Articles · Stephan Pringle

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SafeColleges Training

Friday, November 8, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Employees in educational institutions located in the United States are often required to take courses through SafeColleges Training. Your courses and categories (covering alcohol, the coronavirus, harassment, etc) will vary depending on the Human Resources department and below are some questions and answers that you can study to better familiarize yourself so that you can do well when you participate in the testing.

Americans with Disabilities Act Overview

Q: Title II of the ADA requires colleges and other public entities to make all of their facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
A: False

Q: Employers can’t deny a job to a qualified candidate with a disability on the basis of the disability.
A: True

Q: The ADA specifies exactly which impairments are covered.
A: False

Q: A major life activity under the ADA can include major bodily functions, such as those related to the immune system.
A: True

Q: An accommodation must be given even if it imposes an undue hardship.
A: False

Q: Academic institutions must give primary consideration to the auxiliary aid or service requested by the student with a disability when determining what’s appropriate for that student.
A: True

Browser Security Basics

Q: Malware doesn’t easily exploit browser vulnerabilities.
A: False

Q: For browser security, it’s important to minimize the number and usage of browser extensions and plugins.
A: True

Q: There’s no difference in security if you use a public PC or your own computer.
A: False

Q: It’s okay to use just HTTP sites for online business and transactions.
A: False

Q: An important safe browsing fundamental is: only enable the features you need.
A: True

Q: Unless your school has a site license, you may not download software applications to your personal or school computer.
A: True

Q: One of the requirements for you to show a video/DVD or television program to your class is if all recorded or downloaded materials are of an instructional nature and support the curriculum.
A: True

Q: According to the Fair Use factors, you can copy sheet music if the copies are used for a performance when an emergency does not exist.
A: False

Q: By law, when a work is created, it has a copyright.
A: True

Q: If you’re unsure of an answer on an copyright question, refer to your institution’s policy for guidance.
A: True

Q: You can copy supplemental textbook materials, such as disposable student workbooks, as long as you put the textbook publisher’s logo on the copied pages.
A: False

Q: If you want to copy and use a selection from a work that is copyrighted, you can contact the copyright owner in writing to ask permission or you can follow the four Fair Use factors.
A: True

Coronavirus Awareness

Q: To find the most accurate and timely information about COVID-19:
A: visit the CDC and Prevention website

Q: COVID-19 usually starts with:
A: a fever and dry cough

Q: The current name of the disease that originated in Wuhan, China, in 2019 is called:
A: COVID-19

Q: COVID-19 spreads person-to-person through:
A: saliva or mucus

Q: Most people who contract COVID-19:
A: recover without the need for special treatment

Q: Most of us get infected with coronaviruses at some time in our lives.
A: True

Q: If you feel unwell:
A: all of these (stay at home and call your doctor or local health professional to discuss your symptoms, where you have been and whom you have been in contact with)

Q: Those at greatest risk for developing a severe or lethal case of the disease are:
A: the elderly

Q: Everyone infected with COVID-19 develops at least some symptoms.
A: False

Q: How long does it take symptoms of COVID-19 to appear after infection?
A: between two and fourteen days

Coronavirus: CDC Guidelines for Making & Using Cloth Face Coverings

Q: The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing, so you should continue to keep about ______ between yourself and others.
A: 6 feet

Q: According to the CDC, cloth face coverings should:
A: All of these: fit snugty, be secured, include layers

Q: For a non sewn cloth face covering, it is recommended that you use:
A: T-shirt or bandana only

Q: Step 1 of the sewn cloth face covering method involves:
A: cutting out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric

Coronavirus: Managing Stress and Anxiety

Q: Stress is your body’s way of responding to:
A: All of these: Physical, emotional and mental demands.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a common sign of stress?
A: Decreased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Q: Which of the following actions can you take to help you cope with stress?
A: All of these: Take care of your body; connect, breaks

Coronavirus: Preparing Your Household

Q: Creating a household plan can help protect your health and the health of those you care about in the event of an outbreak in your community. A household plan, before an outbreak occurs, should include:
A: Discussing emergency planning with your neighbors.

