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5576

Screenshot Captor / Re: Is it possible to capture a RDP (remote desktop) session?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 13, 2010, 04:46 PM »

but all hot keys presses (prtscn, cntrl-alt prtscn, etc.) I tried were not "seen" by PC1 so SC is not triggered to take a screen shot.

you know this raises a really interesting question.  is there any way in RDP or the virtual machines, to define some hotkeys that should break out of default behavior?  ie not be sent to the remote machine, or vice versa?

-mouser (January 13, 2010, 11:09 AM)

Hm... the RDP default is to only Apply (send to) Windows key combinations to remote machine if using full screen...So if you're not working full screen, everything is local. I've got a session going to my server now (Windowed not full) and even if it has focus, hitting the Win key opens the Start Panel on LM.

I've never used SC, so I'm not sure how it works. But if it's taking the SS itself (as apposed to nipping it off the clip board) I doubt it will be able to get window size/position from the remote machine as the displayed desktop is really just a bitmap picture that's being updated. ...There is however an option to cache the bitmapped desktop (performance reasons I forget) to LM. So if that cache could be found, perhaps it could be used.

5577

Screenshot Captor / Re: Is it possible to capture a RDP (remote desktop) session?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 13, 2010, 11:00 AM »

Even if you use encryption I want to mention that the used algorithms (RC4 56-max. 128 Bits) of RDP are very poor.

-Crush (January 13, 2010, 08:25 AM)

How old is your information? RDP encryption is adjustable, and can be set to use FIPS (natively) which is AES (the standard that replaced DES3) based.

@davidvan - Not sure if you know this but Ctrl+Alt+Break will toggle full screen so you can grab a SS off PC2 with PC1 if the target is positioned correctly. Either that or use the good old Print Screen & Alt+Print Screen (full screen on PC2) and paste the clip board content to something on PC1 (I've done that a few times in a pinch).

5578

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Page Countster

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 11, 2010, 06:26 PM »

I was printing a pdf over the weekend and the length of time it took to spool it was amazing. (on adobe reader 9).  it seems like it was only a 1 meg file anyway.  I do know that a job with images on it takes longer to spool than a plain text document does.  If I am not mistaken then pdf's are an "image", which is one of the reasons they look so nice.

-techidave (January 11, 2010, 06:24 AM)

That depends on how they were created. If they were scanned in then yes each page of a document is a picture of that page, embedded in another document (that's why OCR software sells so well). Natively created/Distilled/Compiled PDFs are actually object based (that's where the fun starts), and have to be dealt with on the fly during pagination (I swear that's really a word...).

Each paragraph and sometimes line, is a separate object containing vector based fonts (which is why they scale so well). This adds up to a ton of math that has to be done before the document (which is then huge) hits the spooler. Try this for "fun" ... Open the spooler so you can see the document go through. Send a small 1 or 2 page PDF to that printer and watch how big it gets before it actually gets sent to the printer. I've see 500KB documents hit 400MB many times ... Usually this happens just seconds before all parties involved simultaneously run out of memory (for no intelligent reason). The fix for this with older versions (6-8 ) of Acrobat was to select the "Print as Image" option in Acrobats custom select printer options dialog (could be set globally also, but I forget where).

The other more general "fix" for ill behaving PDF prints was to use PCL5 and avoid PCL6 like a plague. I just ran into this today, PCL6 was Happily printing Blank Pages, and the PCL5 (as usual) driver printed the job correctly (replete with page contents). PCL6 wastes far too much time tossing statistical information about the print job at the printer, and subsequently chronically borks the actual print job as a direct result (i.e. Long files names + Mac + PCL6 = lockups)

i know that more memory will help with printing bigger jobs.  for a moment there, I was thinking that more memory in a printer would be like more memory in a computer.   

Nothing wrong with that, it's a common logical assumption...(mine too, back when)...But, I've just been dealing with printers-N-such on a daily basis for the past 6 years so I've had plenty of time to notice-a-trend...

