<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en"><generator uri="https://jekyllrb.com/" version="4.4.1">Jekyll</generator><link href="https://howson.me/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" /><link href="https://howson.me/" rel="alternate" type="text/html" hreflang="en" /><updated>2026-05-14T20:16:49+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/feed.xml</id><title type="html">Me by Howson</title><subtitle>Online since 1998</subtitle><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><entry><title type="html">iCloud Drive Sync</title><link href="https://howson.me/turn-off-iCloud-Drive-Sync-for-single-location" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="iCloud Drive Sync" /><published>2022-07-23T00:00:00+01:00</published><updated>2022-07-23T00:00:00+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/icloud-prevent-sync-on-single-location</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/turn-off-iCloud-Drive-Sync-for-single-location"><![CDATA[<p>iCloud Drive is great, but sometimes you want the ability to not sync something. For example a temporary folder with some data in. You can add .nosync as an extension to any folder or file to 
ensure that information in a folder or even a individual file is not synced while the the rest of the contents, for example the dekstop is.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/07/temp-no-sync.jpg" alt="icloud" /></p>

<p>You may also wish to hide the extension so it is easier to read. To do this simply right click the folder and tick the hide extension check box, as shown in the screen shot below.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/07/hide-ext.jpg" alt="Finder hide extension" /></p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Apple" /><category term="iCloud" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[How to prevent a single folder or file syncing to iCloud.]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Cloudflare DNSSEC with IONOS API</title><link href="https://howson.me/cloudflare-ionos-dnssec-setup-api-method" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Cloudflare DNSSEC with IONOS API" /><published>2022-04-15T00:00:00+01:00</published><updated>2022-04-15T00:00:00+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/Cloudflare-ionos-dnssec</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/cloudflare-ionos-dnssec-setup-api-method"><![CDATA[<p>It seems a general thing that if your using IONOS as your domain registrar enabling DNSSEC in Cloudflare is <a href="https://community.cloudflare.com/t/trying-to-set-up-dnssec-with-1-1-ionos/142900/6">frustratingly difficult</a> with the main recommend way according to the <a href="https://www.ionos.co.uk/help/domains/using-your-own-name-servers/dnssec-with-external-name-servers/">official IONOS documentation</a> is to e-mail to setup DNSSEC. There is another way which is to use the API.</p>

<p>To begin manage your API key using the <a href="https://developer.hosting.ionos.co.uk/">developer portal</a>. If you get a message sayings its not enabled on your account, follow the instructions to enable it. There is no charge at the time of writing.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/04/api-dev-portal.png" alt="API Developer Window" /></p>

<p>Once you have your API get you can either use CURL or simply use this <a href="https://developer.hosting.ionos.co.uk/docs/domains">web builder</a> if your just doing a single domain. The web builder example did not work for me when using Cloudflare I had to include additional attributes. Below is the schema with an example.</p>

<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>{
  "secDns": {
    "dsData": [
      {
        "keyTag": 2371,
        "alg": 13,
        "digestType": 2,
        "digest": "E127287FCA4E940B8F667931A1C7594DA3C927BFF70C4A350FB732C1F0CA7E75",
        "keyData": {
          "flags": 257,
          "protocol": 3,
          "alg": 13,
          "pubKey": "mdsswUyr3DPW132mOi8V9xESWE8jTo0dxCjjnopKl+GqJxpVXckHAeF+KkxLbxILfDLUT0rAK9iUzy1L53eKGQ=="
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

</code></pre></div></div>

<p>You can match all the information using the data in the Cloudflare control panel. The digest type should be submitted to IONOS as 2 rather than 256.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/04/cf-pro-dns-example.png" alt="Cloudflare" /></p>

<p>While this method is not the easiest compared to some providers, its arguably far easier and faster than doing it over e-mail.</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="DNS" /><category term="Cloudflare" /><category term="DNSSEC" /><category term="IONOS" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[Using DNSSEC with IONOS via the API using Cloudflare as an example.]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Netlify APEX DNS Setup</title><link href="https://howson.me/netlify-apex-dns-setup" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Netlify APEX DNS Setup" /><published>2022-03-01T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2022-03-01T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/Netlify-apex-records</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/netlify-apex-dns-setup"><![CDATA[<p>Netlify has several options for the apex DNS record of a domain. The apex of the domain is the domain itself. For example howson.me is the apex of this site. www.howson.me would be a subdomain. Many guides talk about the apex record and moving name servers but sometimes you may not want to do this. To get round this problem an ALIAS or ANAME record can be used. An <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/id/draft-ietf-dnsop-aname-03.html">ALIAS or ANAME record</a> is a relatively new DNS record type that removes the limitation of CNAME records. CNAME records can’t be used at the APEX. ANAME records also removes the limitations on subdomains which used CNAME records, 
mainly that they can’t use <strong>M</strong>ail <strong>E</strong>xchange (MX). 
 <br /> <br />
Not all providers support ALIAS but many of those popular with developers like <a href="https://www.namecheap.com">NameCheap</a> and <a href="https://www.gandi.net">Gandi</a> do. To get started add the domain and click on the “Check DNS Config exclamation” as shown below:</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/03/dns-check-netlify.png" alt="Netlify DNS Warning" /></p>

