Portable usage of FileSystemView?

FileSystemView is working fine under Windows, but only returns the default icons under Linux.
Since Linux doesn't have a standard mechanism to register icons, this is reasonable behavior. However, the FileSystemView is returning the default icons instead of nulls (like a FileView would), so I can't tell whether or not the system really has a default icon.
What I want to do is this:
FileSystemView fsv;
File file;
Icon i;
if( /* The FileSystemView has an icon other than the system default for unknown files */ ) {
i = fsv.getSystemIcon(file);
} else {
i = getHardCodedIcon(file);
My code looks like this right now, but is probably not the right way to go about the problem:
Icon i = fsv.getSystemIcon(file);
if(java.io.File.separatorChar == '/') {   // Break all Unix-like operating system icon look-ups.
i = getHardCodedIcon(file);
I also considered the following:
Icon i = fsv.getSystemIcon(file);
if(javax.swing.plaf.metal.MetalFactory.TreeLeafIcon.class.isAssignableFrom(returnMe.getClass))) {
i = getHardCodedIcon(file);
But this is look and feel dependent, and we may be changing look and feels.
Any ideas? Ideally, I'd like to be able to override the icon if the system is unable to provide a custom icon for the file, so that they will appear properly even if the system doesn't have a icon for the file type. On the other hand, if the system does have a registered icon, I would like it to override mine.
Thanks,
Rusty.

Hi,
moduloPrevious—Given a dimension and a location, adds the previous location to the
calculation shape
moduloPrevious(Dimension d, ProgramContext ctx)
I used following formula:
"mp1"[level(Month)]=if(isPast(member(FiscalCalendar)),"Actual Demand"[moduloPrevious("FiscalCalendar")],"Actual Demand")
Here “Actual Demand” is loaded measure.

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    Case type: Anodized aluminum compositewith plastic edging.
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    MacBook
    No visible markers set these units apart from the 1G models, and all internals are the same save for the Core2 CPU.  These units were slightly revised in 2007 toenable draft 802.11n support; those models shipped in October 2006 and onward could download an update to enable 802.11n. The only way to confirm a 2G MacBook is via software; the Model ID iseither ”2,1” or “2,2”
    Case type: Solid white or blackpolycarbonate shell
    Chipset: Intel 945GM
    Standard RAM: 1 GB (944 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM: 3.00 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (2992 MB usable)
    Pros: Core2 offers 64-bit support and modest speed boost, max RAM up
    Cons: Still comes up short forhigh-demand applications.
    MacBook Pro
    Functionally similar to its predecessor while retaining the AMD X1600 graphics, the 2G Pro had three notable differences.  This line marks the permanent return of the FireWire 800 port—this one’s on the right side. Also back for an encore is the double-layer SuperDrive; Apple’s suppliers finally had the size of optical drive that Apple needed.  Like the MacBook, it also gets a lift from the new Core2 CPUs with twice as much L2 cache as their predecessors and their trendier plastic-clad siblings.
    Case type: Anodized aluminum composite with plastic edging.
    Chipset: Intel 945GM
    Standard RAM: 1 GB
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    Case type: Solid white or black polycarbonate shell
    Chipset: Intel GM965
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    Case type: Anodized aluminum
    Chipset: Intel GM965
    Standard RAM: 2 GB onboard (1904 MB usable)
    Pros: Size and weight offer maximumportability, big screen and keyboard offer comfort for travelers, multi-gesturetrackpad has large surface for easy usability, and price is on par for class.
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    Case type: Anodized aluminum composite with plastic edging.
    Chipset: Intel GM965
    Standard RAM: 2 GB
    Maximum RAM: 4.00 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
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    As is done in every odd generation, Apple reworked the entire line of notebooks from within for the “Late 2008/Early 2009” cycle.  In addition, Apple was hard at work on atotally new and totally trend-setting casing process for its portables.  The result: an extreme makeover not seen in Apple’s portable lines since the 68K-to-PowerPC transitions of the early 1990’s.  To rework the interior of the MacBook family, Apple went to NVIDIA—not Intel—for a high-performance logicsolution to be used in notebooks.  NVIDIAwas working on a desktop chipset at the time; but if Steve Jobs’ statement at Apple’s October ‘08 notebook event is to be believed, Apple designers asked NVIDIA to make it mobile, and the company delivered an MCP logic set dubbed“GeForce 9400M” unto Apple.  All linesthus benefited from markedly faster graphics and the adoption of ultra-fas tDDR3 memory.  Here, the 5G MacBook and 2G MacBook Air became passable all-around units, with the 5G MacBook Pro sportingdynamically switchable graphics engines.
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    Case type: Anodized aluminum unibody
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M MCP with GeForce 9600M GT GPU
    Standard RAM: 2 GB (1792 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM: 8.00 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (7936 MB usable)
    Pros: Powerful, lighter, more durable,energy efficient, hard drive is user-serviceable, wealth of options available
    Cons: Changes in port makeup require conversion adapters; may frustrate some ,expensive entry price, fixed battery
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    Case type: Anodized aluminum unibody
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M MCP
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    MacBook (’09 White)
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    Case type: Polycarbonate unibody shell
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M MCP
    Standard RAM: 2 GB (1792 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM:  4 GB (3840 MB usable)
    Pros: Solid construction, cheaper than prior models, few if any changes from previous model
    Cons: Limited trackpad motion support, RAM capped at 4 GB, looks less classy
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    MacBook
    From Mid 2009 onward, MacBooks continued to shadow their upper-crust siblings, but in the process, they ultimately catch up—to 2008’s lineup.  It’s from here that these modelstake a multitouch glass-backed trackpad, a fixed battery, and the Mini DisplayPort monitor connection.  A remolded unibody design gives this model a curved front.  FireWire finally drops, as does the IR receiver; Apple found that many consumers buying the MacBook just didn’t care for either add-on.  Still, subtle bumpsin CPU speed and battery life may have been enough to justify an upgrade from previous generation models.
    Case type: Polycarbonate unibody shell
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M MCP
    Standard RAM: 2 GB (1792 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM:  4 GB (3840 MB usable)
    Pros: Long battery life, sleeker and slimmer design,slightly lighter
    Cons: Almost no change from 5G setup; ports dropped
    MacBook Pro (15” and17”)
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    Chipset: Intel 5 Series/HD Graphics with NVIDIA GT 330M
    Standard RAM: 4 GB (3840 MB usable inlow-energy modes)
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    Pros: Big lift from i-Series CPU’s, SD cards now usablewithout extra hardware, more starting RAM, SSD options for better performance
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    With Windows XP in decline from 2009’s release of Windows 7, this became the last iteration of Mac portables to run the nearly-decade-old platform.  Vista, too, would meet its end here, though Microsoft still considers it in mainstream support untilmid-2012.  Perhaps Apple wished to streamline their Windows support to a single version—or perhaps it realized what so many others outside of itself knew from experience: Vista was a disaster, and it was best left to rot with its distant ancestor, Windows Me, inthe depths of history’s sewers.
    MacBook
    The trusty steed of many a cheapskate since its 2006 intro received what would be its last upgrade ever in mid 2010.  The Penryn processor gets a slight bump from 2.1 GHz to 2.4 GHz, and NVIDIA 320M graphics round out the package.  Otherwise, there’s not much new, for its reign as King of Value would quickly come to a close.
    Case type: Polycarbonate unibody shell
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 320M MCP
    Standard RAM: 2 GB (1792 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM:  4 GB (3840 MB usable)
    Pros: Modest gains for CPU and GPU—but that’s it
    Cons: Still cheap looking with a plastic shell—and you paid WHAT?
    MacBook Pro (13”)
    Now firmly rebranded as a Pro model, Apple’s 13” aluminum notebook was poised to gain clout with “prosumers” and other types that loved the aluminum look but did not want to pay extra for the new CPU’s of the 15” and 17” models.  Still, these units made big gains from the new NVIDIA MCP and Penryn chips up to 2.66 GHz. All in all, this seemed a very well-balanced unit for one a full generation behind its peers, and one that was well worth its $1,200 entry fee
    Case type: Anodized aluminum unibody
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 320M MCP
    Standard RAM: 4 GB (3840 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM: 8.00 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (7936 MB usable)
    Pros: Full featured for the size, hits a“sweet spot” for the price
    Cons: Aging architecture now at limit, no i-Series chips to be found
    MacBook Air (Fourth Generation)
    The head-turning Air gets a late 2010 all-around makeoverwhile expanding the family of portables to include Apple’s smallest notebook since the 12” PowerBook made a splash in 2003. Even at the new 11.6” size, the Air gets a slightly thicker body than its previous two models.  The extra thickness isn’t enough to keep it from being the thinnest, but it is enough to add a much-requested second USB port and to eliminate the clumsy door covering the initial USB port and the video port in addition to exposing the MagSafe connector, making the once-awkward connection more accessible.  This also gives it a more rectangular profile in line with Apple’s other models.
    The upgraded 13” model doubles onboard flash storage andadds the SD card slot from the MacBook Pros.
    Both models now feature factory upgrades to storage andRAM—up to 256 GB and 4GB respectively-- as well as new options from theultra-low-voltage Penryn Core2’s.  Bothmodels also benefitted from NVIDIA’s 320M MCP Starting at 1.4 GHz with 64 GB ofstorage and 2 GB RAM for $999, the MacBook Air slowly began to earn its place as the value leader, costing just as much as the venerable white MacBook.  Even so, with so many options for this model,there was something to fit every budget.
    These models are the first to carry a specific OS requirement when running Boot Camp, despite running Snow Leopard as previous models can.  Windows 7 is a must, though one would be hard-pressed trying to squeeze it into a minimally configured 11” unit
    Case type: Anodized aluminum unibody
    Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 320M MCP
    Standard RAM: 2 GB (1792 MB usable)
    Maximum RAM:  4 GB (3840 MB usable)
    Pros: Still thin and light, wealth of options available,extra USB port, ports much more accessible
    Cons: Options fixed at time of order, Boot Camp needs toospecific for some users
    What About Sandy Bridge?
    As of February 2011, Apple was one of the first manufacturers to introduce Intel’s Sandy Bridge platform to the world, ushering in the eighth and current generation of portable Macs.  With this generation, quad-core, eight-thread i-Series CPU’s are a staple of the 15” and 17” high end, while dual-core ,quad-thread models still populate the lower end.  Nonetheless, all models now benefit from the same new technology with none fully ahead of or behind the others. 
    All models also feature a breakthrough in peripheralconnectivity that combines bandwidths of both PCI Express and DisplayPort intoa bus markedly faster than any bus presently in use.  Christened “Thunderbolt”, the new interface offers enormous potential with its theoretical 10 gigabit-per-second bandwidth.  However, devices using Thunderbolt are only beginning to emerge on the market,thus it is still too early to offer any concrete opinion regarding thistechnology.
    As these models are currently on sale (and have recentlybeen updated) at the Apple Store and Apple Authorized Resellers worldwide, to proffer any opinion of current models defeats the purpose of this, anhistorical document of Mac portable evolution.
    Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    To have witnessed and tracked the evolution of Apple’snotebook lines from 2006 to the present is no small feat.  One could say that doing so is in fact opening a window on the history of Apple itself, for it is in Apple’s notebooks that we have seen the greatest innovations both from the company and in computing itself.  From their inceptionin 2006, Apple’s Intel notebooks have evolved into some of the best and mostreliable notebooks on the market today. To be able to run Windows as well asthe Mac OS only solidifies that position.
    Yet, with each stage of their evolution, the MacBook, MacBookPro and MacBook Air, while they have made significant forward progress, havehad to sacrifice features that some users find essential.  Still, while the complaints roll in with each generation of notebooks, time must march on. Apple is a computer company after all, and must continually update its wares if it is to remain in its current position near the top of the industryat large.
    The stark realities of Apple’s business, however, should never be used as an excuse to buy the latest and greatest hardware even if yours seems less capable than someone else’s. Holding onto older Apple hardware may actually put you at an advantage, since you may still be able to work with hardware that newer models don’tsupport.  This is one of many reasons Macs tend to stick around longer than most Windows PCs.
    I certainly hope you have enjoyed this look back at Apple’s Intel notebook lines.  As a proudmember of the Mac community for almost eight years and a volunteer whose role connects him to computing past, I find this knowledge of the past fascinating; and yet it is vital to maintain such a background, as it can give us as users an idea of where the industry will be in the months and years to come. 

    Due to a copy/paste glitch, some necessary spaces have inadvertently been removed.  If I could fix this, I would.

  • Kernel Task over 400% CPU usage

    Hello, I have some questions about the Kernel Task in my activity monitor.
    Recently, after a hard disk failure, I have my Macbook Pro wiped and start afresh with Mavericks. All was well, but it slowed down tremendously in the last couple of days. I checked the activity monitor and Kernel Task is always around 400-470%, sometimes it even peaked to 1000+%! I closed all my applications but it is still taking up all my RAM. I cannot work when it is freezing up every 2 seconds. What is the problem?
    Here is the report, if it helps:
    EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)
    Report generated 3 August 2014 12:38:14 BST
    Hardware Information:
      MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) (Verified)
      MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1
      1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2 cores
      4 GB RAM
    Video Information:
      Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB
      Color LCD 1280 x 800
    System Software:
      OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 1 day 8:2:57
    Disk Information:
      WDC WD5000LPVX-00V0TT0 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
      EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
      Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (121.06 GB free)
      Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
      HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS31N 
    USB Information:
      Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
      Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
      Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
      Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
      Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Thunderbolt Information:
      Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
    Gatekeeper:
      Anywhere
    Kernel Extensions:
      [not loaded] com.m-audio.driver.firewire.dice (2.4.2 - SDK 10.6) Support
    Launch Daemons:
      [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
    Launch Agents:
      [running] com.maudio.profire.helper.plist Support
    User Launch Agents:
      [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
    User Login Items:
      iTunesHelper
      Google Drive
    Internet Plug-ins:
      FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support
      Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support
      QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
      JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version
      Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
    Safari Extensions:
      Searchme: Version: 1.3
    Audio Plug-ins:
      BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
      AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9
      AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9
      iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
    iTunes Plug-ins:
      Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9
    3rd Party Preference Panes:
      Flash Player  Support
      PreferencesPane  Support
    Time Machine:
      Time Machine not configured!
    Top Processes by CPU:
          11% Disk Utility
          11% repair_packages
          7% helpd
          5% WindowServer
          3% hidd
    Top Processes by Memory:
      233 MB Finder
      66 MB mds_stores
      49 MB WindowServer
      37 MB mds
      34 MB Disk Utility
    Virtual Memory Information:
      1.22 GB Free RAM
      1.35 GB Active RAM
      394 MB Inactive RAM
      1017 MB Wired RAM
      1.50 GB Page-ins
      100 MB Page-outs

    The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.
    Throttling
    When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or a low-voltage reading from the battery, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to:
    ☞ a buildup of dust on the logic board
    ☞ high ambient temperature
    ☞ a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable
    ☞ the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal component
    Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.
    If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on battery power, the fault is in the battery or the logic board. If it happens only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That may be normal on some models. CPU usage should drop when charging is complete.
    Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a fault. For more thorough hardware testing, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.
    If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.
    Installed software
    User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.
    Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data
    Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.
    External display
    Connecting an external LCD display to some MacBook Pro models while the lid is open may cause this issue. If applicable, test by closing the lid or disconnecting the display. You might get better results with a newer LED display.

  • I have a perplexing issue regarding a huge discrepancy between perceived storage usage and what shows up in system profiler?

    I am currently thinking about what my next laptop is going to be after my MacBook Pro from about 2009 finally gives out (still going strong!), and I am in between the 128GB and the 256GB MacBook Air models so I wanted to get an idea of how much space I was using right now. When I use the system profiler I get this result:
    Yet when I use MacKeeper's Disk Usage Utility I get this result:
    The biggest issue being, why is there almost 50GB of difference in Music alone? This computer has been through every OS since the one it came out with (think it was Snow Leopard), I have always used MacKeeper to keep everything in order and it's been running great ever since. But can somebody please explain where these discrepancies come from and how I can fix them?

    For information about the Other category in the Storage display, see this support article. If the Storage display seems to be inaccurate, try rebuilding the Spotlight index.
    Empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. If you use iPhoto, empty its internal Trash first:
    iPhoto ▹ Empty Trash
    Do the same in other applications, such as Aperture, that have an internal Trash feature. Then restart the computer. That will temporarily free up some space.
    According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation. You also need enough space left over to allow for growth of the data. There is little or no performance advantage to having more available space than the minimum Apple recommends. Available storage space that you'll never use is wasted space.
    When Time Machine backs up a portable Mac, some of the free space will be used to make local snapshots, which are backup copies of recently deleted files. The space occupied by local snapshots is reported as available by the Finder, and should be considered as such. In the Storage display of System Information, local snapshots are shown as  Backups. The snapshots are automatically deleted when they expire or when free space falls below a certain level. You ordinarily don't need to, and should not, delete local snapshots yourself. If you followed bad advice to disable local snapshots by running a shell command, you may have ended up with a lot of data in the Other category. Ask for instructions in that case.
    See this support article for some simple ways to free up storage space.
    You can more effectively use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper (ODS) or GrandPerspective (GP) to explore the volume and find out what's taking up the space. You can also delete files with it, but don't do that unless you're sure that you know what you're deleting and that all data is safely backed up. That means you have multiple backups, not just one. Note that ODS only works with OS X 10.8 or later. If you're running an older OS version, use GP.
    Deleting files inside an iPhoto or Aperture library will corrupt the library. Any changes to a photo library must be made from within the application that created it. The same goes for Mail files.
    Proceed further only if the problem isn't solved by the above steps.
    ODS or GP can't see the whole filesystem when you run it just by double-clicking; it only sees files that you have permission to read. To see everything, you have to run it as root.
    Back up all data now.
    If you have more than one user account, make sure you're logged in as an administrator. The administrator account is the one that was created automatically when you first set up the computer.
    Install the app you downloaded in the Applications folder as usual. Quit it if it's running.
    Triple-click anywhere in the corresponding line of text below on this page to select it, then copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
    sudo /Applications/OmniDiskSweeper.app/Contents/MacOS/OmniDiskSweeper
    sudo /Applications/GrandPerspective.app/Contents/MacOS/GrandPerspective
    Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
    ☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
    Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V. You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
    The application window will open, eventually showing all files in all folders, sorted by size. It may take a few minutes for the app to finish scanning.
    I don't recommend that you make a habit of doing this. Don't delete anything as root. If something needs to be deleted, make sure you know what it is and how it got there, and then delete it by other, safer, means. When in doubt, leave it alone or ask for guidance.
    When you're done with the app, quit it and also quit Terminal.

  • Sudden increase in usage

    After nearly 3 years with BT my monthly usage allowance has suddenly started being exceeded even though I am not using the internet any differently.
    The alert emails were being sent to the wrong email so I only found out when my paper bill finally arrived. Last month I apparently exceeded the usage by 40GB!!!! For someone who doesn't d/load, watch online tv etc this seems a huge amount. Three days phoning BT and no further on, customer services are useless!!!
    Does anyone have any idea what could be causing the increase in usage, I live in the country with no neighbours close by so someone 'hopping on' is very unlikely.
    Thanks

    Hi CPatton,
    You can check your broadband usage by going to http://www.bt.com/broadbandusagemonitor
    Have you checked that you have no virus/malware on your computers that may be running in the background using up the internet? You can check by running a virus scan on your anti-virus protection software.
    Do you have any phones/portable devices that are using the internet? For blackberry's and phones that connect to the wifi, then your data calls will be running through your internet instead of the mobile network.
    If you have a bad internet connection then sometimes data sent to your hub will have to be sent again, this can sometimes use up more usage than you think your using.
    You could try Live Chat and see if they can help you.
    cheers,
    James
    jac_95 | BT.com Help Site | BT Service Status
    Someone Solved Your Question?
    Please let other members know by clicking on ’Mark as Accepted Solution’
    Try a Search
    See if someone in the community had the same problem and how they got it resolved.

  • CPU high system usage

    My laptop regularly slows way down and gets super choppy, and the Activity Monitor shows high system percentage during, usually up into the 70s. This happens when I try to watch videos online, play games, or even load too many pages at once. I have to close the tab or quit the application to get it going again. This occurs with all applications (Word, Excel, games, etc). Even after I install updates and restart I get the same problem. I've tried eliminating tabs and applications up at once, tried clearing space and uninstalling applications - same issue.

    The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.
    Throttling
    When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or a low-voltage reading from the battery, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to
    a buildup of dust on the logic board
    high ambient temperature
    a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable
    the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, or a voltage sensor
    Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.
    If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on battery power, the fault is in the battery or the logic board. If it happens only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That may be normal on some models. CPU usage should drop when charging is complete.
    Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a bad fan or sensor.
    If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.
    Installed software
    User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.
    Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data
    Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.
    External display
    Connecting an external LCD display to some MacBook Pro models may cause this issue. If applicable, test by disconnecting the display. You might get better results with a newer LED display.

  • OSX 10.6.8 and Iomega portable hard drives

    6/12/14
    I have an "Iomega eGo® Portable 500 MB Hard Drive FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0".
    Is this compatible with OSX 10.6.8?
    I will be using it with Time Machine.
    Do I need to use the FireWire and if so how do I use the FireWire setup for optimum usage?
    Thank you. 

    If it's the cable you have been using then you have the right cable. This is FW 400 cable:
    This is the FW 800 cable:
    The numbers refer to the port/enclosure speed. Since 800 is twice 400, you can conclude that FW 800 is indeed faster by a factor of 2 times.

  • Migrating existing portable homes to new server

    aside from moving the homedir data from the old server to the new, there seem to be at least a few issues with migrating existing portable home accounts to a new server:
    1. some of users' account details, like GeneratedUID, authentication authority, kerberos principals, OriginalNFSHomeDirectory, are different, while others (name, shortname, UID, GID, etc.) remain the same.
    2. home directory (OriginalNFSHomeDirectory, etc.) point to the old server.
    3. there's data on local machines that we don't sync back to the server, so we can't just blow away the existing local accounts and start fresh.
    the quickest way to migrate these users to the new server (with all the same shortnames and UIDs, etc.) seems to be to remove the local cached accounts (leaving the home folders) and have them recreate new PHDs on login, syncing things back down to the original home folder. i'm guess this won't involve much syncing, it's all the same data, essentially.
    the other way i can see resolving this is to replace the account attributes for each client to match what they should be when pointed to the new server. this would involve scripting the process for reliability and not moving any data or deleting accounts, but it will take more testing on my part.
    what do you think? can you think of better ways to accomplish this task?
    summary: what's the best way to move existing portable home accounts bound to "Server A" to "Server B," while maintaining data and portable homes pointed to the new server and storage?
    thanks.

    that createmobileaccount syntax was wrong. i guess you don't need the -t option and can instead specify the whole path to the user's home. it seems to work well enough, creating a portable home with no default sync settings -- basically manual. for my needs that's fine. the sync settings are managed via mcx anyway.
    here's an updated version of the standalone script. i realized just now the script assumes the diradmin usernames and passwords are the same between servers. if that's not the case, you can hard code it or add a couple of variables. since they're just taken in order on stdin, add them in order. i should also add a function to interactively ask for the passwords with stty -echo to avoid having the passes logged in command history or allowing the script to curl the pass from another file on a web server or something. for now, this seems to work for my purposes. edit as you see fit.
    #!/bin/bash
    # nate@tsp, 3/4/10: initial version
    # 3/5/10: added prettier heredoc usage statement, variables, further tested
    # todo: add function to add user to local admin group, as needed. this shouldn't be required in most environments.
    # todo: convert some of these one-liners to functions for better modular use; make it "smarter"
    # todo: convert the whole thing to ruby for practice
    # automates the process of unbinding from the old OD server, binding to the new, removing the existing local user, adding it back, and other bits
    # there are no "smarts" in this script, so use carefully
    # variables
    diradminpass=$1
    account=$2
    password=$3
    oldserver=$4
    newserver=$5
    mkdadmin=$6 # not used in this version
    # if no parameters are passed, display usage, exit
    if [ ! -n "$5" ] ; then
    cat<<endofnote
    usage: you must include at least 5 arguments (6th isn't used right now)
    run with `basename $0`
    1. [directory admin password]
    2. [shortname of account to change]
    3. [account password, which should be the default 'xxxxxxxx' on the new server]
    4. [name of old server]
    5. [name of new server]
    6. [yes or no to make this account a local admin - optional and not used now]
    ex: `basename $0` diradminpass jbrown password oldserver newserver yes
    endofnote
    exit 1
    fi
    # if you're running this as root or with sudo, proceed; otherwise, quit it!
    if [ $(whoami) = "root" ]; then
    echo "you're root. let's proceed..."
    # delete the user in question from the local directory store
    echo "deleting local account: $account"
    dscl . -delete /users/$account
    # remove the old od config
    echo "removing the old OD bind..."
    dsconfigldap -v -r $oldserver -c $HOSTNAME -u diradmin -p $diradminpass
    # remove the old server from the search and contacts paths
    echo "removing the old search paths..."
    dscl /Search -delete / CSPSearchPath /LDAPv3/$oldserver
    dscl /Search/Contacts -delete / CSPSearchPath /LDAPv3/$oldserver
    # add the new one
    echo "adding the new OD bind..."
    dsconfigldap -v -f -a $newserver -n $newserver -c $HOSTNAME -u diradmin -p $diradminpass
    # create and add the new ldap node to the search policy
    echo "adding the new search paths..."
    dscl -q localhost -create /Search SearchPolicy dsAttrTypeStandard:CSPSearchPath
    dscl -q localhost -merge /Search CSPSearchPath /LDAPv3/$newserver
    # create and add the new ldap node for contacts lookups
    dscl -q localhost -create /Contact SearchPolicy dsAttrTypeStandard:CSPSearchPath
    dscl -q localhost -merge /Contact CSPSearchPath /LDAPv3/$newserver
    # give directoryservice a kick to point it to the new server
    echo "killing directoryservice and waiting for 20 seconds..."
    killall DirectoryService
    # rest a bit to ensure everything settled down
    sleep 20
    # optional: lookup the $account you deleted as the first step to ensure it exists in the new directory
    echo "this id lookup should return details because it exists in the new OD:"
    id odtestor
    echo "this id lookup should fail because it doesn't exist in the old OD:"
    id odtestor
    # check the search path to ensure it looks like you need
    echo "verify the new OD server is in the search path:"
    dscl /Search -read / CSPSearchPath
    # optional: create a mobile account on the local machine with various options set.
    echo "creating a portable home for the user..."
    /System/Library/CoreServices/ManagedClient.app/Contents/Resources/createmobileaccount -n $account -v -p $password -h /Users/$account -S -u afp://$newserver/homes/$account
    killall DirectoryService
    cat<<endofnote
    you should be ready to login with this account now.
    if you have trouble, revert the process by re-running with the old and new server names
    (and diradmin passwords, if they're different) reversed.
    endofnote
    else
    echo "you're not root or an admin. please re-run the script as an admin or via sudo."
    exit
    fi
    exit 0

  • How do I stop my Boss monitoring my Internet/email usage?

    My company is having a Microsoft server system set up & one of the office staff has told me that when this is fully installed, my Boss will be able to check what sites I visit, internet usage & what emails I send. I'm not happy about this, but there's not much I can do about it, so I decided to come on here & ask if anyone knows of any software, or procedure that I can use, to stop this? I use the only Mac in the company, everyhting else is PC??
    CHEERS

    Hello,
    It may not be what you want to hear. But, the computers you are using at work are property of your employer. And, the Internet connection you use there is paid for by your employer. And, the time you spend at work also belongs to your employer (they are purchasing your time from you).
    So, you really cannot complain about them monitoring the activities performed on their computer, the traffic going over their network, and whether you are performing the task that you are paid to perform.
    There really is no way for you to mask what you are doing with this type of arrangement.
    Any software installed on your computer (actually their computer) will be detected. And, anything you send over their network will be archived. So, while you could use an anonymizer on the Internet, that would not prevent them from seeing the traffic to and from your system.
    My wife's work computer even has a program on it that scans it every time she turns it on and looks for unauthorized software installations. Even her portable computer will report unauthorized software.
    The problem, is that companies are liable for what you do on their equipment. If you install a pirated copy of your favorite program, then they are liable for having pirated software on their computer.
    If you download a program from the Internet, and install it, it could create a security hole in their system for others to exploit.
    If you like to go look at adult pictures on the web, then that stuff is on their systems. A local company here has actually had that happen several times on their system. They've found a couple of their male employee's to have had "kiddie" pictures on their computers, and to have been surfing those sites during work hours.
    In those cases, the employers are obligated to inform the police and report what they found on their system. Without a monitoring system, all they'd be able to do is determine that someone did it. And, that would make the company fully liable for the illegal activity. But, with a monitoring system, they can determine which employee did it, and let that employee pay the consequences for his illegal activity.
    You need to first understand that your employer is not sitting there specifically watching everything you are doing. They are just watching for certain things that will require their intervention and correction.
    Much of this is automated with software. And, the admins are just notified when things trigger a rule violation. But, in some cases the employers will specifically watch an employee if it appears as though something illegal is happening or if they have reason to.
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    It's their legal right to protect their business, monitor their own equipment, and make sure that their Internet service is only being used for the purposes it is provided.
    Remember that all that equipment is provided only as a "tool" to help you perform your job.
    It is not a personal luxury for you to use as you like. It is a tool specifically provided to assist you in your job. Your employer does not have to allow you to use that tool for any other purpose.
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  • Is there an archive page for Flash Player plugins for PORTABLE versions of web browsers?

