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2376

Living Room / Re: CD archive and copying

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 29, 2009, 10:28 AM »

Just tried copying a CD using ImgBurn and then ripped both the original disc and the copy using RAW format in ISO Buster.

The two resulting image files have different hash counts.

Having said that the ImgBurn CD plays fine and I can't detect any audible difference between it and the original.

2377

Living Room / Re: CD archive and copying

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 29, 2009, 07:13 AM »

Sorry what settings did you have to change in ImgBurn?

I just chose Mode > Read, set an ISO file name, insert the disc to copy and clicked the start button.

To write it again just chose Mode > Write, select the Cue file, insert a disc and click on the start button.

To play it back just mount the CUE file in MagicDisc and double click start your player.

2378

Living Room / Re: CD archive and copying

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 28, 2009, 02:21 PM »

How about ImgBurn - you can 'read' discs to ISO/CUE format and burn them again from the CUE file. Use MagicDisc to mount and play the CDs (from the CUE file) on your PC.

All free tools.

2379

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 limited time upgrade discount starting tomorrow (June 26th)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 27, 2009, 03:23 PM »

As mentioned earlier, supposedly the countries that are part of the EU (which isn't the entire Europe) get the full version for upgrade price.

-f0dder

This statement is in line with everything I have read so far. EU users get all the benefits of upgrade pricing with the benefits of having a full non-upgrade version.

-Innuendo (June 27, 2009, 03:09 PM)

Thta's true but the only reason for this is not preferential treatment for Europe but rather than comply with the EU in any other way MS are being b****y awkward and not offering any Windows 7 build in the UK with Internet Explorer included. Consequently EU Win7 discs will have to be installed from scratch (even if you want to upgrade).

Having said that if you buy a Win 7  upgrade in other parts of the world it will probably work in the same way as Vista and WinXP SP3 and let you install it from clean without the need for a preinstalled version.

2380

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 limited time upgrade discount starting tomorrow (June 26th)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 27, 2009, 11:45 AM »

MS aren't offering the upgrade versions at all, but are offering promo prices on the retail version.
For instance, Home Premium £50

-Dormouse (June 27, 2009, 07:27 AM)

where did you see the prices for UK Carol ?  and any idea of Euro prices?

-tomos (June 27, 2009, 10:40 AM)

I got an email from MS.

Yes they are offering promo pre-sale prices on the full version but only because they have to because the Euro version will not have a functioning version of Windows 7 that will upgrade anything.

OK it is a good idea to clean install but it is a big inconvenience for European Vista users that they can't use an upgrade even if they want to.

2381

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 limited time upgrade discount starting tomorrow (June 26th)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 27, 2009, 06:58 AM »

Of course if you live in the UK simply change US$ for UK£

I can't believe MS can't convert currencies.

So we get a 'special' deal on Windows 7 HP and Pro- more expensive and no Internet Explorer installed.

Maybe it is a good deal getting Windows without IE eve if it is more expensive.

Trouble is everyone know the first thing most people will do is to install IE because there are so many badly designed websites that don't work properly in anything but IE.

UK Aside

I was working with a client the other day trying to solve a problem using the ParcelForce courier delivery website. He has to use it to generate the labels that the driver scans when collecting parcels and it wasn't working for him. Turns out it was an ISP server issue (that they won't admit) but I was shocked to see that a website that generates PDF files to print insists on using Internet Explorer and fails if you use any other browser. SO they are saying that anyone who wants to use their service has to use Windows based computers! How stupid is that?

2382

Living Room / Re: Need NAS Enclosure recommendation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2009, 05:28 PM »

The user reviews of WD 'Books' I have read have not been over complimentary.

I installed one of these for a client: http://www.amazon.co...tech-data/B001O35S7M

Quite nicely made and doesn't require any software on client machines (although you can install the supplied software if you want).

Has remote access too. Mirrored RAID as standard with two drives installed.

Not DLNA compliant though as far as I know.

2383

Living Room / Re: XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2009, 04:12 PM »

There was a known bug in one revision of Acronis that stopped images mounting.

You can still use normal file based restore to get stuff back and you can simply double click on the archive to explore and extract multiple files.

If you download and install the latest build it doesn't have that problem with new archives. To mount older archives they need to be rebuilt (use the option to consolidate a set of files to a new archive).

By the way I am using True Image Echo Workstation - not sure if the same bug applied to the Home edition.

