Sep

10

How to disable VLC Media player system tray popup (updated for v 2.x)

Filed Under Fix, Howto, Linux, Windows | 58 Comments

Sometimes is annoying having all this popups when VLC is minimized and track changes.

Here is how to disable them (for version 1.x):
Go to Tools-> Preferences -> All -> Interfaces -> Main Interfaces -> Qt
and uncheck Notify on track change.

And since interface changed in new version (For version 2.x)

Go to Tools-> Preferences -> Interface -> Show media change popup

and change to Never

Here is a screenshot for reference:

VLC disable notification when minimized

Added by request(Trevor):

If you want to remove systray icon just above there is the setting “Show Systray Icon”. Uncheck it to remove icon from systray.

Aug

8

Acrobat and arrow keys (fix)

Filed Under Fix, Howto | Leave a Comment

For long time I was frustrated form inability to use arrow keys in Adobe acrobat reader to move up and down the page.

Instead of that the cursor was moving in the text.

Finally I realized that this is used to select text. And surprisingly enough I was in Select mode.

Right click and change to Hand tool and I now have the desired behavior.

Hope this will help someone.

Apr

12

Unit conversion in Spreadseets

Filed Under Howto, Linux, Windows | Leave a Comment

Recently I had to create a table to convert from lb to kg.

The way I did it was to start spreadsheet program – Excell or OpenOffice.org and fill up the conversion formula and desired data range.

1. In a cell fill the conversion in my case 1 lb = 0.453592 kg I used cell B1

2. Fill up a column with desired data

3. in next column type the formula =A3*$B$1

4. Copy the formula to other rows

5. Done

This method could be used for other conversions just by changeng the value in B1

Jan

8

Another way of saving ink

Filed Under Howto, Linux, Windows | Leave a Comment

There are different ways of saving ink/toner, but SPRANQ has different approach – punching holes in the font.

Here is a sample:

ecofont

The good news is that it is available under GPL.

Take it from here.

Dec

24

Print envelope with OpenOffice.org

Filed Under Howto, Linux, Windows | Leave a Comment

In the era of e-mail and internet less and less people use regular mail, but sometimes you need to send a letter to someone.

Typing the address can be annoying and sometimes unclear so let’s put your computer to work.

To print your and recipient address on an envelope you can use manual formatting on a page, but if you follow the instructions here the process will be more automated.

So what we need:

  1. Printer – you want to print with something
  2. Envelopes – and something to print on
  3. OpenOffice.org (OO) – and some tools

Note: If you have MS Office you can use it too. See at the end…

1. Start OO and create empty document in writer

2. Go to Insert -> Envelope

You will see similar window:

step1

Add your address (if it is not already filled in) and Recipient address.

3. Select envelope format

Next click on Format tab

step2

Choose your envelope format and addresses positioning

4. Setup your printer

It is not done you need also to setup your printer. Click on Printer tab:

step3

Select correct envelope orientation and setup your printer to use envelope as paper and correct paper source (usually manual feed).

6. Ready to Print?!

When you are ready click on New Doc.:

step4

Here you can add your logo and preview how the envelope will look like.

When you are sure it is OK just print it.

First few times you will be on trial and error, until you correctly print, but after will be straightforward.

For Microsoft Office users:

If you have Office it is not obligatory to download ind install OpenOffice.org.

The procedure is similar, but on step 2 you go (at least in MS Office 2003) to Tools -> Letters and Mailings -> Envelopes and Mailings…

Dec

17

GPU acceleration in Acrobat – Take 2

Filed Under Howto, Windows | Leave a Comment

Or the benefits of upgrade…

As already mentioned in my previous post Adobe added 2D acceleration in Acrobat reader in version 8. Unfortunately for me that feature was not available for the card in my laptop.

Today I’ve decided to upgrade to v 9 and for my surprise 2d acceleration was available and turned on by default.gpu-accelleration-acrobat-take-ii

Nov

29

How to send e-mail to SMS

Filed Under fun, Howto | 23 Comments

Even more and more people have Mobile phones capable to use e-mail still majority of mobile users have ordinary mobile phone.

