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• Where is my problem? The P6X58D Premium Mobo, Windows 7, or other?

  - by Dylan Yaga

  I was having problems with my USB devices for an hour last night, and I am unable to determine the root cause of the problem. The two symptoms are: At seemingly random times (not consistently spaced by time or caused by any detectable event) my USB devices become "detached". Windows will play the USB disconnect sound and then the reconnect sound. The devices disconnected and then reconnected. My USB Keyboard will "stick" on one key for several seconds before processing any other keystroke made. The mouse also does not respond to clicks. I do not lose mouse movement or USB device connectivity. And after a moment of this several beeps will be emitted from the speakers. Hardware Specs: GFX Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 470 Superclocked 1280MB DDR5 PCIe Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D Premium Intel X58 Socket LGA1366 MB Processor: Intel Core i7-920 2.66Ghz 8M LGA1366 CPU Memory: Corsair Dominator 6144MB PC12800 DDR3 Storage: Hitachi 1TB Serial ATA HD 1600MHz 7200/32MB/SATA-3G Cooling: Corsair Hydro H50 CPU Liquid Cooler Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D Full Tower Case Power Supply: Corsair HX1000W 1000W Modular Power Supply Steps I have taken to narrow down the problem: Restarted the computer. - No change Changed USB port the Hub was connected to on the CPU. - No change Removed all devices from USB Hub and connected directly to CPU. - No change Used a different USB keyboard both in USB Hub and directly to CPU. - No change Disconnected and reconnected all cables. - No change Disassembled the Tower and determined if the USB headers were firmly connected. - No change Checked device manager for errors. Checked all USB devices. - Nothing flagged After an hour of frustration trying to narrow down the problem it appeared to disappear. But I am torn between it being a Mobo problem or an OS problem. Is there anything else I can do to narrow down the problem before a reformat and then eventually exchanging the Mobo?

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• Hardware chose: ASUS Eee Pad Slider or ASUS Eee Pad Transformer for web development?

  - by JamesM

  I was just wondering out of the following Tablets which one seams better to get? I am a web-developer, Always using Unix/Linux/BSD, I want a tablet that has a keyboard. http://gdgt.com/asus/eee/pad/slider/ http://gdgt.com/asus/eee/pad/transformer/ http://www.tweaktown.com/news/18311/asus_eee_pad_slider_transformer_tablets_with_physical_keyboard/index.html I know both are similar, but not sure what one I should get. The Slider seems very nice but again the keyboard is fixed to the tablet unlike the Transformer. P.S: I'm going to use one of the above to showcase my programming work at school, as well as just being used as a cheaper notebook than the $300 Windows.7 locked down notebooks. By Locked down, I mean we pay $300 for them and after 3 years we can do what ever to them, they are Lenovo thinkpad mini-10 and What they have installed is all you get, they don't let us install what ever OS on them. And with the question on both of those links, I think that the transformer would be better but that is only taking in the fact of it being both a tablet and a notebook. What I really care about is power; which one is more powerful? It will be running kFreeBSD-Debian-Squeeze with Linux-Mint theme with several other packages. Though I'm not going to run Windows (which I feel is bloated), I still want power. To help keep my computer from slowing down with cache, I will have a cron.d/hourly script cleaning out the cache memory.

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• Why can't I physically access my machine after a remote session?

  - by Steve Crane

  I have a Dell Optiplex 960 desktop running Windows 7 64-bit at work. I typically leave it locked rather than logged off when I go home, so that I'm able to remote in from home and continue working if I wish. This is where the problem comes in. If I don't remote in there is no problem and I can simply unlock the next morning. It's when I do remote in that I have a problem. Remote sessions work as expected but when I get to work the next morning the machine appears to have gone into a sleep or hibernate state, from which no amount of mouse moving or keyboard pounding will wake it. The machine is not hanging as remote sessions to it are still possible; it seems that physical access from it's own mouse and keyboard are lost. The only way to gain access is to press and hold the power switch for several seconds until the machine shuts down. Of course this means Windows does not gracefully shut down and after powering up it takes several minutes for the machine to boot and reach the login prompt; presumably while it checks the disk. Has anyone else seen something like this?

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• What can cause a kernel hang on redhat 4?

  - by Ivan Buttinoni

  I've to solve a nasty problem on a ten machine "cluster": randomly one of these machine hang during an hard computation, sometime still ping sometime not. The problem was described me at the phone, I've still no touch/see these machine, so I can't be more precise. It seem there's no (real) keyboard or monitor linked to them, so I haven't nothing about keyboard led or messages on monitor. Don't worry, what I really need is some suggestion where to search the problem, some suggestions on what can cause a kernel hang on a working machine. I also see this post, but seem same need on a different situation. My ideas since now: - HW problem (ram, cpu, fan etc.) - bad autofs configuration - bad nfs(?) configuration - presence of a trojan/hacker/etc - /dev/"swap" linked to /dev/zero - kernel out of memory(??) - kernel bugged In other words I try to imagine what kind of envent can occour that can crash the kernel insted of the application that generate the event. What hang have YOU experienced before? Write it to me! TIA

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• System occasionally hangs boot process with SLES 11

  - by ThaMe90

  I have several (new) systems on which I had to install SLES11 on. However, after a few (though not every) reboots, the system hangs during the boot sequence. It will only continue after I physically press a key on the keyboard. From what I've found in the dmesg log from a failed boot is the following: [ 22.170276] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: b7 00 00 08 [ 22.171155] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA [ 22.182760] sda: sda1 sda2 sda3 [ 22.383424] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk [ 22.545372] PM: Marking nosave pages: 000000000009a000 - 0000000000100000 [ 22.545377] PM: Marking nosave pages: 00000000bf780000 - 0000000100000000 [ 22.546217] PM: Basic memory bitmaps created [ 22.590380] PM: Basic memory bitmaps freed [ 22.596284] PM: Starting manual resume from disk [ 22.602319] PM: Resume from partition 8:1 [ 22.602321] PM: Checking hibernation image. [ 22.602479] PM: Error -22 checking image file [ 22.602481] PM: Resume from disk failed. [ 22.718727] kjournald starting. Commit interval 15 seconds [ 22.718960] EXT3-fs (sda3): using internal journal [ 22.718964] EXT3-fs (sda3): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode [ 1555.644404] udevd version 128 started [ 1555.697664] input: Power Button as /devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXSYBUS:00/PNP0C0C:00/input/input0 [ 1555.707961] ACPI: Power Button [PWRB] I've looked around the internet for the PM: Resume from disk failed. message, but this seems to only be important when restoring the system after a hybernate, i.e. restore from the hdd. But this is not my situation. I only get this after a reboot, as I said before. The timestamp [ 1555.xxxxxx] is only the result of me pressing a key on the keyboard. Any suggestions on how to proceed? As I am getting stuck on this issue.

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• Permanent fix for unicode characters not displaying correctly (as boxes)

  - by Chase

  Please read this entire message before replying. First I know how to fix the issue on a temporary basis. I am looking for a permanent fix. I work with foreign language files a lot. Unfortunately sometimes all the unicode characters in windows explorer, notepad, and other places (as rendered by windows, probably GDI) do not display correctly. That is they display as square blocks, where as they had just been displaying correctly. There are countless methods to temporarily correct the issue. But again, I want a way to permanently resolve the issue. What I have tried: The silly "Hide fonts based on language settings". This setting only applies to what fonts you see in the fonts folder and font dropdowns. It doesn't disable foreign fonts (doesn't work, or if it does, it is temporary). Deleting the font cache file and rebooting (works.. usually, temporary solution). Changing my locale and then back (sometimes works, temporary solution). Rebooting my PC and getting lucky (50-50 chance, temporary solution). Changing my keyboard input/adding foreign keyboard (temporary solution that only seems to work once). Reinstalling windows (temporary solution, sometimes lasts a few months though, I have done this 7 times across 3 computers) What I have not tried: Buying Windows Ultimate and installing the interface packs. This is not a solution. I can't read Japanese/Chinese and I do not want my interface in those languages. What I will not do: Switch to a different brand operating system (unix, linux, mac os x) Switch to an older version of windows (Windows Vista, XP, 2000, etc). So can anyone recommend a permanent fix for the problem?

