grochem o ścianę

wysłałem dziś następujący list:

Temat: interwencja
Data: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:50:13 +0100
Nadawca: [...]
Adresat: RWE Stoen


Szanowni Państwo,

Od 12 dni oczekuję na odpowiedź na mój email ws. uregulowania rachunku. Mimo ponaglenia, do dziś nie otrzymałem odpowiedzi.
Dziś zadzwoniłem do odpowiedniego Centrum Obsługi Klienta (Wola-Bemowo, Warszawa). Po pierwsze, oczekiwałem około 20 minut na połączenie z pracownikiem. Jest to nie tylko wyjątkowo arogancki przykład lekceważenia mojego czasu (tym bardziej, że problemy z dodzwonieniem się są stałe od wielu lat), co więcej, oczekiwanie odbywa się na mój koszt, ponieważ automat odbiera połączenie już na początku, a następnie oczekuje się na linii. Innymi słowy, płacę za czas oczekiwania, wynikły z indolencji RWE Stoen, a nie mam możliwości innego skontaktowania się z firmą, gdyż nie odpisuje ona na mejle. Pracownica poinformowała mnie, że problemy te "nie od niej zależą". Niestety występuje ona w imieniu swojego pracodawcy, a nie prywatnym, zatem odpowiedź ta jest zupełnie nieuzasadniona.
Zgłosiłem brak odpowiedzi na mejla, na co pracownica obiecała, że "sprawdzi", następnie w słuchawce zaległa cisza i po około pięciu minutach oczekiwania, na mój koszt, rozmowa została rozłączona przez RWE Stoen. Rozumiem, że kolejnym krokiem może być z mojej strony ponowne zadzwonienie i oczekiwanie na pracownika, na mój koszt, któremu sprawę będę musiał przedstawić od zera.
Proszę o wyjaśnienia, przeprosiny i natychmiastowe nadanie biegu sprawie. Nie jest to pierwsza sytuacja, w której (RWE) Stoen nie odpowiada na listy i nie załatwia należnych spraw, czasem przez wiele lat (!).

Z poważaniem,

pierwsza odpowiedź:

Temat: "Potwierdzenie przyjęcia zgłoszenia - RWE Polska"
Data: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:50:17 +0100
Nadawca: Centrum Kontaktu z Klientem RWE Polska S.A.
Adresat: [...]




Witamy,



Dziękujemy za wiadomość.

Odpowiedzi udzielimy w możliwie najbliższym terminie.



Wiadomość została wygenerowana automatycznie, prosimy na nią nie odpowiadać.

W przypadku odpowiedzi wiadomość nie będzie dostarczona.



Zachęcamy do odwiedzenia naszej strony internetowej www.rwe.pl oraz do skorzystania z dogodnej formy płatności, jaką jest polecenie zapłaty.



Chcesz wiedzieć jak racjonalnie korzystać z energii elektrycznej? Zapraszamy na stronę www.swiadomaenergia.pl



Z pozdrowieniami,



Centrum Kontaktu z Klientem

RWE Polska S.A.

Ul. Włodarzewska 68, 02-384 Warszawa

Tel. +48 22 821-4646

Fax: +48 22 821-4647

www.rwe.pl

e-mail: info@rwe.pl

my linux story: 9.10 on s10 still works

...which is, to be true, quite amazing to me. and it only has a few small glitches. today i tried to hibernate, and it didn't go smoothly since on resume ubutnu freezed at the boot screen, however after ctrl-alt-del and choosing recover mode it resumed okay. still, there's something imperfect about it.

my linux story: 9.10 contd.

now upgrading to 9.10 on lenovo s10, where i previously installed unr 9.04 and enriched it with ustudio packages.
errors: some ttf packages not properly installed, "system may be useless" (or the like, i translate from memory). can't find these messages in the log. ubuntu said it will run "dpkg --configure -a" (afair), but it seems it didn't. update manager and synaptic both worked good after restart. i did "dpkg --configure -a" myself and it seems to have worked okay. all good?

my linux story: 9.10

fujitsu-siemens now updated to the final release. recurring errors: occasionally freezes at screensaver, must be hard-reset (or "skinny elephants"), which, from previous experience, is the best way to corrupt the system completely... so many times it happened already.
has aforementioned display problems (i didn't yet check it with today's update, we'll see).
has a problem with irq for pcmcia, i can't fire up my digigram audio card. i found some very confusing instructions how to (try to) solve it, but for my experience the tweaking goes too deep. another best way to make it useless.
otherwise very promising new stuff.

my linux story: a disenchantment

on the other hand, there's no improvement on dying video with 9.10, and just on the first day i encountered a "freeze" with the screen saver, where barely some elements of running software were shown. i had to press the (') button. almost like ['].

my linux story: a revelation

i got a hd formatted in hfs+ (the mac os x filesystem) full of video files. trying to use it under win xp was a pain in the ass: software that supports hfs+ is either costly, or doesn't support it properly, and the files must be copied, VERY slowly, to the win hd. and they don't work, then. don't try it at home.
after longer gap (as you see) i fired up the ubuntu fujitsu-siemens. upgraded to 9.10 beta, just for fun.
and - revelation: there's hfs+ support with certain packet, and it works like a wonder. no need for copying. great!

my linux story: burning troubles

last time i used some alternative to built-in ubuntu burner (can't recall now - k3b perhaps), and it ruined the table of contens of my archive dvd-rom by switching it to 8.3 format even though i spent quite a time to ensure it is properly configured and it works with appropriate file system.
this time i copied a cd with brasero included in 9.04, and it let me chose desired recording speed, though later anyway burned with full speed. these overspeeded discs are useless for many old-school cd decks, especially in the radio, where i have many collaborations.
EDIT: i installed k3b to copy the audio cd. interesting, because k3b allows to input burn speed, but at the same time says it depends on the target cd, so somehow it can't guarantee anything. why then one can't input the speed after the temp image is made, when the target cd is inserted? wisely it corrected the burn speed from 8x i asked for to 16x the cd allowed (k3b said). the actual burning, though, was indicated as seemingly done with maximum speed, and i really don't know now what was the actual burn speed. especially that i vaguely recall that it happened to me once - wrongly indicated burn speed while burning.
confusing!

my linux story: still looks bad

i uninstalled full kubuntu-desktop (kde) using these instructions. for some reason it uninstalls also some programs i installed in the meantime (scribus, rosegarden), which must be re-installed. it shouldn't be like this, i think.
it didn't help. the system still has psycho displaying problems. seems it's some bug in jaunty, since before (8.04/8.10) i don't remember anything like this on the same laptop.
:(

my linux story: more zonks

the system now begun to not resume from screensaving state. "off" button worked, though (set for turning off the system), however i suspect the system is not being closed cleanly.
i admit i installed the new mozilla firefox 3.5.2 via ubuntuzilla against ubuntu warnings. i will see if removing it helps.

my linux story: that's how ubuntu 9.04 looks like after two days work

this is openoffice.org. the install is quite clean: ooo, gimp, scribus were used, kubuntu-desktop was installed. the problems appear on gnome session under both kdm and gdm. the artifacts can be "cleaned", but they reappear.

my linux story: back to wifi problems

seemingly everything was okay. i set up a new connection, typed in wep key, and it worked. though soon, after installing kubuntu-desktop, which needs its own config for wifi (why?), it went wrong, didn't connect anymore, and the key was showing other data than typed in (i believe it's because of automatic converting between hex and ascii). to heighten the confusion, ubuntu doesn't list "hex key" in its possible key format list. i had to: delete the connection; set it up again; restart the system. WHY?

my linux story: and here it is exactly how it breaks

quick and clean. since compiz's not working, i decided to install kwin. so i've chosen "kubuntu-desktop" in synaptic. while downloading, i was doing some simple tasks, like editing text docs in ooo and choosing a screensaver. and suddenly the computer starts to work very slowly (while choosing a screensaver), ąnd then freezes completely. i managed to restart via 'skinny elephants' and FORTUNATELY everything's okay, and synaptic resumed it's work without protests. but ooooh how stable.

my linux story: ...graphics problems recalled

...and immediately i recalled one of the problems i encountered while trying ubuntu 8.04 or 8.10 on the fujitsu-siemens - compiz visual effects were not working, though apparently they can on this video chip, as attested somewhere on youtube (UPDATE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hklpe0OCclg, but i can't make it run on my system, because it needs viaarena driver, and it doesn't work on 9.04).
they can't be turned on also on 9.04. not fixed.

my linux story: new workstation needed, another attempt

i had to set up a new workstation for some project. i had an old fujitsu-siemens amilo pro v2010 laptop laying around and 10gb free space on hd. it has no usb boot support and a faulty dvd-rom drive, so i used this tutorial. it calls for installing ubuntu on another computer using usb connector for the hd. i used 8.10 factory disc.
i had to manually set up the partitions (493 mb for swap, the rest for the system), which needed minor research. also i had to unplug the main hd of my another computer, as existing swap partition there (of a faulty ubuntu i described in detail before) was continuously taken into account by the installer as main (or extra) swap for the newly installed ubuntu.
but generally it miracuously worked. the only thing i needed was to fix the screen resolution to fsc specs. it's now upgrading to 9.04 via upgrade option. we'll see.

my linux story: ...not so fast

i attempted an upgrade to jaunty (9.04), too, and - i admit - canceled it with "cancel" button while it was downloading (it didn't seem that absurd). it stated it was "partially upgraded" or "updated" or it can be "only partially upgraded". anyway, the problem is after some restart it didn't boot properly, showing only the items on the desktop after login and no controls at all.
however: after previous, seemingly succesful upgrade to 8.10, the system was anyway unable to shut off properly, always ending with a freeze (at various stages).
i therefore victoriously managed to set up (with wep key) and connect my wifi card working at console, reached through root prompt of the recovery mode, and ordered upgrade to 9.04. it worked, however it seemed to give errors here and there - i wasn't able to follow the changes for many hours. but the upgrade didn't help this time, and there's mess with xserver-xorg.
i tried both 'dpkg --configure -a' in recovery mode root prompt and dpkg option of the recovery menu, but it always ends with "Fixing recursive fault but reboot is needed!" with freeze when quitting with 'ctrl+alt+del'.
aptitude asks for 'dpkg --configure -a' and states there are "95 partially installed packages" including 'xserver-xorg' which it can't fix when tries.
what i wonder about, is this bug, since i have similar dpkg problems on tower pc , and i specifically remember being stuck while openoffice.org installing/configuring.

my linux story: eeepc recovered!

good news. my eeepc ubuntu was ruined by mistakenly installing some version of xinerama i found somewhere. it made no sense, but i didn't go through configuring 2nd display, and i thought xinerama is needed (it isn't). so i found some version and installed it and it messed up gnome. the display under my regular ubuntu desktop went black after login, and it came out there was some refreshing frequency mismatch. interestingly, under ubuntu netbook remix it worked okay.

a friend took pains to repair it and he managed to reset gnome/x settings. however, after reset nothings works as it should (wrong display settings, spastic cursor etc.).

i attempted to do an upgrade in hope it will fix it. after upgrade to 8.10 (with wired lan, since wlan was not working anymore), the system stated it can't start x (and was unable to turn off itself, too). however, with xfix via recovery mode it works again! the unr is broken, and strangely it was present on both of my user profiles, as well as it had issues on at least one. i switched back to regular ubuntu desktop and it seems okay.

relief! no support channel had solutions to this, and obviously everybody recommended reinstall. what i didn't find, though, was a way to easily reconfigure gnome/x as it is done while installing afresh. why?

my linux story: moblin

another try. i fired "test drive" of moblin from a usb key on mine eee 900ha. installing on the key and booting without problems.

looks good!

however: web services list only last.fm and twitter, which i don't use. seems i can't add anything. useless for me.

status for twitter - useless, though i'd love to set statuses for many services i use (facebook, nasza-klasa, tlen, gadu-gadu, skype).

people: only jabber, salut, google talk and irc, useless for me. also i tried to use irc, which allows to choose server, but no idea where to input channel (room).

