Recent Posts

2476

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox won't play videos unless I keep moving the mouse! Ugh!

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 05, 2015, 10:20 AM »

I can remember that happening back in XP.  I can't recall if I ever found out the cause though.  You might try checking for new mouse drivers.

Have you looked in Device Manager for any conflict icons?

One trick we did in support that worked often on weird problems like this was to boot into Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, right click on the device with the issue, and delete it.  Boot up normally.  Windows should say "Windows has found new hardware" and reinstall the driver automatically.

Many times it works correctly for quite awhile.

2477

General Software Discussion / Firefox based browsers don't scroll worth a damn!

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 05, 2015, 10:15 AM »

There must be a secret.  I can't imagine all you Firefox lovers are putting up with pages that refuse to scroll even worse than the old days with 14.4 kbaud modems!!!  It's like the scrollbar thumb slider is glued in place.  I have to drag on it 4 or 5 times just to get it to budge sometimes.

I must have some setting wrong or something.  The WiFi here sometimes gets over a MB/s download bandwidth so I can't imagine the network is the culprit.

Right now I'm on the latest 64 bit Cyberfox.  But the same stuff happens in 32 bit Firefox Portable 35.01.  It's really weird.

2478

Coding Snacks / Re: Update of NirSoft's ZipInstaller

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 05, 2015, 09:47 AM »

I'm curious why the utility has not been kept up to date.  It seems like a cool idea.  I wonder if 64 bit stuff coming on has complicated things, along with the Programs and Features etc..


I remember for a time a version of InstallShield or a similar installer maker came with Borland Delphi.  It was fairly simple.  You made a folder hierarchy how you wanted the stuff on disk and it made the installer with shortcuts for the start menu.  It seems like something that an Inno tool should be able to make boilerplate.  Just pick up the name from the exe filename.

2479

Coding Snacks / Re: Update of NirSoft's ZipInstaller

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 05, 2015, 08:52 AM »

This free script generator looks interesting:
https://randemsystem....com/innoscript.html

Perhaps a batch could be written in a few lines to unzip to a working folder, then run this script generator to create a simple Inno Setup script?

2480

General Software Discussion / Re: I've not been happy with Macrium Reflect Free, and perhaps their paid versions..

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 05, 2015, 08:25 AM »

There's an advantage if you have several identical systems such as in a business environment.  You can assume if one software backs up and restores on one machine it will do the same on the others.  But for home use most people buy a new PC and try to get some bang for the buck with off the shelf systems that are on sale at Best Buy or whatnot.  There tends to be a few years between purchases.  This means the new PC will likely have some hardware or controllers a bit different than the old.

I made the mistake of assuming that if my backup imaging program worked on an HP desktop running Vista 32 bit it should not have a problem with the new system, an HP desktop running Vista x64.  But for some reason I still don't understand, the new system had a raid controller set to run in non-raid mode.  Why put it on and disable it I have no clue.  But the imaging software, when it came time to restore(I was trying out the new Windows 7) would only use "compatibility mode."  I was lucky it worked at all.  I got my Vista OS back.  But it had to run for 9 hours to do it. The Windows 7 install was flawed.  Leaving it on was not an option.

I changed to another software and it worked normally.  This is why I say the best is the one that works on your hardware.  If you have disparate machines I advise downloading the trial versions and actually doing restores before you buy.  Of course this in itself is risky since presumably none of these machines are "guinea pig" PCs and hosing the OS is not good.  So now we are back at the crux of the problem.  How do you know you can restore if the first backup image restore you try hoses things?  Maybe sector by sector image to an identical HD before you start?  I dunno'.  

I guess those more hardware oriented than I would know enough to check out all the ins and outs of the HD controller before buying the machine.

2481

General Software Discussion / Re: Browser Hijackers

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 04, 2015, 05:29 AM »

Good stuff guys, tagged with one of my note programs for one of those days I feel like dealing with that stuff. Meanwhile Miles yes, the start page was changed, but it also tried to install an add-on, which first catches your eye even before your page opens. At least it's good FF put in that thing a while back about "approving add-ons", so that was one step blocked!

-TaoPhoenix (February 04, 2015, 01:27 AM)

WinPatrol checks for BHOs added to IE but I don't think it checks FF AddOns.

2482

General Software Discussion / Re: Browser Hijackers

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 03, 2015, 03:57 PM »

By hijacked you mean the start page was changed?  If so WinPatrol Free version may pick that up just after it happens.  I know it has notified me about start page changes(I use FF mostly) and new stuff in AutoStart.  It's pretty convenient.  And the free version does just about all you would want.


A new developer took over the program with the blessing of Bill P so it will be interesting to see what he comes up with for new features.

2483

General Software Discussion / Re: I've not been happy with Macrium Reflect Free, and perhaps their paid versions..

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 03, 2015, 08:52 AM »

I learned the hard way that the "best" backup imaging program is the one that works on the system you bought it for.  I won't go into all the details but as I moved from XP to Vista to Vista x64 to Windows 7 then Windows 8.0 I found that I needed to change from Paragon to Macrium to EaseUS ToDo then back to Macrium, to get the correct hardware support for my systems.

I think most of the advanced features are important to System Administrators who run Servers and need to automate the backup processes.  For me having a PC or 2 I will run manual complete backups.  I don't even need incremental backup capability as I keep a small system partition.  Large data like movie images were kept on bare drives in drawers and inserted in USB docks when needed.

Right now with the transition to GPT and UEFI I feel that support is most important if you have system(s) that utilize those technologies.  If you have verified that a set of competing products do the basic job correctly then a feature comparison is relevant.  But it doesn't matter which bells and whistles are included if the basic backup/restore is not reliable and robust.


If you haven't already, take a look on TheFreeCountry as there is a page full of free imaging and cloning tools for the PC.

2484

Developer's Corner / Re: Learn C++ the fast way?

« Last post by MilesAhead on February 03, 2015, 05:30 AM »

I was having the same intention when I appeared for CPP interviews soon after completion of my graduation. Anyways, we can learn it fast when we practice more. Thanks!

-pdk747 (February 03, 2015, 03:36 AM)

The language has changed quite a bit since the post previous to yours though. 

2485

General Software Discussion / Re: The impossible thing software

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 31, 2015, 05:55 AM »

yeah, I keep finding things I want for me, when looking to buy presents ...

-tomos (January 30, 2015, 11:14 AM)

Forget the past, now the gift I really want to keep is the present.
 

-cranioscopical (January 30, 2015, 09:40 PM)

Might as well.  Yogi Berra taught us the future ain't what it used to be. 

2486

General Software Discussion / Re: Diffference between Switces and Parameters in Batch file?

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 30, 2015, 03:36 PM »

Thanks, but that would be a bit too complex for my explanation to hulkbuster.

-AbteriX (January 30, 2015, 03:15 PM)

I added the note because he may have gotten the impression there was a hard limitation due to the remark in the original post.  Everything doesn't have to be conglomerated into one post. 

2487

General Software Discussion / Re: The impossible thing software

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 30, 2015, 10:57 AM »

My brother never needed this kind of software.  He figured out what he wanted, then bought it for my father as a Christmas gift.  I remember one year he gave dad an electric razor.  I think dad used it once.  My brother used it the other 364 days of the year. 

2488

General Software Discussion / Re: Diffference between Switces and Parameters in Batch file?

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 30, 2015, 09:58 AM »

Note that you can process additional arguments using Shift

As shown in the example, it works well in loops to process arguments until they run out.  Usually after the shift if %1 is blank the loop should exit as all the args have been processed.

