Excel delights earlier, when a file refused to open because it couldn't find the linked file, which it helpfully pointed out might have been renamed or deleted. More helpfully, the missing file was right there, not renamed or deleted, on the exact path. For bonus points, it wouldn't actually open the file at all, so I couldn't even break the link. I fucking hate Microsoft.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2022, 11:04:13 pm
Switching Stuffs back on the other day after returning from consorting with FOREIGNS in Abroad, discovered a network switch seemed to have gone “Phut” while I was away.  Nary a blinkenlight to be seen.  Might just be the power wossname and at least I had a spare switch knocking about, even though it’s one of those utilitarian “hide it somewhere” ones instead of the pretty variety with the unsightly cables at the back and the blinkenlights on the front.

Bah.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 24 September, 2022, 12:14:16 am
I've been celebrating my recent eye test and the impending collapse of the BRITISH pound by trying to bring myself up-to-date with the world of graphics cards and monitors, with a view to upgrading to something 32", 4k, lunix-friendly and flicker-free while I can still afford to do so.

This is the same kind of Type 1.5 fun that you get when researching mobile phones, though hopefully the outcome is more satisfying.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 24 September, 2022, 11:14:30 am
And on a higher circle of hell, it means you can write programs that can input and output excel spreadsheets...

You could do that with the old closed-source formats, by the magic hideousness of Interop and COM. This, of course, requires you to have a licensed copy of Office wherever the software runs.

Developers who wrote such monstrosity and then moaned "but it works on my machine" should have been roundly slapped, but instead of telling them to bugger off and do something sensible, management issued purchase orders to install Office on all application servers.  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 29 September, 2022, 04:44:36 pm
why are computer networks so illogical? Im trying to sort out emails on my own domains for a number of devices and the home WiFi Mesh network has decided to throw at curve ball by by losing connectivity to the internet but without bothering to throw an error message.

And of course, because I originally used my own email address to set up my first Apple account back in the mists of time, I can't just add that to my newer Apple account (that Apple forced one for some reason I have now forgotten. I can't of course, simply delete the original account because I can't transfer purchases made with that account to my newer account.

I hate doing network stuff.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2022, 06:35:34 pm
why are computer networks so illogical? Im trying to sort out emails on my own domains for a number of devices and the home WiFi Mesh network has decided to throw at curve ball by by losing connectivity to the internet but without bothering to throw an error message.

Pick at least one of:

Hysterical raisins
Microsoft
The Devil's Radio
DNS
Aliens


(I'm currently shooting thrilling videos of the BHPC's timing tag software failing to maintain a TCP connection to the race timing software, in the hope that it might help the developers fix the problem.  I had to re-upload the first one, becuase I hadn't realised the microphone was live, and had captured barakta swearing at a completely unrelated computer system in the background)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 September, 2022, 08:37:26 pm
Trying to persuade Dropbox that I don’t need $SHARED_FOLDER cluttering up my Babbage-Engines any more, because it pertains to LEL, has been an exercise in bad swears and incoherent growling.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 October, 2022, 03:44:57 pm
I am reinstalling Thunderbox on three two* Babbage-Engines.  It is this: tedious.

* Don’t think I'll bother doing the laptop coz I'm intending to replace it with one not “powered” by a blind crippled idiot vole sooner or later.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 04 October, 2022, 05:47:50 pm
it would be grand to see the drive I have shared via samba on a puter that is connected to the same router as this laptop is, in this house.

You need to configure samba on that box to be the master browser - if it's always on.
Or run your own DNS server and rely on that, so that \\myFileServer\share will always resolve without relying on NetBIOS

Samba settings of interest in the global section of smb.conf are:

Code: [Select]
        domain master = yes
        local master = yes
        preferred master = yes
        os level = 65

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2022, 07:43:00 pm
Also, if the machine sharing the drive is connected by WiFi, make sure there's no client isolation going on.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 October, 2022, 09:39:13 pm
Reinstalling Thunderbum much less tedious on second box because:
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mike on 05 October, 2022, 10:08:18 am
since I went freelance I've been trying to use the free apple app and google sheets for spreadsheets and it's been maddening.   

I've just given in and paid for and installed MSoffice just to get Excel.  Everything is now much quicker to do and there's a lot less swearing. Dammit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 October, 2022, 10:23:26 am
Hahahahahaha! Ahahahaha! Oh yes! ~ W Gates, yesterday
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 05 October, 2022, 06:18:46 pm
Much as I was a SuperCalc boy back when that was a thing, it’s difficult not to admit that as a spreadsheet, Excel is remarkably capable. It is not good as a database, no matter how many times a marketing droid uses it as such.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 05 October, 2022, 08:13:38 pm
Much as I swear a lot at Excel, I hate to admit for a quick bit of analysis, it's damn good. You can work all kinds of unruly magic with just a pivot table and a few xlookups. That fucking ribbon and the overall navigation though. At least the Mac version keeps the proper menu bar, you just have to remember which any given option is on. Honestly, menus just worked there was no need to break the paradigm and in the process annexe several hectares of screen real estate for no conceivable benefit.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 05 October, 2022, 08:31:46 pm
The great thing about the Mac version of Excel is how many options you have to make things do what you want them to!

There's the normal menu bar
The little icons in the window header (limited...)
The other menu bar
The Ribbon

and the Marco Codding

I remember Execl coding when it was in English. I've no idea what language it is in now, VirtualBasic?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 October, 2022, 04:49:38 pm
As a public service announcement, I'd like to ask you to remove all small children and those of a sensitive disposition from the internet for the next hour as I am about to use dates in Excel.

Thank you for your forbearance during what I'm sure will be a difficult time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2022, 05:10:06 pm
Don't you mean for the next 0.041666666667?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 October, 2022, 07:18:10 pm
I'm laboriously installing a supported version of Linux Mint on a modestly-specced (back then) 2014 PC.  It actually runs rather snappily.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: MikeFromLFE on 09 October, 2022, 08:05:30 pm
I bought my granddaughter's 13" HP Envy laptop off her for £30 when dad (my son) bought her a new one. It wasn't holding its charge on battery, but worked fine on the charger.
The plan was to use it as a driver for my Amateur Radio digital set-up (FT8 mainly) using Linux. Failing that just put Chrome OS Flex on it. But it's a really nice size and the keyboard is a joy.
So I've done a fresh install of Windows 10 , put a cheap new battery in (£35) and I've got a really nice machine for £65. Sorry son, you could have done that!

(Confession time - I've just installed Railroad Tycoon 3. My most-est favourit-est game of ever. I've not been able to play it in years due to my Windows predjudice)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 15 October, 2022, 12:52:31 pm
I bought my granddaughter's 13" HP Envy laptop off her for £30 when dad (my son) bought her a new one. It wasn't holding its charge on battery, but worked fine on the charger.
The plan was to use it as a driver for my Amateur Radio digital set-up (FT8 mainly) using Linux. Failing that just put Chrome OS Flex on it. But it's a really nice size and the keyboard is a joy.
So I've done a fresh install of Windows 10 , put a cheap new battery in (£35) and I've got a really nice machine for £65. Sorry son, you could have done that!

(Confession time - I've just installed Railroad Tycoon 3. My most-est favourit-est game of ever. I've not been able to play it in years due to my Windows predjudice)

Until the beginning of lockdown when used laptop prices went silly, that's pretty much how I acquired laptops for myself, close friends and family. For the sake of a new battery, SSD and a clean OS install, there are a lot of bargains to be had if you can avoid the planned obsolescence of consumer grade stuff.

And thanks for the reminder, I should go and fix up my HF antenna today.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 October, 2022, 09:40:06 pm
I've just discovered that Mrs Barakta's-Mum is on Strava.  Given the distances she's logging, it seems unlikely that it's what's causing her iPhone to mysteriously slurp through an unspecified number of gigabeans of internets.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Zipperhead on 31 October, 2022, 04:06:22 pm
I've just discovered that Mrs Barakta's-Mum is on Strava.  Given the distances she's logging, it seems unlikely that it's what's causing her iPhone to mysteriously slurp through an unspecified number of gigabeans of internets.

Maybe she's on Strava & onlyfans?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 November, 2022, 07:17:44 pm
Space Karen walks back plan to charge $20/month for a blue tick on that Twitter; now to cost only $8.  Stephen King not happy. (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/01/tech/musk-twitter-verification-price/index.html)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 04 November, 2022, 09:36:41 am
Whoo, new MacOS, I'll install some of that.

No you won't ian, your Mac is too old.

So sad.

Don't be such a fucking cheapskate then and buy a new one.

When you do an updated 27 inch plus iMac, I will, you Cupertino chumpmonkeys.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 November, 2022, 09:55:02 pm
Apropos of nothing, I noticed that my Macbook contains fabby new desktops and I've not exactly changed my iMac desktop since the time the world was black and white.

Change desktop background, I command, relishing some modern swirly eye candy

Which opens the settings pane, but with nothing to select. Add a new folder. Nothing. A curiously empty preference stubbornly remains. The files are there in /library but it won't connect to any picture folder or let choose any desktop other than the default.

Mysterious yet annoying. Now I have the dullest desktop ever and no power to change it. Bah.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 November, 2022, 09:11:45 am
Space Karen walks back plan to charge $20/month for a blue tick on that Twitter; now to cost only $8.  Stephen King not happy. (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/01/tech/musk-twitter-verification-price/index.html)

Oh no he won't.

Oh yes he has.

https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/11/4/23438917/twitter-verifications-blue-check-elon-musk (https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/11/4/23438917/twitter-verifications-blue-check-elon-musk)

Too much 420 consumption, Noel Skum
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 November, 2022, 10:20:18 am
“Your Facebook account has been restricted from advertising” sez an e-mail from Teh Zuckerbots.  Sadly it seems this means I can’t place shitverts on their shitty platform rather than not be on the receiving end of ones that think I live in USAnia.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 12 November, 2022, 12:10:43 am
I bought my granddaughter's 13" HP Envy laptop off her for £30 when dad (my son) bought her a new one. It wasn't holding its charge on battery, but worked fine on the charger.
The plan was to use it as a driver for my Amateur Radio digital set-up (FT8 mainly) using Linux. Failing that just put Chrome OS Flex on it. But it's a really nice size and the keyboard is a joy.
So I've done a fresh install of Windows 10 , put a cheap new battery in (£35) and I've got a really nice machine for £65. Sorry son, you could have done that!

(Confession time - I've just installed Railroad Tycoon 3. My most-est favourit-est game of ever. I've not been able to play it in years due to my Windows predjudice)

Until the beginning of lockdown when used laptop prices went silly, that's pretty much how I acquired laptops for myself, close friends and family. For the sake of a new battery, SSD and a clean OS install, there are a lot of bargains to be had if you can avoid the planned obsolescence of consumer grade stuff.

And thanks for the reminder, I should go and fix up my HF antenna today.
I just bought an ex-corporate lease one from Dell. It seems better made than budget consumer kit I've used or looked inside.  According to Dell it came with a clean OS (corporate clients don't want to worry about anything lingering on the HDD: no other software), & battery still seems sound, so I just stuck an SSD in. Nice keyboard. ;)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 November, 2022, 06:52:18 pm
Posted a piccie on Faecebok this morning, stating that it was taken in the Route 66 Auto Museum.  According to Sorryberg's much-vaunted Algorithms this must mean I'm interested in all museums so I get bombarded with shitverts for fine art exhibitions ???

And how it’s decided I like hip-hop is a complete mystery.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 12 November, 2022, 08:10:38 pm
Exciting news, Dear Followers of the Saga of the Literal Bug in my Computer Screen, today I noticed that it's gone, maybe a tiny little unshoed foot peeking north of the bezel. But mostly gone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 20 November, 2022, 12:19:31 pm
Apropos of nothing, I noticed that my Macbook contains fabby new desktops and I've not exactly changed my iMac desktop since the time the world was black and white.

Change desktop background, I command, relishing some modern swirly eye candy

Which opens the settings pane, but with nothing to select. Add a new folder. Nothing. A curiously empty preference stubbornly remains. The files are there in /library but it won't connect to any picture folder or let choose any desktop other than the default.

Mysterious yet annoying. Now I have the dullest desktop ever and no power to change it. Bah.

I found that just leaving the desktop change panel open for several minutes eventually displays all the options. No idea why it takes so long, but with patience – it seems – comes the power.

Reminds me, I have patiently been leaving the computer running for several hours to transfer photos from my phone to the library on an external disk, assuming some tedious horridness of old spinning rust external drive, 2015-era USB, and umpteen gigabytes of library. Got me annoyed enough to investigate and I noticed the 'make this library the system library' option didn't seem to be set. So I clicked it, and it took many minutes before it was acknowledged, but now dozens of pictures transfer in seconds.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 November, 2022, 09:48:18 pm
As noted in the Rant thread, prodding Settings…Notifications & actions on the Great Hall PC gives this:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52523504734_114941f3fc_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2o2jG4Q)
boyle (https://flic.kr/p/2o2jG4Q) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr, with a bunch more programs listed below the ones on this screenshot.

Whereas the freshly-configured laptop only shows:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52523773058_81ab8a8f3d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2o2m4Q7)
gwatkin (https://flic.kr/p/2o2m4Q7) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr, which is Clearly Wrong.  Does any of Thee Panel know how the latter may be made more nearly to resemble the former?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 29 November, 2022, 12:03:48 pm
The new owners of our current building (which we are in the process of moving out of) came in at the weekend to do some electrical work, inadvertantely cut through our fibre-optic cable and neglected to tell anyone what they'd done.
Thanks guys.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 November, 2022, 12:37:50 pm
The new owners of our current building (which we are in the process of moving out of) came in at the weekend to do some electrical work, inadvertantely cut through our fibre-optic cable and neglected to tell anyone what they'd done.
Thanks guys.

Saw a toot (or possibly a tweet) where they'd done exactly that, and then attempted to reconnect it using a jelly crimp.  Yes, really.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 December, 2022, 10:09:03 am
Over the last few days, when I prod Chrome after waking this 'ere fondleslab from a period of slumber it opens a new tab.  Since there ent been any updates from FruitCo for a while the finger is pointing squarely at the Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury of Mountain View, USAnia.  Yes, Google, you.  Stop it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 02 December, 2022, 01:07:59 pm
Over the last few days, when I prod Chrome after waking this 'ere fondleslab from a period of slumber it opens a new tab.  Since there ent been any updates from FruitCo for a while the finger is pointing squarely at the Mega-Global Chocolate Manufactury of Mountain View, USAnia.  Yes, Google, you.  Stop it.

Whilst I can't be certain the most recent chrome update includes a load of changes to tab management, which would likely be worth reading about. It sounds like you may be falling foul of this?

Right click on a tab to see some of the new options
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 December, 2022, 06:13:01 pm
“Right-clicking” is a bit tricky on a fondleslab ;) Press'n' hold does nowt and I can’t find anything in “Settings” either chiz.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2022, 09:15:10 pm
Well, that was a bit odd.  Switch the telly input to the PC, fire up iTunes and the display promptly turns into Mondrian-on-acid ???  Rebooted and all is well apart from my blood pressure, which went up several notches when it started doing the old check and repair thing on startup.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 05 December, 2022, 07:24:19 pm
The new owners of our current building (which we are in the process of moving out of) came in at the weekend to do some electrical work, inadvertantely cut through our fibre-optic cable and neglected to tell anyone what they'd done.
Thanks guys.

Saw a toot (or possibly a tweet) where they'd done exactly that, and then attempted to reconnect it using a jelly crimp

Yes, really.
I recall some people with a metered water supply (Aylesbury Canal Society, lessees of Aylesbury canal basin at the time) having a sudden huge increase in their metered usage. Thames Water were not very helpful.

Then the road leading to the canal basin (& also, at the time, a timber yard, the rear entrance of a bakery, & the car park of the Ship Inn) started collapsing where someone had been working on (IIRC) an electric cable.

The water pipe had what looked very much like marks from a digger. Turned out that the bloke digging the hole to get to the cable had gone off to the side & punctured the pipe - & filled that bit of the hole back in.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 06 December, 2022, 10:43:56 am
Just thought I would say thank you again for the advice about PoE.  Massive improvement to the tidiness of the setup with no mains cables or plugs.

Also to say what fun NDI is.  4K video streamed around the church with virtually no latency and the equipment just works.

Put all the cameras and decoders on the same IP "address", give each camera a name and they just see each other.  Like Magic or how things should be
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Paul on 09 December, 2022, 04:01:46 pm
My scroll down button has started thinking that it's a home page button sometimes.

Why dis?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Morat on 09 December, 2022, 05:31:40 pm
GMAIL
AGGHHH

Why do threads suddenly start in the middle and older emails randomly disappear so you can never just scroll down a the whole thread?
)("$%" )"£$")£$( ($£% agagga
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 December, 2022, 01:26:40 am
O hai PC!

Plz to not lose contact with that NAS only to regain it before I've had a chance to check WTF you think you’re doing.

kthxbai
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 December, 2022, 12:02:07 pm
Euurrggh!  MOAR sub-desk grovelling required to correct Mr Thrustmaster's steering wheel's pronounced list to starboard  :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 18 December, 2022, 02:48:25 pm
Euurrggh!  MOAR sub-desk grovelling required to correct Mr Thrustmaster's steering wheel's pronounced list to starboard  :(

That sounds a lot more pr0nographic than it ought to.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 December, 2022, 12:43:27 am
iTunes, normally you bimble along using ~ 260 MB of memory which, compared with hogsters like Chrome, is not really that much.  I do not know what caused you to suddenly stop playing Masters Of Reality’s “The Eyes Of Texas” and announce that there was insufficient memory to update The Database because you'd suddenly decided to nom 28 of the 32 GB of RAM in that Babbage-Engine but I'd be obliged if you were to cease and desist such activity forthwith.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 December, 2022, 03:34:44 pm
Installed a wifi range extender at Fort Larrington.  Hopefully this will mean an end to terrible wifi in the conservatory.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 23 December, 2022, 06:05:46 pm
I think this laptop may be on its last legs. Its got a busticated hinge and the socket for the charger has started playing silly uggbres  :(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 December, 2022, 08:13:32 pm
I think this laptop may be on its last legs. Its got a busticated hinge and the socket for the charger has started playing silly uggbres  :(

We have sprung for a new Thinkpad. I thought it was ridiculously expensive but a rootle through the emails suggested it's only x1.5 the price of the one we bought 10 yrs ago, so mustn't grumble I s'pose.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 03 January, 2023, 10:01:37 am
My video card went buggerup yesterday and I rootled around and found the previous card before the current upgrade (probably originally bought just after Noah landed).

I've not been one for GPU spending, preferring instead something which can drive the two monitors without additional cooling. I'd noticed it's deficiency in recent months, but only when video rendering or using photoshop. Anyhow, after a bit of wrangling I got it running again, with the old Radeon 3450 card which appears to date from 2008. I thought to myself, let's see how it copes with STUFF, let's fire up photoshop.

"Your video card is not compatible, KTHXBAI"

 ::-)  :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 05 January, 2023, 05:23:51 pm
I think this laptop may be on its last legs. Its got a busticated hinge and the socket for the charger has started playing silly uggbres  :(

We have sprung for a new Thinkpad. I thought it was ridiculously expensive but a rootle through the emails suggested it's only x1.5 the price of the one we bought 10 yrs ago, so mustn't grumble I s'pose.

It has arrived. I'm in the process of trying to Pingufy it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 06 January, 2023, 09:18:52 pm
Well, that was remarkably pain-free  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 January, 2023, 09:33:41 pm
It has arrived. I'm in the process of trying to Pingufy it.

I'm imagining a special PURPLE Linux distribution...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 06 January, 2023, 09:40:52 pm
For the first time suffered the fate of water splashing the keyboard of my Toshiba Satellite laptop. Problem is the touch pad is now very erratic, if it doesn’t dry out wondering how easy it is to buy an external mouse to bypass it. The windows settings page includes an option for mouse settings. How do I tell the system to use the mouse rather than the touch pad? Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 January, 2023, 09:47:37 pm
There's usually a way to turn the trackpad off, though exactly where will depend on the drivers.  Have a poke around in mousy settings, or devices.

USB meece are a case of plug them in and they just work (if you have multiple pointing devices, the pointer gets the sum of their inputs[1]).  Again, the usual settings to adjust speed, button behaviour etc, which should be independent of the trackpad.


[1] For example, on this machine I have a mouse for my left hand and a trackball for my right.  If I move them both at once I can wrestle with the position of the pointer.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 06 January, 2023, 10:59:00 pm
It has arrived. I'm in the process of trying to Pingufy it.

I'm imagining a special PURPLE Linux distribution...

Firefox has a PURPLE theme. I don't use Firefox, Mrs P does and she likes PURPLE.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 January, 2023, 11:17:06 pm
There's usually a way to turn the trackpad off, though exactly where will depend on the drivers.  Have a poke around in mousy settings, or devices.

USB meece are a case of plug them in and they just work (if you have multiple pointing devices, the pointer gets the sum of their inputs[1]).  Again, the usual settings to adjust speed, button behaviour etc, which should be independent of the trackpad.


[1] For example, on this machine I have a mouse for my left hand and a trackball for my right.  If I move them both at once I can wrestle with the position of the pointer.

If only my laptop automagically disabled the trackpad when a meece was plugged in and reënabled it likewise when Idiot Boy left the meece at home over Chrimbly  >:(

Fortunately it wasn’t required to set up the wifi range extender at Fort Larrington coz I already had the TP-Link app on my phone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 06 January, 2023, 11:38:02 pm
If only my laptop automagically disabled the trackpad when a meece was plugged in and reënabled it likewise when Idiot Boy left the meece at home over Chrimbly  >:(

That sounds like the sort of thing that starts with "I wonder if I can..." and ends in either downloading some obscure piece of shareware that will vanish from the internet without a trace before you next reinstall the OS (Windows) or 3 hours of fucking around writing udev scripts rather than whatever it was you were supposed to be doing (Linux).

Related: Did I mention that the previously dust-gathering dedicated 'email' button on my keyboard now toggles the default arseaudio output device between the onboard sound (headphones, for the use of) and the monitor's mediocre but occasionally useful squeakers?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 07 January, 2023, 09:02:09 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington
If only my laptop automagically disabled the trackpad when a meece was plugged in and reënabled it likewise...
A long time* ago (in a galaxy ect. ect.) I had a Windoze work lapdog, it may have been a Tosh., that did exactly this thing and it was very heaven.  I have looked for the same feature on every lapdog since and it has been conspicuous by its absence.


*I was working for Royal Mail at the time so 1996-97


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 07 January, 2023, 09:14:08 am
There's usually a way to turn the trackpad off, though exactly where will depend on the drivers.  Have a poke around in mousy settings, or devices.

USB meece are a case of plug them in and they just work (if you have multiple pointing devices, the pointer gets the sum of their inputs[1]).  Again, the usual settings to adjust speed, button behaviour etc, which should be independent of the trackpad.


[1] For example, on this machine I have a mouse for my left hand and a trackball for my right.  If I move them both at once I can wrestle with the position of the pointer.

Thanks Kim!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 January, 2023, 11:27:45 am
My old Asus does the automagical meece detection, until it stopped working some time during Teh Years Ov Plague, leading to heavy cursing as my untrained paws kept prodding the touchpad.  Updated some bit of Asus-specific meeceware cured it of this unseemly behaviour, to the great relief of the people in adjoining rooms in the Battle Mountain Super 8.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 07 January, 2023, 12:29:57 pm
For the first time suffered the fate of water splashing the keyboard of my Toshiba Satellite laptop. Problem is the touch pad is now very erratic, if it doesn’t dry out wondering how easy it is to buy an external mouse to bypass it. The windows settings page includes an option for mouse settings. How do I tell the system to use the mouse rather than the touch pad? Thanks in advance.

All the laptops I’ve used you just plug a mouse in, or use BT (built in or dongle) to tether it, and it just works. No changes needed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: CAMRAMan on 08 January, 2023, 10:45:12 am
I've had my Yahoo email address since April 1996. That's the longest time I've had any address before or since. It was first xxxx_xxxxxx@yahoo.com, but they gave me the xxxx.xxxxxx version in c.2005, making it much easier to pass on verbally. I first recall seeing an email arrive on a computer when I was in Sweden and thought 'I gotta get me one of those' and did when I got back to the UK. And then it sat mainly dormant for ages, as no bugger else I knew had one. My gmail address is much clumsier, so the Yahoo one still prevails.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pickled Onion on 08 January, 2023, 01:11:38 pm
Related: Did I mention that the previously dust-gathering dedicated 'email' button on my keyboard now toggles the default arseaudio output device between the onboard sound (headphones, for the use of) and the monitor's mediocre but occasionally useful squeakers?

My keyboard has a dedicated "Eject" key where a windows keyboard would normally have the INS key. When I RDP into my (employer's) win machine it runs an AutoHotKey script to put the keys in sensible positions. But can I get it to remap* the  ⏏️ key? Leading to much hilarity when accidentally pressing whatever mysterious key combination puts the stupid win machine into overwrite mode.


* can I fuck.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: orienteer on 11 January, 2023, 06:12:46 pm
There's usually a way to turn the trackpad off, though exactly where will depend on the drivers.  Have a poke around in mousy settings, or devices.

USB meece are a case of plug them in and they just work (if you have multiple pointing devices, the pointer gets the sum of their inputs[1]).  Again, the usual settings to adjust speed, button behaviour etc, which should be independent of the trackpad.


[1] For example, on this machine I have a mouse for my left hand and a trackball for my right.  If I move them both at once I can wrestle with the position of the pointer.

Thanks Kim!

Received an HP optical mouse via eBay today. Just plug and go; it's better than the touch pad in that it's "higher geared", so don't have to move my hand as much. Only problem is no space left to put my coffee next to the laptop, might be forced to do that long overdue tidy up.....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 11 January, 2023, 06:15:58 pm
Dear my work's IT people.

Yes, you can migrate stuffs from one place to another.
But when the new place contains directories with dots in their name, that blows up everything.
Plz not to be doing that.
Use an underscore like Dog intended.

I think Tim Patterson once said that if directories had been intended to have dots in them, there would have been examples in the DOS manual.
But I can't find a reference.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 11 January, 2023, 06:23:03 pm
it's better than the touch pad in that it's "higher geared", so don't have to move my hand as much.

FYI the 'gear ratio' of mouse-like devices is usually configurable in the relevant input settings.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 11 January, 2023, 06:46:15 pm
it's better than the touch pad in that it's "higher geared", so don't have to move my hand as much.

FYI the 'gear ratio' of mouse-like devices is usually configurable in the relevant input settings.

Yes, and I've found one part of that, the scroll-wheel gear ratio, to randomly change.

In Chrome under Windows, the scroll wheel can change from normal to stupidly slow with no apparent reason.
Only a re-boot will fix it.
No idea why.

I think it's specific to Chrome, but can't be 100% sure.
Can't see why it would, that's an OS thing but there you are.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 11 January, 2023, 07:38:14 pm
Probably from the same school of paternalistic bastardry whereby Chrome intercepts a left-scroll mouse event and turns it into a 'back', regardless of what the user might want.  There was a time when I indeed had my tilting scrollwheel mapped to 'back' and 'forward', but as standards of web design have deteriorated I've found it more useful to be able to use it to scroll the window.

Hence I'll scroll right using the mousewheel, then instinctively scroll left, whereby the page will start to scroll for the time it takes to be reloaded with wherever I was at previously, at which point Bad Swears will result.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 11 January, 2023, 10:56:08 pm
...Only problem is no space left to put my coffee next to the laptop, might be forced to do that long overdue tidy up.....

Should've got a trackball  :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: StuAff on 17 January, 2023, 11:41:59 pm
Have ordered a refurb (quite possibly new) MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 10 CPU/16 GPU cores, 16GB, 1TB) to replace the ancient MacBook (early 2009, bought new, third battery on its last legs). According to Geekbench the new one's about 30 times faster…looking forward to that. With the launch of the M2 Pro & Max models Apple knocked the price of the M1s down a lot, £500 cheaper than the new one....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 January, 2023, 07:37:08 pm
After another day out and about where my droid rot  infested Nokia 7.1 restarted itself multiple times, and aware that I and then we are off travelling soon we decided I should probably stop prevaricating and buy a replacement.
After seeing a cow workers Pixel 6 last week I repeated the 'small phone' search and decided on a Pixel 6a.
On the basis I couldn't bear to pay $howfuckingmuch!? I went for a return from Ama$on whorehouse warehouse at 76% of RRP. So we'll see how that turns out.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 24 January, 2023, 06:47:09 pm
I've just lost the will to live in an attempt to order some Cillit Bang black mould remover from Amazon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 January, 2023, 06:15:13 pm
Dusted off my long-dormant l33t VMS 5k1llz to use PC-DCL to modify about 800 text files.  Yay!  Go me!  It was either that or RSI from notepad++ macros…

It’s a pain in the bum that the f$search lexical function doesn’t work properly but I managed to work around it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 29 January, 2023, 05:07:58 pm
I installed LaTeX for the first time in _years_ today. That felt so clunky and slow.
Obviously the first time failed. I don't expect bleeding edge from Ubuntu packages, but the 2019 version is so old it's broken. But not so broken that I wasn't trying to manually install stuff of ctan before I abandoned.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 February, 2023, 06:11:48 pm
O hai “Chris45”!

Why do you call that trailer model “fridgedbl” when it quite clearly isn’t a reefer ???

Idiot.

Also Excel!  Plz to stop crashing >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 07 February, 2023, 08:55:31 pm
I installed LaTeX for the first time in _years_ today. That felt so clunky and slow.
Obviously the first time failed. I don't expect bleeding edge from Ubuntu packages, but the 2019 version is so old it's broken. But not so broken that I wasn't trying to manually install stuff of ctan before I abandoned.

I interviewed someone who wrote LaTeX as per the logo in her CV today. There might have been other reasons for shortlisting her, but I remembered I hated the bloody thing (one of my first jobs was doing something useful with LaTeX formatted documents from astrophysicists, which as combinations go, ought to self-annihilate in a petite mort of excited photon, but who should be so lucky). She also talked about random forests a lot. I fear I may have introduced the stochastic bear. I hope she's got another offer and therapy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: perpetual dan on 08 February, 2023, 08:31:05 am
I installed LaTeX for the first time in _years_ today. That felt so clunky and slow.
Obviously the first time failed. I don't expect bleeding edge from Ubuntu packages, but the 2019 version is so old it's broken. But not so broken that I wasn't trying to manually install stuff of ctan before I abandoned.

