Recent Posts

926

Living Room / Re: Computer problem, maybe you can help

« Last post by techidave on July 27, 2008, 06:43 PM »

You might try reseating all 4 sticks of RAM.  Sometimes just pushing on them doesn't cut it.  On some Dell's we have at school, when they don't give off a beep code and the light is flashing, reseating the RAM has fixed it for me.  Also make sure to unplug the power cable before doing so.

Dave

927

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 20, 2008, 07:51 AM »

When I checked the ini file, there was no setting there. So I manually put 50 in, saved and then when I logged back in, the wav settng was at 50% when before that it was at 0.  Like I said, it was user error on my part.  When the box first came up asking for a value, I was thinking it already had a value in it so I left it blank. By the time I realized it didn't, then I couldn't get the box to come back up. It was on re-reading your post that I discovered it used an ini file for settings.

oh well...its another day here in Kansas with the high temps to be 101!  I hope the a/c don't fail. 

928

DC Website Help and Extras / where is everyone from

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 09:32 PM »

this has probably been kicked around before... If it wouldn't be a privacy issue, i would like to be able to see where everyone is from when I go to their profile.  At least what country or state (usa) they are from.

929

Coding Snacks / Re: Display Power schedule

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 03:07 PM »

I copied Lanux's code, saved as .ahk and then d/l autohotkey and converted it to exe.  I then double clicked the exe and it puts an icon down in the tray by the clock.

But how do I set the options or where do I go to check them?

930

General Software Discussion / Re: you tube downloader for a non techie

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 02:52 PM »

we have a search button for a reason

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=13013.0

-mouser (July 19, 2008, 05:51 AM)

is there a way to search by date only and see all the posts?  if there is, I haven't found it yet.

931

General Software Discussion / Re: you tube downloader for a non techie

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 06:00 AM »

thanks mouser, I did search today but this thread didn't show up.  But I did read that thread a couple of days ago and thats when I learned about Real Player.

I have been googling this and also searching through the ff extensions.  I will have to see if she could copy and paste the url into youtube downloader.

 

932

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 05:50 AM »

I did give these a try.  For some reason, probably user error, I couldn't get the setting to save.  So I tried Target's and it worked since that setting was already hard coded.

I went back and reread lanux's post and then placed a setting in the ini file and all is well.  I did like the idea that his automatically saved to the startup folder.

Other than that they are both capable programs..

thanks again and I will be awarding credits to both.

933

General Software Discussion / you tube downloader for a non techie

« Last post by techidave on July 19, 2008, 05:40 AM »

what software(free), firefox extension, or web browser would you recommend for those technology challenged people?  Something that can be done in as few clicks as possible.  I have a client that is wanting to be able to download and show offline you tube videos.

any recommendations??

I know real player can do it but I am not a big fan of it.

thanks,
Dave

934

Coding Snacks / Re: Display Power schedule

« Last post by techidave on July 17, 2008, 09:21 PM »

so is this available as a download somewhere??  I didn't see it listed on skrommel's site neither.

I am also looking for something that I can use to turn off the monitors at a certain time (school setting).

935

Living Room / Re: Show us your (physical) desktop

« Last post by techidave on July 15, 2008, 06:58 PM »

So how many of you actually had to clean off your desk before you took the picture?  I don't know of too many techs in my area that are actually neat.   

Dave

936

Living Room / contrast ratio confusion

« Last post by techidave on July 14, 2008, 09:56 PM »

Exactly what does the "contrast ratio" do for anyone as far as TV's, projectors, etc. go?  My personal opinion says that a 2000:1 will have better looking colors and picture than a 400:1 will (at least for a tv).

Is my perception wrong??  I need to purchase a projector for one of our teachers who will be showing a number of dvd videos.

I have been reading some articles in the net and also this one at Gizmodo site http://gizmodo.com/g...one-loses-259495.php

What are your thoughts? maybe its not worth worrying about?

937

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 09, 2008, 05:45 AM »

thank you  Lanux and Target for your apps!  I will give them a try.

Dave

938

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 08, 2008, 09:57 PM »

Thanks Lanux for your "setwav" box, but can/could it be added to the startup folder?

Target, a coder I am not.  I have looked at the authotkey website several times but do not understand much of what they talk about.  So compiling code is out of the question for me.

939

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 08, 2008, 08:47 PM »

that would be fine.  They will have head phones on most of the time anyway.

940

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 08, 2008, 08:38 PM »

actually i need a certain "wave volume" set for each user that logs in to the computer for the first time.  But I will check this one out.

941

General Software Discussion / Re: windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 08, 2008, 07:21 AM »

Apparently some/one of the software we use changes the default setting to zero.  I just logged into another computer  that has no software installed on it and the wave setting is as high as it will go. 

I am going to set up my default user and copy it to the other computer and see what happens.  I will post back the result.

Would there be a registry setting that would accomplish the same thing???