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• Mac - KeyRemap4MacBook - Custom XML

  - by DjRikyx

  I hope someone of you know this powerfull Pref Panel to remap the keyboard.. Since i'm using a PC Keyboard, i wanted to make Screenshot a bit easy to do.. I managed to get working: -Command+Shift+3 to Stamp (full screen screenshot) -Command+Shift+4 to Control+Stamp (Selection Cursor Screenshot) Now i want to remap Shift+Stamp to Command+Shift+4+Space to get Windows Screenshot.. i tried but nothing was working.. Here is my current XML.. i only need to add the last remap! <?xml version="1.0"?> <root> <item> <name>Custom PC Style Screenshot</name> <appendix>Command+Shift_L+4+Space to Shift+F13</appendix> <appendix>Command+Shift_L+4 to Control+F13</appendix> <appendix>Command+Shift_L+3 to F13</appendix> <identifier>private.custom_pc_style_screenshot</identifier> <autogen></autogen> <autogen>--KeyToKey-- KeyCode::F13, VK_CONTROL, KeyCode::KEY_4, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L | ModifierFlag::SHIFT_L</autogen> <autogen>--KeyToKey-- KeyCode::F13, KeyCode::KEY_3, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_L | ModifierFlag::SHIFT_L</autogen> Hope someone of you can help me out! Thank you

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• Serious 64-bit laptop

  - by Daniel Gehriger

  For the past couple of years, I have been using an IBM Thinkpad T60p for daily work (software development, desktop & embedded). I am extremely satisfied with this machine, due to its robustness. It also has a few features I depend on: a high resolution display: 15.0" TFT FlexView display with 1600x1200 (UXGA); excellent keyboard; decent graphics and CPU performance. Some of the software I develop benefits from larger amounts of RAM, and 3GB (Windows 7 32-bit) or 4GB (Windows 7 64-bit on T60p) are no longer sufficient. My customers run desktop computers with 20GB and more, and I need to have at least 8GB to at least be able to run reasonable test cases. So I'm shopping around for a new laptop, but I'm struggling to find anything that matches my requirements: must run Windows 7 64-bit Pro or higher; must support at least 8GB of RAM (more is better) high screen resolution! While I prefer 4:3 I can live with wide screen. But I really hope to find something with a vertical screen resolution similar to what I have now... portable, so < 16" but = 14" I realize that FlexView isn't available anymore, but I'd like to avoid a glossy screen if possible. decent (not more) graphics performance, ideally hybrid (I'm doing a lot of CAD, never games). good keyboard reasonable CPU -- but I'm still fine with my current Core 2 Duo, so that shouldn't be too complicated. The T60p fits all those requirements, except the 8GB of RAM. Can you help me find a current notebook that would match most of them? I don't mind changing brand. Thanks!

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• Having trouble with a workaround, for booting from a usb stick, using grub and a minimal linux kernel to load usb drivers

  - by s hanley

  I'm trying to boot from a usb stick. I formatted it to fat32, and later to ext2, and installed dsl on it using unetbootin, and later the usb install guide on dsl wiki (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Install_to_USB_From_within_Linux). The bios doesn't have a setting for booting from usb. Grub doesn't "see" the usb drive when I use the root and find commands, explained in (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/USB_Booting). This happens even when I set boot from floppy at the top of the boot order. However, my usb keyboard is recognised by the bios and by grub. How can it recognise the keyboard but not the usb drive? Also, the usb led does flash even before grub starts up, so surely something must be happening usb-wise? I am now following an ubuntu guide to booting from a USB stick, using a hdd-based, minimal linux kernel to supply the usb drivers. But I'm having difficulty adapting it to other OSes (slax/dsl/aptosid). I believe I have to alter the initrd.gz file to include usb drivers and then copy that file along with vmlinuz to a partition on my hdd. But, what's the grub command for the kernel line supposed to look like? From the ubuntu example it's: title USB FLASH DRIVE root (hd0,6) kernel /boot/usb-boot/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper noprompt cdrom-detect/try-usb=true persistent initrd /boot/usb-boot/initrd.lz boot Should mine just be: title USB FLASH DRIVE root (hd0,6) kernel /boot/usb-boot/vmlinuz cdrom-detect/try-usb=true initrd /boot/usb-boot/initrd.lz boot

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• What to do about old MacBook

  - by John

  I have a White MacBook version 10.5.8. I accidentally dropped it and about an inch of the most right side of the screen is blacked out. I can't see the clock and Trash Can because of this. I checked how much it would cost to repair, and the cost of repairing is a flat rate of $300. I thought that was kind of expensive, like a third of the cost of the MacBook itself. accidentally dropping a notebook is something that would happen sooner or later, so I think getting a Lenovo is the best. I ended up getting a MacBook pro 15 inch, but do you think it's worth the money to fix my old MacBook? I even saw some used MacBooks available on Ebay for about $400. Anyways I don't know what to do with it. I do like its screen and keyboard better than the MacBook Pro ones, because the screen is less glare-y and the keyboard is more crisp and fun to type on, and its more wieldy when I'm using it while lying down.

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• Ubuntu 10.10 - disaster - what other linux for beginner?

  - by A-ha

  Guys, I've tried to install ubuntu (desktop and notebook ed) on my laptop and unortunately I have to say that as despite the fact that installation process supposed to be easy I couldn't finish installation of this system - didn't detect my keyboard or rather lost my keyboard as soon as I tried to switch on/off pad on my laptop. After I've discovered that, I started all over again (this time without touching my laptop's pad during installation) and yes, eventually it get to the end of installation. Unfortunately, when I've tried to switch my pad (sometimes I just do not want to use a mouse) the whole system froze. So I had to restart it with the power button and this time I didn't touch pad at all, plugged in mouse and tried to rearrange taskbars according to my liking (all taskbars on the top side of the screen and auto-hide on) and I gave up. It is so unfinished that I just can't be bothered to use it. I would like to have one linux system on my machine so I started googling and most of the links are to either ubuntu (which I just do not want to touch for now) and suse or commercial versions of linux. I do not really mind paying for something (and having experience with ubuntu I'd rather pay and have something pro then get it free and discover that it's unusable). So could someone please provide short list of linux distros which would be appropriate for a beginner, and I don't mind paying for it, I just want it to be a professional product.

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• Start Chrome by command line, but adding some arguments to make it login into your Google account automatically

  - by jim

  Is there a way to start Chrome calling it from the command line (using Linux), but providing it some argument to make it login into some Google account automatically? I'm looking for something like google-chrome -account foo -pass bar that I can easily put in a bash script later. A little background: I have a laptop connected to my TV, which is currently using just a mouse for user interaction. There's no google account logged in by default, and that's the way I want to keep it, so my kids can't come across videos and pictures in google and youtube that they are not supposed to see (e.g.: adult content, or anything marked as not appropriate for kids by the google's safe search filters). The bad thing about this is that there are some music videos in youtube that requires you to be logged in to see, usually those we (the adults) used to sing when playing karaoke... as the only input available is a mouse, I'm looking for a way to start with my google account without having to type the whole thing usin the on-screen keyboard. You may think "Why you can't use the keyboard, if the laptop is right there?". Well, it's in a kind of uncomfortable position - too high for me without a chair or something, as it's right above the furniture in where the TV is located. Is there a way to make this scriptable? If not, do you know any other workaround? Note: using the remember me after logging off or alike options are discarded, as the safe-search chrome version must be always the default version to run.

