Recent Posts

301

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick AVI Creator

« Last post by sajman99 on May 24, 2010, 02:30 PM »

MilesAhead, looks like you're the first person to "discover" this neat front-end QAC. Nobody had commented for two years before you asked a question. Hard to believe but I guess the bunches of these conversion tools make some get lost in the pack.

Nice to see the author is responsive. Having full control of the generated Avisynth script is a definite +.

302

General Software Discussion / Re: Anybody Know About DiskTune?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 24, 2010, 02:00 PM »

...Maybe the developer doesn't know a needed speed improvement in their defrag yet...

-majoMO (May 06, 2010, 03:12 PM)

I suspect it's more that he doesn't have time to dedicate to this freeware sideline project; the guy really seems to know his stuff. For example, from the DiskTune help file's miscellaneous section...

DiskTune optimizes Windows boot and files frequently used applications launching. To make sure DiskTune can optimally do so the Windows registry needs to be edited.

Important: below modifications have already been made for you if you have 'checked' the boot-optimize items during the installation of DiskTune!

1: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction. Double click 'Enable' (right pane). The value should be set to N. Click OK.

Accepted values are Y and N. if the value is set to Y then the built-in Windows defragger will undo DiskTune optimizations!

2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\MemoryManagement\PrefetchParameters. Double-click EnablePrefetcher (right pane). The value should be set to 3 (hexadecimal).

Accepted values are 0 = disabled, 1 = Application launch prefetching, 2 = Boot prefetching, 3 = Both prefetching. Option 3 is recommended because Windows will now monitor/record files that are accessed during boot-time and applications that are frequently launched after the operating system has finished loading and update the layout.ini file accordingly. This layout.ini file can be used by DiskTune to optimize boot and application loading by strategically placing the files referred to.

3: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout where EnableAutoLayout needs to be set to 0 (hexadecimal).

So I would like to know if I should implement these registry tweaks if I use another third party defragger such as MyDefrag or Puran Defrag? Based on what I've read so far, these tweaks apply to WinXP and Vista (but not Win7?) and serve to prevent the native Windows background defragger from disrupting the third party defrag's optimization.

Can anyone comment on these reg tweaks? Thanks.

303

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows shortcut hotkeys broken?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 24, 2010, 02:08 AM »

Regarding a possible Online Armor issue- try adding Hoekey, PopSel, and any other hotkey related apps to the Exclusions Tab (under Options). Then those specific apps should have a free pass without interference from OA's Program Guard/HIPs.

304

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PuranDefrag V7 now free for home use

« Last post by sajman99 on May 23, 2010, 02:46 PM »

I currently reverted to puran, in automatic mode, since the 7.1 update.  The average CPU usage is often over 10% so I needed the new version.  For automatic mode, I chose : optimize dirs + defrag files but not fill gaps...

-MerleOne (May 22, 2010, 02:50 PM)

Am I understanding correctly that you do not use fill gaps or PIOZR? Are these choices related to your imaging strategy? Perhaps you are attempting to minimize excessive file movement to achieve efficient backup?

Thanks very much--just trying to learn from a knowledgeable source.

305

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PuranDefrag V7 now free for home use

« Last post by sajman99 on May 23, 2010, 02:30 PM »

I've never used Perfect Disk--does it have running background services 24/7?

With Puran, at least you have the choice to use the auto-defrag options--and even then it runs very light with the Puran service running.

306

General Software Discussion / Re: Kantaris Media Player

« Last post by sajman99 on May 23, 2010, 01:20 PM »

Maybe a case of open source "birds of a feather flock together" kinda deal.

307

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick AVI Creator

« Last post by sajman99 on May 22, 2010, 06:41 PM »

Thanks a lot for the info and links. There's a heckuva lot to learn, and I'm just getting started in this area.

I really like DVD Rebuilder so I'll definitely keep watch on BD Rebuilder's development.

btw there's also a Doom10 now. Let me know if Doom11 rolls out next week.

308

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PuranDefrag V7 now free for home use

« Last post by sajman99 on May 22, 2010, 06:16 PM »

I currently reverted to puran, in automatic mode, since the 7.1 update.  The average CPU usage is often over 10% so I needed the new version.  For automatic mode, I chose : optimize dirs + defrag files but not fill gaps.

I keep Smart Defrag IObit for the full defrag of the c: partition.

-MerleOne (May 22, 2010, 02:50 PM)

I have all four of Puran's "Additional Operations" enabled including fill gaps and free some space. Filling gaps really adds to the defrag time, but those two options seem to work well to prevent rapid fragmentation.

I actually uninstalled MyDefrag last week--never thought I'd see the day.

309

General Software Discussion / Re: FavesSoft programs page on Softpedia

« Last post by sajman99 on May 22, 2010, 01:59 PM »

Congrats, MilesAhead.

I'm sure you spend lots of time developing your software so it's good to see FavesSoft get some exposure.

310

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick AVI Creator

« Last post by sajman99 on May 22, 2010, 01:36 PM »

Well, I'm still in DVD-land and haven't graduated to Blu-Ray-land just yet. I mean, I thought DVD quality was respectable with HCenc, but I'm just now starting learn about these newer encoders.

Apparently the x264 encoder has evolved to where video quality is exceptional even at very low bitrates. And many GUIs can support it too.

http://www.videohelp...m/tools/x264_Encoder
http://www.x264.nl/

MileAhead, do you know if we can replace/upgrade the x264 encoder in Quick AVI Creator (getting back on topic ) and utilize the 'latest and greatest'? Or am I getting way ahead of myself?

Time-wise to shrink Blu-Ray, what would you estimate for a dual core machine? Thanks very much.

