I’m trying to filter out game or other updates from my friends in my news feed. I clicked on the drop down menu to the right of a story and chose unsubscribe, from whatever it was – game update or photo update. And observed that the post changed to a confirmation that I wouldn’t see those anymore. Then when I return to that page, or refresh the page, all the stories that were filtered out reappeared. Looks like it’s totally broken, dude. Hey dude, make this work, please. [just trying to use age appropriate language, dude or dudesse.]

What did you expect to happen?:

I expected them to stay filtered out.

 What actually happened?:

If I come back to the news feed, or refreshed the page, the filtered stories reappeared as if I had done nothing. BTW, takes too long to upload a picture for this post. That seems to be stuck too. And if I’m going to tell you about a bug, then you need to allow more than one pic, like before and after or before during and after.

Enjoy.

ww

Click for a larger view.

- ww

Here’s an example:

• No Trading. They are preventing trial accounts from being used as farmers apparently.
• Can’t invite players to Groups [Parties].
• Can’t whisper unless they are a friend.
• Can’t use mailbox. Again the farming problem.
• Not all races are available.
• Characters are capped at level 20 out of 85.

But you can have up to 10 characters per account so you can explore a lot of the world and figure out how things work.

Add Ons EcoSystem

World of Warcraft has a huge ecosystem of AddOns that add and change functions of the program. I needed a way to see my coordinates on the map to match up with quest descriptions. There are a ton of map addons so I chose a simple one. You can find TomTom here and comment on it here.

Compass without TomTom

Compass with TomTom

Here’s the compass of Wow without TomTom – Where Am I? With TomTom no problem I get the coords at the bottom.

But there’s a minor problem in the Small Map.

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade

After doing this, firefox has been working for many days just fine. On several of my systems [ 3 of my systems ]. Now I come back to one of my 10.04 systems and find that the menus of firefox are unresponsive. They do not work at all. The book marks do not work. Processor is not busy. Plenty of memory. Network is working fine. If I type into the google search bar and type enter I get a page and I can navigate from there, but the menus and bookmarks are totally unresponsive.

What gives? I have rebooted the system and nothing changes. Menus work fine in other apps, for example System Monitor. and the Window Manager menus are fine. Menus work fine in the web pages. Bookmark menus highlight, they do not pull down. Menus on the menu bar do not pull down. Toolbar buttons work fine.

Reply

I fixed the problem by starting firefox in a terminal. Works when you start it that way, and works fine afterward. This problem was reported by me ages ago ( i forgot actually). http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10081127#post10081127

Back in Nov 2010. Strange. but the bug is still with us after all this time.

- windy

see attached troubleshooting info:

FireFox_MenuProblem_Info

Latest Open DNS Email

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AlienFX Fusion Woops

Based on a forum post, the AlienFX hardware now works, but if you use this software on Win 7 x64, there appears to be a problem.

It was indicated that the Alien Fusion component would not work, but the problem is that there is a memory leak or other problem that causes the program to apparently grow without bound. After several hours, I found that the AlienFusionController.exe was 1.7GB image size in memory. Clearly a problem.

AlienFusionController.exe out of control

After some experimentation, I figured out a workaround to disable the Fusion component and still be able to use the AlienFX theme editor so the lights can be changed.

Here are the steps for the workaround.

1. Rename the AlienFusionController.exe in C:\Program Files\Alienware\Command Center to something else, for example AlienFusionController.exexx, to prevent it from being launched.
2. In the services panel, disable the AlienFusion service, and stop it.
3. Stop the AlienFusionController.exe process from the Task Manager, or reboot at this point the AlienFusionController.exe will not be running.
4. You will no longer be able to launch the AlienFX Editor from the AlienHead in the notification bar at this point. But that’s ok. Create a shortcut to C:/Program%20Files/Alienware/Command%20Center/AlienwareAlienFXEditor.exe on your desktop or pin it to your start menu.

