I saw the following in the last issue of Lockergnome. I have a Nokia
Communicator, which has a infrared port, and I'm assuming other PDA's
accessible by the blind have an infrared port. For that matter, I think
most laptops have an infrared port. I think it would be great to be able
to use my Nokia Communicator or my lapttop as an accessible remote
control.
<> NoviiRemote v1.1 [506k] Palm OS 3.5/4.1 US$24.99
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=51546
My television and DVD remotes frequently go missing, but I always
know where my Palm devices are. That makes this app a great backup
system when I don't want to waste time looking for the "real"
remote. I've tried several other remote applications, but this one
is a winner in my book because it simplifies programming the hard
buttons on your handheld for your choice of remote control
functions. It has great infrared range, and preinstalled codes
mean I can control most recent devices, without having to track
down the code specific to the device I want to control. A color
version is ideal, but if you happen to have a grayscale Palm
device, there's a custom version just for you. As soon as a Palm
OS 5 version is released, I'll make this a permanent addition to
my Tungsten T; in the meantime, it works quite well on one of
other Palm models. Support for TiVo, Audio Receivers, TVs, VCRs,
DVD, and CD players. [Jake]
Christopher
Christopher J Chaltain
[log in to unmask]
----- Forwarded by Christopher Chaltain/Austin/IBM on 04/12/2003 08:35 PM
-----
Lockergnome Windows Digest <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: [log in to unmask]
04/05/2003 06:24 PM
Please respond to leave-lgtext-1646762D
To: [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject: [Lockergnome Windows Digest] Acoustic Grits and the Aliens
Lockergnome's Windows Digest
http://www.lockergnome.com/
<>------<> GNOME HELPER <>------------------------------------<>
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technology and payment solutions
Register before May 1st and save $100!
http://www.mollyguard.com/event/4649908/lgn
P.S. - conference attendees get a free pass to X-Men2!
<>------<> GNOME DOWNLOADS <>---------------------------------<>
<> MusicBrainz Tagger v0.8.5 [1.2M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.musicbrainz.org/tagger/download.html
{Community music metadatabase} MusicBrainz is, for the most part,
a music Web service. We hear about Web services, but the
explanation of a "music service" isn't always in plain English.
However, I'll attempt to put it in English. When you put a CD in
the PC's audio player, it comes up with a generic name for it
(that has no meaning). The MusicBrainz Tagger automatically looks
up the tracks on the CD and identifies them by name. If it doesn't
recognize the collection, you submit the acoustic fingerprints of
the files back to the server so MusicBrainz will automatically
identify the files in the future, allowing others to benefit from
your work. The more people use it, the more information stored,
and the better chances your files will be recognized. Without
using this tool and the community's help, you'd have to enter
information on every CD yourself. At the office, I use the media
player that came with the PC since we can't add stuff without
going through IT standards. I had to enter the CD information most
of the time. It's a real pain, but Web services will take that
pain away eventually. [Mi Mi Mi Meryl]
<> Amazing Portal Generator v1.02 [1.6M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106134
Amazing Portal Generator lets you design your very own Web portal
that you can use as your custom browser home page. You can choose
links from a categorized list that is provided with the software,
and you can also add your own. The library includes buttons,
search forms (Google, Yahoo!, etc.) and other items that allow you
to get the latest news (via tickers), monitor stocks, and more.
The portal can be customized in many aspects; there are different
color schemes to choose from and you can also specify custom
colors. The program is easy to use, and enables you to have your
own portal up and running without the need to write any HTML or
know anything about Web design. The portal can be used as your
local browser start page or uploaded to the Web. [MWA]
<> Grub's Distributed Web Crawling Project v1.1.1 [3.3M] W98/2k/XP FREE
http://grub.org/
{Community Web crawling} How many of you are familiar with
SETI@home (http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/)? Looks like most
of you. Quickly, it's a project where users like you and me run
the program in the background on our PCs, donating bandwidth to
help find aliens. No, this is NOT a joke (for those of you
unfamiliar with the concept). Instead of looking for aliens, we're
looking for grub, or rather sending worms to crawl the Web and
index it. The more people who run the client, the better the
chances that grub.org will be able to visit and index every page
on the Internet each day. According to the statistics on Grub, 50
percent of the databases that search engines use are outdated at
any given time. Why should you care? If you manage a Web site, it
supposedly ensures your Web site is indexed before any other site.
As of this writing, Grab reports it has 154 clients running -
crawling 19,896,972 URLs in the last 24 hours. Like grits, it may
or may not be to your liking. [Meryl]
<> NewsGator 1.1 [1.5M] W98/2k/XP US$29.00
http://www.newsgator.com/downloads.aspx
[News aggregator] NewsGator 1.1 has been released! This is a
significant release, adding many of the most-requested features,
and fixing some minor problems. This is a free upgrade for
licensed 1.0 users. Changes in 1.1 include support for feeds that
require authentication, new message notification (task tray
bubble) on Windows 2000 and later, optional per-feed update
frequency, sortable subscription list, added category support, and
updated online help.
<> Sniphere v1.2 [37k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106130
Sniphere is a WinPCAP network sniffer that supports most of common
protocols. It can be used on Ethernet devices and supports PPPoE
modems. The program allows you to set filters based on IP, Mac
Address, ports, protocol, etc., and also decodes packages into an
easy-to-understand format. In addition, session logs can be saved
in XML format and selected packets copied to the clipboard.
Sniphere supports most common protocols, including IP, TCP, UDP
and ICMP. Very small standalone program. [MWA]
<> Notepad Pro v1.5 [1.6M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.zhakaas.com/npro/features.php
{Skinnable text editor} This is practically "the little Notepad
that could." It's small but powerful, and sits quietly in the
System Tray. Notepad Pro comes with 20 built-in skins, plus more
are available via the Web site. Some skins may give little Notepad
space, but experiment with them until you find one that suits you.
(Yes, it's missing resizing capabilities, and the FAQ explains
why.) The editor supports 11 languages and has a built-in Winamp
controller. It can display a list of recent files, use basic
shortcuts like Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V (its help file has a list of
the shortcuts), and comes with keylogger mode. Keylogger mode
captures everything you type, even when the program isn't in
focus. Notepad Pro has no trouble handling a 1900 (plus) kilobyte
file. In fact, it did a better job displaying the file's contents
than Windows's Notepad, which had those annoying ASCII boxes.
Another neat feature is its ability to convert text files to Adobe
Acrobat-compatible PDF files. And this is more for show: the
Notepad can be transparent for those using Win2k and XP. [Meryl]
<> Info Angel v1.51 [3.0M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106137
Info Angel is a personal information manager (PIM) that combines a
notebook, a contact manager, an organizer and a Bookmark Manager
into a single interface. You can manage your daily notes, create a
database of personal and professional contacts, organize your
time, store links to both local documents and the Internet
sources, and much more. Info Angel supports rich text and images,
so you can add pictures to your entries and also customize the
text formatting. Additional features include alarms, integration
with phone dialer, password- protected entries and more. A nicely
done free organizer. [MWA]
<> Snug v1.3 [320k] W95/2k/XP FREE
http://puz.com/sw/freeware/page3.htm
{Puzzle game} Snug is an older game, but some of the best games
are not new games. The goal is to fit five randomly shaped pieces
into a square using the mouse to move, flip, and rotate the
blocks. It takes no time to figure out the game, and kids can play
it. If you want more games like this, look around the Web site for
more. HexMaze draws hexagonal mazes and you have to find your way
out from one point to the other. You know those little puzzles
with tiles (and one empty space) that slide around? I hated those
things, and never had the patience. TileGuru works similarly, in
which the player works to get the nine tiles in numerical order.
These games will amaze (or puzzle) you for hours. [Meryl]
<> Encrypted FTP v3.0.4.29 beta [1.7M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106123
EFTP (Encrypted File Transfer Protocol) is a client/server
application that offers the same functionality as standard FTP,
but with encryption. It uses a combination of Public Key
encryption and Symmetric Key encryption to allow fast and secure
transfers over any TCP/IP network, including the Internet. EFTP
offers an easy to use graphical interface with user management,
user groups, group administration, and more. The server can be run
as a strictly encrypted server, or like a regular FTP server that
allows connections from standard FTP clients as well. A small,
standalone client is included with the download, which can be used
to initiate a secure connection, to have EFTP obtain the most
secure level of data transfer. EFTP also includes several advanced
features like IP restrictions, logging, banned user list, and
more. [MWA]
<> Disk Image Viewer v0.5 [530k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://www.softwarium.com/
{Browse images} Disk Image Viewer is a file utility that can
browse the floppy and hard drives for images in EXT2 (Linux) and
FAT (DOS, Windows) file systems. It can also copy files from the
images. It supports EXT2, FAT12 and FAT16 file systems,
multipartition hard drive images; it recognizes disk images
automatically, and has drag and drop functionality. Softwarium
offers two other freeware programs. Restore Desktop is a Windows
context menu, which automatically saves and restores icons'
positions on the Desktop after changing the display resolution.
Align Icons is another Windows context menu for aligning icons to
your preferences, which can be aligned left, right, top, or
bottom. Another useful tool for organized freaks like me! [Meryl]
<> HotKeycontrol XP v4.0 [908k] W2k/XP FREE
http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=101526
HotKeycontrol XP allows you to set custom hotkeys for specific
purposes, like launching applications, opening documents, hiding
windows, controlling your browser, ejecting your CD, restarting
your computer, and much more. It can turn any keyboard into a
Multimedia or Internet keyboard. You can adjust your volume with a
customizable on-screen display, and even send keystrokes that may
be used to type in commonly used text. The program is completely
customizable in all aspects; even the additional keys on your
existing Multimedia/Internet keyboard can be used with
HotKeycontrol XP and all the hotkeys are functional even in games
and in other full-screen Direct 3D applications. [MWA]
<>------<> GNOME PORTABLE <>----------------------------------<>
<> Pocket C64 v1.1 [383k] Pocket PC US$6.95
http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=813&productId=59730
A retrogamer's dream come true! Play all those Commodore 64
classics on your Pocket PC with super-fast graphic and sound
emulation, including a widescreen mode. Thousands of Commodore 64
games are available from a number of emulation sites. Pocket C64
runs on ARM, XSCALE, SH3, and MIPS processors. BIOS ROMs are
required.
<> Diet & Exercise Assistant v4.0 [~500k] Palm OS 3.1+ US$19.99
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=20058
Six or seven years ago, I was in decent shape. Since that time, I
spend more time sitting at a keyboard than I do getting physical
activity. With my 30th birthday sneaking up on me, I've decided
it's high time I put some effort into shedding the extra pounds
and getting myself back to a more comfortable shape. Enter this
tool for tracking everything from calories, to weight goals, to
exercise routines. I'm not much for counting calories, but Diet &
Exercise Assistant makes the process easy enough that at least I
have a better grasp of what I'm putting into my body. The exercise
assistant portion of the application helps you remember which days
you did what, and calculates the calories you consumed while
working out. If I could just send my Tungsten T to the gym while I
sit at home and type, this would be the perfect workout solution.
[Jake]
<> HIB Themes for Pocket PC
http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformTopSoftware.jsp?siteId=813&platformId=2&title=HIB&authorId=95420
For PDA users who desire personality, the Pocket PC platform beats
Palm OS hands down. Customizable Today screen themes are unlike
anything available on other PDAs, giving you customization similar
to Desktop tweaks you'd try on your PC. HIB has made a business of
creating theme collections for your personal customization needs.