"import accounts" doesn't seem to work (and i believe a few can be found on my win partitions).

internet: works, and moblin managed to handshake with my wifi chip and connect to the network.

media: showed a few samples, which didn't work, and now shows nothing. again, many files to be found on my netbook.

media player: found two audio files on sd card in the reader, is able to play one. i'm pretty sure there's more there. local media - null.

calendar: i wanted to import from thunderbird - the system can't mount ntfs volumes ("Cannot get volume.fstype.alternative"). for other volumes asks for password, but there was no setting up for any password. the same applies to contacts. and where's any syncing with web services or mobile devices?

fortunately found options for setting a polish keyboard layout.

any office productivity software (word processor etc.)?

afterthought: i know i grumble. many of these issues are probably fixed when moblin's installed, or fixable by configuring. still, the overall optimistic propaganda is what bothers me: if the demo moblin shows so many flaws, why to promote it for tryout?

my linux story: back in black

audacity is unable to use a chosen directory as a temp dir if it is chosen in the "media" dir (i.e. on another, in this case ntfs partition) - every time it is started it says it can't find its temp dir.
this is so lovely. i set up the temp dir on the ubuntu native partition and audacity asks to restart it. next time again it is pointed at the other partition it can't find so it can't be run at all. it's easily solved by deleting the .cfg file (in [user name]/.audacity-data dir, but WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE TO KNOW IT?

my linux story: dpkg... continued

i tried a solution found somewhere, to run 'dpkg --configure -a' in recovery mode
it found some loop (as i understand) error and fixed it (it said). i did this repeatedly to make sure, and once it seemed it worked, and again it found the same error (and fixed it). anyway, when rebooted to normal mode apt-get autoclean worked and synaptic is accessible. i'm now trying to install/re-install all packages i was installing when the hard reset happened. synaptic shows some as existitng and i had to manually add reinstallation to particular subpackages of openoffice.org, because, as far as i understand, the dependencies were not working.

my linux story: another nicey adventure

the fresh ubuntu studio 9.04 was seemingly forcefully turned off during synaptic's run (most likely it was a flaw in my water colling, which caused the hardware to autoshutoff). now starting "semi-installed" programs causes system to nearly freeze (i.e. only the mouse is working), and only hard reset works. i was asked by the system to do 'sudo dpkg --configure -a", which stucks.

i did two hard resets and the last freeze, during the above-mentioned command, even froze the mouse. however! some magic i found on the web worked, namely "raising skinny elephants". i saw no change at all during inputting consecutive keys, but the last "b" restarted the system. uff.

now what to do with broken package management?

my linux story: installing ubuntustudio 9.04

sadly it seems that while partitioning the installer hangs saying "starting partitioning program. please wait" without perspectives for any progress.
somehow managed to make it done by starting anew.

my linux story: introduction

i am a great believer in free software and necessity to overcome the monopolies in computer market - for the benefit of everyone. there are more benefits, you can find them itemized elsewhere.
therefore i am trying to switch to or at least to set up a parallel gnu/linux workstation for me and use the variety of available features for work and fun. however, there are obstacles, and tons of them.
the "my linux story" sub-blog is a diary of attempts to come to terms with gnu/linux and its software sphere. sadly, it seems to be a bit of a warning against the superlatives that you can find about it in the net.
i'm starting to blog in the middle of things, so i will go back ocasionally, as i started sometime in early 2000s, and my bitterness is built upon many experiences...
ps. currently i have two pcs: an asus eeepc 900ha, as well as a p4 tower. on both i made partitions for linux and i'm trying to make it running alongside windows.

my linux story: the cpu

the (in)famous (?) bug in 9.04:

the cpu is constantly at over 50%, up to 100%, and it most of it doesn't show in the processes. seemingly the links below describe the same issue that happened to me.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/368631

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1171777

of course it happened to me, as well. no one seems to know what's going on, and work on it (jugding on the state of the bug and thread).