Problem solved. The editor works fine, the alien head in the notification bar may be non-functional, but no memory hogged by the AlienFusionController.

Enjoy,

Windy

AlienFX Side Panel

Since May 2007 I have had an Alienware 7500-R4 system. Here is the configuration. At the time Alienware shipped systems with 4GB or more, but only supported Vista x86, which meant in my case that I only had access to 2.7GB of the 4GB that I purchased.

Lights Did Work

The AlienFX software worked for about 2 years after I upgraded to Vista x64, apparently because a flash memory on the ELC board – Electronic Lighting Control?  – saved the settings. But when I upgraded the system to 8GB recently, the system came up dark, and the lights have never re-appeared. My case is now permanently dark.

Alienware Support is no Help

Contacting Alienware support on this issue has been a comedy of errors with respect to the AlienFX software. But the bottom line is that Alienware / DELL no longer supports software for the AlienFX hardware on modern operating systems. There was never any support for Vista x64, and while they support Windows 7 x64 on new systems, the new AlienFX boards are apparently different and Alienware does not support any upgrades of the AlienFX boards to more modern ones that will work with Windows 7. Of course downgrading the system to run Vista x86 at this point is hopeless for so many reasons, not the least of which is that the system now has 8GB of memory.

A Long Life Ahead

Of course, any high-end system purchased as recently as 2007 will run Windows 7 quite well. So these systems are not near End-of-Life. I expect to get another 2-3 years out of mine before replacing the motherboard and hard drives. The case and 1KW power supply should at least another generation beyond this one with a new MB and hard drives.

But I don’t want a dark case for the next 8-10 years.

I considered asking Alienware for the drawings of the ELC motherboard. But they are so officious and stuck in their ways at this point that it is of little point. Let’s take a look at the AlienFX hardware for the P2 circa 2007 case and consider some alternatives.

AlienFX Hardware

AlienFX in Case

AlienFX hardware comprises three components:

1. LED lights in clusters around the case to allow multiple leds to turn on to provide various colors. These connect to the ELC Motherboard via what look like PATA cable connectors. There are three PATA headers on the ELC MB.
2. An ELC motherboard which connects the LED light wires, power, and a USB connection to the ELC daughter card which contains all the active components.
3. An ELC daughter card which connects to the ELC MB with an angled connector similar to an SODIMM connector, if not exactly an SODIMM connector.

ELC Motherboard top

ELC Daughter Card Top

Alienware, or whoever produced the board for them [MacroVision? I have seen that mentioned in the AlienFX software], probably feel very proprietary about this design, and so whatever solution arises to have lighting needs to steer clear of any intellectual property. I don’t want to hack the ELC daughter card, write a driver for it, or replace it, since all those avenues will probably violate someone’s idea of intellectual property.

However, the PATA headers cannot be claimed to be proprietary in any way, they are just connectors to LEDs in the case. While there may be patents on the case lighting in general, powering the LEDs in the case with some independently built system will only be seen as a violation in some far reaches of lawyers minds.

Alternatives to get Lights

I see a couple of alternatives to getting my lights back.

1. Reverse Engineer the wires and just turn on the lights. If a stupid ELC motherboard is produced that drives the LEDs to light them up, then constant light is available. I sure would like this since my case sits under my desk and it is hard to even insert a DVD without lights.
2. In addition to 1, add a PIC or other simple controller to allow the case lights to be changed, either just to change the colors statically, or more in keeping with the original support, allow the lights to change dynamically. There may even be a way to talk to the PIC controller with a USB driver, or serial line via the USB.

Call to Action

Do other folks have this problem with their Alienware P2, circa 2006-2008 cases?

Has someone else come up with a solution?

Don’t you want your case lights back?

What should we do?

- windy

An Alienware Desktop from May 2007 has been upgraded to run Vista x64. At this time I cannot find a working version of the AlienFx software to power the AlienFx Lighting Interface and the desktop is dark. Since the upgrade to Vista x64, the lighting has worked since the settings were saved inside the AlienFX interface, but after a memory upgrade to 8GB, the AlienFX lights are now dark. I need to have the system lighting working on this system. The system was purchased with a 4 year warranty and so is under warranty until May 2011.

