Siemen's SE567 is the worst gateway

So I've been using this POS gateway for over half a year and I am fed up with it. I originally got this router when I signed up for the Telus Enhanced Internet (or something like that). Sign-up isn't really correct actually because I was already with Telus, but they were having a promotion and I wanted in because it was so cheap. Anyways, at the time I was already using a gateway from 2wire. A good gateway with no real problems.

So when I get my internet upgraded I was told I didn't have to do anything because I already had a gateway and I should just keep using the internet. So when it was upgraded the day they said it would be, my internet connection became SUPER SLOW. WTF? You call this enhanced speed? So I figured it might a gateway problem so I decided to switch to the SE567 POS gateway. Instantly, things went really quick and I was like good solved that problem.

Only a few days later, I suddenly became unable to connect to the wireless internet. It appeared once the wireless internet was encrypted, my vista laptop would no longer be able to connect. No other computers had problems. All my XPs, and Linux machines no problems. Only vista computers had problem.

So I literally resorted to using cable and stealing...no wait...borrowing wireless from my neighbours. This worked for a bit until my neighbours wireless started disappearing or I was just wasn't able to connect to it. So I finally decided to stop procasinating with the issue and try to tackle the problem once and for all.

I read article after article about trying to solve this problem and then tried solution after solution...none of which worked. Pissed off I just decided to switch back to my old router in hopes that the old speed problem wouldn't suffice. And once I did, the internet speed was fine and more importantly I could connect to the internet!!!!

So just some conclusions:

1. I really don't know what caused the problem. Could be Vista, the router itself, the encryption (no encryption lead to no problem with access), ethernet hardware which in term means DELL because all the vista laptops were Dell...too many factors


2. Siemen's SE567 gateway is a POS

Sharing a folder between Vista Host and a Ubuntu Guest

So to share a folder between the two OS (note the OS host and guest), first go to Devices->Share folders and then share the folder you want from your windows system. And then give it a name. Note the name that you give it as this becomes your sharing_name.

Next thing you do is go back to your Ubuntu guest OS, and then open a terminal. Then make a directory somewhere to share as your mounting point. With a command like this:

mkdir /mount_point_name

Then go into the folder and then type this command:

mount -t vboxsf sharing_name .

The sharing_name is simply the name of the sharing folder you specified earlier when you were in Devices->Share Folders

VirtualBox

I've been recently getting into virtual machines for work and for school. Mainly because I needed a solution to the problem that a lot of Bioinformatic (what I study for those who don't know) programs run on linux machines. I've grown up using windows and still quite a novice at linux as I only really started using it a year ago. Previously, I had a setup a dual boot on my PC running Vista and Ubuntu. However that didn't work so well because I always had to restart my machine just to get into Ubuntu or vice versa.

And thanks to a client who requested I test out some webpages in IE6 which I couldn't because I had Vista which comes with IE7 pre-installed (for those who don't know, you can't downgrade IE7 to IE6). I had to resort to a virtual machine to install windows XP just so I could test out the site in IE6. Frustrating!

Anyways, most virtual wares are quite expensive except for one: Virtualbox which is free! And it is a great piece of software too supporting many host OS and guest OS. I got it installed and setting up my guest OS was a breeze thanks to a very simple wizard.

When installing the Ubuntu guest OS, I took a Ubuntu LiveCD (I had previously burned this) and popped it in and followed the wizard. During the installation it got stuck at 82% saying it was configuring apts for a good like 15 minutes. I thought it had hanged on me, but it finally it got passed it. I noticed the network adapter was running so it was using the internet to search for applications? Not sure what would happen if the network adaptor was disconnected. In any case, it took a while so you should be prepared to wait a while too when installing.

A better idea is to actually download the latest version of Ubuntu as an iso onto your host machine. And then when you first start your guest os it will ask how you want to install it. You can then choose the CD-ROM and mount an image onto and install from there.

After installing, it would be wise to get the "guest additions" as this improves like mouse handling and the resolution. You can this by going to:

Devices ->Install Guest Additions

And then you should use an image on the desktop which means it has been mounted into the CD rom. And then open up a terminal and type:

sudo /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run

It will do some setup and then once it is done restart the virtual machine and you'll use the changes instantly!

Thank you Virtualbox!

Update:

I've found that when you run the ubuntu update, it will end up nullifying the guest additions. And then when you try to re-install the guest additions, it will complain about linux-headers build-essentials needing to be updated.

The way to solve this: sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

Where `-uname -r` is the version of the linux kernel. Apparently, you can just enter uname -r and it will enter the linux kernel version number for you. But I couldn't get it to work. So I ended up using entering uname -r in the terminal to get the version number displayed and then manually entering that into the command. So it ended up being something like this:

sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-2.6.11-generic (something like that). And should install everything you need. And then try to re-install your guest additions and it should work.

NTLDR is missing error

Just when I thought the worst of my PC problems has passed, I recently had to deal with this "NTLDR is missing" error. This stands for New Techology Loader. What the problem is it is unable to find the master boot record to figure out which partition has the operating system. Apparently a very common error though I've never faced it in my life.

