Recent Posts

601

Find And Run Robot / Re: Option to start Find And Run Robot after installation

« Last post by MerleOne on June 29, 2009, 08:20 AM »

A suggestion, coming back from Win3.1 times.... Why not open the folder where Find and Run Robot start menu item are lying, so the user just has to double click on the icon to restart FARR with the right elevation ?  Of course this would only be triggered on VISTA/7.

602

General Software Discussion / Re: What is best program to create a DVD from any video file?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 19, 2009, 10:09 AM »

I probably should have mentioned this in my last post, but I'll share my solution with you. I used to run around scurrying for the best ways to put divx files on DVD & I finally got fed up one day & bought a DVD player capable of playing divx files that had a USB port on the front of it.

Now I just put my video files onto my USB flash drive & plug it into the DVD player. Saved me a crap-load of money in blank DVD discs.

-Innuendo (June 19, 2009, 10:06 AM)

Sure, but with DVD format you also get chaptering, which is useful when you don't watch all in one session.  Also, fast forward, rewind work nicely, for divx it may depend on the player.

603

General Software Discussion / Re: What is best program to create a DVD from any video file?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 19, 2009, 07:01 AM »

I personally rely on ConvertXtoDVD from VSO to master DVD when the source is not mpeg2 and DVD compliant.  A reencoding is then required.  For mpeg2 and DVD compliant sources, I either use VideoRedoTVSuite or TMPGEnc 3.  All those are shareware, TMPGEnc is rather expensive.

604

Found Deals and Discounts / I like Backup Platinum !

« Last post by MerleOne on June 17, 2009, 07:45 AM »

Hi all,

I have been trying for quite some time to find a software that did the following :
- burn a set of files onto DVD while handling media spanning and not cutting some files (when each file is less than the media capacity), optionally zipping and encrypting them
- burn only changed files since last burn, by adding them at the end of last media, not by starting a new blank media
- verifying the burnt files  on the media
- have a straightforward GUI
- is pretty stable (no BSOD, no application crash, even when a defective media is fed)

Believe it or but it has been quite hard to find something.  I tried archiving utilities like PowerArchiver 2010, Backup4all 3 and 4, Genie Backup Pro 8, GFI Backup Home 2009, Syncback Pro, etc... None of them met these rather simple specs, some lacked some features, for instance SyncBack Pro wouldn't write on a non blank DVD, most were buggy when the spanning feature was activated.  GBPRo 8 took as a reference the remaining space on a media , so when only 100MB were available and 500MB to be burn, it wanted to burn 5x 100Mb separate archives, whereas it should have been 1x100MB and 1x400MB on a new media.  B4all was pretty close to what I wanted, alas the media ejection/insertion is terrible and fails often, and I crashed the new version within only 30 minutes.

I just tried Backup Platinum this week, and it meets all my specs, is light and efficient. The only drawbacks are :
- rather expensive : $67 (DC had a 40% discount for registered members last year, I have asked them if they could renew this - Mktg should answer soon...)
- machine-locked though on line or e-mail activation

I tend to be rather enthusiastic when I come across a software that does exactly what I want, so I'd be happy to hear about your experience with BP, especially if you took opportunity of DC last year discount.

To have a direct look : http://www.backup-platinum.com/

I found a 20% rebate at : http://www.downloadp...tinum-buy104296.html

605

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup Platinum 40% off

« Last post by MerleOne on June 15, 2009, 04:15 AM »

Seems to be 20% nowadays.

606

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerArchiver 2009 at 50% discount on BdJ (2009-06-10) : worth it ?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 02:02 PM »

Thanks for your comments !

607

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerArchiver 2009 at 50% discount on BdJ (2009-06-10) : worth it ?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 11:26 AM »

Why not simply use WinRAR (or w/e) in split mode and manually burn the files? Sure, it's an extra step, but buying a new compression app just for that slight amount of ease?

-f0dder (June 10, 2009, 10:53 AM)

Sure, it works for the inital backup/burning, but as soon as files change or new files are added in the source folder, I just want to burn them automagically to the last used DVD.  I don't think I can do this with winrar.

608

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerArchiver 2009 at 50% discount on BdJ (2009-06-10) : worth it ?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 09:56 AM »

Thanks for your feedback !  I actually use winrar, which I like a lot because of some unique features like solid archives, very efficient to compress a bunch of files with little diff between them, the optional redundancy that can be added to make a file more resistant to a few damages, etc.

I consider switching because I need a backup on DVD burning that handles spanning & diff or incremental modes.

609

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Mamutu (Emsi HIPS) Bits Du Jour today June 8, 2009 - 1yr @ $7.83

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 05:05 AM »

Hi Folks,

...

