jaclaz

And wait until you will have a touchscreen Anyway, from time to time you really should clean those monitors from the inside too. http://www.linein.org/blog/2008/01/11/free-screen-cleaner/ http://www.linein.org/blog/2008/03/20/free-screen-cleaner-cat-version/ Another version more interactive (that requires a Spoiler and changes to xxx) : jaclaz

Sure , I know, but that was three years ago (and on another place/another topic): http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=23239 Since you referenced this other place, it is worth to mention recent developments there : http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=23183&st=37 jaclaz

Unless I am mistaken, subinacl.exe is anyway a "third-party tool in the sense that it is in the Resource Kit. Just for the record: http://sourceforge.net/projects/aclutil/?source=directory http://sourceforge.net/projects/aclutil/files/ http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsNT/RegistryTips/CommandShell/UseaScripttoChangeRegistryPermissionsfromtheCommandLine.html http://helgeklein.com/setacl/examples/ http://web.archive.org/web/20090608231837/http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~micro/regperm/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registry-Tweak/RegSecEdit.shtml Maybe some of these can run "earlier" Also, maybe useful, maybe not : jaclaz

Elevators are dangerous....: For the record (and just to show how common sense is not actually common) in the building I work there is an elevator with a sign (conforming to the local law) stating how the load limit is : The actual load limiter (if load is exceeded the elevator will stop and often this will happen after it started i.e. between floors) is set at 10% more, i.e. 350 Kg., i.e. the maximum tollerance allowed by regulations. After "recovering" (several times) people from the "jammed" elevator (tendentially 4 people each around 90 or 100 Kg + each having a suitcase, no-less than 15 Kg's), I changed the sticker to: No later than three weeks ago I got out of that thingy 3 (for the record Australian ) BIG guys, more than 1,90 m tall, roughly 120/130 Kg each, each one with a suitcase, no less than 20 Kg, AND a small rucksack.... I fear that if I change again the sticker to say : it will go on half the internet as an example of italians always exaggerating.... jaclaz

Yeah, life is tough.... ... but whining does not help in the least, as a matter of fact, makes life even worse.... JFYI, a number of laptops have the Fn key and often it is used in combination with numerical keys. It is possible that the actual hardware is actually interfering with your assigned hot-keys. If I were you , I would try the same hot-keys on an external keyboard connected to the laptop and see if the behaviour is the same (and I would also take it easier ) jaclaz

I guess that this will largely depend on how many morons users will subscribe to the new Office licensing scheme . This still reminds me of elementary school: |7| + |1|= | | |8| |6| + |2|= | | jaclaz P.S.: For NO apparent reason a possible explanation of the creative process (re: "new" Windows Logo):

BUT, I don't think that the BIOS SLIC (or any other source if not the COA or the Manufacturer specs for the model) can "select" the "original" version of the OS. For XP: For the record, while it is true that most of the "big name" OEM do not provide "original" media, they do provide means (the prompt that the customer normally ignores ) to create at least "Recovery" DVD's and make a Recovery partition. Unless the hard disk has been damaged and replaced, (and if the Recovery media has not been created or has been lost) the "preferred" source should be the Recovery partition. At least with XP using a "generic" OS source will turn out anyway in a "nightmare" with drivers and what not. jaclaz

And now Antonio Cairoli has 6 Championships, becoming the all-time 2nd together with Joël Robert and after Stefan Everts. http://www.motocross.com/features/two-more-titles-for-ktm-world-mx/ jaclaz

...and much more than those, this aging page of mine still contains valid points (FAQ #10): http://jaclaz.altervista.org/Projects/USB/USBfaqs.html For the record just recently I found an (old) EPIA 5000 motherboard that for *whatever* reasons does need USB ZIP geometry AND NOT *any* grub (grub legacy/grub4dos/grub2) (but boots with the standard 2K/XP MBR+bootsector and with the Syslinux bootsector. Though I haven't done all the possible tests, I made quite a few (and then let it aside since I managed to solve the actual issue and needed to put back the machine to work). But usually the issue (if USB/BIOS related) is in the very first phases of boot, what you reported does sound a lot like the motherboard needing a good clean (particularly the RAM sockets and the RAM be reseated). jaclaz

