Student of Technology

Rock Hill Computer Club / Group

2012-10-23T19:04:00.003-07:00

I am thinking of starting a "club / group" for the Study of Technology. What this means is we would get together once a month, and not just "talk" about how technology is affecting us at work. We would get together and explore different technology and how it works, and what we can do with it. Say someone is reading a book on Linux, gets to a part of the book where they try something and can't get it to work. They would talk to the group and we would work together to try to solve the problem.
The exciting idea about this is how much free software is available and so little chance to test it outside of a virtual machine environment. It could expose everyone in the group to ways of looking at problems differently and using things learned earlier or from points of view outside of our own.
Here is a small list of software and technology I would love to test and try with others:

- Computer Forensics
- Network Penetration Testing
- Honey Pots
- Linux Server (file, web, user access, DHCP)
- SNORT
- Connecting Windows PC to a Linux Server
- Connecting a Linux PC to windows Server
- Network Intrusion Detection and Prevention

The vast majority of those require only a PC with enough power to run them. We would just meet up, each of us bring a PC and load the software needed, and get to work figuring it out. We wouldn't be explaining what it does as much as we would be exploring what it does. For those who don't know but want to learn, this is the perfect environment I think. A sink or swim mentality.

In Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix I believe, Harry says something like, "All the great wizards started out as students just like us. If they did it so can we." Bruce Lee's fighting style Jeet Kune Do has a famous motto. "Take what is useful, discard what is useless and keep what is essentially your own." That is the mentality I would want to approach this group with. We can learn this, and we will learn what we need and what is useful.

My current vision, subject to change upon the first meeting, is this. The First meeting we decide what the purpose of the group is, as a group. The second thing is, after the meeting each month, on twitter facebook or whatever our method of communication is, we post the subject for next month. Each member then has at least 30 days to read up on it. Even if you only read 1 page a day at lunch, you will still have 30 pages of knowledge of the topic for the next meeting. The next meeting each member brings in at least 1 PC or laptop to work with.

Say, just for example we decide that the next month we want to learn about NMAP. You could watch youtube videos, read the free online tech manual or just fool around with it on your own spare time for a month before the meeting. When the meeting starts, we set up a main PC, and see what we can do with it.
Your experiences for the month may have been different from everyone else. You may have a different set of instructions or be able to understand something that no one else seems to grasp.

The three main goals of the " Club / Group " would be this:

1) Expand our knowledge of technology in a free thinking environment through hands on experiences.

2) To have fun

3) To try software or hardware, not for a job, or with time restraints. Just for the thrill of achievement and obtainment of new knowledge.

I would also like to consider having professional speakers come in. Who uses the technology we are discussing that month and have them share some of the best practices.

Well that's it. My idea. A " Club / Group " for the Study of Technology. Nerds or Rock Hill, The council of the Technogeek Jedi, NWO= Nerd World Order, or Hogwarts for Hackers. Something like that.

How to remove a virus for free

2012-10-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

How to remove a virus for free. If it can be removed. The advice is free. Best case, it solves your problem. Worst case you have to buy a new PC. Step 1) Power off your PC. You may need to hold down your powerbutton for 10 seconds. Or simply unplug the power cord. Step 2) Power on the PC and press "F8" Step 3) Choose "Safemode with networking" Step 4) Wait for all the lines of what is loading to pass * If safemode with networking fails to load, or the computer reboots, blue screens or otherwise doesn't start up windows, Skip to step 12!! Step 5) Log in with your user name, ie: 'Fred' or 'Administrator' Step 6) once your logged on click yes to the pop up. Your in safe mode. Step 7) Click on your Internet Browser: Internet Explorer or Firefox or Chrome Step 8) go to www.google.com Step 9) Search for and download these programs separately: Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, Super anti-spyware and Ccleaner Step 10) install the programs and run them until they remove all errors. This may take two or three times. Step 11) Reboot PC in normal mode. Is problem solved? If yes: Congrats! You just saved yourself some money Step12) If no: Take PC to a computer shop, have them backup your data: -Documents -Emails -Favorites or Bookmarks -Pictures -Music / Movies -anything else of importance Then have them reload your operating system. If you have the reinstall disc great! Do that part yourself. Just have your PC tech back up your data and scan your data for viruses. With your data backed up you now have a choice to make. Reload your operating system on your old PC or go buy a brand new PC or Laptop?

