Recent Posts

4801

Living Room / Re: Using XP System Restore Offline

« Last post by 4wd on March 13, 2010, 12:35 PM »

I thought 'repair' didnt work with XP home (well I read that somewhere - after an unsuccessful repair attempt)

-tomos (March 13, 2010, 09:10 AM)

AFAIK, it will work for both Home and Pro - admittedly I've only ever done it with Pro and it's always worked.

Just to make it clear, this is the second 'Repair' option you're offered, (the first takes you to CLI based command repair), once it's detected there's a previous XP installation on the HDD.

You do have to make sure you're using the same version, (Pro/Home), SP revision and distribution, Retail/OEM.

ie. The install CD you're using to repair has to exactly match what's already installed.

More info here for XP in-place Upgrade as MS call it.

Or the main page for all their versions.

Given the extra info the method I would use to restore the system, (which, personally, I never had any luck with on XP so I removed it from all subsequent installs), would be:

-4wd (March 13, 2010, 04:28 AM)

It meant to read that I never had any success with XP's System Restore so that is what I removed from subsequent installs.

My tenuous grasp of English grammar deserted me at that point.   

'Install in place' has always worked for me except where I had severely nobbled the existing installation.

4802

Living Room / Re: Using XP System Restore Offline

« Last post by 4wd on March 13, 2010, 04:28 AM »

Given the extra info the method I would use to restore the system, (which, personally, I never had any luck with on XP so I removed it from all subsequent installs), would be:

1) Boot from a BartPE/WinPE based CD/drive and copy any important data to another external/internal HDD.
2) Download an XP Home ISO, (supposedly legal if you have a license), and perform an 'Install/Repair in place'.

The XP installer should pick up the existing installation, unless it is severely munged, and give you the option to repair it.

4803

Living Room / Re: Using XP System Restore Offline

« Last post by 4wd on March 12, 2010, 03:45 PM »

You mention that you can't boot to Safe Mode or Last Good Config but not whether you can boot to CLI or not.

If you can boot to CLI then you can use System Restore as given here.

4804

Living Room / Re: Help me build my new Home Theater PC

« Last post by 4wd on March 11, 2010, 04:15 PM »

I actually just put together a build to replace my EPIA system and it would be quite capable of functioning as a HTPC.

Silverstone SUGO SG05 Mini-ITX case (it'll take a dual slot gfx card if necessary): AU$115
ZOTAC GeForce 8200 ITX WiFi: AU$163
Coolermaster GeminiII CPU Cooler (no fans): AU$59
Thermaltake 12cm ISGC fan (replaced the SG05 case fan): AU$20

I got the AMD based board because I already had a CPU & RAM lying around from my main machine rebuild: Athlon 7750 BE + 4GB DDR2.

The only reason it's running the 7750, (95W) is because the Athlon II 235e, (45W), hadn't hit the shelf by the time I left Australia in February.

The machine is used for usenet downloading, bittorrent and DVB-T recording.

HDD: WD750GB GP 3.5" for OS + downloads and a WD160GB Scorpio 2.5" for TV programs, (I don't record much and all recordings are transferred to my main machine for editing/writing etc).
ODD: Optiarc 7540A DVD Writer.

It's ended up as a nice, small, quiet and fast machine, the board I have doesn't have a PCIe x16 slot which is fine, the onboard graphics are good for my use and I'll be installing a twin DVB-T tuner card in the PCIe x1 slot so I can use the USB twin tuner with my laptop.

You can get an idea of what it looks like here, (with the exception of the gfx card of course).

Next build I think I'll use the same case but go for the i3/i5 version of the motherboard and a Radeon gfx card for a lightweight LAN gaming machine.

4805

Living Room / Re: In rememberance of....The antiquated hardware/software reminiscence thread

« Last post by 4wd on March 07, 2010, 02:12 PM »

A really cool thing was my Video Backup-System that made it possible to save Gigabytes to video-tapes at a time where you only could buy harddiscs with only a few megabytes.

-Crush (March 07, 2010, 08:35 AM)

Oh yes!  A must-have order I gave my wife when she went to the UK in 1993, "Go to the manufacturer and buy this gizmo thanks!"

It got replaced with a HP 5.25" SCSI DAT unit that a mate got for nothing - a LOT faster.

4806

General Software Discussion / Re: Paragon Virtualization Manager 2010

« Last post by 4wd on February 19, 2010, 07:37 PM »

... I'll progress to getting a vLite tweaked version onto my workstation, before the Win7 RC I'm currently running expires

-f0dder (February 19, 2010, 06:16 AM)

I'd love to know what things you end up 'tweaking' out of W7x64 so I can tweak my version, (my efforts using one of the posts in MSFN kind of nuked it  ).

