Messages

2101

General Software Discussion / Total Commander v7.50 Public Beta 1

« on: April 19, 2009, 01:32 PM »

The first public beta of one of the most anticipated releases of Total Commander is finally here. There are more new features than I could ever list in this post, but highlights include:

    * Full Unicode support in most functions where it is possible, including FTP, ZIP packer, and plugin interfaces
    * Support for file names longer than 259 characters (up to 1022) in most file operations
    * Compare by content allows to compare text files of different type, e.g. Ansi and UTF-8
    * The current directory above the file lists can act as a clickable bar ("breadcrumb bar")
    * Option to show *.bar file in button bar as a popup menu instead of switching bars
    * Show icons and subfolders in ftp connection dialog
    * Protect the stored ftp passwords with a master password using AES256 encryption
    * FTP, PORT mode: Allow to specify external IP address of the Internet router
    * Start Lister, compare by content or synchronize dirs directly via command line parameters
    * Comments (Ctrl+Z) can now have a max. length of 4095 characters, and support line breaks
    * Synchronize dirs: Option to synchronize also empty directories, option to copy just specific file properties (like the time)
    * Create CRC checksums now also supports the SHA1 hash format
    * Allow to use the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys
    * On 64-bit Windows, allow to use 64-bit shell extensions in local menu (context menu)
    * New internal command cm_SwitchX64Redirection to turn redirection of system32 dir under 64-bit Windows on/off
    * Internal unpacking of multi-part RAR archives, and RAR archives where the file names are encrypted
    * Copy files/directories to multiple target directories (or lnk files pointing to directories) in one operation
    * Quick search with search dialog: Show button which allows to show only files/dirs matching the filter
    * Switch character encodings in Lister
    * New internal association system, e.g. for using Total Commander from an USB stick
    * See history.txt for all additions and fixes

Out of respect for the author I'll only link to his page of authorized mirrors:

http://www.ghisler.com/750beta.htm

Now if we could just get Mouser to get us all a juicy discount. 

2102

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: USB Safely Remove, 50% discount on January 17th

« on: April 14, 2009, 10:27 AM »

Thanks for the update, Dirhael. My experience was with an older version.

2103

General Software Discussion / Re: Someone MUST make a new PowerMarks program.

« on: April 09, 2009, 10:08 AM »

I think I've eliminated Roboform Pro as a culprit, but I have 34 other extensions in Firefox and I don't have the energy to go through them all. Besides, as crazy as it sounds I use nearly every one of those extensions every day so every one is essential. Like I said, it's all working now so don't worry about it anymore, OuterTech Guy.

BTW, I was reading some of the early posts on this forum (maybe even in this thread) about earlier versions of Linkman Pro and how functionality that was in IE could not be duplicated exactly in Firefox due to the way the OS handled toolbars and such. I'd like to say that the way you composed the Firefox extension to bring Linkman's full functionality into Firefox is a very elegant solution. I wish more software authors were as inventive as you guys.

I daresay I actually prefer the Firefox extension over the IE toolbar as the extension doesn't take anything from the browser area screen real estate. It all sits down in the status bar out of the way....counting all four Linkman buttons I've got 10 buttons down there.

2104

General Software Discussion / Re: Someone MUST make a new PowerMarks program.

« on: April 07, 2009, 06:17 PM »

It's me again...back with more information, OuterTech Guy. It's true that the Linkman buttons in Firefox are working fine...IF I install everything to default locations. However, under my preferred way of setting things up Firefox is in D:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox, Linkman is in D:\Program Files\Linkman, and my Firefox profile is in D:\Data and Settings\Firefox.

Under that setup the Linkman buttons in Firefox do not work at all.

EDIT: Curiouser and curiouser...from a fresh install installing to my file locations does not work. However, after installing everything to default locations and then later starting Firefox with the -p parameter and pointing it to my profile in D:\Data and Settings\Firefox which did not work at all before....now everything works in regard to the Linkman buttons in Firefox! Glad I'm not the one to have to debug why it's working now and it didn't before.

Thanks again, OuterTech Guy....without your message stating that it did work with Firefox 3.08 under Windows 7 build 7068 I wouldn't have kept on with the trial and error.

EDIT2: The odd behavior seems to be an interaction between Linkman Pro and Roboform Pro. I've got it working for now. Hopefully, it will keep working.

2105

General Software Discussion / Re: Someone MUST make a new PowerMarks program.

« on: April 07, 2009, 02:46 PM »

Hmm...well, thanks for taking the time to check out my problem anyway, OuterTech Guy. I shall have to dig deeper and see what's interfering. It may well be one of the other extensions I have installed. Thanks for the help.

2106

General Software Discussion / Re: Someone MUST make a new PowerMarks program.

« on: April 06, 2009, 07:46 PM »

I think there have been some changes in the way UAC works between 7057 and 7068. The only thing that makes me say this is I use Internet Download Accelerator with Firefox & the FlashGot extension. With 7057 clicking on download links worked as expected. With 7068 I get a UAC message to let ida.exe to make changes to my computer. I suspect there is some kind of UAC interference with Linkman as well, but no UAC message pops up for your program.

I'll be glad when Win7 hits RC status. At least things will be locked in and software developers like you can quit trying to hit a moving target.

QUICK EDIT: I want to stress that I don't blame OuterTech for things not working. I know Win7 is still in a state of flux. I don't regret buying Linkman at all...just a little frustrated things aren't 100% integrated right now.

2107

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Paragon Total Defrag 2009 For Free - Powerful but controversial

« on: April 04, 2009, 06:11 PM »

You bring up a very good point. The less free space you have on a drive when you defrag it the longer it is going to take to defrag that drive.

Also, another thing to keep in mind is that most defrag programs cannot/will not completely defrag a drive if it is over 70-90% full. O&O and Executive Software I am looking at you!

2108

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: USB Safely Remove, 50% discount on January 17th

« on: April 04, 2009, 06:09 PM »

Before you buy this program please realize that not only does it not work with Windows 7, but some (most?) of the program's functionality is in Windows 7 out of the box.

2109

General Software Discussion / Re: Someone MUST make a new PowerMarks program.

« on: April 04, 2009, 12:07 PM »

This seems to have become the de facto place for Linkman Pro support on DonationCoder so I'll post my small problem here. I haven't had time to explore solutions yet, but thought I'd throw this out there to see if anyone had a good idea on where to look for a solution.

I'm running the latest registered version of Linkman Pro with Firefox v3.08 on (and this may be the cause of my problem right here) Windows 7 build 7068. The problem is that in Firefox clicking on any of the icons provided by the Firefox extension do absolutely nothing. The only thing that seems to work is right-clicking to get the menu and selecting "Visit Linkman homepage."

I'm thinking it's an UAC issue of some sort, but ideas/comments welcome.

2110

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Paragon Total Defrag 2009 For Free - Powerful but controversial

« on: April 01, 2009, 10:48 PM »

I think I'll stick with Raxco PerfectDisk. It, too, will defrag your HDs to less than 1% fragmentation & it definitely won't take 6 weeks to do it. It's also the only defragger as of this writing that is certified to work with Windows 7.

2111

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 11, 2007, 11:14 PM »

dalchina, if you are wanting a file manager that totally replaces Explorer there's no such thing. Directory Opus is as close as you will get. Others have tried, but no one  has gotten as close to completely replacing Explorer as DO. I think the next closest is PowerDesk, but it's nowhere near as good at it as DO and PowerDesk has all but been abandoned anyway.

2112

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 11, 2007, 11:08 AM »

Hope you guys know what you are getting yourselves into. This is going to be a daunting task to be sure. I think I still have my list of file managers around here if you guys want it.

2113

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 11, 2007, 09:41 AM »

Darwin, sorry I led you astray. I forgot about the main menu getting reset. I've done it so many times it's just second nature to me so it didn't stick in my mind. I heartily recommend the menu JohnFredC linked, though. Petermad has been crafting TC menus a long time so he knows what he's doing. Switching your menus is just as easy as JohnFredC makes it out to be.

I'd offer to help you guys with the file manager review, but I may be moving in a couple weeks so I've got a lot on my plate right now.

2114

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 10, 2007, 11:13 PM »

PhilB66, no, I hadn't heard of that one. I don't keep as close a watch on new file managers as I used to. I compiled a list of 30-40+ file managers on TC's forums a while back, but I've slacked off & really just keep to TC & wishing DO would address my wish list.

