The stupidity of hardware/software/encoders

What's the point of having a kick ass computer, faster than anything you've had, only to have people to make BIOS and hardware controllers throttle things?

I kept wondering why my USB 3 drives kept dropping off or not being seen on the powered 7 port USB 3 hub. Turns out that the chipsets are deliberately throttled to only being able to handle 3 high speed devices.   But, I can have up to 14 USB 2 devices connected (that would be one USB 2 hub, and then using up to 13 external devices. Might sound like a lot, but my keyboard takes two ports, mouse takes one, 4 ext HDDs, USB Audio adapter for better volume from the speakers, graphics tablet, external region free Blu Ray drive, Soundblaster headset, HD webcam, and on the laptop, using a DVI to USB monitor adapter... see, it adds up)

This is beyond annoying.  All the ports I have on my desktop (will have again, once the replacement gets back) 3 USB 3 ports on the back, one on the front, several USB2 ports.... 

So, I will have to juggle which device will go into which hub when my desktop gets put back together.

Seagate, your ineptitude never ceases to amaze me

Synopsis: I had a under warranty external HD fail. Seagate sent me a replacement. Unfortunately, less than a year later, that one failed too, suddenly. PAYAM data recovery service was able to retrieve the data (turns out the heads failed, but the platters were undamaged).  Turns out they had sent me a refurb, not a new one. Of course, it was stated in itty bitty light grey text on white background. Funny how that was overlooked (sarcasm off now)

So, I send them the faulty external drive. And what did they send me?  Another refurb, but NOT in a case.  *headdesk*  Really?  What kind of braindeaders WORK there!?

So, called PC Case Gear, and after talking to Vincent, I ordered a USB3 external bay for the drive.

Hail and farewell

After the Melville council arborist checked the gum tree, it's been decided that it has to go.  The whole thing.  Damned shame, as that tree was a home, haven, nesting site, photography stage and food supply for hundreds of birds.  The council will replant a native nectar bearing trees/shrubs, but it will take years for them to become established.

To keep the nectarivores fed though, I will be getting two larger capacity humming bird feeders and those will be put in the back yard to prevent squabbling and territorial fighting... well, cut back on it at least.

We still have the Jacaranda, the bottlebrush hedges, and a few other lower shrubs and trees. 

Kind of expected squabbles

Yesterday and the day before, we were hit by a severe storm front. Our gorgeous Gum Tree was badly damaged.  This tree is (or should I say was) the stage for many of my large bird photographs (Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Galahs)

This makes me want to cry:

I am hoping that we will be able to have the outer sections removed, leaving the center spire to 're-bush'.  (gum trees are notorious for how difficult they are to 'kill off'). 

Squabbles:  the tree above was a major, and I mean major, food source and nesting area for local honey eaters and other birds.  Our bottlebrush trees, which were trimmed way back last year because of solar panel installation, were another.  I 'fixed' the bottlebrush tree problem by getting 5 hummingbird feeders and finding a proper nectar recipe, supplementing it with 'molting vitamins' every once in a while, and spreading them out in the bottlebrushes.  Now that the gum tree was badly damaged by the storm, the competition for that food source has resulted in squabbles, with the oldest, biggest Red Wattlebird being the bully of the block.

There is a good chance that I will have to spread them out a bit further, in different trees, and will be refilling them more often.

Dear Seagate Tech support

Is it a prerequisite of the job there to have had a lobotomy? I sent you an email with a photo of the receipt from AusPost, showing tracking information, and CLEARLY showing the date. I even told you that my email was to inform you the parcel with faulty drive had been mailed on that date.

Your brain dead response showed me no one bothered to look at the email or the jpg fully, as the reply from you is "We haven't received the drive yet." Well no shit, Sherlock. But I didn't say that to you.

I replied,"No kidding you didn't get it yet. Did anyone bother to check the JPG I attached to the email? It clearly shows it was posted YESTERDAY. "

I get a brainless reply: the item hasn't arrived and according to the tracking number it's in transit.

*headdesk*

I replied: Oy vey.. since someone there is thick witted, let me see if using smaller words will help.

I KNOW it did not arrive. I know it's in transit. I sent you photo of AusPost shipping as a COURTESY to show you it HAD been shipped to you.

Now, I know that courtesy might be something alien, but try not to send me another copy/paste or FAQ response.

One More Time:

1: I know it hasn't arrived at Seagate.

2: I know it's in transit.

3: I sent email with photo of AusPost as a COURTESY.

Someone hand me a clue by four in case then send me yet another dipshit response.

Home.. and I am tired.

In the process of shifting close to 500 photos taken over the past few days to HD storage.

Have wiped down the camera, and will be doing same to the lenses, as there was rain, and salt spray from the ocean/waves/breakers.

