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6751

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 10, 2009, 02:58 PM »

Thanks for the heads up.  We seem to be inundated with converters that take the Nero approach.  Just drag & drop the file, wait 2 hours and trust me.  Esp. where I want to go from letter box to 16x9 those things are nearly always useless.

6752

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA:Check for program exit and offer to close other programs

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 10, 2009, 02:49 PM »

edit: deleted mumblings as I figured out how to do it later.

6753

General Software Discussion / Re: PC email program and new computer

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 09, 2009, 08:32 PM »

Make an NTFS data partition.  You should be able to see it from both OS. Might be a good idea to have it in the middle between the 2 OS partitions to avoid the HD seeking all the way across another system partition, but for email unless you are doing mass mailing it shouldn't make that much difference where the data is.

You will probably have to change the profile folder from the default to point it to the data partition. If you go with this scheme just make sure the email client will act the same with both OS before you set it up.

If you do have a Linux then make sure you can read/write NTFS.  Otherwise a small FAT32 may be the best choice for the data partition.

6754

General Software Discussion / Re: how to open large html files

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 09, 2009, 07:16 PM »

If you are running a 64 bit OS try Firefox 64 bit.
http://www.start64.c...;id=25&Itemid=75

6755

General Software Discussion / Re: Do you use any Desktop Theme Software on Windows?

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 09, 2009, 06:53 PM »

I use VistaGlazz on Vista64 with the Purple theme.  The only negative side-effect I've noticed is that desktop icon position save/restore programs don't seem to work.  That provided the impetus to get rid of desktop icons altogether.  I use RocketDock with 6 folders to hold my shortcuts in various categories.

It's nice with W7 that you don't have to patch anything to apply themes.
On XP I really like the Shine_vs Theme

The trouble with Shine though, is centering the caption obliterates too much text on dialog and message boxes.  I tried to hack it myself with a resource hacker but I could never get it right. All themes I use, for that reason, have left justified captions.


Here's some screenshots.  The wallpapers I did with fractal programs.

6756

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA:Check for program exit and offer to close other programs

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 09, 2009, 03:49 PM »

Look in task manager and see if the name of the running process is the same as the one in the Kill dialog without the path.  IOW, if both say "notepad.exe" for notepad.  Some of these programs use a program to launch them, but that's not what is running.  For example, Gigaget.exe download manager actually uses GigagetShell.exe to launch.  When I add Gigaget.exe as a subprogram, it kills it.

The running program has to have the same name as the launched program, without the path.

edit:

Here's what I mean about adding the subprogram to be killed if the names are different:

[Settings]
MainProgram=C:\Program Files (x86)\Minefield\firefox.exe
SubProgram1=C:\Program Files (x86)\Giganology\Gigaget\GigagetShell.exe
SubProgram2=C:\Program Files (x86)\Giganology\Gigaget\Gigaget.exe
SubProgram3=
SubProgram4=


See if that scheme works for you.

6757

General Software Discussion / Re: n2ncopy: copy/move stuff to multiple locations

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 11:38 PM »

I haven't tried the others, but this one:
http://technet.micro...tilityspotlight.aspx


is definitely good to have in your toolbox.  I did a Custom install of W7 onto my Vista 32 bit machine.  This program was the only one that I found that could copy the entire Windows.old folder(about 206,000 files) over the network without crashing.  It starts copying right away whereas anything explorer based is still counting files for 4 hours.  RichCopy is done way before explorer type file copy apps even start.

btw the CodeEssentials does look interesting if you want something automatic.  For manual sync the folder compare and sync in FreeCommander is simple and works well. Plus it's freeware.

6758

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 06:00 PM »

I just got this DVD Creator giveaway...

-MilesAhead (October 08, 2009, 04:02 PM)

Thanks for the notice. Any impressions on the software--particularly regarding their self-proclaimed "world-class video encoder"-- would be greatly appreciated.

-sajman99 (October 08, 2009, 04:58 PM)

When I give a trial I'll post anything I find out.  Just noticed there's a SysInternals thingy to make a vhd from a hd so I'm trying to find out any protected environment I can make for my Vista64 that can be done in a couple of hours.  I don't formally test software so anything that takes longer I might as well just rely on my image backup.  A restore usually only takes 45 min. to an hour.  I'll probably mess with the video by this weekend though.

