Recent Posts

151

General Software Discussion / Re: a program similar to DropFolder

« Last post by techidave on December 16, 2013, 07:01 AM »

yes, we are using the latest version of Handbrake.  DropFolders just uses the command line of Handbrake for the conversion and encoding stuff.

not sure if this will help but here is the handbrake settings ( i think).  --encoder x264 --vb 1800 --ab 128 --maxWidth 640 --maxHeight 480 --two-pass --optimize

I am using an old HP ProLiant ML150G2 server that has 2 Xeon 3.0 ghz processors with 2gb of RAM.  I do have more RAM on order.  I am running Win 2008R2 64 bit server.  and yes, we are using the 64 bit verison of handbrake.

152

General Software Discussion / Re: a program similar to DropFolder

« Last post by techidave on December 16, 2013, 04:12 AM »

I guess I left out one very important detail.  Our camcorder records in .mst by default, it can record in .mp4 but that one has a default time length that cannot be overrode.  Our productions are always longer than the default of like 15 minutes.  if we use the other camera that has a mini DV tape, then I have to record it to DVD first so it is in the Video_TS format.

Procomptor, as near as I can tell the program you mention only goes from FLV to mp4.

I would like one that will let me "optimize for the web" and then it plays well on any device.

153

General Software Discussion / a program similar to DropFolder

« Last post by techidave on December 14, 2013, 03:32 PM »

I ran across this program DropFolders that uses Handbrake, along with Adobe Air to automatically convert videos to another type of video format.  One of the problems that I have is taking a video file over 1 gb and converting it to .mp4 takes a very long time as in hours and then there is a chance that the program will lock up on me and not finish.  The nice thing about this program is it can watch MULTIPLE source folder and then after the conversion is done, place it in MULTIPLE destination folders.

Yes the program has not been updated in over 3 years.  Has anyone stumbled across another program similar to this that will watch multiple folders?  I have searched and only found some that watch a single folder.

If this program would work and work faster it would save me a lot of work.  Some of my teachers are wanting to video their class and then upload it to our media server where the students could access it.  So math teacher would upload a video to a folder called source/math and the program would do its thing, converting it to .mp4 and place it in a folder called destination/math.

Hoping that someone here can help.

thanks
dave

154

Living Room / Re: Migrating from Google Gmail.com to Microsoft Outlook.com

« Last post by techidave on December 12, 2013, 07:17 AM »

That's ok IanB.  I should have started a new thread.  I think Google does have some converters but not sure if they do for Office 365.  And maybe I don't want to go down that path, but we are looking at Google Apps and Chromebooks for our school. 

Finding the Office web apps on our office 365 for education portal is terribly difficult.  we don't need to use them as I have the desktop version installed on all of our machines.  I was looking at those students who cannot afford to have a new version of Office installed. 

So enter Google Docs.  they updated the Google spreadsheet yesterday so it does have more features.  Now if they would just do their Presentation app ...

155

Living Room / Re: Migrating from Google Gmail.com to Microsoft Outlook.com

« Last post by techidave on December 12, 2013, 04:09 AM »

and if one wants to move from Office 365 for education(Outlook) to Google apps for education (gmail), then is there something to help going the opposite direction?

156

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: looking for MS Word freebie

« Last post by techidave on November 25, 2013, 05:00 AM »

I doubt that you could find a legal copy of an older version of MS Word.  But an excellent, free alternative to Word is AbiWord which is available here

157

General Software Discussion / Re: software to edit pdfs

« Last post by techidave on November 17, 2013, 02:58 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions. Pdfescape looks good.  I shall give them all a try.

158

General Software Discussion / Re: software to edit pdfs

« Last post by techidave on November 15, 2013, 05:13 PM »

I have less experience than you tomos.  I was just guessing about it being editable.

159

General Software Discussion / Re: software to edit pdfs

« Last post by techidave on November 15, 2013, 05:06 PM »

But I could be wrong.

160

General Software Discussion / Re: software to edit pdfs

« Last post by techidave on November 15, 2013, 05:06 PM »

I think they only allow it tomos if the original form was created to be edited.

161

General Software Discussion / software to edit pdfs

« Last post by techidave on November 15, 2013, 04:01 PM »

With so much of the world wanting people to edit their pdfs and them email them back, it has sent us searching for an inexpensive way to do this at our school.

All kinds of forms require this, why they cannot make it editable before they send it out is beyond me.

I am looking to do this for around 20 people, so free or inexpensive would be nice.

We use Windows 7 Pro, Office 2010 Pro if that helps any.

perhaps there is an online site that might let you do it.

thanks in advance for the suggestions,
dave

162

Living Room / Re: How long do hard drives actually live for?

« Last post by techidave on November 13, 2013, 05:40 AM »

would it be safe to say that the newer, bigger hard drives with more storage space run hotter than the older 80 gb or less hard drives of yesteryear?  I have taken apart lots of older 30 and 40gb drives and they only have 2 platters in them.  If I am not mistaken, the newer 500 gb drives have 3 or 4 platters in them, thus creating more heat.
 and then those enterprised drives that I use in my servers weigh in at twice what the consumer models do.  I am talking 3.5" black label vs blue label WD drives of the same storage size.

