Author: Dave Farquhar

How I fixed an infuriating printer problem

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Troubleshooting, Windows , , ,

Windows 7 and my HP Laserjet 4100 weren’t getting along. And I was pretty livid about it. I paid $125 for my Windows 7 upgrade, and for that money, I got to mess around for 4 days trying to get better-than-1997 functionality out of what’s supposed to be the latest and greatest. I was about ready to trade it even up for a copy of Windows ME and Microsoft Bob. Because at least then I’d be able to print.

I finally fixed the problem, but finding the solution wasn’t easy. So I’ll present the symptoms and the ultimate solution here.

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How I fixed a maddening Code 43 in Windows 7 (no firearms involved)

Dave Farquhar Windows , , , , ,

Gatermann talked me into trying one last time to re-install Windows 7, and if it didn’t work, he’d help me go Office Space on it.

Those of you who’ve been following me for the past week will know I started installing and trying to use Windows 7 on Saturday, and it didn’t go well. Among other things, my video driver constantly died with a Code 43, and I could print anywhere from 0-1 documents in between reboots. Basically, the computer became less useful to me than a Commodore 64. And given all the hype about how this was the best Windows ever, I wasn’t happy.

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Contingency. Or how I escaped from Windows 0.7

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

I thought I traced my Windows 0.7 printing problem to the presence of a USB bluetooth adapter, but it turned out that was wrong. My wife called about mid-day to say the machine wasn’t printing anymore.

Fortunately, I’d never gotten around to downgrading my netbook from Windows XP to Windows 0.7. It saved the day.

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I sure hope Windows 7 SP1 gets here fast

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Windows , , , , , ,

So I’ve been running Windows 7 for about a day on an Intel motherboard. And I don’t know for certain if it’s the shoddy Intel hardware, or Windows 7, but I don’t think I’ve been this un-impressed since the first time I laid eyes on Windows ME.

Yeah, it’s that bad. I’m sure the Microsoft fanboys will jump in and chew me up, but let’s see if they can explain this away.

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Yep, I think I’ve just about had it with Intel

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Personal , ,

I’ve been messing all weekend with this stupid Intel motherboard, trying to get the video working in Windows 7. All I can see is that I have some kind of conflict. Code 43, whatever that means. Thanks loads, Microsoft.

Except this is an integrated board, with nothing plugged into it. Can’t Intel manage to make a motherboard (using its own chips, no less) where the integrated peripherals don’t conflict with each other?

I’ve upgraded the drivers, upgraded the BIOS to the newest version, everything.

Since Intel can’t get the simplest of things right, it’s Asus or nothing for me, from now on.

Cheap, custom project enclosures

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized

I found this papier mâché enclosure project on the always excellent Hackaday.

I’ve gotten a bit… creative before with enclosures for my projects, but this takes things to a couple of different levels. It’s cheap, and infinitely customizable, and stronger than it looks. The only downsides I see are the amount of time required to make it, and the enclosure won’t be very water resistant at all.

If you can live within those two limitations, it’s a very clever solution.

Too much experience with Recovery is Possible

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized

Last night the computer worked fine. This morning, it greeted me with a black screen claiming that one of the system files required for booting (one of the registry files) was missing or corrupt.

Not how I wanted to spend Saturday after spending a week on the road, especially given last week’s travel conditions.

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You network guys…

Dave Farquhar security ,

One of my clients has a problem. We’ll call him Melvin, because I like changing names when I tell stories.

Melvin doesn’t like network guys, and takes every possible opportunity to tell anyone within earshot. “You network guys don’t understand what’s going on over that wire, and you don’t want to.”

We do understand, but not the way he thinks network guys should. Melvin is wrong.

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How to use an IT recruiter to get a job

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized ,

So what would you rather have: a steady, full-time job with benefits, or a year-to-year contract with minimal benefits?

Yeah, I thought so. But sometimes in IT, the first option isn’t immediately available. I’ve settled for the latter a couple of times and lived to tell about it. So I might as well tell.

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Redemption in Kansas City

Dave Farquhar Baseball , , , , ,

When I was a young kid, my dad’s favorite baseball player was George Brett. Anyone who saw Brett play knows why. Dad’s second-favorite player was debatable, but it was probably Willie Aikens.

Well, until the scandal.

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