November 14, 2008
Dell XP Service Pack 3 BSOD problems | Posted @ 15:05 |
STOP: 0x0000007E (and a bunch of other addresses)
I tried rebooting, and trying various combinations of logging startup, last known good configuration and safe mode, and all of them resulted in either that same error or the error:
STOP: 0x000000FC (and another bunch of addresses)
In each case there were no files listed to allude to the problems so off to consult the almighty Google I went.
I found plenty of results for "XP SP3 STOP 0x0000007E" (and other combinations), all explaining that there was a problem with updating on AMD chips (if a version prepared on an Intel machine was used). The problem I had was this _is_ an Intel machine. It's an Intel Core Duo!
Eventually I found a post that suggested the problem was with the USB drivers, and after unplugging all the USB devices, the machine would boot. Yay. Almost.
Enter the next problem, the machine does not have any PS2 sockets, it does not have remote desktop enabled, or even any shares enabled.
So after obtaining a Linux disk (of course having left mine at home), I booted it into a Live CD session, mounted the hard-drive and checked the service pack install log (%SystemRoot%/svcpack.log) and found several lines like this:
%file% is in the list of oem drivers...skipping copy!
Some of the files were part of the USB driver set, but they were not _all_ of the USB driver set, so there was a version mismatch when loading the USB drivers, and hence a BSOD.
It appears that Dell changed only some of the USB driver files, and hence only some were marked as OEM versions, which allowed the partial update (and version mismatch) to occur.
The solution to this problem is to either revert the changed USB drivers to the OEM versions, or upgrade all of them to the SP3 versions.
To upgrade to the SP3 versions, copy the necessary files from %SystemRoot%/ServicePackFiles/i386/ to %system_root%/ and %SystemRoot%/System32/drivers/, as specified in %SystemRoot%/svcpack.log
On this system, to get Windows booted and keyboard/mouse working, all that was needed was to upgrade %SystemRoot%/System32/drivers/usbuhci.sys.
I am now in the process of attempting to upgrade to drivers from the Dell website.
Ian::computers
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October 6, 2008
Network Manager wireless not detected | Posted @ 12:40 |
I finally got NetworkManager talking to my wireless card. It turns out the problem was that the "normal" networking system was taking control and NM stood back and watched. This is similar to the multiple tools available to configure Windows wireless networking (you can only use one at a time). The difference being that for me (under Linux) was there was no description (from what I could see) of the problem so it took me many days of Googling to find. Therefore, in the hopes someone else might find this, I'm posting here.
The trick is to disable the ifupdown handlers for your networking components (not the localhost loopback device). You do this by editing /etc/networking/interfaces and commenting out all the devices _except_ lo.
If you wish, this can even be done without a reboot. Simply run:
sudo /etc/init.d/networking stop
sudo /etc/init.d/network-manager restart
sudo /etc/init.d/network-manager restart
then edit /etc/networking/interfaces, commenting out everything except the "lo" interface, and then to restore the localhost loopback interface, run:
sudo /etc/init.d/networking start
Out of interest, this all came about because a recent update to something on the system broke wifi-radar (the wireless network browser I was using previously). It still mostly works, but doesn't set the WEP keys, and hence I needed to manually enter them every time I changed networks which was not difficult, but it was a pain. It _should_ just work, and now it does.
May 19, 2008
Oh yeah... this... | Posted @ 10:54 |
No really, I'm ok. I survived and everything is fine.
We are now back from Japan, it rocked. Can't wait for next year, all that.
January 22, 2008
Hmmm, trouble | Posted @ 17:53 |
Aside from that things are good. We are both well and mostly enjoying ourselves and our classes/work. I had a tough class yesterday, but today was great and tomorrow should be just the same. I also did the race last week which was great fun. I really want the chance to do more if I can.
That's about all I have at the moment. For the most part things are essentially the same from day to day so not really worth talking about. Oh well, its good fun anyway.
January 15, 2008
Eek, not again! | Posted @ 15:13 |
She didn't email me to let me know and hasn't replied to my emails basically since the ski season ended. She tells me she hasn't checked it since then and so I've been wondering what's up and if they were coming. Well they are and they are here and here for 2 weeks this time.
I had Stef, her sister and brother's girlfriend in my class today which was great fun!
January 12, 2008
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie | Posted @ 12:31 |
We are both good, the season is going well and things are cruisy. I have been teaching a heap more snowboard classes and am really enjoying it. Sandi is a little bit frustrated at the number of adults classes she is teaching (she asked to do mostly kids), but in general she is enjoying things.
Most stuff around here is exactly the same from day to day, but we went with one of the other instructors to Obihiro (largish city) and looked at ski and snowboard boots. It was a most enjoyable day out of the resort although the temperature must be around -10C so the 30 min walk was a killer.
December 30, 2007
Yuki des! | Posted @ 08:03 |
We had about 2 feet of snow yesterday and last night and the day off today. I went out snowboarding and had a blast, and even Sandi went out skiing and mostly enjoyed it although the snow was a little heavy and hard going in spots. We have been told to expect more snow from a second storm in the next couple of days so hopefully that will provide a good base for more snow to pack onto.