I'm now running it as my primary system since the x86 version is crippled by the arbitrary memory limitation - it's really annoying not being able to Task Switch out of a game without it crashing.

4807

General Software Discussion / Re: How to encrypt a USB drive without admin rights?

« Last post by 4wd on February 19, 2010, 07:02 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions.  I should have thought out what I wanted a bit better, though your posts are helping me do that.  I occasionally use the USB key at college and the public library.  I'm not really expecting industrial-strength security.  I want to (1) prevent average users accessing payware programs on my USB key, (2) prevent same accessing certain files, and (3) should I lose the key, or forget and leave it behind, plugged into a machine (mine are all on cables, so they're more obvious than usual), then no-one, not even a sysadmin (who hadn't already sniffed the password) could access any secure area.  That seems to mean I'd be better off with a TrueCrypt-type secure container to stop (1) and (3) while still making the programs accessible to me.

-rjbull (February 19, 2010, 03:11 PM)

For (1) and (2), isn't the problem with using a encrypted container that once you have entered the passphrase everything in it will be decrypted and accessible?

If you wander away from the computer, (eg. to look at a reference book), then anyone will be able to access what's on it until you return, (or nick it).

I think the main problem is (3) for which there is a simple solution: go to a hardware shop, buy one of those retractable key chains, attach it to your belt/pants and the flash drive.  Job Done! 

Other than that, if you want true container-like encryption without Admin Rights then, I believe, you're restricted to using a flash drive with always-on hardware encryption.

4808

General Software Discussion / Re: How to encrypt a USB drive without admin rights?

« Last post by 4wd on February 18, 2010, 06:49 PM »

If you mean for Flash Drives, some manufacturers offer a utility that will allow you to partition the drive into secure/unsecured areas.  Then when you run the program and enter the password the unsecured area gets demounted and the secured unlocked and mounted.  eg. Imation Flash Drives, Astone' FlashUtility.

These might not require Admin Rights, (at least ImationLOCK didn't cause UAC to pop up on W7), but they aren't exactly encryption either.

Have you checked the manufacturers site?

Otherwise, see f0dder' answer.

4809

General Software Discussion / Re: Media Center Software

« Last post by 4wd on February 16, 2010, 10:22 PM »

What about Media Portal?

Pretty much a full media center, browse shares for access to media on other computers/devices, watch/capture TV/radio, edit your video captures, etc, etc.

Win7 x86/x64 is supported.

4810

General Software Discussion / Re: Paragon Virtualization Manager 2010

« Last post by 4wd on February 13, 2010, 06:28 PM »

i've seen the 2009 version and i couldn't see any v2p in it.

-nudone (February 13, 2010, 06:09 PM)

You're right, been a while since I used it.

4811

General Software Discussion / Re: Paragon Virtualization Manager 2010

« Last post by 4wd on February 13, 2010, 06:07 PM »

I'm not sure if v2009 handles W7 but it can't hurt to try.

-4wd (February 13, 2010, 05:18 PM)

And just as important: does it handle v2p? I'd say there's a bigger chance of 2009 supporting (if not officially) Win7 but failing at v2p, since it's apparently a feature that's hard to do right...

-f0dder (February 13, 2010, 05:32 PM)

hmm, it supports W7 x86/x64 but I'm not sure it does V2P - here's the original GAOTD page.

I think the Virtualization Manager is a slightly tweaked repackaged version of Paragon's Adaptive Restore feature.

Still, at a cost of only a few bits and bytes, what have you got to lose

4812

General Software Discussion / Re: Paragon Virtualization Manager 2010

« Last post by 4wd on February 13, 2010, 05:18 PM »

Any chance of other people getting a discount like that? I've been wanting to get Win7 on my laptop the coming week, and I'd definitely like to do the initial setup in VM, it's so much more enjoyable not having to reboot all the time (especially since I want a vLited install... which is even more risky than it was with Vista :/ ).

-f0dder (February 13, 2010, 11:55 AM)

I'll probably end up with an email soon then.

GAOTD had Paragon Virtualization Manager 2009 Personal available a while back, (October), the registration page is still up.

You could try registering and using the links provided in post #3 here download the msi packages.

I'm not sure if v2009 handles W7 but it can't hurt to try.

4813

Living Room / Re: Networks and external drives

« Last post by 4wd on February 11, 2010, 01:39 AM »

Do you think, since the data has (almost) never been actively used while being suddenly disconnected, that it will be OK?