After long search on internet I found a list explaining how to send SMS from e-mail.

Do not forget that SMS is limited to 160 characters so be short.

Here is the list:

Austria

MaxMobil xxxxxxxxxx@max.mail.at
One Connect xxxxxxxxx@onemail.at
T-Mobile xxxxxxxxx@sms.t-mobile.at

Australia

Blue Sky Frog xxxxxxxxx@blueskyfrog.com
Optus Mobile xxxxxxxxx@optusmobile.com.au

Belgium

Mobistar xxxxxxxxx@mobistar.be

Bermuda

Mobility xxxxxxxxx@ml.bm

Brazil

Claro (Brasil) xxxxxxx@clarotorpedo.com.br
Nextel xxxxxxxxx@nextel.com.br

Canada

Bell Mobility xxxxxxxxx@txt.bell.ca
Bell Mobility xxxxxxxxx@txt.bellmobility.ca
Fido xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Microcell xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Manitoba Telecom Systems xxxxxxxxx@text.mtsmobility.com
NBTel xxxxxxxxx@wirefree.informe.ca
PageMart xxxxxxxxx@pmcl.net
PageNet xxxxxxxxx@pagegate.pagenet.ca
Rogers xxxxxxxxx@pcs.rogers.com
Telus xxxxxxxxx@msg.telus.com

Chile

Bell South xxxxxxxxx@bellsouth.cl

Czech Republic

Eurotel +ccaaxxxxxxx@sms.eurotel.cz
Oskar xxxxxxxxx@mujoskar.cz

Denmark

Sonofon xxxxxxxx@note.sonofon.dk
Tele Danmark Mobil xxxxxxxx@sms.tdk.dk
Telia Denmark xxxxxxxxx@gsm1800.telia.dk

Estonia

EMT xxxxxxxxx@sms.emt.ee

France

SFR xxxxxxxxx@sfr.fr

Germany

T-Mobile +49xxxxxxx@t-d1-sms.de
Mannesmann Mobilefunk xxxxxxx@d2-message.de
E-Plus 0177xxxxxxx.sms@eplus.de

Hungary

PGSM 3620xxxxxxx@sms.pgsm.hu

India

BPL mobile xxxxxxxxx@bplmobile.com
Chennai RPG Cellular xxxxxxxxx@rpgmail.net
Chennai Skycell / Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelchennai.com
Delhi Aritel xxxxxxxxx@airtelmail.com
Delhi Hutch xxxxxxxxx@delhi.hutch.co.in
Idea Cellular xxxxxxxxx@ideacellular.net
Orange xxxxxxxxx@orangemail.co.in

Ireland

Meteor xxxxxxxxx@sms.mymeteor.ie

Italy

Telecom Italia Mobile 33xxxxxxxx@posta.tim.it
Vodafone Omnitel 34xxxxxxxx@vizzavi.it
Vodafone xxxxxxxxx@sms.vodafone.it

Japan

Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@c.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@h.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@t.vodafone.ne.jp

Latvia

Kyivstar xxxxxxxxx@smsmail.lmt.lv
LMT 9xxxxxx@smsmail.lmt.lv
Tele2 xxxxxxxxx@sms.tele2.lv

Lebanon

Cellis / LibanCell 9613xxxxxx@ens.jinny.com.lb

Luxembourg

P&T Luxembourg xxxxxxxxx@sms.luxgsm.lu

Malaysia

Celcom 019xxxxxxx@sms.celcom.com.my

Mexico

Nextel xxxxxxxxx@mmsnextel.com.mx

The Netherlands

Dutchtone / Orange-NL xxxxxxxxx@sms.orange.nl

Norway

Netcom xxxxxxxxx@sms.netcom.no
Telenor xxxxxxxxx@mobilpost.no

Panama

Cable and Wireless xxxxxxxxx@cwmovil.com

Poland

Plus GSM +4860xxxxxxx@text.plusgsm.pl

Portugal

Telcel 91xxxxxxx@sms.telecel.pt
Optimus 93xxxxxxx@sms.optimus.pt
TMN 96xxxxxxx@mail.tmn.pt

