enrii.blog

Few months ago, I bought my Sony Ericsson z520i. Since it's not too expensive to get a bluetooth dongle, I bought myself a MSI Btoes bluetooth dongle, to try on some synchronizing from my phone to my PC.

Everything was OK until one day, the few-month-old dongle stopped working and I sent it to MSI for warranty. After a few weeks, when I got it back, I notice that the dongle is not the same one I sent to them. They said it is normal for them to replace with a different one. I accept it although the replacement unit looks dirty and fully scratched.

I believe the new one should be working and it stayed at my desk for weeks until few days ago, I formatted my PC and I plan to reinstall the bluetooth software.

I tried to install from CD and download the latest drivers from MSI website but with no sucess. I keep getting responses such as "Bluetooth devices not found" or probably "Bluetooth license check fail".

After spending a lot of time looking at this, I found that this is an issue with WIDCOMM drivers (MSI is using WIDCOMM's driver) that lots of people are facing. I think I don't have the correct license file for the replacement unit I've gotten. And, the link that MSI gave me to obtain license file is not working anymore!

I thought I'll have to throw the stupid dongle away until I found a forum thread that solves the problem. Here's how I solve it:

1. Download WIDCOMM driver with license patcher. (Hopefully this link lasts)
2. Run the license patcher and save the license file to replace the license.dat in the installation folder.
3. Install the driver like how you would normally install a driver.
4. Press 'Cancel' the skip device detection during the installation process, if the installer failed to detect it.

My bluetooth is working after that. For details, please refer to GSM-FORUM. Some of the users had other problems such as windows driver issues. I'm sure you can solve your problem if you read the whole thread.

Although it might illegal to use license patcher, but I guess that's the only option that I have. Hope it works for you too.

As a response to Intel's move to cut processor prices, AMD slashes their processor prices to continue competing and gaining processor market share from Intel.

As expected, AMD rings in the next round of the processor price battle with Intel. In an effort to remain competitive, the company today slashed the prices of all desktop processors. In the strategically important field of socket AM2 CPUs, the drop averaged 47% - which may not be enough to retain overall price/performance leadership, according to TG Daily findings.

It would be interesting to keep this price war going. And we, the comsumer will be the main beneficiary. However, I do hope that the quality don't go down like the price.

For a full story with price list, go here: AMD drops desktop processor prices by 47%

In another story, AMD has finally announced that they are buying ATI, after such a long rumour. Read AMD's press release for details: AMD and ATI to Create Processing Powerhouse

Flash drive, the technology used in cell phones and iPods will one day replaces the kind of hard disk we are using currently? And the reason?

Because flash drives, also known as solid state drives, don't have any moving parts, they’re faster, quieter, more efficient and more reliable than hard drives, which read and write data via a movable arm and a spinning magnetic disc.

This is extremely useful especially when you are constantly moving person with your laptop. However, at the moment, to use the technology as a replacement for hard disk is still a very expensive solution. Hybrid flash drives will be the coming up trend while the price of flash drive drops.

Forbes writes on this issue in their "Fast. Quiet. Expensive." article.physical address ameriloan$350 teletrack no loans paydayamatorize loansammortize a loanloans 500 auto in fiko texasloan accornunion bank allegacy credit loan allegacybellevue wa aames home loansloans adminastratoractive loans duity

Bloomberg.com reported:

Customers of Intel Corp. said the world's biggest computer-chip maker plans to reduce prices on Pentium processors by as much as 60 percent to reclaim market share from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

I'm surprised to hear this, but I'm very pleased to have even cheaper PCs. Good move!

Although AMD is doing well in recent years, I never really like them.

Additional information: AMD increased its market share of the overall x86 chip market to 21.4% versus Intel’s 76.9% as of the end of 2005.

Listen to these hard drive noise wave files (at the very bottom of the page) to diagnose your own hard disk problem when it's making noise. At least, you can talk like an expert when you call for support.

(via LifeHacker)