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• Kickstarting an Ubuntu Server 10.04 installation (DHCP fails)

  - by William

  I'm trying to automate the network installation of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS with an anaconda kickstart and everything seems to running except for the initial DHCP autoconfiguration. The installer attempts to configure the install via DHCP but fails on its first attempt. This brings me to a prompt where I can retry DHCP and it seems to always work on the second attempt. My issue is that this is not really automated if I have to hit retry for DHCP. Is there something I can add to the kickstart file so that it will automatically retry or better yet not fail the first time? Thanks. Kickstart: # System language lang en_US # Language modules to install langsupport en_US # System keyboard keyboard us # System mouse mouse # System timezone timezone America/New_York # Root password rootpw --iscrypted $1$unrsWyF2$B0W.k2h1roBSSFmUDsW0r/ # Initial user user --disabled # Reboot after installation reboot # Use text mode install text # Install OS instead of upgrade install # Use Web installation url --url=http://10.16.0.1/cobbler/ks_mirror/ubuntu-10.04-x86_64/ # System bootloader configuration bootloader --location=mbr # Clear the Master Boot Record zerombr yes # Partition clearing information clearpart --all --initlabel # Disk partitioning information part swap --size 512 part / --fstype ext3 --size 1 --grow # System authorization infomation auth --useshadow --enablemd5 %include /tmp/pre_install_ubuntu_network_config # Always install the server kernel. preseed --owner d-i base-installer/kernel/override-image string linux-server # Install the Ubuntu Server seed. preseed --owner tasksel tasksel/force-tasks string server # Firewall configuration firewall --disabled # Do not configure the X Window System skipx %pre wget "http://10.16.0.1/cblr/svc/op/trig/mode/pre/system/Test-D" -O /dev/null # Network information # Start pre_install_network_config generated code # Start of code to match cobbler system interfaces to physical interfaces by their mac addresses # Start eth0 # Configuring eth0 (00:1A:64:36:B1:C8) if ip -o link show | grep -i 00:1A:64:36:B1:C8 then IFNAME=$(ip -o link show | grep -i 00:1A:64:36:B1:C8 | cut -d" " -f2 | tr -d :) echo "network --device=$IFNAME --bootproto=dhcp" >> /tmp/pre_install_ubuntu_network_config fi # End pre_install_network_config generated code %packages openssh-server

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• Standing and sitting while using a computer at work

  - by Adam Batkin

  I would like to be able to comfortably switch between sitting and standing while at work (I'm a software developer, so I spend most of my day in front of a computer). For the past couple of months I have been using a large elevated stand that sits on my desk (designed expressly for this purpose) containing my keyboard and mouse, and my monitors have been raised as high as possible and aimed upwards. So I can stand all day and I'm pretty comfortable (my right wrist may be at too much of an angle when it's on my mouse, but that's a separate issue). The only problem is that sometimes I want to be able to sit. I can easily place my keyboard and mouse back down under the elevated stand, but I have to look up pretty steeply and that is uncomfortable and makes it difficult to see the screens since they are tilted upwards. My monitor mounts are difficult to adjust quickly/easily, so I can't just re-aim them. I would of course love one of those hydraulic standing/sitting desks (cost isn't the problem). But I'm in a row of "trader-style" desks where it's basically a very long surface with people sitting at 6-foot intervals. What type of equipment do you recommend? I suppose the best thing would be some sort of monitor stand (it must be able to hold 2-3 LCDs) that can easily be lowered and raised. But any other suggestions are also welcome.

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• How can I disable 'natural breaks' in Workrave?

  - by Pixelastic

  I've just discovered Workrave, and was trying to use it along the Pomodoro technique (5mn break every 25mn). But the concept of 'natural breaks' of Workrave seems to interfere with what I'm trying to achieve. Workrave tries to guess that I'm doing a natural break if I stop using my mouse and keyboard for longer than 5s. It then stops the work timer, and start counting time as if I was doing my break. Here is a typical example : I've configured a 5mn rest break every 25mn. I start working. 10mn later, I receive a phone call, or start talking with a colleague, or any work-related action that do not need either keyboard nor mouse. Workrave then stops counting my time as work time, and starts its rest timer. If my phone call is shorter than 5mn, then Workrave will resume its timer where it stopped it. Meaning that my time on the phone is not counted as work time, and so my break time is pushed a few minutes later than it should be. Even worse, if my phone call is longer than 5mn, then Workrave count it as a complete rest break, and when I'll resume working, it will restart its timer completly. I'm looking for either a way to disable the natural breaks, or increase the 'inactivity time' from 5s to maybe ~1mn. Or maybe an other angle to look at the natural breaks that might work with the Pomodoro technique (forced 5mn breaks every 25mn). I'm using Ubuntu 11.10.

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• How to find the IP Address of a vm running on VMware (or other methods of using VM)

  - by sixtyfootersdude

  I am running VMware Workstation on a Linux box. When I power on a centOS (Linux) virtual machine I cannot get mouse or keyboard control of the machine. I suspect that it has something to do with the error message: You do not have VMware Tools installed in this guest. Chose "Install VMware Tools" from the VM menu. If I click on that menu option it inserts a virtual cd with drivers etc. This does not help me since I don't have keyboard or mouse control over the machine. I was thinking that if I could figure out the IP address or hostname I could use any number of protocols to get into the machine (SSH comes to mind). How can I get the IP address or hostname of this machine? Note: I did not create this machine. A coworker created it who is no longer with the company. Would save me a lot of time if I could get into the machine. I have login credentials so that won't be a problem.

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• Good support to multiple desktops AND multiple monitors in Linux (Ubuntu)?

  - by Somebody still uses you MS-DOS

  I'm starting to have A LOT of opened windows in my machine. Sometimes within a project, I have e-mail/task management/personal e-mail/twitter, and a lot of different opened applications/terminal in my Linux environment. Nowadays I have 4 worspaces: Corporate management (e-mail) and corporate messenger; Work (Documents, Requisites) Dev (Development, All gVim windows, terminal and Firefox for development) Personal (Personal stuff: personal e-mail, delicious, twitter and so on) Sometimes it would be interesting to have different workspaces to projects instead of this configuration I have nowadays that are classes of work (bad name, I know, but I think you got the idea). I'm starting to think about using two monitors: one with Corporate Management, Work and Personal. The second monitor is only the development state: each workspace here is about a project being worked on instead of groups of works like before. A workspace may be implementing different classes for example. My question is: I just want to change to a second monitor using the mouse. I want to still be able to change workspaces in the same monitor using keyboard shortcuts. The keyboard shortcuts wouldn't change monitors, just worskpaces on the same monitor. Does Linux (Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx) support this envisioned setup? If so, how?

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• Implementing union of Set using basic java array

