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Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware
by Abby 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

For sure! Dag Microsoft! Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: James Knott <james.knott(a)rogers.com> Date: 08-07-2015 16:36 (GMT-05:00) To: GTALUG Talk <talk(a)gtalug.org> Subject: Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware On 08/07/2015 04:07 PM, Abby wrote: > That is what I have done, but most of the computers have been very > difficult or impossible for me to deactivate. You can thank Microsoft for that. --- Talk Mailing List talk(a)gtalug.org http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk

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Fwd: Re: UEFI bios/firmware
by Abby 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Abby <maxcess(a)gmx.com> Date: 08-07-2015 16:07 (GMT-05:00) To: GTALUG Talk <talk(a)gtalug.org> Subject: Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware Hi SteveThank you for your efforts.That is what I have done, but most of the computers have been very difficult or impossible for me to deactivate.Abby Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Steve Harvey <sgh(a)vex.net> Date: 08-07-2015 15:41 (GMT-05:00) To: GTALUG Talk <talk(a)gtalug.org> Subject: Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware On Fri, Aug 07, 2015 at 02:28:06PM -0400, maxcess wrote: > Hi gang. > Can anyone send me links or info. On how to disable high security UEFI in > windows 8 & 8.1 computers. > Cheers Abby Hi Abby, Googling UEFI BIOS disable should bring up quite a few links. Unfortunately, there is no standardized way of disabling the UEFI and switching back to using BIOS. In general, there are basically two challenges: 1) getting the attention of the firmware that runs on initial startup before the operating system (Windows or Linux) gets to start, and 2) navigating the setup menus to disable the UEFI. Doing the first usually requires you to press or hold down a particular key at a particular time, which one and when depends upon the manufacturer. Depending upon a number of factors, you may or may not see a splash screen providing a hint while booting. Knowing the make and model of your computer can also help to determine this. Most computer manufacturers should have user documentation in PDF format that you can download from their web site. I hope that this helps. --- Talk Mailing List talk(a)gtalug.org http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk

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Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware
by Abby 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

Thanks MarceloUnfortunately, that link is outdated info. FYI to everyone. People close to me have been have major issues with these computers. I can not boot from any other device. I can not ever give then a true format with Linux. Abby Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Marcelo Cavalcante <kalibslack(a)gmail.com> Date: 08-07-2015 15:53 (GMT-05:00) To: GTALUG Talk <talk(a)gtalug.org> Subject: Re: [GTALUG] UEFI bios/firmware 2015-08-07 15:28 GMT-03:00 maxcess <abidar.maxcess(a)gmail.com>: > Hi gang. > Can anyone send me links or info. On how to disable high security UEFI in > windows 8 & 8.1 computers. > Cheers Abby > You could also check technet: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481258.aspx ;] > > --- > Talk Mailing List > talk(a)gtalug.org > http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk > --- Talk Mailing List talk(a)gtalug.org http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk

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Re: [GTALUG] Thinkpad T420 as a VM host
by Brent Kimberley 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

