How to Fix a Humax HDR FOX T2 PVR that will not stay powered on

Issue
When you attempt to power on your Humax the standby orange light goes blue for a moment, and then powers off automatically again.

Cause
The reason for this could be a bad boot sector on the hard disk.

Resolution
To fix this, remove the hard disk cable that connects to the mother board, power the machine on, then whilst it is showing your channel on the display, connect the hard disk cable back onto the motherboard. Then ftp to the machine using humaxftp / 0000 as the default username and password, and change directory (cd) to "my videos" and then list the contents of the directory using a dir command. After doing this you should be able to put the machine back into standby, and wait until you hear the hard disk spin down and stop, and then switch off at the wall and the back on again.

Note: There also appears to be a telnet command line interface to run disk repairs on the Humax but I wasn't able to get this working myself, and in the end did not need to do this.

How to fix blurry images in Google Chrome

Problem
When browsing sites with thumbnail images, those images appear blurred in Chrome, but not in other browsers such as Internet Explorer
Resolution
Uncheck the use hardware acceleration option in chrome settings.

1. Open Chrome
2. Navigate to chrome://settings
3. Scroll to the bottom, and expand the Advanced options
4. Near the bottom, uncheck the Use hardware acceleration when available option, and then click the RELAUNCH link that appears after you change this option.

Problem 2
When browsing google maps, image and text appears blurred in Chrome, but not in other browsers such as Internet Explorer
Resolution

1. Open Chrome
2. Navigate to http://maps.google.co.uk/maps 
3. Press F12 to open Developer tools 
4. Click on the Application Tab, and then select Clear Storage
5. Check Local and session storage,  Cookies, Cache Storage and Application Cache
6. Click Clear site data
7. Relaunch Google Chrome

How to get back to play.spotify.com old web player using Chrome

https://www.reddit.com/r/spotify/comments/5xxf5g/how_to_get_old_spotify_web_player_ui_back_on/

Add the chrome extension https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/user-agent-switcher-for-c/djflhoibgkdhkhhcedjiklpkjnoahfmg?utm_source=chrome-app-launcher-info-dialog

Add a custom user agent called IE10 like this

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko

Then mark spotify.com to permanently spoof this for spotify.com domain

And don't forget the old version supports hot keys too

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/spotify-web-player-hotkey/kimlaecdbfehihbiieeaeelbdkahophn?utm_source=chrome-app-launcher-info-dialog

Megaflow draining instructions

If your megaflow overflow (d2) pipe starts leaking water then this is what you do…

Scanning Tesco receipts via Canon MG5751

1. Use Canon IJ Scan Utility (start, scan, top result)
2. Choose Document, with settings 300dpi and png, filename tesco
   
3. Scan each page individually
4. Then use irfanview to combine the images into one tif file, (options, create multi page tiff, compression ccitt fax 4)
   
   
5. Upload that as single receipt option to shop and scan

Facebook vanity IPv6 Address

https://discuss.howtogeek.com/t/facebook-vanity-ipv6-address/11089

Wonder how much that IPv6 address cost them then.

ping facebook.com Pinging facebook.com

Reply from 2a03:2880:2110:df07:face:b00c:0:1:

Amazon online chat location

Finding the contact us link on amazon is like trying to find a needle in a haystack these days.

Finally located it properly, rather than googling “amazon online chat” as I have done in the past…

Great electrician

Spoke with these guys yesterday on their day off
http://www.checkatrade.com/RKBuilders/

and they still gave me great advice which helped me with some light fitting that I had spent the morning struggling with.
Can thoroughly recommend their services. Father and son team, and I spoke to the son, who really knew his stuff when it came to GU10 halogen downlight bayonet fitting.

Google Rubik's Cube Solved

Got my certificate to say I'd solved the cube on Google home page today... and before anyone else asks, no I didn't cheat :)

How to connect to wifi on the London Underground

From here...

http://help.ee.co.uk/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1016&PARTITION_ID=1&secureFlag=false&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&ARTICLE_ID=341401

It's easy to connect to WiFi on the London Underground.

If you're an active EE, T-Mobile or Orange mobile customer then just text EEWIFI to 9527 and we’ll send you a password to access the service when you next go on the Underground.

