Recent Posts

926

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 11, 2016, 09:32 PM »

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Actually, this reminds me of much of my Linux experience since switching full-time in 2003 or so...

-Edvard (April 11, 2016, 07:45 PM)

Heh heh heh.  Me, I am too lathey to trim that square peg to fit in that there round hole.  Might be time for a keyhole saw. 

927

General Software Discussion / Re: Shellbag Analyzer and Cleaner 1.25

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 11, 2016, 02:03 PM »

I don't have anything running W10.  Not even a VM.  So I don't know if those would be picked up in the analysis scan.  It might be worth a run.  It is an exe with no install.  When run it creates an .ini file in the same folder as the exe.

So far I haven't noticed any negative side effects.

928

General Software Discussion / Shellbag Analyzer and Cleaner 1.25

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 11, 2016, 08:29 AM »

For some reason Shellbag Analyzer and Cleaner 1.25 just showed up on Snapfiles today.  Perhaps they just got around to notifying Snapfiles of their new version(released March 5, 2016.)

Anyway, I know from issues on Windows Vista, Seven and Eight forums that Explorer shellbags can have old information and run out of room for new stuff.  Which is why Explorer can forget folder size and window placement information.  What this analyzer and cleaner does is sift through all the shellbags in the Registry and produce a report.  Then you can erase the shellbags left over from deleted folders and/or optimize the remaining shellbags.

I recommend using some method of backing up your Registry before experimenting.  I made a snapshot with RollbackRX and also used Tweaking.com RegistryBackup before trying it. So far it seems to make the taskbar population snappier(I have a triple row of icons in my Taskbar.)

For freeware it looks like something kind of fun.  It is touted as a privacy utility since supposedly the Registry has this info of deleted folders and the names of the folders might give some clue what programs you were running or something.  But I think the shell optimization effect may be more useful in the real world.

I have only done one clean and optimization.  But so far things seem better than before running it.  But I do have my backups if weird stuff happens. 

929

General Software Discussion / Re: Start Menu 10 Pro "skip start screen"

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 10, 2016, 08:09 AM »

System Restore does not work.

-MilesAhead (April 09, 2016, 10:49 AM)

It's worked for me.  What do you mean it does not work?

-wraith808 (April 10, 2016, 06:53 AM)

It has never worked right on this Laptop.  The machine was only 2 days old and I had to use a restore point.  It hung during reboot for 20 minutes before it finally came back up successful.  Nine times out of ten it would come up after booting with the dialog that system restore did not complete.  On this Laptop it is useless.  This is the only Windows PC I ever owned that had a non functional SR.  That's another reason I suspect it is open box.

Fortunately I got RollbackRX Pro at a discount.  It cost me something around $37.  Not perfect but it does allow me to return to a snapshot quickly.  It is more thorough than SR.

Anyway I gave details in other threads already so I don't want to rehash it all here.

930

General Software Discussion / Re: Start Menu 10 Pro "skip start screen"

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 09, 2016, 10:49 AM »

I tried Classic Shell awhile back.  It was flakier than Start Menu X or 10

-MilesAhead (March 29, 2016, 07:28 AM)

Hmm, it works for me FWIW. I have it on one machine of mine (4.2.5).

-cranioscopical (April 08, 2016, 04:34 PM)

It's worked perfectly for me since I had Windows 8.1, (now 10), installed across 3 desktops and a netbook.

-4wd (April 08, 2016, 08:42 PM)

This W 8.0 does have its foibles.  System Restore does not work.  That is why I felt compelled to buy RollBackRX Pro so I could take snapshots instead of doing system images every single time I installed a utility.  I suspect the machine is open box.  But it does work so...

I would probably just put Windows 7 Pro on if I had a base of operations.  But I don't want to experiment too much with the only machine I have.  The public PCs in the public and school library you are reduced to a Guest account.  You can only save stuff to USB.  Don't even think about setting a system setting!!!

So until I have a computer room someplace I have to wing it.  Other than having to replace the transformer power plug doodad at least mechanically it has been sound.  But stuff that works on most PCs I have to try it and make sure.  Like I am sure ToolWiz Time Machine works for many people.  But it won't work on this PC.  Neither will Shadow Defender.  When initializing Shadow Mode it just hangs.

I think the problem is with how this thing boots not with Start Menu 10.  It did work for awhile.  Which is the strange part.

931

Living Room / Re: anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 09, 2016, 10:41 AM »

It spit out "unknown server" and the IP of the name server.

-MilesAhead (April 08, 2016, 01:38 PM)

Don't take no for an answer, run a whois on the IP address and it should return who the address block is registered to ... You can usually infer quite a bit from the response.

-Stoic Joker (April 09, 2016, 07:40 AM)

All I am saying is that since nslookup can get the server name from the IP but it does not want to use the name to fetch name service, there is probably some list of approved name servers in the WiFi system on campus.  I think I tried one of those FreeDNS substitutions a few months ago and it didn't work.  Probably they figure bypassing their DNS is a why to get free Hulu or something.

It's not important.  Because it was Easeus I thought it was strange is all.  Maybe they don't like that autoforwarding on the return url because they think it is a vulnerability to exploit?  I dunno'.  I don't know any of the network guys who run the show here to ask.  Maybe once I start doing a software development course for credit I'll be more in the loop as I'll probably be with computers instead of just in the library.

932

Living Room / Re: anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 01:38 PM »

They must be preventing alternate name service here.  I noticed also that VPNs don't work.  I ran nslookup on the IP of one of the name servers and got the name back.  Then I used that as the name server to use looking up easeus.com.  It spit out "unknown server" and the IP of the name server.

Whatever is going on I don't think I can get there from here. 

I noticed too at the school that setting my system time on my Lappy via internet is blocked.  I have no idea why.  I have to get the time then use the Set Date and Time pita interface and set it manually.

But there is good bandwidth usually so I can't complain.  I just thought this case was a bit unusual.

933

General Software Discussion / Re: Start Menu 10 Pro "skip start screen"

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 09:46 AM »

Well, I kept getting funky hangs at startup with this where I had to log off, then log back on.  So what I did was disable the Start With Windows option for Start Menu 10.  This makes the Bypass Start Screen option moot.  I just added Start Menu 10 to my DelayedCuts list.

I log in and hit enter to go to the desktop.  Then all is as normal.  After everything else loads Start Menu 10 runs.  Good enough!

934

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Shadow Defender free

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 09:41 AM »

Just for grins I installed it and tried it again.  I got the same behavior as last time.  Engaging shadow mode I get a small splash at the top center of the screen saying Shadow Mode and the program has a splash saying Please Wait which does just that.  It waits.

Unusable for me.  Your mileage may vary.

935

Found Deals and Discounts / Shadow Defender free

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 08:18 AM »

100% discount in effect for about 2 days 17 hours after this post date/time.

http://sharewareonsale.com/

I believe I tried this once before and it did not work smoothly on my Laptop.  ToolWiz TimeFreeze is free and has a similar functionality.  But it works on my Lappy.  ToolWiz products may not be updated very often, if at all, in the future though.  The software producer's status seems unclear.  ToolWiz TimeMachine has not been updated in a couple of years.

In any case Shadow Defender may work better on your machine than mine.

936

Living Room / Re: anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 07:50 AM »

The IsItUp page shows a return of 301.  If I click on the ip address returned, it goes to the site.  So the auto-redirection ain't.. as a jar head might say. 

Edit: However, once there navigation is broken since all the dns lookups fail. 

937

Living Room / Re: Touchy touch screen rubs me the wrong way

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 08, 2016, 07:03 AM »

That's great.  Thanks for the link and info.   

Edit: In the case of this "healing chant" file I have, even though the volume setting for the player is on Very High and I have the volume all the way up, it is not enough to enjoy the sound.  So I downloaded MP3DirectCut to try upping the volume for the file itself.

It is weird how the Philips has so much more volume for file play with the max sound enabled.  It is only the size of a stick of gum and must be 7 or 8 model years old.  But c' est la vie. 

938

Living Room / Re: anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 03:05 PM »

Strange.  When I do nslookup from a command prompt it times out after only 2 seconds!  No biggie.  I only noticed it because I was curious about this new(at least new to me) application migration software they have.  Peculiar. 

939

Living Room / Re: anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 02:56 PM »

https://isitup.org/easeus.com

It's working for me.

-Deozaan (April 07, 2016, 02:45 PM)

Thanks for the link.  Good to have.  I must have gotten erased from the college name server or something.  I guess I'll try flushing dns cache and see if that matters. 

940

Living Room / anyone else getting DNS error for easeus.com?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 02:42 PM »

Anything I try to load that depends on easeus.com domain produces a dns lookup failure.  Is anyone else seeing the same thing?

941

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extensions: Your favorite or most useful

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 02:14 PM »

-maybe uncheck automatic updating? If the addons already work, they can most likely wait...

I know no other way.

-Curt (April 07, 2016, 10:05 AM)

Thank you.  I'll give that a try.  Besides, it seems crazy to update Theme Font and Size Changer and similar AddOns every time I go from x.0.1 to x.0.2 etc..  I mean, the AddOn is the same I am sure.

942

Living Room / Re: Touchy touch screen rubs me the wrong way

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 02:03 PM »

@Edvard it turns out this Clip player does have a Folder mode after all.  I think they stuck it on as a response to user suggestions.  It is not in the obvious location.  When going through options for audio books, then sport, all of a sudden the heading opens to Folders!  Bingo!  I can navigate to and click on the folder to play all the files contained therein.   

I wish it had a fuller sound.  Some of the files that sound fine on my old Philips MP3 player sound faint on this player at max volume.  But it weighs almost nothing so I must assume the main design consideration is to have a clip-on device that will not drag you down as you jog or work out or whatnot.

I will say in its favor that the FM tuner seems to do a better job of screening out the cross talk than the other players I have tried recently.  And it does not force you to automatically scan for presets.  You can individually add stations without losing those already saved.

943

Living Room / Re: Twist Tie alternative?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 01:50 PM »

I use Gear Ties, they work great.

http://www.lowes.com...71-a0ab-bdb5069b6a86

-c.gingerich (April 07, 2016, 01:39 PM)

Looks like that would work.  For grins I looked at the zip ties available at walmart.com.  I figure for USB cables and old buds I save for emergency use they should be ok if I leave a bit of a gap when I put them on.  I got lucky and found a bag of 50 for $2.99 with free shipping:

http://www.walmart.c...ion-SAPT143/37838919

Small items like that they usually throw in an envelope and send via regular mail.  I should not have a problem with anyone refusing to take delivery etc..

Plus if I don't lose them they are bound to come in handy for something else eventually. 

The clips you have are along the idea that made me try the bobby pins.  But the smooth insides make them easier to slide on I am sure.   

Heh.  In the picture they look like metal clips.  Like smooth bobby pins.  I didn't read the copy.  My bad.   

944

Living Room / Re: Twist Tie alternative?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 09:09 AM »

I found these at Walmart.com

http://www.walmart.c...r-Wire-Wrap/47593384

With free shipping it looks worth a try.  Eight "fish" should be all I need for earbud wires.  For heavier stuff like USB cable a regular twist tie should be good enough.  I just need to find a geek to bum some off. 

945

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extensions: Your favorite or most useful

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 07:02 AM »

Anyone know how to keep AddOns from focus stealing by adding a foreground tab every time they update?  It is a real nuisance.  You are typing in a form and all of a sudden a different tab has the focus because xyzAddOn updated.  Silent mode would be way more convenient.

946

Living Room / Re: Twist Tie alternative?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 07, 2016, 06:59 AM »

sheep shank knot
"The sheepshank is a type of knot that is used to shorten a rope or take up slack. This knot is not stable. It will fall apart under too much load or too little load."
So next, you need to learn how to set a line of pegs in a deadhead beam, to 'load' them under their own weight. Never t'fear, we'll make a proper seafarer and star voyager out of you yet, Matey. 

-holt (April 06, 2016, 11:32 PM)

I saw some tutorials how to loop cord first one way, then the other, so that the cord does not develop a tension from being wrapped one way.  Looks like it works for stuff with room to store.  But I am basically looking for a way for a dozen different things in my cord/earphone bag to peacefully coexist.  I haven't seen the velcro.  Perhaps they will have some in a dollar store.  But I suspect the twisty tie will end up being the cheapest solution.

I also saw some tutorials for figure 8 knots.  But in comments people pointed out bending the internal wire is not conducive to long life.  Not that the earbuds last long anyway.

947

Living Room / Re: Twist Tie alternative?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 06, 2016, 08:35 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions.  I did find some 2" x 3" zip lock bags but they wanted $5 for 300.  I guess twist ties are not that bad if I can get ones better than the bread twist ties.  I'll have to check the dollar stores.

For my player I can just wrap the buds around it since it is in a baggy by itself.  The other stuff like USB cords I only use once a day for charging.  Unwrapping a twist tie would not be a big burden. 

I just thought someone may have invented a home made thing like a rubber lined alligator clip. 

948

Living Room / Twist Tie alternative?

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 06, 2016, 03:26 PM »

I am wondering if anyone has a good alternative to Twist Ties for keeping stuff like ear bud wires, usb connector cords, and other stuff that has small gauge wire connected to it, from getting all tangled?

Granted Twist Ties are cheap but they can be a bit of a pain to twist and untwist.  I tried using bobby pins but they are too straight.  I was thinking along the lines of small padded alligator clips.  Maybe something I could find in a Dollar Store.

I don't have a junk drawer for these kind of resources.  I have to pretty much buy everything I need for specific purposes.  With all the hw guys out there I figure there must be ingenious solutions too.   

949

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to allow Local testing of a website code while monitoring activity

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 06, 2016, 09:10 AM »

I do not know if it is a debugging tool per se, but yet another self-contained personal web server:
http://www.snapfiles...om/get/abyssweb.html

950

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to allow Local testing of a website code while monitoring activity

« Last post by MilesAhead on April 05, 2016, 04:30 PM »

So I am back to throwing ideas against a brick wall.  Since they are all in my head, i am getting a headache!

-questorfla (April 05, 2016, 04:24 PM)

It feels so good when you stop.  At least you have that to look forward to.