Recent Posts

651

Living Room / Re: Booting Linux from USB thumbdrive - Linux Explorer

« Last post by Shades on March 17, 2018, 11:01 AM »

In case you want speed and not pay for a license after the trial of Paragon software, there are several ways that do not have to cost you anything, except for time and some storage space.

1. You could run an instance of Oracle's VirtualBox, and use the iso(s) you download to create a basic Linux VM. The size of the VM is usually set automatically by VirtualBox to 8GByte, but if you keep the installation very basic (all the default options from the Ubuntu installer) you should barely use more than 4GByte. Anyway, if you run the Linux VM setup, you can connect your Linux formatted drive to Windows and "attach" it to the VM instance using the menu option in VirtualBox. Windows will not "see" the drive anymore, but you can access the drive just fine in VirtualBox...at full speed.

VirtualBox comes with this functionality (I use it myself) and you do not need to purchase a license for VirtualBox or its extension pack. VMWare has also a free to use version of their virtualization software, called: VMWare Player. While I don't think "attaching" a Linux formatted drive to its VM instance is a problem, I am not sure. There was a period where VMWare Player was getting less functionality with each new version that came out. Which was why I jumped to VirtualBox at the time and I haven't got any reason to look back since.

2. Use a version of Linux that others already have prepared to boot from a pen drive or CD. Porteus looks like a safe bet, you can download it from here and instructions on how to make it work are simple, according to their instructions page. At about 25% to 30% of this page you will find the instructions for creating a bootable pendrive, using only windows, without even having to burn a CD/DVD from the iso.

3. You could take a look at coLinux. Probably abandoned by now, because it only came in 32-bit flavor. However, it was and still is available in the PortableUbuntu project...which is more than likely also abandoned by now. That project you can run directly in your 32-bit Windows installation of XP/Vista/7 and you can erase your drive with the file manager that comes with Linux easily and at full speed.

Originally it uses Ubuntu 8, but you could upgrade it to the last 32-bit version of Ubuntu, which is 16.04 if you are up for that. Not that such a thing is absolutely necessary, Ubuntu 8 already supports EXT3. And if you run it once or twice a year for only a brief period, you would hardly have any reason to upgrade.

It does look a bit weird to run both Windows and Linux at the same time, you'll get an extra menu bar with Ubuntu colors in your Windows screen and you simply run the Linux file manager by activating the option from that Ubuntu menu. There is really nothing more to it, other than to connect your Linux formatted drive, of course.


All of the above is not as easy as the solution provided by Ath, but won't be crippled after the trial period expires.

652

Living Room / Re: Need help translating old German documents

« Last post by Shades on March 14, 2018, 08:41 AM »

Wasn't there also something like 'High-German' as a form of the German language in those centuries? Just to make the translation job from German to whatever even more difficult...

653

General Software Discussion / Re: Nuke my SSD to use again?

« Last post by Shades on March 13, 2018, 09:12 PM »

Maybe a tool like MHDD will get you going again. But that is not for the faint of heart. Then again, the drive is already a mess, so unintentionally adding more issues to it won't make the situation any worse.

The problem you describe, it does sound familiar in a way. the exact same thing happens here often, but then with pen drives...especially from the brand SanDisk (Cruzer Blade). Out of nowhere these just go into "media is write protected"-mode after 2 or 3 months and Windows isn't able to do anything with it anymore.

Almost like the operating system isn't registering those pen drives as a 'Removable device' from that point on. I would not be surprised if something similar is going on in the situation of the OP.

If You did not try this already, you could check if the drive is usable with an alternative operating system, such as Linux, Mac or BSD. Most Linux and BSD installers (ISOs) have an option to create a bootable medium with them, so you can try these OS'es out without messing with your currently installed operating system. If you do intent to try that, make sure you disconnect the drive(s) you normally boot from first. That way if you decide to use the format options in Linux or BSD, you won't format the wrong drive by accident. 

Or try the drive in a USB hard disk enclosure. If you have a decent one, the hard disk controller inside that enclosure could "shake the drive loose" again for you.