Q: Which of the following is the best everyday preventive action that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19?
A: Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Q: During a COVID-19 outbreak, you can protect yourself and others by:
A: All of these: Stay home, keep from the sick and take care of emotional health

Q: After a COVID-19 outbreak occurs, it is important to:
A: Share concerns and how you are feeling with others

Coronavirus: Transitioning to a Remote Workforce

Q: If an employee is unclear on their responsibilities during this time, they should reach out to which of the following?
A: Immediate manager

Q: Which of the following is a common mistake to avoid when working remotely?
A: Scheduling meetings without considering the time zones

Q: Clear, timely, and accurate communication from leadership is critical when transitioning to a remote workforce. Which of the following is a consideration for virtual availability?
A: All: Chat room for work, non-work and stand ups.

Q: Choose an area in which to work that is all of the following EXCEPT:
A: A public space

Cybersecurity Overview

Q: Malware is a type of software that is designed to destroy or access a computer’s information without the knowledge of the user.
A: True

Q: Phishing is the practice of tricking a user into giving up confidential information through a deceptive email message or website.
True

Q: End User License Agreements can allow highly invasive scans and data scrapes, which can put you and your organization at risk.
A: True

Q: To improve cybersecurity, it’s not necessary to protect your online activity or digital footprint.
A: False

Q: There is little risk involved when speaking openly about security and answering questions over the phone with a stranger.
A: False

Diversity and Inclusion: Faculty and Staff

Q: ______________ may be formed from stereotypes, social norms or the expectations of those around you.
A: Bias

Q: Which of the following is a proactive strategy for faculty and staff?
A: Recognize and maintain what works instead of only responding to reported issues.

Q: Which of the following is a misconception about what diversity entails?
A: Just treat everyone the same.

Q: Which of the following is true about microaggressions?
A: Taken singularly or together, microaggression can form a hostile environment.

Q: Discrimination can be based on:
A: all of these: ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity.

Q: Which of the following is a proactive strategy for helping create a non-discriminatory environment?
A: Monitor your own bias

Q: A hostile work environment is created when ________ in a workplace commits a type of harassment.
A: anyone

Q: ___________ is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements, especially the inclusion of different types of people – such as people of different races or cultures – in a group or organization.
A: Diversity

Q: Cultural competence is:
A: a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

Q: _________ is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
A: Bias

Email and Messaging Safety

Q: Messages with poor grammar and sudden threats of legal action are potential indicators of phishing emails.
A: True

Q: Email encryption is crucial for safe professional or private communications that are conducted through email.
A: True

Q: It’s a good idea to open and view fraud emails.
A: False

Q: The best defense against phishing emails is to recognize them and delete them.
A: True

FERPA: Confidentiality of Records

Q: Under FERPA, parents have a right to obtain only directory information for their child.
A: True

Q: Education records are only made available for inspection when classes are in session.
A: False

Q: Sharing sole possession records, or personal notes, in a way that makes them accessible by others, makes them education records.
A: True

Q: Colleges that violate FERPA law run the risk of losing federal funding.
A: True

Q: Alumni records are considered educational records according to FERPA law.
A: False

Q; Under FERPA law, colleges may disclose, without consent, a category of data called directory information.
A: True

Q; FERPA rights end once the student graduates or leaves the institution permanently.
A: False

Q; Research data for a third party that’s easily traceable to a particular student can still violate FERPA law.
A: True

Q: Students have the right to request that schools correct education records that are inaccurate or misleading, including grades.
A: False

Q: Colleges should notify students of their rights under FERPA every two to three years.
A: False

Implicit Bias and Microaggression Awareness

Q: Only offering history courses on developed nations or through the lens of a country’s dominant ethnicity is an example of ethnocentrism.
A: True

Q: Well-intentioned people don’t have implicit biases about certain groups.
A: False

Q: Microaggressions, by their nature, don’t do much harm.
A: False

Q: Interacting with members of an “out group” can ideally change or at least challenge biases.
A: True

Q: Implicit bias is a fairly new phenomenon.
A: False

Q: The narratives told about certain groups continue to influence how we view them.
A: True

Q: Implicit bias is a direct reflection of how we’ve been socialized, whom we interact with, what we’ve seen and what we’ve been told.
A: True