6759

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 04:02 PM »

I just got this DVD Creator giveaway:

follow the instructions to get download link and license key. A hotmail address works fine. Just got mine.

http://www.ghacks.ne...m-free-full-version/

[Edit - URL corrected, Carol Haynes]

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 03:21 PM »

btw a new version of AVStoDVD was released today.  Guess I'll give it another try.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/AVStoDVD

6761

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 03:17 PM »

Regarding the LG 492H, and WMV files : it simply doesn't read this format, so the question of FF/REW is irrelevant for this format.

-MerleOne (October 08, 2009, 08:06 AM)

Thanks for the info. On my 5990 I did an experiment with an enclosed drive.  I put a DVD title in .mpg format on the drive after formatting to extFat.  Ended up hanging my player trying to load. I don't know if it didn't like the drive format or the file format but I think I'll stick with USB Key from now on. I have  a set of DVD+RW that will burn up to 8x.  For DVD5 "watch once throw away" it's not bad.  Also good for test burns.  The Philips 5990 handles them fine.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA:Check for program exit and offer to close other programs

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 03:10 PM »

Sweet.     I'll wait to hear back from paarkhi to see if your app suits his needs before I start. 

-skwire (October 08, 2009, 12:53 AM)

 

6763

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA:Check for program exit and offer to close other programs

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 08, 2009, 12:07 AM »

(Before you replied skwire I did a small rudimentary app in AutoIt3.)

The program is called RunGroup.  You can run more than one copy.  The idea is to put a copy of RunGroup.exe in a folder and run it.  The first time it will quit saying you must have an .ini file.  It will generate the .ini.  You just filll in the Master Program and up to 4 SubPrograms.  (Don't use double quotes even if there is a space in the path.)  

Here's an example .ini filled in:

[Settings]
MainProgram=C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
SubProgram1=C:\Program Files (x86)\FavesSoft\FavesSA.exe
SubProgram2=C:\Program Files (x86)\JGsoft\EditPadLite\EditPadLite.exe
SubProgram3=
SubProgram4=


How it works is, it launches all the subprograms, then launches Main Program and waits for it to finish.  After Main Program is closed, it checks if each SubProgram is running.  If so, it gives a MsgBox do you want to kill it?  If you click Yes, it's killed.  Very simple.  You can have a different folder with RunGroup.exe for each .ini file.

It's primitive, but as skwire says, it's a pretty elementary task.
I looked around some of the freeware sites and I didn't notice a launcher that's combined with a monitor like this.  Kind of surprises me.  There probably are some that I didn't happen to hit on.

RunGroup.zip just has the RunGroup.exe in it.  It's pretty simple so you shouldn't need more instructions than this post.


edit: oh, one other thing.  If you want to pass a command line onto the Main Program, run RunGroup.exe with a command line and it will be passed on.  In the example above if you did this command at a command prompt:
RunGroup  Readme.txt

then notepad would open with Readme.txt if it exists.
If you don't like command prompts you can make a shortcut with the command line as part of the Target line etc..

edit2: AutoIt3 scripts compiled to .exe can give false positives in anti-virus programs.  Must be something in the exe wrapper that matches a signature in some of them. You can run the program inside something like Sandboxie to see what it does if you don't trust it.

6764

General Software Discussion / Re: Returnil free home edition with 64 bit support

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 07, 2009, 06:30 PM »

On the forum they are saying most of the problems like 100% CPU usage are due to server side problems, not the program code.  Using the free version you may not have most of the features that are suspect... but I think I'll hang back for more feedback before putting this puppy on.

6765

Living Room / Re: How do I rotate a movie 90 degrees?

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 07, 2009, 02:24 PM »

Barring rotating the monitor - which is lossless

-4wd (October 07, 2009, 02:08 PM)

That triggers a memory.  One of those ideas I had but was in no position to implement.  Back in the day when large CRT monitors were very expensive, and some people used full page sized monitors to do desktop publishing or whatever, I thought, since a normal monitor is wider than it is tall, instead of having a humongous monitor, why not just have hw that rotated the output 90 degrees and have a stand with a hinge to tilt the monitor, the "width" becoming the "height."  Years later I saw one with that stand and hinge so I assume they also did the rotation in hardware.

