Subj : USB lock up - poo! To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Wed Feb 09 2022 11:13:00 Hi Ky! KM> Ha... and Tarnish's almost-twin Cash now has the USB disease. KM> Only one front port works at a time, and intermittent stalls of KM> USB keyboard and mouse. Probably the same two capacitors. It now KM> has about the same amount of hours in service, so.... I'm vaguely recalling we had talked about replacing burst capacitors, so if it worked once and this computer is essentially the same just might work again. KM> I think I'll get one of those micro-solder irons from Pine64 and KM> try to fix it. Figure if the solder tool is pointy enough, I can KM> hit the tiny spot. As long as you don't hit a bunch of other points at the same time! Just make sure you're comfortable and your hand is well-supported. The big problem might be the kickback of the solder sucker. KM> Speaking therewhich, I just bought a used Pinephone with the real KM> keyboard thingee, should be here by Friday... it runs Manjaro KM> linux with KDE desktop, which (since I like KDE) can't be more KM> annoying than iOS or Android. How good it actually is remains to KM> be determined. I hadn't heard of them but look to be pretty good. One of the potential problems would be since it isn't running Apple's nor Android OS could be a bit of a problem downloading applications, but since Android is a form of Linux would seem that should have some commonality. And quite sure PinePhone has something worked out as they're not going to have a phone as just a phone: people want their appointment calendars! KM> Meanwhile, I have learned to hate Fedora's stupid update KM> procedure, which is indistinguishable from that for Windows 10, KM> and equally rude about monopolizing the connection. (Not that I KM> do much more with it than let it update and swear at it. I did KM> the manual upgrade from 32 to 34, but it didn't even ask when it KM> hopped from 34 to 35.) It's supposed to be more reliable, but KM> from what I see it invites thinking it's hung and killing it in KM> mid-grope. With PCLinuxOS, we just do updates on the fly WHENEVER KM> I WANT, not when the OS wants. Haven't heard of that issue but then I'm paying more attention to Ubuntu and Buster/Bullseye (Raspberry Pi's OSs) ... As an experiment I did update one older computer here from Ubuntu 18.04 to 20.04 -- warnings of "are you sure", "may take several hours", etc. Think it took barely an hour (surprised at how short a time) and didn't notice any slowdown much less monopolizing of the connection, > KM> OS arrives already installed on a removable HD so no one cares if > KM> Tarnish can't write files correctly. Probably makes logfile > KM> errors but doesn't matter. It still groks internet and plays > KM> video to the screen, and that's all I require of it. If the OS > KM> goes wonky, I just make another copy and life goes on as before. > Yup -- and Tarnish might just last another ten years and be fine as a > streaming device. KM> Yeah, doesn't seem to have any other caps going bad. Just had it KM> apart all over the floor, so I checked. Find any spare parts after reassembly? As none of the other capacitors seemed to be failing then perhaps the replacement of those few will be all that is needed for another ten years of entertaining you. The worst that can happen is a Beeg Schpark from a solder bridge. ....Speaking of that, might be best when first powering up after the cap replacement into a regular wall outlet, if something did go wrong you're not shorting out or otherwise killing off a UPS. > KM> SM knows how to use multiple cores, but apparently there's a > KM> Point of Inefficiency with fewer cores vs memory usage. Not only > KM> does CPU usage shoot up to 100% far more often, it also > KM> completely clogs up RAM whenever this happens.... FAR less often KM> And figured out what the problem is: it's something really KM> inefficient in the way SeaMonkey writes files for my ~400 RSS KM> subscriptions; guessing it re-indexes each one TOO, cuz WAY worse KM> than just Windows writing files by itself So it stalls the system KM> as long as it takes to rewrite ~400 files. They're mostly around KM> 30mb which isn't THAT damn large... No, barely medium-sized by today's standards. I'm not sure if it's SeaMonkey being inefficient or something in the OS: half-recalling a few posts in the MythTV forum about a similar problem; https://lists.mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-users/2022-January/thread.html (I know that's a vague 'pointing in the general direction' but at least narrows it down from The Internet itself!) KM> On the New! Improved!! box, Mail is on an NVMe, which should help KM> a lot given it's 20x faster than spinning rust, and the