Binary Expressions

This is sweet site and show you can email them to tell them what you want to see on the shows next episode. On the site they have a huge list of stuff to choose from to find out how its made.

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To determine what version of Microsoft DirectX you have installed follow the below steps.

• On the taskbar, left mouse click once on “Start” then left mouse click once on “Run..” (or on the keyboard press and hold the Windows Key and then press letter “R” key).
• In the “Run” dialog box under “open:”, type without quotes “dxdiag”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• When done left mouse click once on the “Exit” button.

If you have Microsoft DirectX installed you should now see a “DirectX Diagnostic Tool” dialog. Under “System Information” you will see the version of DirectX under “DirectX version”.

Source: Microsoft DirectX: Home Page
Source: Download Microsoft DirectX

This OpenOffice installation instructions are intended for OpenOffice 1.x.x < 2.0. This means in future release of OpenOffice 2.0 or greater these instructions should not apply as the installation process will be different. When that time comes I will update the instructions.

• Run setup.exe - with /net parameter. This can be done by right mouse clicking on “setup.exe” and left mouse clicking on create shortcut.
• Next right mouse click on the shortcut and then left mouse click on “Properties”.
• Under the “Target” field scroll all the way to the end. Put a space after the double quote and type “/net” without quotes.
• Left mouse click on “Ok”.
• Now just double mouse click on the shortcut you just created in step one.
• During the installation of OpenOffice make sure to select “Workstation” installation. If it installed correctly you should now have an OpenOffice directory under “C:\Program Files”.
• For each user that will be using OpenOffice on the computer you will need to login to their profile and go where you installed OpenOffice (i.e. “C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org1.1.5″) and double mouse click on “OpenOffice.org Setup” shortcut. This will complete the setup and configuration of OpenOffice for each individual user.

I was having some problems with my web site so I went off to check my Apache HTTPD error_log and found three warning messages logged.

Apache HTTPD error_log
/usr/sbin/httpd:/usr/lib/apache/modules/libphp4.so: /usr/local/lib/libmysqlclient.so.12.0 : WARNING: symbol(client_errors) size mismatch, relink your program
/usr/sbin/httpd:/usr/lib/apache/modules/libphp4.so: /usr/local/lib/libmysqlclient.so.12.0 : WARNING: symbol(default_directories) size mismatch, relink your program
/usr/sbin/httpd:/usr/lib/apache/modules/libphp4.so: /usr/local/lib/libmysqlclient.so.12.0 : WARNING: symbol(globerrs) size mismatch, relink your program

After some time of research and with no solution, I decided to mention the problem in Midgard IRC channel. With Piotras comment, I quote “TheWarden: php was compiled with different version of mysql libraries”. So with that said off I went to re-install PHP v4.3.11 but this time configure it with –with-mysql=/usr/local so the correct MySQL libraries would be used. If –with-mysql is not used PHP will use it’s own built in MySQL libraries. I double checked my Apache HTTPD error_log and now the warnings are no longer present.

I recently installed PHP 4.3.11 from source (due to configuration requirements) on to an OpenBSD i386 v3.7 server. The installation went perfectly as it has many times before, however I found out that the PEAR script was not installed (normally in /usr/local/bin). I discovered this when trying to install some pear packages doing “pear install packagename”. I get a returned error of “-bash: pear: command not found”. I tried locating the PEAR script using “find / -name pear” and “/usr/libexec/locate.updatedb” then “locate -i pear”. The result came up empty with no PEAR script in the returned results. I double checked the PEAR documents, PHP documents and ./configure all three places stated PEAR is installed by default unless a parameter is provided at configure with –without-pear. I’m still not aware as to why the PEAR script was not installed however with help by SmallOne of #midgard I was able to resolve the problem manually. Here’s how it was resolved at the shell prompt.

• # cp pear.sh /usr/local/bin/pear
• # chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/pear

If anyone knows how the PEAR script could not have been installed please let me know, thanks.