A to V: Switching from AT&T to Verizon

2012-03-01T05:29:00.000-08:00

In January my wife and I switched over to Verizon. The main reason was because her family lives in Washington state, and most have Verizon. The second reason was because I just wanted to stop in and see if they could offer a better price per month, than what AT&T was charging us. We were paying 190 a month for AT&T without a data plan. When ever we used data we would get charged. When we talked to the Verizon store sales rep he gave us a price of 170 a month with 700 minutes and 2gb of data. Right there that was a savings of 240 dollars a year. So with it now being March how has the switch been? I have to say it has been a great choice. For January and February we barely spent 1gb of the 2gb data plan. The 700 minutes has proved more than enough since the most we have spent in one month so far is 500. Having a phone where I can check email while on the go at work is great. So for us, this has been a positive experience and I would recommend Verizon just from our own experience.

100 Blogs in March!

2012-02-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

Ok that is my goal for March 2012! 100 Blogs! I'll be writing about anything and everything I can think of. Technology, TV shows, Cell phones, newest Netflix movies, friends, family - Anything to make the 100 post challenge less of a burden and more fun for me. Here are 5 things I will be blogging about at some point in March. 1) From A to V: Switching from AT&T to Verizon 2) Stock watch: A few stocks I'll be watching to see what they do 3) Virus problem? A quick way to know if you should pull your data and reload the OS. 4) Job searching tips 5) 1 Page resume: Can it be done? Should it be done?

Free Operating System Ubuntu

2011-08-29T11:55:00.001-07:00

Free Operating systems.
Welcome to the world of Linux.

Windows 7 just came out in 2010. They are already getting Windows 8 ready for the next line of PC's. Thats right. If you had trouble going from Windows XP to Vista or Windows 7, get ready to hit the learning curb again.
For me, I loved windows Vista. I read a lot of books of Vista. I felt that was the operating system that would be around as long as XP was. Nope. Soon as I finish a study exam book, here comes Windows 7. Now I had to study for a new Operating system and get ready for it. That is when I decided enough was enough.
I made the switch to Linux, Ubuntu and haven't looked back. Its a FREE operating system. Let me tell you what I do with it.

Facebook
Youtube
Watch DVD's
Surf the Internet
Type for the blog you are reading

If these are items you do on a daily basis, and you have an old PC your not using. You may seriously want to consider making the switch and giving it a test run. It may not be for you, but then again you'll never know if you don't try.

The choice is simple.

Keep your wallet at the mercy of Microsoft and Apple, or try a free alternative that gets the simple stuff done. Period.

Let me know what you think on twitter @pcheroesrh

Surge protectors: why and when to replace

2011-08-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Think of a surge protector like a car bumper. Sure if a shopping cart runs into your bumper it may have a scratch but your car will still continue with no major mechanical damage. Now image a tank hits your car. Suddenly your bumper provides no protection at all. Your car is more than likely unusable, and you have to explain to your insurance why a tank just hit your car.
When I say surge protector you think bumper. Ok? That’s all your surge protector is. Just a bumper against spikes. If you have a Battery backup great! your now protected slightly more against spikes, brown-outs and power outages. The only problem is a surge protector is only a bumper. if it gets hit once, your computer, tv or fish tank maybe safe from the storm. However, the damage may be done to the surge protector that your not aware of.
Yes they have lights letting you know when they have gone belly up but before then, its like hitting a bumper with a sledgehammer. there are areas of weakness in the surge protector now and it may not be able to withstand another surge. It may not let you know anything is wrong. Like the black knight in monty python, 'Tis just a flesh wound!'
Don't let your electrical equipment be a victim of your surge protectors pride.
After a black out, or a big storm where devices that weren't plugged into a surge protector have gone to that great big junk pile in the sky. It is time to replace a surge protector.
Weigh the cost. 25 bucks for a new surge protector or you may have to buy a new TV, Computer, DVD, WII, XBox, Playstation, ect...

