Binary Humility

A programming, tech, science, and miscellany notebook.

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Linux kernel VESA mode codes

The Linux kernel VESA mode code for 24bit 1280x1024 is 0x31B 1024x768 is 0x318. 800x600 is 0x315. For 16bit color, -1.

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Win Filesharing: System error 58 - restart Server service

C:\>net use x: \\10.0.0.1\myshare

System error 58 has occurred. The specified server cannot perform the requested operation.

If this happens, on the server machine (10.0.0.1 here), restart the "Server" service from services.msc.

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cpufrequtils configuration file location in Debian

The file "/etc/default/cpufrequtils" can be created if required from the example shipped in /usr/share:

cat /usr/share/doc/cpufrequtils/examples/cpufrequtils.sample > /etc/default/cpufrequtils

[binaryhumility-blog]

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this.

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2012/01/20120112t1830vSZT.aspx

Date: Thursday 12 January 2012  Time: 6.30-8pm  Venue: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building Speaker: Eric Ries Chair: Dr Linda Hickman

Most new businesses fail. But most of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach to business that's being adopted around the world. It is changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. The Lean Startup is about learning what your customers really want. It's about testing your vision continuously, adapting and adjusting before it's too late. Now is the time to think Lean.

This event marks the publication of Eric Ries new book The Lean Startup.

[binaryhumility-blog]

forward declare boost::array

Forward declaration of boost::array (to avoid pulling in extra headers) by:

namespace boost {     template< class T, size_t N >     class array; };

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WinDbg - Find a string in a process's memory

s -a 0x00000000 L?0xffffffff "needle"

The above should search the whole of the 32bit process's valid memory for the string (needle).

This can be used in postmortem mode (looking at a dump), or in live-attach mode.

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Find the LoadCount for a dll with WinDBG

First, use lmvm to find the base address.  (alternatively, list addresses for all dlls in a process using lm.

0:000> lmvm example start    end        module name 32c90000 32d3f000   example   (private pdb symbols)  c:\bh\example.pdb     Loaded symbol image file: example.dll     Image path: example.dll     Image name: example.dll     Timestamp:        Sun Jan 22 13:42:33 2012 (4F1BA1C9)     CheckSum:         000BA49F     ImageSize:        000AF000     Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Then, use the dlls extension to find the info related to that load address:

0:000> !dlls -v -c 32c90000 Dump dll containing 0x32c90000: 0x003d4778: <example>.dll       Base   0x32c90000  EntryPoint  0x32d24d7b  Size        0x000af000       Flags  0x800c4004  LoadCount   0x00000005  TlsIndex    0x00000000              LDRP_IMAGE_DLL              LDRP_ENTRY_PROCESSED              LDRP_DONT_CALL_FOR_THREADS              LDRP_PROCESS_ATTACH_CALLED

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64bit guest virtual machine on 32bit host

To run a 64bit guest machine on a 32bit host, you may need to enable the BIOS flag VT-x (this is Intel CPU specific).

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Reset mysql root password

1. stop mysql server   ( /etc/init.d/mysql stop )

2. start mysqld_safe without loading permissions  ( mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables)

3. modify the root password  ( use mysql ; update user set password=PASSWORD('new password') where User='root';

4. restart mysqld  ( /etc/init.d/mysql restart )

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/3GB for 32bit Vista and Windows 7

In XP and earlier systems, it was possible to tune Windows to allow the user VA to grow to 3GB, rather than the defaul of 2GB, using the '/3GB' switch in the boot.ini file.

With the obsolescence of boot.ini, we need a new method to increase our 32bit process's addressable memory.

For 32bit Vista and later, use this command:

BCDEDIT /Set IncreaseUserVa 3072

As before, your 32bit program needs to be linked with the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE flag to take advantage of this space.  On 64bit systems, your 32bit process flagged as /LARGEADDRESSAWARE should be able to address around 4GB of memory.

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WinDbg - OS version from a crash dump

To determine the version of an OS a dump was captured on, use the "vertarget" command.  Sample output:

0.00> vertarget

Windows 7 Version 7600 MP (4 procs) Free x86 compatible Product: Server, suite: TerminalServer SingleUserTS kernel32.dll version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)

x86 should indicate a 32bit OS, while x64 denotes 64 bit.

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Get rid of hiberfil.sys - disable Hibernate

From an admininstrator console, use this command to disable Hibernation:

powercfg -h off

A pleasant side affect is the automatic removal of the system file hiberfil.sys, which can be large if you have lots of RAM.

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A damp squib

An uncommon and hence fun phrase, indecipherable out of context unless you know that a squib is a small explosive.

Squibs are often used in pyrotechnics and special effects for movies and the stage.

A damp squib is a primed explosive that fails to ignite, and the phrase "damp squib" may presently be heard about anything that fails to meet expectations.