For quite some time now I’ve been having problems in Windows XP Pro (using NTFS) by getting “Access is denied” error dialogs on accounts with limited access. After some time of research I was able to determine that the error was caused due to the Logitech QuickCam process called LVCOMSX.EXE. This process is initiated at login and reads/writes to a file called LVCOMSX.LOG. The reason for the error is because there is insufficient permissions set on the LVCOMSX.LOG file. To eliminate this error dialog at login, login with your Windows Administrator account and set permissions on the file C:\Windows\System32\LVCOMSX.LOG to the following (check each field), Modify, Read & Execute, Read, and Write. These permissions would either be set on the Users group or on specific users.

I’m not certain but to my knowledge the Logitech QuickCam process LVCOMSX.EXE is not a necessary process. However it is my understanding that if this process is not running you will loose some features of the Logitech QuickCam such as “Face Tracking”.

Note: This how to article assumes that you already have a home network setup and configured. Going into details of setting up a home network is beyond the scope of this article. Also these steps may vary depending your Start Menu settings.

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

Host Computer Configuration

• Left mouse click once on the Start Menu –> Control Panel –> Printers And Other Hardware –> Printers And Faxes.
• Left mouse click once on the printer you wish to share.
• Left mouse click once on “Share This Printer” in the “Task Pane” on the left hand side of the window. Alternatively you can right mouse click once on the printer and then left mouse click once on “Sharing…”.
• In the printer’s Properties dialog, left mouse click once on the “Sharing” tab if you are not already there.
• Left mouse click once on “Share Name” and then left mouse click “OK”. If desired you may change the “Share Name” to a more descriptive or memorable name.

To access a shared printer:

Guest Computer Configuration

• Left mouse click once on the Start Menu –> Control Panel –> Printers And Other Hardware.
• Left double mouse click on “Add A Printer” then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• In the “Add Printer Wizard”, left mouse click once on “A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer”.
• Left mouse click once on “Connect to this printer (or to browse for a printer, select this option and click next)” then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Select the appropriate printer by left mouse clicking once from the list and then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• At this point you will be prompted weather you wish to set the printer as your default printer or not. I will leave this step up to you weather you want it default or not.
• Left mouse click once on “Next” and then left mouse click once on “Finish”.

Caution: Security Risk

Sharing printers or files on a computer system with Internet connection is done at a risk. Doing so can make your files and printers available to outside access. However, you can limit this risk with the use of password protecting your shares, having hardware and/or software firewall. I highly recommend these protections and to only share what you need and nothing more.

Note: This how to article assumes that you already have a home network setup and configured. Going into details of setting up a home network is beyond the scope of this article. Also these steps may vary depending your Start Menu settings.

Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration:

You will require “Client for Microsoft Networks” and “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” to be installed. If you do not see both of these two items follow the below steps other wise you may skip these steps.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Control Panel”.
• Left double mouse click on “Network”.
• Left mouse click once on “Add” –> “Client” –> “Add…” –> “Microsoft” –> “Client for Microsoft Networks”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• Left mouse click once on “Add” –> “Service” –> “Add…” –> “Microsoft” –> “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.
• At this point you should be prompted to restart the computer, left mouse click once on “Yes”.

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

Host Computer Configuration
Note: The “Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration” must be completed first if you do not have “Client for Microsoft Networks” and/or “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” installed before continuing.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Control Panel”.
• Left double mouse click on “Network”.
• Left mouse click once on the “Configuration” tab, then left mouse click once on “File and Print Sharing…”.
• Left mouse click once on “I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer.”.
• Left mouse click once on “OK”.
• Left mouse click once on “OK”.
• Close the “Control Panel”.

Sharing a Printer:

• Left mouse click once on “Start”–> “Settings” –> “Printers”.
• Right mouse click once on the printer that you wish to share and then left mouse click once on “Sharing”.
• Left moue click once on the option “Shared As” then type in the “Share Name” and “Password” respectively.
• Left mouse click once on “Ok”.

