Messages

151

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: P2CheckSum - Another free utility from P2Labs!

« on: April 16, 2009, 11:11 AM »

Thanks P2Labs. I will give this a try again this evening.

I have to commend you on your responsivness. Especially for freeware. 

152

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: P2CheckSum - Another free utility from P2Labs!

« on: April 15, 2009, 06:17 PM »

Okay, I tried P2Checksum and didn't really care for it.

The delay during opening (splash?) screen killed it for me. I saw no way to turn that off. The readme says "P2CheckSum instantly analyses the file". Well, it wasn't so instant with that opening delay.

Also, what does the little "P" do in the lower left. It looks like it is selectable, it highlights. Didn't look like it did anything.

153

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: P2CheckSum - Another free utility from P2Labs!

« on: April 15, 2009, 10:13 AM »

Personally, I never compared a single checksum to check if integrity has been breached (and I guess at least 99.99% of all users neither). I try to only download from reliable sources though.

-brotherS (April 14, 2009, 04:34 PM)

Downloading from reliable sources doesn't ensure that your download is perfect. I recently downloaded Windows 7 from MS Technet but it wouldn't install. So, was it the download or my cd burner? Checksum told me the iso download was good. It also told me that Ashampoo Burning Studio wasn't that great afterall. After burning 3 disks that wouldn't install, I reinstalled Nero and burned perfectly the first time.

I realize my example doesn't support my argument that you can get a flawed download from a reputable site. But, with any large download, things could happen that are not the fault of the source.

154

General Software Discussion / Re: A Vista printer utility that saves ink like InkSaver?

« on: April 13, 2009, 12:34 PM »

Simply install your print driver a second time to create a separate profile to that printer. Then, change the default settings on that profile to print in draft, b&w. You can choose this profile the same as choosing any other printer in Fineprint.

I used to worry about such things but then I bought a cheap laser printer. Much more economical. I can get 2,600 full pages from a $35 toner cartridge.

155

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Free Expert PDF 5 Professional AND TuneUp Utilities 2008 On CHIP.de

« on: April 11, 2009, 09:42 AM »

I don't know about performace but it does allow you to convert pdfs and to mark them up.

P.S. that is a great site. I also picked up Titan Backup and Advanced Windows Care. Afterwards, I was able to update both to the latest version using the supplied reg codes.

Edit 1: Titan updated perfectly. After updating AWC it said the license was expired. I went back to ver 2 and it appears to not be time limited now.

156

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Free Expert PDF 5 Professional AND TuneUp Utilities 2008 On CHIP.de

« on: April 11, 2009, 08:37 AM »

Thanks Kanecitizen,
Here is what I found for Expert PDF:
- Download the German version as directed on the website.
- After install, go to the "Resources" directory and delete all the files in that directory. This will default the program back to English.

Don't try to use the reg with the English trial version. It will not work.

157

General Software Discussion / Re: Free support ends for Windows XP and MS Office 2003

« on: April 08, 2009, 03:04 PM »

I thought the 30 days to activate meant that after 30 days you start to get features locked out. I can't imagine why you couldn't activate at any time.

158

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Paragon Drive Backup 9.0 Personal Freebie Today Only

« on: April 08, 2009, 01:43 PM »

However, once it's on the system, if your HD should crash, you boot from CD and restore the image from USB external or whatever.. so you don't have to reuse the serial number.  It's already "installed" when restored just like all your other programs.

-MilesAhead (April 08, 2009, 01:34 PM)

Unless you do something like reinstall your OS or upgrade to Windows 7 in a few months.

I'm not sure if it is legal to reinstall it at a later date if you did the first time on the GOTD date. Sometimes you can capture the install code using an install logger like Zsoft or Total Uninstall.

159

General Software Discussion / What's the Most Accurate Burner?

« on: April 08, 2009, 12:10 PM »

I am looking for the most accurate cd/dvd burning software that is Vista (Win7) compatible.

