Install numlockx using apt-get, aptitude or Synaptic Edit /etc/gdm/Init/Default Find the line exit 0 Add the following code above that line if [ -x /usr/bin/numlockx ]; then /usr/bin/numlockx on fi source 1
27/11
27/11
How to secure delete files in Linux
Shred shred OPTIONS filename Common options: -n N Overwrite a file N times. -u Remove the file after you’ve shredded it. -z After shredding a file with random bits (ones and zeros), overwrite the file with only zeros. So, for example, to shred a file “topsecret.txt” with 26 iterations, and delete it afterwards, and […]
24/11
Some hints to fix a non booting Windows 7 / 2008 R2 without reinstalling
Fix the MBR: bootrec /FixMbr Fix the partition boot record: bootrec /FixBoot Fix the boot menu: bootrec /RebuildBcd To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE (recovery console). To do this, follow these steps: Put the installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer. Press a key when you […]
22/11
Configuring anonymous public shares with Samba
I recently had to setup a simple, straightforward file server. I chose to install the Turnkey File Server Appliance as it had everything I wanted, ready to use. Following a SAMBA tutorial I could set the server so Samba users can have access to shared resources. However, for a public share I wanted to have a completely […]
03/10
How to resolve orphaned users in SQL Server
I recently got to duplicate / migrate a SQL Server 2008 database. I had trouble with the logins, which were broken after the move. It has to do with mismatching SID for DB users. To fix, one needs to select the database in question then exec sp_change_users_login 'Report' The procedure lists any orphaned users who do […]
25/09
DOS Floppy Disc Formats
I recently acquired a floppy drive emulator. I can't say I have too much free time to play with such useless things, but I had the strange desire of getting one of these beasts. I did have trouble setting up some virtual images -- as there are not any predefined formats in the tools provided. I ended up with this […]
21/09
Computosaurs
I recently got a hand on two "computosaurs". Both are PC compatible, running at respectively 200 and 400 MHz. As I started my digital life with a 4 Mhz processor I'd tend to say 200 MHz PC are not completely obsolete yet... But for a day to day usage it seems they are! Which OS can run on them? Windows is clearly out […]
07/09
How to Setup Stunnel for Usenet
I recently installed Pan, a newsreader for Linux that's quite good and stable, but a bit old. As a consequence, it doesn't handle SSL. Fortunately, it is possible to use a third party tool, stunnel, to do the hard work instead. First: sudo apt-get install pan stunnel4 To install both applications. Next: edit […]
05/09
How to delete an object from a photo using Gimp
24/07
Windows/Ubuntu clock discrepancies
I'm running Windows 7 and Ubuntu on the same machine. When I boot into Windows, the clock is 2 hours behind the actual time. If I fix the time and then boot into Ubuntu, the clock is 2 hours ahead. This upsets the Windows time, and it goes on like a vicious cycle. Ubuntu gives you the choice to set UTC or not during […]
17/07
PS3 Media Server not serving QuickTime files
I use PS3 Media Server on an almost daily basis and just love it; however it sometimes gives me headaches. I wanted to play a quicktime trailer to impress a friend, but it ended up in the thing refusing to display anything else than "Corrupted Data". After a while, I found out that unchecking "Switch to tsMuxer […]
25/06
How to fix the Disk Signature Collision problem in Windows 7
Why would an external USB disk drive be ignored by Windows 7, while it is perfectly working on other systems and USB itself is working properly on the target PC? It took me a while to find out. In the disk management console (under administration tools, computer management), I finally found a nice error message that […]
24/06
Bluetooth Support for Toshiba Laptops on Ubuntu
I just installed a fresh Ubuntu on my old but trusted Toshiba Satellite, offering it a second youth. Everything worked perfectly but Bluetooth was not detected. The Toshiba bluetooth radio is disabled at boot, and it can only be enabled with a particular ACPI call. Sounds like a very proprietary approach... Anyway. To […]
15/06
Customize Firefox for Easy Peasy
20/01
Some hints to fix a non booting Windows XP without reinstalling
Classical repair boot operations Fix the MBR: fixmbr Fix the partition boot record: fixboot Fix the boot menu cd c:\ attrib -hrs boot.ini copy boot.ini boot.ini.bak del boot.ini bootcfg /rebuild Determine Windows XP version From dos prompt or recovery console, assuming c: is the windows installation type […]
22/12
Easy Peasy 1.5, signature error
I kept getting the following error when trying to update Easy Peasy 1.5 after an installation from scratch: W: A error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used.GPG error: http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty Release: Les signatures suivantes ne […]
15/10
Resize a Windows 7 partition on a dual boot system
13/09
Reparing CUPS
I wanted to print some random document on old but reliable HP PSC-1300 when I discovered my printer was gone -- Ubuntu wouldn't recognize it anymore! I first tried to reinstall two packages: hplip and cups, without any success. I then tried to register the printer manually, using the hp-setup utility. It would go for a […]
11/09
W7, IIS 7.5 and ASP.NET applications
Please note this is a newbie post, for people like me who don't know anything about IIS 7 yet. First, make sure IIS and ASP.NET are installed. Go to Control Panel Programs Add / remove Windows programs Check IIS Services Make sure WWW services and Web admin tools are checked Also make sure that ASP.NET is enabled in […]
16/08
Video editing & Ubuntu
Unfortunately, I didn't find any satisfying editing tool for my HD videos under Ubuntu -- Kino is a good tool, but it's not HD ready. There are some others, but none reaching the stability and features of say, Pinnacle Studio under Windows. I'd love to be proven wrong. However, for the time being I'll keep a XP […]