How to create and use LUKS encrypted partition in Linux

It is easy to create a LUKS container and a partition within it, using the GUI on Linux. The application that enables this easily is the gnome-disk-utility. However, if you want to use the command line to set up a LUKS encrypted device, read on. Exercise appropriate caution before doing any of the below with … Continue reading How to create and use LUKS encrypted partition in Linux →

How to securely wipe a hard drive or USB drive in Linux using dd or scrub

Normally we'd use dd to clean wipe a hard drive as follows after opening a terminal window for a hard disk or USB drive accessible as /dev/sdb :$ sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdb status=progress <enter> Another command to do a secure wipe of /dev/sdb is scrub that can be used as follows:$ sudo scrub -p dod … Continue reading How to securely wipe a hard drive or USB drive in Linux using dd or scrub →

How to enable the UEFI in VirtualBox for a Windows 10 virtual machine running on Linux

This is for those who missed checking the UEFI checkbox in the settings prior to installing Windows 10 in VirtualBox. Do the below at your own risk, take appropriate backup, First, check and confirm if BIOS Mode is Legacy, which means MBR is the partition and not GPT. To do this, press Windows+R and run:msinfo32.msc … Continue reading How to enable the UEFI in VirtualBox for a Windows 10 virtual machine running on Linux →

Dell Support Experience to order and replace laptop battery

This is based on the experience of one of my family with Dell Support whose Dell Inspiron uses a 3 cell 4.1V 3500 mAH Li-ion battery - part number FW8KR11. This was confirmed in Linux using dmidecode. Open a terminal window and enter the command below.$ sudo dmidecode <enter>Portable BatteryLocation: Sys. Battery BayManufacturer: BYDManufacture Date: … Continue reading Dell Support Experience to order and replace laptop battery →

How to increase font size of menus, lists in Spotify in Linux

To scale the font size of Spotify on Linux, open a terminal window and enter the following command.$ spotify --force-device-scale-factor=1.5 <enter> You will find that spotify menus are now bigger and more readable. To make them scale permanently whenever Spotify starts, create a desktop shortcut and put the scaling factor in the desktop file. $ … Continue reading How to increase font size of menus, lists in Spotify in Linux →

Dell Inspiron 5570 laptop too slow with Windows 11. Upgrade to M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD

After upgrading the Dell Inspiron 5570 laptop to Windows 11, the big problem is the speed of the laptop. It deteriorates to the extent that it takes almost 5 minutes to boot. Each click on the desktop to open an app takes almost 30 seconds. With this performance, the laptop is virtually useless. The laptop … Continue reading Dell Inspiron 5570 laptop too slow with Windows 11. Upgrade to M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD →

Experience with upgrade of RAM memory on Dell Inspiron 5580 and Dell Inspiron 5570 laptops

If you are one of those who run Virtual Box and use any other OS in it, then the base memory of the Dell Inspiron 5580 of 8 gb DDR4 RAM and an NVME PCIe SSD will still not give near good performance of Windows or the other OS in Virtual Box. The simplest solution … Continue reading Experience with upgrade of RAM memory on Dell Inspiron 5580 and Dell Inspiron 5570 laptops →

How to report battery issue to Dell using SupportAssist Diagnostics if you use Linux

Dell has an application SupportAssist on the laptops it sells. To them, this is their bible about the information on your laptop. Any issue reported to Dell, ends up with technical support staff who ask to run SupportAssist first thing. On a Linux machine, SupportAssist will not work, even in a virtual machine. To overcome … Continue reading How to report battery issue to Dell using SupportAssist Diagnostics if you use Linux →

Upgrade RAM on a Dell Inspiron 5580 laptop

The easiest way to do this is to visit the Crucial site, and scan the computer if you use Windows. However, on Linux, find out details about the RAM installed open a terminal window and enter :$ sudo dmidecode | more <enter> And scroll through the list till you get to the DIMM block. Here … Continue reading Upgrade RAM on a Dell Inspiron 5580 laptop →

How to check the audio type in a video file

To check the type of audio stream in a video file on Linux, open a terminal use ffprobe. $ ffprobe aaa.avi <enter> This lists out the properties of audio file.