Avira Anti-virus Good free anti-virus program

2011-07-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

Avira Anti-virus is a free anti-virus that can be safely downloaded at www.free-av.com. I like and use this anti-virus because of a feature it has which is to start up as soon as it can. Which means one of the first programs that is going to start up is the anti-virus, hopefully before any virus starts up. Which means you computer has a better fighting chance.

Is cdburnerxp a good program?

2011-07-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

CdburnerXP is a free program that will let you burn CD, DVD and also allow you to create ISO images if you need too.
It comes with a simple to use drag and drop interface and as long as you have a CD burner or DVD burner it will work great. It also will allow you to make copies of disc so once you have all your vacation pics on a cd you can simply copy them to other CD's with the click of a button. If you need a program that will allow you to burn an ISO image for lets say a Linux distro, then this program is perfect.

South Park Mid-season Finale 2011

2011-07-08T17:41:00.001-07:00

The South Park Mid season Finale was called your getting too old. It starts off with Stan having his 10th birthday and his mom taking away one of his CD's because she thinks it sounds like crap. Stan later listens to the music without his mom knowing only to discover to him it sounds like people farting. Stan's friends don't hear it, and he goes to a doctor to see what is wrong with him. The doctor tells him he is becoming cynical and that there is no cure. Stan then goes over to his friends to see them playing a new game. He points out the simplest nature of the game and how that’s a stupid game. Later he begins to see food turn into crap.
When he goes to the movies with his friends, who were trying to go without him, the movie previews all sound like crap to Stan. The funniest part of this episode for me was listening to the announcer of the crappy movies. At one point he says "this actor in who cares you'll pay to see it anyway!" Which at times with real movie previews it feels like to me.
In the side story of this episode Stan's dad listens to the CD Stan's mom said he couldn't. Which he can hear it sounds like crap. However, because he had dreams of being a rock star and feels anyone and do the music, of course he decides to get a guitar and star playing at the local bowling ally. He eventually meets a women in online chat and invites her to play on stage with him as well. His wife catches him on stages and they go home have an argument. The argument turns out to be the highlight of the episode. They explain how every week its Randy’s dream to get in to fights or something else. They then tell each other that they both feel the other is pretty crappy and decide to split up. Of course this is the mid season finale so we will see what happens when it starts up in fall.

BOOM! Studios canceling Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers

2011-07-08T03:58:00.000-07:00

For those who do not know, Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers was part of the Disney Afternoon in the late 80's early nineties. BOOM! Studio began writing Disney comics a few years ago. Since then they have had titles such as The Incredibles, Darkwing Duck and Uncle Scrooge. Following those successes they released Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers. This was one of my favorite cartoons so when I heard they were creating a comic for it, I was very excited. I was not disappointed. The art is amazing, the story lines, though feeling a tad rushed at times, are really well written. I was looking forward to getting this fun comic every month for a few more years.
However after issue 8, the series will end. Not even a full year, and it's going to go to the waste side. One hope of mine, is that Disney realized how popular old Disney cartoons are and will be bringing them to either Marvel or Disney DigiComics. I don't think that’s the case, but there is still some hope. I, in the mean time, will continue to purchase the comic until issue 8. Until then I will be review each comic of Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers. I must admit even if it was way too short, I would like to thank BOOM! Studios for giving the Rescue Rangers a chance and really doing them justice. I had never heard of BOOM! Studios until I discovered Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers was going to become a comic book. I will however be buying more from them. If these 8 issues are any indication of what BOOM! Studios is all about, then they are one to read.

Rich Dad Poor Dad: Good book Bad book

2011-07-07T04:11:00.000-07:00

First thing I want to say is there is no rich dad. There is a poor dad, but in 2003 the author said, “Is Harry Potter real? Why don't you let rich dad be a myth like Harry Potter?” That being said, Yoda is also a fictional character, but that does not take away from his statement, “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

That can sum up the majority of the message from the book. My recommendation is to approach this with a Jeet Kune Do attitude. Take what is useful, discard what is useless, and keep what is essentially your own. Here are some useful things I took from Rich dad Poor dad.

