Categories
Operating Systems Uncategorized

Error 1720 with Microsoft Windows Installer

I had noticed this error a few times when trying to remove programs. I specifically used this for Windows XP.

Install/Download this : http://uploadland.com/?d=4E0C98EC1

If that does not fix it, try and run a driver cleaner, like these :

http://uploadland.com/?d=4E0C98ED1
http://uploadland.com/?d=4E0C98EE1

All you need to do with the cleaners is remove the bad install, and you should be good. You can also try the latest installer here :

http://uploadland.com/?d=4E0C99521

I haven’t had to deal with this in a few months, so it’s a little fuzzy, but if anyone needs specifics, ask…i’ll try to replicate the issue and get more details.

Categories
Landesk Operating System Deployment

Make Service Tag the Computer Name in Landesk OSD

We use service tags as our computer reference, and how we join our computers to the domain. I needed to have Landesk automate this for me, so I wanted to have ot pluck the information from BIOS. This is what I added to the script.

When you’re creating/editing your deployment script you need to make sure the $MAC is in the SysPrep options -> Naming convention :

[zp src=”osd-sysprep.png” album=”blog/Landesk/” width=”600″]

Once the deployment script is created, right click advanced edit (This works for XP and Windows 7 scripts, be sure to use corresponding line though)

[zp src=”osd-servicetag.jpg” album=”blog/Landesk/” width=”600″]

You will then replace the line REMEXEC34 with the following :

Windows 7:
REMEXEC34=ldrun tokreplw C:\unattend.xml COMPUTERNAME=%Computer – System – Serial Number%

Windows XP:
REMEXEC34=ldrun tokreplw C:\sysprep\sysprep.inf COMPUTERNAME=%Computer – System – Serial Number%

Copy over the new script into your PXE, and you should be good to go. This will automatically put in the service tag into the computer name.

Categories
Landesk Operating System Deployment

Windows XP – Remove 30 second time with Landesk OSD

I kept running into an issue where Windows XP would add a 30 second boot time, and I disliked have to manually go in and change it after the computer was done imaging. So with Landesk OSD this is what I did to fix it in the script.

Browse out to: \\landeskcoreserver\ldmain\landesk\files
edit the file *.inf example file name : XPDeploy-ACCOUNTING.inf
add this line: Command6=”bootcfg /timeout 0″
you’ll need to change the Command6 number accordingly to how many commands precede already. I added mine to Command6

Categories
file sharing

My new-updated free file hosting website – www.uploadland.com

You may, or may not know, but I have been working on this site for a while. I finally got it the way I want it, please let me know what you think of it, any changes I could/should make to it.

www.uploadland.com

It’s a free service, so go for it, upload/download to your hearts content :).

Categories
Laptop

Lenovo X220 – full review from a consumer

If you’ve followed my blog at all, you probably knew I purchased the best 12.5″ netbook out there, the Lenovo X220. I’ve had my X220 for about 4 weeks now, so I gave myself some time to use it, and then write up a review about it. What I thought about it as a consumer. I did a fresh install on my SSD, running Windows 7 Pro x64. As a quick background note of myself, I usually see about 10-12 different laptops throughout the year (Dell, Asus, HP, etc). The hardware in my X220 is :

Intel Core i7-2620M Processor (3.4GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB) w/ USB3
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
12.5″ Premium (IPS) HD (1366×768) LED Backlit Display, Mobile Broadband Ready, 2×2 Antenna
Intel® HD Graphics 3000
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
128GB Crucial M4 SSD
ThinkPad Battery 29++ (9 cell)
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2×2 AGN)

Battery life : I get about 11.5-12 hours with my normal/daily tasks. This is one of the reasons I waited so long to write a review on this laptop. My daily tasks include wifi on, VPN’d into the data center doing some putty work (few session open). I usually have 1-20 firefox 4.0 tabs open, as well as thunderbird fetching every few minutes.

12.5″ Screen : The only issue I noticed with this screen is some minor tearing when scrolling on text heavy websites, otherwise simply gorgeous. I usually run around 9 brightness plugged in and on battery.

Graphics – Intel HD 3000 : I have not had time to run any games yet, but I have noticed that it does get a 5.6 on the Windows score.

Overall design/feel : I have read a lot of reviews where people did not like the touch pad, and where they loved it. I definitely love it. I removed some of the features of the touchpad via the software, and have felt that the touchpad is much more useful. The biggest annoyance with my big hands was with clicking with 1 finger, and mousing at the same time. I would always get the scroll to pop up, so I disabled it. I also disabled the side scrolls, as those are relatively useless for me too.

The camera is mediocre, does poorly in low light, but does a pretty good job in a decently light room. I do plan to use it when I am traveling and need to skype in. It worked really well for that. The only thing that was missing, was some software to play with the camera, outside of an application like Skype.

I have yet to take some benchmarks of the USB 3.0, but if anyone would like me too, I can.

I do LOVE the keyboard, it feels fresh, and new every time I use it. I have about 5-6 computers I sit at throughout the day, and I am always happy to go to the X220’s keyboard. Overall, this was definitely worth the price I paid for it ($1,046.34 after tax/shipping/SSD).

If you’d like me to take some detailed pictures, will do. Just ask!

You can view some previous benchmarks that I have run here :

http://vivithemage.com/2011/05/crucial-m4-ct128m4ssd2-2-5-128gb-sata-benchmarks-in-an-lenovo-x220/

I also made a post about how to convert a Crucial M4 9.5MM to 7MM :

http://vivithemage.com/2011/05/crucial-m4-ct128m4ssd2-128gb-in-x220-modded-to-7mm/

Categories
regular

If you’re interested in this blog, you would probably enjoy Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen’s new movie. Lots of awesome people are characters. I won’t say any more.

Categories
Air Cards

Verizon Pantech UML290 Disconnects Fix

We recently have been getting a bunch of these Pantech UML290’s in, and some users have experienced disconnects in 3G areas.

Fix :

Open up VZAccess
With VZAccess selected type CTRL + D
That should open up a window asking for a password, which is diagvzw
At the next screen, hit settings
Change Mobile IP to OFF
Set connection to Auto CDMA
Save settings and exit the VZAccess application
Shut down, remove aircard
restart, reinsert aircard with VZAccess already opened

This has reportedly boosted 3G and 4G performance, and much more sustainable speeds.

Categories
video

Jimi Hendrix backstage with The Rolling Stones (submitted by Ferdinand and Andrew)

Categories
Hard Drives

Lenovo X220 IDE vs AHCI comparision with SSD Sata 6GB/s

I accidentally formatted my new x220 as IDE, so I ran some benchmarks of before :

[zp src=”m4-crystal.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]

and here are some now AHCI benchmarks.

[zp src=”m4-crystal-ahci.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]

resolution : AHCI + 6GB/s = faster then IDE!

Categories
Operating System Deployment

Convert SATA IDE to AHCI aka – STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE

I recently formatted my IBM x220 into IDE on accident, and wanted to change it from IDE to AHCI. This was a simple procedure, noted by MS :

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

  • Exit all Windows-based programs.
  • Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
  • If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
  • Locate and then click one of the following registry subkeys:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IastorV
  • In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
  • In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
  • On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.
  • Now as you reboot, make sure to change it to AHCI in BIOS, and voila, all should be working.