Intel Rapid Storage Technology - Intel Smart Response Technology Problems and Solutions Unable to Activate Acceletate

Intel Rapid Storage Technology
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/rapid-storage-technology.html

This should be the reason why you had bought your Z series or other high end motherboard. If not, then you might be under utilizing it. This group of technology had evolved into many complex functions which I might talk about in the future when I have time. Today I want to talk about one particular expects of it. Smart Response Technology.

For a readup, here is the official site:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/smart-response-technology.html

In English, its just the use of SSD to cache your HDD whether the SSD is build in or a separate one.
Let's see that is the requirement to have this feature:

1. SSD free space (unpartitioned) 16GB-64GB (MAX, Intel had determine anything more than 64GB is not effective)
2. HDD (whether OS is on it is optional, do not believe the BS that tells you that OS MUST be on a HDD)
3. Intel chipset Z68, Z87, Q87, H87, Z77, Q77, H77 motherboard.
4. Intel RST Software installed. (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=intel%C2%AE+rapid+storage+technology+%28intel%C2%AE+rst%29)
5. BOTH SSD and HDD must be plug into the Intel SATA clot, not the 3rd party ones. You can verify this when you
6. At least 2MB of unallocated space on your HDD.

I am not going to write a set up guide, but link to one instead:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032826.htm

Most people either had partioned the SSD or simply plug into the wrong SATA port which make the installation failed. For those who could not activate SRT because there is no Accelerate button. TAKE NOTE OF POINT 6 above! Somehow Intel need some space (2M on mine.,. but I suspect it may varies depending on your HDD). Simple shrink your partition and expand it again later.

Happy SSDing...

Rooting Xiaomi Mi Pad and Installing Google Play Store!

The Xiaomi Mi Pad is a power tablet that can rival the Nexus and even Nvidia Shield itself as it is build upon the Tegra K1 chipset as well. However, rooting it and installing Google Play is slightly more than trivial if you do not know where to look.

Firstly, before we even start about Rooting. THE XIAOMI MI PAD OFFICIAL STABLE ROM IS NOT ROOTABLE! Yes, the stable is fully patched and there is no way to root it (and make it stable) as proven by many who tried including myself.

Now, you will see many articles teaching to install Vroot etc on your PC to root this. BUT do note that Vroot is detected as malware (probably because of the rooting codes) by many AV products. And whether it does contain anything malicious, that is entirely another topic. But I guess its safe to say we want to avoid installing anything if possible. And that is why you are reading this. :)

So this article is going to provide you a way to Root your Mi Pad without installing anything on your PC. BUT still it means you will need to be on one of the developer ROM. And there is NO INTERNATIONAL version of the Developer ROM. What is the difference? See this:

STABLE ROM

• International - Comes with Google Play
• China - No Google Play

DEVELOPER ROM

• China - No Google Play

I think by now you know why we are even talking about Google Play in this article. Because if you are going to root it, you will need to be on a Developer ROM and you are going to lose Google Play if you come from an International ROM.

You can of course download the official Developer ROM from Xiaomi. But then you will need to find a matching Google Play what works with it. I decide to give you at least something that I tried and claim that it will work. Here is the Developer ROM I based on:

https://mega.co.nz/#!eQ1TUJLQ!AcmWKgVOD1DNqKgS9oby6xs7ieQoBlRP4x-uID95pNk

Now just flash this using the build in Updater. Nothing fancy. And get used to the Updater, you are going to use it at least one more time!

Next, after on the Developer ROM and rebooting a few time to make sure everything is stable (so that we can avoid blaming the rooting and all for something that already exist on the default ROM). Let's start Rooting... No wait. To be able to Root, you cannot use the default Bootloader. So I had chosen to use the CWM since I prefer that than TWRP since I had some screw up with it.

https://mega.co.nz/#!bVkSDBLQ!gJYdBgUOrIDxThx6WwuC8oVGgD74wgQwyRDnQyART84

Put this onto your Mi Pad and.... No wait... Listen to me and your save yourself a few plugin and out with your cable.

Download the Root Package :

https://mega.co.nz/#!OJlHgJiD!yIg9UoQH4801pyz7YVPX6vd80jhW4UR3wM-ORnG7ync

Download the Google Play Package. Well you can ignore this if you prefer not to use Google Play.

https://mega.co.nz/#!CYc0gDrT!vo5wX57EU3LJKwcaMeFyBmMCRunWcFUPOlVsNhtLOTk

Put these 2 into the root of your Mi Pad (preferable on your SD Card if you need to re-use it again...)

OK, now you are ready to go to the Updater again. Select to flash a update and choose the CWM Package. It will reboot... If you are fast enough, hold Volume +, if not, reboot again to recovery anyway.

In CWM, choose to flash ZIP. Now you can select the Root Package. And if you want Google Play, flash that in after the Root. NEXT, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. And is the reason why 90% of the rooting and flashing screwed up. GO TO ADVANCE AND CLEAR DAVIK CACHE!

Now you can reboot, and accept the few prompts with Yes. Your Mi Pad should boot up nicely without any error about Google Service failing etc. If you do, its likely you screwed up on the flashing, but you can easily repeat it.

Well, that's all and although it sound so simple, I had bricked and crashed at least a dozen times with different configurations and packages, so I had decided to save your the trouble. Leave some comments and tell me how it works for you!  

Mcafee vs Mcafee aka Error 12152 vs the Internet

Today, I am going to tell you a joke. Well, seriously I find it funny. There is this quite clumsy web proxy product from Mcafee call "Webwasher" (or Web Gateway as what it is called today) which more or less prevents direct downloading of most binaries, thus crippling most web storage as well as even Windows Play Store itself. This is the product information:

http://www.mcafee.com/sg/products/web-gateway.aspx

And which other product is the most well known from Mcafee? Yes, Viruscan or Internet Security:

http://home.mcafee.com/store/packagedetail.aspx?pkgid=272

As the days of media evolves... think is long forgotten. I recalled "buying" my viruscan DOS update from computer shops before BBS got popular, then there were diskette... and later CDs and so on... Now, guess what? You can no longer install Mcafee Internet Security from a media. You will need to download it via the "web installer". And I am not bullshitting this, read this:

http://service.mcafee.com/faqdocument.aspx?id=TS100407 

Normally, I would see other product introducing the offline installer here. But not for Mcafee.

Well, I promise you a joke, so here it is. Why do you think I need an offline installer? Yes, its well thanks to Mcafee Web Gateway! The very product that is stopping me from Mcafee Internet Security is from Mcafee! And to make it worse, it is not even listed as an incompatible product here:

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?lc=1033&id=TS101083

Well, it was a good laugh and I guess gave me the perfect reason to say "No" to Mcafee and move on. Well in case you are still wondering if the CD does exist, I would say... "Maybe.." Try asking the local store for the box version and shake it real hard... If it sound like there is a CD inside... you mayb be in luck, but I am skeptical.

Domain Name Change

The previous domain for this blog :

http://blog.winston-avalon.com

is not longer working and has been replace with :

http://www.winstonavalon.com

Please update your links and bookmark accordingly.

Thanks.