August 2003 - Legacy - lists.gtalug.org

Windows refund experience?
by lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 05:44:49PM -0400, Ian Goldberg wrote: > They in fact give a "Re-installation CD", including SP1. They've got to > present you with a EULA at *some* point, though. [Possibly after > bootup.] Likely on first boot when you are supposed register/activete and such. > But then we don't get to impress on Dell that they really should offer > to sell machines without the "Microsoft tax" included automatically. I > don't really like that I'm enriching Microsoft just because I bought > some hardware. Well Dell certainly isn't the company to deal with. They seem to sell Only intel hardware and only MS software. They wouldn't want to offend their suppliers and risk loosing their special deals. Their must be someone (other than IBM) that sell laptops without windows. Lennart Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Drive Imaging with dd
by lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Thu, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:36:03AM -0400, Kareem Shehata wrote: > Hey everyone, > > I'm trying to image the XP partition on my laptop using Knoppix and an > external 1394 drive. I've gotten both drives up and running, and checked > that both drives are running at full speed using hdparm: > root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm -t /dev/hda > > /dev/hda: > Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 3.19 seconds = 20.06 MB/sec > root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm -t /dev/sda > > /dev/sda: > Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 2.87 seconds = 22.30 MB/sec > root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm /dev/hda > > /dev/hda: > multcount = 16 (on) > I/O support = 1 (32-bit) > unmaskirq = 1 (on) > using_dma = 1 (on) > keepsettings = 0 (off) > nowerr = 0 (off) > readonly = 0 (off) > readahead = 8 (on) > geometry = 4864/255/63, sectors = 78140160, start = 0 > busstate = 1 (on) > > > When just dump the files directly from one drive to another, the > performance is spot on: > root at ttyp0[test]# dd if=/dev/hda1 of=shuttlepod.hda1 > 2260624+0 records in > 2260624+0 records out > 1157439488 bytes transferred in 64.225880 seconds (18021388 bytes/sec) > > But the moment I stick gzip in the middle, is slows down by at least half: > > root at ttyp0[test]# dd if=/dev/hda1 | gzip -1 > shuttlepod.hda1.gz > 2563337+0 records in > 2563336+0 records out > 1312428032 bytes transferred in 203.288912 seconds (6455975 bytes/sec) > > Any ideas on how to speed this up? I've played with block size and > compression levels, but I can't seem to do better than 10M/s. > BTW: Anyone looking for motivation, my company is mainly a microsoft shop > at the moment. Ghost doesn't support 1394, and our laptops have USB1.1 > only. Imaging used to be a pain (e.g. > 3 hours). Not only would > efficient imaging allow me to install linux on my laptop, it would prove a > valuable tool. Have you looked at top while running dd with gzip? Might be CPU limited. Lennart Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Help! Disk space error
by lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Thu, Aug 28, 2003 at 10:10:36AM -0500, Andrew Malcolmson wrote: > Yeah, try out this BootitNG, which looks pretty good, or burn a copy of > Knoppix and you'll have disk related utilities such as: > ntfsresize (as already mentioned - I think the fact that it's on Knoppix > is a vote of confidence for this program) > qtparted (graphical parted - no console version for some reason) > partimage and partimaged - partition imaging client and server > install-mbr > sfdisk > cfdisk > Logical Volume Manager tools > etc. > etc. > > I own Partition Magic 7 but hardly use it anymore. Only supports ext2 > and I'm not spending $50 US to ugrade to PQM 8 to get ext3 but not > ReiserFS support. Also, some people report problems with Linux > partitions made by PQM. I haven't seen any, but there may be. I don't create partitions with partition magic. Using tune2fs to change ext3 to ext2 before resizing and back is not that big a deal. But if a free tool will do it too, then that is even better. Lennart Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

no negative billing here! Dell - Dimension XPS Desktop (fwd)
by matt-s/rLXaiAEBtBDgjK7y7TUQ＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