<p>A screen will appear with a record that can be created as an ALIAS record:</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/03/apex-netlify.png" alt="Apex Netlify" /></p>

<p>Copy the record and go to your NameCheap Control Panel. Simply create the ALIAS record.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/03/apex-nc.png" alt="APEX NC DNS Record" /></p>

<p>It really is that simple.</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="DNS" /><category term="Netlify" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[Netlify has several options for the apex DNS record of a domain. The apex of the domain is the domain itself. For example howson.me is the apex of this site. www.howson.me would be a subdomain. Many guides talk about the apex record and moving name servers but sometimes you may not want to do this. To get round this problem an ALIAS or ANAME record can be used. An ALIAS or ANAME record is a relatively new DNS record type that removes the limitation of CNAME records. CNAME records can’t be used at the APEX. ANAME records also removes the limitations on subdomains which used CNAME records, mainly that they can’t use Mail Exchange (MX). Not all providers support ALIAS but many of those popular with developers like NameCheap and Gandi do. To get started add the domain and click on the “Check DNS Config exclamation” as shown below:]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">My Apple Wallet Review</title><link href="https://howson.me/my-apple-wallet-review" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="My Apple Wallet Review" /><published>2022-01-03T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2022-01-03T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/apple-wallet-review</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/my-apple-wallet-review"><![CDATA[<p>I got an Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MM0Q3ZM/A/iphone-leather-wallet-with-magsafe-golden-brown">Wallet</a> for Christmas. Overall i’m really happy with it. Reading about the wallet online I noticed a pattern that there are a number of issues mentioned, including:</p>

<ul>
  <li>It falls off the case.</li>
  <li>The cards are hard to get out.</li>
  <li>It takes two cards not three.</li>
  <li>You can only hold three cards.</li>
</ul>

<p>Personally I have not seen these issues. Although there is a right way and a wrong way to use it. I suspect there is a common mistake of inserting the cards in the wallet with the card numbers facing outwards, instead of facing to the inside of the case. 
If you look carefully at the instruction card that came with the wallet you can see the mag stripe points outwards.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/01/wallet-instructions.jpg" alt="Wallet" /></p>

<p>This makes sense as the card numbers allows your thumb to grip the numbers and push out. One of my cards has no embossed etching on and this makes a difference.</p>

<p>If I used this as the card to grip it made it harder to get the card out. I was able to get three cards in but one has no embossed numbers on, it would definitely depend how thick the cards are.</p>

<p>I have noticed that the magnets hold the wallet on significantly better using an Apple Magsafe case compared to a standard case. I suspect this is because a magsafe case has an extra magnetic layer. I don’t have a non genuine magsafe case to compare with but I suspect you would see the same results
as its simply a <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Image/meta/S4KpLOFpJpQgIBZZ">magnetic coil</a>.</p>

<p>Regarding the wallet falling off, so far I have not found this. I usually wear straight cut jeans (Levi 514’s) to help give an idea. If you use a lot of cards, this wallet is not for you. If I need more than three cards I will change wallets.</p>

<p>I hope this brief review helps with deciding if a magsafe wallet from Apple is right for you.</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2022/01/wallet.png" alt="Wallet" /></p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Apple" /><category term="Wallet" /><category term="Reviews" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[I got an Apple Wallet for Christmas. Overall i’m really happy with it. Reading about the wallet online I noticed a pattern that there are a number of issues mentioned, including:]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Fixing Apple Watch Vodafone Error 2004</title><link href="https://howson.me/fixing-vodafone-error-2004" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Fixing Apple Watch Vodafone Error 2004" /><published>2021-06-12T15:51:30+01:00</published><updated>2021-06-12T15:51:30+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/fixing-vodafone-error-2004</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/fixing-vodafone-error-2004"><![CDATA[<p>Recently I swapped to Vodafone UK from EE which went through fine. I had a Vodafone physical SIM and swapped to an e-sim. This also went through fine except the Apple watch seemed to get confused. Looking on the Vodafone forum there seems to be a number of circumstances that cause the issue. Below is a screen shot of the error:</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2021/06/Library---1-of-5.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="592" height="1280" /></p>

