Recent Posts

2426

General Software Discussion / Re: Create a profiles for users on a Workgroup and disable Homegroup options & wifi

« Last post by 4wd on May 16, 2014, 04:17 PM »

To add to the answer given by Deo for your second question:

After leaving the HomeGroup you can also disable the facility by disabling the services required for it:

HomeGroupListener
HomeGroupProvider

As described here: How to Disable “HomeGroup” Feature in Windows 7?

This can be done via command line:

sc stop HomeGroupListener
sc config HomeGroupListener start=disabled
sc stop HomeGroupProvider
sc config HomeGroupProvider start=disabled

Also works in Windows 8/8.1

2427

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Perfect Effects 8 Premium Edition *FREE* (again) for a limited time

« Last post by 4wd on March 30, 2014, 07:09 PM »

Just in case you missed it the first and second time, Curt  

Yes, it's back again ... see OP.

2428

General Software Discussion / Re: Help please! - Unable to install MS SQL Express 2012 on laptop.

« Last post by 4wd on March 30, 2014, 06:31 PM »

(You missed out an "o" in "Microsoft" there.)

-IainB (March 30, 2014, 08:54 AM)

The joys of Cut/Paste ...

2429

General Software Discussion / Re: Help please! - Unable to install MS SQL Express 2012 on laptop.

« Last post by 4wd on March 30, 2014, 02:31 AM »

Was there any log files written to folders under C:\Program Files\Micrsoft SQL Server\110\Setup Bootstrap\Log ?

Supposedly they're written at each attempted installation and contain a lot more information, an example of the logs are in this thread.

2430

General Software Discussion / Re: Repairing Windows 7 from the recovery console

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 09:25 PM »

Vista for Vurbal, XP for me 

2431

General Software Discussion / Re: Repairing Windows 7 from the recovery console

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 05:51 PM »

If you remove the ei.cfg file from the Win7 Upgrade media, you'll be able to use it to clean install without having to install Vista first.

The key can be entered and activated after it's installed - I've done this frequently with my Win7 Upgrade media because I don't want to have to install XP first.

2432

General Software Discussion / Re: Help please! - Unable to install MS SQL Express 2012 on laptop.

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 07:25 AM »

It looks like during a normal installation, the log files gets written here:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Setup Bootstrap\Log\<date>_<time>\??????????????.log

Any luck with that?

2433

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 04:25 AM »

Huntsman^w - pretty harmless to people, I generally let them wander around the walls until they happen to stray to a spot within reach of take-away container and cardboard

Then they get tossed outside to become Kookaburra food or eventually find their way back inside.

-4wd (March 24, 2014, 07:28 PM)

Heh you guys know you can make an entire Ludum Dare out of your comments here! This one has the makings of gaming app gold!

-TaoPhoenix (March 24, 2014, 10:51 PM)

A spider game app?     I don't get it.

-crabby3 (March 28, 2014, 06:21 AM)

Yeah Crabby, you have to keep tossing the spiders outside, and they keep crawling in, so like at level 5 they just take over your house and win.  : )

-TaoPhoenix (March 28, 2014, 06:22 PM)

Don't forget, every time you complete a level you get a bonus kookaburra to help you eliminate huntsmans outside the house.

2434

General Software Discussion / Re: Photos that spontaneously change

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 04:21 AM »

Since all the tries are useless, I have decided to finish here this thread.
I feel I am boring you.

-Giampy (March 22, 2014, 12:58 PM)

No offense but it appears to be the opposite, ie. you appear to become bored with this problem.  Given 18 months have elapsed and it still happens, you don't seem to be that bothered about finding the cause.

1) Have you tried another monitor?

Yes, just today. I have seen the same situation of my system: good photos appear good and changed photo appear changed. Therefore my monitor doesn't mislead

-Giampy (March 22, 2014, 12:56 PM)

This post of yours implies a hardware fault, as barney mentioned, it's taken ~18 months just to try another monitor.

2) Does it only affect the images you have modified?

I don't know. I fine-tune all the photos I download

So then how can you compare one to an unmodified original?

Just to make it obvious, the fault you've described is currently subjective.  No one else can see anything wrong with the image you posted in this thread because you didn't provide the source for comparison.

Hence this question:

4) Have you tried saving the modified image to a different name?

Yes. Same results

If you answered YES to question (4): When the change occurred, did you then compare the original image with the modified image using a program, not your eyes, (eg. Beyond Compare, AntiDupl, XnView, etc)?

No. Spontaneous changes of photos are evident. No need to try other viewers

These are comparison programs, (XnView while mainly an image viewer can compare images for differences), they will provide an objective reference.

eg. The image on the right has had the red channel increased by a single increment.  While it might not be apparent to the eye, using Beyond Compare highlights exactly what has been changed - it becomes an objective observation.



But if the answer to (2) was correct, then there isn't any way to make that comparison.  If you do ever try doing this, save the original in a lossless format first, modify it, and then save it in the same lossless format to avoid compression artifacts influencing the comparison.

5) Have you tried saving the modified image to another format, (eg. PNG, TIFF), as well as the original format?

Yes, BMP

If you answered YES to question (5): When the change occurs, does the alternate format image exhibit the same change as the original modified format?

Yes, the same change

6) Have you tried copying an image you have modified to a flash drive, (then remove it from the computer)?

Yes, just today

6) If you answered YES to question (6): Did you then plug it into another computer and ensure that the image had been modified?

Yes, just today (see point 1)

If you did what was suggested in (7) then if such a large obvious change disappears from the image sometime later, it could only be one of two things: someone has replaced the modified image with the original, (that includes you); or software has replaced the image.  It rules out hardware being the problem.

But as it is, with the subtle changes you imply, it could still be anything and given your answers above and in the previous thread, I'm tending towards barney's suggestion of 18 months ago - power or GPU related.
Yes, I'm discounting the answer of question (1) because of the answer you gave to question (2) which implies you don't have the originals to make a comparison against.

2435

General Software Discussion / Re: Repairing Windows 7 from the recovery console

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 03:44 AM »

After thinking about it some more I seem to recall certain components on the Southbridge, the hard drive (or maybe just the system volume?), and the amount of RAM are the most important factors for reactivating Windows. I'm guessing the video and network controller changing drastically at the same time will trigger it, but I'm guessing I won't have to call Microsoft.

-Vurbal (March 29, 2014, 02:47 AM)

From How-Windows-7-hardware-upgrades-affect-licensing:

The actual algorithm that Microsoft uses is not disclosed, but we do know the weighting of components is as follows, from highest to lowest:

1. Motherboard (and CPU)
2. Hard drive
3. Network interface card (NIC)
4. Graphics card
5. RAM

A more in depth table is here: Managing Windows Licensing and Activation : Managing Volume License Activation (part 2) - Leveraging MAK activation, Comparing KMS and MAK activation

Referring to the table they have:

If the total weight of changed components reaches 25, then the computer must be reactivated.

2436

General Software Discussion / Re: Help please! - Unable to install MS SQL Express 2012 on laptop.

« Last post by 4wd on March 29, 2014, 02:32 AM »

Any chance the installer uses the normal Microsoft installer command line options?

Then maybe you can log the installation process:

eg. "SQLEXPR_x64_ENU - (Express DB only 64-bit).exe" /log c:\SQL.log

It may provide more information as to what it's failing on.

2437

Found Deals and Discounts / Microsoft Office Modile for iOS or Android - FREE for *HOME* use.

« Last post by 4wd on March 27, 2014, 05:42 PM »

Via OzBargain here and here

NOTE: "Sign in with a free Microsoft account to create, edit and save documents for home use. A qualifying Office 365 subscription is required to create, edit and save documents for business use."

Android link
iOS link

Seems to be like the recent OneNote freebie, online docs only can be edited/created/saved, you can only read offline docs.

A few interesting comments on the OzBargain site, eg. limited tablet compatibility (Android) at the moment.

2438

General Software Discussion / Re: Firewalls and LAN

« Last post by 4wd on March 26, 2014, 07:34 PM »

I know the Linksys E2000 can run Tomato but it might be that the original firmware has something similar:

Access Restrictions:



You just specify that the IP of the computer has no internet access All Day, Every day.

You could leave the computers firewall turned off if you like, (protected by both NAT and routers firewall).

EDIT: Just had a look, it can run the same version of Tomato as I run if you go that way.

2439

Living Room / Re: A three drive system - the sweet spot

« Last post by 4wd on March 26, 2014, 06:07 AM »

I've never really considered quality of power supply.

Does a normal consumer-grade UPS help with this kind of thing?

-mouser (March 26, 2014, 02:41 AM)

I've never had an UPS and I live in an area that suffers brown-outs and power failures, (lots of trees don't go well with overhead lines).

I do, however, have very good quality surge suppression/filtering power boards and I've never lost a piece of equipment that was plugged into them yet ... and I've had them for ~20 years.

It's line noise/ripple current that is a very good killer of the inferior quality capacitors used in some switchmode PSUs.  The ripple causes the capacitors to heat up, the electrolyte dries out, the ESR^w rises, current across the capacitor rises, heat increases, etc, etc, then the PSU dies ... sometimes taking whatever it's attached to.

The better you can filter the incoming AC to eliminate any noise/ripple and surges, the better it's going to be for your PSU.

Most UPS include some form of surge suppression/filtering, the quality is usually commensurate with the cost.  Almost all consumer, (not business), grade UPS are of the Stand-by type.  They don't do anything until the power fails, until then they're just a power board with surge suppression/line filtering.

Be that and all, a crap PSU is still a crap PSU, a good filter will only make it last a little longer.

+1 with @40hz about a quality PSU but I'd also throw in a good quality line filter before it.

2440

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on March 25, 2014, 07:16 AM »

What kind is it?     Maybe a Tarantula?

-crabby3 (March 24, 2014, 07:47 AM)

Huntsman^w - pretty harmless to people, I generally let them wander around the walls until they happen to stray to a spot within reach of take-away container and cardboard

Then they get tossed outside to become Kookaburra food or eventually find their way back inside.

-4wd (March 24, 2014, 07:28 PM)

I knew it was not a Tarantula but that was the only big *spidey* I could think of.  I presume they enter through open-air windows or vents?

-crabby3 (March 25, 2014, 06:40 AM)

Any way they can, the wife threw out one earlier today then spotted another one sitting above a door.  By the time she went to get the huntsman removal apparatus it had already disappeared somewhere - honestly, these things move very fast when they want to.

They also like to hide in your car ... you should hear the screams and curses when that happens 

2441

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on March 24, 2014, 07:28 PM »

What kind is it?    Maybe a Tarantula?

-crabby3 (March 24, 2014, 07:47 AM)

Huntsman^w - pretty harmless to people, I generally let them wander around the walls until they happen to stray to a spot within reach of take-away container and cardboard

Then they get tossed outside to become Kookaburra food or eventually find their way back inside.

2442

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on March 24, 2014, 07:39 AM »

Spiders are very creative when it comes to catching food but they belong in the wild.  Not in your home.  

-crabby3 (March 24, 2014, 05:27 AM)

Not in Australia:



A regular visitor inside homes here, I think the largest we've had is ~5 inches across.

2443

Post New Requests Here / Re: REQ: HTPC Util - Hide Desktop for x seconds while program is being executed.

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 10:54 PM »

V0.0.1.x is up there.

This is version 0.0.2.x:
Added:    At great expense I had a custom icon designed just for this program ... I'm not sure the graphic artist entered into the spirit of the request  
             (Then again, since it's a CLI only program did I waste my money?)
Added:    Can set optional text to display, limited to 30 characters.
Added:    Can set background colour.
Changed: It now takes one command line argument which is a config file.


Usage: Main difference with this version is it just takes a config file as the argument, eg. BlankIt.exe test.ini

This means, for example, you no longer need a number of long lines in a batch file.  You can have any number of config files and just call the one you want.

If you run the program without any arguments, a example config file called BlankIt.ini will be created - you can then edit it, rename it, or use it as is if you want Notepad.exe to open, (BlankIt.exe BlankIt.ini).

Here's the contents of the example:

Code: Text [Select]

1. [Settings]
2. Program="C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
3. Timeout=10
4. Colour=000000
5. Text=Wait for it!

Program is the program to run, full path required unless it's in the same directory as BlankIt.exe.

Timeout is the maximum time in seconds the blank screen will be displayed if the Process.WaitForIdleInput fails or the program has no GUI.  Maximum value is 180 seconds, if it's more than that or the equivalent of 0 then the default will be 15.

Colour is a RGB hex value, here's a list.  If it's input incorrectly, (ie. not a valid hex value), then it will default to black, (000000).  The text colour will be white for all values 7FFFFF and below, and black for all values 800000 and above.

Text can be left empty, ie. no text will be displayed.  The limit is 30 characters which fits in the width of a 1680 pixel screen, and honestly if you need to display more than 30 characters, chances are there might not be enough time to read them all.

Code: AutoIt [Select]

1. #Region ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
2. #AutoIt3Wrapper_Icon=BlankIt.ico
3. #AutoIt3Wrapper_Outfile=BlankIt.exe
4. #AutoIt3Wrapper_Change2CUI=y
5. #AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Fileversion=0.0.2.30
6. #AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Fileversion_AutoIncrement=y
7. #EndRegion ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
8. #cs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.  
10.         AutoIt Version: 3.3.10.2
11.         Name:           BlankIt.au3
12.         Author:         4wd
13.  
14.         Script Function:
15.         Blanks screen until called programs GUI opens and is ready for input.
16.  
17.         Requires:
18.         Ascend4nt's Process Function UDF: http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/115352-process-thread-dll-functions-udfs/
19.         Yashied's WinAPIEx UDF:           http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/98712-winapiex-udf/
20.  
21. #ce ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.  
23. #include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
24. #include <StaticConstants.au3>
25. #include <WinAPIEx.au3>
26. #include <WindowsConstants.au3>
27. #include "[includes]\_ProcessFunctions.au3"
28.  
29. Opt('MustDeclareVars', 1)
30.  
31. Const $iAccess = 0x00001000
32.  
33. If $CmdLine[0] = 0 Then _Usage()
34.  
35. Local $sIniFile = $CmdLine[1]
36. If Not FileExists($sIniFile) Then
37.         _Usage()
38. Else
39.         _GetINI($sIniFile)
40. EndIf
41.  
42. #Region ### START Koda GUI section ### Form=
43. GUICreate("Blank", @DesktopWidth, @DesktopHeight, 0, 0, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST)
44. #forcedef $iTextCol, $iColour, $sText
45. GUICtrlSetDefColor($iTextCol)
46. GUISetFont(48, 600)
47. GUICtrlCreateLabel($sText, 10, Int(@DesktopHeight/2 - 34), @DesktopWidth - 20, 68, BitOR($SS_CENTER, $SS_CENTERIMAGE))
48. GUISetBkColor($iColour)
49. #EndRegion ### END Koda GUI section ###
50.  
51. _Main()
52. _Exit()
53.  
54. Func _GetINI($sFile)
55.         Global $sProgram, $sPath, $iTimeout, $iColour, $sText, $iTextCol
56.         $sProgram = IniRead($sFile, "Settings", "Program", "")
57.         If Not FileExists($sProgram) Then
58.                 ConsoleWrite("Error: Executable does not exist!" & @CRLF & "       Check configuration file" & @CRLF)
59.                 _Exit()
60.         Else
61.                 If StringInStr($sProgram, "\") > 0 Then
62.                         $sPath = StringLeft($sProgram, StringInStr($sProgram, "\", 0, -1))
63.                 Else
64.                         $sPath = @ScriptDir & "\"
65.                         $sProgram = $sPath & $sProgram
66.                 EndIf
67.         EndIf
68.         $iTimeout = IniRead($sFile, "Settings", "Timeout", "15")
69.         If $iTimeout < 1 Or $iTimeout > 180 Then $iTimeout = 15
70.         $iTimeout *= 1000
71.         $iColour = "0x" & IniRead($sFile, "Settings", "Colour", "000000")
72.         If IsNumber(Dec($iColour)) Then
73.                 If Dec($iColour) >= 0 And Dec($iColour) <= 0xFFFFFF Then
74.                         $iColour = "0x" & Hex($iColour, 6)
75.                 EndIf
76.         Else
77.                 $iColour = "0x000000"
78.         EndIf
79.         If $iColour > 0x7FFFFF Then
80.                 $iTextCol = 0x000000
81.         Else
82.                 $iTextCol = 0xFFFFFF
83.         EndIf
84.         $sText = StringLeft(IniRead($sFile, "Settings", "Text", ""), 30)
85. EndFunc   ;==>_GetINI
86.  
87. Func _Main()
88.         Local $iPID = Run($sProgram, $sPath)
89.         If $iPID <> 0 Then
90.                 GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
91.                 Local $hProcess = _ProcessOpen($iPID, $iAccess)
92.                 If $hProcess <> 0 Then
93.                         _ProcessWaitForInputIdle($hProcess, $iTimeout)
94.                         _ProcessCloseHandle($hProcess)
95.                 Else
96.                         Sleep($iTimeout)
97.                 EndIf
98.                 Sleep(150)
99.                 GUISetState(@SW_HIDE)
100.                 Local $Data = _WinAPI_EnumProcessWindows($iPID)
101.                 If IsArray($Data) Then
102.                         If $Data[0][0] > 0 Then
103.                                 _WinAPI_SetFocus($Data[1][0])
104.                         EndIf
105.                 EndIf
106.         EndIf
107. EndFunc   ;==>_Main
108.  
109. Func _Usage()
110.         Local $aDemo[4][2] = [["Program", '"C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"'],["Timeout", 10],["Colour", "000000"],["Text", "Wait for it!"]]
111.         ConsoleWrite("Usage: BlankIt.exe <config file>" & @CRLF & @CRLF)
112.         ConsoleWrite("Where: <config file> = .ini containing command parameters" & @CRLF & @CRLF)
113.         ConsoleWrite("       An example config file called BlankIt.ini has been" & @CRLF)
114.         ConsoleWrite("       generated." & @CRLF)
115.         IniWriteSection("BlankIt.ini", "Settings", $aDemo, 0)
116.         _Exit()
117. EndFunc   ;==>_Usage
118.  
119. Func _Exit()
120.         Exit
121. EndFunc   ;==>_Exit

And that's pretty much it until someone says something.

