If you are installing/reinstalling windows it is important to remember that until you download all of the security updates your computer is very vulnerable (and yes it can take only minutes before something will try to attack your machine). So the way to get around this problem is to physically remove the ethernet cable from your computer before installing windows. Then once it is installed follow these instructions:
Step 1: Use an Internet Firewall
Once the firewall is on you can begin the exciting task of getting all of the security updates (at this point go ahead and plug the ethernet cable back in). Once you have all of the updates you might want to try leaving the firewall on, but you will probably find that lots of internet applications will not work, if that's the case go ahead and turn the firewall off.
If all of this sounds like a pain it might be time to look at this:
Mac mini
Monday, March 14, 2005
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Darik's Boot and Nuke
If you are ever looking to really erase your hard drive then the following link is rather helpful:
Darik's Boot and Nuke
If you just format your drive you just erase the table saying where the files are, but you do not actually remove the bits describing the files form your hard drive. You might think that you could just write all 0's to your hard drive and that would do it, but of course there are some clever people out there so to really do it you actually need to write over it in a random pattern a number of times. In addition, of course there are also further complications. Luckily this disk takes care of all of that for you.
WARNING - if you make a disk from this website and you put that disk in a computer and the computer restarts - everything on the hard drive will be gone with absolutely no way of recovering it. So before you make the disk label it and then only put it in a computer if you really mean it.
If you want to download it scroll down to Download and click on Floppy Version and then pick the mirror closest to you. Then click on the icon on the right of the screen corresponding with that mirror. After the files are downloaded run the install program. For further instructions see the links under download or ask me.
Darik's Boot and Nuke
If you just format your drive you just erase the table saying where the files are, but you do not actually remove the bits describing the files form your hard drive. You might think that you could just write all 0's to your hard drive and that would do it, but of course there are some clever people out there so to really do it you actually need to write over it in a random pattern a number of times. In addition, of course there are also further complications. Luckily this disk takes care of all of that for you.
WARNING - if you make a disk from this website and you put that disk in a computer and the computer restarts - everything on the hard drive will be gone with absolutely no way of recovering it. So before you make the disk label it and then only put it in a computer if you really mean it.
If you want to download it scroll down to Download and click on Floppy Version and then pick the mirror closest to you. Then click on the icon on the right of the screen corresponding with that mirror. After the files are downloaded run the install program. For further instructions see the links under download or ask me.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Revenge of the Sith
Looks better than I and II. Hopefully they are hinting at some good fight scenes with Yoda.
AOL Movies: Star Wars Episode III Teaser Trailer
AOL Movies: Star Wars Episode III Teaser Trailer
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Just for Fun - The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary
Two posts in a row - someone is doing some serious procrastinating.
I just finished reading Just for Fun - The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary. I got it for free by going to the Linux World Expo several weeks ago. It's a(n) (autobiography of Linus Torvalds. I figured I would just flip through it, but I ended up reading the whole thing over the course of about 24 hours. Either I found it rather entertaining or it was just the only thing I brought with me to work to read while running long simulations.
If you happen to have a copy I would say it's worth reading, although if you have been an avid slashdot reader for years there's probably nothing new. I thought it was interesting that it really was some kid (well, kid in his 6th year of college) just working away in his room. Although I did feel like he spent a bit too long describing what it is like to be a nerd, but perhaps that is for the popular audience who haven't killed a number of weekends coding away themselves.
While he is in no way qualified to philosophize and says so himself his theory that technology has three stages: survival, social communication, and then entertainment is fairly interesting.
I just finished reading Just for Fun - The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary. I got it for free by going to the Linux World Expo several weeks ago. It's a(n) (autobiography of Linus Torvalds. I figured I would just flip through it, but I ended up reading the whole thing over the course of about 24 hours. Either I found it rather entertaining or it was just the only thing I brought with me to work to read while running long simulations.
If you happen to have a copy I would say it's worth reading, although if you have been an avid slashdot reader for years there's probably nothing new. I thought it was interesting that it really was some kid (well, kid in his 6th year of college) just working away in his room. Although I did feel like he spent a bit too long describing what it is like to be a nerd, but perhaps that is for the popular audience who haven't killed a number of weekends coding away themselves.
While he is in no way qualified to philosophize and says so himself his theory that technology has three stages: survival, social communication, and then entertainment is fairly interesting.
Car
I am getting excited about moving out to California next year and in particular have started thinking about what kind of car to get.
Having rather limited experience in finding and buying cars I am interested in getting advice, so anyone who feels like throwing in their two cents - I would appreciate it.
Part of the challenge is that starting out I will have approximately zero dollars so I am almost certainly looking to get something used. At the same time, I have expensive taste and would definitely like to get a convertible so I can enjoy the sun, but another constraint is if I am going to drive at least 2 hours a day, a bit of fuel efficiency might be a good idea...
In addition to advice, if anyone has a consumer reports membership and could get me onto their website (or send me info from the site) that would be awesome!
Having rather limited experience in finding and buying cars I am interested in getting advice, so anyone who feels like throwing in their two cents - I would appreciate it.
Part of the challenge is that starting out I will have approximately zero dollars so I am almost certainly looking to get something used. At the same time, I have expensive taste and would definitely like to get a convertible so I can enjoy the sun, but another constraint is if I am going to drive at least 2 hours a day, a bit of fuel efficiency might be a good idea...
In addition to advice, if anyone has a consumer reports membership and could get me onto their website (or send me info from the site) that would be awesome!
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