2489

General Software Discussion / Re: change mouse behaviour

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 29, 2015, 04:56 PM »

last, the script works when I right click ANYWHERE on the screen, even outside the firefox window, while it should work ONLY on the webpage area, not in the Windows taskbar or the area of the tabs, etc

That's what I mentioned about Firefox having the focus until you click something else.  When you program an extension you have access to internal variables, document objects etc..  I've never done an extension.  As skwire mentioned you would have to do one for each browser.  That's why most extension writers write for one browser.  There's just too many finicky details.  Some things you can do from the outside.  You can send control c to copy selected text to the clipboard.  But if the text is a link label without the link info itself you just get the text, not the link.  There's so many exceptions that the user would be frustrated that it does not work so often.

Many programmers do IE because they can program it using the ActiveX COM interface rather than just sending clicks etc..  Have you looked at the shortcut list for Firefox? I don't know if they can be reassigned like many editors can.

I have a file Transpose.ahk where I stick odds and ends for some browsers and editors.  Some things can be done such as looking up the word left of the caret when in an editbox on a forum etc..  I'll post it so you can look it over to get an idea.  It's a hodgepodge though.  It's for my own use so please ignore references to defunct domains etc..

2490

Living Room / Re: Myopia

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 29, 2015, 04:40 PM »

Next time coffee first

-MilesAhead (January 29, 2015, 02:00 PM)

That should be carved in granite IMO!

-40hz (January 29, 2015, 03:56 PM)

Heh heh heh. 

2491

Living Room / Myopia

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 29, 2015, 02:00 PM »

Ever spend an hour or two or three for no good reason?  I just did.  I had an issue with Cyberfox hanging when on walmart.com.  That wasn't the waste of time.  Through elimination following the steps given on the Cyberfox forum I found a bad AddOn and removed it.

The waste of time was, somehow or other my statusbar was gone.  Stuff like Color Toggle I could not get to show the CT in the statusbar to save my life.  After about 3 hours I clicked on View=>Toolbars only to see that Addon Bar was not checked!  I hate it when that happens!!   

Next time coffee first, fix browser second. 

2492

General Software Discussion / Re: change mouse behaviour

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 29, 2015, 01:54 PM »

so, it's not a simple way to do it?

-kalos (January 29, 2015, 01:18 PM)

I agree with skwire.  It's touchy business.

This script would work for the two cases you sited.  But what you will find if you mess with it is, once the browser is the active window, the mouse substitution will stay in effect until you left click someplace else.  For example if you try to right click on the ahk tray icon to close it, instead you will send control w, unless you left click the icon first to change the focus from the browser.

[Select]

SendMode Input

;only remap these keys if Firefox Browser is active window
#IfWinActive ahk_class MozillaWindowClass
$RButton::^w
$^RButton::Send {RButton}
return
#IfWinActive

2493

Found Deals and Discounts / Macrium Reflect 6 Server Trial Edition

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 28, 2015, 03:10 PM »

I got a response from Macrium with a link to the new Macrium Reflect 6 Server Edition.  They were kind enough to also provide a license key for me.  I am not allowed to share the key but the download link will run as a 30 day trial without it.  Note that it downloads the WinPE 5.0 bringing the download size to about 460 MB.

Macrium Reflect Standard Server Edition NFR Trial Link

Edit:  The link is to an exe(the downloader) but there's no way to go to the page as it's not accessible to the public yet.

Edit2:  I haven't used the Server Edition before.  Aside from scheduling and incremental/differential options the most interesting feature is a Delta algorithm that is supposed to speed up the restore process.  I did a backup but until I have a guinea pig machine I'm not going to restore just to test it.    The backup went as expected. The backup image is about 50% the size of my C: partition.

2494

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 24, 2015, 06:05 AM »

Build 9926 ISO


Edit:  Note that you are expected to sign up for the Windows Insider Program if not already enrolled.

2495

Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 24, 2015, 06:01 AM »

Atsu Hime
50 episodes.
Based on the true life story of Tenshōin, an influential and extraordinary Japanese princess who lived from 1836 to 1883.