I interviewed someone who wrote LaTeX as per the logo in her CV today. There might have been other reasons for shortlisting her, but I remembered I hated the bloody thing (one of my first jobs was doing something useful with LaTeX formatted documents from astrophysicists, which as combinations go, ought to self-annihilate in a petite mort of excited photon, but who should be so lucky). She also talked about random forests a lot. I fear I may have introduced the stochastic bear. I hope she's got another offer and therapy.
Did the bear do what bears do in the random forest?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 08 February, 2023, 11:42:40 pm
She accepted my job offer so I’m sure she’ll tell me precisely what it did, though perhaps not precisely where it did it in the forest.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 09 February, 2023, 09:19:42 am
Android vs iOS, and I'm not sure whether it is Google assistant related, or only on the Pixel implementation, but one very useful feature is that despite having autocarrot switched on, it recognises when I'm writing an SMS text in foreign and switches automatically to that language, which is very useful (I've used it for French, Spanish, German, not sure if it does more exotic stuff, too, but probably). As I  have just found, writing a Spanish message on my work phone, iOS does not and goes out of its way to make life awkward. You didn't mean to say hacer, you meant to say happy, didn't you? etc etc etc etc etc
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Auntie Helen on 09 February, 2023, 09:25:55 am
iOS detects when I am writing in German on my phone so maybe there’s a setting issue somewhere for you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 February, 2023, 09:32:19 am
iOS on my fondleslab does the “suggested words” thing above the keyboard but seems not to learn ones it thinks are FOREIGN because they contain “non-BRITISH” characters (such as Reëducation) or look a bit funny (such as Deignan or Prudhomme).  It's probably possessed by the vengeful spirit of some demonic Little Englander who died of apoplexy when he couldn’t find a copy of the D**ly M**l while on holiday in Lanzarote.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 09 February, 2023, 09:41:10 am
iOS detects when I am writing in German on my phone so maybe there’s a setting issue somewhere for you.

Hmmm - maybe if I install multiple language keyboards, that's the only setting I can see. Still not as smooth as the transparent google option.

ETA - Better, it stops aggressively correcting words spelled correctly in foreign, but doesn't seem to recognise that I have changed language and wrongly spelled words get corrected into English, and randomly even correctly spelled, eg "Mein arbeit" Turned into "mein at Ritz" There may be additional settings that may help, but actually I don't have to use my work phone for language as English is the technical lingua franca
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 09 February, 2023, 10:02:35 am
iOS on my fondleslab does the “suggested words” thing above the keyboard but seems not to learn ones it thinks are FOREIGN because they contain “non-BRITISH” characters (such as Reëducation) or look a bit funny (such as Deignan or Prudhomme).  It's probably possessed by the vengeful spirit of some demonic Little Englander who died of apoplexy when he couldn’t find a copy of the D**ly M**l while on holiday in Lanzarote.

The nice thing about the Android implementation is that once it recognises that it's a foreign language, it autocarrots with the correct accents, making it look like I know what I 'm doing.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 09 February, 2023, 10:39:33 am
...mein...

Chow mein?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 09 February, 2023, 02:23:14 pm
I bought an old iPad last week (12.7 2nd generation) for music score reading. I would have gone for android but they all seem to have the wrong screen aspect ratio.

Anyway. It's very good for score reading (using forscore) and does pretty much all that I'd like it to do.

However. It has 256 GB of storage so I thought I'd put some music and photos on it.

It doesn't want me to though. Well, at least not unless I spend megabucks on a Mac computer. I think that if I transfer stuff via iCloud it would take about a week.

Is there any reason Apple don't want you to transfer files easily - like any normal OS?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 09 February, 2023, 02:50:26 pm
You can use Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive on an iPad. Alternatively just email the documents to yourself and then save them on the iPad.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 09 February, 2023, 02:53:47 pm
You can use Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive on an iPad. Alternatively just email the documents to yourself and then save them on the iPad.
Thanks. I've actually tried all of those. They all work but transferring, say, 100 GB would take forever.

I have just discovered that VLC will transfer stuff from my linux computer via a USB cable. Hooray! Shame it doesn't like folders though.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 09 February, 2023, 02:56:08 pm
Media support on iPhones and iPads was originally designed to be iPod-equivalent, and therefore only sync with iTunes. They’ve not really rethought it since, not least because they don’t expect their typical customer to have a PC full of media files anymore. Can’t you just stream everything like a normal person?  ;D

You can sync iPads with iTunes on Windows if that’s what you’re after.

On Preview: oh god, you’re one of those.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 09 February, 2023, 06:27:02 pm
Is there any reason Apple don't want you to transfer files easily - like any normal OS?

IOS started out completely concealing the fact that it had a filesystem from the user.  Having seen what some users do when allowed the use of a filesystem, I sympathise with the designers.  I actually think this is one of the more subtle design decisions that made it intuitive for people like my MIL.

They've come round a bit since then, but it's still a complete pain compared to Android (which goes to the other extreme of changing something about how its filesystem works in seemingly every release).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 February, 2023, 10:57:58 pm
It seems that Logitech Media Server doesn't like the letter Ć

 ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 February, 2023, 11:08:18 pm
Professor Larrington’s shiny new laptop won’t coöperate with the Internets at Fort Larrington even though the Speed Test results indicate that for once it is working at  near enough the speed that Virgin claim it should ???  You didn’t orter get video buffering with a download speed of >200 Megawossnames/s.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 10 February, 2023, 11:14:39 pm
It seems that Logitech Media Server doesn't like the letter Ć

 ???

My mp3 player copes, thobut.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 February, 2023, 09:15:58 am
Mr von Brandenburg has just taken delivery of a wifi mesh range extender thingie* as the ceilings in Schloß von Brandenburg turn upstairs into a Faraday Cage, albeit a Faraday Cage with CAT6 already installed.  If it doesn’t work I'll get the blame in spite of having nothing to do with the selection, having little truck with the Devil's Radio.

* The new Schloß has IoS thermostats and similar Stuffs, because the previous owners were hopeless nerds.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 February, 2023, 07:14:05 pm
It doesn’t work.  Plugging it in immediately b0rks both wired connections and wifi to the main router.  Something DHCP-related, which might as well be in Aramaic for all the sense it makes.

Bah!

Edit: we gave up.  Time for Plan B, involving:

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 20 February, 2023, 10:19:12 am
I'm sure there's a very easy answer to this, so it doesn't merit a thread of its own...

This is a problem I have with Windows 10. I've got my laptop hooked up to a second screen. If I have a window maximised and "restore" it to floating, sometimes the edge of the window disappears off the edge of the screen. This problem seems to be related to the screens being different sizes/resolutions.

If the top of the window is still visible, this isn't a problem because I can use the "Size" option to find the edges and bring them back.

But what do I do if the top of the window (title bar) is off the edge of the screen? I can't find an option to move the window - am I missing something obvious?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 20 February, 2023, 10:25:09 am
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 20 February, 2023, 10:56:19 am
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.

Bingo! Thanks.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Salvatore on 20 February, 2023, 01:29:41 pm
Kyboar problms. Som kys on’t sn anything to my P. Nw kyboar orr.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 21 February, 2023, 07:42:22 am
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.

Bingo! Thanks.  :thumbsup:

Except, of course, this keyboard shortcut doesn't work in Incopy and that's the program I'm most often having this problem with...  >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 21 February, 2023, 09:08:12 am
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.

Bingo! Thanks.  :thumbsup:

Except, of course, this keyboard shortcut doesn't work in Incopy and that's the program I'm most often having this problem with...  >:( >:( >:(

What happens if you use Win+(Left Or Right)Arrow to snap the window to one side of the screen? Or does that not work in Incopy either?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 21 February, 2023, 09:27:59 am
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.

Bingo! Thanks.  :thumbsup:

Except, of course, this keyboard shortcut doesn't work in Incopy and that's the program I'm most often having this problem with...  >:( >:( >:(

What happens if you use Win+(Left Or Right)Arrow to snap the window to one side of the screen? Or does that not work in Incopy either?

Ooh! Another one I didn’t know - I’ll try that next time it happens and report back…

:thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveJ on 21 February, 2023, 10:37:12 am
It doesn’t work.  Plugging it in immediately b0rks both wired connections and wifi to the main router.  Something DHCP-related, which might as well be in Aramaic for all the sense it makes.

Bah!

You can make the TP-Link do this if you plug the cable from the router into the LAN socket rather than the WAN socket.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 February, 2023, 10:47:07 am
It already was.  The TP-Link wossname was plugged into a wall socket, the Schloß having CAT6 throughout, and at the router end there was but one Ethernet cable plugged into one of the LAN ports.  Nothing in the WAN port at all.  Anyway it’s probably too late now coz:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: matthew on 21 February, 2023, 02:17:23 pm
Alt-space. Then m to move with arrow keys.

Bingo! Thanks.  :thumbsup:

Except, of course, this keyboard shortcut doesn't work in Incopy and that's the program I'm most often having this problem with...  >:( >:( >:(

What happens if you use Win+(Left Or Right)Arrow to snap the window to one side of the screen? Or does that not work in Incopy either?

Ooh! Another one I didn’t know - I’ll try that next time it happens and report back…

:thumbsup:

Equally Windows Key + Up Arrow should be maximise to screen size and Windows Key + Down Arrow should be return to a smaller floating window.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 February, 2023, 03:56:09 pm
Hurrah!  I haz phones & base station for VOIP and can thus pension off my BT copper string :thumbsup:
Bah!  Or rather I can when the immovable object of BT succumbs to the irresistible force of A&A, which could take ages >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 25 February, 2023, 03:45:23 pm
And about bloody time too...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/25/nokia-launches-diy-repairable-budget-android-phone
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 February, 2023, 08:09:18 pm
Now attend, network-connected A/V amp!  I do not know why you saw fit to turn off DHCP but I'd appreciate it if you didn’t do it again.

(Turns it back on; resumes listening to “Tadpoles”)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: citoyen on 01 March, 2023, 02:34:44 pm
What happens if you use Win+(Left Or Right)Arrow to snap the window to one side of the screen? Or does that not work in Incopy either?

Equally Windows Key + Up Arrow should be maximise to screen size and Windows Key + Down Arrow should be return to a smaller floating window.

It works! Yay! Thanks, both.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 March, 2023, 01:00:23 pm
Hurrah!  I haz phones & base station for VOIP and can thus pension off my BT copper string :thumbsup:
Bah!  Or rather I can when the immovable object of BT succumbs to the irresistible force of A&A, which could take ages >:(

Hurrah!  Bye-bye BT.  Well, apart from their FTTP line, obv.
Bah!  Sub-desk grovelling required to remove BT phones'n'Stuffs.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 March, 2023, 01:02:43 am
So-called “Quiet” PC has taken to making an annoying buzzing noise.  Which is a tad worrying as it ent got any moving parts inside >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 March, 2023, 01:06:37 am
So-called “Quiet” PC has taken to making an annoying buzzing noise.  Which is a tad worrying as it ent got any moving parts inside >:(

DANGER! BEES!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 March, 2023, 12:31:35 pm
So-called “Quiet” PC has taken to making an annoying buzzing noise.  Which is a tad worrying as it ent got any moving parts inside >:(

DANGER! BEES!

Switched it off overnight.  Blessèd silence on restart…

… for about three minutes :'(  Power supply?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 07 March, 2023, 01:29:10 pm
Would be my guess.  Any inductor can be a moving part if it's feeling vindictive enough.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 March, 2023, 06:05:35 pm
Tilt box gently ten degrees to starboard.  Return to vertical.  Noise stops.

Threat level: cautious optimism.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 07 March, 2023, 06:26:33 pm
Bah.

One of the pair of 1920 x 1080 monitors on my desk has expired.
PSU failure.

Thought I might attempt a repair, but my success rate with SMPSes is less than 50%.
Internal fuse blown, bridge rectifier OK, main switching MOSFET shorted. Other discrete semiconductors seemed OK. Impossible to test the controller ICs.
Replaced MOSFET and fuse. Power on.
*POP*!
Fuse and MOSFET dead again.

That's that, then. Bin time.
Got a spare monitor of different dimensions in use for the time being.



Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 March, 2023, 08:26:23 pm
No, look, really Windows, or Seagate, or whoever.  I am trying to copy lots and lots of very small files from a PC to Mr Seagate's indescribably ancient NAS, which is mounted as a network location because of its age an consequent reluctance to attach itself as an actual drive.  So there is no need to conk out halfway through telling me I'm no longer logged into the wretched NAS.

Bah >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 March, 2023, 08:35:54 pm
Señor Larrers, I have – for a long time – harboured the suspicion that you are, in fact, a primitive version of the internet. The version that came after the one where two people yelled 'not that disk, the other one' at each other.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 March, 2023, 12:33:35 am
ph3@r mi l33t 5k1llz!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 15 March, 2023, 05:09:11 pm
I'm looking for how to use a Shelly 1+ with sensor add on to switch on and off by temperature.  It was dead easy to setup, less so to identify how to control, so I went searching. Ah-ha! thunk I, here's a site written by someone who had loadsa problems getting their Shellys to work, I'm sure that will be a help

https://shellyspain.com/

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 15 March, 2023, 05:18:28 pm
That's a bit like that site all about ian's Morris Ital.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: pcolbeck on 15 March, 2023, 06:17:13 pm
I finally found what was changing my Word documents language tools (spelling, review etc) to French. Halfway through a document this would suddenly start happening and once it started you had to manually set it back to English for every paragraph from then on. its been happening for a couple of years and with all our company templates for our department.

Found it today in the formatting for a low level flaming section header. Removed "French" from that and now the whole document stays in English.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 March, 2023, 06:39:09 pm
Phone handset, why were you configured to using line 2 which in my case I have not got?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 March, 2023, 11:20:41 pm
Managed to teach VOIP phone all about BST :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 March, 2023, 11:26:12 pm
I had to teach the fridge about BST last night.

To be fair, it performs all internal calculations using unisex epochs, like dog intended (they might even be 64-bit ones - ask me again in 2038), but I neglected to account for DST changes in the code that generates the graph labels, erroneously assuming that hours incremented sequentially.

ETA: I had to teach the fridge more things about about BST again tonight.  I'd accidentally used mktime() out of habit where I should have used timegm(), with hilarious consequences in the event of trying to update the price of anbarism between the hours of midnight and 1am.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 March, 2023, 11:50:52 am
I wouldn’t mind so much about all this phone malarkey but if I'd known A&A's promise to set up all the hardware before they bunged it in the post was a Big Fat Lie I'd have bought the hardware somewhere else and saved about forty quid >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 March, 2023, 01:23:45 pm
I wouldn’t mind so much about all this phone malarkey but if I'd known A&A's promise to set up all the hardware before they bunged it in the post was a Big Fat Lie I'd have bought the hardware somewhere else and saved about forty quid >:(

I've had three pieces of hardware from them over the years.  One was an ADSL modem, which spoke PPPoE by default and required no configuration, but came with a handy sticker explaining as much.  Another was a deck of playing cards (freebie courtesy of one of RevK's side quests), which didn't speak PPPoE, but also required no configuration.  The latest was whatever router they're giving away with 12 months of FTTP, which I didn't really need, but reckoned might come in handy as a backup.  This was configured out of the box (PPPoE, Devil's Radio and all), and satisfied the Kelly engineer, who was stressed from misconfiguration at the exchange and having narrowly avoided drilling through our mains wiring, and didn't seem like the type who'd appreciate "it's a PFSense box in the rack upstairs".

