3 Ways to Create a Mirror Volume on Windows 11

https://windowsreport.com/create-mirror-volume-windows-11/

Software RAID1 (Mirror) for Boot Drive on Windows | Windows OS Hub

https://woshub.com/software-boot-mirror-gpt-windows/

How to Mirror a Hard Drive in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide - Solve Your Tech

https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-mirror-a-hard-drive-in-windows-11-a-step-by-step-guide/

Establish and boot to GPT mirrors in 64-bit Windows - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/backup-and-storage/establish-boot-to-gpt-mirrors

Taurus 850: a compact 5 shot DAO 38-Special Revolver

The new Taurus 850 delivers a five-shot, double-action-only snubnose .38 Special revolver. 

https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/taurus-850-revolver-review/530912#replay

"You can't beat the basics, and that's exactly what the new Taurus 850 delivers: a five-shot, double-action-only snubnose .38 Special revolver. It's available in black or stainless and with a two- or three-inch barrel. Suggested retail price is only $425, and you know you're going to be able to score it for less, probably under $400, at your local gunshop."

" Since it's a double-action-only revolver, there's no hammer spur, removing a potential draw-snagging projection. With a gun that's so inexpensive you might be expecting a super-heavy, big-stacking trigger pull. Nope. The 850's pull weight was right at 10 pounds on average, with minimal stacking."

" The 850 is rated for +P ammo, although Taurus does caution that extensive use of it could shorten service life. However, unlike the maxim preaching "Don't train just with .38s and then load .357s for defense" in .357 Magnum revolvers, I think practicing with .38s and carrying .38 +P is a sensible approach. Just be sure you know what, if any, point-of-aim disparity exists between the two."

Please stop putting desktop hard drives in your NAS

Desktops drive are pretty light-duty compared to actual NAS drives.
https://www.howtogeek.com/buying-your-first-nas-be-sure-to-get-the-right-hdds/

Windows gets hardware-accelerated BitLocker encryption on new devices in 2026

Another way to sell new computers ...

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-is-making-a-major-change-to-bitlocker-encryption-in-2026-heres-what-you-need-to-know

"Cryptographic operations are now offloaded from the main processor to dedicated hardware, boosting performance and reducing system overhead. On supported hardware, encryption keys are now hardware-protected by being wrapped and isolated at the silicon level, which helps to minimize exposure to CPU and memory vulnerabilities, and raises the bar for data protection."

"The new BitLocker was announced alongside other security enhancements coming soon to Windows 11, including a more resilient driver stack that "raises the bar" when it comes to driver signing. Plus, it's also reducing reliance on proprietary kernel-level drivers for peripherals, replacing them with in-box Windows drivers."

PTSource MiniVM & MiniVMDOS virtual environment and operating system

"PTSource MiniVMDOS is a professional low-cost operating system in the lineage of DOS operating systems intended to run legacy software inside PTSource MiniVM for Windows x86 and x64. 

Although PTSource MiniVMDOS is a real DOS system and can be installed on real hardware or other virtual machines with the provided tools, it comes preconfigured and optimized for PTSource MiniVM wich permits transparent web and network access seamlessly into its familiar command-line interface and moreover, it introduces native support for printing text to Windows printers, streamlining document management across platforms."

https://store.ptsource.eu/soft/ptminivm/start

https://github.com/ptsource/MiniVMDOS

• Runs contained inside PTSource MiniVM
• PTSource PTSGET package manager included
• PTSource MiniVMDOS SDK available for developers
• Network support and multiuser environment
• PTSource Basic interpreter & compiler - compatible clone of GW-BASIC & IBM BASICA
• PTSource Calc included - a compatible clone of VISICALC
• 300 DOS Commands and Utilities
• MiniVMDOS Commander - a dual-panel file manager inspired by Norton Commander
• Image Viewer Included (gif|jpg|jpe|jfi|bmp|pcx)
• Media Viewer Included (mpeg|fli|flc)
• Docs Viewer Included (doc|wkb)
• Spreadsheets Viewer Included (dbf|xls|wrk|wr1|wkt|wks|wkq|wk1)
• MiniVMDOS Menu Shell - full-screen interface
• MiniVMDOS Enhanced Disk Performance Driver
• Online Help System
• UNIX and CMD style commands
• ZIP & UNZIP
• Python
• Perl
• Bash, CSH and CMD interpreters
• PGPShell with PGP encryption
• Samba Client
• TCP/IP NetNode Client and Driver
• Lynx, Gopher, WGET, FTP, IRC, RSYNC, VNC, SSH and more…
• 100% Compatible with MS-DOS, PC-DOS, DR-DOS

PTSource MiniVM:

" PTSource MiniVM is a general purpose virtual machine for Windows x86 and x64. 

PTSource MiniVM is designed to run contained virtual machine legacy operating systems in the latest Windows versions. 

MiniVM provides advanced features such as support for multiuser applications, printing to PDF printers, tighter integration with Windows, enhanced keyboard, mouse and display support, transparent web and network access, minimal and compact code and real hardware emulation."

https://store.ptsource.eu/soft/ptminivm/start

• PTSource MiniVMDOS included
• Network support and multiuser environment
• Printing text to Windows printers
• Transparent web and network access
• Does NOT need BIOS virtualization in the host machine
• PTSource Imager hard drive image creator included
• PTSource Image Converter hard drive image converter included
• PTSource ISO Creator ISO file creator included
• PTSource Printer manager for host included
• PTSource Image Mounter in host system included
• PTSource Rawrite floppy boot images included

PTSource Wiki & Store:  https://store.ptsource.eu/

• Find updated -
• documentation
• tutorials 
• the latest free downloads from our ongoing projects. 
• Buy -
• scripts
• software
• hardware
• books
• order services, support or websites. 
• Access a free knowledge database of code and links for students and developers. 

Some Windows development and other software is available -

" PTSource Developer Platform is a professional IDE, Source Code Editor and Compiler, tools, templates and libs for professionals and students with build environments for Windows x86 and x64. It offers many powerful features for programming and syntax highlighing for over 100 languages. "

 

"PTSource MiniVMLinux is a refreshed minimalistic Linux distribution, tailored for vintage low-spec PCs or Virtual Machines. Designed to run on 386/486-class hardware with as little as 4MB of RAM, this port brings a lightweight, functional Linux environment to machines that cant handle modern operating systems."

Online Learning: https://store.ptsource.eu/free_courses  -  Online learning involves courses offered by postsecondary institutions that are 100% virtual (mostly youtube).  Lots of general purpose training, not limited to this environment.

Training is also available specifically for their products.

Damn Small Linux, DSL 2024 Information

A Linux distribution for very basic PCs
https://damnsmalllinux.org/

Thanks,
Adrian

Toyota Sienna pop-top minivan camper

Unicamp Sienna Pop Top (vendor site):
https://unicamp-usa.com/product/details/unicamp-sienna-poptop
"The Toyota Sienna equipped with a Unicamp Pop Top roof tent provides a protected, cozy, and safe accommodation."  $16,000.00 - with installation & a two-year warranty.

Inside access to inside sleeping on the roof.  It fits all 4th generation Siennas (from 2021 up as of 2026), including AWD hybrids (a 204-in-long light camper van with standard hybrid powertrain and available all-wheel-drive).  They offer  installation at their Henderson, Nevada location.  It seems expensive, but compared to the price of an purpose-built camper, it seems more reasonable.

Pop Top Interior Dimensions
  Height: 2100 mm / 82.67 inches
  Width: 1100 mm / 43.30 inches
Bed Dimesions
  Length : 83.46457 inches
   Width : 37.4016 inches

Toyota Sienna pop-top minivan camper is ready to roam US highways (April, 2025):
https://newatlas.com/outdoors/unicamp-toyota-sienna-pop-up-minivan/
"Unicamp's reinforced thermosetting plastic roof is a bit more conspicuous than more flush pop-up van roofs out there, looking something like a rooftop cargo box when closed. But owners should quickly forgive any perceived aesthetic deficit the first time the roof immediately transforms the 7-or 8-seat Sienna MPV into a pop-up bedroom, revealing an 84 x 37-in (213 x 94-cm) bed for two."
"Unicamp's Pop Top is a replacement for the Sienna factory roof only and not a complete camper van floor plan. The tilt-lift bed, then, doesn't clear up usable standing room since it's set over top rear seating and not the van floor, but it does provide interior access up into the roof area. The van below remains a stock three-row MPV good for daily driving, but now with the addition of an always-onboard weekend/road trip camping solution."
"For a little extra all-terrain camping prowess, Toyota offers the all-wheel-drive Sienna Woodland Edition with a slight lift up to 7 in ground clearance (from 6.4 in on other trims) & a 120-V AC outlet/1,500-W inverter for powering camping tools and accessories."   After-market Lift Kits are also available.
"Toyota also offers a variety of optional Sienna camping add-ons, including Dometic outdoor furniture, a fast-deploying Kammok Crosswing side awning, a Kammok Outpost vehicle-supported hammock stand, and a Yakima Exo kitchen box."

The Toyota Sienna Is Now a Sleek Camper Van, Thanks to a Motorized Pop-Top (Feb, 2024):
https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/toyota-sienna-pop-top-camper-van-unicamp/
"Thanks to electric motors, it opens and closes in a claimed five seconds flat at the touch of a button — either one inside the van or one on the Sienna's key fob."

I switched to a mini PC—but I'm thankful I knew these 5 things first | PCWorld

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2948973/i-switched-to-a-mini-pc-but-im-thankful-i-knew-these-5-things-first.html

Yes, you can upgrade a mini PC. These are the parts to look at | PCWorld

Review the specs on the manufacturer's web-site:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2959600/yes-you-can-upgrade-a-mini-pc-these-are-the-parts-to-look-at.html

Ian Scott's PicoIDE Turns a Raspberry Pi RP2350 Into a Feature-Packed Hard Drive and CD Emulator - Hackster.io

Use an SD card to store data and emulate an older IDE drive to bring more functionality to older PCs:
https://www.hackster.io/news/ian-scott-s-picoide-turns-a-raspberry-pi-rp2350-into-a-feature-packed-hard-drive-and-cd-emulator-c1ae0fb6c53e

Selecting Sensors For Various LS Engine Generations

https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-tech/dialing-in-ls-sensors-for-various-generations-with-michigan-motorsports/

" When it comes to the two different generations of LS engine, choosing the correct LS sensors can be tricky, because the number of sensors used is the same, but they aren't the same sensors exactly ..."

Ruger GP100 Match Champion Revolver - 357 Magnum or 10mm

Either cartridge is a good choice for defense against dangerous animals, but the 10MM may be a better choice in bear country.

https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/ruger-gp100-match-champion-revolver/538355

[Article] Sharing your files between your iPhone ® and Windows PC - Microsoft Q&A

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2338274/(article)-sharing-your-files-between-your-iphone-a

4 ways I repurpose my old, leftover SSDs

Some interesting ideas here:
https://www.xda-developers.com/ways-i-repurpose-my-old-leftover-ssds/