Russia

BeeLine GSM xxxxxxxxx@sms.beemail.ru
MTS 7xxxxxxxxxx@sms.mts.ru
Personal Communication sms@pcom.ru (number in subject line)
Primtel xxxxxxxxx@sms.primtel.ru
SCS-900 xxxxxxxxx@scs-900.ru
Uraltel xxxxxxxxx@sms.uraltel.ru
Vessotel xxxxxxxxx@pager.irkutsk.ru

Serbia and Montenegro (Former Yugoslavia)

Mobtel Srbija xxxxxxxxx@mobtel.co.yu

Singapore

MiWorld xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg
Mobileone xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg

Slovenia

Mobitel xxxxxx@linux.mobitel.si
Si Mobil xxxxxx@simobil.net

Spain

Movistar xxxxxxxxx@correo.movistar.net
Vodafone xxxxxxxxx@vodafone.es

Sweden

Comviq GSM 467xxxxxxxx@sms.comviq.se
Europolitan 4670xxxxxxx@europolitan.se

Switzerland

Sunrise Mobile xxxxxxxxx@freesurf.ch
Sunrise Mobile xxxxxxxxx@mysunrise.ch
Swisscom xxxxxxxxx@bluewin.ch

Tanzania

Mobitel xxxxxxxxx@sms.co.tz

Ukraine

Golden Telecom xxxxxxxxx@sms.goldentele.com
Kyivstar xxxxxxxxxx@2sms.kyivstar.net
UMC xxxxxxxxx@sms.umc.com.ua

United Kingdom

Orange 0973xxxxxx@omail.net
Orange xxxxxxxxx@orange.net
O2 name@o2.co.uk
O2 (M-mail) xxxxxxxxx@mmail.co.uk
T-Mobile UK xxxxxxxxx@t-mobile.uk.net
Vodafone UK xxxxxxxxx@vodafone.net

United States

Alltel xxxxxxxx @message.alltel.com
AT&T (formerly Cingular) xxxxxxxx@txt.att.net; xxxxxxxxx@mms.att.net (MMS); xxxxxxxx@cingularme.com
Boost Mobile xxxxxxxx@myboostmobile.com
Nextel (now Sprint Nextel) xxxxxxxx@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint PCS (now Sprint Nextel) xxxxxxxx@messaging.sprintpcs.com; xxxxxxxx@pm.sprint.com (MMS)
T-Mobile xxxxxxxx@tmomail.net
US Cellular xxxxxxxx@email.uscc.net (SMS); xxxxxxxxx@mms.uscc.net (MMS)
Verizon xxxxxxxxx@vtext.com; xxxxxxxxxx@vzwpix.com (MMS)
Virgin Mobile USA xxxxxxxxxx@vmobl.com

Any updates and notes are welcome in the comments.

Remember, before you start “spamming” your friends ask them if they want to receive e-mail to SMS/MMS. Most of the plans do not include unlimited SMS and the user usually pays incoming SMS-es.

And for the “victims” if you do not want to receive e-mail to SMS ask your provider to stop that service as I did with my cell phone after a “friend” started to use e-mail to SMS (even it was not an emergency) instead simply sending me an e-mail.

Nov

27

How to repair Linux(CentOS) software RAID

Filed Under Fix, Howto, news | Leave a Comment

Sooner or later hard drives fail…

That’s why we use RAID arrays. The best solution is to use hardware RAID – one assisted with specialized processor on the board. In that category I do not include cheap (called Fake RAID) solutions integrated on the motherboard.

But unfortunately sometimes real RAID controllers are too pricey – here on help comes software RAID.