Also found out the hard way that my hiking boots are about 1cm too small. No wonder toes felt like they were breaking.

#canoncollective #canonaustralia

WTF is it with my external drives???

Out of the blue, one of my WD external drives started kicking back "Local Drive", disk management said it was RAW data, and the data was inaccessible.   After a few days of looking/researching/reading I was about to give up.  Many places just said format the drive and hope for the best.

Uhh, no, I don't want to lose the data.

More research, and I found a program that fixed the RAW data problem, and now in the process of copying the data to what I know is a fully functioning drive. It's on an older USB 2 drive so it will take a while to get 1.8tb shifted, but at least I can get it done.

Seagate, you are really sneaky

Just filled out the RMA request for the faulty Seagate external drive that was a replacement for a faulty Seagate drive. A quick reminder, heads failed on Seagate #1, but I was able to get all data transferred before total failure because I noticed problems.  Seagate #2 was the replacement, which had the SAME effin' problem, and I think I know why.

My original Seagate, #1, the serial number was Z1F2RE8N. 

The replacement had the serial number NA4JZ12L on the drive case.

I just looked at the faulty drive that PAYAM sent back to me... the serial number on the drive itself is Z1F2RE8N.

What did they do? Put it in a new case after a minor fix and sent the original one back to me in a different case?  My bet is yes.

Fixed that now, too.

Not quite two years ago, after Microsoft bought Skype, they put the kybosh on Trillian (and other 3rd party) multi instant messaging programs access to Skype.

I'm not saying that Trillian dropped the ball, but they did, as Miranda and other multi messaging programs have fixed this issue, but Trillian didn't.

Luckily, someone figured a work around for this.  Install OLDER version of Trillian, get accounts set up. Shut it down. Locate SkypeKit41_noid.exe and download it. Copy it into Trillian directory. Rename it Skypekit.exe (just delete the original one, as it no longer will work anyhow). 

Install newest version of Trillian, and once again, Skype is functional.  Not sure how long this will last but I have been.. well was using it, on my desktop for over a year, and currently using it on my laptop.

Maybe I shouldn't have done it.. ow

I saw the crystal clear skies, looked at my EQ5 mounted telescope. I put my shoulder under it and test lifted it. Too heavy

So, I looked at the old lightweight EQ3 mount.  I had to do a bit of rigging (the bolts  to hold the plate to the mount and the knob for the inclination seem to be the only things missing from all the parts I put away). I used cable ties, and it worked. 

So, brought telescope outside. Wasn't too heavy, but I would have been better off with an Alt/AZM because after all the disuse, the finderscope was off and I just could not get Jupiter into view.  I tried, and tried, and tried.

All I got out of it was a sore lower back, lots of ant bites on my feet (little bastards crawl into your shoes) and a lot of disappointment.   :(

Dear 'Adults'

Could you please stop your children/grandchildren/children under you care from chasing the birds in the park. 

Not just because your child ruined my photos by running at them, but also how dangerous it can be.

Had your child done that to the two adult magpies, not corellas,  there is a good chance the magpies would have gone after her. And of *course* you would blame the magpies, right?

Leftover legacy of Windows 10 upgrade failure

One of the pre-installed Sony utilities on my computer, a Sony VAIO, isn't working quite right.  I have asked Sony Support about it and after nothing in the way of support, their brilliant idea is for me to take a perfectly functioning, except for Sony VAIO CARE, computer, reformat it and start over from scratch.   They didn't even bother to answer me when I asked "Will uninstalling VAIO Care and reinstalling it fix this problem?" 

No, they didn't answer that, and just said format the drive.

Not only no, but hell no.

I know that SONY unloaded their PC/Laptop division, and that explains their lackluster support of items they sold prior to selling off to JIP.

There might have been a 'press release'

But I, a registered Sony Vaio owner, never got an email or memo about it.

Seems that Sony has unloaded their PC/Laptop division and will be concentrating on Smartphones and other smaller devices.  No wonder they haven't been very helpful in regards to assisting with problems with my Vaio.

I guess what that means is I just use this laptop until I run it into the ground.

Monday.. just another day of the week that ends in Y

So, another word that ends in the letter Y is early and laundry.

Woke up early, saw what was the start of a great sunrise. But it fizzled to 'meh'. Decided to record the bird song instead. The melodious sounds are the reason we really don't need an alarm clock.

Laundry. Wing had a full suitcase of 'living out of suitcase' dirty clothes. Shall we say they were umm fragrant. Last load in the washer, now.

Updating my desktop wallpaper slide show. I am replacing some of the lunar photos I took with the 550D with ones taken more recently. Amazing what I thought was a cracking good shot 6 years ago, to now. Both skill and better photo gear played a part in the images. Still keeping the sunrise photo, and the ones I got from NASA.