The Simpsons, The Matrix, Harleys, and flowers are just a few of
the theme choices you'll find in the HIB gallery.
<> Birder v4.07 [460k] Palm OS 3.0+ US$10.00
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=19431
Birder is a database utility designed for bird-watching
enthusiasts to keep track of birds they see in the wild. Databases
included with the program contain bird names for most North
American, United Kingdom, European, Australian, and African
species and varieties. Entering species sighted is a quick process
involving a search of the data for the region you are currently
visiting and entry of the time/date/location found. Logged data
may be searched using filters like keywords, date, and place. The
one thing that would make this program even better would be the
inclusion of an on-screen field guide, but for tracking sightings,
this is a definite winner. [Jake]
<> NoviiRemote v1.1 [506k] Palm OS 3.5/4.1 US$24.99
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=51546
My television and DVD remotes frequently go missing, but I always
know where my Palm devices are. That makes this app a great backup
system when I don't want to waste time looking for the "real"
remote. I've tried several other remote applications, but this one
is a winner in my book because it simplifies programming the hard
buttons on your handheld for your choice of remote control
functions. It has great infrared range, and preinstalled codes
mean I can control most recent devices, without having to track
down the code specific to the device I want to control. A color
version is ideal, but if you happen to have a grayscale Palm
device, there's a custom version just for you. As soon as a Palm
OS 5 version is released, I'll make this a permanent addition to
my Tungsten T; in the meantime, it works quite well on one of
other Palm models. Support for TiVo, Audio Receivers, TVs, VCRs,
DVD, and CD players. [Jake]
<> Journal Bar v1.2 [252k] Pocket PC US$11.99
http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=813&productId=52103
Configurable information for your Pocket PC today screen. Get the
five-day weather forecast for your home area and one alternate
city, plus current conditions. Read headlines and in-depth
articles on a variety of news subjects. Track the eleven most
important stocks in your portfolio, with updates as often as every
ten minutes. Check movie times for your local theaters. Read movie
and video reviews of the latest releases. See TV listings for the
main channels this evening. Stay up-to-date on sports scores for
the various major leagues. And if that's not enough, custom links
will let you add further information to your portfolio. Updates
occur every time you connect your Pocket PC to an Internet
connected device. Auto-scroll lets you check listings without
removing your Pocket PC from its cradle.
<> Zagat to Go 2003 [6.1M] Palm OS 3.5+ US$24.95
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=50189
As I find myself spending more time traveling to places outside
the Midwest, finding good places to eat becomes a necessity. You
can always find food, but finding GOOD food is a whole different
story. Zagat is generally a reliable source for both dining
establishments and nightlife. Fortunately, they release a version
for Palm OS, so I don't have to lug a book with me, or rely on
painfully slow hotel dialup in my quest for food. With 20,000
restaurants in 40 major cities, I've got recommendations for most
of my meals just a stylus tap or two away. Search by neighborhood,
price, type of food, and seating availabilities. Bookmark
favorites, so you've got the address for places you want to eat
when you come back. And for those of you tracking expenses, a
feature for entering your evening dining directly to your calendar
is built in, too. [Jake]
<> Aurix activator v1.2.6 [2.2M] Pocket PC $59.95
http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=813&productId=63023
The Aurix activator speech interface extends Pocket PC usability
to those moments when the user is truly 'on the move,' such as
rushing to a meeting, catching a train, or making a mad dash
through the airport terminal to make a connecting flight. At such
times, viewing the screen can be difficult and even dangerous, so
a speech interface enables the user to concentrate on their
surrounding environment. With a few spoken commands and a text-to-
speech reply, you can receive e-mail updates, check task lists and
appointments, and reply to high priority e-mails. Keep in touch
with your busy schedule, while keeping your hands free.
<> Crash Pad v1.0 [11k] Palm OS 3.0+ FREE
http://software.palm.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=22111
I hope you never need this app, but the odds are you will probably
either experience a crash or witness one. Keep track of accident
details, so you don't forget them later. Choose an intersection
type, add cars and street signs, and build a diagram of the crash
site. Add as many cars and signs as you need. [Jake]
<> Space Reclaimer v1.3 [103k] Pocket PC US$4.99
http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=813&productId=48163
Delete junk, temp files, and obsolete folders. Scan and remove
excess files on your Pocket PC device, freeing up extra space and
keeping your system at peak performance. Protect your privacy by
clearing cache, cookies, browser history, system, and non-Windows
temporary files. Space Reclaimer seeks out all system garbage and
cleans it up, closes inactive applications, streamlines and
optimizes your system. You may specify your own temporary folder
to be cleaned up during the routine procedure. Use it as your own
Recycle Bin. Customize Space Reclaimer by configuring it to run
at Startup, or to remove only files that are older then a certain
number of days. Cleaning statistics and available storage are
available to see what Space Reclaimer removed.
<>------<> GNOME SPECIALS <>----------------------------------<>
Website Control Center
http://www.auscomp.com/enavigator_lg.html
Move apps to new PC!
http://www.spearit.com/enter_MoveMe.php?pt=LGN1
BIGLIST List Hosting
http://www.biglist.com/lockergnome/
INSTANTLY Find Files!