654

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: So you've been to Mars and thought 'meh' ...

« Last post by Shades on March 07, 2018, 10:07 PM »

Question for my fellow travelers: How much sunscreen do we need to bring?

Or with the infamous words of the Bloodhound Gang song: "Fire Water Burn'   "Burn motherf...er, burn!" 

655

General Software Discussion / Re: I hate False Positives and need help correcting one

« Last post by Shades on March 07, 2018, 09:40 PM »

Is the Admin account on your system not capable of changing ownership of files and/or folders?  This account is by default disabled, but enabling it is done in a second or so.

656

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Shades on March 07, 2018, 09:31 PM »

Given the latest allegations, you might have to nominate Trump for the Nobel Sleaze Prize...

657

General Software Discussion / Re: any bug tracking tool suggested?

« Last post by Shades on February 24, 2018, 01:54 PM »

You want (or need) to host the solution yourself or not?

While not free or open source, I heartily recommend Jira. The other projects mentioned by wraith808 are very good and mature issue-trackers, but the interface and manageability of Jira is awesome. They have a cheap plan of 10 USD/month for a max of 10 users and prices go down if you need to add more people. There is also their solution that you can host on your own hardware.

In any case, Jira is already very feature complete and if you put in the time, you can manage every aspect of the workflow you like or need. And if things are still missing, you can make your own plugin(s) or get one from their shop. Which is mainly filled with plug-ins that other 3rd-party companies have made and they offer these either freely or with a commercial license.

Jira is a product from the Atlassian company and integrates very well with other Atlassian products. Been using Jira (self-hosted) for more than 10 years already and it is really an excellent tool for keeping track of issues, it integrates very well with 3rd party version tracking of files out-of-the-box, keeps track of time spent on issues, generating reports, graphical overviews and lots more. Never had one inkling of using anything else since.

Atlassian software, that truly is money well spent. No affiliation, besides being a happy user.

658

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: StackNotes

« Last post by Shades on February 23, 2018, 07:55 PM »

I plan to add a "mail" plugin (either to send a note or a complete padfile) using BLAT CLI; i have the prototype for this, i just need to adapt the code.

-YannickDa (February 23, 2018, 04:09 PM)

Just as a side note: I have always encountered issues when trying to use BLAT within a CLI environment. Then I found an alternative in CMail. This worked beautifully from the get-go. If you can get Blat to work for you, good. But if not, you don't have to spend a lot of time looking for a more than excellent alternative. 

659

Living Room / Re: Peculiar windows problem

« Last post by Shades on February 14, 2018, 04:37 PM »

Clone the current hard disk onto another one. Remove the current drive and put the cloned drive into the PC. If all went well, your system should boot up without any issues. Windows usually doesn't complain if the only hardware change in the whole computer is the hard disk.

The problematic drive can now be coupled to another PC that uses the tool MHDD for a really thorough check. This check can take hours, depending on the storage capacity of the disk, but you will have a much better understanding of what is wrong on your disk and where (on the surface(s)) these occur.

If these errors occur close to the beginning of the disk or at the end, you can use the MHDD tool to re-adjust the size of the disk, so it will be impossible for any operating system to access such a bad section ever again. The reduced disk can likely be re-used this way. Still, if you reduce the capacity of the disk, you will lose all the content of that disk, yes or yes.

CHKDSK is a tool that makes Windows work with a bad disk. CHKDSK manages/repairs content that has been malformed or misplaced, mainly by misused computers. That part of the concept "disk repair" CHKDSK does well. However, when the hard disk itself has actual issues, CHKDSK doesn't do so well. In those cases you'd better use proper tools like MHDD to investigate and optionally manage the problems on the disk. MHDD has a steep learning curve and can be dangerous in untrained hands.   

660

N.A.N.Y. 2018 / Re: NANY 2018: Clicador- A simple and fast free auto clicker

« Last post by Shades on February 12, 2018, 06:19 PM »

That can be your NANY 2019 entry.. NANY 2018 is over.