311

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PuranDefrag V7 now free for home use

« Last post by sajman99 on May 21, 2010, 03:48 PM »

Puran Defrag 7.1 was recently released, but it's a very minor update which only adds user selectable idle time in automatic defrag.

..Currently, I am using mostly SmartDefrag IOBit 1.40 for several reasons :
- file exclusion based on size (I chose 512 MB as a limit)
- fast
- sorts directories
- redefrags are usually quick

-MerleOne (March 12, 2010, 01:59 AM)

Puran also meets all those criteria, doesn't it?

I still have portable versions of Defraggler and Quicksys Disk Defrag to compare fragmentation numbers, but I now only use Puran for a full system optimization.

312

Living Room / Re: Pac-man at Google Search...

« Last post by sajman99 on May 21, 2010, 02:27 PM »

It would be nice if Pac-man could eat away the new Google Search Sidebar.

313

General Software Discussion / Re: Does this exist?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 21, 2010, 02:08 PM »

Perhaps not exactly what you've described (ie. "randomly" and "various sizes"), but Osiva will do 52 card pick up.

http://www.noping.net/kent/osiva/

Good Luck.

314

General Software Discussion / Re: Hard drive Cleaning, which one you use?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 21, 2010, 01:43 PM »

I've seen several mentions of FCleaner as a nice cleanup app.

The program "looks" great, has a portable/no install version, and I really want to like it.  But for some reason I cannot even get the blasted program to clear my IE history. I've closed the browser, re-launched--no dice.

Still, FCleaner is a nice program worth a mention as it may suit others.

315

General Software Discussion / Re: Quick AVI Creator

« Last post by sajman99 on May 21, 2010, 01:25 PM »

Thanks for sharing, MilesAhead.   I agree this looks like a nicely integrated package. The ability to fine tune the output sounds good, but I've never used AvsP before--hope the learning curve isn't too steep.

btw this is an interesting time for video encoding. Did you see this major announcement?  http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/?p=328

Thanks to tireless work by Kieran Kunyha, Alex Giladi, Lamont Alston, and the Doom9 crowd, x264 can now produce Blu-ray-compliant video.  Extra special thanks to The Criterion Collection for sponsoring the final compliance test to confirm x264’s Blu-ray compliance.

With x264’s powerful compression, as demonstrated by the incredibly popular BD-Rebuilder Blu-ray backup software, it’s quite possible to author Blu-ray disks on DVD9s (dual-layer DVDs) or even DVD5s (single-layer DVDs) with a reasonable level of quality.  With a free software encoder and less need for an expensive Blu-ray burner, we are one step closer to putting HD optical media creation in the hands of the everyday user.

Not sure of all the implications of this, but it sounds like a game-changer to me.

316

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: free PRO: Advanced SystemCare Pro

« Last post by sajman99 on May 18, 2010, 03:29 PM »

Ugh! Please take note Iobit's software often includes dodgy installers which don't allow the user to opt out of add-ons such as unwanted toolbars.

There are reasons many sites no longer recommend Iobit software, and those reasons are based on Iobit's pattern of poor behavior.

317

General Software Discussion / Re: What to use to back up 1:1 ?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 18, 2010, 03:28 PM »

Puresync?

318

General Software Discussion / Re: Hard drive Cleaning, which one you use?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 11, 2010, 03:31 PM »

Well no I am not the author of RT Scan Tool...

-ha14 (May 11, 2010, 02:03 PM)

OK, fair enough--I was just curious. I hope the development of RT Scan Tool continues--it's only alpha but it seems to work quite well.

319

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Hound: a grep-alike that searches inside PDFs

« Last post by sajman99 on May 11, 2010, 03:22 PM »

File Hound 3.2 has been released as a completely portable app. It now uses hound3.ini to implement the "Associate with Folders" option so I deleted the old registry entry.

I'm not sure if the config file can be edited any further.

320

General Software Discussion / Re: Hard drive Cleaning, which one you use?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 07:49 PM »

Hey, wait a minute. Process Explorer reveals that the author of RT Scan Tool is Miha Jakovac.

Hmmm...I have to ask ha14, are you the author of RT Scan Tool? No biggie if you are--I just like to know if you're mentioning your software or another person's software. Either way, it's a nice little registry search tool.

321

General Software Discussion / Re: SRWare Iron 5.0.380 beta browser

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 05:53 PM »

@lanux128:
Some folks have reported that upgrading the Logitech mouse driver solved their Chrome/Iron issue:

http://www.srware.ne...hp?t=1115&p=3545
http://www.google.co...df4dc46579&hl=en

Thankfully, in my case I didn't have to go that route.

322

General Software Discussion / Re: Hard drive Cleaning, which one you use?

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 04:19 PM »

...Regscanner is nice but I use RTSCANTool and the reason is that I earlier uninstalled Regscanner and didnt put it back. But I am surprised that after uninstalling soft with Revo and cleaning registry with some tools RTSCANTOOL finds left over reg keys!!!!

-ha14 (May 09, 2010, 12:49 PM)

ha14, thanks for the mention of RT Scan Tool. I hadn't heard of it previously--looks like it's only in alpha stage.

I'm also surprised if it found something RegScanner didn't because NirSoft's tool covers more reg keys. Even so, RT Scan Tool is free, small, and portable so I guess I'll be keeping it.

323

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AnVir Task Manager Pro $25

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 03:19 PM »

Nice discount on a quality software, thanks for telling.

324

Living Room / Re: Farewell to Frank Frazetta 1928-2010

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 03:14 PM »

Sad news. His art was incredible.

325

General Software Discussion / Re: SRWare Iron 5.0.380 beta browser

« Last post by sajman99 on May 10, 2010, 02:33 PM »

@MilesAhead:
I don't know of a decent password sync app. I searched for a while, even saw that you asked the question in another forum.

If I find anything promising, I'll be sure to mention it here.