Computer related..

Here are some of the tips I want to share.  If they are very few, dont worry, I will definitely update them.

1.  DVD drive related (tray opening, slow read, not recognizing DVD, etc.)

I used to have DVD tray opening problem.  First, the button on the drive stopped to work, next the eject option from right click, even the small hole under the tray did not work for me.  After several attempts, I could not.  Finally, I tried nero (not to burn, just if it can open the tray).  First attempt, it could not, but with the second attempt, it opened, thank god.  From then onwards, I have been keeping a DVD inside the drive all the time.  If something is inside, it will definitely open.


The DVD drive definitely, as the time goes on, will become slow.  The reason is the accumulation of dust on the laser inside the drive.  For me, it started like, slow copying from dvd, unable to play directly from dvd, not at all able to recognize the dvd (displaying CD drive instead of DVD on inserting a DVD), and even if it recognizes the DVD, it shows no data in the DVD even though it is full.  I tried to clean it with lens cleaning DVD and then with a tissue attached to the DVD.  I dont know which one worked, but now it is reading fine.  I didnt try writing (burning) yet.

2.  Small round battery in the motherboard.

Long back, it used to be like while I was watching a movie via DVD, the systems gets hanged in the middle of the movie and a strange screen appears with a sound.  You cannot proceed except for power-off.  Later, I found that it could be the battery (small round battery on the motherboard) issue.  I replaced it with a new one.  After that, no more that problem.

3.  Blank screen, etc.

Some time ago, I was trying to start the system.  It tried to start, but it could not, and displays a blank screen (the SMPS gets start and the CPU makes sound normally, blinking the light).  I opened the case and watched the inner things.  I checked the connections from the SMPS to various parts and I found that the plug connecting to the hard drive from SMPS is a bit loose.  I removed and replugged it.  To my surprise, this fixed the problem and no more blank screen.

4.   How to remove Security Shield 2012 virus (Manual uninstall directions).

This is related to Security Shield rogue virus/malware/spyware.  One day, my system got attacked by this virus.  The source is may be browsing some site (I am not sure white site).  I googled a lot for removal of this virus.  All I can see that this is a rogue virus and you need to have some antispyware/antimalware to remove the virus.  To my knowledge, every antimalware software will check only for threats and they do not delete the virus because with the trial or free versions.  You need to purchase the license, and so I could not go for that antispyware choice.  I asked for one of my friend's assistance and tried to help me via teamviewer.  He too searched for removal on the net and viewed some videos regarding this virus in youtube.

Finally what he did was finding the virus exe file.  Manually tried to locate the virus exe file through Find option.  It showed many exe files.  After search is over, sorted the results with date.  The trick is that the virus exe file is itself the newest exe file to the system because we tried to remove the virus as soon as we are aware of the attack.  Make sure you are dealing with the virus exe file and nothing else.  The name will be a random name.  He renamed the exe file with another name.  He tried to delete the file, but it refused.  We rebooted the system and again used Find to locate the virus exe file.  After Find is over, we again sorted the results with date.  Obviously, again the virus exe file with the name we set was first again.  This time we tried to delete it and it got deleted.  The annoying fake virus alerts were gone.  I think we did it, but I am not sure of any residual registry changes that the virus might have made.  But we got rid of the Security Shield fake virus scan alerts.  My suggestion is that to do this process in safe mode so that the virus does not try to block you from finding, renaming, and deleting it.  I hope this will be helpful.

Mysore Tour Package

Hi,

We went to Mysore from Bangalore on June 17, 2012.
We have decided on going through private tour packages.  I have inquired and gathered the info, but while I went to the nearby travels office for booking the day before the journey, tickets were over.  So, I went to Majestic.  There were many agents and I went to National Travels.  I got the details.  It is like,

Bangalore Departure-7.30 a.m.
Visit Channapatna Toys Centre, Srirangapatna Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Tippu's Fort, Gumbaz, Tippu's Summer Palace, Mysore Saint Philomenas Church, Chamundi Hill, Bull, Maharajah's Palace, Art Gallery and illuminated Brindavan Gardens Dep. 8.00 p.m.

