As many of us hate change it happens…. for me it was when Gnome decided to use their own screensaver daemon /preferences app. After  a while i found a guide on how to replace gnome-screensaver with xscreensaver. I have adapted the guide i have been using for years for use on the newly released Debian 5.0.

Disclaimer: We have used the method to fix this on many computers and it has always worked, causing no problems. However, we have to say, use it at your own risk. We provide this as a free service with no guarantee or promise as to how it will work for you. We accept no responsibility for any problem it may cause or it is implied to have caused.

1. su
2. sudo killall gnome-screensaver
3. gconftool-2 –type boolean -s /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/screensaver/start_screensaver false
4. chmod -x /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
5. apt-get install xscreensaver
6. apt-get install xscreensaver-data-extra xscreensaver-gl-extra
7. gedit /usr/share/applications/gnome-screensaver-preferences.desktop
   1. replace “Exec=gnome-screensaver-preferences” with “Exec=xscreensaver-demo”
   2. Comment out the following lines to look as they are below:
      #X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Bugzilla=GNOME
      #X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Product=gnome-screensaver
      #X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Component=general
      #X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=gnome-screensaver
8. ln -f /usr/bin/xscreensaver-command /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver-command

By following this guide you loose the pretty lock screen but you get real screensaver options.

This guide was based on two forum posts on the ubuntu forums:
HOWTO: Replace gnome-screensaver with xscreensaver and Re: HOWTO: Replace gnome-screensaver with xscreensaver

Btw this post was written on linux (The shot below is my screensaver settings)

Tags: 50, Debian, howto, Lenny, options, screensaver

It has been two major versions since i have last used Debian this much… for the longest time have used more so windows and some Ubuntu. Now i think i will stick with Debian once again

Anyway I used the net install cd to install it… This version features the graphical install as a option (If it was in earlier ones please leave a comment) which makes install even easier than the old text mode installer. A few of the things that made ubuntu unique are now standard in Debian such as auto codec search when you try to play a format that doesn’t have a codec installed and the easy to use add/remove programs app.

Overall I find it to be pretty good and it probably will stay installed on this machine Grab your copy @ http://debian.org/.

My test machine  is:

CPU: AMD Sempron 2400+
RAM: 1.5gb
Hard Drive: 160gb
Video Card: Geforce 4 MX 4000 64mb

Below is a screenshot of my Debian 5.0 desktop (The theme is Nimbus I used the v. 0.1.2-2 files)

Tags: 50, Debian, Initial, Lenny, Thoughts

All the time i’ve been on IRC I have always used mIRC…. for those who dont know what it is here is the desccription from the offical site:

mIRC is a popular Internet Relay Chat client used by millions of people, and thousands of organizations, to communicate, share, play and work with each other on IRC networks around the world. Serving the Internet community for over a decade, mIRC has evolved into a powerful, reliable and fun piece of technology. You can download it here.

Anyway not sure how long it is gonna go on for but you can get mIRC for $10 (50% off) if you buy using this url.

Buy your copy here…

Tags: 50, Deal, Discount, mIRC

Here are the links for: Friday, January 23rd 2009…

25 Years of Macintosh in photos
Acer intros 10in Aspire One netbook
App Store mirrors allow for browsing sans iTunes
Apple fans mark 25 years of Mac devotion
Apple reaches $22.5 million settlement for scratched iPod nanos
Boxee now supports ABC with Lost and Scrubs now streaming
Bugs In Microsoft Technical Documentation Rising
Delay in analog TV shutdown presents challenges
Download Windows 7 Now, Before It’s Too Late [Reminder]
Engadget goes all the way with Windows 7 Beta
Engineering the Windows 7 “Windows Experience Index”
Happy 25th, Macintosh!
How to Get Emoji Emoticons in iPhone SMS Messages Easily
iPhone App Store rewards the lazy
John Slater: So, What Exactly *Is* Mozilla?
Lian-Li PC-888: The New Big Blue [PCs]
Microsoft Flight Simulator developers hit particularly hard by job cuts
Microsoft To Cut 5,000 Jobs As Profits Fall 11%
Palm Responds to Apple’s Legal Posturing With Even More Posturing [Palm]
Police seize Indymedia server (again)
Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360 Is Red Like Dead Zombie Blood [Xbox 360]
Samsadness: Samsung sales down
Samsung Android to land within months?
Senate OKs DTV Delay, Still Needs Money for Coupons
Skype Sees a Bright Future; Will It Be Spun Off?
Snow Leopard Screenshot Leaks?
Sony’s Webbie HD reviewed: cheap but not a bargain
The Mac at 25: Six of Apple’s worst products
The Mac at 25: Storage
Top 50 Linux Alternatives to Popular Apps
What would life after Microsoft look like? Think LEGO.
Win 7 Tip: Device Stage Gadget Interface Is Gorgeous (When Supported!) [Windows 7 Tip]
Win 7 Tip: ISO Disc Image Burning Is Built Right In [Windows 7]
Win 7 Tip: Maximize and Dock Your Windows by Dragging to the Screen Edge [Windows 7]
Win 7 Tip: Where the Hell is Add/Remove Programs? [Windows 7]
Windows Vista SP2 delayed?
YouTube officially enables HQ in embedded videos
YouTube To Allow Self-Serve Ads For Major Media Players

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