Max Blanco <blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F at public.gmane.org> writes: > I wonder if CLIC will recommend against buying from dell.ca for the > reasons outlined above? (Aren't advocacy groups great?) Only when there's enough volunteers to promote these actions ;) -- matthew rice <matt-s/rLXaiAEBtBDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org> starnix inc. phone: 905-771-0017 x242 thornhill, ontario, canada http://www.starnix.com professional linux services & products -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Help! Disk space error
by andzy-bYF1QM81rroS+FvcfC7Uqw＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 16:04:57 -0400 (EDT), "Keith Mastin" <kmastin-PzQIwG9Jn9VAFePFGvp55w at public.gmane.org> said: > > > On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 02:42:38PM -0400, Kareem Shehata wrote: > >> Shoot... I was hoping to use that to squeeze the XP partition on my > >> laptop to fit in Gentoo. Any ideas as to what I can use instead? I > >> really don't want to have to go through re-installing XP, not to > >> mention everything else I have. > > > > Unfortunately the best I have used is partitoin magic, which well is > > commercial, costs some $60 or 70, but really does work well and is worth > > having around for just such stupid emergencies (or bad planning on the > > part of the original installer). I don't think anything else will > > resize NTFS at this time. > > Yup.. its called BootitNG, and you can get it here > http://www.bootitng.com > > It does a lot of things, but one of them is resize NTFS (and other) > partitions. Yeah, try out this BootitNG, which looks pretty good, or burn a copy of Knoppix and you'll have disk related utilities such as: ntfsresize (as already mentioned - I think the fact that it's on Knoppix is a vote of confidence for this program) qtparted (graphical parted - no console version for some reason) partimage and partimaged - partition imaging client and server install-mbr sfdisk cfdisk Logical Volume Manager tools etc. etc. I own Partition Magic 7 but hardly use it anymore. Only supports ext2 and I'm not spending $50 US to ugrade to PQM 8 to get ext3 but not ReiserFS support. Also, some people report problems with Linux partitions made by PQM. ------------------- Andrew Malcolmson -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Konqueror and Yahoo Groups
by fraser-Txk5XLRqZ6CsTnJN9+BGXg＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Thursday 28 August 2003 09:14, Max Blanco wrote: > A very useful program called "snarf" can show you how to spoof. > Check snarf-2.0.9/http.c, and options.c ("-m" spoofs IE) for how to. > Remember to add that to the konqeueror tree, if you can get access. > Or maybe kq already has this feature? Check the command line options. It does. At home, under Konq's Tools menu I have "Change browser identification" which provides a bunch of preset browser IDs. If you don't have that menu item you can customize the toolbars to add it. -- Fraser Campbell <fraser-Txk5XLRqZ6CsTnJN9+BGXg at public.gmane.org> http://www.wehave.net/ Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada Debian GNU/Linux -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Drive Imaging with dd
by kareem-d+8TeBu5bOew5LPnMra/2Q＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

Hey everyone, I'm trying to image the XP partition on my laptop using Knoppix and an external 1394 drive. I've gotten both drives up and running, and checked that both drives are running at full speed using hdparm: root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm -t /dev/hda /dev/hda: Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 3.19 seconds = 20.06 MB/sec root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm -t /dev/sda /dev/sda: Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 2.87 seconds = 22.30 MB/sec root at ttyp0[knoppix]# hdparm /dev/hda /dev/hda: multcount = 16 (on) I/O support = 1 (32-bit) unmaskirq = 1 (on) using_dma = 1 (on) keepsettings = 0 (off) nowerr = 0 (off) readonly = 0 (off) readahead = 8 (on) geometry = 4864/255/63, sectors = 78140160, start = 0 busstate = 1 (on) When just dump the files directly from one drive to another, the performance is spot on: root at ttyp0[test]# dd if=/dev/hda1 of=shuttlepod.hda1 2260624+0 records in 2260624+0 records out 1157439488 bytes transferred in 64.225880 seconds (18021388 bytes/sec) But the moment I stick gzip in the middle, is slows down by at least half: root at ttyp0[test]# dd if=/dev/hda1 | gzip -1 > shuttlepod.hda1.gz 2563337+0 records in 2563336+0 records out 1312428032 bytes transferred in 203.288912 seconds (6455975 bytes/sec) Any ideas on how to speed this up? I've played with block size and compression levels, but I can't seem to do better than 10M/s. BTW: Anyone looking for motivation, my company is mainly a microsoft shop at the moment. Ghost doesn't support 1394, and our laptops have USB1.1 only. Imaging used to be a pain (e.g. > 3 hours). Not only would efficient imaging allow me to install linux on my laptop, it would prove a valuable tool. Cheers, and thanks in advance, Kareem -- /********************************************************************* kareem-d+8TeBu5bOew5LPnMra/2Q at public.gmane.org - Kareem Shehata - 416-676-6611 -------------------------------------------------------------------- The highest use of capital is not to make more money, but to make money do more for the betterment of life. -- Henry Ford (1863 - 1947) ********************************************************************/ -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Konqueror and Yahoo Groups
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, bob findlay wrote: > I tried all those things. It is like the Yahoo Groups webserver refuses to > send out the HTML page to Konqueror in some circumstances. Wierd. > You can patch this type of thing up (if it's the type of problem I interpret you as writing) by spoofing IE or Mozilla. Simply find the header c code, and spoof it. A very useful program called "snarf" can show you how to spoof. Check snarf-2.0.9/http.c, and options.c ("-m" spoofs IE) for how to. Remember to add that to the konqeueror tree, if you can get access. Or maybe kq already has this feature? Check the command line options. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

