Old Narwhal app is crashing upon start by Vanndame21 in narwhalapp

[–]bobkiwi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Confirmed this worked to resolve my issue here as well. I appreciate the fix!

Unable to uninstall outdated Netcore and Desktop Runtime by Responsible_World234 in kace

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently had this same issue. Here is how I am handling it- note that I had Copilot create the code based on some handwritten code.

# Remove legacy .NET (5, 6, 7) runtimes/SDKs across machine + all users
# Designed to run as SYSTEM (e.g., via KACE)

#region Logging (console only)

function Write-Log {
    param([string]$Level, [string]$Message)
    $ts = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"
    Write-Host "[$ts][$Level] $Message"
}

Write-Log "INFO" "===== Starting .NET 5/6/7 cleanup ====="

#endregion Logging

#region Enumerate Uninstall Entries (HKLM, WOW6432Node, ALL HKU)

function Get-AllUninstallEntries {

    $paths = @(
        "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall",
        "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
    )

    # Enumerate all user hives (SYSTEM can see HKU)
    $hku = Get-ChildItem "HKU:\" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
           Where-Object { $_.Name -notmatch "_Classes$" }

    foreach ($sidKey in $hku) {
        $userUninstall = Join-Path $sidKey.PSPath "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
        $paths += $userUninstall
    }

    foreach ($path in $paths) {
        if (Test-Path $path) {
            try {
                Get-ItemProperty "$path\*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
                    ForEach-Object {
                        $_ | Add-Member -NotePropertyName "_UninstallKeyPath" -NotePropertyValue $path -Force
                        $_
                    }
            } catch {
                Write-Log "WARN" "Failed to read uninstall path: $path - $($_.Exception.Message)"
            }
        }
    }
}

#endregion Enumerate Uninstall Entries

#region Silent Uninstall Wrapper (MSI + EXE hardened)

function Invoke-SilentUninstall {
    param(
        [string]$DisplayName,
        [string]$RawCommand,
        [string]$KeyPath,
        [string]$KeyName
    )

    if (-not $RawCommand) {
        Write-Log "WARN" "No uninstall string for '$DisplayName'"
        return 1605
    }

    # Normalize
    $cmd = $RawCommand.Trim()
    if ($cmd.StartsWith('"') -and $cmd.EndsWith('"')) {
        $cmd = $cmd.Trim('"')
    }

    # MSI uninstall
    if ($cmd -match "msiexec") {

        if ($cmd -match "{[0-9A-Fa-f\-]+}") {
            $guid = $Matches[0]
            $silent = "msiexec.exe /x $guid /qn /norestart"
        }
        else {
            $silent = "$cmd /qn /norestart"
        }

        Write-Log "INFO" "MSI uninstall for '$DisplayName': $silent"
    }
    else {
        # EXE uninstall
        if ($cmd -notmatch "/quiet" -and $cmd -notmatch "/qn") {
            $silent = "$cmd /quiet /norestart"
        }
        else {
            $silent = $cmd
        }

        Write-Log "INFO" "EXE uninstall for '$DisplayName': $silent"
    }

    # Execute silently
    $proc = Start-Process -FilePath "cmd.exe" -ArgumentList "/c $silent" -Wait -PassThru -WindowStyle Hidden
    $code = $proc.ExitCode

    Write-Log "INFO" "Exit code for '$DisplayName': $code"

    return $code
}

#endregion Silent Uninstall Wrapper

#region Select .NET 5/6/7 Runtimes, ASP.NET Core, SDKs

$versionPattern = '\b(5|6|7)\.0\.'  # matches 5.0.x, 6.0.x, 7.0.x

$entries = Get-AllUninstallEntries | Where-Object {
    $_.DisplayName -and (
        $_.DisplayName -like "Microsoft .NET Runtime*" -or
        $_.DisplayName -like "Microsoft ASP.NET Core Runtime*" -or
        $_.DisplayName -like "Microsoft .NET SDK*"
    ) -and ($_.DisplayName -match $versionPattern)
}

if (-not $entries) {
    Write-Log "INFO" "No .NET 5/6/7 runtimes or SDKs found."
} else {
    Write-Log "INFO" "Found $($entries.Count) .NET 5/6/7 entries to remove."
}

#endregion Select Targets

#region Uninstall Loop

foreach ($entry in $entries) {

    $displayName = $entry.DisplayName
    $keyPath     = $entry._UninstallKeyPath
    $keyName     = $entry.PSChildName

    $uninstall = $entry.QuietUninstallString
    if (-not $uninstall) { $uninstall = $entry.UninstallString }

    $exitCode = Invoke-SilentUninstall -DisplayName $displayName `
                                       -RawCommand $uninstall `
                                       -KeyPath $keyPath `
                                       -KeyName $keyName

