Journals
In 18 hours I will be sitting on a plane headed towards the US. I will be computerless while there, I will be back on 4 OCT. And now I am going to sleep.
Over and out.
Over and out.
I am back in Windows. After some testing I'm guessing my main hard drive got a few bad sectors that happened to directly affect the Windows boot files. I formatted the affected partition and reinstalled Windows and I'm back where I was before all this happened.
I have a lot of junk to install now, but by blindly copying some folders (not knowing it would work) I managed to backup and restore all my browser settings including history and all my mail was seamlessly inserted back into Thunderbird.
The only thing I forgot to copy was the "My pictures" folder in My Documents but it was 99% junk images so I don't really care. Very little was lost, if anything.
So, to anyone that happens to be interested, here are the folders you have to copy if you are locked out of your system and can't make a proper backup:
Firefox, including all bookmarks and history:
C:Documents and Settings<yourname>Application DataMozilla
Thunderbird, including all mail, plugins and settings:
C:Documents and Settings<yourname>Application DataThunderbird
Just copy these folders and replace them into your new Windows installation (after these programs are already installed) and everything will be exactly as you left it, as if nothing had ever happened.
I have a lot of junk to install now, but by blindly copying some folders (not knowing it would work) I managed to backup and restore all my browser settings including history and all my mail was seamlessly inserted back into Thunderbird.
The only thing I forgot to copy was the "My pictures" folder in My Documents but it was 99% junk images so I don't really care. Very little was lost, if anything.
So, to anyone that happens to be interested, here are the folders you have to copy if you are locked out of your system and can't make a proper backup:
Firefox, including all bookmarks and history:
C:Documents and Settings<yourname>Application DataMozilla
Thunderbird, including all mail, plugins and settings:
C:Documents and Settings<yourname>Application DataThunderbird
Just copy these folders and replace them into your new Windows installation (after these programs are already installed) and everything will be exactly as you left it, as if nothing had ever happened.
I have no idea if it is a sign or what, but today Windows ceased to work on my computer. Or who knows what. I actually should be studying for a calculus exam I have on Friday. Not looking forward to it.
For a few days now, Windows had been popping up CHKDSK on every boot, and today it didn't. Which would have been fine except that it didn't start at all. So right now I am writing from a bootable Linux Mint CD. Everything looks slightly odd, all the typefaces are different so all websites look slightly different as well. Not bad, just... different. Text, buttons, toolbars. Curious experience.
As for the windows/hdd issue, I don't have time to figure it out right now
. I just hope it's not the hdd biting the dust.
Anyway, to those who care, this will be my final vacation schedule. If anybody has plans to be in the general vicinity and wants to meet up for tea and crumpets, PM me. Preferably before I leave my residence on 15 SEP because I have no idea when or if I'll have internet access. There may be surprises but Boston and SC will not happen. May meet Tetsu0 in NYC. Still have to arrange something. That reminds me I have to write him when I'm back in Windows.
16 SEP to 19 SEP: Miami, FL
19 SEP to 22 SEP: Disneyworld (Orlando, FL)
23 SEP to 30 SEP: New York City, NY
30 SEP to 03 OCT: Somewhere north of NYC, possibly in or near Ardsley, NY
In any case, expect lots of photos in the photos thread. Up sometime after 4-5 OCT.
For a few days now, Windows had been popping up CHKDSK on every boot, and today it didn't. Which would have been fine except that it didn't start at all. So right now I am writing from a bootable Linux Mint CD. Everything looks slightly odd, all the typefaces are different so all websites look slightly different as well. Not bad, just... different. Text, buttons, toolbars. Curious experience.
As for the windows/hdd issue, I don't have time to figure it out right now
. I just hope it's not the hdd biting the dust.Anyway, to those who care, this will be my final vacation schedule. If anybody has plans to be in the general vicinity and wants to meet up for tea and crumpets, PM me. Preferably before I leave my residence on 15 SEP because I have no idea when or if I'll have internet access. There may be surprises but Boston and SC will not happen. May meet Tetsu0 in NYC. Still have to arrange something. That reminds me I have to write him when I'm back in Windows.
16 SEP to 19 SEP: Miami, FL
19 SEP to 22 SEP: Disneyworld (Orlando, FL)
23 SEP to 30 SEP: New York City, NY
30 SEP to 03 OCT: Somewhere north of NYC, possibly in or near Ardsley, NY
In any case, expect lots of photos in the photos thread. Up sometime after 4-5 OCT.
Edit: Hired one while I was looking away. Thanks for the attention 
I am in need of some advice from someone who has had any experience with web hosting.
A friend of mine needs to set up his new website, and asked if I knew of any reliable web hosts. Unfortunately, I only once was told about 1and1.com which, after further investigation, turns out to be a pretty shady business.
We were looking at several options, but we are not sure which one to go for. He found one that was apparently acceptable, FatCow. But I looked at it and I am not too convinced. So I am asking fellow TWHLers that have dealt with web hosting in the past: Do you know of a decent, reliable web host? What were you experiences?
Any information will be greatly appreciated
I am in need of some advice from someone who has had any experience with web hosting.
A friend of mine needs to set up his new website, and asked if I knew of any reliable web hosts. Unfortunately, I only once was told about 1and1.com which, after further investigation, turns out to be a pretty shady business.
We were looking at several options, but we are not sure which one to go for. He found one that was apparently acceptable, FatCow. But I looked at it and I am not too convinced. So I am asking fellow TWHLers that have dealt with web hosting in the past: Do you know of a decent, reliable web host? What were you experiences?
Any information will be greatly appreciated
I'd like to share my dream of TWHL I had the other night.
We were all playing something that looked like Portal2 coop but for more players, in a poorly designed test chamber built by Archie. There were some invisible/nulled faces and I could noclip out of the world. I also managed to reach a high sniping point. On querying Archie about it, his reply was that it was an intentional feature.
The game was different in that by firing your portal gun at other players, you forced them to respawn, and also in that by pressing spacebar you could turn invisible.
Also I think I won't be visiting Boston this time. Maybe on my next trip, which will probably be never.
We were all playing something that looked like Portal2 coop but for more players, in a poorly designed test chamber built by Archie. There were some invisible/nulled faces and I could noclip out of the world. I also managed to reach a high sniping point. On querying Archie about it, his reply was that it was an intentional feature.
The game was different in that by firing your portal gun at other players, you forced them to respawn, and also in that by pressing spacebar you could turn invisible.
Also I think I won't be visiting Boston this time. Maybe on my next trip, which will probably be never.
As you may or may not have noticed I sort of announced in a previous journal, I will be visiting the city of New York very soon. I will also spend a few days in Florida before that.
My father has been telling me we'll see New York since before I was born. Twenty four years later, he honours his promise.
Needless to say, I am looking forward to this. As with every visit to a new country, I am sure there will be a whole lot of new experiences, sights, smells, and tastes. Unlike with other countries, however, I sort of know what to expect this time. I have had Hollywood shove all these ideas down my throat for over two decades, so naturally I can already imagine what some might be like. Everything I've seen in movies, all of it and more, will be there in a way or another, waiting for me to taste it*. "American Cars", "American Breakfast", "American Everything". It feels surreal... I can already imagine it, almost artificial. I figure that is a side effect of it being a world I have only seen in movies. There is so much to see, especially for an architecture student and photographer. My mouth waters at the thought of it. The landmarks, the cityscape, the subway, every bit of city life. And of course, the B&H store. Goodbye, savings! I may also meet Tetsu0 one day.
There is one thing I am not looking forward to, however, and that is my body cavities being invaded at the immigrations desk. DO NOT WANT. I can only hope it doesn't happen.
All in all, it looks very promising. Despite certain... inconveniences (such as the above, or the lack of a certain bathroom installation of French origin) I am sure it will be an amazing experience and I will definitely post photos when I return.
As a side note, I'd really like a Raspberry Pi for the trip. Portable and inexpensive, good to check mail and download photos to my portable hard drive. Sadly they are on mega back order. I'll probably end up going for a cheap netbook instead.
*not literally - licking parking meters is not in my plans
My father has been telling me we'll see New York since before I was born. Twenty four years later, he honours his promise.
Needless to say, I am looking forward to this. As with every visit to a new country, I am sure there will be a whole lot of new experiences, sights, smells, and tastes. Unlike with other countries, however, I sort of know what to expect this time. I have had Hollywood shove all these ideas down my throat for over two decades, so naturally I can already imagine what some might be like. Everything I've seen in movies, all of it and more, will be there in a way or another, waiting for me to taste it*. "American Cars", "American Breakfast", "American Everything". It feels surreal... I can already imagine it, almost artificial. I figure that is a side effect of it being a world I have only seen in movies. There is so much to see, especially for an architecture student and photographer. My mouth waters at the thought of it. The landmarks, the cityscape, the subway, every bit of city life. And of course, the B&H store. Goodbye, savings! I may also meet Tetsu0 one day.
There is one thing I am not looking forward to, however, and that is my body cavities being invaded at the immigrations desk. DO NOT WANT. I can only hope it doesn't happen.
