Recent Posts

751

DC Gamer Club / Re: [FIXED TOPIC] TrackMania Nations Forever - Free, fun, and totally awesome!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 20, 2008, 04:23 PM »

I had the same issue - that's why they make flash drives, Copy & Paste functions... etc.

Just grab your entire TrackMania folder from Documents and plop it on the new PC. It should bring over all your config data and whatnot.

752

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / PlayMe gets playlists! (SnapSuite 2009)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 20, 2008, 03:43 AM »

Cool news - I was able to find some example code on the internet and make PlayMe playlist-compatible. Several friends have been bugging me for this option for quite a while now, and I am proud that I was able to accomplish it.

The aforementioned version of PlayMe, 2.0, will go into KidOS (more on this later). This version, 2.1, will go into SnapSuite 2009.

As of current, here is how it works:

• Click PlayMe, PlayMe launches as usual
• Drag your file(s) onto the Playlist area (white space to the right)
• PlayMe makes the playlist, prepares the files, and begins playing the first file in the list
• You can use the WMP controls to skip and repeat songs, as normal

NOTE: Currently (as of this writing) songs cannot be removed from the playlist unless you close and re-open PlayMe. I am trying to get this working (literally) right now. I also plan to have an OpenFileDialog ("Open..." window) to select songs from if you don't want to be bothered opening an Explorer (or whatever) window.

Screenshot below (feedback is welcome, as always)

-Brandon

753

DC Gamer Club / Re: [FIXED TOPIC] TrackMania Nations Forever - Free, fun, and totally awesome!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 20, 2008, 02:39 AM »

Lashiec, those aren't "Freewheeling" boosters, although that would be kind of evil (muhahahaha) - they are the Multiplication boosters (the ones that go 100%/150%/200% boost). They are just in red color, it goes red/purple/orange I think. Good idea though, however TM doesn't have up/downhill Freewheeling blocks.
(It is named that way because if you are able to keep it on the track to get to that part, you fly out of the world itself via the boosters )

jammo - it is definitely worth a try, and the replay value is amazing. And even if your on a mobile system w/o internet, you can still play offline. Well thought out system.

754

DC Gamer Club / [FIXED TOPIC] TrackMania Nations Forever - Free, fun, and totally awesome!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 03:42 AM »

Alright, I figured I should get the DC Gamers Club back up and doing stuff again because the Sauerbraten server is still offline.

TrackMania is an arcade racing game that allows players to build and play on their own tracks, or the pre-built ones in a single player mode. Deozaan and I have been racing each other on my tracks for a month or so now, and it can get really exciting and fun. The Nations Forever (free) version gives you one car (F1), one environment (stadium), and a set of building tools. The game's multiplayer is "where it's at". Think your up to it? Think again.

I currently have 26 tracks, 3 are made by friends - they range from quick 13 second acceleration challenges to downhill handling thrills, to loop-the-loops at 800MPH (yes, 800MPH!!), to pick-and-choose checkpoint races, to what you would never expect to be thought of as a race track. And I build more every day. All my tracks have anti-cheat layouts within them, so don't try

I host both LAN (Hamachi) and Online (full internet) servers, usually late night USA West Coast time (-7GMT, no DST). I am always on Xfire and Pidgin if you want to race. Take warning though, while it is always MARGINAL (yes MARGINAL), Deozaan almost always beats me. You really don't wanna make him mad during a match (unless you like seeing nothing but a smoke plume and your rank dropping to rock-bottom)

There is a screenshot attached that lists all the tracks I have - along with a small image overview of the track. The images do NOT do the tracks justice, but it gives you some idea to the layout and how each one flows. It also has the best time I have gotten on the tracks (most of them I don't really try to get good times on anymore because I only do multiplayer, and it doesn't "count" towards the best time unless you in Solo mode).

