Subj : Slimmed down Debian To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Thu Jul 16 2020 10:07:00 Hi Ky! KM> Hey, I actually needed that RAM the other day.. haven't quite KM> given up on the D20 board that died of a bent CPU pin (worked KM> fine with one CPU; put in the second and PFFZT! bent pin was very KM> subtle, can't blame the seller for missing it. RMA'd and refunded KM> and returned, and then he refused the shipment so I got the board KM> back, a clever way for him to avoid paying return postage on a KM> "free return".) Anyway with your RAM it at least powers on, tho KM> so far haven't got any further. Need higher-powered magnifier and KM> better light so I can see if there's something else making KM> contact in there that shouldn't be. At least the power on KM> indicates it's not shorted to the point of totally dead!! Well good on the RAM, bad on the vendor -- he authorized the return with the RMA and then refused, so not honouring his own RMA?! As for the finding the contact (or possibly non-contact) point -- good luck!! Sort of reminds me of the problem with inserting a USB device here and the machine locks up -- occurred yesterday and I used the built-in USB 2.0 front panel port, usually the USB 3.0 add-on front panel. Have to go back to that project, But First! > > > > KM> These durn two-legged stools.... > > > > I wonder if that's why it was so cheap?! > > > KM> 30% off!! > > > If a three-legged stool closer to one-third! > > KM> I left a stump, in case it falls over. :) > > That should supply some stability! ...Just might not be too convenient > > to lug around. > KM> No worries, I'll just cut the other legs to match.... > KM> ...why am I sitting on the ground?? > I think it's "measure twice, cut once", not the other way around! KM> I cut it three times, and it's STILL too short!! But is it getting better? > KM> How fast is fiber, really? > KM> Test here: > KM> https://testmy.net/ > Looks pretty good to me: have the 200 Mbps service. D/l reported as 204 > Mbps, u/l 146.6 Mbps. So the u/l is a bit sluggish but could be due to > factors other than them. KM> Your idea of sluggish is a lot faster than mine... on a good day, KM> downhill with a whip and a tailwind and someone out behind KM> helping push, I get 5.2Mbps down, 0.8Mbps up. Everything's relative. :) IIRC you're out in the country, and the further away one is from the Central Office the slower the service. I'm around 1500 _feet_ from the CO. Depends also on available service: this neighbourhood has the options of 7 Mbps and 10 Mbps. And received a postcard (!) yesterday advising me the DSL service will be increased $6 per month. No reason, no promise of better nor faster service. Just 'because'. > KM> Mine is embarrassing... > You're also "out in the boonies" IIRC. KM> Only a mile from town and 15,000 feet from the junction box... KM> tho yeah, I used to be where to see civilization, you needed a KM> good telescope! So slowly accustoming yourself to civilization! Though 'civilization' is a relative term..... Several months ago had the CenturyLink technicians out here for noise on the line (could hear) and eventually a dead line. Somewhere one of the two wires broke -- they could semi-pinpoint the location of the break with their testers: was in one of two junction boxes side-by-side two blocks from the house. Could either try to find (apparently the boxes are a mess) or move me to a different pair. I don't really care which wires I use as long as it works. > Did receive a fix yesterday morning and so now on to other issues! I > have been using some fixed addresses just to make certain devices easier > to find. The MythTV Backend sort of needs to be at one address so the > Frontend devices can find it. The NAS also pretty much has to be at one > place. KM> Can't you assign it one address on your router? I can do that on KM> mine and it only has half a brain cell. (I don't bother, tho, cuz KM> nothing here needs it. Also it tends to keep the same one per KM> device anyway.) Do have it all updated. The main problem was the DSL Router used 192.168.0.x and the fiber optic router 192.168.4.x -- sort of like right building, wrong floor. Did call tech support - the gentleman I talked said he was the one who brought over the router when he as hired (so 'up there', not a troubleshooting manual reader); we did try a few things but not able to change the IP address range from 4 to 0. Not horrible for me to change most of the computers over -- if dynamic already done -- the static ones a bit of an issue as "4" doesn't see "0". Did find a command to temporarily assign a computer two IPs (did it on a laptop first -- easier to reinstall should something go wrong!). sudo ip addr add 192.168.0.199/24 broadcast 192.168.0.199 dev enp1s0 This will give the 'working' computer with the 192.168.4.x address another one at 192.168.0.199 so it can see that LAN. Change the device as required (per ifconfig). > this computer will play-buffer-play-buffer.... Haven't done a mega-d/l > yet. Could see where might still have a buffering problem if the d/l > doesn't share nicely. KM> He went from donkey to jet plane and complains about the speed of KM> freight. :D :D :D I like whine with my cheese!! KM> [Speaking of freight: we're on day 12 for a priority parcel from KM> the Bay area, tho it's finally made it to Billings... 9 days for KM> the previous two from CA... methinks CA's mail system is totally KM> busted.] Overnight -- you didn't specify which night!! > KM> Oh, for general errors I had "No no no yer doin' it all wrong!" > KM> But Argo would never dream of doing a BSOD. Argo was 100% > KM> well-behaved Win95. :) > And then they broke it. :( KM> Yeah... did I mention Win10 deciding to nuke the partition table KM> on a USB-attached HD? I *think* what happened is that it saw the KM> older version of NTFS, said gee, that needs updating, and ... no KM> more partition table. Win10 is now closing fast on the #1 spot on KM> my $#!T List, and will never again be trusted near data it KM> doesn't own. I remember you having that problem. Nothing like an OS just assuming stuff! Yeah, it would be on The List real quick! KM> Weirdly, out of six identical Win10 installs on 6 laptops (which KM> recently fell on my head, Win10 and all -- two matched i5 and KM> four matched i7, so by my standards quite modern!) ... three KM> behave as if they're activated (they're not), and let me do KM> whatever I want, and three whine that they're not activated and KM> refuse to play nice. Guess which three were quickly replaced. KM> I do need to find some SODIMM 4GB or 8GB DDR3 sticks, as they're KM> all sadly under-RAM'd. I know I don't have any laptop-sized memory 'in stock'. KM> [I've seen this before. I think it's a bug in the hash that KM> Windows uses to create a unique machine identifier, so about half KM> the time it thinks it's activated even when it's not -- it still KM> says it's not on the Properties screen, but acts like it is KM> everywhere else. I think because it uses essentially random stuff KM> like the hardware serials/model numbers, about half the time it KM> hits a hash that says to it, "Activated" where it counts. Such KM> installs are portable and will not complain about new hardware. KM> Also tells me they're probably using a flawed RNG that has gaps KM> in its randomness, hence the bug.] The folks at Microsoft are slipping! KM> Didn't like some quirks of the latest PCLinuxOS/KDE release, so KM> finally got around to making a live ISO from my good setup (it's KM> nice to have all my tweaks and software already in place). So one KM> laptop now has that. Runs very well and doesn't annoy me every KM> five minutes. That's good! When troubleshooting/repairing/working one stuff don't need to be interrupted. KM> A little experimenting on old and older hardware informed me that KM> PCLOS runs really well on about 2.2GHz 2-core and above; below KM> that it loses its snappiness, but isn't yet laggy. So now in the KM> interests of Science I'm looking for the slowest x64 CPU in KM> existence, so I can test my theory that it's still at least KM> usable on barrel-scrapings. (Conversely, Mageia and Ubuntu are KM> both laggy on the i7-3.7GHz with 32GB RAM.) So fast is slow, slow is acceptable.... > > KM> rivet into the spots. Really good case otherwise, but lordy, > > KM> gamers and their desire to show off their guts... > > Look! The fans are spinning really-really fast! I've got > KM> And the colored LEDs are blinking a lot!! > Oh good! I thought I was having one of those spells! KM> Silly Blinky Tricks: don't have a 2-pin speaker for the KM> Thinkstation board. Do have a 2-pin LED, and remember someone KM> using an LED instead of a speaker, for a deaf user. It works! Makes sense! As long as the 'impendence' of the LED is within a range acceptable to the speaker driver circuit. KM> [What idiot uses oo pins for the speaker, instead of oxxo like KM> the whole rest of the world??] For a speaker-speaker oo would make sense: no polarity. For a piezo- speaker ox-o would make more sense to make it easier than to guess the polarity. KM> [Razor Case] > KM> exposed edges. (In fact I still have one in the basement, sitting > KM> empty.) > Empty except with your blood! ..You really should have refrigerated it > for a potential transfusion! KM> Haha... yeah, if I ever use that case, I'm gonna name it Vampire. Black, with red trim! > I haven't had the Case of a Thousand Knives but have had some which > should have come wth a couple of Band Aids. KM> Yeah, and that's worse. When you KNOW everything is sharp, you're KM> forewarned. It's the surprise random sharp spot that will get you KM> when you didn't expect it. Seen that too, makes unhappy Ky and KM> blood on the components. So that begs the qyuestion: can dried blood be used as a electrical insulator? And what's it R thermal factor? > > KM> Likely so... more fins uses more metal and costs more! > > "We want profit!" "We want something that works at a reasonable price!" > KM> Gee, I wonder who said what... > The shoplifters?! KM> THAT must be what the looting is about!! I thought it was the Hokey-Pokey! > KM> Well, I used to build and maintain custom systems, and was the > KM> hardware dude for the SoCal user grope, but haven't done any of > KM> that in about ten years now. So now it's all just for me. Mine! > KM> MINE!! > Probably because a lot of people use their cell phones and tablets as if > they were computers cut into that market. KM> Something like 60% of the market is now cells and tablets. And KM> PCs became more and more disposable. So yeah, not much market KM> anymore. I can see their convenience. OTOH I'd hate to be doing a lot of reading on a six or seven inch screen. ...Typing a reply like this one - ha! >Plus your dogs aren't nearly as demanding! KM> Haha, yeah, customers complain when you lock them in the kennel. KM> Tho I've been known to use the Rex Carr method on dumb owners (do KM> it like I told you, or I will hit YOU with the whip. Works KM> amazingly well!) "Me or the dog?" 