Our VOIP phones are e-Bay issue Snom 300s (with those horrible inline Sarabec amplifiers), because I'm a tightarse and am unwilling to spend real money on tellingbones that don't even go up to 11.  Configuring anything SIP related is inherently type-2 fun, so I reckon you got a raw deal there.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 March, 2023, 02:52:40 pm
They don’t even tell you that the base station has a webby interface, no, I had to figure all that Stuffs out by osmosis.

And they didn’t give me a router when I switched to FTTP either :-\
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 March, 2023, 05:53:42 pm
And they didn’t give me a router when I switched to FTTP either :-\

It was a tickybox option on the order wossname, if you agreed to commit to 12 months IIRC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 April, 2023, 04:52:36 pm
Come on, laptop!  All I'm asking is for 3966 instances of FINDSTR from the command line.  What’s taking you so long, eh?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 03 May, 2023, 08:31:53 pm
In an idle moment, I was thinking about Chrome, as one does, and how you can access stuff through the internal URL calls, like chrome://extensions and chrome://system. I wondered to myself, was there a list of them? And of course there is, accessible through a URL chrome://about. Gosh what a lot there are are! And look! chrome://dino ..... what's that?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: lissotriton on 03 May, 2023, 10:18:49 pm
In an idle moment, I was thinking about Chrome, as one does, and how you can access stuff through the internal URL calls, like chrome://extensions and chrome://system. I wondered to myself, was there a list of them? And of course there is, accessible through a URL chrome://about. Gosh what a lot there are are! And look! chrome://dino ..... what's that?
The dinosaur game appears when it can't load the page, ie if it doesn't have an internet connection. I often play it on my phone.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 04 May, 2023, 10:58:22 am
That is my day lost...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 07 May, 2023, 02:18:28 pm
Hmm, on the Isle of Lewis for a spot of holidays. Connected to the world via mobile 'tinterweb provided by EE. For some reason the big G thinks I'm Thai and provides results in Thai along with all the menus in Thai. And what's my IP is saying I'm in Wales.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 12 May, 2023, 12:01:39 am
Yay \o/

I just found 'Decrease space between items (compact view)' in the Win 11 File Explorer Folder Options.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 16 May, 2023, 09:21:28 am
This keyboard name (https://www.banggood.com/Royal-Kludge-RK84-Mechanical-Keyboard-84-Keys-Triple-Mode-Wireless-bluetooth5_0-+-2_4Ghz-+-Type-C-Wired-Hot-swappable-RK-Switch-USB-Hub-Rechargeable-RGB-Backlit-ABS-Keycaps-Gaming-Keyboard-p-1986253.html) made oi llarf
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 21 May, 2023, 07:53:39 am
Does anyone know what I have done with my old SSD and SO-DIMM ? Failing that if anyone has some old stuff to shift I would be happy to make an offer, trying to breathe life into a 5 year old HP laptop that runs much slower than it should (i5, 2600 4 core) which I am blaming on the 4Gb RAM (and spinning rust, obv). The SSD can be fixed for a reasonable £16, but the RAM would be £32 if I put 16Gb in, I really wanted to try the 4Gb I have somewhere <rummages some more> before spending.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 21 May, 2023, 09:46:01 pm
Does anyone know what I have done with my old SSD and SO-DIMM ? Failing that if anyone has some old stuff to shift I would be happy to make an offer, trying to breathe life into a 5 year old HP laptop that runs much slower than it should (i5, 2600 4 core) which I am blaming on the 4Gb RAM (and spinning rust, obv). The SSD can be fixed for a reasonable £16, but the RAM would be £32 if I put 16Gb in, I really wanted to try the 4Gb I have somewhere <rummages some more> before spending.

With a moment of genius I realised I did have an 8Gb SoDIMM - inside my work laptop! And yes, it transforms performance, I wonder if I could get away leaving it that way and putting in a helpdesk call on my work laptop?

I also discover (having split it apart) that I have an M2 slot, so even easier to upgrade.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 June, 2023, 12:01:37 am
My Thrustmaster steering wheel stops making 'orrible noises when winding on a lot of left lock once the ambient temperature in the Estate Office exceeds 31 Celsius ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 22 June, 2023, 12:13:41 am
Thrustmaster  :o ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 June, 2023, 12:41:18 am
Thrustmaster  :o ???

Reputed molishment of teledildonics peripherals input devices for g4m3r d00dz flight-sim affectionados since the 1990s.  They must have branched out into squeaky steering wheels at some point.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 30 June, 2023, 07:29:36 pm
Anyone playing the game stray?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 July, 2023, 11:29:51 pm
One of my email accounts suddenly wouldn't let me in over the weekend. It's my one I tend to use for "can we take an email address?" when I don't really want to be contacted, online shopping receipts etc.  It's a .freeuk one I had from back in the stone age.

Any hoo, not much meaningful support to fix my particular issue on their website, so I rang them. A single layer of menu options, followed by speaking to a Real Human Being who pretty much fixed the issue in a couple of minutes. Changed the password too. Obvs.

When I got back into the account I saw a support ticket saying they'd suspended the account because of spamming and had my password been compromised, along with a several of bounce messages from emails I'd supposedly sent.

Big up to clara.net (Freeuk parent company) for speedy resolution. (Note to self: Next time heed those warnings saying your password is on a list of compromised ones)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 July, 2023, 03:57:01 pm
I got a raspberry pi, that I got a IRC server (thelounge.chat) and Mastodon running on it. Along with a HDD that I'm doing rsync/ssh backup to. It runs happily along for a random number of days and then ssh just stops responding. I have set up remote.it and when looking at the online log, I see the service is up and down

Quote
Jul 12, 2023, 03:13 PM vault went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 03:11 PM vault - VNC went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 03:09 PM vault went online
Jul 12, 2023, 03:08 PM vault - VNC went online
Jul 12, 2023, 03:08 PM vault - RDP went online
Jul 12, 2023, 03:08 PM vault - SSH went online
Jul 12, 2023, 03:03 PM vault - SSH went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 03:02 PM vault - RDP went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 03:02 PM vault - VNC went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 03:01 PM vault went offline
Jul 12, 2023, 02:58 PM vault - VNC went online
Jul 12, 2023, 02:58 PM vault - SSH went online

etc etc

When I do this sudo ssh -vv vault@sserverIP I get this

Quote
OpenSSH_9.2p1 Debian-2, OpenSSL 3.0.9 30 May 2023
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 19: include /etc/ssh/ssh_config.d/*.conf matched no files
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 21: Applying options for *
debug2: resolving "serverIP" port 22
debug1: Connecting to serverIP [serverIPinnumbers] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519 type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_xmss type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_xmss-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.2p1 Debian-2
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u1
debug1: compat_banner: match: OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u1 pat OpenSSH* compat 0x04000000
debug2: fd 3 setting O_NONBLOCK
debug1: Authenticating to serverIP:22 as 'vault'
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /root/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent

I sometimes get to the enter the magic word part and then it just times out or disconnect

If I ignore the ssh "issue" I got the mastodon running fine for few more  random number of days before the Pi stops responding.

Any pointers ?

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 12 July, 2023, 05:32:40 pm
The final SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT is not an error, it's just the client starting key exchange. You probably need to look at the server logs on the pi to see what is wrong. That could involve attaching a monitor and keyboard to the pi, or perhaps setting LogLevel to DEBUG in sshd_config and ensuring that the logs persist across reboots.

I don't understand the online/offline messages, what produces them? Given that it appears to refer to multiple services it suggests there is nothing wrong with you sshd but the problem is network related. Is this wired, wifi or a mixture? Breaking ssh during key exchange is often associated with a router that doesn't do MTU very well.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 12 July, 2023, 10:04:56 pm
It managed to get a bit further and even.send the password along and login, but never gave me the prompt


The online/offline message is from a service called http://remote.it A free tunneling service, like hamachi (is/was) it runs in the background and can "jump" some basic firewall settings.

I'm remote so I can't get to the Pi before late August so I can't get to the error logs without SSH or attached a monitor.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 July, 2023, 10:35:54 pm
On that basis, could this in fact be a tunnelling problem?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 July, 2023, 10:37:05 am
See that is what I don't know I got no-ip set up on the router and it works just fine. I have forgotten to remove the remote.it service, I used it as temp solution while changing ISP and router.

Right now I'm happily logging in and managed to restart and update the Pi. I've set up a cronjob to restart every day. I know it's not a fix, issue is still there, but I can connect and since it's happy running for 1+X days before playing up, it think this would do until I can sit next to it with a monitor connected.

So questions is which log file to look at and what to look for.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 13 July, 2023, 11:55:28 am
So questions is which log file to look at and what to look for.
I think the pi uses systemd as standard. To view the sshd log you do the following as root on the pi:

 edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set LogLevel to DEBUG3
 systemctl restart sshd
 journalctl -r -t sshd

You should see the debug log of any attempt to ssh in.  However I suspect the problem is probably not sshd, but a more general networking problem that sshd happens to trigger, and that when the problem occurs you may simply see some sort of "connection closed" message. I've never had to debug an MTU problem. I suppose you could try reducing the MTU on your client and see if that works.

 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 13 July, 2023, 07:38:12 pm
Thanks I'll try that

A friend wondered if it was a - "memory leak / over committed forcing swap file and death"

So I'm going to try to set up boot on usb attached ssd - https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/boot-raspberry-pi-4-usb

Never know at least it will speed things up a bit.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 July, 2023, 06:22:34 pm
In the red corner: eight video files, with subtitles for the FOREIGN bits, in .mkv format.

In the Fruit corner: iTunes, which doesn’t do .mkv files.

In the middle: Mr Larrington & his Windows PC, failing to convert said files into iTunes format while retaining the subtitles.

Does Thee Panel have any suggestions as to how to make Handbrake do what I want?  Or anything else, if it doesn’t cost money which in my case I have not got?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 16 July, 2023, 07:26:48 pm
Mr Larrington.  If you are my grandmother in disguise I apologise but does this help? https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/1.3.0/advanced/subtitles.html (https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/1.3.0/advanced/subtitles.html).

I just looked at an MKV file of mine with subtitles and they are happily burnt in but then they came out of my mixer embedded.  The reference seems to suggest that within handbrake you need to set the subtitles track to burned in.  That sits between audio and chapters in the big central space on my handbrake.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 July, 2023, 09:34:57 pm
I thought I'd tried that option but it could be that Handbrake changed Stuffs after I poked “Add All”.  I'll try that with 1 episode & see what happens before running the poor PC flat out all night again.

Edit: further jibbling of options has resulted in preserved subtitles! Hopefully Handbrake hasn’t changed them again before I started doing the remaining seven episodes.

Edit 2: It worked! Ta, Chris :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 22 July, 2023, 12:18:38 am
Any recommendations for a similar thing to H2testw for mac and chromebooks.

Would like to test some usb and only have a mac and a chromebook to use as things to run the program.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 22 July, 2023, 02:50:03 pm
Yesterday and today was fix all the tech had issues in the home.

Some nutter pulled out in front of us, so we wanted to check the car cam. Noticed it was dead, been offline for a month, after a firmware update and reset, it came back to life.

One down.

Then the Blink "security" cam batteries started to die, after a recharge they couldn't connect to the Blink Servers.

Started to look for what the issue could be online, but only half the sites I normally visit were accessible, rest dead.

Peli also reported that her phone kept dropping from the wifi and many sites couldn't be opened.

Factory reset the router and then Blink servers could be reached and websites loaded and her phone stayed online.

So that was two and three sorted

Now it's the chromecast time to be faffed ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 22 July, 2023, 04:52:28 pm
Any recommendations for a similar thing to H2testw for mac and chromebooks.

Would like to test some usb and only have a mac and a chromebook to use as things to run the program.

I wonder if Disk Utility will do that for you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ScumOfTheRoad on 25 July, 2023, 06:25:52 am
Bought an Artfone type flip open grannyphone for Mrs Scum. This new one has USB-C and does not sit in a chrging "nest" lik the last one. I have several USB direct cabled power supplies (I like USB-C). Also have some maglock style connectors which Mrs Scum likes.

This phone will not charge using a normal USB-C charger. It will charge using the supplied wall wart plus USB-A to USB-C cable.
I wonder if they have not implemented the USB-C Power Delivery standard and have rather just chosen a pin and connected over 5 Volts
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 28 July, 2023, 12:12:15 am
Any recommendations for a similar thing to H2testw for mac and chromebooks.

Would like to test some usb and only have a mac and a chromebook to use as things to run the program.

I wonder if Disk Utility will do that for you.

I wondered too but have no idea.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jaded on 28 July, 2023, 01:29:01 am
Any recommendations for a similar thing to H2testw for mac and chromebooks.

Would like to test some usb and only have a mac and a chromebook to use as things to run the program.

I wonder if Disk Utility will do that for you.

I wondered too but have no idea.

Plug the USB thing in with Disk Utility open, and as with all disks you should get a Volume and a partition. I’d hope that the capacities of both were very similar, and match the stated capacity of the device?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 28 July, 2023, 01:30:06 am
f3 (fight flash fraud) can be run on a mac, according to the docs.

https://fight-flash-fraud.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage.html
https://github.com/AltraMayor/f3
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 29 July, 2023, 12:52:04 am
Any recommendations for a similar thing to H2testw for mac and chromebooks.

Would like to test some usb and only have a mac and a chromebook to use as things to run the program.

I wonder if Disk Utility will do that for you.

I wondered too but have no idea.

Plug the USB thing in with Disk Utility open, and as with all disks you should get a Volume and a partition. I’d hope that the capacities of both were very similar, and match the stated capacity of the device?

Yeah thought about that, but then thought that the same issue would come up with mac as PC.  No proof that this true, just a thought.

f3 (fight flash fraud) can be run on a mac, according to the docs.

https://fight-flash-fraud.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage.html
https://github.com/AltraMayor/f3
Thank you will look it up.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 29 July, 2023, 10:44:40 am
Anyone know how to permanently switch off the upgrade reminders at start up for an Android (Motorola) "smart" telephone, short of rooting it that is?

Please spare me the sermons about security patches, I am *not* interested; this is a telephone and that's *all* it gets used for.  Everything that can either be disabled or deleted has been and I don't want the tedious ball-ache of grinding through repeating that exercise after any "upgrade".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 29 July, 2023, 01:29:01 pm
Honestly the easiest way it to get a dumb phone or update it. Else I don't know how to tell it to be quiet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 29 July, 2023, 02:41:23 pm
My 9-year old PC was creaking at the seams and couldn't run Windows 11 because it has no TPM thingy, so I bought a new one and installed Windows 11 on it.  It's basically a privacy invader and advertising platform masquerading as an OS.  I think I have managed to turn off all the shite now.  OneDrive looks like a bit of a scam - it pushes it at you but doesn't mention that you get a paltry 5GB.  My music files are 60GB and photos must be twice that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 30 July, 2023, 02:15:06 pm
My 9-year old PC was creaking at the seams and couldn't run Windows 11 because it has no TPM thingy, so I bought a new one and installed Windows 11 on it.  It's basically a privacy invader and advertising platform masquerading as an OS.  I think I have managed to turn off all the shite now.  OneDrive looks like a bit of a scam - it pushes it at you but doesn't mention that you get a paltry 5GB.  My music files are 60GB and photos must be twice that.