All in all, it looks very promising. Despite certain... inconveniences (such as the above, or the lack of a certain bathroom installation of French origin) I am sure it will be an amazing experience and I will definitely post photos when I return.
As a side note, I'd really like a Raspberry Pi for the trip. Portable and inexpensive, good to check mail and download photos to my portable hard drive. Sadly they are on mega back order. I'll probably end up going for a cheap netbook instead.
*not literally - licking parking meters is not in my plans
This month I started to notice my hard drives being a bit louder than the last time I paid attention to that. Both of them. Needless to say, I'm a bit concerned.
It MIGHT be because I unplugged a case fan that was making this horribly annoying grinding noise (will get a new one one of these days) that might have been masking the HDD noises. But I'm still a bit concerned.
Is anybody knowledged in this regard?
It MIGHT be because I unplugged a case fan that was making this horribly annoying grinding noise (will get a new one one of these days) that might have been masking the HDD noises. But I'm still a bit concerned.
Is anybody knowledged in this regard?
I had a curious dream the other day. It was a quiet summer morning and I happened to be right across the street from the small building where my grandparents live on the first floor (of 3). There was a vacant lot with tall grass (in reality, there has been another 3-story building since before I was born). My grandmother was leaning on the balcony railing, looking down, and I talked to her as if I didn't know her.
- Excuse me, could you tell me what year is this?
- Certainly sir, it's 1985.
- Thank you.
- Don't mention it sir.
Did anybody notice the "quest" on Google Maps today?
I LOVE IT
I LOVE IT
I got bad electronics on my 550D. When I use it with the 18-135mm the f number randomly jumps around and I can't set it. It's not AE because it happens on manual mode :/
I took the lens to a repair shop but they can't find the problem and I have to bring the camera in too so they can check on it. Sucks
Also the focusing screen is horribly filthy, but they said it doesn't show up in photos and I should live with it. They don't clean focusing screens because there's a very high risk of damaging them and they'd have to replace it if they do. What the hell, they ARE fragile, but new focusing screens cost like $5 at Canon according to Several Forums From The Internet.
Maybe I'll end up doing it myself. I'll get a new one first in case I screw up the old one.
Oh well. Had to vent it out.
I took the lens to a repair shop but they can't find the problem and I have to bring the camera in too so they can check on it. Sucks
Also the focusing screen is horribly filthy, but they said it doesn't show up in photos and I should live with it. They don't clean focusing screens because there's a very high risk of damaging them and they'd have to replace it if they do. What the hell, they ARE fragile, but new focusing screens cost like $5 at Canon according to Several Forums From The Internet.
Maybe I'll end up doing it myself. I'll get a new one first in case I screw up the old one.
Oh well. Had to vent it out.
A few days ago there was this massive electric storm. A voltage peak came in and screwed up my router, and through it, the cable modem and the ethernet port on my computer.
I just happened to have a spare router (Linksys, it sucks but it'll do) and the ISP sent me a new cable modem today. So I bought a PCI Ethernet card and it all seems to work now.
While I was at it, I did some general cleanup and replaced the ANCIENT thermal paste on the processor. 8 years of continuous usage should be enough to warrant such cleanup.
I just happened to have a spare router (Linksys, it sucks but it'll do) and the ISP sent me a new cable modem today. So I bought a PCI Ethernet card and it all seems to work now.
While I was at it, I did some general cleanup and replaced the ANCIENT thermal paste on the processor. 8 years of continuous usage should be enough to warrant such cleanup.
Just back from the otolaryngologist. Had a cerumen block vacuumed out, I was almost completely deaf from the right side since last friday. It's so good to hear again!
Hearing: Something one rarely thinks about until there's something wrong with it.
Hearing: Something one rarely thinks about until there's something wrong with it.
I had a weird dream last night. Or rather, the weird part was when I got up.
In the dream, my father and I took a bus and a train to Poland. Not much more than that. I tried to find good looking chicks in the train station but I couldn't see any
The weird part is when I woke up. On the dining room table there was this small paper with text in Polish that I had never seen before. I could barely make out what it said, something like a QA check from our oven - which is Polish made, but we've had it for years now and only now I saw that paper just sitting there unexplained. Must have fallen off it or something, but it still feels a bit strange that I had that dream last night and today I found that paper.
In the dream, my father and I took a bus and a train to Poland. Not much more than that. I tried to find good looking chicks in the train station but I couldn't see any
The weird part is when I woke up. On the dining room table there was this small paper with text in Polish that I had never seen before. I could barely make out what it said, something like a QA check from our oven - which is Polish made, but we've had it for years now and only now I saw that paper just sitting there unexplained. Must have fallen off it or something, but it still feels a bit strange that I had that dream last night and today I found that paper.