Win2008R2 - 'modified Time' sorting bug

1) Sorting of files in Explorer in Windows 2008R2 is not correct. This post describes it well

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/022aab6b-20de-46dd-8fcb-1110064fc399

This problem is extremely annoying. I have folder containing lot of files and most have hard time knowing which one got edited last.

2) File-Properties does not show actual modified time. Example : Says this "file was modified 10minutes ago" not "10:10 1/1/2010"

No wonder MS is not able to capture non-tech market. Non-tech users get completely confused when new OS changes the tools and views that are fundamental. Saying "file was modified 10minutes ago" is clever but does not add much value. Compare this with real life, we do not re-learn the physical act of eating once every time year. Imagine how hard it is to shift from spoon & fork to chap-stick. Learning to eat chap-stick may at least increase your motor skill.

Windows 2008R2 File system problem

Hyper-V is hosting a guest-os, WinXP. One of the physical hard drive(say K) is directly connected to Guest-os, using Hyper-V setting. This physical hard drive(K) is completely dedicated to Guest-os. This physical hard drive(K) is disabled from the point of view of Host-os.

This setup worked fine for a while.... One day the guest-os corrupted the physical hard drive's filesystem. I disconnected the physical hard drive(K) from Guest-os, and unhid it from Host-os. I was trying to run chkdisk using Host-os. Host-OS, Windows 2008 R2 could not complete chkdisk. In the end OS froze and even shutdown also hung saying "waiting for windows Event service", then I had to powered off.

I rebooted the machine and began by stopping Hyper-V service. Then successfully ran HD Tune, verified the hard drive. Then I tried to run chkdsk and it failed again. Like before OS froze and had to power-off.

Then, I opened the machine, manually took out the drive(K) and connected to laptop as external hard drive. Laptop running WinXP, ran ChkDsk without any problem. I also formatted the drive (K), and changed the SIGNATURE .

I connected the drive(K) to Windows 2008R2 again. I had changed the signature of hard drive, to eliminate any chances of Hyper-V service accessing physical device but this did not help; Storage manager hung as before.

Finally I manually took out Segate drive from machine...

Windows 2008R2 - Audacity problem

I am a longtime Audacity user on Windows XP. With Windows 2008R2 I am having strange problems.

Problem
I start Audacity, and record for 50sec, and save it as MP3 file. I verify the recording quality and sounds fine. Then I record for longer duration; this time audio file is completely useless, hell a lot of noise.

No I am not under digital hallucination.

Windows 2008R2 audio crackling

OS
Windows 2008R2

Sound card
Audio card: Auzentech X-plosion 7.1
Audio controller: C-Media (6.12.8.1738)
DirectX: 11
Output port: SPD-IF

Problems:
MP3 audio skids, makes crackling sounds. All windows sounds like IM, have been disabled. Cracking sound increases when I open 'Device Manager' or 'Browse directory'. MP3 files are on a separate physical hard drive. This problem persists even when the OS is practically idle(no internet browser, video player, Adobe, msword, etc..). This is playing MP3, not streaming or playing DVD.

1) AudioDg.exe is not taking lot of memory. Event Viewer says: "Windows Audio Device Graph glitch threshold count exceeded". Most probably this is the culprit. Every audio goes through this stupid exe.

2) I did not have any such problem with previous OS that is WinXP. Current OS is a fresh/clean install.

I may have to go back to Win32XP because I see many other symptoms that tell something is really wrong.

Remains of secret war of 1964 - 1973

Excerpts from BBC - Claudia Hammond on Loas

Full report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9360746.stm

Excerpts:
During the so-called secret war between 1964 and 1973, the US spent $2m (£1.3m) a day dropping bombs on this part of Laos in a failed attempt to prevent communism from taking hold.The equivalent of a plane-full of bombs dropped every eight minutes for nine years.
.....
.....
Local people make use of the old ordnance for window boxes, cluster bombs as ash-tray.
.....
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Yet thousands of items of unexploded ordnance remain and from time to time children still lose limbs from explosions after picking up the old cluster bombs, which look like shiny yellow tennis balls. The first safety songs they learn at school are not about crossing the road, but about the dangers of touching any metal they might find.

Unexploded has prevented formers from cultivating all of the land...

Laos: Most heavily bombed place on Earth
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1100842.stm

Obama and his inspirational speeches

I feel Obama's speeches highly inspirational but we desperately need someone else to enact them...

When ever Obama speaks, the historians with a fresh load of ants in their brain start comparing Obama's speech to some other dead president's speech...and I heard them go really high on radio...

BTW.I have been listening to Obama's speeches since 2006....Yes they are no doubt inspirational...

Rigging Govt.

James Grimaldi described how the Rifle companies have officially rigged the US Govt. Here is mind blowing points that are anathema to fair democracy....

-It is illegal for authorities to maintain a computerized record of gun buyers, as consequence everything is being tracked using paper.

-Govt. dept. dealing with hand-guns and weapons is exempt from 'Freedom of Information' act.

Source:
Terri Gross interviewing James

Diplomats 1

Debate of Wikileaks hardly goes without words about Diplomats These are my views on diplomacy

Diplomats are not church going pious people that need protection. Many times diplomats negotiate for war, and if you want evidence just look what happened before Iraq war.

Diplomats have also created many international crisis, and on the top of that list is Al-qaeda. US diplomacy was to train Mujaheddin fighters(Al-qaeda) and Pakistan intelligence(ISI), to take on Russians based in Afghanistan. Over the decades Mujaheddin's have dispersed in to so many terrorist groups and are kept alive by ISI. Terrorism, a nameless enemy, may end up as our generation's biggest problem, and I blame US diplomats.

Diplomats have used 'American Interest' as justification to keep up the autocrats in middle-east countries; to name a few Saudi-Arabia, Jordan, Egypt. After 9/11 attack on New york, Bin laden told US presence in Saudi angers him, and US diplomats does not seem to care about it. By heading to Bin Laden we are not deserting a good democracy but a autocratic royal family. For decades, the oppressed citizens of above countries have seen US and their repressive in Govt in the same bed, and Al-qaeda has been has churning this anger to revolt against US. Smart diplomacy would be for US to cut ties with these dictators(including Israel). Many honest politicians like Ron Paul have suggested the same. Unfortunately US diplomats still follow the failed 'American Interest' agenda. Knowing all these I have no sympathy for this bunch. Diplomats do a hack job( in the name of 'American Interest') and come with another hack solution. Now we are sitting on pile of diplomatic hacks. All this has done is keeping Military firms in business, and providing fodder(in the form of issue) for US presidential election.

Diplomats have to be open because they represent nations not individuals, so diplomats can not claim the privilege of doctor & patient confidentiality. In US and Indian diplomacy, people of respective nation have the right to know what is going on. Especially the citizens of weaker partner nation should know that other dominant nation is not coercing.

I recommend people America see the diplomacy as an outsider, using a bit of ethical sense, instead of just militaristic 'American interest'.

How media inflated Saddam statue take down

Propublica article