Linux. It is another Operating System (of which there are tens of distributions), that is normally available also in a "live" version (i.e. that does not write anything to the hard disk and can be booted from a CD/DVD or USB stick). PE is short for Pre-installation Environment it is a sort of mini-OS that can be XP, Vista or Windows 7 (and now Windows 8) based that has more or less the same feature of the above (can be booted off a CD/DVD or USB stick). The idea is that IF the issue is in *any* way connected with hardware by doing a "burn-in", let's say 24 hours, running another OS, the same issue is likely to occur as well. (it may well be specific to Windows 7 only, so a PE 3.x, i.e. a PE built form Windows 7 would be the most suited). On the other hand, if the behaviour does not present itself when running the PE, it is more likely that it depends from your Windows 7 environment/install, typically by a *somehow* corrupted driver or registry entry or by a conflict of some kind between running drivers and services. Before that, as said, I would try (if possible) to uninstall and re-install the whole set of USB related drivers. Please answer these questions: Is the "problematic" mouse (mice) USB? Does that motherboard have a PS/2 connector/socket? If yes, do you have a PS/2 mouse (or can you borrow/buy/steal ) one? Or - together with one of your mice do you have a USB to PS/2 adapter? (something looking like the image) jaclaz

In italy there is a known comic, Gioele Dix, that has in one of his shows a long monologue about how you can get the essence of a country and of it's people by simply comparing the way the same thing is said in different languages... He uses as an example a warning sign that used to be on all trains in Italy. The sign had: In a nutshell, along his analysis, the Germans being a very disciplined people, they need a direct order: DO NOT lean out of the window! The English (UK) have the fame of being very polite, so they are asked to: Please, do not lean out of the window. The French are said to have something that cannot be translated, which is nonchalance so they are told: You are asked not to lean out of the window (which leaves them a sort of free will, they are asked not to do something, but after all it's up to them). The Italian is a plain statement (actually an obvious one): It is dangerous to lean out of the window. You cannot tell an Italian to NOT do something (as the effect will be that he/she will attempt it first thing), nor you can tell him/her to do something Please (as the reaction would be: Please who? What do I get if i comply?) so everything is left to common sense (you have been told, but do whatever you see fit). How would this translate in other places/countries? I have two propositions for the US : http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.usage.english/2008-01/msg04159.html or: What about other countries/languages? jaclaz

AFAIK not yet released, try PM ing him for a beta-test: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1105733-bypass-metro-ui-while-login-windows-server-2012-like/page__st__15__p__595193539#entry595193539 jaclaz

Doesn'it? If you read it like this (as I do) it seems to me that it isn't a laptop: I checked a bit around about this issue and apart the usual senseless advice about using last drivers (which could make sense if a change occurred in hardware and/or the behaviour only happens when using a specific newly installed app, but that is otherwise apolite way to say "I have no ideas, so, since I cannot refrain to say something, I advise you to update the driver, it won't hurt") and other meaningless replies, there is nothing much. Since the behaviour happens with also other mice, the only two possibilities are IMHO: a hardware issue (on the motherboard/USB/bus/*whatever*) (presuming it is USB) *something* in the Registry (more likely) If the motherboard has a PS/2 port, I would try with a PS/2 mouse and completely uninstall the whole set of USB connected drivers, and clean USB related key in the Registry. Or, even easier, boot *any* "live" system, like a Linux or a PE of some kind and see if the behaviour continues. Some more details won't be completely unuseful, like knowing WHEN (in which occasion) it started happening (like if any card or other hardware was added/removed) if the behaviour is "all round" or only happens when some particular other acivity is performed on the PC, etc. As an example - on a COMPLETELY UNRELATED report - I found traces that this behaviour happened/happens in Ubuntu when wireless network is used heavily : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/334957 jaclaz

I assume that you are something like barking up the completely wrong tree. See if this helps in making some progress: http://homepage.ntlworld.com./jonathan.deboynepollard/FGA/problem-report-standard-litany.html and possibly this one also: http://homepage.ntlworld.com./jonathan.deboynepollard/FGA/put-down-the-chocolate-covered-banana.html In a nutshell, what you posted is NOT understandable and completely lacks any meaningful detail. If you could post along the "standard litany" with al the needed EXACT, ACCURATE, COMPLETE details, myabe you will get some useful assistance/suggestions. jaclaz

