Well, it came time to reboot a server at work. Upon looking at the Task Manager, I realized that it was the end of an era with this machine.

As you can see, 18,628 hours, 44 minutes, and 1 second (as of the last screen shot anyway).

With some quick math, that’s just over 776 days. That’s 2.13 YEARS. I know this isn’t the longest server uptime I’ve seen, but it was enough to impress me.

This is pretty impressive for a Windows box. We needed to reboot due to what seemed to be Explorer.exe causing some excess disk accesses. We were able to fix it without reboot, but figured reboot probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to reboot just to be sure, especially considering how long it had apparently been.

Update:  Upon further investigation, the System Idle Process doesn’t appear to be a valid way to determine server uptime.  Apparently, it adds a second for each processor in the system for every second of “real time” passed.  Since this is a quad processor machine (well, dual processor with HyperThreading), we have to divide these numbers by 4.  After that, we are left with about 194 days of uptime, which is more of a non-event.  This is confirmed by the Server Uptime Tool from Microsoft (screen shot below).  Nothing to see here, move along.

You can see that it was up for a longer stretch a while back… 242 days!

BIG UPDATE! - 20-Dec-2007: Dell has come to their collective senses and added the Stereo Mix into their official SigmaTel Driver set!!! I’m hopeful that this also fixes some of the “sound stutter/skip” issues some people have commented about.  Here’s the link to the official driver:

http://ftp.us.dell.com/audio/R171789.exe

Please note, the hack below enables the entire SigmaTel control panel, the Dell driver still restricts all of that.  I will leave the information for those interested.  I might try to re-hack the new version of the Dell driver to see if I can re-enable the entire SigmaTel control panel.  Until then, enjoy your “official” stereo mix!

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ANOTHER UPDATE! – 19-Oct-2008: I had been meaning to post this link for a while, but Dell has posted an official comment about this topic to their Direct2Dell Blog:

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/08/15/stereo-mix-record-functionality-and-dell.aspx

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Dell saw fit to disable the Stereo Mix (record what you hear) options on the Sigmatel HD Audio 92xx drivers they are currently hosting on their site.  (The Dell Driver package is called R122161.exe)

I was able to hack my own driver for the D620 by using info garnered over at NotebookForums, this thread specifically:
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread169312.html

I just applied the changes that everyone was recommending to the 92XXM2-2.INI and the resulting file is available here:
Hacked D620 Sigmatel Audio Driver

I noticed that some of the other hacked drivers were not handling the dock headphone port correctly, my version of the hack seems to do perfectly with that. (The other drivers weren’t cutting the internal speakers when a headphone plug was connected.)

Basically, I took the original 92XXM2-2.INI from the R122161 package and compared it to the 92XXM2-5.INI from the original Dell package. Using the differences between those files, I modified the hacked 92XXM2-5.INI, creating a 92XXM2-2.INI. After this, I had some issues with XML errors on the Sigmatel Control Panel. With some educated guesses, I was able to alleviate these Control Panel XML errors.

This driver provides the Latitude D620 a working Stereo Mix along with a working docking station headphone port. It also unlocks the full SigmaTel audio control panel. I’ve been using it for a few hours now, and have yet to determine an issue with it.

To apply this hack, make sure the R122161 version of the Dell SigmaTel driver is copied to your C:\dell\Drivers directory.  The following file is a self-extractor that will do this for you:
http://ftp.us.dell.com/audio/R122161.EXE

Once you’ve extracted the files (exit out of the installer if it starts), copy the Hacked D620 Sigmatel Audio Driver INI file from the link above to your C:\dell\Drivers\R122161\WDM directory replacing the one that is already there.  (You will need to unzip the INI file you get from the link above.  You’ll also probably want to back up/rename the old 922XXM2-2.INI file while you’re at it.)

Now, go back to the C:\dell\Drivers\R122161 directory and run Setup.  Once setup is complete, you should be all-set with your Stereo Mix, headphone ports working properly, and a full SigmaTel control panel.

I’ll accept no liability for this, but it does work for me.

Check out my new toy. It’s a gorgeous blue Ibanez RG 120.  Picture is clicky and takes you to a quick gallery I threw together.

This is also a wonderful time to let you know about my Gallery. Check it out for pictures of all kinds of crap that I’m into.

