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2576

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 31, 2012, 06:20 PM »

I took a quick try on the font rendering issue today. I replaced the TextOut function call by DrawThemeTextEx which is supposed to paint text on glass surfaces. But the API is highly different. Not only the layouting works differntly, it also requires a Unicode string as opposed to the plain ANSI char* used in the programme. These are obstacles that I cannot easily pass. My C++ skills are too limited, not to mention even more ancient C. If somebody could explain me how to replace TextOut with DrawThemeTextEx correctly, I could possibly make it work. Until now, I only see some random pixels, and for some time, my TClock build won't respond and eventually crash Explorer. Guess I should restart Windows first.

Update: I should restart Explorer correctly. Integrity level Low and High are both wrong, it must be Medium. (Using Process Hacker) This is a bit more complicated to run as, but it works. Then TClock (and all other applications...) works correctly again.

-LonelyPixel (October 31, 2012, 05:12 PM)

That's the downside of inheriting a program that was originally written in the mid 90's The unicode handling was one of the things that tripped me up as well - The project requires a massive rewrite to resolve this I suspect.

The DrawThemeTextEx (and friends) function(s) was a (really clever) home grown export by Two_toNe, I tried to do what I could with it...But I too have my limits. Best advice I can give is do most of your testing in a VM because T-Clock hooks directly into the shell and will crash it in a flash if something (test code level) goes sideways. During development I ran 3 VMs and 2 Remote Desktop sessions for testing purposes to avoid crashing the shell (constantly...) on my main development machine.

2577

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 31, 2012, 06:07 PM »

I can't switch off DEP for it.

-t42 (October 31, 2012, 01:37 PM)

Nor do you need to ... I'd have never released it if that was a requirement. I run DEP for everything and have NX enabled. T-Clock runs fine.

Are you by chance running the 32-bit binary?

2578

Living Room / Re: Hurricaine Sandy Discussion Thread

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 31, 2012, 12:11 PM »

I received an email from EarthLink Business outlining how throughly they were preparing for Sandy's arrival, the day after Sandy left. ...Just in the nick of to late there guys.  

2579

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 31, 2012, 12:04 PM »

Too bad, no functionality in windows 8. It started to show time, else no reaction.

-t42 (October 31, 2012, 10:40 AM)

Strange, it runs fine on my Win8 x86 laptop, and the Win8 x64 machine I have here in my office. The text does seem to move around a bit when the charms bar is opened or closed. But beyond that it did fine throughout the beta, and on the release versions I'm running now.

Maybe we can convince Stoic Joker to update it for Windows 8 as his NANY 2013 project?

-mouser (October 31, 2012, 11:47 AM)

My we're persistent...  ...But I don't have a prayer of hitting that target.

Work is leaving me with no time for a life these days...and most of the life I've had time for has been a bitch. *Shrug* ...That's "normal" this close to 50, right..?

2580

General Software Discussion / Re: overcome compatibility issues

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 31, 2012, 06:39 AM »

HP Deskjet 1000

-kalos (October 30, 2012, 05:37 PM)

Which one? If it's a cse/cxi then no, support was dropped at the Win95/NT level. If it's a J110 then you might be able to get the Vista x64 driver to work...but there is no guarantee.

Safest option to try (assuming it's a J110) is the Vista x64 Basic Driver Package from HP's site ... If that doesn't work...nothing will.

2581

Living Room / Re: Mass Social Engineering in Forums

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 30, 2012, 12:16 PM »

This is not desirable as it then leaves the enforcement agencies unable to track the percentage of those in the population who always resist attempts for control against them .

So standing up for yourself is bad.. Lovely (and rather subtle) pitch for weakness is strength there ain't it Ren?

2582

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Server 12 shipping Nov 1, 2012

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 29, 2012, 01:34 PM »

I'm currently in the process of deploying a 2012 server for a new client.

-Stoic Joker (October 29, 2012, 12:05 PM)

Cool! Could you keep us posted on how you're provisioning it and how it works out? Thx

-40hz (October 29, 2012, 12:22 PM)

Unfortunately this dep isn't that exciting. It's just going in as a single DC/file server for a small training facility. I put the OS on a 100GB partition and after configuring the usual AD/DHCP/DNS stuff there is 89.1GB still free.

The setup was (mostly automated, and) straightforward enough that I don't think it's actually possible to screw it up...Although the configuring AD after the install/reboot part did throw me a bit at first. Bare drive to active domain took less than an hour on a Dell R310.

2583

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Server 12 shipping Nov 1, 2012

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 29, 2012, 12:05 PM »

It's huge...it's here...it's cool...and, um...it's got the Metro interface. Better get over it!

-40hz (October 29, 2012, 08:01 AM)

Given that they finally came up with a layout for Server Manager that doesn't suck, metro is actually a bit of a plus for server. Everything you're likely to need is either easy to find in SM, or accessible via CMD.

I'm currently in the process of deploying a 2012 server for a new client.

2584

General Software Discussion / Re: Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 28, 2012, 02:58 PM »

Well now...with all the negativity floating about regarding W8 it's really quite refreshing to see an actual tip on how to use it without hacking it into yesteryear.

Thank you.

2585

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Stop Zombie Mouth - Free Plants vs Zombies game giveaway codes for everybody!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 26, 2012, 09:27 PM »

Now that's a cool idea. Think I'll add a stack of those to the candy bowl.

2586

General Software Discussion / Re: Where can I download BitLocker to Go?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 23, 2012, 11:15 AM »

MS BitLocker To Go Reader for XP and Vista.

2587

Living Room / Re: Outing the Internet's worst troll.

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 02:53 PM »

Legal and regulated properly would leave far less casualties.

-Stoic Joker (October 16, 2012, 01:47 PM)

True... but who regulates?  Haven't they already done so by fiat?

-wraith808 (October 16, 2012, 02:08 PM)

LOL (Love that term) But I don't think the zero tolerance policy quite qualifies as a happy medium.

It's just that no one wants to have the conversation, because it's a political hot potato, and being in the shadows makes it more so.  So in the meantime, I think the point about respect of commitment and others applies...

-wraith808 (October 16, 2012, 02:08 PM)

There lying the crux of the problem ... Nothing good ever happens in a dark alley. But get a thing out into the light of a proper business environment, and things just tend to be a tad bit safer. Ya know?

Regulating based on morality is just silly...and dangerous. You're not stopping anything from happening ... You're just preventing people from getting paid for their "efforts" (e.g. prostitution does not equal or cause infidelity).

2588

Living Room / Re: What A Different World Than What I Grew Up In :(

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 01:57 PM »

Okay... So can anyone cite an actual example of an outed cyber bully that really was tortured to death in the (digital) town square??

Seriously. Is the true crowd reaction actual, or assumed? ...The masses easily get bored (and move on) in a week I'd assert.

2589

Living Room / Re: Outing the Internet's worst troll.

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 01:47 PM »

anyone as is consenting

-Stoic Joker (October 16, 2012, 12:04 PM)

Agree up to a point. But then there's the issue of what you'd consider "consent."

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:28 PM)

Um... that would be the standardly accepted two (or more) consenting adults definition.

"I think you're really hot and I'd like to go to bed with you!" is pretty clearly consensual.

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:28 PM)

...Yepper, that's the one.

But so is: "Ok. I'll do ya for $50 instead of $75 - but only because if I don't come back with enough money tonight, my Man is gonna beat the living hell out of me again." It's just a different form of 'consent.'

So too with a runaway fourteen year old who is thinking: "If I don't wanna turn tricks anymore they said I can go back living out on the street anytime I want to. So maybe this ain't so bad compared to the street."

Gotta be careful with arguments defending prostitution in the USA.

I was involved in a crisis call center at one point in my career. Got an earful enough to last a lifetime. And trust me, while there may well be thousands of "high-class call girls" and "sly-boys" out there who "love" their job, there's easily ten times that many homeless, brutalized, blackmailed, and drug-addicted prostitutes on the payroll of your average "procurer" or "madam."

It's an ugly business. Until you see up close how it actually operates, you have no idea just how ugly it can be.

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:28 PM)

All of which are directly caused by shunning things into the shadows and making them naughty/illegal/wrong.

Legal and regulated properly would leave far less casualties.

2590

Living Room / Re: What A Different World Than What I Grew Up In :(

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 01:35 PM »

Bullying flourishes in the shadows. I don't think it's ever wise to allow them to operate anonymously or unchallenged. Exposing them for what they are, and exposing what they do to as many people as possible, is the first step in dealing with the problem - even if it serves no other function than forcing those in a position of authority to take action.

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:12 PM)

That would be in my experience as well ... except the authorities were never really that useful/helpful

Because believe me, schools would rather not deal with the issue at all from what I've seen. And anything they can do to "not see" the problem has been their SOP so far

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:12 PM)

Never having been popular in school I can well confirm this phenomenon at close range. Some people are taught to (be leaders) defend their position, and others are taught to (be drones) not make waves ... Guess which group is most likely to wear the target?

I was taught to not make waves ... And spent a good deal of "quality" time wearing my as assigned target.

Once I managed to grasp on my own that the occasional wavy is necessary ...(and began defending my position)... The bullies went elseware to fine easier targets.

Sometimes the only way to deal with an intermittent problem is to watch it (or push it) until it finally reveals itself. Once the problem is clearly identified, you can then work on finding a more permanent fix.

Exposing a bully does exactly that.

-40hz (October 16, 2012, 12:12 PM)

It allows others to learn by (negative) example..

2591

Living Room / Re: Outing the Internet's worst troll.

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 12:04 PM »

A police friend of mine once told me they busted a guy with a ring and a baby seat in the back.  That's low.

-wraith808 (October 16, 2012, 10:55 AM)

Really, why? ...Maybe he wanted to try something that his wife didn't. Is he really obligated to be stuck eternally wondering what it would be like? Why is that fair?

Here's the screwed up part. You can legally have at it with as many of anyone as is consenting...and it's all perfectly legal ... Unless somebody gets compensated for their time. That's just stupid puritanical nonsense that should never been allowed to become law.

2592

Living Room / Re: Apple Tracking Users Again

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 11:48 AM »

Interesting that it's called "Limit Ad Tracking", and not Disable Ad Tracking. Sounds like they are reserving the right to let a few things slip later on.

2593

Living Room / Re: Tracking Brainwaves to Protect Our Borders

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 16, 2012, 07:00 AM »

Here's a thought... Instead of worrying and whining about all those pesky Mexicans sneaking across the border to snap up all of the highly sought after kitchen, gardening and janitorial positions ... Why don't we just ask them to watch for people that don't belong.

Hell if enough of them were allowed over here to really see how badly we've managed to screw this country up they'd probably start patrollong the border for us just to protect their own from the land of false hope.

2594

Living Room / Re: "System Volume Information" - TIP: How to access this locked/inaccessible folder

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 15, 2012, 07:41 PM »

Sounds a bit risky if the permissions are left in the altered state. I usually use a Linux boot disk to peek inside if the need arises.

2595

Living Room / Re: Pumpkin carvings which are not to be missed.

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 15, 2012, 07:36 PM »

Holy Crap! Those are cool!

2596

Living Room / Re: 3D Printing Under Attack

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 15, 2012, 02:18 PM »

Sad truth is, weapons acquisition is driven by a need - real or perceived - to have a fallback in an emergency.

The only way they're ever going to get a handle the number of guns on the street is if the powers that be finally start addressing the root causes behind it. Most people I know prefer not to own or carry a gun. But I'm seeing and hearing of more and more people who used to be adamantly opposed to "having a weapon in the house" now seriously considering getting one and learning how to use it.

Maybe the time has come to drop the glittering generalities and propaganda and start some genuine dialog about why this is happening?

-40hz (October 15, 2012, 12:41 PM)

(Desperate times/Desperate measures...) Amen to that.

2597

Living Room / Re: 3D Printing Under Attack

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 15, 2012, 11:38 AM »

And that one resembles this one, which I am sure the patent has long since expired. I bet this one would be a perfect candidate for 3D printing (without the worry of DRM protected designs), if/when the technology does get to a point where guns could be printed.

-app103 (October 15, 2012, 11:10 AM)

Interesting point. Just because you can't print a specific gun ... Doesn't mean you can't print a gun like device. Computers do tend to be horribly specific...and deviations can be filed off quite easily.

How about printing a plastic 38 revolver, and using a steel cylinder.

2598

Living Room / Re: Remember to make full drive image backups

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 15, 2012, 06:42 AM »

http://support.kaspe...m/viruses/rescuedisk

Free effective external scan, does wonders for cleanup of all sorts of evilware.


Also, while imaging is fun in a techy sort of way ... The in-box Windows backup actually does work quite well. Mine runs nightly to a network location and affords the option of doing a complete restore from several different versions of the system.

2599

Living Room / Re: 3D Printing Under Attack

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 14, 2012, 12:51 PM »

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

2600

Living Room / Re: 3D Printing Under Attack

« Last post by Stoic Joker on October 14, 2012, 11:40 AM »

political violence could one day replace political dialogue as the hallmark of our democratic system.

Sounds like government fearing its people to me (downside == 0).

For more than two centuries, the U.S. Constitution and its amendments have secured the blessings of liberty for Americans. If extremists like Cody Wilson have their way, "the guys with the [printed] guns" will make new rules for the future.

Help me out on this...what changed??