http://www.pankhurst.com/rr3.htm
Capture Your Screen - SnagIt 6.2
http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/news/lwd2
Intranet Help Desk
http://www.auscomp.com/itcommander_lg.html
Web Menus and Buttons
http://www.apycom.com/apmenu/lg.html
Recover Non-booting PCs
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?configsafe+7TusZ4+myezfixcom1.html
Dr.Tag - MP3 Tagger
http://www.drtag.de?lockergnome
Pretty Good MahJongg
http://www.goodmj.com/lockergnome.html
Book Collector
http://www.collectorz.com/book?from=lockergnome
<>------<> GNOME SYSTEM <>------------------------------------<>
<> DivXRepair v1.0.1 [425k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://divxrepair.sourceforge.net/
{Repair corrupt AVI files} When playing .AVI (video) files, you
may run into problems with the video freezing while the sound
continues to play, or "drunken" blocks of pixels distorting the
image. DivXRepair can repair the corrupted files and unfreeze the
freezes. It detects and cuts off the bad parts, and reassembles
the file. The bad parts are undecodable or freezing frames. To
make it work, add the AVI files using "Add File" and click on
"Repair Files." If DivXRepair detects problem areas, it will save
the AVI as a new file in the same directory as the old, and
generate a report. [Meryl]
<> AAScripter v2.0 [2.5M] W98/2k/XP FREE
http://www.cyberiapc.com/aa/aascripter.htm
{Scripts for Webmaster} In the almost ten years I've had a Web
site, I've always looked for new scripts to add to the site to
make it function better. AAScripter contains over 200 scripts, for
which a Webmaster can read information about the script, view a
demo, and copy and paste the code. There is a help section and an
option for adding your own scripts. Scripts include status bar
effects, text effects, image and sound effects, mouse cursors,
forms, and math-related scripts. Skin lovers can change the
program's skins. It comes with icon, bullets, and divider images,
but I don't think many have used them since the '90s. A couple of
icons might be useful, though. Its interface is easy to use; just
pick the kind of effects you want from the drop-down list, select
the script, get the code or view a sample of the code in action.
This program would've been most helpful when I was just learning
how to do scripts and had to scour pages of free scripts just to
find one or two. The author pulled together nifty scripts that are
easy for the beginner to install. [Meryl]
<> jclassinfo v0.10 [33k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
http://jclassinfo.sourceforge.net/
{Java class files} jclassinfo reads Java .class files and provides
information about the class and dependencies. It is pure C
implementation and does not depend on any external libraries
except for the standard C library for your platform. Information
includes VM requirements, inheritance, packages required, fields
and method signatures, and class attributes. Command line options
are available for extracting information and obtaining verbose
information. [Meryl]
<> Webcam for MSN Messenger [552k] W98/2k/XP FREE
http://messenger.msn.com/support/webcam.asp
{Video instant messenging} How long have I been out? I passed out
because I saw two unlikely words together on this site: "free" and
"Microsoft." We at Lockergnome smile for the camera - most of the
time - so it's your chance to smile for the world using this
download, which works with most any Web camera. The trick is that
both sides of the conversation need to have MSN Messenger v5.0, a
compatible Web cam, and this free software to use it. Luckily, we
still had the old, cheap Web cam and we plugged it in. In minutes,
Paul and I were having a videoconference / Web chat. He is in the
office while I'm working in the den. He defied gravity by showing
up on video upside down. OK, I'll reveal the trick... turn the
camera upside down. Of course, none of the other family members
have a Web cam nor do they use MSN. Now he can't get away with
anything, being hidden in the family office! [Picturesque Meryl]
<> BS/1 Software Enterprise with Manufacturing v2.46 [2.9M] W9x/2k/XP
FREE
http://www.dbsonline.com/enterprise/
{Inventory system} BS/1 Enterprise with Manufacturing is an
integrated, multi- currency, manufacturing, distribution and
accounting system, which includes Accounts Payable, Accounts
Receivable, General Ledger, Inventory, Purchase Orders, Sales
Orders and Quotes, Manufacturing, and Sales Analysis. All of these
items are available in a drop-down list in the compact-sized
program screen. Companies doing business on an international basis
will appreciate the multi- currency feature for billing and
purchasing. The program converts the revenues and expenses to
domestic currency. The Web site displays a screen shot of the
system and each of its key features. Ironically, I'm taking a
course on how to use bookkeeping software, and frankly can't
imagine handling such tasks without the use of a program. The
terminology is easy to confuse, at least for me. For those
accounting-challenged folks like me, the Getting Started wizard
assists with entering the initial data. Those who learn by example
can review the sample data on how a food manufacturer can use the
program. [Missing numbers Meryl]
<>------<> GNOME HELPER <>------------------------------------<>
Convert your VHS tapes to DVD!
http://www.gnometomes.com/tome/004302.html
Video tapes have an average shelf-life of about 10-15 years
before they really start to wear down. And that's if you never
watch them! Keep your old videos around for years to come by
converting all those old tapes to DVD. It's easier than you
think! Using this electronic guide will show you how. We cover
the equipment you need and the steps to get you from VHS to DVD
in a matter of a few brief lessons. Start saving your old VHS
tapes now.
Download Lockergnome's Guide to Converting VHS to DVD.
http://www.gnometomes.com/tome/004302.html
<>------<> GNOME FAVORITES <>---------------------------------<>
<> Bible Gateway
Unearthed by Johan Muller
http://www.biblegateway.com/
{Read and research scripture} Many people are praying extra these
days with the war at hand, and my heartfelt thanks go to the
soldiers and their families. The Bible Gateway is a site for
reading and searching for scripture, which can be done in various
languages. Visitors can use the search tool to find and compare
passages based on keywords, phrases, or scripture references. The
Gateway currently has 80 Bibles with 56 searchable texts, 11 audio
versions, and 13 e- book versions. Also available are links or
references to study tools such as commentaries, discussions, and
handheld resources. A news and updates mailing list is available.
Webmasters can sign up for the tips and tricks for using the Bible
Gateway on their own Web sites. Several Gnomies have said they get
a lot of use out of the resource. [Meryl]
<> The Animatrix
http://www.intothematrix.com/
{Get your Matrix fix} Download and view a series of Japanese
animated short episodes that travel from the world of today to the
world of the Matrix. They're not trailers of the movie, per se...
more like a prequel. The series is to be completed before the
first The Matrix sequel debuts. Currently, there are eight
episodes available for downloading and the series will be coming
to DVD, which will help those who don't want to download the big
files. The sizes vary from 31M to 138M depending on the size
selected. These films may have scenes of a graphical nature, so
adults should review it before sharing with children or teens.
