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NeXT computers seek loving home
by Richard Lewis 06 Jul '06

06 Jul '06

Hello ALUG, We've been having a bit of a clear-out and my boss was about to throw out a pair of NeXT computers. Luckily, one of the post grads and I managed to get to them in time. We've had a look over them and this is the inventory: NeXTcube N1000 [1] ================== CPU: MC68040 25 MHz RAM 16MB (4 x 4MB SIMMs) notes: * This machine would not boot properly. It sounds the like HDD may be corrupt. * The back panel is split at the top NeXTstation N1100 [2] ===================== CPU: MC68040 25 MHz ? RAM: ??MB (8 x ??MB SIMMs) notes: * The power supply [3] from this machine apparently broke some time ago and is missing. * Therefore, this machine is untested. NeXT MegaPixelDisplay monitor N4000 =================================== NeXT MegaPixelDisplay monitor N4000A ==================================== 2 x NeXT keyboard ABQ ===================== Part No. 2230 2 x NeXT mouse AFF ================== So, in summary, its a complete NeXTcube and a complete NeXTstation neither of which we've been able to boot. The cube was willing to boot from its network card but we decided not to try to install Debian or NetBSD[4] or anything as doing that may be part of the attraction of owning the machine for someone. Also, someone interested in NeXT hardware may be able to recover the NeXTstep OS. Possibly. The machines were given to the studio director at the UEA Music School some time ago because, apparently, they have a collection of IRCAM[5] software on. If anyone is interested in these machines then let me know within a week or so and you can come a take them away for nothing. We decided that we'd rather they were given away to a good home that just dumped. If there's no interest then we'll try selling them on eBay but we'd like to avoid the hassle if possible (the cube is extremely heavy; built from some magnesium alloy[6]!). Let me know! Cheers, Richard PS. Tim Berners-Lee developed Web and HTTP on a NeXTcube! [1] http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/reach/435/nextcube.htm [2] http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=555 [3] http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~heller/NeXT/power_supply_repair.html [4] http://www.netbsd.org/Documentation/network/netboot/intro.next68k.html [5] http://www.ircam.fr/?L=1 [6] http://photo.simson.net/hacks/cubefire.html -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis Sonic Arts Research Archive http://www.sara.uea.ac.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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Barcode reader error with Belkin KVM
by Jenny Hopkins 04 Jul '06

04 Jul '06

Hullo there, I fixed a problem that has introduced another problem. I admin a bank of 8 computers running debian stable, kernel 2.6.1, which were connected to a Belkin KVM via PS2. From there we have an ordinary PS2 mouse, and a PS2 keyboard with splitter to a barcode reader. We started getting problems with the mouse going completely bananas. I googled the problem being a known one with Belkin KVM switches and 2.6 kernels, and Belkin then suggested we tried using a USB connection between PC and KVM to stop the problem. This has stopped the mad mouse kernel problems, but now I find that the barcode reader isn't working properly - either no string at all or only half the code is appearing when I bleep. I can't find any errors reported ithe logs, so it seems that the information maybe isn't even getting past the KVM. The keyboard seems to be working correctly. Has anyone any idea of what could be going on? Thanks, Jenny

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Faulty USB ports?
by Nick Daniels 03 Jul '06

03 Jul '06

Hi I have my sisters computer, dual boot Suse/windows. Both Linux and widows indicate that the USB ports are configured, but no USB devices are configured or found when plugging in. Not even the "light" comes on with a USB mouse or USB external drive etc. Have tried Knoppix with same results. Is it possible that all the USB ports have failed? Have checked on Google and only found reference to this with one specific MSI motherboard, this is an Asus Is there anything else I can try or have overlooked? Kind Regards

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Weekly IRC reminder
by Brett Parker 03 Jul '06

03 Jul '06

This is the automated ALUG IRC meeting reminder sent to remind you that there is an IRC meeting tonight (Monday) at 8.00pm. Historically, these used to be the only time a lot of us would be about, now the channel has some usual faces that are there most of the time (except at silly o'clock, when we might be sleeping, or on the second thursday of the month, where we might be drinking in the Reindeer), so don't feel limited to visit during this time, come visit us when ever you feel like it! The meeting takes place on the irc server irc.alug.org.uk in the #alug channel. Most IRC clients should allow you to get there with the commands "/server irc.alug.org.uk" and "/join #alug". Popular IRC clients include xchat, irssi and EPIC on Unix, and Mirc under windows. Here are some links to help you get started with irc. Unix http://www.xchat.org/ http://www.irssi.org/ http://www.epicsol.org/ Windows http://www.mirc.com (loads of help with irc for newbies!)