Q: Sociologists acknowledge that there’s a social hierarchy in the United States that allows us to justify why certain people are in positions of power and others are not.
A: True

Q: Asking students of color to “represent” their entire race in class discussions in an example of explicit bias.
A: False

Q: When you see or hear something that’s a microaggression, say something.
A: True

Q: Microaggressions are explicit statements about another person that are intended to invalidate or demean the individual.
A: False

Q: Explicit bias refers to the beliefs and attitudes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious way.
A: False

Q: Ethnocentrism means making judgements about other societies or groups based on one’s cultural bias and/or beliefs.
A: True

Password Security Basics

Q: One of the best ways to keep your password secure is to memorize it.
A: True

Q: A _________ is a password technique that helps make create words that look familiar, but can’t be found in a dictionary.
A: number-letter substitution

Q: An important part of password safety is to not write passwords down.
A: True

Q: A strong password should contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
A: True

Q: Combining nonsense words with number-letter substitutions is a good way to create complex passwords.
A: True

Q: For stronger passwords, it’s best use a single word instead of a phrase.
A: False

Q: You don’t need to change your passwords.
A: False

Stress Management

Q: You can reduce stress by building resilience.
A: True

Q: Most of us work more efficiently when under stress.
A: False

Q: Rubbing your ears can help you relax and reduce stress.
A: True

Q: Stress has both physiological and psychological health effects.
A: True

Q: Because sleep is important to keeping ahead of stress, sleep experts recommend two or three glasses of alcohol before bed.
A: False

Q: Exercise is one of the best things you can do to reduce stress.
A: True

Q: Adjusting our self-talk will help minimize stress.
A: True

Q: Stress can cause you to overreact to petty annoyances.
A: True

Title IX and Sexual Harassment

Q: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from discrimination based on sex in any federally funded, education-related programs and activities.
A: True

Q: Sexual misconduct can be perpetrated by, as well as against, individuals of any sex.
A: True

Q: Failure to comply with Title IX regulations can result in inequitable educational opportunities for your students and financial penalties for your school.
A: True

Q: Postsecondary institutions are permitted to retaliate against an employee for filing a Title IX discrimination complaint.
A: False

Q: Three categories of employees have special duties regarding Title IX: responsible employees, confidential employees and a Title IX Coordinator.
A: True

Q: All campus employees are considered to be “confidential employees” under Title IX.
A: False

Q: Your institution has a duty to investigate reported cases of Title IX discrimination promptly, fairly and impartially.
A: True

Title IX and Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees

Q: A teacher threatening to fail a student unless the student agrees to date the teacher qualifies as what form of sexual harassment?
A: quid pro quo

Q: Sexual harassment, as defined by the current Title IX regulations, includes which of the following?
A: All of these: sexual assault, dating violence, stalking

Q: It’s important to investigate a sexual harassment claim before reporting it to your Title IX office.
A: False

Q: Whether or not you’re a designated official with authority to address the disclosure of sexual harassment, which of the following is your role if someone confides in you?
A: share resources for medical, advocacy, legal and counseling options

Q: Title IX covers students, but doesn’t pertain to faculty and staff.
A: False

Q: According to the Office for Civil Rights, sexual harassment can take which of the following forms?
A: All of these:

Q: When a student discloses to you, it’s your responsibility to get them to tell you as many details as possible about the incident.
A: False

Q: When someone starts disclosing an incident of sexual assault to you, it’s best to let them finish their story before informing them about your reporting obligations and level of confidentiality.
A: False

Q: An employee telling lewd jokes could qualify as which form of sexual harassment?
A: Hostile environment

Q: As an informed employee under Title IX, which of these should you have a basic understanding of?
A: a student’s rights to file reports and use the campus grievance process

Q: Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are defined collectively as what under Title IX?
A: sexual harassment

Q: Under current Title IX regulations, which of the following qualifies as sexual harassment?
A: quid pro quo harassment

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct

Q: A responsible employee is any employee who has the authority to take action to redress the harassment.
A: True

Q: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from discrimination based on sex in any federally funded, education-related programs and activities.
A: True

Q: Sexual misconduct can be perpetrated by, as well as against, individuals of any sex.
A: True

Q: All campus employees are considered to be “confidential employees” under Title IX.
A: False