[Meryl]
<> Voided Warranty
http://www.voidedwarranty.com/
{PC modifications} On this site, you won't find complaints about
the lousy warranty deals we get today. Instead, get ready to be
geeked-out! The people behind Voided Warranty write articles and
reviews about speeding up or modding the PC. They take you step-
by-step through modifications, and review the outcome. Product
reviews include fans, power supplies, light kits, optical mice,
and more. The editing isn't perfect, but the material is valuable.
Go to the Case Gallery, not for boring case studies, but rather
for a gallery of cool- looking CPU cases. The description of a
wild case says, "Window with Biohazard appliqué" and another says,
"LAN party case." Better than I could describe them! This is an
ultimate creative geek stop. [Meryl]
<> The Word Spy
http://www.wordspy.com/
{Words and phrases} Logophiles unite! The Word Spy looks at
emerging words and phrases, old words used in new ways, and
existing words brought back to life. Learn a new word by checking
Today's Word, or learn about someone who wrote words, such as
Ambrose Bierce. The Top 100 words are based on page views from the
past seven days. In the number one spot is "wife acceptance
factor," which is defined something in an object (especially an
electronic device that normally appeals only to men), the
qualities or features which, added to or modified in the object,
make it acceptable to women. Read further for citations, usage,
figure of speech, background information, and earliest usage of
the word. I learned a new word: camouflanguage. Insurance
companies, lawyers, politicians, and C-level executives are guilty
of this. The meaning? "Language that uses jargon, euphemisms, and
other devices to hide the true meaning of what is being said."
The mailing list is trying to lure me into subscribing knowing my
weakness for words, but I can't handle another! This one is for
the bookmarks. [lyrem, the Verbivore]
<> Law and Order the Game
http://lawandordergame.com/
{Game based on popular TV show} I'm trying to figure out how many
Law and Order shows there are today and remember which character
is on which show. It's tough getting it all straight, especially
when characters come and go each season. Obviously, the series has
a big following and has earned an online game in its name. This
episode is titled "Dead on the Money" and stars actual characters
Serena Southerlyn, Lennie Briscoe, and Anita Van Buren. In this 3D
game, the crime scene is in New York's Central Park where you and
Lennie need to find out the victim's identity, collect evidence,
find witnesses, and identify suspects. After you gather enough
information to make the case without breaking any laws, make the
arrest and turn the case over to ADA (Assistant District Attorney)
Southerlyn for making the case to convict the defendant. Those who
don't get the show in their country or even watch the show can
still enjoy the game if they like a good mystery and challenge.
Just remember, here in the US, we must always read the rights to
the suspect upon arrest or the case will get thrown out. FYI - if
you have pop-ups turned on, you'll need to keep them on to play
the game. [Capt. Meryl of Snave City]
<>------<> GNOME HELPER <>------------------------------------<>
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Ease into Unix with an eBook from an expert. Dave Taylor,
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<>------<> GNOME TIPS & TRICKS <>-----------------------------<>
Question: I have a Dell Dimension 8100 that I just upgraded from
Windows 2000 to Windows XP Professional. Everything works fine,
but I looked in the Device Manager and I have one unsupported
device listed. I checked and all the standard hardware is
installed, and I even downloaded all the newest Windows XP drivers
for the devices. I can't find anything missing, so I was curious
if you might have a suggestion?
Answer: Actually, I do have a suggestion for you, because I have
run into this same problem once before. I checked every piece of
hardware before it dawned on me, "Could it be as simple as the E-
Support button on the front the computer?" I did a search of
Dell's Web site and I found an update for the "Dell Solution
Center." Just download version 2.0.58 or later and follow the
install instructions to fix this problem. I would always suggest
that you get the latest drivers, but I do understand that not
everyone has broadband and would like the fastest fix. With that
spirit in mind, if you didn't wipe out your hard drive during the
upgrade, then you may still have the drivers for the E-Support
button on your computer. First, go back into your Device Manager
by right-clicking My Computer. Choose Manage, and go down to
Device Manager. Now, right-click the unsupported device and click
the "Update Driver" button to start the Hardware Update Wizard.
Next, choose Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)
and click OK. Click "Don't Search; I will choose the driver to
install," click "Next," and then click the "Have Disk" button. In
the Install From Disk dialog box, click Browse and navigate to "C:
\ Program Files \ Dell Center \ Support \ Metdriver" (without the
quotes or the spaces between slashes). All that is left now is to
click OK and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the
driver install. Like I was trying to say above, I would only use
this as a quick fix until you can download the updated Support
Center patch. [Brian]
Gnomie Steven Groginsky shares with us some of his travails with
RAM: "I don't remember if I told you, but I recently found out why
I was getting all kinds of system errors, like 'invalid access'
and things like that.
"I have 256 MB of DDRAM (Double Data Rate Random Access Memory)in
my machine. When I bought the RAM, I specifically asked for CAS
(Column Address Strobe) 2 DDRAM. I think I may have forgotten to
specify that my motherboard has a 133MHz FSB (Front Side Bus).
Maybe that's what did me in. I used SANDRA
(http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=&location=latestver&langx=en&a=) or something similar, and it told me that the DDRAM
supports CAS 2 up to 100MHz, and 2.5 up to 133MHz. So, I'm
screwed. Either I have to buy new RAM, or I can continue doing
what I'm doing - running solid at CAS 2.5.
"I don't dare go down to 100MHz FSB because I think the bus speed
has more effect on throughput than memory speed, and also I think
that the processor clock depends on the bus speed. However, if I
remember correctly, there is a setting in the BIOS for XP1700+ at
100 MHz FSB. I could test it.
"The point is that my memory can only do CAS 2 up to 100 MHz.
