Ben's Bits

Like Chris Merchant stated none of the FreeDOS iso files have those 3 fat bootsector bin/bss files in them. I'm trying to make an 8GB Corsair Flash Voyager into a multi standard usb bootable flash (USB-HDD-FDD-ZIP) but I can't figure out what to use for the -b option. If I use the included mbrfat.bin with the -b option the drive formats, reads, writes correctly. However attempting to boot it on my Acer Aspire 1410 Core 2 Solo Netbook produces the msg "HDDno operating system" and the system doesn't do anything after that.

Thanks!! By the way, this script does the trick:

#!/bin/zsh
wget -q -O - 'http://www.cartalk.com/Radio/WeeklyShow/showAllsmil.xml' |\
sed 's/<>/<\n>/g' |\
grep mp3 |\
sed 's/\<audio src="//g' |\
sed 's/"title.*$//g' \
\> /var/tmp/pls.m3u
mplayer -playlist /var/tmp/pls.m3u

I agree. I'd be very happy if there was somehow I could merge my Gmail/iGoogle identity with my primary Google Apps identity. And Speaking of not sharing, why is it apparently impossible to easily share/sync/swap contacts between different Gmail and Google Apps accounts?

Access has the advantage of tight integration with the Office Suite and can make a very productive tool for advanced Office users.

Why can't there be a repository of VBA code that owners of MS Office can download/upload as an open source project?

I know Access is not open source, but why can't there be open source Access application? If all the code is freely available isn't it open source?

The easy way to do this:

Clonezilla is a disk imaging linux distribution that uses syslinux and includes FreeDOS for ease of BIOS flashing. It's very easy to install and it's handy for making backups of your computer to a USB drive or network share.

Download clonezilla from clonezilla.org. Format the pendrive FAT32 and copy all the files onto the root of the pen. From Windows open cmd.exe and change to utils/win32 and run makeboot.bat or from Linux terminal cd to utils/linux and run makeboot.sh to make the pen bootable. Copy the applications you want to use from DOS onto the pen.

Boot the pen and select FreeDOS. A: will be the FreeDOS operating system image and C: will be the root of the pen.

If you only want FreeDOS and not clonezilla, edit syslinux/syslinux.cfg so that it's the only menu option and delete the excess files.

what i dont understand is i download fdbasews.iso and use magiciso to extract all the files. however there is no fat12.bin", "fat16.bin" and "fat32lba.bin" files. when i goto "FREEDOS\PACKAGES\SRC_BASE\KERNELS.ZIP", there is no files, but there is 3 more folders labeled "doc", "packages" and "source". i have looked through out all three folders and even used the search option on the entire main folder and there are none of those three .bin files. i have downloaded the iso file many times and it is complete but yet these files are not in there.

get a plastic bottle poke three holes
in it and put an eraser in it it works perfectly!!!!!!!!!


you're welcome

make a aluminum boat and put a hole in the bottom of it and sit it in the tank then it will float for 5 seconds and then it will subsurface float and then it will sink.

I just did this with my daughter. We used the film canister, 2 quarters, 1 penny, and 2 alka seltzer tablets. The only difference from the above scenario's was I left the alka seltzer's in the foil packet. I poked 4 or 5 holes in the packet, folded it up and stuffed in the film canister.
Worked the first time! Yeah!

this is gonna be kind of complicated, but you can use a strong metal water bottle filled with air. the hook a small but strong pump to it. after the pump(oh, yea, since its gonna be submerged all the electronic parts gotta be water tight)put an electronic sprinkler valve at the end of the pump. wire it so the valve will be closed when the pump is off and the valve will be open when the pump is pumping either way. when the pump brings water in, it will compress the air and eventually there will be too much water in the water bottle(the water bottle acts as a ballast) sink. when the pump brings water out the air will decompress and it will rise again!!!

I installed the SYSLINUX chained booting method. Excellent guide. After spending a few days learning how to work with the syslinux.cfg file I managed to create my own custom boot menu. The syslinux step to make the drive bootable was the most valuable, since it opened the door for everything else. There was one step where the command line had to run as administrator, but everything else worked well. I don't know why but command.com disappears when its copied into my usb's root directory, but it's still there (when I try to copy it again it says it's replacing itself).

Also, after the USB is made bootable, instead of putting all these other files on it you can copy the live files of other programs whose liveCDs boot using syslinux.cfg. For example I copied GParted's live CD onto the USB and it worked just as well as if I were running their live CD (this could come in handy the next time I need to run a liveCD but don't have a blank CD around!)

