[any] Hard Drive won't insert into [any] Hot Swap drive bay (FIX - Picture Guide)

WARNING: Always "ground" yourself before using sensitive electronic devices! i.e. Touch a radiator or use an anti-static wrist band connected to your PC case.

Introduction

This is a picture guide on how to fix an issue if you have issues with a hard drive getting stuck or not being able to be inserted into a hot swap drive bay:

The Problem / Issue ...

In this example I am trying to insert a HGST Deskstar 8TB NAS hard drive into my Orico Hot Swap Drive Bay (model 1106SS). However, I've had similar issues with Western Digital Gold Enterprise hard drives as well.

The problem is the hot swap drive bay's roller mechanism gets stuck in a hole at the rear of the hard drive; illustrated below:

The hole in the hard drive:

Evidence to support the claim above:

Solution:

To fix this is relatively simple. You only need a bit of sturdy tape. I HIGHLY recommend using Electrical tape, sometimes known as insulating tape. It is cheap to buy and available at any DIY store. Mine cost me £2.99 from my local store. You don't have to use black as they normally come in a selection of colours to chose from.

1. Work out where you need to place the tape on the hard drive. To do this, analyse where the roller mechanism is catching the rear of the hard drive. Just as I did above.
   
   
2. Apply tape, making sure not to cover the PCB (the green board).
   Try not to touch the SATA and Power connectors on the drive as you could get moist or dust on them which is not recommended.
   
   
3. Make sure to apply two layers of tape for extra strength. This is so that the roller will not cause the tape to sink into the hole when inserting the drive. Look closely at how I applied the tape. Looking from the rear of the drive, with the PCB side facing up; I applied two pieces of tape, vertically, parallel to each other. Then I applied a horizontal piece of tape on top of these two pieces; a total of two layers.
   

Testing

The test proves to be a success and the hard drive now inserts without issue:

Hard drive fully inserted:

Final Notes

You may need to replace the tape if you heavily swap your hard drives. For me it will take time for the tape to wear down as I only use mine for backups.

I highly recommend being gentle when inserting the hard drives into any hot swap drive bay so that the tape can withstand the pressure applied by the roller mechanism.

The end ...

No Safely Remove Hardware or Eject options (missing)?

I hope this guide was useful to you. If you have issues with getting the hard drive to appear in the "safely remove" icon in your taskbar, see my solution to that in this blog post. 

Download Newcastle Pro v4 for OMSI and OMSI 2

1) Download the Newcastle Pro v4 RHD map from here.

2) If you have OMSI 2, you will need to download the patch from here:

http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/topic/20072-omsi-utilities-mods-newcastle-omsi-2-patch/

NOTE: You will want to pay special attention to the following post:

http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/topic/20072-omsi-utilities-mods-newcastle-omsi-2-patch/&tab=comments#comment-194552

3) Both OMSI  and OMSI 2 users may need to download additional repaints from here:

http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/category/62-omsi-repaints/&sortby=file_submitted&sortby=file_updated&sortdirection=desc

For support, use the following forum thread for aid. I recommend you state if you are installing for OMSI or for OMSI 2.

UPDATE:

Newcastle Pro LHD for OMSI 2: Download the file "NewcastleLPomsi2.7z" from the link in step 1 above. You will need 7zip to extract it. Read the readme file. There maybe some scenery objects and splines missing. Use google to find these. If the map doesn't work let me know.

ANY Hot Swap Drive Bay / Caddy, no Safely Remove Hardware or Eject options (missing) FIX!

Hi all,

I recently installed an Orico 5.25" Hot Swap drive bay for 3.5 inch hard drives (Orico 1106SS).


Issue:

Once I loaded a 3.5" hard drive into the bay and powered it on, my Windows detected it fine and I was able to initialise it and use it without issues.

However, there was no option to "Safely Remove Hardware" option in the system tray. Nor was there an "Eject" option when right clicking the hard drive in "My Computer".

After many hours of checking that: (a) the "Plug n Play" service was working, (b) re-installing Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (RST) driver and (c) checking my BIOS settings; I finally found a solution which works just as good, if not better!


FIX:

Download and install the software, HotSwap! by Kazuyuki Nakayama.

"It does the same thing as you can remove device from Device Manager but it provides much friendly user interface as you remove the removable device from the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the notification area. It also ensures that all data are written and flushed to the disk before the device to be hot-swapped, so you can use SATA/eSATA drive as a removable device much alike USB/IEEE1394 drive."

LINK = http://mt-naka.com/hotswap/index_enu.htm


IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please visit the above link to learn how to use the software!

If you are using Windows 2000, use version 2.0.0.0.