Actually, I'm sure that by now the chip makers have gotten over
this stupid thing and gone on to better memory that has a higher
CAS number. Maybe people should buy CAS 1 memory, just to be sure,
and definitely know their bus speed and ask if the chip supports
that FSB."
Furo, our Tech Specialist
(http://www.lockergnome.com/issues/techspecialist.html), says
this: "Don't get wrapped around the axle about CAS latency. The
difference between CL2 and CL2.5 is quite minor. The only way
you'd see a difference is with benchmarks, and they don't
translate to real world experience. You would likely notice a
significant difference by dropping from 133MHz FSB to 100MHz FSB,
however, so don't even consider that. Run at 133MHz and CL2.5.
It's not harming anything, and is nothing to be concerned about.
Just be sure to keep it in mind when you purchase additional RAM
so you don't end up with CL3 at 133MHz. Even then, dropping from
CL2.5 to CL3 isn't a major performance difference, despite what
you may read. It becomes an issue in high-stress situations, not
with typical PC use (even games). They are much more reliant on
the capabilities of the video card and system RAM capacity rather
than RAM timings."
Note: For a diagnostic tool, Chris recommends using AIDA32
(http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php) instead of SANDRA.
Question: I updated my Windows XP installation to Service Pack 1
and since then, when I put my computer into standby mode the
computer just hangs. I never had this problem before the service
pack. I have downloaded and installed all the latest drivers and
BIOS upgrades, but I still can't put the computer into
hibernation. Luckily, I made a Ghost Hard Drive image of my pre-
Service Pack 1 Windows XP installation, and I burned it to a
bootable CD using Nero. I know this will probably fix the problem,
but I was curious why it was happening in the first place.
Answer: Well, first I want to commend you for thinking ahead and
making a hard drive image before the upgrade. Don't get me wrong,
uninstallers normally work fine, but I like the added peace of
mind. As for what is causing this problem, you have done all the
same steps I would have started with. Drivers and BIOS upgrades
are an excellent place to start. After that, I like to look at the
major programs that I have installed and then do a search or the
program manufacturer's Web site and the Microsoft Knowledge Base
for any possibility of those programs causing the problems. This
is a good method, because it is normally a "big player" program or
driver on your machine that is causing the problem and this method
lets you rule the big programs out before moving on to the smaller
programs.
In this case I was able to find an article in Microsoft's
Knowledge Base
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;331506)
that links this back to Ahead Nero. It seems that this is a
problem with versions 5 through 5.5 of Nero having a driver that
interferes with the Hibernate function of Windows XP Service Pack
1. The article doesn't explain why this only happens on some
patched systems, but it does say that uninstalling Nero will fix
the problem. You can do this by going to your Control Panel,
double-clicking Add or Remove Programs. Then, click Ahead Nero and
choose "Remove." After you follow the instructions, you will need
to restart your computer and you will find that your system will
now hibernate properly.
I personally don't like this fix. I checked Nero's Web site and I
can't find any listing of the problem. Personally, I would try
updating to the latest version of Nero, then restarting my
computer and testing the stand-by feature of Windows XP. If it
works then, great. If it doesn't work, then I would just go back
to Windows XP minus the Service Pack 1 install. That is, of
course, unless you installed the Service Pack 1 to fix a more
important problem. Otherwise, I don't think you are missing out on
anything. I hope this helps. [Brian]
How is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) affecting
computer hardware? One of our Gnomies, Linda, reminds us of this
case:
"Remember the Lexmark suit against Static Control Components (SCC)
for DMCA violations? One of SCC's chips is for Lexmark printers,
and Lexmark is suing SCC for DMCA violations because SCC is
copying a chip that Lexmark printers require in their cartridges.
So far, Lexmark has been granted an injunction preventing SCC from
selling any more of those chips. So, the third-party market for
cartridges for Lexmark printers is being closed off. You'll have
to buy only Lexmark cartridges for you Lexmark printer.
"If the DMCA is not fixed soon, you could see the same problem
with the Toshiba fuel cell laptop. A cartel of authorized sellers
of fuel cell cartridges with prices determined by the cartel. This
fuel cell-based notebook would be worse than what we have today -
at least you can plug in anywhere and recharge. How will DMCA
apply to a fuel cell, you ask? Very easily, because the fuel cell
cartridge will contain a chip that the DMCA prohibits copying of.
"The DMCA would effectively prevent sales of fuel cell cartridges
by third parties because the cartridge could not be manufactured
without using a re- engineered/copied chip. The manufacturer would
neither authorize third party chips and nor third party fuel cell
cartridges. So no more Duracell / Eveready / Rayovac batteries;
just Toshiba fuel cells from Toshiba sources at Toshiba prices.
"Be careful what you wish for, it gets worse."
Randy, our Tech Specialist
(http://www.lockergnome.com/issues/techspecialist.html), responds:
"That's a perfectly valid use of the DMCA, assuming patents don't
come into play anywhere. They violated copyright and are actively
damaging the holder of the rights, judging from your description,
anyway. Sure, it may suck for consumers, but Lexmark absolutely
has the right to control their own proprietary technology. If they
were the only printer manufacturer around, then it would be a very
large problem due to the monopoly, but there is all sorts of
competition, and nobody ever said that technology had to be opened
up for exploitation by anyone else.
"I don't care for the DMCA any more than you do, mainly because it
CAN be abused, but the situations you've described are at the
heart of why it was drafted to begin with - to protect those that
develop copyrighted material. The notebook battery thing is
exactly the same. It's Toshiba's technology, and they're free to
create a market for it if they can, without the threat of copycat
manufacturers if they have proprietary intellectual property
involved. Yes, it would suck, but if they can somehow convince
enough people to buy into their way of doing things, then it's the
customers that are the problem for empowering that sort of control
to begin with. When it gets to monopoly status, then it becomes a
matter for closer monitoring due to the potential for gouging,
manipulation and abuse. But in the meantime, they can charge
whatever they want because there are plenty of other choices."
