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1201

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 30, 2007, 09:10 PM »

thanks, but this wasnt what i was asking about ..
i was wondering if you had the setup file saved onto read-only media (or the setup file properties were altered to be read-only), whether this would trip the auto-delete feature into an error.

judging by the last line of that quote, however, if it isnt able to delete the file, it appears some form of error message would appear?

-kwah (October 30, 2007, 07:23 PM)

Oh, didn't understand the first time around. No, it will not trigger an error It checks for the setup file on the user's desktop at every run. If it finds it, it deletes it. If it doesn't, it skips the deletion and continues on. You can put the setup file anywhere you want, and no errors will occur.

1202

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 30, 2007, 07:13 PM »

Hey, great timing! Was just about to post anyways

User Account Control:
UAC is not a choice on my end, unfortunately. Assuming you are going to use EasyControl, you do not HAVE to disable UAC, but to work around it, you do need to do the following...

Tell EasyControl (aka SnapSuite in about a month) that you are on Windows XP/2k etc when it asks

Do not run unattended OR EasyProtect Enabled maintenance. You need to be there and able (EasyProtect blocks input) to tell UAC its alright to continue (and FAST, EasyControl does not "wait" for the computer- it is mostly timer based)

I am sorry, but the IObit Advanced WindowsCare program bugs UAC and therefore it is just easier to disable it - most people hate it anyways. I don't have control over the 3rd party programs EasyControl uses to do maintenance, so I can't alter the code so it doesn't trip UAC. (This was tested with an older version of IObit Advanced WindowsCare, there is a new version out. This may or may not fix the UAC bug.)

-----

Auto-deletion:
As for the auto-deletion of the setup file, this is done by design (and if you ask anyone here, I release a LOT of updates , so keeping the installer is just a waste IMO). 99% of the people I help out STILL have the darn installer sitting on their desktop from when they installed it 2 months ago. In order to keep the file, just copy it to a safe place (away from the desktop) or rename it before running EasySuite for the first time.

-----

Read-only media:
As for read-only media (CD's, etc) you cannot CURRENTLY run EasySuite off this. It has to be able to write. HOWEVER, SnapSuite will have a version designed for this, and it won't have to write anything (so read-only media is fine). SnapSuite won't be out for another month or so (in a stable state, that is).

-----

Known bugs:
There is the one bug where EasyControl might tell you some error about afrc.exe not being on the desktop. I am not sure why this is, it happens randomly it seems. That is the only known bug.

-----

No problem, the only bad question is the one not asked!
-Brandon

EDIT: BTW welcome to the forum!

1203

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Do this First.

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 29, 2007, 07:24 PM »

You want an alarm to "bing" when the app restores itself at the timeout?

How about a blood curdling scream (as in "Time's up; you die!")?   

-BigJim (October 29, 2007, 04:43 PM)

lol!

That would be a great alarm clock! If you added an MP3 of that into your task list...hmm...*goes off to make alarm clock*

1204

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Do this First.

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 28, 2007, 12:12 AM »

Awesome- finally something I can use to keep track of stuff I need to do (and when it has to be done by) - the Windows Sidebar "Notes" gadget won't let you go past 10 notes, and I had about 20 things to do last week. I'll just use this side-by-side with my Notes when ToDoOrDie gets full.

Simple, effective, great little proggy!

1205

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 27, 2007, 11:25 PM »

I got this question in the IRC channel, and since I use the special IRC channel and whatnot I cannot personal message people (that, and I am a total idiot when it comes to IRC commands).

The AppLaunch list will NOT be user-editable. That won't change. BUT it will expand a lot greater then it is above, so it wont be this broken down list of 4 programs and a media controller.

I am not letting people edit the AppLaunch code because of several reasons...

1) Not that this has anything to do with people here at DC, but I know a few (local)...*ehem* "individuals" that would love to take my code and do anything and everything to make it "theirs".
2) The code for everything (EVERYTHING) is on one file. That will be about...2000+ lines (at least). Way too much to go through.
3) Someone will end up editing the code, and break it. Then I have to explain what they did and its a whole deal.

Someone will do something somewhere and something will happen and its just easier to not do it then to do it. I know that this is a pain to some of you but if you think about it it just makes sense. I am sorry about that, but if it's not user-editable then I spend more time coding and less time helping- meaning a better program for everyone!

1206

General Software Discussion / Re: YzShadow - Drop shadows for all your windows

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 27, 2007, 10:27 PM »

I have used YzShadow for a while, but there seems to be a lack of development, and therefore no Vista version. Havn't used it since I found out. Sad, it really is a good program. As long as your on XP it works great (and you can make the shadows look like lighting effects and whatnot )

1207

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 27, 2007, 09:34 PM »

Here is a screenshot of Build 28, Alpha 1. As you can see in the AutoType column, this is why it is a test build

~5 pixels are cut from the right side, but nothing comes after TaskbarTime, so it isn't a big deal.

Enjoy!
-Brandon

EDIT: New screenshot available below.

1208

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 27, 2007, 03:04 PM »

A semi-large info bit here, I am going to try and condense this as much as I can...

Right now, I am making EasyChatClear, EasyClock, EasyControl, EasyOpen and the Updater into 4 centralized programs. These are called AppLaunch, AutoType, SystemCare and TaskbarTime. What makes this a big deal is that, instead of a Main Menu, then a program, then options, then more options...it becomes one window. It looks something like the newly released Norton 360 (I am not a Norton fan), with separate sections during different things. This makes it easier to navigate, and presents all the options to the user in one simple interface.

On top of that, AppLaunch is getting a huge boost. Right now I am listing off all the popular web browsers, email clients and media players, and telling AppLaunch to scan for them. So on every start, AppLaunch will check default locations for programs like Firefox, Opera, Maxthon, iTunes, foobar2000, Windows Mail (Vista), Outlook Express (XP), and Thunderbird. So no long list of programs to go through. Just the ones you use. As a bonus, it *may* be able to control your media player as well. I am implementing that now, and I will have to test it.

Also, while it was a TIGHT squeeze, the program still fits on 1024x768 (I mean, you might be missing 5 pixels on each side, but it fits).

I am trying to make everything automatically checked, so you don't have to answer questions all the time. The program just looks for it.

Feedback?

-Brandon

EDIT: SnapSuite will only run on Windows 2000 and up. If your computer doesn't meet this requirement then you will be notified and the uninstall procedure will begin.

1209

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 27, 2007, 12:34 AM »

Hi tomos,

Currently I am just working on recoding EVERYTHING, then pushing it into one EXE. That will take about another 2 weeks time to make fully stable.

After that I am going to change a few code things (I won't get into it because it's kinda confusing) to make it easier on me later to work on it, then I will release a beta.

The original beta will be somewhat stable, but expect untested code and whatnot, so errors are bound to happen. If you want to try it, I expect it to be out in about 3 weeks or so. I will probably release weekly updates until I can't find any more bugs, then I will go to work converting the (in theory) bug-free code into a portable version.

So basically...
It isn't ready yet, wait about 3 weeks (mid November) for a beta.
The stable version will be out in January for Windows.
I *could* send you like weekly test versions but the errors would just confuse your sister, and then we having a rolling snowball of bad events..."this doesn't work" "this says this" "what do I do here" "why does this say this" (I have been there )

My recommendation:
Wait for the first beta. I am going to check the code as I go along for any errors, so it should be pretty safe. Just a couple more weeks. (Make sure she updates as soon as new versions come out though, to avoid problems! )

1210

General Software Discussion / Best (free) program to recover files?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 26, 2007, 01:28 AM »

Hello everyone,

Looking for a really good file recovery program. I just deleted about 2 weeks of confusing work via CCleaner's Recycle Bin Tray Menu extension, and Recuva (made by the same people who make CCleaner) can't find it. I used to know a good stand-alone EXE program for doing this, but I can't think of it right now.

I have CCleaner set to just basic delete files, and I know that they are still physically on the disk, so I need to get the files back before they get overwritten.

Any suggestions/programs that work?

EDIT: Got the files , I thankfully had (by chance) backed them up onto the root of the drive earlier today. Still, a good file recovery tool would be good to know for everyone just in case stuff like this happens.

Thanks!

1211

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 25, 2007, 05:43 PM »

Maybe these kinds of arrangements are best coordinated using forum personal messages or email, rather than through public forum posts.

-mouser (October 25, 2007, 01:57 PM)

Good point- I was in a hurry when I posted earlier. I'll keep that in mind next time.

1212

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 25, 2007, 01:46 PM »

OK, I will be home ASAP after my appointment so I should be home by then, if not it shouldn't be more then a few minutes.

1213

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 25, 2007, 08:25 AM »

Before I forget- I will be online from 11:30to 1:00PM and then from ~2:30PM until 11:00PM tonight. I have early release, then an eye appointment at 1:30, so i have about an hour and a half open in there.

1214

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 24, 2007, 11:25 PM »

Hi Wolf!

Sure, that would be no problem to speed up the initial loading of stuff, its a quick job.

I have homework now and again, but rarely (I caught up). I am online from about 3:30PM-11:00PM -7:00GMT (US Mountain time, no daylight savings (Arizona)) on weekdays, and weekends from about 10:00AM-12:00AM (14 hours).

Administrator rights are...not (?) needed, but I would say yes just in case.

You just need CrossLoop (beta) from http://www.crossloop.com/ to let me connect. Your anti-virus software may say it is a virus (false-positive) due to it using WinVNC. Just allow it (disable security software for the best effect).

Time isn't a biggie with me, I have no tight schedule to keep . So don't worry about that.

If you have any Instant Messenger service, that is a huge help (AIM/AOL, MSN/WLM, Yahoo, IRC (for here @ DC), ICQ) so that getting connected initially is a LOT easier, and communicating in the event of a crash/system failure/etc occurs.

About the error: I did not have Opera installed when I made the code, just remembered that. Assuming you installed Opera to its default directory, could you please give me the full path (w/ filename) to the Opera exe?

EDIT: I read the error wrong, I will so a search for "ProgranFiles" on the code right now thanks for pointing that out
EDIT 2: All fixed, the next version will have the patch for the typo

Thanks,
-Brandon

1215

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / SnapSuite? Linux? UNIX? Macintosh?!?!?!?!?!?! AHH!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 24, 2007, 12:55 AM »

Now that the title got your attention (if not, read it, laugh, then continue on )
, some more pretty boring news. But this bit of info may be interesting to some of DC's other members.

If anyone dropped by the IncrediSims.com website (visit http://www.incredisims.com/) between ~6:30PM US Pacific Time (GMT -8:00) and now, you may notice a large difference in several things.

1) There are large, blue, awesome-looking (not really ) buttons with the name "SnapSuite" on them.
2) The buttons have things like "Linux" and "Mac" on them!
3) The buttons link to informational pages
4) The home page is redone, there is a new look to it!
5) There are new colors, and the top of the page looks different

OK, that was a very nice list of changes. What does this mean?

A) The portable version is not going to be dropped (but postponed)
B) There *MIGHT* be a Linux/UNIX and/or Macintosh version. All these versions will lack SystemCare, however.
C) If you read a certain page carefully, you will see that the release date is "2008". This is not a typo. I have several major things to do that I have not talked about on the forum, and that stuff (just the Windows one itself!) will take a while. That, and my dwindling grades (and an upcoming birthday...time to work on those grades, if I want a party)

here is some code just to mess around (see "C)" above)

[Select]

If %brandon_want_birthday_party% = 1 ;If Brandon wants a birthday party...
GoSub, Bribe_Teacher ;Pay teacher lots of money...
else ;otherwise...
GoSub, Cancel_Party ;no party
Return

If %brandon_do_work% ;If Brandon does work...
ExitApp ;Terminate IMMEDIATELY!

That last line made me laugh, I just had to post it
(I do work, but I just couldn't resist. I need more sleep and less caffeine)

1216

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 21, 2007, 09:44 PM »

OK- got some good news and some bad news. Bad news affects a small portion of the people using EasySuite, but its still a step backwards.

Good news:
EasySuite is being renamed, along with all the other programs. This conversion is messy, but I have done it before, so its no biggie (so far!).

EasyControl (SystemCare now) is ready to be sent out. I have to confirm everything works after the name conversion, but other then that and one annoying bug (see bad news) all is well.

Bad news:
Support for the portable edition will be dropped due to this mass confusion with renaming. I might bring it back after, depends. You can still copy the unedited setup file to a portable device and take it with you, however.

EasyControl (SystemCare) has a bug with its "radio buttons" (dot buttons). In each box, the buttons are independent of one another. Therefore, you have several annoying dots in the boxes. Not a real bug, but an annoyance.

The setup procedure (for EasyControl/SystemCare) does NOT work (autoinstall of CCleaner, etc)...and I have no clue why. And, obviously, thats not good. *HOPEFULLY* I will have it fixed soon... :S

1217

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Free computer help online/CompuTech (my) programs

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 20, 2007, 10:40 PM »

Maybe I get bored a lot, but lately, I have gotten a lot more time on my hands.

When I am not playing games (or doing homework) I am usually at the AHK site, reading on new things. I was looking for a window to enter text to (like a text box) when I found a thing called a GroupBox. I have been looking for it but didn't know what it was called. The last hour I have been working at it, and was able to get a(n) (extremely) basic interface for EasyControl. I mean, Windows 95 basic. Point and click basic. Plug 'n' Play basic. It was too...gray, so I tossed in 16x16 images from the latest version, and it doesn't look half bad. It is...wierd though. A little to basic, IMO. But I do like it.

Take a look at the screenshot and tell me what you think. I think it is a step in the right direction, but I still enjoy the larger interface. Smaller + simpler = more user stupid, however (I have friends who can't find out where the Clean button is...even though it clearly says "Clean/Optimize" in large font...). And (usually) that is a good thing. (I even asked and got proof from someone, and they told me that they actually understood what everything did!)

 

Thanks all!
-Brandon

EDIT: Ignore the "Reload the script", that is for my personal use only, so I can debug easily and restart EasyControl on-demand

1218

Living Room / Re: Requesting new organization ideas for fresh windows installation

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 20, 2007, 01:30 AM »

I reorganize (or tidy-up) my Windows config every week or so. About 30-45 minutes total work (including defragging the new config of mass directories and such).

Here is how I do it:

Desktop contains ONLY the Recycle Bin. Everything else is
A) Put on my RocketDock (for games/extremely commonly used items), and I find it in the Start Menu and put it in the root of the start menu's All Programs folder (On XP, I also organized my Start Menu by Name, but if you check all the options (I am too lazy to find out exactly what one, and all = less crap) in CCleaner it does it for you )
B) Deleted, and I find it in the Start Menu and put it in the root of the start menu's All Programs folder (On XP, I also organized my Start Menu by Name, but if you check all the options (I am too lazy to find out exactly what one, and all = less crap) in CCleaner it does it for you )

My Documents contains...
mostly crap programs put in there (*ehem* Screenshot Captor *ehem*...)
contains some random temporary text files for temporary (duh) usage later.

My Music...
duh

My Videos...
(see above)

C:\Program Files - ONLY programs (and Windows crap). I use default directories on MOST things (that I can recognize) although having company names filling my Program Files folder is a big no-no for me.

C:\Games - ONLY Games (and Xfire/Fraps)

I also clean the drive root itself a lot, deleting the temporary windows crap that gets dropped in there in folder "35834953784bg98hr9gh39g8h84hy_update_kb1903478h" or something, and never removed by Microsoft's wonderful Windows Installer...

I check my startup proggies with StartupRun as well, crap gets in there randomly and its a pain. I have about 8 programs average booting with windows (Windows Sidebar, TrayIt, Taskbar Shuffle, L33tSig, Xfire, Xfire Music Plugin, and a couple others). Any more and I get picky.

As far as backups go, I dual partitioned my HDD, 20/120GB for backups, rest for my normal drive. Nightly auto backups of my C:\User\Brandon (I am on Vista, it is C:\Documents and Settings\Brandon on XP) and manual backups of new program versions reside on partition B. The good thing about this is I can wipe Vista at any time. The bad news is, if the whole drive goes belly up, I'm screwed .

So yea, a bare-minimum Start menu, game-coated RocketDock and empty desktop/taskbar fill my screen. Uhh....maybe a little bit too tidy? Oh well, works for me!

1219

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Use scroll lock LED as hard drive indicator

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 19, 2007, 05:25 PM »

EDIT: For spelling

-wreckedcarzz (October 19, 2007, 05:13 PM)

Still, "attached" is misspelled eheh

-jgpaiva (October 19, 2007, 05:17 PM)

You have GOT to be joking...

1220

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Use scroll lock LED as hard drive indicator

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 19, 2007, 05:13 PM »

@ Wetsmellydog: Not sure then. I would run it just in case, but I am not familiar with that exe.

@ BigJim: Here is your EXE (attached) all set and ready to go!

EDIT: For spelling

EDIT 2: Again ^

1221

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Use scroll lock LED as hard drive indicator

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 18, 2007, 01:04 AM »

By the way wetsmellydog, make sure you did what I said above before running the AHK script, otherwise you will get random readings.

(Just ONCE though! )

1222

General Software Discussion / Re: Back up files with a printer and scanner

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 18, 2007, 01:02 AM »

Anyone ever heard of Microfiche?

-Deozaan (October 17, 2007, 12:36 AM)

Huh?
*opens google webpage*

1223

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Use scroll lock LED as hard drive indicator

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 18, 2007, 01:01 AM »

Could I impose on someone to post the compiled script here?

Thanks!!  

Oh, what's that about running "diskperf.exe -y" first as mentioned in the first post on the AHK forum (http://www.autohotke...orum/topic17954.html) ?

-BigJim (October 17, 2007, 12:04 AM)

BigJim, just open the Run box (Start > Run) and type "diskperf.exe -y" (w/o quotes) to prep the computer to give off HDD readings for the AHK script. I will post the script sometime tomorrow as a compiled exe for you (I am adding it to my notepad here so I don't forget )

1224

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Finally, something not Easy (but its still easy :P)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 17, 2007, 06:20 PM »

OK, very very very basic update this time (just news update, no update update)

I am just going to work on making ALL the GUI's more compact and graphical, and also (probably) rename the programs. I have many many many (I mean 20+) programs that I am working on here and there when I scan my folder and get an idea. However, I think one of theme will be released with the next update in a couple weeks (more on that later).

Anyways, about renaming. I assume everyone else is also sick of the "EasyXYZ" naming idea I came up with, so I just got a spur of brainpower (you can smell the smoke, I am sure )...

These are just ideas, but I can't take writing Easy Easy Easy Easy Easy over and over and over anymore, I am dying of it

(Old Name -> New Name)
CompuTech EasyChatClear -> CompuTech AutoType

CompuTech EasyClock -> CompuTech AutoTime

CompuTech EasyControl -> CompuTech SystemCare

CompuTech EasyOpen -> CompuTech AppLaunch

CompuTech Maze Craze -> CompuTech Maze Craze

CompuTech EasySuite > CompuTech ... AppSuite...?

Just tossing out ideas; I am NOT creative so...yea...anything goes really
-Brandon

1225

General Software Discussion / Re: Back up files with a printer and scanner

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on October 16, 2007, 11:36 PM »

How to restore a backup with PaperBack:
...
5. You remember that the drivers you need are encoded onto the piece of yellowed paper you're trying to scan...

-Ralf Maximus (October 04, 2007, 03:07 PM)