Recent Posts

2426

Living Room / Re: Looking for P2p file sharing for personal use

« Last post by Shades on July 09, 2009, 08:44 PM »

You could also try this freeware tool (apmReader) to create your certificates.

At least this is a tool that I know of what is able to create certificates with a GUI. Undoubtedly there will be a (lot more) tools able to do the job. But besides creating certificates, you can also manage them with this tool. Windows is actually also quite capable with certificate management out of the box (but you have to fold the box first, if you catch my drift).

2427

Living Room / Re: essential office equipment: usb powered chainsaw

« Last post by Shades on July 09, 2009, 08:26 PM »

Yep, here we part...

2428

Living Room / Re: Looking for P2p file sharing for personal use

« Last post by Shades on July 09, 2009, 01:49 AM »

The text in the client log file mentions port 1194, which is officially designated to OpenVPN by IANA (the governing body for port numbers). So that would be the port you use in the port forwarding section of your router.

Because of the certificates you have already put up quite a hurdle for 'drive-by attackers'. If you use strong passwords with your (Windows and/or Linux) user login then you already have quite a decent security perimeter setup.

2429

Living Room / Re: What annoys you to no end?

« Last post by Shades on July 07, 2009, 10:33 PM »

Ooops, I can blame my lack of knowledge about movie quotes. Sorry about that.

Normally I steer away from any movie where I have to look at Mike Meyers. Jim Carrey is in that same corner...so a movie with those two would annoy me to no end!

2430

Living Room / Re: What annoys you to no end?

« Last post by Shades on July 07, 2009, 07:28 PM »

Why the Dutch, Sundog? They are quite open minded. At least they are (mostly) contradicting with your first point of annoyance.

2431

Living Room / Re: Looking for P2p file sharing for personal use

« Last post by Shades on July 07, 2009, 02:02 AM »

Are you using the wireless capacity of your router in this test?

If so, it seems that disabling the option "CTS Protection Mode" can help (this option is meant to keep your wireless connection free from the noise generated by other wireless networking equipment (phones, neighbour wireless routers etc.).

2432

Living Room / Re: Looking for P2p file sharing for personal use

« Last post by Shades on July 07, 2009, 01:47 AM »

It looks like you get access to the router but after that (VPN) traffic is blocked in some kind of way.

2433

Living Room / Re: Looking for P2p file sharing for personal use

« Last post by Shades on July 07, 2009, 01:32 AM »

Likely it is better to completely open up the firewall than disabling it.

Some time ago I had a similar problem with the Online Armor firewall. Even after de-installing that software, I still couldn't get connected to the network even after rebooting (several times). Only after de-installing the driver from the network card in device management and letting Windows redetecting the hardware my network was accessible.

Nowadays, when I need full access I just set it up to be as leaky as the Titanic. It has proven to be more effective (at least to me).

2434

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for free Music Edit Software

« Last post by Shades on July 06, 2009, 01:47 AM »

You could also go through this route...

But this the best guide I could find that describes the way mentioned by scancode and fenixproductions (with text and pictures).

Now I don't know what type of cassette player is used, its age, what type of output is available, how strong the output signal from the tape-player is and how much milli-volt the in-port of his sound card can take. It will likely be no problem, but it never hurts to check.

EDIT:
Added precaution, because I have seen a lot of differences in household electronics like TV's for example. Here in Paraguay you can buy TV's that have a drastically different coax connector than the same type of TV sold in Europe. Over here people don't even know about SCART connections between your satellite receiver, your TV, your DVD, your VCR, your HiFi set. It is a beautiful, tried and tested standard for connecting electronic equipment....and impossible to buy here. If so many differences exist between (electronic) standards for the area you happen to live in, it never hurts to check. And who knows, maybe the OP has an allergy for soldering irons :-)

2435

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for free Music Edit Software

« Last post by Shades on July 06, 2009, 12:11 AM »

But you also need to connect the cassette player to the in-port of your sound card.

There is where for most people the problems begin. Is their audio equipment able enough or not? (this is a broad point and will require more info about the hardware and the exact requirements the copies need to fulfill) 

scancode is right about the software that one can use to create the MP3's though.

2436

General Software Discussion / Re: IDEA - User timer and lock out

« Last post by Shades on July 05, 2009, 11:57 PM »

This is a costly solution and requires a lot of hardware...but it is a sure thing!!!

If you cannot do it through software...let's look at the hardware options then.
The best thing that requires no (or hardly any) supervision from you is to cut and enable the power to the PC's from your kids between certain hours. Works like a charm and there is nothing they can do to a lack of power...especially when the timer is securely locked away. Each PC should have a small UPS, so they have some time to save their homework though.

