Technology Tales

Notes drawn from experiences in consumer and enterprise technology

14:07, 3rd December 2015

Hackintosh.com provides resources for installing and running various versions of macOS on non-Apple hardware, including step-by-step guides, video tutorials, lists of compatible systems and components and community forums for support. The site covers installation processes for macOS versions from Leopard (10.5), with significant challenges in areas such as audio, graphics and wireless connectivity. Users are advised to verify hardware compatibility and note that Apple does not endorse or support the use of macOS on non-Apple devices, which may be illegal in certain jurisdictions. Additional tools and databases, such as DSDT tables and kexts, are available to assist with hardware recognition and system configuration, while online communities offer troubleshooting assistance and shared experiences.

10:51, 16th September 2015

Here is a way to recursively delete folders and their contents in PowerShell:

Remove-Item .\foldertodelete -Force -Recurse

The Force switch silences any messages that otherwise would appear, and the Recurse switch is what gets directories removed.

16:14, 27th July 2015

Pydio is an open-source file server application that offers a secure, self-hosted alternative to cloud storage services, enabling users to manage and access files across devices with features such as WebDAV support, mobile applications and integration with external authentication systems. The article outlines a step-by-step guide for installing Pydio on a CentOS 7 server using a LAMP stack, including configuring a database, adjusting PHP settings, setting up Apache and completing a web-based installation wisard to create user accounts and workspaces. It also highlights the availability of multiple Pydio editions, ranging from a free community version to enterprise and ultimate editions, each tailored to different usage requirements and scalability needs.

20:00, 4th May 2015

ColorPicker.com

This tool provides a straightforward method for selecting and refining colour combinations, offering options to generate schemes based on complementary, triadic and analogous principles or to build custom palettes using an RGB picker, with the ability to save chosen colours for later use. Users can also input HEX values directly or manually adjust HSB and RGB parametres to achieve precise results, making it suitable for a range of design tasks such as developing brand identities or sourcing CSS colours. Designed to streamline the process of selecting appropriate colours for projects, it encourages user input through a feedback form to guide further improvements and is available freely for those seeking an accessible solution to colour selection challenges.

11:07, 4th May 2015

boot-repair-disk

A tool designed to address common boot issues on personal computers, particularly those involving the GRUB bootloader and dual-boot configurations, operates as a lightweight Linux-based live system that can be written to a USB drive or DVD. It is typically employed when a Linux installation becomes inaccessible following the installation of Windows, changes to disk partitions, or modifications to boot settings, offering a graphical interface to diagnose and repair problems such as reinstalling GRUB, restoring access to Linux after bootloader overwrites and fixing EFI or Master Boot Record issues. The process involves booting from the tool, scanning the system, selecting repair options and generating detailed reports for further assistance if needed, with a focus on simplicity and automation rather than requiring advanced technical knowledge or manual intervention. While effective for common bootloader-related failures, it does not address hardware malfunctions or complex storage configurations that may still require additional expertise.

10:18, 12th April 2015

Devuan (pronounced like dev-one) is a fork of Debian that does not use systemd as Debian is doing, like so many other distros. Part of the name must come from a collective calling itself Veteran UNIX Admin (VUA). There is no actual release just yet, but one is intended for around the same time as Debian 8.0 gets released and donations are being solicited via the website.

18:51, 20th February 2015

Here is a handy way to get PowerShell to show files larger than a certain size:

get-childitem | where-object {$_.length -gt 10000} | ft fullname, length -auto

10:16, 16th June 2010

If you've been here before, you'll notice that the first rendition of the new look for this place has been introduced. It is based upon the Intention WordPress theme, but more work is needed before it looks as tidy as I'd like it. That'll take a little while and improvements will come gradually, yet I hope that the new design is pleasing even at this time. At the very least, it looks natty to my eyes, though there are little bits and pieces that I have ended up leaving behind for now. Even so, it gives me a modern menu at the top of every page, so I'm far from disappointed. In any case, I don't mind doing some extra tinkering.

00:18, 15th June 2010

This little outpost on the web has had the same site design for around two years now, so I am beginning to wonder about making a change to it in the spirit of keeping things feeling fresh. Experimentation is in progress on the offline copy of what you see here, but that could reveal roadblocks yet. So far, things are looking hopeful, and you shouldn't be too surprised if it all looks different some day.

11:12, 27th March 2008

Unfortunately, due to a spot of hosting trouble, this blog was offline for a few days while I was getting things sorted out. Along the way, I learned a few lessons about web hosting that I'll share soon. Meanwhile, I'll continue to set in place the last few bits and pieces that made the site's predecessor what it was.

  • The content, images, and materials on this website are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or published in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. All trademarks, logos, and brand names mentioned on this website are the property of their respective owners. Unauthorised use or duplication of these materials may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws, and could result in criminal or civil penalties.

  • All comments on this website are moderated and should contribute meaningfully to the discussion. We welcome diverse viewpoints expressed respectfully, but reserve the right to remove any comments containing hate speech, profanity, personal attacks, spam, promotional content or other inappropriate material without notice. Please note that comment moderation may take up to 24 hours, and that repeatedly violating these guidelines may result in being banned from future participation.

  • By submitting a comment, you grant us the right to publish and edit it as needed, whilst retaining your ownership of the content. Your email address will never be published or shared, though it is required for moderation purposes.