Miscellaneous

  Misc: Changing the default TV launcher for TCL Smart (Google TV) TV (Model: P635) Step 1: Download and install your preferred TV launcher using Aptoide TV depository on your Smart TV up to your preference.   Step 2:  (a) On your smart TV (e.g. TCL P635), enable developers option (press on kernel version at least 7 times).   (b) Enable USB debugging (as well as network debugging if you have this option).   (c) Install adb & fastboot tools (i.e. from:-  https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools ).   // Connect to your Smart TV's IP address (d) ./adb connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx   // Make sure that your Smart TV's device can be seen (e)(i) ./adb devices   // Make sure that the default launcher is com.google.android.tungsten.setupwraith (e)(ii) ./adb shell cmd shortcut get-default-launcher   // Disable default launcher (Google TV) (f)   ./adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.tv.launcherx ./ ad...

Firefox Tips: Expand Youtube shorts to normal screen size   1) First method:- - Right click on mouse (on short), save youtube short's link - Place mouse pointer on Address bar (Firefox) & Paste and Go . 2) Second method:- - Add the sign " & " to the address bar (Firefox) & run it.

Firefox Tips: Remove All tabs icon from firefox bar   1) Goto about:config 2) Change to false :  browser.tabs.tabmanager.enabled  

Firefox Tips: Stop autoplay of video and audio on youtube   1) Do the following under:- a) about:config b)  media.autoplay.default = 5 [0:allow;1:blockAudible;2:Prompt;5:blockAll]     media.autoplay.blocking_policy = 2     media.autoplay.allow-extension-background-pages = false     media.autoplay.block-event.enabled = true (Note: Tested working under Firefox 103.0.2 / Linux Mint 20.3)

Linux Tips: Activate LED (Back lit) keyboard   // To enable LED lights on keyboard 1) At prompt: $ xset led 3   // To deactivate LED lights on keyboard 2) At prompt: $ xset led off // To prevent numlock keys from being deactivated (when using (at prompt):  $ xset 3  ) 3a) At prompt: $ xset 3 3b) At prompt: $ xset led off 3c) At prompt: $ xset 3 (Note: The above are tested working on Linux Mint 20.3)

Health Tips: To control gout flare up   1) Do not eat anything with medium or higher purine content   // This can prevent uric acid from going down to your feet 2) Bind your feet if you have gout flare up on your feet (flat of your feet/toes).  2a) You can purchase knee support to be used on your feet.

Linux Tips: Display targeted contents of all files on current directory   Part 1:-   // Just replace abcdefg with your required keywords // Just use the following command:   #  grep -rn . -e "abcdefg" Part 2:- // If you want the above contents to be transferred onto a file // Do the following:   # grep -rn . -e "" >files.txt Part 3:- // If you want the content on files.txt to be sorted // Do the following (using natural sort): # sort -V files.txt

  Health: Treatment for long covid (i.e. Covid 19)   1) If you have long covid,  with intermitent and recurring fever, do the following:   a) Boil an egg until the egg is really hard b) Rub the (hot) egg (with the egg shell intact) on the chest and other body parts that are feverish c) Remove the shell from the egg & you should see that there is vapour on the egg white d) Crack open the egg until you see the egg yolk. There should not be any discolorisation on the egg yolk

Linux Tips: Restart Cinnamon (Windows Manager)   Try the following: 1a) Press:-  CTRL + ALT + ESC   or  2a) Press:-  ALT + F2   2b) When dialogue box appears, enter:- r  

Firefox Tips: Performance issues on Youtube 1) Goto:-   about:config 2) Set to TRUE  layers.acceleration.force-enabled webgl.force-enabled media.hardware-video-decoding.force-enabled

Linux tips: To safely remove DKMS module   1a) Under Ubuntu, if you run:- # dkms status // And you get:   abcdef : added (but you can't remove the dkms using (e.g):- // sudo dkms uninstall DKMSmodule/1.2.34  // or if you encounter 1b)  DKMS tree already contains: DKMSmodule // when you try to install a DKMS module. 2) Do the below: # cd /var/lib/dkms/ // look for your DKMSmodule // remove the DKMSmodule directory 3) Update the dependencies:- # /sbin/depmod -a