  - by lupindeterd

  Note: This is an assignment. Hi, Continuing with my Set implementation using Java basic array, I'm now struggling with the 3 to last function namely the union. import java.io.*; class Set { private int numberOfElements = 0; private String[] setElements = new String[5]; private int maxNumberOfElements = 5; // constructor for our Set class public Set(int numberOfE, int setE, int maxNumberOfE) { int numberOfElements = numberOfE; String[] setElements = new String[setE]; int maxNumberOfElements = maxNumberOfE; } // Helper method to shorten/remove element of array since we're using basic array instead of ArrayList or HashSet from collection interface :( static String[] removeAt(int k, String[] arr) { final int L = arr.length; String[] ret = new String[L - 1]; System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, k); System.arraycopy(arr, k + 1, ret, k, L - k - 1); return ret; } int findElement(String element) { int retval = 0; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element) ) { return retval = i; } retval = -1; } return retval; } void add(String newValue) { int elem = findElement(newValue); if( numberOfElements < maxNumberOfElements && elem == -1 ) { setElements[numberOfElements] = newValue; numberOfElements++; } } int getLength() { if ( setElements != null ) { return setElements.length; } else { return 0; } } String[] emptySet() { setElements = new String[0]; return setElements; } Boolean isFull() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == maxNumberOfElements ){ return True; } else { return False; } } Boolean isEmpty() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == 0 ) { return True; } else { return False; } } void remove(String newValue) { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i].equals(newValue) ) { setElements = removeAt(i,setElements); } } } int isAMember(String element) { int retval = -1; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++ ) { if (setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element)) { return retval = i; } } return retval; } void printSet() { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { System.out.println("Member elements on index: "+ i +" " + setElements[i]); } } String[] getMember() { String[] tempArray = new String[setElements.length]; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if(setElements[i] != null) { tempArray[i] = setElements[i]; } } return tempArray; } Set union(Set x, Set y) { String[] newtemparray = new String[x.getLength]; newtemparray = x.getMember; return x; } } // This is the SetDemo class that will make use of our Set class class SetDemo { public static void main(String[] args) { //get input from keyboard BufferedReader keyboard; InputStreamReader reader; String temp = ""; reader = new InputStreamReader(System.in); keyboard = new BufferedReader(reader); try { System.out.println("Enter string element to be added" ); temp = keyboard.readLine( ); System.out.println("You entered " + temp ); } catch (IOException IOerr) { System.out.println("There was an error during input"); } /* ************************************************************************** * Test cases for our new created Set class. * ************************************************************************** */ Set setA = new Set(1,10,10); setA.add(temp); setA.add("b"); setA.add("b"); setA.add("hello"); setA.add("world"); setA.add("six"); setA.add("seven"); setA.add("b"); int size = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + size ); Boolean isempty = setA.isEmpty(); System.out.println("Set is empty? " + isempty ); int ismember = setA.isAMember("sixb"); System.out.println("Element six is member of setA? " + ismember ); Boolean output = setA.isFull(); System.out.println("Set is full? " + output ); setA.printSet(); int index = setA.findElement("world"); System.out.println("Element b located on index: " + index ); setA.remove("b"); setA.emptySet(); int resize = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + resize ); setA.printSet(); Set setB = new Set(0,10,10); Set SetA = setA.union(setB,setA); } } Ok the method in question will be the implementation of union. As such this: Set union(Set x, Set y) { String[] newtemparray = new String[x.getLength]; newtemparray = x.getMember; return x; } I got this error: symbol : variable getLength location: class Set String[] newtemparray = new String[x.getLength]; ^ d:\javaprojects\Set.java:122: cannot find symbol symbol : variable getMember location: class Set newtemparray = x.getMember; ^ 2 errors My approach for union would be: *) create temporary array of string with size of the object x length. *) store object x members to temporary array by looping the object and calling the getMember *) loop object y members and check if element exist against temporary array. *) discard if it exist/add if it is not there *) return obj x with the union array. thanks, lupin

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• Returning new object, overwrite the existing one in Java

  - by lupin

  Note: This is an assignment. Hi, Ok I have this method that will create a supposedly union of 2 sets. i mport java.io.*; class Set { public int numberOfElements; public String[] setElements; public int maxNumberOfElements; // constructor for our Set class public Set(int numberOfE, int setE, int maxNumberOfE) { this.numberOfElements = numberOfE; this.setElements = new String[setE]; this.maxNumberOfElements = maxNumberOfE; } // Helper method to shorten/remove element of array since we're using basic array instead of ArrayList or HashSet from collection interface :( static String[] removeAt(int k, String[] arr) { final int L = arr.length; String[] ret = new String[L - 1]; System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, k); System.arraycopy(arr, k + 1, ret, k, L - k - 1); return ret; } int findElement(String element) { int retval = 0; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element) ) { return retval = i; } retval = -1; } return retval; } void add(String newValue) { int elem = findElement(newValue); if( numberOfElements < maxNumberOfElements && elem == -1 ) { setElements[numberOfElements] = newValue; numberOfElements++; } } int getLength() { if ( setElements != null ) { return setElements.length; } else { return 0; } } String[] emptySet() { setElements = new String[0]; return setElements; } Boolean isFull() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == maxNumberOfElements ){ return True; } else { return False; } } Boolean isEmpty() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == 0 ) { return True; } else { return False; } } void remove(String newValue) { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(newValue) ) { setElements = removeAt(i,setElements); } } } int isAMember(String element) { int retval = -1; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++ ) { if (setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element)) { return retval = i; } } return retval; } void printSet() { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if (setElements[i] != null) { System.out.println("Member elements on index: "+ i +" " + setElements[i]); } } } String[] getMember() { String[] tempArray = new String[setElements.length]; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if(setElements[i] != null) { tempArray[i] = setElements[i]; } } return tempArray; } Set union(Set x, Set y) { String[] newXtemparray = new String[x.getLength()]; String[] newYtemparray = new String[y.getLength()]; int len = newYtemparray.length + newXtemparray.length; Set temp = new Set(0,len,len); newXtemparray = x.getMember(); newYtemparray = x.getMember(); for(int i = 0; i < newYtemparray.length; i++) { temp.add(newYtemparray[i]); } for(int j = 0; j < newXtemparray.length; j++) { temp.add(newXtemparray[j]); } return temp; } Set difference(Set x, Set y) { String[] newXtemparray = new String[x.getLength()]; String[] newYtemparray = new String[y.getLength()]; int len = newYtemparray.length + newXtemparray.length; Set temp = new Set(0,len,len); newXtemparray = x.getMember(); newYtemparray = x.getMember(); for(int i = 0; i < newXtemparray.length; i++) { temp.add(newYtemparray[i]); } for(int j = 0; j < newYtemparray.length; j++) { int retval = temp.findElement(newYtemparray[j]); if( retval != -1 ) { temp.remove(newYtemparray[j]); } } return temp; } } // This is the SetDemo class that will make use of our Set class class SetDemo { public static void main(String[] args) { //get input from keyboard BufferedReader keyboard; InputStreamReader reader; String temp = ""; reader = new InputStreamReader(System.in); keyboard = new BufferedReader(reader); try { System.out.println("Enter string element to be added" ); temp = keyboard.readLine( ); System.out.println("You entered " + temp ); } catch (IOException IOerr) { System.out.println("There was an error during input"); } /* ************************************************************************** * Test cases for our new created Set class. * ************************************************************************** */ Set setA = new Set(0,10,10); setA.add(temp); setA.add("b"); setA.add("b"); setA.add("hello"); setA.add("world"); setA.add("six"); setA.add("seven"); setA.add("b"); int size = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + size ); Boolean isempty = setA.isEmpty(); System.out.println("Set is empty? " + isempty ); int ismember = setA.isAMember("sixb"); System.out.println("Element sixb is member of setA? " + ismember ); Boolean output = setA.isFull(); System.out.println("Set is full? " + output ); //setA.printSet(); int index = setA.findElement("world"); System.out.println("Element b located on index: " + index ); setA.remove("b"); //setA.emptySet(); int resize = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + resize ); //setA.printSet(); Set setB = new Set(0,10,10); setB.add("b"); setB.add("z"); setB.add("x"); setB.add("y"); Set setC = setA.union(setB,setA); System.out.println("Elements of setA"); setA.printSet(); System.out.println("Union of setA and setB"); setC.printSet(); } } The union method works a sense that somehow I can call another method on it but it doesn't do the job, i supposedly would create and union of all elements of setA and setB but it only return element of setB. Sample output follows: java SetDemo Enter string element to be added hello You entered hello Set size is: 10 Set is empty? false Element sixb is member of setA? -1 Set is full? true Element b located on index: 2 Set size is: 9 Elements of setA Member elements on index: 0 hello Member elements on index: 1 world Member elements on index: 2 six Member elements on index: 3 seven Union of setA and setB Member elements on index: 0 b Member elements on index: 1 z Member elements on index: 2 x Member elements on index: 3 y thanks, lupin

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• Java constructor and modify the object properties at runtime

