Thursday, December 31, 2009

Type It In The Start Menu

Prior to Vista the Start Menu was very limited. With Vista and Windows 7 type anything you want to start or open in the Start Menu, especially control panel items. A list of suggestions will be displayed. For example on a laptop type in "Mobility Center" and see what you get. If you have turned off indexing from an old XP tweak habit, this will not work as well.

A lame suggestion you say? I have watched numerous users oblivious of this Start Menu tactic. Would you rather search and dig through control panel to set Clear Type or simply type "clear type" into the Start Menu?

Dropbox Shares Your Files


Dropbox - Home - Secure backup, sync and sharing made easy.
Want to share or have access to a few files on several computers? Dropbox is easy and free. Any file in your “My Dropbox” folder is mirrored at the Dropbox site if you have the little program running. It will sync to any computer running the software. I like it.
I can’t imagine using it for huge backup.
I would choose another way to share files with others and keep this as your private cloud space.

Edit: Upload pictures from your phone like crazy and they give you free extra space.

Malware Removal

List of programs:
The first two will probably have all you need.
Tech Tool Store
Ultra Virus Killer
Running in Safe Mode is more effective. I would only run if having trouble or doing cleanup. Don't allow them to run automatically and uninstall them if they leave irritations.

Rootkit

If Malwarebytes or any other program wont start go to the program files folder and rename main .exe file to explorer.exe. The virus will think its explorer and wont block it from running.

"Immunize" your browsing with SpywareBlaster and SpyBot.

Install Panda Cloud antivirus.


Here are a few other ideas when trouble strikes.
DrWebCurit
Combofix
Trojan Remover
HiJack This
WinsockXPfix

Ripping MP3's


Depending on what you use to rip, you will probably need LAME. Go here and get a LAME bundle. Extract and put the folder in Program Files.

EAC is a good ripping choice but not as easy as some others. Go here and get it.

Setting up EAC needs a few extra settings than the "one click" programs. Here are some instructions.

Use EAC if you are anal about your MP3's or are having trouble getting good rips.




Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Windows 7 Drivers For Gateway P-7811FX

Here is the link for Win 7 drivers for a Gateway P-7811FX (my favorite notbook).

Appears the 7811 drivers no longer on the Gateway site.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Welcome to Usb.brando.com

When you can no longer live without USB3, Brando may be your store. I have never ordered from Brando but they seem to have a good USB3 section developing.

For cables go to monoprice.com. They price shipping on total amount (not each item) and they have amazing prices.

Welcome to Usb.brando.com

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Free Proxy Server

Are you behind a system which restricts internet access. Here is a free proxy server and its reasonable for speed so far.

I am not in the south and that is not my IP :)

Yikes, now I can not even connect to it ... jury is out. Now it works, must have been busy???

Here is another:
Anonymouse
and a handy Firefox extension
and another: Internet Cloak

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Vista/Win7 No Boot – Not Even Safe Mode

It first presents the nice splash screen asking about language and keyboard layout, and then after clicking "Next" it asks you for your product key. It is at this point that you can access a truly excellent feature of setup, obviously intended to troubleshoot a failed installation, but also VERY handy to administer a system that is on the fritz. By pressing SHIFT-F10, Setup runs "cmd", and drops you to a command prompt that is running with SYSTEM privileges.

RTM of Vista keeps the useful trick of hitting SHIFT-F10 during Setup
Summary: At the product key screen do SHIFT-F10

Additional:
Bootlog:
Press F8 key during bootup, select "Enable boot logging"
"Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed
during startup and that might be useful for advanced troubleshooting."

Recovery Discs:
If you do not have Vista or Win7 Install discs, you can get the "recovery" discs here.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Fix Your DVD Drive - Lens Cleaning

If your DVD-CD drive is not reading disks maybe cleaning the lens will help. Open the tray and you will see the lens. Dampen a Q-tip with ethanol (squeeze out all excess) and wipe the lens.

Here is a WikiHow on the subject.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

IC Diamond Thermal Compound Installation

Innovation Cooling

This is a great explanation of why the “pea” sized blob works best.

Here is a forum discussion on IC7.

I have IC7 but have yet to use it. Arctic Silver and Arctic Ceramic are my old stand-by's. IC7 is stiffer and comes in handy for bridging the gap between laptop heat pipe video chip coolers.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Why Print To PDF?

I'm adding things here as they come up so let's talk PDF. I recommended CutePDF Writer to my son and he asked why he needed it. I use it often so there must be a reason.

1. You want to print but can not connect to the printer for some reason. Save the pdf file for later printing.
2. You want to print a web page but always get useless sheets in the process.
3. You want to print a web invoice or rebate app. to process later.
4. You want to print a web page and email it.
5. You want to email an Excel spreadsheet so that the output is difficult to edit.

The list goes on. CutePDF Writer may not be the best but it is the best I have tried and free is always good. It installs fine in Windows 7. You may need to run the installer as admin.

CutePDF Writer is different than the afore mentioned PDF-XChange Viewer. Cute is a printer driver and appears as a printer in your operating system.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Winamp Reborn (for me)

Winamp has been off my radar for a long time but my renewed interest in internet radio has resurrected Winamp. The Shoutcast plug-in is very good. I'm listening to smooth jazz right now and lovin' it.

Go here for the Winamp download but choose the "Lite" version toward the bottom. I don't bother with portable (found in pirate universe) because I want some integration with the OS for simplicity.

Here is the Shoutcast download page. Or here is the direct plug-in link.

I'm sure there are many ways to handle Shoutcast but I just go to their site linked above and click a category. The stations will display and I save links to my desktop (or where ever). Then one click and Winamp is up and pumping out music.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Purchasing Vizio from Dell

I just purchased a 37 inch Vizio from Dell. The remote was door nail dead. No problem, stuff happens. Don't bother calling Dell with these third party products. This may be a blessing because the Vizio support person spoke native English and Vizio is sending out a new remote. I purchased from Dell for the 20% Bing Cash Back (first try) and I did get credit (unlike my second Cash Back try with Wally World). Now I'll try Wally's return policy.

Initial call to Wally said if they shipped from third party, return could be a problem. This could get interesting.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Wonders Never Cease - Windows Troubleshooter Fixed Wifi Connection - No Internet - Win7

I had quit trying Window's Troubleshooter for anything. Since 1982 (I know, Windows was not born yet) I have not had Window's Troubleshooter fix any problem. But here I sit in a motel and could not get connected. To be more specific, I was connected with a strong wifi signal but no internet. My old friend the impossible problem was back. I tried disabling IPv6 and no luck as usual. Just for kicks I tried the Troubleshooter that is part of the wifi connection window when you don't have an internet connection. TS told me the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) was not turned on but "obtain IP address automatically" was clearly checked. TS offered to fix it and bingo, it worked. Some configuration must have been stuck, maybe the previous IP. Anyway I have no idea why this happens or how often. I also don't know another way to activate the DHCP without troubleshooter. Possibly setting a static IP and then changing back to automatic would have done it.

I wonder if this has been the problem the other times I have seen strong signal and connection but no internet? It is good to have way to fix this irritation. I hope it will consistently work but I'm not holding my breath.

Microsoft talks about a problem with the "broadcast flag" which is probably the issue. Here are some registry hacks, but I'm going to pass on them for now and rely on Trouble Shooter as long as it works. At least I know how to research the problem. Previous Googling for "no internet connection" (in all it's various iterations) did not lead me to this solution path.

Resetting ipconfig from an admin command prompt may have worked: Ipconfig /release and Ipconfig/renew

You can check the status of DHCP buy right clicking the wifi adapter > status > details.

Another thing to try is netsh winsock reset from an Admin command prompt. Or here is a little WinSockFix program.

I'm adding things as I think of them and may clean up this post later. This has turned into a jumbled mess but there may be an idea that works if you have a connection but can't get on the internet.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Add, Don't Replace When Upgrading to 802.11n

I'm going to give you a few reasons to think about keeping your current 11g router and running it along with your shiny new draft 11n purchase.

Add, Don't Replace When Upgrading to 802.11n

Comments:

I just spent several minutes trying to find this so I’m linking here for the future.

I’m thinking when I do a dual G/N Network it will look like this? N and G routers can be transposed depending on which one puts out a stronger signal. G boosters are easy to find. The two routers may need to be on different broadcast bands (not sure).

Really for now I will just stick with G until N prices drop further. No Big Huge Thing.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

WRT54G v6 and DD-WRT


Process underway and may take awhile ...
Here is the How To link.
Proper hard reset is necessary <link>.
Woops, this one is on the don't bother to flash serial number list but v6 can use mini firmware. I must find my older model.
ASUS WL-500g Premium V2 (This may be the way to go 15 bucks more than Linksys)
Wiki for install

Alternate possibility Gargoyle firmware

Pin Not Available

Crazy Error I had not seen before. Pin not available blah blah. I restarted a few times and it finally worked. If it doesn't some say to...