An extremely useful site for making the syslinux cfg file is the syslinux website http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/SYSLINUX which describes many of the commands usable in syslinux.cfg, its biggest flaw for me was its lack of applied examples. To this end I'm copying my simple syslinux cfg file (The syslinux.cfg file from GPartedLIVE is similar but too long to post here)

# See http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/SYSLINUX
# for full descriptions. By Stephen Simms, 12/24/2009

# Display Menu of boot options (menu of the label names)
UI menu.c32

# 30 seconds until default boot
timeout 300
prompt 0
noescape 1
allowoptions 1
menu title Bootable Applications

label FreeDOS
menu default
BSS fat32lba.bss
text help
Load freeDOS which runs DOS .exe files. Easy access to
standard apps by typing "chdir \freedos\setup\odin".
Full install with "setup" after load.
endtext

# mt400 is .bin file wo/extension
label Memtest86+ 4.00
kernel mt400
text help
Run memory test using Memtest86+ v4.00 (mt400)
endtext

label Custom file (press tab)
kernel File_name_here
text help
Boot custom file, .bs, .bss, .c32, .cbt, and .com are
supported [and .bin files wo/extension]
endtext

Another free DMX software alternative is miniStageConsole - free software that runs on Win, Mac & Linux.
Also on the same site is StageConsole - open-source DMX software for Windows.

http://www.chromakinetics.com/DMX

btw. the idea for the paper plate and rocks, DOES NOT WORK!! so dont do that for your project. I didnt do it mysely, but my friend did. And it didnt work for her. It only sinks to the bottom and floats back up, but is doesnt sink again!! So sadly, I'm stuck with the Alka Seltzer and film bottle. :-( which is actually harder than it sounds. I'm STILL working on it. Hope this is useful info. <3TAYLOR:-)

Fixing damaged laptops can certainly be frightening to anyone who hasn't done if before. Sometimes it can be an easy fix or extremely frustrating but to anyone that has an issue with laptops, here are some sites I've used to resurrect dead or dying laptops:

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/
http://repair4laptop.org/
http://www.asklaptopfreak.com/

Thanks to their info, I've been able to repair quite a few laptops for friends, family and clients and now currently have a very nice Acer 5570z Dual Core machine running Windows 7 for free.

I found out another cool way to make a submarine. All you need is a carrot, toothpicks, and baking powder. It's really simple. So it shouldn't take too long. I have the same project to. It's due friday. The only thing I need to find out is why does this work? Any ideas? If so, then could you post it on here? PLease and Thanks!

Thanks for the article i was looking for more information on how the software compares to others. i like the fact that this software from what i can see does not use hidden container which i am not really keen on because of corruptions. I have also read that truecrypt is great but has so issue that are a cause for concern.

For the dixie cup with the marbles and the pencil through the middle... is the dixie cup 2 inches long? Because If it isn't, couldn't you just use like a regular plastic cup and it would use the same effects?

Well I will try because we don't have any dixie cups :)

Plain
Old
Telephone
Ssystem

The experiment that worked for me was... I took a large pill container with 5 large 1/16" holes in the bottom that let the water enter the capsule. Then one small 3/16" hole in the lid to let out the air. Then you put a tablespoon of salt in the capsule. As the salt combines with the water and disolves out the bottom of the vessel. It creates salt water which is less dense the fresh water and that combined with the density of the capsule makes it float back to the surface, but you must be patient it takes about two minutes to resurface. This worked for me, hope it works for you. This for all you kids like me that r freaking out because this is the dumbest project ever. Good Luck!

it was so stupid and easy! it took me almost the two weeks to figure it out, but when i did, it was so simple! you only need 2 things: a paper plate and a few rocks(I'm not sure what they have to weigh, just experiment,) Take the plate and swish it through the water a few times to make it really weak. Fold one end together like a burrito, it should stay that way. put in the rocks and shake it towards the bottom to make sure they are all there and the plate stays that way for a while. place gently, NOT DROP, the plate in the water. It will fill up with water and spin rock end down towards the bottom. when it hit, the burrito will unravel and the rocks will fall out. Some take a while to come out, but they all will eventually. The plate floats up to the surface! Yes, you make thank me 4 saving you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
-yes, I know I'm weird.
MEEEHHEEEHEEE!!!!