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Computer related posts.

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Friday, January 4 2008

Installing Windows XP SP3

By JBK on Friday, January 4 2008, 19:25

Intro

After the Vista SP1 failure, I switched to my Windows XP to try to update it to Windows XP SP3.

Download

I just went to Microsoft.com and downloaded the file, which is about 340MB.

Running it on my French Windows XP didn't work because of language conflicts.

Cheating French and english

In order to modify the system installed locale language, run regedit, and then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language registry key, and then change the value date for “Default” and “InstallLanguage” registry value to “0409“, which represent US English.

In the Control Panel, under the Regional and Language Options, Regional Options and Advanced tabs, change the language to English (US) as default format and language for non-Unicode programs. Click on “OK” when done, and then reboot the system.

Again

Then I re-run the program and it seems to work perfectly.

Reboot, some blabla during a longer than usual startup and it boots perfectly.

Half of my system is in english now, but I so don't care.

However, on start it did asked to reinstall Windows Live Messenger 9 beta... Don't ask me why.

Conclusion

It works perfectly but it doesn't seem to change anything.

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Friday, December 14 2007

Update from Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows Vista Ultimate SP1

By JBK on Friday, December 14 2007, 18:55

This blogpost will be linear, following my progress of installation:

I did download the SP1 RC from Microsoft Website. This package is around 440MB. It took the French Version because my Vista Version is in French.

As I don't really use Vista at all, this is almost a clean installation of Vista.

Start

Once launched, the exe warns you that you need at least 7Gb of disk (sigh!) and that it can take up to one hour!

After a problem-less process and 15minutes of slider progression, the system reboots.

1st reboot

The start of the computer is a bit longer than usual. The usual 'Updates configuration' screen is shown. And it reboots another time without letting me log in.

2nd reboot

The system reboots for another long start, and yet another 'Updates configuration' screen instead of the login is shown. But then I can log without any problem.

Failure 0x800F0826

And then Vista tells me it couldn't install my computer because error 0x800F0826.

Googling it didn't really helped...

Let's try again. Re-check that my Vista is up to date. Reboot.

Try again

So I restarted the whole process. Reboot. update. Reboot automatically. Updates. Same error.

Conclusion.

I am not a computer illiterate, I have a legit Vista Ultimate Version, I fully made the updates before and follow the process like documented, but it still fails. I could try to read the logs or anything, but I won't. I'll wait for the official release.

4 comments

Saturday, September 29 2007

Setup a thinkpad T61p: part 1, dual boot XP/Vista

By JBK on Saturday, September 29 2007, 16:17

Introduction

I will here and in a few future posts explain how to set your computer up. And how to do it correctly.

First part is about using Vista and XP at the same time.

Rescue Disk

Run the thinkvantage Rescue System:

  • Start, All programs, Thinkvantage, Create Recovery Media.
  • Do the rescue disk creation. You will need 1 CD-ROM and 2 DVD-ROM

Reinstall

Use the rescue disks to reinstall it, to avoid some crap and to be sure you will be able to do it again, in case you screw something up.

It'll also able you to resize a bit better your NTFS partitions.

Resize the NTFS partition

When you seem to have done the most of the process,

Use gparted or its liveCD to resize your main NTFS partition. I shrinked it to 25GB, but you can do otherwise. You might have some problems rebooting after that resizing. Using a Vista DVD, repairing the computer will fix this.

Vista Boot

Boot your Vista, update Windows, update the Thinkvantage System Update, reboot, reboot, and reboot again. And once more, if you want. :D

In your Management console, that you can find on "Computer>Right click>Manage>Disk Management", create a new NTFS disk for Windows XP. I have given it 10 GB.

There, insert a CD-ROM, and rename the letters of your CD-ROM to E:, and give the D: to your Windows XP partition.

Reboot twice.

Vista steps

Deactivate the message center in your taskbar, Uninstall Norton crap if it is back again, and maybe Diskeeper. Reboot.