<p>Irrespective of which circumstance you see the error code if you open the watch app go to General -&gt; About. If you find EID is blank this should resolve the problem.</p>

<p>Navigate to the following page: <a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/esim">https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/esim</a></p>

<p>Click on esim to esim. <br />
Log into My Vodafone<br />
Select your number</p>

<p><img src="/assets/2021/06/Library---3-of-5.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="592" height="1280" /></p>

<p>Press continue. <br />
Now Select Mobile Secondary</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2021/06/Library---4-of-5.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="592" height="1280" />

The screen will change

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2021/06/Library---5-of-5.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="592" height="1280" />

Press Apple Watch  
Press Continue.   
Enter the EID number in the box. This can be found in the watch app under General \&gt; About

Finally tick the boxes to agree. The esim will be provisioned or more re-provisioned. Now fully close the watch app. Wait a few minutes. &nbsp;Go back into the watch app and the data plan will be active. I did find it showed inactive at first but keep waiting. In my case it took about 5 minutes although it can take 24 hours.

**Ignore** the message about add a data plan, this does not apply to Apple Watch.

<img src="/assets/2021/06/Library---2-of-5.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="592" height="1280" />
</figure></figure>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Apple" /><category term="Watch" /><category term="Vodafone" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[How to fix Apple Watch Error 2004 on Vodafone UK]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Turning 2020 Samsung Washer Music Off</title><link href="https://howson.me/turning-off-2020-samsung-washer-chime" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Turning 2020 Samsung Washer Music Off" /><published>2020-12-31T16:01:08+00:00</published><updated>2020-12-31T16:01:08+00:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/turning-off-2020-samsung-washer-chime</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/turning-off-2020-samsung-washer-chime"><![CDATA[<p>Like marmite people either love the Samsung Cycle alarm / cycle completition tune or hate it. Here is how to turn it off on the 2020 slimline control panel.</p>

<p>Turn the washer / dryer on.</p>

<p>Hold down the more functions button down for around 5 seconds.</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/12/IMG_2539.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="/assets/size/w600/2020/12/IMG_2539.jpg 600w, /assets/size/w1000/2020/12/IMG_2539.jpg 1000w, /assets/size/w1600/2020/12/IMG_2539.jpg 1600w, /assets/2020/12/IMG_2539.jpg 2100w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px" /></figure>

<p>This menu will appear, turn the wheel until you get to alarm</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/12/IMG_2541.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="/assets/size/w600/2020/12/IMG_2541.jpg 600w, /assets/size/w1000/2020/12/IMG_2541.jpg 1000w, /assets/size/w1600/2020/12/IMG_2541.jpg 1600w, /assets/2020/12/IMG_2541.jpg 2100w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px" /></figure>

<p>This should be the second option, as shown below.</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/12/IMG_2542-2.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="/assets/size/w600/2020/12/IMG_2542-2.jpg 600w, /assets/size/w1000/2020/12/IMG_2542-2.jpg 1000w, /assets/size/w1600/2020/12/IMG_2542-2.jpg 1600w, /assets/2020/12/IMG_2542-2.jpg 2100w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px" /></figure>

<p>Tap the O to turn it off:</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/12/IMG_2543-2-222.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1500" srcset="/assets/size/w600/2020/12/IMG_2543-2-222.jpg 600w, /assets/size/w1000/2020/12/IMG_2543-2-222.jpg 1000w, /assets/size/w1600/2020/12/IMG_2543-2-222.jpg 1600w, /assets/size/w2400/2020/12/IMG_2543-2-222.jpg 2400w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px" /></figure>

<p>Turn the wheel to the back option and press O</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/12/IMG_2544-2.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="/assets/size/w600/2020/12/IMG_2544-2.jpg 600w, /assets/size/w1000/2020/12/IMG_2544-2.jpg 1000w, /assets/size/w1600/2020/12/IMG_2544-2.jpg 1600w, /assets/2020/12/IMG_2544-2.jpg 2100w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px" /></figure>