Yes, my bad, overlooked that. Usual semi-random idea Mixing *somehow* runonce-ex: http://gosh.msfn.org/using_runonceex.htm with setup security.inf? http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/sag_scedefaultpols.mspx?mfr=true jaclaz

Yeah, sure, the issue actual researchers are after is synthetic spider web and artificial moonlight. This is mis-information: http://www.themysticcorner.com/Crystal_Ball_Gazing.asp http://www.silverhoofs.com/c-ball.htm you DO NOT use liquid soap or distilled water with salt to wash a crystl ball You need cobweb dew (and only that gathered in a full moon night)! Now, for NO apparent reason and just as an example of the difference between not funny humour and good humour, a couple Lolcats : jaclaz

No. You must have very clear the scope of what you do. IF you do it because: it's fun it may eventually help someone else it is a very good thing . Otherwise, you have to understand how there is simply NO point in recovering a disk. You can have a new 2.5" 500 Gbdisk for around 70 bucks, it is simply not worth the time to try and make again a broken disc functional again unless of course the EXACT cause is found and the APPROPRIATE fix is applied. In the best case what we can find is a way (through something that is nothing much more "technical" or "scientific" than white magic or voodoo) to *somehow* reset it. What you have back (still in the best case) is NOT a fully functional disk drive (tested and certified, for what is worth, i.e. nothing BTW ) what you get is a disk that is apparently functioning (nothing more). I do understand how in their simplicity (and until disaster strikes ) "common users" are likely to actually rely on a hard disk drive to hold data (that aren't also backed up - twice - on other media), but insisting on it, and particularly on a disk that already failed is what I like to call (in highly specialized technical terms ) "pure folly". At the most ( and still if everything goes in the best possible way) you can use that drive, if revived, as tertiary backup media. This said, you need to get yourself a RS232 (or USB) to TTL adapter, go to the 7200.11 Read-me-first as first step: then search for a suitable adapter (and or browse the huge7200.11 thread to find links to surely working ones). Once you have this needed piece of hardware we can start to experiment. jaclaz

Hmmm. We have taken it to "level 3", i.e. the "lowest level" we actually have (a little) knowledge about. Basically we have four levels: Logical <- normal operation of OS disk/filesystem drivers Physical <- dd, dsfok, hex/disk editor, etc. ATA standard commands <- HDAT2, MHDD, hdparm, etc. Manufacturer firmware <- terminal commands (disk model specific, in practice no real docs) It will be tricky (if possible at all) to use a "level 4" approach. It is a 5400.6 drive and as thus terminal commands will be similar to those for the 7200.11. The TTL connections should be the same as the earlier 5400.2: http://forum.hddguru.com/serial-terminal-pins-ide-5400-t16559.html http://forum.hddguru.com/download/file.php?id=2402 9600-8-N-1 But this is more or less the only "safe" kind of data I have. Most probably right now a pro with professional tools can flash to it a new "module" (*whatever* it is) or anyway fix the corrupted parts, but if you go ahead it is likely that there will be "no way back". See also: If I were you I would run the Seagate diagnostic tools (just to confirm that *something wrong* is detected) then think a lot about the value you attribute to the data that are still not recovered. If this value is US $ 500 or more, contact a professional recovery firm. If it is less than that (or if you are a gambler) we may try to go ahead with a terminal session. Remember, that a good gambler knows what to do and when to do it : http://lyrics.wikia.com/Gracenote:Kenny_Rogers:The_Gambler No prob . Well, you always had it, it is the first sector, you also posted in your first post a view of it's partition table (i.e. "not news") but no, it won't help. jaclaz

