Trying out FreeDOS on a Barebone Motherboard

As a Linux user, it's rare that I find myself having to resort to a different operating system to resolve hardware and software issues. However, there are still hardware out there that is surprisingly still dependent on DOS-based or MS-DOS based operating systems. Motherboards and a few graphics cards are examples of systems that require DOS-based utilities to maintain their firmware.

Having long forgotten my exposure to MS-DOS during the dark days of the 80s when BASIC, WordPerfect, and Wordstar was all the rage, it was not without curiosity that I downloaded FreeDOS to run a BIOS utility from the commandline. The developers of FreeDOS did a great job with their site and kept things nice and simple. Since I really didn't need any other applications, I downloaded the FreeDOS 1.0 Base, which was a frugal 8MB. Users who want to try out an updated DOS experience can download the 40MB 1.1 release, while those who want to check out the code can take a look at the 49MB 1.0 Source.

Setting up your barebone system

You can try out FreeDOS with just a working motherboard with a processor, power supply, a stick of RAM, and a display (plus a metal paperclip for triggering the power switch).

Create a bootable FreeDOS LiveUSB using a USB flash drive and UNetbootin. I used my spare FAT32 USB stick and launched dependable UNetbootin to build the LiveUSB. Now, there are several ways to create a LiveCD or LiveUSB without having to use UNetbootin, which is well-known for creating Linux LiveUSBs, but I found it convenient and saved me the trouble of having to work out DOS peculiarities.

Trying out FreeDOS

Once you have your motherboard all ready for use, connect the LiveUSB and power up by clipping the power pins on the System Panel on your motherboard.

UNetbootin's menu will display a list of options. Take note that UNetbootin was always intended for Linux systems so the menu entries aren't quite accurate. Some of the items listed will trigger no response when clicked, particularly entries past 2. The entry fdos won't work either. Click Default or freedos on the menu.

The FreeDOS menu will be displayed with an option to install to the hard disk or boot to Safe Mode. Since I didn't have any hard disks nor any CDROM drives connected, I clicked FreeDOS Safe Mode (don't load any drivers) to get to the DOS prompt.

I was able to run the DOS utility for the motherboard firmware without issues. Afterwards, I played around with DOS commands but kept typing Linux commands out of habit. I was seized by nostalgia for the days of floppy disks but quickly remembered it wasn't just all about Sierra games like Police Quest and Leisure Suit Larry. Embarrassingly enough, I kept typing ls rather than dir while I was mucking around the DOS prompt. Thankfully, Microsoft's immortal command CTRL+ALT+DEL worked fine and got me out of there.

Conclusion? It was nice trying out an updated version of Microsoft's venerable DOS system. Reviewing DOS commands and comparing them with Linux reminds me just how easy it is to shift from one system or paradigm into a new one - and how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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It's the Ebook not the Ereader that matters

Category: TechToday

With new versions of Nook, Kobo, and the Kindle out, I frequently look at my first-generation Sony PRS-600 ereader (with its slow processor and poorly lit screen) with a mixture of derision and pride. However, once I pick it up during my lunch break and start reading, I realize that pride overturns any other negative emotion - two solid years of reading news and dozens of novels and manga have made up for the dollars I overpaid for the device.

I was talking to a co-worker the other day and she told me that she owned a first generation Kindle. I asked her what she was reading and she said she doesn't use it much anymore because she can't get much ebooks in Shanghai. It reminded of reviews and comments from Forbes, PCWorld, CNET, and other news sites when ereaders first came out. I remember an article saying that most people who received an ereader as a gift eventually toss it unceremoniously to the couch or to some unexplored corner of the bed to be neglected until remembered. For a lot of non-bookworm early adopters, ereaders went out of fashion faster than netbooks.

Amidst impressive specifications like screen size, annotation features, Android OS, touchscreen, and apps, people forget that it's not the ereader that's important - it's the book stored on the ereader not the ereader itself. Sure, the idea is just a digitally updated version of Don't judge a book by its cover and Bruce Lee's Don't look at the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory (from the classic uncut version of 1973's Enter the Dragon). But it's still true.

"Read. Or I'll break your thumbs."

Sure, I'm craving for the new Kobo Glow or Kindle Paperwhite, but when I pick up my PRS-600 and start reading a book like Neil Gaiman's American Gods or Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, I remember exactly why I bought an ereader: To read.

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Check offline web services using Downrightnow.com

Category: TechToday

It's surprising how many people still call up their ISPs when a web service like Tumblr or Facebook isn't working when all other websites are. Tech support guys roll their eyes when other sites work but the customer still insists it's the ISPs fault. Although outages for network services are less common due to complex redundant measures companies set up, anything from a hacker attack to a storm like Sandy can bring down any data center.

Although there are a lot of sites that provide updates regarding web service downtimes, you can check the status of a few popular services such as Foursquare, Gmail, and even YouTube using Downrightnow.com. Downrightnow uses collected user input and official announcements to track service outages. So, before you start berating AT&T, Time Warner Cable, or Verizon's harassed tech support, visit Downrightnow first and save yourself a sore throat and grey hairs.

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Recommended BBC Podcasts: Current Events, Science, and Documentaries

Category: TechToday

Contrary to what devoted users of Twitter and Facebook think, microblogging and using social networking services doesn't mean you're well-informed with current events. Old technologies such as RSS and newsreaders have done a good job for years providing current events to the well-informed, but they are considered clunky compared to today's obsession with instantaneous services and cloud apps. Even podcasts, which can be scheduled for download, are starting to lose their appeal and user base due to the proliferation of instant access to web sites using tablets and smartphones.
The downside of using mobile devices to consume news, however, is that there's always a distraction. I don't have any installed gaming apps on my iPad but I'm always distracted by my sideloaded Esquire magazines and old issues of Spectacular Spider-Man. Moreover, there's always the temptation to pull up a video or two of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. So what's a guy to do to get some news without having to browse BBC, Channel News Asia, China Daily and other news sites on the go?



I'm probably a small minority, but I still download audio podcasts regularly to get my fix of current events and news. Browsing the aforementioned news web sites is great but downloading news podcasts are better because you end up listening and learning events you would have otherwise skipped. The iPad is better for consuming videos and general entertainment, but my iPod Touch is perfect for the numerous current event programs I download using iTunes.

BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4 . . .

Sometime in the last 15 years, I discovered that BBC provides the best podcasts on the Internet. The programs they provide are relevant, intelligent, comprehensive, and truly educational. In fact, most of the content complements many free online courses from iTunesU and Khan Academy or assist in anyone's general education. I've been listening to BBC's podcasts for a few years now and although there were occasions when I found some of the news anchors/presentors and interviewers snotty, overly aggressive, and even arrogant (that guy from In Our Time Archives could be pretty defensive when it comes to the UK), the news items are selected well and presented with skill and tact. Moreover, the podcasts are free even to users that aren't living in the U.K. Plus, they have a huge selection of programs encompassing a wide range of genres and fields. MSNBC, Reuters, TED, and CNN certainly can't say the same.



What's on my iPod? Here are some great podcasts that are consistent and can be considered quality programs. Unlike 90% of the podcasts available in the Apple Store, these podcasts are updated regularly and are timely and exceptionally well-done. The best part about BBC podcasts is that archived episodes are still available for downloading:

1. BBC World Update: Daily Commute - This is arguably my primary source of news information. And it's not because of the British accent. If you want to keep yourself up-to-date with European and American news, skip CNN, download BBC World Update Daily Commute daily or even weekly and learn what's happening to the rest of the world. When work or Linux gets  in the way, I download the missed podcasts and play them while working on Corel Painter or jogging during the weekends. If I ever had a kid, I'd delete his/her Rihanna playlist and stuff Daily Commute on his iPod.
2. Thought of the Day - This program features a 3-5 minute reflection from a variety of religious representatives. The presenters include Sikh leaders, Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, missionaries, bishops, and rabbis. The program isn't a sermon, but rather a personal and often intimate exposition from a spiritual point of view regarding a current event such as the U.S. elections, dieting, suicides, and the London riots. You don't have to have a religion or be religious to enjoy and appreciate this podcast.
3. Click - This podcast complements the Click TV show, but is generally more lighthearted and fun with Bill Thomson ("studio expert") and Gareth Mitchell. Even though I visit sites such as Wired and Engadget on a regular basis, I still find myself drawn to Click for its somewhat industry-focused look at technology at work. Gareth, the lead presenter, is a genial and patient host. Abrasive and rude Bill Thomson, who seems to intentionally oppose Gareth just for the sake of sounding intelligent, is a tool with an exaggerated sense of self-importance. However, the show does unearth emerging tech being implemented in places like Australia and Africa, which otherwise would be overlooked in traditional shows or U.S.-based web sites. It's a brief and easy show to consume, especially for those interested in science and electronics.
4. BBC World Service Documentaries - Arguably the most educational of all of BBC's library of podcasts, these documentaries highlight specific stories from the past, present, and future. Some are purely pedestrian, such as a museum of broken hearts in Europe, while others are decidedly disturbing. Stories ranging from the simple livelihood of African women to the radical racists in Russia, provide you with an incredibly broad but enlightening look at other societies and countries. It's an eye-opener and a program I would recommend teachers to play in a history or social sciences class regularly. The depth and detail are pretty amazing. Some of the episodes are extremely long or segmented into parts, but all are worth a listen.
5. Point of View - Point of View isn't necessarily my favorite BBC podcast, but it certainly is the most intelligent. Point of View is updated sporadically, but when an episode does come out, it takes a few runs to actually understand the message of the speaker. Some of the discussions are grossly opinionated and close-minded, but that's the whole point of the program.

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Choosing updated drivers for Nvidia 310M Optimus (Lenovo Ideapad Z360)

Category: TechToday

So you've had your Nvidia Optimus-powered laptop for a few months (or a year and half) now and you've seen the advantages in battery power when in Windows 7, and suffered the travails of being a Linux user without Nvidia drivers.

You run a Windows Update like a good Windows 7 user and see that Windows Update indicates both an Intel HD Graphics Adapter and nVidia Graphics Adapter driver. Should you install both?  You visit Nvidia's support page and there's a huge driver package (around 220MB) for your laptop.

Which driver should you install?

The First Question

The first question you should be asking is if you need to update your Nvidia Optimus driver. I don't use my Lenovo Ideapad Z360 for gaming and it handles high-definition videos fine as well as casual work on Corel Painter and Corel Paint Shop Pro. Moreover, I'm normally on my openSUSE partition via dual-boot, which doesn't require any driver update.

However, if you've recently reinstalled your operating system (a clean install) or suffered a major breakdown due to a game you installed (commercial or pirated), it's best to install an updated Nvidia graphics driver for obvious reasons.

Windows Update

If you've been running Windows Update at all, you've probably learned to select only the essential updates and judiciously installed optional ones. The Nvidia drivers for the 310M Optimus fall under optional updates. The tricky question is that under optional updates is also an Intel HD Graphics driver update. Since the Nvidia Optimus feature switches back and forth between the Nvidia and Intel chipset, should you install one or both?

Nvidia's Driver Support Site

To their credit, Nvidia attempts to make downloading the correct drivers easy and if you know your setup well, you can browse for it manually without having to download the Java applet that detects your GPU. 



Nvidia also helpfully tells you that the current driver their offering is also available via Windows Update.



Your gamer and hardcore PC friends, on the other hand, tell you not to trust Windows Update and insist you download the drivers directly from Nvidia.

Understanding the Provided Drivers

Let's deal with Windows Update first. Clicking on the Optional Updates will display an Intel HD Graphics adapter and Nvidia graphics adapter. 