  - by lupin

  Note: This is an assignment Hi, I have the following class/constructor. import java.io.*; class Set { public int numberOfElements = 0; public String[] setElements = new String[5]; public int maxNumberOfElements = 5; // constructor for our Set class public Set(int numberOfE, int setE, int maxNumberOfE) { int numberOfElements = numberOfE; String[] setElements = new String[setE]; int maxNumberOfElements = maxNumberOfE; } // Helper method to shorten/remove element of array since we're using basic array instead of ArrayList or HashSet from collection interface :( static String[] removeAt(int k, String[] arr) { final int L = arr.length; String[] ret = new String[L - 1]; System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, k); System.arraycopy(arr, k + 1, ret, k, L - k - 1); return ret; } int findElement(String element) { int retval = 0; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element) ) { return retval = i; } retval = -1; } return retval; } void add(String newValue) { int elem = findElement(newValue); if( numberOfElements < maxNumberOfElements && elem == -1 ) { setElements[numberOfElements] = newValue; numberOfElements++; } } int getLength() { if ( setElements != null ) { return setElements.length; } else { return 0; } } String[] emptySet() { setElements = new String[0]; return setElements; } Boolean isFull() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == maxNumberOfElements ){ return True; } else { return False; } } Boolean isEmpty() { Boolean True = new Boolean(true); Boolean False = new Boolean(false); if ( setElements.length == 0 ) { return True; } else { return False; } } void remove(String newValue) { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if ( setElements[i].equals(newValue) ) { setElements = removeAt(i,setElements); } } } int isAMember(String element) { int retval = -1; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++ ) { if (setElements[i] != null && setElements[i].equals(element)) { return retval = i; } } return retval; } void printSet() { for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { System.out.println("Member elements on index: "+ i +" " + setElements[i]); } } String[] getMember() { String[] tempArray = new String[setElements.length]; for ( int i = 0; i < setElements.length; i++) { if(setElements[i] != null) { tempArray[i] = setElements[i]; } } return tempArray; } Set union(Set x, Set y) { String[] newXtemparray = new String[x.getLength()]; String[] newYtemparray = new String[y.getLength()]; Set temp = new Set(1,20,20); newXtemparray = x.getMember(); newYtemparray = x.getMember(); for(int i = 0; i < newXtemparray.length; i++) { temp.add(newYtemparray[i]); } for(int j = 0; j < newYtemparray.length; j++) { temp.add(newYtemparray[j]); } return temp; } } // This is the SetDemo class that will make use of our Set class class SetDemo { public static void main(String[] args) { //get input from keyboard BufferedReader keyboard; InputStreamReader reader; String temp = ""; reader = new InputStreamReader(System.in); keyboard = new BufferedReader(reader); try { System.out.println("Enter string element to be added" ); temp = keyboard.readLine( ); System.out.println("You entered " + temp ); } catch (IOException IOerr) { System.out.println("There was an error during input"); } /* ************************************************************************** * Test cases for our new created Set class. * ************************************************************************** */ Set setA = new Set(1,10,10); setA.add(temp); setA.add("b"); setA.add("b"); setA.add("hello"); setA.add("world"); setA.add("six"); setA.add("seven"); setA.add("b"); int size = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + size ); Boolean isempty = setA.isEmpty(); System.out.println("Set is empty? " + isempty ); int ismember = setA.isAMember("sixb"); System.out.println("Element six is member of setA? " + ismember ); Boolean output = setA.isFull(); System.out.println("Set is full? " + output ); setA.printSet(); int index = setA.findElement("world"); System.out.println("Element b located on index: " + index ); setA.remove("b"); setA.emptySet(); int resize = setA.getLength(); System.out.println("Set size is: " + resize ); setA.printSet(); Set setB = new Set(0,10,10); Set SetA = setA.union(setB,setA); SetA.printSet(); } } I have two question here, why I when I change the class property declaration to: class Set { public int numberOfElements; public String[] setElements; public int maxNumberOfElements; // constructor for our Set class public Set(int numberOfE, int setE, int maxNumberOfE) { int numberOfElements = numberOfE; String[] setElements = new String[setE]; int maxNumberOfElements = maxNumberOfE; } I got this error: \ javaprojects>java SetDemo Enter string element to be added a You entered a Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException at Set.findElement(Set.java:30) at Set.add(Set.java:43) at SetDemo.main(Set.java:169) Second, on the union method, why the result of SetA.printSet still printing null, isn't it getting back the return value from union method? Thanks in advance for any explaination. lupin

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• Storyboard apply to all labels

  - by ThitoO

  Hi everyone ! I whant to apply a little storyboard to a collection of labels in my window. My storyboard is like that : <Storyboard x:Key="Storyboard1" AutoReverse="True" RepeatBehavior="Forever"> <ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames BeginTime="00:00:00" Storyboard.TargetName="label" Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Label.Foreground).(SolidColorBrush.Color)"> <SplineColorKeyFrame KeyTime="00:00:00.1000000" Value="#FFFFFF"/> </ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames> </Storyboard> I have a window composed of that : <Grid Background="#FF000000"> <Viewbox HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Stretch="Uniform"> <UniformGrid x:Name="grid" Background="#FF000000" /> </Viewbox> </Grid> When I want to start my storyboard I do that : Storyboard.SetTarget( _stb, myLabel ); _stb.Begin(); where _std is my storyboard loaded by the window's resources. The animation works fine, but on all labels (not only the one I want). I tried to switch SetTarget by SetTargetName but labels are created into my window by the constructor and names can not be founded when I try "SetTargetName". Do you have any ideas ? Thanks :) ------------ Edit : We asked me to be more descriptive -------------------------------------------------------------------- Label are not created directly in the xaml, they are created by the constructor of the window : public SpellerWindow(IKeyboard keyboard, int colomnNumber, SolidColorBrush background, SolidColorBrush foreground ) { InitializeComponent(); grid.Columns = colomnNumber; int i = 0; foreach( IKey key in keyboard.Zones.Default.Keys ) { Label lb = new Label(); lb.Foreground = foreground; lb.Name = "label"+(i++).ToString(); lb.Content = key.ActualKeys[keyboard.CurrentMode].UpLabel; lb.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center; lb.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Center; Viewbox box = new Viewbox(); box.Stretch = Stretch.Fill; box.Child = lb; box.Tag = key; grid.Children.Add( box ); } } Animations are started by an event handler : void Highlighter_StartAnimation( object sender, HiEventArgs e ) { Storyboard stb; if( !_anims.TryGetValue( e.Step.Animation.Name, out stb ) ) { stb = (Storyboard)_window.FindResource( e.Step.Animation.Name ); _anims.Add( e.Step.Animation.Name, stb ); } DoAnimations( _zones[e.Step.Zone], stb ); } Finally, animations are started by DoAnimations : void DoAnimations( List<Label> labels, Storyboard stb ) { foreach( Label lb in labels ) { Storyboard.SetTarget( stb, lb ); stb.Begin(); } } I want to highlight a collection of labels, but all labels are flashing. I don't know why, but I try to create a label into the Xaml directly, and set a Storyboard.TargetName (bound to the name of the label) in the Xaml of the storyboard. And it's working ... Now you know everything. Thanks for you help :)

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• Unable to SSH into EC2 instance on Fedora 17

  - by abhishek

  I did following steps But I am not able to SSH to it(Same steps work fine on Fedora 14 image). I am getting Permission denied (publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic) I created new instance using fedora 17 amazon community image(ami-2ea50247). I copied my ssh keys under /home/usertest/.ssh/ after creating a usertest I have SELINUX=disabled here is Debug info: $ ssh -vvv ec2-54-243-101-41.compute-1.amazonaws.com ssh -vvv ec2-54-243-101-41.compute-1.amazonaws.com OpenSSH_5.2p1, OpenSSL 1.0.0b-fips 16 Nov 2010 debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config debug1: Applying options for * debug2: ssh_connect: needpriv 0 debug1: Connecting to ec2-54-243-101-41.compute-1.amazonaws.com [54.243.101.41] port 22. debug1: Connection established. debug1: identity file /home/usertest/.ssh/identity type -1 debug1: identity file /home/usertest/.ssh/id_rsa type -1 debug3: Not a RSA1 key file /home/usertest/.ssh/id_dsa. debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type '-----BEGIN' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type 'Proc-Type:' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type 'DEK-Info:' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type '-----END' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug1: identity file /home/usertest/.ssh/id_dsa type 2 debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_5.9 debug1: match: OpenSSH_5.9 pat OpenSSH* debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0 debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.2 debug2: fd 3 setting O_NONBLOCK debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: ssh-rsa,ssh-dss debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,[email protected],hmac-ripemd160,[email protected],hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,[email protected],hmac-ripemd160,[email protected],hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,[email protected],zlib debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,[email protected],zlib debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: first_kex_follows 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: reserved 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: ssh-rsa,ssh-dss debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,[email protected],hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-256-96,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-512-96,hmac-ripemd160,[email protected],hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,[email protected],hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-256-96,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-512-96,hmac-ripemd160,[email protected],hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,[email protected] debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: first_kex_follows 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: reserved 0 debug2: mac_setup: found hmac-md5 debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none debug2: mac_setup: found hmac-md5 debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP debug2: dh_gen_key: priv key bits set: 131/256 debug2: bits set: 506/1024 debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: filename /home/usertest/.ssh/known_hosts debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: match line 17 debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: filename /home/usertest/.ssh/known_hosts debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: match line 17 debug1: Host 'ec2-54-243-101-41.compute-1.amazonaws.com' is known and matches the RSA host key. debug1: Found key in /home/usertest/.ssh/known_hosts:17 debug2: bits set: 500/1024 debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct debug2: kex_derive_keys debug2: set_newkeys: mode 1 debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS debug2: set_newkeys: mode 0 debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received debug2: key: /home/usertest/.ssh/identity ((nil)) debug2: key: /home/usertest/.ssh/id_rsa ((nil)) debug2: key: /home/usertest/.ssh/id_dsa (0x7f904b5ae260) debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic debug3: start over, passed a different list publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic debug3: preferred gssapi-with-mic,publickey,keyboard-interactive,password debug3: authmethod_lookup gssapi-with-mic debug3: remaining preferred: publickey,keyboard-interactive,password debug3: authmethod_is_enabled gssapi-with-mic debug1: Next authentication method: gssapi-with-mic debug3: Trying to reverse map address 54.243.101.41. debug1: Unspecified GSS failure. Minor code may provide more information Credentials cache file '/tmp/krb5cc_500' not found debug1: Unspecified GSS failure. Minor code may provide more information Credentials cache file '/tmp/krb5cc_500' not found debug1: Unspecified GSS failure. Minor code may provide more information debug2: we did not send a packet, disable method debug3: authmethod_lookup publickey debug3: remaining preferred: keyboard-interactive,password debug3: authmethod_is_enabled publickey debug1: Next authentication method: publickey debug1: Trying private key: /home/usertest/.ssh/identity debug3: no such identity: /home/usertest/.ssh/identity debug1: Trying private key: /home/usertest/.ssh/id_rsa debug3: no such identity: /home/usertest/.ssh/id_rsa debug1: Offering public key: /home/usertest/.ssh/id_dsa debug3: send_pubkey_test debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic debug2: we did not send a packet, disable method debug1: No more authentication methods to try. Permission denied (publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic).

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• Productivity Tips

  - by Brian T. Jackett

  A few months ago during my first end of year review at Microsoft I was doing an assessment of my year.  One of my personal goals to come out of this reflection was to improve my personal productivity.  While I hear many people say “I wish I had more hours in the day so that I could get more done” I feel like that is the wrong approach.  There is an inherent assumption that you are being productive with your time that you already have and thus more time would allow you to be as productive given more time.    Instead of wishing I could add more hours to the day I’ve begun adopting a number of processes or behavior changes in my personal life to make better use of my time with the goal of improving productivity.  The areas of focus are as follows: Focus Processes Tools Personal health Email Note: A number of these topics have spawned from reading Scott Hanselman’s blog posts on productivity, reading of David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, and discussions with friends and coworkers who had great insights into this topic.   Focus Pre-reading / viewing: Overcome your work addiction Millennials paralyzed by choice Its Not What You Read Its What You Ignore (Scott Hanselman video)    I highly recommend Scott Hanselman’s video above and this post before continuing with this article.  It is well worth the 40+ mins price of admission for the video and couple minutes for article.  One key takeaway for me was listing out my activities in an average week and realizing which ones held little or no value to me.  We all have a finite amount of time to work each day.  Do you know how much time and effort you spend on various aspects of your life (family, friends, religion, work, personal happiness, etc.)?  Do your actions and commitments reflect your priorities?    The biggest time consumers with little value for me were time spent on social media services (Twitter and Facebook), playing an MMO video game, and watching TV.  I still check up on Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft internal chat forums, and other services to keep contact with others but I’ve reduced that time significantly.  As for TV I’ve cut the cord and no longer subscribe to cable TV.  Instead I use Netflix, RedBox, and over the air channels but again with reduced time consumption.  With the time I’ve freed up I’m back to working out 2-3 times a week and reading 4 nights a week (both of which I had been neglecting previously).  I’ll mention a few tools for helping measure your time in the Tools section.   Processes    Do not multi-task.  I’ll say it again.  Do not multi-task.  There is no such thing as multi tasking.  The human brain is optimized to work on one thing at a time.  When you are “multi-tasking” you are really doing 2 or more things at less than 100%, usually by a wide margin.  I take pride in my work and when I’m doing something less than 100% the results typically degrade rapidly.    Now there are some ways of bending the rules of physics for this one.  There is the notion of getting a double amount of work done in the same timeframe.  Some examples would be listening to podcasts / watching a movie while working out, using a treadmill as your work desk, or reading while in the bathroom.    Personally I’ve found good results in combining one task that does not require focus (making dinner, playing certain video games, working out) and one task that does (watching a movie, listening to podcasts).  I believe this is related to me being a visual and kinesthetic (using my hands or actually doing it) learner.  I’m terrible with auditory learning.  My fiance and I joke that sometimes we talk and talk to each other but never really hear each other.   Goals / Tasks    Goals can give us direction in life and a sense of accomplishment when we complete them.  Goals can also overwhelm us and give us a sense of failure when we don’t complete them.  I propose that you shift your perspective and not dwell on all of the things that you haven’t gotten done, but focus instead on regularly setting measureable goals that are within reason of accomplishing.    At the end of each time frame have a retrospective to review your progress.  Do not feel guilty about what you did not accomplish.  Feel proud of what you did accomplish and readjust your goals for the next time frame to more attainable goals.  Here is a sample schedule I’ve seen proposed by some.  I have not consistently set goals for each timeframe, but I do typically set 3 small goals a day (this blog post is #2 for today). Each day set 3 small goals Each week set 3 medium goals Each month set 1 large goal Each year set 2 very large goals   Tools    Tools are an extension of our human body.  They help us extend beyond what we can physically and mentally do.  Below are some tools I use almost daily or have found useful as of late. Disclaimer: I am not getting endorsed to promote any of these products.  I just happen to like them and find them useful. Instapaper – Save internet links for reading later.  There are many tools like this but I’ve found this to be a great one.  There is even a “read it later” JavaScript button you can add to your browser so when you navigate to a site it will then add this to your list. Stacks for Instapaper – A Windows Phone 7 app for reading my Instapaper articles on the go.  It does require a subscription to Instapaper (nominal $3 every three months) but is easily worth the cost.  Alternatively you can set up your Kindle to sync with Instapaper easily but I haven’t done so. SlapDash Podcast – Apps for Windows Phone and  Windows 8 (possibly other platforms) to sync podcast viewing / listening across multiple devices.  Now that I have my Surface RT device (which I love) this is making my consumption easier to manage. Feed Reader – Simple Windows 8 app for quickly catching up on my RSS feeds.  I used to have hundreds of unread items all the time.  Now I’m down to 20-50 regularly and it is much easier and faster to consume on my Surface RT.  There is also a free version (which I use) and I can’t see much different between the free and paid versions currently. Rescue Time – Have you ever wondered how much time you’ve spent on websites vs. email vs. “doing work”?  This service tracks your computer actions and then lets you report on them.  This can help you quantitatively identify areas where your actions are not in line with your priorities. PowerShell – Windows automation tool.  It is now built into every client and server OS.  This tool has saved me days (and I mean the full 24 hrs worth) of time and effort in the past year alone.  If you haven’t started learning PowerShell and you administrating any Windows OS or server product you need to start today. Various blogging tools – I wrote a post a couple years ago called How I Blog about my blogging process and tools used.  Almost all of it still applies today.   Personal Health    Some of these may be common sense or debatable, but I’ve found them to help prioritize my daily activities. Get plenty of sleep on a regular basis.  Sacrificing sleep too many nights a week negatively impacts your cognition, attitude, and overall health. Exercise at least three days.  Exercise could be lifting weights, taking the stairs up multiple flights of stairs, walking for 20 mins, or a number of other "non-traditional” activities.  I find that regular exercise helps with sleep and improves my overall attitude. Eat a well balanced diet.  Too much sugar, caffeine, junk food, etc. are not good for your body.  This is not a matter of losing weight but taking care of your body and helping you perform at your peak potential.   Email    Email can be one of the biggest time consumers (i.e. waster) if you aren’t careful. Time box your email usage.  Set a meeting invite for yourself if necessary to limit how much time you spend checking email. Use rules to prioritize your email.  Email from external customers, my manager, or include me directly on the To line go into my inbox.  Everything else goes a level down and I have 30+ rules to further sort it, mostly distribution lists. Use keyboard shortcuts (when available).  I use Outlook for my primary email and am constantly hitting Alt + S to send, Ctrl + 1 for my inbox, Ctrl + 2 for my calendar, Space / Tab / Shift + Tab to mark items as read, and a number of other useful commands.  Learn them and you’ll see your speed getting through emails increase. Keep emails short.  No one Few people like reading through long emails.  The first line should state exactly why you are sending the email followed by a 3-4 lines to support it.  Anything longer might be better suited as a phone call or in person discussion.   Conclusion    In this post I walked through various tips and tricks I’ve found for improving personal productivity.  It is a mix of re-focusing on the things that matter, using tools to assist in your efforts, and cutting out actions that are not aligned with your priorities.  I originally had a whole section on keyboard shortcuts, but with my recent purchase of the Surface RT I’m finding that touch gestures have replaced numerous keyboard commands that I used to need.  I see a big future in touch enabled devices.  Hopefully some of these tips help you out.  If you have any tools, tips, or ideas you would like to share feel free to add in the comments section.         -Frog Out   Links Scott Hanselman Productivity posts http://www.hanselman.com/blog/CategoryView.aspx?category=Productivity Overcome your work addiction http://blogs.hbr.org/hbsfaculty/2012/05/overcome-your-work-addiction.html?awid=5512355740280659420-3271   Millennials paralyzed by choice http://priyaparker.com/blog/millennials-paralyzed-by-choice   Its Not What You Read Its What You Ignore (video) http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ItsNotWhatYouReadItsWhatYouIgnoreVideoOfScottHanselmansPersonalProductivityTips.aspx   Cutting the cord – Jeff Blankenburg http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/2011/04/06/cutting-the-cord/   Building a sitting standing desk – Eric Harlan http://www.ericharlan.com/Everything_Else/building-a-sitting-standing-desk-a229.html   Instapaper http://www.instapaper.com/u   Stacks for Instapaper http://www.stacksforinstapaper.com/   Slapdash Podcast Windows Phone -  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/slapdash-podcasts/90e8b121-080b-e011-9264-00237de2db9e Windows 8 - http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/en-us/app/slapdash-podcasts/0c62e66a-f2e4-4403-af88-3430a821741e/m/ROW   Feed Reader http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/en-us/app/feed-reader/d03199c9-8e08-469a-bda1-7963099840cc/m/ROW   Rescue Time http://www.rescuetime.com/   PowerShell Script Center http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/bb410849.aspx

