Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambupix/1589810416/

Display/Video, resolution fix. Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOS A04

Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOS A04 Publisher's description:

from Dell

Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOSLevel of Importance: Optional

Dell recommends the customer review specifics about the update to determine if it applies to your system. The update contains changes that impact only certain configurations, or provides new features that may/may not apply to your environment.

Fixes and Enhancements
The following changes have been made to the A03 BIOS to create the A04:
1. Fixed 1M/8M switch for non-Windows OS.
2. Prevent possible hang at boot when XP ICH2 driver installed.
3. Updated microcode for newer CPUs.
4. Added support for special keyboard.
5. Updated PXE support with latest drop.
6. Added detection code for CPU/Cache failures.
7. New MFG MODE messaging.
8. Fixed video display problem with non-VGA register compatible video devices.

Installation Instructions

Installation Instructions for the Universal (Windows/MS DOS) format

1. Download file to Desktop

2. Use one of the methods below to flash the Bios.

* Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment

* Run the BIOS update utility from MS DOS environment (Non-Windows users)

Download file to Desktop

The file SX270A04.EXE is using the Universal (Windows/MS DOS) format and is designed to be directly executed from Windows environment.

1. Click Download now.
The Export Compliance Agreement appears.

2. Read the Export Compliance Agreement.

3. If you agree, click to select I agree..
The File Download window appears.

4. Click the Save button.
The Save As window appears.

5. Select Desktop using the drop-down menu to the right of Save in.

6. Click the Save button.
A progress meter moves as the download is completed.

7. If necessary, click X in the upper right-hand corner of the Download Progress Window to close it upon completion.

NOTE:Shut down all other applications prior to running the BIOS update utility. The update utility reboots your system in order to get the new BIOS loaded.

Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment

1. Double click the Icon on your desktop labeled SX270A04.EXE.

The Dell BIOS Flash window appears

2. Click the Continue button.

The message Pressing OK will close all applications, shut down Windows, Flash the BIOS, then reboot. appears.

3. Click the OK button.

The system will restart and the BIOS Flash will be completed.

Run the BIOS update utility from MS DOS environment (Non-Windows users)

NOTE:You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file does not create the MS DOS system files.

1. Copy the file SX270A04.EXE to a bootable floppy.

2. Boot from the floppy to the MS DOS prompt.

3. Run the file by typing Y:\SX270A04.EXE (where y is the drive letter where the executable is located).

It is highly recommended to always use the most recent driver version available.

Do not forget to check with our site as often as possible in order to stay updated on the latest drivers, software and games.

Try to set a system restore point before installing a device driver. This will help if you installed a wrong driver. Problems can arise when your hardware device is too old or not supported any longer.
You can free download Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOS A04 1.0 now.

System Requirements:

No special requirements.

SX270 display fix - works for windows7 too

Office of Museum Technology

FLMNH Linux Pages

Fedora Core 1

Solution for Dell Integrated Intel Graphics Issues

Note: A Dell BIOS update may eliminate this issue on some systems. I've received the following submissions:

[I have the same GX270 and I applied the A04 BIOS update from dell and then went into the BIOS and changed the settings from 1MB video App. to 8MB. Then I went back into fedora and launched startx and was able to change the display and screen settings to 1024x768.]

[Just got a new GX270 at work...
Fedora Core 2 boots and upgraded FC1 fine. Video issue is solved with BIOS version A04, but you have to set the video cache to 8mb instead of the 1mb default. FC1 with a custom 2.6.5 kernel detected the SATA drive as /dev/hde but the FC2 install cd detects it as /dev/sda. ]

This document shares our procedure for getting the integrated graphics working on the Dell Optiplex SX270 and GX270 computers which use the Intel i865 graphics chipset. There appears to be an issue with the Dell BIOS mis-reporting the amount of video RAM, which prevents resolutions of higher than 640x480 in X. We tried updating drivers and were finally able to locate a patch, but the whole process was non-trivial. Hopefully, this page makes it easier for the rest of you.