<p>The machine will exit back to the main menu.</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Samsung" /><category term="Washer" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[How to turn off the cycle completion chime on a Samsung 2020 washer with slimline control panel.]]></summary><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://howson.me/assets/2020/12/washer-1.jpg" /><media:content medium="image" url="https://howson.me/assets/2020/12/washer-1.jpg" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" /></entry><entry><title type="html">DrayTek Vigor 130 and Google Wifi</title><link href="https://howson.me/draytek-vigor130-and-google-wifi" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="DrayTek Vigor 130 and Google Wifi" /><published>2020-05-31T18:26:38+01:00</published><updated>2020-05-31T18:26:38+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/draytek-vigor130-and-google-wifi</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/draytek-vigor130-and-google-wifi"><![CDATA[<p>This guide explains how to get a DrayTek Vigor 130 and Google Wifi working together. DrayTek have designed the Vigor 130 ADSL / VDSL2 modem to be hassle free, and offer BT SIN498 complaint firmware. The modem part offers automatic zero touch configuration of the phone line. When using with Google Wifi with the Vigor 130, the port used also runs a DHCP server to enable easy access to the web management interface. This confuses Google Wifi. In order to fix it you need to turn the DHCP Server off.  To do this:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Connect a ethernet cable from a laptop or desktop to the Vigor 130</li>
  <li>Login at the default ip http://192.168.2.1</li>
  <li>Login to the management interface (default: admin/admin)</li>
  <li>Use the management interface to turn off DHCP as shown below:
<!--kg-card-begin: markdown--></li>
</ol>

<p>a) LAN &gt; General Setup<br />
b) Disable Server under DHCP Server Configuration<br />
c) Press OK</p>

<!--kg-card-end: markdown-->
<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2020/05/DrayTek130-DHCP-1.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<p>Now, change Google Wifi to use PPPoE. If you have not set the router up before continue to setup, select PPPoE when prompted and follow steps 5 and 6.</p>

<ol>
  <li>Open the <strong>Google Wifi</strong> app .</li>
  <li>Tap the Settings and actions tab &gt; Network and general.</li>
  <li>Under ‘Network’, tap Advanced networking. <strong>WAN</strong>.</li>
  <li>Choose PPPoE.</li>
  <li>Enter the account name as: <strong>bthomehub@btbroadband.com</strong></li>
  <li>Enter the account password as: <strong>BT</strong></li>
  <li>Tap Save.</li>
</ol>

<p>Your DrayTek Vigor 130 Modem and Google Wifi will work together.</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Google Wifi" /><category term="Draytek" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[This guide explains how to get a DrayTek Vigor 130 and Google Wifi working together.]]></summary><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://howson.me/assets/2020/05/vigor130.jpg" /><media:content medium="image" url="https://howson.me/assets/2020/05/vigor130.jpg" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" /></entry><entry><title type="html">Windows 7 USB Physical to Virtual VMWARE Fusion</title><link href="https://howson.me/windows-7-pysical-to-virtual-vmware-fusion" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Windows 7 USB Physical to Virtual VMWARE Fusion" /><published>2019-12-01T15:03:30+00:00</published><updated>2019-12-01T15:03:30+00:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/windows-7-pysical-to-virtual-vmware-fusion</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/windows-7-pysical-to-virtual-vmware-fusion"><![CDATA[<p>I have an old Windows 7 machine that needed virtualing for a family memeber. I wanted to virtualise it however becasue the host hardware was dead. They were on Windows 10 but wanted to use some really old software.</p>

<p>The only option was to connect it to a USB adapter. Getting it to work in VMWARE fusion was surprisingly complicated. This is how I ended up doing.</p>

<p>Before I begin I did try using the VDisk Manger method but this failed with an access denied error. I have raised a case with VMWARE.</p>

<p>As time was not on my side I developed a solution:</p>

<p>To begin I connected the hard drive to a windows 7 VM and create a VHDX file using the sysinternals tool. I did not tick the volume shadow copy box as the machine was not in use.</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2019/12/shot-1.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<p>Once the image is created, link it to a virtual machine and follow these instructions:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Firstly, boot the Windows-based computer via Windows installation media.</li>
  <li>Press Repair</li>
  <li>Next input “bootrec /fixmbr” and hit “Enter” key.</li>
  <li>Later enter “diskpart” and press “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Then type “select disk 0” and hit “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Later input “list partition” and tap on “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Type “select partition n (n is the Windows OS partition)” and press “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Input “active” and hit “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Subsequently, input “Exit” and hit “Enter”.</li>
  <li>After that, type “bootrec /fixboot” and tap on “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Next input “bootrec /rebuildbcd” and click “Enter”.</li>
  <li>Close the Command Prompt and shut down your PC.  Then try to boot again</li>
</ol>

