Category: General Computing

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
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
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
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.

    Categories
    Air Cards

    Verizon Mifi 2200 charging via USB cable – turn off tethering

    We decided to roll out a few mifi’s, and we did not like the fact they decide to go into tethering mode when plugged in, and not wifi. So I pulled one open, browsed settings and came up empty.

    I backed up the configuration and looked through a few of the settings, and one stood out : routeroverusb, changed that from 0 to 1 and presto!

    FIX :

    1) Go to IE while connected via Wifi and not hooked up to USB, punch in your Mifi device IP (default 192.168.1.1)
    2) In the top right, put in admin as the password (unless you changed it), and hit enter.
    3) Click on Advanced > Config File
    4) Back up the config file
    5) Make a duplicate of that file, and open it up with wordpad/notepad (note MS WORD).
    6) Find the line : 0 and change it to 1
    7) Save the file, and go back and upload it.

    While you are at it, boost the maximum transmit strength from 13 to 25. In the same configuration file, find the line 13 and change it to 25 I do not know where they came up with 25, but I wouldn’t try it myself, might drain the battery on the device more, or cause it to be unstable. I have not tested that.

    Now, back in the web administration page, select the File, browse, and then upload file to add the new configuration file. Wait for the upload to complete, you will get a popup/progress bar. The device will then reboot itself. If it doesn’t hard shut it off yourself, and once it’s back running, hook up via wifi (not usb tethered yet), make sure it works, then plug it in.

    Categories
    Hard Drives

    Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 128GB in x220 – modded to 7mm

    This was a very simple mod, did not require anything, other then 4 new/shorter screws to replace the ones that were longer on the M4, and a bit of electrical tape. Without hte electrical tape, the drive was undetected, it was shorting out by touching the metal top…so there is a reason to the spacer :).

    So far battery life has improved over the 320gb 7200rpm drive the x220 came with. I’d say a good 30 minutes over a usage. The battery still needs a bit of burn in though.

    [zp src=”m4-mod1.JPG” album=”blog/M4-SSD-Mod/” width=”600″]

    EDIT : Thanks to mark for commenting, you can get these screws :
    “The screws are M2X3MM part #10124 from laptopscrews.com.”

    Categories
    Hard Drives

    Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5″ 128GB SATA Benchmarks in an Lenovo x220

    I recently purchased an awesome little laptop…the Lenovo x220.

    Specs :

    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)
    250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
    ThinkPad Battery 29++ (9 cell)
    Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2×2 AGN)

    I decided I wanted to get an SSD, and opted for the Crucial M4 series. It required a little tweaking to get into the x220. I had to unscrew the middle spacer, and it slide right in.

    Benchmarks in IDE mode:

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

    Benchmarks in AHCI mode:

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

    These aren’t bad numbers at all, considering the manufacturer rates them at :

    Sequential Access - Read
    Up to 415 MB/s (SATA 6Gb/s)

    Sequential Access - Write
    Up to 175 MB/s (SATA 6Gb/s)

    What I really like about this drive is the low power consumption, SATA 6/Gbp/s, as well as the 40,000 IOPS. I still think SSD’s are the number one upgrade for any PC (as long as they are SATA 3+ capable). They just make the system that much faster.