5579

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Page Countster

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 11, 2010, 06:12 AM »

I know there are some older printers that get hit quite hard and if they had a low amount of memory, say 16 meg or something then I could upgrade it.

-techidave (January 10, 2010, 06:04 PM)

To what end? They're not going to print faster (they only run at one speed). If the computer(s) sending he print jobs start to lagg because the spooler on the printer isn't/can't keeping up then there might be a memory issue. But this could also be traffic or a corrupt spooler on the comp. If the printer says it's running out of memory (error message on its display or error report), then there is a memory issue. But, explore what is causing it first. Adobe Acrobat (v6,7 & 8 ) was a classic for this if you sent a large document, or a document that needed to be scaled up (like engineering blueprints), it would exhaust the print devices memory, hang the computer's spooled or both. The "fix" was to use the print as image option and then the print job would sail through just fine. I've actually seen this happen first hand many times ...(Out of Memory error caused by Acrobat)... With a high-end Plotter that had 256MB native memory & a 40GB hard drive.

Did I mention that Printer memory can be insanely expensive (like $100+ a stick) if you get it from the manufacturer direct?

It was just a thought as I was being lazy.  This is probably getting beyond the original intent of the program.

Hay thoughts are good, The only reason I got permission from the company to release PC here (it was supposed to be a limited release... (oops)), was that I convinced them we could get better testing and feedback from a techy audience. Granted development is currently stalled due to other more pressing projects/time constraints but PC is part of a suite of Printer Management utilities. So any thing that is considered/proves to be useful very well may make it into the suite somewhere.

5580

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Page Countster

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 10, 2010, 05:46 PM »

I never really thought about trying it because printers unlike computers don't really need upgrades that often. So unless a printer is being sent multiple large jobs the default memory is usually just fine. On those rare occasions the WebAccess link (to the printers EWS) will get you the rest of the info about the printer's config. But that's after verifying that it's running out of memory ... which usually takes some futzing around.

What is it you're running into/doing that brought the memory into question?

5581

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 12:43 PM »

Well at this point, in a choice between sabayon & Slackware, Slackware wins. At least it would give meaningful error messages that could be analyzed, addressed, resolved, and allowed me to get to a desktop (so I had a point to work from). I rather dislike guessing games.

Only problems I have with the Slackware 12 install is shutdown is frequently just a scheduled crash and the sound does not work. I'm not adverse to *nix, I just don't think it's ready for prime-time desktop-wise that is. I really don't have the time or patience to dedicate my life to finding out how to make a hardware change smoothly because somebody thinks it's a H00T to have to re-write parts of the OS every time the neighbors cat blinks.

So.. At this point I'm going to torch the sabayon experiment & take a stab at f0dder's Arch suggestion.

5582

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 11:04 AM »

Still trying to navigate the maze of config files ... Does *nix have anything like DOSShell that would allow me to graphically view the file system without having a full desktop?

5583

Living Room / Re: Great Britain is frozen!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 10:46 AM »

Heh, there's a bigdifference between, say, 40f and 60f (5-15c) to me... but I'm obviously used to colder weather

-f0dder (January 09, 2010, 10:17 AM)

Which is what I'm driving at, I'm not - at all...

Arthritis causes parts of me to lockup when the temperature starts dropping, even after I get "warm" my hands just don't work. At 60 wind chill puts the temp at 30 if I take the motorcycle. And my hands won't work for an hour after I get where I'm going.

5584

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 10:30 AM »

But seriously... I dug out my notes on the Slackware fiasco and found the VPC video fix that allowed Slackware to load the desktop. I'll try adding that to sabayon before the install to see if I can earn the privilege of having a desktop using that as an offering.

What I'd really like to fine is a completely stripped down (CLI only) *nix variant that will run (or rather come with) a Samba server for file sharing.

