Zac Garrett - Latest Comments

Re: Why Tech Support Sucks

Wildman — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:25:49 -0000

This is extremely aggravating for a tech. Obviously the only reason we are calling is because it has something to do with a provider. If it was something as simple as starting a service or manipulating some random function we would have corrected it ourselves. Granted, many companies only outsource after "normal" business hours, but for a large percentage of us, that is when the problems occur. Not all techno geeks like myself are sitting at home 24/7 waiting for a problem to occur while glued to the computer, TV or whatever else. We do have lives. The last thing I want to do is come home from the bar and find someone with an unintelligible accent that wants to say that their name is "Susan" or "Robert!" You can barely pronounce the name and I’m supposed to call you that? I just finished telling you that I have already been through steps 1-31 and you are still asking me about step 2?!? Gimme a tech with a brain and from this side of the pond please!

Re: Single-Core, Dual-Core, Quad-Core, What does it mean?

Oziel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:45:39 -0000

Wow dude first of all i do not know that much about computers, but i do love them and i did not know what cores were until now. Personally i think this information is great and the way you describe it makes it much easy to understand it.
Thanks for this information it really helps now I am now going to waste my money on something like this Thanks again man,

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Stefan Huszics — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:52:40 -0000

Today I tried with Nvidia 180.41 and mplayer-vdpau-3532130 (used to have 180.22 and mplayer-vdpau-3402051).

Disabling ssa/ass subtitles in SMplayer is not any longer needed. :)
Besides that several media files that used to not work is now working, so in general things are improving.

Re: Photo a Day Project — Day 1

GG — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:40:28 -0000

The link to your photo gallery is not working...

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

JohnA — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:20:43 -0000

scratch that... had to install 'patch' to get it working... I now have another error:

ion -Wno-pointer-sign -Wdeclaration-after-statement -std=gnu99 -Wall -Wno-switch -Wpointer-arith -Wredundant-decls -O4 -march=native -mtune=native -pipe -ffast-math -fomit-frame-pointer -D_REENTRANT -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE64_SOURCE -I. -Ilibdvdread4 -Ilibdvdnav -c -o vdpauvideo.o vdpauvideo.c
In file included from vdpau.h:48,
from vdpauvideo.c:32:
/usr/include/vdpau/vdpau_x11.h:44:22: error: X11/Xlib.h: No such file or directory
In file included from vdpau.h:48,
from vdpauvideo.c:32:
/usr/include/vdpau/vdpau_x11.h:122: error: expected ')' before '*' token
/usr/include/vdpau/vdpau_x11.h:134: error: expected '=', ',', ';', 'asm' or '__attribute__' before 'vdp_device_create_x11'
/usr/include/vdpau/vdpau_x11.h:158: error: expected declaration specifiers or '...' before 'Drawable'
make[1]: *** [vdpauvideo.o] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/squeeze/vdpau/mplayer-vdpau/libavcodec'
make: *** [libavcodec/libavcodec.a] Error 2

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

JohnA — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:59:15 -0000

Does anyone else get an error when running ./checkout-patch-build.sh? Mine runs fine for a while, but errors on the actual patching:

A libdvdnav/Makefile.am
A libdvdnav/README.MAP
A libdvdnav/remap.h
U libdvdnav
Checked out revision 1166.
+ patch -p0
./checkout-patch-build.sh: 1: patch: not found
squishy@squishy-desktop:~/vdpau$

Re: Cabin Fever | Zac Garrett

Shelby White — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:38:17 -0000

Love this shot. Pretty warm, but I really enjoy it.

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Avinash — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:36:16 -0000

Zac Garrett Thank you for this excelent guide,
i am new to linux so i install most things from synaptic package manager, when i try installing smplayer from SPM it also wants to install nvidia-glx-180 which screws my xserver, plz help how to install smplayer without loading other nvidia drivers, above guide worked well with manual nvidia driver install. Thank u.......

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Zac Garrett — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:11:13 -0000

From my experience there is no major difference between the versions when compiling software, such as mplayer-vdpau. You just want to make sure to do an apt-get update and upgrade prior to compiling the software. That should not matter too much though.

The only thing that could really screw anything up in the steps I listed above is the installation of the NVIDIA drivers. Other than that one aspect the rest is quite safe; you dont even need root access to do it.

If you do have any issues please let me know.

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Hwang seungjae — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:34:25 -0000

Thanks for your excellent guide.
But I do not use Ubuntu 8.10 but use 7.10
Can I follow these guide and apply vdpau without any problem?
or
This guide is only for 8.10.

thanks for listening.

Re: Python XChat System Information Script | Zac Garrett

Zac Garrett — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:39:40 -0000

Which aspect of the script is not working? Are you running Linux with a fairly recent version of python installed on it?

Re: Python XChat System Information Script | Zac Garrett

haku — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:01:59 -0000

doesnt work

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Zac Garrett — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:01:31 -0000

Crap. I changed the theme and the comments went away. They are around somewhere I am sure. Will go about trying to get them back working.

EDIT: Found out that my testing URL structure screwed up old comments on this post. I am trying to get in touch with the Disqus people to get it resolved. You can currently find the old comments here: http://zacgarrett.disqus.co...

EDIT AGAIN: The problem has been resolved. The disqus team is quick.

