[Les.]

This is confusing now.

RSB, is it possible to move this, and Ed’s reply above to the other thread, and maybe change title to “Looking for new PC”.

Ed, I think you misunderstand. Given the age of this shuttle, I think it is time to upgrade. I WILL have replaced bios bat, maybe a couple of times. So cheap, any problems, change on principle.

Clearly not possible with this shuttle, and a new one would cost an arm and leg, so wondering what to go for instead.

I intend to stick with Mint, but the latest full version requires the “new” protected boot system as I understand it.

This is (I assume) far too old. I don’t want anything BIG, but I understand there are many small ones that are not much use, so want to stay away from those.

So, probably a used one of recent build. My needs are simple, www, Libre office, occasional  catchup (MotoGP, F1 etc.) and similar undemanding tasks.

Les.

[Les.]

Wasbit, thanks for that, I will have a look.

I also need to look for another laptop for Tamara. I got here a Lenovo i5 suggested by VFM, must be 10 years ago. Also on Mint. As well as being long in the tooth, it also has a continual intermittent sound fault. (does that make sense?) She watches films, then it will start making an awful noise, usually lasting maybe one minute, then OK again. I am fairly certain it is the sound output chip, but probably better to replace the lot than spend time and maybe not fix it.

I keep putting that off as well.

Les.

[Les.]

By gum that was a quick move. I will not risk editing it, but the “a” in last sentence should be “any”.

Cheers, Les, whose typing finger is now aching.

[Les.]

Well, it seems my original post HAS disappeared. But I did a ctrl-C, so now to try a ctrl-v

Perhaps everybody is getting old like me!

But I will offer a new topic (without bothering to change the heading).

My Shuttle XPC Glamor must be 12 years old now (but with a bios date of 2008 I think).

It has been pretty good on the whole apart from a minor niggle. (Restart NEVER restarts it, but I can always just switch it ON).

I like the size and shape, though I know it is very old hat now. I don’t want a BIG one, and I am suspicious of all the tiny things.

Of course I don’t want to pay too much.

The latest mint expects the new fangled safe boot arrangements, and of course mine predates all that.

Any sound (Dave type) suggestions, if there is anybody looking.

(And I have now made the correct correction.

Les.

[Les.]

After posting the above, I edited “an” in last sentence to “a” and submitted it OK.

I then realised it should have been “any”, but when I resubmitted it again, it lost its way and failed to redirect. Fortunately I was able to go back a page, twice, and it was still there with first incorrect edit.

A bug, or just my stupidity?

Les

[Les.]

Oh dear Ed! You really do go off full cock about everything that seems to mildly (or severely) affect your left wing agenda.

Only yesterday I heard the wildlife programme was on tomorrow night, first episode. Is that now pulled? I was not going to watch it, but pity if it is.

Regarding the Linneker thing, this is only fitba, the less of it the better surely! If they just chop him out, together with the rest of his striking supporters, MAYBE my next year’s licence fee could reflect that. No doubt they would keep the fitba (once the players realise they will eventually have to shut up and play on) it can all be done without the commentary.

In fact if the pitch is delineated into little square as right at the beginning of radio fitba reporting, a simple AI prog could keep track of the ball to help those viewers too stupid to watch it themselves.

Just helping keep the balance, I can now get back to listening to music on the radio.

Les.

[Les.]

The new login confused me, but I got there. Just made small donation, but the Paypal link just gave a whirling arrow. However I was able to use an old link, hopefully OK.

When I was 9 yrs old, I was sentenced to 6 months in hospital with rheumatic fever. Permanently damaged heart apparently, and I used to “take care” (notwithstanding motorbikes of course. An insurance company refused cover for house purchase after giving me a thorough check. I saw my local GP and asked him just how bad I really was. He gave me a complete examination, confirming I had heart damage, but said there was no reason I should not live to a grand old age. Shortly after that I “ran for a bus” across Hanley, with a colleague, who I believed was fit as he used to do some cross country type of running. We just made it onto the bus, and both sagged into two heaps of gasping for breath near corpses. 5 mins later, we both began to recover normality at the same time. That made me think, maybe not as bad as I had been led to believe.

After that, I never looked back, and here I am at 81years with nowt amiss. I will be out on the bike for my normal Saturday run in the morning as usual, and hopefully for a few more Saturdays yet.

When I hear of those around me, including those of you here I have “met” over the last 15 or more years (before we became “forumite”), plus direct pals, many younger than me who are suffering bad heath, or are no more, I realise just how lucky I have been.

After all that may I wish you all better health, better luck, better prospects not just for 2023, but (with me hopefully) for many more years to come.

And let us all remember BOB. I did not do my recent “annual video”, as I had hoped he would watch it. I will try to do one on July 23rd 2023 and then annually again.

Meanwhile I must get on with the plumbing in my long time small extension, I finished all the electrics, shower, radiator, sink, and just bog pan left. Then some flooring, decorating and hopefully it will be finished.

Very best wishes to all.

Les.

[Les.]

You want rabbit holes?