Q: Failure to comply with Title IX regulations can result in inequitable educational opportunities for your students and financial penalties for your school.
A: True

Q: Three categories of employees have special duties regarding Title IX: responsible employees, confidential employees and a Title IX Coordinator.
A: True

Q: Postsecondary institutions are permitted to retaliate against an employee for filing a Title IX discrimination complaint.
A: False

Q: Your institution has a duty to investigate reported cases of Title IX discrimination promptly, fairly and impartially.
A: True

AFNA Motors

Thursday, November 7, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Are you planning on buying or leasing a vehicle along with parts and accessories? Here are a few thing that you should know.

Paycheck
A weeks paycheck should be able to cover your monthly payments on the vehicle. If not, put down a good deposit or buy a vehicle where the prices are affordable as you will still have to maintain and insure the vehicle and the cost to insure is often about the same as the vehicle payments but typically no more that 10 months of the year.

Dealership
Go with a dealership where you can get a loaner when you have to do repairs that will take more than few days. Keep in mind that AFNA Motors may want you to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel or battery level to avoid a surcharge.

Spoofed: Where are you?

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

Employees should be on the lookout for a similar email that spoofs their bosses from Gmail.com

Where are you? Please let me know because there’s something I need you to do for me.
Regards

To keep everyone safe in your company and institution, you will want to request that the IT Department inject the following in all external emails.

CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Administrator Command Prompt

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

One of the coolest way to launch an Administrator Command Prompt is to use the following.
powershell Start-Process cmd -Verb runAs
Once you are done, it is recomended that you clear the history of the Run window to hide your activities. This can be done using the following
powershell "Remove-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU' -Name '*' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue"

acp.bat
TITLE Administrator Command Prompt v1.0 by Stephan Pringle. @ECHO OFF COLOR 1F && CLS ECHO ---------------------------------------- ECHO (A) Launches an Administrator Command prompt ECHO (B) Flushes the history of the Run Window. ECHO ---------------------------------------- ECHO. ECHO Copyright (C) 2019 Sipylus. All rights reserved PAUSE powershell Start-Process cmd -Verb runAs powershell "Remove-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU' -Name '*' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue"

Generators

Monday, November 4, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

When building a website for a client, look out for the following generators in the saved pages as it will inform the client what software you are using to create their online presence.

<meta name=”generator” content=”Adobe GoLive 6“>

For those that create the websites themselves, below will let the competition and hackers know the technology that you used to bring the site features to life and exploits to target.

<meta name=”generator” content=”Wix.com Website Builder“/>

OneUpdater by VOMPT Limited

Sunday, November 3, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

I got a call from a local library that uses Millenium ILS and Sierra ILS and they stated that they are unable to print reports again. The last time it happened, it was due to the Adware on the computer so I grabbed a copy of Malwarebytes and the Barracuda Malware Removal Tool and headed out the door.

Malwarebytes was already on the PC from my visit from 30 days ago so I did an update to the definitions and let it run. To my amazement, Malwarebytes found nothing so I went back to my screen capture of the Control Panel from my last visit to see what is added or removed and noticed that OneUpdater by VOMPT Limited and SSOption by Deep Repeat Use were installed to the computer the very next day after I provided a service call.

It seems that the students who got permission to work in the library were using the computer that is dedicated to library operations for streaming movies as the computers in the OPAC (online public access catalog) area are configured to restrict such activities by the Barracuda Web Filters.

If you found one or both installed on the computer, please note that you may have to remove them manually through the Control Panel uninstall function. Once that is done, continually updating Malwarebytes daily so that it can catch any hidden traces that may be left behind.

SSOption by Deep Repeat Use

Saturday, November 2, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

Stereosaut Audio Equipment

Friday, November 1, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

I buy and sell most, if not all, my audio equipment through the Amazon.com website as my Amazon Business Prime account allows me as a buyer to have up to 90 days to pay for items or an instant 5% cashback. This gives my customers buying locally the chance to pay me monthly or if they are paying in advance, to get a rebate at the end of the next billing cycle.