2444

Living Room / Re: A three drive system - the sweet spot

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 06:32 PM »

I'm thinking that with the huge amounts of memory in machines these days are making the PageFile an almost moot point, so anything active in memory will most likely stay there.

-Stoic Joker (March 23, 2014, 09:22 AM)

Given huge amounts of memory, besides disabling the pagfile, wouldn't you also move the TEMP stuff to a RAM drive and thereby not lose any speed writing to physical media at all?

In my desktop with 12GB, I have a 2GB RAM drive and no pagefile and there's apparently 6GB+ left available for other programs.  About the only time I've run out of memory is when some program has a memory leak.

2445

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 06:06 PM »

(see attachment in previous post)

-crabby3 (March 23, 2014, 12:18 PM)

I was thinking the last image there is a trapdoor cat, closely related to these fun creatures:

2446

Non-Windows Software / Re: Pale Moon 4 Linux

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 05:54 PM »

If you want a little easier granular control over some of the settings in it, (and Firefox), give the Pale Moon Commander add-on a try.

Scratch that, it's not compatible with the Linux version according to the forum thread here.

2447

Non-Windows Software / Pale Moon 4 Linux

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 07:11 AM »

For anyone that's interested, Pale Moon is now being compiled for Linux in both x86 and x64 builds.

PM4Linux

Description

Pale Moon is an open source, web browser based on Firefox focusing on efficiency by leaving out unnecessary features and making optimizations, while maintaining compatibility with Firefox extensions and themes.

Pale Moon provides a familiar set of controls and visual feedback similar to previous versions of Firefox, including grouped navigation buttons, a bookmarks toolbar that is enabled by default, tabs next to page content by default, and a functional status bar.

This is a third party build; the original project is at www.palemoon.org. For support, check out the wiki at http://pm4linux.sf.net/wiki and the forum at http://forum.palemoon.org.

2448

Post New Requests Here / Re: REQ: HTPC Util - Hide Desktop for x seconds while program is being executed.

« Last post by 4wd on March 23, 2014, 01:01 AM »

It's vacant these days: http://goo.gl/maps/G4rth

2449

Post New Requests Here / Re: REQ: HTPC Util - Hide Desktop for x seconds while program is being executed.

« Last post by 4wd on March 22, 2014, 08:45 PM »

v0.0.1.32 <- Link

• Change: Reverts to timeout value if a handle to the process can't be obtained.
• Added:  Set focus to program window, (if it has one), before exiting.
• Added:  Simple usage directions, (run it without any arguments).
• Change: Compiled as a CLI program, it produces no GUI, all errors go to the CLI.
• Change: Slightly better args parsing, (not much better but it is an improvement).
• Added:  Checks for executable existence, (full path not required if executable is in same folder as BlankIt).

[Pre-update silly remarks below]

Nice.

-mouser (March 22, 2014, 08:00 PM)

Thanks, although I expect a much more polished version from you

Will the new window get focus, or might that be a feature to add?

Feature? ... to add?

I'll look at bringing the program window to the front before exit, although usually it'd get focus anyway wouldn't it?

That's how Windows usually works, run a program and it forces itself in front of everything else unless told otherwise.

I'll also change it so that if it can't get a handle to the process it'll drop back to timeout instead of throwing up a requester.

Just a note, I'm on a slow convict ship back to the UK in just over a week - I'll be incommunicado for 6 weeks ... yes, I know, much cause for celebration on the forum  

2450

General Software Discussion / Re: Office 365 and Outlook

« Last post by 4wd on March 22, 2014, 08:12 PM »

Just a couple of scripts I knocked up for @questorfla to see if it makes Outlook any easier.

Both only work with Outlook 2007+ but I don't bother checking to see if you have the right version - part of my minimal error checking approach to life

Outlook needs to be running first.  Run one or the other, not both - although that scenario hasn't been tested.

AutoOutSync - Forces a Send/Receive action in Outlook every 15->180 seconds.  Has a countdown timer and you can enable/disable the Outlook progress window.
TrigOutSync - Forces a Send/Receive action 5 seconds after a Send Event is reported by Outlook.  Outlook progress window can be disabled/enabled via tray icon menu.

I've tested both with Outlook 2013 on a Windows 8.1 Pro x86 VM and they seemed to work OK.