Buy more assets than liabilities
Decrease what you owe, rather than increase what you earn
Increase your passive income till it exceeds your living expenses
Reconsider what is a liability and what is an asset
Promises of promotions and pay raises are equal to a carrot on a string for a donkey

In the book, the rich author, gives an example to a poor author, the difference between being a salesman and a writer. Stating that he is a best selling author, not a best writing author. You are reminded of this through out the book as he references a game that he sells for almost 200 bucks, called Cash Flow. At the end of the book it almost feels like very long advertisement for the game.

On the plus side, this book can be a great slap in the face for people wondering why they are having money problems. It will also get them thinking about what it is they can do about it. It is a great place to start learning about finance. You should finish Rich Dad Poor Dad, with one thought: “Ask not what your money can do for you, but what can you do for more money!” Don't take it as the final authority and read books that offer different views afterward. I personally recommend “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. It offers the same concept, with more technical detail and a safer point of view. Both of which I feel Rich Dad Poor Dad lacks.

Mybrute: A Fun Free Game

2011-07-07T04:03:00.001-07:00

Mybrute is a fun game that you can play for free. The idea is your brute fights all its own battles, so you have no control once it starts to fight. You get 6 fights the first time you create your brute, and 3 fights every day after that.
You’ll eventually get new weapons and skills as your brute grows.

You can play at:
www.mybrute.com

Transformers 3: funny story

2011-07-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

So I am watching the trailer online with my wife. and she says look bumblebee! just out of curiosity I asked her how many transformers she could name. she said: bumblebee...(thinking)...bumblebee...megatron.

Not bad for not being a big fan!

Two and ½ men: The return

2011-07-06T15:02:00.001-07:00

There are three questions that need to be asked of Ashton Kutcher

1: what are your thoughts about trolls?

2: do you have any dna additions that we need to know of?

3: When someone says the word “winning” do you think of yourself?

if he responds with “Am I being punk’d?” then there should be no problems. On that note, the roast of Charlie Sheen is set to air on comedy central on the same night of 2 and ½ men’s return to television.

Puss n Boots gets his own movie

2011-07-06T14:53:00.001-07:00

Puss n Boots movie

It looks like it will continue the comedy of the 4 Shrek films. We are introduced to other nursery rhyme characters in the trailer.

Plot seems to be a group of villains has a weapon to destroy the world and Puss n Boots is off to stop them. If he can stop chasing reflected light long enough.

check out the trailers here:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809796671/trailer

How to Un-Link a Dell 5100MP projector and remote

2011-07-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

To un-link a dell 5100mp and its remote

1 remove back battery

2 find pgm button between batteries

3 hold pgm button for 5 seconds

Get past Windows 7 Password

2011-07-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Trinity Rescue disk is a great program if you have forgotten your password for Windows Vista or Windows 7.

The first thing you will want to do is download the latest trinity rescue disk. The next important step is to make sure you know the Name of your user account whose password has been forgotten.
Once you have the ISO burned on to a CD just place it in the CD Drive and restart the machine.
(for a free ISO burning software check cdburnerxp)

(1) When the computer starts boot the PC from the CD. this will start the trinity rescue disk.
(2) let it count down to 0 and let it run untill you get to the command prompt with the #.
(3) Type: winpass -u user
(user will be the user whose password you want to crack)
(4) Next you will have to choose which operating system by typing the number associated with it. (ie: 1)
Most people will only have one option at this point. A few unlucky folks will have more than one. In which case you will have to guess until you are correct. Guess wrong and you may have to start back at the beginning. The good news is that you will have eliminated which one it is not by the time you get back to this step.
(5) It may ask something along the lines of are you sure you want to do this? type y for yes.
(7) Now that your at the command prompt, you should see a group of names at the top of the screen and choices at the bottom of the screen. For the quick and easy fix type 1 to clear the password. If you do not see choices at the bottom of the screen you may need to redo step (4)
(8) Once it says that its done press control alt delete and restart the pc. Take the disc out of the cd drive and let the pc boot.
You should be able to access the account now.

