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Re: [Wlug] Business idea
by joel d 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

On 2/3/2011 11:30 AM, Keith Wright wrote: >> From: Jason Couture<plaguethenet(a)gmail.com> >> >> I was considering reviving my PC business by selling >> computers with linux preinstalled. Does anyone have >> any distro suggestions aside from Ubuntu and mint? Do >> any of you know anyone who may be interested? > Well, good luck with that (sincerely). > > I had that idea about twelve years ago. > > http://www.free-comp-shop.com/ > > As it worked out, I was fronting thousands > of dollars for parts and working for a day > to put it all together for a profit of a > few dollars. You can't ask much money for > doing a simple thing that the people smart > and knowledgable enough to want can do for > themselves. > > I decided to give it up when one company > that bought about $3000 worth of computer > decided to return it. That was my main > computer for several years, but if I had > designed it myself I would have built > something a bit cheaper. I sure didn't > need another one. > > -- Keith > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > I have also been trying out the numbers on such a venture and have come to the same conclusion (as Keith). If you can come up with a special niche market, like a car/boat/RV computer or a DVR/HDTV computer for a particular market that has some kind of Television access problem, then you may find a way to profit. It is very hard to go up against the low-end and sale machines at the stores. If you are a great seller, you may be able to talk your way into some customers. In Florida, there are a couple of small companies doing neighborhood wifi internet access for a great price, but even they depend more on the internet charges and the computer service calls than on system sales. Service and training seems like the most profitable part of the picture to me. Still, I hope you find a way to do this. I hope I don't sound too negative. I'm just a regular guy without any strict training or a business degree, so I'm certainly not the last word on the subject. DaveC -- David P. Connell "Watch where you're going; remember where you've been." Hey, Sorry for not chiming in sooner. I remember while working on my MBA trying to work out how to run a small for profit local PC and support business aimed at home consumers and an occasional small business. The short answer at the time was the advent of the "shiny new $450 PC" made computers toaster-ish (breaks - put in basement/closet - buy another). In the ensuing decade plus since I have confirmed two things IMHO: 1) The price of entry level PCs are going even lower. I haven't looked but I bet there are refurbs out there for $200-ish. This fact makes it harder for a consumer to pay even $25 for someone to work on their (likely 2 to 6 years old on average) PC whether in a shop or in the home. The business person's reasoning is "good money after bad". Not sure why home consumers do this, but they do. 2) Most non-IT geeks have a small closet/basement pile of PCs somewhere in their house if they haven't moved within the decade. Moving of course drives people into momentary sanity with "Why am I keeping / saving / moving all this useless junk?" Geeks of course re-use them as personal firewalls / coffee warmers / Myth boxes / ways to communicate with aliens / ... App won't install... Printer cable won't connect... Adware and viruses got you slugging along... Bad device driver killing your uptime... Your 18 long hair cats packing the case with a fur effigy with expected heat & reboot issues... Consumers answer to all is: "Buy a new PC!" Ask around to non-geek friends/co-workers. You will be amazed. A family friend is on their 4th brand new computer in 3 years. I assure you the scope of work has not changed (web browsing, e-mail, facebook, etc). I am now wondering how do you get these closet PCs for cheap/free then image them to get them useful again. Obvious start is to get referrals from moving companies that quote household moves, then call offering to remove their unused PC's for free. Somewhere there must be a support group for home consumers who have their own Dell rep on speed dial. I am not bashing Dell here, merely using their name in the examples to make a point, Joel

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Business idea
by Jason Couture 03 Feb '11

03 Feb '11

I was considering reviving my PC business by selling computers with linux preinstalled. Does anyone have any distro suggestions aside from Ubuntu and mint? Do any of you know anyone who may be interested?

