Messages

201

General Software Discussion / Re: A rant about how I finally ditched iTunes... :D

« on: November 09, 2007, 10:04 AM »

I realize it's not that relevant anymore as you have moved away from iTunes, but I found a way to finally get rid of the "ipod" service and not have it starting again ever, and no, just disabling it using services.msc will not work...not will deleting the executable.

What you need to do is deny read/write/execute permissions for the following file:
X:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

As long as you just deny everyone access to just that file it will work. If you deny access to, or delete, the entire folder, iTunes will try repairing the installation and fail. Disabling the service using services.msc only works until you start iTunes, because it [iTunes] will re-enable it all over again. If probably won't start at boot, but it will start and keep running if you launch iTunes.

I don't use iTunes as a music player (because it does a terrible job at that), but I do buy the occational non-drm release from it so I want to have it installed.

202

General Software Discussion / Re: Perfect Software?

« on: November 09, 2007, 09:42 AM »

You're the kind of guy who goes to AA meetings and tells people about the great new Scotch you tried, innit?

It's a personal thing, Dirhael. The version I'm currently using does everything I want it to, including synching with my iPod. I installed the new release and immediately lost my customizations and I really have no patience for that sort of stuff so I got rid of it. I'm sure I'll take another look at it when I have a bit more mind-space, the only reason I'd upgrade right now is if a player was giving me better _sound_. 

-nosh (November 09, 2007, 08:05 AM)

Hehe, well I do like me some good whisky

I understand how you may not want to upgrade if it's already customized the way you want it, but if you had to do so [customize foobar2000] to the point where is becomes a hassle to re-install/upgrade it then the current version doesn't really qualify as a "perfect" software product and as such requires further work...right?

203

General Software Discussion / Re: Perfect Software?

« on: November 09, 2007, 07:23 AM »

I'm even going to try and boycott the FooBar2000 upgrades. Lets hope it doesn't go the Winamp (sucks the llama's ass) way.

-nosh (November 08, 2007, 06:20 PM)

Wait, what? I can see how one can be worried about things like this, but in the case of foobar2000, the latest beta releases is a major and important update from a usability standpoint. It's just as fast as it ever was, but without all the "tear-your-hair-out" frustrations of having to customize it to have a useful interface. When you then also factor in things like improved/simplified tagging functionality and music file management, I fail to see why anyone would want to stay with the previous versions. The new default interface also uses a very much improved playlist which makes it both easier *and* faster to locate the music you want to play.

Of course, if you just use custom components anyway it doesn't really matter but for the first time I have no problem recommending a foobar2000 release to everyone, including those that doesn't care for anything technical and just want to play their music. This is not the release to avoid.

204

General Software Discussion / Re: Small program i could run to restart a stubborn service?

« on: November 08, 2007, 03:47 AM »

The problem with a single batch file is that it is difficult to establish when the service has stopped so that you can restart it.

If you simply have a batch file that says:

SC STOP service
SC START service

the second command will probably fail if the service doesn't respond quickly to the STOP command.

There doesn't seem to be an easy way to establish when the service has actually stopped short of:

SC QUERY service > textfile.txt

and then use a little program to read the value following the STATE and loop until it is set to the stopped value.

For someone who is quick witted with AutoHotKey programming this would probably be a simple task to do.

-Carol Haynes (November 07, 2007, 06:31 PM)

True, but using the NET command instead of SC you can get away with something as simple as this:

[Select]

net stop "name of service" && net start "name of service"

The second part of that line will not execute until the first command is done, no matter how long it takes (you can also write it on separate lines instead, it doesn't matter). The SC command may not wait until the first command is completed before continuing, but NET does

205

General Software Discussion / Re: Perfect Software?

« on: November 07, 2007, 11:02 PM »

PONY!!!  :-)

The codec situation is easier to solve though, as I would recommend you to just download and run the lovely freeware DirectShow Filter Manager 0.5.

What a nifty little tool, and perfect in its simplicity.  Not to look a gift-pony in the mouth, but any idea what the green/yellow/red color coding means?  All my Nero filters are red.

-Ralf Maximus (November 07, 2007, 10:41 PM)

The colour coding comes from the priority of the codec. The ones "preferred" is purple, "normal" is green, "unlikely" is purple and "do not use" is red. It's important to remember though that "do not use" doesn't really mean what it says (and this is not a problem with the filter manager, but AFAIK it's rather with DirectShow in general). They will still be used if nothing else can play a file, and in certain cases they might even end up being the first choice for some reason despite your settings (I don't undertand the system well enough to explain why exactly this happens though) so it is always a good idea to remove the ones you don't absolutely need.

206

General Software Discussion / Re: Perfect Software?

« on: November 07, 2007, 10:30 PM »

Thankfully there are certain enthusiasts that create custom installers without the bloat, despite the fact that the Nero guys keep trying to shut them down. The fact that these guys managed to keep the installer down to just 13MB and still keep all the burning functionality is quite interesting...

I've got Nero 6, with zero desire to upgrade beyond that.  Even Nero 6 has loads of crap I never use and a bazillion codecs I don't want.

Know of any stripped-down installers for v6?

And if I uninstall what I have now and reinstall using one of the enthusiast packages, will I get rid of the silly unwanted codecs, or do they stay forever lodged in registry pergatory?

And can I have a pony?

-Ralf Maximus (November 07, 2007, 10:05 PM)

Unfortunately, I haven't seen a lite/micro version of any version below 7

The codec situation is easier to solve though, as I would recommend you to just download and run the lovely freeware DirectShow Filter Manager 0.5. As you can see from the screenshot, it lists all directshow codecs installed on your system. Just select the ones starting with Nero and hit that tempting "Remove Selected Filter" button

Alternatively, if you're unsure about if you might need the codec in the future then hit the "Show filter properties" button instead and set the merit to unlikely or lower. This should ensure that it's only used if nothing else on your system can play a video/audio file in a DirectShow player like WMP. My personal experience is that most of the codecs doesn't do that much harm as long as you remove all the Nero splitters and quicktime codecs. The splitters in particular have caused all sorts of strange problems in the past for me, so that thing isn't getting anywhere near my system again except for testing purposes like in this thread.

EDIT: Oops, wrong image attached...and I also forgot your pony

207

General Software Discussion / Re: Perfect Software?

« on: November 07, 2007, 09:41 PM »

Nero is often attacked with the word 'bloated' yet some people swear  it is the best burning software ever.

-Beth UK (November 07, 2007, 11:08 AM)

The burning application itself still is one of the best ones you'll find on any platform, but the problem is that you no longer can purchase *just* Nero Burning ROM. It's bundled with just about every single type of application you can think of, and you can't just choose not to install them (well, you can deselect most but it will still install a whole bunch of stuff completely unrelated to burning CD/DVD's).

Just to experiment for this thread, I installed the latest trial of Nero 8 and deselected everything I could see, and yet this is how many directshow filters it forced down my throat (see attached image)...and then there's the fact that it adds several startup processes that just isn't needed for burning at all. Really, if I wanted a complete media center I'd have gone out and purchased software dedicated to such a task.

When the English-only version of the Nero 8 trial is 640MB large (the 178MB download is compressed so it will extract the installation files to a temp folder, which is that large) you know something is very very wrong.

Thankfully there are certain enthusiasts that create custom installers without the bloat, despite the fact that the Nero guys keep trying to shut them down. The fact that these guys managed to keep the installer down to just 13MB and still keep all the burning functionality is quite interesting...

EDIT: I also just wanted to add that if an application (like Nero) has a add/remove feature list during installation that is longer than a very bad year and every single feature selected by default, it should be punishable by death not to have a check/uncheck all button in said list!

208

Living Room / Re: To wide-screen or not to wide-screen

« on: November 07, 2007, 10:37 AM »

A dual-monitor setup can't help you with such things either, so a widescreen is the only

-Dirhael (November 07, 2007, 07:42 AM)

Explain this, please.  I'm simply drawing a blank.  My auxillary monitors are *crammed* with sidebars and toolbars and whatnot.

-Ralf Maximus (November 07, 2007, 09:51 AM)

Ok, consider the attached screenshot. How would I get *just* the "projects" and "toolbox" panels on a secondary monitor? I don't want any other part of the window moved off my primary screen. Yes, some programs will let you use floating toolbars/panels but a whole lot of them don't and in such cases a dual/triple/whatever monitor setup won't help you.

209

Living Room / Re: To wide-screen or not to wide-screen

« on: November 07, 2007, 07:42 AM »

I wonder how many of the resident "widescreen-haters" here uses applications that has sidebars/panels, like oh I don't know, just about every IDE available? Because if you do, I don't understand how you can stand using such programs on a 4:3, or even worse, 5:4 monitor. A dual-monitor setup can't help you with such things either, so a widescreen is the only reasonable solution.

At my previous job they used 1280x1024 (5:4) monitors, and software that always had a sidebar open...and I absolutely hated using it.

210

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: November 01, 2007, 02:46 PM »

So you were able to watch the pictures I was linking too.
Hmmm... [wink] ... so where are they then ? [/wink]

 

  

- sorry, but I would STILL like to have these two pics as well...

Keeley Hazlle and 1712

-Curt (October 31, 2007, 06:23 PM)

I have uninstalled several addons, disabled many others, reinstalled this and that,
and still I cannot access these pictures. I am totally in the dark, on this.

 

-Curt (November 01, 2007, 01:07 PM)

Here's the direct links to the wallpaper of Keeley Hazell ...and the other one

I still don't have the slightest idea as to why it won't work for you browsing the gallery, but I've gone over it scanning the http headers step by step and there is nothing wrong on the server side...so I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it 

211

Living Room / Re: Entering License keys late...

« on: November 01, 2007, 10:36 AM »

Watched them at Roskilde Festival 2003, and at their own show in Valby Hallen in... I think it was December 2003. Great gigs, both of them - they certainly kicked Metallica's arse at RF2003, much better show, felt more alive etc.

-f0dder (November 01, 2007, 10:06 AM)

Hehe, I was at the concert in Roskilde 2003 as well...and I have to agree, they were better than Metallica. It was at Roskilde I watched them the first time as well, back in 2000

212

Living Room / Re: Entering License keys late...

« on: November 01, 2007, 09:24 AM »

There's got to be at least 1 Iron Maiden fan here somewhere...

-Renegade (October 31, 2007, 11:41 PM)

Up the Irons! \m/  (see attachment in previous post)

-f0dder (November 01, 2007, 07:50 AM)

I knew there had to be at least 1!

Always gives me piece of mind to know I'm in good company.

-Renegade (November 01, 2007, 08:27 AM)

Now now, there's at least 2 of us here Watched them live a couple of times as well, and it was two of the best shows I've ever seen. Bruce Dickinson has so much energy when on stage, that you'd think the man was still in his teens

213

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: October 31, 2007, 08:59 AM »

Strange... I just don't get why the images won't show up for you. It really shouldn't be possible for it to fail, at least server-side. That said, I added an alternative "Download" link to the gallery today so you could try using that instead

214

General Software Discussion / Re: opera 9.5 beta out

« on: October 29, 2007, 08:58 AM »

BTW, trying to get M2 to import my mail form 9.24 format makes opera crash. Anyone with the same experience?

-urlwolf (October 29, 2007, 06:50 AM)

No, but it crashed a few times when I tried to download the headers on a newly added IMAP account. I don't really ever use email in the weekly/beta releases but I just thought I'd try it this time as there is a whole bunch of updates to M2 in 9.5. Unfortunately, it's nowhere near stable enough yet for daily use.

215

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: October 28, 2007, 07:28 PM »

@Curt: Hehe, what can I say... I like pretty things ...(...)... if you'd like to see if there's something you'd like there, the url is: http://gallery.thesecondscreen.com/

-Dirhael (October 28, 2007, 09:14 AM)

I have no idea what / who Penny-Arcadians is / are, but now I am a member!

- never the less I am not able to view any full sized pictures!???
>

The image cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

-Firefox

The program cannot display this page

-Internet Explorwer 7

The Second Screen sure have some nice wall papers, 
but to me they have so far been thumb nails only.

The large "Gallery" link at the top of the page wasn't obvious enough?

-Dirhael (October 28, 2007, 12:06 PM)

- I found the gallery, but no full sized pictures. What am I missing?


I had no problems viewing your screenshots in "Guide: Visual Styles".

-Curt (October 28, 2007, 06:46 PM)

Wait, what? Never heard of such a problem with the gallery before... I don't really see how that is even possible, as am really just passing the image straight to your browser, so the problem is not on the server side...though, is it possible that you are running some security software that messes with the headers somehow...?

In any case, I rewrote the part responsible for passing the fullsized image to your browser and also changed the header somewhat, so please try again

EDIT: Oh and "Penny-Arcadians" are members of the Penny Arcade forums

216

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: October 28, 2007, 12:06 PM »

Dirhael, I think iceskin was referring to the image on the desktop that you posted. I don't think he'll find it on your forum considering there's no actual wallpapers there! (unless I'm missing something so obvious I can't see it )

Please post the link to the author or site of the image. Thanks.

-Nighted (October 28, 2007, 11:49 AM)

The large "Gallery" link at the top of the page wasn't obvious enough?

If you just want this specific image, I got if from here..

217

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: October 28, 2007, 09:14 AM »

@Carol: Well, I suppose you could say that. I don't much like the winter, so having a little summer on my desktop helps a little

@Curt: Hehe, what can I say... I like pretty things

@icekin: I make the occational wallpaper myself, but most of them are collected from all over the web. My "Wallpapers" folder is now well over 3 GB and contains more than 7000 images... I do have a small wallpaper site up and running though. It's just something I set up for users of another forum I visit, so that we could exchange our wallpapers. I don't really mention it much outside of that forum, but if you'd like to see if there's something you'd like there, the url is: http://gallery.thesecondscreen.com/

218

Living Room / Re: Whats on your desktop?

« on: October 26, 2007, 06:26 PM »

Been changing my desktop a bit again, so here's how it looks now

(Click to full view)

219

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to catalog video files

« on: October 21, 2007, 03:57 PM »

Ant Movie Catalog does most (all?) of what you're asking, and it's free/open source There's another program out there call "All My Movies" as well, but the interface of that program gives me nightmares so I wouldn't know how well it stacks up in other areas.

220

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your preferred File Manager

« on: October 20, 2007, 11:19 AM »

In DOpus:

It's definitely not hardlinks - cause the folder doesnt actually exist anywhere -
you cant create subfolders -
e.g.
say you have a virtual folder "ABC", containing folders 1, 2, & 3:
you cant make a new folder in ABC & drag 1 2 & 3 into it. Cant make the subfolder atall.

It's more comparable to a tagging system really 

Also you cant add files to the root collection(virtual) folder

it's just a virtual containing folder

-tomos (October 20, 2007, 04:46 AM)

I feel the need to correct you a bit, as you are not correct in all of what you are saying. You can create as many subfolders as you'd like in a virtual folder, and move them around as you see fit. The only thing that could prevent you from handling them pretty much like folders on a real filesystem is if you create them as "members" instead of "sub-collections"

-Dirhael (October 20, 2007, 07:09 AM)

ah,
Dirhael, is that an Opus 9 thing? -
I've never gotten asked that in Version 8 at any rate.

When I rethink it - I'm not definite about whether they are hard-links or not
I was thinking about junction points  still think they not hard links

Breakfast sounds good urlwolf..

-tomos (October 20, 2007, 09:37 AM)

Hmm...you know, I'm not sure. Been so long since I last used v8 that I just don't remember.

You are correct in that they aren't hardlinks/junctions, even if you can create those as well in Dopus (though not in collections)

221

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your preferred File Manager

« on: October 20, 2007, 07:09 AM »

Correct me if I'm wrong but, your definition of a virtual folder sounds like a folder filled with hard-links?

-SirSmiley (October 17, 2007, 06:54 PM)

Must be. I wonder how it can work otherwise... unless it's using the NTFS Alternate data Streams + a database, or something similar, like the tag2find software.

-Armando (October 19, 2007, 11:57 PM)

In DOpus:

It's definitely not hardlinks - cause the folder doesnt actually exist anywhere -
you cant create subfolders -
e.g.
say you have a virtual folder "ABC", containing folders 1, 2, & 3:
you cant make a new folder in ABC & drag 1 2 & 3 into it. Cant make the subfolder atall.

It's more comparable to a tagging system really 

Also you cant add files to the root collection(virtual) folder

it's just a virtual containing folder

-tomos (October 20, 2007, 04:46 AM)

I feel the need to correct you a bit, as you are not correct in all of what you are saying. You can create as many subfolders as you'd like in a virtual folder, and move them around as you see fit. The only thing that could prevent you from handling them pretty much like folders on a real filesystem is if you create them as "members" instead of "sub-collections" (see picture)

222

General Software Discussion / Re: Does your Vista installation run out of memory when copying files?

« on: October 18, 2007, 03:55 AM »

1st: slow copying and moving operations, as in very slow, even with a fresh install, new computer. Made no sense until I read that it was built in to discourage copying too many items without the usual DRM shackles.

-zridling (October 17, 2007, 08:57 PM)

Do you have a source for that? I really doubt that this is the case. Ms also published patches to improve performance, things will be better now than they were last february.

-justice (October 18, 2007, 03:02 AM)

He is partially right in that Vista used to (and still is in certain cases) be slow copying/moving/deleting files compared to XP, but it has absolutely nothing to do with DRM.

223

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your preferred File Manager

« on: October 17, 2007, 04:29 PM »

I've been using Total Commander for (and its predecessor Windows Commander) for about 5 years; took me less than a day to be won over to its clean, powerful interface, which just keeps getting better every year.

There's one desirable feature which it's still missing, though, and I'm wondering which of the the other FMs support it -- namely, virtual folders, i.e. the ability to create a persistent folder "containing" arbitrary files which actually are located anywhere, and to operate on them just as if one had opened each one's home folders (view, edit, rename, copy, change properties...)

-jdmarch (October 17, 2007, 02:15 PM)

Well, you can find that feature on Directory Opus. SpeedCommander and Xplorer2 has something resembling this a bit, but not quite as you can't really manage the files and folders exactly like you would in a real filesystem. Total Commander has a WFX plugin called "Temporary Panel" that gives you something very close to what you're asking for as well, even if it's not quite as transparent as the Dopus "Collections" system.

224

General Software Discussion / Re: Does your Vista installation run out of memory when copying files?

« on: October 17, 2007, 05:14 AM »

http://hotfixv4.micr...46_intl_i386_zip.exe

For those of you who wish to install the patch.

-Josh (October 17, 2007, 05:04 AM)

That archive is password protected, so it won't do you much good unless you recieved an email from Microsoft. I've attached the extracted ready-to-use update to this post instead

225

General Software Discussion / Re: [SORTED!] default image open assoc. screwed up - DOpus/ExifPro dont mix?

« on: October 16, 2007, 03:45 PM »

Good to hear you got it sorted!