whole KM> system is quite a lot faster too. Now if only I'd finish moving KM> in... Yes, I've been doing some hybrid systems: OS on SSD, data on HDD. Boots fast, processes fast. Bottleneck is probably the waiting for the mechanical hard drive but at this point I feel safer with the data on a magnetic plate as opposed to a electric charge -- is there all that much of a difference?! > KM> on the slower quadcore than on the faster core2duo. On otherwise > KM> identical hardware. I suppose I could swap CPUs between Cash and > KM> Tarnish and solve the problem, but this sounds like work. > It's not too much work to swap CPUs. it's the associated work that pops > up! Open the case, see dust bunny families so clean those; while you're > inside may as well do an upgrade.... KM> KM> Noticed this problem, didja.... There are times when I'd rival you when I do a project here! > Reminded me of when I was working at the store and one of the portable > devices lost it's programming. We were sent a floppy (it was a l-o-n-g > time ago) and cable -- plug the cable into COM1 of the computer and the > other end into the device, run programme, done. That's fine, except all > of the computers we could potentially use had a different serial port; > COM2 was the right type. (I got involved because I 'knew' computers and > was trusted not to screw things up.) KM> Ah yes, I remember the confusion when something wanted an odd COM KM> port. No, this was even: COM2, though using Linux would be odd: /dev/ttyS1. (That joke 'bytes'!!) > KM> Tho apparently if I wish to invest in an expensive gaming > KM> keyboard, I could get one with the USB polling rate being > KM> settable in hardware. > KM> https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/540742485413557856 > KM> / > Wow! Think how fast I could flip through those Solitaire cards when the > battery on the mouse dies! ...As you know I'm not into gaming but can > appreciate for those who do. Know there's all sorts of 'tricks' like > the sponginess/firmness of the key, travel distance, suppose even > spacing. KM> LOL... I need to get a better keyboard. Need wireless cuz KM> otherwise way too much tripping hazard, but I'm about done with KM> Logitech wireless, they don't hold up well at all. And I don't KM> like the "chiclet" keys so many have. I've got a couple of Logitech mk270 -- good news is they don't interfer with each other as two different frequencies. I did take an old label strip I think originally intended to identify wiring harnesses, smipped off an individual number and tagged the dongle, keyboard, and mouse -- so one set is '21' and the other '22' so I don't accidentally mix. I haven't had problems (knock on wood!) and one has been in constant use as it is used by the MythTV Frontend where we usually watch TV. We have another Logitech: K400r and works fine but I'm not a fan of the keyboard: too squished or something, keys themselves have an odd 'feel' -- maybe not enough travel? Has a touchpad to the right (which is probably why the keyboard seems squished) -- again works fine, just 'not a fan' and prefer using the wireless mouse I added. > KM> The last one I bought is a stock HP cooler, and didn't look like > KM> much but had good user reviews -- it's a small heatpipe thing > KM> with one fan, and you wouldn't think it would be adequate for an > KM> i7 or xeon, but CPU idle temp hovers around 30C !!! > That's a nice cool idle! Taking the time to scan through reviews is > usually worthwhile: benefit from the trials and errors of others! KM> Yeah. Went with it cuz it had a number of astonished reviews from KM> real IT types, and presented minimal fuss and bother. Was so KM> impressed I bought another for the other PC. Yup: I find it worth the time to scroll through the reviews: sometimes verifies is a good choice, sometimes one finds a better option. Some- times mention of good but wish had this feature, etc. And of course there are those clueless questions which are good for a laugh. > I'm not into the looks of a computer so much as the action. My cases > are about as plain as possible on the outside, inside functional and > roomy, though I still lean towards the mindset of more bays is better - > I don't need to install four 250 GB HDDs any longer to get a TB of > storage! KM> Yeah. Been watching Gamer's Nexus reviews of modern cases, and KM> boy am I glad I kept my hoarded old-style cases. Even if I don't KM> need to install a bunch of internal HDs anymore ... they have KM> bays to put my hotswap bays in (how I do boot drives nowadays) KM> and enough room to work, and decent ventilation, and no stupid KM> "features" that are a waste of plastic. A long time ago I had one computer case with a 'trap door' to hold a boot disk -- made