• MSI Barebones Case (includes case, power supply, Intel Atom 1.6ghz processor, motherboard, LAN) – ~$135
• 1GB of ram (200 PIN) – ~$16
• 160GB WD SATA Hard Drive – ~$40
• Samsung DVD Burner – $27 (optional, could use any old CD/DVD drive, or install OS from USB key)
• CentOS 5 – free (or any other flavor of Linux)

I am still tied to Windows Vista for my environment at work, so I needed a way to edit my PHP code, and view live web pages on Vista (testing in Firefox, IE, Safari).  I realize this testing could all be done via VirtualBox with avoiding Windows altogether, but as mentioned, I need a Windows machine at work (for now).

I did the initial configuration of the server using a faithful KVM switch.   After the nitty gritty was done, I set up Samba to allow a networked drive in Windows that mapped to the /var/www/html directory on my Linux  server.

After Samba was set-up, even a Linux novice like myself was able to do the remainder of the PHP/MySQL/Apache set-up using an SSH client on my Windows machine.  Using my favorite code editor, I was then able to start development, saving onto my mapped network drive, thus completing my local development environment.

As I would rather squeeze turnip juice than call AT&T Wireless for any technical support issues, I tried A few Google searches which netted some promising results. While I am not sure exactly what fixed my problem, it is now working again without any hardware replacement. Feel free to try the methods below.

Reinstall the Firmware

• If you have a different model or Mac OS, you can start at the Sierra Support website
• Otherwise, visit the 881 AirCard Support Downloads page for Windows
• Download and run the firmware application, while keeping your aircard plugged into the PCMCIA slot.
• Some people mentioned that installing the Connection watcher utility from the support downloads page may also help with this issue, but I did not need to use it.

After reinstalling the firmware, I attempted to connect again but still received the same error 668 code. I then moved to this next little workaround.

Install New ATT Connection Profile Using wap.cingular

This is what I think finally fixed my problem, but it did not work without first reinstalling the firmware.

1. Edit connection profiles in ATT Wireless Connection Utility

2. Click the “Add” button on the profile manager window, then select “AT&T” and hit next.
3. Change isp.cingular to wap.cingular, and leave all the other input boxes as is. My result looked like this:

4. Hit next, make sure both radio buttons are select to “Obtain IP Address Automatically” and hit next again.
5. Give your new profile a name, I used AT&T (2). I changed the connection options window to “Automatic” from the default manual, and that seemed to work for me.

6. Hit Finish, close out of the profile manager, select the connections drop down window in the AT&T connection utility, and then select the new AT&T (2) connection profile that we just created.

Hope this was some help to you. Please post in the comments if this did or did not work for you.

Step 1. If you need to immediately stop the printer from wasting paper/ink, turn off your printer. This may involve unplugging the power cord from the surge protector if the regular power buttons fail.

Step 2. Go to Start button > Run > net stop spooler

Step 3. Click OK

Step 4. Start > Run > C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers


Step 5. Hit OK, and delete all files within the “Printers” folder you just opened. This will delete any print jobs you had remaining.

Step 6. Start > Run > net start spooler


Step 7. Hit OK, and turn your printer back on.

All of your printing problems should now be solved. Please post comments if this did or did not work for you.

To disable automatic updates in Adobe CS3 for Windows Vista (Should work for Windows XP too):

1. Start > Run > C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Updater5\AdobeUpdater.exe (if this does not work, navigate to to the common files folder and follow the same directory structure to get to AdobeUpdater.exe.
2. Adobe Updater will open, and select continue as it searches for updates.
3. On the screen where you tell it to download the updates, it will have a preferences link. Click the preferences link.
4. Un-check the box that says “Automatically check for updates.” and hit okay, then close out of the updater.
5. Enjoy.

To play my file, I still had to use Windows’ “Choose a program to view this file” and it selected “media player classic,” which is included in the CCCP Project installer. After all was said and done, the movie files were playing correctly in the newly installed Media Player classic.

You need the following before we begin:

• Blackberry 8800 (Most likely will work with any ATT/Cingular phone)
• AT&T Wireless Service with unlimited data plan (unless you like paying fees)
• USB connector cable

Okay, you’re ready to begin:

1. If you have not already, download and install the Blackberry Desktop Software.
2. Go to the Windows Device manager. Quickest way: Start > Run > devmgmt.msc
   
3. Click + button next to Modems, double click “Standard Modem”
4. Click the Advanced tab
5. Enter this into the empty box (no leading space): AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”
   
6. Hit Okay, and close device manager.
7. Go to network connections. Quickest way: Start > Run >
   Paste in the following line and hit enter:
   explorer.exe ::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
8. Click Create a new connection on the left, and follow these steps:
   1. Welcome to … Wizard –> Next
      
   2. [Select] Connect to internet –> Next
   3. [Select] Set up my connection manually –> Next
   4. [Select] Connect using a dial-up modem
   5. Type in a connection name of your choice (example: ATT dialup) –> Next
      
   6. Enter this as the phone number: *99***1# –> Next
   7. Enter user name (ALL CAPS): ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
   8. Enter and confirm password (ALL CAPS): CINGULAR1 –> Next/Finish
      
9. Open the desktop manager and plug in your Blackberry via the USB cable. Make sure it detects the Blackberry as connected.
10. Go back to your network connections window (step 7), and double click the new ATT Dialup icon.
11. Your password, username, and dialup number should already be saved. Just click “Dial”

This worked for me on the first try. It will not incur extra charges to your Blackberry plan on AT&T as long as you have the unlimited data plan.

What kind of speed will you get with this? According to my bandwidth test, not much. It’s still very useful to check e-mail and do light web surfing. The speed clocked in at around 78Kbps which is slightly faster than a 56k modem.. ick.

Updates:

• Thanks to Ken Hanscom for further improving these instructions, and linking back to me. I will be making a revision to my instructions per his improvements after testing.