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2023-09-05 Reading time: 2 minutes
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Computer troubleshooting series #4: Remove devices from Windows 10 "Cast to Device" right-click menu
2024-05-01 Reading time: 11 minutes
Problem Description
As shown in image , there are devices called "HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio" and "Beats Solo3". These devices were bluetooth headphones I have owned years ago, and I stopped using them for at least a year. I am very confident that either of these devices are located at least 5,000 miles away from my computer.
I have made the following effort to eliminate them:
- Delete whatever such entry from "Settings" app ->"Devices"
- Delete whatever such entry, either hidden or not, from "Device Manager" (devmgmt.msc)
- Delete whatever such entry from "Control Panel" -> "Devices and Printers", and elsewhere if I can find them
- Search for these names in "Registry Editor" and delete results where appropriate
- Search for these names in the system drive, from text and non-text files, and delete results where appropriate
- Search for these names in the system drive from text files, learn an association between device names and GUIDs, then search for these GUIDs in Registry Editor and delete results where appropriate
- Search for binary encoded strings of these names from REG_BINARY records in Registry Editor
- Clear Network and Sharing Center cache and reset Network settings as instructed by Microsoft Community agent
- Apply quality and driver updates, clear caches and restart the computer.
At this point, I can not find any apparent trace of the existence of these devices on my computer, yet the Cast to Device menu still displays them. To the extent of my imagination, I have no idea what I should do next, other than recklessly decompiling %system32%\playtomenu.dll.
I am running a 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, Version 22H2 Build 19045. My device is a Surface Laptop Studio i7/32GB/1TB version, and my Bluetooth adapter is built-in.
I would really, really appreciate it if you can give me any advice on how to remove those devices from the menu, without disabling the menu itself.
However, I do not welcome answers that ask me to run antivirus, check Windows update, use Windows troubleshooters, run sfc /scannow or dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, or re-install the OS. If you are tempted to reply with one of these low-effort low-value template answers, please kindly don't.
Be a water thief: Hacking the dormitory water boiler in a top 20 university in China
2024-02-09 Reading time: 15 minutes
The research was completed in 2015. The vulnerable system was removed in 2016 without regard to the existence of this research. The paper was written in 2018 when I was still an undergraduate in medical school with no CS background, and translated into English in 2023. Don't laugh at my stupidity.
Background
In China, tap water is generally unsafe to drink directly, and Chinese people have developed the habit of boiling water before drinking it since the 1950s. That is why in most university dormitories, the management team either allows kettles in individual rooms or provides convenient access to public boilers.
I was a student from out of the province, was adjusted to the most miserable major in the university, Clinical Medicine (in China, it's not a big money maker), and spent most of my time on the oldest and shabbiest campus. The dormitory buildings were old, the maintenance was poor, and the electrical circuits were worn out. It was rumored that one year before we came, there was a fire incident caused by overloaded electric cables. Therefore, kettles were strictly forbidden in our rooms. The way we obtained boiled water was as follows. Unless otherwise stated, any currency in this paper is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY). ... Read more
Exodos Shanghainus - Escaping from Shanghai during 2022 COVID lockdown
2024-01-23 Reading time: 101 minutes
Originally written by Me in Chinese, June 2022.
Translated by ChatGPT 4 and revised by Me, January 2024.
"Shanghai Jokes" were collected from the Internet. Other portions Copyright (C) 2022-2024 Me. All rights reserved.
Shanghai Joke
In the spring of 2022, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, many regions were affected by the conflict, resulting in a shortage of living supplies. In Russia, due to sanctions, import and export trade was hindered, leading to a scarcity of some resources as well. Among the following options, which region is suffering the most severe famine?
- A. Kyiv
- B. Mariupol
- C. Moscow
- D. Shanghai
Before 2022, no one would deny the fact that Shanghai was an international metropolis. Foreign capitalists flocked here, domestic job seekers eagerly came in droves, and it seemed everyone had a bright future ahead (我们都有光明的未来). Many even regarded Shanghai as a model city in China for its civility, rule of law, adherence to principles, and humanitarian concerns. In fact, in my first few months in Shanghai, I became a fervent admirer of the city, a true believer in its superiority, a spiritual Shanghaiese (精沪分子). "There are reasons why Shanghainese look down on outsiders", I thought, and my impression of Shanghai was deeply rooted in this belief.
However, by April 2022, I found myself desperately trying to escape Shanghai -- as much as I loved this city before, that was how much I wanted to leave it now. Will I ever come back? I don't know. One thing is certain, though: Shanghai will never lack people. As many as have fled now, even more will come in the future. Whether I will be among those returning to Shanghai, though, is something I cannot predict at this moment.
