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iPhone Upgrade Quick Start
Do you want some hassle free phone migration when you upgrade? Yeah Apple iOS has that. Confirm your device is running the latest OS Backup your old phone to iCloud or iTunes Call to activate your number on new phone (transfer chip first if […]
Life Tip – convert text to spreadsheet with cells
You know how someone gives you a list and you’re like oh man, it sure woulda been nice had they not gone and made a list in Word or email that’s noting but text separated by commas? Yeah that thing. So here’s what to […]
Useful WMIC Queries Computer Info
I lookup a lot of computer serial numbers for warranty status and driver updates, WMIC via the command line is quick and easy way to get that info. It’s below with a small collection of other potentially helpful WMIC queries. Serial Number wmic bios […]
RSOP GPResult for User and Computer with Non Admin Account
Issue: return a Resultant Set of Policy, RSOP, as a user without administrative rights. Why? Because you have to launch the Command Prompt as Administrator in order to get a full set of policies, an account for which there is no Group Policy applied! User […]
Niagara Falls 2018
Niagara Falls 2018 – Album
Add Gmail Account to Outlook 2016
Adding a Gmail account to Outlook 2016 is quick and easy. The process requires two steps with Google: Enabling IMAP access and creating an app password which allows Outlook to access Gmail. Then a few quick and easy steps in Outlook – and boom […]
Lenovo Yoga PD Firmware Update Failure – CCG4 Two-Port USB C Controller
Issue – Lenovo UCSI USB Type-C firmware upgrade failed. USB Type-C ports no longer work and I have a yellow exclamation mark on the UCSI USB Connector Manager in Device Manager. And that means… no more power to the battery. Which is about when you […]
How To Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10 – Fresh Start
Everyone needs a fresh start now and again right? Clear out the carbon, shake up the cobwebs. yeah well it works for ones and zeros to. A fresh install of Windows!? If your computer seems to be running unusually slow, has crashing or startup/shutdown […]
Cannot Activate Lenovo Subscription for Microsoft Office 365 Home DM (AFOLB)
You’ve purchased a Microsoft Office 365 Subscription from Lenovo or perhaps another computer manufacturer. You’re enjoying your beautiful new computer when it comes time to fire up Microsoft Office, so you can dive into the 1 terabyte storage plus apps that you just got […]
What’s the Best Browser?
I’ve been using browsers since Mosiac (Marc Andreessen – NCSA, University of Illinois), AOL (whatever that was!), and Netscape (N*tscrape) were the champs. Then came IE (Internet Exploder), Mozilla Firefox (which started as Phoenix and Firebird) and Chrome (login, trust us!) and Opera (it’s faster!). […]
Switching to Firefox is easy
Hello Firefox 57! Yep I’ve made the switch from Google Chrome back to Firefox. I’ve wanted to make the switch for a while and Mozilla’s latest release, Firefox Quantum, provided the motivation. Fast (really fast, like 2x as fast as their last version), light, […]
Naming Convention Defined
Naming convention. Naming convention – Something you discuss again the next day.
Convert Audio or Video File with VLC Media Player
Issue: You possess an audio or video file that will not play on your favorite device or software. Solution: VLC Media Player! What is: VLC Media Player… other than awesome!? Download: VLC Media Player for Mac, PC or Mobile Steps to convert an audio or video […]
Look In Your Eyes – Big Handshake
Windows Phone – Startup Blue Screen of Death
Issue: Your Nokia Lumia with Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows 10 Mobile can’t get past a solid pale blue screen at startup. You’ve got the blue startup screen of death! Solutions: Forced Restart, battery & SIM removal and re-seat, or a full reset (all […]
SSL Certificates For Multiple WordPress Sites on Ubuntu
So Google says everyone needs SSL and it is so. I’m getting alerts from left and right advising that I’m not in compliance with the mighty Googles. Yeah I have a contact form or two… so lets lock em down with some completely free […]
Block Application Advertisements with Windows Firewall
Do you have an application or service that subjects you to advertisements, annoying slow and ugly advertisements within a product you’ve already paid for? Yeah me too. It really started when my Epson printer would display HTML errors as it tried to reach a […]
Combine Strava GPX or TCX files
If for whatever reason your ride, run or walk gets divided up into two or more Strava “activities” you can easily combine them into a single event to view your combined time, avg speed etc as a single activity. Export your data as a […]
No jiggle – can’t move icons iOS 10
No Jiggle? No problem! Just a little confusing with iOS 10 and iPhone 6s or 7. Issue: You tap and hold an App Icon but instead of “jiggling” it opens a 3d app menu. You repeat this several times despite the result, maybe it […]
Reset Windows Phone
Yeah yeah I know I know – Windows Phone is dead. It’s over there on the heap with Zune, Music Pass, Video Editor, Vista and MS Bob. But some of us still love and use the Nokia or Microsoft handsets running Windows 8.1 (the […]
Windows 10 Start Menu Always Opens When Waking From Sleep
Issue: The full Start Menu opens when waking your computer from sleep mode. This behavior is more of an annoyance than an issue, and an odd one at that as sleep by nature indicates you’re continuing where you left off. Solution Do not use Start […]
RealTek Audio Driver install loop Windows 10
Issue: Attempting to install RealTek Audio Drivers for Windows 10 leads to an endless uninstall/install loop. This happens with RealTek audio drivers from manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus or directly from RealTek . The install loop happens due to the new Windows 10 Driver […]
Jamaica
Jamaican Sunsets
Six shots from five nights – vacation 2017. Shot with Microsoft Lumia 950
Ads in Windows 10 – WTF
Advertisements. For Microsoft products. On the lock screen, on the task bar, in OneDrive, in your browser and in file frickin explorer. Seriously Microsoft?