-mouser (February 12, 2018, 12:59 PM)

Ok I misunderstood the time frame.

Please delete this entry.

-hugo nabais (February 12, 2018, 01:01 PM)

To my understanding, the person creating the thread can also change the title of the thread any given moment. Removing the thread because of a minor change from 2018 to 2019 should not be necessary.

661

General Software Discussion / Re: How can i get a 'Desktop ALERT' to pop up, when i have New email in Outlook Exp6

« Last post by Shades on February 10, 2018, 08:48 AM »

How about a separate/external mail checker?  It should notify you of new messages and open your default mail client once you click on the pop-up.

And if that one doesn't do what you want, here is a collection of alternatives.


* Edit:  I really should read the whole thread, A suggestion, similar to mine was already given. I didn't remove my post because of the alternatives. *

662

Developer's Corner / Re: The Faery Tale Adventure: A personal history of making a video game

« Last post by Shades on February 06, 2018, 10:12 AM »

A friend of mine was totally into that game at the time it came out for his Amiga. He even spent weeks making a huge hand drawn map (to scale) from the terrain/island the game played on. 

663

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by Shades on February 06, 2018, 09:14 AM »

In my network with a dedicated router (& firewall) PC, a few switches and a total of 45 PC's (Linux, Windows and FreeBSD, 70% is bare metal, the remainder is virtual) there is no problem hooking up PC's for LAN gaming. or anything else for that matter. 

Was it an old(er) game that you were using for the LAN gaming? I remember old(er) games having options for LAN gaming, using a serial connection, by using IPX/SPX and also the TCP/IP protocol. There are ways to transfer IPX traffic over the TCP/IP protocol, but that is all from yesteryear. Still, by using HomeGroup, you might have enabled the IPX traffic to travel over TCP/IP. On the other hand, new(er) games only use TCP/IP anymore.

Homegroup has always been disabled in my network, Onedrive file sharing implies the cloud, which for most is not their own LAN, which makes it practically forbidden in my network. Windows (10) file sharing wizards aren't needed or used either. Linux PCs communicate just fine using Samba. Network printing and scanning, it all working pretty much out of the box. Are you sure your network is configured ok? No double NAT going on anywhere?

To do networking well, it requires a fair amount of studying. It is an interesting field in the world of computing and if you choose to become a network specialist, you can (usually) make very nice sums of money.

Be that as it may, most people can't or won't spent time on networking basics and rely on wizards and automated systems like HomeGroup to do the work for them. It is my personal (and perhaps not so humble) opinion that you shouldn't rely on these automatic systems and figure it out for yourself. Yes, it is a headache in the short run, but you'll benefit from it later.

664

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by Shades on February 05, 2018, 06:31 PM »

It sounds like the last option, yet to my understanding I do not have 2FA activated. And I didn't get 2FA-like messages after re-approving my set of 3 devices. As I am not into the cloud, there is only a small amount of re-approving, so it didn't take too much of my time, but long enough to boil up a rant.

But for someone who has a lot of devices registered, that would become a major pain in the neck. Not that the manner is wrong, I can see some sense in that when you enable 2FA, it might be best to start all over with the administration of the devices. Still, I think the programmer(s) made it easy for themselves by just offering their favorite option, and not a more common sense option with per device enable/disable 2FA...as most more advanced users have been accustomed to for years in Windows, Linux and Mac.

The kids at Google seem to apply the concept of "lazy loading" to "lazy coding" (yes, these are not the same, but somehow it sounds right).

665

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by Shades on February 04, 2018, 09:29 AM »

another new development is rising on the Windows 10 front....

http://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/151582/exclusive-windows-10-s-dead-long-live-s-mode

What would the S stand for?
Simple?
Simpleton?
Scandal?
Scoundrel?
Segregated?
"Special"?
Stupid?
Stinker?
Skool? (tibe error made on purpose)
Semi-functional?
Silly?
Sad?
Shoddy?
Shifty?
Shady?
Sinful?
Sorry?
Sorrow?
Suffer?
Sickening?
Somber?
Substandard?
Synthetic?
Slumped?
Startling?
Stirring?
Spanking?

