steveblock.com

After an unsuccessful attempt to find a Linux distribution better than Gentoo I decided it was time to just give up and install Gentoo again. The problem with this idea was that I had (still have, actually) homework to get done and I needed a working Operating System to do it. I solved this little dilemma by using Knoppix: a bootable Linux CD that autodetects hardware and loads up a fully functional Debian-based Linux system with a whole crapload of programs ready to run. It doesn’t even need a hard drive to work.

So with Knoppix I got a working Linux system running KDE 3 that I could use to get my work done, AND install Gentoo in a little terminal window on the corner of the desktop AT THE SAME TIME! Computer things just don’t get very much cooler than that.

steve :: Feb.28.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

Quite a bit has happened with the laser printer situation since my last printers post. Since then I have combined the two nonworking fusers into one perfectly functional fuser. I still had some streaking problems, but I figured those out as well. I bought a Laserjet II at the UP sale on Wednesday. It had a toner cartridge and many functional parts, but otherwise was nothing special. I put that toner into the Laserjet III and lo and behold it worked perfectly. So as of this moment I have one very functional HP Laserjet III, one mostly functional Laserjet II, and a nonfunctional Newgen TurboPS/630.

My new printer project is to get the Newgen working because, unlike the two HPs, the Newgen does PostScript. I pulled the fuser out of the “new” Laserjet II and shoved it into the Newgen, but the printer won’t feed paper properly. Paper only gets a couple inches in before it stops moving. The problem appears to be a worn pickup roller, so I’m going to TRY to swap it out with the roller from the Laserjet II as well. I have a working printer, but it’s nothing special. If I could have a working PostScript printer, however, it would kick ass, since (at least in Linux) PostScript is much better supported.

steve :: Feb.28.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

The first printer I bought didn’t work because of grinding gears. I bought another one last week and it worked but it printed with a lot of streaks and ghosting and other crap. I was attempting to clean it up when i noticed that the fuser had a big tear it in. That explained why I was getting poor fusing. I swapped one of the fuser gears over to the fuser from the other printer I bought and installed that one, but there were still grinding noises (though different from before) and the printer therefore still didn’t work. I then started pulling the fuser apart to see if I could swap the rollers. It might be possible, but it will take a long time, as there are a lot of screws and i’m pissed off anyways.

Anyhow, here’s a nice picture of the printer and fuser in their current state of glory.

steve :: Feb.24.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

I looked at everyone else’s pages, and I think I’m the first to update my link to point to lisa’s own web server instead of www.public.iastate.edu. I are teh Winnar!

steve :: Feb.22.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

Last night I pretty much had no hope that I could get my assignments for today done on time. I spent four hours in the computer lab last night getting next to nothing done, and then two more hours at home working on a different assignment. Somehow I got second assignment done and I already turned it in. The first assignment is a large progress report for my design class. I don’t know what I’m doing in that class, but somehow I managed to make a progress report that is actually not half bad. I’m not even quite sure how I did it. I don’t think the numbers are quite right but that’s OK because I got it mostly done. I’ll have some time in class today to finish it up and print it out.

steve :: Feb.21.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

I’m going back to Gentoo. I’ll figure my damn memory problems out on my own. Even Debian feels fucked up to me. Portage is the greatest collection of scripts and programs EVER. I mean it. I’ve never found anything quite so cool.

steve :: Feb.20.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

I was having major memory leak issues with my Gentoo system, so I thought it might be a good time to try something new. I have now tried Redhat 8, Slackware 8.1, and VectorLinux 3.2. In the past I’ve used just about every other distro as well. So far they all suck for one very important reason: they don’t deal with dependencies. Slackware feels out of date, Redhat is too newbie oriented, and VectorLinux can install programs automatically but forgets to get the proper program dependencies. I’m fed up with the whole deal. Tonight I think I’m going to try to install Debian (I’ve never done that successfully). If I can’t get that working I’m going back to Gentoo. I guess that most distribution people think that making the system “newbie friendly” or getting a great system installer is more important than having a great update and software installation system.

steve :: Feb.19.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

I just read this on OSNews: “Wi-Fi’s rise through the corporate structure has been meteoric.”

I don’t know if the people who write this stuff ever took a physics class or not, but meteors dont rise. They fall and they fall fast. But of course these people probably “could care less” anyway.

steve :: Feb.18.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

I added a few photos from the Boheme. My camera doesn’t handle low light very well, so none of the pictures I took of the band turned out. Dr. Wong’s Camera kicks the crap out of mine in this regard (and oh so many others).

steve :: Feb.16.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

Bukk and I are already here, watching Austin Powers. You guys need to get your asses in gear or something. Hoo yeah.

steve :: Feb.16.2003 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »