Category Archives: Computer Hardware

Passwords for Netgear Wireless Router error

I installed a new Netgear router yesterday and discovered that when I changed the default password I could no longer access the unit.

I’ve been like this before and I think that I may have dumped a D-link modem under similar circumstances, however I stray from the topic.

It dawned on me after a while that because I like strong passwords I frequently include special characters that it might be the special character that was the issue. So I experimented and confirmed my thoughts.

Using special characters like % sign will act as an escape character which means both it and the next character will be treated as special and effectively ignored.

Example:

New password = %password
Actual recorded password = assword

Now I did not test this in the middle of a password but I am guessing it will be the same.

Bottom line is that when doing password changes in a Netgear and including special characters be aware that it may escape the characters making it appear that you cannot login when all you need to do is remove the escape’d characters from the password.

Sony Vaio current model review is obsolete within 3 weeks!!

I went looking for a new notebook a month ago and while I did not rely on this review it helps to highlight the stupidity of the situation.

I trawled the Sony web site for hours comparing all the models and arrived at the Z series with the SSD drive and the quad core processor etc.

Sounds really good. So I ordered one. That was mid March 2010. Its not yet mid April and while initially I was told it would be ready now, I am now informed that the model is obsolete. No that is not a mis-print. OB-SO-F***g-LETE.  For crying out loud according to the Sydney Morning Herald review on the 22nd March 2010 this model was the ‘latest of all Sony’s technology’.

How on earth can a model go from ‘Latest’ to ‘Obsolete’ in 21 days or less?

So I have a choice, wait until the new delivery date of the middle of May 2010 for a computer that is already obsolete, or cancel the order and wait for an as yet unannounced revised specification model that will possibly last a month or two longer.

As the advert goes, “Not happy, Jan!”