Linux - need for a disk's checking

Requisite: after the boot, press [ESC] to enter in Grub

Grub doesn't have a specific command to check the disk, but automatically the disk will be checked at the next startup if you exit with the embedded reboot command.


  • press [ESC] early at the boot
  • wait for the Grub menu
  • press [c] for the console
  • type reboot and press [enter]
  • wait for the normal reboot of the machine, that will take a little longer because of the the drive's check

VirtualBox - compact or enlarge the VDI

Requisite: Windows 7 virtualized on Linux machine



To compact a VDI:

    Windows side:
        Download here the SDelete command. You need it because the normal deletion process removes only the index of the file deleted but doesn't zeroes the space occuped.
        Uncompress the archive and extract sdelete.exe
        From a Command Prompt: "SDelete -z c:"
            (This will take a long time)


    Linux side:
        From a terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T)
        cd [path_of_vdi]
        /usr/bin/VBoxManage modifyvdi [disk_name.vdi] --compact
            (This will take a long time too)



To enlarge a VDI:

    Linux side:
        cd [path_of_vdi]
        VBoxManage modifyhd [disk_name.vdi] --resize [size_in_MB]
            (example: for 40 GB, 40960 MB)

Clementine - error: "GStreamer encountered a general stream error"

Symptom

    On Linux, Clementine refuses to play any songs, giving the error in the title.

 

Problem

     Misconfiguration issue.

 

My solution


   First attempt:
      delete ~/.config/Clementine/Clementine.conf

   Second attempt:
      delete the whole directory ~/.config/Clementine

   In both solutions, you have to reconfigure Clementine when restarted, and with the second solution, Clementine has to rebuild the DB.

Windows 7 - doesn't print via Samba

Symptom

   Windows 7 refuse to print to a Samba shared printer, connected via Linux computer

 

Problem

    Windows didn't trust the print server's self-signed SSL certificate. 

 

My solution

  •    Use Firefox to navigate to https://[servername]:631
  •    It refuses. Trust the connection
  •    Now Firefox can open the CUPS Admin webpage, so the SSL exception is working
  •    Make note of the name of the printer to be installed
  •    Go to Start Menu/Devices and printers
  •    Click "Add a printer" / "add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer"
  •    Click "The printer that I want isn't listed
  •    Click the RadioButton next to "Select a shared printer by name"
  •    Enter, in the text box, http://[serverName or lan address]:631/printers/[printer name] (printer name must be the exact name listed on the CUPS admin webpage)
  •    Click next, and the printer should be ready to print