Recent Posts

776

General Software Discussion / computer repair software

« Last post by techidave on May 28, 2009, 07:52 PM »

I am looking for a simple piece of software that will allow me to track computer repairs.  I am wanting to track hardware replacement type stuff only, not software.  I have around 250 computers school wide and I am just starting to run into hardware failures and memory failurs due to the age of the computers.

I don't know that much about databases so I do not consider that an option for me to build one from scratch.

any ideas?  preferably free.

Dave

777

General Software Discussion / Re: software that tracks changes made during install

« Last post by techidave on April 27, 2009, 07:52 AM »

thanks for the link Chris. Total Uninstall is looking pretty good.  I used one several years ago but cannot for the life of me remember what it was now.

dave

778

General Software Discussion / software that tracks changes made during install

« Last post by techidave on April 26, 2009, 10:01 PM »

I know this has been discussed before but am too tired to figure out what they call this type of software.  You know the kind that tells you the all the changes made during the install including the registry.

What type of software is this and what do you recommend to use?

I am trying to figure out why our Reader Rabbit Kindergarten (Bounce Down in Balloon Town) isn't working on XP SP3.  I am now reimaging with XP SP2 just to see if that makes a difference.

I have been on the mfg's website but The Learning Company has discontinued sales and support for their products as of Dec 2008.

Any help would be appreciated.

Dave

779

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: set default printer according to ip address

« Last post by techidave on April 23, 2009, 07:32 AM »

I did find this printer switcher but it is no longer under development and only allows for 2 printers.

http://abednarz.net/...ds-printer-switcher/

780

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: set default printer according to ip address

« Last post by techidave on April 21, 2009, 08:59 PM »

I have been giving NetSetMan a whirl for a little bit.  it is working fine except... it doesn't automatically change profiles when the IP changes.  At least not by putting the laptop into sleep mode.  I haven't tried it by powering off and then turning back on again.

I was looking something would automatically change when it was on  a different network.  Yes some of my teachers don't do well change.  but I guess clicking on an icon in the tray and then changing to a different network shouldn't be too difficult.

I will have to see what powering off and on does to automatic changes as compare to just shutting the lid.

781

General Software Discussion / Re: Which idiot came up with Windows Defender * UAC

« Last post by techidave on April 21, 2009, 05:28 AM »

I got rid of Windows Defender from my Vista system.  It is running much faster now, it seem to be always scanning the hard drive.

Your right Carol, it does have some major drawbacks.

782

Living Room / Re: copying files over a school network

« Last post by techidave on April 19, 2009, 04:56 PM »

That sounds very good Carol but I am not very good with batch files.  but where does the list of recipients come from or stored at?

783

Living Room / copying files over a school network

« Last post by techidave on April 19, 2009, 04:09 PM »

Has anyone come across an easy way to copy files to student folders for a non techie teacher?  I am thinking something with a gui front end.

Our computer lab teacher needs to copy word documents and sometimes a IE shortcut for all users in the lab or sometimes certain users.  Most likely would need to be on their desktop.  Our school is big on shortcuts, doesn't matter how many, they just like them. 

We have windows 2003 servers and XP Pro desktops.  This will primarily be in the grade school ages 8-12 or so.  I am looking for a way they can do it without involving me everytime.  Not that it takes that long but sometimes there is a day or two delay before I can get it done.

am looking for ideas, scripts, software, coding snacks... no reasonable offer refused!   

Dave

784

Living Room / Re: Network Places Auto-Generated Annoyance

« Last post by techidave on April 19, 2009, 02:14 PM »

according to MS, it looks like your asumption would be correct.

Quote:  By default, Windows XP monitors shared resources on the network to make it easier to connect to a shared resource. This feature, which is new in Windows XP, is implemented by periodically scanning the computers on the network. During the scan, Windows XP identifies any newly-shared resources, such as a printer that has just gone online as a shared printer, or a folder that has just been shared.

Taken from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320138

785

Living Room / Re: for the past 50 years, American students were taught bullshit

« Last post by techidave on April 19, 2009, 06:59 AM »

Even if I could speak or write perfect English, who would know?

786

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft planning to 'push' upgrades to IE8

« Last post by techidave on April 17, 2009, 12:17 PM »

I found it would close on XP SP3 and always said it would close but it hardly ever did.  I thought it was faster than both 6 or 7 but the crashing always bothered me so I went back to IE 6.