If you managed to read this far, you will have grokked by now that I'm not a fan.

666

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by Shades on February 04, 2018, 08:49 AM »

Sort-of off-topic:
wonder if successful would we get windows phones again (I like mine but the lack of apps can be a pain)

-tomos (February 04, 2018, 04:58 AM)

Here is to hoping. After being exposed to Android for a while now, I would be more than happy to get a new Windows phone again.

[rant]
Really, some UI steps that Google puts into Android are an abomination. And is it really that difficult for Google to remove 1 device from your list of approved devices? Instead you must eliminate all devices and re-register each device one by one....ff-ing amazing job, Google! I wonder how many people are bothered enough to do this. But it would be a safe assumption to state that most people just say: 'F... this' and don't do anything. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of your "security".

Seriously, the person(s) who thought this to be a good UI design, deserve to be taken behind the shed (and their final thought to be: "Aha, so that is how a functional UI works on the device that is putting this bullet in my head").

[/rant]

667

General Software Discussion / Re: WSUS Offline Update 11.1.1 not downloading Updates for Win7?

« Last post by Shades on February 03, 2018, 05:11 AM »

Have you tried to remove all updates/patches/downloads that are linked to sysinternals and retry? All the tools on the SysInternals website are also available as separate downloads, but also as one whole zipped archive. Then it is called: SysInternals Suite  and this 23MByte download (give or take) shouldn't be a problem, even for bandwidth starved types of internet connection anywhere in the world.

Personally, I always download the suite whenever there is a new version of it, because I deem this software to be essential on any Windows installation. As far as I know, any of the software from SysInternals is updated irregularly, so you don't need to redownload the same tools over and over whenever you decide to use WSUS.

When taking a look at your screenshot, it appears that the WSUS software is not able to download directly from the sysinternals website. Whether that is a configuration problem on their end or on yours, is not that clear. Not to be offensive or anything, but it is more likely that the configuration mistake occurs on your end.

Please take into account that it won't be long anymore before Microsoft pulls the support plug on Windows 7 very soon, meaning that Microsoft completely stops making any patch/update/download for Windows 7. Microsoft really wants you to migrate to Windows 10 and without any type of support for Windows 7, you probably should...from a security standpoint, at least. Then there is the debate about (lack of) privacy with Windows 10...but that is a different can of worms...and there appears to be no end to that supply of cans in the future.

Anyway, after support for Windows 7 stops, your problems with Windows 7 updates through WSUS will automatically stop too. You might consider that the proverbial 'silver lining'. 

668

Official Announcements / Re: New DonationCoder, New Ideas

« Last post by Shades on January 22, 2018, 07:52 PM »

That is always the problem...finding the topic you want to write about. even on a weekly basis that can give you a lot of stress already.

Many, many moons ago, I got a job as writer of daily articles for an internet portal. Got that because the people in charge liked the game reviews I wrote for them (when not working my day job in the Army). When my contract was up, they asked if could start immediately at their company. Writing at your own pace about things you like, that isn't difficult or a burden.

Dailies about things you like and don't like, that is whole different ballgame, though. Wasn't fun for me...and I ended up going back to game reviews and articles about computer-related subjects & news. Won't do dailies again, even if there was a salary in it for me.

A suggestion that might be fun to work on and read about: What if DC would copy the concept of xlcd's 'What if..." column? A person asks a question and the creator of xlcd will go through lengths to answer it in a fun/technical/entertaining way.

Having a pool of writers to choose from, that might result in interesting reads and the writer tasked with a specific question can have or take the time he/she needs to dig in and produce a nice article. Mouser then can place whichever articles he wants whenever it pleases him. Less stress on the writers and Mouser. Just a thought.

669

General Software Discussion / Re: Can I make a Live Win XP USB.

« Last post by Shades on January 19, 2018, 05:54 PM »

BartPE...that used to be the tool to create a bootable Windows XP CD/DVD. Done that myself in a distant past.