If you install just the Intel HD Graphics adapter, Intel's latest drivers will "override" your Optimus feature. Windows 7 will default to just using Intel HD, rendering your 1GB discrete GPU inert. In fact, the Nvidia Control Panel that appears in your system tray and allows you to control Optimus and the 310M GPU settings will no longer be displayed and running it manually will trigger a message indicating there is currently no Nvidia Graphics display available.



If you install both the Intel HD Graphics adapter and the Nvidia graphics adapter, Intel will still win out and you'll find yourself having to reinstall the Nvidia Control Panel or launching it manually.

If you install the Nvidia graphics adapter, you'll be running an updated Nvidia driver approved by Microsoft. Now, here's where it gets slightly confusing. Should you install the drivers directly from Nvidia or from Windows Update? In my case, I installed the October 2012 drivers for the Nvidia 310M from Microsoft Windows Update because the driver version was more updated than the R304 Geforce driver recommended by the Nvidia website. Moreover, the installation package from Windows Update was smaller and took less than 4 minutes to download and install compared to Nvidia's recommended 220MB download. After rebooting, everything in Windows worked as normal with the Nvidia Control Panel in the System Tray and Optimus doing its thing.


Windows update actually provided a slightly more updated version compared to the Nvidia site, but Nvidia's driver was probably prepped for Windows 8.

Things to try

If you have the time for it, install the Intel HD driver using Windows Update to update the Intel drivers (you still use them when Optimus switches to the Intel GPU). After rebooting, you can then install Nvidia's latest support drivers.  The worst that can happen is that Windows will not be able to load a visible desktop. In that case, switch to Safe Mode and roll back or uninstall the Nvidia drivers.

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QuickFix: Check BIOS version in openSUSE

Category: openSUSE

Most motherboards don't really need a BIOS update and work fine with Linux, but if you need to check your BIOS version for one reason or the other, you don't have to reboot since openSUSE's Yast can provide the version for you.

To check the BIOS version from within openSUSE:

1. Run Yast2 or click Alt+F2 and type Yast.
2. Under the hardware section, click Hardware Information.



3. Expand the BIOS list and click SMBIOS.

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Should I update my Linux kernel?

Category: Linux

A new Linux kernel doesn't make the headlines as much as a new release of Mac OSX, iOS, and of course, Microsoft Windows. But it is darn exciting news for the Linux community especially when they add functionality such as a leaner codebase, new hardware support, or a performance boost. That said, last year's jump to 3.x from 2.x wasn't a huge deal though it was one way to celebrate Linux's anniversary.

Do you have to do something special when a new Linux kernel is released? Not really. If you run your Linux distribution's online updates regularly, you probably aren't missing out. However, some kernel changes are so big that you would need to update your whole Linux distribution and reinstall the whole thing. Like the nice folks over the Linux Kernel Archives mention on their homepage, what you need is a Linux distribution not download a Linux kernel.

Personally, I'm not an early adopter because I'm always satisfied with my Linux distribution's performance and functionality. I don't upgrade to a new Ubuntu or openSUSE release either unless I'm having hardware problems with my current build. I've been carrying the same Knoppix version on my USB for a couple of years now and it hasn't failed me yet. My current version of Clonezilla LiveCD isn't updated either and is still great for backing up.

According to ArsTechnica, the next Linux kernel release is focusing on the ARM platform and possibly touch input support. If you're happy with your nicely set up but aging desktop or laptop running the latest Fedora release, don't worry about it. Run a fresh and clean install of your Linux distribution when you need to. Enjoy your Linux system if you're happy with it. The kernel isn't going anywhere.

To check your Linux kernel version from a Terminal like Konsole or LXTerminal type the command uname -r.

On a KDE system, open the KDE KickOff menu/Application Launcher and click My Computer. Under OS Information, you'll see your current Linux kernel, your Linux distribution release, and KDE version. Now you can impress your friends and say, "I'm running Linux 3.4.5-2.10, what about you?"

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