Even though the prices on Amazon are great, I found a local shop to be lower with some sweet deals, especially on multiple items. If you are the type that likes to interact with the equipment before you buy, do yourself a favor and check out The Stereosaut Audio Equipment across the parking lot of the of Kelp’s Wild Waterways.

Hackintosh a Dell Optiplex 790

Friday, September 13, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

Today, I will convert or Hackintosh a Dell Optiplex 790 into an iMac. The Dell Optiplex 790 has the perfect form factor to make it into a very useable HTPC (home theatre personal computer) to stream content via the Internet.

Dell Optiplex 790: macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6 (16G29)
00:00 – Configuration of Sierra 10.12.6 (16G29)
01:00 – Preparing the mechanical drive.
02:00 – Realtime report to see any errors.
02:30 – Issue (minor) occurred as expected.
04:00 – Memory-free and clear for the install.
05:00 – Installation of Sierra 10.12.6 (16G29)
06:00 – Installation is complete.
07:00 – Post Installation with 8 minutes testing and tweaking.
14:00 – I forgot to select the ‘Install Clover in the ESP’ option.

Video Connections

Saturday, August 31, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Here are some video connections that I have come across when building or supporting systems.

DMS-59
DMS-59 is often seen on video cards with AMD GPUs shipped by Dell and requires a Male-Female adapter cable and can split the image between a monitor and a secondary target such as a projector. When there is a “No Signal” issue, I have to check and see if it the video cable or the adapter itself as they often get damaged or loose due to the way they are made.

DP
DP (DisplayPort) will fasten to the source and target unlike HDMI will and does support audio and video. Be mindful that there are many audio support versions so do your research.

DVI
DVI comes in two flavors. DVI-D (digital signal only) and DVI-I (both analog and digital). When buying video cards, I make sure that it supports DVI-I so that I can use it with old equipment and is not limited to using a DVI-D cable only. These are more expensive (if available as new) than their DVI-D counterpart but you can get used if the previous owner treated them well.

HDMI
HDMI carries both audio and video so most users choose to buy large TVs and use them as a computer monitor (or use an AIO as an external monitor) for their work and play. Please note that HDMI cables do not fasten to the source or target and will become loose so if there is a display problem, check the connections first. For simplicity, I always try to make the HDMI target a second display unless the customer chooses otherwise.

USB
USB has made connecting devices easily so there is no surprise that it would not be used in an attempt to carry audio and video signals. On an old laptop with a broken LCD, I have utilized a USB to HDMI adapter on USB port to connect to an HDMI TV making the laptop useable until a replacement screen arrived for repairs.

VGA
VGA will not provide audio signals but there are lots of new and old monitors that support it. If getting an SFF or low profile video card, VGA may be missing so that HDMI and DVI can be primary output sources but will have 12 pins on the board to connect and VGA output which will take up a second slot in the computer, bracket, or cutout in the computer case.

Ports

DMS-59 – Female
DP – Female
DVI-D – Female
DVI-I – Female
HDMI – Female
USB – Female
VGA – Female

Cables

Issues with a Canon imageCLASS Printer

Friday, August 30, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Over the years, I have seen numerous issues with a Canon imageCLASS Printer. Some are simple to troubleshoot while others are not. Let us go over what I have encountered.

Local Scanning
One issue that I see frequently is the end-user having trouble to scan with a Canon imageCLASS MF4450 that is hooked up to their workstation, so I wrote an article to cover it so that they and those searching the Internet can refer to it when needed.

Network Scanning
Now, for some reason, the end-users expect to be able to scan to their workstations from a Canon imageCLASS Printer the is set up in a networking environment. An Epson WorkForce is what they need or a Ricoh or HP which can scan to an email address.

Shows Offline
If the Canon imageCLASS Printer suddenly shows offline in the Devices and Printer area, check to see if the USB is disconnected or damaged. If you reconnect the cable after confirming the cable is undamaged and working fine on another computer, you will need to save your programs on the troubled computer and then power down the printer and computer for 30 seconds. Once the time is elapsed, power on both the computer and printer. The printer should now show a ready status with the USB cable connected.

Windows 10 Calculator

Thursday, August 29, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

If you plan on using the Windows 10 Calculator, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Administrator Privileges
If your local or network account has been added to the Administrator group, the Windows 10 Calculator will not be available to you if the User Access Control is not on the “Never Notify” setting in the Control Panel. You will need to use an account without administrator privileges or place the UAC back on the default setting.