How is the state of the kvm over lan, Serial over Lan, and drive over lan implementation on the T420 wrt Linux? Can the keyboard, drive, etc be securely accessed from behind a firewall? ‎ ‎ Original Message From: D. Hugh Redelmeier Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 23:20 To: GTALUG Talk Reply To: D. Hugh Redelmeier Subject: Re: [GTALUG] Thinkpad T420 as a VM host | From: William Park <opengeometry(a)yahoo.ca> | If T420 can do 16GB, then I can replace my desktop with it, which has | 16GB (DDR3-1333) right now. But, I have question about T420 keyboard. Most notebooks don't have the performance of desktops because the tradeoffs are different. - Most notebook CPUs are weaker than desktop CPUs. Fewer cores and lower clock rates, for a start. There are exceptions but they are outliers. - Ditto for GPUs. But GPUs may not matter much for what you hope to do. - adding disks and RAM is more constrained. May well be OK anyway - desktop displays can and should be better than notebook displays (but I seem to care more than most folks) - in a fixed installation, notebooks are a bit awkward (but you can fix that by using an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse). Many new notebooks don't let you replace batteries, RAM, or disks. Beware. Of course this is not the case with ThinkPad T420 notebooks. If you want portability, the T420 is too old: more modern Intel CPUs take a lot less power for the same performance and thus the battery lasts longer. If you don't want portability, a W-series ThinkPad may be more powerful and expandable (may depend on the generation). My son's W520 will accept up to 32G of RAM, I think. Lennart has a similar one. And it comes with a larger screen. Here's an example of a very powerful non-portable notebook: <http://www.nmicrovip.ca/rog-core-i7-4710hq-16gb-ram-1tb-hdd-17-3-gtx860m-2g…> - quad core i7-4710hq - 1920x1080 17" IPS screen - 16G of RAM (that may well be the limit) - NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX860M Graphics with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM Beware: bilingual keyboard | I currently have T43, and its keyboard is difficult to type on, at least | for me. Many people love ThinkPad keyboards, especially the ones on older ThinkPads. One of the main complaints about newer ThinkPad keyboards is "they aren't as good as the old ones". How can this square with your observations? - keyboards are at least partially a matter of personal taste - your T43 might have a dud keyboard. In any case, the only way you'll really know if you'll like a keyboard is to try it. Me? Lots of keyboards seem bad, some seem elegant but not to my taste, many seem fine / good enough. None has captured me. | - it's stiff, so you need to "push" rather than "tap", | - it doesn't spring back, fast enough or "crispy" enough, so you | actually notice and become aware of the keypresses. And, that | interferes with my typing. Many typists like being sure when they press a key. Significant key travel is considered desirable by many (but not all). And rare in modern notebooks because of the quest for thin. A tactile signal of a keypress registering is considered a Good Thing (except by many gamers). Something sort of lost with most modern key structures. There has been a renaissance of mechanical keyboards. They cost several times as much as regular keyboards. And a great deal has been written about the characteristics of each. I thought that I'd like Cherry blue, brown, or clear keys. <http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-…> I'm using a mechanical keyboard to type this (Rosewill RK-6000; imitation Alps keys, somewhat like Cherry Blue). It is fine, but not a revelation. I have the same reaction to my wife's keyboard with Cherry brown switches. I find it especially disappointing that a key can register on my keyboard without a click and a click can happen without a registration (these problems don't seem to happen with the way I type). In ThinkPads, I like my x61's keyboard better than my T530's. THIS MESSAGE IS FOR THE USE OF THE INTENDED RECIPIENT(S) ONLY AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, PROPRIETARY, CONFIDENTIAL, AND/OR EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER ANY RELEVANT PRIVACY LEGISLATION. No rights to any privilege have been waived. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, copying, conversion to hard copy, taking of action in reliance on or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this message in error, please notify me by return e-mail and delete or destroy all copies of this message.

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gimp.org no longer in existence?
by sciguy 06 Aug '15

06 Aug '15

Hi I was trying to reach gimp.org, and it appears that its domain is parked. I have tried different browsers, VPN, and so on, and I get to the same site hosted by Domain Name Sales. Meanwhile, Google still points to parts of GIMP as though it still exists. Not sure what is going on. Have they been hacked? Paul

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[GTALUG-Announce] GTALUG Meeting on Tuesday at 7:30pm
by Myles Braithwaite 06 Aug '15