Links:
http://ask-leo.com/h...cd_using_bartpe.html
http://www.instantfu...dows-xp-live-cd.html

Even a youtube video:  https://www.youtube..../watch?v=78gKzcuq-dw

There was an alternative tool, WinBuilder, that was supposed to be able to do the same. Never tried it myself, so ymmv.

Link:
http://www.intowindo...e-live-xp-cd-how-to/

That should get you underway.

670

Living Room / Re: Looking for Data Recovery Service

« Last post by Shades on January 17, 2018, 06:33 PM »

Me neither. Maybe you think it to be silly, but did you try standard disk imaging software (to clone the disk bit by bit onto a new drive) with the portable hard disk in upside down position?

I have seen that silliness work on 2 different occasions, quite some years back now. Once in a company I worked at and once in a PIII computer I owned.

671

Official Announcements / Re: Server having trouble sending email to hotmail and att addresses - Jan 16, 2018

« Last post by Shades on January 17, 2018, 06:26 PM »

Take a look at website: www.mxtoolbox.com

It shows you on how many different blacklists this domain is registered on. Use the links from their overview to request being removed from each blacklist (separately, I'm afraid). The free version verifies your domain against 30 or so blacklists. If you pay, that list becomes much longer.

Found that website to be very helpful when problems arose with my own mail server.

672

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 free upgrade loophole closing in December

« Last post by Shades on January 14, 2018, 07:32 PM »

Weird. Now I'm not denying you experience the problems you experience, but it is the first time I heard of it and I have been using Windows 7, XP, 8.1 and Server 2012 machines to connect through VPN to RDP to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Server 2008 and Server 2012 machines for hours and hours on end, without any issues of any kind. And yes, that includes even sessions where I VPN/RDP to one system to another system in another network on a different location and then need to use Citrix to access yet another computer in another location. A mish-mash of connections that I sometimes have to go through, because of a legal minefield that do not allow me access directly.

But no crapping out of RDP through VPN in any combination.

673

Living Room / Re: Laptop monitor screen to box pc via cables?

« Last post by Shades on January 11, 2018, 07:27 AM »

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-into-an-External-Monit/

That shows you in general what you need to do to turn a laptop LCD screen into a monitor that you can use with a desktop or other laptop. It isn't easy and not cheaper than buying a new one.

674

Living Room / Re: bicycling suddenly a British speciality?!

« Last post by Shades on January 10, 2018, 09:31 AM »

That video is old news. Several cyclists have cut their sporting career short when they applied this concept to their bike(s). And rightfully so. Still, the idea and execution is excellent, but not for sports. The consumer market would benefit greatly from this concept. And likely much more money to be made. As I am Dutch and grew up using bicycles a lot, I would even consider using such a bike here in Paraguay. Traffic can be very problematic here and a commute that lasts 20 minutes without traffic can easily take a1 to 1.5 hour with traffic.

With such a bike traffic wouldn't be any problem anymore, I would get (more) exercise than I do now and I won't be sweaty all over after using the bike. With the amount of sun hours here in this country, I think iit is possible to charge it using solar energy alone, during work hours. The model of bike that is used in the video above, I wouldn't use. A city bike would make much more sense, as you can easily pick up your daily groceries too. Without wasting time finding a spot for your vehicle and hoping no-one else dents your car. I see only advantages with this concept. Bicycles that have a way to assist their user have a few things in common. They are all very ugly to look at and it is easy to steal the parts providing the assistance. Hence you pay a lot for insurance of such a bike. All of that is gone with this concept.

675

Living Room / Re: Happy New Year 2018 - Share new years resolutions or best practices?

« Last post by Shades on January 03, 2018, 08:17 PM »

I didn't peg him for being a hack, but you had to chisel away that layer of veneer...

-Shades (January 03, 2018, 11:26 AM)

just what is it you're implying?

-Target (January 03, 2018, 04:13 PM)

That your actions not always appear above board?