Reviving an old Asus P5N-MX computer and installing Windows XP in 2021

You probably have had the urge to throw away old stuff before, so did I, with an old computer tower unit taking up space. However, I had a change of mind and got it out of the bin!

 The first thing to do was clean the motherboard and components, I used a can of compressed air, a hover and some electrical cleaner. It was then time to install the components back and make sure everything was powering up properly. You need to be a little careful when powering up old hardware like this, especially if it has been in a damp environment, so the use of a RCD or some sort of circuit breaker is advised, that and ensuring it is fully dry.

There is a few options when it comes to operating system, but you can be restricted deciding what hardware you have. I believe my issues originally were due to incomparable hardware with modern software, but I could be wrong.

Originally I was trying to get Windows 98 to work, but after a few attempts I decided to go with XP again, just so I could see if it ran ok and to play a few old games.

The graphics card works well with this system: ASUS NVIDIA GeForce GT 710

 

 

 Key points to remember with this are:

• In order to get the drivers to work for the motherboard, the service packs are needed.
• Get the service packs from Microsoft https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=XP%20Service%20Pack
• Download SP2 and if needed then SP3, but 2 must be done before 3.
• Download on another computer to a USB stick, because the XP system has no internet server, you wont be able to get any popular browser to work either, so it's just quicker.
• Activate Windows within 30 days or you may have some issues with running, to activate call the MS customer service number displayed on the XP activate screen.
• Going online isnt recommended generally for obvious reasons, so a offline system only is probably best.

 

Hope somone found this interesting :)

 

Vango Nevis 300 backpacking tent unbox/review

I have only ever had a few tents in my lifetime so I wanted to make sure that I didn't end up with something poor on my next camping trip away with the dog.



The last few camping adventures were festivals, so the trusted expendable pop-up tent was used, the Trespass pop up tent, to be honest when I got that I wasn't planning on even keeping it but I still have it to this day.



This time however I needed sometimes proper, with 2 skins and no condensation, this wasnt going to be an expendable tent to retreat to after a heavy session of partying, this needed to be comfort, with no condensation and sturdy.



So, after looking online for decent backpacking tents for a good price, this Vango Nevis tent came up, it has served well (all be it only one night so far).



The poles are sturdy, although I struggled to insert the end ones into the holes. The inner tent has a lot of air vents and adjustable straps to tightent the inner tent.



This should stand strong under rain and wind, it is light and fits into a small bag.



It is a 3 man tent, you can get these in 2 and 1, although the 3 is more like a 2 and I assume the 2 is more like a 1, so the 1 man (Nevis 100) would be very small, probably best for limited space to pitch and ultra compact light situations.













#backpack tent #nevis 300 #cheap tents

Review/Demo Bosch Pole Saw cordless 2.5ah (Universal Chain Pole 18v)

I have had a few tools recently, as there are a lot of jobs to do around the house, this time in the garden with the overhanging and ever growing conifers!



The tools that spring to mind? chainsaws! Ones on poles!



Searching online for some of the best polesaws I came across this cordless Bosch 18v version, I wanted something that was cordless and cheap, also powerful, which this one is.



That being said, this polesaw is not powerful enough to cut down an Oak tree! This is a saw for small trees and branches, however it got through 18 conifer trees!



Keep on top of the oil and watch the angle, once you get the hang of it, it is great fun.

Solar project for shed, off grid? not quite there yet...

CHGEEK Bluetooth FM Transmitter Review

So if you have a some what older car like myself, you may want to listen to music in a modern way. This is with a FM Transmitter, in this case it is a CH05,

How to play MP3's in an old car is pretty easy and there are a few methods you use to achieve this, one of the quickest methods is with an FM Transmitter which plugs into the car lighter socket and transmits a radio signal to the car radio once the correct frequency is set.

The one from CH Geeks is a multi functional device which has Bluetooth to send music from you're phone to the transmitter and also from USB.

You can play MP3's from USB to the FM Transmitter to the radio once tuned in, I find this way the easiest. You can also play from any mobile phone with Bluetooth enabled which calls can be taken hands free also.

Other features are charging of USB devices in the car along with car battery level indicator.

The device itself is robust and looks slick in black, with a smart clear LED display and a turny knob to navigate different functions.

One downside I found was that the device wasn't as secure as it should have been in the car lighter port, this could be my car though (Civic 2007). The device seemed too long and stuck out, this gave way to moment, so if the thing was knocked it would turn off.

The quality of the audio was pretty decent although there was some interference at times. However, overall for the cost it was worth it as it does what it says on the tin.

The cost? Pretty cheap FM transmitter for around £13.00 so have a try!

Review video

https://youtu.be/Usp5vAeVQuc

Playstation Classic - Mini console Gem or Gimmick?

With the rise of these little miniature entertainment systems, one can't help but be drawn into the frenzy of what must seem a backwards purchase.

However, these little console bundle of fun aint just for a laugh with you're mates after the pub, they are deadly serious devices!

The PlayStation Classic has 20 games included, some include the likes of Resident Evil and Final Fantasy 7, but some are a little pointless.

There certainly could have been more as well, but lets not forget that these are little collectable "things" which most people in their 30's just want to relive that nostalgic buzz.

Bluetooth speaker review

Skullcandy Shrapnel review, you can watch it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiCEYxpmlDc&t=15s

It is a neat little speaker with a loud output, not sure of the watts but at a guess it's around 20, not bad for a small little thing though.

There is not enough bass though, it's not bad but I have used a cheaper speaker from Aldi which had more bass than this one.

Looks wise though, it's fantastic with a cool army look, it is very robust too.

Error check computer - System scan for errors.

You may not do it often, but it helps.

Like defrag, error checking can help your PC hard drives run much smoother.

• Go to my computer and right click, properties and then click the tools tab.

• Then you will see error-checking, you can fix errors and recover bad sectors, I do both.

Be aware however that this may take some time when you restart your computer, this can take my system 3 hours.

Facebook changes too often

Facebook... the thing I only go on because other people are on there, and I need to contact them, hows that for conforming?

Anyhow, I am used to the fact that when i click on recent posts, it displays recent posts. Also, when i click on top stories, it shows top stories/posts.

Now, its all fucked up. Showing different links to click on and so on, why change it? it was fine how it was. They did this the other week, changed it back again to the old style and now today its back how it was again, WTF.

There's that saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

The best websites are the ones that have basic simple layouts and links start messing with it, and where people know where everything is, you will lose your customers.

Not that Mark zuckerhead would care of course, hes loaded.

save battery on HTC/android phone.

This is a video on saving the battery life of your htc or any android mobile.

Android VS Apple, I dont like apple.

First off I'm pro android, I am anti Apple.

This post will seem biased, as I do not own nor have ever owned any apple products, ever.

So whats the point of posting such a one sided argument? well threes something about Apple, that just PISSES ME OFF!

I'm sorry jobs is dead, he was a great man in his own right, and has started something big. But do I want to submit myself into the cult of apple... NO!

This whole apple suing EVERYTHING because they think they invented the wheel for f**&s sake is boring me.

ANDROID

I will always favour such tech that is unrestricted... open... lets look at android its cool, its in development and its growing. This OS maybe similar to apples OS but who cares...I'm sure apple copied a few things in their time.

I have never owned such devices as a IPHONE or IPAD... i do not care much for the IPOD which forces you into a corner to do what it wants. A Communist technology that wants you to do everything in its way, period!

Android for me reminds me of Windows Vs MAC... the PC vs the mac shall i say... and in terms of choice and which side you would choose.. you would choose the side that isn't run by a suppressed dictator.

Ha... rant over.

Onlive the future ???

Well two weeks in from launch and is it the future of onlive I mean Online gaming yet? well not quite but you can see what all the fuss is about.

I downloaded the onlive app to my PC a day or so after launch, and to be honest the first time I tried it, it was shit. However, I downloaded an update the other day and it seems to be running quite smoothly, I guess they had some teething problems that needed to be resolved.

ANY GOOD?

Anyhow, how is onlive doing overall... well I'm not sure on stats, but playing the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R game on trial, seems to be playable and looks good. Of course the games do not look as good as one you would play on your xbox 360 or PS3 but they are playable and for anyone without a console or a flash PC, this would be a good thing to try.