06 Aug '15

<http://gtalug.org/meeting/2015-08/> # Samba Progress Over the Last Six Years with William Murrithy The talk is a continuation of William's previous talk on Samba in 2009. It looks at how close samba has closed the gap between AD and samba with samba 4, what's still left, packaging/deployment improvements and a demo of the samba deployment and and management. ## Location George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre 245 Church Street, Room 203 Ryerson University <http://goo.gl/maps/16oJ2> <http://www.openstreetmap.org/way/23447525> ## Schedule * 6:00 pm - Vote for where we should dine before the meeting here: <http://survey.gtalug.org/index.php/642325>. * 7:30 pm - Meeting and presentation. * 9:00 pm - After each meeting a group of GTALUGers move to the The Imperial Pub (54 Dundas St East) for refreshments and more socializing. # Code of Conduct We want a productive happy community that can welcome new ideas, improve every process every year, and foster collaboration between individuals with differing needs, interests and skills. We gain strength from diversity, and actively seek participation from those who enhance it. This code of conduct exists to ensure that diverse groups collaborate to mutual advantage and enjoyment. We will challenge prejudice that could jeopardize the participation of any person in the community. The Code of Conduct governs how we behave in public or in private whenever the Linux community will be judged by our actions. We expect it to be honored by everyone who represents the community officially or informally, claims affiliation, or participates directly. It applies to activities online or offline. We invite anybody to participate. Our community is open. Please read more about the GTALUG Code of Conduct here: <http://gtalug.org/about/code-of-conduct/>. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the GTALUG Code of Conduct please contact the GTALUG Board @ <board(a)gtalug.org>. --- GTALUG Announce mailing list announce(a)gtalug.org http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Emacs as X Windows Manager?
by William Park 05 Aug '15

05 Aug '15

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=EXWM-Window-Manager Now, all it needs is an editor... -- William

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Re: [GTALUG] Fedora 22 Live Workstation Install - no fglrx - no pdftk
by Russell Reiter 31 Jul '15

