The Struggle with X11vnc Rebuilding Ubuntu Server

And then I got stuck again getting remote access to work. It’s funny out of all the great features, only the remote access is not the friendliest in Linux setup. There is no proper standard guide so far I could find on the internet for X11VNC. However, after a long spending trying out different guide that doesn’t work at all, I can now confirm only one guides actually tested working during my struggle.

Without doubt, this whole thing is funny and stupid. But as long the X11VNC able to work in startup on my headless server is all I need to access anytime. The first guide I follow is using the steps from Digital Drugs. I tested running the script below to confirm first before I proceed further.

start on login-session-start

script

/usr/bin/x11vnc -xkb -noxrecord -noxfixes -noxdamage -auth /var/run/lightdm/root/:0 -display :0 -passwd "MyPasswd" -forever -bg -o /var/log/x11vnc.log

end script

The TightVNC in my Window machine was successfully able to connect. Well, problem occurs. The password doesn’t recognize when I key in ‘MyPasswd”. So what went wrong? I have no idea to be honest. I went on looking on the previous guide by updating another code into the last script like below.

start on login-session-start

script

x11vnc -rfbauth -rfbport 5901 -auth /var/run/lightdm/root/:0 -display /etc/x11vnc.pass -forever -bg -o /var/log/x11vnc.log

end script

There are a lot changes and code remove in the script by following others. For example like the password column I replace with -passwd "MyPasswd" to sudo x11vnc -storepasswd /etc/x11vnc.pass in the script as recommended by many. Yet again, not working.

Frustrated as usual. I tried to remember to find my last bookmark and follow the steps of 'Setting up X11vnc' at Ubuntu Forum as shown below.

1. Install x11vnc: sudo apt-get install x11vnc
2. Set the password: vncpasswd ~/.vnc/passwd (vncpasswd is included with vnc-common, which is installed by default)
3. Make it auto-start when the user logs in and show which port we're running on (useful if you run multiple vnc servers) the port will be put in ~/.vnc/port.txt: sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/sharex11vnc Paste in the following code:

#!/bin/sh

x11vnc -nap -bg -many -rfbauth ~/.vnc/passwd -desktop "VNC ${USER}@${HOSTNAME}"|grep -Eo "[0-9]{4}">~/.vnc/port.txt

# comment out the following if you don't want a popup telling you which port you're using.
zenity --info --text="Your VNC port is `cat ~/.vnc/port.txt`"

1. sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/sharex11vnc


2. System->Preferences->Sessions->Startup Programs then click Add and type in sharex11vnc

Add the code and restart, it finally works. This got me into thinking, are those scripts above are all wrong in the first place? But I can ensure that the first script that I tried does indeed work, just the password doesn't work even I change the password code. I'm not good in Linux, so it's hard to argue unless someone from the experts point out the problem.

Microsoft Office 2013 Sudden Broke

If you are one of the users who got into trouble with Microsoft latest patch update that break your OS last month especially happens on Window 8.1. The Office 2013 is no different. The problem I always face during troubleshooting is cannot open any office programs and see any errors. I have been dealing with this problem for quite sometimes and found that it was cause by June Public 2014 Update that affect Click-to-Run office version until today. When I read the news from the Info World and follow up the problem in the community. To my surprise the newer update still capable breaking the Office 2013. Microsoft seriously fuck up no matter it just impact with 1% user base in their record!

This is terrible time wasting troubleshooting ever for Office because I am supporting Acer products in the market that comes with pre-install with Office 2013 CtR version. Imagine how many customers pay that come with Office 2013 broke after silent update in the background? I don’t really care the ACER reputation but my profession is affected and requires explaining the problem comes from Microsoft mess. The worst cases you are working in the site without internet access and the license backup tool doesn’t work. I have to find a way or just go back to my office just to activate the license.

How to fix when your Office 2013 broke?

The fix is simple. First thing you need to do is get your product key ready (Genuine) or if you purchase directly from online using Office account. Just enter your email username and password during installation. Most importantly, backup your documents data before perform program uninstalling.

Using Microsoft Fix It tool is highly recommended for full clean uninstall to ensure no left over stupid update. But if you use the normal method removing Office 2013 from Program, it will still workable. However, there are chances the problem continues to remain with the download update.

Window XP Profile Goes Corrupted by Symantec

Full of pressure these past few days dealing with this issue at my office. I almost got a heart attack when working on Executive Director PC. It really does hit me full of pressure fixing problem in the early morning. He doesn’t like knowing his PC break down when he walked into the office room. Not only that, I have to deal over 20 PC (out of 100+) every day having the same either profile corrupted or unable to login issues. This is the worst thing you likely don’t want to be happening during end of the month.

