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My Computer’s Going Haywire

Argh…. My computer’s going haywire today for no apparent reason!! At first my GNU/Linux flashing me with error kernel messages and kernel oops, then my Windows 98, Windows XP and Freebsd!

I’ve seen the case where all operating system could go haywire at the same time, just a matter to confirm it.

I inserted my home made diagnostic cd which i carried around just in-case, and boot off a memory test program from http://www.memtest86.com.The diagnostic reveal a screenful of memory error only in 17% completing the second test.

Damn, my computer got bad memory, I need to get my data’s out to print it somewhere. So I use my home-brew KrazhBoX rescue Linux system, and boot the floppy base GNU/Linux system.

To get away with “bad memory” kernel oops i use this boot parameter :
boot: rescue mem=16M
To limit the RAM usage up to 16Megabytes only (the first bad memory block position reported by memtest86 was 97MB), but heck KrazhBoX could run with less memory than that.

I’ve copied all my data out using my USB Flash Drive just in time, and print out my works in another PC. All went well today when I’ve manage to replace the bad memory stick. :)

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When Microsoft write about GNU/Linux-related tutorial

I came across this official article in Microsoft Help and Support Website.

What worth mentioning about this article is, this is the first Microsoft article that explains a little bit about GNU/Linux filesystem accurately and in non-biased way against their own filesystem.

This article also feature short tutorial on how to use the GNU/Linux “fdisk” program, including “fdisk” keys to create, write, and delete partition. The Linux disk/partition terminology such as /dev/sda, /dev/hda1, etc, are also explained in this tutorial. Yeah, something that I never expected from this company, but they did it after all?

Wanna know the catch?

Read the complete article : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314458

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Fancy playing Privateer Remake


title screen

I’ve just noticed back few days ago, that the good people from the open source have brought up Privateer Remake back in the gaming world.

I’ve long thought that Privateer would be doomed to be played inside a DOS only, but now with the effort of the open source community, the game is brought back into not only Windows, but in GNU/Linux and MacOSX.


cockpit

The popularity of Wing Commander Privateer have spawned many space-combat game base on space-freelancer where you can customize your ship and take freelancing missions such as Vegastrike itself and Microsoft’s Freelancer.

For the uninitiated, Privateer is a game based on Wing Commander Universe, which was popular around 1994-1997. It’s one of the best space combat simulator game, rich with hot space-combat action and compelling storyline.


Manual Cover

Characters in the game interact with each other with non-linear storyline depending on your decision and choices made by you, making the game is enjoyable to play over-and-over again. An element that i find missing in modern games nowadays, which is now depends more on 3D graphics and harsh elements rather than gameplay.

Back to Privateer Remake, the remake of the game is done briliantly, utilizing the VegaStrike Engine. The ship model is replicated down to details, however the game itself is further enhanced from the original Privateer. Veterans from the old DOS days would easily pointed out which elements have been altered in Privateer Remake.


Galaxy

The only thing missing from the Privateer Remake is the cutscene and inflight movies which copyright belongs to EA/Origins System Inc.

All-in-all, Privateer Remake is a nice game to play, if you wish to relive those good old days.

Other resources :
Wing Commander CIC
Vegastrike Engine

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They really do it! Petrol and Diesel price hike, oh no!

Petrol and Diesel price rise again today, oh my god. The petrol price rises by 10sen and diesel by 20sen. I think 2005 is a memorable year because of the petrol price rise.

I didnt question about the petrol hike, every nation in the world are suffering from this, the result of fossil fuel burning out. And I also know that the government can’t handle the burden of subsidizing the fuel to common people people like me

I only hope that the official can announce the price hike “officially”, and be specific about the price hike, or else people will begin speculating about the price hike and you need to give them some silly warning not to speculate the very thing that is going to happen….

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Yet another official announcement

This is yet another official announcement from me. As of upcoming month onwards, I’m announcing that I’m not going to update my blog on Saturdays and Sundays, because I’m declaring the weekends as my computer-free day.

This measure is just a way to avoid myself spending my time excessively in front of computer all week in a month.