Recent Posts

10776

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online (tune-ups, customization, etc)

« Last post by tomos on July 17, 2007, 02:26 AM »

Good,
you seem to have it all covered 

...
I found a program called EasyCleaner, and it looked like a really good program but I can't test/use it because it isn't compatible with Windows Vista . And it apparantly hasn't been updated in a while...

-wreckedcarzz (June 30, 2007, 01:11 PM)

Just for the record (though  )
there is a beta version of easycleaner http://personal.inet...s/toniarts/betas.htm and it's portable - I've no idea does it run on vista (you'd think it would but...)
I'm happy to see it's still in development anyway

I haven't personally experienced problems with it - with Windows Vista I have had some odd bugs though, but I haven't really linked them to a source yet. I just (right now) looked through CCleaner's list of things to clean/delete and I didn't see anything about startup options (unless it fixed them in the registry cleaning part).

-wreckedcarzz (June 30, 2007, 01:11 PM)

Yes that (minor) problem I had was it cleaning the registry of disabled startup progs (I had planned just to disable them temporarily)

EDIT added link for Beta

10777

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online (tune-ups, customization, etc)

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 10:56 PM »

First, I havent tried this out, & probably wont get the chance for a while

I'm still a bit wary of CCleaner from my own experience - I'm not against it, just wary 
also I see Gizmo has it as Best Free File Cleaner
but he does say the following:

There are some minuses: first the installation settings are quite aggressive so do check them carefully. Second the product installation, by default, includes the installation of the Yahoo Toolbar so if you don't want it, make sure you uncheck that option. Finally I wouldn't trust this product to do your Registry cleaning; that's a job for a specialist utility. Similarly if your aim is to remove all your surfing traces rather than just to clean up your disk I'd be inclined to use a specialist cache cleaner. However if simply freeing up disk space is your objective the CCleaner is hard to beat. A good companion to CCleaner is Empty Temp Folders. It's not as complete a product as CCleaner and it's been a while since it was last updated however I find it always manages to clean more temporary file than CCleaner. That's why I suggest you use both. Another cleaner with a solid following is Steven Gould's CleanUP! [3].  It's a compact, well designed and very well maintained and is a real alternative to CCleaner. I've had a couple of instances of it causing problems on my test PC but this may be specific to my setup. Certainly the feedback I get from users has been uniformly excellent.

-
I'm not sure how you're using it Brandon,
just came across that & thought I'd throw it in there FWIW

10778

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online (tune-ups, customization, etc)

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 03:12 PM »

...after 2 days of almost non-stop work, with a pulsing headache...

-wreckedcarzz (July 16, 2007, 01:08 PM)

You need App's Instant Boss so you takes your breaks 

Congrats on getting that out Brandon

will have a look
as time goes by though, I find the list of things I need to do for/to my computer gets longer & longer -
all of which probably means I'm a prime candidate for using this 

10779

General Software Discussion / Re: imaging & partitioning queries

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 02:21 PM »

will let you know how I get on when I get around to it ...
thanks again 

10780

General Software Discussion / Re: imaging & partitioning queries

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 08:48 AM »

I strongly suggest you try to put the image on cd's or dvd's and restore to your "image disk" as a verification process

-steeladept (July 16, 2007, 07:57 AM)

forgot to say I'm not quite sure of what you mean by "restore to your "image disk" as a verification process"

also, hadnt thought of the defrag bit - good tip

10781

General Software Discussion / Re: imaging & partitioning queries

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 08:44 AM »

thanks steeladept!

I imagine windows gradually deteriorating in terms of performance, wear & tear, glitches, etc.
If you make differential images,
would you not be afraid that this deterioration would be included - or,
do you think more in terms of restoring the image if windows somehow totally screws up -
i.e. the image being to get you going again in case of disaster as opposed to being like a new install -
of course with the differential images you have the option of going back as far as you like...
hmmm....
sounds v.good 

10782

General Software Discussion / imaging & partitioning queries

« Last post by tomos on July 16, 2007, 07:21 AM »

I’m trying to get my head around imaging & how it relates to planning the partions in a new PC

Was thinking along the lines of partitioning drive so:

1) Windows (XP) + programmes + App data etc:  dunno   current system (with roughly 1GB each for paging file, hib file, recycle bin & App data etc) takes up less than 10GB so say 30GB win partition in case I want to install Vista sometime ...

2) Have to read up about putting paging file on seperate partition - I know it’s been a topic here again lately.

3) Probably keep my docs & often-used files on next one

4) then „Storage“ - less often used files

Will have a second drive for imaging, backup & more „stuff“

But hey, I’m getting distracted here,
my main query is about imaging - if I take an „image“ of the Windows-etc-partition shortly after install, if win goes wonky later on I can always restore that image, right?
But if I’ve installed a lot of programmes in between do they get lost if I go back to that image of the fresh install? Seems a fair trade off if you get a clean windows.
If thats the case I’d want to decide in advance whats important, install that stuff, give it a once over test-run so-to-speak & then do my imaging.

If I’m understanding anything incorrectly maybe ye’d let me know!
Or if ye think I should be doing the partitions differently somehow...

Normally I’d go ahead and just try it out, (I've never used imaging software, have copy of Acronis older version) but I’m not going to bother with it on this old machine & as I say, it affects how I install & partition etc on new pc

10783

General Software Discussion / Re: Text Maker Software

« Last post by tomos on July 14, 2007, 02:38 PM »

If the Euro price includes VAT (which here in germany is 20%) it works out almost as euro=dollar pricewise.
It's German software but VAT should naturally be charged according to where you are.
Sometimes you can buy things in dollars & get a better price that way but it getting harder to do these days ...

10784

General Software Discussion / Re: old software + dual core = ???

« Last post by tomos on July 13, 2007, 02:42 PM »

thanks mwb 

It's good to know something can be done about it if a problem arises

10785

General Software Discussion / old software + dual core = ???

« Last post by tomos on July 13, 2007, 01:27 PM »

I'm looking at buying a new computer*

Someone told me some older software might have problems working with dual core processors -
I've never heard that - anyone have any opinions there?

I still have, for example, Photoshop 5.5 - I've often considered upgrading but really find it's always done what i need - besides I would have needed a new computer to run a more recent version - it would be ironic if buying a new computer then forces me to upgrade...

thanks,
tom

* (Struggling between getting a cheap online built PC or getting a lot more expensive one built locally)

10786

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: AcroLiminator 0.2 Beta - Screenshot of new program AcroDictionary inside!

« Last post by tomos on July 12, 2007, 09:03 AM »

goodnight sleep tight don't let the bedbugs bite! and if they bite squeeze them tight and don't let them in for the rest of the night!

just BTW   

10787

Word Processor Roundup / Re: Has anyone tried Scribus?

« Last post by tomos on July 12, 2007, 08:31 AM »

I'm beginning to learn my way around the Forum -- will search back threads.  There's enough back there to keep my busy for weeks!

-TomColvin (July 02, 2007, 08:42 PM)

a word of warning (!) the forum search is pretty much a waste of time (imo) -
if you use Firefox there's a very good search plugin

-tomos (July 03, 2007, 03:59 AM)

In-forum search is now very good  thanks to Wordzilla (you might be interested in his thesaurus as well)

I know it's probably not very important but I still think it would be helpful to change name of thread seeing as it has nothing to do with scribus  - maybe to something about writing software? - but whatever you think..
(If you edit first post you can change the name there)

10788

Word Processor Roundup / Re: Has anyone tried Scribus?

« Last post by tomos on July 12, 2007, 08:14 AM »

I've been looking at evernote again
-
especially seeing as there's a 60% discount for members here at dc
and
there's a new version out - Amando comments in the General brainstorming for Note-taking software

In  ways the structure of Evernote is actually very similar to NoteBox.
(Evernote has a NoteList view with list of notes on top & shows selected note in lower pane)
Export unfortunately doesnt include .RTF option (which NoteBox does) but does export as text file -
and as XML, html and mht

I'm another person who want's to write -
I want to write (essays I guess..) about various but often related subjects.
The ease of tagging in Evernote seems like it might be very helpful for my needs

I've scraps of paper everywhere with things written on them so maybe I'll just go give it a try...   

10789

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: InstantBoss - For those of us which require motivation to work

« Last post by tomos on July 11, 2007, 04:25 AM »

Hi App,
After a short relapse I've gone back to using Instant Boss
I still like it a lot 
(but)
there's a couple of things that tend to make it less efficient for me
 -
While drawing I'm constantly using Ctrl/Alt/Spacebar/etc shortcuts
When IB's window pops up, I often get rid of the window with unpredictable results.
I also find I often press return coincidentally when the window pops up & I'm not sure whether I then officially working or not -
another problem can be: if I click in a window just as IB's window pops up - it goes to the back & I either dont see it or I forget about it.


Could this be a possible solution (?):
-
make the popup window only respond to mouse clicks
-
make it stay on top if not clicked on -
but maybe in such a way that you can still finish whatever you were working on - i.e. that it doesnt take focus -
that would give a bit of leeway as well as ensuring that you dont forget it!

10790

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Activity logger (with screenshots)

« Last post by tomos on July 11, 2007, 04:17 AM »

If it's an Autohotkey script it's very easy to use -

-tomos (July 10, 2007, 02:17 PM)

So I keep hearing.  But what I've seen so far persuades me I'll need to spend a weekend on it (at least) to get something to work the way I want it to.  In that time, I could write something in Delphi as well; but currently, one weekend is an amount of free time unavailable to me.

But thanks anyway!

-vor0nwe (July 11, 2007, 04:13 AM)

Ahh, I said easy to use (EDIT: the one above that's already written I meant) - I didn't say anything about easy to modify 

10791

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Activity logger (with screenshots)

« Last post by tomos on July 10, 2007, 02:17 PM »

If it's an Autohotkey script it's very easy to use -
I'm not sure myself  so I wont say any more but I'm sure (esp if you ask  ) someone will chip in with the details

10792

Word Processor Roundup / Re: Has anyone tried Scribus?

« Last post by tomos on July 09, 2007, 06:40 AM »

Opps, just realized the MAC software I really meant to mention is called Scrivener, reviewed at 43 Folders back on January 21:

http://www.43folders...21/scrivener-review/

-TomColvin (July 02, 2007, 08:42 PM)

Looks interseting.

Have you tried NoteBox Disorganiser it's portable so easy to try out.
I have looked at it but havent used it as such

NOTEBOX DISORGANIZERIIe: Huh? What? When it comes to keeping notes in a tidy and organized fashion on your computer, you've got your pick of dozens of programs -- most of which involve a tree-view layout, into which you're expected to tuck everything neatly away. ND2e, on the other hand, is for people who like to keep their mess splattered all across the screen right where they can see it.

for more details click here http://www.geocities.com/goosnargh37/ & also for features:
http://www.geocities...37/docs.html#menubar

It shows notes in boxes - 100 of them - you can scroll & have them various sizes - at full screen window they are almost like a spreadsheet.
Categories - havent figured them out ...
read here -
http://www.geocities...argh37/category.html
sounds like tagging...

PS would you consider changing name of thread?
EDIT: fixed links

10793

General Software Discussion / Re: Symbolic Links in Vista - Like a playlist, but for anything!

« Last post by tomos on July 09, 2007, 05:37 AM »

Yeah... but it's so easy to make one (I mean, currently the hardest part is typing the path) I'm sure it would be super easy to make buttons and toolbars and stuff. I bet someone could make one for Directory Opus using only the button editor.
[edit]Took out stuff about DO and size reporting...[/edit]

-Hirudin (May 10, 2007, 03:49 AM)

Dopus already has support for creating symbolic/hard/soft links and junction points. What I've done is to go to "Settings -> File types", double click on "All files and folders", open the "Drop menu" tab and press new. Type a appropiate name for the action (I've named mine "Create special link(s) here...") and paste the following into the text area:
Copy MAKELINK=auto

Now you can create symlinks by a simple right-click drag-n-drop with and file or folder. About as easy as it can get

-Dirhael (July 09, 2007, 04:28 AM)

I presume thats only with Opus 9 on Vista?

10794

General Software Discussion / Re: roboform2go or sticky password?

« Last post by tomos on July 09, 2007, 05:31 AM »

I use a combo of roboform and keypass. I enjoy having an encrypted backup I can take with me

-Josh (March 05, 2007, 06:37 AM)

Josh,
do you have to fill in all the passwords in each individually or can you export them?

I'm starting to look at Roboform...
Anyone out there with the portable version?

I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to simply get the portable version**** -
its not clear to me would you need to buy a nonportable copy as well or what the advantages of having the installed version would be.

I believe you can get Roboform to generate passwords -
if you don't happen to have it with you, you're screwed,
but I suppose that's the same with any passwords unless they in your head 

**** HAH, I just realised (checking out the dc discount) you can only buy the portable version in conjunction with the regular liscence.
Thats $50 or $40 with discount

I'd like to get this but maybe I'll go have another look at KeyPass at that price

10795

General Software Discussion / Re: Multisession burning

« Last post by tomos on July 06, 2007, 12:48 PM »

*** [Damn damn damn 
it IS the drive (or it's software/driver maybe?) must try update software etc.
It's a Plextor - wasnt expecting any problems with that...]

-tomos (July 05, 2007, 10:40 AM)

Hm, how did you reach that conclusion?

-f0dder (July 06, 2007, 05:29 AM)

Well, after a updating multisession DVD, the most recent additions didnt show in the Plextor drive but did show in my other DVD drive

I've tried to open PlexToolsPro, software that came with the drive & it always siezes up - dont know whether thats related..
havent had a chance to have a closer look yet...

10796

General Software Discussion / Re: deleting files from DVD/CD?

« Last post by tomos on July 06, 2007, 12:43 PM »

I suppose you could get much the same effect with a hammer (save it for when you are really frustrated with something and let yiourself go).

-Carol Haynes (July 06, 2007, 05:40 AM)

A few seconds in a microwave works wonders, btw:

-f0dder (July 06, 2007, 05:45 AM)

Hammers ... fair point ...

Not for the microwave potentially!

-Carol Haynes (July 06, 2007, 05:47 AM)

 

10797

Living Room / Re: How to select text using shortcuts keys?

« Last post by tomos on July 06, 2007, 03:39 AM »

say your cursor is after a word,
press
Control & Shift and then left arrow*

use right arrow if cursor is to left of word...

it's quite good - recognises brackets etc.

There may be other ways - I no expert 

*EDIT: easiest use right ctrl+shft
also
If you just use ctrl+Left Arrow it brings cursor back to before previous word (without selecting it)
Shift+ arrow will select one letter at a time

10798

General Software Discussion / Re: Multisession burning

« Last post by tomos on July 06, 2007, 02:01 AM »

DVD RAM sounds good - I read lately that it keeps a very long time ..

When I backup to DVD though,
I might use the disc for a couple of weeks, then archive it & start a new one - so it's not that I'm unhappy with your basic disc as such

Complex Evolution looks nice, portable too 
Backup4all I have - will look at burn/backup
Re Ashampoo,
I'm not a fan of their frequent emails but you do get some very good offers (& some very good software - eg Textmaker) &
for straight forward burning, their software & Nero Express are very good

XP burning - havent thought of that in a while will check em all out, thanks Lashiec

10799

General Software Discussion / Re: deleting files from DVD/CD?

« Last post by tomos on July 06, 2007, 12:44 AM »

Okay, that's good to know

I'll have to go through older backups & decide what to do with them - I can probably chuck a lot of them at this stage but I'm slow to do that.

Most of the passwords arent actually that important but I better have a good close look at that too 

thanks for the help folks 

10800

General Software Discussion / Multisession burning

« Last post by tomos on July 05, 2007, 10:40 AM »

I was wondering about software for burning multisession discs -

[ my nero express continues to burn multisession discs but unfortunately the updated files dont show in Explorer
Ashampoo failed to update a DVD & I gave up on it. The DVD drive is fairly new so I presume this is a software problem ]***

Anyways, point is-
I'm looking for something a bit more versatile than the basic multisession that the above mentioned offer - something in the direction of a synch programme would be the ideal !!

An older copy of nero with my computer but it wouldnt work anymore when I changed the burner-drive.
I dont know what version it was but it did multisession very nicely -
you got the option to delete (or not) on the disc what was deleted on the harddrive - there were other options but I cant remember them now.

Any other proposals?
I could always get an older copy of Nero, but it would be nice to get something that updates without the kitchen sink 


*** [Damn damn damn 
it IS the drive (or it's software/driver maybe?) must try update software etc.
It's a Plextor - wasnt expecting any problems with that...]