User Access Control
If the User Access Control is not on the default setting in the Control Panel, you may find out that the Windows 10 Calculator (along with the other windows 10 apps) will refuse to load. The setting could have been changed by someone who shares the system or by the Global Policy set by your job or educational institution. If the computer belongs to an educational institution, please note that the internal drive may be protected by software (SmartShield by Centurion Technologies) that erases all changes after a restart.

Activate Microsoft Office

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Articles Comments Off

One question that I am asked frequently by clients is my technique on how to activate Microsoft Office since Microsoft Office prompts them frequently to do so or when they move their drive to another Windows system or clone to a larger hard drive.

USB Accessories Disabled

Monday, August 26, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

While using real Mac hardware or a Hackintosh, you may run into the USB Accessories Disabled message. If you wish to learn more about the error message, visit apple.com and then search for “HT204377” and then on click the Support link provided in the search results.

The Cause
The cause could be your USB cable so check it for damages. Often if you unplug the USB cable at both ends from the computer and the device, it will solve the issue. Otherwise, the cable may need to be replaced to check the device and computer slots for debris from dust and moisture.

BEST Plus

Thursday, June 6, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

According to CAL, version 2.0 of BEST Plus is an individually administered, face-to-face oral interview designed to assess the English language proficiency of adult English language learners in the United States. Here are some things that I have discovered during the use of the program and support.

Installing on Windows
When installing BEST Plus 2.0 on Windows 10, be sure that you are using the compatibility mode for Windows 8 to avoid issues during the install. If you forget to do so, you will be told by the BEST Plus installer that the msvcrt40.dll in the system32 folder can not be opened and to check that the disk is not full and that you have access to the destination directory. You can confirm what I am saying by checking the folder and seeing the msvcrt40.dll is not there. If you went online and downloaded one and took ownership, remove it, and utilize my installation method.

Removal on Windows
When the program is installed, it does not show up in the Control Panel and therefore it is a bit harder to do a one-click removal. The CAL.org website (at the time of writing) does not show any removal instructions as well so before you start the installation process, create restore points, or clone your drives.

EFI Folder

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

After posting a video on instructional YouTube video, one question I anticipate to receive is, “Can I get a copy of your EFI Folder?” as that folder is important in operating a Hackintosh and HackBook.

So, what is the EFI Folder? It is a folder that is in the located in EFI System Partition (ESP) of the boot drive and aids in spoofing a device as an iMac or MacBook. Subfolders that you will see in the EFI Folder are APPLE, BOOT, CLOVER and will contain at least the files below.

APPLE
\EXTENSIONS
\FIRMWARE
\UPDATERS

BOOT
\BOOTX64.efi

CLOVER
\ACPI
\CLOVERX64.efi
\config.plist

Revert CoreStorage

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Articles Comments Off

After installing macOS High Sierra, you should revert CoreStorage on your hard drive and doing so is as simple as running a command in the Terminal.

diskutil cs revert /

When done, save your files and restart the system.

Mark a USB Flash Drive as Active

Monday, June 3, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

If you are trying to create a Bootable USB Windows Installer? They are very easy to make but depending on the USB Flash Drive in your possession, you may have trouble creating it so your best option is to utilize DISKPART from the Command Prompt. Unfortunately, while preparing the USB for the 25-minute upload of the uncompressed ISO image to your USB using DISKPART, you get a message telling you that you can not mark a USB Flash Drive as active and that is due to your USB drive being GPT instead of MBR.

Here is my method to create a Bootable USB Windows Installer.
01. Open the Command Prompt
02. Type DISKPART and press enter.
03. Type LIST DISK and wait for it to detect the USB.
04. Type SELECT DISK 1 (should match you USB) and press enter.
05. Type CLEAN and let it erase all the contents.
06. Type CREATE MBR and press enter.
07. Type CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY and press enter.
08. Type SELECT PART 1 and press enter.
09. Type FORMAT QUICK and press enter.
10. Type ACTIVE and press enter.

