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Author: Richy B.

Follow me on Mastodon at @rbairwell@mastodon.org.uk or just the posts on this blog by following @richyb@blog.rac.me.uk .

Snippet: Broken Keyboard

It appears my keyboard is suffering from problems at the moment – they seem to be power related as if I hold it closer to the receiver (yep, it’s a wireless keyboard) I’m able to type quite normally. However, if I place the keyboard on my desk it doesn’t. Well – it didn’t until just then. Hmm, I’m now typing this on my desk wondering what’s going on…

Aargh! I’ve just noticed not one, not two but 10 fully charged batteries in a box in front of me so I needn’t have worried about finding a shop selling batteries at nearly 11pm at night. Ignore this post, I’m just rambling on a bit here (blame a small f-ck up at work and me not feeling 100%: haven’t eaten properly for 3 days since I’ve not felt that hungry, and I’ve been sleeping quite a bit as I’ve been feeling tired – yet bags under my eyes exist still). Blarg 🙁

Snippet: Where’s that backup…

Kak! I’ve just need to revive some code that I created in a week for a developmental site over 4 years ago (3 computers, 1 house move and 2 server moves ago). Since the site was only on the internet for around two months, it’s not in any of my “recent backups” (I’ve managed to check as far back as August last year without problems), but I know I kept a copy somewhere. Problem is: is it on CD (I think it is) or Iomega Zip disc or on a computers hard drive? And which format will it be in? Back then, I was coding on an Acorn RISC PC which has its own Disc Filing System (ADFS) and the hard drive and Iomega discs won’t be readable on either my Windows XP machine or Linux machine.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem as I’d just pull my old Risc PC out of the attic, hook it up and somehow get the data off it (as I suspect it’s stored on the hard drive: either that or on one or more of the 12 Zip discs). However – the machine won’t boot (it’s 10 years old and by looks of things the CMOS battery on the motherboard has corroded). It’ll turn on, the power light will come on, the hard drive will spin, the keyboard LEDs will briefly flash and that’s it 🙁

Thing is, I can get a replacement RISC PC a lot quicker and cheaper than getting the current machine repaired (just buy a second hand one off Ebay). But I need the data by Monday morning(!).

*gulp*

Net: Major Site Changes Across the Internet

Well, it seems Google has admitted that there is a problem with their search engine (after all the news coverage after the “Florida Update” where lots of sites went ‘missing’ – take a look at the New Google Website and let me know what you think.

As for the BBC, well, I’m pleased to announce that as from now – I’m providing all the news for them! Don’t believe me – check http://news.bbc.co.uk yourself!

(Ok, ok – it’s a bug in Internet Explorer, Mozilla and many other browsers – but if you are on Windows you can get a patch from WindowsUpdate – thanks to CNN).

In other news – do NOT trust any links on sites or in email – that Paypal or Ebay site may not be what it seems…