New Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Windows 7

Here is the update on my Windows 7 experience from my earlier post. Our team has concluded the errors I have experienced are related to the driver for the Graphics Media Accelerator (4500MHD).

Intel released its new Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Windows 7 (Release Candidate) on August 20. But it is still not yet available from HP for my new HP laptop. Here is a link to the Intel Download Center generally and more specifically to the site for the driver itself.

Below are the details for the driver version.
Microsoft Windows* 7
Driver Revision: Production Version 15.15.4.1872
Package: 72634
Graphics: 8.15.10.1872
HDMI Audio: 6.10.1.2077
August 20, 2009
NOTE: This document refers to systems containing the following Intel chipsets:

Intel(R) B43 Express Chipset
Intel(R) G41 Express Chipset
Intel(R) G43 Express Chipset
Intel(R) G45 Express Chipset
Intel(R) Q43 Express Chipset
Intel(R) Q45 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel(R) GL40 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel(R) GM45 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel(R) GS45 Express Chipset

Prior to installation I experienced Explorer crashes followed by blue screens including the following errors:
Bad_pool_header (error not obtained),
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0x0000000A), and
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (OxOOOOOO1A).

++++++++

Turns out this was all due to a defective memory stick.
Try "mem" in the search tool and run the memory diagnostics. More on the process later. Thank you for the great service Ralph (at HP)!

NC Internet Sales Tax Called into Question

Allan Maurer of Tech Journal South has recently published an article regarding the NC Internet Sales Tax (aka the Amazon Affiliate tax). It looks like some legislators are acknowledging this might not have been the best approach.

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OpenBSD ported to Palm handheld devices

I have not blogged for a while, so please allow me to geek out a little today. :)

I watch the OpenBSD source-changes mailing list from time to time, just to monitor what is coming up, so that we will be prepared since our all-in-one firewall, AccessEnforcer, is based on OpenBSD.

A few days ago, I noticed CVS commits for "palm." Hmm, do they mean that Palm? I downloaded the GENERIC kernel config file off the Palm directory and noticed comments like "Handspring Visor", so it does seem like it is really meant for (older) Palm devices.

Yesterday I noticed that an official OpenBSD for Palm page is up on the OpenBSD website.. complete with a photo showing four Palm devices running OpenBSD-current!

Here's why I'm pretty excited about this. As we all know, Palm has pretty much abandoned PalmOS and is now concentrating fully on their newer webOS-based devices like the Palm Pre. So I bet there are a lot of people out there with old PalmOS-based devices gathering dust somewhere in their homes and offices.

I personally own a Palm T|X and have owned a few older PalmOS devices before that, like the Handspring Visor. And when I was a research assistant during my college years, I wrote a document formatting system for PalmOS devices, so I have fond memories of Palm.

With OpenBSD ported to Palm, these old devices will have life again. And what better OS to run on it than OpenBSD. :)

So many questions remain...

• Can it run X?
  
• Will it recognize user input using handwriting recognition like PalmOS?
  
• Does this mean I can now compile OpenBSD kernels in my pocket?? :)
  

Either way, I am excited. Now I'll just need to remember where I kept my old Palm T|X...

Windows 7 (crashes Explorer et al.) and the importance of options

I recently purchased a new laptop and have chosen to "advance" to the next generation Microsoft OS - Windows 7. My initial very positive impressions of the RC have hit a bit of a snag. But this is why it is in RC mode......

It seems all the Microsoft applications I was counting on for some productive time this evening will not run - or at least run only intermittently. The applications unexpectedly crash either immediately or shortly after opening. This experience has included Explorer, Word, Excel and Power Point. It seem others have had similar problems and suggested fixes or work arounds here.

Fortunately, my team installed an alternative browser for me this morning so I can at least check email via Outlook Web Access over the free alternative Mozilla Firefox. Thank goodness for options.

...But it would be nice to have the full Office suite tonight.

I am running Windows 7 (32 bit version). Comments and suggestions welcome.

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