Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3 – too many wizards

February 20th, 2012

I was having a discussion with my Nephew, which mentioned Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3, I think he was referring to Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3, which turned into a conversation about Microsoft Patches and Updates for Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Since Service Pack 3 to date (20 February 2012), there have been 116 High Priority security updates and patches. (if you include all the Internet Explorer updates and patches).

windowsxpupdates

windowsxpupdates1

My personal favourite Microsoft Windows OS is Windows 2000 Professional, I’ve only just got used to Windows XP Professional, too many wizards, and I’m not referring to Harry Potter!

Security Patches and Updates will continue for  Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service  Pack 3 (SP3) until  April 8, 2014.

See here

support-for-windows-xpSo, there’s no need to rush for that Windows 7 computer just yet……

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Just for you Conner!

February 19th, 2012

My Nephew Conner, wanted me to put this on my blog, so here it is….maybe he’s going to be the next Sir Alan Sugar or Sir Richard Branson!

Free Domain Names provided by Dot.TK. Need a Domain Name, Create one in a minute!

(no idea what it’s all about!). But if it helps him become a Millionaire, hopefully I’ll get a bite of the cherry!

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Andy’s XBOX 360 Fix!

February 18th, 2012

A few months ago, my father had complained that his Xbox 360 was over heating, caused by possible fans failure. He had confirmed that his Xbox 360 was still functioning correctly by using additional cooling using a small desktop cooling fan, when he had removed all the Xbox 360 covers, and directed the fan across the CPU and GPU heatsinks, the Xbox 360 ran perfectly.

He purchased a new fan assembly from eBay, connected it to the 3 pin connector on the motherboard, but the two fans still did not function.

This is how Andy fixed it, if you remove the circuit board from the Xbox 360, there are plenty of articles on the internet that show how to do this. On the underside of the circuit board, near the 3 pin connector is a transistor marked MJD210, this is a D-PAK surface mount device. The datasheet can be found here. I believe this is on the “Falcon” Xbox 360 circuit boards.

You can either replace this transitor which drives the fans, you can purchase here from Farnell.

or use Andy’s Hack and Bodge fix! which is just bridging the pins of the transistor!

fans correctly joined with heatshrink
MJD210 Transistor on \"Falcon\" Circuit board
MJD210 Transistor with solder bridge
Xbox 360 \"Falcon\" Circuit board

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Lindsey said “you fixed that quickly” – I had to remind her that once upon a time, I studied Electronic Communication Engineering…..(although do not practice it anymore, but still retain the k-nowledge! and that’s a flash back to being in form ‘N’ at school for nowledge!)

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Me and Midge Ure – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes!

February 11th, 2012

I’ve just returned from a excellent, fantastic gig by Midge Ure, at Pocklington Arts Centre. A brilliant gig of all his great songs, and especially a fantastic rendition of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Dancing With Tears In My Eyes – so very true due to recent events!

Andy and Midge Ure, Pocklington Arts Centre, 10th Feb 2012

Not to put a downer on the event, the gig was fantastic, but to be honest and truthful I did have tears in my eyes, and found it difficult to hold them back when meeting Midge this evening. (due to recent events!). A very emotional evening.

Midge did comment “that he does write bloody miserable songs!” and wished us all the best.

A truly sureal moment, growing up in the 80s and listening to Midge Ure/Ultravox and then to meet Midge in person.

Thanks to Midge, Berenice (and my Dad!)

“a night I’ll not forget!” – Andy

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Wired or Wireless, ADSL or 3G? that’s the question?

February 10th, 2012

I’ve recently been running trails using 3G Wireless Internet with Celltime Provider Three and O2, you are probably thinking I’m as mad as a badger! (well once upon a time, I did study Electronic Communication Engineering, so I know a little about Radio Frequencies! – (thanks to Mum & Dad! for the funding!).

But check the results below, and this is with a -85 dBm signal (boffin speak for GOOD! or three bars good buddy! have you got your ears on!), using the internal antenna on a Option GlobalSurfer III (3G Router). I’ve recently noticed that Three have upgraded their transmitter to now support HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), well what does that load of gibberish mean, well other than the UMTS or 3G symbol changes to “H” on my phone or router. It means that rather than max speed of 3.6Mbps, the max speed could be 7.2MBps or 14.4MBps. Yes via Wireless!

At present I’m getting faster wireless speeds than wired!

Eclipse Internet Three 3G Internet
Eclipse Internet ADSL speedtest by Speedtest.net Three 3G speedtest by Speedtest.net
Eclipse Internet ADSL pingtest by Pingtest.net Three 3G pingtest by Pingtest.net
Eclipse Internet ADSL speedtest by Broadband SpeedChecker.co.uk Three 3G speedtest by Broadband SpeedChecker.co.uk
Eclipse Internet ADSL speedtest by My Broadband Speed hree 3G speedtest by My Broadband Speed
Eclipse Internet ADSL speedtest by Thinkbroadband Three 3G speedtest by Thinkbroadband

I generally use this 3G router, because when normal wired ADSL fails, it automatically fails back or fails over to 3G Wireless Internet, and after the recents drop outs and faults, I noticed my 3G wireless broadband was faster!