5585

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 10:21 AM »

linux for the laptop is even worse. Since I put it on mine:

• I had to reinstall the OS (ubuntu) 4 times, as decribed above
• I had to google a lot. and spent about 16hrs on diff irc channels
• Had to forget that modern laptops should know how to hibernate
• plugging a external screen or projector is an excercise in sysadmin-fu
• cannot connect to PPPoE
• I actually broke sabayon package manager. Got help in IRC, but these things should not happen. ever.
• Had to dedicate 25% of my brain CPU to think what to do and not to do to have a stable, sane system.
• The natural state of a linux system is broken. If it's not broken, just wait till the next batch of updates...

I'm still sticking to it though... when my list of annoyances reaches a page-long, I wil abandon it yet again.

-urlwolf (January 09, 2010, 07:54 AM)

...And after all that, you still come here and recommend the damn thing why? Just to see if some jackass will fall for it?

Mom was right, missery does love company...



@Shades - I stand corrected...Sorry...Won't happen again.

5586

Living Room / Re: Great Britain is frozen!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 09, 2010, 10:09 AM »

I've always found it odd why we quantify degrees of unbearable. i.e. Does one want to stick a lit blowtorch in their ear for 5 minutes, or 10? ...Who Cares, neither option is stellar. And that's about how I feel about cold weather. Anything below about 60 sucks. Sure it could suck more (e.g. be lower)...but it still sucks.

110F ... I can cope, I'm not going to be doing anything in a real big hurry. But I generally don't do that anyhow. -2F?!? I'd move (most likely sometime much later when it/I thawed...).

At the moment here in "Sunny" Florida, it's 20 something & snowing. ...Do I sound cranky?

5587

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 08:31 PM »

Install finished (Finally) Desktop=none  ..."Install" however did say something about removing it toward the end (error message might have been nice...). And the user account it insisted I create Does-Not-Work (*Joy*).

Open your source - Open your mind - Open your butt cheeks ... When will I learn...

5588

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 07:43 PM »

Well... CoreCD was Wrong Option - Assuming one was looking for a GUI - and I was. (Dohi)

CoreCD CLI install went fine ... Right up until I got to the no desktop. Which proved un-fulfilling rather quickly...

Currently trying the Sabayon KDE - GUI Install locked up 4 times so I'm trying the Text Based install in the (possibly foolish) hopes for a different outcome. The installation is not fast - not even a little - I'm at 15%

*Sigh* ...There is nothing on TV...

16%

5589

General Software Discussion / Re: Help with AccessDB software

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 06:42 PM »

I could refer you to the right url on vmware's website, but you'd get the wrong idea :-) (no flame, but you misunderstood my post - must be my crappy English)

-VictorM (January 08, 2010, 02:14 PM)

Perhaps I did, but the object is to help the OP ... So show me what you got.

While I'm not intimately familiar with VMware, I do spend a great deal of time dealing with printers, print drivers, & legacy software. But I'm always open for new information.

5590

Living Room / Re: Great Britain is frozen!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 03:21 PM »

Me if it snows 

5591

Living Room / Re: Great Britain is frozen!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 09:28 AM »

The midwest is

We're having the same weather here in the US-Midwest. -3F this morning.

-zridling (January 08, 2010, 08:00 AM)

It's supposed to be cold in the midwest this time of year - That's Normal.

I'm in Central Florida ... It's supposed to (19⁰f + rain = ) Snow tomorrow. I $&%^$# HATE Cold weather ... That why the #@$% I live in *&%$#@$$%^$# FLORIDA.

5592

Post New Requests Here / Re: All AutoHotkey (AHK) coders read: No more upx packing of compiled ahk utils

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 08:13 AM »

That said, I'm generally against packing of executable unless there's special reason for it; false positives isn't the only negative aspect of exepacking.

-f0dder (January 08, 2010, 06:54 AM)

I never really got into the architecture stuff quite that far ... but I can follow it. I will have to (once again) conclude (as I did the first time I read that) that you have a solid case/argument against packers (I did already mention that I'd quite using them above...).