Luckily, the answers can be found on the internet forums. Apparently, there are IT companies out there experience the same problem about the Window XP profile corrupted issue, screen goes big and userinit.exe errors. They already pointed out the culprit is none other the well known Symantec AV version 9. My boss like to use these brand and I fed up argue with him about the problem. No matter what I do, creating new user profiles and reformats the Window XP. The problem keeps coming back, unless I removed the Symantec AV 9 and everything will get back to normal. You know what? He just wants it to install without question.

I don’t really mind if installing the latest Symantec AV version 10 or later. But he continue insist using the older version and told me it’s already fix. This is the most stubborn server administrator I ever had hard time to deal with. Well, if I hold the server certification. Maybe there are chances to fight back and convince he is wrong. Too bad I am not holding any of it. What to do?

Nonetheless, I continue to see the problem and believe won’t likely easily go away. This affecting the Window 2000 as well I discover. Application failed to launched and lost icon graphics. If you folks companies still using Symantec AV 9 and experience the same problem I mention above. Just removed the programs, everything will get back to normal. Symantec AV 9 is the troublemaker and do remember the support has been ended this year as well.

Virut Virus Case Close

Seems like no one in the world really know how to fully eliminate the W32.Virut virus. I have been fighting this bastard for two days straight with many different methods to fully disinfect the Virut infection in the past. If your customers are urgently needed the pc or laptop, then the only best solution is backup the data and reformat it, without bother wasting too much time fixing it.

Virut is a very nasty virus that can inject malicious code to any existing executable programs like .exe file and create bunch of .scr files in your system32 folder. That’s not all, it even capable of spreading through any USB removable device like pen drive and external storage. According to Miekiemoes blog also, it can mess up the web designer’s work too. Read the quote below:

This latest variant may also search for htm, html, asp and php files on the drives and modifies them by inserting an iframe that points to a malicious website. So you can already imagine what may happen if the owner is a web designer and uploads the infected webpages.

However, someone from Remove-Malware.com said it can be done easily. Oh, Really? Of course, you must check this out if that is true or not. According to the blogger (who is also work onsite serving computer), the method he used is running the free Dr Web Cure IT in UBCD4Win environment and starts full scanning and clean from there. Wasn’t it is much the same thing putting the external infected drive to another PC to do the cleaning in Safe Mode? This solution only disinfect the executable files including other files in “system32” folder and does not actually clean the Virut virus at all.

Since he didn’t mention anything about fixing or repair the network using the UBCD4Win boot CD. I am going to wait for his response on the comments. But based from my own experience, Virut virus creates a backdoor like on the network connection. Once you connect to the internet, it eventually starts causing traffic on the sharing network users and downloads the virus again. No one could figure out how to prevent the download from the host. The IP address cannot be easily blocked by the firewall. If he did not manage to fix this problem that’s means most of his client infected by it, are still expose to Virut threat.

I am not offending or conclude the Remove-Malware blogger are wrong. But I believe he fail to aware how bad does the Virut virus has done to Window and said maybe he was lucky he can clean it. I don’t quite believe that when you are working one or two hour onsite. Nothing is guarantee when you are onsite servicing because I also work as an IT technician and I can’t say if I really disinfect the entire infections virus and spyware or not. For the time being, the best solution is to perform scanning and disinfect the virus before you backup your data and reformatting.

Enable Removable Device Scan in AVG Free

I didn’t even spot this good feature in AVG Free version after I mess with the advance setting today. This is really good for extra protecting and prevents infections from any removable media and USB flash drive. If any of you using AVG Free version 8.5, it is recommended to enable this feature and it’s rarely to find such free anti-virus would bundle include this feature in the basic protection program. Yes, there are a lot of USB free protection program out there. Many of them I tested the free version that don’t really work that good and fail to capture some of the old Trojans. AVG was a well known anti-virus company so I’m sure catching the popular virus and Trojans running free version is still worth to trust.

Also, what if you are having just a 512MB memory ram install on your desktop PC or laptop. You might consider enable it without require other 3^rd party USB programs to manage the scanning and hog up your PC resource. Another good thing about this AVG Free allowed you to control how you want the scanning method on the removable device. You can either manual remove the infected file once it detect or automatically heal/remove the infections during scanning. The scanning process priority can also adjust at your own need especially those who own an Apple iPod might encounter some problem.

To enable this feature, simply open up the AVG control panel, search the option in tab and look for advance setting. Now, look for the “scans: and click to drop down the list. There you will find the extra “Removable device scan” option (picture below). Cheers!

New Alcatel Modem – Another Update Again

After Many day Update - Okay first of all, the speed is same as always, nothing much changes and my leveling stuck. However, I also received news about Telbru is now looking into the problem as they found out the issue why many of us received a terrible download and website loading. I heard it might take a while because they are waiting for the developer to look into it and investigate the issue. I hope I can get my game back on. Anyhow, torrent users won’t be encountering much problem.