Question: I have Windows XP Professional installed and I get an
error when I try to run the "ipconfig /renew" command from the
command prompt. The error states, "An error occurred while
renewing interface local area connection: The system cannot find
the file specified." How can I fix this?
Answer: First, you need to understand that there are two
possibilities that could be coming into play here. One possibility
is that you have a software firewall installed. The second
possibility is that the Windows XP installation is damaged. I
would suggest that you start your search with the software
firewall possibility. Try disabling your software firewall and
then try running the "ipconfig /renew" command. Microsoft
Knowledge Base Article - 283673
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;283673)
does an excellent job of documenting how you can verify that the
built-in Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall is not enabled.
Basically, you just need to open your Control Panel, click Network
and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections. Now,
right-click the Local Area Connection, choose Properties, click
the Advanced tab, and make sure the checkbox under "Internet
Connection Firewall" is cleared. If you have a third-party
firewall installed, then you probably just have to open the
firewall program from the Start menu and choose a disable option.
If, after trying this, the "ipconfig /renew" command works, I
would check to see if the manufacturer of your third-party
software firewall has published any software patches or updates to
their Web site to fix this error in the firewall.
If you don't have a software firewall installed, then I would
suggest that you move on to the possibility of a damaged Windows
installation. Before you rush to grab your Windows XP CD, let's
try a quick command to reset the TCP/IP protocol. To begin, go to
Start | Run, type "cmd" (sans quotes), and then click OK. This
will open a command window. At the command prompt, type "netsh int
ip reset resetlog.txt" (sans quotes) and press Enter on your
keyboard. Then, restart the computer and then try the "ipconfig
/renew" command.
I hope this fixes the problem, but if not, then you will need to
back up your data and locate your Windows XP CD. The CD is
bootable, and from the CD you can choose to repair your Windows XP
installation. If you created an emergency repair disk, then I
highly suggest that you have that ready, because the repair
function of the CD will ask for it. If you can supply the
emergency repair disk, then this may be the key to fixing this
error. Don't worry if you don't have the emergency repair disk,
because the CD can usually repair the files by comparing files and
settings on the CD. Keep in mind that this may not work well if
you have Service Pack 1 installed. There are more advanced ways to
repair your Windows installation, but I'll save topics like the
Recovery Console for another article. I hope this helps you
resolve your IP address renewal problems. [Brian]
Question: I recently built a Windows XP-based computer. The
installation went well, but now when I pop in any CD in the DVD-
ROM drive Windows XP will not autorun/autoplay the CD. I have
tried both an audio CD and a data CD filled with photos. Neither
would autoplay, but I could go to My Computer and read/access the
files on both CDs. Do you know how I can enable autorun/autoplay
on my Windows XP machine?
Answer: I think we may be able to help you out here. First, I want
to address that occasionally CD creation software can disable the
autorun/autoplay feature in Windows XP; more specifically, I'm
talking about Roxio Easy CD Creator version 5.02d. If you have
this version of Roxio installed, then I would suggest that you
download the update, restart the computer, and then try the
autoplay feature. Another thing I would check out is if there are
any updated drivers for your motherboard (the IDE controller, to
be more specific) and your DVD-ROM. If you have tried all these
methods, then it may be a setting in your Windows XP registry.
Before I move on to tell you the registry edit to fix this
problem, I would suggest that you back up your registry first. For
a description of the Windows registry and a link to how to backup
the registry, I will direct you to Microsoft Knowledge Base
Article - 256986
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;256986).
Now, on to the registry fix! First you need to open your registry.
To do this, you need to click Start | Run, type "regedit" (sans
quotes), and then click OK. Now you need to navigate to the
following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \
CurrentControlSet \ Services \ CDRom. From here, double-click
Autorun and make sure the value is set to "1" under Value Data.
Next, you need to navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \
CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer. Here, you will need to
double- click "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" and make sure the value was set
to "91" under Value Data. All that is left now is to close the
registry editor and then restart your computer. You should now be
able to pop in a CD, and Windows XP should pop up the autoplay
menu and attempt to autorun the CD. I hope this answers your
questions. Feel free to discuss this topic further in the
Lockergnome Forums (help.lockergnome.com). [Brian]
Having spam problems lately? You're not alone. The Lockergnome
crew has been struggling with unwanted e-mails, too, and you
Gnomies have been sharing your thoughts! Here's a tip for Outlook
Express from a Gnomie known as "JC":
"Hello Chris, I have noticed that there seems to be an increase in
coverage and debate about 'spam' in Lockergnome. Well, in a
nutshell, I have no sympathy for spam. There are days when I find
I have more spam than others. I get these e- mails telling me how
to unsubscribe when I did not subscribe in the first place!
"Well, I use Outlook Express (*gasp* - supposedly the worst spam-
handling tool there is *hehe*). To combat spam, I use the "Message
Rules" tool in OE and a nifty little program 'MailWasher.' In the
settings for 'message rules,' I have the rule: 'For All Messages -
Do Not Download From Server.' This rule sits LAST in all the rule
entries that I use. Then, I continue to add more entries above
this rule. For my family and friends, I have a separate rule to
filter and file their messages to an 'Incoming Folder.' I even
have a separate rule to file Lockergnome messages into their own
folders (I tend to keep everything filed neatly).