After speaking with a Dell sales rep, I believe that Dell will only begin to officially support Linux on the Optiplex desktops once there is sufficient customer demand. If you have a Dell sales rep and are installing Linux on an Optiplex system, tell your rep you want Linux to be officially supported.

We are using Fedora Core 1. I have also tested the patch with Fedora Core 2 (the X configuration filenames have changed because of the move from XFree86 to X.org). Regardless, use at your own risk. We assume that the issue will eventually disappear as future releases of Fedora Core include a fix for the Intel chipsets or Dell fixes the BIOS issue. Our Dell SX270 has been updated to include the latest BIOS (version A03).

Many thanks to Christian Zietz, the author of the i855 patch and to Marc Seil, who contributed changes to create the i865 version. More info on the patch and versions for other Intel chipsets are available on Christian's web site:
http://www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.html

Disclaimer

Use of all software mentioned on this page is at your own risk! It seems to be working fine for us but you may crash your system. I had to reinstall Fedora Core at least once after trashing my system.

Installing the i865 chipset video issue workaround patch

1. Download the 865patch and create the binary

Original location: http://www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.html
865patch source: 865patch.tar.gz
865patch binary (compiled on Fedora Core 1, i386, with Linux kernel 2.4.22-1.2174.nptl, tested with kernel 2.4.22-1.2188.nptl): 865patch.gz

Use and Distribution restrictions are documented at http://www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.html.

To compile the patch from the tar.gz, execute the following commands:

gunzip 865patch.tar.gz
tar -xvf 865patch.tar
cd 865patch
make

If the make fails to compile the executable program, you probably need to install the kernel-source package and/or gcc.

If you download the binary, make a subdirectory under /root named 865patch and place it there.

When finished with this step, you should have an executable file with the following path:

/root/865patch/865patch

2. Test the patch

There is probably a better way to do this, but the following worked for us.

Switch to a text virtual console (CTRL-ALT-F1) and logon as root.

Change to runlevel 3 which will stop X and a bunch of other stuff.

init 3

Run the patch from the directory where you compiled or downloaded the binary. The patch requires a single parameter, which is the amount of RAM (kb) you want to use for display:

/root/865patch/865patch 8192

Modify /etc/X11/XF86Config to include this same video RAM setting:

Section "Device"
       Identifier  "Videocard0"
       Driver      "i810"
       VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
       BoardName   "Intel 865"
       VideoRam    8192

Change to runlevel 5, which will start X again.

init 5

If all goes well, your display should now be running at the desired 800x600 or 1024x768!

4. Configure to run the fix at startup

Copy the executable to a location that makes more sense. We chose /sbin.

cp /root/865patch/865patch /sbin

Modify /etc/rc.sysinit to run the patch at every startup. Some web sites have recommended putting the patch in rc.local. However, because of the Fedora Core boot sequence, rc.local runs after the graphical boot tries to start. Since the patch needs to run before the graphical boot begins, we have placed the fix in rc.sysinit, after the Welcome message and just before the line "Start the graphical boot".

#in file /etc/rc.sysinit
##Added by Dan Stoner.  3/4/2004
# Run the use-at-your-own-risk hack from www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.html
# for Intel integrated chipsets. This requires the addition of VideoRam setting
# in XF86Config.
echo "Running Intel integrated chipset video patch..."
/sbin/865patch 8192
sleep 1

Last Update 8/19/2004 by Dan Stoner

Monday, January 11, 2010

Win7 from USB

This guide works 100% for Vista & Windows 7 unlike most of the guides out there. I have seen many sites/blogs that have “Install Vista from USB guide” but either with incomplete steps or not working guide. I have also seen some guides that don’t’ use proper commands in this guide. After spending many hours I have come up with this 100% working guide.

I just did this method on one of my friends machine and installed the new Windows 7 BETA. The main advantage is that by using USB drive you will be able to install Windows 7/Vista in just 15 minutes. You can also use this bootable USB drive on friend’s computer who doesn’t have a DVD optical drive.

The method is very simple and you can use without any hassles. Needless to say that your motherboard should support USB Boot feature to make use of the bootable USB drive.