Oh that isn't good, isn't there an easy way to remove all the invasion and advertising?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 30 July, 2023, 02:22:04 pm
f3 (fight flash fraud) can be run on a mac, according to the docs.

https://fight-flash-fraud.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage.html
https://github.com/AltraMayor/f3

Looked that up but seems to require linux to run.

But the macbook has issues: MacBook Pro 9.1 running Catalina 10.15.7 when I go to the app store to download stuff says can't be installed on Mac hd as version 12.3 or later is required.

Was thinking of downloading catalina to a usb drive and then completly wiping the SSD and reinstalling catalina to the SSD. Catalina downloads from the app store but then there isn't a way to keep the image to create a bootable USB.  Even the dosdude method to get catalina does not want to work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 30 July, 2023, 02:38:42 pm
Looked that up but seems to require linux to run.
I'm not a mac user but the docs say it is available in macports and homebrew, or can be compiled from source:
https://fight-flash-fraud.readthedocs.io/en/stable/introduction.html#compile-stable-software-on-apple-mac
Some parts require Linux but f3write and f3read do not.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 01 August, 2023, 01:13:22 pm
Probably not worth a new thread. I'm trying to minimise stuff in our bedroom as where other rooms have been sorted and decorated our bedroom hasn't for ages and has become a store for lots of stuff

I have around 150 to 200 cds and don't actually have a CD player at the moment but do have semi decent blue tooth speakers. Thus I'd like to put the CDs I actually listen to into an extern hard drive so can plug into laptop and play

That's a long winded way of asking what size hard drive would 200 CDs (mix of album and singles) need

Thanks
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 01 August, 2023, 01:31:27 pm
We have 975 albums in FLAC format which are 322GB in total.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: BFC on 01 August, 2023, 01:58:47 pm
A quick  note - windows 7 media player does not access album information when ripping CDs (it used to work, but microshit decided to remove the service for unsupported  operating systems).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 01 August, 2023, 02:05:40 pm
A quick  note - windows 7 media player does not access album information when ripping CDs (it used to work, but microshit decided to remove the service for unsupported  operating systems).

Thanks but I'm on a new version of Windows as was on laptop when bought it

Pingu I'm a bit of a luddite does FLAC compress so as to take up less space or would a 500gb be more then enough?

Any recommendations for specific models would be appreciated. Thanks
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 01 August, 2023, 02:35:31 pm
FLAC is a lossless (it decompresses to exact original) compression scheme and a CD will typically come out at less than 300MB (an uncompressed CD is typically less than 700MB). 200 CDs will take less than 100GB and any external disk you buy today will be big and fast enough, in fact a disk is overkill and a 128GB USB pendrive is all you need.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 01 August, 2023, 06:09:07 pm
a 128GB USB pendrive is all you need.

I'm not sure I'd be that brave.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 August, 2023, 01:32:50 am
I keep my CD collection on disk (well several disks, because prudence) along with all the other files that I was already keeping on disks.

Well, no.  I also keep the actual CDs in a wallet, also because prudence.  They don't actually take up much space once you eliminate the cases, and I reckon that pressed CDs are a reasonably stable backup medium as these things go.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 02 August, 2023, 03:01:10 pm
Further, most people don't need a lossless format like flac in the music player, a lossy format such as mp3 or acc will do provided there is not too much compression. Use mp3/acc and 200 CDs will fit on a 32GB usb memory stick, or a modern phone. One might choose to use flac for archiving, but when it comes to playing hardly anyone will be able to hear a difference between lossless flac and mp3.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: SoreTween on 02 August, 2023, 04:15:02 pm
The three main formats are:
.wav
This is a stream of uncompressed raw audio data, basically just reading the CD and storing it. A CD is about 700Mb.
.mp3
This compresses the data by using both data compression techniques and by throwing away parts of the audio spectrum deemed inaudible.  The amount of data thrown away is massively configurable and asking what settings you should use will get you about n2 answers where n=the number of people on the planet with audio files on their devices. Size can be anything from a few Kb of inaudible garbage to 700Mb but work on about 100Mb for good quality files (about 15% of .wav). It is unlikely anyone will ever hear the difference so long as you don't over compress.
.flac
This is lossless compression. What you hear will be exactly the same as the CD or .wav. No one will ever hear the difference because there isn't one.  Assume about 490Mb (about 70% of .wav).

One might choose to use flac for archiving, but when it comes to playing hardly anyone will be able to hear a difference between lossless flac and mp3.
The counter argument to this is that storage is so blummin cheap now and the task of ripping is very time consuming and very tedious.

I now rip to all three. .wav because Mrs Tween needed them for a particular project, .flac for listening at home and .mp3 (192 fixed) for putting on my phone. Totally OTT but I'll never have to rip again, some of my collection has been ripped 3 times as technology moved on and then the .wav need arose.

Keeping all 3 formats the OP could fit their 200 CDs on the proposed 500Gb disk.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 02 August, 2023, 05:58:53 pm
For the average person the point in FLAC (or indeed WAV) isn't so much that it sounds better than high-bitrate MP3 or AAC, but that it gives you a flawless starting point for transcoding to the codec du jour.  You really don't want to be applying multiple layers of acoustic coding on top of one another just because you need a file that $stupid_car_radio or the Mega-Global Fruit Co's latest shiny thing can understand.

I see no point in storing CD-derived WAV as distinct from FLAC, as you can flawlessly convert one to the other.  If you've got original source material as WAV with 32-bit floats or something, it might make sense.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 August, 2023, 06:04:13 pm
Also, if you’re planning to play 'em back using FruitCo $WARE bear in mind that it doesn’t grok FLAC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 August, 2023, 02:24:34 pm
Further, most people don't need a lossless format like flac in the music player, a lossy format such as mp3 or acc will do provided there is not too much compression. Use mp3/acc and 200 CDs will fit on a 32GB usb memory stick, or a modern phone. One might choose to use flac for archiving, but when it comes to playing hardly anyone will be able to hear a difference between lossless flac and mp3.
Blind studies have found that no-one can really tell the difference between .wav and 256k MP3.  VBR MP3 is now more common and you can use a bit more compression (192k average, for instance).

128k MP3, widely used in the early 2000s, was quite fizzy compared to the source material.  However, The Kids got used to it and it may explain the nasty reedy sound favoured by producers of current music.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 August, 2023, 06:09:18 pm
Game!  Why are you telling me you can’t find those files when they quite plainly exist ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 15 August, 2023, 05:07:02 pm
Where can I legally obtain a copy of win10 to install on a laptop and also catalina? for a macbook

Thank you
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Jurek on 15 August, 2023, 05:20:55 pm
You can download Catalina for free from Apple.
Win 10 I don't know about.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: philip on 15 August, 2023, 06:10:20 pm
For free, from MS:
https://www.microsoft.com/eb-gb/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 15 August, 2023, 10:54:47 pm
You can download Catalina for free from Apple.
Win 10 I don't know about.

Yeah, but the macbook pro running catalina, doesn't want to.  When accessing the app store the mac say needs to be 12 something or above.  Hence wanting to download the os.  Wipe the hard drive of everything and start again

For free, from MS:
https://www.microsoft.com/eb-gb/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

The only windows pc i have is on 7 starter and is painfully slow.

EDIT At 0.07 it is still at 48% ffs
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 16 August, 2023, 11:19:32 pm
Forgot how bad win10 was when new and updating... Even with an SSD and cable from the router.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: grams on 17 August, 2023, 12:58:52 am
Yeah, but the macbook pro running catalina, doesn't want to.  When accessing the app store the mac say needs to be 12 something or above.  Hence wanting to download the os.  Wipe the hard drive of everything and start again

You need to boot from the recovery partition (or from Internet Recovery) and do a clean install of whatever OS it offers and then upgrade via the App Store.

If the Mac is too old to run Catalina officially you'll need to create a patched version, which is an entirely separate topic and not to be done casually.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: onerousdeporte on 17 August, 2023, 02:01:30 am
Yeah, but the macbook pro running catalina, doesn't want to.  When accessing the app store the mac say needs to be 12 something or above.  Hence wanting to download the os.  Wipe the hard drive of everything and start again

You need to boot from the recovery partition (or from Internet Recovery) and do a clean install of whatever OS it offers and then upgrade via the App Store.

If the Mac is too old to run Catalina officially you'll need to create a patched version, which is an entirely separate topic and not to be done casually.

Have done the internet recovery and got catalina.  Am tempted to try a straight new drive in the machine and see what happens
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 September, 2023, 01:37:26 am
Laptop, kindly stop changing the date and time to what it is in London's Famous London.  You are not in LFL and I have already told you to synch your clock with time.windows.com  Now behave >:(
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 September, 2023, 11:18:48 am
Computers are really bad at being clocks.  Windows computers doubly so.  I recently had reason to learn far more than I ever wanted to know about Microsoft's implementation of NTP (which is - I can only assume deliberately - incompatible with the real thing, to the effect that you can sync windows to normal time servers but not vice-versa).

Amongst the lessons learned was not to trust that GUI setting with a barge pole, and to configurationise the Windows time service using the w32tm command[1].  Another lesson was that time.windows.com (which, to be fair, does appear to be a proper time server) has previous for sending out the wrong time.  Indeed, this is why when obtaining time from Other People's Computers, unisex spaceadmins tend to configure their hosts to poll more than one time server, so that it can form a consensus and ignore any that are obviously drunk and should go home.  You can do that in Windows, but it means fucking about at the command line, rather than editing a text file like dog intended.


[1] A stunning example of how Windows still isn't ready for the desktop.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 September, 2023, 03:22:17 pm
I await with interest the observation of:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: lissotriton on 03 September, 2023, 07:33:16 pm
Why does my Google speaker play Spotify, but then cut out after 10 seconds? Not sure if a problem with the wifi, but it works fine streaming other radio etc.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 03 September, 2023, 11:48:52 pm
I am awaiting the reset of the Squeezebox Boom's time to this time zone. The other Squeezebox box periphera seemed to manage immediately  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 September, 2023, 12:26:54 am
On connecting to t'Interwebs on arriving here (Clarkston WA) laptop immediately discerned that it was in the Pacific time zone and changed gear according ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 13 September, 2023, 07:13:52 am
Having finished Quake II, I started on Quake.  It was "remastered" a few years ago so the Steam download, which is very cheap, Just Works on the latest Windows versions -it was originally an MS-DOS game.  Any new office-grade PC can run it in high resolution without breaking sweat, and it looks far better than it ever used to back in the day.  There are colours!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 September, 2023, 09:30:45 pm
Plusnet appear to be borked.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 13 September, 2023, 09:46:44 pm
Also borked in Kent.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 13 September, 2023, 09:47:42 pm
Set router's Primary DNS to 8.8.8.8, rebooted and 3-2-1 we're back in the room.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: nicknack on 13 September, 2023, 09:59:55 pm
Back here too.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 13 September, 2023, 10:44:01 pm
Plusnet appear to be borked.

Yep:  https://downdetector.co.uk/status/plusnet/

They don't appear to have a status page.  What sort of ISP doesn't have a status page?  I'm sure they never used to be that rubbish.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 14 September, 2023, 04:28:37 pm
Quote from: Kim
Quote from: Mrs Pingu
Plusnet appear to be borked.

Yep:  https://downdetector.co.uk/status/plusnet/

They don't appear to have a status page.  What sort of ISP doesn't have a status page?  I'm sure they never used to be that rubbish.
They didn't, they also used to offer telephone support beyond 20:00.  And on that, what kind of *pillock* sets up a call handling system that takes you through a menu that lets you choose the "My Broadband is borken" option and *then* says, "Office is closed, use the website."  Too stupid to be adequately described in polite language.

Like Mme Pingu had to give the magic box's DNS setting a damn good kicking.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 September, 2023, 06:40:22 pm
They were bought by BT. Perhaps BT are making Plusnet shit to make people swap to BT?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 September, 2023, 07:59:46 pm
They were bought by BT. Perhaps BT are making Plusnet shit to make people swap to BT?

Or gaining market share by buying a competitor, and then financially squeezing them until they're no longer competitive.

(Although IIRC the great email deletion fiasco pre-dated their acquisition by our-favourite-telco.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 14 September, 2023, 09:58:37 pm
There doesn't have to be a conspiracy; support and service cost money and eat into margins. The broadband market is mostly won on being the cheapest, with reliability some ways behind (no one cares about reliability until they have to care about reliability). It's only a small niche of users who will pay upfront for service, support, and reliability. It's a market based on switching between deals to get to the cheapest.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: lissotriton on 14 September, 2023, 10:10:02 pm
They were bought by BT. Perhaps BT are making Plusnet shit to make people swap to BT?

Or gaining market share by buying a competitor, and then financially squeezing them until they're no longer competitive.

(Although IIRC the great email deletion fiasco pre-dated their acquisition by our-favourite-telco.)
Supposedly BT are going to scrap the Plusnet brand, and make it all EE instead. They have already got rid of Plusnet Mobile.
Though it think it makes sense to have a sub-brand for a cheaper, basic service. Most of the other big telcos are doing that.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 September, 2023, 10:10:47 pm
There doesn't have to be a conspiracy; support and service cost money and eat into margins. The broadband market is mostly won on being the cheapest, with reliability some ways behind (no one cares about reliability until they have to care about reliability). It's only a small niche of users who will pay upfront for service, support, and reliability. It's a market based on switching between deals to get to the cheapest.

Exactly.

Most people don't understand how the internet works, which combined with the demise of ISP-based add-ons like email and web hosting, means it's basically impossible to market better internet services to them.  ISPs are perceived as doing the same job as energy providers, so - in the absence of spectacularly incompetent account management - it becomes a race to the bottom on price.

PlusNet used to be a smaller ISP oriented at relatively technical users (the sort of people who at least had a family member who knows what IMAP is and cares about traffic shaping), but have become a victim of their own success.  It's a shame, they were my go-to recommendation for a non-shit ISP for people who weren't prepared to pay AAISP prices.  (These days it's Zen.)

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 16 September, 2023, 03:47:46 pm
Looks like the re-sale values of iPhone 12's are going to take a hit.   https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2023/09/14/apple_iphone_12_woes_spread/


Wraps his 12 Mini in several layers of tinfoil....
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2023, 08:09:35 pm
I may have reached peak xkcd://1279 (https://xkcd.com/1279/):  One of my doppelgangers has attached a photo of a document, revealing her social security number and a useful high-resolution image of her signature.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 21 September, 2023, 09:46:15 pm
My wife has multiple documents from a lady in Canada including medical letters.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 22 September, 2023, 01:51:42 am
Kim's had gun licences (we didn't like that). Kim has on occasion contacted medical orgs in USAnia to say "I know you can't reply to be cos HIPPA etc but your email intended for DoppelGanger is going to a British NotYourPerson, could you contact Numpty by any other methods and tell them to correct their email cos their medical data is coming to me).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2023, 02:28:40 pm
Kim's had gun licences (we didn't like that).

It was a receipt for a shotgun and telescopic sight.  Which was even more concerning.