Change or Create a Password in Windows 7

2011-07-03T07:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick how to on changing or creating your password in Windows 7.

1) Click the start button
2) Click the Control Panel
3) If needed Choose Large / small icons
4) Then choose Users
5) Click Create / Change Password
6) Create password / Confirm password

That is all there is to it. Six simple steps to help make you PC more secure.

Backyard Monsters: Starving your yard champ

2011-07-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

What happens when your yard champ doesn't get fed on time?
Oops! Forgot to feed my yard champ! Now what?

So I have an hour and 5 minutes left to evolve my yard champion and I just don't have the monsters to feed it. Nor do I have the shiny to pay for it. (I just had to buy that skull on a stick.) I tried to get free shiny but I only got to 34. I know my yard champ won't get fed. So now I'm kinda wondering what will happen. These are a few scenarios that I think might happen to my yard champ that would be cool.

1) It dies. I have to start over with a new one.

2) Tired of suffering starvation it cries out, "VIVA REVOLUTION!" Frees all the monsters in your pin and destroys your base.

3) It knows its in trouble. It knows no one else can help it. And it has found them. Your yard champ hires: The A-team, to get its food from you.

4) It eats all of your monsters in your pin and leaves with a sign made of monster blood reading: I quit.

And the answer is:
You get 6 days of feedings added on till the next evolution. Ouch.

Yosemite: How to restore a backup

2011-07-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

I worked at a computer repair company, and a client of ours was using Yosemite to back up their server.

Their copy had a corrupted database and needed to be reinstalled before we could pull any data. Well when they needed to restore a deleted file from one of the backups, it took me 6 hours to get it taken care of. I was on the phone with Dell tech support working out the problem. I give credit to Dell tech support. Though it took a long time they did not give up till it was fixed.

So I decided to try and help people from spending hours on the phone an present the solution here.
I present it two stages, Stage 1: Importing the media. Stage 2: Recovering data.

Data Recover
STAGE 1
Import Media

Step 1
Insert Tape to be restored

Step 2
Verify that the dates on the data are the ones you want to restore

step 3
Open Yosemite

Step 4
Go to MEDIA menu

Step 5
Click IMPORT MEDIA

Step 6
Enter name for imported media Click Next

Step 7
Put Check next to machine name Click Next

Step 8
Accept defaults Click Next

Step 9
Choose when to run Click finish

STAGE 2
Recover Data From Tape

Step 1
Click Jobs and Media

Step 2
choose Admin

Step 3
Click New... in Commands

Step 4
Choose Restore Job / Rename job Click ok

Step 5
Go to properties of Restore job if it does not pop up

Step 6
In Properties Go to selection

Step 7
Expand to the File you want to restore

Step 8
Highlight the file you want to restore DO NOT place check in box

Step 9
Up near top of properties Window you will see a green looking paper that will say versions
Click the versions button

Step 10
A window of versions pops up choose the version click ok (the file will have a check next to it now)

Step 11
Right Click the file or folder the file is in and choose move

Step 12
Pick the place on your PC you want to restore the file to Click ok

Step 13
Go to Device/Media

Step 14
Choose recover soure (where the backup is located)

Step 15
Go to Options

Step 16
Click Advanced options

Step 17
Uncheck the following boxes

- Child Security
- Parent Security
- Mount Points
- Volume Restrictions

Click OK

Step 18
Go to schedule choose not scheduled

step 19
Click Apply and close properties

Step 20
In the Jobs and Media menu Right click the restore job you just made and click Run
Choose yes

Step 21
Go to Job status

Step 22
Right click restore job thats running / choose status

Step 23
Wait till complete or Error
Which ever comes first

There! Finally done. I hope this helps you as much as it will help me in the future.

100 articles in 50 days CANCELED!

2011-07-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

OK, so my 100 articles in 50 days was canceled due to Yahoo! Associated Content closing my account. Their reason being most my articles were short and did not meet their standards. Fine. I admit a few of my articles were just a one line update about what happened on a TV show.
In 20 days I had published 60 articles. Every day I saw an increase in clicks to my pages. Thanks to that little experiment I have a better understanding of what gets clicks and what does not. Before June 10th, my pages maybe got 4 or five clicks a day for about a year and half. When my account was closed and I was averaging 40 clicks a day and that was with 60 articles.
What were my top Five articles for clicks?

- Yosemite How to restore a backup
- My Brute: a fun game
- 2 and half men: the return
- Avira Anti-virus: Great free program
- Super anti-Spyware

Yosemite I wrote in 2009. The other 4 I wrote after June 10th and had almost as many clicks as Yosemite. I am putting this information out for anyone who has a associated content account. If you want more clicks, throw in some entertainment and technology articles.

As for me, lesson learned. I'll stick to posting on blogger.com. On Aug 1st I think I will restart my goal of 100 blog's in 50 days. If you get knocked down get up and fight back.

The game of My Brute....

2010-11-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

I started playing MyBrute.com a few weeks ago. Since then I have created several brutes. My latest one is called RescueRanger007. In honor of the new Chip n' Dale Rescue Ranger Comic coming out soon.
Each week I will be posting updates on my brute and letting you know who he beat or who got lucky and beat him.
Right now he is at level 1 with no wins and has a spear. On day one you get 5 fights these are the results

Nov 1st
RescueRanger007 = RR007

vs: op51
RR007 Wins

vs: ms1479ms
RR007 Wins

vs: Vilciukas3
RR007 Wins

vs: Acha090
RR007 Wins

vs: Killgannon
Killgannon Wins

vs: Mrtinbrute
Mrtinbrute Wins

Ok so for my first day I won 4 fights and lost 2. RescueRanger007 is now at Level 2 and has 0 pupils.

I'll keep you updated on how he does and at the end of the month I will enter him in a tournament.

If you wish to try your luck against RescueRanger007 please click here:

http://rescueranger007.mybrute.com

How to deal with one of those days...

2010-10-25T05:00:00.001-07:00

Today is going to be one of those days. By accepting this, I take control of my day by preparing myself for the unexpected items and events that will occur throughout the day. Knowing there will be things out of my control showing up when I least expect them gives me the ability to recognise them for what they are when they happen.
When I recognise them, I then have a choice. I can either get upset, forge ahead with my plans and be off my game because I let this circumstance ruin my rhythm. My second choice is to calmly say, this is one of those days, this is an issue that happens on one of those days, lets deal with it and move on.
By being prepared for random unplanned events that will pop up during the day, I gain a sense of control by being able to adapt to the changes when occur. I also know to not to be so intent on my plan that I fail to see the opportunities that present themselves from the changing circumstances.
“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position invincible.” - Sun Tzu

The day after...

2009-12-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone. I got some awesome presents from Shawna! First my stewie Christmas collection is growing! Last year I received a Stewie gift card holder, this year I got Stewie Pajamas that say “The more you disapprove the more fun it is for me!”
Also I'll be far more organized with my brand new laptop bag! Green with lots of pockets. Gifted with love from my wonderful Shawna.
Christmas day she had to work :( but we watched Scrooged with Bill Murray before she went, and I had 'Put a little love in your heart' stuck in my head for hours.
2010 will be a great year for us! I just have that feeling. Operation Piggy Bank will go into full effect by the end of January. That involves ways to save a little money and earn a little money.
Also started Farmville last week as you can see. Its very addictive. My strategy is to have the animals and trees pay for the plowing of the field, and have the harvesting pay for more plants. So far its working wonderful.
I also want to say thank you every one who has helped my farm as much as you have.
Also in 2010 my website will be getting redesigned as I play with CSS and figure out how it works.
Stop by and let me know what you think of it.

Christmas lights

2009-12-18T05:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome once again to GNGTech001 blog!
This week Shawna and I drove around and saw Christmas lights. There must be some rule that states the more money you have the fewer decorations you will put out. We went through a few housing areas
some in the economically friendly areas, others in the ego house central.
We saw trailers with more Christmas lights than some of the people who had money to celebrate. Come to think of it, that may be the real reason the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. Christmas decorations. Apparently who sells the decorations? Rich people. Who buys them? Poor people.
Its a vicious cycle. Oh well can't take it with you. So drink hot coco and be merry this Christmas!