Once you’re underground in a participating station, just follow these simple steps to connect:

1. On your device, turn WiFi on
2. Select Virgin Media WiFi from the list of available networks
3. Open your web browser and follow the prompts on the Virgin Media portal
4. Select EE and register using your mobile phone number and the password that we sent to you by text

Once you’ve connected to the WiFi once, you’ll automatically connect every time you enter a WiFi enabled station (as long as WiFi is switched on on your device).

How to fix a an old Sony Playstation 2

See this video on line for how to take it apart (no more difficult than dismantling a PC really)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GoJWS_1hmw

Then just use an old toothbrush to clean the chrome spiral that helps the laser up and down the runner, and use a cotton bud dipped in some ethanol (or any alcohol solution), to clean the laser head itself.

Blow out any dust you can see internally, and put it back together.

Did this with our decade old device last weekend, and now the machine is working better than it did when we originally bought it!

How to replace the screen on Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet

Buy this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Digitizer-Replacement-Adhesive-Sky_Trading/dp/B00DQ5CFL8/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A26HE27C9EH763

Watch this

http://youtu.be/PUyI74c0DhE

http://youtu.be/ogVhYYakE6A

How to solve the Rubik's cube

My kids got rubik's cubes for christmas this year, and the first thing I wanted to do was solve it for myself. I remember when I was a child, only being able to solve one face of the cube, and in the age of youtube I thought there may be a training video out there to show my how to solve all three levels of the cube. Sure enough a quick type into youtube search engine for Rubik's cube brought up these two great training videos.

Full solution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaltgJGz-dU

3rd level codes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_624964&feature=iv&src_vid=MaltgJGz-dU&v=05vEFHBO9SU

For my reference I wrote down the codes for the 3rd level as follows

How to replace the battery on a Casio MTG-900DU solar powered watch

1. Get a replacement battery from Casio UK on 020 8450 9131 https://support.casio.co.uk/Telephone.aspx
2. Follow steps here on how to replace it (be careful not to loose the spring). http://forums.watchuseek.com/f43/how-change-ctl1616-rechargeable-battery-41076.html

BT Tampering with Epsom cabinet 53

It appears that the only people able to receive a fibre optic connection to the Epsom exchange on our estate are BT infinity customers. I've contacted my neighbours (all of whom registered interest around the same time on the http://bt.com/infinity web site), and it appears only those that are BT broadband customers were sent the "Fibre is now available email".
What's more strange is what appears to have happened with our cabinet (number 53). See below for pictures showing the old cabinet 53 that is now connected to a brand new shiny fibre cabinet, and you can clearly see the road having been dug up where the cable is lying that connects the old cabinet to the new one...
NOTE: CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO SEE FULL VERSIONS OF THEM
Cabinet 53 which serves all houses on our estate.

Cabinet 53 with road way dug up to connect new cabinet (see next picture)

New fibre cabinet

Note how the only people in our area reporting fibre optic speeds (i.e. greater than 8MB speed) are BT customers exclusively!
NOTE: CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE THE FULL VERSION

The only address that now lists as being able to receive broadband on our estate is the following one... (although somehow they're connected to cabinet 43).


What's even more strange is that customers that already have fibre connection with BT infinity are told that they can't have it, if they search using their postcode and house number (i.e. pretending not to be an existing BT customer), however if they search with their BT landline number, it comes up saying they can have fibre optic.
Note the picture below, where I have used my landline number on the left, and then the neighbour who already has BT infinity fibre connection on the right. Both of us are connected to Cabinet 53 as you can see...(click each picture below in turn)
NOTE: this web site has now been replaced by this one https://speedtest.btwholesale.com/PerformanceTesterWS/diagnostics.do


Update: 05/02/2013 15:04:56
From: Neville @ BTSent: 05 February 2013 14:50
Subject: Re: Cabinet 53
   
Hi Merrick - please see below for update:-
    
OR have come back and confirmed the cabinet 53 has been temporarily withdrawn from service as “full”. Or have activity to look at increasing the capacity and once completed will open the cabinet for service. Cabinets are available to all SPs/CP on equivalent basis so whilst you may only see BTR users reporting this does not mean that other users are not using the cabinet they may simply not be reporting.