163

Living Room / Re: do safe online game websites even exist?

« Last post by techidave on November 06, 2013, 05:50 AM »

Thanks Tao and Deo for the advice and suggestions.  I was just on the thefreegamesdb.com which is now the free games for downloadable games mentioned in this thread.  I assume they are safe.  

164

DC Gamer Club / Re: A Large Database Of Free Games

« Last post by techidave on November 06, 2013, 05:39 AM »

Very nice site.  I may have to download some of these for my older people to play on their computers instead of getting a virus from the online game sites.

165

Living Room / do safe online game websites even exist?

« Last post by techidave on November 05, 2013, 09:02 PM »

I have several older people in my town that having nothing much better to do than play on the computer.  They love to play card games and a few arcade style games.  I am tired of redoing their computers once or twice a year because they get on sites lite iWin.com etc..  I have downloaded a host file from hphost (malwarebytes) to try and help stop some of the junk from getting on their computer.

Does safe websites even exist?  is msn games, primarygames.com or gamehouse.com safe? 

166

Living Room / Re: on the 'benefits' of technology...

« Last post by techidave on October 29, 2013, 05:27 AM »

very interesting. 

167

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by techidave on October 19, 2013, 07:52 AM »

Computer Configuration>Windows Setting>Security Settings>Local Policy>Security Options>Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only.  It is set to "Enable" by default.  change it to disable.

Here is the explanation by Microsoft of this setting:

Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only

This security setting determines whether local accounts that are not password protected can be used to log on from locations other than the physical computer console. If enabled, local accounts that are not password protected will only be able to log on at the computer's keyboard.

Default: Enabled.


Warning:

Computers that are not in physically secure locations should always enforce strong password policies for all local user accounts. Otherwise, anyone with physical access to the computer can log on by using a user account that does not have a password. This is especially important for portable computers.

168

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by techidave on October 19, 2013, 07:44 AM »

there is a setting if your using the Pro version of XP to allow blank passwords.  I usually use gpedit to set this.  let me see if I can find the path for it.

169

General Software Discussion / Re: What's up with Flash crashing all the time lately?

« Last post by techidave on October 16, 2013, 05:37 AM »

nvidia does have a driver detect option on their website that I have used before.  Not sure about an uninstaller other than the one that comes with their software.

170

General Software Discussion / Re: Silent installer for java and adobe products

« Last post by techidave on October 10, 2013, 01:34 PM »

we can neither do away with Java or Flash.  online educational sites are horrible in their use of Java and Flash.  They are also horrible in the version they require.  One site will update their end to a newer version in order for it to work which in turn, breaks another site that hasn't updated. 

I usually try to wait until someone gets the error that they need to use a newer version but that is a problem to, because they have a class in the computer lab and then they cannot do what they wanted them to do. 

so that is why i am looking for some kind of auto installer.  But even the suggestions are pretty price for our small school.   

171

General Software Discussion / Silent installer for java and adobe products

« Last post by techidave on October 10, 2013, 05:36 AM »

I am looking for a way to update computers on our school network (Windows 7).  Mostly for Java and adobe products like Reader and Flash.  Alot of our school software requires the latest version and for me to spend time manually updating them is just not realistic.

One thing would be nice if it could scan our Windows network to see if updates were needed and then silent install the necessary programs.

Does anything like this exist or could a program be written to do this?  I am not a programmer so I don't even know if it could be done.  It would make my life easier. 

172

Living Room / Re: Vocab tune-up

« Last post by techidave on September 16, 2013, 05:51 AM »

a saying that I picked up somewhere along the line, "even if you were using perfect english, who would know it?" 

173

Living Room / Re: printer to repair or not repair

« Last post by techidave on September 10, 2013, 05:42 AM »

actually, Target, I have asked them and they say both machines are very much worth repairing.  I don't very often buy new machines from him so he does benefit that way from me. He likes the 4100 and the P3005 because they are a business class printer, durable, the parts are easy to get and easy to replace.

to repair or not repair wasn't really the question of the OP.  It was at what point do you stop repairing them and buy new... that was the question.  the printers in question, have less than 72000 pages run through them so they have lots of life left.

I probably will repair once, and then buy new the second time.  98% of the time my machines don't need repaired again.  some of my teachers don't even put a thousand pages a year on them.  so repairs tend to last me a very long time.

174

Living Room / Re: printer to repair or not repair

« Last post by techidave on September 07, 2013, 06:08 PM »

most of the time they need a good cleaning and maybe new feed rollers, possible a transfer roller or fuser on occasion.  Fusers are expensive and the others are not that bad.  The company i use is legit and very good.  the do repairs for lots of companies and I do trust them.  Usually it cost me the parts plus an hour or so of labor ($75).  My users don't put lots of pages through them so journally repairs last quite a while. 

175

Living Room / Re: printer to repair or not repair

« Last post by techidave on September 07, 2013, 05:58 PM »

Mouser, I can partially agree with if we are talking about a hundred dollar printer, then yeah, repairs probably wont be worth it.  But brand new the P3005 and 4100 HP are many hundreds of dollars.  The 4100s are known to be real workhorses and some probably have a million or more pages.  Te older ones tend to have heavier and possibly more metal parts in them than the newer plastic printers.