Re-installing Windows on Win-Ubuntu Dual Boot System

Had to re-install Windows XP on my PC configured for Win XP-Ubuntu dual boot. While Windows XP overwrites the Ubuntu boot menu during re-installation, a re-installation of Ubuntu can be avoided if the Master Boot Record (MBR) is backed up prior to Win XP re-installation and mapped back after Win XP has been successfully re-installed. There are many forum discussion on how to back up the MBR using Ubuntu Terminal. The command to save the MBR (from Ubuntu Terminal) is

$ sudo dd if=/dev/sda of=/path/to/save/mbr.image count=1 bs=512

For SATA hard drive, Ubuntu will identify the first hard drive as sda. But if you are using IDE, then it will be hda. List the /dev directory to check.

$ cd /
$ cd dev
$ ls

Note that if you have partitioned your hard disk, the partitions are identified in the /dev directory as sda1, sda2 and so forth. But these are not relevant to the dd command. What you need to back up is first 512 kb of sda, use the above command as it is, adjusting only for the (i) hard disk type and (ii) the target path.

After completing the Win XP re-installation, start up the PC with a Ubuntu LiveCD. From Ubuntu terminal, overwrite the MBR with the backed up image:

$ sudo dd if=/path/to/save/mbr.image of=/dev/sda count=1 bs=446

Only the Boot Code contained in the first 446 kb (out of 512 kb) needs to be copied to recover the boot menu. The next 64 kb is the Partition Table and the last 2 kb (out of 512kb) is the Boot Code Signature.

And if for whatever reason, the wrong MBR image was backed up, all is not lost. This happened to me. I mistakenly backed up sda1 instead of sda. What I did was to use the MBR from another PC that is similarly configured for Win XP and Ubuntu dual boot. Copied the first 446kb as above and it worked for me!

Healthy Salads (1)

We are living in an era where overeating is the norm than the exception for most of our family, friends and colleagues.

I have recently started to introduce salads into my daily diet in an effort to reduce weight and stay healthy. I would like to share some of my experiences and recipes.

When to eat
I take salad for breakfast. Lunch is for socializing with colleagues and in an Asian community such as Singapore, salads are not readily available at local food establishment where people usually lunch. Dinner is at Mum's and what Mum cooks, you eat. Salads just don't feature in the Asian family dinner menu. So I take my salad in the mornings, in lieu of say a high-calorie noodle or rice dish. You'd be amazed that a blow of salad can be so satisfying that there will be no craving to snack before lunch!

What to eat
In order to have any chance of sustaining a long term carnivore-salad relationship, the salad must somehow be made palatable to the carnivore. If the carnivore is made to feel like a herbivore (cow), the relationship is destined to premature failure.
For me, I like First Choice's Farmer's Pick (prewashed and ready-to-eat) from Cold Storage or Pasar Baby Salad (also prewashed and ready-to-eat) from NTUC Fairprice. These brands contain a good mix of salad vegs and they are fresh, light and crisp. On top of the vegs, I will always add cherry tomatoes. These go great in salads.

Dress it up
I usually go for just a tablespoon of clear dressings. I like Balsamic Vinegar and Red Wine Vinegar dressings. I tend to avoid the more creamy stuff like thousand island.

Condiments
As the salad vegs can taste very blend to someone (aka the carnivore) who is used to a savory meal, consider to added small portion of other foods to improve to texture and taste of the bowl of salad. Candidates include a few slices of smoked salmon (omega 3 food), a few pacific clams, a few savory crackers (recently I've been adding SHAPES from Arnott's ), some walnuts, some sunflower seeds... you get the idea.. be creative!

Funny Bone - New Wireless Technology?

This article appeared in the 24 Aug 2009 issue of THE STRAITS TIMES. Did you do a double take, like "Wow! A new way to access Wi-Fi! What will they think of next?".

Good Book

Just finished Shadow of Power by Steve Martini. I think its a great novel, a real page-turner. The story revolves around a lawyer defending a capital case.

Likes
. Twisty & interesting plot.
. Fast paced.
. Vivid & humorous descriptions of courtroom scenes.

Unique@SGP (3)

Panorama of the Singapore Skyline taken from the Marina Barrage.

Download Streaming Video

Download Helper is one of the best Firefox Add-on available to download streaming video for off-line viewing. It supports both Firefox(Windows) and Firefox(Linux). http://www.downloadhelper.net/

Linksys Access Point (WAP54G) As Repeater

The Linksys Access Point (WAP54G) can be configured as a wireless repeater to extend the range of your wireless network. While the Linksys Range Expander (WRE54G) is an alternative to extend the reach of your network, the Access Point may be slightly cheaper.

I have set up a Linksys Wireless Router (WRT54G) with a Linksys Access Point (WAP54G) as a wireless repeater. The broadband modem is connected to the WRT.

The instructions to setup both the router and the AP are well documented in the user guide supplied by Linksys. Together with the additional point below, it should not be too difficult to extend the range of your wireless network.

1. Based on the manuals from Linksys, the WAP54G can only work as a wireless repeater when coupled with a Linksys WRT54G or another Linksys WAP54G (that is, it does not work with other brands of routers).
2. The wireless MAC of the router (WRT54G) is required to initialise the Repeater Mode. You must log-in to the WRT via a browser pointed to its IP address (default = 192.168.1.1) to obtain this MAC (Note that it is not the MAC printed on the bottom of the WRT!!). Once logged-in to the WRT, go to the "Status" tab and then select the "Wireless" tab. Note that the WRT has a few MAC addresses (usually differing in the last Hex character), make sure you get the MAC for the wireless!
3. There are a lot of forum discussion on whether the repeater (WAP54G) should have the same SSID as the WRT. I managed to set up my WAP repeater with a different SSID. This is also useful when testing the repeater, since only with a different SSID you can be sure that your PC is connecting to the internet via the repeater and not directly through the WRT.

Good luck.

Celery + Cranberry Juice Drink

Most of us have heard about the health benefits of drinking celery juice. Unfortunately, celery is not to everyone's taste. The following recipe is for a celery drink that most should find more palatable.

2 Stick of celery (wash and cut into 1-cm section.
Enough cranberry juice to cover celery in a blender.

Blend both ingredient in a blender until smooth.
Serve with ice.