Such a timer looks quite costly to me and I assume the electrical system requires some (heavy) altering...but hey, it's your piece of mind after all. 

2437

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! ssh setup

« Last post by Shades on July 05, 2009, 11:06 PM »

If you want the data that passes through the VPN connection to be encrypted then yes. From your earlier posts I noticed that you are very aware of your online presence and do like your privacy (both are a good thing). So I would say: yes, you need keys.

a CA key that has to be installed on every PC that will contact your home network including the PC that hosts the VPN server. For each PC that is in this VPN you need a secret and public key and each PC in the network should have all public keys from all other PC's in the VPN network.

Not that hard, but maybe an example would be more clear:
Say you have a VPN server called 'server' and two VPN clients called 'client1' and 'client2'

The VPN server needs the CA key, the secret 'server' key, the public 'server' key, public 'client1' key & 'client2' key
The VPN client1 needs the CA key, the secret 'client1' key, the public 'client1' key and public 'server' key
The VPN client2 needs the CA key, the secret 'client2' key, the public 'client2' key and public 'server' key
Using this particular setup each client can securely communicate with the VPN server.

If really need be, I would be able to create all the necessary keys, but then you have to trust me (and inform me how many you need). And if you have trust issues, I could rewrite some manuals I had to write on this subject (but that will be something I can only do when I have time) and you do it yourself. 

2438

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! ssh setup

« Last post by Shades on July 05, 2009, 01:08 PM »

In your case, with a VPN you create a bridge between your own network and the network you are currently at using the internet. A tunnel if you will. You have to use some kind of PKI setup to secure the communication through this tunnel. You could then use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to connect to your Windows box(es) or VNC to access your Windows/Linux box(es).

OpenVPN is an open source tool (server and client) that comes with all requirements and will likely not set of too much alarm bells with the IT department on your job, which is why I mentioned it. There are also commercial packages and freeware.

Setting up a VPN server at your home network is not as easy as it seems, but OpenVPN does not make it too hard either. For example, SSH together with Putty would be tool to use to access your home network if the VPN server failed and you want to restart it.

2439

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! ssh setup

« Last post by Shades on July 04, 2009, 09:00 PM »

1 - is setting up a VPN network not easier...taking into account the things you want to do when accessing from the outside? OpenVPN could be a candidate.

2 - No clue

3 - Ah, PKI...it is not that hard. Since you are in control of the network you can use/become your own CA and hand out keys to yourself (only). You don't need to go through all steps that are normally required...assuming that you trust yourself at least.   Again, the OpenVPN package has a nice script with which you can create all required certificates/keys (it comes with a short to the point manual). All for free. The script uses OpenSSL, which is also part of the OpenVPN package.

Importing those keys is easy as well, double click on them and use the defaults from the wizard, those are normally adequate. When you have still questions after following the manual, don't hesitate to contact me.

4 - And again no clue.

5 - XMing? This software works nice.

2440

Living Room / Re: Would appreciate advice on laptop overheating and registry issue

« Last post by Shades on July 04, 2009, 06:32 PM »

When the laptop is older, chances are that you can find a service manual for free. Usually a service manual tells you how to correctly dismantle your laptop. When you have such a manual and some technical knowhow you could be removing all the dust everywhere in the laptop.

The reason that I am not a fan of the canned air solution is that you can (seriously) damage fan(s). Blowing air directly at a fan will make it rotate at an RPM rate it was not designed for. Securing the fan(s) will prevent that, but I'll guarantee you that not all dust bunnies are removed from their burrow otherwise known as your laptop.

Having said that, most dust bunnies do leave so you should notice a drop in temperature.

Come to think of it, when you are able to remove the keyboard from the laptop following the steps from the manual you should have good view of all the dust buildup inside.

2441

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 03, 2009, 02:22 AM »

Ok Target, I understand...you should not be late for your tag team wrestling match

2442

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 03, 2009, 01:50 AM »

Hmmm, this is starting to look sound like a duet...

2443

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 03, 2009, 12:02 AM »

Ah, mistakes...who doesn't make a couple...

2444

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 11:57 PM »

Actually, I shouldn't give up that easily, I ain't a deuce-bag....

(think about that one)

2445

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 11:45 PM »

Ok, ok, I'll let you win and be the runner-up...

2446

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 10:56 PM »

I second that completely.

2447

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 10:12 PM »

yep, cut and paste is hardly do-uble...

2448

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 08:44 PM »

or is the matter squared? 

2449

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move all images off removable drive when inserted

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 08:43 PM »

Ok, is everyone now even?

2450

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA : boot log

« Last post by Shades on July 02, 2009, 06:36 PM »

TinyWatcher is the name of a tool that checks your boot everytime and reports any difference in what it found. That sounds to me more practical than having everytime a potentially huge list visible during boot.