I bought Ashampoo Burning Studio when I first tried Vista as my older (but beloved) Nero 6 was incompatible. I really liked Burning Studio for the most part, keeping it even though I abandoned Vista and went back to XP. That was until 2 weeks ago when I tried burning the Windows 7 Beta ISO. I couldn't get the DVDs written in Burning Studio to install. I tried several times, burning at the slowest speed. So, I reinstalled Nero and tried that. Nero burned the image correctly the first time.

I will now be using Windows 7 so, once again, I'm looking for a compatible burning software. I no longer trust Ashampoo. I don't need audio burning capability as I use J.River Media Center for that. So, what is the most accurate burner out there, free or commercial? I've already read an old thread here on burning sw but it doesn't specifically address compatiblilty with Vista or above, and/or accurracy.

160

General Software Discussion / Re: Top 3 programs you use

« on: April 02, 2009, 03:05 PM »

Firefox
Directory Opus
Powerpro

161

General Software Discussion / Re: Uninstaller Roundup - Revo - Total - ZSoft & the less magnificent seven

« on: April 02, 2009, 03:03 PM »

Another related thought on this issue:
I do a lot of trying new software and I don't keep most of them. A good sandbox program will allow you to install into a sandbox and after deleting the sandbox, the system is back to its original state.

I use Returnil, which runs the system partition in a sandbox in virtual memory. No matter what I do to my system partition, I am back to original state upon a reboot. The only software that this doesn't work for are those that require a reboot to install. ( this also allows me to run without antivirus or firewall)

Removing a sandbox is the best uninstall tool there is.

162

General Software Discussion / Re: Uninstaller Roundup - Revo - Total - ZSoft & the less magnificent seven

« on: April 02, 2009, 01:36 PM »

I used to use the freeware ver of Total Uninstall for years but recently switched to Zsoft. Zsoft seems to be faster. But, unless I am missing it, Zsoft doesn't seem to be able to hande software installs that require a reboot. Total Uninstall does this. For this reason, I will probably switch back.

I have never looked at what the Pro ver of Total Uninstall adds. The freeware version seems to do what I need.

I also tried Ashampoo Uninstaller but didn't care for it. I forget all the reasons why but I do remember that it stayed resident in memory waiting for an install to monitor. I don't need another system tray app for that, I'd rather launch the utility when I need it.

163

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: April 01, 2009, 11:53 AM »

From the Portable Apps site:

Disable Cache - Cache is disabled by default because on most drives, cache will actually slow Firefox Portable down. If you've copied in a local profile or enabled it, you can disable it within the Options window.

They disable it to prevent the constant read/writes on a USB drive. USB drives have a limited number of r/w's.

I think I remember being able to set the cache during the install. In any case, it appears that if you copy in your own profile like I did, then the caching setting will go with it.

164

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: April 01, 2009, 06:26 AM »

No, I installed Portable FF but replaced the generic profile with my current profile. So, it was an apples to apples comparison.

I ran with it for a while but honestly, I couldn't notice much of a difference.

165

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: March 31, 2009, 08:17 PM »

Well, I installed Farsoft Ramdisk and put Portable FF on it. I compared it to my normal FF on hard disk.
5.5 seconds for Portable FF to load from ram
6.5 seconds for FF to load from HD.

Not enough of an improvement for me to buy the ramdisk software and to give up that memory. Has anybody else done a comparison?

166

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: March 31, 2009, 03:50 PM »

This ram disk looks kind of good. Any opinions favourable or not?

-dantheman (March 31, 2009, 03:39 PM)

I saw that one earlier when I Googled for a freeware ramdisk. But, it doesn't look like it will automatically save the image like Farsoft. If I'm going to run Firefox in ram then I will want to save the image every so often. If I save a bookmark, I want it to be there tomorrow.

167

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: March 31, 2009, 01:52 PM »

Also, someday, I'd like to sandbox it within my RAM disk for security purposes (I haven't come across a way which would block it from accessing my system files (theoretically, speaking).  There are unidirectional USB firewalls which block traffic to a USB drive, but I haven't found any bi-directional ones yet.)

-gpetrant (March 31, 2009, 01:33 PM)

You can place a Sandboxie container on the ramdisk that will allow you to run FF in a sandox.

Personally, I take a different route. I use Returnil so that my entire system drive is effectively sandboxed. Same concept as the ramdisk - turn the machine off and you are right back to where you started from.

You have convinced me. I think I will try the portable FF on the ramdisk instead of just the profile. I just need to manually turn on the cache that the Portable FF turns off by default.

168

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: March 31, 2009, 10:18 AM »

I went to the extremes of moving my entire firefox profile and browse cache to a ramdisk (one that saves it's content to an imagefile when the computer it shutdown/rebooted, and with regular automated backups in the unlikely case I should have a windows crash or power glitch).

-f0dder (March 31, 2009, 12:36 AM)

f0dder, which ram disk app do you use? I plan on testing the Farstone product recommended by gpetrant but I'd like to know about others that do automatic saves.

169

General Software Discussion / Re: Make Firefox 3 load faster

« on: March 31, 2009, 10:06 AM »

Does it make page rendering faster too?

(I'm content with loading time).

-dantheman (March 31, 2009, 09:47 AM)

I don't use a ram disk (yet) but I would think that initial page loads would not be affected. Subsequent page loads that use the cache would be able to access that cache faster, thus a faster page load.

I don't see the advantage of using Portable Firefox. I plan to implement this idea but I will put the FF profile in ram to see if it helps much.

170

General Software Discussion / Price of Portability

« on: March 12, 2009, 08:06 AM »

I use quite a few apps that come in regular or portable versions. Without regards to speed, I would think that a portable installation would always be preferable. So, should I assume that using the registry is faster than a portable config file? Why offer two versions of the same software if a portable install would do the trick?

Yes, I know that Firefox portable is designed to not use a cache. So, there is an example of an app that is better with a normal install. Any others?

171

Living Room / Re: Netvibes - What do you think?

« on: March 07, 2009, 07:12 AM »

I use Netvibes as my home page and I really like it. I've been using it for awhile now and I have it extensively customized. I have 11 tabs, each filled with feeds.

The only problem is that recently Netvibes seems to be "unavailable" more frequently. When that happens I go to my backup - iGoogle.

172

Site/Forum Features / Re: Signatures now not shown if you have under a certain number of posts

« on: February 15, 2009, 07:11 AM »

How many posts do you need for a signature? I have over 5000 and I don't see signatures any longer for anyone?

-Carol Haynes (February 15, 2009, 06:49 AM)

Did you turn them off in your profile preferences? There is an option for that. I've had them turned off for a long time now.

173

Living Room / Re: Meme time! Five Things People Don't Know About Me

« on: February 01, 2009, 04:12 PM »

1. I love to BBQ
2. I flew the A-10 Warthog (As well as a few other jets) in the Air Force
3. I'm an American but I have lived in Turkey and England
4. I ride a unicycle
5. I love computers but I can't program 

174

Living Room / Re: Going Into Frugality Mode -- What are your Tricks and Tips

« on: February 01, 2009, 09:56 AM »

- Stay away from Costco unless you have the willpower to only buy what you went in for.

- Stop looking at Slickdeals.net and Fatwallet.com. I'm going broke saving money from these deals.

- Force myself to wait 2 days when I find something that I "just gotta have". Usually, the overpowering urge is not there after a couple of days.

175

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Ashampoo Burning Studio 2009 Free Promo

« on: January 16, 2009, 03:30 PM »

To edbro: Are we speaking about the same version? Mine has this:
 (see attachment in previous post)
Downloaded just now according to above mentioned instructions. By the way, thanks kanecitizen!

-yksyks (January 16, 2009, 12:15 PM)

Yes, we are talking about the same version. Notice the lack of "Create a video DVD"