When I boot the Karmic Koala 9.10 on Dell Optiplex 960 the Ubuntu menu loads however, if I choose Install or Run Live, I get a blank blank screen with a blinking cursor.
Oddly... if I hold down the enter key it will proceed through the boot and load Ubuntu 9.10 very weird.
The best solution so far is to go into the BIOS (press F2 when the PC first turns on) and under PERFORMANCE menu disable C STATES CONTROL.
Apply your settings. Exit. Boot the Ubuntu CD again and enjoy.
Peace.
Download Karmic Here
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Karmic Koala 9.10 on Dell Optiplex 960
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Searching on network drive gives no results.
One of my more recent challenges was a report from one of our users that she was receiving incorrect results when searching a network resource (that happened to be across the country on our WAN) with XP Pro.
In this case the user was in DC and the resource was in WA state. Oddly I was able to reproduce the issue from WA state by attempting to search for files that I know existed on the DC server, however, the result was "Search is complete. There are no results to display".
My hunch was that something was timing out and causing the search to quit. Maybe the cross country network latency.
ANSWER: With a carefully crafted google search I finally discovered a workaround. According to Microsoft KB928885 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925885 the search function will time out if the resource does not respond fast enough and tell you that there are no results.
By checking the 'search tape backup' box under advanced settings, I was able to successfully search my network resource.
The solution steps from MS:
Method 1: "More advanced options" is available
If More advanced options appears in the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. In the What do you want to search for? task pane, click All files and folders.
3. In the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, click More advanced options, and then click to select the Search tape backup check box.
Method 2: "More advanced options" is not available
If More advanced options does not appear in the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. In the What do you want to search for? task pane, click Change preferences.
3. In the How do you want to use Search Companion? task pane, click Change files and folders search behavior.
4. Under Choose the default files and folders search behavior, click Advanced, and then click OK.
5. In the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, click More advanced options.
6. Click to select the Search tape backup check box.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The TKIP part of WPA has been cracked!!
UPDATE: Here are a few more details...
1) WEP is flawed
2) TKIP is (based on and) backward compatible with WEP, found to carry a similar flaw
3) Therefore, WPA inherits a WEP flaw if allowing TKIP communication
An attack currently depends upon:
1) TKIP used for client to AP
2) known IPv4 range (e.g. 192.168.0.X)
3) long re-keying interval (e.g. 3600 sec)
4) IEEE 802.11e QoS
5) client connected to the network
The authors offer a short re-key cycle as a workaround, which already is a best practice.
+++++++++
This is 'late' news, however, I felt it was important enough to share. The wireless security protocol WPA w/ TKIP has now been cracked. Researchers by the name of Erik Tews and Martin Beck were the ones to do the cracking, finding a way to break the temporary Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) in under 15 minutes. They haven't, however, figured out how to gain access to the data that travels between the PC and the router, so that's a plus.
Of course, there are limitations: Apparently, the data sent from a connected device to the compromised router is still safe. But anything headed down the information highway in the opposite direction? Wide open.
So what should you do to secure your network? Switch to WPA2, which is still uncracked for the time being.
The other option if you must use WPA for your xBox or other wireless devices that don't allow WPA2, is to use WPA with the option of using AES instead of TKIP option.
For me personally, however, it better to just accept the fact that NO network traffic is totally safe. Your best defense is to be wise about WHAT you enter and WHERE you enter it on the internet.
Peace.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Multimedia Loudspeaker test
In the process of repairing my laptop speakers, I needed to determine if I was connecting them up 'in phase' or 'out of phase'. Or in other words, the + wire was going to the + terminal on both speakers.
This is particularly hard to do if your terminals AND wires are not clearly marked.
Here is a site that has some .mp3s of audio clips with in phase and out of phase sounds as well as frequency sweeps and test tones. Very handy for that audiophile 'n you.
Multimedia Loudspeaker test
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