sense as didn't have to go looking for it should one need it. KM> In fact I think I should go by the electronics recycler and see KM> if they have any languishing in the back. Once they all go to KM> scrap, there'll be no more. Any with that stack of ten drive bays KM> with six you can access from the front, GIMME. Really! I've got a few computers here just in storage -- the innards need to be updated and at this point easier to keep intact -- don't have to store the parts I removed (some are worthwhile to keep). Have also run into the problem where I removed a cable/wire, labeled it because it did not have its function, and then found later the label fell off. > As for the RGB fans, etc., if they'd turn red when getting too hot and > blue when cool that would be OK, but otherwise. KM> THAT! That would actually be USEFUL! But nooo, they're just KM> distracting blinkentrash. IMO yup. And I saw some time back a case with a built-in display. Not the highest resolution, but decent. So the problem here is I'd have to put the computer on the desk to see -- currently is on a short table I built -- UPS underneath, top of tower case about even with the top of the desk. So that means the display would be covered up by the right side of the desk. > > Whatever is profitable! ...Did see a refurbished MSI motherboard > > advertised last night. Interesting - until I read the reviews: some not > > cleaned very well -- thermal compound residue (I could accept that) and > > dust -- I could accept the dust too but sort of implying these boards > > were found in a corner some place. Also bent pins and other things > > making me a little scared of this particular offering. > KM> Yeah, when you start seeing bent pins, that's scrapyard salvage. > KM> Also, the good dealers generally do free shipping, or at worst at > KM> cost. The scoundrels make their money on the shipping fee and > KM> don't care if it's dead and returned. KM> And it turns out Newegg is actually damaging returned KM> motherboards on purpose so they can claim "bent pin" and not have KM> to give you a refund. (Either that, or claiming it's so, and it's KM> going right back on the sale listing as "open box".) When this KM> happens even tho the box was sent back unopened, you KNOW it's an KM> internal problem. Gamer's Nexus posted their Bad Experience last KM> week. Shouldna ripped off someone with a big platform; big oops. Newegg may find themselves lower and lower on my list of sources. > KM> As the world becomes heavier and harder to carry... so basically > KM> whatever board has the right feature set and whatever compatible > KM> CPU is at a good price point. There is such a thing as agonizing > KM> over the decision until it's so outdated that you have to start > KM> over. > BTDT!! At this point I'm not ready to do the switch: had put off a > bunch of stuff just because I "couldn't see" ==> wasn't wearing one KM> So what did you buy? or did you agonize too long and now they're KM> out of stock! Bought a MSI Pro Z690-A DDR4 motherboard last week. Will have to get a decent cpu cooler -- right now looks like a Noctua NH-U12S Redux -- preliminary checking seems to have high reviews. Can't use the spare cooler I have as wrong socket fitting; not a horrible thing as can use when upgrade the 'alternate' MythTV Backend computer -- whenever I go to update the MythTV stuff around here I run into a semi-major issue so starting to have a current running system, then alternate updating system on a separate network, get the bugs worked out, then switch the new system in. > And yes, faster just means I wait less. I probably won't notice any > difference between say 2.8 GHz and 3.2 GHz. And as you said, some of > what it can do is limited by the motherboard and then the programme. KM> Even with a quad core, you notice 2.x vs 3.x with stuff like KM> browsers. Otherwise, not so much. But once you get up into the KM> i5/i7 range, the difference pretty much disappears, unless you're KM> doing video rendering or modern gaming. Solitaire and Mahjongg count? As for the new system's CPU considering an i5 12600K or i7 12700K -- prefer the integrated graphics then can use the built-in HDMI and DisplayPort video for the two monitors. I don't need a super-high video resolution -- 1920x1080 is fine. OTOH I don't want to limit myself in the future so the capability of a little higher is a consideration. Memory amount is another consideration. I think I have a pair of 8 GB (so 16 GB) from when I had a bad stick and so RMA'd it. Maybe it was eventually re-installed, I don't recall. ...Will find out shortly!! KM> My primary criteria are lots of SATA ports and lots of PCIe slots KM> (I don't care about NVMe slots because the PCIe-16x cards work KM> just as good, and