2115

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 10, 2007, 07:06 PM »

Darwin, you would just install TC 7.02 over Ultima Prime. The TC installer is smart enough to preserve all the existing Ultima Prime settings.

2116

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« on: September 10, 2007, 02:59 PM »

scancode, that's similar to one I saw. Same Aero dialog box, but it read "Windows has detected the mouse cursor has moved. (Restart|Cancel)"

2117

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« on: September 10, 2007, 11:27 AM »

f0dder, you and I seem to be saying basically the same thing just in different ways. I think the problem with Vista acceptance is a serious one. In times past when MS released a new OS there were always the grumbling curmudgeons stuck in the past who didn't want to do things the new way. This time around teh people grumbling are the programmers (a la Mouser) and the 'experts'.

What disturbs me the most of all the reactions to Vista is my own. I started out with MS-DOS v4.01 and come every MS OS released I upgraded the first day it was available. In some cases I was a beta tester for their OSes and I stuck with the 'new stuff' all through the beta cycle. I love new programs & adore new OSes. In times past I was the guy you'd see on the forums on the net championing MS's latest release. Not with Vista. I tried Vista Beta 1. Then Beta 2. Then RC 1. Then RC 2. Then the release version. Each time Vista has lasted less than 48 hours on my hard drive before I went back to XP. No one wants to love & champion Vista more than I do. I just can't do it. Microsoft has missed the mark this time.

Don't even get me started on pricing. No way is Vista in its current form worth what MS is charging for it.

I've got high hopes for SP1. I hope they fix all the problems & I will be able to back to telling people that Microsoft's latest & greatest is truly the latest and the greatest.

2118

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« on: September 10, 2007, 09:11 AM »

f0dder, it's not my PC that's the problems. I didn't run the tests. Lots of people all over the internet have, though. I doubt they *ALL* have 'additional problems' with their PCs, especially since there are very reputable people who have conducted these tests and revealed their findings. And as for it being easily fixable, Microsoft has stated that this behavior is by design. So much for a fix coming anytime soon. People have tracked down which service is causing this slow-down. Disable the service and you can't perform any media playback at all. A retarded implementation does look like an accurate assessment at this point, IMHO.

You keep mentioning this is a good idea for HD video content. While I agree, why does this thing kick in when someone plays an MP3...a task that takes up 0.02% CPU load on a modern system? Or when someone plays a 320x200 resolution video file they downloaded off the net 5 years ago? Or...and this may be a more telling question, why am I able to download HD video trailers from the internet, play them, and my network speed isn't affected at all? Microsoft tried to fix something that wasn't broke.

While you are apologizing for MS, though, would you mind letting us in on what happened to that "instantaneous booting" technology Vista was supposed to bring us as well? I can cold-boot an XP system, wait for it to reach the desktop, wait for all my system tray apps to load, and then shut the XP system down and it'll shut off before a Vista-based system cold-booted at the same time will reach the desktop. Of all the new technologies Vista was to bring us & Microsoft promised us all we got was a pretty desktop.

No, while there's a lot right with Vista, there's a lot wrong with it, too, and the complaints about it on the internet go beyond the usual complaints that are common when MS releases a new OS.

2119

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« on: September 09, 2007, 06:42 PM »

this: the US implemented a plan to land a person on the moon and saw the plan from realization through to completion in the same amount of time as M$ took to roll out Vista. Makes sense. Have I got it right?

-Darwin (September 09, 2007, 05:25 PM)

Yes, you have it right. I'm sorry if I was too convoluted for people who are not native English speakers.

In all fairness, the thing that causes this slowdown actually makes sense - it should just have been fine-tuned better (like, only kick in when HD content is being played). And it's also not going to affect many people; you're not going to be playing media files on a file server, and I do wonder how many people are doing full-speed file transfers on a gigabit network (as far as I can tell, 100mbit LANs shouldn't be affected by the interrupt moderation imposed).

But yes, that feature should have been tested better, should only kick in when necessary (shouldn't be that hard to detect programmatically; or at least only activate on HD content), etc. I do think it's funny how everybody are overreacting about an issue that's only going to affect a small number of people, and is a pretty easy fix.

Mark's Blog has some sense about all this.

-f0dder (September 09, 2007, 05:23 PM)

The problem is that the problem is not an easy fix and it is not affecting a small number of people. Despite the damage control attempt in Mark's blog real world tests are showing that this flaw is kicking in when the network speed is reaching over 7.5 Mbps or so. As a person with a 10 Mbps internet connection that means I can't perform any substantial downloads or file transfers while listening to something as trivial as an MP3.

To put it another way, XP has no such problems with high-speed network transfers and media playback. Win2K doesn't either. I highly suspect if I took the time to reinstall Win98SE there'd be no limitation there, either. My point is it's an artificial limitation in Vista and isn't the whole point of upgrading to a new OS is to move to something that is more capable than you had before instead of less capable?

2120

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« on: September 09, 2007, 06:21 PM »

There's an old thread that discusses Directory Opus here:

https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=8056.0

I think a few other file managers are discussed there. I would like to throw in my two cents regarding some of the file managers discussed thus far in this thread, though.

Directory Opus - Very powerful, but lacking the ability to treat non-zip archives as directories a la Total Commander. Also, upgrade pricing is horrible. Depending on when you buy the existing version compared to when the new version comes out expect to pay up to 80% of new user pricing. It's shameful.

SpeedCommander - While also powerful near as I can figure each version is priced unto itself, i.e. each new version has no upgrade path. You must pay the full version price if you want to use the new full version. This is also a shameful policy.

PowerDesk - Unless you like the program exactly as it is with the feature-set (and bug-set) set in stone, do not buy it. It's all but abandoned and will most likely not ever be updated. It hasn't been updated in years as a matter of fact. The original authors (Mijenix) sold this program off and it's switched hands numerous times before landing in VCom's hands. VCom has never updated it since acquiring the program to my knowlege. The good news is the original authors went off and re-wrote the program from the ground up, has new features, and works a LOT better than PowerDesk & their version is called ExplorerPlus. The bad news is their company was called Novatix & it went under with their programs being sold off and distributed to other companies except for...you guessed it, ExplorerPlus which has evidently been abandoned. I strongly suggest anyone who likes PowerDesk try to scrounge up the full version of ExploerPlus on abandonware sites. The last version I am aware of is v6.2.

TotalCommander - It's the most powerful file manager ever written. However, if you don't like the classic two-pane interface or having to deal with plugins all that power is likely to mean nothing to you. Of the commercial file manager programs it has the most generous price. Just pay once and you have free upgrades for life. Again, if you don't like the TC way of doing things then that's not going to mean anything to you, either.

Sounds like there are some people in this thread who are as serious about their file managers as I am. I'd love to see the confgurations & plugins you TC junkies are using.

2121

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« on: September 09, 2007, 05:08 PM »

While all this talk of virtualization stuff is fascinating, I'm going to throw in my two cents closer to the subject of the OP rather than the virtualization argument.

Vista sucks. Look at all that we were promised compared to what we got. We were promised a revolution. What we got was the equivalent of an XP service pack with some third-party grade programs tacked on. I've read the dissection of the road to Vista. I've read about all the problems & missteps the Vista programmers encountered & while I can sympathize to a point the fact remains at the end of the day my final response to their whining is a resounding, "Wah."

Look what we got in the time it took to go from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. Very few people will argue that what XP gave us over 2K is at least the equivant or more than what Vista is giving us over XP. I won't even get into what Vista means for gamers. Despite all the DX10 bravado Vista is the bane of gamers everywhere. Do we even need to discuss the "really stupid, how did this guy get a job as a programmer" bugs like the slow-copy bug or the network-performance slows to a crawl if you play MP3s" bug?

I'm sorry I can't remember for the life of me where I read it, but one blog writer summed up the disaster which is Vista perfectly. He stated that the United States started from scratch at ground zero and put a man on the moon in the same amount of time that Microsoft took to release Vista & they (MS) were starting with a solid base (XP) that had nothing really serious flaws to begin with.

Unless MS gets their collective finger out of their collective arse Vista is doomed to go down in history as the Windows ME of the 21st century.

2122

General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 9

« on: April 24, 2007, 09:02 AM »

Abterix,
I think what the Directory Opus web site is telling you is that if you lose your serial number that unlocks USB functionality in the program, be prepared to beg the authors for it to be re-issued to you. (Which doesn't make sense to me. As long as you can prove you purchased it I don't see why you would have to 'beg' for something you legally own).