"Afterwards, I open up Mailwasher to inspect any e-mail that was
not downloaded. If I find anything that OE should have downloaded,
I just add a new rule in OE or modify a rule that is already in
place. Also, Mailwasher is nice for deleting e-mail on the spot,
or to bounce messages (which I enjoy doing to messages that I
didn't request in the first place *evil grin*). Then I can go back
to OE and download the stray e-mail, and it will now be put into
its proper folders. So far, this is the 'most sanity-saving trick'
that I have found to punish spam. Thanks for listening!"
I got some positive feedback regarding the Friday blitz that I did
last week, so I decided I would give it another try this Friday.
For those of you who missed it last week or are new to
Lockergnome, let me explain this Friday blitz. Basically, I just
want to highlight a few questions and Web fixes that I have come
across that would normally not be in Lockergnome because the
explanation would be too short to publish. The Friday blitz lets
me unleash a flurry of these fixes that may or may not be helpful
to you. So without further ado... on with the blitz!
This week I got a question regarding the Windows 98 startup menu.
It seems the reader is getting a menu at system startup with six
options on how to start Windows, from Safe Mode to Normal Mode.
Most the time you can get to this menu by pressing F8 right before
the Windows boot screen, but for this reader it is coming up on
every startup. The reason is because the Enable Startup Menu may
have been checked in msconfig. To undo this, go to the Start menu,
choose Run, type "msconfig" (sans quotes) and click OK. On the
General tab, click the Advanced button and then make sure the
checkbox next to Enable Startup Menu is unchecked. All that is
left now is to click OK and then click "Yes" to restart your
computer. Another way to accomplish the same thing is to go to
Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools, and then click
System Information. Now you can click on the Tools menu, choose
System Configuration Utility, click the Advanced button and then
make sure the checkbox next to Enable Startup Menu is unchecked.
Just like the other fix, you will need to restart the computer to
test it.
I also get a lot of questions in my Inbox from readers saying that
their floppy drive just starts randomly making noise, like it is
trying to read a disk. In some cases this is caused by a software
problem, but in a majority of the cases this is actually a case of
your virus scanner software doing a "seek" on the floppy drive.
You should be able to launch your virus scanner, click Options and
then check the settings regarding your floppy drive. You may have
to contact your virus protection software manufacturer for the
exact steps on your particular piece of software. Just keep in
mind that the virus scanner should be the first place to start
when you encounter this type of problem.
Did you know that in Window XP you can set up your audio CDs to
automatically start playing in Media Player, as opposed to
choosing Play in the AutoPlay menu? What you need to do is click
Start, then My Computer; right-click your CD/DVD- ROM drive and
choose Properties. If you switch to the AutoPlay tab then you will
see a drop-down list where you can choose Music CD. From here,
click the circle (radio) button next to "Select an action to
perform" and then click "Play Audio CD." After you click OK, you
should find that your audio CDs will just automatically launch
Windows Media Player and start playing when they are inserted in
the drive. You can also set up specific actions for other types of
files, such as a DVD movie or a CD of pictures, on the AutoPlay
tab. It's not a big deal, but it can still help you save a little
bit of time and that is good in my book.
I'm going to wrap up this Friday blitz with a short listing of a
few Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles that I thought some of our
readers might find helpful:
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 815001
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q815001)
deals with a problem in PowerPoint 2002 where an object containing
transparency may not print correctly.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 813787
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q813787)
deals with e- mail not synchronizing correctly on a 2002-based
Pocket PC when using ActiveSync.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 329710
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q329710)
addresses an issue where a Windows 2000 Server computer gets a
"Stop 0x000000CE" error message during startup. This article also
has a link to instructions on how to install and use the Recovery
Console in Windows 2000/XP.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 814437
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q814437)
mentions how Grisoft AVG Antivirus 6.0 can cause a few specific
errors in Outlook 2000. I have never run into a problem with AVG
Antivirus, but the documented fix is a no-brainer. Just go to
Grisoft's Web site (http://www.grisoft.com/) and make sure you
have the latest version of the software, and make sure you don't
need to download any patches.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 811266
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q811266)
addresses the "Windows Explorer Has Encountered a Problem and
Needs to Close" Error Message when you try to open My Network
Places.
Well, that will conclude our scheduled broadcast. Stay tuned next
week for more geekiness and tech tips. If you need a bigger dose
of general geekiness and just good ol' fun, then I would suggest
that you check out our Gnomedex Web site (http://www.gnomedex.com/)
and make arrangements to get yourself there. I will be
disappointed if I don't get to meet each and every Gnomie this
year! Don't make me have to beg... that not a pretty sight for a
computer geek! [Brian]
<>------<> GNOME SPECIALS <>----------------------------------<>
Website Control Center
http://www.auscomp.com/enavigator_lg.html
Move apps to new PC!
http://www.spearit.com/enter_MoveMe.php?pt=LGN1
BIGLIST List Hosting
http://www.biglist.com/lockergnome/
INSTANTLY Find Files!
http://www.pankhurst.com/rr3.htm
Capture Your Screen - SnagIt 6.2
http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/news/lwd2
Intranet Help Desk
http://www.auscomp.com/itcommander_lg.html
Web Menus and Buttons
http://www.apycom.com/apmenu/lg.html
Recover Non-booting PCs
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?configsafe+7TusZ4+myezfixcom1.html
Dr.Tag - MP3 Tagger
http://www.drtag.de?lockergnome
Pretty Good MahJongg
http://www.goodmj.com/lockergnome.html
Book Collector
http://www.collectorz.com/book?from=lockergnome
<>--------------------------------------------------------------<>
DISCLAIMER: The decision to download a binary or visit a Web page
is up to you; we are not responsible for the use, functionality,
appearance, privacy policy, upkeep, or management of featured
stuff. Since your mileage may vary, please backup your system
often. Contact the appropriate author(s) with any questions. Our
registered ISSN is: 1095-3965. (c) 2002, Lockergnome LLC.
Your E-mail Address: [[log in to unmask]]
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