Peter's Blog 21.2.2004

Debian installed.

Debian installed. Network doesn't.

Used main PC for 5 hours with no lockups.

New problem: main PC won't hibernate without whingeing about the print spooler service.

First time I've used a spindle of CR-R's.

First time I've used a spindle of CR-R's. Do they all come with a little transluscent plastic washer that drops on the floor every time you take a disk off?

How to untar docutils using python without..

How to untar docutils using python without installing WinZip, or other bloated compression utility (I like the zip tools built into XP):

#

import tarfile
import os

tf = tarfile.open( "c:\\download\\python\\Docutils-Snapshot.tgz", "r:gz")

for oInfo in tf:
        print oInfo.name
        if oInfo.isfile():
                strFile = "c:\\tmp\\" + oInfo.name
                try:
                        os.makedirs( os.path.dirname( strFile))
                except:
                        pass

                oFD = tf.extractfile( oInfo)
                open( strFile, "wb").write( oFD.read())

Python, I love you.

The debian install problem seems to be a bug in the..

The debian install problem seems to be a bug in the beta install program (bug#230894).

Given up on bleeding edge net installs, now downloading CD image to use along with floppy. This is the 'stable' release. Using Jigdo to download. This appears to be a batch file that calls Wget a lot. It is taking a long timë.

Had problem where main PC could see .exe and .zip..

Had problem where main PC could see .exe and .zip files in the 'shared documents' folder of the laptop but not open or copy without an access error message. Solution? Put them in a subdirectory of 'shared documents' and they can be accessed normally. Why is it like this? I don't know I'm not one of the marketing men who brainstormed the XP feature list on a whiteboard.

Now I have TweekUI on my main PC.

Went for Verbatim spindle of25 for £10.

Went for Verbatim spindle of25 for £10. Stuck with what I knew. Bought 50 paper sleeves for £4. Jewel cases often get wasted.

Could go serial-ATA and put 80G hard disk in Sky+..

Could go serial-ATA and put 80G hard disk in Sky+ box. It may be easier to find a Serial ATA add on board. Problem is I would still need flaky adapter for CD.

Damn pc:

Damn pc: shall I try the add-on IDE card solution? If it works I solve all my worries for £15 or so. If it does not I carry on with this misery or spend £££ on a new system. I think I am going to do it.

Need some blank CD-R's.

Need some blank CD-R's. Sony one's at work were not reliable, verbatim's at home were ok (except the Gnoppix one which could have been due to the laptop). I don't really trust brand names: experiences with floppies have put me off.

ToDo:

• Install debian on old laptop

• Get blog rolling again

Dig drawback of old laptop is lack of USB- unless I install a 2nd PCMCIA adapter. That would allow me to use it with the palm. Or do I set up my old pentium 2 333MHz as a server? My biggest objection would be noise.

I read something about windows XP activation that makes me suspect I would need a new licence with a new motherboard, CPU and RAM. New base unit?