I was also in a predicament since I was in Hong Kong at that time and had none of my recovery disk CDs (why on earth would I bring them anyways?). With another laptop on hand to help me (thank goodness) So I did some searching on the internet and found a helpful site:

Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download

I could download just the recovery portion of the Vista Operating system disk and use that recovery portion. I went ahead with this, and then followed this tutorial to fix the problem.

Only problem was when I got to the part where it says:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
x:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force

The second command using bootsect.exe is NOT found on the recovery disk!!! I don't understand why they would tell us to use a command on the disk and not have the command in the ISO. I then tried to do some troubleshooting and download the bootsect.exe file itself, and then attempted to modify the ISO image to add this bootsect.exe. Tutorial on how to do this can be found here. To no avail, I ended up corrupting the ISO and never getting it to work. In the end, all the solutions the tutorial provided failed.

What happened in the end was I just waited until I got back to Canada. Then I called Dell to explain the situation. After some lengthly and pointless troubleshooting questions and steps, I just ended up reinstalling the whole operating system again.

UGHHH!!! I am starting to hate Dell and PCs. The case of getting a MAC as my next laptop is growing stronger.

Setting up my Dell Inspiron 1420

Update Nov 28th: So finally done the whole works of reformating my laptop and installing all the drivers. I then proceeded to do all the recommended updates for my windows OS. After that was done, my sister rebooted and then I got this constant BLUESCREEN OF DEATH. Like I couldn't get back into windows. One of the stupid windows updates was causing my laptop to fail to boot. UGH!!!!! I hate computers!!! Anyways to solve this, I turned off automatic download and install of window updates, and chose to select which updates to install. So far I've chosen all the important ones aside from the odd windows mail security updates which I didn't bother because I don't use windows mail. I am not sure exactly what is causing this bluescreen of death. But I am installing the updates in separate groups so if one group fails, then the OS can be restored to the last system restore point which can be done by popping in the OS cd and choosing "repair system"

This latest experience with PCs has actually got me contemplating whether I should be getting a "crapintosh." I hate them...but I can't stand this downtime. It's killing me. I have so much work to do.

Getting my replacement hard drive for my Dell has been a complete pain the butt, but I finally got it done. Now the next ignoring part is to reinstall all the drivers/programs. For the first time, I decided to call Dell to get the "correct" way to install everything. So here is a documentation of the steps that I took:

Assuming that the hard drive has been wiped clean of data and we are starting a completely new install of the OS

• Pop in the Dell Media Direct CD and let the computer boot from it. When prompt on the selection, choose the 1st option which is to partition everything to the C: drive and then let it do this. This will create a partition D: which has about 3 GB for the Dell Media Direct which allows you to play movies and DVDs. (Don't really have to do this, but apparently if I don't I won't be able to play DVDs unless I find a decoder.


• After the Dell Media Direct has been installed, pop in the OS and let the system boot from that CD. Follow the instructions until you reach the partition screen. You should see two partitions. One with the Media Direct, and another containing everything else. You delete the one partition that is NOT media direct. You can then choose to re-setup a partition and extend from it. And then choose to have the OS installed at one of the new partitions.
  
  

  The technician told me to delete and then re-setup a partition. I have no idea why we have to do this, but I just followed his advice.



• After the OS is installed, then let the system boot up and pop in the drivers CD.
  Now install these drivers in this order:
  
  

  Always choose to restart later unless specified.

  
  
  
  
  1. Notebook system (under Utilities)
  
  
  2. Intel Chipset Driver
  
  
  3. Rioch
  
  
  4. Video (should be at the bottom)
  
  
  5. Restart the computer now
  
  
  6. Audio
  
  
  7. Webcam
  
  
  8. Touchpad
  
  
  9. Broadcom (Network)
  
  
  10. Dell wireless - except in US, Japan (Network)
  
  
  11. Quickset
  
  
  12. Dell wireless bluetooh
  
  
  
  


• After all these drivers have been installed, restart the system again.


• After the system has been rebooted, put into the media direct CD and then follow the instructions to let it install. It will take awhile depending on the size of te hard drive. But once you are done installing that, your system is ready to go!

"A 5400 RPM hard drive is no different from a 7200 RPM hard drive"

Update Nov 27th: So I called in to ask for exact instructions on how to properly install all the drivers on my computer. Usually I do this myself, but I want to see if there was some faster automatic way to install the drivers. Upon installing the OS, I told them I wanted to setup to partitions, and the technician told me that DELL doesn't support this. WOW...what a bunch of crap!

Update Nov 27th: Today I finally got my 7200 RPM hard drive from Dell and I guess they really did run out of parts. Because the hard drive they sent me has a capacity of 300GB which is 160GB more than my old hard drive. About time something went my way!!!

This was what the Dell hardware department manager told me tonight. All I can say is...wow. This past week I've been dealing with Dell's utter bullcrap. My laptop hard drive mysterious died on me out of no where last week. No warning whatsoever. Just died on me. I was pretty devastated, but I figured with Dell's spectacular customer service and support I would resolve this problem with breeze.