You can now use Windows Explorer (in Windows 8 and later) to see the contents of your ISO so that you can copy it to your USB Flash Drive. If you are using any versions of Windows 7 system, you will need to install additional software that can read the contents of an ISO file.

Trojans

Sunday, June 2, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Here are some Trojans that I have come across on the Windows Operating System while using Malwarebytes and is the reason why I started to use a Hackintosh and HackBook daily to reduce the risk of infection.

* Trojan.Agent.Trace
* Trojan.Emotet

Dell Latitude E5440 HackBook

Saturday, June 1, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

The Dell Latitude E5440 HackBook is a Hackintosh laptop that is capable of running Windows and macOS from one solid-state or hard disk drive. If you are considering making one on your own, know that it can be easy or difficult depending on your knowledge and access to websites across the globe.

Pre-installation
* Do not connect to the Internet during the install of macOS.
* Solid-state Drive or Hard Disk Drive should be 7mm.

Post Installation
* Temporarily keep the system from the Internet.
* Setup the keyboard once the install is complete.
* Disable GateKeeper to install apps easily.
* Revert CoreStorage partitions
* Enable TRIM Support for your installed SSDs.
* Turn off the auto features of the App Store

Remove the Formatter from an HP LaserJet P2015

Thursday, May 30, 2019 Articles Comments Off

Do you know how to remove the Formatter from an HP LaserJet P2015? I will show you how as you can make some money reselling the part as the HP LaserJet P2015 is still in use to this day or save the expense of hiring a technician to swap out the parts.

What You Will Need
* Belkin 55-Piece Computer Tool Kit
* Patience

00:00 – Formatter in the HP LaserJet P2015
00:15 – Removing Data Cable(s).
00:20 – Removing the Phillips Screw(s).
01:00 – Removing the Ribbon Cable(s).
01:45 – Removing the Formatter.

If you plan on selling the parts, immediately place it in a protective pouch along with a test print from the Operating System as the test print will show that it works and the date and time last checked so that you have proof to show your buyers.

Enable Pause in QuickTime for macOS

Saturday, March 23, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could enable pause in QuickTime for macOS? Well, you can (before Catalina) and here is a demonstration.

macOS Mojave and Earlier
Once your recording starts, QuickTime for macOS may hide itself leaving only the stop button on the menu and its icon on the dock. You will want to click on the QuickTime for macOS icon on the dock and that will make it the focus on the menu when you can now click on the ‘Esc’ key on your keyboard to bring up the Screen Recording window. The Screen Recording will give you the option to pause when you press and hold the ‘Alt’ key on the keyboard.

macOS Catalina and Later
Sadly, macOS Catalina removes the option to press and hold the ‘Alt’ key on the keyboard to bring up the pause button so you need to pause between your actions so that you have sufficient lead to use the TRIM feature in post production. Also, copying the QuickTime for macOS app from Mojave or early will not work.

Virtulization
If the host is macOS Mojave or earlier and the guest is macOS Catalina, then record with the host with the client in fullscreen.

TP-Link TL-WN725N

Friday, March 22, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

The TP-Link TL-WN725N is perfect for a small factor Hackintosh or a HackBook that needs a wireless connection. If your device lacks an optical drive or if you misplaced your disc, you can go online for the Wireless-USB-Adapter-Clover since it is compatible.

Timer for QuickTime Recordings

Thursday, March 21, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

You may have noticed but there isn’t a timer for QuickTime recordings and if you are trying to meet a minimum (ie. for YouTube), you may find out that sometimes, you come up short so here are some ways to keep track.

Dual Monitors
If you have multiple monitors, use one of your free Internet browsers and navigate to Google.com. There, you can use their timer (to limit) or stopwatch (for tracking) with ease.

Siri
If you do not want to use the Internet, Siri can help. Ask “her” to set a timer for you in which she will inform you that she can’t and instead notify (with a popup) you at the time your timer would end.

Smartphone
Your Android or iOS device has apps that will help. Keep in mind that if audio is recording as well, it may pick up audio from your device.

Index of /

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

Whenever you see Index of / as the title of a web page in Search Engines, it is an indication that the website listed is missing an index file and has also allowed directory listing in their .htaccess file located in the root of the site.