If you are using Windows XP or Server 2003, use version 5.0.0.0.

Recommended Open Transport Tycoon Addons (a guide)

Post Updated on 15th Feb 2022.

This is a basic guide to installing Open Transport Tycoon along with many addons which make the game play so much more fun and challenging! A complete list of the addons I use is included below.

IMPORTANT: Read every step below first, before carrying out the actions yourself. This is so you fully understand the installation and customisation processes explained.

Contents

• Step 1 - Install the latest stable version of Open Transport Tycoon (OpenTTD)
• Step 2 - Install the extra recommended addons
• Step 3 - Tweak the game settings (including the addon parameter settings)
• Step 4 - Set Advanced Game Settings before playing the game!
• List of addons (including parameter settings)

Step 1 - Install the latest stable version of OpenTTD

a) Go to https://www.openttd.org/en/download-stable and download the latest stable installer.
Make sure to download the correct version (32 or 64 bit).

To check which version you need, check what version your windows is by pressing together "Windows key + Break key" to open system properties. It will inform you in here which version of Windows you have and if it is 32 bit or 64 bit. If you have 64 bit, then download the 64 bit version. If you have 32 bit, then download the 32 bit version.

b) Once downloaded, run the installer as administrator (right click on the exe and select "Run as Administrator").

c) Once installed, run the game and setup the "Game settings" only. Then exit straight away and continue to step 2 below.

Step 2 - Install extra recommended addons

a) Open windows explorer by pressing together "Windows key + E key" and navigate to the following folder:

For Windows XP this will be:

C:\Documents and Settings\[your username]\My Documents\OpenTTD\newgrf


For Windows Vista \ 7 \ 8 and 10 this will be:

C:\Users\[your username]\Documents\OpenTTD\newgrf

b) Click on the "Download All" link in the top right corner to download all files from the following google drive link:

Google Drive Link

Notes:
* If you are uncomfortable downloading from my Google drive, you can download most files from the addon links or directly from the online system in game (search the name of the addon). Remember, the addons are listed at the end of this post.

* Your browser maybe set to download the file straight to your "Downloads" folder.

c) Extract the files using 7zip or other compression utility into the "newgrf" folder mentioned in "step a" above.

Step 3 - Tweak the game settings (inc. parameter settings)

Start OpenTTD, click on 'NewGRF Settings' and make sure you have the addons added in the exact order as shown in the screenshot below otherwise you will have issues:

Note: The names in the screenshot may slightly differ but only by version numbers due to updates. The order is still correct regardless of updates.

I highly recommend you now set the following newgrf options:

a) Select UK Town Set v2.2, then click on "Set Parameters".
Set "Number of parameters to 1". This enables default buildings for this addon.
Set "Parameter 1" to "0".
Then click on "close". Then "Apply Changes".

b) Select eGRVTS v2.0 - r188, then click on "Set Parameters".
Set "Horse vehicles" to OFF.
Set "Trams" to OFF (as we already have a tram set).
Set "Cargo dependent graphics for tankers" to ON. Feel free to leave this OFF if you wish to.
Then click on "close". Then "Apply Changes".

c) Select World Airliners Set v0.1, then click on "Set Parameters".

Set "Cost" to Low. Otherwise it is very hard to make profit. Leave on for a challenge!

Set "Range" to ON for more realism.I personally leave this OFF.

Then click on "close". Then "Apply Changes".

d) Once you have set all your newgrf parameters (see below for the complete list and options), then click on "Apply Changes" and close the window.

Step 4 - Set Advanced Game Settings before playing the game!

e) Now set your "Advanced Game Settings". To do this, from the main OpenTTD menu, select "Settings", set the category to "Expert (show all settings ...)".

Go through all the settings and set them as you prefer. Use the OpenTTD wiki website for aid with settings you do not understand.

I have uploaded my openttd config files here if you wish to compare yours against mine; you can use Notepad++ (with the compare plugin) to do this.

I do NOT recommend over-writing yours if you have a higher version of OpenTTD v1.9.3!

You can find openttd config files in the following folder:

XP = C:\Documents and Settings\[your username]\My Documents\OpenTTD

Vista\7\8\10 = C:\Users\[your username]\Documents\OpenTTD

f) Optional but highly recommended on displays with higher resolutions than 1152 x 864:

Edit the openttd.cfg file to change the fonts and font sizes. See this link.

These are the settings I use in my config file (downloadable above):

• small_font = Verdana
• medium_font = Tahoma Bold
• large_font = Verdana
• mono_font = Courier New
• small_size = 12
• medium_size = 12
• large_size = 20
• mono_size = 12

These are the changes I highly recommend:

Note: The settings below maybe laid out differently in future versions of OpenTTD. Use the wiki link mentioned above to find the settings mentioned below if required.

Localisation:

• Speed units: Imperial (mph)
• Vehicle power units: Imperial (hp)
• Heights units: Imperial (ft)

Graphics:

• Thickness of lines in graphs: 2
  NOTE: this may need changing depending on your screen resolution, I found 2 works best for a 1080p setup

Sound:

• Button clicks: OFF

Interface > General:

• On screen keyboard: Disabled (if playing on PC or laptop)
• Show tooltips: Hover for 100 milliseconds
• Window snap radius: 8 pixels
• Maximum number of non-sticky windows: 30

Interface > Viewports:

• Smooth viewport scrolling: On
• Show signals: On the left

Interface > Construction:

• Link landscape toolbar to rail/road/water/airport toolbars: On
• Quick creation of vehicle orders: On
• Default rail type: Last available (feel free to change for your own needs)
• Disable infrastructure building when no suitable vehicles are available: Off

Interface:

• Prefer team chat with : On
• Group expenses in company finance window: On

News/Advisers:

• Coloured news appears in: 1986 (first coloured newspaper in UK)
• Arrival of first vehicle at players station: Summary
• Arrival of first vehicle at competitors station: Full
• Subsidies: Full
• Opening of industries: Full
• Closing of industries: Full
• Production changes of industries served by the company: Full
• Production changes of industries served by competitors: Summary
• Other industry production changes: Full

Company:

• Automatically build semaphores before: 1924 (when the UK introduced electrical signaling)
• When dragging, keep fixed distance between signals: On
• New orders are 'non-stop' by default: On (good for industry at the start of a game)
• New train orders stop by default at the "near end" of the platform

Accounting:

• Maximum initial loan: £500,000
• Subsidy multiplier: x4
• Infrastructure maintenance: On

Vehicles > Physics:

• Slope steepness for trains: 2%
• Slope steepness for road vehicles: 4%
• Amount of vehicles smoke / sparks: Realistic
• Plane speed factor: 1/1 (required for the Pikka av8 newgrf addon)

Vehicles > Routing:

• Disallow train reversing in stations: On

Limitations:

• When paused allow: All actions OR All non-construction actions (realistic)
• Maximum map height: 40
• Maximum bridge length: 128
• Maximum bridge height: 20 (this value should be half of the map height)
• Maximum tunnel length: 128
• Airports never expire: On
• Vehicles never expire: On
• Maximum station spread: 20 tiles (leave at 12 if you have a low system spec)

Disasters / Accidents:

• Disasters: On
• Recessions: On
• Vehicle breakdowns: None (set to none as long as you service your vehicles regularly)
• Number of plane crashes: Reduced

World generation:

• Terrain Type: Very Flat
• Roughness of terrain: Very Smooth
• Variety distribution: Medium
• Snow line height: 20 (this value should be half the value of map height [limitations])
• River amount: Few
• Road vehicles: Drive on left (UK)
• Proportion of towns that will become cities: 1 in 3
• Road layout for new towns: 3x3 grid (highly recommended)
• Automatically pause when starting a new game: On

Environment > Towns:

• Towns are allowed to build level crossings: Off
• Founding towns in game: Allowed

Environment > Industries:

• Manual primary industry construction method: As other industries
• Allow multiple similar industries per town: On
• Maximum distance from edge for Oil refineries: 48 tiles

Competitors > Computer players:

• Construction speed: Very Slow

List of Addons (including Parameters)

I have listed these in the order that I have them activated so that they work together without conflicting with each other, therefore in turn causing issues during game play.

URL's provided link to the addons website or forum topic, where you can learn more about it (if applicable).

1. OpenGFX+ Big GUI
   Parameters = none
2. UK Town Names v1.0
   Parameters = none
3. UK Town Set v2.2
   Parameters = 1
   Parameter 1 setting: 1 = enable default buildings / 0 = disable default buildings
4. UK Waypoints Set v1.1
   Parameters = none
5. UK roadset v1.1a
   Parameters = none
6. UK Oneway Roads
   Parameters = none
7. McDonald's
   Parameters = none
8. New Docks (with containers and cranes)
   Parameters = none
9. Font Renew
   Parameters = none
10. New Heliport
    Parameters = none
11. New Main HQ
    Parameters = none
12. New Bank
    Parameters = none
13. New Transmitter
    Parameters = none
14. Speed upgrade for all default suspension bridges
    Parameters = none
15. Total Bridge Renewal Set v1.2
    Parameters = 1
    Parameter 1 setting:
    0 = default behaviour (I recommend this setting which is default)
    1 = sandbox (no speed limits)
    2 = hard (2x prices and lower speeds)
    3 = challenging (4x prices and even lower speeds)
16. BK Enhanced Tunnels v1.2 (developer's website linked in the first forum post)
    
    There are 3 parameters to customise this set, one parameter for each climate; i.e. temperate, arctic and sub-tropical and in that order.
    