Still think your up to it? Read about it at http://www.trackmania.com/ or get it now at http://www.gamershel...download_24766.shtml

-Brandon

(The other topic just kind of broke... so I am working on getting it deleted and am uploading the image now)

EDIT: Ok, I uploaded it to MazeCraze's server instead - view the list here: http://mazecraze.dci...ckManiaTrackList.png
EDIT 2: Link dead, crossed out

755

DC Gamer Club / Re: TrackMania Nations Forever - free, fun, and totally awesome

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 03:39 AM »

Alright, I figured I should get the DC Gamers Club back up and doing stuff again because the Sauerbraten server is still offline.

TrackMania is an arcade racing game that allows players to build and play on their own tracks, or the pre-built ones in a single player mode. Deozaan and I have been racing each other on my tracks for a month or so now, and it can get really exciting and fun. The Nations Forever (free) version gives you one car (F1), one environment (stadium), and a set of building tools. The game's multiplayer is "where it's at". Think your up to it? Think again.

I currently have 26 tracks, 3 are made by friends - they range from quick 13 second acceleration challenges to downhill handling thrills, to loop-the-loops at 800MPH (yes, 800MPH!!), to pick-and-choose checkpoint races, to what you would never expect to be thought of as a race track. And I build more every day. All my tracks have anti-cheat layouts within them, so don't try

I host both LAN (Hamachi) and Online (full internet) servers, usually late night USA West Coast time (-7GMT, no DST). I am always on Xfire and Pidgin if you want to race. Take warning though, while it is always MARGINAL (yes MARGINAL), Deozaan almost always beats me. You really don't wanna make him mad during a match (unless you like seeing nothing but a smoke plume and your rank dropping to rock-bottom)

There is a screenshot attached that lists all the tracks I have - along with a small image overview of the track. The images do NOT do the tracks justice, but it gives you some idea to the layout and how each one flows. It also has the best time I have gotten on the tracks (most of them I don't really try to get good times on anymore because I only do multiplayer, and it doesn't "count" towards the best time unless you in Solo mode).

Still think your up to it? Read about it at http://www.trackmania.com/ or get it now at http://www.gamershel...download_24766.shtml

-Brandon

(Not sure what happened to the first post)

756

DC Gamer Club / TrackMania Nations Forever - free, fun, and totally awesome

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 03:36 AM »

Alright, I figured I should get the DC Gamers Club back up and doing stuff again because the Sauerbraten server is still offline.

TrackMania is an arcade racing game that allows players to build and play on their own tracks, or the pre-built ones in a single player mode. Deozaan and I have been racing each other on my tracks for a month or so now, and it can get really exciting and fun. The Nations Forever (free) version gives you one car (F1), one environment (stadium), and a set of building tools. The game's multiplayer is "where it's at". Think your up to it? Think again.

I currently have 26 tracks, 3 are made by friends - they range from quick 13 second acceleration challenges to downhill handling thrills, to loop-the-loops at 800MPH (yes, 800MPH!!), to pick-and-choose checkpoint races, to what you would never expect to be thought of as a race track. And I build more every day. All my tracks have anti-cheat layouts within them, so don't try

I host both LAN (Hamachi) and Online (full internet) servers, usually late night USA West Coast time (-7GMT, no DST). I am always on Xfire and Pidgin if you want to race. Take warning though, while it is always MARGINAL (yes MARGINAL), Deozaan almost always beats me. You really don't wanna make him mad during a match (unless you like seeing nothing but a smoke plume and your rank dropping to rock-bottom)

There is a screenshot attached that lists all the tracks I have - along with a small image overview of the track. The images do NOT do the tracks justice, but it gives you some idea to the layout and how each one flows. It also has the best time I have gotten on the tracks (most of them I don't really try to get good times on anymore because I only do multiplayer, and it doesn't "count" towards the best time unless you in Solo mode).

Still think your up to it? Read about it at http://www.trackmania.com/ or get it now at http://www.gamershel...download_24766.shtml

-Brandon

757

Living Room / Re: Accessing the contents of another computer's hard drive

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 12:39 AM »

Thats what I did with LogMeIn, but I just needed file system access (I have it now). Using bandwith to access a computer to transfer files over the network (using bandwith) is a bit counter-productive, isn't it?