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Kernel Crash dump
by Andy Stewart 03 Feb '11

03 Feb '11

HI guys, I finally got some type of crash dump from my system. I have tried Ubuntu variations of the 2.6.35, 2.6.36, and 2.6.37 kernels, all of which have crashed on me. Finally, 2.6.37 gave me a trace on the console screen. I had to copy it down by hand, so don't take it too literally. Here is the data. I intentionally left out all of the hex addresses in the call trace. It seems pretty obvious to me that something is amiss in the hardware. I wonder if my heat syncs are full of dust. That will be the first thing I check. Any helpful advice would be most appreciated. Thanks! Andy ======= Hardware error CPU0 Machine Check Exception: 4 Bank 4 2f00001000010c0f TSC 1ae6ab55d12 Processor 2 f5a time 1296699696 socket 0 apic 0 mc4_status uncorrected error, other errors lost: yes cpu context corrupt: yes Northbridge error, node 0, crc error detected on HT link Transaction GEN (GEN), no timeout, Cache level L3/Gen, Participating processor:OBS Machine check: processor context corrupt Kernel Panic - not syncing: Fatal Machine check on current CPU Pid 0, comm: swapper Tainted: G M 2.6.37-020637-generic Call Trace: #MC panic printk mce_panic do_machine_check machine_check native_safe_halt EOE default_idle cpu_idle rest_init start_kernel early_idt_handler x86_64_start_reservations x86_64_start_kernel panic occurred, switching back to text console ======= -- Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group President: PART of Westford, MA (WB1GOF)

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Re: [Wlug] Kernel Crash dump
by Jason Couture 03 Feb '11

03 Feb '11

Try leaving the mem test running for a while, see if it will do it with that running. Could have just been the dust too lol. On Feb 2, 2011 11:14 PM, "Andy Stewart" <andystewart(a)comcast.net> wrote: On 02/02/2011 10:25 PM, Jason Couture wrote: > I'd run memtest86 plus, the memory controller can cau... Well, I cleaned out a bunch of dust...maybe a heat problem caused some weirdness. I'm also running memtester on the live system...so far, so good. The machine is about 5 yrs old - maybe this is my excuse to build myself another one. The crash is weird, sometimes it crashes within a couple of minutes of booting the system, and other times, it takes a week. I still claim that it started happening when I upgraded from SuSE 10.1 to Kubuntu 10.10, but I did open the case and install a new SATA hard drive at that time as well. This machine was an absolute rock when running SuSE 10.1. We'll see what happens...thanks, everybody, for the helpful suggestions. Later, Andy -- Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetu... Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [Wlug] Wlug Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2
by Caobin zhu 02 Feb '11