Configure Thunderbird with O365 Exchange
Issue: Thunderbird fails at the authentication stage of adding an 0365 Exchange email account. Your email address and password are confirmed and correct. The issue is Exchange requires an Active Sync or EWS Exchange Web Services connection which ThunderBird doesn’t natively support. Solution – install […]
Ubuntu Upgrade – Failed to Fetch PPA errors
Issue: Attempting to upgrade Ubuntu 14.04 to 16.04 generates Failed to Fetch errors and the process aborts. The cause is custom PPA (Personal Package Archives) sources that are used for some software, in my case FMPEG. Solution: Check your sources.list or sources.list.d files for the […]
Outlook for iOS – how to access Exchange Contacts
Threaded email on iOS 10 is kinda shady. So I thought I’d give Outlook a try – very nice save one thing, contacts… Issue: Exchange contacts are only available within Outlook on iOS – they’re not available to the iOS default Contacts app as they are […]
Lenovo Laptop Won’t Turn On – No lights or, Blinking Power Light
Issue: Several Lenovo laptop models have issues returning from sleep, suspend or hibernation mode. An affected laptop may be fine one day but wont power on the next. In this state the Power LED may do nothing when pressed, or may blink 3 times with […]
Screenshot – Best Keyboard Shortcuts Ever
You know how no one knows how to take a screenshot? Windows Key + Shift + S = screenshot heaven! You’re welcome!
Architecture Photography
Gallery of Architectural Photography – updated randomly and often…
Disable Ads & Store Messages on Windows 10 Lock Screen
Issue: The default Windows 10 lock screen uses Windows Spotlight which streams a feed of excellent photography but… also displays Microsoft Store offerings, messages and may display ads. If this annoys you follow these steps to disable Windows Spotlight and you’ll have a cleaner, […]
Windows 10 – Update Error 0x800F0922 for KB3194496
Issue: Windows 10 Update KB3194496 makes it to 75-100% complete then fails with the following message “We couldn’t complete the updates Undoing Changes”. Error message in event log: “Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x800F0922: Cumulative Update for Windows […]
Computer Won’t Stay in Sleep Mode
Desktop or laptop – you put your computer into sleep mode but return to find the computer wide awake. It may be after just one minute, one two or ten hours. Is it the cat, a ghost? Nope, just Windows and Intel, more fun with […]
Uconnect 8.4 Software Update
Had a little updating to do for my 2014 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye – air the tires, check the oil and of course update the firmware. In this case updating the radio for improved performance and new features. It’s pretty easy – if you’re […]
Wasatch Lake
Trip to Wasatch Lake
Replace Fan – Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro
A fan in my sons 2yr old Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro was making very loud grinding noises. We dissembled to check for dust and clogged vents but no dice, sounded like the bearings were going out. Next step was to replace the fan and we didn’t […]
Inspirational Athletes – Iljo Keisse – Amazing life story and return to glory
Amazing story that you must read first, makes the video below off the charts Cyclingnews.com – Iljo Keisse: From tragedies to triumph A man who has over come so much is asked to over come yet one last hurdle after returning from much tragedy and pain […]
Inspirational Athletes – Matthew Hayman – Paris Roubaix 2016
Paris Roubaix – the Monument, the classic – THE one day race all riders love and fear. 250km with 70km of roman cobblestones. Long, hard, fast, dangerous, luck and skill plus power. Who has it for the greatest one day race of them the […]
Windows 10 upgrade – Delete Windows.old folder
Have you upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or are in the Windows Insider program and are running low on disk space? If so you may have noticed the Windows.old folder weighing in at about 20gbs and you may have tried to delete it and […]
Iggy Pop – Repo Man – Chicago 4-6-2016
Post Pop Depression Tour – Live at The Chicago Theater 4.6.2016 A little blood on Bassist Matt Sweeney by the end – happened on the prior song Come Live With Me when Josh Homme tagged him while they were both jamming out hard. Iggy Pop, […]
Hawkwind – Death Trap
Death Trap from Hawkwind’s 1979 release P.X.R.5. – recorded 1977-78. Full on Punk here and it rocks – Devo Prog.
Notification Center – Best Keyboard Shortcuts Ever
Did you know that you want to magically open the Notification Center? yeah, me too. Windows Key + A = you’ve been notified! You’re welcome!
PHP 5 upgrade – [mysql_old_password] construct error
Issue: Drupal, WordPress, any PHP based Website or Cron jobs stop working after your web host upgrades from PHP 4.x to 5.x. In my case the issue was random as some sites and Cron jobs on the same host broke but most did not. Error […]
Dreamweaver – Find and Replace Empty Lines
Dreamweaver has excellent automated code cleanup functions that handle just about anything based on your code formatting preferences but it does not handle empty lines. To do so you need to use regular expressions. Related reading: Dreamweaver Using regular expressions – Part 1: Understanding the […]
Superfish – Thematic Theme Menu Speed in WordPress
The Thematic Theme uses Superfish to manage multi-level drop-down menus. Overall this works very well but the default Superfish menu speed of “normal” is far to slow for my liking. Slow enough I feel people will miss the drops downs unless there is a […]
Koken is back – Image Gallery Software
When my favorite photo gallery software Gallery closed up shop after 14 years I was faced with the decision to migrate to a photo community like 500px, photo hosting sites like Zenfolio, Photobucket or SmugMug, or a major corporate hosted solution like Yahoo’s Flickr. There’s an endless […]