Recent posts

#11

Support / Re: can't upgrade Mint 21 to 2...

Last post by buster - March 30, 2026, 11:46:02 AM

I'm assuming this still works Mike.

When you use partitions, at an early point in the install you will get a page that shows your partitions. Beside each will be the option to format the partition before the install.

/ should be fresh and clean so you click 'format'
/home has things like bookmarks and some data so select 'don't format'
swap I suspect doesn't matter one way or another but I always selected 'format'

I haven't done this for awhile since I've always managed to upgrade my Mint since the last time I did it.
.

#12

Support / Re: can't upgrade Mint 21 to 2...

Last post by fox - March 30, 2026, 07:03:21 AM

I already did a fresh install the usual way (one partition). In my case, I don't actually use Mint (I just play with it), and I didn't have much in my /Home folder. One thing I did have that I like to maintain is an old stats program that requires a lot of 32 bit libraries, and the app resides in my /Home folder. I just copied the files for it from my old Mint partition that wouldn't update, and then added the libraries until it worked in the new partition. I copied a few other things over and then destroyed the old partition.

I'm curious how you did the install without formatting /home.

[The secret is not to allow it to format /home during the install.]

#13

Support / Re: can't upgrade Mint 21 to 2...

Last post by buster - March 29, 2026, 06:39:36 PM

Bill, Mike and any other readers who are doing a Mint fresh install: 

I'd strongly suggest before you do a fresh install of Mint that you seriously consider doing an old fashioned 3 partitions of /, /home, and swap.

The HUGE advantage of this, or at least has been so far, is that you can do a subsequent 'fresh install' over top of it and retain much of your data that sits in your /home. You'll maybe still have to reinstall your email and browser and a few other programs but then maybe not if it's what Mint gives you anyway.

The secret is not to allow it to format /home during the install. I have done this before and so far it has worked. Nothing lost if it doesn't work

I am not the only one in the club that does this, and over the years I'd guess I've done it 3 times.

#14

Security and Privacy / LastPass password security bre...

Last post by ssfc72 - March 26, 2026, 03:20:30 PM

https://dailyhive.com/canada/settlement-lastpass-class-action-lawsuit-canada

File your Class Action claim before June 23 2026.

A Class Action lawsuit in Canada, has now been settled and a payment of up to $500 may be available 

#15

General Discussion / Re: Three words could save you...

Last post by ssfc72 - March 26, 2026, 09:19:25 AM

It is 4 X 2.7 X 2.3" in size and weighs around 1 lb and covers 8 HF Bands. It is labelled a QRP transceiver which mean it is low output power usually around 5 Watts.

You can get smaller QRP transceivers but they usually only transmit on a single HF Band and usually need a separate 12 volt power supply.

#16

Linux Applications & Android apps / Re: Income Tax programs for th...

Last post by Jason - March 24, 2026, 10:45:16 PM

I've used it for a couple of years. Love the price! I used to be able to do it for free with TurboTax because of low income. But the maximum was $20,000/year so as soon as we moved beyond it, it was going to be $20 or something.

The option to do your taxes directly through CRA over the phone is back, too. It's only for simple tax situations.

#17

General Discussion / Re: Three words could save you...

Last post by Jason - March 24, 2026, 10:40:09 PM

For Amateur Radio operators like myself, I have a very small, low power, tranceiver which has a built in 12 litium battery that I could send out a Help call, on the HF bands.
I would have to be not injured too much, so that I could string up a wire for  the antennae.

How small is it exactly?

#18

General Discussion / Re: Three words could save you...

Last post by Jason - March 24, 2026, 10:39:42 PM

Actually, I just discovered that I might be covered, even if no cell tower signal is available. An iPhone 14 or later can make emergency calls or texts outside of cellular range via Emergency SOS via satellite. By pointing the phone at the sky, you can connect to satellites to reach emergency services or text, provided you are in a supported region and you have a clear view of the sky. Neat eh?

Wow, I had no idea that was possible outside of a satellite phone. Is Emergency SOS what they call the feature? Wondering if that's only an iPhone feature or one that is available for other phones but called something else.

I guess soon I can't tell people that cellphones don't communicate with each other through satellites, at least not directly.

#19

Linux Applications & Android apps / Re: Income Tax programs for th...

Last post by ssfc72 - March 24, 2026, 09:23:33 AM

Yes, I can verify that MyTaxExpress does allow you to download all the Tax Slips, from the CRA, that they have received, for you.
I used the download last year and it worked fine.

Just a note, that the MyTaxExpress program file,  is an applimage, and you have to go into the settings for the file and turn on, making the file executable, to get the program to install.  The install of the program will then happen with no problems.

#20

Linux Applications & Android apps / Re: Income Tax programs for th...

Last post by fox - March 24, 2026, 07:38:48 AM

Apparently it does have direct import. According to the website: "Real CRA Tax Form/Slip Input
Directly input T3, T4, T5 and other tax slips into the tax return; Real CRA tax forms interface will help you master myTaxExpress quickly and easily." That's fantastic! I might use it next year just because it has a Linux version. And wow: a $6.99 price for one tax return is great. The $13.99 price for up to 10 returns is good too; comparable to the cost of TaxFreeway.