<p>If it still fails:</p>

<p>Boot from the recovery disk</p>

<p>run automatic repair problems</p>

<p>Restart</p>

<p>restart again</p>

<p>If it hangs and reboots:</p>

<p>1) Power on the laptop <br />
2) Press F12 key to enter the BIOS <br />
3) Go to “Advanced” menu <br />
4) Go down to “System Config” <br />
5) Change SATA Controller from “AHCI” to “Compatibility”. Fusion <br />
6) Press F10 to save and exit</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><summary type="html"><![CDATA[I have an old Windows 7 machine that needed virtualing for a family memeber. I wanted to virtualise it however becasue the host hardware was dead. They were on Windows 10 but wanted to use some really old software.]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">VMWARE Fusion 11.x to 11.5 Free Upgrade</title><link href="https://howson.me/vmware-fusion-11-5-free-upgrade" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="VMWARE Fusion 11.x to 11.5 Free Upgrade" /><published>2019-09-29T09:47:08+01:00</published><updated>2019-09-29T09:47:08+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/vmware-fusion-11-5-free-upgrade</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/vmware-fusion-11-5-free-upgrade"><![CDATA[<p>This morning I got the following alert from VMWARE Fusion:</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2019/09/vmware-115.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<p>Long time users of VMWARE Fusion will know that normally this box only appears when prompting about an upgrade to a new major release and minor versions are upgraded in situ. Pressing the Learn More button took me to the VMWARE website and goes into upgrade prices. At the bottom of the box it mentions a free upgrade (see in yellow).</p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2019/09/vmware-115-highlight.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<p>Simply press the URL to download a fresh installer. While you could argue this is a bit of a non story I nearly got caught out and wanted to share my near miss to save others.</p>]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="VMware" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[How to update VMWare Fusion to 11.5 for free]]></summary><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://howson.me/assets/2019/12/vmware.jpg" /><media:content medium="image" url="https://howson.me/assets/2019/12/vmware.jpg" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" /></entry><entry><title type="html">Packard Bell Butterfly Recovery</title><link href="https://howson.me/packard-bell-recovery" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Packard Bell Butterfly Recovery" /><published>2019-08-25T15:03:30+01:00</published><updated>2019-08-25T15:03:30+01:00</updated><id>https://howson.me/packard-bell-recovery</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://howson.me/packard-bell-recovery"><![CDATA[<p>I was given an old Packard Bell EasyNote laptop by a family member they wanted recycling. On closer inspection while over 9 years old and on Windows 7 the machine ran fairly well. Reusing some old RAM to uplift it to 4GB and a Windows 10 Pro license I had spare I was able to to turn it into low powered spare laptop.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I realised I forgot to upgrade the recovery partition before uplifting to Windows 10. I was able to get the software from a friend and wanted to link to provide a backup: <a href="assets/2019/08/Recovery Management_v4.05.3007_20091102_1544.exe">Click here to download the Recovery Manager</a></p>

<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="/assets/2019/08/pb-rec-man-example.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<p>Remember this software will only work if:</p>

<ul>
  <li>You have a PackardBell Laptop such as the Butterfly</li>
  <li>You recovery partition is in tact - Even if you “kept nothing” during the Windows 10 Upgrade it should be intact.</li>
</ul>

<p>This software won’t work if:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Your hard drive has already failed and you don’t have a recovery partition anymore</li>
  <li>You modified the partitions during a fresh cold boot Windows 10 install
<!--kg-card-begin: markdown--></li>
</ul>

<p><mark>Once you have the software running you should make your backup media</mark></p>

<!--kg-card-end: markdown-->]]></content><author><name>Tom Howson</name></author><category term="Packard Bell" /><category term="Laptop" /><category term="Windows Repair" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[I was given an old Packard Bell EasyNote laptop by a family member they wanted recycling. On closer inspection while over 9 years old and on Windows 7 the machine ran fairly well. Reusing some old RAM to uplift it to 4GB and a Windows 10 Pro license I had spare I was able to to turn it into low powered spare laptop.]]></summary><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://howson.me/assets/2019/12/packardbell.jpg" /><media:content medium="image" url="https://howson.me/assets/2019/12/packardbell.jpg" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" /></entry></feed>