The problem with anything Hi Fi nowadays is that it is all heavily tainted with s**t. On another forum I frequent, we have a VERY long running thread entitled “Audiophoolery”. £10,000 for a gold plaited unidirectional 13A FUSE!!!!!!

You don’t need much physics to see the total nonsense of it all. But so many gullible phools get sucked in to the bu*****t. But the more they spend, the happier they are, knowing the sound from their ‘speakers is better than it was before.

Anybody wanting any HiFi stuff, should look at the higher end stuff, mostly Japanese, of 35 to 40 years ago. Search out good used stuff, and don’t look back, and close your ears tight to any advice offering you “improvements”.

Les.

[Les.]

I have a strong feeling that the Grundfoss pump I had was a capacitor run motor. If a capacitor start, there is (normally) a switch inside which will audibly CLICK when the motor gets up to speed.

More likely today is to use a a PTC thermistor in series with the start winding which will quickly increase its resistance, thus maintaining a low or very low residual current in the start winding. In the latter case, you do NOT want repeated stop and start situations or the thermistor would remain high resistance and maybe not start up. Hmm.

Les.

[Les.]

Ed, I don’t know much about soft start for single phase, but I don’t see why not (up to a point)

As I think you all know, I designed a very simple single to 3 phase rotary converter without all the expense of a big transformer to run my lathe. I had an inverter that I was led to believe would run the lathe off single phase, but it was the wrong type. However, once I had my RPC working and the lathe running from it, I had the bright idea of placing the 400v to 400v inverter between RPC and lathe. This inverter will do everything except make tea, one of its features being soft start. It comes with a default time of 5 seconds, but I can set it from probably 0.5 second (maybe quicker) up to goodness knows what.

I remember working with 20 HP fans, which then needed to use star / delta start up system. As i assume you know, a suitable motor would be intended for 720v for full output in star connected mode, or 415v in delta connected mode. What happened was start up in star at 415v (so much under-run) and then switched over to 415v delta, where full power was available without the massive over-current situation had it been direct on line 415v in delta. I recall delay times of 20 to 30 seconds with big fans, whereas a 20HP pugmill only needed about 5 seconds or less.

Today these 400v inverters are everywhere in industry.

My earlier “up to a point” comment could be because of the use of capacitors for single phase. Some motors have a start capacitor, some a run capacitor, larger single phase motors often have both. For a typical capacitor start motor, the start windings are much lighter duty as they usually run for less than one second. Running it too long before the internal switch opened might not be a good idea.

I know nothing about modern central heating motors, so can not comment further, except to say I had a Grundfoss circulation pump (goodness, nearly 50 years ago) but that was a low powered capacitor run type, so no problem likely there.

Les.

[Les.]

Like Edp, I well remember the three day week with the electricity cuts. At the time, I was on a factory with thirteen gas fired kilns, and two electric kilns.

If one of the gas fired kilns was firing, and one of the many unscheduled or short duration  cuts took place, I was the one responsible.

A 3am phone call was quite common, so I would get in the car (I think I had just sold my Velocette motorcycle).

The safety circuits were of course the reason they went off, and only myself and two operatives, under my supervision were allowed to light them up again. Depending how long the power was off, I had to decide at what point in the firing schedule I should start it from. I was glad when it was all over.

Electricity cuts now would only mean darkness and battery radio availability, but no effect at all on my heating system. I have a dual burner (one in summer, two in winter) Rayburn cooker / central heating boiler. I installed a single 28mm pipe circulation system and no pump. Gravity circulation as was common in the big houses 80+ years ago.

Of course, I need to keep my oil tank topped up. Oil prices have risen, but a lot less than other fuels. A recent delivery, with the VAT, cost about 98 pence per litre.

When I first used a Rayburn, probably mid to late ’80s, I was paying 12p per litre, as it had just gone up from something lower.

I have a new Tilley lamp in the loft, so I would have to get a few litres of paraffin to solve the lighting problem.

Les.

[Les.]

Edp, I agree wholeheartedly with every word of your moan. I have been struggling to read some stuff for a few years now.

I have found one method that CAN sometimes work in some situations.

With mouse, click and “select” an area of text you wish to read. It should now be easier to read.

If still unreadable, copy to your favourite  document software (Libre office “writer” with Mint).

Why the hell you need such methods I also blame on the silly arty-farty kids involved.

Les.

Les.

[Les.]

Dave, I absolutely agree with every word of your first three paragraphs. After that some differences.

As I said a while back, he has overstayed his time. BUT, until he was able to take Corbin by the throat (metaphorically), the country was in stasis. Whatever you views, a UK referendum had come to a decision, and every leftist dickhead jumped out of the woodwork to complain. You may recall there were complaints about the then speaker which SHOULD have meant suspension and investigation, but all the dickheads said “Don’t worry about that” in order that he could continue with his “unbiased” control of parliament.

My main point was a comparison with another “leader”, who will NOT be removed as a result of his blatant warmongering and obvious war crime record in other countries besides Ukraine.

Compared with that crap, we are lucky to have had a relative Saint in the shape of Boris.

