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Week of February 1, 2004
Interview with unleashx
>> I've just posted a new interview made this week with James (unleashx), author of the fairly new UnleashX(info) dashboard.
The interview talks about his opinions and experiences and also about the goals and future of the UnleashX dashboard.
Read now: Interview with unleashx (James)
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(Saturday 07 February 2004 16:22 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox Loses Less Money In 2003 Holidays
>> From 1up.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsot's Home and Entertainment division, the branch of the software giant responsible for the Xbox, PC games, and other consumer software and hardware, lost slightly less money in the October-December quarter for the third year running in 2003. Quarterly profit and loss statements released today show the division losing $394 million during the quarter last year, compared to a $412 million loss in 2002, despite a small drop in revenue from $1.33 billion to $1.27 billion.
Revenue from the Xbox specifically increased by 2%, from $160 million to $175 million, while PC gaming revenue fell by $78 million, an 18% drop. Higher Xbox software sales, increasing by $175 million, helped offset the effect of a 6% drop in hardware sales ($37 million) and hardware price drops ($123 million) earlier in the year. Over the latter half of 2003, July through December, Xbox revenue increased by $68 million, a 6% rise, boosted over that period by increased hardware sales -- in 2003, Microsoft launched its holiday sales promotions earlier than in 2002, so their effect was felt more in the July-September quarter.
Microsoft has freely admitted that it will continue to lose money on this first generation of the Xbox for the life of the console, but it seems that the bleeding has slowed. The Home and Entertainment division lost only $180 million between October and December of 2001 (the first holiday season for the Xbox), so it looks as if the system's drain on Microsoft's coffers may have peaked in 2002.
[/QUOTE]
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(Friday 06 February 2004 22:22 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XTF2XFT-Patcher
>> XTF2XFT-Patcher helps you to patch MS Dashboard after using font exploit (ernie & bert). It replaces all instances of "xtf" with "xft", so nobody will have more problems with hexeditors.
Official Site: n/a (by sPAzi0)
Download: here
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Friday 06 February 2004 18:49 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XDVDFS Tools
>> From the documentation:
>Generates XDVDFS search trees. (GDFIMAGE does not)
>Much faster than GDFIMAGE
>Combined with XDVDFS_Dumper can recreate a disk with all file system optimizations preserved
>Can pad images to 4.38GB
>Source code included
Official Site: n/a (By [SNK])
Download: here
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Friday 06 February 2004 18:39 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
EvoXDTSR 02-06-04
>> A new version of EvoXDTSR(info) has been released.
What's new/fixed:
* Very last copy/paste problem
* Main window redesign
* BP history window redesign
* Save/Load in queue window
* Independent log window
* Status line
* Main window always on top
* BP color status
* Multibyte pokeing
* Reverse/normal order
* Screen log soft limit
* Method for setting/changing breakpoints
* Dump window option
More detailed changelog on trainers.evolutionx.info.
Official Site: n/a, by ddh (EFnet #mphacking or #evolutionx)
Download: here
News-Source: trainers.evolutionx.info
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(Friday 06 February 2004 13:57 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
UnleashX Toolbox Beta 2
>> A new beta version of the Unleashx Toolbox(info) has been released - a skinning, config and FTP tool for UnleashX(info)
What's new/fixed:
* glitches/errors removed
* preview features
TODO:
* Stop Mouse from leaving picture box if dragging selection rectangle
* Add load skin and config functionallity
* Make proper menu creator for Config.XML Creator
* And probobly a lot more...
Official Site: http://zogosworld.sourceforge.net/unleashXToolbox/main.htm
Download: here
News-Source: forums.xbox-scene.com
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(Friday 06 February 2004 11:23 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
10 new tutorials!
>> I have been uploading a few new tutorials again. More are waiting in my mailbox and will be posted soon. Anyone that wants to help can still send us their tutorial to tutorials@xbox-scene.com.
Thanks goes to all the authors sending us their tutorials to help out other people :-)
* UPDATED: The Complete Guide to Setting Up Evox.ini
By Vidgms4me - read now
* Installing a removable IDE drive bay for your Xbox
By Intelligoth - read now
* Qwix(info) ISO COmpile + Nero Burning Tutorial
By TeamXecuter - read now
* Cromwell(info) Flashing Tutorial
By TeamXecuter - read now
* Xodus (Chameleon) Solderless Adaptor Modifications for use on XBOX v1.5
By fujitech - read now
* Quik-Tutorial for making custom switch using X2.1/2.2/2.3 lite
By s_cube - read now
* Transfer files between 2 XBox's using a HUB/Router and Flash FXP
By JaredC01 - read now
* Lotmr's all-inclusive guide to the Audio Exploit
By Lotmr - read now
* Installing XBOX Jewel LED’s
By Ben999_ - read now
* Convert your normal XBox into a development machine
By Hydra - read now
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(Thursday 05 February 2004 21:46 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XboxHacker.net back
>> XboxHacker.net is back and will be updated regularly with content again.
They are currently working on transfering the site to a phpnuke system with a completely new re-designed skin. (they are still looking for help for the graphics).
As in the early Xbox hacking days XboxHacker.net is aiming to make a more technically orientated place for developers.
More on xboxhacker.net.
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(Thursday 05 February 2004 21:04 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
CHAMELEON 2 Shipping soon?
>> Just noticed this on EasyBuy2000.com that they claim that the new Chameleon 2 will be ready around Feb 25, 2004
Quote: The New Cham2's are coming! This latest version has 2MB of memory and some changes to the CPLD code and PCB design.
They use an older Chameleon (v1) picture as they don't appear to have a promotional shot of the Cham 2 yet.
News : EasyBuy2000.com
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(Thursday 05 February 2004 16:47 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox Live to expand in Asia
>> From gamespot.com:
[QUOTE]
As first reported by Reuters, Microsoft has today announced that it plans to launch its Xbox Live online gaming service in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore in April. Microsoft claims to have sold over 1.3 million Xbox consoles in the Asia-Pacific region to date, and today's announcement follows the October 30 launch of Xbox Live in South Korea, where around 6,500 players currently subscribe to the service.
[/QUOTE]
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(Thursday 05 February 2004 12:36 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Avalaunch Logo contest: view current entries
>> From teamavalaunch.com:
[QUOTE]
64 entries so far! And that's not even counting the images that actually contain multiple images! We are quite impressed with the quality of entries we have been receiving thusfar (ok, well.. most of them at least :)), and we keep getting requests to peek in at what people are sending... So, here ya go! View the avalaunch Logo Entries and see what kind of image you'll be competing with! Once again, thanks to www.modchipman.com for their donation of a Xenium modchip, and thanks to www.xbox-scene.com for helping us spread the word!
[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 04 February 2004 22:10 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
The Price Of Compatibility
>> From 1up.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft is keeping many (most?) details about its next-generation Xbox console under wraps, but at least one of the choices that Redmond has made public is stirring a spirited debate. Will Xbox Next, as it's now being called, play games designed for the original Xbox? Your answer depends on who you ask.
Jen-Hsun Huang, CEO of Nvidia, says his guess is that the next Xbox won't be compatible with the old one. "It's virtually impossible on many levels," he adds. "On an intellectual-property level. On practical levels, too."
When asked to explain (might this be sour grapes talking?), Huang says for cost reasons, Microsoft isn't likely to be willing to put additional chips in the box to ensure hardware compatibility. Moreover, he suggests that current Xbox games make use of Nvidia's proprietary graphics shaders and that Microsoft might have to license them to use them again.
By contrast, Dave Orton, president of ATI, says, "It's not outside the realm of possibility to make a compatible Xbox." He didn't discuss specific products his company is making for Microsoft, but he says that if you just consider the timing (about five years) between the consoles, then Moore's Law dictates that the new machine will be eight times as fast as the old one. With such an increase in raw processing speed, Xbox Next should have plenty of horsepower to emulate the old games via software. That is, the new hardware will be fast enough to execute the old games even if they have to run through software translation.
On the processor side, Microsoft might have to employ its Connectix software to get the Intel code to run on the IBM PowerPC. That problem raises the prospect of additional costs and engineering efforts. "It's not a trivial amount of work," says Dean McCarron, an analyst at PC chip market researcher Mercury Research in Scottsdale, AZ. "It will be a massive task of integrating different technologies."
[/QUOTE]
Read more on 1up.com.
Thanks to Vegita and JSmith for the news.
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(Wednesday 04 February 2004 21:43 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Updated/Changed Avalaunch Tour
>> From teamavalaunch.com:
[QUOTE]
Wow. There sure was a lot of contention over that Avalaunch(info) "vs" EvolutionX(info) comparison page. Some of it rightfully so, but still. Regardless, I updated the page and removed all of the EvoX screenshots, and instead I just display more of a tour of avalaunch. Please understand that this section was never created to "bash" on any other dashboards, as we love the Xbox community as a whole. We don't hate, we appreciate. You do the same.
[/QUOTE]
Take the new 'Avalaunch Tour' here.
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(Tuesday 03 February 2004 23:36 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XDev closed doors
>> From XB0X_Mod on xcover.xodus-chip.com:
[QUOTE]
Hey all today unfortunetly I have to close the doors for XDev projects.
Unfortunetly I will loose my Internet connection to broadband, sorry to you all to tell you, but If lucky, I'm sure this site will resume and so forth it's projects and If lucky we can work on them while we are not online. Nice note... 21860 hits since launch... unique.
We were shortly going to release a new version of XCover(info) v1.9 with alot of new features but it has now stopped for these reasons named above.
I'm sorry everyone who supported us, I hope the current version XCover v1.8.x will help you all make your covers and our other projects live on with other coders, the source is still online and freely availible.
We'd like to thank The Xodus Team, so much for their help throughout the whole of developments. And would like to congratulate them on this occasion for there recent merge with Oz x chip team.
Good luck to all 4th generation mod's and I still hope, that maybe we'll be on a sample list for team x-ecuters forth coming X-ecuter 3 which I will say looks very very good. Aswell as X3 Coming im very sure that OzXodus are pushing away with the latest and first 4th generation design and I wish them the best of luck and I hope that you succeed In the 4th gen market.
Also good luck to SmartXX and DMS3 team, I have not ever used or seen any of there work before apart from DMS's ps2 modchip which I can say is by far the best, thank you aswell DMS3 for bringing the ps2 scene to a much better standard. I'd also like to thank [G-a-z], Xantium, Everyone at LumbraX, Xodus Team, Xecuter Team. and everyone else that has helped me or done things for me that shows really how respectful these people are, also not to forget but hopefully he'll read this one day, iMURDERER, some people may not like you that much, but whoever has grudges against each other in this scene I can do nothing about, thank you for your help when I was a n00b I owe you alot. and to everyone who I didn't mention I thank you to you know who you are xbins, all the respectful people in this scene, Good luck you guys thank you for such a great time I'm gonna miss this scene thanks again and goodluck to everyone!
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://xcover.xodus-chip.com
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(Tuesday 03 February 2004 22:49 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
I.T. Vibe interviews Xbox team
>> I.T. Vibe posted an interview they had with the Xbox Team:
[QUOTE]
A few weeks ago I.T. Vibe discussed the possibility with Microsoft about talking to a member of the Xbox team about last years success and where they hope to see the Xbox going in 2004.
Stephen McGill, who is Xbox and PC Games Marketing Manager at Microsoft, was only to happy to answer the questions we put to him.
[/QUOTE]
Go read the interview on itvibe.com
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(Tuesday 03 February 2004 16:10 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
(EU) Microsoft confirms Crystal Xbox Pack, new Xbox Live bundle
>> It was already posted as rumor here before(see news), today it's confirmed by Microsoft. The Crystal Xbox is coming exclusively to Europe and Microsoft also announced a new Xbox Live bundle for Europe.
From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
The new limited edition pack - which is the second of its type to be launched here, following the semi-transparent green version from last year - features a "crystal" transparent casing and two matching controllers.
The Crystal Limited Edition Xbox will be priced at €199 in Europe, and at £139 in the United Kingdom, with the extra tenner markup over the normal cost of an Xbox presumably justified by the inclusion of the second controller.
No firm release date is given for the pack, but sources on the Continent have indicated that it may well arrive on March 12th - the nearest Friday to the second anniversary of the Xbox launch in Europe.
Meanwhile the company also plans to launch a new Xbox Live bundle pack later this month, which will include a copy of Project Gotham Racing 2 along with a one-year subscription to Xbox Live and an Xbox Live Communicator headset.
The new bundle will launch at €89.99 (£59.99), which is a saving of about £20 off the RRP of the game, with the original Xbox Live Starter Kit, sans game, still available for €59.99 (£39.99).
[/QUOTE]
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(Tuesday 03 February 2004 13:14 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Mp3ImageTagExtractor v1.2
>> A new version of Mp3ImageTagExtractor(info) has been released - ideal utility for building thumbnails of album art suitable for use with the XboxMediaPlayer(info) or XboxMediaCenter(info).
What's new/fixed:
* Added XBMC targetFile folder.jpg and targetDir #current, #parent support
Official Site: http://mp3imagetagextr.sourceforge.net
Download: here (needs Sun JDK 1.4.2)
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(Monday 02 February 2004 20:59 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
SmartXX OS pictures *updated LCD video*
>> SmartXX Team posted new pictures of their SmartXX-OS, the software that will be included on their modchip.
You can find more pictures on smartxx.com > specs > screenshots. (or direct link - page took out of frames).
Update: They posted (on the SmartXX forums) a video showing the (optional) SmartXX LCD in action.
You can download the video here
Here's also a new picture of the SmartXX with LCD installed in a custom case:
They also posted screenshots comparing the current version of SmartXX-OS with the current version of XeniumOS. You can find it on smartxx.com > specs > fightclub. (or direct link - page took out of frames).
Official Site: http://www.smartxx.com
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(Monday 02 February 2004 13:54 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Gentoox Focus and HDTV support confusion
>> From gentoox.shallax.com:
[QUOTE]
There is still a lot of confusion about Focus and HDTV support in Gentoox, so hopefully this will clear it up.
Currently Gentoox does NOT come with Focus support. I opted out from using the "new" video driver because it was bugged. You may say "But Xebian(info) has it already!", well, Xebian still uses the buggy driver. However, if you install Gentoox, you can run "magic" via SSH. This will patch the kernel to allow it to support the Focus video encoder and HDTV/ VGA video modes. If you do not feel confident doing this, then wait for a new release of Gentoox. Please don't ask me when this release will be, because I'll either say "I dont know" or "When it's ready"... (actually, I'll probably just ignore the email).
You will also need to upgrade your bootloader to this one.
The reason for me waiting to release a new Gentoox is simple - I want it to work properly. Right now, dmp is working on a Focus overscan fix, and until thats ready, it's not worth releasing a new Gentoox because people will only complain about overscanning and I'll have to make another release within a short period of time to fix it.
[/QUOTE]
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(Monday 02 February 2004 11:26 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XBtool 1.0.18 b2
>> XBtool(info) is a BIOS Packer, Unpacker, and Patcher.
What's new/fixed (Beta! Use at your own risk!):
* No reset on eject in dash (X2 4981 reset on eject patch).
* Detects reset on eject status of Evox kernels.
Official Site: http://home.alltel.net/nghtshd/xbtool.html
Download: here
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Monday 02 February 2004 10:40 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Rumor: Xbox 2 Specs Leaked *updated*
>> New rumor about the Xbox Next from TeamXbox.com and mercurynews.com:
[QUOTE]
Please remember this info isn't official and based on info from various sources. As the Mercury News article says, the Xbox 2 will use 3 64-bit processors. But we'll give you even more details. They'll be PowerPC processors, based on the PowerPC 976, the first dual-core 97x chip based on the POWER5 architecture, which will also be the first PowerPC built on a 65nm manufaturing process.
Each core is capable of processing two threads, thus meaning the whole system can process six threads simultaneously.
The graphic chip will be based on the the R500. This VPU has been in design at ATI’s Marlborough, Mass. office. It'll be fully compatible with PS and VS 3.0 and the next version of DirectX 9: DX10, the same api that will be used in Longhorn.
What nobody is telling you and you'll know about this first, here on TeamXbox, is the revolutionary approach of the Xbox 2 to deal with today's biggest problem in graphics chips: memory bandwidth.
The graphic chip will contain not only a graphics rendering core but up embedded DRAM acting as a frame buffer that is big enough to handle an image that is 480i and can be 4 times over sampled and double buffered. Yeah, we all remember Bitboys but this time you can bet this if for real. This solution will finally make possible HDTV visuals with full screen Anti-Aliasing on.
The technology also supports up to 512 MB of external memory on a 256-bit bus. However, current specs plan to use 256 MB RAM, big enough for next-generation visuals which are all about computational power rather than large storage.
Compatibility with the original Xbox, which is based on Intel and Nvidia chips, isn't guaranteed. Microsoft is concerned it would cost too much money in hardware or in licensing fees to enable the Xbox Next to play old Xbox games. This is risky in part because Sony's strategy has been to maintain compatibility with its old consoles.
The current Xbox has an eight-gigabyte hard disk drive. That drive is useful for online games and storing game art, but many developers chose not to make use of it. As a result, Microsoft seems to have decided that saving the $50 the hard drive costs outweighs its benefits.
[/QUOTE]
More on TeamXbox.com and mercurynews.com
Update: XBOX2 - Information or Disinformation?
From www.teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Don't believe everything you read. This is certainly the case regarding a lot of speculation that is currently flying around regarding the specifics of the Xbox 2. However, by collecting various bits of information it is possible to establish a few more than possible predictions of what is to come. Many have been discussing the rumors that the Xbox 2 will lack a hard disk, but this may not necessarily be true. Others have also been saying that a waiting game is being played between Microsoft and Sony, in which one side is merely waiting to see what the other does before making a decision. Again, this is most likely not true. Both companies are sure to have pretty solid ideas of just how they want their console hardware to be designed. Many of our questions are more likely than not already answered, and the question that remains is when will these facts be officially supported by the designers.
While we can’t give you any official information, we can give you a hint based on what we have come to know by deductive reasoning. Do you physically need a hard disc to store content? Consider this; in the case of Xbox Music Mixer, do you need the files to be stored in your Xbox?
Answer that for yourself and you might just have sufficient info to put this question to rest…at least for now.
It may also be a false claim that the Xbox 2 will not be backwards compatible. Well, sort of anyways...
The fact is that Xbox 2 could be backwards compatible using emulation. Microsoft already owns VirtualPC, which allows PowerPC architectures to run Microsoft Windows applications. However, the problem is that, although Microsoft owns the DirectX API and the Windows kernel, it doesn’t own the nVidia chips found in the Xbox and since it is changing it graphics partner in favor of ATI, there are almost no chances of an agreement between the two companies being reached. This is more of a business problem rather than a technical issue.
[/QUOTE]
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(Sunday 01 February 2004 18:20 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox Media Center (XBMC) Xbins CVS 2004-02-01
>> A new Xbins CVS Compile of XboxMediaCenter(info) has been released.
What's new/fixed (since last CVS release):
added: 128x128 thumbnails for skins
added: matrix trails screensaver and settings screen
added: my video: folder.jpg thumbnail support
added: my video: movie file stacking (stack/unstack buttons)
added: my video: movie database with genres like music database
added: my video: direct seeking in video by entering 4-digit timecode with remote
added: my video: fast forward/rewind (alpha)
added: my programs: directory flattening
added: my pictures: recursive picture slideshow
fixed: a/v sync issues (we call it SuperSync (tm) technology ;)
fixed: some IMDB lookup issues
updated: various language files
updated: my music: scan speed greatly improved
updated: my video: mplayer.dll synced with latest mplayer cvs code (incl. xvid rc1)
updated: up to date skins included in this build are MediaCenter (default), HiFi, Retro, lixxbox
updated: optimized buffering and disk I/O in ftp server. Peak transfer speeds: 11mb/s down, 10mb/s up
Note that fast forwarding is still in alpha and make sure to clear your albums subdirectory when upgrading.
Official Site: http://www.xboxmediacenter.com
Download: binaries n/a (built with XDK) - Sourcecode nightly tarball
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Sunday 01 February 2004 10:31 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
UnleashX Toolbox Beta 1
>> A new version of the UnleashX(info) Toolbox has been released:
[QUOTE]
We have entered the second last phase of development for UnleashX Toolbox. If you would like to download the source or the compile please visit the official
TODO:
-Make All Previews Properly Work
-Stop Mouse from leaving picture box if dragging selection rectangle
-Add load skin and config functionallity
-Make proper menu creator for Config.XML Creator
-And probobly a lot more...
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://unleashxtb.sektar.com
Download: here
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(Sunday 01 February 2004 10:27 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Gentoox OpenMosix support and more
>> From ShALLaX on gentoox.shallax.com:
[QUOTE]
* Seems that most people think OpenMosix support should be included, so I've now added it to magic. The update requires a new kernel to be installed, so dont be alarmed when a new kernel is compiled when you next run magic. Enjoy!
* I've cleaned up the Developer section. From now on ONLY .b0x files are available. This makes maintenance MUCH easier. And if you are really a developer, then youll know how to look inside the .b0x files to gain access to the patch-files.
* I've also almost totally re-written the script that gets run after installing a new kernel. It provides proper feedback now as to whats happening/ failing. Let me know how it works!
[/QUOTE]
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(Sunday 01 February 2004 10:19 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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