Hotmail?

Are you under the impression that Hotmail was invented by Microsoft. We had it in Texas waaaaay before they thought it up....

About me

My dad called me Timbocephus from time to time growing up. He was a Hank William fan at some point I believe.

Backing up partitions or home directory on a linux system

Handling partition backup archives

Using ntfsclone...

  

Create compressed archive:

sudo ntfsclone --save-image -o - /dev/sdXn | gzip -c > /path/to/archive/backup.img.tgz

Notes: Source device should not be mounted, destination path must point to another mounted device.

Restoring from backup above:

gunzip -c backup.img.gz | ntfsclone --restore-image --overwrite /dev/hda1 -

Notes: See notes just above... same status recommended. Also target partition

must be large enough to hold the unzipped data content. 

Using dd...

Create compressed archive:

sudo dd if=/dev/sdXN | gzip -c > /path/to/backup/filename_img.tgz

Notes: source device should not be mounted, destination path must point to another mounted device.

Restoring from backup above: 

sudo gunzip -c /path/to/backup/filename_img.tgz | dd of=/dev/sdXN

Notes: See notes just above... same status recommended. Also the target

partition must be large enough to hold all unzipped data content.

Ultimate Solution... Automate

Now that my home tree resides on a mounted separate partition from my SSD boot

device, I can now backup my data Using a shell script envoked by cron to keep my 

data securely backed up without human intervention.

#!/bin/sh
#
# shell script to run as root via cron scheduling which will keep my home
# directory backed up to device:
#      bd52d6a2-176c-482b-8c6b-164599a59882 (usb 3.0 ext. drive-500mb)
#
# rsync ${SWITCH} ${srcPath} ${dstPath} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log
#
# (See static data settings below for required switches to efficiently sync
# my backup copy and remove deleted files etc.)
# 
# I have added "power on/power off" commands to the external USB device before
# and after the backup rsync commands respectively to minimize the power on
# time incurred on that backup device. It, the device, is a 500GB 2.5" Western
# Digital HDD that has spent an unknown number of power on hours in a laptop
# computer in its unknown past.

# I may replace current backup device with a SSD eventually.

# Here is the crontab entry I employ to backup my home directory. Once a week
# currently (11pm on Sunday):
# 0 23 * * 0 /home/tim/bin/auto_home_backup.sh > /dev/null 2>&1 

# Note the "SHELLYPLUGIP" (ipaddress below) must match network address of device: In my case its a 4th generation Shelly plug device. Of course your mileage may vary here if you use another type of device for power switching.

# static data
CMD="/usr/bin/rsync "
SWITCHLIVE="-avW --progress --delete "
SWITCHTEST="-avnW --progress --delete "
TIMESTAMP=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S")
SRCPATH=/home/tim/
DSTPATH=/media/tim/bd52d6a2-176c-482b-8c6b-164599a59882/home/tim
LOGPATH=/var/log/timbo/
SHELLYPLUGIP=192.168.1.123

# 1. Output startup timestamp to log file.
echo -n "Backup beginning at " > ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
date >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1

# 2. Send external drive power on command.
curl -X POST -d '{"id":1, "method":"Switch.Set", "params":{"id":0, "on":true}}' http://${SHELLYPLUGIP}/rpc

# Optional: Add error checking for above curl command
#if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
#    echo "Command sent successfully."
#else
#    echo "Failed to send command."
#fi 
# I probably won't care about this testing.

# 3. Wait 10 seconds for disk power up and auto mounting of external drive.
sleep 10

# 4. Show command structure to be used in log file.
echo "Running this command: ${CMD}${SWITCHLIVE}${SRCPATH} ${DSTPATH} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log" >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log  2>&1

# 5. Test if mount point exists
if test -d "${DSTPATH}" ; then
# 6a. Backup live command !!!!
    ${CMD}${SWITCHLIVE}${SRCPATH} ${DSTPATH} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
else
# 6b. Skip and notify rsync problem to log file.
    echo "Destination path not mounted rsync skipped!" >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log  2>&1
fi

# 7. Wait 5 seconds before power down for external drive.
sleep 5

# 8. Send external drive power down command.
curl -X POST -d '{"id":1, "method":"Switch.Set", "params":{"id":0, "on":false}}' http://${SHELLYPLUGIP}/rpc

# 9. Output shutdown timestamp to end of log file.
echo -n "Backup ending at " >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
date >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1




Converting video files...

Converting downloaded m4v to CD/DVD

(ex. youtube file via youtubedl command line)    

 

Step 1: Convert W4V to a MP4 Video Format

 

You can use VLC media player to convert the W4V file to a video format like MP4, which supports both video and audio. Here's how:

1. Open VLC: Launch VLC media player on your computer.
2. Add the W4V file: Go to "Media" > "Convert/Save". Select the W4V file you want to convert.
3. Choose the output format: Select MP4 as the output format.
4. Set the destination: Choose the folder where you want to save the converted MP4 file

4. Start the conversion: Click "Convert" to begin the process. 

  

Step 2: Convert to ISO image as follows:

Using the shell script (video2dvdiso.sh) you will find here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Convert_any_Movie_to_DVD_Video

 video2dvdiso.sh file_from_step_one_above [optional additional MP4 files as desired or not]

Note: This always generates a file called dvd.iso. It will warn you if you are going to overwrite an existing file and you can elect to overwrite or not as you desire. It has three dependencies that you must have installed or it won't work.

