Recent Posts

5626

General Software Discussion / Re: Stop Windows from calling home

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2009, 02:45 PM »

Furthermore ,Windows messenger should be shot down on sight if you ask me, third party software is better,safer and has more features. Hence it is useless.

-Shades (December 26, 2009, 01:48 PM)

Safer? care to elaborate? And can you point out a MSN replacement that supports webcams?

-f0dder (December 26, 2009, 02:36 PM)

I'm curious on that one myself, but I've found Skype to be acceptable for video calls. *Shrug* ...Just a thought.

5627

General Software Discussion / Re: Stop Windows from calling home

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2009, 02:42 PM »

Granted, the printer tool made by Stoic Joker will likely only work partially at best on my network...but hey, such is life (sorry Stoic Joker ).

-Shades (December 26, 2009, 01:48 PM)

Sorry? Really... For What? ...Making assumptions about a program without having tried it? There is no "polling" cycle, the data is collected, displayed, done. The traffic generated during the (typically 14 second) scan is (with packets that are payload-less TCP overhead only) virtually none.

I have no problem with tweaking utilities (which this is), I even use a few from time to time. I just find the tone of its pitch as a privacy repair tool a bit over the top & foolish. Disabling the time service is absurd. You want to pick a different time server, fine. ...But good luck maintain reliable communication in a Windows Domain environment without it (Hint: Kerberos...).

Some of the noise is necessary, some is not, and blanket assumption/assertions are extremely dangerous if the what & why are not fully understood. ...Just look at nLites track record for leaving people with broken and dysfunctional systems because they didn't quite fully understand what they were being asked while Uber stripping there install.

There are no "Magic Bullets" for Privacy/Security and anything that perpetuates the rumor that there is ... is dangerous.

5628

General Software Discussion / Re: Stop Windows from calling home

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2009, 12:30 PM »

(To big to quote, but) I'm with y0himba on this one.

5629

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2009, 10:23 AM »

Sorry: I was just able to get back to this (I wasn't sure if you got adequate answers to you question amongst the language debate)... Seems OK on my XP Pro machine...

-Perry Mowbray (December 26, 2009, 03:05 AM)

Now that is bizzar... I've tried it on both the VPC and my wife's (native hardware) XP box (with & without administrative rights), and get no text. ...Any idea what might be different about your rig? The VPC is SP3 & the Wife's is SP2 (oops...)

5630

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 25, 2009, 12:37 PM »

I see you went back to linking MFC in a static (embedded) library ... Good man, I hate run-time dependencies.

If you don't want to contend with the size and want to go back to the shared library build, save the link I posted above as it's the one folks will need.

5631

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 25, 2009, 12:29 PM »

Ah! the SP1 redistributables work (sort of)
http://download.micr...c03/vcredist_x86.exe
Program loads...but no text.

5632

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 25, 2009, 12:01 PM »

Win7 is back to the Side-by-Side error from before, and XP has a new one: The ordinal 9628 could not be located in the dynamic link library mfc90.dll

For some reason it sticks in my mind that the Side-by-Side error has something to do with a missing/corrupt manifest - I ran into this once before but don't recall exactly what/why/how to get out of it.

5633

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 25, 2009, 10:27 AM »

Who cares what language is more popular-er ... This isn't helping the guy get his app working.

5634

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 24, 2009, 09:24 PM »

Stoic Joker: Please install the runtimes (it´s not very much) and run it again - perhaps the text becomes visible. Without it the prog is rather useless.

-Crush (December 24, 2009, 08:15 PM)

Installed the runtimes & still no text. Not sure if it'll help but here's a screenshot of the XP desktop. If it is (supposed to be) using any of the 08 runtime stuff, it doesn't appear to be calling for it.

5635

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 24, 2009, 06:47 PM »

Better, no errors this time (runtimes not needed) ...was fine on Win 7 x64, but got no text in XP.

5636

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Teaser: Crush MCP (Master Control Program)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 24, 2009, 03:29 PM »

XP was VPC which started to ignore mouse input the instant I ran the program. I launched it using keyboard to get the error:

XP = This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem

Win 7 x64 = The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

App Log Source-SideBySide EventID 33

Activation context generation failed for "W:\Documents\= ALL Downloads =\MCP.exe". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.MFC,processorArchitecture="x86",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="9.0.21022.8" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

5637

Best Weather Monitor Tool / Re: There aren't many great choices for weather software

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 24, 2009, 11:15 AM »

The program is simply being Objective.

5638

Best Weather Monitor Tool / Re: There aren't many great choices for weather software

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 06:54 PM »

Well, the weather app is off the hook... Your .Net is borked. I can't find the link at the moment, but MS has a tool out that's designed to fix (those types of) .NET issues (I'm assuming it errors out if you try uninstalling it also ...Yes?).

I'll try to find the direct link later, but I got to the MS download by googling the .NET 2.0 uninstall failure error message.

5639

Best Weather Monitor Tool / Re: There aren't many great choices for weather software

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 05:36 PM »

Same for me, I have tested many of these apps and been disappointed by pretty well all of them for one reason or another.

But, do you know Meteo Fusion ? I am using it all the time now and I'm really pleased with it - give it a try out...

-joiwind (December 23, 2009, 04:34 PM)

Nice suggestion!  I like the screenshots a lot.  However, I installed it and it keeps crashing all the time.  As soon as I open the options screen, it's crashing continuously.  I'm mad because it looks like just the program I'm looking for.  This is on Windows XP.

-superboyac (December 23, 2009, 05:15 PM)

It's VB .NET 2.0 ...Make sure your .NET is up to date, if the program is using a control whos discription is corrupt it can cause issues (I ran into that last week). Program comes with Source Code ... Interesting.

5640

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Pre-Release: Page Countster

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 11:25 AM »

I'm still researching the if/how to get the IP addressing method & info to see if it can be implemented (and reconfigured) reliably.

-techidave (December 20, 2009, 11:46 AM)

Have you had a chance to see if this is going to work or not?

-Stoic Joker (December 20, 2009, 03:25 PM)

-techidave (December 23, 2009, 09:27 AM)

At this point I'm being torn back and forth between PC and the office...I'm supposed to be on vacation...but it's not working out that way. *Sigh*

I have found one (QnD) method for getting the Dynamic/Static question answered, but am looking for a bit cleaner way before I commit to anything.

5641

Living Room / Re: Google's Eric Schmidt has a stupid moment on privacy

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 08:30 AM »

Privacy is often the only tool against tyrants. And that is why they don't want you to have it.

-rxantos (December 23, 2009, 07:25 AM)

Damn Straight! Privacy and personal freedoms are slowly being stripped away in favor of convenient (feel-good) legislation that will allegedly protect "us" (by locking us it smaller & smaller Gilded Cages...).

5642

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone still using WordPerfect?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 08:22 AM »

Still happily using 6.2 for DOS!

-cranioscopical (December 22, 2009, 09:53 PM)

What, DOS 5.0 wasn't good enough for you, Mr. Elitist, Mr. Early Adopter?! 

-zridling (December 23, 2009, 04:16 AM)

Three Cheers for DOS-Shell! PEdit was a nice editor from back then too.

5643

General Software Discussion / Re: Opening a Window on the Mac

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2009, 08:12 AM »

The mouse on a desktop Mac looks like it has only one button, and the trackpad on most Mac laptops has no visible buttons at all—the whole pad is a single, large button. These designs send people who usually use two-button mice into a tizzy about how to right click.

-Article

And rightfully so...

Never fear, right click is still near!

-Article

Oh, S**t...this aught to be good...

On Mac laptops, right click by placing two fingers down on the trackpad (it’s easiest with your pointer and middle fingers) and click the trackpad with another finger (like your thumb).

-Article

I...See... (We're up to 3 fingers now... for those that weren't counting)... and this is easier (exactly) than what?!?

New MacBooks also will right click when you place two fingers on the trackpad and press down. Using a one-button Apple mouse, just press Control and then click to see the same right-click functionality.

-Article

....or...or...or... (Dear god...Now I need two Hands..! how-many-fingers-is-that??) This explains why the new ultra secret Apple bases Toyota cars seem to keep rocketing off cliffs & into things. It's apparently do to the insistence that the hyper-velocity, passing acceleration mode be toggled by pressing the brake pedal sideways.

 

On the Mighty Mouse,

-Article

...Here - I - Am - To - Save - The - Day... (Ahem...)

enable right-click functionality in System Preferences, then just touch where the right-click button should be and it will work.

-From Article

Right, so they saved the "Mighty-est" (Their word, not mine...) option for last...which was to do it the way it was supposed to be done in the first place...

If you’re sick of these new shortcuts, just plug in a mouse with a real right-click button and it will likely work on the Mac.

-Article

Absolutely Not! ...The devil I know is an old friend...and you people are crazy.



Yes, I'm in an odd (but playfull) mood this morning.

5644

Living Room / Re: How to stop junk [snail] mail?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 22, 2009, 06:14 AM »

I usually just send company A's junk-mail to company B, in company C's self-addressed/stamped envelope.

This way I get to waste their time too

5645

General Software Discussion / Re: Parallel proxy transfer software

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 10:35 PM »

The basic idea is, if the server need to send 1000 packets one by one serialized, why not send it parallelized.

-electronixtar (December 20, 2009, 06:12 PM)

Because it doesn't really matter if you have one data stream or fifty. The (ISP Controlled) connection speed (data) pipe is only as big as it is, and trying to force more through it will only cause a flood of retransmits (think turbulence) that will slow down the overall transfer speed.

5646

Living Room / Re: I'm beginning my experiment with Linux and other OS's.

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 10:07 PM »

ok, i can't figure out how to install flash and I'm super frustrated.  What a pain.  i give up.

-superboyac (December 20, 2009, 06:33 PM)

Do tell us you're only giving up on flash and not the entire Linux project!?!

Stay the course man! Flash is crap anyway...

5647

General Software Discussion / Re: The DonationCoder "Superior Antivirus" Award/Certification

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 09:22 PM »

What i'm interested in is motivating these companies to stop the deceptive alerting that scares people like the boy who cried wolf, is harmful for developers because of all the false positives, and currently is without incentive to correct.

-mouser (December 20, 2009, 07:16 PM)

Hm... So, you're shooting for kinder gentler heuristics. (or rather...) If the AV companies are forced to (justify) clarify exactly what they're on about and why, they'll start being a bit more careful about flipping (erroneous) messages on the screen (to avoid looking foolish) and much of the other stuff will get ironed out in the resulting ripple effect.

I still think it would be more fun to storm the castle...  ...but your way has a better chance at a lasting (positive) effect. 

5648

General Software Discussion / Re: The DonationCoder "Superior Antivirus" Award/Certification

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 05:04 PM »

Stoic Joker: make the award too hard to achieve and not many companies would want to participate,

-f0dder (December 20, 2009, 03:49 PM)

So... you're saying honesty is too much to ask for? ...Mind you given the marketing environment today I'm inclined to agree with you. I just don't know that is best to ignore the hideous monster and take-it lying down (in a comfortable position).

though... I'm not for yet another meaningless "this'll look good on an awards page" kind of thing, but I do believe it should be something attainable with a product aimed at end-users and not "geekboy powerheads" like the participants on this forum.

Right... and explaining just how paper thin a given (advertising) claim is, is something I could easily do to my mother (who is neither powerful, geeky, or a boy).

5649

General Software Discussion / Re: The DonationCoder "Superior Antivirus" Award/Certification

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 03:41 PM »

regarding the suggestions that companies not be evil in terms of trying to trick people into a false sense of security, all well and good -- but for this award i think we want it to avoid any kind of subjective judgement.

-mouser (December 20, 2009, 11:39 AM)

Understood, but I really don't think it would hurt the awards veracity if there was some mention of how well (acurately...) their product was presented. Are the features (/claims) Touchy-Feely (new-bestest-friend-forever) ...or pragmatic (Meat & Potatoes) fact. There should be some way to quantify (Reality Check) how straight they are with the products presentation.

5650

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Pre-Release: Page Countster

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2009, 03:25 PM »

Good job, SJ!  As I have said, it is a great little program.  In a couple of weeks, I will be adding another school to my list that I support.  This will work good up there... let me see what models and what IP's are be used without having to physically go to each one.  I do know that they are still on DHCP and they have had one grab another's IP address already.  So they print to Printer A but it prints on Printer B.  

-techidave (December 20, 2009, 11:46 AM)

That does tend to be a problem when the only thing guaranteeing a network's configuration is a really long lease time. Given that static addressing is rather problematic on large networks, and printers have a habit of getting corrupt and needing to be (cold) reset (to factory settings), the best option I've found is to use the MAC address to create IP address reservations in DHCP. That way even if the printer "forgets" where it is supposed to be, the DHCP server will always assign it the correct (reserved) IP address.

Now I will just have to figure out which IP they are supposed to have so that I don't have to reinstall them on all the machines.  

Easy-est/Fastest method I've found is: Printer properties->Ports Tab->Port Configuration ... and then hope they all match (I've seen that one go both ways).


I'm still researching the if/how to get the IP addressing method & info to see if it can be implemented (and reconfigured) reliably.