-SKesselman (February 10, 2010, 11:08 AM)

As they say, "It's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop at the end." 

If the drive happened to have been spun up at the time, all the more likely damage could have occurred.  If it was summarily disconnected without being properly "Safely Removed" from the OS then you run the risk of data corruption, less so with NTFS but the chance is still there.
If the laptop was powered down at the time then the only likely source of data corruption would be a mechanical fault, eg. the heads bouncing off of the platters due to being dropped, (if it was powered down then hopefully the heads were parked at the time).

While you say you weren't accessing the data on it at the time there's still the possibility the OS was doing a little background housekeeping.  So to be sure I'd be copying all the data off of it, (this will at least make sure it's all still readable), and do a full format to see if any bad blocks have appeared due to, possibly, head bounce.

Even then, I would still consider the drive suspect and not use it as my only backup source.

4814

Living Room / Re: Networks and external drives

« Last post by 4wd on February 10, 2010, 02:48 AM »

There's also cheaper alternatives available, (no BitTorrent client), from DX with free postage:

US$38.05 - UNITEK Network USB 2.0 Server for Sharing USB Printer/USB HDD/Web Camera/USB Speaker
US$38.05 - Network USB 2.0 Server with Hub Support for Printer/USB HDD/Web Camera/USB Speaker

As well as a 4 port version for a bit more:

US$59.80 - 4-Port Network USB 2.0 Server for Printers/USB Devices

NOTE: I don't work for DX nor am I in anyway associated with them..........other than seeming to spend quite a bit of money there

4815

Living Room / Re: Networks and external drives

« Last post by 4wd on February 09, 2010, 08:29 PM »

Depending on how much data you shift around and access from the external storage I would suggest that WiFi connection be your last choice for an alternative.

In my experience, WiFi is only useful for traffic that's sent in packets that is not time critical, eg. WWW, email, etc.  Any large transfers will take a long time at ~300kps which all I ever get on 802.11g at a distance of 700mm.

The most obvious alternative is to modify your behaviour, as a suggestion to help you:
1) Take a length of nylon string.
2) Tie one end to the PSU cable just behind the DC output plug.
3) Tie the other end to the external storage' USB cable just behind the plug for the PC USB port, leaving no more than 1-2cm of slack between the two, ie. just long enough to reach the USB ports closest to the power input on the laptop.

Now when you remove the power to move your laptop you should remember to remove the USB plug or at least wonder, "Who tied string to my power cord?"

Otherwise, if your WiFi router also has network ports then any of the devices I suggested here.

Oh yeah, if you really have been dropping your external storage you might want to consider backing it all up to another HDD.

4816

General Software Discussion / Re: Batch photo filter software?

« Last post by 4wd on February 09, 2010, 07:36 PM »

- so, what did you do, 4wd, to perform your task?  

-Curt (February 09, 2010, 09:58 AM)

I ended up just working through them using the stand-alone version of the Polaroid Dust & Scratch Removal filter.  It gave me more control over which areas to process and I could also choose to only process the images that needed it, ie. I didn't bother doing any where the dust marks appears in a forest of dead trees, gravel, etc - depends on the background texture.

It actually ends up not taking too much time, even though I haven't finished yet, since I only do 20-50 at a time whenever I'm not doing too much else; I'm about half way through.

http://www.giveawayo...oner-photo-studio12/

ZONER PHOTO STUDIO 12 IS AVAILABLE TODAY ONLY FOR FREE.  TRY THAT ONE!

-SchoolDaGeek (February 09, 2010, 02:05 PM)

I saw that but didn't think of using it for this because the version they're offering doesn't support 8bf filters.

Whenever I hear "batch" and "photo" (or "image") I think of Imagemagick. I have used it myself very often and generally was quite satisfied with the results.

-housetier (February 09, 2010, 08:52 AM)

I completely forgot about ImageMagick  

For improved user experience there is Phatch which provides a GUI. I have not used phatch yet though; however, it is intriguing.

Yes, that looks interesting; unfortunately it doesn't seem to support 8bf filters.

4817

Living Room / Re: Itching to put together your own pc from parts, but need help choosing parts?

« Last post by 4wd on February 03, 2010, 06:42 PM »

Given the relatively low cost of hardware combined with what you can scrounge, you should be able to put together a cheap PC for $100-120 - especially one suitable for older non-geek family members

eg.

New motherboard/CPU combo US$57.99

Pretty much everything else I could scrounge from parts around the garage/house, (eg. case, RAM, kb, mouse, PSU and monitor), add in an easy Linux based distro and it's job done.