31 Jul '15

<snip the problem description> > > Can you duplicate the problem, all the while keeping a log of the > various temperatures that are available to you? The CPU can monitor a > few of the system temperatures, but I don't remember how (google > surely does). I was thinking of picking up one of those lazer doohickey's the health department uses to measure the temperature of steam table contents. I can't see if I was touching the cpu die or the bottom of the heat-sinc. For now I'v installed lm-sensor which shows: [root@solon ~] # sensors atk0110-acpi-0 Adapter: ACPI interface Vcore Voltage: +1.12 V (min = +0.85 V, max = +1.60 V) +3.3 Voltage: +3.26 V (min = +2.97 V, max = +3.63 V) +5 Voltage: +5.12 V (min = +4.50 V, max = +5.50 V) +12 Voltage: +11.98 V (min = +10.20 V, max = +13.80 V) CPU FAN Speed: 2755 RPM (min = 600 RPM, max = 7200 RPM) CHASSIS FAN Speed: 0 RPM (min = 600 RPM, max = 7200 RPM) POWER FAN Speed: 2428 RPM (min = 600 RPM, max = 7200 RPM) CPU Temperature: +43.0°C (high = +60.0°C, crit = +95.0°C) MB Temperature: +40.0°C (high = +45.0°C, crit = +95.0°C) k8temp-pci-00c3 Adapter: PCI adapter Core0 Temp: +36.0°C Core0 Temp: +43.0°C Core1 Temp: +40.0°C Core1 Temp: +38.0°C So far It looks like I don't have the chassis fan plugged into the right slot. But at least the unit works without blocking output of the air conditioner any more. > > Can you affect uptimes by running CPU-bashing programs? > > Are crashes at predictable uptimes when you are running identical > workloads? Are these times affected by your ad hoc cooling boosters? As you can see from lm-sensor, after the firmware update, I'm within operating parameters now. One feature of this motherboard is the ability to recover from different bios's. I'm curious beyond making it stable now, I may regress the bios and log what was happening at the time. > > | The board default is to set overclocking as auto. I didn't choose it. > | I haven't found a table of recommended settings like I once got with > | service manuals when I bought a board. Now all I can find is quick > | start or user manuals. > > There is a (probably obsolete) manual that talks about the BIOS setup > screen. (I'd look at this on my board but I don't wish to reboot.) Apparently ASUS has a MS utility they ship with the board. Ai gear 2, which allows overclocking the MB from userspace. The condition seems similar to the laptop I experienced where the MS OS had hooks into controlling the power management. > > "auto" is not described but it should meen "no overclocking". > Especially if all the related settings are "auto" too. > > When you flash new firmware, you are supposed to select "load setup > defaults" in the CMOS setup "exit" tab. I always do. It only matters > sometimes. Then you have to go reset all the little things you had > changed. That's what I chose, I had assumed conservative settings but perhaps that ASUS overclocking utility only works under one condition, auto. I'll never know, I don't use Windows. I did read that it killed audio on one board and that it was problematic for others. > > | Well the combination of being able to choose a lower display > | resolution and whatever was changed after the bios update did show > | about a 10-15% reduction in CPU access when playing DVD's according to > | Plasma's graphical system monitor. > > What is "CPU access"? The little graphic thingy in System Monitor which gives a visual output of load as a line graph for each CPU die, as well as for Memory/Swap and Network. At this time and at increased resolution the load line hovers around 60% as opposed to the old firmware at 800X600 which showed 85-100% load with video on VLC. > > | I do note that desktop > | sprite animations are slower. > > What are "desktop sprite animations"? The mouse pointer? Sprites are a term for layers used in animations. So in the case of the mouse pointer, it exists on a sprite layer. Any windows animations like dragging the widget around aren't dragging a box per-se, they are moving the indicator (0,0) to the point where the new sprite is created, leaving the old one to be destroyed on the screen redraw. In this case in Plasma, when you access the menu it pops up very slooooooowly and disappears in the same fashion. I'ts kind of cute. <snip the middle> > | It's the oddest thing. In the menu screen there is one line to set the > | date in the usual way. You know tab to the next setting and use the > | plus and minus keys to go up or down. However when you move to the > | next line to set hours, minutes and seconds, you can change them but > | enter won't commit them. F10 will write changes to the cmos but on > | restart the default time is always 00:00:00. > > Odd. Yeah, Odd. My error. I used + & - to set the date but tried to type in the time. It let me enter the numbers and in fact did display them in the right place but didn't commit them. I cleared the RTC using the jumper this time and figured out my error when I re-read the posts. Sometimes just to be able to read the question again in the light of others scrutiny provides an answer. It's part of why I use the list and why I'm grateful for it > > | > | Oh yea and whether or not it's worth it to modify the CPU > | > | heat-sinc. > | > > | > First guess: not yet. > | > | After the bios update there doesn't seem to be as much heat coming off > | it, but I can't tell for sure. The heat-sinc always feels cool to the > | touch on the top and sides but around the base is another matter. > > See above. > > | On the link you posted on thermal pads these guy's were talking about > | lapping matching surfaces on ground glass > > Don't take my posting a link as support for what it says! I understand that. I thought lapping the die was kind of goofy too. It's just that it reminded me of one of my old shop jobs. > > Lapping seems like a goofy amount of investment in old hardware. I > imagine people do that for the sense of control in a world where Intel > and AMD make all the decisions. Kind of like those of us who put > Linux on Windows boxes. I'm with you on that one. I like using Linux because I always feel I've learned something. Not how to do some thing. At this point I'm still a little at odds with what to do about QT, but I can live with this state of things. It looks to me like this bios is heavily vested in Windows gamer land with the bios optimized to accept hooks from the ASUS GUI overclocking utility. This board looks like it has good audio support so it would be nice to have an all in one home theatre with surround sound as my workspace, but it's not really a necessity. Anything else I do to this unit is more out of curiosity than needs. Thanks for the pointers. Now my SO won't have to wonder where all her nail polish remover went. Russell > --- > Talk Mailing List > talk(a)gtalug.org > http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk >

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My company is looking for syadamins, Javascript and java developers
by David Collier-Brown 31 Jul '15

31 Jul '15

The classic HR descriptions are at http://www.indeed.ca/worldgaming-jobs World Gaming organizes prize-paying tournaments for video games. Many of us are gamers (I'm not, I'm just a nerd), but the business is organizing the tournaments, recording the scores, collecting the fees and paying out the prizes. We're at https://worldgaming.com logically, University and Adelaide physically. The front end is Angular JS, using REST to talk to the back end in Java. The platform is Tomcat, and the database is PostgreSQL on Centos. We develop with Eclipse and Maven on the back end, plus git and flyway for source and database revision control. The front end toolset is more variable, mostly using node-based tools and git. We need good Java, javascript and full-stack developers, plus at least an intermediate sysadmin, so if you're such a person or know someone who is, pass the word on! --dave -- David Collier-Brown, | Always do right. This will gratify System Programmer and Author | some people and astonish the rest davecb(a)spamcop.net | -- Mark Twain

