Friday, May 27, 2016

Windows 7 will not let you span a window across multiple monitors, it always snaps it instead

Problem:  Windows will not let you span a window across multiple monitors.  If you try, it will always "snap" the window to a single monitor.

While this can be handy in some instances, it actively prevents you from stretching a window across multiple monitors.  There are lots of reasons why you would want to do this.

Solution:  You may be using an AMD graphics card driver that uses the Catalyst Pro Control Center.  If so, go to Catalyst Pro Control Center / Hydravision and check "Allow spanning across displays" in the Extended Display Window Control section.

Aside from that, I do not know.  Check your graphics card drivers along with any desktop managers you might be using to see if there is a similar feature preventing window spanning.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Samsung CLP-365W prints cyan as salmon

Problem:  Printer does not print cyan properly.

Fix:  The cyan toner cartridge is probably just a little bit out of place.  Open the printer up, remove the cyan cartridge, and replace.  Push hard to ensure the cartridge is fully seated.  Sometimes it sticks just 1mm out of place.

Probably works for other cartridges / colors / printers as well.

Fix for Samsung CLP-365W waste tank full error

1.  Open printer.
2.  Remove toner cartridges.
3.  Find the waste tank at the left side.
4.  Remove by pulling straight out.
5.  Dump out the tank.  (Obviously very messy, best done in a garage.)
6.  Blow out the tank with air or Dust-Off.  (Obviously very messy, best done outside.)
7.  Check that the clear lenses on the side of the tank seem reasonably clean.  If not, blow off again.
8.  Replace tank and cartridges.
9.  Done!  

Don't snort the toner.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Active (fan) heat sink for WLToys L959 / L969

Photos of a heatsink with fan on an L969.  L959 buggy should be similar.

The heatsink is available from Banggood here.  I'm not going to say it makes a difference since I have not tested it.  However, the heatsinks alone seem to do a poor job because none of them fit the motor tightly enough and they tend to move / get loose.  As the motors get damn hot, and as I've already been sidelined once due to a burned-out motor, I think the fan is probably a good idea to stretch motor life.

Note the stock motor cover may not fit with this heat sink in place.  (I don't think the cover does anything anyway.)








I could not find an appropriate tee / Y-adapter that had the correct plugs to connect the JST-plug fan to the T-plug battery of the L969.  You can easily make one by splicing some T connector harnesses and JST connector harnesses together.  I had bought a bunch of charging adapter cables and so had all the parts lying around anyway.

With this style of harness, the fan is on whenever the battery is plugged in, which IMHO is not a terribly bad thing.  For example, it keeps the fan running even if the car is not moving or if the low-battery cutout operates, helping to cool down a hot motor.