Guidelines for users new to mailing lists

Fedora mailing list guidelines:

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate/MailingListGuidelines

Please read Shakthi Kannan’s document :

http://www.shakthimaan.com/downloads/glv/presentations/mailing-list-etiquette.pdf

The above is PDF

For PDP( Smaller size; Requires Open Office-FOSS alternative to MS Office) http://www.shakthimaan.com/downloads/glv/presentations/mailing-list-etiquette.odp

Bookmarks & history inaccessible in Firefox 3.5?

I have the same problem. i got a pop-up suggestion in Firefox itself(enclosing screenshot). I am also providing the link to the Mozilla help page I was led to-http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/The+bookmarks+and+history+system+will+not+be+functional?style_mode=inproduct

I have still not used it due to lack of time but will do it soon & also update the post then.

What should I do if Fedora 11 shows “Hard Disc Failing”?

What should I do if Fedora 11 shows “Hard Disc Failing”?

Is it anything serious?

I am attaching the screen-shots here on my blog-http:// aveek.wordpress.com/ & also uploading to the NIT Durgapur GLUG-named aveek1.png & aveek2.png.

The pop-up screenshot

If you go through the links provided by Indranil Das Gupta on the NIT Durgapur LUG mailing list(link above), we would see its NOTHING to worry about in most cases.

Using wireless data card(EVDO) in Linux

I got my BSNL EVDO card today itself. I used it for some time on my friend’s laptop with Windows XP.  I had to install a driver. The attached disc with the EVDO(manufacturer-ZTE), had a file on Linux that stated that I had to modify the Kernel source code & all. However, all I did on my Fedora 11 was to edit network connections & add a “Mobile broadband”–>CDMA. I don’t know why the vendor’s default option didn’t work(i got 3 options-vendor’s, GSM & CDMA). I saved my username & password & I was instantly connected.

What is EVDO?

Google’s translation utility

I used Google’s translation utility to translate everything- options, et. al for the translated Google group of NIT Agartala GNU/Linux Users group in Hindi.

Here are a few screenshots:

Before using Google translator, I was unable to translate the options atop the menu buttons.

Problems connecting to Freenode channels on IRC via Windows (Mibbit client)?

Freenode no longer supports Mibbit. Discoverd it today, while helping a friend in a cyber cafe via gtalk.

Just use this & solve your problems- http://webchat.freenode.net/

If you do not have a registered “nick”(user id), then try out any you wish & if already registered try another choice. do register your “nick” later if you are regular on the IRC. Nick setup help.

Making your own radio station?

Making your own radio-station?

Try GNU Radio-http://gnuradio.org/

I am doing the same for my college radio at NIT Agartala, India.

Being Open Source, it is cheap & much more reliable. It has been extensively tested for bugs by various users. It has a vibrant community & they are willing to help you for any problems that you face for free.

The USRP2 costs around $1,500(USD) outside of the USA for organizations but is extremely robust.

For details visit-http://www.ettus.com/sales

Faster way to download youtube videos

I found the youtube downloader too slow. So, I found another way out.

I opened youtube, let the full video be streamed. Then I went to the temp(temporary) directory & copied the video file after the full video got streamed.

Upto 50% quicker!! Works same ways with Windows. All files are copied to the directory, even the pictures you view on a webpage. They are erased as soon as you close the webpage.

In Linux, the directory is /temp. Find out the flash video file(.flv) or try to find the file whose size is increasing & is of size suitable t be the video file. Try playing it by VLC player.

For Windows XP, the directory is C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8axcg82l.default\Cache for Firefox. …./User/….may also have your own username. Just find the file of increasing size. Rename as <filename>.flv  if you don’t wish to select the program used to open it repeatedly.

Sadly, the cache of Google Chrome is cached & you cannot copy easily from there.

So easy to add devices in GNU/Linux

I used my printer on both my laptop & desktop so easily. It is a HP psc 1210, an all-in-one printer & scanner.

I added it without need to use any CD/DVD as is required in Windows to install drivers. All the drivers are pre-loaded. I just clicked on add printer. Just a one minute job.

FOSS rocks!!

Windows driver problem solved using Linux

I formatted my 4 year old IBM Think Centre desktop. After that I could not get the LAN card drivers for my Intel ones. I did not know my motherboard number & could not get it on the board after opening the CPU box.Even IBM & Lenovo sites did not help-I searched for 4 hours.

Then I installed the Ubuntu 9.04 I received via mail. I chose Ubuntu as my parents use the desktop & it would be easier for them. All the drivers were built into it. I did not need to update anything from the internet for it.

Open source sure rocks!! This will satisfy the sceptics.

Gmail’s offline utility

The Gmail offline utility is cool. It uses Gears on your computer to store your latest mails.

It is much better than the email clients like Outlook or Evolution as it organises your mails in the same way as Gmail does using the uber-cool AJAX.  The mails are stacked together in a thread for ongoing email correspondence.

Now, Gmail also loads more quickly than before. WordPress also uses Turbo (that uses Gears) to store files (of your blog) on your computer to speed it up.

However, it is to be used ONLY on your personal computer-it doesn’t require password.