[Les.]

Other than the physical size, these shuttles’ on board stuff is absolutely conventional. 2 spare double USB connectors, the one you posted earlier for front panel, IDE, SATA, floppy, standard ATX power with the extra 4 pin, PCI and PCI-e as well as all the normal front and rear panel stuff.

It is just the front panel itself of the earlier S.No. that uses different connectors, even though the usual setup is present.

No idea why. Les.

Edit, missing apostrophe.

[Les.]

My shuttles are interesting. The one I bought new 8 or so years ago has “normal” HDD activity and a blue “PC on” light,  exactly like the arrangement Dave shows.

However, the one I bought S/H last year, with earlier S.No. is different. I think the blue shows briefly, then goes off, whilst I think the HDD led is normal. Instead of the single connect as per Dave’s piccie, instead there are TWO connectors going to different parts of M/B. It is the front panel part which differs, both M/Bs are the same.

Strange. Les.

[Les.]

Well, Linux Lite would not load. CPU does not have POE (I think POE). Next I downloaded Bohdi LEGACY version. That loaded OK, but in spite of  the info on networking, I could find nothing related. I will try to (find out how to) install it tomorrow, time permitting. My pal said he would use it, so I will try to get it running with WiFi if that is possible.I can see a few google (duckduckgo actually) searches on the agenda.

I know there is absolutely no chance of a Mint install. Ubuntu 8.4 and 10.4 would probably run, but no support.

Les.

[Les.]

Boris, thanks for looking. I MAY try getting some off Ebay, but as Ed asks, what will I use it for? Actually, I may just pass it on to pal, so it would need to be pretty secure.

Last night I concluded DSL was a bit too basic, but I later downloaded “Linux lite”, so may try that later.

I did also look at Puppy, so we shall see how LL goes first.

Of course, by implication I suspect, Ed is saying “Scrap it”. That may be the answer.

Bob, is it a 2-1/2″ drive? If so, I may say “Yes please”, but not until I have a satisfactory distro, as I would not want to scrap your drive as well if that is the final solution.

Cheers all, Les.

[Les.]

Planeman, yes, I see what you mean. I downloaded an iso for a “non-install”, burned to a CD, and booted straight in to it.

Being used to Mint 19, it was VERY bare. I could not see an “Install” icon such as Mint gives you, nor did it notice that I have a WiFi card in there.

I think I want something more “up to date” than DSL. I can see how it could save something from scrap, but this can handle more I think.

I think I will give XFCE a try, other suggestions are welcome.

Les.

[Les.]

Boris, thanks for that lot. Yes, step 7 shows where I was, step 12 shows the one under the K/B. In the past when I only found one slot, there was permanent on board memory, I just assumed it would be like that here.

Yes please, if you do have suitable ram.

I will download DSL (thanks Planeman) and see what can be done.

Cheers all.

Les.

[Les.]

Boris, I never thought of possibility of RAM increase.

I opened the little “Ram” compartment, where I found a single piece of laptop ram, 256MB, DDR, PC2700.  CL2.5.

I switched on just to confirm and it entered setup to confirm the change of RAM, so I just shut down and refitted the single stick.

Obviously there must be an onboard 256 MB. That leaves the question what would it take? I assume the best hope would be to fit a 512 stick, if available, giving a maximum of 768MB.

I have some sticks here, so I have just been to check what I have. 512, 1GB and 2GB, but none will fit. Looking at my ram, with indent on RHS, the ones that won’t fit require a slot slightly more to the RHS. Not sure how else to describe.

WOF, no interest in W7 or similar. I do have newer laptop with W7, but is only used for the odd “Catch up” of CH4 for F1 if that is my only viewing choice. That laptop has a “battery killing” fault, so no good for regular use.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

Thanks everybody, esp Boris, I ordered one earlier, and no extra postage for “Islands and Highlands”.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

Interesting that nobody has said “Scrap it”! Ed, I won’t bother trying any Mint (don’t expect it to work anyway). Planeman, I  WILL try DSL as soon as I get a few minutes.

Cheers all.

[Les.]

No super deal updates on the SSD front recently. What are the best 240GB SSD drives out there currently?

Les.

[Les.]

Well, it is now 6 days since I did all the swopping about.

At first switch on I mentioned I had to switch off then on again to make progress with boot up.

Every day since, the same has happened. This morning I tried pressing DEL to get into setup, but nothing happened. No keyboard response, just had to switch off and on again, and normal boot.

Not sure if this is a manifestation of my original problem, or some thing new. Safest to assume original problem.

In terms of changing parts, two items remain, either the PSU or the motherboard.

I will probably swop the PSU next. Will report back in due course.

Les.

[Les.]

Yesterday a package arrived whilst I was out. MT have sent me a new router. A Technicolor  TG588V  v2.

I have not had time to touch it yet, but I have an idea Dave has slated them in the past.

How will it compare to my existing Netgear  DGN2200  – V4 I wonder. Maybe tomorrow I will find out.

Les.

[Les.]

I had the same one about 2 weeks ago. I was just as scared as you, deleted it and moved on. I think I had it or one much like it a few months ago. Delete likewise.

For the last 10 or more years, Linux has managed to keep me safe, long may it continue.

Les.

[Les.]