758

General Software Discussion / Re: Is anyone having random slowdowns on Vista SP1?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 12:38 AM »

I have made tweaks, didn't think about that. PIO is also possible (my laptop seemed to have this issue last year, and I had to format to get it to stop). Indexing is off, but even if it wasn't, Vista waits for the system to be idle - I am literally just sitting here and all the sudden its like ... LAG (and especially if I am in a game).

No malware/viruses/spyware/adware/trojans/worms/etc, I do a bit of torrent file sharing but I sandbox everything before I go running all the little fun EXEs I can find

I'll have to look and see, I didn't think at all about SP1 "undoing" system tweaks.

759

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review-John's Background Switcher

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 19, 2008, 12:25 AM »

I used John's Background Switcher for about 2 months before uninstalling it - great program, but I didn't use it a lot. I did send the author an email with suggestions for the next update, and got a prompt response saying that he would do what he could and thanked me for my ideas.

Definitely worth the download, the disk space, and the time it takes to get it working. It's one of those things that should be built-in with Windows, but even better.

760

Living Room / Re: Accessing the contents of another computer's hard drive

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 18, 2008, 10:33 PM »

How is it insane to disable the requirement to enter a password? My Wi-Fi WEP code is something like 52 characters long, so its not like I am getting hacked anytime soon. And even if someone did get onto the network (without my noticing), they would have to find the computer name and go through each computer to do that.

Most people in this neighborhood are computer-illiterate to the point of having to ask what the mouse is (despite the fact that they have it in their hand). I know about "wardriving" and hacking Wi-Fi via parked cars and all that, but it isn't a real concern here.

in WinXP home, you can just enable the 'Guest' user temporarily to access the data.

-lanux128 (June 18, 2008, 09:40 PM)

And I access it over 3-4 computers, read and write - so that wouldn't work.

761

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 18, 2008, 06:57 PM »

Alright, I found the problem that was preventing SnapSuite from launching any external EXEs (same problem as I had with 2008, I didn't setup the shortcuts properly - my fault entirely).

I have uploaded an updated version, and I have optimized and organized a lot of the code to make sure it is easier to maintain. It might give a slight boost in speed, but nothing you will notice (unfortunately).

Here is a list of things I am working on, and planned release dates - these aren't set in stone, but I would like to accomplish them.

• SnapSuite 2009 - Fall 2008 (if it takes that long, 1.0 might be NANY, but I doubt it)
• SnapSystem 2010 - Summer/Fall 2009
• KidOS (NEW!) - Summer/Fall 2009
• PlayMe 2.0 (NEW!) - Summer 2008
• SnapSystemOnline final (client version) - Summer 2008
• SnapSystemOnline final (web version) - Summer 2009
• SystemCare 2.0 (NEW!) - Fall/Winter 2008

and the finisher that may bring back some friendly competition...

• Maze Craze 3.0 - Winter 2008

(Maze Craze 3D is currently in planning and early development still, sorry)

Anyways, now that your all excited download away!
-Brandon

EDIT: Download link removed for version 1.1 - 76 downloads - WOW! Thanks guys!!! See page 20, post 2 for new version!

762

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Just an update... (SnapSuite, SystemCare Online)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 18, 2008, 02:36 PM »

Alright, I have found a couple other bugs that I need to fix, along with adding icons and whatnot. I will work on these this week and see if I can't have a new update out next week.

Along with that, I have uploaded a new version of the SystemCare Online app (now Alpha 2) - it now includes a disclaimer, renames the main window, and checks the radio button for the category you chose (helping make more sense of the options). Just get the new version as you would have the old, from here: http://mazecraze.dci...20Online%20Alpha.exe

I am also working on a new PlayMe (2.0) that does NOT include video support (I can add it back in if someone wants it), but it is a much smaller window (approx 200x100 I am guessing) with a kind of child-like interface (I created the buttons myself, it isn't as bad as you think), but it includes:

• Song name
• Play button
• Pause button
• Stop button
• Volume slider

So it is a "full" media player, but it uses an "Open File..." dialog instead of grabbing known songs - this is because I had a couple people complain that they kept their music in places other than My Music (you unorganized people! ) and PlayMe/MediaControl wouldn't list their music. Screenshot soon.