The good news is that it is included in most of the recent OS. Linux does not make an exception and the software included is really well optimized and even recommended to achieve better performance over Fake RAID.

…

Now in case of failure we are protected, but RAID 1 and 5 will protect the data in case of one drive failure so it is better to replace the failed drive as soon as possible, but on other side you do not want to stop the machine right now.

NOTE: If you have IDE HDD do not use following procedure. IDE drives are NOT HOTSWAPPABLE and removing it may cause MORE DAMAGE.

This is valid also for ordinary s-ATA and SCSI drives.

In case that you have hotswappable drive SCA or similar you can replace the drive when the machine is working.

If you are not sure check the documentation that come with your hardware.

And now after all this precautions let’s start:

Determine the failed drive

To check what array and what drive have problem simply type:

cat /proc/mdstat

Here is sample output:

md2 : active raid5 sdd2[4](F) sda2[0] sdc1[2] sdb2[1]


106221312 blocks level 5, 256k chunk, algorithm 2 [4/3] [UUU_]


In this case the problem is sdd.


Check drive size and type


For the size type:


fdisk -l


And look for sdd in the output.


To check exact drive model type:


dmesg|less


and again look just before SCSI device sdd:


Next step is to obtain replacement drive


(ideally the same model)


Dump the partition table from the drive, if it is still readable:


sfdisk -d /dev/sdd > partitions.sdd


Remove the drive to replace from the array:


mdadm /dev/md2 -r /dev/sdd2


Look up the Host, Channel, ID and Lun of the drive to replace,


by looking in


cat /proc/scsi/scsi


Remove the drive from the bus


echo "scsi remove-single-device 1 0 3 0" > /proc/scsi/scsi


Verify that the drive has been correctly removed


by looking in


cat /proc/scsi/scsi


Physically replace the drive


Unplug the drive from your SCA bay, and insert a new drive

Add the new drive to the bus:


echo "scsi add-single-device 1 0 3 0" > /proc/scsi/scsi


(this should spin up the drive as well)


Recreate the layout


Re-partition the drive using the previously dumped partition table:


sfdisk /dev/sdd < partitions.sdd


If failed drive was unreadable here you need to create new partitions


Add the drive to your array


mdadm /dev/md2 -a /dev/sdd2


You can check if the operation was successful by issuing


cat /proc/mdstat

Inspired with modifications from

		
		

		

		
		
	
		
	

		
Jun

		
26

	

	
	

		
Clean your ThinkPad from beginning

		
Filed Under Fix, Howto, Windows | Leave a Comment

		

		
Lenovo is shipping new ThinkPads preinstalled with huge amount of software you do not really need.


This slows the boot process to the levels new computer should not be.


Here is the list of software I removed from T61:


    

  • All MS Office related (trial) – Later I’ll install the products we have license for
    • 

  • SQL server (yes it is installed) related
    • 

  • Windows Live toolbar
    • 

  • Norton Internet Security – Will replace it with Norton Endpoint Protection
    • 



Other option is to reinstall the system from scratch.


Excellent tutorial on how to do it


Tip: Do not connect the system to internet until you are ready to. It starts right away to download and install windows updates and will slow down the machine.

		
		

		

		
		
	
		
	

		
May

		
23

	

	
	

		
Remove Microsoft Office Groove

		
Filed Under Howto, Windows | 1 Comment

		

		
Recently after installing Office 2007 using default installation options I saw unusual entry in my task manager processes.


GrooveMonitor.exe


It took almost 8M of my memory so I started search on what it is.


Quickly I discovered that  it is part of MS Office 2007 and is used to share files and work on projects with other Microsoft Office Groove users.


It sounds nice, but I do not use it at all so I start searshing the ways to remove it from the system.


After looking to standard kill process and erase the  startup entry process I tried add/remove program–>Office 2007 –> change and for my surprise I saw Groove entry.


So I unchecked it and that removed it. Strange, but it worked.


Credits

		
		

		

		
		
	
				
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