Here, I am willing to share the magical journey of my escape from Shanghai, but before that, let's first explore the history of this "discipline" of fleeing Shanghai -- ... Read more
Computer troubleshooting series #3: trouble with scroll wheel in a Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse
2024-01-22 Reading time: 6 minutes
Lorem Ipsum Hospital
| Name | Gender | Department | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HU, Tianjian | M | Comp. Sci. | y2024 m01 d04 |
CC: Mouse scroll wheel malfunctioning for 1d.
HPI: The patient connected a bluetooth mouse to his computer. He was not able to use the scroll wheel to scroll through the screen as when he did so the page either stayed frozen or slightly moved in an unexpected reverse direction.
PMH: The bluetooth mouse was connected to an Apple MacBook computer (model unknown) and exhibited similar behaviors before re-pairing with current computer.
CURRENT HEALTH Hx: The patient is experienced with everyday usage and basic troubleshooting of Windows OS. Denies bluetooth or HID hardware development experience.
PE: Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse powered by one AA battery on a soft rough surface. Laptop computer with Windows 10 22H2 Pro x64. Attached proprietary recharger, USB hard drive via USB-C, and iPhone via USB-C. Visible open programs are Task Manager, Firefox, Thunderbird and Telegram.
Rx: ... Read more
パソコンお悩み解決シリーズ 其の一・Task Manager 稼働中に USB ドライブを取り出せない
2023-09-05 Reading time: 3 minutes
さてさて、本題に入る前に、まずはこのシリーズの発端を少々語っていきましょう。
俺は中学の時からコンピュータードクターとして名を轟かせていた。パソコンを直してもらう為に俺の所に来る人は後を絶たず、その中には友達、学友、親戚など色々居た。俺もパソコンの故障をハードウェア・ソフトウェア・ネットワーク関係問わず幅広く見てきた。とあるクラスメイトがショートカットアイコンとインストーラパッケージとの見分けが付かなかったことがここ数年の笑いの種になり、平成12年にシーゲートにより生産された20ＧＢ大容量ハードディスクが九年の苦労の末、ザーザーと雨風吹き荒れる夜に突然死んだことは、未だに俺の涙を催してやまない。
12歳だった俺はきっと、パーティションテーブルとは何たるやを聞き及んだことさえ無かっただろうけど、今の俺は違う。あれは必ずパーティションテーブルに問題があった事と、正しいツールを使えばそのデータを取り戻せた事は、今の俺なら確信できる。海賊版（※）WindowsXPのデスクトップを真っ黒にして、かつ二時間おきにリブートを強要した邪悪なるwgatray.exeをこの手で削除した小三の頃から、俺はこつこつと経験を積んできた。（※あの時の中国の田舎では、例えお店でお金を払ってCD-ROMを購入しても、海賊版のものしかなかった。）それで有り余る経験が本能と化し、今の俺は友達の苦情を聞いて直ぐに問題点を特定できたことも何度かあった。俺の三分もかからない解決策が、友達を二年も続く苦しみから救い出したことから、俺は大いなる満足感を得ていた。しかし、遂に俺は本能だけでは足りないと悟った。 ... Read more
搬家随笔
2023-08-23 Reading time: ~1 minute
前几天老妈给我打了不小一笔钱，说是外婆给的，祝我“乔迁之喜”。
【乔迁】qiáoqiān 动
《诗经•小雅•伐木》：“出自幽谷，迁于乔木。”比喻人搬到好的地方去住或官职高升（多用于祝贺）：
～之喜。
乔迁 qiáoqiān verb
move to a better place or get a promotion:
乔迁新居 move to a new home
要不是这次突发奇想去查了查，我还一直以为“乔迁”只是一个提及他人搬家的礼貌说法。一查才知道这词竟然带有如此明确的正面含义。“搬到好的地方”！这是我孤陋寡闻了，不过我目前看来确实搬到了一个远远比之前好的地方，我外婆这词倒也没用错。远离了荒诞离奇的室友、喧嚣不止的中学操场，以及金碧辉煌却没有一丝烟火气的高楼大厦，我来到了宁静闲适的住宅区，住上了单人小套间。这里绿树成荫，所有生活需求都在步行圈内，每天早上八点出门人口密度和犬口密度近似达到一比一，连房租都涨了150块钱，这当然是搬到了更好的地方！而我的清静新居，离这个世界上最强大的国家的首都的心脏，也就隔了4-5英里（约合7-8公里）罢了，更让我感叹世界之奇妙。北京中南海周围8公里圈内，想必也住着不少老外，但他们从圆心走到圆周，看到的恐怕还是鳞次栉比的城市风景吧？犹记起我踏上美洲大陆的土地的第一天，我坐在机场巴士上，偶然听见一位来接人的姐姐对她接到的人介绍华盛顿，第一句话便是：“Washington is more like Washing Town”（“华盛顿还不如把它叫做华盛邨”），本地人诚不我欺矣！ ... Read more