Assertion failure ..\win32src\thread32.cpp at line 434

For the ones who are using Delphi 2009 under Windows 7 (64-bits), this error will show up during the debugging of your applications. This just happened to me today and I found a really interesting solution on Embarcadero's Forums. This just happened to me few days ago and I thought it was normal because of the OS, but then I realised that something was going wrong and every minute I got that annoying message leaving my applications non-functional and with the problem of restarting the Delphi IDE again.The solution provided is quite easy and I can guarantee you that it works!.

First of all, you need an hexadecimal editor. I used mh-nexus, an open source version that you can get from here. Then the steps for solving the issue are the following ones:

1. Close Delphi

2. Locate bordbk120N.dll (C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeGear\RAD Studio\6.0\bin)

3. Make a backup of the library (just in case).

4. Open bordbk120N.dll with mh-nexus and locate the hex values: “01 00 48 74 47 80 3D”

5. Replace “74” with  “EB”and save the changes.

6. Restart Delphi and the error message should be gone.

Related links:

• Delphi 2009 compile bugs.
• setthreadcontext failed in Windows7 and D2009.
• Delphi 2009 / Windows 7 / 64 bit Debugger Crash Workaround.

Google's driverless car

Sebastian Thrun helped build Google's amazing driverless car, powered by a very personal quest to save lives and reduce traffic accidents. Jawdropping video shows the DARPA Challenge-winning car motoring through busy city traffic with no one behind the wheel, and dramatic test drive footage from TED2011 demonstrates how fast the thing can really go.

Source: TED

Google's car in action:

Silicon-based comedy

Heather Knight introduces Data, a robotic stand-up comedian that does much more than rattle off one-liners -- it gathers audience feedback (using software co-developed with Scott Satkin and Varun Ramakrishna at CMU) and tunes its act as the crowd responds. Is this thing on? Source: TED.

Today is my last day at AEtech

After 8 years of working with the most talented group of people I have ever met, I have decided to turn over a new leaf, working for a dynamic multinational delivering financial solutions Software in the UK. Today is my last day at AEtech.

I can’t say enough good things about the friends I have made and the talented people who have taught me so much. When I started here I never could have guessed that I would be creating cutting-edge software for the Industrial Automation sector. The experience working in multidisciplinary teams with very skilled Engineers is something to be a reminder of the very well done work.

Leaving AETech is different than any other job I have left. Joining AETech in 2003 was an easy decision and more strange was to have found success there. I felt like home, and even though it sounds strange, AETech is the first place I have worked where I feel I am part of the company instead of working for the company.

I am confident that this new step in my career will bring new outcomes. The time will tell. Meanwhile, I will go on blogging, telling you my bests and being in touch.

Many thanks to all of you who have filled with joy the past eight years. I am looking forward to what comes next and don't forget to follow me!.

-Jordi
London, UK ~ 2011

All Boot disk

Today one of my colleagues showed me this great site where you can download all the boot disk images from MSDOS 3.3 to Windows XP. Then you can use these images to start up a virtual machine. These ISO CD-ROM images have been created to allow you to boot your computer from a CD for the purpose of repairing various issues. The CD images are an exact copy of the boot diskette images. There is no advantage to using these ISO images over a diskette image. Some newer computers do not have a floppy drive installed, so these images allow for compatibility of newer machines.

Great job!.