OR have not given an indication of how long it will be before the cabinet comes back into service.


Update: 08/02/2013 22:58
Seems that sometimes the little guy can get stuff done then. Fibre available now to us again on the 26th February 2013.

Update:26/02/2013 10:36:30: I am now officially a plus.net fibre customer. I have to say that the gulf of difference between their customer service and BT is finally what made my mind up on which provider to choose. (P.S. Fibre is now available to all on our estate via cabinet 53 again, as of this morning 26th Feb 2013).
Update: 02/03/2013 11:37: After ringing up Plus.net about my order and letting them know that bt wholesale site are listing availability from the 12th March now, it appears that my Fibre connection is being put on hold for now.

Update: 12/03/2013 11:25: Checked this morning, and for some reason now the BT wholesale site is saying that there is no fibre available, and does NOT even list an availability date now!

I've kindly asked Neville at BT wholesale to look into this issue for me. Luckily he understands that people that are connected to this cabinet already have a fibre connection.
From: neville @bt.com
Sent: 12 March 2013 15:37
Subject: RE: Epsom cabinet 53
Hi Merrick – we have received an update from our suppliers to advise that providing no issues this cab should be back up and running by the end of next week. I can only suggest that you continue to monitor and place order as soon as it becomes available. Cheers Nev
Guess I'm going to have to keep waiting then.
Update: 13/03/2013 10:37: Now showing next Tuesday 19th March. Let's hope this is the last of it.

Update 27/03/2013 13:45: James Moyse (BT Open reach engineer number 606415840) came today and connected me to fibre finally. Have to say James was excellent, and confirmed my suspicions that there are a finite number of ports in the cabinet, and that there was nothing needing to be done at the exchange today in order to get me connected.
So I've now officially gone from this...

to this...

Also just to confirm that I wasn't crazy, it turns out that there are a finite number of new patch boards connected to the new fibre cabinet, and that these are solely occupied by BT customers at the moment. I'm now officially a plus.net fibre customer connected to number 71 of 150, so just glad I got in there before they all run out!

How funny is that!

I wonder who left this endorsement on www.accidentclaims.org

Thanks Dzone!

Back when I used to blog for Conchango, someone once asked me why do I bother blogging. Well yesterday I received my free www.dzone.com bundle package, which included a nice new T-Shirt, 8GB USB memory stick, and some toys for my kids amongst other things... ALL FREE!!! - So you see sometimes in life, you do get something for nothing.

It also included print outs of a couple of dzone.com ref cards including this one that opened my eyes to HTML5 WebSockets...

http://cdn.dzone.com/sites/all/files/refcardz/rc152-010d-Websocket_2.pdf

The funniest part is the author @peterlubbers, who even has a number plate reading HTML5 in California...

Adobe Photoshop Free

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

P.S. You also will find that you get PS touch free on a Samsung Galaxy note 10.1 tablet device.

How to remove the encryption from Humax HDR Fox T2 HiDef recordings

Going to give this a try when I have a spare moment,...

http://hummy.tv/forum/threads/black-holes-trail-guide-to-hdr-fox-t2-hacking.354/

Keep watching this post to see how I get on.

So far so good, following these steps


Use FTP to access the Humax file system*
Pull the .hmt file (from the file set that comprises an HiDef recording) onto my PC (using FTP)
Use the Foxy utility to clear the ENC (Encrypted) flag in the .hmt file
Send the .hmt back to the Humax
Copy the HiDef recording to the USB stick decrypted (because the ENC flag was cleared)
Move it to the PC and do something with it

*Settings.. System.. Internet Setting.. FTP Server.. ON

Name: Humax (or whatever you like)
FTP Server: 192.168.1.64 (or whatever your IP address is)
FTP Port: 21 (default)
User ID: humaxftp
Password: 0000 (unless you've changed it)
Passive Mode: NO (very important)
Save Password: YES
Mask Password: YES (doesn't matter)
Anonymous Login: NO


Got Foxy from here...

http://dc356.4shared.com/download/ImQij8V5/foxy.zip?tsid=20121106-223151-d7dcfcfe

Further updates:

Seems like 4gb is FAT32 limit. Managed to get whole file off the box using ftp, but don't think that the encryption is removed when you copy it via ftp, as the 8gb file now doesn't play in vlc player for some reason.
The ftp copy to NTFS didn't work,

but then I discovered this post which I'm resting all hopes on now...
Samsung AllShare Software = File transfer no encryption! -http://hummy.tv/forum/threads/samsung-allshare-software-file-transfer-no-encryption.2449/
All share can be downloaded here  - http://www.samsung.com/global/allshare/pcsw/download/AllSharePCSW.exe - Note to get round the hotfix loop in the installer, Right click this exe and select run as administrator. Actually you may have to run the install twice, as it appears to get stuck in the hotfix loop the first time you run it. Use Task manager to end the install process, and then run it again using run as administrator option. Then RESTART YOUR COMPUTER!!!
Main software page for it here - http://www.samsung.com/global/allshare/pcsw/

Important Note: In order to get Samsung All Share to see your Humax box, then on the Humax box you must enable content share, under the Internet settings menu option for the box.

 

Final update:

Finally managed to get it working. Used ftp://humaxftp:0000@192.168.x.x in windows explorer on Windows 7 , and create this as a favourite location. Used the foxy app mentioned above to crack open the .hmt file and upload it back via this ftp link in windows explorer.

Then used the humax menu to copy the recording into a folder on the machine, before restarting the all share application on my laptop.

Then used the samsung all share application to copy the .ts HD file over to my computer as an avi file, whilst another machine was copying the .ts file over via the FTP link as well. P.S. Works best with direct link into your router rather than over wifi as transfer speeds are faster over LAN cable of course.
Now just waiting to see if the full 8gb comes down via the all share interface..... BOOM! It worked.  

How to replace the battery in a Jag X-Type Key Fob, and reprogramming the key fob

http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s-type-s-type-r-supercharged-v8-15/key-fob-battery-replacement-write-up-faq-54380/
NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS SOON AFTER THE BATTERY DIES ON YOUR KEY FOB. IF YOU LEAVE IT TOO LONG THE MEMORY ON THE CHIP WILL BE WIPED, AND JUST REPLACING THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB WONT BE ENOUGH!!!
See the reprogramming information further down this page for the solution for reprogramming the key fob should this happen.

Replacing the battery

Here is just a quick write-up on how to replace the battery in the key fob. The only tool you need is a small flat head screwdriver.
First you can use the small flat head in this small tab to pull the fob into two pieces.

It should look like this after getting it apart.

Then taking the part with the buttons on it you will see a spot to use the flat head to start to work your way around to make that come apart into 2 pieces.

Once that's in two pieces you will see a small screw on the circuit board in the top left corner in the pic. The small flat head will allow you to unscrew this.

Then you will be able to pull the circuit board out and will allow you access to the battery.

Now you just use the flat head again to help pull the battery out and replace. Note: At this step I also used a cotton bud doused in some alcohol (Rum as there was some in the cupboard) to clean the contacts on the circuit board.

Once the new battery is in its just a matter of screwing the circuit board back in and everything else will just click back together. Now you have a fresh battery. You shouldn't have to reprogram the key fob it should just start working again if the battery was dead so just click the buttons to test. However if the battery has been dead a long while you will most likely have to reprogram the key fob.
Hope this helps some people out.

Reprogramming the key fob

Action:
To program the remote transmitter(s) without using Worldwide Diagnostic System (WDS), follow the procedure outlined below.
Note: When carrying out the alarm remote programming, ensure that
no other vehicles within a 50 meter radius are undergoing the same
programming procedure, as this could affect the programming
operation.
Note: All required remote transmitters must be available when carrying out this procedure.
1. Open driver's door using the metal part of the key.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the 'auxiliary' position, then turn the ignition switch to the 'ON' position and back to the 'auxiliary' position four times quickly (about one turn each half a second).
Note: A chime from the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) will indicate
programming status has been enabled.
3. Turn the ignition switch to 'OFF' position.
4. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
5. To program the transmitter, press any key within 10 seconds.
Note: If the remote transmitter has been accepted, the GEM will
make a chime.
6. If any other remote transmitters are to be programmed, press any button once on each transmitter within 10 seconds.
Note: A maximum of four remote transmitters can be programmed to the vehicle at any one time.
7. Close driver door.