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Re: [GTALUG] Fedora 22 Live Workstation Install - no fglrx - no pdftk
by Russell Reiter 30 Jul '15

30 Jul '15

On 7/28/15, D. Hugh Redelmeier <hugh(a)mimosa.com> wrote: > | From: Russell Reiter <rreiter91(a)gmail.com> > > Be sure of your diagnosis before applying drastic remedies. You claim > overheating, and I previously responded on the assumption that this > was a correct deduction. Now I'll question it: what observation > convince you that overheating is a problem? There were hard crashes with no hanging and no warning, just the power turned off in order to save the cpu. These crashes were mitigated by directing cold air from my AC directly into the unit till I did the bios update. > > Also: I think that overclocking is really just a game. If it isn't > fun, don't do it. The cost (in uncertainty etc.) is usually more than > the benefit (subjectively unobservable speed-up). Don't do it and > then complain about things going wrong! If I don't think it's worth > your time to do overclocking, I'm sure it's not worth my time to help > you do it. The board default is to set overclocking as auto. I didn't choose it. I haven't found a table of recommended settings like I once got with service manuals when I bought a board. Now all I can find is quick start or user manuals. > > I think that generally a computer needs to be close to twice as fast > to feel significantly faster. Of course there are cases where > crossing a threshold matters (eg. playing videos). Well the combination of being able to choose a lower display resolution and whatever was changed after the bios update did show about a 10-15% reduction in CPU access when playing DVD's according to Plasma's graphical system monitor. I've bumped the resolution back up to 1024X768 for the time being. I'd don't watch a lot of DVD's, but I do use video to aid me in ad-hoc tweaking. I do note that desktop sprite animations are slower. > > | <snip previous> > | > existing solution. (AMD CPUs came with a disk of stuff instead of > | > paste and it is supposed to be single-use: detaching and re-attaching > | > a heat sink is not intended to work.) > | > | Could you describe this disk stuff in a little more detail? did you > | get the package locally? > > The disk came on the bundled heat-sink supplied by AMD. It was > perhaps an inch in diameter and a little thicker than a sheet of > paper. The idea is that it melts and spreads when it is sandwiched > between the HS and the CPU (clamped) and the CPU heats up. So it > spreads and becomes very thing. But it isn't supposed to do that > twice. > > It's not something that you'd buy by itself. It may or may not come > with a Heat-Sink / Fan unit (HSF). > > I haven't assembled a system in years. Enough decent off-the-shelf > systems come along. So the AMD HSF units may come with different > arrangements now. Here's a random thread about an AMD thermal pad: > <http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=863613> > > | I think I am going to change the heat sinc on this unit. The one that > | came with it has this copper pipe threaded through it, Makes it look > | sort of like the headers on the 67 Mustang I once owned. UNlike those > | headers these ones look like all show and no go. > > If it once was good enough, why would it not be now? Dust, > deteriorated contact with CPU, ...? I think perhaps I got it because it wasn't good enough, or not set up well enough or maybe both. I've seen a couple of threads about this board where significant overheating was an issue for some MS users. This machine formally had windows on it and a video card which had been removed. I remember having quite a time getting linux on to one particular laptop. It would overheat right off. I was able to finally install Debian after booting from a dos disk, formatting a fat partition and then installing the MS DOS power management utilities for the OS that was originally bundled with the unit. That's the one I had to sit on a bag of frozen peas for the unit to stay cool long enough to get anywhere. Now I have a couple of those reusable freezer blocks for the picnic cooler in case I have to do that again. Sorry can't help myself ...Gotta give peas a chance. > > Does it feel hot when you think that the CPU is overheating? If not, > there is a problem, I would think. After all, it is supposed to be > carrying the heat to the air. It seemed to be a little too hot around the base of the heat-sinc, while the fins of it were quite cool on the top and sides, which made me think perhaps there was too much thermal paste or perhaps none at all, or even poorly mated surfaces from the beginning. > > | Things got better after I flashed the bios. > > My guess is that the BIOS update would not change thermal management, > but we will never know. (I rarely read much into the manufacturer's > notes about BIOS updates because they disclose little and hide lots.) > > | After I switched back to > | GDM Plasma did stop hanging and I got to see that desktop for the > | first time on this unit. > > That's good. > > | I did read that north bridge switching is not enabled in later > | releases of this boards bios and I have since found there is an older > | bios with this FSB feature available. Although I usually hesitate to > | trim the north bridge clock. If you've got to trim a clock, trim the > | big clock first and see what acts up first. > > Don't pick at it! Use the BIOS defaults or conservative defaults (my > machine doesn't crash so I rarely see the BIOS screen). The defaults are overclocking enabled. I wish I could find a table of optimal settings from the manufacturer. My first conservative guess got me the BSOD. > > | I wish I was better at math :-) > > Me too. But I think you mean arithmetic. For which I use a > calculator. > > | And not so lazy. I reset the cmos without jumpering it off. When I > | reset it I could set the date but not the time. > > How can you be prevented from setting the time? Isn't date and time > one setting? It's the oddest thing. In the menu screen there is one line to set the date in the usual way. You know tab to the next setting and use the plus and minus keys to go up or down. However when you move to the next line to set hours, minutes and seconds, you can change them but enter won't commit them. F10 will write changes to the cmos but on restart the default time is always 00:00:00. > > | My working theory is that the ready state of the cross fire video bus > | consumes too many cycles. This board can drive four monitors. Since > | it's only driving one monitor, my first thought on stabilising was to > | knock the north bridge back a notch. > > You need to apply Occum's Razor. Your explanation is way to unlikely > and complicated for an early theory. > > You don't actually have a video card, right? You are just using the > on-motherboard video, right? That should not be stressful. Right now I"m using the onboard card. I did try with a PCIeX card I picked up. It's a slightly newer vintage Radeon but that made no difference to the VGA output so I went back to the onboard card. > > | There are Linux utilities from 2008 on the site; audio drivers and > | stuff and there is a check script: > > The fact that it talks about XFree86 means that it is way out of date. > Everyone uses Xorg's X. > > | The question for me right now is, can I just add XFree86 libs to get > | quick time? > > Don't do that! Or, if you do, stop asking for help. You are way off > book. > > | Oh yea and whether or not it's worth it to modify the CPU > | heat-sinc. > > First guess: not yet. After the bios update there doesn't seem to be as much heat coming off it, but I can't tell for sure. The heat-sinc always feels cool to the touch on the top and sides but around the base is another matter. > > | I know I haven't unseated it yet. That does't mean it hasn't been > | removed and reseated before this. > > True enough. > > | I remember I use to be able to find > | little tubes of acetone to clean parts. I guess a trip to Active > | Surplus might find something similar, but I sure don't want to store > | even a litre of acetone at my place, just to use a couple of > | tablespoons of it now. > > Acetone used to be available as nail-polish remover. Small amounts. > In drug stores. Thanks didn't think of that. > > My very few run-ins with cleaning gunk off CPUs and heat sinks > involved paper towels, finger nails, and elbow grease. Apparently their are kits available with both solvent and thermal grease at various price points. I just recall Acetone, being so volatile, leaves the least amount of residue. On the link you posted on thermal pads these guy's were talking about lapping matching surfaces on ground glass, that's how I removed bits of rust from the bottom of a jack plane, although I did that on the ripping bed of a bandsaw instead of a glass plate. They also did not have too much nice to say about thermal pads, just to use razor thin applications of thermal grease. Thanks Russell > --- > Talk Mailing List > talk(a)gtalug.org > http://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk >

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