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• "Translator by Moth"

  - by Daniel Moth

  This article serves as the manual for the free Windows Phone 7 app called "Translator by Moth". The app is available from the following link (browse the link on your Window Phone 7 phone, or from your PC with zune software installed): http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=bcd09f8e-8211-e011-9264-00237de2db9e   Startup At startup the app makes a connection to the bing Microsoft Translator service to retrieve the available languages, and also which languages offer playback support (two network calls total). It populates with the results the two list pickers ("from" and "to") on the "current" page. If for whatever reason the network call fails, you are informed via a message box, and the app keeps trying to make a connection every few seconds. When it eventually succeeds, the language pickers on the "current" page get updated. Until it succeeds, the language pickers remain blank and hence no new translations are possible. As you can guess, if the Microsoft Translation service add more languages for textual translation (or enables more for playback) the app will automatically pick those up. "current" page The "current" page is the main page of the app with language pickers, translation boxes and the application bar. Language list pickers The "current" page allows you to pick the "from" and "to" languages, which are populated at start time. Until these language get populated with the results of the network calls, they remain empty and disabled. When enabled, tapping on either of them brings up on a full screen popup the list of languages to pick from, formatted as English Name followed by Native Name (when the latter is known). The "to" list, in addition to the language names, indicates which languages have playback support via a * in front of the language name. When making a selection for the "to" language, and if there is text entered for translation, a translation is performed (so there is no need to tap on the "translate" application bar button). Note that both language choices are remembered between different launches of the application.   text for translation The textbox where you enter the translation is always enabled. When there is nothing entered in it, it displays (centered and in italics) text prompting you to enter some text for translation. When you tap on it, the prompt text disappears and it becomes truly empty, waiting for input via the keyboard that automatically pops up. The text you type is left aligned and not in italic font. The keyboard shows suggestions of text as you type. The keyboard can be dismissed either by tapping somewhere else on the screen, or via tapping on the Windows Phone hardware "back" button, or via taping on the "enter" key. In the latter case (tapping on the "enter" key), if there was text entered and if the "from" language is not blank, a translation is performed (so there is no need to tap on the "translate" application bar button). The last text entered is remembered between application launches. translated text The translated text appears below the "to" language (left aligned in normal font). Until a translation is performed, there is a message in that space informing you of what to expect (translation appearing there). When the "current" page is cleared via the "clear" application bar button, the translated text reverts back to the message. Note a subtle point: when a translation has been performed and subsequently you change the "from" language or the text for translation, the translated text remains in place but is now in italic font (attempting to indicate that it may be out of date). In any case, this text is not remembered between application launches. application bar buttons and menus There are 4 application bar buttons and 4 application bar menus. "translate" button takes the text for translation and translates it to the translated text, via a single network call to the bing Microsoft Translator service. If the network call fails, the user is informed via a message box. The button is disabled when there is no "from" language available or when there is not text for translation entered. "play" button takes the translated text and plays it out loud in a native speaker's voice (of the "to" language), via a single network call to the bing Microsoft Translator service. If the network call fails, the user is informed via a message box. The button is disabled when there is no "to" language available or when there is no translated text available. "clear" button clears any user text entered in the text for translation box and any translation present in the translated text box. If both of those are already empty, the button is disabled. It also stops any playback if there is one in flight. "save" button saves the entire translation ("from" language, "to" language, text for translation, and translated text) to the bottom of the "saved" page (described later), and simultaneously switches to the "saved" page. The button is disabled if there is no translation or the translation is not up to date (i.e. one of the elements have been changed). "swap to and from languages" menu swaps around the "from" and "to" languages. It also takes the translated text and inserts it in the text for translation area. The translated text area becomes blank. The menu is disabled when there is no "from" and "to" language info. "send translation via sms" menu takes the translated text and creates an SMS message containing it. The menu is disabled when there is no translation present. "send translation via email" menu takes the translated text and creates an email message containing it (after you choose which email account you want to use). The menu is disabled when there is no translation present. "about" menu shows the "about" page described later. "saved" page The "saved" page is initially empty. You can add translations to it by translating text on the "current" page and then tapping the application bar "save" button. Once a translation appears in the list, you can read it all offline (both the "from" and "to" text). Thus, you can create your own phrasebook list, which is remembered between application launches (it is stored on your device). To listen to the translation, simply tap on it – this is only available for languages that support playback, as indicated by the * in front of them. The sound is retrieved via a single network call to the bing Microsoft Translator service (if it fails an appropriate message is displayed in a message box). Tap and hold on a saved translation to bring up a context menu with 4 items: "move to top" menu moves the selected item to the top of the saved list (and scrolls there so it is still in view) "copy to current" menu takes the "from" and "to" information (language and text), and populates the "current" page with it (switching at the same time to the current page). This allows you to make tweaks to the translation (text or languages) and potentially save it back as a new item. Note that the action makes a copy of the translation, so you are not actually editing the existing saved translation (which remains intact). "delete" menu deletes the selected translation. "delete all" menu deletes all saved translations from the "saved" page – there is no way to get that info back other than re-entering it, so be cautious. Note: Once playback of a translation has been retrieved via a network call, Windows Phone 7 caches the results. What this means is that as long as you play a saved translation once, it is likely that it will be available to you for some time, even when there is no network connection.   "about" page The "about" page provides some textual information (that you can view in the screenshot) including a link to the creator's blog (that you can follow on your Windows Phone 7 device). Use that link to discover the email for any feedback. Other UI design info As you can see in the screenshots above, "Translator by Moth" has been designed from scratch for Windows Phone 7, using the nice pivot control and application bar. It also supports both portrait and landscape orientations, and looks equally good in both the light and the dark theme. Other than the default black and white colors, it uses the user's chosen accent color (which is blue in the screenshot examples above). Feedback and support Please report (via the email on the blog) any bugs you encounter or opportunities for performance improvements and they will be fixed in the next update. Suggestions for new features will be considered, but given that the app is FREE, no promises are made. If you like the app, don't forget to rate "Translator by Moth" on the marketplace. Comments about this post welcome at the original blog.