-bit (January 23, 2015, 10:27 PM)

Good site.  I've been watching some Asian movies etc. on YouTube and many emanate from there.   

2496

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Macrium Reflect 6 News

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 23, 2015, 03:21 PM »

I'm a big fan of macrium reflect.  Very fast, very stable, no bloat.

-mouser (January 23, 2015, 10:04 AM)

I tried it out.  The C: partition on my Laptop is 65 GB GPT.  It imaged it to a USB 3.0 stick in 1/2 hour. (It's an A-Data stick.  Not very fast but inexpensive and rugged.)  The image size is about 32 GB.  I'm curious to see what will be new in v. 6.0. 

2497

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Macrium Reflect 6 News

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 23, 2015, 09:45 AM »

I'm downloading Macrium Reflect 5.3 Standard now.  Because it also downloads WinPE 5.0 the download is about 450 MB.

After applying the coupon the cost to upgrade to Reflect 5.3 Standard from 4.2 is $20.24 if no sales tax applies.  The coupon had a 7 day expiration so I had to decide to use it without knowing exactly what will be in v. 6.  But the free 5.3 seems to work on my Laptop.  For $20 it seems like a good buy.

2498

Living Room / Re: chrome browser is so nasty

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 23, 2015, 05:26 AM »

Hm... I'm not using SecureDNS either. Miles?

-Stoic Joker (January 22, 2015, 07:26 PM)

I took it off.  Seems like a lot of work to use a v. 26 FF derivative.  What I'm trying to figure out is why every time I install a new FF it is responsive for about a week.  Then it bogs when clicking in pages.  The only thing fast is clicking links.  Kind of bizarre.  It seems to happen on every FF derivative as well as FF releases.  I didn't wait this long for clicks to propagate on my 486 with dial up.

Edit:  I removed FVD SpeedDial.  See how it goes.

On the Commodo, it seems like I've never had good luck with any kin of AV tool.  MBAM is about it. 

2499

Living Room / Re: chrome browser is so nasty

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 22, 2015, 03:48 PM »

I just started playing with IceDragon.  very fast.

-techidave (January 22, 2015, 02:52 PM)

Seems worth a look.  Installing in "portable mode" is described here:
https://help.comodo....169-1-413-4903-.html

Once set up copy the program folder to USB as all the settings etc. are self contained.

Edit:  Windows versions after XP seem touchier about programs altering files under Program Files.  If access denied errors pop up it might be solved by taking ownership of the folder, if you are on a single user system.

Edit2:  The other detail of note is the FF version is 26.x.  I'm downloading now.  With the built in virus scan it might be a nice addition for a USB toolkit.

Edit3:  So far not so good. I installed in Portable Mode.  Even after a reboot I get "Ice Dragon is already running but not responding." It doesn't show in Task Manager.  Something is busted. 

2500

Found Deals and Discounts / Macrium Reflect 6 News

« Last post by MilesAhead on January 22, 2015, 09:08 AM »

Macrium Reflect version 6 is supposed to be released "in the next few weeks" according to an email I got from Macrium Sales.

I contacted Sales for Macrium Reflect regarding my registered version 4.2 of Reflect Standard edition and the upgrade to Macrium Reflect 5.3 Standard.  They emailed me back about the issue and also sent me a coupon code for an additional 40% discount on the upgrade.

One is not supposed to publish the code and I have not.  But I suggested on another board a Macrium user contact Sales using the Support Page Form and perhaps he would be contacted with the deal.  Sure enough they emailed him his own discount code.

The email also noted that nyone who now upgrades to 5.3 will be given a free upgrade to 6 when it comes out.  If you already have Macrium 5.3 then I guess there's a cutoff date for the free upgrade to 6.

Best bet if you are committed to Macrium Reflect is to contact sales using the form.