TechRepublic has always been a good resource for computers and networking. I was going to quote their 10 dumb things users do that mess up their computers article, but when I clicked on their 10 things category I found something even more useful:
10 things IT pros should do when a relationship ends

#1: Change your passwords at work, if possible

You may feel confident that you never disclosed a password to your Former Significant Other (FOSO, for now). However, being mistaken in your trust can damage your career and possibly cost you your job.

#2: Repair any security breaches you have created

If you have any reason to think that an angry FOSO could gain access to other people’s data, you need to take immediate action.

#3: Change privileges on appropriate programs and systems

If your ex has administrator status on your system, remote access, etc., consider whether that status is still appropriate.

#4: Change passwords on your personal accounts

Okay, okay, it’s obvious. However, simple precautions are all too easy to forget when it’s your own personal heart that’s breaking. Think of all your password-protected places and change them. If you have an online business, be sure to secure access to that account immediately.

#5: Be careful about your communications on company computers

The office is not a prudent place to expose your innermost feelings, especially in writing. Keep in mind that your employer probably has access to all files on an office computer.

#6: Resist the temptation to harm your ex’s system or data

Erasing a critical file, formatting a hard drive, or introducing a clever virus may seem like a satisfying action when you are burning with rage and jealousy. However, all of these are bad ideas.

#7: Resolve any business issues between the two of you

If you and your FOSO worked together, especially if you have an IT consulting firm, the two of you need to straighten out any business matters, including any corporate or partnership matters.

#8: Retrieve your personal information

If your ex has any of your personal files on his or her computer, try to get permission to retrieve or delete them. At the least, ask your FOSO to erase the data.

#9: Refrain from online nastiness

Online communications can last far longer than the rage that spawned them. Venting your most intimate emotions in writing can be a bad idea, especially on the Web.

#10: Resolve any financial issues between the two of you

Longtime couples usually have some financial entanglement. You may need to split everyday stuff, like furniture, DVDs, and china. You should divide and close any joint accounts.

#11: Make appropriate changes to protect your assets

Finally, take appropriate action to protect your own assets. Change the locks on your doors. Change the PIN on your debit and credit cards. Don’t forget to cancel any joint credit cards or lines of credit, unless you and your ex have worked out a different solution.

Taking care of all these details will leave you little time to mope. When it’s all done, you can settle back with the bonbons, the Scotch, or the late night movie. Better luck next time.

excerpt from TechRepublic

One of the wonderful things I discovered this weekend in this life as a computer slave is Limewire for Ubuntu. Apparently this has been out since May of this year according to the Limewire Blog. Until today I had been downloading music files through KTorrent, which was fine, but when I wanted only a selection from the entire albums available for download, I had to pick and deselect from the torrent list before I could get my one file. That’s why I would choose Limewire over KTorrent for downloading music. Downloading and installing Limewire for Ubuntu is quite easy. You can follow the steps that begin on the Limewire Download page until it leads you to the screen where it asks you which version you’d like to download. If you are on Ubuntu, choose the Linux (DEB - Ubuntu, Debian) package and save it inside your Home Folder. I have a subfolder called Installers where I save — you guessed it — installer files, so that’s where I saved LimeWireLinux.deb. The file is just under 6MB in size.

When the download was complete, I went to my Installers folder and right-clicked on LimeWireLinux.deb and chose “Open with GDebi Package Installer” from the fly-out menu. I’m not scared of Terminal and I do dutifully copy and paste commands from the forums I learn stuff from, but when I can have Ubuntu do the job for me, I do. The Package Installer window opened and I clicked on the button that said Install Package and in a couple of minutes I had a working Limewire installation.

All I wanted at first was to find a way to get around the ghost slash key on the built-in keyboard to stop depressing itself at the most inopportune moments—like when i’m entering a password—or hard-coding html. When I realized there was no way I could stop it short of removing it, that’s what I did. It took less than 30 minutes to disassemble, remove connector, re-assemble. Piece of cake, thanks to Irisvista.com and its guides to dismantling just about every model Toshiba laptop there is. So off the connector goes, put the keyboard back in so it still looks like a good laptop, and then off to shop for a mini keyboard that will fit snugly into the Targus along with the rather hefty Satellite Pro, which Sam has once referred to as Lazaria, one who was brought back to life. At first I had my eye on the Okion Handio which I saw at the Office Warehouse in SM Sucat. Rather steep price for my lean wallet at P600, so I let it lie while waiting for that extra bit of cash. When it did come, opportunity led me into Electroworld’s doors at the Mall of Asia where they were out of stock in Okion’s, but did have the A4Tech KLS-5UP in black and silver. Although I would have preferred the all-black model, the A4Tech KLS-5UP was almost half the price of the Okion.

With an external keyboard, I didn’t have to worry about feeling the heat from the laptop on my wrists, and the A4Tech’s Anti-RSI design does help a lot in the way of comfort. Now with the keyboard problem dealt with, I could start on the other problems I had, such as connecting to the VPN at the office. Google-ing solved that particular one, after weaving through piles of comments and advice in various forums, I came across this blogpost that solved both the VPN connection setup and why I could not connect to the VPN with my wireless. The post was written for Edgy Eft users, but it worked like a charm in Feisty.

Even the issue I had with the keypad cursor keys has been solved. When I first started out in Ubuntu I was quite piqued at the way the cursor keys would take a screenshot instead of taking me left right up or down. After a bit of experimenting I realized that for the keypad cursor keys to work as they should I had to press the Windows key. This may be remedied in time when keyboard manufacturers release Linux drivers for their products. In fairness, when you go System > Preferences > Keyboard > Layouts, there are three A4Tech drivers to choose from, it’s just that there is no driver for this particular model.

This long weekend I will spend ironing out the last few kinks—printing over the network (done! via CUPS and selecting the Edimax print server as a UNIX Printer LPD), getting VCD’s to run in Kaffeine (CAN’T—it’s a documented bug in Feisty). DVDs work ok but I haven’t figured out why it can’t play VCD’s—very important when we take Lazaria on the road up north week after next just so Maia will have a portable CD/DVD player on which to play her Dora and Barbie movies. Too bad PLDT’s WeRoam card does not have Linux drivers, otherwise Maia may even have the luxury of mobile connectivity. Too much for a three-year-old, you think?