This will probably help me to find out the cause of the internet problem. I just received it on lunch time today and only done a short test using Brunet bandwidth test. Both Hua Wei and Alcatel modem were able to received acceptable speed at this hour. But Alcatel performs more responsive on the test. Probably because it take much more advantage on new Lucent equipments Telbru currently using according to my friends. I will update this post again for my personal test results tonight.

Day One Update - The new Alcatel modem does did some trick solving my internet performance issue last night. It doesn’t lag as much than before so often and but the download speed still stuck between 21 kb/s to maximum 55 kb/s using the free download manager which is the same result using Hua Wei modem. I think I have to change the DSL filter and this time I will load RF Online to test the stability for the game connection.

Day Two Update - I forget to change the DSL filter last night. Not sure if necessary to change since my espeed internet speed test was good. Anyway, playing RF Online was fine at the moment without getting disconnecting after login into the game. It still lags time to time in the game but so far so good. Tonight and next day I will hit RF Online more for test because I missed so many weeks on leveling. >_<;;;

Panda USB Vaccine (Free)

For users who are concerning their removable drive like USB flash drive, external hard disk or memory cards. Get the free USB pen drive from Panda company. I think it’s very important nowadays to prevent those kind of virus spreading. Although it still a beta program, I recommended who used USB pen drive and external hard disk should install it, even business user should also install. This will improve your PC security more if you using freeware anti-virus.

Download @ Panda Security

Crazy Virus call Win32.Virut.bx

Seems like this time it was a good opportunity to challenge a virus causing the Window XP, programs .exe file and pen drive infections goes mad! I couldn’t really able to find any good solutions to fix this problem especially when the stupid anti-virus programs also went berserk and trying to delete all the program .exe files that detect as a Trojans. This is the reason why it causing many program unable to run and ended up reformatting is the last solutions.

My colleagues told me not to waste the time fixing it and just reformat it. If every time I just using the reformat solutions. What the fuck do I learned from has been an IT Tech Support for so many years? I know its time consuming and don’t really care if they can’t fix it or not. But I simply wanted to try it because there are many freeware tools and shareware out there can be run for test removing it. There might be one or two of them might fix the problem and worth the try even if that mean of wasting time or unable to fix.

Check the Win32.Virut.bx threat information.

The Sign
If you want to know how this virus and trojons affect your Window. You will know right away.

1) When Window XP starts, you will encounter few pop up svchost.exe errors and that is the sign of infections. That kind of errors is related to your Window Auto update and system recovery cannot be easily turn off.

2) If you are smart enough, run the msconfig from run command and find if the services.exe (located in c:/window folder) run at startup. But don’t get confuse with the services.exe (located in system32 folder) run in the process as that is the original one, unless there are two of them then that is suspicious.

3) Your anti-virus went berserk cleaning and tries to delete or clean many infected programs .exe files.

4) Your pen drive will definitely infected by it. By most recommended, install a USB program that specialist in detecting removal storage hardware virus. There are freeware out there like USB Cop and MX One.

5) Users around you will have trouble surfing the internet because the virus have throw something on your PC doing the sending and receiving data.

This is currently the five sign of infections I could find in Window XP. If you have similar problem and more idea how it infect. Drop me a comments and I will update this post.

Solutions
Like I said earlier, there are no best solutions to clean his shit out. My methods are simply using different kind of virus removal, adware and spyware removal tools to clean the infections. The only problem left I couldn’t solve is the PC will jam up the whole network I mention the fifth sign above. That is the only thing I can’t figure how it can be done. No results were found in Google or Yahoo for best solutions, but I really hope one day there are ways to resolve the network issue.

Anyhow, once you had done the cleaning. Backup your data and reformat it to prevent future infections. I will keep this post update if I could find a solution.

DEP Close Live Messenger Automatically

I don’t know why the hell the DEP tried to close my messenger when the offline message pops up from one of my friends. It’s annoying and it repeats kept shutting down the program. I know the virus is from my friend’s computer and I’m not sure what type of new trojons this time messing with it. I still haven’t found the solutions for it but I did collect some virus removal for the messenger and ask them to try it. Everyone should new to aware the offline message asking you to click the link are fake so please be careful.

I actually solved the DEP problem simply log into my Live Desktop Mail to delete my friend from the contact. Another way of solving this can be done by logging to your Live or Hotmail delete it. I hope this solution will help you guys.

About IE Vulnerability and Workarounds

I read about the issue about IE starting from the old version 5 to the newest version was heavily affected. Microsoft really owned! Too bad I don't used it anymore except in the worked site. Well, there is a solutions to fixed this and you better head over to eweek for the workarounds tip if you used it everyday.