-Carol Haynes (June 24, 2009, 01:15 PM)

You're probably talking about Acronis TI 2009 - the latest upgrade. I'm still using Acronis TI 11 and I do have the last build they released of that version. When the 2009 version was released there were a lot of bugs and unhappy campers, so I stuck with this version since it works more often than not!

I'm still sore over the Acronis TI 10 debacle - that version was faulty from day 1 and never did get fixed; they ended up releasing V.11 instead of fixing 10 - at a price, of course!

Jim

-J-Mac (June 24, 2009, 01:24 PM)

As I have said many times before I went away from the Home version because it seemed to be in a permanent beta phase - using home users as free testers of new versions.

The Corporate version (Echo Workstation) is much more solid and reliable and although it is a bit more expensive (though you can get a relatively inexpensive upgrade from the Home version) you can buy an annual maintenance which is just a few dollars and gives you priority support (literally within minutes of sending a message - impressive, and they are not snotty to corporate edition purchasers) and free updates to any versions released throughout the maintenance subscription. The subscription is also renewable annually.

2384

Living Room / Re: XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2009, 01:15 PM »

There was a known bug in one revision of Acronis that stopped images mounting.

You can still use normal file based restore to get stuff back and you can simply double click on the archive to explore and extract multiple files.

If you download and install the latest build it doesn't have that problem with new archives. To mount older archives they need to be rebuilt (use the option to consolidate a set of files to a new archive).

By the way I am using True Image Echo Workstation - not sure if the same bug applied to the Home edition.

2385

Living Room / Re: Need NAS Enclosure recommendation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2009, 10:14 AM »

Synology.com look like they have very nice range of products and are currently waiting for DLNA certification status.

Check out their forums for DLNA commentary about where they are.

I'd guess it depends how quickly you need the device.

2386

Living Room / Re: XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2009, 03:18 AM »

If you use Acronis (and presumably others) to image you C drive to the external hard disc you can 'mount' the image as a virtual drive which gives full access or use file based recovery.

Gets round the locking issue.

2387

Living Room / Re: XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 22, 2009, 04:55 PM »

Like 40Hz I use imaging and it is an effective way of getting a system up and running again quickly.

The routine I use on a new machine is:

1) Install Windows from its original disk (slipstreamed to the latest service pack)
2) Install all drivers
3) Activate windows and run Windows Update until it is fully up to date.
4) Make a full partition image. This is my vanilla base copy for future clean installs.

Next stage:

1) Install all of my base software (e.g. MS Office, Adobe stuff)
2) Activate software that needs activation
3) Get everything up to date via vendor websites and Microsoft Update
4) Make a full partition image. This is my get back to a usable state image in a disaster.

Finally configure software (eg email clients) and restore data to the system and get a fresh image when that is complete. This is a working backup which I use as the basis for an incremental backup or differential backup system.

If my system dies I restore the most recent incremental/differential image. If I still have problems I may try slightly older versions. If things are totally bad I go back to  my "usable state" image which means I have a system I can actually use quickly.

OK I might have to update stuff again but it is a hell of a lot quicker and more convenient than installing from scratch and having to argue with MS and/or Adobe about activation.

2388

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / MOVED: XYplorer 8.00 released with DUAL PANES (!)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2009, 09:52 AM »

This topic has been moved to General Software Discussion.

https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=18793.0

2389

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / MOVED: IrfanView Version 4.25 released

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2009, 09:51 AM »

This topic has been moved to General Software Discussion.

https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=18830.0

2390

General Software Discussion / Re: Buying/installing/experiencing Adobe - PIA

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2009, 06:19 AM »

Not always true - Lightroom was primarily developed on Windows and then ported to Mac. That really pissed off the Mac users as the beta build program was always a few steps behind.

Having said that most apps are probably designed with Mac in mind but like them or love them Adobe do seem to generate Windows software that is pretty much button for button identical with the Mac versions.

I think often people forget that these are not hobbyist tools - they are designed for professionals to get commercial results and there is a huge learning curve (esp. with Illustrator). I have had Illustrator as part of various packs for many years and have never got to grips with it. I can't really see the point when Xara Xtreme Pro is so much easier and quicker!

2391

Living Room / Re: Need to d'load unavailable soft - but where is safe?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2009, 05:07 AM »

Not only are German editions more expensive than English but UK English is more expensive than US English (which given that they don't even produce a UK English edition is a bit annoying).

Why can't Americans spell properly ?