In my case I did not find the confirmation email and called Cleverbridge and they had a person on the phone, checked the number (always hold the order# handy when you purchase software, I make a .pdf too and keep it in a special folder) quickly sent the confirmation email to me, so I have the username and license number, and the license number has the expiration date as the number, a year from now.  However I have not figgered out how to enter this into Mamutu, which is showing the one-month trial, so I just created a support ticket, I already had an Emsi account, but it does not show the license in my account.  I'll post as soon as I get a reply.

Did you get the Cleverbridge email ?  Did you get one from Emsi ?

Shalom,
Steven

-Steven Avery (June 10, 2009, 04:58 AM)

I have to check but I think I got Cleverbridge mail.  I also successfully activated Mamutu on a single machine, just entering my username/password I got on the purchase confirmation mail.  Regarding your missing e-mail : another case of spam redirection ?

Update : I got 2 mails from Cleverbridge : 1/order confirmation with pdf invoice 2/ account references on emsisoft servers, to activate Mamutu (plus a paypal notification)

610

Found Deals and Discounts / PowerArchiver 2009 at 50% discount on BdJ (2009-06-10) : worth it ?

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 03:45 AM »

Hi,

This offer seems interesting at first, especially for the lifetime upgrades that is proposed.  But is this software worth it ?  I did try a few things related to DVD burning and backup, but these features still are quite basic and showed some problems : for instance, I tried to burn a 7GB folder on a single layer DVD, PA started without complaining and of course at the end of the first DVD it froze.  After reboot, I saw that the DVD "FAT" contained all files, which of course wasn't the case.

Do you have any recommendation ?  Thanks.

611

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Mamutu (Emsi HIPS) Bits Du Jour today June 8, 2009 - 1yr @ $7.83

« Last post by MerleOne on June 10, 2009, 03:39 AM »

Hi,

I bought one license.  The cancellation renewal is actually called "cancel your subscription".  How can I be sure it's the renewal and not the current subscription ?

Thanks !

612

General Software Discussion / Re: Help solving an error message when opening a HTML link

« Last post by MerleOne on June 07, 2009, 09:49 AM »

It would be nice also to find a manual on DDE, which seems at the heart of so many problems.

613

General Software Discussion / Solved ? (Help solving an error message when opening a HTML link)

« Last post by MerleOne on June 07, 2009, 08:16 AM »

Thanks a lot to MilesAhead !

It seems my problem is solved for now.  I have done things a little differently, but you definitely helped me solve the problem.

1/ I went to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http, exported the keys + subkeys, did the same for ...\https keys + subkeys, and again the same for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Opera.HTML.

2/ I added "%1" to the (default value) of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command.  Previously it was set to ""C:\Program Files\Opera 10 Beta\opera.exe", now it is "C:\Program Files\Opera 10 Beta\opera.exe" "%1".

3/ Same thing for ...\https and ...\Opera.HTML corresponding keys

4/ Finally, instead of removing the full HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec key and subkeys, I just removed the default value which was set to "%1".  I mean I deleted the "%1" from this default value.

5/ Again, I did the same for ....\https and ...\Opera.HTML keys

Now it seems to work fine again, but I guess I'll have to wait a little bit to be sure.

Thanks again !

614

General Software Discussion / Re: Help solving an error message when opening a HTML link

« Last post by MerleOne on June 07, 2009, 02:48 AM »

Thanks, will try that, after a backup... It seems that these keys are similar to windows settings for associating for instance .htm to the default browser.  I just wonder how they are recreated after being erased.  Anyway, there is no such thing as an experiment !

615

General Software Discussion / Re: Help solving an error message when opening a HTML link

« Last post by MerleOne on June 06, 2009, 02:54 PM »

Can you translate to English?
I get something similar in FireFox.. if I click on a link and FF is not loaded(it's my default browser.)  Periodically I run this registry script to fix it. If it works for other browsers by substituting the other browser name I have no clue.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\shell\open\ddeexec]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL\shell\open\ddeexec]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\ddeexec]

-MilesAhead (June 06, 2009, 11:52 AM)

Thanks.  I have added a translation of the original message in the first post.  Regarding your script, it seems all keys are empty, or the solution would be to remove these keys ?

616

General Software Discussion / Help solving an error message when opening a HTML link

« Last post by MerleOne on June 06, 2009, 11:10 AM »

Hi,

Since a few weeks, I get a strange windows system error message when I open any link and when my default browser is not loaded (Opera). I have a XP Pro system.

For instance, when I click on Start/Execute, then type www.google.com then Return :
- if Opera is not running, I get an error message saying www.google.com cannot be found by Windows.  At the same time, Opera opens and restores last session.  See error message below (in original version...)



<The error message translates into : "Windows cannot find 'www.google.com'. Verify that you have entered the name correctly and try again. To search for a file, click on Start button, then on Search">

- if Opera is already loaded, the www.google.com opens fine

When I revert to IE 7 as default browser, it works fine again.  On other XP machines, I have no such problem.

I was using Opera 9.64 when this problem happened.  I fully removed Opera, cleaned the Program Files dir, reinstalled Opera 10 beta, but the problem remains.  I tried to upgrade to IE8, but the problem is still there.

Thanks for any help !

617

General Software Discussion / Re: Strange display of Favorites on IE7/Vista (Solved !)

« Last post by MerleOne on May 31, 2009, 08:08 AM »

I went into the Configuration Panel, went to setup default programs, I just chose to re-associate .url to IE and the problem is solved !

618

Coding Snacks / Desktop dynamic icon management based on the Noguchi Filing system

« Last post by MerleOne on May 27, 2009, 03:25 AM »

Hi,

I have an idea I'd like to experiment on my XP Desktop, after the Nogichi filing system (see http://communication...i-filing-system.html) : I would like that when I dbl-click on a desktop icon, the icon is moved to the bottom right of the desktop, by a circular permutation with other icons.  After a while, most used icons would reside in the same area.

Do you know a software that does that already ?  Thanks.

619

General Software Discussion / Re: Space Management : there is a new competitor - SpaceSniffer

« Last post by MerleOne on May 25, 2009, 08:18 AM »

Nice to see you here !

620

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup4All Lite ... 4 Free

« Last post by MerleOne on May 24, 2009, 02:29 AM »

I also received a mail from GFI saying they are taking over future developments and they even mentioned they made some improvements, in particular regarding speed, which was not of strong point of Titan backup.

621

General Software Discussion / Strange display of Favorites on IE7/Vista

« Last post by MerleOne on May 22, 2009, 03:26 AM »

Hi,
I recently came across a rather strange display problem when using IE7 on Vista.  The favorites bar, instead of displaying favicons and names like "Windows Update" on the favorites bar, now display the .url icon and names like "Windows Update.url".  All favorites are displayed with the .url suffix. 

It's all the more annoying that I already came across this problem several months ago on the same machine.  I had to restore the system disk to a time where it was not solved and it's back !  But I can't remember how I did it.  I thought it was just an uninstall of the Google Toolbar, but I did the same thing, and it's still there.  I am also pretty sure it is not related to the fact that the shell doesn't hide file extensions when they are known.

A first look on google was not successful. 

If you have an idea ...

Thanks.

622

Found Deals and Discounts / 30% rebate on DriveClonePro 6 from Farstone

« Last post by MerleOne on May 21, 2009, 03:03 AM »

Just got an e-mail from them, coupon code is dclone30pro0531, goto
http://dr.bluehornet...685E4E2C0A165F41E74F

Main features :

• System Snapshot backs up a 250GB hard drive in as little as 10 seconds!
  
• Universal Restore allows you to restore files or images across different hard drives, regardless of hard drive format, size, brand, or operating system
  
• Backup photos, music, and emails with AES Encryption locally or offsite
  
• Migrate to VMWare, larger storage devices, or a new system with just a few clicks!
  
• Backup and restore all settings for office, iTunes, and more!
  
• 100% RAID support - RAID 0/1/5/10/50/60/JBOD

Cf also www.farstone.com

Overall, it's a mix between Goback and an Imaging + Backup tools.  Recovery CD is WinPE based.  CD-less recovery is also working, without creating any special partition.

623

Found Deals and Discounts / Titan Backup rebranded GFI Backup now free for home usage

« Last post by MerleOne on May 20, 2009, 11:15 AM »

It's on http://www.gfi.com/backup-hm

624

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup4All Lite ... 4 Free

« Last post by MerleOne on May 18, 2009, 10:18 AM »

According to B4all website, the Lite version doesn't offer differential or incremental backup.  Titan was working nice but is so slooooooow.  I think its being renamed gfibackup BTW ?

Updated : I just visited their website, http://www.gfi.com/backup-hm/, and now the home version is free.  Not tested yet, but definitely Titan Backup/Neobyte based.

625

General Software Discussion / Re: How to monitor changes being made on computer? (portable related)

« Last post by MerleOne on May 18, 2009, 10:09 AM »

I would use RSIT, described and discovered here : http://www.raymond.c...-installed-software/

It's based on Hijackthis.