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Recent Posts

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551
Living Room / Re: Trying to remember quote about design and beauty
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 04, 2016, 10:35 AM »
Nope... *Sigh* ...I really should have saved it when I first saw it. I'm almost positive it was on the board here somewhere several years ago.
-Stoic Joker (October 04, 2016, 06:31 AM)

You'll find it when you are looking for something else.  That's usually how it goes.  :)
-MilesAhead (October 04, 2016, 06:49 AM)

I can well imagine it though having been someone's signature, in which case it could be gone from here . . .

-tomos (October 04, 2016, 10:25 AM)

Now that you mention it SJ could try the web wayback machine!  Take a wild guess at the time frame and sample a couple of dates from the snapshot list.  Maybe luck will prevail.


552
Living Room / Re: Unjust Desserts
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 04, 2016, 08:19 AM »
^^^  Yeah but what I want is some guy who can explain string theory in 25 words or less to take a stab at figuring out how many eons I have to search with Bing to get a Cafe con leche free.  I suspect I will be dead for 15 years by that time.  With my luck they will burn the milk too.  :)
553
Living Room / Unjust Desserts
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 04, 2016, 07:17 AM »
MS CEO gets big bonus

And after over a year searching with Bing I still cannot achieve my laudable goal of a free coffee at Starbucks!


554
Living Room / Re: Trying to remember quote about design and beauty
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 04, 2016, 06:49 AM »
Nope... *Sigh* ...I really should have saved it when I first saw it. I'm almost positive it was on the board here somewhere several years ago.
-Stoic Joker (October 04, 2016, 06:31 AM)

You'll find it when you are looking for something else.  That's usually how it goes.  :)
555
Found Deals and Discounts / Wise System Monitor [ freeware ]
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 03, 2016, 05:26 PM »
I guess this has been out for a while, but I just noticed it.  Wise System Monitor has a nice floating window in the notification area that shows current internet download and upload speed, Ram usage, CPU usage and CPU temp.

On my Laptop Task Manager shows virtually zero for resources used by just the floating window, except for Ram which indicates about 5 MB used.  Not bad.  The window stays on top and is only about 12 pixels high.  Also you can open it up for more details on hardware, OS etc..

A nice little freeware it will run on XP and later Windows.

556
Living Room / Re: Trying to remember quote about design and beauty
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 03, 2016, 01:33 PM »
How about "Beauty is in the eye of the builder."  ???  :)
557
General Software Discussion / Re: best image backup method with multiple partitions on a disk
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 03, 2016, 01:23 PM »
If you haven't visited this page it may be worth a look as it has a variety of freeware solutions:
http://www.thefreeco...backupandimage.shtml

I suspect Macrium went solely with WinPE due to the GPT partition scheme.  If your drives are GPT based it limits your options for image backup.  Although that is changing it can still be dicey as some systems that claim they support both MBR and GPT don't always work as expected.  Just making a bootable USB stick that will boot with UEFI enabled on my machine is touch and go.  Most of them don't work.

Of course it is tough to say what is the problem, the bootable image or my Laptop.  It has always had booting, update and system restore issues.  My experience with MBR was much greater as even trying to boot a VHD seems like an impossible task on this Laptop.

Now is a good time if you have a guinea pig PC with a similar layout in drives and partitions to verify things actually restore as advertised.

Edit: what you describe though, sounds like a good candidate for a physical drive cloner utility.  Get the OS and baseline applications installed and configured as you want, then clone the drive to one of exactly the same size.  Store the drive in an anti-static bag in some safe place.  If the HD fails or gets really scrambled, just insert the backup and power up.  I mentioned this a bunch of times but a guy I know on another forum has quick release drive rails and images his system to an identical HD in a docking station.  Unlike your scheme he makes a new image perhaps twice a week so that he doesn't lose more than a couple of days if disaster strikes.  But you could still use a similar strategy only making one optimal image of a tuned system.  His method has the advantage that you don't have to run a restore program.  Insert the backup HD then determine later if the hosed drive has a physical problem or if the contents is merely corrupted etc..


558
General Software Discussion / Re: I need help creating a new Directory structure including files from a text file.
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 03, 2016, 07:30 AM »
4wd's Power Shell script looks like it has the problem covered.  For general purpose directory creation with a long parent directory chain I have a utility on my page CreateDir

It has a /q switch; quiet mode for use in batch files.  It is written in AutoIt3 that has a DirCreate() function that creates any missing folders in the chain when creating the target folder, without any programmer intervention needed.  See the included Readme.txt file for examples.
559
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 03, 2016, 06:54 AM »
Maybe Outlook.com is just too resource-intensive for older OS's.
-dr_andus (October 03, 2016, 04:15 AM)

the Outlook is cloudy . . .
-tomos (October 03, 2016, 06:13 AM)

Speaking of which Hurricane Mathew shows more chance of Miami experiencing tropical strength winds.  I hope it veers off.  Whipping rain is no fun when you are outside.  I have been lucky so far.  Most tropical storms miss Miami.  We get the wash rainstorms from many miles away.  But that inspires less paranoia than wondering where you will hunker down.

But as for the old OS theory, Opera 12.18 x64 snaps open accessing the same account on the same machine.  And the Firefox thing is not just on Outlook.  If I use any FF newer than 42.0 the text for my Bookmark Folders appears on the Bookmarks Bar.  But the folder icons don't fill in for about 20 seconds.  On 42.0 it is nearly instant.  Opera 12 does not encounter the Progress Bar Splash Page because I never signed in to Outlook with it.  Always through the hotmail portal.  They must save some identifier on the server because once I sign in with a particular browser I am stuck with the splash screen forever.
560
General Software Discussion / Re: Opera browser now comes with baked-in VPN
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 02, 2016, 06:19 PM »
I'm positive that this is rather a proxy than a VPN.

Also: LOL, Opera. They have been dead since their WebKitization. Their good devs are all working for Vivaldi now.

I gave Vivaldi a good trial a short time ago.  No way it could be my primary browser.  This Opera 40.x 32 bit snaps open even faster than SlimJet.  Whether it will last is another matter.  But FF is dead in the water for me until they fix whatever is killing everything after 42.0.  I guess I have to accept I will be juggling browsers more or less every few months.  Probably the main reason I wrote the BingThing.  It is easy to replace an existing browser button with another.
561
General Software Discussion / Re: Opera browser now comes with baked-in VPN
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 01, 2016, 09:16 PM »
I used to get into it on the old Opera Community about the lack of an AutoCopy function for Opera.  I am happy to see that this chrome based Opera has a nearly automatic copy built in.  If enabled after highlighting text a pop up menu appears when you release the mouse button.  The choices are Search with the default search engine or Copy to clipboard.  I very much like not having to open the context menu just to select the Copy command.   :up:

This feature may be nothing new but I had been holding out sticking with the x64 Opera 12.18.  This is my first go around with the chrome based flavor.  So far there is a lot to like.
562
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: [free] Paste As File giveaway
« Last post by MilesAhead on October 01, 2016, 08:55 AM »
A couple of times I have purchased a key for Paste As File. So obviouslly I think it's good. Some guy named jmjsquared thinks the same:
-Curt (October 01, 2016, 07:42 AM)

I saw a post from c.gingerich a year old or so referencing it.  When he replied to this thread I did not realize the program was one of his.  Duh!  I thought the program name was familiar!  There are a lot of distractions in Miami and I often miss the obvious.  :) 
563
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: [free] Paste As File giveaway
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 11:22 AM »
Amazing that this functionality is still not yet built-in
...
-IainB (September 30, 2016, 10:20 AM)

Yeah, some things are baffling.  Since the "device crowd" has ousted the "desktop hobbyist" holdovers at Redmond I guess we can assume most of these shortcomings will never be addressed.  Redefining is the way to go.  As example my "New Age" TV Set will only have a volume control that kills power if you turn it all the way counter-clockwise, and a knob which, when rotated, cycles though the available channels.  As a soldier in the war against obesity my TV will have no remote control.  Ass up off the sofa if you want to change the channel!!  :)
564
General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extensions: Your favorite or most useful
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 10:09 AM »
Since Opera has this feature built in I have gotten used to the Speed Dial opening if I close the Last Tab.  This FF AddOn does the same thing(or another option.)

Show Close Button in Last Tab

I am using it in FF 42.0.  I don't know if it will squawk in newer releases.  :)
565
DC Website Help and Extras / [solved] Outbox still exist?
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 10:03 AM »
I see when I compose a PM there is still the option to save a copy to my outbox, which is checked.  However I cannot find the outbox.  When I click Messages the only thing hanging there is Inbox.  Is the outbox history or just hidden?

Edit:  Ok, found "Sent Items" in the menu on the left hand side.   :Thmbsup:
566
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 09:35 AM »
Mouse hover is more like mouse hibernation now.  You have to wait until the Winter is over for it to hot track the items.  :)
-MilesAhead (September 30, 2016, 07:53 AM)

This might have to do with your machine specs and internet connection. Mouse hover is instant for me (I'm on a 13MB/sec broadband connection with a core i5 8GB RAM chromebook).
-dr_andus (September 30, 2016, 08:30 AM)

Mostly it seems to be Firefox newer than 42.0.  I don't know why but anything after that version has delays that never used to be there.  But I have already gone into it on the FF thread.  I just like to complain.  Opera 40.x reacts much better most of the time.  The drag and drop is still kind of sketchy.  I created a folder Reminders and dragging an email from inbox to it seems to take much too long.  I swear many of these operations worked better in the old Netscape.

I reverted to FF 42.0 just because some things just work with FF and I already have them set up so it is too soon to jettison the thing entirely.  I must say I was skeptical when Opera moved to chrome based but overall it seems pretty snappy.  A few minor irritations like not being able to specify Tile text in SpeedDial and having to play around to get the thumbnail into the dial if you prefer that to a tile etc..  But the thing comes up and loads the dial page much faster than FF 42.0 even.  Edit:  so it should.  It uses an exe instance per extension, plus one for each tab and a couple thrown in for good measure.  So with 3 or 4 tabs open I can easily have a dozen exe instances running.  But they seem fairly well behaved.  With power profile on Balanced on my Laptop I don't notice the charge being drained down(I almost always run plugged in.)

:)

567
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: [free] Paste As File giveaway
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 09:10 AM »
SharewareOnSale
249B-A300-92B3-C41E
-c.gingerich (September 30, 2016, 08:01 AM)

Thanks for that.  Seems like it will be handy as some browsers make you install an extension to drag drop into another program or onto desktop.  :)

Edit: just to verify, it installed and accepted the reg info.   :Thmbsup:
568
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 07:53 AM »
Otherwise I quite like the new Outlook Email interface. Much better thought out than the previous version, e.g. a lot more one-click operations possible (delete etc.).

Now I just have to wait for someone to create a new "dark" Stylish theme for it (as the update broke the old ones).
-dr_andus (September 30, 2016, 07:27 AM)

It looks nicer.  But it seems to me the old Hotmail interface reacted to the mouse much faster.  Mouse hover is more like mouse hibernation now.  You have to wait until the Winter is over for it to hot track the items.  :)
569
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 07:48 AM »
That may be the reason why Opera goes straight to the inbox. 
-MilesAhead (September 01, 2016, 02:29 PM)

Some kind of reversed singularity: the humanoids dont take it any longer that all progress bars are dissappearing. It is all going to fast this way, straight in to the inbox...  the guts!  :D *BEEP*
-n8wachT (September 29, 2016, 10:05 PM)

Reminds me of the good old days when there were two mail deliveries on weekdays.  A lot of people either didn't have phones or had a party line.  They didn't trust anything important to electronic transmission.  :)  I guess people could print out their would-be emails and snail 'em.  :)
570
Found Deals and Discounts / [free] Paste As File giveaway
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 30, 2016, 07:23 AM »
2 days 19 hours yadda yadda to get Paste As File free.
571
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 29, 2016, 03:49 PM »
Since Stylish styles are just CSS overlays, I don't think they can do too much harm.
-dr_andus (September 29, 2016, 03:04 PM)

I suppose I could give it a shot.  The last time I tried Stylish must be at least four years ago now.  Sometime this weekend may be a possibility.  :)
572
General Software Discussion / Re: window killer
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 28, 2016, 04:57 PM »
If the window has a unique title then it could be done with a few lines of AHK

Code: Autohotkey [Select]
  2. {
  3.   WinWait,unique window title
  5. }

That is if it is just a plain old window that has a caption bar.  If it is a toolbar that may be another story.

573
Living Room / Re: External 5.25 floppy usb drive or another way?
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 28, 2016, 04:50 PM »
Below is my reference PDF of the RetroFloppy page complete with source link at the bottom.
-Arizona Hot (September 27, 2016, 03:49 PM)

Wouldn't it be easier to do something like this?

https://archive.is/cmAZp
-Deozaan (September 28, 2016, 01:40 AM)

Isn't that cheating?  Especially if you are getting a good hourly rate the more convoluted the better.  ;)
574
Living Room / Re: In-Car Emergency Kit - Your Recommendations
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 28, 2016, 06:56 AM »
I know you said multi-tool, but to be more explicit about a few tools that many don't think about until its too late - window breaker, seatbelt cutter, and pry bar.
-wraith808 (September 27, 2016, 02:32 PM)

Don't forget the acetylene torch in case you have to burn your way out!  :)
-MilesAhead (September 27, 2016, 06:21 PM)

And don't forget to put them in the boot since they're not the kind of things you want flying around in the cabin during an accident.   :P
-4wd (September 27, 2016, 08:28 PM)

For some reason all I can think of is Ford Pinto.  The remarkable engineering feat of having the top of the gas tank and the floor of the trunk one piece of metal.  That one case made Gerry Spence a household name(at least after the 60 minutes show profiled him.)  Speaking of compressed gases in the trunk, a guy I worked with who scuba dived as a hobby claimed he had a tank let go on him one time.  He said it borrowed 8 feet into the sand by the time the pressure was exhausted.

575
General Software Discussion / Re: The Outlook is disappointing
« Last post by MilesAhead on September 28, 2016, 06:47 AM »
So, I've just been upgraded to the new "Outlook Email" server and got an annoying "It looks like you're using an adblocker" message in a pane on the right, using up valuable space especially on small screens, trying to sell me Ad-free Outlook for $19.95 USD a year. Fortunately I came across this fabulous Stylish CSS that removes the whole pane!  :-*

Better Outlook Mail (Remove ad and other details) - Themes and Skins for Live - userstyles.org
-dr_andus (September 28, 2016, 04:29 AM)

The last time I tried Stylish weird things must have happened because I took it off before long.  I don't remember exactly what the issue was.  But it must have been some instability or something.

It is not so  bad if the progress bar  on these mail accounts proceeds while another tab is active.  But some browsers only want to run the active tab even if you have that setting disabled it seems.  When the progress bar is not there the inbox loads right away.  So it seems to be a wait for the sake of waiting. All this computing power and it seems like stuff happens slower than when I had 56k dial-up.  Except for downloads of course.  :)
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