This week I was forced to compile Dia (opensource diagram drawing program) from sources under Windows XP. I have found recently updated How To (see this). But soon I have ran into troubles.
First of all, they suppose you have Microsoft(r) Visual C++ 6.0. I haven't any. And although it's quite obsolete version, I was unable to find some free download location. But I had success with similar - Microsoft(r) Windows Server(r) 2003 R2 Platform SDK (here). Simply downloaded, installed and started commandline using newly created SetEnv.bat in Program Files / Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 R2.
Later I had some source code related issues (additional blank line in MakeFile causing troubles), which disappeared after few days from repository, so they are ok right now.
Another problem was compile error saying something about missing cast from gunichar2 to W32::LPCWSTR. I manually edited the source adding forced cast and recompilation was ok.
Currently I'm still unable to compile some plugins, namely gnomeprint (since I couldn't find any build of libgnomeprint for Windows) and autocomplete (don't know it's purpose, so far working without it), so I removed them from the MakeFile.
At this point, I was able to build the dia (= run the whole make without any significant error), but Dia was unable to start. First errors where caused by missing DLLs, so I copied some of them from the GTK dir. Later errors were connected to the MSVCR80.DLL and the dia-app.dll, solved this by copying some files from the dia\app source dir. I think this had to be done by the make, but from some reason wasn't (saying no errors even in DEBUG mode).
Finally, dia started (only with some warning about problems with homedir, but after quick look into the sources, it seems no to be anything fatal). I'm not sure, whether these are general issues, or only some troubles caused by different compiler. If you have similar problems, feel free to share them in the comments.
PS: I have forgotten to mention, that there is also one plugin still preventing Dia to start - it's called custom (probably some custom shapes). I have simply deleted it.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
DELL P791 as D(ismantle h)ELL
Son of my brother once played with the power button of this very old (but great) CRT and since that, the monitor started to suddenly turn on and off. I decided to fix this problem, as I thought - it's just a button, it can't be too complicated.
Well, it wasn't. I mean, the part with the button wasn't. The part "how to get to that damn little power switch" was much worse.
First, I tried the brute force naive/intuitive way. Nothing special. Then I tried to google something. Only something saying that there are no screws (see this). I had some, so I threw this solution away. My fault.
So, finally, this worked for me:
1. Put away the monitor stand (flip the monitor and simply push the only lock on the bottom, then take it away)
2. Put away the two (and only) screws on the bottom
3. Remove the back cover
3a. Simply push together two weird looking flaps on one side of monitor, now you can press the whole lock (containing these flaps) down (in the direction of the monitor). Once it is down, it can be pushed outwards and the back side can be lifted.
3b. Now, repeat the step 3a for the second side
3c. On the top of the monitor insert something (with small rectangular profile) into the wholes (you will hear a little pop when it's enough)
3d. The back cover can be now given away
4. Only two visible screws hold the big metal shield
5. The whole electronics part can be simply given away, if you bend out the locks (which can be seen at any time on the bottom of monitor behind the front buttons).
6. If you need to remove the ray tube, just unbolt the 4 remaining screws (each in one corner).
To assembly the monitor back, simple go backwards. Just take care, if your electronics part fits well. For the first time I didn't checked this and the contrast lowering button was permanently pushed down (disallowing me to use the menu).
Once again, usual warning: Do this only on your own risk!
Well, it wasn't. I mean, the part with the button wasn't. The part "how to get to that damn little power switch" was much worse.
First, I tried the brute force naive/intuitive way. Nothing special. Then I tried to google something. Only something saying that there are no screws (see this). I had some, so I threw this solution away. My fault.
So, finally, this worked for me:
1. Put away the monitor stand (flip the monitor and simply push the only lock on the bottom, then take it away)
2. Put away the two (and only) screws on the bottom
3. Remove the back cover
3a. Simply push together two weird looking flaps on one side of monitor, now you can press the whole lock (containing these flaps) down (in the direction of the monitor). Once it is down, it can be pushed outwards and the back side can be lifted.
3b. Now, repeat the step 3a for the second side
3c. On the top of the monitor insert something (with small rectangular profile) into the wholes (you will hear a little pop when it's enough)
3d. The back cover can be now given away
4. Only two visible screws hold the big metal shield
5. The whole electronics part can be simply given away, if you bend out the locks (which can be seen at any time on the bottom of monitor behind the front buttons).
6. If you need to remove the ray tube, just unbolt the 4 remaining screws (each in one corner).
To assembly the monitor back, simple go backwards. Just take care, if your electronics part fits well. For the first time I didn't checked this and the contrast lowering button was permanently pushed down (disallowing me to use the menu).
Once again, usual warning: Do this only on your own risk!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
D400 Unknown Device
From the very beginning I had on my personal Dell D400 in the Windows XP Device Manager one unidentified device. I was ignoring it for a very long time, but every time I look there, the big ugly yellow question mark was there. The system performed well, but I was still thinking, whether there is some super usefull device I'm missing only because I was unable to find some driver.
All the almighty device identifiers failed. Then I took the device info provided by Windows
All the almighty device identifiers failed. Then I took the device info provided by Windows
PCI\VEN_104C&DEV_8204&CC_0880and put it directly into Google. I found that the device was something like TI UltraMedia Firmware Loader Device and that the drivers can be downloaded from Dell Support Page (see this)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Office 2007 UI
Back again ?!?
Just wanted to share link to this unbelievably great presentation
about Office 2007 user interface and UI in general. Worth every second.
Just wanted to share link to this unbelievably great presentation
about Office 2007 user interface and UI in general. Worth every second.
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