Note: Also note that there are many additional tips on making a more elaborate UI for your resulting cd/dvd if you so desire.

Step 3: Burn your CD/DVD as you please with kb3 or whatever else you like.

Keurig K-Slim won't flush coffee from pod at end of brew cycle anymore... fixed.

Keurig K-Slim coffee maker 

Symptoms:

1. Descale procedure did NOT resolve the idiot light being on for periodic descaling procedure.

2. After brew cycle the air push at the end that forces excess liquid out of the brew pod before the power off occurs not working anymore.

This is the business end of the K-Slim with the outer shell removed.

I have a couple of spare old machines that were replaced under mfg warranty. Yes these machines are not very durable it seems. But the symptom above is easily corrected if you have a spare mother board available to you.

My trouble shooting involved disassembling a spare machine and testing if the air pump was able to run on test leads hooked up in right polarity from test leads from a car battery. Simply connect the + terminal to the red lead on the motor and - terminal to the black lead on the motor. I used some straight pins inserted into the modular 2 lead female plug so I could hook up my test leads... simple.

 Disassembly is covered  in various easily accessible YouTube videos. The secret is to remove all four small phillips head screws from the bottom of the unit before you attempt to remove the outer casing. Two of the screws are concealed by rubber plugs. It's not terribly tricky but I find you must remove the rear housing panel that faces the water reservoir before you can get enough clearance to get the main housing off. The main cover also has to be pried loose from the front facing panel piece. I am referring to where you place your coffee cup at the front of the machine when making coffee. After that, the cover comes away pretty easily.

Next I did the same thing (Case removal) to my formerly working K-Slim. In my case both air pump motors worked fine. I conclude from elementary logic that the motherboard is failed on my newer unit I am trying to fix. Another test is that you should see about 40 ohms resistance on that air pump motor.

I took several photos of the wiring attachments from various closeup angles to facilitate getting all of the fiddly little wiring leads back in the right places. You may regret if you skip this step! I had to reattach the wiring etc on my unit twice because when I checked against the photos after the first attempt I noticed I had flipped two of the big AC wires at the bottom of the mother board.

Remove all the small DC wiring modular connectors first.

There are 5 spaded connectors for AC connections. Three across the bottom of the board and two on the left edge of the board.  The three AC connections at the bottom of the board are the last things to remove. All five of these female connectors have a lock tab in the center that keeps them from working loose from the male tabs on the motherboard. You must depress the tiny lock tab and apply pressure in the removal direction (away from the motherboard) at the same time (I told you it was fiddly right?). 

Now remove the two AC spade connectors on the left edge of the motherboard.

Next you should pry gently on the plastic retaining hooks that hold the motherboard in place at the top. There is one on each side of the motherboard. Easily done one at a time.  Now you can lift the motherboard vertically away from the base and you can tilt it forward once clear of the slots at the base of the unit. 

Now look at the back side of the motherboard . You will find a neoprene hose that must be freed to disconnect it from the coffee maker. This hose end has a hard collar that works as a "hose clamp". You can easily pry back this collar and then pull the hose end off of the back of the motherboard. 

The next thing is a ribbon cable that feeds the control panel on the flip up K-cup lid. It pull out vertically away from the motherboard socket. There is no lock just the insertion friction of the contacts only.

Lastly you can now  flip the motherboard  away from the unit  so you can access those fiddly lock tabs on the last three AC connectors along the bottom of the board. This was the hardest part of the procedure for me and also where I fouled up and switched two of the connections.

Now simply (hah!) reverse all those steps and "bob's you uncle".

Is your computer workstation a disaster area?

 Mine usually is. Today I made a major stride in simplifying one phase of daily work needs. Now I can find my small USB devices/adapters when needed without the usual snipe hunt. All you need is scissors and some hook and loop selfadhesive materials. Photo is self explanatory.

This is the inside of the right door to my workstation cabinet.   No more digging for buried treasures.

Geanealogical high & low lights

• Jabez Cottle (1747 - 1820) Whaler, poet, elder, American colonist 4th great granduncle
• Samuel Highsmith (1804 - 1849) Alleged to have Santa Anna coat and saddle trophies Not actual relative but only 7 degrees seperated from me
• George Washington Cottle (1811-1836) Alamo defender  2nd cousin four times removed
• James Sidney Alsup AKA James P Gorman (1813 - 1887) Alleged murderer 2nd great granduncle
• Peter Cagle (1844 - 1895) Builder of historic northern Georgia family home Great grandfather
  
• Wade Alsup (1855-1877) Horse thief and lynching victim 1st cousin 3 times removed
• Josephine Owaissa Cottle AKA Gale Storm  (1922-2009) 1st cousin once removed