Recent Posts

601

Living Room / Re: backup question - how much of a risk is fire?

« Last post by brotherS on January 31, 2007, 02:14 AM »

The important question is not "how likely is it that my house will burn down?" but "how would I feel if it would?"

Shortly before xmas, a friend's house almost caught fire when his neighbor's house burned down to the ground. The neighbor family wasn't able to rescue more than an arm full of stuff...

After that, you only have two options:
- feel depressed for the rest of your life
- be thankful for the 'fresh start' (you can't simplify your life more than THAT!)

602

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 30, 2007, 06:48 AM »

Sorry for the late reply, I'm busy as hell here.

What boxes are checked in the settings?

-skrommel (January 23, 2007, 12:22 PM)

Interesting... the problem isn't there anymore.

And does it still

kicks in and immediately exits - while I'm sitting a meter away, not touching anything.

?

-skrommel (January 23, 2007, 12:22 PM)

No, thankfully not! But the mouse cursor still moves to the 0,0 position, which is caused by the (otherwise totally awesome!) "Smart Move" option of my Logitech mouse. The only way to fix this probably is by adding something like "Before dimming, remember which window has focus. Then dim and bring back focus to that window without disabling DimSaver".

And could you please add a "key combination that quits DimSaver" option? That would be very helpful!

603

Living Room / Re: Bubbl.us: Free Diagramming Tool

« Last post by brotherS on January 27, 2007, 04:01 PM »

Visit the site to use their slick and fun online mind-mapping (diagramming) tool.

[ Invalid Attachment ]

http://bubbl.us/edit

[ Invalid Attachment ]

from http://tech.cybernetnews.com/

-KenR (January 27, 2007, 03:23 PM)

WOW! That's what I call a really intuitive-to-use service!

604

Living Room / needed: ask.metafilter.com user

« Last post by brotherS on January 24, 2007, 05:00 PM »

Hi,

if you happen to be a registered http://ask.metafilter.com/ user, please drop me a line, thanks!

605

Living Room / Re: How do you spend your time on the computer?

« Last post by brotherS on January 24, 2007, 03:03 AM »

well, i'm seriously beginning to think i have a mental problem regarding the use of this machine. it never fails to ruin my day in some way and yet a return to it the next morning and turn it back on - hoping that this will be the perfect pc day.

-nudone (January 24, 2007, 02:55 AM)

Depending on how serious you are, I recommend that you open https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=6892.0, search for "thinketh" and get (and read) that little ebook.

You > PC 

606

Living Room / Re: wanted: quiet external HD (case) (not wanted: crying children)

« Last post by brotherS on January 24, 2007, 02:55 AM »

Any suggestions (newegg equiv.?) to buy hardware in Europe?

-urlwolf (January 23, 2007, 02:01 PM)

I just google for the product I want and then use 3 different price comparing sites to find out what a reasonable price is. Then I order from a shop that has good ratings.

Always worked for me so far.

607

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 23, 2007, 06:17 AM »

2.2 still disables itself when I press Ctrl+TAB.

-brotherS (January 23, 2007, 05:18 AM)

I also found out that I can press *just* Ctrl or *just* Alt while DimSaver is active, but when I press both keys together, DimSaver will disable itself.

608

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 23, 2007, 05:18 AM »

I've uploaded DimSaver v2.2. It should put the window back if it is closed. Se if this helps. If not, your window is moved, and I'll have to move it back...

-skrommel (January 22, 2007, 01:45 PM)

2.2 still disables itself when I press Ctrl+TAB.

PS: Your page still says "2.1" and mentions no changes beyond 2.1.

609

Living Room / Re: password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 04:17 PM »

• what comes here?

-brotherS (January 22, 2007, 12:16 PM)

I double-click on the encrypted volume container file and the TrueCrypt mount dialog comes up.  I choose the drive letter to mount the volume on, click the 'mount' button, enter the passphrase, and I have a newly accessible drive letter.

Note that working this way (double-clicking on the container file) requires that TrueCrypt (TC) be installed on the computer, but TC will work without being installed - though you do need admin access to work without installation.

-mwb1100 (January 22, 2007, 04:04 PM)

Interesting... is it possible to automate this (with AutoHotkey or however) so that I will automatically be asked for the password directly after Windows 'sees' the connected HD? I'd also like it to always get the same drive letter, so if that could be automated too it would be great

610

Living Room / Re: wanted: quiet external HD (case) (not wanted: crying children)

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 12:50 PM »

I recently bought a 500GB Western Digital which is very quiet and fast. It wasn't so expensive either (~€ 200). What's cool is the LED button which shows how full the drive is

-Ruffnekk (January 22, 2007, 08:49 AM)

Wow, that's a handy feature I never heard of before

I now ordered a 400GB Samsung SpinPoint (with 8MB cache) in a cooled case for ~€120. That's good enough for my needs.

@all: thanks for your advice!

611

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 12:24 PM »

Also, my mouse cursor now (sometimes) disappears, I have to press Ctrl-Alt-Del (to quit DimSaver) to get it back.

612

Living Room / Re: password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 12:16 PM »

Thanks for all your comments, I decided I'll use TrueCrypt too!

How will it work in practice?

• connect my external HD
• start the HD: "power on"
• what comes here?
• Windows and all apps could access the encrypted container file

613

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 07:57 AM »

Hi skrommel! Thanks!

The new GUI looks good, but sadly I still sometimes get the old bug: DimSaver kicks in and immediately exits - while I'm sitting a meter away, not touching anything.

And would you perhaps add another "how long to ignore keys being pressed" option? I (as a hardcore keyboard user) would love that!

614

Living Room / Re: wanted: quiet external HD (case) (not wanted: crying children)

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 04:43 AM »

nobody mentioned the fact that the baby's shirt is sooooooo wrong....
babies need huggles and kisses just like you guys do when you are upset with your puters

-Dell[a] (January 21, 2007, 05:13 PM)

* brotherS hugs Dell[a]

I don't get too upset anymore, I recommend http://www.mymotivat...s/AsAManThinketh.pdf (great read, short book)

615

Living Room / Re: wanted: quiet external HD (case) (not wanted: crying children)

« Last post by brotherS on January 22, 2007, 04:42 AM »

An external drive is designed to be more rugged, not that it is a good replacement for a hockey puck, but it is designed to be used more aggressively.  Since the case is thicker, the components stronger and the internal shock-absorbing dampening material is insulatory in nature, there is less noise.  Also, keep in mind that since the shell of your computer can act as an amplifier similar to the body (sound box) of a guitar or violin, the actual noise of the installed device will be magnified which will, in turn, highlight the differing sound levels of the internal/internal drives.

-Farmsteader (January 21, 2007, 05:36 PM)

That's only true when you aren't talking about a quiet PC (https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=6318.0)

616

SMF Forum Mods / Re: Is there a better way to handle Gri's posts?

« Last post by brotherS on January 21, 2007, 03:07 PM »

I don't really mind gri.

-f0dder (January 21, 2007, 02:47 PM)

I don't mind gri (I'd just prefer he wouldn't post in this forum), I feel sorry for him. Maybe he had a bad childhood, or something else caused him to have a low self-esteem. Whatever it is, he must have some kind of psychological problem, otherwise he wouldn't act like he does.

Or maybe it's just some university testing some kind of highly flawed AI here...

617

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: DimSaver *improvement* needed!

« Last post by brotherS on January 21, 2007, 02:53 PM »

On line 14, replace

[Select]

SysGet,dragx,68 ;SM_CXDRAG
SysGet,dragy,69 ;SM_CYDRAG

with

[Select]

dragx = 15
dragy = 15

As far as i understand, that'll configure dimsaver so that the mouse has to be moved more than 15 pixels from it's original place to deactivate it.
I do like your idea about being able to close windows and keep dimsaver active, but that'd be a major rewirte of the code, and i'm not up to the job. I just hope this'll solve the problem.

-jgpaiva (January 21, 2007, 12:03 PM)

Thanks, but that won't fix my problem. I need it to be based on time that passed, not pixel distance.

Dimsaver isn't my code, so i'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but maybe you could solve your problem like this:

-jgpaiva (January 21, 2007, 12:03 PM)

Oh, I thought that AHK coders regard their work like those Linux folks: If you can, it's ok to improve it.
I vaguely remember skrommel saying something like that too, but he or mouser should know for sure.

618

General Software Discussion / Re: Paperless Home: Need document management software

« Last post by brotherS on January 21, 2007, 02:41 PM »

brotherS: What I wonder most: how is OmniPage going to work together with PaperPort? As in: how can I automate the creation of PDF files that are searchable? The PDF files that PaperPort now creates aren't searchable

Which version of PaperPort did you obtain?
According to the PaperPort site, PaperPort 11 Pro automatically hands stuff off to the OmniPage Workflow but PaperPort 11 (standard) does not.
If you don't have the PaperPort Pro version it looks as if a good bet might be to scan to an Omnipage 'watched' folder (possibly in an OmniPage-friendly format other than .pdf).

-cranioscopical (January 20, 2007, 10:03 PM)

Hi!

Yes, I upgraded to the PaperPort 11 Pro since the price was ok, but I can't get the automation regarding creating searchable PDF files to work.
 

619

Living Room / Re: password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 08:32 AM »

Farmsteader: that's true, ntfs does support encryptation, but it's not out-of-the box. You have to configure it (somehow, i don't know how to do it). I own an external disk, formated in NTFS and i've used it in 2 computers without it prompting me for any password.
Also, there are other solutions like TrueCrypt.

-jgpaiva (January 20, 2007, 07:30 AM)

Wow, thanks, that looks good!

http://fileforum.bet...ueCrypt/1102840595/1:

4.6 out of 5.0
OS Support: Windows 2000/2003/XP
Reviews sound like "Simply the best. Easy to use, open source.. Highly recommended."

nevf blogged about it: http://blog.surfulat...securing-information

http://www.truecrypt...rg/docs/tutorial.php

I need to read that more carefully tomorrow, when I have more time. Any TrueCrypt users here?

620

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Ad Muncher: keeps the brain intact while surfing the Net - beats AdBlock!

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 08:21 AM »

I understand what you are saying. IMHO, it's really about what you want to do/focus on. A person who needs just one task does not always need the full-blown alternative. Some prefer to pay for software A instead of spending some hours to learn software B (that delivers the same or "enough" results).

So... alternatives are great!

621

SMF Forum Mods / Re: First Valid Signature of Life Satisfaction

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 07:44 AM »

app103,

I need your                                   VaSiLiSa
                    over the planet.

Yes, you understand correctly.. which forum type
                                toogriks and kirgootiks
should be grounded at.

-gri (January 20, 2007, 05:46 AM)

gri:

622

SMF Forum Mods / Re: Language Update Mod

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 07:42 AM »

Gri:
I, for one, request that you show respect to your/our folks who hang around here who do not want to waste their time clicking and seeing something that they might not ever understand. And I'm committed to repeating such words and this request in every single thread that doesn't make sense. 

-Mobysaurus (January 20, 2007, 07:33 AM)

Well said, I totally agree.

gri: What is your purpose in life? (SS5+)

623

Living Room / Re: password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 07:27 AM »

Thanks, that makes sense!

The HD I'll get will be NTFS-formatted already, I just need a guide regarding how I'd enable password protection. With pictures if possible

624

Living Room / Re: password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 07:12 AM »

If I'm not mistaken, that is why NTFS was created?  If you're using a NTFS formatted drive that should be all you need? 

-Farmsteader (January 20, 2007, 07:06 AM)

Err... I have no idea! That's why I'm asking

(I read that NTFS supports passwords, but have no idea how that works in real life... nor do I know how secure that is)

625

Living Room / password-protect external HD (USB)?

« Last post by brotherS on January 20, 2007, 06:48 AM »

Hi,

as some of you noticed in https://www.donation...index.php?topic=7068, I'm currently looking for an external HD. Is there a way to password-protect the content? Like that I would need to enter a password before Windows is able to really access the drive after I reconnect it?

It doesn't have to be CIA-proof (although that's never bad ), I'm just considering putting a backup HD in the hands (or drawer) of a friend or neighbor (in case my flat burns down to the ground) and don't want him to read all of my files.