What you described is "typical". To spin up the disk motor needs a (relatively) high amount of current. More often then not, for any reason, including "dirty" or bent contacts or screws not re-tightened firmly or firmly enough, the motor simply doesn't get enough current, particularly if for any other reason the bearing has become, even slightly "sticked". Verify contacts are not bent, clean them (with isopropyl alcohol and/or a specific electric contact cleaner), clean also the screws AND the PCB pads around the screw holes where the screws make contact. Make sure that you re-tighten firmly (but do not overdo it) the screws. Before giving the spin-up command put the disk in a vertical position (resting on one of the "long" sides). While giving the spin up command try to apply a VERY SLIGHT "percussive maintenance", by lifting the disk a couple of centimeters at the "front" (i.e, making it "hinge" on the side the connector is) and letting it fall on the desk (do put some paper or fabric towels under the disk side) or holding it vertically with your right hand, hit with it in a short (no more than 10÷15 cm) vertical swirl the face-up palm of your left hand. Of course (and as always) you do the above at your own full risk, and YMMV. Be warned that what actually happens when a disk does not spin up is that a lot of current is "drawn" from the motor but (in the case of a bad contact of the screws) there is not "enough" ground, and when a lot of current is around and the ground isn't enough, this current must go *somewhere* and it is not rare that an electronic component on the PCB gets an overcurrent and simply (and silently) blows. No way to know if this actually happened. If the bearing is actually stuck, you won't be able to "free" it this way. Compare with: (AND links within) jaclaz

I am not sure to understand. Why one cannot use the UNattended setting: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc977156.aspx and later fix the permision issue? In case you need to do it "before install", the usual approach to reset/set permissions is changing setupreg.hiv, similar to this: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=15138&st=29 jaclaz

NO, shame on you. That sentence is highly offending and discriminating towards crystal balls users. Being one I can assure you that when tuned properly a crystal ball is quite accurate , the issue is that they become VERY easily and VERY often out of tune. IMHO they could save the money given to their highly paid Professional Experts and should instead invest in research in crystal balls tuning. On average, crystal ball originated decisions have rates of correctness higher than the roughly 50% rate that MS showed (see the MS OS chess-like game . You might want to acknowledgge that a crystall ball since several hundreds years has as well a touch interface BUT is also 3D...... jaclaz

You try looking at the "failed" HD with HDAT2, AFTER having read (even if briefly) the DOCs/FAQs on the HDAT2 site. (a good idea, to make sure that you don't by mistake "touch" anything else would be to disconnct all other hard disks) http://www.hdat2.com/hdat2_faq.html (ALL of them) Particularly: http://www.hdat2.com/hdat2_faq.html#q6 Possibly you should try (at your leisure) the "Demo" version to get familair with the "look and feel" BEFORE doing anything with the "real" program. Check also the Screenshots: http://www.hdat2.com/preview.html jaclaz

Yes, I can confirm this, it works (in a new tab) both in Opera and in Iron, it must be something connected with the "referrer", something similar to this: (click on second link posted by cdob ) jaclaz

Hmmm. It is possible that the tool (being a bit old) simply does not compute the 500 Gb size. As a matter of fact (I am notoriously an optimist ) it could be a good sign that a diffference (even if negative) is found between "declared" and "actual" capacity. When the going gets tough... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Going_Gets_Tough,_the_Tough_Get_Going Can you (in the sense you know how to) make a DOS bootable flopppy image (and from it a CD-ROM, as I presume you haven't a floppy dirve on that machine)? Or a bootable USB stick? If yes, start getting this: http://www.hdat2.com/ If no, post what you have available and any doubts you may have in creating a DOS bootable environment. And/or get MHDD instead (it does come as a bootable .iso): http://hddguru.com/software/2005.10.02-MHDD/ jaclaz

On UNrelated news it seems like the good guys at MS made a little techical error thus failing to comply with the EU ruling : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-18/microsoft-said-to-face-eu-antitrust-complaint-on-browser-choice.html (it is defined as "little" as it seemingly affecs/affected "only" 28 millions OEM PC's ) AND, a similar matter is "in the air" for the new Windows 8: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-20/eu-may-probe-microsoft-for-tablet-software-almunia-says.html AND the waters are not so calm for the good guys at Google, either: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/sep/21/google-warned-antitrust-charges-europe?newsfeed=true Be aware that there is a concrete risk (if the trend goes like this) that you can get an EU fine of (say) 15 Euro's because you used the sentence: instead of the correct: OOT (Off-Off-Topic): Anyone ever read or heard the sentence : jaclaz