What's the difference between your girlfriend, your mistress and your wife?

Your girlfriend says, "are you finished already",
your mistress says, "are you finished yet" and
your wife says, "beige, I think I'll paint the ceiling beige"!

Thanks zapper, It's good to get a confirmation that I'm not going mad. I thought that may be the case... with "madaidans-insecurities".

aluma: the smbios program it quite interesting, great to see all those details...

I had thought I might find some devious code, or expose a back-door... maybe, when I get more acquainted with the program/s.

One thing I found was the python error with "info" and python3. (this system is not setup for progamming, as such, but I may compile source if required)

root@GamesBox:/root  smbios-token-ctl --dump-tokens-csv
ID,Type,Value,Name,Setting
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/libsmbios_c/smbios_token.py", line 134, in __iter__
    raise StopIteration
StopIteration

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/sbin/smbios-token-ctl", line 475, in <module>
    sys.exit( main() )
              ^^^^^^
  File "/usr/sbin/smbios-token-ctl", line 384, in main
    dumpTokensCsv(tokenTable, tokenXlator, options)
  File "/usr/sbin/smbios-token-ctl", line 246, in dumpTokensCsv
    for token in tokenTable:
RuntimeError: generator raised StopIteration
root@GamesBox:/root  

progress... hardware.
I took my box apart yesterday and cleaned the case, and all the fans and filters. And rewired everything to look neater and more organised. also removing hardware like hdd drive bay shelves. A Fractal case.

I reset the cmos to defaults, still on the latest bios version for my motherboard.
reconfigured the bios to switch off unneeded resources, like eth, audio... serial the port irq reservation (having no printer/scanner attached).

after a few reboots, I had the bios boot setup as I like it, and managed to get full clock out of the ram
(up until yesterday it ran at ~3200, today it runs as spec, 3600) a nice surprise. And with performance boost turned off, clocked the cpu back up to 4000.

I also found I had not fitted the nvme ssd correctly with the mounting as well as the heatsink (this maybe why it was rebooting!!!) The plastic film was still on the heatsink (had shrivelled the plastic film a bit but not permanently damaged the heat-transfer compound)

So, now with less chance over overheating I wait to see if any surprise reboots come to being (like a ghost in the machine or something).

I strive for progress, not perfection... and I think I'm making headway towards that.

Thank you for contributing and taking the time to read.

cheers

I am guilty as accused, ... But when I got this keyboard I still used windows.

I am considering trying the software in wine...

Not too sure about it, and I reload my OS far to frequently to re-establish hardware through a virtual software interface.

On the other hand, when I ran DiD's F22 off winxp from vBox (virtual Box), Mandriva, I was using the macro keys to shortcut the multi keys required to

turn the radar on, check for targets, aquire targets, select weapons, list & fire when in range, turn off radar. Each confrontation, forgive my memory.

I had a logitech (i think, had a couple over the years) 3 axis 9 button joystick with a shift key, razer oroochi mouse, and this keyboard. It was complex but immersive.

Anyhow, have a great Day.

On the white login screen, move your mouse towards the bottom left, there is a box, select plasma-x11

Hi, my bios ver is up-to-date as of checking just this week.

for my mobo... 2 gen old, last 2023/10/31 I have it and have also configured some profiles as well.

I use legacy boot, and have bios-grub as first partition at 2Mb on each ssd.

Thanks for the tips on SMBIOS.

My wifi is a pcie card, so no danger of borking the MAC address (I switch off all onboard chips not in use or required, sound and ethernet, irq reservation for LP)

It is time I opened the box and cleaned all the fans, reseated the heatsink and checked the fan cabling, a bit late for spring, but a dusty environment shortens the yearly maintenance.

Back with the overclocking AV7 mobos (last century) with a soldering iron and box-cutter, I have had to remove the cmos chip, take it into work (like on a sunday...) and reflash it from a floppy disk because I had ruined the bits... lol Dual bios too... (not required lately)

I had 4 of those asus mobo of slightly differing configs.

Thank you for the tips. I will reflash, reset to defaults, attach a ssd, and then turn off what I don't want (mostly just wasted resources), rebooting at each change increment) I leave the dvd burner disconnected as well, unless I really need it (i think it attracts trouble, like flys to putrid rubbish, polite way to say...).

This is my entertainment system these days, no tv, stereo system or vcr/dvd, my PC is all of that.

I'll post back with any progress, thank you.

well, I hope an expert responds soon. all the best.

This may not be what you are looking for, but...

Devuan has xfce4 by default, and kde/plasma with x11 works.

I have used gnome apps before (a long, long time ago) and found

openbox with xorg (x11) I was able to install apps from gnome and kde and it worked no probs on a very old laptop.

Just my 2cents worth.

I hope you figure it out.

pcalvert: I tried madaiden's tips, but he stops explaining and just lists lots of stuff...

I looked at so many web-pages now with little progress, I ordered a decent book (recent and GNU/Linux orientated), should be here soon. ;-)

I am considering switching facebook to a different browser, instead of the most convenient ff-latest,

Like flashpeak-slimjet, it's a pain to setup because I don't use sudo, but it has it's own sandbox...

I used to use it a while ago for surfing entertainment sites when I was really bored and depressed.

Thanks for the tips, Zapper. I have privoxy... and http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/ (now updated 2012 https://www.putorius.net/block-unwanted … s-on.html) for blocking addverts to reduce bandwidth.

ptunnel gets the udp packets sent through tcp, so are picked up by the vpn leaving little trace afaik.