As I said after Teresa May departed, we want Boris, but get rid of him after one year. We took rather longer than the one year.

Les.

[Les.]

You will recall I did say he needs to go maybe one month ago.

But stop and think a little. Here we have a PM who was silly (Yes, just silly and stupid), silly to allow the lock down parties and stupid for blathering about it later. And now he is forced out.

In another place (no, I don’t mean the H of Ls) there is a President who has effectively brainwashed his population (and my wife) with a parade of lies through his controlled media for many years. He has taken the “Federation” to war, sorry, on a little special operation because of all those Nazis in and around Kiev. According to Tamara before it all started, more than half of the population wanted a union with Russia. See the brainwashing? The area to the East was most heavily pro-Russian, but where has all the carnage taken place?

Now consider the situations in context. Our silly leader had a birthday party etc.. Silly and Stupid.

At least our silly b***er will not end up in a Nuremburg style court, present or in absentia!

Les.

[Les.]

I missed something in previous message. The GP did say last year that (yes) I should take a bit extra salt. However I simply kept forgetting. Then a bright idea. I now buy 6 packs of Walkers “ready salted crisps”, and consume one late at night, but before eating, I shake more salt all over it. That is probably just as important as the less water aspect. It is a pleasant and easy way to be certain of increasing salt intake.

If I read the above replies correctly, am I to understand that amlodipine causes low sodium levers?

Les.

[Les.]

Well, the title is right, it has been a while. At least all the house aggro is now behind you.

Still on the barge?

Regarding blood pressure, a testing device is quite cheap. I bought a fairly good model at least 15 years ago and I do periodic checks. About two years ago, it went up, so I saw quack and he added another type to prescription. I have been taking Amlodipine (sounds similar to yours) for 15 plus years, but now have Ramipril as well. Figures of 120 to 135 over 70 to 80 are current results.

Last year I was phoned after a (nominally annual) blood test. I was told my sodium was low.  20 years ago a friend advised me to drink more water (because she believed in it) which I did. Big improvement in sleep, not waking up from bad dreams, always desperate for a pee. I think I had been overdoing it, so after considering his comments, I cut down by about half on how much I drank when I woke up. Not had a retest, but I think it will be OK now. I had been getting quite a few early morning cramps (legs), and after a couple of weeks of reducing the water, I realise that had stopped.

When you get to my age (81 this month) you need to try to be ahead of what is going on, i wasn’t!

best wishes, Les.

[Les.]

Dave, I don’t need dropbox, I just need a backup routine.

I have been so busy with the cottage extension everything else has been neglected, Cagiva, Gilera, New Imperial and particularly the Ducati Indiana.

My electrician has been unwell, so other than providing boxes, wire, conduit and lamps, I have not seen him. I did all the first fixing of electrics and plumbing. Assembled shower tray, shower side and door, fitted the plastic “marble” to the wall and took a brief rest whilst the plasterer did his stuff.

No time to breathe, never mind do computer maintenance. My Rayburn service is 6 weeks behind schedule, and I spent two hours in dentist’s chair today, so nothing done today.

Need to finish plastic “marble”, a day or more, then ready for second fix electrics and plumbing.

No rest for the wicked.

Regarding TT, those three sidecar deaths are worrying. One assumes they are taking off at Ago’s leap and flying to a bad destination.

Yes, Moly very impressive. I don’t put one or more wins beyond him in the future, if those accidents don’t finish it completely.

Les.

[Les.]

Late this morning I gave up on this.

I ran the laptop off a live Mint install disc, and tried various searches, using the Find command as suggested elsewhere, but with no luck. I installed “testdisk” onto the live install, but when I read the bumph it showed me, it suggested it was good for rescuing lost drives or partitions, with no mention of files or folders. I have since been told it DOES find files, but now too late. I have been assured GParted is ONLY for partions and drives, which tied in with what I could see when I booted my own PC with its disc.

Ext4magic had been suggested, but when I read up on it, I decided it was MANY levels above my pay grade. And scary, same as another prog (forget its name now).

I copied her old Documents folder onto her drive, and this afternoon she has been very quiet, redoing here accounts, oil delivery info etc.

Where problems will arise is various passwords which have been changed in recent months. Maybe a year ago, her daughter gave Tamara her iphone when she bought a new one. Apparently an ownership change was registered with Apple (if I understand correctly) and she is in a lather because that has gone. I wasted two days on it, back to normality now!

Les.

[Les.]

Ed, I had not seen your second reply, and thought I had replied to it, but no sign now. I am just going to download GParted, my existing one was burned in 2013, so probably much changed by now. I will read up on it first.

Thanks, Les.

[Les.]

Ed, Latest version of Mint, cinnamon.

First place I looked was trash. No, she deleted it not “moved to trash” unfortunately.

Some files, including the one she (may have) opened showed in her “recent documents” list, but not accessible from there needless to say. I have a doom filled feeling about this one. If the sequence is as she has described it, I can not understand why the main Docs folder disappeared.

Les.

[Author]

Posts