To access a shared printer:

Guest Computer Configuration
Note: The “Host/Guest Computer Network Configuration” must be completed first if you do not have “Client for Microsoft Networks” and/or “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” installed before continuing.

• Left mouse click once on “Start Menu” –> “Settings” –> “Printers”.
• Left double mouse click on “Add Printer”, this will launch the “Add Printer Wizard”.
• Left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Left mouse click once on “Network Printer” and then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Manually enter the “Network path or queue name” or left mouse click once on “Browse” to locate the printer you desire to use. Then left mouse click once on “Next”.
• Left mouse click once on “Finish”.

Caution: Security Risk

Sharing printers or files on a computer system with Internet connection is done at a risk. Doing so can make your files and printers available to outside access. However, you can limit this risk with the use of password protecting your shares, having hardware and/or software firewall. I highly recommend these protections and to only share what you need and nothing more.

Oh this has to be the coolest DIY project I’ve found yet. This one I’m definitely trying. Now I just need to locate our old cordless telephone and buy a soldering iron. In this project Christoffer Jarnaker shows how one can take a old cordless telephone and turn it into a telephone that can be used to talk voice over the Internet using for example Skype, Team Speak, Netfone, etc. and not be tied to your computer. A very cool but experimental project. Saying this I mean that the instructions are not an exact science unless you are able to get your hands on the exact same cordless telephone Christoffer used. If I end up doing this project I’ll document it and let everyone here know how I was able to achieve it or not :-).

Source: How to Build a Skype Phone

I’m came across this article posted by liskl on how to DIY install of an inverter to provide 110v jacks in your car. This is a cool DIY project and would be interesting to try out some day. I just wonder what the impact is of doing this on your alternator.

Source: DIY: 110v Power Jacks In Your Car

There is a great two page document by TechRepublic.com breaking down the anatomy of CAT5 cables. The document is short and sweet, providing all the details.

Source: Anatomy of CAT5 Cable

By default Windows XP presents you with a logon screen with a selectable list of users one may log in with. This is great for most people but under certain circumstances one may want to hide or reveal the selectable list of users. There is two solutions to this common problem. Make sure to be logged in using the Administrator account or have administrative permissions.

• Change Windows XP’s logon style
• You can change the logon style to Window 2000 look and feel. Users would then be required to type in their username and password to login. This does provide the best security solution for concealing user names. Here’s how to change Windows XP logon style.

• Open the “Control Panel” (left mouse click on the Windows Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel).
• Open “User Accounts” (left mouse click).
• Select “Change the way users log on and off” (left mouse click).
• Uncheck “Use the Welcome Screen” (left mouse click).

You can take one step further by setting a system option to prevent the last logged in user’s name from appearing in the logon dialog box. This part can only be achieved by editing the Windows Registry using regedit.

• Open regedit application (left mouse click on Windows Start menu -> run).
• Type into the dialog box without quotes, “regedit” and press the Enter key.
• Browse to the following location in regedit, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon (double left mouse click on the tree items to expand, single left click to select).
• Create or modify the DWORD value named DontDisplayLastUserName by setting the value to 1 (one). To create the DWORD value go to the menu Edit -> New -> DWORD value. To modify left double mouse click on DontDisplayLastUserName.

• This step can only be achieved by modifying the Windows registry using regedit.

• Open regedit application (left mouse click on Windows Start menu -> run).
• Type into the dialog box without quotes, “regedit” and press the Enter key.
• Browse to the following location in regedit, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MicrosoftWindows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList (double left mouse click on the tree items to expand, single left click to select).
• Create a DWORD value with the name of the Windows XP account username (ie. “foobar” without the double quotes). To create a DWORD value go to the menu Edit -> New -> DWORD value. Type in desired username and press Enter.
• Set the value of the new DWORD value you just created to 0 (zero, hides) or 1 (one, visible) (left double mouse click on the new DWORD value to set value).