Western Digital Confirm 3 Years Warranty in Brunei

If you are terrible unlucky your hard disk drive busted after six month local warranty and cannot be replaced. No worried and don’t lost your hope yet. Don’t simply gave the old hard disk away or dump into the rubbish bin before you confirm the warranty statues is still valid from the official website. I got an opportunity to submit the serial number I got from the customers who brought in local shop and confirm Western Digital offer 3 years limited warranty for Brunei.

 

Please do note that the warranty for any Western Digital desktop, mobile or external hard drive selling in Brunei does not hold exactly 3 years warranty and might already over more than 3 to 6 month depending on their stock. For example, this screenshot below show one of my customers who brought the WD mobile 160GB HDD limited warranty is from 12th October 2008 until 12th October 2010 stated in the official site which he originally brought this month.

 

 

I don’t really blame the local shops for offering such warranty for their products because this is all depending on distributors marketing system. Also, I’m not trying to pour cold water on the local PC shops for not telling truth to the customers. This is business and even if you buy from other country like Singapore and Malaysia. Those folks over there will only provide one to one exchange within two weeks or maximum one month is the longest I know so far. After that, they will or you will have to RMA and send back to the local manufacturers in the end. But they are much easier and faster I have to say.

 

Due to the economics is uncertain in Brunei, I'm sure everyone wanted to saved your money for getting new one. If you wanted to tried warranty yourself, make sure you visit the WD warranty check and confirm you still have the replacement on the official site. Read the shipping and packing instructions BEFORE you pack the hard disk, and then you register the RMA form. All else, 30 days count will start and charges will be applied if they did not received it. Don't worry about the shipping information as it will be provided, if not, check this page. Hope my information can be useful to all fellow Bruneian to saved little more money.

Having Trouble opening Office 2007 Documents?

If you happily using Microsoft 2003 or little older version, you might encounter issue opening latest office document containing with letter ‘x’ at the end any extensions like word (docx). Many users might think that upgrading to version 2007 or using OpenOffice version 3 might solve your problem. Eventually, this is not really necessary. All you need simply download and install the Office 2007 File Capability pack. It will auto convert any 2007 documents when you open it.

 

This may be already posted by lots of bloggers out there. But I still find many office users are not aware of it, especially for those who are not good at this problem. It will be handy for anyone saved this program, you might not know some PC unable to open it.

NVIDIA GPU Update for Dell Laptop Owners

Source: direct2dell.com

Earlier this month, sites like Ars Technica and ZDNet blogged about NVIDIA’s statement regarding a potential issue with some of NVIDIA's Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) used in notebooks. According to NVIDIA, these affected GPUs are experiencing higher than expected failure rates causing video problems. Though this issue is not unique to Dell, some of these affected GPUs are used in certain Dell laptops. That's why I wanted to take a few minutes here to explain the issue and to let customers know what to do next.

The issue is a weak die/packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations. If your GPU fails, you may see intermittent symptoms during early stages of failure that include:

• Multiple images
• Random characters on the screen
• Lines on the screen
• No video

Dell recommends that you flash your system BIOS (see links in the table below). Each of these BIOS updates listed in the table below modifies the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations. Note: if you are already experiencing video-related issues like the bullet points above, updating the BIOS will not correct them. Dell will provide support for customers who have experienced GPU failure according to the terms of the system warranty

Check your laptop model.

avpo/avmo.exe Removal - Revisit

I just got my SD G Generation Spirits PS2 game not long ago and I was totally addicted with it without realizing to write something on my blog. Anyway, as for now, I believe many of you out there might have problem getting rid of these nasty avpo.exe and avmo.exe viruses from your desktop PC and laptop especially the flash drive in Window XP. Not many anti-virus program able to detect it (even today), even if they do, it only manage to cleans or delete certain files only.

After a long search for tools on the web for solutions, this is currently the best tested utility known as Dr.Web CureIt tool manage to clean many related avpo.exe and avmo.exe. But I still find some lacking in cleaning remaining left over related unknown files in system32 folder. Restore the previous Window XP hidden folder setting and unlock back the Task Manager including remove from the startup programs is not a problem for me. Only for those who have no knowledge on computers might have a hard time dealing with this annoying virus and carried all the way to the PC repair shops.

Well, today I am going to spoil the PC companies business a bit. I was lucky to found someone at My Geek Side blog written a best removable script with less than 1kb to help to clean your Window XP. I have tested it and it’s safe to use with one click. This is the best one so far I could find on the internet and it’s recommend to saved it in your flash drive incase you caught again from other users.

For more information and instruction (must read), please visit the blog for download. Please note that there is latest script for enable or disable Autorun USB device as an optional. However, for safety reason, I would advise you to choose and download the script with disable Autorun version to prevent any infected flash drive auto load into your Window XP.

*Learn More About avpo/amvo.exe (known as Trojan.AutoRun.A) at PC in Danger.