you can stuff in more of 'em.) After that we'll KM> discuss other features, which CPU, etc. (Well, not AMD. Will take KM> one for free, won't pay for 'em.) Yup: PCIe slots for eventual updating. I tend to buy a bigger-than- necessary system now because I don't want to discard the whole thing when I can (hopefully) plan ahead and upgrade with a simple daughtercard. ...The current system I'm using now is fine except for the Southbridge issue when plugging in a USB device will sometimes lock up. > Oh, here's a question: I'm running Oracle VM Virtualbox and there was > something in the VM configuration about number of cores. Is this a > 'virtual core' or is it using a real core? So my question is sort of if > I allocate two cores via VM/to VM are any being taken away from the > actual machine and so should be compensated for? ...Something like if I > have a six core CPU and allocate VM for two do I only have four left? KM> Uh.... I have no idea. I don't think it monopolizes yours? KM> OK, thanks -- copied for reference and will take a look later. Lately the only thing I've done with the VM is BBSing and it's much faster than I can type! QWK and REP transfers are almost instanteous.. What I really need to do is work on/with the Virtual Linux machine so when I play with options I don't have residual garbage left after removing 'cause it didn't do what I thought it would do. KM> So apparently a "CPU" to a VM is just a process. So no relation KM> to actual cores, other than you can't set it to more than the KM> hardware actually has (cuz obviously it wouldn't know how to do KM> that). Sort of makes sense as the virtual machine only exists in the 'imagination' of the real machine. KM> I'm still wondering how the heck Fireball is seeing wifi (like KM> from passing cars) when it's not supposed to have a wifi chip. KM> Windows doesn't think it has one. Linux doesn't see one. WTF. KM> I've never seen that unless the device runs entirely on wifi, but KM> it's on the wired network. Maybe somehow sneaking in from a device with WiFi?? > As for the thousand dollars - uh, no. I'm not even wanting to spend a > thousand dollars on the entire system. KM> Lucky you, now just the vidcard costs that much! I know! Some add-on parts cost more than what I paid for the computer! I suppose if I was into movies the hardware needed for 4K would be worthwhile. In the meantime Jeopardy! on Channel 6_1 at 1080p is all I need! (And the current College Championship is on 8_1 at 720p. ....Huh: was checking something and saw where Hoda Kotb (Today show anchor) was a reporter on WQAD (8_1) in Moline, Illinois, from 1988 to 1989. I don't remember her, but then usually watch news on Channel 6. ....Not recalling the guy's name right now but one of their sportscasters recently was hired to anchor on one the national sports networks. > > I have mostly gone by spec and price for the video cards around here. > > AFAIK all of the TVs except the most recent one only do 1080 so no need > > to have a 4K-capable video card. Plus the TV stations only put out 1080 > > max anyway. > KM> Next time I buy one it'll probably have to do 4k if only because > KM> I'd like to have a better monitor, but hardly priority. > Right. Sort of like my 'rule' of when looking to buy something try to > plan ahead. I might now only need a video card doing 1080 but > eventually 4K will be the norm. I was also thinking of dual monitors > here at the computer desk. The desk prohibits because of the hutch > cubbyholes and I like/need the storage. Old monitor is mounted to the > wall and can swivel over the hutch - sometimes handy, sometimes not (as > covers up other things). KM> Yeah. Been looking for a better vidcard for Silver, because the KM> old one just can't keep up with the new hardware, and stalls KM> videos. How good do I want to go? Er, well, fifty bucks worth. KM> And not NVidia if I can help it, cuz stupid driver tricks. Also KM> stupid chip tricks; turns out the GT730 doesn't exist, it's a KM> GT400 with new markings, so about half as fast as it's supposed KM> to be. nVidea (however their capitalization is) has pulled a few not-so-nice tricks. Updated my (old) Lenovo laptop to Ubuntu 20.04, the nVidea driver which worked fine with 18.04 no longer works. Default driver for you! > > TV's HDMI input was recognized at the higher definition the video card > > adjusted tself to the higher resolution (probably 3840x2160): man was > > the Ubuntu Desktop display tiny!! > KM> Oh yeah, that is a problem.. Adobe CS2 suite is really stupid > KM> about menu scaling, and Illustrator's menus almost require a > KM> magnifying glass to even FIND them. At a mere 1920x1080. Hate to > KM> think what they'd look like on a 4k screen! (I hear this problem > KM> never did get fixed in the version you can buy on a CD, and now > KM> they're subscription only. I won CS2 at a trade show.) > If teeny-tiny at 1080 they'd almost disappear at 4K! KM> Did a fly speck on my screen?? No but a gnat did! > One other problem I had with that computer/TV combination was MythTV was > 'getting confused'. Forgot what the problem was but configuring the > main screen to 1080 (from probably 4K) corrected. (MythTV is > technically an overlaid window -- can shrink and see the Desktop > underneath. I'm guessing one window at "1K" and the main one at 4K > confused something.) KM> There's also a mess between DVI-D and DVI-I... latter maxes at KM> 1600x1200 if it's converted to analog, or something like that. I KM> may have 'em backwards. I'm so confused. My work here is done! Let's see: pull the cheat sheet from the box I have the spare video cables in.... DVI-I digital and analog, digital may be single or dual link. DVI-D digital only, single or dual link. DVI-A analog only Single-link DVI: up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz Dual-link DVI: up to 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz Looks like there are five different variations of the cable connectors(!). > KM> 'modern look' themes wind up with controls so small you need > KM> one-pixel accuracy to use at all. > Oh Good Grief! Off hand I don't know what the specifics are but the > icons in the Favourites Bar (to the left in Ubuntu) are about 3/8" > squares. The hide/min-max/close are about an eighth inch and about as > small as I like conveniently. Could go a little smaller if I had to. KM> Or why I use Plastik as my window decorations. Big honkin' KM> XP-style controls. I don't care if it looks cloddy, it's KM> FUNCTIONAL. Yup, there are times when ease and functionality is more important than beauty. I also tend to go for a plainer Desktop so the icons on the Desktop show up. > > > I'm not even sure if more than one station. > > KM> Or the fact that I've done long stretches with no TV! > > You don't know what you're missing! (Or should that be I don't know > > what I'm missing?!) > KM> Peace and quiet? :D > :) I'll admit to 'needing' some background noise: part of my 'job' > growing up was monitoring Dad's office and if the radio station went off > the air or did a sports or talk radio thing to change the station - was > supposed to be relaxing music. So I'm used to music/something in the > background, but do admit lately it is nice to hear quiet every so often. KM> Heh... for background "fill up the cracks in my brain" I use KM> industrial (harsh electronic music) ... can't understand a word KM> they say but it works great. I think this goes to the station I'm KM> currently using... my preferred ones all died. KM> http://78.47.146.188:8000/mp3 Well that station/site wouldn't work for me but then you're not me! :) ....Sort of reminds me some time back I was wandering through my Pandora preferences and there was a page where other members could approve/dis- approve of my station. I did have several indicating they didn't like my taste in music -- do I care? Nope! ...And the whole purpose of Pandora is to have the music the subscriber likes and filter out what doesn't like. https://youtu.be/a0YRaobNDuw And then my station also has Nickelback and Lord Huron. > > Yes, I'm on the western side of the Mississippi also -- just barely: > > (city) blocks, not even a mile. (Good news: live on a bluff so if > > Mississippi water starts lapping at my doorstep we're all in a heap of > KM> Don't jump! > Would have to get a really good push-off as while the hill is steep it's > not that steep: "cannonballllll! " KM> Barry! why are you down there in the mud?? Slipped on the ice! With the leaves off the trees can see the top portion of the bridges arches from my window up here. For some reason seems only the upriver span is lit up (has a purplish-blue glow of the white arch). Both spans have the navigation lights blinking. KM> "High Contrast" is usually awful. Glare white on black is not KM> better than black on glare white. Just let me set my own damn KM> colors and we wouldn't be having this discussion!! A few years back I did experiment with high contrast, etc., settings -- I'm "tint blind" so the colours I see aren't always what others see. High contrast almost hurt! > .. Senior texting: ROFL,CGU Rolling on the floor laughing, can't get up. KM> I've fallen and I can't.... fancy meeting you here!! When did you get in town? (Sloppy reference to the sliding down the bluff a few paragraphs ago.) ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... I don't know where I'm going but I don't want to be late -- Tom Selleck --- 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) .