THE FUTURE?

Now without trying to contradict myself to much do I think this is the future? well yes and no. I can see this being the future to some extent but do I want this to be? The thing that bugs me about onlive and cloud gaming are some points that are stuck in my mind and won't go away.

• You don't own a hard copy of the game
• 100% reliant on Internet connection means no option to play offline
• Hardware fans will not get much chance to tweak or fully control any hardware aspect
• Games that you would normally resell or trade in will not be an option

Sub points against "the cloud in general"

• Software is in the hands of somone ellse
• Security will rely on "the cloud"
• Hardware, hardware, hardware... wheres the hardware.
• Maybe limits on what software you will be able to obtain through the cloud

Without getting to carried away, I can see cloud gaming and cloud whatever to be popular. However I do not want to loose the traditional and current computing formats.

IncrediMail HELL

After trying to download web plus from CNET which i thought was spam free, there was an automatic download which I did not agree to, to download Incredimail.

Incredimail is apparently some sort of email managing programme from Iran. What a nightmare it was that i had to try and stop this crap shit pot from installing itself.

What I had to do:

Control panel and uninstall incredimail
uninstall FireFox
Searched online and delete reg keys
search for any incredimail files
Run various virus scans and ad aware


I did not search and download this, nor did i want it. It looks dodgy and it probably is unsafe. avoid.

Unhappy with CNET download site, thought they were good but i guess i was wrong.

Copyrighted videos on youtube, unfair?

In the past few years YouTube has cracked down with copyrighted videos uploaded. The technology that YouTube uses is able to know what video and audio you are uploading if it is copyrighted, movies, programmes and all sorts of videos people watch on TV are already know within the YouTube database.

This is all well and good for the company's who want to protect their investment, some owners of the videos and music allow their content to be uploaded,others do not.

The issue that bothers me though is what about the people who use copyrighted content for creative purposes, video editors and music dj's are unfairly effected by this.

I myself have created music videos from movies and used music from artists I enjoy. I create a whole new video from the scenes and I love to share them on YouTube, I do not try and make any money from this just the enjoyment of creativity.

Other editors make custom trailers or "re-cuts" which are fun to watch, others edit videos for entertainment in other ways.

These type of videos are not effecting the owners profits nor effecting their copyright. The movies or music has been re-created into something new...and not the original content.

My view is there should be some sort of exception for these kind of projects.

British yacht couple, Come on Britain.

I can't understand why this is still going on. I mean, its been over 6 months and what have the UK government done to get them back to the UK safe and well.... well... erm nothing as far as I know.

The Government says, "we don't pay ransoms" well isn't life more important than money? A Government of ethical and moral standers should consider some options and act on them fast.

I have my own thoughts on this and here are some ideas I have, explaining the cons also.

• Pay the ransom, this could solve the matter ASAP and bring the couple back. Cons, this of course will fuel situations like this more and make the UK look soft... from a goverment point of view... is a bad idea.. but from a moral human point of view ... if it was your family and you had the money you would pay right?
• Pay the ransom with fake cash, this could solve the problem and bring them back. Cons are of course that there will be fake cash running around... or unless the cash was some how obviously fake but not too obvious for the pirates to notice. If they do find out before or during the exchange the situation could get ugly.
• Hire mercenaries, this could be cheap and bring them back soon. This isn't Rambo 4, but it may be something like it, the cons are that there is a strong prospect of violence... the couple could get killed, that would be bad of course.
• Special forces & SAS, why this hasn't been done already I don't know, just like the above idea the cons are the same but much less likely to happen as the soldiers would be better equiped and better trained.
• Offer the pirates alternative, they are doing these bad things for a reason. Start by offering them what they don't have or what they need. They obviously are poor, but if you offer them stuff that they may want or need but may not be as much as what they are asking they may take it. Cons are that they will say no, and they probably will, but what is the harm in asking.
• Double cross, offer them real money, do the exchange, then when the couple are safe kill or arrest the pirates. Cons are it could be a blood bath, but the couple may be safe.

These ideas may have been though of already, but i would like to know why they have not been put into action.

Hope the couple get released soon.

This is a test.

A useless test.