787

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: set default printer according to ip address

« Last post by techidave on April 16, 2009, 05:53 AM »

It appears that anytime you try to hook up to another LAN or WLAN, you have to go through the setup with Netsetman before you can connect.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  For me it wasn't a big problem but for some of my other users who are technology challenged, it can be HUGE!

Or maybe there is something within the netsetman program that I am not aware of that will take care of this??

Dave

788

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: set default printer according to ip address

« Last post by techidave on April 11, 2009, 08:06 PM »

It has a bit more setup than I would like to see but I will give it a whirl. 

789

Post New Requests Here / IDEA: set default printer according to ip address

« Last post by techidave on April 11, 2009, 04:59 PM »

Is it possible to code a program that will set the default printer according to the IP address regardless of which NIC is being used?

For example:
at location 1, the computer ip address is 10.1.1.x and it connects to a networkable printer via the lan.

at location 2, the computer ip address is 10.2.1.x and it connects to a local printer via the lan.

at location 3, the computer ip address is 10.3.1.x and it connects to a networkable printer via the lan.

at location 4, the computer ip address is 192.168.1.x and it connects to a networkable printer via the wireless.

I have googled this and didn't find anything that just did printers only and nothing else.  Plus most of them had a tray icon that need clicked on to change it.  I would rather not have to do that.

Something simple and easy would be great!

Thanks in advanced,
Dave

790

Living Room / Re: Online Dictionary that visually shows relationships among words.

« Last post by techidave on April 07, 2009, 09:51 AM »

I sent the link to some of my teachers and they just LOVED it!   

791

Living Room / video for computer talking to another

« Last post by techidave on March 31, 2009, 09:26 PM »

I need some help finding information or a video that shows how one computer talks with another one (but not on a network).  It is for a class I am taking and the instructor is wanting something in "plain english", not geek talk.  So far when googling this I have only found for network stuff. 

Probably needing info that travels over the internet. 

Any ideas on where to look?  Maybe a youtube video?  since i have to make a video on it anyway.

thanks,
Dave

792

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 - Preliminary Planning

« Last post by techidave on March 31, 2009, 09:17 PM »

What happened to 2008?   

793

Official Announcements / Re: MARCH 2009: It's the 4th Anniversary DonationCoder.com Fundraiser

« Last post by techidave on March 31, 2009, 09:08 PM »

I was wondering how many of the 160,000+ users on the site have donated???   couple of thousand?

794

Site/Forum Features / "last post" icon

« Last post by techidave on March 29, 2009, 05:30 AM »

I just noticed the last post icon in the last post column.  Very useful for those long multi page threads because it takes you to the very last post on the very last page.

thanks

795

Coding Snacks / Re: Coding Snack and Skrommel Software Write-ups Discovered on the Web

« Last post by techidave on March 26, 2009, 09:38 PM »

by searching shell city I found this page with 26 links to Skrommel's software.

here

I know its not exactly a review but perhaps its a "little review"

796

Coding Snacks / Re: Coding Snack and Skrommel Software Write-ups Discovered on the Web

« Last post by techidave on March 26, 2009, 09:02 PM »

from March 23rd.

http://www.shellcity.net/  you will have to scroll down the page a bit.

797

General Software Discussion / Re: 64 bit Vista

« Last post by techidave on March 25, 2009, 11:34 AM »

 Maybe I finally found it after all.  Some will install and some wont.  If its 16 bit it won't install.  Not sure what this particular software is or how to tell what it is.

oh well.  If anyone has more info to add to, please do so.

798

General Software Discussion / 64 bit Vista

« Last post by techidave on March 25, 2009, 11:15 AM »

A friend just recently got a new Dell computer running Vista 64 bit.  She is trying to install an older program but it will not let install it.  Says something about the cd is not compatible with the 64 bit cannot be installed.

I have been googling the problem but cannot find the right "keywords" to get the reponse I need.

Any thoughts?

799

General Software Discussion / Re: cross platform video chatting

« Last post by techidave on March 25, 2009, 07:38 AM »

yes I meant windows and mac.

I will take a look at your suggestions.

800

General Software Discussion / cross platform video chatting

« Last post by techidave on March 24, 2009, 07:21 PM »

Our school wants to be able to do video conferencing with a fomrer classmate that now lives somewhere in Africa.  I am looking for a safe and secure solution.  Skype, NetMeeting, MSN Messenger, and FlashMeeting have all been mentioned.

Is there one thing that stands out above all the rest?  Oh yeah, it needs to be cross platform.

I do not know how well this will turn out but the principal wants to try.