no negative billing here! Dell - Dimension XPS Desktop (fwd)
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

In addition to the utter lack of consideration evident from the html at dell.ca (Dell does not use "alt" tags in its html code... tsk tsk! www.htmlhelp.com/design/accesibility) this Dell Dimension XPS html code did NOT allow me to delete the microsoft OS. It gave me ONLY two options: XP Home or XP Professional. (Scroll down and see.) No wonder I don't use this "service". I wonder if CLIC will recommend against buying from dell.ca for the reasons outlined above? (Aren't advocacy groups great?) ---------------------------------------------- ?? [spacer.gif] Canada [spacer.gif] Dell.ca About Dell [masthead_global_sep.gif] Support [masthead_global_sep.gif] Contact [masthead_global_sep.gif] Search Order Status [masthead_global_sep.gif] My Cart [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [masthead_dell3.gif] HOME & HOME OFFICE [spacer.gif] [tab_fls.gif] [tab_lcs.gif] [spacer.gif] [tab_rs.gif] [tab_lns.gif] [spacer.gif] [tab_rn.gif] [tab_nn.gif] [spacer.gif] [tab_rn.gif] [tab_xn.gif] Computers Software & Peripherals Learning Center [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Buy Online or Call 1-800-WWW-DELL [spacer.gif] Dell recommends Microsoft?? Windows?? XP [spacer.gif] Useful Links [spacer.gif] Payment Solutions Rebates Security First Time Buyers Shipping & Handling Limited Warranties [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Desktops [masthead_subnav_sep.gif] Notebooks [masthead_subnav_sep.gif] Handhelds [masthead_subnav_sep.gif] Printers [masthead_subnav_sep.gif] Software & Peripherals [masthead_subnavsep.gif] [spacer.gif] customize your system Dimension XPS Dimension XPS [spacer.gif] [blue_corner_tl.gif] [blue_bar_t.gif] [blue_corner_tr.gif] [blue_bar_l.gif] Special Offers - Limited time offers. Click links below for offer details. [blue_bar_r.gif] [gray_bar.gif] [general_bar_l.gif] Online Only! Save up to $300 on select Dell PCs. Click here for details. Two days left Free Video Card upgrade with select system purchase. Click here for details. Two days left Free Shipping on select DELL PCs. Click here for details. Two days left [general_bar_r.gif] [corner_bl.gif] [bar_b.gif] [corner_br.gif] Cutting-edge performance featuring advanced Pentium?? 4 technology and Dual Channel DDR 333MHz SDRAM standard. Price may increase or decrease depending on options selected. [spacer.gif] Image of a Intel P4 Logo [spacer.gif] Intel?? Pentium?? 4 Processor Learn More [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] (_) Intel?? Pentium?? 4 processor at 3.2GHz w/ 800MHz system bus (_) Intel?? Pentium?? 4 processor at 3GHz w/ 800MHz system bus (_) Intel?? Pentium?? 4 processor at 2.80GHz, 800MHz system bus [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Microsoft?? Operating System Learn More [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Microsoft Operating System (_) Microsoft?? Windows?? XP Home Edition (_) Microsoft?? Windows?? XP Professional Edition [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Productivity Software Learn More [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Microsoft Office (_) Microsoft Office XP Professional (English) - Includes Power Point and Access (_) WordPerfect?? Productivity Pack with Quicken New User Edition (English) (_) Microsoft?? Works Suite 2003 with Money 2003 (English) (_) Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition (English) (_) WordPerfect Office 11 [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Multi-Media Learn More [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Sound (_) Sound Blaster Audigy 2(TM) sound card with DVD Audio [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] Limited Warranty, Service and Support Learn More [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] . (_) 1 Yr Ltd. Warranty, 1 Yr In-Home/On-Site Service, 24x7 Phone Hardware Tech Support, 365 days a year (_) 2 Yr Ltd. Warranty, 2 Yr In-Home/On-Site Service, 24x7 Phone Hardware Tech Support, 365 days a year (_) 3 Yr Ltd. Warranty, 3 Yr In-Home/On-Site Service, 24x7 Phone Hardware Tech Support, 365 days a year (_) 4 Yr Ltd. Warranty, 4 Yr In-Home/On-Site Service, 24x7 Phone Hardware Tech Support, 365 days a year (_) 5 Yr Ltd. Warranty, 5 Yr In-Home/On-Site Service, 24x7 Phone Hardware Tech Support, 365 days a year DELL RECOMMENDS [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] [stlink_tl.gif] [stlink_te.gif] [stlink_tr.gif] [stlink_le.gif] [content_action.gif] Continue [stlink_re.gif] [stlink_bl.gif] [stlink_be.gif] [stlink_br.gif] [spacer.gif] ______________________________________________________________________ Advertised configurations and limited time offers only available to customers in Canada. All purchases subject to your Customer Agreement or Dell's standard terms of sale, Dell's limited warranty terms and the applicable Dell or third party service agreement. Copies available on request or at www.dell.ca. All prices, specifications and promotional offers are subject to error, cancellation or change at any time without notice. Remember to back-up your data. Dell is not responsible for lost or corrupt data or software. Dell reserves the right to limit quantities to five (5) systems per customer. Dell cannot be responsible for errors in typography or photography. [spacer.gif] [spacer.gif] For Canadian customers only/ Pour les clients canadiens seulement Copyright 1999-2003 Dell Inc. Privacy : Cookies Terms and Conditions of Sale : Terms of Use: Limited Warranty Terms & Service Contracts -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0