So I called them Tuesday night and proceeded to wait a good 15-20 minutes. And finally I got to speak to a representative and proceeded to give them my laptop's service tag. Here was the response I got:

Sorry sir. But your service tag is not showing up on our systems. It appears that you haven't purchased a laptop from us.

I was like WTF? What do you mean I haven't bought a laptop from you? I am looking at a receipt that says I spent nearly two grand for this Dell laptop and you are telling me I didn't buy it from you? The representative told me I had to talk to the customer service department to fix this. Unfortunately, they were open only from 8 am to 8 pm. So I was basically out of luck tonight.

Frustrated I had to basically wait until tomorrow morning to get any help. So the following morning, I called in and explain my situation. Turns out because my original laptop had a problem and I had to get an exchange, the exchanged laptop's service tag never got registered with my account and thus it wasn't showing up. They explain to me that this would be fix within 24 hours. 48 hours at most. And they said they would call me back as soon as this has been fixed. 48 hours no call back. So I called back to get an update. And this time I wait over an hour to get any reasonable help. I got transferred from one department to another department and finally ended up in the customer service department who simply told me that I had to wait longer for the service tag to be registered.

GRRR! This was starting to piss me off. It's been over 3 days and I still haven't started to fix my laptop hard drive problem yet. I am still working on getting them to recognize the fact that I bought a laptop from them. The worst part was that the weekend was coming and the customer service department is closed on the weekends. So basically, I had to get this service tag issue solved today or else I would get no support till monday. So I ended up calling on Saturday and this time the service tag got registered. Yeah!

And after some chatting and testing, they acknowledge that the hard drive has indeed died and they would send me a new hard drive. I give them my shipping address and then proceed to wait for the new hard drive. When my new hard drive arrives I am pretty excited and pop it in and start doing all the drive installation and application installing.

However, there was one big problem. I noticed the system's installation was slower than pre-hard drive failure. I only noticed this because I use my laptop everyday with lots of computer intensive stuff. So I look into the model number of my hard drive and it turns out that the hard drive actually has a lower RPM. It is only 5400 RPM while the original one I had ordered was 7200 RPM!!! Ridiculous!!!

So I called Dell again and complained to them the situation and they tried to basically talk me out of it by saying that there was no difference between a 5400 and 7200 RPM hard drive. It all depends on the processor and memory of the laptop to make a difference. Well HELLO!?!?! My processor and memory is making a difference!! And even if it made no difference, I feel ripped off Dell. Because basically I paid more for this 7200 RPM and they are telling me it is the same now??!?! After some more arguing and scolding of Dell, they finally decided to send me a new hard drive with the 7200 RPM. Something they should have done in the beginning. And I told them that I found it absurd that they could even suggest to customers that there was no difference and hence that is why they sent me a lower quality hard drive.

After mentioning and scolding them on this issue, the technician looked into the issue and told me that the reason I got a 5400 RPM hard drive was because they ran out of 7200 RPM hard drives. What a bunch of crap!! You run of out of the equipment so you start sending lower quality equipment to make up for it? That's pathetic. Stupid Dell. Has really made me think twice about buying a computer from them again.

Plugged in powerchord turns on my laptop by itself!!

Ok I am officially going insane...or maybe my mom's Asus laptop really just turning on by itself. Recently my Dell laptop went down which has really gotten me pissed because this is a pretty critical time in my school semester for it to go down. But that issue deserves its own blog post. But anyways, in the mean time I've been using my mother's Asus laptop.

It is a huge downgrade from my supremely powerful Dell laptop. It has only 1 GB of RAM, compared to the 4 GB I have on my dell. Suffice to say, it is as slow as a sloth. But I have no choice as I need to do my school work and keep programming to keep food on my table. It does the job, except it has one very strange habit...it turns on by ITSELF. Seriously. I tell it to shutoff and then just turns on by itself a few seconds after. The first few times I didn't watch it turn off, and then I would come back like the following morning and it would be on...display the windows vista login menu screen...starring at me.

At first, I just thought I had mistaken pressed the restart button instead of the shut down button. But tonight, I pressed the shut down button and then was cleaning up and then it turned back on itself!! I tried it again and lo and behold, it turned on AGAIN!!!! WTF!!!! I was so freaked out. I did some googling online and to no avail there was nothing concrete that could help me with the situation. Not knowing what was going on, I unplugged all the peripherals which included:

1. The ethernet cable


2. The receiver for my wireless mouse and keyboard


3. The VGA cable for my monitor


4. The power chord

And then tried to shut it off, and it worked! It didn't turn on itself after that...so it appeared that one of the peripherals was turning the laptop on?!?! I've honestly never heard of a situation like this ever. But I really wanted to see what was causing this. So I plugged the power chord back in, then turned on the machine and shut it down and it actually TURNED BACK ON!!!!

The plugged in powerchord when shutting off the machine was causing the laptop to turn itself back on!!! I couldn't believe this...I still don't really know how to fix this. I'll try to look for a fix, but as of right now the only solution I have is to unplug the powerchord when shutting off and then plugging it back it once it has turned off.

This is absolutely absurd. I hate technology sometimes!!