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    One of my web browsers is Firefox ESR 10.0.7 and it is a PORTABLE version of Firefox that apparently needs a different Flash Player plugin than the normal Flash Player plugin that regular versions of most web browsers require.
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    Hi Pat,
    Thanks again for your reply. Your solutions seemed like they might work, especially since you were able to tell me where the Windows system Flash Player plugin files are located.
    And for a minute or two, I thought it was working.  In my first tests in the PORTABLE Firefox browser I'm testing with, it was actually playing some YouTube videos, but then I found that not all YouTube videos apparently rely on Flash to play... apparently some do and some do not, and I found that most of them do require Flash to play.  I had tested with some of my own videos that I uploaded to YouTube in the past in my first tests today and they played just fine, but then I started testing with some other Flash YouTube videos and they would not play and I got both the yellow bar at the top of my window telling me to download and install Flash as well as the red banner across the video player that told me I needed to install Flash.
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    I had pasted in the files you recommended in to the PORTABLE Firefox plugins folder, and I actaully included ALL the files from that Windows system Flash plugin folder for this test, but unfortunately that didn't work, and even after I tried changing the name of that one file, it still didn't work.
    And I am closing and re-opening the browser in between each of these steps in my test.
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    Hello Tor Browser help staff,
    I've now tried everything and I cannot get ANY Flash content to play in this Tor-Firefox ESR web browser, even though I've tried installing the Flash player plugin that this browser asks for when I'm on a YouTube page (and even though this computer already had a current Flash Player plugin installed previously).
    Let me make it clear that privacy is not important to me right  now during this quest to make the Flash Player plugin work with this Tor browser... I can reset any settings for maximum privacy later when I go back to that purpose for using Tor... right now, I'm just trying to make the Tor browser play Flash content.
    So even though I've UNCHECKED the Torbutton>Preferences>Security  Settings>Disable plugin during Tor usage box, and I installed a new Flash player plugin THROUGH this browser, and I even set it to allow all scripts because I thought maybe that was complicating things, IT STILL WILL NOT PLAY FLASH CONTENT OF ANY TYPE.
    Now, this, explained below, could be part of the problem that I'd like to ask for your help or SOMEONE's help with there in your department...
    If I go to the Tor Browser folder on my hard drive at C:>Tor  Browser>FirefoxPortable>Data>plugins there are NO Flash plugin files that show up in that folder even after I install a new Flash Player plugin THROUGH this browser... I believe that is why it will not play Flash content. 
    All it does when I install a Flash Player plugin through this Tor browser is to overwrite my Windows 7 system Flash Player plugin, but it does not actually place any Flash Player plugin files in the C:>Tor Browser>FirefoxPortable>Data>plugins folder, so that's why this PORTABLE version of the Firefox ESR browser will not play any Flash content... and it doesn't work from the Windows system Flash Player plugin the way that my normal Firefox (NON-TOR) web browser does.  My other Firefox web browser sees the the Windows system Flash Player plugin just fine and it does play Flash content correctly.
    There is, however, one text file that comes stock inside the Tor browser plugins folder and when it is opened it says, "Place Firefox plugins in this directory (Flash, Shockwave, etc)".
    So with some advice from someone on the Adobe help forum, I tried copying the Flash Player plugin files from the Windows system folder at C:>Windows>System32>Macromed>Flash in to the Tor browser plugins folder at C:>Tor  Browser>FirefoxPortable>Data>plugins, and that still didn't work. 
    Note that I am closing and re-opening the Tor browser between each of these tests.
    So I then followed some further advice from the expert on the Adobe help forum and I changed the name of the main Flash Player plugin file that I had copied and pasted in to the Tor browser plugins folder from "NPSWF32_11_4_402_278.dll" to "NPSWF32.dll", and that still did not work... note that I left all the other files that I copied and pasted from the Windows system Flash plugins folder with the same name they originally had... I tried only changing that one Flash plugin file name, as instructed by the expert on the Adobe help forum.
    I also tried posting a question about this on the Mozilla Firefox forum, but no one there is able to answer this question.
    What the problem seems to be is that when this Tor-Firefox ESR 10.0.7 browser installs a Flash Player plugin, it just installs it to the Windows system folder (the same way that the normal (non-Tor) Firefox browser does) and  NOT  into the Tor-Firefox plugins folder C:>Tor  Browser>FirefoxPortable>Data>plugins, as would be needed for it to be able to play Flash content.
    No matter what I do, whenever I try to view a YouTube video or any Flash video in this browser, or any Flash graphic content at all, I get the yellow bar at the top of the page that says "Additional plugins are required to display all the media on this page - Install Missing Plugins" and there is a banner displayed where the Flash content is supposed to be that says, "The Adobe Flash Player is required for video playback - Get the latest Flash Player".
    And as I explained at the top of this email, I have already installed and re-installed the Flash Player plugin on this computer multiple times, including doing it directly through this Tor-Firefox ESR browser itself.
    So can ANYONE there tell me how to get the correct Flash Player plugin files in to the Tor-Firefox browser plugins folder at C:>Tor  Browser>FirefoxPortable>Data>plugins, and where do I get those files?  Everything I've tried, which is pretty extensive, has not worked, and it seems that someone there should know about this.
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  • Why screensaver always causes my macbook 100% cpu usage

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  • Why Firefox Has Spikes In CPU Usage And Consumes A Lot Of RAM Since Security Update?

    After applying security update 3.6.18 i started having this problem. I had this problem earlier but it only happened after several days Firefox was opened constantly. Now i have this problem several hours later after launching Firefox.
    [http://i.stack.imgur.com/PJmH5.png '''Here is a picture of high RAM usage''']
    '''[http://i.stack.imgur.com/tjsqt.png Here is a picture of high RAM and CPU usage]'''
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    Have you any particular reason for using an older version of Firefox.
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    * portable: http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable/localization#legacy36
    * see also
    **[[installing a previous version of firefox]]
    **[[high memory usage]]
    **[[firefox consumes a lot of CPU resources]]

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