Cost Rs 300/- (Note: All entrance fees and Guide Charges Extra.)

I asked him to reduce and he made it 275/-.

Next day, the journey date, went there at 7:15 and waited for like 30 minutes and to my surprise, the Sri Krishna Travels bus came to the National Travels office and they said that this is the bus.  Even though I got reserved the seats the before day, as the bus is not their, I could not get those seats (its okay, not too back).

While in the journey, stopped at a hotel (Hotel Vision) for breakfast at 9 or something.  Its good.  The Bangalore-Mysore distance by road is around 150 km.  I thought it will take 3 hours, but to my surprise it more than that.

Did not stop at the Channapatna Toys center.

Ranganatha Swamy temple is good.

Tippu's Fort, Gumbaz, and Tippu's Summer Palace seen only being in the bus.

Reached Mysore around 1:30 and the first thing we did is the Lunch.  Its a nice hotel (both price and looks), food is okay.

We were at the Mysore Palace at around 3.  The guide gave us an hour for the palace.  No camera & mobile to be switched off inside the palace.  It was 3:30 by the time we finished with inside the palace.  By the way, one guy, I dont know how, managed took a snap with his mobile inside the palace.  Got back the submitted camera and took some snaps from outside.  En route to church.

No time for Church, again view from the bus only.

Chamundi Hill and Bull, the guide said it will take time for Darshan, do not go for darshan, and instead do darshan from outside.  We hesitated initially to take risk of being jammed in the line, but as many were going, we also opted to go and we took Rs 20/- special darshan and it took around 10-15 mins in the temple.

The temple, the Mahishasur statue (the thing that I have been seeing since my childhood in tourism postcards, this time I am seeing it directly, nice feeling), the Bull (again view from the bus itself) are good.

Now, all the way to Brindavan Gardens.  My mom-in-law was really excited about visiting this place because since her younger days, she used to observe the garden in the movies.  It was all dark by the time we went there.  Bangaloreans dont mind for this.  In and around Bangalore, here they wont insist on heavy lighting and it will be very dim.  Truly speaking, I did not like the lighting in the garden because you could not see anything in that darkness.  Its all crowdy, its like marathon walking inside the garden.  Its big, but it will not give a lasting impression.  The music fountain is okay, not enough.  No time for boating.  It would have been a different experience if there was some lighting or if we could go there before sunset.  Anyway, we tried and took some snaps in the dim light.

Finally, there was some confusion because the bus we came may be is going to Ooty and we (people opted for the single-day Mysore package) got to go in another bus.  There was some counting confusion for the guide and we had to wait for some time to get the seats.  Anyway, this bus is okay, not like the onward journey bus.  On the way to Bangalore, they stopped at Mandya for Dinner.  Oh God! there were like 4-5 buses already waiting near one hotel and this guy also stopped our bus there.  The hotel is not at all good.  We had to wait for 15 minutes to get our turn to sit.  Food is bad.  Adding to this, finally, another bad experience of forgetting  a bag in the hotel.

Finally, around 1 we reached Bangalore, Majestic Bus Stand.  As I thought there will be auto drivers ready to grab us, actually there were.  Luckily, I can say, there was an old auto driver at last of the queque of autos.  He sighed to come there and I tried to bargain and he said dont do bargain because he was reasonable and if I ask for other drivers they will simply scare you with their rates.  I okayed him as the price is okay and he is an old man.  We reached home by 1:30 midnight.

Will get back with my next post :)

Washing Machine

Washing Machine:
I own a Samsung fully automatic Top-Load (WA82BSL) washing machine.  It has been like 5 months and it is so far so good.  I think it is best buy and I would recommend this.
Check the details of the product at,
 http://www.samsung.com/in/consumer/home-appliances/washing-machine/top-loading/WA82BSLEC/XTL

Namma Metro

My recent travel from Tenali to Bangalore.
Booked ticket from APSRTC.
Journey experience bad; mainly because the quality, service, maintenance, etc. are not at par with private operators and that too charging more than the peers.
SRS is rather good.