5593

Post New Requests Here / Re: All AutoHotkey (AHK) coders read: No more upx packing of compiled ahk utils

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 06:46 AM »

Even tho I loved UPXs efficiency I quit using it years ago because of the tendency to FP on anything packed with it (Which is the root of why I hate heuristics). I just got tired of being cut off while trying to run a diagnostic on site because the client's AV ate my tool.

Is is "fair" (to UPX) to impose this limitation? No. But it does appear to be necessary. Even if it is only to eliminate it as the culprit...and/or expose a larger problem if it exists.

m2c

5594

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Leap of Faith

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 08, 2010, 05:31 AM »

Falling back down to start the next level just has kind of a sinking/failure feel to it

-Stoic Joker (January 07, 2010, 09:22 PM)

Sisyphus?

-ewemoa (January 08, 2010, 04:53 AM)

Thanks for linking the wise-crack as I did have to look that one up... *Shrug*

It's actually a damn good example, especially this first Part:

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus (pronounced /ˈsɪsəfəs/; Greek: Σίσυφος sísypʰos  [ˈsisifos] (help·info)) was a king punished in Tartarus by being cursed to roll a huge boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity.

The word sisyphean means, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, "endless and unavailing, as labor or a task."

...It indeed "felt" like a punishment.

5595

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Leap of Faith

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 09:22 PM »

...the blocks all disappeared, and I fell to the ground. Is that a win, a lose, or a tie?

-Stoic Joker (January 07, 2010, 06:43 PM)

That's how the "next level" starts when you reach the goal.

It should be noted that the goal is not a block you can stand on. You're supposed to be able to go through it, but it should trigger the "new" level. I may need to improve the methods used to detect "collision" with the goal. I've also noticed problems when trying to enter the goal from above.

-Deozaan (January 07, 2010, 06:48 PM)

Ah! Okay (I did "win" (hehe)).

Now, granted you could write everything I know about video games on the head of a pin with a sharpie marker and still have room left, but... Would it be possible to have the (next level) floor appear on the same plain as the goal to enhance the effect of progression? Falling back down to start the next level just has kind of a sinking/failure feel to it (a textual cue might us thicker folk too ).

5596

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Leap of Faith

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 06:43 PM »

I found the ending rather confusing myself ... I wasn't really sure if I'd won, lost, or broke something.

-Stoic Joker (January 07, 2010, 06:17 PM)

I figured there was no point in making a "level 2" since it's all randomized anyway. If you want to keep playing you just need to get back to the bottom and have the goal in a different spot. So that's what happens.

-Deozaan (January 07, 2010, 06:21 PM)

Hm... true, but it couldn't hurt. maybe lower the number of available blocks on each level so that increased "faith" is needed.

When I got to (or rather near) the top, I tried jumping onto the last block to no avail (kept falling through). Then I goofed and jumped into it from underneath, the blocks all disappeared, and I fell to the ground. Is that a win, a lose, or a tie?

5597

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Leap of Faith

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 06:17 PM »

I found the ending rather confusing myself ... I wasn't really sure if I'd won, lost, or broke something.

5598

Finished Programs / Re: ZIP to PHP converter

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 05:54 PM »

The visitors need a link to the file anyway. Where should that be?

-Tuxman (January 07, 2010, 03:40 PM)

You're kidding, right?

5599

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendation: sabayon linux

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 05:49 PM »

Granted my Slackware project kinda hit the wall, but this looks interesting. I'm grabbing the Sabayon_Linux_CoreCD_5.1_x86.iso off one of the FTPs - Hope that's the right file (eek).

5600

General Software Discussion / Re: How to disable Flash from caching to disk?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 07, 2010, 05:29 PM »

While I have no idea what the answer might be, I (also hate flash) would like to applaud your absolutely brilliant rant.