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Belkin switch dodgy?
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 02 Jul '06

02 Jul '06

Hi Folks, I recently bought a Belkin 10/100 5-port ethernet switch (product number F5D5131-5). It works for a few minutes (less than 5) and then the LEDs for the ports that cables are plugged into go out, after which it is useless. If I pull out the power supply plug, wait a few seconds, then plug it back, it starts up again OK, but again goes belly-up after a few minutes. Does anyone recognise this behaviour on the part of Belkin switches? (I'm not really looking for a cure, since I reckon the unit is duff, though if anyone has cured such a thing then it would be good to know; there's a possible overheating issue since despite being well aired it feels pretty warm when running). What I'm really concerned about is whether one can expect this sort of thing from a Belkin, since if so I shall be avoiding it when I replace it. (The fly in the ointment is that I bought it from PC World, but seem to have lost the b****y receipt!) With thanks, and best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 30-Jun-06 Time: 20:21:14 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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New wireless router problem
by Ian bell 27 Jun '06

27 Jun '06

I just upgraded my wireless router becuase the old one kept dropping the line now I have an ADSL MAX connection. Glad to say the new one holds up much better. However, it connects via wireless no problem to the two Windows PCs in the network but I have had a lot of trouble connecting my Slackware laptop to it. The laptop has a Cisco Aeronet PCMCIA wireless card theat is 802.11b - one of a pair I got off an ALUG member. It has worked fine until now. I am running Slackware current. During boot the PCMCIA module finds the card as usual and sets it off. However, as soon as hotplug strarts it gets turned off again. ifconfig does not show it but iwconfig does - presumably showing the PCMCIA setup. no amount of command line jiggerry pokery will get it going for n=anything more than a few seconds. So I disabled hotplug during boot and sure enough the card stays on but is not connected. A quick ifconfig eth0 up followed by dhcpcd eth0 gets it going. So as a temporary measure I can place these commands in rc.local - must do that as soon as I have sent this - but what I need to know is what is hotplug doing to upset things? The strange thing is that it all worked fine with the old modem. Any ideas? Ian

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Amarok Context Browser
by Wayne Stallwood 27 Jun '06

27 Jun '06

In previous versions of Amarok I had a pane in the context browser that offered tracks I might like to listen to based on whatever the current track was. I have a huge diverse collection and this feature was actually quite good at highlighting music I might like to play next (in fact the killer feature it was missing was the ability to feed the current playlist so that I got unattended non-stop but relevant music from my collection). In the version installed by Dapper (1.3.9) this feature seems to have vanished (or at least it is off by default and I can't work out how to turn it on) Anyone know if it can still be enabled ?

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ALUG annual dinner
by sfr 26 Jun '06

26 Jun '06

I know, it's a bit late for the Christmas dinner. St Peters' Brewery has bookings available on Fridays in July - 14th, 21st, 28th. Information is at http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/hall/restaurant.htm. The menu is reckoned by locals to be absolutely fantastic. Volunteers to eat, please take one email forward. And state your preference for date. -- Elisabeth

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Weekly IRC reminder
by Brett Parker 26 Jun '06

26 Jun '06

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List weirdness
by Wayne Stallwood 25 Jun '06

25 Jun '06

Just got a bounce from the main list. But the subject it mentions I haven't sent an email with since the end of May and that message did show on the list...I did cause a bounce on the Amarok message because I accidentally sent it from the wrong account at 1.51PM..I got the bounce for that and resent it from the right account. But this bounce turned up at 5:06 PM today. Can one of the list admins tell me what happened ? Your mail to 'main' with the subject Bletchley Park Is being held until the list moderator can review it for approval. The reason it is being held: Message has a suspicious header Either the message will get posted to the list, or you will receive notification of the moderator's decision. If you would like to cancel this posting, please visit the following URL:

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