Archive for August, 2010

Fixing Windows MBR with Linux LiveCD

Monday, August 30th, 2010

I ran into an interesting snag the other day. I had a hard drive that was not showing up and therefore the system would not boot. I really found this odd, because it showed up to the bios, and all hardware tests said the drive was fine, so I thought I would try and run a FIXMBR on the drive to see if that was the problem. Now, here is where the snag comes up. Normally I would take my Windows installation disk, and once running I would use the ‘recovery console’ to run the command and be done with it. But the Windows disk would not start. It would hang on the ‘Inspecting your systems hardware configuration.’ So, I needed the Windows Recover Console, to run the command, but I couldn’t get the console . . . and the whole things crashes down.

I then found http://www.arsgeek.com/2008/01/15/how-to-fix-your-windows-mbr-with-an-ubuntu-livecd/ . I thought to myself, how perfect is that? I know that the ubuntu disk will run, and then I can perform the changes I need and away we go.

Some changes since the writing of my reference article. The ms-sys package is no longer in the repositories. If you go to their website you can download source and do a quick make, make-install.

After you have done that the rest is easy peazy. Once again, linux saves the day.

Resource Website

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The other day I had an HP laptop with some problems. I sent it back, using their HP care stuff. I was pleasantly surprised with how fast they shipped everything, at their expence, and got everything back to me. But as I started the machine they didn’t have the wireless driver installed. Using their website they said that I had to have a broadcom card, and so I installed their provided drivers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a broadcom card. They were wrong. All I had was the Vendor ID and Hardware ID.

After some searching I found http://www.pcidatabase.com/ . This website can just search by Vendor ID or Hardware ID and give you the information that you need to get stuff fixed. I have used it a couple of times and found it very helpful.

My experience installing Debian

Monday, August 9th, 2010

A while back I wrote about my trepidation with Lucid. I have used ubuntu linux ever since my first linux introduction 5 years ago. But recently the changes in Lucid and general pain-in-the-butt install issues have had me very scared to install it. I have not updated any of my machines to Lucid but the other machines that I have updated have been less than spectacular.

So, I finally got around to installing Debian on my home desktop machine. I have been holding off because I am lazy. So far everything had worked, but I had a weekend off and away we ran with it.

First, I did have two little issues. I installed lenny and my update to squeeze crashed and burned. Once I used the Testing installer all was well. Also the installer didn’t like hooking to the wifi even though my wireless driver is included in the kernel as the ath9k driver. Aside from that this was the smoothest install I have ever had. Ever. Of all time.

Some things that I really liked. Once I installed the system I was up to date and running full steam ahead. No need to update and wait and download everything. That was already done as part of the install. Usually there are some configuration things and little get it together issues. Once I associated my bluetooth keyboard and mouse I have not had to do anything else. Everything has just fallen into place.

Also, rolling releases are just an awesome idea. I can stay on testing and I will always have an up to date system. Furthermore, the packages in the repositories are not archaic, but actually quiet up-to-date.

All in all, I am very pleased with my Debian install.

My rant on Prop 8

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Let me preface this by saying that this is not a discussion about my stance on California’s proposition 8, the legislation that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This article is about what I view as the real and much larger issue.

Lets first examine what happened in California’s proposition 8. A proposal was made. Supporters of both sides campaigned by every means that they could to gain even more supporters. Voters turned up at the polls in record numbers to cast their vote on an issue. The votes were counted and like every contest one side lost and didn’t like it.

Regardless of what side of this issue you are on this is what happened. The issue could have been about changing all roads to be painted white instead of black asphalt. To do white would allow more sun to be reflected and city tempratures to come down. To leave it black would cost less and actually prevent accidents because the sun wouldn’t reflect in peoples eyes from the road. The cycle is the same, proposal, campaign, voters, and counting. It has been going on for a long time.

This process of rules being established by vote of the people is the foundation of a democratic society.

Now this is where I get scared. Yesterday the federal court overturned California’s proposition 8 and all I see is people praising this wonderful decision and how awesome it is. I saw it tweeted, on facebook, in newspapers and radio programs. It was even hailed as a huge justice on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ by one of the judges. But what were they praising? The were praising that the democratic process just got overthrown.

Yep, my whole concern with this issue is regardless of how I vote if I don’t do it the way ‘they’ want, my vote will get the ol’ heave-ho and ‘they’ will have it however they want. It doesn’t matter the issue folks. It could be about what color to paint the street. Nope, you did it wrong, and we are going to repeal it. Tough crap!

The fact that people are thinking that this overturning of the law is just about marriage is absolutely beyond me. This could be about anything you find important. From school budgets to gun control to whether to go to war. If you don’t do it the way ‘they’ want they will just find a way to get it done anyways. I think that George Carlin’s words say it best. Basically, ‘they’ don’t care about you, ‘they’ will do whatever ‘they’ want.

What I would rather see, what I am shocked is not happening, what should be done is have everyone on either side of this issue protest with big signs that say “Stop F***ing America!”. Later, we can all play part of the democratic process again. Get a new bill proposed that overturns a previous bill, campaign our hearts out, and then have the voters come out. When it as all done, we can count the votes and see where it stands. Until then, I guess a whole bunch of people are really happy being raped over by Uncle Sam and the broken American System.