Dave

942

General Software Discussion / windows volume control setting

« Last post by techidave on July 08, 2008, 06:43 AM »

I am trying to set the wave volume for all users who log in to a computer.  By default it is set to zero so there are certain programs that don't have any sound.  The computers are XP Pro SP3 that log into a Windows server in a grade school setting.  It seems after they log in and it is set, then it stays but I am trying to save the computer teacher a lot of time by setting it in advanced.

This particular computer uses the SoundMax Digital Audio software.  I have also tried setting it in control panel but the results are the same.  I have looked in to gpedit but cannot find any setting there either.

any ideas?

943

Living Room / Re: server room temperatures

« Last post by techidave on June 10, 2008, 09:55 PM »

Thanks 40hz for the reply.  What you said confirmed what I was thinking.

We are getting more and more dependant on the server farm as time goes on since we host our own mail server (Exchange 2003) plus a student gradebook server as well as testing servers.  When our main server goes down, then we lose a lot of functionality plus things just crawl along.

I doubt that anyone would lose their job or anything like that, things do happen. 

oh well, job security even if it does require more time and distance traveled.

Dave

944

Living Room / server room temperatures

« Last post by techidave on June 09, 2008, 09:40 PM »

I realize this is not a networking forum but thought I would pick the brains of some of the smartest people in the world!   

The question(s) are:
1.  How hot should a server room be before equipment gets damaged?
2.  If the maximum temp is say... 82 F then if the temp gets to say 85F, then what will happen?
3.  How to justify to the administration for the need to more A/C, somekind of a notification system of too high temps, and anything else I may need to consider.

I have the temp set on the A/C unit to 72F but when the power goes off it can reach 90F+ or more in a short while.  Since I live 7 miles from this school and nobody else thinks of turning the A/C back on after a failure but me.   

A little history:
 We are a small K-12 school district that like most rural districts are facing declining enrollment, there fore less dollars are available.  My server room in the high school currently has 3 servers with the newest one being 1 year old, another is 3 years old, and the third one is about 7 years old.  The newest one does put out a lot of heat.  The room is approx 6ft by 12 feet with about a 10,000 BTU window A/C unit and a radiator for heat.

We do have a lot of power failures lasting on the average of 2 hours or so.  Buying a UPS big enough to handle this is out of the question.

Does anyone have any ideas that might help.  I have found these 2 good articles that help explain things but just wondered if I am the only one in this boat... surely not!

http://www.openxtra....room-temperature.php  and  http://www.openxtra....oring-essentials.php

945

General Software Discussion / Re: Educators/Teachers software...

« Last post by techidave on June 07, 2008, 06:57 AM »

This may not be exactly what you want since it is full of weblinks but look at this site http://www2.usd267.c...eachinglearning.html.  It is one of the best sites that I have found and they are only a couple of hours down the road from us.  As far as finding software (especially free) I also would be interested in that.  I will check out my bookmarks and post back anything that I find later on.

Dave

946

Developer's Corner / Re: System Information Tool... im stuck...

« Last post by techidave on June 04, 2008, 08:00 PM »

I am not a coder either but was just trying to provide another tool to do a similar thing.

Sorry,
Dave

947

Developer's Corner / Re: System Information Tool... im stuck...

« Last post by techidave on June 04, 2008, 06:35 PM »

I also am a tech for a school district with about 250 computers to manage.  I currently use Belarc Advisor to give me this information.  The only problem with Belarc is it won't tell me the specs on the RAM, such as PC3200 or DDR266, etc..  Sometimes it doesn't always give the correct info for the motherboard model but most of time it does.

But I would also be interested in your app or a similar one when you get it working correctly. 

Dave

948

Living Room / Re: slow down the mouse double clicks

« Last post by techidave on May 22, 2008, 09:20 PM »

I thought about that one bu didn't have any real experience using it.  Will it slow it down more than Windows will?

949

Living Room / slow down the mouse double clicks

« Last post by techidave on May 22, 2008, 08:55 PM »

I am looking for some kind of software (free) that will slow down the speed of the mouse double click in Win XP Pro SP2.  I have set windows to as slow as it will go  but it is still too fast for my client who has some minor physical handicaps.  He has had this mouse for several months but only recently has this became a problem.  He has the Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse ver 2.0 if this helps any.  It is a USB mouse connected to the PS/2 port with the adaptor ( I think).

When you double click a desktop icon it usually doesn't open.  If you click it one to highlight it and then press enter it works ok.  His problem is he cannot click the mouse twice fast enough to open the program.

I also believe it is using the default MS drivers.

Any ideas on how to solve this dilemna? 

950

Coding Snacks / Idea: track car mileage for reimbursment

« Last post by techidave on April 03, 2008, 06:04 PM »

I am looking for something that I can use to keep track of the trips I take.  I typically have around 10 or so different towns that I drive to for school and need this for mileage reimbursement.  It could be something in Excel(out of my league) or a small program of somekind.

I would like to be able to put in how many miles it is to the town of x and then be able to put how many trips I made on a any day of the month and then it would total the trips and display the total trips and miles it made to each destination.

I don't need to keep track of the odometer mileage(maybe i should), just the trips.

This may be more than a coding snack but perhaps someone knows of a free program or can whip up a .xls of somekind real quick.