Requirements:

*USB Flash Drive (Minimum 4GB)

*Windows 7 or Vista installation files.

Follow the below steps to create bootable Windows 7/Vista USB drive using which you can install Windows 7/Vista easily.

1. Plug-in your USB flash drive to USB port and move all the contents from USB drive to a safe location on your system.

2. Open Command Prompt with admin rights. Use any of the below methods to open Command Prompt with admin rights.

*Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Ctrl+ Shift+ Enter.

*Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. You need to know about the USB drive a little bit. Type in the following commands in the command prompt:

First type DISKPART and hit enter to see the below message.

Next type LIST DISK command and note down the Disk number (ex: Disk 1) of your USB flash drive. In the below screenshot my Flash Drive Disk no is Disk 1.

4. Next type all the below commands one by one. Here I assume that your disk drive no is “Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your USB flash drive then use Disk 2.Refer the above step to confirm it.

So below are the commands you need to type and execute one by one:

SELECT DISK 1

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

(Format process may take few seconds)

ASSIGN

EXIT

Don’t close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.

5. Next insert your Windows7/Vista DVD into the optical drive and check the drive letter of the DVD drive. In this guide I will assume that your DVD drive letter is “D” and USB drive letter is “H” (open my computer to know about it).

6. Maximize the minimized Command Prompt in the 4th step.Type the following command now:

D: CD BOOT and hit enter.Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.

CD BOOT and hit enter to see the below message.

7. Type another command given below to update the USB drive with BOOTMGR compatible code.

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H:

Where “H” is your USB drive letter. Once you enter the above command you will see the below message.

8. Copy your Windows 7/Vista DVD contents to the USB flash drive.

9. Your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows 7/Vista. Only thing you need to change the boot priority at the BIOS to USB from the HDD or CD ROM drive. I won’t explain it as it’s just the matter the changing the boot priority or enabling the USB boot option in the BIOS.

Note: If you are not able to boot after following this guide means you haven’t set the BIOS priority to USB. If you got any problem in following this guide feel free to ask questions by leaving comment.

Update: If you find this guide difficult to follow, please use the easy-to-use guide to create a bootable USB to install Windows 7 using official tool.

Stroke it Gesture tool

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StrokeIt

News:

StrokeIt .9.7 Released - 4 January, 2010

- New Pro version with Lua scripting and support for 4/5 button mice.
- Fixed all known crashes on Win95 through Win7.
- Translations needed! If you have time to help translate StrokeIt into your native language, please click here to help.
- Wiki documentation needed! We've got some good documentation in the Wiki but we can always use more.
- Download it here

StrokeIt Plugins go Open Source - 27 July, 2009

- The source code for many StrokeIt plugins is now available under the MIT License.
- An updated StrokeIt Plugin SDK is available for creating your own plugins.
- Get started developing your own StrokeIt plugins today!
- Visit the Developers Section for details.

Documentation:
- Check out the Wiki Documentation for usage examples and more.
- Everyone is encouraged to help contribute to the community documentation!

Developers:
- Check out the Developers page for the SDK and information on creating your own plugins to work with StrokeIt

Translators:
- Visit Translation Section to use StrokeIt in your own language.
What is StrokeIt?
StrokeIt is an advanced mouse gesture recognition engine and command processor. What is a mouse gesture? Mouse gestures are simple symbols that you "draw" on your screen using your mouse. When you perform a mouse gesture that StrokeIt can recognize, it will perform the "action" associated with that gesture. In short, it's a nifty little program that lets you control your computer by drawing shapes with your mouse.
How do I perform a gesture?
Click and hold down the right mouse button and then draw the mouse gesture you want performed. You can temporarily disable StrokeIt by holding down the Control key, or right clicking on the StrokeIt icon in the system tray. If you want to cancel a mouse gesture you've already started drawing, simply left click.
What mouse gestures does StrokeIt come pretrained to recognize?
StrokeIt can recognized more than 80 unique mouse gestures. See the full list for a comprehensive list of predefined mouse gestures and drawing instructions.
What does StrokeIt come preconfigured to do?
See the actions page for a list of the mouse gestures and applications supported by StrokeIt.
Who created StrokeIt?
StrokeIt was written entirely by Jeff Doozan.
How big is it?
The installer is around 140k, with the recognition engine weighing in around 15k. Normal memory usage varies by system, but is generally is between 90k and 300k. StrokeIt does not require any additional files or libraries.
Is it really free?
Yes, StrokeIt is free for individual and not-for-profit charitable entity use (excluding governmental entities and educational institutions). For-profit business entities, governmental entities, or educational institutions can purchase licenses for only $10/ea.
Can I use StrokeIt technology in my own program?
You sure can! Grab the SDK and start coding. It's easy to create plugins that will interact with your applications.
Can I bundle StrokeIt with my program
Distribution Licenses are available for developers who would like to bundle StrokeIt with their applications.