.htaccess file
Options +Indexes # or # IndexIgnore *

Towel

Friday, March 1, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

When I travel around, one item I like to have with me is a towel as it has many uses.

Protection
At times, I am given electronics to repair without advance notice so make sure that it does not get scratched on the way to the office for repairs, I carefully wrap it with the towel.

Draft
Sometimes, there is a cold draft that comes in from under doors and with a towel, I can have the air blocked off thus keeping the room to a comfortable temperature. Also, if I need to utilize a space heater, it will reach the set temperature faster and do less work as it is not fighting against the incoming air.

Light
As with the draft, light can enter through the crevices around the door and the towel can help reduce the intensity.

Odor
Keep odors from entering from the hallway outside your door by using a towel as a barrier.

Fake Microsoft Support

Thursday, February 28, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

If you are trapped on a page below, here are a few tips on how to get out of it on Internet Explorer.

Fake Support Site
* lamination.icu

Desktop
On a desktop computer with Internet Explorer as the browser, you will need to disconnect the Ethernet cable from the back of the computer or the wall jack if the desktop computer is in a locked podium or the rear is difficult to reach. Once the Ethernet cable is disconnected from the desktop computer, the web page will not have a chance to refresh the content from the Internet (thus causing an HTTP 404 Error) and this will end your session to allow you to close the browser or tab with the rogue page.

Laptop
On a laptop computer with Internet Explorer as the browser and using a wireless connection, you will need to disable wireless using Control Panel or WiFi switch (if equipped) on the front or side of the laptop. With the laptop disconnected from the Access Point, the webpage will not have a chance to refresh the content from the Internet (thus causing an HTTP 404 Error) and this will end your session thus allowing you to close the browser or tab. If the laptop can access the Internet over an Ethernet cable, please disconnect the Ethernet cable from the laptop as well.

Prevention
To prevent this from happening again to you, look to alternate browsers and use these for surfing the Internet and save Internet Explorer for the Intranet programs at your company or for your online banking as alternate browsers have a feature to prevent a web page from creating dialog boxes over and over. For a list of free Internet browsers, check on your favorite Search Engine then download from their official site to prevent yourself from adding threats on your device. Keep in mind, you may need to use the an Administrator account since the install will affect all users.

0x6100004a

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

When someone has something important to print by the end of the day, they are greeted with a message showing 0x6100004a and since I am the printer guru, it then becomes my task to fix it. Normally, this takes about an hour (removing parts and cleaning them) to properly fix but it can be done in a quarter of the time to get the user to print their document then tweak overnight. Below are just a few ways you can see if the error is valid or a ghost issue and models showing the error message.

Affected Models
* HP OfficeJet 6830 e-All-in-One printers
* HP OfficeJet 6962 All-in-One Printer
* HP OfficeJet 6958 All-in-One Printer
* HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 All-in-One Wireless Printer (in the video)
* HP OfficeJet Pro 6975 All-in-One Printer

Reporting Delay from eBay Partner Network

Friday, February 15, 2019 Articles, News Comments Off

If you are a member of the eBay Partner Network, be sure to keep informed on new developments.

Hi Member,

We are experiencing a delay posting earnings data to our reports; the most recent data posted is from Feb. 11.

We are working to implement a fix and will keep you updated as we know more. You can also check our status page here.

We value your partnership and will keep you updated as we work to fully resolve this delay.

Thank you,

The eBay Partner Network Team

A few hours later, this arrived.

Hi Member,

Last week we shared we had a delay posting earnings data to our reports. Today, we’re writing to let you know we issued a fix, and your reporting is now back to normal.

Thank you for your patience as we worked to fully resolve this issue.

The eBay Partner Network Team

EFI Mounter

Sunday, January 27, 2019 Articles, Tips Comments Off

EFI Mounter is a small utility that mounts an EFI partition on the selected hard drive or USB flash drive. This is a simple wrapper for the terminal’s diskutil command plus a Graphical User Interface. As changes came to macOS, EFI Mounter spawned EFI Mounter v2, EFI Mounter v3 and EFI Mounter v4.

Using Windows 10 in macOS

Friday, December 7, 2018 Articles, Tips Comments Off

If you are wondering how to go about using Windows 10 in macOS, have no fear as it is very simple.

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