Windows 8.1: Changing a Password

Right Click the start menu Click “Control Panel”
Click “Change account type”
Click the account  to change
Click “Change the password”
Type in the new Password Repeat it Add A Password hint too Then Click “Change password”
The password has been successfully changed

Arduino - Serial IO: Arduino works but then is not accessable in Windows

If you're writing a library that communicates to windows you might find that the Arduino becomes unavailable until you remove it and it steps up in the com port index.

Fix: You need a handshake between the Windows and the Arduino.  The windows app needs to tell the Arduino to start sending data.

Why:
What is actually happening is if you're sending a constant stream of data, windows assumes it is a mouse and changes the driver!

Windows 8.1: How to Add a Local Account

User creation - Local Accounts

Right Click the start menu Click “Control Panel”
Click on User Accounts and Family Safety
Click on “User Accounts”
Click Manage another account
Add a new user in PC Settings
Click Add an Account
Click sign in without Microsoft Account
Click “Local account”
Enter your login Details Then Click “Next”
Select if you require child filters Then Click “Finish”
You have successfully added a new local account

Windows 8.1: Updating Driver on an R9 290

Example: Installing device drivers post installation

Once you are windows right click the start menu and click device manager
Right click on devices with a “!” on top of them and click “update device driver”
And click Browse my computer and point the driver update at the correct location
Insert you manufacturer’s disc or have the downloaded driver file available and point the driver installer at the right location. Then click next
Click OK and the end of the process Repeat the process on all components that do not have drivers installed

               

Windows 8.1: Installation Notes

Windows 8.1 minimum System requirements

·         Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2

·         RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

·         Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

·         Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

Windows 8.1 Versions

Windows 8.1: This is the standard edition, and it will run on desktops, laptops, and some tablets.

Windows 8.1 Pro: This gives you all of the features of Windows 8.1, as well as some extra features intended for advanced users and businesses. For example, people who need more security can use BitLocker to encrypt their files.

You can buy windows online and create a flash stick or DVD disc.  It is possible to upgrade from earlier versions of windows to windows 8 without any discs too.  I would recommend a fresh installation if you want to maximise your performance potential.  Get windows 8.1

Boot process

Start the computer with the flash stick or the DVD for windows 8 in the drive.  If a windows 8 logo does not appear, you will have to find specific information on how to enable a boot override to start the setup from the media you have selected.

Be patient on the initial boot of the windows 8 disc, an image will sit on the screen for quite a while.  There is no progress bar without an SSD or dated hardware in the installation procedure can be slow to get started.  The computer will restart several times before launching the operating system for the first use.

Sainsonic Arduino Mega 2560 SD Card Shield SDFat Config

If you've tried to get your sainsonic SD shield to work with sdfat you would have probably read about people modifying there board to match the pins of software.

DON'T BE SO SILLY!

EVERY PIN CAN BE CONFIGURED!

1. Got to your arduino libraries folder and go to your SDFAT Folder

2. Open File SdFatConfig.h

3. Got the last few lines and change you're to match this -

#define USE_SOFTWARE_SPI 0
// define software SPI pins so Mega can use unmodified 168/328 shields
/** Default Software SPI chip select pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_CS_PIN = 53;  
/** Software SPI Master Out Slave In pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_MOSI_PIN = 52;
/** Software SPI Master In Slave Out pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_MISO_PIN = 50;
/** Software SPI Clock pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_SCK_PIN = 51;
#endif  // SdFatConfig_h

4.  Now edit any SDFAT demo file to initialize on pin 53 -

      sd.begin(53, SPI_HALF_SPEED)

Sainsonic Mega 3.2" TFT LCD Fault arduino Pixelation glitch won't display UTFT

Hi Guys,
 I've had a few problems with my Sainsonic Arduino Mega 2560 board with the 3.2" Touch screen. Most of them are related to the undersized voltage regulator on it once it had got a bit hot a few times for too long.

By using my Freetronics Eleven boards regulator bridging to the Sainsonic board I  have completely eliminated the glitched pixels while drawing, which once I had a big program running on the unit would become apparent.

 The Sainsmart Mega Board below can be seen with the smaller voltage regulator.  You should also notice that it still retains reference layout for the pin holes around the regulator for convection and cooling, despite having a different size and location regulator...

You get what you pay for people!  If you have a Sainsonic  arduino mega product and have obvious screen draw errors, or a white screen I'd recommend upgrading to an external regulator and you probably have a much better experience with your unit.