I also have switched back to using Core FTP Lite for the server (in case anyone cares, or uses FTP), because SmartFTP is now shareware for everyone (it used to be only for corporations and whatnot). Would anyone know of a better FTP client to use? Core FTP is a bit Windows-2000-ey.


Anyways, thats whats going on with my stuff.
-Brandon

763

General Software Discussion / Is anyone having random slowdowns on Vista SP1?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 18, 2008, 02:15 AM »

(WARNING: Mini-rant ahead - be prepared )

I have been running Vista for almost a year now - I love it. IMO the best version of Windows ever (I still love Xubuntu more, but until Linux gets some up-to-date games, Windows is still #1).

Except for the fact that it will randomly just become a little b**** and take control of my CPU. audiodg.exe used to do this when I had my X-Fi 3D simulation on, so I disabled that. Now Windows Media Player does it randomly and I have to restart that. Now explorer has jumped on the bandwagon and is eating up to 85%+ CPU usage... and I am not even freaking using it!!! I am just sitting here, instant messaging, and all the sudden I drop to like 2FPS on DWM and the system just feels like it is a Toyota Corolla that drove into a swamp - it just won't do anything! After I get task manager open and "terminate" the "program" (I prefer to scream... say other words, but that's another story), the system is just as speedy as ever. Repeat every 12 hours for full effect.

What the ... heck is Vista's issue? I am going to go and beat someone to a bloody pulp at Microsoft if this doesn't get taken care of soon!

Can someone provide a solution, or at least someone has to have the same issue as me? It happens only on this computer - my dad's Gateway laptop runs Vista like molasses, but it runs fine - the HP desktop won't install SP1, but it runs like a beauty...

-Brandon

764

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 09:13 PM »

If you are getting an error when trying to start SmartBrowse, you can go to "C:\Program Files\SnapSuite 2009\SmartBrowse\SmartBrowse.exe" to run it - not sure why it isn't running...

EDIT: Same thing with MediaBurn, crap! That's why it's alpha though

765

Finished Programs / Re: AltTab Fingertips v1.3 - 14 Jan 08

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 08:55 PM »

Would it be possible to show icons next to the list of programs? It is easier for me to notice an icon than to read over and find the window I want.

766

Find And Run Robot / Re: [bug] tooltip with file name blocks click

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 08:52 PM »

I don't think you can make a "click-through" tooltip, but it would be better to position the tooltip itself a few pixels below its current position, to prevent this kind of problem.

767

Living Room / Re: Accessing the contents of another computer's hard drive

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 08:50 PM »

Got it!

I had to tell XP to share the entire C:\ (root), and then the drive appeared under its \\ComputerName

I have XP Home so I don't have the Admin Shares, but all I needed was file read/write access. Now to just disable the requirement for password authentication, and it is one-click access!

768

Living Room / Re: Why do children love CAPS LOCK?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 06:13 PM »

I saw that post too, but I know a "man" down the street that is still stuck at age 20, with his little batman license plate on his car with 23" rims... (despite that he is at least 40+), so I guess it isn't actual age, but mental age

769

Living Room / Re: How can I get hard drive space... without deleting (my) stuff?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 06:06 PM »

I was able to boot off the SD card, but apparently the zip release is broken... it wouldn't boot past the mode selection screen.

I'll have to search around for a "real" USB stick and try again.

Stop talking your parents into buying you old IBMs and Macintoshes so that when you need something you can really use, they'll have the money for it.

-Deozaan (June 16, 2008, 10:34 PM)

An $8 IBM laptop is a good investment

770

Developer's Corner / Re: Visual Web Developer 2008 - newbie questions and help requests

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 06:03 PM »

I figured it would have to download first anyways, but I don't know *anything* about Java, but I have a couple friends that do; that, and I am taking my programming class this fall, and that includes Java...

OK, at least I know now.

771

Living Room / Accessing the contents of another computer's hard drive

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 05:54 PM »

I have been looking for a way to do this, without having to use AutoHotkey to check for and move files until I get around to getting on the computer and sorting them out manually, and I am not sure exactly HOW to do it.

