The Wiert Corner – irregular stream of stuff

Jeroen W. Pluimers on .NET, C#, Delphi, databases, and personal interests

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Archive for July, 2025

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Dell 3060/5060/7060 Micro optional video boards

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/07

It was pretty hard to find any model/part-number information on optional video boards for the Dell 3060/5060/7060 Micro series (also known as Regulatory Model D10U and Regulatory Type D10U003).

These models by default had HDMI (version 1.4) and full-size DisplayPort (version 1.2) and additionally could ship with these configurations:

  • no optional video port
  • optional VGA port
  • optional HDMI 2.0b port (which unlike HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 supports HDR10)
  • optional DisplayPort 1.2 port
  • optional USB–Type C Alt Mode (Alternate Mode)

There was (seems not available any more) a serial port (:

Further below are some links I found, but first a ink to a good post on differences between 3060/5060/5070:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Dell Optiplex 3060/5060/7060 Micro, Development, Hardware, Hardware Interfacing, HDMI, Power User | Leave a Comment »

BMW E61 tailgate: Number Plate light Right Failure

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/04

Some links, just in case it wasn’t a simple broken lightbulb, especially as I also got an intermittent error/fault on one of the rear fog lights (which the British call demisters):

  • [WaybackSave/Archive] BMW E61 number plate bulb for sale online at low cost and fair price on AUTODOC UK

    OSRAM C5W Bulb, licence plate light 12V 5W 35 mm, C5W, SV8.5-8

    Note that some indicate 10W, but I am pretty sure it is a 5W bulb.

  • [Wayback/Archive] 2005 530i E61 Touring – Number Plate Bulb Failure Warning… | BMW Forums : BimmerForums

    Very familiar problem with the touring wiring at the hinge point. I have done mine twice now seems to last 3 or4 years but it is not a difficult issue to repair the wires and at almost no cost except your time. Just follow the several historical threads on the forum.

    …

    On Ebay there are people that do wiring kits for this sort of job, that use silicone wires, which should last the life of the car – at quite reasonable prices. Breaks in the various wires in the tailgate can give a multitude of faults – with the locking, rear wiper, lights, remote locking, rear glass lock and rear demister – and as you have found – reversing lights!

  • [Wayback/Archive] Number Plate light Right Failure / Tailgate wiring new – 5Series.net – Forums

    After changing the tailgate wiring (every wire soldered + heatshrink)I still have the number Plate light Right Failure
    Checked the wire from the original wire (next to the speaker) and no juice when lights are on or not

    Forgot to mention! I did try and change the bulb already :-)

    …

    All wires now repaired but no juice from the +ve wire for the L/H numberplate bulb holder. The bulb failure message is now getting really annoying!
    I had to piggyback off the R/H light to pass the MOT test.

    Could the fault be now up front in the back of the fuse box? I can’t see how that could be though.

    …

    I have been trying to fix this issue for days, no broken wires, no burnt terminals, all new bulbs, absolutely baffled.
    MOT due this week so a quick fix had to be presented.

    Method: take a single wire from any cable, I used a broken extension lead and took one of the three wires out, I threaded this through the car from the tail light, up behind the plastics in to the roof, through the speaker frame and down the shell of the tail gate, connect/solder one end to the tail light (top side), and the other to the right hand reg plate light to the end opposite the wire side.

    both reg plate lights will work and so will the right side rear fog lamp, how?? I don’t know it just does…

    If anyone can pin point this fault for a proper fix I would greatly appreciate the knowledge being shared.

    …

    I’ve heard several instances where the wires were broken in multiple places.

    …

    The previous repair was done about 2 years ago so it seems plausible for a new failure point. Once I get some time I’ll dig in it.

    …

  • [Wayback/Archive] driver side license plate light not working – 5Series.net – Forums

    You need a diagnostic cable and INPA or DIS to clear the fault code from the LCM – if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to use Tool32.

    …

    One that I found is that when I put a light tester to the gray/brown wire that should be the positive wire it actually has a negative output coming from it. Doesn’t make sense because that wire should be positive, NOT negative. But if I unplug the light socket from the plug , it no longer is negative.

    …

    Yes exactly that – if the wires were actually touching and shorting each other, the light module would have disabled that circuit if it happens 10 times in a row. Make sure the problem is properly fixed before resetting it, I think you can only reset it 4 times before it permanently stores the fault code.

    Look up the colours in WDS if you want, brown is ground in the headlights of my car…

    …

    THANK YOU sanjsanj I was able to fix my problem. I was able to clear the line that was short circuited using Toolset32 and now my license plate lights all work again.

  • [Wayback/Archive] can’t locate fuse for license plate lights

    The license plate lights (and other lights) receive power from the light module. It’s listed as fuses which is a 5A fuse, and whic is a 25A fuse. AFAIK, more than just your license plate lights should be out if this fuse is busted.

  • [Wayback/Archive] license plate bulb – 5Series.net – Forums

    The whole housing can be removed by inserting a flat-head screw driver into the gap provided and pushing the screw driver to the right, (DO NOT TILT the screw driver, PUSH as when you want to push the housing to the right) Then it will pop right out.
    After the housing is removed, you can replace the bulb easily.

    P.S. : I tilted the screw driver when I did mine and broke both housings… Luckily I purchase the whole housing LED replacements. I learned from my experience and replaced my friend’s without a problem.

