Smivs' OXPs and Oolite v1.80/1.82

[Smivs]

Wouldn't a variation of docking lights help?

Oh it has. It's got sequential landing lights, illuminated alignment markers, the lot. And it's still challenging! This is not going to be one for the impatient or cack-handed.

[Smivs]

It has come to my attention that I have made a complete mess of the file sizes in my OXZ manifests. These have now been put right. Sorry for any confusion etc.

It seems that there may be a problem with the way the manager is handling file sizes, so I cannot do anything to sort this out myself. Reading back elsewhere, I think the Devs are already aware, and I have started a new thread about this issue.

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along please.

In other news I have also realised that a couple of my ship OXZs are going to need a little update, as their custom HUDs have not been updated with the new 1.80 features. I'll sort that out very soon.

[Smivs]

Well, that's Contractor done now - v1.5 released yesterday with an updated HUD. Hopefully now fully v1.8 sorted.

The Contractor did have a poor identifier, and apologies for any problems caused by the change. While I was getting to grips with the whole OXZ thing I did give three or four of my OXZs identifiers which included the version number which was not a good idea at all as subsequent updates would have had one version number in the identifier, and another for the actual OXZ. Once corrected this problem will not occur again, and looking through my portfolio the only remaining one is CombatHUD, which I will correct on the next update. The widescreen version is OK, so it's just the standard one, and as mentioned, once sorted this problem will cease to exist.

Clippers also needs a HUD upgrade, which I have done, but I feel a graphics update is also in order for this one, as I want it to fit in more with the proposed Classic Gold shipset. This will involve a few changes to the existing texture, rather than a complete re-draw, so shouldn't take too long. I will also be adding normal and specular mapping to make them super-sexy on shadery computers.

In other news, testing of the new improved Giant Space Pizza is well underway and hopefully I can sign that off in a few days time and release it. As it is so close to completion this is currently my priority task. One addition I have made is the introduction of Safety Stewards patrolling around the Pizza. These will hail you as you approach, and will advise you to go to the Visitor Centre for a Health and Safety briefing if you have not done so, or will welcome you (and offer safety advice) if you have already been to the Visitor Centre before approaching the Pizza.

[Diziet Sma]

The Contractor did have a poor identifier, and apologies for any problems caused by the change. While I was getting to grips with the whole OXZ thing I did give three or four of my OXZs identifiers which included the version number which was not a good idea at all as subsequent updates would have had one version number in the identifier, and another for the actual OXZ.

Good point.. I've added a note to step 3 of the OXZ Guide to make this clearer.

[Smivs]

<nods>

[Smivs]

Phew! I'm all Pizza'd out! v3.0 of Giant Space Pizza is now available.

The Clippers update is going well also, and I only have the Python texturing to finish off, which shouldn't take too long, so expect a re-release in a week or so.

The Clippers release should mark the end of the first phase of my OXZ conversions. Xeptatl's Sword is going to be a massive job as much of the scripting needs updating, and as it is mostly Okti's work and he is absent I will need to tackle this myself There will therefore be a bit of a wait for this one I'm afraid. The good news is that I will shortly be starting on the new Classic Gold and Classic Light shipsets. Again, this is a big job so will take some time, but I will post updates from time to time.

[Smivs]

Computer meltdown!
My PSU has failed, so it will be a few days before I can resume work on the OXZs. Meanwhile I can happily go insane trying to live with this horrid single-core Windows machine

[Diziet Sma]

Bummer.. hopefully your machine will be back to life soon.

Meanwhile I can happily go insane trying to live with this horrid single-core Windows machine

Well.. there IS a cure for that, you know..

[Cody]

Computer meltdown! My PSU has failed...

Been there - at least it failed gently (I presume), rather than taking other components out with it?

[Smivs]

Things are looking grim on the computer front
I fitted the new power supply (an expensive upgrade rather than a straight swap) and the thing is still dead. It looks like the motherboard is most likely at fault, so I will need to think how best to approach this. I have been toying with building a new computer at some point in the future as I want a video capture card which needs a PCIe slot - the current computer only has one and that's occupied by the graphics card.
So do I just bite the bullet and do this (which won't be quick or cheap!), or do I look for a quicker, cheaper fix? This is one to sleep on I think.
Either way all my Oolite work is on hold for now. The hard drive should still be fine and thankfully I did a full back-up two days before the failure, so I won't have lost anything, so at least there is some good news.

[StathisR]

The last time i had a computer meltdown the culprit was the memory, so the fix was cheap. But i had to borrow the mainboard,CPU,PSU and memory from a friend to make the tests and see what was working.

[Smivs]

Well that's the thing, it could be just about anything! The computer did a few weird things prior to the failure (web page disappearing to be replaced by the email client on the desktop - back to the browser and it was fine with all tabs present except the one I was viewing, that sort of thing). Then one morning it just didn't power up. With the new PSU a green LED lights up on the motherboard when the PSU is switched on, but pressing the Big Blue button (start button) does nothing.
What does it all mean?!

[Cody]

How old is the HDD?

[Smivs]

How old is the HDD?

New. I replaced it fairly recently. I'm assuming it is OK.

[Cody]

Too many possibilities to diagnose via t'internet, methinks - is the mobo/CPU the oldest component?