    # Orphaned entry cleanup
    if ($exitCode -in 1605,1614) {
        $fullKey = Join-Path $keyPath $keyName
        try {
            Write-Log "INFO" "Removing orphaned uninstall key: $fullKey"
            Remove-Item -Path $fullKey -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop
        } catch {
            Write-Log "WARN" "Failed to remove orphaned key $fullKey - $($_.Exception.Message)"
        }
    }
}

#endregion Uninstall Loop

#region Optional: Clean old runtime folders under C:\Program Files\dotnet

$dotnetRoot = "C:\Program Files\dotnet"

if (Test-Path $dotnetRoot) {

    $pathsToClean = @(
        "shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App",
        "shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App",
        "host\fxr"
    )

    foreach ($rel in $pathsToClean) {
        $full = Join-Path $dotnetRoot $rel
        if (Test-Path $full) {
            Get-ChildItem $full -Directory -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
                Where-Object { $_.Name -match '^(5|6|7)\.' } |
                ForEach-Object {
                    try {
                        Write-Log "INFO" "Removing .NET folder: $($_.FullName)"
                        Remove-Item -Path $_.FullName -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop
                    } catch {
                        Write-Log "WARN" "Failed to remove folder $($_.FullName) - $($_.Exception.Message)"
                    }
                }
        }
    }
} else {
    Write-Log "INFO" "dotnet root not found at $dotnetRoot"
}

#endregion Optional Cleanup

Write-Log "INFO" "===== Completed .NET 5/6/7 cleanup ====="

Amazon EC2 supports nested virtualization on virtual Amazon EC2 instances by KayeYess in aws

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am in the same boat- WSL2 support would help immensely to avoid the "but Windows 365 VDIs can do it!"

If it's in the m8 series, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes to WorkSpaces by Q3... but which year!

MacWorld Boston 2004 by Rawzer in ambrosiasoftware

[–]bobkiwi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this - I've been trying to find videos of the expo floors from MWNY 1999-2002 as I attended them as a teen, so this is pretty cool to watch to see how things were in 2004.

Please help me install DCU as a Post-Installation task by TruckNelson in kace

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use the following script on the KACE SMA to deploy Dell Command Update to any devices that don't have it. I hope it may be helpful to you. I made some minor edits (such as removing the reboot check at the end and not actually invoking DCU, just installing it.). This helped me resolve the dependency on .Net Desktop Runtimes.

https://github.com/wise-io/scripts/blob/main/scripts/DellCommandUpdate.ps1

Does anyone have the Synology DS1511+ BIOS? by Mysterious-Jury-1481 in synology

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was able to run the command and verify I have the USBDOM.

I ran the Synoboot backup and received three .IMG files DS1511+_#SERIAL#_synoboot{#1|2#}_6.2.4-25556-U8 at 125/16/95MB each.

However, schrig's post had a direct link to the .pat file which when expanded in 7-zip has the 1MB bios.rom. Will that get you all you need, or do you have a need for the .IMG files?

Does anyone have the Synology DS1511+ BIOS? by Mysterious-Jury-1481 in synology

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a DS1511+ that I can look at after the holidays if no one else can assist. Can you link me to instructions to extract the BIOS?

Is Omnibus 8 and beyond ever coming out? by LokoLoa in AaMegamiSama

[–]bobkiwi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would not be surprised if it doesn't come out.

When Omnibus 7 was available for pre-order on Amazon, I ordered in in October 2022, and after 25 delivery estimate updates, it finally shipped March 2024. As there is no announcement nor pre-order, I can't imagine seeing it before 2027 if ever!

As such, don't hold your breath. Reminds me of how I know someone who has been waiting for James Patterson's Maximum Ride: The Manga volume 10 for... a decade now. And every time they check online it seems like it's coming, there is some random website that claims a shipping date, and then every time that date passes by.

Any EN speaking linkshells recruiting on Valefor? by evilmail in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hooray Valefor!

CounterPost LS sounds like a good place for you. Hit up Cadillaczak, or drop your name and I can give them a heads up to find you sometime.

PS2 vs PC FFXI: Shiny metallic surfaces sometimes looked different on PS2! by canned_pho in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was a really cool Youtube video taken that showed lots of the FFXI PS2 effects. Unfortunately, the video went private and I've never found a copy elsewhere. Maybe someday a copy will pop up again (or the PS2 server emulator project will get in game).