An AIO motherboard is perfect for this kind of job - hell, my wife's been happily using a Socket-A, Athlon 1600+, 512MB, 80GB, AIO based motherboard for the last 4-5 years.  She doesn't want me to upgrade it because it runs so well.........but I did manage to sneak a Sempron 2400+ into it and add another 512MB of RAM

4818

Living Room / Re: Optimus Maximus

« Last post by 4wd on January 28, 2010, 06:51 PM »

I still think you could turn it into the equivalent of one of those huge multi-monitor displays and watch pr0n while you're programming or possibly a game , eg. Whack a Mole!

4819

General Software Discussion / Re: Software support - am I losing my mind?

« Last post by 4wd on January 28, 2010, 06:46 PM »

Your last message should have been your first, (along with the added points that all your hardware is in verified working order and the OS version).

You gave them a far too complicated message in the beginning plus you could have just cut'n'paste your first message into all their subsequent responses

4820

Living Room / Re: External harddisk broken?

« Last post by 4wd on January 27, 2010, 11:46 PM »

I've had success with tapping the drive (gently but firmly) with the head of a screwdriver... this is a last resort, and if it works you should copy data off your drive ASAP and expect it to die during the process or shortly after.

-f0dder (January 27, 2010, 11:05 AM)

IMHO, it's also preferable to tap the ends of the HDD, (which is the aspect you usually have easy access to anyway), tapping the top or bottom is likely to have a head bounce off a platter.
And the ends rather than the sides because it should transmit more lateral movement to the heads to try and get them to move - but as f0dder said, a last resort.

4821

General Software Discussion / Re: Any Portable Tool to make a Portable Application.

« Last post by 4wd on January 26, 2010, 04:47 AM »

Use Thininstall. It's pricey but creates a single executable file.

-InstantFundas (January 25, 2010, 11:43 PM)

"Pricey" is not the word I'd use to describe it.  Extortion comes close.

At US$6050 for a single license it is priced solely towards corporate users and not the normal PC user who just wants to make a application portable.

4822

General Software Discussion / Re: Any Portable Tool to make a Portable Application.

« Last post by 4wd on January 25, 2010, 07:49 PM »

See the post here where I mentioned most of the available tools for creating portable versions of apps.

It may give you some ideas.

For PS-CS2, I'd probably give JauntePE, (follow the 12 step program), a go as it can monitor registry changes during program installation.

The last available build of JauntePE appears to be here: JauntePE

It appears to be a dead project which is a pity.

4823

General Software Discussion / Re: Win 7 XP Mode is Hardware-Dependent

« Last post by 4wd on January 24, 2010, 08:44 PM »

The alternative VMLite actually uses the licensed image from MS' XP Mode download, works without hardware virtualisation and doesn't particularly care what version of Windows XP or higher it's running on.  VMLite itself is just a modified VirtualBox implementation.

It's only the written wording of MS' XP Mode EULA that makes it illegal to use it on anything other than what was intended.  There's no inbuilt 'software based restriction' in the image, (unless they've done something within VMLite to explicitly bypass it - in which case I'm sure MS would be yelling DMCA Infringement rather loudly).

I've downloaded all the programs, XP Mode stuff, etc, but like most things around here I haven't got 'a round tuit' yet  

4824

Living Room / Re: Tech News Weekly: Edition 3-10

« Last post by 4wd on January 24, 2010, 03:45 PM »

@5: Damn!  And I thought it was me playing too much FPS!

Guess I'll have to start saying, "Sorry love, tonight's Team Deathmatch."

@8: UhOh!  Closed environment + too much pr0n = Deliverance!

 

4825

General Software Discussion / Re: Just discovered a HUGE annoyance in Windows 7

« Last post by 4wd on January 21, 2010, 05:35 PM »

Just turn off password protected sharing.

-Carol Haynes (January 21, 2010, 03:58 AM)

It was turned off on both Public and Home or Work, (and still is).  Maybe I'll have to do a Install in Place, (can you still do that with Win7), and start from near scratch.

On another note:

Win7's Power Options->Balanced settings, I've changed the Sleep time to 1 hour, (30 minutes is just too short), and it goes into Sleep after 60 minutes of me doing nothing on the mouse/keyboard......but the majority of the time it does it regardless of what the PC is doing.

ie. I'll start a number of video encodes to be done overnight, CPU load is always 50-90% doing these.  Next morning I'll boot up the PC from Sleep to find it start to continue doing the encodes.

I always thought that Windows only went into Sleep mode when there was minimal CPU activity, (eg. 0-10%) ?