Now if you have USB functionality & you were using it on a 1GB usb drive and later decided to buy a new 4GB (or whatever) usb drive you are within your rights to transfer the program from the old usb drive to the new one without having to re-purchase anything.

I'm going to be watching DO9 closely. The USB functionality & the clever ways of getting around UAC are exciting features. I can't wait for the 27th.

2123

General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 9

« on: April 24, 2007, 08:58 AM »

MrCrispy,
Sure the zip format is convenient and widespread, but the choice of archive format goes beyond just compression. While RAR offers modestly better compression than ZIP the main reason I use it is far superior error-correction and repair capabilities if somewhere down the line my archive has become corrupted.

My rule of thumb is for quick and dirty packaging and emailing something ZIP is fine, but if I want something to stay in an archive an extended amount of time on my hard drive then I use the far more robust RAR format. I have lost some archives over the years to the ZIP format so I shy away from using it for long-term storage.

2124

General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 9

« on: April 23, 2007, 10:10 AM »

When DC first offered Directory Opus with a 50% discount I was the first to warn that this product is very expensive when it comes to upgrade fees & the authors are very quick to take offense if anyone even begins to insinuate that they may be charging even a nickel too much for their program or its upgrades.

I won't fault Mr. Potter for his pricing tactics. The best way to become a success is to charge as much as the market will bear for your product & his market seems to be doing very well. It's just a little too expensive for my tastes is all. If he were head & shoulders above the competition it'd be an easier pill to swallow.

However, with viable (cheaper) alternatives out there such as Total Commander, Directory Opus becomes less of a must-have. If one works within archives a lot (7z, ARC, RAR, ISO, LHA, etc) then Total Commander totally obliterates Directory Opus. At least in that area anyway. Total Commander & Directory Opus have different design philosophies, though, so each has different sets of strengths and weaknesses.

For the money, dollar for dollar (or whatever your country's equivalent unit of measurement is) Total Commander is the better deal. For less than the cost of one version of Directory Opus, you get a lifetime license for Total Commander that entitles you to free upgrades forever. No one can say the author, Mr. Ghisler, is slacking off due to a lack of regular income, either. The new v7 that is in release candidate status right now is a hugely anticipated upgrade with tons of new features that has literally been years in the making. It, too, will be available free of charge to anyone who has ever bought a Total Commander license...even if you were one of the ones who bought a $10 v1 license way back in the day.

If one widens the scope from file managers, one could also look at the binary file usenet downloading program Newsbin Pro to see another very successful lifetime license story. Version 5 just came out a few months ago and it was totally rewritten from the ground up being optimized and tons of new features added. Again, this new version (and all future versions) are free to anyone who ever bought a Newsbin Pro license.

There are other examples, but I think my point has been made. Do not mistake this post as any indication I wish ill of Mr. Potter. Quite the contrary, I am one of his oldest fans. At the risk of making myself sound geezerly I'll say that I was a proud owner of Directory Opus v1 on the Amiga. Directory Opus was one of the best file managers on the Amiga & it is one of the best file managers on the PC.

Until the number of plugins reaches near the number that are available for Total Commander then Directory Opus is going to be extremely lacking in specific areas. I'm sure the plugins will come in time. Right now I'd settle for more archive file formats being supported.

Speaking of such, read-write capability for RAR files is something that just unfortunately is not going to happen for any file manager (at least not in a legal fashion). RAR's author/inventor will gladly license the read api, but staunchly refuses to let anyone besides himself market programs that can write RARs.

2125

General Software Discussion / Re: Scot Finnie finally decides on an antivirus solution...

« on: August 19, 2006, 12:42 PM »

I used to use F-Secure, but quit because they use Backweb to deliver their updates & Backweb has been (don't know if they are anymore) a well-known delivery mechanism for spyware.

Windows Defender seems to be worthless to me. It sits there and does nothing. Literally nothing. It has never found any bit of spyware other programs have found (spybot, adaware, etc) & I remember reading somewhere that Microsoft is being pretty liberal about what it white-lists as safe, but now I can't find the link.

AVG is a great free anti-virus program, but I hear reports that AntiVir has better detection/clean rates. This is from independent anti-virus testing web sites.