Option GlobalSurfer III 3G Network Router

Option GlobalSurfer III 3G Network Router

I need to complete some more calculations, and purchase a directional Yagi antenna, so I can get a stronger signal = more signal = more power = faster throughput and downloads! (does that sound like Captain Kirk to Scotty the Engineer – Give me more power! Scotty! )

Microwave Wireless Aerial or Twig!

Microwave Wireless Aerial or Twig on biscuit tin!

This aerial is not correct, the VSWR (sorry boffin alert) is too high, and not correctly matched at 3G frequencies! It reminds me of long ago with a DV27 on a biscuit tin!

I now understand, when I visited China, why they did not role out copper wires to peoples houses for telephones, they just jumped to wireless 2.5G communications (whilst the UK, was still using GSM! (2G)).

Well Good Buddy Signing Off!, 10-10.

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Broadband Woes Revisited!

February 9th, 2012

Earlier in the month, I reported (here’s the blog) that my Broadband has an intermittent fault AGAIN. Back in 2010, I had similar if not the same issues, and it had to be escalted to BT, it looks like, it will have to be escalted to BT again! The problem is an unstable line, disconnects, occasional slow throughout, down to 0.4Mbps.

It’s been reported to Eclipse Internet, my ISP, who are not to blame, as they do not own the telegraph wire from my house to the exchange. British Telecommunications plc, “BT” own that!

Eclipse Internet, changed the Interleave on the line from ON to OFF, to try and stablise the line, but it did not make any difference, and the issues continues…….

stay tuned for the next installment of Broadband Woes Revisited Update Soon!

Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved ON

Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved ON

ADSL STATUS Interleaved

ADSL STATUS Interleaved ON

Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved OFF

Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved OFF

ADSL STATUS Interleaved

ADSL STATUS Interleaved OFF

Notice the increase in sync speed (Down Speed), but unfortunately, it did not make any difference to throughput, or fix the issue.

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February 2012 Snow

February 5th, 2012

Whilst I sat at my computer yesterday for over 20 hours investigating broadband and andysworld! fault it snowed! I had not noticed until turning my back and looking out of the window!

A few snaps….


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Andysworld! is back, and fixed!

February 5th, 2012

Yes, sorry for the few days outage, it would appear that a WordPress plugin just decided to go bad!

and the answer is or was:-

The Plugin “Tweet This”! I”m running version 1.5.1

Adds a “Tweet This Post” link to every post and page. Shortens URLs in advance through Th8.us (19 characters). Customize under Settings > Tweet This. By Richard X. Thripp.

there is new version 1.8, but I do not like upgrading for the sake of upgrading, and not being able to upgrade to 3.3.1 of WordPress because if the php on the host, and most plugins are now designed for 3.3.1…

Stange how a plugin went bad. I’m going to leave for a few days….

Shoutouts and thanks to the Guys at Experts-Exchange.com

Role Calls as follows:-

COBOLdinosaur

jason1178

Ray_Paseur

kdebugs

if you want to read the Question it’s here

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Andysworld! downtime!

February 4th, 2012

I shutdown Andysworld! for 12 hours, (between Feb 4 00:00 and 13:00) because I was having issues with the performance and database, But I suspect the issue could be with my home broadband throughput.

in the process of checking the database, the website may have sent out, emails by mistake if you are registered on Andysworld!

Whoops!

Sorry about that!

Hopefully back to normal, and was nothing!

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Frozen @EclipseInternet Broadband!

February 3rd, 2012

Everything else freezes around here, so why not my Broadband “wires”

It sounds like food you have with chips and peas!

Again, I’m having broadband issues, for the last four days, during the twilight hours, under clear Yorkshire Wolds skies, the temperature has been falling to -7 degrees C, and I have a theory this causes a fault on the line! It just seems very coincidental, if we get a cold spell or very hot spell my Broadband has issues. Recently spoke to Eclipse Internet, that states that four other Eclipse Internet users on the Exchange also had issues this week, at the same time, so it was suggested it was BT, playing with their Exchange!

I’ll think I’ll be opening that call again Eclipse Internet!

Here are some lovely test results

SpeedTest.net Broadband Speed Test Results

SpeedTest.net Broadband Speed Test Results

Thinkbroad Broadband Speed Test Results

Thinkbroad Broadband Speed Test Results

Router Connection Statistics

Router Connection Statistics

Whilst the rest of the world, surfs the Net, at lighting speeds of 8, 20, 40 and 100MBps, I can only dream!

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