 

The implementation of IMAP in Outlook leaves so much to be desired.  The default views include “Hide Messages Marked for Deletion” and “Group Messages Marked for Deletion”.  These views work via an Outlook Field called “IMAP Status”.  What I love is that this field is NOWHERE to be found within the field listings.  It seems that you can’t manually create a rule using this field.

I think I may have stumbled upon the solution.  Click on More for all the details. (more…)

Embedded fun.  Similar to a basic stamp, yet not.
Check it out at Arduino.cc 

From their site: “Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple i/o board, and a development environment for writing Arduino software. The Arduino programming language is an implementation of Wiring, itself built on Processing.”

This happened at work a year or so ago… Been hanging on to the picture forever. Now it lives here for all to see.

Update: This broken Blackberry was caused by a 2 foot fall on to a carpeted floor.  Apparently it landed at JUST the right angle.  We’ve got a bunch of Blackberries, and they are typically quite robust little guys.

I’ve been looking for a ready supply of eMate Power Supplies.  Being that I’m familiar with DC electricity, the requirements of Positive Tip, 7.5VDC @ 1.2Amp don’t seem that out of reach.  RadioShack sells an adapter that’s been reported to work perfectly, the Digital Camera Power Adapter (Model 273-1696).  It runs at 2 full Amps.  Some reports on the web indicate that running it at 7VDC works better than the 7.5VDC setting.  The only issue is that you need the AdaptaPlug C, which does not come with the Digital Camera Power Adapter.  For the record, the AdaptaPlug C size measurement is 4.75mm OD and 1.7mm ID.  No biggie until you see that the 273-1696 is $29, and the AdaptaPlug is $5.  $34 to power something that doesn’t even cost $50 to buy on eBay.  That’ll never do.  For now, I’ve decided to substitute the 273-1763 for $24.  It’s a 1.8 Amp 6VDC supply.  Nice part is, this one comes with one AdaptaPlug for free.

Now, I’ve substituted power supplies before.  This stuff isn’t rocket science.  Match the voltage and polarity and select a regulated power supply that can push more than the required amperage, and you should be golden.  Apparently, the Apple eMate (and other Newtons) are very finicky with their power supplies.  It seems that this supply is not only working properly to power the unit, but also appears to be charging the eMate battery.  The latter is where issue usually strikes from what I’ve read.

So far so good, no magic blue smoke has been released.  You know, the magic blue smoke is what makes all electronics work.  Releasing it is a bad thing.

(I know the correct eMate power supplies are available on eBay as well, prices vary from $5 to $25+, but sometimes instant gratification is important, too.)

 

Considering that the original Airport cards are getting closer and closer to the price point of unobtanium, there is a need for remedy.  Old Mac’s need wireless lovin’ too.  Yet I for one do not appreciate having to spend over half the current eBay value of the laptop just to get a stinkin’ wireless card for it.

Turns out, there’s a hack (or hackS, see Update below!). http://tanais.livejournal.com/270720.html

Or make that two (or 1 1/2, this is based on the prior)… http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/662/diy-airport-for-that-old-ibook

These are accounts of using the cheaper, and more readily available (read: only $15 or so on eBay) WaveLAN cards as internal Airport card replacements (yes, internal, these guys don’t have external PCMCIA ports, and the Airport slot isn’t 100% PCMCIA compatible).  Unfortunately, they don’t quite fit correctly.  Enter soldering irons, dremels, and hacks galore!  I can’t wait!

Some people are choosing to hack the expensive laptop, however I’m thinking I hack the inexpensive $20 card instead.  I’ve acquired the needed WaveLAN card, and have already stripped the shielding to see what I’m up against.

I’m going to be attempting this on either my new Clamshell (Free! Thanks Joe!) or iBook G3 (Got it cheap on eBay!).

I’ll be sure to take pictures, etc.

Update!!!  Here are some new links so I don’t lose them again, and for the benefit of those who might care. This is a collection of similar mods that I’ve found online.

http://www.macmod.com/content/view/586/193/

http://www.vixen.demon.co.uk/wifi.html (mirror site for above)

And apparently the Sony Vaio PCWA-C150S “CarrierGate” is a VERY suitable Airport alternative, and has closer to (exactly!?) the same physical form-factor.  I’m working on getting one of these to try!  The Sony card also goes by the part/model number ERA-201D1.  This model was sold for the Aibo, so it’s even more expensive, but is apparently exactly the same.

http://homepage.mac.com/macinside/PhotoAlbum36.html

Cool Idea:

D.I.Y. Keyboard switch using VNC at Avidardik.com

Via Lifehacker