Creating/Mounting/Burning ISOs in Linux

Creating an ISO:

1. First make sure everything using the cd/dvd drive is closed
2. Unmount the cd/dvd drive:

• sudo umount /dev/dvd1

3. Create the copy:

• readom dev=/dev/dvd1 f=disk1.iso

4. Verify the copy:

• md5sum /dev/dvd1

• md5sum disk1.iso

If you are getting read errors, you can use safecopy:

• safecopy /dev/dvd1 disk1.iso

Mounting an ISO:

• sudo mount -o loop -t iso9660 disk1.iso /mnt/iso

Burning an ISO:

• wodim dev=/dev/cdrw -v -data disk1.iso

Toshiba L875D-S7232 Review

Here are my thoughts on my newly purchased laptop, a Toshiba L875D-S7232. Overall I am very happy with my purchase, but will definitely be looking to upgrade to a SSD at some point.

Pros:

• 17.3" 1600x900 screen
• A8-4500M Processor
• 6GB of 1600MHz RAM
• HD 7640G Graphics (defaults to 512MB use)
• The Silver and Black color makes the laptop look professional
• Good Windows Experience Index Scores (scale 1.0 to 7.9):
• Processor: 6.7
• Memory: 7.0 (out of the box; 7.2 after updates)
• Graphics: 6.7
• Gaming Graphics: 6.7
• Hard Disk: 5.9
• 3DMark 06: 4693
• Price: $479.99 + tax at Staples
• Boot Time is 2-3 minutes including login and browser launch

Cons:

• No Hard Drive Activity LED (I replaced with a software one: http://sourceforge.net/projects/activityindicat/ )
• The shiny black plastic surrounding and under the keyboard shows dirt and fingerprints easily
• Norton 30 day trial - I uninstalled and replaced with Avast Free Home - http://www.avast.com/en-us/index
• Power Plug does not have a separate ground 
• No Spot for a second hard drive
• It appears that video driver updates must come thru Toshiba instead of AMD, but this seems to be common with notebook APUs

Other Thoughts:

• Toshiba Software Update Page
• Island Keyboard may take some getting used to
• Function keys (F1-F12) default to their function use (change screen brightness/volume etc.)
• Was able to change this behavior thru the pre-installed Toshiba HWSETUP Utility
• Comes with Office Starter (ad supported Word and Excel)
• On Med/High settings at 1600x900 I get between 40 and 60 FPS (capped by vsync) in DDO
• On High settings at 1600x900 in Battlefield Play 4 Free I get ~30FPS
• Side exhaust does get quite warm
• Battery Life seems to be around 2.5-3 hours

Update 2016-07-06:

• Toshiba disabled virtualization in the bios. I am disappointed that they did this on a mid-range laptop to try to force more high end laptop sales.

Root and ROM Verizon Droid X 4.5.621

Here is my compilation of how to root and rom on a Verizon Droid X 4.5.621

Disclaimer: I am not liable for any damage done to your device and always backup before beginning.


Root:

1. Download the iso from:
• http://rootzwiki.com/topic/31735-combined-droid-2d2gdx2-and-droidx-root-cd/
• http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1823112
2. Recommended: run a md5sum on the iso
3. Use Unetbootin to write it to a blank USB drive/CD
4. Boot from this new USB drive/CD
5. Follow on screen instructions
6. Congratulations you are now rooted! You should see a new super-user app.
7. Install Titanium Backup from Google Play
8. Run Titanium Backup, it will fix your root permission

Rom:

1. Install Droid 2 Recovery Bootstrap
• Available on Google Play for $2.99
• Or from the web:
• http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-install-clockwork-mod-recovery-on-motorola-droid-x-42778/
• http://androidforums.com/droid-x-all-things-root/372029-tutorial-simple-gingerbread-602-sbf-root-process-updated-9-9-11-a.html
2. Open it and have it Bootstrap your phone
3. Install Clockwork Mod Recovery
4. Open it and have it install CWM
5. Choose Phone:
• Droid X for installing Blur based ROMs
• Droid X (2nd Init) for installing CyanogenMod style ROMs
6. Have it backup your phone
7. Install your favorite ROM; Here is a list of many of them:
• http://androidforums.com/droid-x-all-things-root/402999-official-droid-x-theme-rom-list-updated-3-27-12-a.html
• http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25017-roms-droid-x-45621-stock-rooted-stock-deodexed-modded-clockworkmod-flashable-updates-by-ky/
• CM9 Beta: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-x-roms/199030-cyanogenmod-9-beta-dx-8-19-a.html#post2022094
• Google Apps (all the way at the bottom): http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Latest_Version

Other thoughts:

• As of this writing, CM7 does not install with the 5.X CWM
• How to reboot into recovery:
• Open up Clockwork Mod Recovery click "reboot into recovery"
• Power Off Phone -> Hold in Camera Key -> Press Power until Phone starts booting -> Release camera key after 5 seconds

LG Spectrum Review

Pros:

• Gorgeous 4.5" 1280x720 HD screen protected by Gorilla® Glass


• Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core 1.5GHz CPU makes the phone responsive


• 1GB of RAM


• 4G Data on the Verizon Network


• 8 MP rear camera with LED flash


• Front Facing Camera


• 16GB Micro SD card included -- upgradeable to 32GB


• Allows Grouping of Icons in App Drawer


• Comes with Swype

Cons:

• No Notification LED


• Only 4GB of internal memory


• Back is slick, so I had to get a case


• Not on Ice Cream Sandwich yet


• Wifi range seems to be smaller than my Droid X


• Social Networking Widgets/Apps not as slick as MotoBlur

Comments:

• Battery Life seems middle of the road (1830mAh)


• Icons are bright and cartoonish


• Speakerphone volume is sufficient


• Price: $199 with 2 year contract, buy one get one free

Best Firefox Simple Proxy Toggle

The best Firefox Simple Proxy Toggle that I have found is in QuickJava 1.7.5

It accomplishes the following:

1. Has a toolbar button


2. Simply toggles between No Proxy and Manual Proxy Configuration


3. Toolbar Graphic remains synced between windows

Creating a USB rescue disk

1. First find an empty USB flash drive. I recommend at least 8GB, if you plan on saving changes to the drive. 2GB should work if you don't plan on installing updates.


2. Partition the drive to have:




1. one 750MB partition formatted as fat32


2. one partition with the rest formatted as ext3 with the label casper-rw


3. Use UNetbootin to install your favorite distribution's live disk (I use Xubuntu)


4. Then reboot your computer and boot off the USB flash drive and install updates if desired!

You now have a working USB rescue disk!

Update 1/5/2014:
 I have found this to be slightly outdated. I now recommend using Linux Live USB Creator instead. As this software can even format the drive for you and install VirtualBox software to run inside windows.
  Here is where I downloaded the ISO from: http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/

Repairing Cambridge Soundworks DTT2500

I have been having problems with my Cambridge Soundworks DTT2500. Basically some of the speakers would not work at different volume levels, but it was different speakers at each different volume level. Also the subwoofer would not work at any level. The speakers also made a scratchy noise when using the master volume knob.

I thought it was hopeless until I read this article: http://blog.chadlindstrom.ca/archives/2010/09/dtt2500-repaired It gave me hope that my tuner could be salvaged and that I didn't need to buy new PC speakers.

I then followed these steps to repair it:

1. Went to Radio Shack and bought some TV Tuner Cleaner and Lubricant


2. Disconnnected the tuner from the speakers and power


3. Removed the feet from the bottom and unscrewed the 4 screws hidden there.


4. Removed the top and bottom pieces of plastic.


5. From the bottom, removed the 4 screws that attach the top circuit board to the bottom.


6. Carefully, pulled the top board up and away from the bottom board.


7. Just to be safe, removed the 4 screws and pulled the LEDs out. This is optional.


8. Carefully sprayed in each of the holes of the knobs and moved each one from lowest setting to highest setting several times. Warning: You may want to wear glasses or some sort of eye protection during this step as the cleaner is under high pressure and the spray may blow back into your face.


9. Reassembled the tuner.


10. Important: Left it sitting overnight to ensure that it dried completely.


11. Hooked it back up and gave it a test and much to my pleasant surprise, it worked! My tuner volume and speaker issues were solved!