Install XP

Enter the BIOS with the F key at boot time. Go to Configuration -> SATA. Change the option from AHCI to Compatibility.

Save. Reboot.

Do it as you do it normally (but way faster than you used to...).

Install the ethernet drivers that you did download previously on lenovo website. Update windows, reboot. Reboot and reboot. Install Graphic drivers. Reboot.

Install Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, VLC media player, 7-zip. Remove MSN, Outlook express. Reboots...

Boot finish

Install VistaBootPro and set it up correctly. Then profit of your computer

2 comments

Friday, September 28 2007

Review of Thinkpad T61p

By JBK on Friday, September 28 2007, 11:19

Introduction

I have just bought a new computer, a Thinkpad T61p, and I will review it here and a bit more on this blog.

I have dealt with T series for some time now, working in Dassault Systemes in Tokyo in an internship where I repaired Thinkpad that were out-of-warranty; but also, when working in VIA Centrale Réseaux, where I negociated Thinkpad contracts for Centrale Paris Students and dealt with all the selling, and some repairing. Therefore I am not a newbie concerning Thinkpad laptops.

Specifications

  • Core 2 Duo 7500
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • 15,4" WUXGA non-glossy screen (1920x1200)
  • Geforce Quadro FX570 256MB (Can use up to 1 GB)
  • HD, DVD writer, keyboard, etc...
  • Fingerprint reader
  • Media Card reader.
  • Bluetooth, Wifi a/b/g/n. Ethernet 1000
  • Windows Vista Ultimate ( yeah, I know... :'( )

First hardware impressions.

External

  • The 16/10 screen make the laptop more wide than usual, but thinner.
  • The quality of the whole computer is good, even if there is more plastic than before, and it seems still very resistant :D
  • The link between the screen and the laptop is still in metal, and not in plastic like other computers...

News (for me)

  • Older thinkpad used to have 2USB, they got a third one !
  • The Firewire port is very discrete.
  • The on/off wifi button is quite nice.
  • The card reader is very discrete too, compared to other laptops and external card readers... However, I am not sure it reads my old SD Cards, yet
  • Fingerprint is a gadget to me, but might be cool to geek it on Linux :D

Cons

Still no DVI, but a VGA port...

First Start

Woaouw effect

Gosh, the screen is not great, it is awesome, I have hardly seen a higher quality screen. It is the LG/Philips version, and not the Samsung one, for those who wander (Two different screens exists on T61p, the samsung one is supposed to suxx). There are no light leaking, and the precision of 1920x1200 is great. And no, it is NOT too small...

Under Vista, it shows in a very good shape and the graphic card has some good results in games.

Moreover the screen seems to be very well calibrated.

Windows Vista.

Well, windows Vista seems prettier than XP. But slow as hell. I guess I will reinstall it soon.

There is not so much crap on it, except some Norton and Office trial. Some thinkvantage applications might go away, but that is fine.

The computer did not need many restarts to be usable and I had a 4.8 Score in the Vista Performance Center. The graphic card scored a 5.9 under the performance thing. Woauw. Too bad I won't play games. :D

Rescue

There is a lot of rescue and save your data programs in the thinkvantage thing. I'll see what I will remove, because of the hidden partition, when I will install Linux. And I did recreate the rescue Disks.

Next time, I'll install GNU/Linux on it.

4 comments

Sunday, May 13 2007

Migration time - Ubuntu-debian

By JBK on Sunday, May 13 2007, 17:43

This is just a post to tell the results of debian and ubuntu machines migrations.

Debian's update are not so perfect, and Ubuntu's update are worse. :)

Continue reading...

2 comments

Wednesday, February 21 2007

Comment retrouver ses données en plus de 30 secondes !!!

By JBK on Wednesday, February 21 2007, 13:38

For english readers How I bought a very similar Hard drive and exchange electronic components between the disks to get my data back !

Continue reading...

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