Tech Prognosis Blog Technology Tips for Businesses in Round Rock, TX

How To Fix Low Graphics Mode Error After Kernel Update

April 22, 2013 by Daniel Ihonvbere

A low graphics mode error can be an irritating message most Linux users don’t want to see. After recently updating a Linux installation to kernel 3.2.0-40, we suddenly started having all kinds of problems with a Linux Operating System:
First, reboot seemed to hang at the boot screen for a very long time – for Ubuntu, a blank screen; for Peppermint, the Peppermint Logo, for Zorin 6, the wheel.

Next, when the system finally booted, it gave a low graphics mode error message, along with options to:

Run in low-graphics mode for just one session
Reconfigure graphics
Troubleshoot error
Exit to console login
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Is The Desktop Really (Pretty Much) Dead?

April 6, 2013 by Daniel Ihonvbere

I read an article recently claiming that “The desktop is (pretty much) dead” and I could not help but wonder if this was just an attempt at riling people up, drawing readership (they got me to read it), or just plain fantasy that “cloud” providers cook up to justify their continued push for ever increasing budgets with limited returns.

Sure, they bombard us with International Data Corporation (IDC) statistics and charts to bolster their arguments. But like sports analysts who glowingly call U.S. MLB, NBA & NFL champions “World” champions, one is forced to ask “what “World” are they referring to?”

How To Fix CentOS 6.4 Boot Hang After Upgrade

April 3, 2013 by Daniel Ihonvbere

The Community Enterprise Operating System, commonly known as CentOS is a solid Linux Operating system similar to Red Hat Linux. We recently ran into a GUI boot problem after upgrading to CentOS 6.4 in a VirtualBox environment. Upon restarting after the upgrade, we noticed that during the boot process, the system showed either a blank screen or the CentOS progress bar for an extended period, almost one hour.

Apparently, the CentOS 6.4 upgrade broke X11 (the UNIX/Linux Graphical User Interface or GUI). A few attempts at repairing the boot loader using the CentOS 6.4 installation disc did not help.

Mobile App Permissions: Are Users Really the Problem?

January 8, 2017March 30, 2013 by Daniel Ihonvbere

While there have been a lot of news-worthy events in the past couple of years involving corporate breaches, one thing has not changed. Users are still considered the greatest obstacle to information security. Whether it is phishing, opening infected attachments, or “just being stupid and lazy”.

Our focus in this article will be on the “stupid and lazy” part of this equation. We will take a quick look at the way users tackle mobile app permissions in the android market place otherwise known as Google Play. A cursory look at some apps on Google Play and the permissions required by these apps, and the ratings given by users, even to apps with seemingly over-reaching or meaningless permissions, explains a lot about why security will continue to be a problem for a very long time.

How To Cut Costs With Hosted Digital Phones

April 29, 2012 by Daniel Ihonvbere

This is the Internet Age. Broadband and high-speed connections in the small to midsize business environment is now the norm as opposed to the exception it was a few years ago. What does that mean for the small and midsize business owner? Huge cost savings for one, in the area of communication. With the many offerings available today, it is not uncommon for businesses to reduce telephone costs by as much as eighty (80) percent. Here’s the rundown.

VoIP is a term that refers to Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows phone calls to be made using high-speed Internet connections like cable, T1 or high-end DSL. Other common names for VoIP are IP, digital and Internet phones. The unique thing about digital phone technology is that it works with regular analog phones and this is important because since not everyone may have this technology in place, your calls will still be received whether the party you are calling has VoIP in place or not.

Syncing Android Devices: Use Google or Die?

February 23, 2012 by Daniel Ihonvbere

Is it just me or are mobile phone carriers being forced by Google to remove the local synchronization options from their offerings of Android devices? It seems that it is a lot more work syncing Android devices these days.

I have always used Nokia phones and that manufacturer provided the option to sync the data on the device with a local computer – laptop, netbook etc. Recent trends with Android devices are becoming troubling.