While Alienware did not support Vista x64 at the time the system was purchased, they have supported 64-bit operating systems since shortly after the system was delivered.

Area-51 7500-R4 Desktop From May 2007

In May 2007, I purchased an Alienware Area-51 system. The details of the configuration are here. At that time Vista was a mature operating system and the 64bit version of Vista had been available for some time. However, Alienware did not support systems running Vista x64 software. The system was configured with 4GB of memory, however due to the details of the Vista OS and the Motherboard that Alienware chose for the system, only 2..7GB was available when running Vista x86 [32bit version]. I purchased and installed my own copy of Vista Ultimate x64 shortly after delivery. Here is the current system information. As you can see the system memory is now 8GB.

System Information

The AlienFX option on the system worked fine on Vista x86 and I set the theme to my liking. After I installed Vista x64 I attempted to install the AlienFx software and it would not function, as one might expect since it probably contains a USB driver. Later when Alienware started supporting x64 systems I attempted to upgrade the software and found an updated version, but it would install but not function. I have not been able to find a later  version on the Alienware site at this time.

AlienFX 1.0.5

I was able to find an AlienFX update some time ago on the site. These are the results when attempting to install it. This is the system information from the installer file. The update was supplied as a ZIP file with an embedded installer.

Installer Information

Firmware Upgrade

When the installer starts it upgrades the Firmware in the AlienFX device.

Firmware Update

This apparently proceeds without error.

Installer Completes without Error

The installer completes without error, telling me that it has supplied an x64 driver and that it was properly signed, since x64 systems require Signed Drivers.

Starting AlienFX Causes Exceptions

Starting the AlienFX software after the install causes an error which causes several failures.

Controller Exception

Error Enabling AlienFx

(dot)Net Exception

AlienFX Theme Editor Works

The AlienFX theme editor does work however.

AlienFx Editor Works

Editor About Box

Updates from Alienware / DELL Website

By going to the DELL portion of the site, I was able to search for AlienFX and found several files. The Command Center files all were apparently for Laptops. I did find a file that looks like it supports a Desktop. I had some difficulty downloading files using Firefox. Some files named .application would not run in the context of firefox. I was able to download them only if I used MS IE. But having done that I found a promising update.

AlienFX Software Update on DELL Site

AlienFX Update Details

Downloaded Update

When I launched the update in the x64 folder inside the extracted folder tree, this update would not run on my Alienware computer because my computer is not an official DELL computer. It was built by Alienware before they were bought by DELL.

Update will not run

So while this update might in fact support the AlienFX board I have on my computer, the software will not install because my motherboard has not been modified by DELL. It predates DELL.

Possible Solutions

I see three possible solutions to the problem:

1. If in fact the above update will support my AlienFX hardware, then provide a version of it which does not do the DELL check.
2. Obtain a working copy of AlienFX software from Alienware that supports my AlienFX device on x64 systems and does not have a DELL check. I can’t find such an update on the Alienware website by searching in the support area and knowledge base, but perhaps I missed it.
3. Obtain an updated AlienFX board as is now shipped with the new systems, if it differs, and install the software shipped with the new systems that support that board. Again, assuming that we can get around the Official DELL check in the installer. This is assuming that (a) the board has changed (b) that the lights I have will work with the new board. I think it is likely that the lights have not changed.

If the board has not changed since my 2007 system, then clearly (1) or (2) are the right solutions.

If (3) is required, I am trained as a computer engineer and have the skills necessary to install an updated board in my computer.

I look forward to a solution for my problem from Alienware / DELL.

Thanks,

Darrell Duffy

Sure would be nice to insert a camera card and get the photos. And this works for the CF, and Memory Stick slots, but the SD card will not mount.