I ran halflife and counterstrike off a winxp install in vbox for ages... testing hardware, but also for fun.

Thanks aluma, I also have done just that... especially when I had win10 running, I used to disconnect hdds not required for the session.

Thanks everyone. I have a lot less trouble when I don't have FB sitting there open and logged in.

But my family and friends like to use it to talk, and show off.

For the love of life!

Talk soon...

Hi, thanks for the info, Zapper and aluma.

I also play games as a type of escape... I call it, "Possitive Distraction(s)".

Like those old games, I have OpenTTD, My last map was huge, I had 2300 trains.
But I changed the config so I am the only human (supposed to be on-line multiplayer competition) and some bots when I have setup my virtual trainset. lol

It's a lot of fun, and challenging logistics, and better than a win98(plus?) screen saver.

I spent all day yesterday & this morning trying to install and configure selinux to get a sandbox play-area for firefox,
but even after I get selinux to load it won't boot through to a login-gui (sddm in my case).

Still a work in progress... I guess if it was easy everybody would be doing it.

I also have to watch out not to share too much info, because of those data mining... for details I may inadvertently reveal.

My pc shutdown again last night just after a movie finished... I had no browsers open then, but had just cleared the cache.

I use about 5 different browsers... for different things. I guess that just makes it more complicated.

I haven't had any consequences either. I have to consider the global authorities... I use rumble for news programs, not the TV.

I may be considered a deviate dissident... linux user. I don't think I am, just wanting some truth and freedom.

Anyhow, it's still a work in progress (I'm not giving up yet).

Hi, all this is very interesting... thank you for the tips.

I thought I knew what I was doing, but all of these replies suggest I haven't even started.

I, like most am just a general user who tries to keep the screen door shut, But I also like to have the lights off so I can't be seen too easily from outside to begin with.

I'm going to be busy... If I want to do this properly and not just blindly hacking away at configs in hope it might help or work better than a clean install.

I was trying to follow this guide, but my system either won't boot or blocks social websites... I can listen to web-radio stations but not get facebook to load. Firefox-latest...

I put this here as a warning, because it seems incomplete or not for a system connected to the www. (no offence intended, )
ref. https://madaidans-insecurities.github.i … el-modules

It seems some of the kernel commands I used from there to my grub config were stopping that social webpage connections.

this is the grub edits I had made, but restored my backup today...
/etc/default/grub

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# GlennsPref 20230920 ipv6
# GlennsPref 20240209 hardening-tips

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=4
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="console=tty12 vga=794 modeset.nouveau=0 nokmsboot ipv6.disable=1 security=none apparmor=0 amd_iommu=on slab_nomerge init_on_alloc=1 init_on_free=1 page_alloc.shuffle=1 pti=on oops=panic mce=0 page_poison=1"

# discover other os's
GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false

GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080

GRUB_INIT_TUNE="400 440 1"
# resume=uuid errors... noresume "we don't susspend"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="noresume idle=nomwait"

GRUB_THEME=/usr/share/desktop-base/grub-themes/desktop-grub-theme/theme.txt

This morning I reverted to this... to get the system up.

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="console=tty12 vga=794 modeset.nouveau=0 nokmsboot ipv6.disable=1 security=none apparmor=0 amd_iommu=on slab_nomerge init_on_alloc=1 init_on_free=1 page_alloc.shuffle=1 pti=on oops=panic mce=0 page_poison=1"

btw, that enabled me to boot, but not connect to social pages. I had a longer version the day before, but I haven't got a copy of it to show you.

this is what I have now... wip,

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="console=tty12 vga=794 modeset.nouveau=0 nokmsboot ipv6.disable=1 security=none apparmor=0 amd_iommu=on"

amd_iommu is the only edit I have kept for today.

I also made a list of changes to /etc/sysctl.conf, but just "net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts=1 # Ignore broadcast pings"

and to /etc/modules, a large list of /bin/false for unnecessary modules.

But, neither of the last 2 file edits stopped my boot or connection to the home wifi and social pages.

Anyhow, that's my observation so far.

I'll move on to the pages suggested here and take notes for my future research and actions.

Thank you again, bye for now.

I Love Gary Moore. Thin Lizzi played in aus, a free concert in the gardens. Gary was on that tour I believe.

I never heard of April Wine before... but I've heard the saying so many times, If You See Kay! never knew what it was about. Thank you.

I hardly slept last night reminiscing the old days... but I'm happy about it.

Eric Johnson I saw with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai (G3), brilliance, gold brilliance!

I first saw JS on his surfing... tour, with Stu Hamm. The drummer was fantastic too.

Joe went to give away one of his black strat-killers (Ibanez) guitars, but the security was so intense here back then, if you got up out of your chair, you were leaving or going to the rest room. And they were throwing people out for arguing with them. That was Queensland politics back then, a police state (Joe Bijelky Peterson, I don't care how he spelt his name, glad he's dead). My girlfriend and I were in the third row, If I jumped up to get the guitar, I would have missed the rest of the concert and probably got beaten up and the guitar smashed as well. Those were the days. Nobody took the guitar, Joe was stunned!

Wish I could play and understand music like those guys. Thank you for the memories and new music. I only just discovered Rust and Journmey in the last couple of years, lol. I must have been stoned or something.

America has some really cool love songs. That's where I started playing, on a gut string classical.

That vid of Triumph was amazing, 1984 was a great year for Rock music, imo.

One of the songs, and vocalist reminded me of Chickenfoot. :-)  (the way they sound...)

thanks. :-)