Quote
Kim has on occasion contacted medical orgs in USAnia to say "I know you can't reply to be cos HIPPA etc but your email intended for DoppelGanger is going to a British NotYourPerson, could you contact Numpty by any other methods and tell them to correct their email cos their medical data is coming to me).

Bonus points for the "and judging by what you just leaked, it would be better if they didn't miss that appointment".
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2023, 04:06:15 pm
xkcd://1279 just in:  Waiver for a laser tag / archery / axe throwing company.  I now have a doppelganger's full address, DOB and phone number.  But probably won't use them, in case they come after me with Charlotte tactics.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andrewc on 22 September, 2023, 08:08:39 pm
Kim's had gun licences (we didn't like that).

It was a receipt for a shotgun and telescopic sight.  Which was even more concerning.
Quote


Your freelance international assassin identity has been compromised.....  :jurek:

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2023, 10:08:12 pm
Talking with old people today, I realised I've not defragmented a disk since 1998. It seems no one has.

Are we sitting on a defragmentation crisis? Is our storage dangerously fragmented? Is Big Data hiding this from us?

I realise it was quite comforting watching those little blocks move around.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2023, 10:48:37 pm
Mostly we started using filesystems that were better at not fragmenting files in the first place.  Obviously the *nix world and the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation worked this out a fair bit before Microsoft finally got the hang of it.

And then we started using flash memory instead of rotating storage media, at which point fragmentation stopped mattering (indeed, defragmentation would cause needless wear).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 22 September, 2023, 10:51:51 pm
Talking with old people today, I realised I've not defragmented a disk since 1998. It seems no one has.

Are we sitting on a defragmentation crisis? Is our storage dangerously fragmented? Is Big Data hiding this from us?

I realise it was quite comforting watching those little blocks move around.

As it happens, I defragged a disk a few weeks ago so that i could shrink the volume enough to turn it into a VHD.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 22 September, 2023, 10:52:39 pm
Mostly we started using filesystems that were better at not fragmenting files in the first place.  Obviously the *nix world and the Mega-Global Fruit Corporation worked this out a fair bit before Microsoft finally got the hang of it.

And then we started using flash memory instead of rotating storage media, at which point fragmentation stopped mattering (indeed, defragmentation would cause needless wear).

And we have slightly more interesting things to watch on our screens these days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2023, 10:54:37 pm
‘Twas an innocent age.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2023, 09:36:46 pm
Machine!  I know you’ve been switched off for a month and are thus a bit torpid, but would you mind cranking up the speed of that backup a bit?  250 Mb/s is frankly Not Good Enough.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 September, 2023, 10:50:08 pm
I get quite a lot of Margret's emails.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 26 September, 2023, 12:31:14 am
Ohnoes!  2D Mr Larrington has gone missing!

Rather too slowly it dawned on me that since 2D Mr Larrington's job is to hold a RFID tag with a readily identifiable EPC number encoded on it (testing, for the purposes of), it should be possible to locate him using RF voodoo SCIENCE.

Alas, after firing up Impinj and sweeping the aerial in random directions, not a 0xDEADBEEF in sight.  I assume he got blown into the shrubbery at Gravesend by the 600mph gusting crosswind, along with the LAZER DISPLAY BOARD (which is now b0rked) and half the BHPC.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 September, 2023, 01:14:44 am
 :o
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 27 September, 2023, 01:52:30 pm
Why do Apple keep changing things.  >:(

At least I think it’s them messing about. Last time I wanted to print something from my iPad, it just worked, this time it won’t. I can ping the printer over its wired connection, but the manufacturers app says it can’t see the damn thing. And as it’s not an AirPrint enabled printer, the iPad won’t print to,it, even though it can see and connect to the none AirPrint SSID.

Of course, it would be easier to troubleshoot if the damn printer wasn’t buried beneath a metric f-tonne of TQT in my former WFH office, but that’s a different rant usually associated with Dr Beardy.

EDA

I brought the printer in and tried plugging it into the router. The app could see it and said it was printing to it, but nothing came out. I took it over to the desktop and after rummaging around in BOXES I plugged it in with USB to the back of the computer. But the computer decided to go all windoZe on me so while I was waiting for that to stop arsing about I plugged it in to the TimeCapsual and tried printing again. I now have hard copy of my boarding passes.

I’ve been ferreting around with Babbage engine networking since before Novell Network was a thing, and I still consider it to be the work of Stan.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 27 September, 2023, 03:31:39 pm
Related rant:  No, Windows, just because I've been fortunate enough not to have to print anything for a while does not mean that I want to invoke future printer problems by deleting the printer settings.

It's like it's deliberately invoking parental tech support issues...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 September, 2023, 09:32:51 pm
Not really a computing thing, but I've had a telephonic variant of Kim's email confusion. Months ago, I had a text from a number I didn't recognize. It seemed to relate to a meeting. Google found the number easily; a local cello teacher. I'm not learning the cello, but my sister is a musician (not cello) and said she knows this person but hasn't worked with them for years. But the texts were all addressed to me by name. Weird. And today, three more calls; one normal and two on WhatsApp. None of which I was aware of at the time because my phone was on Do Not Disturb while I was in my BSL class. Anyway, thanks to WhatsApp, I now know what this person looks like. But not why they think they know me. (I've already sent them a text, months ago, saying they have the wrong number.)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2023, 01:27:58 am
Not really a computing thing, but I've had a telephonic variant of Kim's email confusion. Months ago, I had a text from a number I didn't recognize. It seemed to relate to a meeting. Google found the number easily; a local cello teacher. I'm not learning the cello, but my sister is a musician (not cello) and said she knows this person but hasn't worked with them for years. But the texts were all addressed to me by name. Weird. And today, three more calls; one normal and two on WhatsApp. None of which I was aware of at the time because my phone was on Do Not Disturb while I was in my BSL class. Anyway, thanks to WhatsApp, I now know what this person looks like. But not why they think they know me. (I've already sent them a text, months ago, saying they have the wrong number.)

This sounds like the set up for either:

a) A spy novel
b) Romance
c) Cello lessons
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 29 September, 2023, 06:35:43 am
Quote from: Kim
This sounds like the set up for either:

a) A spy novel
b) Romance
c) Cello lessons

Ahem.  Been done, in a kinematic fashion, already. "The Living Daylights"
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2023, 12:55:11 pm
Quote from: Kim
This sounds like the set up for either:

a) A spy novel
b) Romance
c) Cello lessons

Ahem.  Been done, in a kinematic fashion, already. "The Living Daylights"

Roffle.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Canardly on 29 September, 2023, 05:59:22 pm
I decided to install a banking mobile app today. This app, amongst other things, generates log on codes for accessing the bank's on line banking system. Access to my accounts via the mobile app worked immediately following set up. However, the on line banking system refuses to accept any of the log on access codes generated via the mobile app. After half an hour on the phone with the bank's support I have been unable to resolve this. I am now having to revert to using a new hand held key generator which is being posted to me.

Is it me?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2023, 06:39:41 pm
I decided to install a banking mobile app today. This app, amonst other things, generates log on codes for accessing the bank's on line banking system. Access to my accounts via the mobile app worked immediately following set up. However, the on line banking system refuses to accept any of the log on access codes generated via the mobile app. After half an hour on the phone with the bank's support I have been unable to resolve this. I am now having to revert to using a new hand held key generator which is being posted to me.

Is it me?

Probably for the best.  I get annoyed whenever I use the mobile banking app to do 2FA for the website, because it feels like they're pushing us to use mobile apps rather than proper computers for banking.  Which they are.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 September, 2023, 08:42:55 pm
I for one do not wish to use my phone for anything MOAR than the bare minimum because my stubby peasant fingers find it well-nigh impossible to type accurately on the wretched thing and might accidentally donate all my money to the Conservative Party.  Or something.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 29 September, 2023, 08:47:15 pm
I for one do not wish to use my phone for anything MOAR than the bare minimum because my stubby peasant fingers find it well-nigh impossible to type accurately on the wretched thing and might accidentally donate all my money to the Conservative Party.  Or something.
And they wouldn't even say thank you, just ask for more!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 29 September, 2023, 10:07:01 pm
I only have the app on my phone in the first place because it allowed me to pay in a cheque by photographing it USAnian-style.  There was a pandemic and my local branch had turned into a trendy wine bar.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 October, 2023, 12:07:22 pm
In the light of world+dog's multitudinous issues with Windows updates I am experiencing a certain amount of schadenfreude as ex-Professor Larrington struggles to make her MacBook behave after updating itself :demon:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 01 October, 2023, 12:24:25 pm
Our company is now going mobile first and de-prioritising the website for customers to service their accounts.

I have a spare phone I put some apps on - but these are mainly unimportant things that require minimal personal data - for instance, the app which works via bluetooth with my laser measuring doodad. The phone isn't used to place calls and has no contacts stored.

My proper phone is an Android - but without Google services, Play store etc.. The apps installed are open source and downloaded via F-Droid.
There's already a slew of app only banking services.

I know I'm going to be forced to conform at some point soon.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 October, 2023, 07:39:16 pm
O hai Mega-Global Fruit Corporation of Cupertino, USAnia!

That device has been called “Denon AVR-X200” since time immemorial.  Today you decide it’s unavailable.  Which it is not.  I change the name to plain “Denon”.  You can play tunes to it.  I change it back to “Denon AVR-X2000”.  You can still play tunes to it.

Sort it out u muppets!

Kthxbai!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 October, 2023, 10:55:40 pm
My personal coder (AKA Pingu) wrote a formula for me to bung in excel to change a column of names of hydrocarbon molecules from the plural to the singular.
This, in combination with using Alt to copy columns from pdf to excel, and the belated (I don't know how belated) realisation that the software I needed to stick this information into has finally got into the 21st century and allowed copy and paste, meant that finally, FINALLY, I can enter an entire hydrocarbon composition with a few copy, paste and minor tweaks, as opposed to having to type in rows and rows of 3 decimal places and then find the inevitable errors....

I only wish I'd discovered that earlier than the last one of the 11 reports of data I had to enter today. But hey, the rest of my working life is my oyster..... <Dances vigorously>
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 06 October, 2023, 11:45:14 pm
My personal coder (AKA Pingu)...

https://xkcd.com/1513/
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 October, 2023, 12:06:14 am
My personal coder (AKA Pingu)...

https://xkcd.com/1513/

This week I have been mostly 'tidying up' the code written for a part of the application we use written by an employee who works for the app provider so that it doesn't use the same bit of SQL three (3) times every times it runs  :demon: We're paying them 10 (ten) x my rate* to provide this shit  :demon: :demon:



*My rate is pretty puny, but still...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2023, 12:33:17 am
“Why is program X* so sodding huge?” asked $FORMER_THE_BOSS.  Because, Mr Larrington discovered, it had the same twenty-odd lines of code repeated about a hundred times instead of calling a subroutine.

* FORTRAN program, written in FORTRAN
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 October, 2023, 12:38:52 am
Loops? WTF  ???
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 October, 2023, 12:46:10 am
My personal coder (AKA Pingu) wrote a formula for me to bung in excel...

That was me telling Mrs P what to type into a cell in Excel  :) Confusing right and write...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 07 October, 2023, 12:54:24 am
One of my retired coders saw everything 'differently' to most people.
Multiple negatives everywhere.
I call him the inventor of the 'dont do' loop:

While (! Not untrue) dont do
 {
    Stuff
  }
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 07 October, 2023, 04:11:18 pm
“Why is program X* so sodding huge?” asked $FORMER_THE_BOSS.  Because, Mr Larrington discovered, it had the same twenty-odd lines of code repeated about a hundred times instead of calling a subroutine.

* FORTRAN program, written in FORTRAN

In late 1998 or early 1999 I found some code in a COBOL program to check if the year was a leap year, & do some stuff differently if it was.

Alternatively, the programmer could have called a built-in subroutine, which would have saved the effort of writing his own code (both the date check & the code which it triggered to do a or b), & as a bonus, would have worked in the year 2000.

I fixed it. Well, I was being paid to. ;) And I'd have been one of the people picking up the pieces if I hadn't.

Silly boy (whose first name & surname shared 8 letters in the same order with mine - the horror! I knew him) didn't know the "but not in years which are multiples of 400" rule. :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Canardly on 07 October, 2023, 05:15:53 pm
I decided to install a banking mobile app today. This app, amonst other things, generates log on codes for accessing the bank's on line banking system. Access to my accounts via the mobile app worked immediately following set up. However, the on line banking system refuses to accept any of the log on access codes generated via the mobile app. After half an hour on the phone with the bank's support I have been unable to resolve this. I am now having to revert to using a new hand held key generator which is being posted to me.

Is it me?

Probably for the best.  I get annoyed whenever I use the mobile banking app to do 2FA for the website, because it feels like they're pushing us to use mobile apps rather than proper computers for banking.  Which they are.
Another hour on the phone today which ended with them raising an IT ticket for my online banking a/c. I eventually sussed what is going on however. Because I  had previously installed the mobile app, I am no longer able to use a hard  form factor secure key, notwithstanding the support staff sending me a new one and when logging online again being asked to activate it. This confused matters greatly, particularly so as the on line failure message was the same as that for the mobile app.
I reinstalled the mobile phone app and was able to access my accounts via the phone but the on line account would still not accept phone generated access codes hence the IT ticket. However, later, whilst viewing various account numbers I received an on screen message stating that my phone time was out of sync. I checked the phone settings and discovered the auto update switch for the phone clock was not checked. I changed this and now all is well. How this auto update mech was switched off I do not know. I will now have to use the phone app to generate codes in future, which is not my preference, but there we are. Lesson learned.

Support staff should really have this particular fault added to their script/checklist.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 October, 2023, 04:12:13 pm
O hai Zuckerbots!

I DO NOT WANT TO BUY A FUCKING GUITAR.

sort it out u muppets!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 14 October, 2023, 05:42:17 pm
Ohnoes!  2D Mr Larrington has gone missing!

Rather too slowly it dawned on me that since 2D Mr Larrington's job is to hold a RFID tag with a readily identifiable EPC number encoded on it (testing, for the purposes of), it should be possible to locate him using RF voodoo SCIENCE.

Alas, after firing up Impinj and sweeping the aerial in random directions, not a 0xDEADBEEF in sight.  I assume he got blown into the shrubbery at Gravesend by the 600mph gusting crosswind, along with the LAZER DISPLAY BOARD (which is now b0rked) and half the BHPC.

Breaking news:  2D Mr Larrington has been found!

In a plan so cunning it could have been hatched by a fox that was professor of cunning at Oxford university, he was hiding - mildly crumpled - in barakta's little why-don't-women's-cothes-have-proper-pockets bag thingy.  Which has an RFID-proof anti-contactless-card-fraud lining.  The fiend.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andyoxon on 27 October, 2023, 03:36:34 pm
Is it just me... or are more & more websites using text copy protection.  Kinda irritating.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 October, 2023, 11:52:19 pm
That feeling when your login details aren't accepted and the "we'll send you an email to reset your password" email doesn't arrive.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 29 October, 2023, 01:35:31 am
Is it just me... or are more & more websites using text copy protection.  Kinda irritating.

Which also probably doesn't work for accessibility either. I close the tab.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 29 October, 2023, 02:03:10 pm
That feeling when your login details aren't accepted and the "we'll send you an email to reset your password" email doesn't arrive.

