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Installing, Configuring and Using Raspberry Pi as a Torrent Downloading Server

BitTorrent is without a doubt the most popular file-sharing method out there, Peer-2-Peer (P2P) torrent downloading requires a computer which runs a torrent downloading client to fetch content from other users sharing it. Torrent downloading can be slow as speeds depends on swarm sharing the content, this means you need to have your computer powered-on consuming electricity. Luckily, we can now use our ultra-cheap Raspberry Pi to get the job done 24x7 - consuming just 5w of power.

After completing the basic setup of the Raspberry Pi, networking it to internet, attaching an external HDD and configuring it to work as an Network Attached Storage (NAS) we all all set to install the cross-platform Transmission Torrent Client of the RasPi to get our cheap seedbox working.

Transmission torrent cleint web-interface from Raspberry Pi

Solution to Windows XP inability of connecting to WPA and WPA2 encrypted Wi-Fi Networks

While Microsoft Windows 7 is the mainstream Windows OS in use now, people still prefer and use Windows XP. I recently came across an Windows XP specific issue, where the computer detected security enabled WiFi networks but failed to connect with them as shown below.

Wifi error

As evident from the error message above and pretty descriptive error-icon shown below, Windows XP SP2 is having issues trying to negotiate security certificate. To fix this, enabling WPA and WPA2 encryption support on Windows XP in Wireless Group Policy (WGP) we need to install KB917021 update from Microsoft.

XP WPA2

How to update the Raspberry Pi firmware

The Raspberry Pi software can be divided into three core components - the closed-source GPU firmware, the modified ARM Linux Kernel (which controls how the CPU is utilized) and the software installed by the user. The GPU firmware and Kernel are regularly updated by the RasPi core team to fine-tune stability and performance of the little computer. Here is a simple utility to download and install these firmware and kernel updates in an automatic, user-friendly manner.

RasPi Maintenance

How to shutdown and reboot the Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi does not feature an power on/off button, if it's receiving power it's ON and if not OFF. However, it is required to do a graceful shutdown or reboot as to prevent any operating-system corruption. Rebooting and Shutting down Raspberry Pi can easily be achieved by using "sudo reboot" (sudo if not using the root account) and "sudo shutdown -hP now" at the terminal. These commands can also be used over SSH terminal if you are running your RasPi headless (without a screen attached) or remotely over network.

sudo shutdown -hP now at RasPi terminal

Free one year subscription of BullGuard Mobile Backup 12

Our mobile phones contain important data - be it our phone-book, pictures, videos or other documents. Things can get really messy in-case of a lost or non-working phone, and online mobile backup services are the answer to this problem.

BullGuard Mobile Backup 12 is one such handy service, the utility is supported on all major mobile operating-systems - Apple iOS, Google Android and Nokia Symbian. The subscription based service offers seamless, encrypted, automated and hassle-free mobile data backup in the cloud with web-access. Best of all - it supports seamless data migration between two different devices.

BullGuard Mobile Backup 12 is now available for free (2GB Plan) for 12 months under a limited quantity promotion, just follow the instructions and grab your own online mobile backup account for free.

Bulldog Mobile Backup

Easiest method to setup Wi-Fi connectivity on Raspberry Pi

After initial setup of the Raspberry Pi, it's time for an internet connection. While using Internet over Ethernet is just plug-n-play business on Raspberry Pi, setting-up an Wireless connection takes a little more effort.

To get started with WiFi, first we need to connect an supported USB WiFi dongle to the Pi. Make sure you are using an Powered USB Hub (shown in the picture below) as Raspberry Pi is not able to reliable power multiple USB devices, follow the instructions next to configure your WiFi dongle on the Pi.

Raspberry Pi WiFi Connection Setup

MiniTool Partition Wizard - Powerful free partition manager with advanced features and EXT4 filesystem support

We have shared quite a few good Partition Managers for Windows like Paragon Hard Disk Manager, AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro and EASEUS Partition Master Professional, all of which were free under a promo for a limited period only. However, MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition is a much powerful and advanced utility for the job and is absolutely free.

MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition is a free partition manager software supporting Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 (32/64bit). Main features include - resizing partitions, Copying partitions, Create partition, Extend Partition, Split Partition, Delete partition, Format partition, Convert partition, Explore partition, Hide partition, Change drive letter, Set active partition, Partition Recovery.

MiniTool Partition Wizard

The software also features the ability to format partitions in popular Linux filesystem ext4 (3/2/1), this feature is missing in majority of the other Windows based partition managers.

How to check carrier network lock status on your Samsung Galaxy S, S2 and S3 cellphone

Exactly same cellphone handsets are available in market as an carrier-locked contract bound device and as an fully unlocked sim-lock free version. If you like to know the lock status of your Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S2 or Galaxy S3 - just type-in the "special secret code" as demonstrated ahead.

Network Locked
This is just one of the many helpful tips we have posted, You can find more stories here,
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