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Stefan Huszics — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:48:21 -0000

Um... where did all the comments go, including my instructions for how to play via SMplayer instead? A bit more convenient than making several bash scripts to start things manually from commandline.

Lets try again

* in "Preferences > General"
Enter the correct path to your mplayer-vdpau executable
Clear the field for the screenshot directory

* in "Preferences > Video"
Output driver: vdpau

* in "Subtitle > font and colors"
Enable normal subtitles
(i.e. disable the ssa/ass subtitles)

* in "Advanced > Options for Mplayer"
-vc ffmpeg12vdpau,ffh264vdpau,ffwmv3vdpau,ffvc1vdpau,
(yes, with the "," end)

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Stefan Huszics — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:40:43 -0000

For those that want to play files with SMplayer instead of creating a lot of command line scripts.

Get latest SMplayer (currently 0.6.6) and change the following settings

* in "Preferences > General"
Enter the correct path to your mplayer-vdpau executable
Clear the field for the screenshot directory

* in "Preferences > Video"
Output driver: vdpau

* in "Subtitle > font and colors"
Enable normal subtitles
(i.e. disable the ssa/ass subtitles)

* in "Advanced > Options for Mplayer"
-vc ffmpeg12vdpau,ffh264vdpau,ffwmv3vdpau,ffvc1vdpau,
(yes, with the "," end)

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

Michael — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:34:34 -0000

This is an *excellent* guide to getting VDPAU going. Any problems I encountered along the way were either due to bugs in VDPAU itself (a) or hardware related (b). MANY thanks on this great guide.

(a) Not all h.264 levels are yet supported by VDPAU.
(b) In my case, under Ubuntu 8.10 with an 8400GT, sound is routed through the DVI port-->HDMI adapter and requires an SPDIF connection between the on-mobo sound card and the video card. My previous method was to use a separate connection for audio via analog audio out. Hey, one less cable between my HTPC and my TV. Not complaining! :)

Re: Cabin Fever | Zac Garrett

GG — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:04:08 -0000

wow! that is cool!
Z- can you call me?

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

jonik — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:05:13 -0000

or this
#/bin/bash
killall gnome-screensaver
/home/chickens/vdpau/mplayer-vdpau/mplayer -vc ffh264vdpau,ffmpeg12vdpau,ffvc1vdpau,ffwmv3vdpau, -vo vdpau "$1"
gnome-screensaver

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

jonik — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:54:29 -0000

it'll better if you have spaces in file names
#/bin/bash
killall gnome-screensaver
/home/chickens/vdpau/mplayer-vdpau/mplayer -vc ffh264vdpau -vo vdpau "$1"
gnome-screensaver

Re: Right Price for Tech Support | Zac Garrett

Chris — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:06:00 -0000

Haha, not bad. Joking aside, this could be a good start. I think it needs a little tweaking though; separate trees for Linux, Windows and Mac OSs. As one commenter pointed out a Linux machine with no antivirus needn't be penalized. Maybe tack on the $10 for p2p only if they have virus/spyware infestations.

Re: Installing Mplayer VDPAU on Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10 | Zac Garrett

juha — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:19:30 -0000

I did everything according to this howto but I am not able to view h264 videos. I am using 8200 integrated chip and ubuntu intrepid ibex with 180.22 nvidia driver. Always its crashing with
Error 23 at libvo/vo_vdpau.c:736

I have tried changing these "atributes"
max_references = ((12 * 1024 * 1024) / surf_size) + 2
max_references = ((12 * 1024 * 1024) / surf_size) + 11
and
#define NUM_VIDEO_SURFACES_H264 1-22
after every change make and make install, but still it ends up with error.

Re: Analog TV Channels Going Dark, Now What?

free fta — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:33:57 -0000

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useful posts.I consider that blogers it is possible to name many journalists.

Good luck

Re: Right Price for Tech Support | Zac Garrett

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:22:15 -0000

You owe me 5 dollars.

+25 Base
+10 Running slow
+15 Home built
+5 XP
-10 AVG
-10 AdAware
-10 SpyBot
-20 Firefox
-10 Open source software.
-------------------------
- $5

Where do I sign up? I assume that the open source discount is a one time thing. If not, you owe me a lot more.

I have found it better to assess the problem first then adjust my hourly charge using 2 factors. 1) do they stupidly DL everything? 2) Do they seem like a decent human being? (i.e. are they yelling on the phone, are they rude/disruptive in my place of business)

Re: Right Price for Tech Support | Zac Garrett

jamy015 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:14:03 -0000

Base Price: $25
Wireless: +$10
Off-brand: +$15
XP: +$5
Avast: -$5
Spybot: -$10
Any Registry Cleaner (CCleaner): +$20
Firefox: -$20
Open Source software (FileZilla): -$10
Open Source software (Pidgin): -$10
Open Source software (OpenOffice.org): -$10
Hmm, would cost me 40 dollars...

Re: Right Price for Tech Support | Zac Garrett

Charlie — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:47:18 -0000

I have an off brand machine (SelfBuilt). + $15
Vista. + $50
I have Utorrent installed. +$10
I have AVG installed. -$10
I have Firefox Installed. -$20
I have IE7 installed . -$5
I have open source software installed. -$10
Did you try to resolve this issue yourself? Yes: +25

It would cost me $85 plus problem.. so minimum of: $95