Basically, I need to be able to access (read/write) the contents of another computer's C:\ drive - the computer is on my LAN, and I have an account on the system (administrator rights). I don't have a monitor for the computer so I end up doing it the hard way and connecting (\\MyComputerName) and then using LogMeIn to get the files the rest of the way. Not fun.

I have searched Google and come up dry, so does anyone know of a way I could do this? I need *complete* C:\ access, just as if I was actually using that computer. Installing Linux and setting that up IS an option, if there is a way to do it through *nix...

-Brandon

772

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 03:10 AM »

Alright, jumping back to SnapSuite...

I have made the SystemCare component fully functional, and made the "Report a bug", "Donate!" and "Instant Uninstall" buttons working. The Instant Uninstall does just that - you don't like SnapSuite? One click- it is no more. The way uninstalling should be.

I am kind of being lazy about Starter, as I am kind of lazy so nothing on that yet, but I did change the boring colored Toolbars (the bars at the top with buttons) to be the Vista toolbar color (via mspaint ).

I guess I will call this an alpha and see what people think - it is stable, but I have tried to not use any error "ignoring" techniques, because I want to get RID of them, not hide them. So please DO use the "Report a bug" button, and it will lead you right here to post the problem.

SmartBrowse 2.1 Beta IS included, so please also comment on what you like/don't like, what works/doesn't work... etc.

-Brandon

EDIT: Download link removed due to located bug. New version is being released later today. 13 downloads total for Alpha 1

773

Developer's Corner / Visual Web Developer 2008 - newbie questions and help requests

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 17, 2008, 01:41 AM »

Alright, as the topic name suggests, I am giving web programming a shot.

I am somewhat intermediate (IMO) in Visual Basic .NET 08, so I figure that I'll make an attempt to put my "SystemCare" app (part of my SnapSuite app) online, so that people don't have to download an entire program (or carry it around on a USB thumbdrive, etc).

So I have the (somewhat lame) interface setup on the ASPX file, and I go ahead and start writing code for the click event, similar to what I would do for Visual Basic. Web Developer tells me that I cannot use the Process.Start command, unless I do it though System.Diagnostics. So, I go ahead and apply the fix, and continue working. Now I test. When I click the button, it comes up.... with a "Save File" dialog (in Firefox).

Now, the code works correctly - the bad part is, I want it to be able to download and then run the files (EXEs) silently, without user intervention. One-click, "Now working", be done with it.

I know that "this could be used for malicious actions" and "ZOMG ITS A VIRUS!!!11!1!!!" ... but all I am looking for is a way to silently run executable files from the internet. No bull.

Anyone here got ideas? I've tried several methods (changing the Process.Start to start a "file://" and not an "http://", for example) and nothing works. I tinkered around looking for a silent/download/process.start.silent/etc options, and no avail.

Code: vb.net [Select]

1. Imports System.Diagnostics
2.  
3. Partial Class _Default
4.     Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
5.  
6.     Protected Sub CleanupButton_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CleanupButton.Click
7.         'FileCopy("http://mazecraze.dcisv.com/SystemCareOnline/InstantSweep.exe", "C:\temp\SystemCareOnline\InstantSweep.exe")
8.         Process.Start("http://mazecraze.dcisv.com/SystemCareOnline/InstantSweep.exe")
9.  
10.     End Sub
11. End Class

As of right now I only have that little bit of code, as I need to get it working before I get the other buttons working (otherwise it would be more code that didn't work).

Suggestions? Ideas? Something I am missing? Another method to do it?

-Brandon

774

General Software Discussion / Re: Mouser's Systray Goodies

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 16, 2008, 09:41 PM »

That's a bit cold, isn't it?

775

Living Room / Re: How can I get hard drive space... without deleting (my) stuff?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on June 16, 2008, 08:31 PM »

I have Home Premium, and have personally never seen such an option in XP Professional. Good idea, but it wouldn't work for me (I am the kind of person that *has* to know how much space is left).

Question: Can you install (and boot) GParted from a SD card? I have somehow lost my USB drive and all I have are 3 SD camera cards...

EDIT: Looks like It'll be a cross-your-fingers situation... here I go!