New HDD for ThinkPad X31

My note PC is a customized model of ThinkPad X31.
When I bought it, I thought 30GB(default) was enough, but soon
I regretted. My mail box is now about 3GB, photo folder is
about 1.5GB, and VMWare disk are huge. :(
Thus, I bought an 80GB Hitachi Travelstar 5K80(HTS548080M9AT00) today.

It's easy to migrate the whole data using RRRR (Rescue and Recovery - Rapid Restore). But, in case of ThinkPad X31 the recovery data is stored in a hidden area called HPA, and it took time retrieve that
from the old HDD. My problem was that after taking a system backup
using RRRR, I couldn't run the pre-boot recovery program by pressing
the "Access IBM" blue button which is needed to access the HPA area.
After struggling some time, I succeeded to retrieve the HPA data like
the following:

1) Create a bootable CD of RRRR.
2) Install the old HDD again.
3) Ask to restore the system to the initial shipped status.
4) Interrupt the system restoration process by pressing F4.
5) Format C: so that I can save content of the HPA area
about 3.5GB.
6) Use 'FWRESTORE' stored in a:\recovery like,
fwrestore -file imgset c:

Here, ThinkPad X31 uses a utility called FirstWare by
Phoenix, and the HPA area is hidden by the Phoenix BIOS.
That means the area doesn't have a partition table entry.

I can understand the choice of IBM engineers, but I don't like it. :(

Oops...

My car's Battery died.
What is worse, I had to return to my home town today. :(
I didn't imagine that I got on Shinkansen this week too
in addition to the last week. :(
But, anyway it'd be better to consider buying a new car
cause it's almost 7 years old.

Nobel Prize, 2004

I studied quark confinement mechanism when I was a graduate student.
The phenomenon is described by a theory of physics called QCD:
Quantum Chromo Dynamics. Chromo comes from the central idea of QCD that
quarks have a property similar to color, RGB, and they can be observed
only in a conbination state in 'white'. This means only conbinations
of three colors, blue, green and red, or two complimentary colors
can be observed.

Three scientist who founded QCD received the Nobel Prize this year,
and I was deeply concerned with their beeing awarded the prize.

Connecting two VMware guests

October 05, 2004

I didn't know that two VMware guests can be connected by virtual serial line connection on top of Windows named pipe.
Foremerly, I tried to debug a 2.6 kernel using kgdb over ethernet connection, but failed. I should have read the manual carefully. :(

Now, I'm re-building the kernel looking forward to kernel debugging
that on my note-pc. :)

I'm feeling Lucky! :o)

JAL Oto Butai

Tonight JAL Oto Butai was an impressive TV program.
(Sorry, the URL seems to be available only in Japanese.)
Here, JAL is Japan Air Lines, just its sponsor. "Oto" means "Sound" and "Butai" is "Theater" in Japanese.

This show began in 1989, and it's 17th show since then.
It's a collaboration of eastern and western culture, especially music and play. Usually each show has some particular theme as a feature.
Also its "theater" is unique. Every year another temple is chosen, and
the theater of this year was "Yakushi-ji".

The theme of this time was a story of a chinese monk who went to India in order to get Buddhist scriptures. (if you are a Japanese, it's "Sai Yu Ki").
Thus, it makes sense that "12 Girls Band" was choosen as one of the featured artists.
Their peformance reminded me of their "Reel Around the Sun" and
River Dance company's one night special show at Sengaku-ji temple.
Actually, I was wondering about a collaboration of 12 Girls Band and
River Dance company at a Japanese temple. It must be incredible. :)