I have been doing some snowboard lessons recently which is really cool and great fun.
Sandi is enjoying teaching kids but has had a few adult lessons in there recently. She is hoping to get back to teaching kids again soon.
December 18, 2007
Update | Posted @ 12:12 |
We have had issues with the wireless net connection here recently so they decided to bail out and look for a new system.
We now have wireless back on a new system as a trial so I thought I'd update.
Sandi has been a little sick over the last couple of days with a nasty dry cough, but she seems to be getting better now. I'm all good.
We are both busy (of course) and having lots of fun. The snow is much better than last year which is great and there are many people back from last year which is good fun.
My other work is coming along very slowly as I've hit a couple of snags. I really hope to work out a way around them soon!
Anyway, its all good.
December 6, 2007
Update | Posted @ 16:17 |
We are both well. Getting into the swing of things.
Sandi has been getting involved with quite a few shows and sang a solo song on stage in a red faces event and didn't get gonged!
I'm mostly doing spotlight for shows and have been teaching beginners for a while so I'm looking forward to a day off tomorrow!
We have had about 3 feet of super dry light fluffy snow (the kind you can't make a snowball with) over the last 2 days so I expect tomorrow will be unreal! I'm thinking of going for a ride in the morning and then skiing in the afternoon, but I also need to consider the work I need to finish. Busy, busy, busy.
Anyways, it all rocks and we are both safe and having fun which I guess is the important parts.
November 23, 2007
Japan | Posted @ 13:56 |
Alana dropped us at Canberra airport where Sandi finished packing (!!), after this we went to collect our E-tickets and check in to discover the booking had been cancelled! This was 5:45pm on Wednesday and a little scary. After ringing Club Med's head office (of course they were closed) I tried the travel agent and eventually we discovered that the booking had been cancelled, and rebooked under a different number. After the travel agent explained this to the Qantas staff, we were presented with our tickets to much relief.
Once we had checked in and were relaxing having a coffee we were paged. Sandi was a little worried by this but it was simply to inform us they had us on standby for an earlier flight. Both flights were on tiny little Dash 8 aircraft (2 props and about 24 seats) so I was very excited!
We did make it on that earlier flight and it was probably a good thing too as when we arrived in Sydney there was a large electrical storm in progress. I enjoyed watching the lightning out the window but upon landing were informed that because of the lightning the airport was on lightning alert and so ground crews are all restricted inside. This meant that being in such a little plane and not able to use an automatic air-bridge, we had to wait almost 30 minutes for the storm to clear for our stairs to be brought out and us to unload the plane.
Once we were off, we went through customs with around 20 minutes to spare before boarding our A330 for Narita, Tokyo. Unfortunately this time we were not upgraded to Business class and thus I didn't get any sleep and what little Sandi got was very disturbed. We had a very bumpy trip (just lots of small bumps) all the way up the east coast until things calmed down over QLD and the seatbelt sign was finally turned off. This meant the cabin staff could deliver our dinner albeit rather late (around midnight).
It was a mostly uneventful flight after that with some patches of turbulence except for on one occasion at about 2:30am (Sydney time) where we experienced a few seconds of small turbulence and then the plane dropped about a meter or so. I don't know how much exactly, but enough for the rather large man in the seat diagonally opposite me to end up with his whole torso above the seat! When he came back in connection with the plane he got an almighty shock and very hastily put on his seat belt. Sandi also woke up with quite a start along with everyone else on the plane. The seat belt sign was put on again for 10 minutes or so, but nothing else was noticed.
Upon arriving in Tokyo we caught the bus to Haneda airport (the major domestic airport in Tokyo) and caught our flight to Chitose airport, in Hokkaido and the train to Shintoku. Finally we then caught the bus to the resort arriving around 7pm, about 26 hours after arriving at Canberra airport.
We got a huge surprise when we arrived in Hokkaido, and to Sahoro as unlike last season we already have over a foot of snow and its still snowing!! :-D
They are opening the first run of the resort tomorrow with more opening over the next couple of days, with the whole resort (not our hotel) opening on the 25th. Club Med opens on the 30th with our first guests being an enormous international travel agent conference of 120+ so talk about having to start by running! We have been warned that it will be like New Years Day for all 3 days so we will be *very* busy!
It is also the 20th anniversary of Sahoro this season and so the whole season will be huge!. There have been many, many renovations and upgrades to things and while they are being finished over the next week, it already looks amazing. I can't wait to see what it will be like finished.
Sandi and I are really excited about this season as the snow is already so good and the team seems to be great so far. We have about 65% of the team so far with many friends from last season arriving tomorrow afternoon. We will hopefully remember to give more updates on the blog the season and depending on the internet connection upload pictures to the pics site also. I have tried 4 times to upload one of the snow so far but it keeps timing out (gotta love shared dial-up, not!!)
Anyway, that's about enough for me for now. I still have some work to do so I'd better get back to it. Cya!