Tried again this morning, got in via a different route. Serves me right for trying on the wrong side of a bottle of wine.
Wish they'd stop changing how you get into these pension websites.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wombat on 30 October, 2023, 03:07:26 pm
Is it just me... or are more & more websites using text copy protection.  Kinda irritating.

Hopefully not like one of my previous managers just uploaded on our corporate (well, Local Authority) website.  It was indeed, the dreaded jpg image of a shortish text document blagged off another organisation's website.  "what do you mean, its not text, I can read it, can't you?"  Yes, I can, but anyone using a text reader can't, and as the article was about inclusivity, its rather backfired.  Cue a long conversation about PDF documents that were basically the same, and what OCR software can or cannot do for you.  Thankfully, our graphics dept had top notch OCR software, and sent it to me as text, so I passed it on to said manager, who re-uploaded it.

Said nice graphics team also scanned and OCR'd for me, a 140 page document that was a 1995-ish re-type (could they not have found some sort of computer?) of a damaged and worn typed manuscript for a book, typed in 1948.  Hardly any errors, mostly over some weird punctuation in the original. 
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 30 October, 2023, 03:26:31 pm
"what do you mean, its not text, I can read it, can't you?"  Yes, I can, but anyone using a text reader can't, and as the article was about inclusivity, its rather backfired.  Cue a long conversation about PDF documents that were basically the same, and what OCR software can or cannot do for you.  Thankfully, our graphics dept had top notch OCR software, and sent it to me as text, so I passed it on to said manager, who re-uploaded it.

Half the problem is that now everyone's used to people sharing images of text on social media, because they've no idea how the internet is supposed to work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 30 October, 2023, 03:38:47 pm
"what do you mean, its not text, I can read it, can't you?"  Yes, I can, but anyone using a text reader can't, and as the article was about inclusivity, its rather backfired.  Cue a long conversation about PDF documents that were basically the same, and what OCR software can or cannot do for you.  Thankfully, our graphics dept had top notch OCR software, and sent it to me as text, so I passed it on to said manager, who re-uploaded it.

Half the problem is that now everyone's used to people sharing images of text on social media, because they've no idea how the internet is supposed to work.

Isn't that born out of people sharing Tweets before the authors go back and delete them?


About 25% of the CD collection re-ripped to FLAC. Hoping this time I can organise the music library without losing any tracks ...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 30 October, 2023, 04:21:11 pm
About 25% of the CD collection re-ripped to FLAC. Hoping this time I can organise the music library without losing any tracks ...

I had an odd issue with one CD...

It had some Bonus Tracks on it which the online database failed to match, and I didn't notice.
So the FLAC was missing some metadata, and when using the SONOS app, the tracks were missing from the album.
But I spotted them hiding way down under 'Unknown Artist'!

Had to go back and manually edit the missing metadata.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 30 October, 2023, 04:32:27 pm
About 25% of the CD collection re-ripped to FLAC. Hoping this time I can organise the music library without losing any tracks ...

I had an odd issue with one CD...

It had some Bonus Tracks on it which the online database failed to match, and I didn't notice.
So the FLAC was missing some metadata, and when using the SONOS app, the tracks were missing from the album.
But I spotted them hiding way down under 'Unknown Artist'!

Had to go back and manually edit the missing metadata.

I've already caught a couple of instances of that.
And `Eels` versus `eels` (case sensitivity).


I needed to try and get the collection organised into:
Code: [Select]
Artist -> Album -> Disc Number -> TrackNumber - TrackName.thing
That was the recommended format for JellyFin (opensource fork of Plex media server) at the time.
I used a CLI tool to do it. And it worked, but for every album featuring second bonus CD, the extra tracks disappeared into the ether.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 October, 2023, 06:36:46 pm
When I tried Plex it couldn’t handle albums by different artists having the same title, such as “BBC Sessions” unless you bunged the name of the band in (brackets) on the end.

And when its database hadn’t heard of one particular album it decided unilaterally to append the tracks to a different album, and didn't bother to tell me.  Those databases are generally a Rubbish.  Better to do it yourself with mp3tag.  And one of them thought this:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4340/37074963725_41db926f5a_o.jpg)

is Wilko Johnson.  No, database,

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkZzO87IryU/WbDFnsDbZuI/AAAAAAAAAYA/O-KaIVx05eo4Am7Rc7so0LJbW4v1RNptQCLcBGAs/s320/wilko.jpg)

THIS is Wilko Johnson.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 30 October, 2023, 06:38:42 pm
That feeling when your login details aren't accepted and the "we'll send you an email to reset your password" email doesn't arrive.

Tried again this morning, got in via a different route. Serves me right for trying on the wrong side of a bottle of wine.
Wish they'd stop changing how you get into these pension websites.

Yes, this! Their UIs are all horrible too!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 October, 2023, 07:53:23 pm
Backup!  You are not supposed to run amok and leave that NAS drive with 10 MB free instead of deleting previous backups once space starts getting low.  No wonder TowersNet is all of a tizzy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 November, 2023, 06:11:59 pm
CPU fan!  What do you mean by not working, then working again after a crash and reboot?  sort it out u muppet!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Polar Bear on 01 November, 2023, 06:54:37 pm
The usb-c port on mllePB's surface pro babbage engine (one of her two different work-supplied machines) stopped working after a micro$haft software update.  Their own update fubar'd their own steaming pile of crap.

Anyway, the solution which I googled on my android phone is:

Shut down the machine.

Wait at least ten seconds.

Start the machine keeping the power button held down for at least 20 seconds and observe the windows startup logo appear, disappear then reappear.

What a thoroughly unintuitive malarky but it worked.  Gone are the days of the BRS interrupt to reset such anomalies.  🤔
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: MattH on 04 November, 2023, 11:07:58 am
My broadband deal needs to be renewed before Christmas. Plusnet sent a reminder, so I went and had a look what they are offering. Their "upgrade deal" is to drop to the lower speed FTTC package and lose my landline. Not quite sure how that qualifies as an upgrade.

Got plenty of time to decide what to do, though as I need a static IP choices are a bit limited.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Gattopardo on 08 November, 2023, 02:30:30 pm
Have a geobook 1e, if you worked for school IT you probably had these to play with. As a 4gb memory machine and 64gb ssd all built in and not upgradeable has gone to win 11.  Remember Roger mentioning removing lots of spyware/tracking stuff from win11 and was wondering what I should remove to get a less intrusive experience.

Also any of you guys have the chargers as these didn't come with chargers.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 10 November, 2023, 06:15:08 pm
I've just discovered that there's an IRC client in Thunderbollocks, and it's about as good as the one that used to be built into Mozilla, which is to say 'not very'.  (Credit where it's due for giving the option of displaying messages line-by-line as well as supporting the stupid space-consuming speech-bubble user interface that all IRC-like things have to have these days.)

This TIL sponsored by a "WTF is Matrix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(protocol))?" rabbit-hole.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 12 November, 2023, 08:46:49 am
The keyboard on my Asus Zenbook has been slowly giving up the ghost for the last few months, and it got to the point where remapping keys with AHK no longer did the trick - it's surprising how many words need the letters C, D, K, Q, etc.   :)

I searched high and low for a replacement keyboard - not as easy as I thought because most of the ones on eBay for my model have a slightly different layout with a rectangular, rather than L-shaped Enter key, so I was preparing to have to do some surgery on the panel to get a replacement to fit.  One supplier flat refused to sell me one as he said he didn't want to get the blame if it didn't work.

Eventually, I found a French(!) keyboard, complete with front panel, touchpad, etc at a reasonable price.  I've been putting off the actual replacement, because pretty well all the innards of the Asus are screwed to the back of said panel, but I bit the bullet yesterday and managed it without too much trouble, apart from an issue where I refitted the SSD incorrectly and I wouldn't boot past the BIOS screen (eventually resolved).

My problem now, never having learned to touch-type, is that pretty well every non-alphanumeric character, plus some of the numeric keys, has a different legend from previously, even though it will still produce the same character.  I did think about simply printing some stickers for the rogue keys, but I'm now trying to summon up the courage to lever off a dozen or so keycaps and replace them with the originals from my failed keyboard - after all, what could possibly go wrong?   :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: MattH on 12 November, 2023, 10:00:31 am
If you're doing that, I'd try it first on some "sacrificial" keys that you don't want to move over, just to be sure it's possible. Often they have tiny little plastic pegs that are quite easy to damage, but you may be able to figure out the technique before trying your critical keys.

But for a total brain-mess keyboard, I have one a bit like this (except in a nice wooden case)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1152/3264/t/25/assets/neat-black-board.png)
Blank keycaps, because it's set up a bit like the mirrorboard - https://blog.xkcd.com/2007/08/14/mirrorboard-a-one-handed-keyboard-layout-for-the-lazy/

I mainly use it when my RSI is playing up in my right hand, or for ease typing when on the turbotrainer. You just use the left hand, which is fine for QWERT, ASDFG etc. Then, when you want to do YUIOP, you press a key with your thumb that changes the layout so T becomes Y, R becomes U, Q becomes P. It's really quite bizarre, but you pick it up quickly as there's some weird brain stuff going on that means your left hand can mirror what you'd normally do with your right - so you're still typing Y with your first finger, or P with your pinky, just on the other hand. But there's no point having printing on the keys because the whole thing changes depending upon which modifiers you are pressing (I can also put it into a mouse keys mode, so not needing to use a mouse or trackball and can open browser tabs and navigate between them with single key presses).
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 12 November, 2023, 12:28:45 pm
My problem now, never having learned to touch-type, is that pretty well every non-alphanumeric character, plus some of the numeric keys, has a different legend from previously, even though it will still produce the same character.  I did think about simply printing some stickers for the rogue keys, but I'm now trying to summon up the courage to lever off a dozen or so keycaps and replace them with the originals from my failed keyboard - after all, what could possibly go wrong?   :)

If you can't touch-type, you could always tell the computer that it's got a French keybaord[1], then at least the keycaps would match?

Or take this as an opportunity to learn to touch-type...


[1] Compulsory typo.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: DaveReading on 12 November, 2023, 07:00:16 pm
Thanks, I'm too old to learn how to touch-type.   :)

As an aside, I've concluded that it's not actually a French keyboard, as the vendor advertised (it's a QWERTY, not an AZERTY) - in fact it's Italian, not that it makes much difference (don't tell my Italian teacher!).

I've chickened out on my keycap swap plan - a fair bit of tugging on the new kdb failed to free a keycap, and I didn't want to pull too hard, so plan B is to photograph the old keyboard, clean it up in Photoshop, then print a bunch of stickers on some label stock that I have kicking around somewhere.

Given that said laptop already sports a screen attached by a bunch of assorted nuts and bolts after being attacked by my grandson, I'm not too precious about it.   :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Ham on 16 November, 2023, 09:55:27 pm
I haven't looked since forever, but I find myself pleased that the God FAQ  (http://www.400monkeys.com/God/)on 400monkeys is still online - a hangover from the very early days.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 20 November, 2023, 05:55:52 pm
Arrgghh stupid mickey$oft, I go and tell it do not update, I don't need an update ever, if I do will tell you, capiche, thanks bye.

Main reason is that I don't want to end up downloading loads of bytes when we are on slow and metered SIMs.

What did the little fecker of an OS do today ... arrgghh
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 20 November, 2023, 05:57:46 pm
Arrgghh stupid mickey$oft, I go and tell it do not update, I don't need an update ever, if I do will tell you, capiche, thanks bye.

Main reason is that I don't want to end up downloading loads of bytes when we are on slow and metered SIMs.

What did the little fecker of an OS do today ... arrgghh

Windows should have the option of defining a given network as 'metered' so it doesn't do that.  No idea if it actually works.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: woollypigs on 20 November, 2023, 06:06:40 pm
But also that I used a few setting in regedit etc to tell it, oi! No updating OK.

But yet the fecker did it.

I use Linux more, just the odd time I need Mickey for some work or faff, I just need to remember to check and stop it's silly ideas
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 November, 2023, 06:10:32 pm
Disable the update services from services.msc?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: MattH on 24 November, 2023, 07:57:47 pm
Taking on a new volunteer role with an organisation, they've provided me with an Outlook.com email address as there is some public facing stuff.

So, setting it up today I forwarded some bits from my personal email to it. This evening I noticed that there were two items in my junk folder already. Quick look showed one was the email I'd forwarded, so I marked that as not junk.

The other, amusingly, was one from Microsoft welcoming me to Onedrive. Good to see they think their own unsolicited email is junk!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 November, 2023, 01:13:40 pm
I have just deleted my brother's facebook account.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Afasoas on 27 November, 2023, 09:06:04 am
I haven't used Audacity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity_(audio_editor)) in years. We've bought a Toniebox (https://tonies.com/en-gb/) for our friend's daughter, which as well as working with pre-recorded content, will work with content that you make yourself. Which means I'm writing/producing some children's audio stories that balance out that very car-dependent Peppa Pig.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: andyoxon on 27 November, 2023, 09:42:50 pm
I don't think Cyber Monday is a thing any more.  PC deals seem to arrive early as pre-black friday deals, & then sell out, or not.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Bledlow on 28 November, 2023, 11:10:20 pm
The keyboard on my Asus Zenbook has been slowly giving up the ghost for the last few months, and it got to the point where remapping keys with AHK no longer did the trick - it's surprising how many words need the letters C, D, K, Q, etc.   :)

I searched high and low for a replacement keyboard - not as easy as I thought because most of the ones on eBay for my model have a slightly different layout with a rectangular, rather than L-shaped Enter key, so I was preparing to have to do some surgery on the panel to get a replacement to fit.  One supplier flat refused to sell me one as he said he didn't want to get the blame if it didn't work.

Eventually, I found a French(!) keyboard, complete with front panel, touchpad, etc at a reasonable price.  I've been putting off the actual replacement, because pretty well all the innards of the Asus are screwed to the back of said panel, but I bit the bullet yesterday and managed it without too much trouble, apart from an issue where I refitted the SSD incorrectly and I wouldn't boot past the BIOS screen (eventually resolved).

My problem now, never having learned to touch-type, is that pretty well every non-alphanumeric character, plus some of the numeric keys, has a different legend from previously, even though it will still produce the same character.  I did think about simply printing some stickers for the rogue keys, but I'm now trying to summon up the courage to lever off a dozen or so keycaps and replace them with the originals from my failed keyboard - after all, what could possibly go wrong?   :)
Keyboards round here randomly re-set to Japanese. Only happens when Mrs B's around. She seems to have no difficulty hitting the right keys, but it always disconcerts me a little when I start typing & kana appear on the screen.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 30 November, 2023, 04:27:12 pm
My wife cannot change keyboard layout but her ability to completely scramble all computer functions simpy by walking past them is legendary
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 30 November, 2023, 05:23:20 pm
Quantum bogodynamics. My mum's level is high as well. She's slightly less awful on the Apple ecosystem.

