apt get - apt-get wants to remove MariaDB on Debian Wheezy

I've set up my server to use MariaDB and used the installation instructions on the web page. It worked quite well. Now, if I want to dist-upgrade, apt-get wants to replace MariaDB with MySQL:

The following packages will be REMOVED:
  libmariadbclient18 mariadb-client-5.5 mariadb-client-core-5.5 mariadb-server mariadb-server-5.5 mariadb-server-core-5.5
...
The following packages will be upgraded:
  libmysqlclient18 mysql-common

Why does apt-get want to do this? How can I stop apt-get from doing so?

networking - What exactly is a “network boundary?”

The term “network boundary” is used in various Wikipedia articles and other sources, but I haven’t found an explicit definition anywhere. (Google, Stack Exchange, OneLook, Tech Terms Computer Dictionary, Computer Hope, etc…)

I can take it as the general English meaning of the word “boundary” combined with the word “network,” but given its presence in numerous precision definitions and explanations, the lack of a distinct definition with examples is bothersome.

Example sentences:

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the principal communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries.

Another:

We wouldn’t have to cross a network boundary to get…

Answer

In this context, "network" is synonymous with "LAN" or local area network. It is by definition a realm of connected machines that can communicate using the OSI Data Link layer (layer 2). A machine that is not directly connected to your LAN is outside your network boundary, and you cannot contact it.

In the OSI model the internet is an Internetwork, a system of interconnected networks, which is implemented by a common protocol which operates at OSI layer 3, and allows the use of Routers, which convey traffic from LAN to LAN as the datagrams cross the internetwork. IP is an Internetwork layer protocol, so it can use routers to relay traffic as your example sentence explains.

microsoft excel 2010 - How to calculate age in years?

In Excel 2010, I'm using the formula =(TODAY() - 05/31/1996) / 365.25 to calculate the age in years between today's date, May 30, 2013, and May 31, 1996. I'm expecting some number close to 17.00, but I get 113.41. How do I use a single formula to calculate the difference in years between two dates? I've formatted my cell as a number with 2 decimal precision.

I'm using formula based on this similar question.

Answer

You need to coerce the date as written into a real date. There are several approaches. Using a DateValue() function has been outlined. Another way is this:

=(TODAY()-("31/5/1996"+0))/365.25

This formula works for regional settings with dates represented as DMY. If your regional settings use MDY, try

=(TODAY()-("5/31/1996"+0))/365.25

The text of the date will be coerced into a number by adding a zero, and will then be processed further.

Of course, you could save yourself a lot of trouble if you entered the date into a different cell and then just refer the formula to that cell

With A1 having the value of 31-May-1996 (in whatever format your regional settings serve up), you can then use

=(TODAY()-A1)/365.25

windows 7 - Need to download lots of files, Whats the most lightweight download manager?

I need to download 30000+ .mp3 files! each of them are ~200 kb..
I tried to download all of them or in 6 sets (5000 files each time) with Internet Download Manager but it freezes.. Which download manager could handle this much files?

Links:
http://www.everyayah.com/data/Alafasy_64kbps/

http://www.everyayah.com/data/Maher_AlMuaiqly_64kbps/

Turn off tabbed browsing: Chrome/Firefox - Is it possible?

Is it possible somehow to revert back to the old browsing habits, i.e. no tabs in Chrome or Firefox?

I stumbled the web but I cannot find the answer to this question.

windows - Printing to two Printers at the same time

I have two thermal receipt printers installed on a PC.

Is there a way to print to two printers at the same time?

Using Windows XP.

It will be printed via browser.

Answer

I looked into this for archiving purposes not too long ago. Although my needs were a little different, I needed to print to a physical printer and a PDF printer for archiving, I figured it is worth sharing my findings.

The two solutions I found to be the best were: Print distributor and Multi print. Both cost money but I assume this is for a business so stability is important (I assume you have zebras which are already unreliable). I also managed to get it working with ghostscript but it was very flaky and would sometimes stop working altogether (would require spooler restart). Overall print distributor was by far the easiest to setup and get going.

WIndows 7 cannot boot - bootrec reports FS not found or corrupt

For 3 days now I've been unable to boot into my Windows 7 partition, and all my research has been to no avail. I'm hoping someone here has more ideas on how to fix this.

When I boot up now, I get the black screen with BCD error that says theres no valid file system or it may be corrupt (pardon my lack of detail, no copy/paste is available then).

When I boot with the Windows 7 disc and go into repair tools, no operating system is found, and attempting to automatically repair the problem fails with Unknown Operating System (Unknown Disk) or something similar. When I drop into the command prompt, I am able to see and navigate my C:\ drive without issue.

I attempt to use bootrec:

C:\> bootrec /ScanOS

Finds C:\Windows as a system partition.

C:\> bootrec /RebuildBCD

Fails with volume does not contain a recognized file system. please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.

So then I attempt to fix the bootsector:

C:\> bootsect /nt60 C: /force

Which completes successfully (sorry, no output..)

Upon rebooting, I have the same problem.

I've also tried all of the above after making my Windows partition active:

C:\> diskpart
DISKPART> select disk 1
DISKPART> select partition 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> exit

Then bootrec as above, both with and without a reboot after the DISKPART commands.

Then I've also tried rebuilding the BCD store by hand:

set systemdrive=C:
set tempbcd=C:\boot\bcd.temp
set tempfile=C:\boot\temp.txt

bcdedit -createstore %tempbcd%
bcdedit.exe -store %tempbcd% -create {bootmgr} -d "Windows Boot Manager"

bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -create -d "Windows Vista" -application osloader>%tempfile%
set /p winvistaguid= <%tempfile%
set winvistaguid=%winvistaguid:~10,38%

bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% osdevice partition=%systemdrive%
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% device partition=%systemdrive%
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% systemroot \Windows

bcdedit -import %tempbcd%

However on the import, I get my familiar friendly message:

volume does not contain a recognized file system. please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted

I'm at my wits end here, and I cannot understand why Windows refuses to see this as a valid install.

When I list the disk/partition in DISKPART, it shows up as NTFS and "Healthy", and I can navigate the directory structure from DOS with no problems.

I really, really do not want to reformat and reinstall. I know this problem can be solved!

Answer

Unfortunately, none of these answers worked. After 10 days of trying everything I could find and think of, I wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows.