Recent Posts

1326

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / WinFix! [was Dr Windows 2!]

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 23, 2007, 03:39 PM »

 

Hi again all,

I have been working, for the last couple of months, on making a new version of mouser's app, Dr. Windows. It is my favorite DC app to date, and it has gone almost 2 years without an update
So, I downloaded, installed and ran Dr. Windows, and have a clone made up. It does NOT (as of right now) have any options, so that is the only thing missing. It will do the following things, (as of right now):

Open (not that this is really needed in a list, but it is something it does )
Close
Enable/Disable Protection (exactly like Dr. Windows, the checkbox does nothing. Made it easier on me, too!)
Activate Now (run a joke on demand)
Run a random joke every 30 minutes (if requested, I can change this timeframe).
Upon opening, Dr. Windows 2 welcomes you, and it confirms that it "is loaded and protecting your computer."
Features the About box from Dr. Windows.

It is also faster to load (I think, I will have to confirm this), it allows adding of additional jokes (via AHK), and I am looking into getting an icon now.

I will post here with a more "final" versions screenshots, and after I confirm everything is working.

Thanks all (and mouser, for letting me make it - I wasn't sure about using the same name & configuration, but it looks like its ok),
Brandon

[Ed ... Topic title changed as requested. Carol Haynes]

1327

General Software Discussion / Computer jokeware...

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 23, 2007, 02:17 PM »

JUST TO CLARIFY BEFORE YOU READ: This is NOT a malicious...project (I can't think of a better word). Its just something I want to try and see if I could do.

Hi everybody,
This is probobly one of (if not the) wierdest requests ever...BUT...
I want to make a program that jokes around with unsuspecting users and looks like a malicious program. Not a normal malware program that does actual harm, just like a proof-of-concept/"look at what I made!" bragging rights kind of thing. And no, I am not going to shove this into any of my programs or anything (as it is, I might edit it so its less badware and more jokeware).

I know the annoying run-on-startup, and maybe the "Windows is shutting down" shutdown.exe trick every once in a while, but other then that, I am out of ideas. Just displaying these, not actually doing them though (ex: Windows is now shutting down... fake dialog).

1328

Living Room / Re: Show us your (physical) desktop

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 22, 2007, 11:13 PM »

Ooh, joy- I get to show off my new computer setup

Basically I have 2 3 desktops (computers), hooked to ONE monitor (old desktop = VGA, new (Gaming) desktop = DVI)

The desktop on the left is my new gamer, an eMachines (yes, I am able to run Xbox 360 type games on an eMachines...) and the one on the right is my working/guest computer/outside world communications computer. The third PC is a WIP that is basically doomed to be taken apart, but atm it is still in one piece, begging for RAM and a HD.

The keyboard/mouse setup is...uhh...uhh...well......it speaks for itself

and I have yet to put the new computer speakers into the old computer *adds to list*

I have my Linksys Wireless WRT300N (Draft N) router up atop my computer cabinent, now home to my Xbox/PS2/TV/random stuff I will find in 10 years (dead bodies of visitors, etc )

As far as back/wrist stuff goes...my chair offers none of either, and is broken (I am doomed to become a cube, smashed under the chair yelling for help )

For those of you with broadband, I am (right now) uploading a vid of it to YouTube. IMO, better then the pictures. I will edit this post when it is done.
Here is the link, 43 seconds, so not a big download
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MBtC9dTmeck

1329

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: RunScanner -autostart and antihijack control/analysis program

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 22, 2007, 08:04 PM »

Sounds cool! Kind of like a mini, on-demand scanner for badware in common system places. Strange to see all the advanced options, but its always a plus!

1330

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 20, 2007, 12:11 AM »

Ok, I have done a little updating, and was looking into making a built-in updating program, so i am going to make a somewhat proof-of-concept version of it for me to build on. I was thinking about hosting it on FileHippo.com, so that may be another option (that way you can just run the update checker in EasyControl and get the new program with it!).

I will wait until CCleaner 2.0 comes out of beta, to update links and such, before posting the program (so not really a change or anything, just a notice). The new version looks really nice, they say it is 1/2 the size, faster and now even has the ability to go portable!

I am going to scan the net tomorrow for a new Registry Cleaner as well.

Is there anything anyone wants added (anything)? I have quite a bit of time to work on it, so if you have an idea it will probobly show up in the new version.

1331

General Software Discussion / Re: CPU Usage shoots up to 100% !?!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2007, 11:07 PM »

I have had/am having a similar problem, whereas even during idle times, my CPU will jump up to 100% and the heatsink fan will go INSANE (if you know what a PS2 sounds like, take that up a knotch, and you have my CPU fan).

I tried CPUIdle and it helped (a lot), but the pricetag drives me away - I found a freeware program but development stopped several years ago when the company went out of buisness (and it doesn't support Vista, obviously).

I was going to ask once I started reading of we could get a discount on it, as it would help me keep my hearing for more then the next month but I already see lanux has hinted at that.

1332

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: AcroLiminator 1.0

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2007, 03:27 AM »

Walt is this dead in the water or...what? It is still a really good concept and program, but no development (unless your doing something that I don't know about...)

1333

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2007, 02:54 AM »

Quick update: OK, I am going to keep working on it, and see if I can't get everything done. I have already done a major update and added text help below buttons, explaining what they do, and making the buttons simpler. UNFORTUNATELY, 800x600 users will have difficulty using the lower buttons. I am sorry about that, but to keep the interface looking nice I can't really do anything about it. If it is a problem I do have an idea, but it won't look as good as it could.

1334

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2007, 02:04 AM »

OK, I am going to post a question here instead of the install program (for now) so, here goes:

I have a list of different things I want to incorporate into the program, and have part of them planned, but it would be at least another week (probably two, to be honest) to get it all setup. I have most of my goals done for this release, but I just realised I need to update and toss the help file in there too, so that would have to be put off too !!!

So, in a nutshell, what should I do?
a) Release the current one (it works fine, there are no bugs* or anything)
b) hold off 1 +/- week and work on it a bit more

*No bug statement is not guaranteed

I want everyone to have a simple, nice experience with EasyControl (Easy to Control) and I want to make it as good as it can be, but the current version makes setup a bit easier, and makes overall use for all users a lot more...causal (thats not the word I want to use, but its a lot better then it was basically). So basically it boils down to the fight between

Distribute now and let new/inexperienced users have an easier navigation system AND wait longer for new features (longer then the latter, below)
vs
Distribute later, and have to continue to help newer users get used to the somewhat strange setup of the program BUT get more features in the end.

 

Thanks all!

1335

General Software Discussion / Re: BEWARE: IE7Pro and OrbitDownloader

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2007, 12:22 AM »

(Sorry to bump a 3 month old thread, btw)

Anyways, I just read like 5 pages of this stuff...completely rediculous if you ask me! Wouldn't an IP ban solve the problem (as dk70 said)? And perhaps a removal of the threads/topics talking about them (as to remove further download & infection)? I have seen a couple people using IE7 addons just like this one, completely oblivious to the fact that their computer has become a spam bot in an army (or whatever). More shouldn't to fall victim to it.

And on a somewhat off-topic note...

Spyware Terminator is made by former adware makers and still "recommended" every where. Im not so sure you should use FDM, DAP or Flashget either if you have too good memory.

-dk70 (May 12, 2007, 07:07 AM)

I personally use and LOVE Spyware Terminator (and yes, I know about its past, in full) and Free Download Manager isn't half bad, either. (Just had to defend my program, it has saved my behind several times )

1336

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: timer that counts resting, interruptions, and work as separate entries

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 18, 2007, 02:47 PM »

I think it would be a good idea, and I might be able to use it, I put things off a lot, and spend a lot more time at the PC then I should. One question though, would you be able to pause the entire program (like while I am playing games)?

I would be willing to give it a shot, coding it in AHK, but I am tied up with a couple other things I am doing with that. Maybe, but not right now.

1337

General Software Discussion / Re: changing label from E: to C: in the primary boot partition (windows XP). How?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 18, 2007, 02:40 PM »

Go ahead and change the drive letter, but before you reboot, (after changing the letter), do this:

BACKUP DATA!
Start
Run
msconfig
Boot.ini (or Boot)
Check All Boot Paths (the button)
It should correct itself, then do a reboot and see if it works.

1338

Living Room / Re: Request for AHK help...I feel so dumb...

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 16, 2007, 08:38 PM »

OK cool, I will give it a go and see what happens. Thanks a lot, this was really getting annoying getting irrelevant search results 

1339

Living Room / Re: Request for AHK help...I feel so dumb...

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 16, 2007, 01:42 AM »

New request (I didn't want to clutter the forum so I figured I would just bump this with a possibly unanswerable (if that is a word) question. Also, I would have asked this in the DC Chat room, but my browser crashes when I try to go there (IE 7 and Firefox 2.0.0.6!)

I am making a replacement for my favorite DC program, Dr. Windows. I have the Gui (partially), the tray menu, and most of the system planned. The problem is that...

I have looked around the AHK site/help file (extensively, maybe just the wrong search terms?), and I cannot find a command to run a random program (random every time). Now, I am not sure if I am answering my own question here, but ideally shouldn't it look something like...

[Select]

Activate:
Run %ProgramFiles%\Dr. Windows 2\errors\*.*
Return

And have all the usual "errors" in there as separate, tiny .exes? Or would that run ALL the errors?

1340

General Software Discussion / Re: Is this the holy grail to solving windows-out-of-resources bugs?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 15, 2007, 09:30 PM »

I have used 95, 98, 98SE, 2k, ME, XP (all versions), Vista Home Basic and Home Premium, and have yet to run into this problem. Heck, even running games that require minimum system requirements above that of a 7 year old computer hasn't triggered this. Maybe I am just lucky

1341

General Software Discussion / DonationCoder apps integration with PortableApps?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 15, 2007, 09:20 PM »

Hi everyone,
I have read in several locations now that mouser's (and obviously skrommel's) applications are able to be run from any portable media. However, is it not true that they write to the registry (for uninstalling purposes)?

Personally, I hate the U3 jump drives (I got a 4GB Geek Squad drive that came with it and when I found out it got immediately uninstalled and I contacted them about not telling me that it was included, in some more-then-rude words...) so I use the open source program PortableApps (http://www.portableapps.com/). If possible (I have done it before, but the registry problem has blocked me before with other programs) can I put ScreenshotCaptor, Launchbar Commander, FARR and Process Tamer (and perhaps my all time favorite Dr. Windows ) onto my drive? (Without tinkering with too many things?)

Thanks in advance all,
Brandon

1342

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 15, 2007, 08:40 PM »

Edit 2: It has been added into the program, along with a little info if you forget what it is asking

Brandon,
1) is that "it" = the option I requested?
2) do we still download from post 129 above?

-tomos (August 14, 2007, 02:10 AM)

Yes it is (EasyProtect, I just came up with the name out of the blue )
EDIT: I didn't see your second question. I do believe that is the updated version, but I would recommend AGAINST downloading it, as Saturday I will be uploading the latest version with a GUI improvment, new loading screen (with progress bar!) and totally optimized code (I litterally took it apart and put it back together in a better manner to boost time and increase the time before I need to recode it in a better, more logical manner). I am tinkering with the GUI now on my Windows XP machine (7 years old) and I am having...trouble with the new GUI setup, but it should be done in the next day or two and all set for Saturday. I would say more, but I will keep it "top secret" for now

Yay, CrossLoop is featured online! I still haven't found any programs that are bad that I use for the maintenance (I do have "guidelines" I follow before I use them, though).

And yes, CrossLoop should be setting off your virus scanners. Be happy they are doing their job! CrossLoop is NOT a virus, BUT the program at its core (VNC I believe) is commonly used and manipulated to be one. I have been running scans on remote computers via CrossLoop and actually killed CrossLoop because the virus scanner picked it up while I was working

1343

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: My Windows Cursors

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 15, 2007, 08:34 PM »

and you hear a flushing sound when you empty it. 

-app103 (July 28, 2007, 09:59 PM)

I use a program that makes a flushing noise while cleaning, but how did you get the recycle bin to do it
That would be hilarious to do it on all my computers at a set interval every day

1344

General Software Discussion / Re: Is there a way for Firefox to automatically login to websites.

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 15, 2007, 08:29 PM »

Firefox CAN remember logins and passwords, you just have to click the button to login. No add-ons needed.

1345

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 13, 2007, 06:33 PM »

I may include it as a "Would you like to protect your computer while doing x?" type of thing. I just revamped the entire program's code, making it more efficient, and bumped the loading time down to 10 seconds (from 15). I will give it a whirl and see what I can do, but I probobly should be able to do it without problem.

EDIT: I just did a test run with 2 basic buttons and everything checks out. I will have it as an option in the next version (a week or so from now).

Edit 2: It has been added into the program, along with a little info if you forget what it is asking and a new GUI setup (nothing you can see, but it is a thousand times better ). I have also added a loading bar to the splash screen, and improved the loading sequence. Along with a couple other things that is just code based, not much else has changed. Any ideas or thoughts? 

1346

General Software Discussion / Re: Top 3 programs you use

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2007, 11:55 PM »

Easier to use, seems to open quicker, 1.6 will be obsolete soon anyways, and a newer interface. I used the beta releases of version 2 and I would never switch back from them to 1.6. Maybe I am just the type who absolutely has to have the most resent version . I may include 1.6 support in SimpleStart, but IMO it is best to update everything asap.

1347

General Software Discussion / Re: Top 3 programs you use

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2007, 07:55 PM »

*screams* (OK, not really)

OK, well somehow without going insane I have managed put every single program name into my little (or not) notepad file, and am going to organize them and see what ones I can take out. Firefox, Opera, Maxthon (2, sorry but you should update anyways...), Thunderbird, FARR are all going to be in my app guaranteed, and it looks like Explorer (Windows), Xplorer2, and a couple others will be too. Its gonna be a pain making this down to the top 25. Hopefully more people will submit programs, I have about 5 more days until I plan to put this up for download.

1348

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2007, 07:40 PM »

System restore on Windows XP quite frankly sucks... I have had it work, but about...10-15% of the time. As far as I can tell, for some reason it seems to depend on the install (if you install XP and it won't restore right, and 6 months later you reinstall it may work again... ). I have done it on Vista and it is a lot better, but it takes FOREVER...


And also...

* Don't bother with registry cleaners (esp. in automatic mode) they always cause more problems than they solve. Automatic registry cleaning absolutely WILL hose your system - even on a clean install of windows...

-Carol Haynes (July 29, 2007, 03:04 PM)

I have tried and used several (at least 5 off the top of my head) registry cleaners with no problems at all. Strange.

1349

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

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2007, 05:52 PM »

OK, as requested by Curt, MajorGeeks is now the download area for Advanced WindowsCare V2 Personal.

I will post the update here as I said (read above post), I did tweak a couple things and I also added a new feature, some of you may find this to be handy, others may be freaking out flipping the power to your computer off, but I think it is for the better:

When AutoInstalling, AutoCleaning, AutoOptimizing, or EasyMaintaining, you will NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR COMPUTER. This is added so that if the mother-in-law comes over and still uses Windows 98SE and wants to browse the internet through My Computer and plug the phone line into the FireWire port while your computer is getting fixed (or is installing things to get fixed) nothing can go wrong. (My grandmother...oh, never mind )

The BAD part about this is that if something DOES go wrong ( ) you will have to
a) let it go
b) shut off the system power
c) run around in a circle and hope for the best

1350

Living Room / Re: hard drive resurrection [I'm desperate!]

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 10, 2007, 06:51 PM »

OK, my semi-profesional (or not ) opinion...

If I am reading this right (I am somewhat in a hurry, I will re-read later to make sure I don't sound like an idiot )
Your initial 80GB drive, although risky, MAY be recoverable via freezing it about 24-36 hours, then taking it out and quickly trying to get as much data off as possible. As soon as the drive warms up, it will die (for good), so get it FAST.

As far as switching circut boards, make sure the drives are 100% exactly the same, and try it again. Trying it in another computer may help also, make sure its the slave though (so you can boot & recover).

Just try to freeeze it, it HAS worked for people; either that, or try DriveSavers (the bill ranges from $200 for a failed recovery to, for 80 GB i think like $2000 max for a 100% full recovery, depending on the type of service (ex economy is the cheapest)).

Hope I was some help!