Funny I totally forgot about that.

6766

Living Room / Re: Help? Learning how to drive...

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 07, 2009, 02:15 PM »

You can't say you know how to drive unless you have driven in India.

-sri (September 22, 2009, 11:08 AM)

Hmmmmmm, looks more like "quadruple parking" than "driving" though.

6767

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 07, 2009, 01:49 PM »

Merle how is it for fast forward of .wmv?  My Philips will play .wmv via the USB port but it doesn't seem to seek like it can with .avi .divx or DVD standard video.  When I hit FF it just holds the current frame.

Also will yours play source with res higher than the standard 720x480 or 720x576? Divx was making some noises about DivxHD but I see almost no players that support it. At least not any <$300

6768

Living Room / Re: DIY - Home made in-car camera mount

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 07, 2009, 01:28 AM »

Don't forget my 5% consulting fee.

-MilesAhead (October 06, 2009, 02:41 PM)

At least. I usually pay 15% on the first project.

-40hz (October 06, 2009, 07:12 PM)

In that case I'll take my own advice, charge you 30%, then give 10% of that as a rebate.

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Living Room / Re: DIY - Home made in-car camera mount

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 06, 2009, 02:41 PM »

Don't forget my 5% consulting fee.

6770

Living Room / Re: DIY - Home made in-car camera mount

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 08:59 PM »

That's a good line.  I noticed a similar thing about devices/programs/products/services .. if you give the thing to the person for nothing, they'll never stop griping.  If you charge them a month's salary, then wow!! It must be valuable!! After all, look how much they paid for it!! 

Somebody told me the way to make a customer happy is double the price, then give them 10% off.   

6771

General Software Discussion / Re: Returnil free home edition with 64 bit support

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 08:54 PM »

I just checked out the forum.  Looks like there's quite a few issues with 100% CPU usage, corrupted system files, uninstalls that don't complete leaving busted systems etc..

Think I'll wait for a later build that has some of these issues fixed before trying it. Maybe when it's actually 2010 Returnil 2010 will have most of this stuff ironed out.
Looks like they went right from RC1 to product with no fixes between the two.

6772

Post New Requests Here / Re: idea connect to a ftp server

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 07:27 PM »

I don't understand.  All I'm saying is if you do copy con filename every line you type will be in "filename" file until you press ^z.  How you execute only a section of a batch file I don't comprehend.

6773

Living Room / Re: DIY - Home made in-car camera mount

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 05:59 PM »

I suppose what you could do is wear a hat that says Guiness Book or World Records.  Then people would invite you in and demand to show you how many quarters they could swallow in one gulp.  They'd let you photograph anything then. If anyone asks you just say you don't work for them but was hoping to get a free book if you wore the hat.

6774

Post New Requests Here / Re: idea connect to a ftp server

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 03:39 PM »

Another way to create a batch right off the command prompt is to use copy con filename command.  Then just type in the lines you want "filename" file to contain.  When done, press ^z and you will get the command prompt back. Just avoids all that file append business.  The copy command will do it for you.

It makes it a bit easier to see what you've typed.  Or just using a text editor is probably best.  I usually use EditPadLite and save the file just leaving the editor open.  When I run it and get an error, I can just edit the file and save again until I get it right.  Running the batch just reads it so it doesn't care if EditPadLite already has the file open.

6775

Living Room / Re: DIY - Home made in-car camera mount

« Last post by MilesAhead on October 05, 2009, 03:29 PM »

The situation eventually got resolved to no one's complete satisfaction.

I'm glad I didn't invest a lot in cameras and lenses.  I tried taking a few pics just walking around my neighborhood, like an interesting looking tree or flower or sunset or whatever.  As soon as somebody sees something more than a point and shoot camera they think insurance investigator or something.  Probably the only thing that would stir up more paranoia would be one of those shoulder cams like the TV News types use.  It's not worth the stress.