The Silicon Underground - David L. Farquhar, computer security professional, train hobbyist, and landlord

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A+ vs Security+

Dave Farquhar security July 18, 2019July 2, 2019 0 Comment

CompTIA positions A+ as a precursor to Security+, but it’s not necessary to have both certifications. It can be helpful, but whether you need one or both depends on what you want to specialize in. And that’s really what it comes down to in A+ vs Security+: area of specialty.

A+ is a certification that covers computer hardware and operating systems, intended for technicians and system administrators. Security+ is an entry-level security certification, and the overlap between the two may not be obvious.

Computer game cartridges

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing July 17, 2019July 2, 2019 0 Comment

Typically we associate game cartridges with consoles, but for a time in the 1980s, computer software, especially games, were also distributed on cartridge. Here’s why computer game cartridges fell out of fashion.

Computer game cartridges were convenient because they loaded quickly, but their high cost of production led publishers to prefer disk or tape. There was also some concern that repeatedly removing cartridges would wear out an expensive computer.

Why the Atari 5200 failed

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing July 16, 2019July 8, 2019 0 Comment

In 1982, Atari could do no wrong. Its 2600 game console outsold its most successful competitor 10 to 1. But its followup, the Atari 5200, flopped. Here’s why the Atari 5200 failed.

Atari had all of the ingredients it needed for success, but it didn’t put them together. This opened the door for other companies, including Nintendo.

What to do if a ground wire comes off your light fixture

Dave Farquhar DIY July 15, 2019July 14, 2019 0 Comment

I had an interesting question the other day. What should you do if a ground wire comes off your light fixture while you’re installing it? You have several options.

If you can’t return the fixture, you can reattach the wire a couple of different ways. Or you can ground the fixture without that wire. But if all that fails, the ground wire is a safety feature and the light fixture will work properly without it.

Lionel vs American Flyer wiring

Dave Farquhar Toy trains July 12, 2019July 7, 2019 0 Comment

Enough has been written over the years about Lionel wiring to fill volumes. Not so much for American Flyer, though. Fortunately, when it comes to Lionel vs American Flyer wiring, there’s a lot of similarity. Most of the advice you find about Lionel wiring applies.

Why does the government require CISSP or Security+?

Dave Farquhar security July 11, 2019June 25, 2019 0 Comment

Why does the government require CISSP or Security+ for certain jobs? While requiring people to pass a test can cause problems, I’ve seen it solve bigger problems.

Certification tests establish a baseline set of knowledge that a person filling a role has mastered. It provides a standard, repeatable, and objective third-party measure of a person’s qualifications, even if it’s possible to game the system.

Incorrect DOS version: How to fix it

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing July 10, 2019June 24, 2019 0 Comment

If you mess around with DOS long enough, you’ll eventually try to run a program and get an error message that says Incorrect DOS version. This means you’re trying to run a program designed for a version of DOS other than the one you’re running.

The best solution is to run programs under the same version of DOS they were designed to run under. But when you can’t do that, as long as you are running DOS 5.0 or newer, you can use the SETVER command to lie to the program and bypass the error check. The program will run, though there is a risk it may not be fully compatible.

Over the range microwave stuck? This may help.

Dave Farquhar DIY July 9, 2019July 5, 2019 0 Comment

I had a 13-year-old microwave quit in a rental unit the other week, so I had to replace it. No problem, I figured. When I changed the one in my house it took less than an hour. But this one didn’t go as easy. If your over the range microwave is stuck, like mine, here’s what to try next.

Over the range microwaves typically hook onto a bracket attached to the wall, then hang from the cabinets on 2-3 large bolts. But some have extra hooks higher up on the brackets, and if yours is stuck, that’s probably why.

Connect an Apple II to a TV

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing July 8, 2019June 16, 2019 0 Comment

Connecting an Apple II to a modern or modern-ish television is easier than getting a good picture from it. Connecting an Apple II to a 1980s TV is trickier. Here’s how to connect an Apple II to a TV, and some tips for improving the picture.

Apple II computers, from the original 1977 model all the way up to the 16-bit Apple IIgs have an RCA jack supplying standard composite output. This plugs into the composite video jack on a relatively modern TV just like a game console–just ignore the sound inputs, and be prepared to have to adjust the picture for the best quality.

Are all Lionel prewar couplers compatible?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains July 5, 2019June 30, 2019 0 Comment

Lionel changed its coupler designs several times in the prewar era. That leads to a fair question. Are all Lionel prewar couplers compatible? Can you use the different types together? As always, the answer is, it depends.

The two most common types of Lionel prewar couplers are compatible with each other. But the two later types are not directly compatible with the tab-in-slot coupler, though there are a couple of tricks that can help you.

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