Windows 7 partition issues with reboot loop

This last weekend I had some Windows 7 installation issues when I got myself a new HDD. The plan was to do dual booting like I had on my previous drive which was busy failing.

The initial Windows 7 installatino took long as usual with long waiting for the wallpaper with the mouse pointer. Why there is not anything more informative at that stage is a mystery to me. Some people might think that their PC has frozen. Once the Windows 7 installation was completed, I installed the latest LTS version of Ubuntu. Once that was done, I booted into Windows 7 and formatted the new drive. For some strange reason, the disk management tool was insisting that I had to make the partition dynamic. I might have read wrong and it was for the whole disk. Since I already had the other primary partitions and just needed a data partition, I thought it might just be another "user friendly" term for extended or logical partition.

This process ended up causing a reboot loop because all existing primary partitions suddenly ended up also being dynamic. This was a bulk change and I was really impressed by the reboot loop.

The next step was to start fresh with a new Windows 7 installation, just to find that I had to wait much longer than before and that the partition editor that came on the Windows 7 DVD was useless and could not even delete the partitions. I ended up having to clean up the mess running Ubuntu from the DVD which has a desktop and various tools that can be used while installating Ubuntu Linux onto the drive. Any owner of only Windows 7 would be helpless if that dynamic disk thing hits.

Heavy Cape Town traffic due to railway strike

The nationwide railway strike this week has been causing some heavy traffic in the morning and evening here in Cape Town. All of the train commuters had to find alternative modes of transport. I came with my car this week and it turns out to be rather expensive what petrol concerns. Sitting in traffic double the time than it should take is also no fun. I am at this point in time considering getting a bicycle and ride to work while getting some much needed cardio done. In the evenings the trains are also sometimes unreliable by not always showing up. In the evenings it would probably be a little bit faster to get home by bicycle than train due to the 25 minute walk in the evening if I do not manage to catch the 18:15 train leaving Cape Town.

Costume ideas for a future costume party

1. Power Rangers
2. Superheroes
2.1. Batman and Robin
2.2. Batman and Superman
2.3. The Flash and Superman
3. Star Wars
3.1. Darth Vader and the emperor
3.2. Darth Vader and a Clonetrooper/Stormtrooper
3.3. Jedi Knight and Queen Amidala
3.4. Jedi Knight and Padme Amidala
3.5. Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Knight
3.6. Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala
4. Dinosaurs

Looking for new ideas for my home business

Lately I have been wondering how I can improve my home business. I know what people are looking for, but getting that takes time and is expensive. Opening hours are an issue for many because it is weekdays in the evenings. Adding more photos of products to my website will help, especially if I do not have any. Somebody mentioned to me to do more marketing, but that is expensive as well. My website also needs to get a cancellation and review system.

Countrywide train strike on Monday

This coming Monday (10 May 2010) is going to be a countrywide train strike. There will be thick traffic on the roads for days. It will be expensive for petrol. Metrorail was already refunding all of the monthly train tickets. At least two unions are striking over a wage dispute.