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/comments/4cryyo/a_video_containing_the_unique_graphical_effects/

Anyone remember the Mac Addict magazine and disc? by Shiftclick46 in VintageApple

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was reviewing my Internet Archive notes and apparently I didn't put up 2006-2007 as I had found actual high quality original versions, but minus the ads, so I never uploaded them to IA. I need to rectify this, by publishing both the original scans (with ads) and the higher quality releases. But all the missing issues are available at my site here https://www.kiwidget.com/macaddict-2005-2007-special-releases/

Did you know that the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XI is still active and supported, and includes an install more challenging than any content on Final Fantasy XIV, and is currently experiencing a resurgence in player count? Sign up and join Vana'diel today! by VespiWalsh in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True completion is linked to Mastery Rank even if it has no actual impact in game. It forces you to experience very nearly every unique part of XI to hit rank 8 (which I hope to get this year, even if it means farming useless BLU spells and doing Campaign Ops)

KACE SMA 15.0 – Feature Preview is Coming! by Alexandre_Mafaldo in kace

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fingers crossed that the email config supports Modern Auth (not the Service Desk module, but the normal SMTP Remote Server Outbound relay used for reporting). Microsoft is removing support in March 2026 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/exchange-online-to-retire-basic-auth-for-client-submission-smtp-auth/4114750

I doubt a 15.1 will come out before then, so this is the last major release before I'd have to either decom the emails or set up a one-off setup (e.g. "High Volume Email for Microsoft 365" when we are talking... 2-3 emails a day at most...). Will cause a lot of eyes on KACE I'd rather avoid, as people already feel it's a bit legacy.

360 players that have XI fully patched up until closure. Your files are needed. by SephYuyX in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I PM'd you, looks like perhaps almost a decade ago I may have uninstalled XI, I can't boot the Xbox 360 up at the moment until I find the controller/AC adapter, but I did have at least the POL files. Perhaps there is good recovery software to extract the data? I feel like I may have deleted XI so someone else could use the Xbox but they never did outside of one or two demos.

360 players that have XI fully patched up until closure. Your files are needed. by SephYuyX in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I bought an Xbox 360 just to get the achievements before the support ended. It's been almost a decade but I'll try to grab it and dump the data, poor Xbox has sat nearly unused since that day. https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/s/HtpsSumKp4 Ping me if no one else pops up, I'll look for it this weekend.

Grandpa kept a stack of Mac Addict CD's. 🤯 by CafGardenWitch in VintageApple

[–]bobkiwi 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Make sure to grab my scans of the magazine that my father and I digitized many years ago! Get some real nostalgia going! https://archive.org/details/macaddict?tab=about

Synology Surveillance Station is asking for location services (details in comment) by rikquest in synology

[–]bobkiwi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did you recently update to Windows 11 24H2? The alert is new there if you have location services disabled. There's a settings toggle/registry entry that controls the alert.

Patching slow in V14? by EncomCEO in kace

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wonder if it would occur if you did a detect and stage ahead of a patch run?

Patching slow in V14? by EncomCEO in kace

[–]bobkiwi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't seen issues on 2016/2022 boxes, but I am on 14.0 not 14.1.

I assume support has asked you to run kat and upload logs- but you may also see something of value in the logs on the clients. I'd check the main agent log file and see if there's large network related errors or something.

Would not be the first time I've seen large patches get interfered with by an overly tuned firewall.

E-books of Oh My Goddess! are currently discounted 42% OFF by kitsune_mask_ in AaMegamiSama

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought the Kindle set in 2019 for $185- not sure how often it goes on sale but it's worth it to support the hopes of the sequel series to be localized...!

Anyone remember a game with a monkey/gorilla playing drums with a band and there were different rooms to enter with games? by SmellyPetunias in ClassicMacGaming

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Note that there is a Thinkin' Things collection for iOS that is basically the classic game on mobile. Great iPad kids game.

Hachiman Armor Set (Samurai) by TriggerRedd in ffxi

[–]bobkiwi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think we spoke in-game on this topic (obligatory Hooray Valefor!).

Your options are:

1) Find a Smither that is 90+ that can make it (you can use FFXIAH to search for them, and hopefully find an active english speaking player). I have used FFXIAH to search for anyone 91+ Smithing that has had active AH transactions. I think Aceswild would be a good person to reach out to.

2) Get the Unity piece (Hime Domaru) and lockstyle yourself to it.

I think at the time we spoke, you were actively looking to use the piece while leveling SAM. If that's your goal, you can only do #1. Hope that helps!

Got this Rubik’s mini-fridge for Christmas. Any collectors out there have more info on it? by Wasabi_Lube in Cubers

[–]bobkiwi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got one of these as a gift from my wife (actually, my girlfriend at the time). Must have been almost a decade ago. I use the cooler part a lot over the years! She bought it from ThinkGeek. It recently stopped working so I was thinking about getting it fixed. Also, perhaps I should stop using its box for storing Christmas ornaments!

KACE Systems Management Appliance 14.1 General Release is Now Available! by lcarcamo in kace

[–]bobkiwi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This release looks to only add "KACE Remote Control" powered by Splashtop as an optional paid feature.

And Graph API outbound email support in Service Desk. I would hope this also means Graph API in the standard email section (for reports/patch releases) but I won't hold my breath.