Windows refund experience?
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 28 Aug '03

28 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Robert Brockway wrote: > On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Ian Goldberg wrote: > > > The new Dell laptop just arrived by Purolator. I've got the Debian > > install CD at the ready, but before I do anything, does anyone have > > (local, or at least Canadian) experience with trying to get a Windows > > refund from a manufacturer? > > Check this out... > > http://www.netcraft.com.au/geoffrey/toshiba.html > (from netcraft.com.au:) > 3. At the time of purchase did he notify the vendor that he did > not want the standard MS operating system? My vendor was aware before I purchased the computer that I did not want the standard MS operating system. My vendor had already informed me that it was not possible to have Windows removed from the computer before purchasing it. > 5. Mr Bennett states that he "refrained from using the > software, and .... completely removed it without creating > any backup". How was this accomplished? When was the > Operating System deleted? I removed the operating system by connecting the floppy disk drive, inserting a Red Hat Linux boot floppy, turning on the computer, deleting all partitions on the hard disk, and installing Linux. I did this on the same day I received the computer. If there's anyone else wanting to do a similar thing, I think that the important things are: * Check the license agreement. Look for something like ``If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, PC Manufacturer and Microsoft are unwilling to license the SOFTWARE PRODUCT to you. In such event, you may not use or copy the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, and you should promptly contact PC Manufacturer for instructions on return of the unused products(s) for a refund.'' * As the first thing you do with the computer after you purchase it, boot from a floppy and delete the Windows partition. If you boot Windows even once, you will probably be considered to have accepted the agreement. To prevent any arguments later, it would be best to delete the partition while you are still in the store, with the salesperson watching. * Contact your manufacturer immediately, and say that you do not agree to the terms of the EULA and would like instructions on return of the unused Microsoft Software for a refund. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

1 0