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• Surface RT: To Be Or Not To Be (Part 1)

  - by smehaffie

  So the Surface RT has been out for 9 months and Microsoft just declared a $900 million dollar write-down. So how did this happen and what does it mean for Microsoft’s efforts to break into the tablet market? I have been thinking a lot about most of the information below since the Surface product line was released. If you are looking for a “Microsoft Is Dead” story, then don’t read any further. But if you want an honest look at what I think led Microsoft to this point and what I think can be done to make Surface RT devices better, then please continue reading. What Led Microsoft To The $900 Million Write-Down Surface Unveiling:Microsoft totally missed the boat when they unveiled the Surface product line on June 18th, 2012. Microsoft should’ve been ready to post the specifications of both devices that night. Microsoft should’ve had a site up and running right after the event so people could pre-order the devices. This would have given them a good idea what the interest was in each device.  They could also have used this data to make a better estimate for the number of units to to have available for the launch and beyond.  They also lost out on taking advantage of the excitement generated by the Surface RT and Surface Pro announcement. They could have thrown in a free touch keyboard to anyone who pre-ordered. The advertising should have started right after the announcement and gotten bigger as launch day approached. Push for as many pre-order as possible and build excitement for the launch. Actual Launch (Surface RT): By this time all excitement was gone from the initial announcement, except for the Micorsoft faithful. Microsoft should have been ready to sell the Surface in as many markets as possible at launch. The limited market release was a real letdown for a lot of people.  A limited release right after the initial announce is understandable, but not at the official launch of the product. Microsoft overpriced the device and now they are lowering it to what it should have been to start with. The $349 price is within the range I suggested it should be at before pricing was announced. (Surface Tablets: The Price Must Be Right). Limited ordering options online was also a killer. User should have been able to buy the base unit of each device and then add on whatever keyboard they wanted to (this applies more to the Surface Pro).  There should have also been a place where users could order any additional add-ins that they wanted to buy (covers, extra power supplies, etc.) Marketing was better and the dancing “Click In” commercial was cool, but the ads comparing the iPad with Siri should have been on the air from day one of the announcement (or at least the launch).  Consumers want to know why you tablet is better, not just that is has a clickable keyboard and built-in kickstand. They could have also compared it to some of the other mid-range tablets if they had not overprices it to begin with. Stock Applications (Mail, People, Calendar, Music, Video, Reader and IE): This is where Microsoft really blew it. They had all the time in the world to make these applications the best of breed and instead we got applications that seemed thrown together.  Some updates have made these application better, but they are all still lacking in features that should have been there from day one. This did not help to enhance a new users experience any. ** I will admit that the applications that were data driven were first class citizen’s and that makes it even more perplexing why MS could knock it out of the park with the Weather, Travel, Finance, Bing, etc.) and fail so miserably on the core applications users would use the most on a tablet. Desktop on Tablet: The desktop just is so out of place on the tablet  I understand it was needed for Office but think it would have been better to not have the desktop in Windows RT, but instead open up the Office applications in full screen mode, in a desktop shell (same goes for  IE11).That way the user wouldn’t realize they are leaving Metro and going to the desktop. The other option would have been to just not include Office on Windows RT devices. Instead they could have made awesome Widows Store Apps for Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint. In addition, they could have made the stock Mail, People, and Calendar applications contain all the functions that Outlook gives desktop users. Having some of the settings in desktop mode and others under “Change PC Settings” made Windows RT seemed unfinished and rushed to market. What Can Be Done To Make Windows RT Based Tablets Better (At least in my opinion) Either eliminate the desktop all together from Windows RT or at least make the user experience better by hiding the fact the user is running Office/IE in the desktop. Personally I ‘d like them to totally get rid of it and just make awesome Windows Store Application version of Word, Excel PowerPoint & OneNote.  This might also make the OS smaller and give the user more available disk space. I doubt there will ever be a Windows Store App versions of Office, but I still think it is a good idea. Make is so users can easily direct their documents, picture, videos and music to their extra storage and can access these files from the standard libraries.  A user should not have to create a VM on their microSD card or create symbolic links to get this to work properly. Most consumers would not be able to do this. Then users get frustrated when they run out or room on their main storage because nothing is automatically save to their microSD card when saved to libraries.  This is a major bug that needs to be fixed, otherwise Microsoft’s selling point of having a microSD slot is worthless. Allows users to uninstall and re-install any of the Office product that come with the Surface. That way people can free up storage space by uninstalling the Office applications they do not need. Everyone’s needs are different, so make the options flexible. Don’t take up storage space for applications the user will not use. Make the Core applications the “Cream of the Crop” Windows App Store applications. The should set the bar for all other Store applications. Improve performance as much as possible, if it seems to be sluggish on a tablet consumer will not buy it. They need to price the next line of Surface product very aggressive to undercut not only iPad but also Android low end tablets (Nook, Kindle Fire, and Nexus, etc.) Give developers incentives to write quality applications for the devices. Don’t reward developers for cranking out cookie cutter, low quality applications. I’d even suggest Microsoft consider implementing some new store certification guideline to stop these type of applications being published. Allow users to easily move the recover disk “partition between their microSD card and main storage. My Predictions for the Surface RT and Windows RT I honestly think even with all the missteps MS has made since the announcement  about the Surface product line, that they are on the right path. I was excited the Surface tablets when they were announced, and I still am. The truth be told, Windows 8 on a tablet (aka: Windows RT) is better than both iOS and Android. My nephew who is an Apple fan boy told me after he saw and used Windows 8 (he got the beta running on his iPad), that Windows 8 kicked Apples butt as a tablet OS. So there is hope for all Windows RT based tablets. I agree with my nephew and that is why whenever anyone asks me about my Surface, I love showing it off and recommend it. The 6 keys to gaining market share in the tablet market are; Aggressive pricing by both Microsoft and their OEM’s Good quality devices put out by Microsoft and their OEM’s (there are some out there, but not enough) Marketing, Marketing, Marketing from both Microsoft and their OEM’s (Need more ads showing why windows based tablets are better than iPads and Android tablets) Getting Widows tablets in retails stores all over, and giving sales people incentive to sell them. Consumers like to try electronics out before they buy them, and most will listen to what the sales person suggest. Microsoft needs sales people in retail stores directing people to buy windows based tablets over iPads and Android tablets. I think the Microsoft Stores within Best Buy is a good start, but they also need to get prominent displays in Walmart, Target, etc.. Release a smaller form factor Surface, Hopefully the 8”-10” next generation Surface is not a rumor. Make “Surface” the brand name for all Microsoft tablets and hybrid devices that they come out with. They cannot change the name with each new release.  Make Surface synonymous with quality, the same way that iPad  is for Apple. Well, that is my 2 cents on the subject. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Soon to follow will be my thought on the Surface Pro, so keep an eye out for it. var addthis_pub="smehaffie"; var addthis_options="email, print, digg, slashdot, delicious, twitter, live, myspace, facebook, google, stumbleupon, newsvine";

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