I’m using a Nikon Coolpix S550 that has an SD card slot and Windows mounts it with no problem. I assume the card is Fat-32. It’s an 8GB card. Could that be the problem? Something along the way doesn’t deal with the size of the card? This KB article says that Fat-32 can support devices as large as 32GB.

SD Card on Windows

SD Card Properties on Windows

Clearly it’s a FAT32 card with a clean FS on it.

SD_Card_Windows_Mounted

Here are the folders on the SD card.

On Ubuntu 10.04

Computer_Browser

The computer browser shows the media slots. Memory Stick and CF cards work fine. SD Card does not show up. Not sure what the next pic means.

SD_Drive_Properties

When I do a Rclick I get a menu with Safely-Remove in it. Does that mean that the computer can see the card?? Let me remove it and see if I still get that..Yep same thing.. So maybe media card slot can’t deal with the large card? Gee…

RClick_On_SDCard

When I choose Safely Remove I get this.

Error_on_Safely_Remove_SD_Drive

So maybe the computer is not really ever seeing the SD card.

So, what do we think is the problem:

1. Ubuntu needs an update or change to recognize the card?
2. The SD card is too big to be recognized by the Media Card Slot.. Let me check that. I have a large CF card..

CF Card 8GB Properties

Clearly the Media Card slot is capable of seeing an 8GB card. Here’s an 8GB CF card that mounted perfectly.

Only the SD card won’t mount.

Odd.

- windy

Ultra ULT40123 MD3 Media Dashboard

Most of the functions work. The fan panel and temperatures work, and the extra USB ports work. I have not tried the 1394 connection.

However the media card slots do not work.

I was able to find a manual online and read it carefully. I also read the manual carefully for my ASUS Sabertooth X58 motherboard.

I checked into the problem and found the following:

The second connector for the media connection was inserted into the USB connector backwards. Yes backwards. This connector is a half width connector which is designed without a key, and is designed that way so that two connectors can be inserted into the MB USB connector.

Here is a picture of the MB where the USB connectors are:

Motherboard USB Connectors

Here is a closeup after I reversed the connector.

USB Connector Closeup

You will notice that the red color coded +5 volt wires are now both facing to the left as they should be. The connector on the right was reversed and the red wire was on the right. I have confirmed that this is correct based on the MB manual as well. So it would never have worked the way it was wired.

I have confirmed that all the USB connectors still work by reversing these connectors and determining that the additional USB ports – which are on the right in the picture above, still work.

However the media card connections still do not work.

I think it is possible but unlikely that plugging them in wrong wiped them out.

I’m not sure what to do at this point.

- Windy

Case Thermistors

CPU thermistor on the back of the liquid cooling block.

SYS on the metal plate backing the motherboard.

That’s just my idea.

I don’t know anything better than Scotch Brand tape. Don’t use the cheap stuff since I’m guessing that eventually the sticky will come off and the thermistor will fall off.

- windy

Stout Tiger Skill

Here is a stout tiger at level 20 still awaiting his level 20 upgrade on his native skill.

ANSWER: This is a “chance” that a pet will level a native skill when it levels up.

Quest tab with Stuck Quest

As you can see here, the quest “Retrieve Wu’s Notebook” cannot be removed since the “Trash” button is Disabled. However, the quest cannot be completed by the level 28 [at the time] character because the character receives no drops in the dungeon. The dungeon boss was killed – after quite a bit of effort – and there was no drop of the notebook. On attempting the quest a second time, the helper quests in the dungeon were attempted. These quests give drops of a transform card or other items to make it easier to kill the boss. After killing perhaps a hundred low level characters in the dungeon, no drops occurred.

Is there a way to remove this quest from the quest panel? Obviously it cannot be completed.

Thanks,

Windy

ANSWER: Apparently no way except to purchase a Wu’s Notebook.

Level 28 Character with Stuck Quest

Click for a larger view.

windy

ANSWER: Must use a Jadeon of Soul in the AUX slots for pickup to work.