02 Feb '11

Hi, eric, i am interested in your #2 item, the SCSI pc. i am living in worcester, how can i go forwared to get it if it is still available. Thanks. caobin > From: wlug-request(a)mail.wlug.org > Subject: Wlug Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2 > To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 14:39:34 -0500 > > Send Wlug mailing list submissions to > wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > wlug-request(a)mail.wlug.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > wlug-owner(a)mail.wlug.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Wlug digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Winter cleaning (Eric Martin) > 2. Re: Winter cleaning (Eric Martin) > 3. Re: Winter cleaning (Eric Martin) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 14:38:33 -0500 > From: Eric Martin <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Wlug] Winter cleaning > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Message-ID: > <AANLkTimwvJM6LpGR_0fTxsjxpX5P2v8cXSUYTd1_XE3F(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Will do. > > On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 2:21 PM, Henrique <nican(a)wpi.edu> wrote: > > > Hello Eric, > > > > I have interest in the OpenGL book. Could you bring it to the next Wlug > > meeting? > > > > Henrique Polido. > > > > On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 1:35 PM, Eric Martin <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com>wrote: > > > >> I'm doing some cleaning and I have a few books / computers up for grabs. > >> It's all free, please take it if you can use it. > >> > >> Computers: > >> > >> Mis-mosh of stuff, mainly > >> > >> > >> 1. 2 CRTs (working) > >> 2. Dual Pentium Pro 200MHz w/built-in SCSI and a DDS2 or DDS3 Drive > >> 3. HP Proliant 1U server, questionably working but I think it's a fan > >> / power supply > >> 4. Intel C440 Chassis with Cabriol MB and Older Xeon processors > >> 5. 2 old cases with working 300W power supplies, need MB > >> 6. More to come > >> > >> Books: > >> Interactive Computer Graphics > >> > >> http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03… > >> > >> Fluency with Information Technology > >> > >> http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Information-Technology-Concepts-Capabilities/… > >> > >> Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using > >> OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books<http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03…> > >> > >> Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using > >> OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books > >> C Pocket Reference > >> > >> http://www.amazon.com/C-Pocket-Reference-Peter-Prinz/dp/0596004362/ref=sr_1… > >> -- > >> Eric Martin > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wlug mailing list > >> Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > >> http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > -- > Eric Martin > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://mail.wlug.org/pipermail/wlug/attachments/20110202/4cf94edd/attachmen… > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 14:39:10 -0500 > From: Eric Martin <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Wlug] Winter cleaning > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Message-ID: > <AANLkTimMJsfDQTigL4F5G8a-1O_1N2odUET3onEO6fh2(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I have a 300W 20PIN if you want, It's currently in a case and you're welcome > to both > > On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 2:32 PM, Jason Couture <plaguethenet(a)gmail.com>wrote: > > > I have a computer that needs a power supply, could you email me directly if > > you have a spare? > > > > Sent from my android wireless device. > > > > On Feb 2, 2011 1:37 PM, "Eric Martin" <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > I'm doing some cleaning and I have a few books / computers up for grabs. > > It's all free, please take it if you can use it. > > > > Computers: > > > > Mis-mosh of stuff, mainly > > > > > > 1. 2 CRTs (working) > > 2. Dual Pentium Pro 200MHz w/built-in SCSI and a DDS2 or DDS3 Drive > > 3. HP Proliant 1U server, questionably working but I think it's a fan / > > power supply > > 4. Intel C440 Chassis with Cabriol MB and Older Xeon processors > > 5. 2 old cases with working 300W power supplies, need MB > > 6. More to come > > > > Books: > > Interactive Computer Graphics > > > > http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03… > > > > Fluency with Information Technology > > > > http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Information-Technology-Concepts-Capabilities/… > > > > Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL > > (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books<http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03…> > > > > Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL > > (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books > > C Pocket Reference > > > > http://www.amazon.com/C-Pocket-Reference-Peter-Prinz/dp/0596004362/ref=sr_1… > > -- > > Eric Martin > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > -- > Eric Martin > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://mail.wlug.org/pipermail/wlug/attachments/20110202/24df222f/attachmen… > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 14:39:31 -0500 > From: Eric Martin <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Wlug] Winter cleaning > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Message-ID: > <AANLkTi=OJ5QVYt=Bk4AqtHtv280pyVgFgiv_tSpwC+aQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Sorry, that went already > > On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 2:34 PM, Jason Couture <plaguethenet(a)gmail.com>wrote: > > > I could use the 1U too for my distcc compile farm, but only if no one else > > wants it. > > > > On Feb 2, 2011 1:37 PM, "Eric Martin" <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > I'm doing some cleaning and I have a few books / computers up for grabs. > > It's all free, please take it if you can use it. > > > > Computers: > > > > Mis-mosh of stuff, mainly > > > > > > 1. 2 CRTs (working) > > 2. Dual Pentium Pro 200MHz w/built-in SCSI and a DDS2 or DDS3 Drive > > 3. HP Proliant 1U server, questionably working but I think it's a fan / > > power supply > > 4. Intel C440 Chassis with Cabriol MB and Older Xeon processors > > 5. 2 old cases with working 300W power supplies, need MB > > 6. More to come > > > > Books: > > Interactive Computer Graphics > > > > http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03… > > > > Fluency with Information Technology > > > > http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Information-Technology-Concepts-Capabilities/… > > > > Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL > > (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books<http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03…> > > > > Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL > > (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books > > C Pocket Reference > > > > http://www.amazon.com/C-Pocket-Reference-Peter-Prinz/dp/0596004362/ref=sr_1… > > -- > > Eric Martin > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > -- > Eric Martin > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://mail.wlug.org/pipermail/wlug/attachments/20110202/cbc9979f/attachmen… > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > End of Wlug Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2 > ***********************************

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Winter cleaning
by Eric Martin 02 Feb '11

02 Feb '11

I'm doing some cleaning and I have a few books / computers up for grabs. It's all free, please take it if you can use it. Computers: Mis-mosh of stuff, mainly 1. 2 CRTs (working) 2. Dual Pentium Pro 200MHz w/built-in SCSI and a DDS2 or DDS3 Drive 3. HP Proliant 1U server, questionably working but I think it's a fan / power supply 4. Intel C440 Chassis with Cabriol MB and Older Xeon processors 5. 2 old cases with working 300W power supplies, need MB 6. More to come Books: Interactive Computer Graphics http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03… Fluency with Information Technology http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Information-Technology-Concepts-Capabilities/… Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books<http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03…> Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books C Pocket Reference http://www.amazon.com/C-Pocket-Reference-Peter-Prinz/dp/0596004362/ref=sr_1… -- Eric Martin