Queries:

--jeroen

Posted in cars, E61 530xd touring, LifeHacker, Power User | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

VISA payments needed JavaScript enabled for https://secure5.arcot.com/

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/04

While paying with VISA card for some services, I had to explicitly enable JavaScript for the https://secure5.arcot.com/ domain which looks suspicious and is titled [Wayback/Archive] location.hostname

Screenshot: This is Arcot Secure Services This is the Arcot OBO verified by visa service Please visit visa website for more details

Before I enabled JavaScript for it, I did some querying around as at first it looked like a man-in-the-middle-attack. I wasn’t the only one, as this was going on since 2013 (but I didn’t notice it earlier as I only disabled JavaScript for most sites in 2022): [Wayback/Archive] Verified by Visa and arcot.com function like a man-in-the middle attack – Jason Pearce (found via [Wayback/Archive] arcot obo – Google Search)

JavaScript there is needed so VISA card can use Arcot to be the intermediate between VISA and the web-site:

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Posted in Power User, Security | Leave a Comment »

GitHub – PascalCorpsman/FPC_DOOM: FPC Port of DOOM

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/03

Indeed: DOOM in Pascal. Not Delphi: Free Pascal.

Repository: [Wayback/Archive] GitHub – PascalCorpsman/FPC_DOOM: FPC Port of DOOM

It is based on [Wayback/Archive] GitHub – fabiangreffrath/crispy-doom: Crispy Doom is a limit-removing enhanced-resolution Doom source port based on Chocolate Doom..

Hopefully, this summer I can play around with it a bit.

Via [Wayback/Archive] International Pascal Congress on X: “DOOM in Pascal!! 😍👏👏 Do you want to play or compile it? 😉 #Pascal #ObjectPascal …”.

--jeroen

Posted in Conference Topics, Conferences, Delphi, Development, Event, FreePascal, Pascal, Power User, Retrocomputing, Software Development | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

2025 first quarter (our winter): a set back in energy, slowly getting back, taking preventions to keep this from happening again

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/03

A list of events caused a big set-back in my energy during last quarter from which I am now – with careful planning what I do and when/how I rest – steadily recovering.

I started writing this early may, and finished early june because too much happened and it took me a while to get it from my confused mind onto paper.

One of the things I thought for and hopefully will start after a much needed holiday (the first longer one since 2018) is mental help.

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Posted in About, Personal | Leave a Comment »

More database playground sites (similar to the dbfiddle and SQL Fiddle sites)

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/03

Almost 3 years ago, I wrote about some database/SQL fiddle sites in Database fiddle sites (which covers [Wayback/Archive] two different [Wayback/Archive] dbfiddle sites and the [Wayback/Archive] SQL Fiddle site).

In the meantime, I figured out that [Wayback/Archive] Toolbox for Developers has a few fiddle pages and database/SQL tools online (in their order, which is not alphabetical):

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Database Development, Development, JavaScript/ECMAScript, MariaDB, MongoDB, MySQL, NoSQL, PHP, PostgreSQL, Scripting, Software Development, SQL Server, SQLite, TypeScript | Leave a Comment »

sql – SELECT from nothing? – Stack Overflow

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/02

Since I keep forgetting which DBMS uses which method to select just a plain value without a table. I always remember it as my search phrase [Wayback/Archive] SELECT from DUAL, but actually better titled like the question below:

[Wayback/Archive] sql – SELECT from nothing? – Stack Overflow

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Posted in Access, Database Development, DB2, Development, Firebird, InterBase, MariaDB, MySQL, OracleDB, PL/SQL, PostgreSQL, SQL, SQL Server, SQLite | Leave a Comment »

On my wish list for reading: Effective Software Testing

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/02

Always learning, I put this book on my wish list for reading: [Wayback/Archive] Effective Software Testing as from what I read it is a pragmatic book aimed at developers and suitable for teaching. That sounds right the niche I am in.

From [Wayback/Archive] Using the book in classroom:

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Posted in Agile, Development, Software Development, Testing, Unit Testing | Leave a Comment »

Douglas Crockford – Google+ – on why comments got removed from JSON

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/01

Since this question keeps popping up around me every now and then, despite JSON being around for like 25 years now, this statement from the original designer Douglas Crockford:

[Wayback/Archive] Douglas Crockford – Google+ – Comments in JSON …

I removed comments from JSON because I saw people were using them to hold parsing directives, a practice which would have destroyed interoperability. I know that the lack of comments makes some people sad, but it shouldn’t.

Suppose you are using JSON to keep configuration files, which you would like to annotate. Go ahead and insert all the comments you like. Then pipe it through JSMin before handing it to your JSON parser.

Yup, Google+ has been dead for more than 6 years now, so it is important to quote these insights for posterity to find them back.

Related:

Via: [Wayback/Archive] Can comments be used in JSON? – Stack Overflow with several answers mentioning the above G+ post.

Query: [Wayback/Archive] json comment – Google Search

--jeroen

Posted in Development, JavaScript/ECMAScript, JSON, Scripting, Software Development | Leave a Comment »

Some Mastodon servers allow themselves to be wrapped with the cuckoo.social to give a G+ (Google Plus) like user interface

Posted by jpluimers on 2025/07/01

[Wayback/Archive] Cuckoo+ is a wrapper around Mastodon that makes the UI look like Google+ (G+ / Google Plus).

It is open source at [Wayback/Archive] NanaMorse/Cuckoo.Plus: A GooglePlus-Like third-party web client for mastodon. with hardly any updates like lik because the author is not active on Mastodon any more according to [Wayback/Archive] Is dead the repo ? · Issue #237 · NanaMorse/Cuckoo.Plus (via [Wayback/Archive] Issues · NanaMorse/Cuckoo.Plus)

Note that in some Mastodon instances it fails because of CORS issues:

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Posted in Development, G+: GooglePlus, JavaScript/ECMAScript, Scripting, SocialMedia, Software Development, TypeScript, Web Development | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

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