Category Archives: Computers

Changing the hosts file in Vista

April 20, 2008 by aaron
In Vista, normal users are not allowed to save the hosts file, so the easiest way to edit it is to run notepad as an administrator. Go to start and either search for “notepad” or go to All Programs > Accessories Right click “notepad” and select the “Run as Administrator Option.” Once Notepad opens go to File > Open and browse to “C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc” Set the file filter to “All Files” Select and Open “hosts” Edit it and save it.
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Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket…error.

April 21, 2007 by aaron
I recently moved my /home folder to its own partition, but in doing so, I broke MySQL. The full error I got was: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2) To fix this you need to create the file and make sure that MySQL has access to it. (All commands need to be run as root) Create the directory (if it doesn’t already exist). sudo mkdir /var/run/mysqld/ Create the file by “touching” it.
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Super-fast Wi-Fi in the works

April 7, 2007 by aaron
Wi-Fi with speeds of 15 gigabits per second? Coming soon to a computer near you. (AP) — With a wave of his hand over a homemade receiver, Georgia Tech professor Joy Laskar shows how easily – and quickly – large data files could someday be transferred from a portable media player to a TV. Poof! “You just moved a movie onto your device,” Laskar says. While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have emerged as efficient ways to zap small amounts of data between gadgets, neither is well suited for quickly transferring high-definition video, large audio libraries and other massive files.
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Advanced image resizing software

April 3, 2007 by aaron
The image resize software demonstrated in the video is meant to enable a web browser to resize images without removing context or quality. It does this by removing areas of the image deemed less important by using algorithms that detect curved lines instead of normal straight lines. I’m very impressed with the software and I think it will profoundly effect web design and even amateur photography: who hasn’t wanted to erase an ex from pictures?
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Ubuntu 7.10 is shipping with xorg.conf gui

April 31, 2007 by aaron
As of an update from a few days ago, users are now able to access a graphical user interface for editing xorg.conf, though only for graphic and display settings. This tool has support for dual monitors at the moment, and with the release of X.org 7.3 it will be possible to add even more. You can turn on and off both (or one) of your monitor(s), change the available resolutions, orientations, and set mirror or exteneded desktops.
Read More ⟶

Cheap and easy way to get a new laptop battery.

April 28, 2007 by aaron
The video shows how to replace the batteries inside your laptop’s battery pack for about a third of the cost of a new battery pack. There have been a few times in the past where I really wish I knew this.

Changing the hosts file in Vista

April 20, 2008 by aaron
In Vista, normal users are not allowed to save the hosts file, so the easiest way to edit it is to run notepad as an administrator. Go to start and either search for “notepad” or go to All Programs > Accessories Right click “notepad” and select the “Run as Administrator Option.” Once Notepad opens go to File > Open and browse to “C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc” Set the file filter to “All Files” Select and Open “hosts” Edit it and save it.
Read More ⟶

Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket…error.

April 21, 2007 by aaron
I recently moved my /home folder to its own partition, but in doing so, I broke MySQL. The full error I got was: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2) To fix this you need to create the file and make sure that MySQL has access to it. (All commands need to be run as root) Create the directory (if it doesn’t already exist). sudo mkdir /var/run/mysqld/ Create the file by “touching” it.
Read More ⟶

Super-fast Wi-Fi in the works

April 7, 2007 by aaron
Wi-Fi with speeds of 15 gigabits per second? Coming soon to a computer near you. (AP) — With a wave of his hand over a homemade receiver, Georgia Tech professor Joy Laskar shows how easily – and quickly – large data files could someday be transferred from a portable media player to a TV. Poof! “You just moved a movie onto your device,” Laskar says. While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have emerged as efficient ways to zap small amounts of data between gadgets, neither is well suited for quickly transferring high-definition video, large audio libraries and other massive files.
Read More ⟶

Advanced image resizing software

April 3, 2007 by aaron
The image resize software demonstrated in the video is meant to enable a web browser to resize images without removing context or quality. It does this by removing areas of the image deemed less important by using algorithms that detect curved lines instead of normal straight lines. I’m very impressed with the software and I think it will profoundly effect web design and even amateur photography: who hasn’t wanted to erase an ex from pictures?
Read More ⟶

Ubuntu 7.10 is shipping with xorg.conf gui

April 31, 2007 by aaron
As of an update from a few days ago, users are now able to access a graphical user interface for editing xorg.conf, though only for graphic and display settings. This tool has support for dual monitors at the moment, and with the release of X.org 7.3 it will be possible to add even more. You can turn on and off both (or one) of your monitor(s), change the available resolutions, orientations, and set mirror or exteneded desktops.
Read More ⟶

Cheap and easy way to get a new laptop battery.

April 28, 2007 by aaron
The video shows how to replace the batteries inside your laptop’s battery pack for about a third of the cost of a new battery pack. There have been a few times in the past where I really wish I knew this.