    Each parameter (listed below) can have one of the following values:
    0 - use default (see below).
    1 - use red brick tunnels.
    2 - use wood tunnels.
    3 - use white concrete tunnels.
    4 - use beige concrete tunnels.
    
    If a parameter is not specified, then the following default values will apply:
    Parameter 1 - temperate climate - [1] red brick.
    Parameter 2 - arctic climate - [2] wood.
    Parameter 3 - sub-tropical climate - [3] white concrete.
17. Foobar's Tram Tracks v1.0.1
    Parameters = 3
    Parameter 1 setting: OpenGFX (default) or TTD.
    Parameter 2 setting:
    Off-road track ballast (default = auto detect). For other options see in-game for other options.
    
    Parameter 3 setting: Normal (default) or Narrow.
18. The extended generic Road Vehicle and Tram Set v2.0-r188 (eGRVTS)
    Parameters = 10
    P1 setting: Vehicles available = All vehicles (default) \ only Passengers \ only Cargo
    P2 setting: Horse vehicles ON (default) / OFF
    P3 setting: Normal vehicles ON (default) / OFF
    P4 setting: Double decker buses ON (default) / OFF
    P5 setting: Articulated vehicles ON (default) / OFF
    P6 setting: Express vehicles ON (default) / OFF
    P7 setting: Trams ON (default) / OFF
    P8 setting: Cargo dependent graphics for tankers ON / OFF (default)
    P9 setting: Vehicle effects ON (default) / OFF
    P10 setting: CC Recolour = None (default and recommended)
19. Hover Bus v1.0
    Parameters = none
20. Platforms
    Parameters = none
21. Brick Freight Stations
    Parameters = none
22. Rural Stations
    Parameters = none
23. Suburban Stations
    Parameters = none
24. Modern Suburban Stations
    Parameters = none
25. City Stations
    Parameters = none
26. Industrial Stations Renewal v1.0.2
    Parameters = 2
    Parameter 1 setting: Disable custom dock = ON / OFF (default)
    Parameter 2 setting: Disable custom ship depot = ON (default) / OFF
27. UK Tram Set TASTER r39M
    Parameters = none
28. UK Renewal Train Set v3.04 (developer's website)
    Parameters = 3
    1 = disable running sounds if set to 1
    2 = climate availability (1 = temp, 2 = arc, 3 = both)
    3 = disable "shunting" behaviour if set to 1
29. av8 Aviators Aircraft Set v2.21 (developer's website)
    Parameters = 4
    Parameter 1 setting: Longer airships = ON / OFF (default)
    Parameter 2 setting: Hand drawn lockheed L-100 Hercules = ON / OFF (default)
    Parameter 3 setting: Seaplane Preview = ON / OFF (default)
    Parameter 4 setting: Airport Maintenance Costs = ON / OFF (default)
30. World Airliners Set v0.1
    Parameters = 2
    Parameter 1 setting: Cost = Normal (default) / Low
    Parameter 2 setting: Range = OFF (default) / ON

Showbox loading videos in default android player, not in VLC / MX player (android) FIX

Showbox, you may prefer to play the content in the VLC player app but Showbox sometimes loads the content in the android video player. 

You can always use a different player such as MX player.

To fix this issue, take the following steps:

NOTE: The steps provided below are for Android v6.0.1 (marshmallow). Other versions will have settings located in slightly different places. Please Google your android version for aid in locating certain settings mentioned.

Step1) Clear APP defaults:

On your android device go to Settings > Apps.

In here for each APP listed below, click on the APP, scroll down and click on "Open by default", then click on "clear defaults":

a. Gallery
b. Showbox
c. VLC player
d. Any other player you may have (such as MX player)

Step 2) Reboot your device after these settings

Step 3) Open Showbox, select the content you wish to play. On the quality selection popup (e.g. 360, 480, 720), click on the "3 dotted vertical line" (options) and make sure that the player selected is "OTHER PLAYER...". Server and subtitles can be set at your discretion.

Step 4) Play the content by selecting the quality as mentioned above (e.g. 360/480/720) and click on "Watch Now". When prompted with "Open with", select your player (in my case VLC) followed by "ALWAYS" in the bottom right of this popup window.

SUCCESS! All your content for Showbox should now play in your selected player.

Note: You may have to select the VLC > ALWAYS on more than one occasion. Annoying but at least it plays in my preferred player :)