I think my suggestion last week was possibly my first to this thread, but I for one am enjoying it. For the record, if I had had a vote it would have been to LEAVE, sorry Bob (who is not looking now) et al. Anyway, can I suggest you go back to last week’s message and think carefully. I think it is the only hope remaining for a wounded Tory party, would hit Labour hard, and get quite a few Brexiters in parliament.

I repeat, TM to announce GE in July, all Tory candidate to state their brexit intentions. Then resign. Of course she could put both her deal, or “No deal” to the vote once more, but walk away from JC without delay.

OTHERWISE, they are ALL DOOMED!

Les.

[Les.]

I have not had cause to use simple screen recorder this year, but on Saturday, I was given a BTSport pass, so could watch MotoGP practice OK. For the race on Sunday, I would be able to view the start, leaving SSR in charge when I went out on the bike for a scheduled ride.

Go home, put it to play back the file, but as soon as the proper high speed “on track” action started, a seized up pixelated mess, un-viewable just like last year. Damn.

Monday, the big shuttle shuffle took place, as I was hopeful that the combination of better CPU and graphics card might just do the trick. Both shuttles now have the (maximum) 4GB RAM. No, this “bought new” shuttle with the best bits does not clear the playback problem.

When I tested out the “bought second hand” shuttle, with the 60GB SSD, I realised that was the one I was using last year when the problem was cured. It still had SSR, so I “started” a recording, writing down all the settings. – it always carries over whatever you set to the next time.

Anyway, back to the current shuttle and “start” a recording with that one. Last year’s setting had 25 frames per sec, Sunday’s had 30 fps. Hopefully I have the solution, if I get another pass.

Les.

 

[Les.]

As I have mentioned in another thread, yesterday was spent “shuffling the shuttles”. My original “bought new” one now has the higher spec CPU and the later GT720(?) graphics card and new bios batteries in each one.

I ran the “second hand” machine with the 60 GB SSD I had off Dave 18 months ago, and that ran fine after setting bios to account for the changes. More elsewhere.

Then it was time for my original one, which has the 240GB SSD and was the one giving the problems that this thread is all about. Once the Bios was sorted, and the CD/DVD drawer opening problem was sorted, time to see if any better. (That is for another old thread resurrection though).

Anyway, bios reset, “Save and exit”, but instead of a full boot, it hangs at the pre-bios splash screen. Probably irrelevent, switch off and switch on. All seems OK.

But this morning, at switch on, it once more hung at that splash screen. Switch off and back on.normal boot up and into Mint.

So it looks like the problem is still there somewhere, is not due to a low bios battery, and probably not the SSD since it did not reach the full bios (I think).

Goodness knows where this is going. For the three weeks I ran with the “second hand” machine, it behaved all the time as best as I can recall.

Les

[Les.]

On Sunday, my download rate was once more terrible. I rang MT who said it was in fact showing 16Mbps, the highest quoted yet. My  “fan display” indicating WiFi  signal strength was down to maybe 35%, whereas it has been showing in the ’90s since using the USB wifi adaptor. However, upstairs, Tamara was getting good strength indication and no problems with speed. I rebooted the router, and then I was back to full strength. Over the months I have frequently done this, but rarely seen this worthwhile and immediate improvement.

Yesterday, the same thing happened! Time for that new router maybe???

MT are supposed to ring me today, perhaps?

It seems when I emailed them previously, I added and “s” to “customer” in their email address, so they were not ignoring me, it just never got there.

Maybe a resolution on its way?

Les.

[Les.]

Those of you who are up top date on my various confusions will know I have two (almost) identical shuttles. One has a faster processor, and I have a GT620 (or 610) in one and a GT720 (I think) in the other.

The plan was to put the faster processor and the GT 720 in my original (bought new) shuttle.

After using my compressor to clean up all fans and finned coolers,  I cleaned off the processors and and carefully fitted everything in the wrong shuttle! Eventually I got everything in the correct machines, fitted new back up batteries and connected all the “stuff” (keyboard, mouse and screen etc.. It worked.

Next I tried my “best one”, and everything went OK, until I tried to open the CD to pop in my old “PCCheckit” CD to check that I actually had got the correct parts fitted. But it would not open! What a rigmarole followed, and eventually the only solution was to change over the two identical CD/DVD drives!

I started around 10:am, and finished at exactly 6:pm, something that should have been a couple of hours tops!

Now I need to get some real work done!

Les.

[Les.]

I was not eligible to vote 3 years ago, so have just watched from the sidelines, however I have a solution which could honour your referendum result, but in any event lead to a (probable) result.

Mrs. M should call a GE for late July with the agreement of cabinet to try to bring about Brexit, insisting every Tory MP must state his voting intention in next parliament. Then resign and allow an internal coronation.

That would force EVERY candidate to state his intention. That would lead to a most interesting result, probably resulting in a coalition government.

Discuss.

Les.

[Les.]

JayCeeDee (John), many thanks for the heads up, but I seem to be getting better results from the USB WiFi stuff. That would certainly have at least matched my existing dual antenna PCI card, which was my initial idea, but the USB with antenna seemed like a better idea. But then I found the PI’s dongle (currently in use), and that seems to be the doggy’s danglers.

I will say many thanks for the offer, but pass on it this time.

It does mean that if I swop between the two shuttles, I will move the dongle at the same time, knowing I have my dual antenna card here as a spare.

Anyway, thanks again.

Les.

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