I also use TeamViewer a free (but now requires login) app to remotely connect to Mum's iDevices and see what the fuck she's talking about directly as dyslexic-stressed reporting is hard to decode even for me with my experience.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2023, 03:52:58 pm
We just burned a DVD.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 03 December, 2023, 04:15:42 pm
Quote from: Kim
We just burned a DVD.
Yule logs are more traditional at this time of year, but with heating bills going the way they are who can blame you.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 04 December, 2023, 02:05:00 pm
Barakta, in her $ork capacity, keeps getting unsolicited emails from third-parties requesting personal data.  These are, unsurprisingly, due to the useless work-shy twats in HR outsourcing the boring bits of their job [All of them? - Ed], and a cause of swearing of a type that should normally be reserved for the products of Redmond, USAnia.

She's taken to forwarding the to the IT helldesk dedicated phishing reporting address[1].  Malicious compliance is the best form of compliance.



[1] What's the email equivalent of a hotline?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: barakta on 07 December, 2023, 03:43:39 pm
I think most of the phishing style emails ARE actual phishing.

The legit one was apparently legit but HR are too fucking thick to send an email from a known human on the local domain to say "You'll get this email from Org Fu for reason and it's legit".  It was IT who said they thought it was legit, but by that point I'd deleted the fucker and emptied my deleted folder.

I then got an email from Name@EmployerDomain to RandomName asking urgently for my special category data which I replied to in a "I'm not RandomName" and "This looks well like spam with urgent urgent data demands wtf". HR minion then replied to say she'd used BCC and her boss's name. I said "Mailmerge exists and is more secure" to which the minion (incapable of Google or LinkedInLearning which her dept manages) asked me how to do that then...

My boss happened to ping me at about the same time to ask "Have HR asked you for Thing" to which I said "yes, but fuck me spam-looking-tastic" to which Boss agreed and said normal for HR. I didn't snark too much at HR minion cos she sounds like she's about 12 in her first job given bad orders and inadequate training by her management.

I figure if they still want me to do the third-party thing, they can resend it and try having a longer response time than 36 hours. Their lack of planning (for Ofsted) is honestly not my problem given how much they ignore us trying to flag up questions and they ignore us. I'll not make people's lives more nastily difficult, but I'll also not apologise for being spam-cautious given how often they scamshame us by saying how often their test phishes catch 4% of us out each time.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 December, 2023, 11:59:06 am
Q: When copying a folder tree containing many many very very small files to an old and slow NAS, is it quicker to cram them all into a heavily-compressed archive, copy the archive file to the NAS and unpack it in situ?

A: Why, no!  No, it is not!

Unpack started at quarter to five yesterday evening.  It's still going.  This is why the temperature in the Estate Office is ~ seven Celsius higher than is normal for this time of year.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 14 December, 2023, 06:59:18 pm
I've just discovered that there's an IRC client in Thunderbollocks, and it's about as good as the one that used to be built into Mozilla, which is to say 'not very'.  (Credit where it's due for giving the option of displaying messages line-by-line as well as supporting the stupid space-consuming speech-bubble user interface that all IRC-like things have to have these days.)

This TIL sponsored by a "WTF is Matrix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(protocol))?" rabbit-hole.

I've just discovered that too!
I'd forgotten you mentioned this.

Have been Migrating Stuffs Around on AAISP, to ditch the copper pair: IRC chat is handy.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 22 December, 2023, 01:38:18 pm
Does anyone know the story behind the official gov.uk bunting API?

https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays.json

I need to build something silly that uses this data...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 22 December, 2023, 06:48:04 pm


Transparent processor found in vintage HP computer – exotic silicon-on-sapphire chip discovered on a humble floppy drive PCB

 (https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/transparent-processor-found-in-vintage-hp-computer-silicon-on-sapphire-chip-discovered-on-a-humble-floppy-drive-pcb)

Quote
A mysterious transparent chip has been found in an HP computer, dating back to 1977. Investigations have concluded that the custom chip was formed on a sapphire substrate, making it a silicon-on-sapphire IC. What was it for? Its function was far more mundane than you might expect: It was a support component on a floppy disk controller.

Silicon-on-sapphire may sound somewhat futuristic, but Shirriff’s blog highlights that ICs made this way have been around since 1963 or earlier. A notable example of a silicon-on-sapphire IC is the RCA 1802 processor used on the Galileo space probe that studied Jupiter and its moons.

Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: ian on 23 December, 2023, 12:00:56 pm
I suspect they're often used in high radiation situations like outer space since it's hard for a high-energy photon to knock electrons loose from a rigid crystal like sapphire.


Can't explain why they used for a floppy disk though, the contents must have been some exotic kind of extra spicy ASCII p0rn.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rafletcher on 25 December, 2023, 11:00:21 am
I’m finding that the Google app on this iPad (7th generation running iPad IOS 17.2) is playing up. Sometimes the loading progress bar just stalls, other times it appears to load the page but as I scroll down it just cuts off and shows no more data. Using Google search on Chrome I have no issues. Irritating. I’ve cleared the cache, for all the good it did. I’ll try a delete and reinstall.

ETA Appears to have resolved it.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 December, 2023, 02:35:44 pm
I have a Raspberry pi, cordially fielding all the weather station’s data and writing a web page (http://tickfield.co.uk/weewx/index.html) with it.

It has been doing this uncomplainingly for 103 days from the time of writing. Is there anything to be said for rebooting the Raspberry pi periodically, or is it better to leave well alone?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: delthebike on 28 December, 2023, 04:42:51 pm
I have a Raspberry pi, cordially fielding all the weather station’s data and writing a web page (http://tickfield.co.uk/weewx/index.html) with it.

It has been doing this uncomplainingly for 103 days from the time of writing. Is there anything to be said for rebooting the Raspberry pi periodically, or is it better to leave well alone?

Leave well alone, except for security updates that may require reboots.
Double check that the potential updates will not interfere with the weatherish software and stop them from working properly or at all.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 December, 2023, 01:41:49 am
Off-by-one errors, how do I hate thee?  Let me count the ways.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 29 December, 2023, 07:32:16 am


Berlin researchers hacked Tesla autopilot to unlock “Elon mode”

 (https://cybernews.com/tech/berlin-researchers-hacked-tesla-autopilot/)

Quote
Three IT security researchers from Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) glitched Tesla’s driving assistant into activating a powerful “Elon mode” and were able to access the company’s secrets, Spiegel reported. Allegedly, all Tesla models are vulnerable to this attack.
..

They assume all Tesla vehicles are vulnerable to such an attack as they probably all use the same circuit board, even if the owner did not buy the driving assistance system. Researchers themselves were surprised that it was easy to get into Tesla’s secrets.
“What we showed today is that with the voltage fault injection attack, Tesla's intellectual property could be threatened.”
However, the hack requires physical access to the circuit board, removing and reinstalling it without damage, and soldering skills. Therefore, such an attack would not be very practical outside the laboratory.


Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 29 December, 2023, 07:37:07 am
Quote from: Asterix
https://cybernews.com/tech/berlin-researchers-hacked-tesla-autopilot

Quote
...the hack requires physical access to the circuit board, removing and reinstalling it without damage, and soldering skills. Therefore, such an attack would not be very practical outside the laboratory a reasonably well set up garage or lock-up
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: rogerzilla on 29 December, 2023, 09:33:12 am
Having seen small operators doing fiddly repairs to things like Audi dashboards, the soldering skills required here would be trivial by comparison.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 January, 2024, 01:22:11 pm
Just discovered that if barakta plugs her phone into her laptop dock, not only does it do power delivery charging, but the keyboard and mice Just Work.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2024, 02:06:11 pm
What's the difference between "power delivery charging" and "charging"?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 January, 2024, 03:26:28 pm
It negotiates a higher voltage than the basic USB 5V, which means you can draw more power down the same wire (needed to usefully power a laptop over USB-C).  Power Delivery and Quick Charge are two standards for doing this, with PD seeming to be winning the standards war.

Lots of phone manufacturers have their own pointless names for them, because marketing.  "Turbo Charge" being Motorolaese for QC, for example.

As in all things USB, it's a confusing mess.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2024, 04:24:07 pm
Oh. I've not encountered USB charging for (as opposed to from) laptops. I have a vague idea mine is from 2012, so I suppose it's like a rim-braked 9-speeed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 03 January, 2024, 04:51:56 pm
In classic modern-life-is-rubbish style, I have a laptop here with a USB-C port that it can't charge from.  (The SEEKRIT is what little symbols appear next to the socket.)  If you plug it into barakta's laptop dock, it sprouts monitors and USB ports and Ethernet and audio as you'd hope, but will happily sit there draining its battery, unless you also connect its power supply to the stupid little[1] DC barrel jack.

Barakta's $ork and $ork-1 laptops are a bit newer and at least have the decency to charge from USB-C.  This is a tremendous standards win, as it means that the power supplies for them are effectively interchangeable.  (And can indeed also be used to charge a phone[2].)


[1] It's like 3mm external diameter, and is undoubtedly going to get broken at some point.
[2] Phone chargers won't generally be able to supply enough voles to power a laptop, but that's okay because at least the magic smoke doesn't escape from anything if you try.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 January, 2024, 05:22:21 pm
One second power glitch.  Some stuff went off, like this PC, the router and the printer.  Some didn't, like the Great Hall PC and the notwork drives.

Confuzzled...
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 05 January, 2024, 09:28:57 pm
One second power glitch.  Some stuff went off, like this PC, the router and the printer.  Some didn't, like the Great Hall PC and the notwork drives.

Confuzzled...

V=V0-It/C or something.

Some devices might be storing more voles.  Other devices might be more vole-hungry.  And of course the quality of the Chinesium in the reservoir capacitors may vary, along with how much they've been over-specified to ensure that droid rot doesn't set in until at least 5 minutes after the warranty period expires.

In practice, I find that immunity to brief power drop-outs is proportional to the annoyance of an unplanned restart.  So cooker clocks, burglar alarms in unoccupied houses and anything that needs to run fsck will trip out in under 20ms, but tellingbones, Fridges Of Silly Oak™ and anything responsible for keeping hospital patients awake with incessant beeping won't even blink.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: MattH on 06 January, 2024, 09:19:33 am
It's probably 20 years ago now when I started investing in UPSes for "critical" stuff in the house. Admittedly at the time our village was fed by overhead power cables so we got regular outages, and I was doing stuff from home that meant I had some small servers running for my business from there. So UPSes to keep the computing stuff, and the ISDN and ADSL routers alive.

Nowadays it's a bit easier because most of our computing is done on laptops, so they don't care about short-ish blips. I still have UPSes running my home server, all the networking kit, the DECT phones, and the entertainment stuff in the living room. That means a short blip won't turn off the TV, lose any programmes that are being recorded at that moment, or drop the amp out. That stuff won't run very long (20 minutes or so), but it gives time to ride out short outages or do an orderly shutdown to allow critical stuff to run much longer. I can manage several hours of no incoming mains without losing the ability to talk rubbish on the internet.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 06 January, 2024, 11:50:52 am


Hackers discover way to access Google accounts without a password

‘Exploit enables continuous access to Google services, even after a user’s password is reset,’ researcher warns

 (https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/google-account-password-security-hackers-b2474195.html?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=discover&utm_campaign=CCwqFwgwKg4IACoGCAowzdp7ML-3CTD3lugCMIbnkwM&utm_content=bullets)

“We routinely upgrade our defences against such techniques and to secure users who fall victim to malware. In this instance, Google has taken action to secure any compromised accounts detected,” Google said in a statement.

“Users should continually take steps to remove any malware from their computer, and we recommend turning on Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome to protect against phishing and malware downloads.”
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: alfapete on 15 January, 2024, 10:09:51 am
Is there a word for the joy you get after getting your (inevitably) HP printer working again after 36 hours being offline?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 January, 2024, 11:22:58 am
I think that this morning Jan has successfully cancelled an account with a broadband provider, in this case Three. The 2-year contract is up on 27th Jan, and the 24th direct debit is due to leave our account on 22nd. Three (aka Hutchins Telecom) failed to give us the statutory OFCOM 30 days notice that the end of the account was approaching.

It's only £14 a month but I'm very wary of these bastards since our run-in with Virgin two years ago.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: JonBuoy on 15 January, 2024, 05:04:30 pm
It looks like there is a mass outage for Plusnet broadband.  That'll do for today's excuse for not thrashing myself round some imaginary world in the spare room.  I might have to have a beer to cheer myself up  :P
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: TheLurker on 15 January, 2024, 05:45:41 pm
Quote from: JonBuoy
It looks like there is a mass outage for Plusnet broadband. 
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but it's back.  :)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Beardy on 15 January, 2024, 05:50:05 pm
Looks like it was their DNS as it continued to work for sites you were already connected to.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: JonBuoy on 15 January, 2024, 05:52:28 pm
Quote from: JonBuoy
It looks like there is a mass outage for Plusnet broadband. 
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but it's back.  :)
Too late - I've opened the beer  :thumbsup:

Quite amusing watching people on Twatter complaining that their heating doesn't work as the internet is down  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 15 January, 2024, 06:09:05 pm
We changed our DNS settings (to 8.8.8.8 ) the last time there was a Plusnet mass outage and it sounds like we did not suffer any problems today.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 February, 2024, 02:11:20 pm
Has Xitter died on its arse or is it just me ???

Edit: it came back.  Odd.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 05 March, 2024, 03:46:07 pm
hmm, bookface has decided my password which is stored on multiple devices is no longer correct!
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 05 March, 2024, 04:18:55 pm
Me too also  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Kim on 05 March, 2024, 05:14:49 pm
Are they having one of those comedy DNS outages where the engineers can't open the door of the data-centre again?
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Feanor on 05 March, 2024, 05:14:59 pm
Yes, big global outage apparently.
Cleaner must have un-plugged the authentication server to use the hoover.

When it first happened, I didn't know about the outage, and thought that it had just 'forgotten' my password so I clicked the password re-set link.
That worked up to a point, where it errored out.

So I was left in a state of quantum superposition where my password was changed and not-changed.
When they fixed it, the wave function collapsed on not-changed.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 March, 2024, 01:22:10 am
If you tell the game to use a Närko trailer instead of a Schmitz one in that mod it’s no wonder the back of it is All Wrong :facepalm:
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 March, 2024, 07:39:03 am
Yes, big global outage apparently.
Cleaner must have un-plugged the authentication server to use the hoover.

When it first happened, I didn't know about the outage, and thought that it had just 'forgotten' my password so I clicked the password re-set link.
That worked up to a point, where it errored out.

So I was left in a state of quantum superposition where my password was changed and not-changed.
When they fixed it, the wave function collapsed on not-changed.

The cat is dead again.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Pingu on 07 March, 2024, 12:18:58 am
Opera browser: please to be deciding consistently whether to be adding a new tab to the beginning or the end of a tab group  ::-)
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 07 March, 2024, 10:47:29 am
Opera browser: please to be deciding consistently whether to be adding a new tab to the beginning or the end of a tab group  ::-)
I have to work in Edge - it randomly opens a new tab at start, middle, end. Complete garbage.
Title: Re: A random thread for small computing things that don't really warrant a thread of their own
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 March, 2024, 09:12:15 pm
Given my upcoming change to working 4 days a week, I tried to set up a recurring out of office in Outlook. A bit of googling suggested that what I needed was MS Power Automate. It seemed unnecessarily complex but I followed the instructions in a blog.
Given I don't want it to start until April I got it to run a test, which said it was successful.
Fair enough, close the browser down and then a bit later I notice my status message in Teams has changed and is going on about me being off.
Nah, that's not what you were meant to do.  :facepalm:
Let's see what it does in April....