Firefox tips: Disable javascript in embedded pdf on Firefox   1)  Under Firefox (tested on Firefox version 88) :-  about:config   2)  Set:-  pdfjs.enableScripting > false

Linux tips: Display Grub menu at boot   // Works on Linux Mint 20.1 Step 1:  Edit /etc/default/grub   Step 2:  // Comment out the following # GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE="hidden" Step 3: # update-grub Step 4: Reboot // Additional: To check out further instructions on grub use: # info -f grub

Linux tips: Modify GRUB bootloader timeout (Linux Mint 20.1)   1) Edit:- /etc/default/grub 2) Modify grub file: // Timeout of 3 seconds // Note: Value of 0 means 10 seconds GRUB_TIMEOUT=3 3) Run :- sudo update-grub 4) Reboot

 Linux tips: Set default sound card using Pulse Audio   1) Check list of Sources:- #  pactl list short sources 2    alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor    module-alsa-card.c    s16le 2ch 48000Hz    RUNNING 3    alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo    module-alsa-card.c    s16le 2ch 44100Hz    RUNNING // Set default source #  pactl set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo   2) Check list of Inputs:- #  pactl list short sinks 2    alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo    module-alsa-card.c    s16le 2ch 48000Hz    IDLE // Set default input/sink # pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo ================================================== Or use this method (Tested working on Linux Mint 20.1): a)  Run the follow...

 Linux tips: Update openssl on Linux Mint 18.3   1)  Download the openssl source from:- https://www.openssl.org/source/openssl-1.1.1i.tar.gz (Note: Compare the checksum if you want) 2) Open the downloade file: # tar xvzf openssl-1.1.1i.tar.gz   3) Goto the openssl source directory & proceed:- # ./config # make # make test   // backup original openssl binary # cp /usr/bin/openssl /usr/bin/openssl.backup   # make install # ln -s /usr/local/bin/openssl /usr/bin/openssl   // update symlinks & rebuild library cache  // if necessary:-  // export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/local/lib" // ln -s /etc/ssl/certs /usr/local/ssl/ # sudo ldconfig  // check version # openssl version

  Linux tips: Update kernel manually (Linux Mint 18.3)   1) Goto:- https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/ 2) Look for your desired kernel :- https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.18/amd64/ 3) Download these kernels:- linux-headers-VERSION-NUMBER_all.deb linux-headers-VERSION-NUMBER_amd64.deb linux-image-VERSION-NUMBER_amd64.deb linux-modules-VERSION-NUMBER_amd64.deb (i.e:   a) linux-headers-5.8.18-050818-generic_5.8.18-050818.202011011237_amd64.deb b) linux-headers-5.8.18-050818_5.8.18-050818.202011011237_all.deb c) linux-image-unsigned-5.8.18-050818-generic_5.8.18-050818.202011011237_amd64.deb   d) linux-modules-5.8.18-050818-generic_5.8.18-050818.202011011237_amd64.deb )   4) Compare checksums of downloaded kernels with CHECKSUMS file (on website):- # sha256sum linux-* 5) Install downloaded kernel files:- # sudo dpkg -i *.deb   6) Reboot.  Extra:- 7) If you want to remove the newly installed kernels (using root):- # dpkg ...

Firefox tips: Turn on hardware video acceleration 1) Goto (firefox browser) :- about:config 2) Set :- layers.acceleration.force-enabled = true

Health: Growing taller 1) If your growth plates have yet to close, drinking milk with honey (before you sleep) may help, if you want to be taller.

Health: Reversal of signs of aging by diluting blood plasma 1) Replacing half of blood plasma with mixture of saline and albumin (i.e. to replace lost protein when half of blood plasma is removed) has shown strong rejuvenation effects on the brain, liver and muscle.