Mouse Gestures

Utilities

Source

Articles

Mouse Gestures for Internet Explorer - Using

Most of the gestures are triggered by dragging the mouse with right button down. For example, to open a new window, hold the right mouse button, move the mouse down then let go. Easy!

If you decide you want to cancel a gesture, either: drag the mouse in a few random directions before letting go of the mouse or hold the mouse still for a few seconds.

Examples

	Right Go forward in browsing history
	Left Go back in browsing history
	Down Right Close the current window/tab
	Down Open new window
	Down If you start the new window gesture over a link, then the mouse gestures plugin will open that link in the new window

Friday, January 8, 2010

Windows 7 install with USB

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-create-bootable-windows-7-usb-to-install-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-using-windows-7-dvdusb-tool/

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

»	VH675AV-ALT - HP Elite 7000 Microtower PC- Alternate OS

Base

$1,319.01

HP Elite 7000 Microtower PC - Alternate OS

VH675AV-ALT

FreeDOS

VS576AV#ABA

Chipset
Intel® P55 Express

Intel® Core™ i7-870 Processor (2.93 GHz, 8M Cache)

VH754AV

8GB DDR3 (PC3-1333) MHz non-ECC (4 x 2 GB DIMM)
Available with Win7 Pro 64-bit or FreeDOS only.

VH767AV

No Item Selected

VH712AV

64GB 3.5-inch Solid State Drive

VH724AV

No Included Optical Drive

VH744AV

2nd optical drive
No Item Selected

ATI Radeon HD 4650 (1GB ) PCIe x16 Graphics Card

VH714AV

Intel Pro 1000 CT GbE NIC Card

VH736AV

HP USB Mini Keyboard

VH731AV#ABA

HP USB 2-Button Optical Scroll Mouse

VH739AV

Power Efficiency Solution
No Item Selected

System recovery solutions
No Item Selected

Security accessories
No Item Selected

HP Elite 7000 Country Kit

VH175AV#ABA

1/1/1 (1 year parts/labor/service) MT Warranty

VH176AV#ABA

9X5 Next business day on-site coverage, desktop only - 3 years (electronic)-

U6578E


No.	Item	Quantity	Price (USD)
1.	StrokeIt License		10.00
		Total:	10.00

WinRed1

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambupix/1589810416/

Display/Video, resolution fix. Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOS A04

Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOS A04 Publisher's description:

from Dell

Dell OptiPlex SX270 System BIOSLevel of Importance: Optional

System Requirements:

SX270 display fix - works for windows7 too

Office of Museum Technology

FLMNH Linux Pages

Fedora Core 1

Solution for Dell Integrated Intel Graphics Issues

Disclaimer

Installing the i865 chipset video issue workaround patch

Monday, January 11, 2010

Win7 from USB

Stroke it Gesture tool

Mouse Gestures

Mouse Gestures for Internet Explorer - Using

Examples

See also

FireGestures

Features

Mouse Gestures

Wheel Gestures

Rocker Gestures

Keypress Gestures

Tab Wheel Gestures

Special Commands of Mouse Gestures

What Are Popup Type Commands?

What Are Hybrid Type Commands?

Friday, January 8, 2010

Windows 7 install with USB

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

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