2392

Living Room / Re: Need to d'load unavailable soft - but where is safe?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2009, 04:00 AM »

Or eBay in the UK

If you want to bid on this and are not in the UK you can get it shipped to my address if you like and I will forward it to you if you pay the postage (if you don't need the book I can just post the CDs). You will need to ask the seller to allow you to bid because eBay will probably reject non-UK bidders since there isn't an international shipping option.

At least in this auction it has both CDs included.

2393

Living Room / Re: Need to d'load unavailable soft - but where is safe?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 17, 2009, 08:16 PM »

Have you tried calling Adobe? If you have a licensed copy they should be able to supply it as either a CD or a download.

-Carol Haynes (June 17, 2009, 06:55 AM)

after wandering around the website for a [good] while, I discovered they offer replacement CDs - for money - but only for 90 days after an upgrade to that product has been offered.
They really dont care what people think of them do Adobe
so I doubt very much that they will offer a download . .

-tomos (June 17, 2009, 04:41 PM)

I still think it is probably worth a phone call - I have found Adobe customer services very helpful in the past.

2394

Living Room / Re: Need to d'load unavailable soft - but where is safe?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 17, 2009, 06:55 AM »

Have you tried calling Adobe? If you have a licensed copy they should be able to supply it as either a CD or a download.

2395

Living Room / Open source leaps forward (at 80kph)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 17, 2009, 05:02 AM »

Fascinating idea for an addition to the open source community.

See http://news.bbc.co.u...sci/tech/8103106.stm

2396

Living Room / Re: Baby Cody Plushie is born

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 15, 2009, 06:43 PM »

Cruel .... maybe I'll buy Cody one of those and send him to Canada on a cranioscopical hunt

2397

Living Room / Re: Baby Cody Plushie is born

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 15, 2009, 05:10 PM »

If Nudone is getting him to visit first how do I bag him second?

I can't easily satisfy his life goals but I can take him caving (though it might prove tricky to find a hat with a lamp to fit him) or failing that I could take him sailing.

2398

Living Room / Re: Is UAC as bad as I think it is?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 13, 2009, 03:55 PM »

Can't you use run as admin?

2399

Living Room / Re: Is UAC as bad as I think it is?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 12, 2009, 03:10 AM »

NoWhereMan- the issue is precisely that it always asks and there are no controls to supress pointless prompts. Consequently users just click Allow when ever it pops up without thinking about it (or else they simply disable it). This totally negates the purpose of UAC because it no longer offers any sort of protection for most users. The same is true of techy firewalls and the average user - constant prompts and questions that the user can't answer without more knowledge means that the firewall is pretty pointless as the only response the user has is OK let it go.

As you say it even happens when you log on as Administrator.

The biggest problem with UAC (and it will still be the same in Win7) is that it is purely a kludge to avoid doing proper user permissions and enforcing them. If MS simply said that the normal user is just that (a user) and that all software should allow 'users' to work without needing extra permissions they could then have a proper admin group without restrictions, and the ability to elevate to admin just as Linux does.

They won't do that because the crappy history of user rights in windows development means that most software would break - hell the fact that you needed to have admin rights to run earlier versions of MS Office says it all.

Having said that the UAC rules in Vista are deliberately stupid. The fact that you need admin rights to even look at device manager (OK if you want to update drivers etc. you should need admin rights but just to look at the current settings shouldn't need access rights).

2400

Living Room / Re: Is UAC as bad as I think it is?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 11, 2009, 06:28 PM »

UAC has been improved in Windows 7 - in Vista it is a royal PITA.

It has been widely said that MS deliberately made Vista UAC a royal PITA deliberately because they were so fed up with the bad security press they were constantly subjected to. By forcing windows to flag UAC prompts constantly they could say 'we warn you of potential security problems' - trouble is many people simply click through without thinking (like you said) or just turn UAC off.

Many of those 'bad press' episodes were orchestrated by Apple but to be fair at least MS issues regular patches and fixes which is more than can be said for Apple. The recent upgrade to Windows Safari 4 dealt with over 50 security exploits, many of which have been known about for months.

The big problem is MS don't know how to do security apps - we have UAC and Windows Defender - neither of which have any real user interface for customising responses to prompts. Then there is the OneCare debacle that rendered systems unusable and suffered such bad press and reputation that they are now axing it altogether.

I'll probably get shot down for saying this but the big problem with all operating system security is the use of C++ as a staple language. How many exploits are because of buffer issues? A strongly typed language with proper error checking would slow systems down a bit but would avoid many of the exploits that still plague every OS.