'Me' usually wins! > KM> And Fireball is a Xeon, so having already named a Xeon Xorro, > KM> next thing to come into my head was Fireball XL-5, and there ya > KM> go. :D > Much more fanciful names than what I'm been coming up with. This one's > "NZXT" because of the name on the case. A main computer downstairs is KM> Yeah, that's how Dink and Wedgie got their names -- DNK on the KM> case, and WedgTek on the case. I don't feel quite so bad for my lack of name creativity! > "ThermalTake". And I have a case for a project that's been on hold > from Raijintek - oh poop! KM> It's better if you can pronounce 'em... Maybe that will be it's name: "Unpronounceable" or maybe "Mumble"! > Frontend computer in the Sitting Room (Den -- > no idea why we're using an old term) called 'BrokenTab' because one of > the tabs holding on the heatsink broke off. KM> What will you call it if you ever replace the mount? :D "Fixed"? > Anyway, a few web hits are indicated blocked flues - usually creosote, > though could be a closed damer (who installed the knob the wrong way?!). > When we had the free-standing fireplace removed when building the > addition the guys found a bird's nest in the flue! KM> Ain't blocked. Is tall enough. Still misbehaves even with hot KM> fire and a window hanging open. Tends to go down to nothing and KM> make way too much creosote. Something designed wrong KM> somewhere.... actually I wonder if it might be that the rain cap KM> needs much bigger openings to cope with the 8" pipe. That sounds like a possibilty. I'll let you do the search as sometimes when I'm looking for an answer I'll come across a side comment which is the real answer. > KM> something. Seriously, would you like the speedometer to only > KM> display a light when you're over 60mph?? And what's with all the > KM> touch screens that you have to TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD to > KM> use?? > Yeah! Would also seem even if the dash display is projected > on to the windshield one is also focusing and effectively looking at the > inside of the windshield and not the road beyond. KM> Oh lordy, there's one to keep everyone from looking on down the KM> road any further than your own hood. Just another reason to keep out of the other driver's way! > KM> That's another reason looking for older for the winter 4WD, > KM> probably 1996 or before... I like knobs, ON THE DASH. And the > KM> dimmer switch on the floor, as the gods intended. (Okay, so > KM> that's 1991 or before...) > Well I'll admit the dimmer switch on the left steering wheel sticky- > out-thing isn't bad. Over the years I've more or less trained myself to KM> It might not be bad but it's in the wrong place!! And all the KM> blonds get their foot caught in the steering wheel. :P Wait until you get in a car with the rear window wiper switch is on the right sticky-out thing: accidentally pull on it while rotating to activate the (front) windshield wipers!! > ignore certain things and keep my eyes on the road, then glance to > adjust/turn on/turn off whatever when the traffic conditions allow. KM> I like having controls I can grope, so I can find and manipulate KM> them not only without looking away from the road, but also in the KM> dark when the dash backlight is set fairly dim. (Old truck, radio KM> backlight went off before the dash backlight did, probably by KM> design in case someone found it distracting.) I prefer dim dash lighting also: to me matches the outside darkeness and not blinded by the light of the dash nor squinting in the darkness of the road. > More important to know when the volume control of the radio is than the > tuner buttons ==> quick left spin of the volume to cut the sound, worry > about the station selection later. KM> Nothing wrong with a dial and buttons for station selection!! KM> Perfectly gropable!! Pushbutton now, and probably touch switched on the latest and 'greatest' now. > KM> Well, at least PCLOS only takes five minutes to install, and two > KM> clicks. > I don't recall how long the basic Ubuntu (so 18.04) takes -- maybe five > or ten minutes but I almosrt always have the installation do the update > while it's at it, and obviously that adds to the installation time. KM> Fedora install time and behavior wasn't bad, but Debian took a KM> good hour and needed lots of babysitting. I never again want to KM> hear how Windows installer rudely stops and demands input every KM> two minutes... Yet it will reformat a perfectly good USB HDD plugged in to it without asking! > Also makes a lot of difference if from a DVD or thumbdrive -- thumbdrive > sooo much faster, just I sort of miss seeing the blinkenlicht telling me > something is happening during those periods of "I'm thinking" and > nothing happening on the screen. KM> This!! especially when the USB3 port is hidden in the back... Which is why I added a pair of USB 3.0 ports to the front panel. > KM> own Win10-by-itself runs much better. I don't understand this. Oh > KM> well, set default boot to 2008R2, and ignore Win10. Damn thing > KM> now apparently rewrites the boot sector whenever you switch OSs, > KM> which does not strike me as a Good Idea. In the olden daze it > KM> just pointed at whichever one you picked.) > Yes, overwriting the boot sector sounds a little dangerous as if > something were to go wrong nothing to switch back to. I'm thinking of > should a power failure occur and the UPS not kick in, or not for a > sufficient time. KM> Did I gripe about that again today? It still annoys me. As it should! Some things are just stupid! KM> Oh, the fun never ends... official Lenovo guy in the forum says, KM> how is OS Optimized Defaults set? Disabled. Let's try Enabled. KM> INSTANT BRICK. CMOS reset did not improve matters. Well, turns KM> out that setting disables absolutely everything legacy (which he KM> said means it shipped with Win8 -- uh, why does it *HATE* KM> Win8??), AND IS STICKY across CMOS resets, so it played dead til KM> I found it a newer vidcard that does UEFI, and could change it KM> back. *whew* (And if that's how you feel, you can keep that card. KM> Geesh. What do you mean you don't have a driver for it? It's the KM> same card that was in Lightfoot when that Win7 was installed that KM> you're cloned from; it already HAS the durn driver, you ninny! KM> Look over there. See? It's right there. Geesh!!) Wasn't in the path. :( Yes, rather annoying when something used to work and no longer works just because of an upgrade. > KM> Normally anymore I don't do multiboot but rather use hotswap bays > KM> and laptop HDs, one per OS... but the Dells have no bays at all, > KM> so the experimental installs had to share one well-buried HD. > LIS in an earlier message I wasn't too impressed with purchasing Dell as a > refurbished machine for my use: found it difficult to pin down the > specifics on a particular machine being considered. Not saying they > aren't a good machine, just for my needs not a good fit. I pretty much > need those empty bays and motherboard slots. KM> Yeah, me too. The no-space systems are fine for using like a KM> tethered laptop, but are not suitable for my everyday -- solely KM> because of the lack of expansion space. Yup. As per usually that 'all depends' kicks in. What's right for one user isn't right for this one. I've got a laptop (OK, they call it a notebook) which has a problem staying connected via wireless. Could install a new WiFi card, which wouldn't be a bad idea as the current one only does 2.4 GHz, but I don't know for certain the card is the problem, and I'm not going to be a happy camper if the problem is somewhere else and now I have a dedicated card which can do 2.4 and 5 GHz but is still dropping out. Decided to get a dongle with USB 3.0 capabilities -- at least can be used with other devices easily. KM> Well, I could use two laptop drives in the single 3.5" internal KM> bay, and an NVMe on an adapter in the 4x PCI3 slot, but... since KM> I have other options, why?? still inflexible once you put the lid KM> back on. Duct tape and 3D printing come to mind! > Now that it's -- oh let's just say 'initiated' -- I can fill those > empty 2 TB?! KM> It's easy! Just find an FTP and download the whole thing. KM> ibiblio.org would make a nice starter kit, and then you could KM> move on to archive.org. :D :D :D Ok, thanks! > KM> Yeah, I have no patience anymore. Either it works easily or out > KM> it goes. > Time is money! LIS I've done the same over the years with my various KM> If time flies when you throw a clock, I want to come back as DB KM> Cooper. Assuming he was able to spend his money! > Windows and Ubuntus. Not a stopper if the utility needs to have a few > other utilities added to run, but I also need for the utility to be > fairly easy to use. KM> Yeah. I just don't want to do the hoop jumping anymore. If I have KM> to print out the instructions, I'm probably on my way elsewhere. I'll print some just because for me it is easier to follow along in print if I'm learning, especially something "tweaky". Thinking along the lines of "finger davenport@graph.no" which gives a weather forecast to terminal. As-is displays in Celsius, adding a ^ displays in Fahrenheit, etc. Sometimes easier to print and make notes, sometimes just as easy to run two Terminal with one displaying Help and the other to experiment. KM> Snipping rest or I'll never get this sent... KM> "Did you write the Great American Novel?" KM> "No, just an average reply on the BBS." Really! I'm showing 491 lines, which I think would be about 8 pages if printed out -- just a phamphlet! ¯ ® ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® ¯ ® ¯ (Humans know what ® ¯ to remove.) ® .... ERROR: Computer is way too old for this nonsense. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .