I run a Linux server which is physically located at a 1and1 Data Centre in Germany. It runs Fedora Linux and SWsoft’s Plesk management software. I’ve had it a few years and I’m happy enough with it.
Here’s a bunch of resources I’ve found to be useful whilst doing various admin tasks on this system:
I’ve decided to start (b)logging some of the PC problems that I fix, especially the viruses and trojans and suchlike.
A client’s WindowsXP PC was brought in to me yesterday because it was behaving oddly—amongst other things I noted that:
Using a bit of software by Sysinternals called Autoruns I stopped the system from executing files ‘C:\WINDOWS\system32\anti_troj.exe’ and ‘C:\WINDOWS\system32\antiav_exe.exe’ on boot. This then allowed me to successfully re-install the broken software (AVG and ZoneAlarm) and get the system running ok again.
After re-installing AVG and updating its definition files, I scanned the system and found ‘Virus: I-Worm/Bagle’ and successfully cleaned it up. The system seemed to have no other viruses or spyware on it.
I believe the users of this PC surf exclusively with Firefox, so my theory is that the virus came as an email attachment, or it was possibly transmitted via instant messaging.
I was digging through the archives at WeFunk when I discovered a deeply funky UK band called Speedometer. They’ve done a couple of albums, one of which was released earlier this year.
You can check out some audio clips on their website, and at their record company’s site too.
Awesome.
(Oh yeah… I found them in WeFunk show number 373)
Firstly: know your enemy!
Basic wash cycle to clean icky Windows:-
…and rinse
For grime that proves harder to shift:-
For persistent problem stains, try a different angle:-
…and repeat
On Windows PCs, it is necessary—for a number of reasons—to replace IE. I do it with these:-
…again… and again… and again…
I’ve been forwarded a link to a fantastic song and accompanying video animation—the song is entitled JCB, and it’s by a band called Nizlopi.
Truly awesome.
Nizlopi are two guys; Luke, who plays guitar and sings, and John, who plays double-bass—and does the beat-box too!
Check out live footage at Nizlopi’s Media Page.
A band I’d really like to see, if I get the chance.
So a guy calls up a mechanic, because his car is acting all funny, running like crap, belching blue smoke, the works.
The mechanic looks at the car for a few seconds, rummages around in his tool box, pulls out a nut and a washer, crawls under the car with a spanner, and comes out a minute later without the nut and washer.
Then he leans in and starts the car, which runs perfectly.
Then he goes into his office and returns with a bill for £500. The customer goes nuts, screams rants yells, “You just put on ONE nut! And you’re going to charge me £500 for ONE NUT?”
The mechanic shrugs, goes back into his office, and returns with a new bill.
It reads:
Nut: 50 pence
Knowing where to put the nut: £499.50
Total: £500.00
Some years ago I programmed a few projects for the NES (Nintendo’s 8-bit games console, famed for the original Mario Bros games)—since then, things have moved on a long way in the world of games consoles…
…which is why I was so impressed when I discovered Grand Theftendo.
Grand Theftendo is a new homebrew game for the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is a tribute to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto III running on the 8 bit, 256×240 resolution, 2 bit colour x 2 bit palette, 1.79 Mhz system, written entirely in 6502 Assembly Language!
It’s truly amazing what some people will do in their spare time—he’s even written his own 6502 assembler!
I found this some weeks back, and have enjoyed revisiting it:
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.
Today, in the early hours of the morning, the new Scapegoat Kelly website went live!
All aboard the funk train!
For those of you who’ve been attending gigs: it would be great if you would go along to the website and leave some comments.
