Author: Dave Farquhar

LOAD “$”,8,1 – what it means

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
LOAD “$”,8,1 – what it means

I’ve been seeing some references to LOAD “$”,8,1 lately. I think this is due to Commodore 64s making appearances in pop culture. If you’re wondering what this curious command means, I’ll explain it.

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Asuswrt-Merlin vs Cisco

Dave Farquhar security, Servers and Networking , , , ,

I recently saw advice to buy a Cisco RV130W instead of buying an Asus router such as an RT-AC66U and souping it up with Asuswrt-Merlin. I can see both sides of the argument but in the end I favor the Asus solution when I consider Asuswrt-Merlin vs Cisco. Here’s why.

Now, if you’re arguing business vs personal use, there’s no contest. In a business setting, buy the Cisco.

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Bathroom lighting ideas: bar vs fixture

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money ,
Bathroom lighting ideas: bar vs fixture

When you’re looking for bathroom lighting ideas, there’s more to consider when looking at bar lights vs fixtures than just the up front cost. A fixture may look nicer, and it’s likely it can save you money in the long run. New light fixtures can solve flickering issues too.

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How to clean viruses off your computer for free

Dave Farquhar security , , , , , , , , ,

Whether you’ve gotten a tech support scam phone call or not, it can be helpful to know how to clean viruses off your computer for free. And yes, I do mean free.

A lot of people get ripped off due to virus scares and it makes me mad. I’m a computer security professional. I advise large companies on computer security for a living. Today I’ll take a few minutes to advise you.

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Fasten Lionel tubular track to foam board

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains
Fasten Lionel tubular track to foam board

Foam board is nice for building train layouts, since it’s lightweight and versatile. It’s easy to cut and shape into mountains and valleys and rivers. It’s also inexpensive. The problem is that screws won’t stick in it. So it’s tricky to fasten Lionel tubular track to foam board. It’s difficult to fasten any other kind of track too.

Here are two ways to do it.

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Asuswrt-Merlin vs DD-WRT

Dave Farquhar DD-WRT , , ,
Asuswrt-Merlin vs DD-WRT

I’ve been using DD-WRT for years, but a friend convinced me to try Asuswrt-Merlin and now I’m a convert. DD-WRT is still my second favorite solution, but here’s why I favor Asuswrt-Merlin vs DD-WRT.

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How to quiet Lionel Fastrack

Dave Farquhar Toy trains , ,

The biggest problem with Lionel Fastrack is that it is much louder than tubular and other types of O gauge track. So people frequently ask how to quiet Lionel Fastrack. There are a few things you can do to make Fastrack quieter.

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How to fix a computer that won’t turn on

Dave Farquhar Hardware , ,
How to fix a computer that won’t turn on

When a computer won’t turn on, it’s usually a simple repair you can do yourself. Frequently it doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t require any parts. If you do need parts, you can expect it to cost $70 or less and get it done in less than an hour. Here’s how to fix a computer that won’t turn on.

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Fix a Device Manager Code 43 error

Dave Farquhar Windows

Sometimes computer peripherals stop working in Windows, and you’ll start to troubleshoot and find a code 43 error. Here’s how to fix a Device Manager Code 43 error without compromising on security.

There’s a lot of bad advice out there on code 43 errors since it’s not very well documented. I started my career as a computer technician and now I work in security, so this is a comfortable topic for me. I want your computer to work, but I also want it to be secure.

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Repair a large hole in drywall

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording

When I changed the cheap bar-style light fixture in my bathroom to something a little nicer, I found something weird other than a red wire. I also found a 5-inch by 2 1/2-inch hole in the wall behind the old fixture a few inches from the electrical box. It’s a good thing I know how to repair a large hole in drywall.

All it takes to fix a big hole in the wall is a scrap of drywall larger than the hole, a ruler, a utility knife, a pencil, some wood glue or regular white glue, and some Gorilla Glue.

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