Here is the possessor interface:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:    APPCRASH
Application Name:    netgen.exe
Application Version:    4.9.11.0
Application Timestamp:    4aaaabd3
Fault Module Name:    netgen.exe
Fault Module Version:    4.9.11.0
Fault Module Timestamp:    4aaaabd3
Exception Code:    c0000005
Exception Offset:    000c1fee
OS Version:    6.0.6002.2.2.0.256.1
Locale ID:    1033
Additional Information 1:    fd00
Additional Information 2:    ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3:    fd00
Additional Information 4:    ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Read our privacy statement:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0×0409

Also the install on Vista x64 SP3 is broken in the presence of Account Control ON which is the normal case for Vista. It gives an error as indicated in the following picture:

Here is a ZIP file of all the files including the STL file that caused the crash.

Netgen_Crash_Gengon

Thanks,

Windy

Fails in Firefox 3.0.12 and 3.5.2. Website reported as a failed site.

Using Max 2009 on Vista x86, SP1, I created and exported a simple scene with a knot, 3 lights and a camera.

Here is the scene on this website.

The model does not play in Firefox 3.0.13, either from the file system or from this website.

It does play in MS IE 8 both from the file system or from the website.

The samples on the hypercosm website play in both MSIE 8 and Firefox 3.

This is what the model should look like.

I’ve rebooted the system at least once after installing HyperCosm. It seems very odd that the plugin does not work in Firefox for my model, when it works perfectly well on the samples and works in MSIE 8.

- windy

Like many of us, I use Firefox. After a file is downloaded, the virus scanner is called, in this case AVG Free, to scan the download for any nasty free loaders. This only take a couple of seconds on a local hard drive, but if you point your download to a network drive, in this case so that I can play my podcast using a media client – my PS3 actually – the virus scanner will take many times longer, perhaps a couple of minutes rather than a couple of seconds.

Not sure why that should be, but it is. So don’t point your downloads to a network drive.

- windy

I’m planning a short vacation. So the obvious thing to do is to use Google Maps to plan the trip. After putting in some way points, I got to a ferry, and Google croaked… I’ve got some screen shots that show the problems and I’ve got some suggestions about features that are missing.

The vacation we have planned takes us from Coos Bay, OR to Anacortes, WA. From there we take a ferry to Sidney, Victoria Island and then by ferry to Vancouver, BC. Well the first problem occurred when I added a destination to Sidney.

Here the Ferry Terminal shows correctly and the directions are valid. I added a destination of Anacortes, WA and then dragged the marker down the street to the ferry building. That was fine and as you can see from the above picture the Ferry Terminal Rd is a valid destination.

Then I added Sidney, but spelled it wrong, but no worries mate, Google helped correct that. But the ferry stopped the trip dead in the water, so to speak. How about we add an option for “As the Crow Flys” or some such routing in the middle of a trip, until we get ferries added to Google routing, that is.

But after adding the ferry, and having that fail, I got a messed up trip destination list with duplicated entries.

So apparently Google has forgotten the location of the entry that it added to the list. Sigh… That was pretty lame don’t you think? And then it apparently just coughed up a hairball that caused a real mess.

The Bottom Line

Google Maps has some issues:

1. Sometimes GM forgets the location of entries that it adds to a route when you drag a flag. That clearly should never happen.
2. There is no way to do “As the crow flys” for legs of a trip where other routes are not possible. This would be useful in many instances. Say I don’t want to travel, but just measure distances on a map. As the crow flys would allow me to measure distances along a route between way points.
3. Each leg of a trip should drop back to ATCF, if routing can’t be done by other ways, with an appropriate message of course, to allow me to continue with the entire trip in a single route. In this case I have to break up my trip simply because I’m going to take some ferries.
4. Google should support ferry trips – not schedules, but just routing and distances – to help plan trips that include ferries.

Now I’m going to look in Google Maps and figure out how to pass this to them.

- windy