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Re: [Wlug] Winter cleaning
by Jason Couture 02 Feb '11

02 Feb '11

I have a computer that needs a power supply, could you email me directly if you have a spare? Sent from my android wireless device. On Feb 2, 2011 1:37 PM, "Eric Martin" <eric.joshua.martin(a)gmail.com> wrote: I'm doing some cleaning and I have a few books / computers up for grabs. It's all free, please take it if you can use it. Computers: Mis-mosh of stuff, mainly 1. 2 CRTs (working) 2. Dual Pentium Pro 200MHz w/built-in SCSI and a DDS2 or DDS3 Drive 3. HP Proliant 1U server, questionably working but I think it's a fan / power supply 4. Intel C440 Chassis with Cabriol MB and Older Xeon processors 5. 2 old cases with working 300W power supplies, need MB 6. More to come Books: Interactive Computer Graphics http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03… Fluency with Information Technology http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Information-Technology-Concepts-Capabilities/… Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books<http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Computer-Graphics-Top-Down-Approach/dp/03…> Amazon.com: Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach Using OpenGL (4th Edition) (9780321321374): Edward Angel: Books C Pocket Reference http://www.amazon.com/C-Pocket-Reference-Peter-Prinz/dp/0596004362/ref=sr_1… -- Eric Martin _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Unstable Linux in recent releases
by Andy Stewart 19 Jan '11

19 Jan '11

HI gang, I've read an awful lot of posts recently describing freezing or hanging systems in very recent versions of several Linux distributions. Unfortunately, I got one of them - Kubuntu 10.10 (I *knew* I shouldn't have upgraded from the very stable SuSE 10.1, except that it was quite old). My system arbitrarily hangs/freezes at unpredictable intervals. Sometimes I can make it happen 2 minutes after a reboot, and other times it takes a few days, but invariably, it does occur. I can usually induce it by doing something semi-stressful to the video, like watching something via mplayer, but it doesn't always occur. The postings I've seen appear to describe a wide variety of hardware and software configurations, and nobody can seem to find any error data in any log file. What I can't find is the solution, and I've googled extensively. Has anybody found anything online that talks about some very recently discovered bug and its fix that would cure the problem? Thanks! Andy -- Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group President: PART of Westford, MA (WB1GOF)

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Unstable Linux in recent releases
by Kevin Paetzold 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

In case no one made the connection between my previous messagesubject and this thread..... They are the same. I believe that the fix i pointed out is the cause of these "unstable" linux's. Certainly the fix worked for me. When I first booted with one of the fixed kernels it ran for a wk (before i rebooted). Previously my machine was hanging at least once per day and at some points every hour or so. And in answer to previous question, the machine was hung such that it was not possible to ssh into it or make it respond in any way. Indeed after using the power switch to turn off the machine I still had to pull the AC plug to get it to be able to reboot. On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:25 AM, kevin.paetzold <kevin.paetzold(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I meant to say that I am now running vmlinuz-2.6.35.10-77.fc14.i686 > from fedora 14 koji. Both the above kernel and > vmlinuz-2.6.35.10-75.bz667459.fc14.i686 > seem to resolve the issue. > > http://kojipkgs.fedoraproject.org/packages/kernel/2.6.35.10/77.fc14/ > > In fedora this problem seemed to show up with the 10-72 kernel and was > perhaps even worse with 10-74 kernel. > > >

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hanging kernels #2
by kevin.paetzold 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

I meant to say that I am now running vmlinuz-2.6.35.10-77.fc14.i686 from fedora 14 koji. Both the above kernel and vmlinuz-2.6.35.10-75.bz667459.fc14.i686 seem to resolve the issue. http://kojipkgs.fedoraproject.org/packages/kernel/2.6.35.10/77.fc14/ In fedora this problem seemed to show up with the 10-72 kernel and was perhaps even worse with 10-74 kernel.

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