Ninite - Off to a beautiful start

 Ninite

With Windows 8 and new installs on many people's minds there are some things that can make the process simple and allow us to discover new things.

Ninite looks to be a great start after a OS install. This utility allows you to install multiple application that you choose and keep those applications up to date.

This is a cross platform utility suite for Windows and Linux.

http://ninite.com/

Did you do your Windows 8 Upgrade homework, didn't think so.

Remember when that kid in school beat you up and demanded your Windows key. Well, maybe it didn't go quite like that but it will now.

Microsoft has a very enticing off with the new Windows 8 Upgrade coming at the end of October.
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-tip-upgrade-previous-windows-version-143574

You will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $40 as well as get the media center for free (another $30 savings). The Win 8 Pro will retail about $200 when this promotion ends.

You will need your old windows key (not that stolen key, the real deal). Dammit.

Well if your like me you have computers everywhere. Kids, media machines, God knows what and where. Also if your like me you built your own computers from parts you stole out of the HP dumpster. No wait, that was Steve Jobs. Anyways you have either upgrade keys for windows 7 or vista or XP. You probably have different versions of just about everything. It is time to panic because like that homework you didn't do you didn't organize either. Ok I'm sure your intentions are good and I'm sure you can find what ever you need when you need it but for the other 99% of us you have no hope.

Well just like that nerd getting beat up I'm going to do that homework for you. Ok maybe not but these guys will.


SIW (System Information for Windows) Portable

the link appears to be a moving target

http://www.gtopala.net/download/oc/siw-setup.exe
This link has a toolbar that I would avoid at all costs. Just don't choose the express option. Besides when has the express option been a good idea after about 1998 when installing anything. They always hide bad stuff in the express option. I remember Nvdia and ATI dumping links to world of warcraft or other games.
Express should imply that it won't install anything that you wouldn't need /want to make a choice on.

I had a free treminal emulator that about 300,000 people downloaded. I never got a donation. I guess the internet won't be free for long if people don't know how let go of a few dollars now and then.

Oh, No, a lecture. I admit I'm guilty of the same thing (This is High Tech on a Budget after all)
Besides when people hide this kind of thing they don't desrve our money.

This software will let you pull your Windows key.

The system information is divided into few major categories:
 •Software Inventory: Operating System, Installed Software and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Installed Codecs, Software Licenses (Product Keys / Serial Numbers / CD Key), Passwords Recovery.
 •Hardware Inventory: Motherboard, CPU, Sensors, BIOS, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers.
 •Network Information: Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections, Open Ports.
 •Network Tools: MAC Address Changer, Neighborhood Scan, Ping, Trace, Statistics
 •Miscellaneous Tools: Eureka! (Reveal lost passwords hidden behind asterisks), Monitor Test, Shutdown / Restart.
 •Real-time monitors: CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.

Look both ways before Backing Up, Time to stop playing with Toys

http://www.gfi.com/downloads/mirrors.aspx?pid=bkupf


I was recently working with SYNC TOYwhere I had Visual Studio files stored in a directory the Visual Studio application created for me when I started the project. I tried to used sync toy, a backup utility also from Microsoft that simply synchronizes or echos files from one directory to another. The problem was I had a project folder with the same name as the subfolder with the same project. SYNC TOY would only dump the contents of the second branch of the tree into the first branch. This made a real mess that I couldn't clean up and I wanted the project to maintain the same file and folder structure as the original project because if things go wrong I want to put it back the way it was before the failure.

I found a free utility that seems to work out well. It creates a full tree and ultimately folders containing files from what ever branch of the tree you select. You can also create backup projects and add the individual backups to a single project to back up with one click. If you want to speed things up and you only have one folder needing backing up then you can run the backup for just that folder.

http://www.gfi.com/downloads/mirrors.aspx?pid=bkupf

The backups can be batched together as shown below with the task group VS Projects.

You can do a large backup or simply synchronize files.

You select the first location then where you want it to end up and the method to get it there so you have a choice of date or date and CRC. You can also tell it which way to echo or to synchronize.

Finally you can put this on a schedule.



This is a full featured backup / files sync utility.

Rename Files - Another fine mess

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

Don't think you are going to use DOS because you are as old as these guys and know what you are doing. If you need to rename files and the file extensions are tied up in your mess you will either have to do a copy then wait and hope you did it right or try bulkrenameutility



The utility has a interface that is more confusing than programming in FORTRAN.

So what.

Select the files you want to rename. In the RegEX(1) box put what you want to match on, extension and all.

In the Repl (3) box put what you want it to be. Extension and all.
















You can explore other options but I would read the PDF manual first. Don't be a STOOGE.

Android is Teething

There is no way to install a bluetooth keyboard driver to Android (more or less).

The problem isn't the drive the problem is pairing a blue tooth keyboard to the phone. If the keyboard has a predefined code such as 1234 then it isn't a problem. Or with Windows 7 the OS gives you a code to type into the keyboard. Well that is the clue.

Pretend the OS gave you a code and make one up. With the RocketFish RF-BTKB2 I simply go to settings on my phone. Then pair with the keyboard. I enter a code I make up into the keyboard then press ENTER. They I enter the same code into the phone as prompted.

You now have a working keyboard.

On the Galaxy S3 the keyboard setup with no aditional software required.

You may want to consider a Logitech diNovo which is a bit too pricey new and has a bit of a learning curve but as a portable keyboard there is nothing it can't do easily.
The logitech diNovo is a really nice keyboard for just about anything. It is small, portable, with a very long range. Sets up with no effort on Android or Windows 7. It has a switch for PS3 as well. (I wish the PS3 switch was on the keyboard instead of behind the battery door.

Let By Gone's be By Gone's

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315672

You may or may not know that when you drag items to the trash on your computer, they aren't permanently deleted. Just watch an episode of your favorite CSI show, and you'll see that its possible to recover files that haven't been deleted properly. And while I'm sure you're not guilty of any CSI type crimes (or are you?), I'm sure you want to figure out how to permanently delete your files and keep your private things private -- after all everyone has to have some secrets!

Why emptying your recycling bin doesn't permanently delete your files

When you tell your computer to empty its recycling bin, your operating system only deletes the records it has of the files you want to delete. Yet the files still remain on the hard drive memory.

Here's an analogy: If you think of your files as books in a library and you decide you no longer have use for a certain book. Emptying the trash is equivalent to removing the entry in the library's card catalog. The book is still there but not easily found by everyday visitors. But if someone really wanted to find it, and had a clue where to look, they quite possibly do so since it is still physically there.

What it means to permanently delete a file

To permanently delete a file, you need to not only delete its record, but also overwrite the physical portion of the hard drive where it lives. A low level format is equivalent to replacing your private file with random bits (1's and 0's). Continuing with the library analogy you need to remove remove the book, shred it, light up in flames and possibly replace it with a different book

Do it right and do it better

While performing a defragmentation will probably do the trick, it's really not a viable solution. Waiting for disk defragmentation is not something I'd do every time I wanted to do a permanent deletion. The defragmentation process is way too long. The right way to how to permanently and quickly delete files is to use a program specifically designed for that purpose. You're in luck too because most Windows operating systems have a command line tool called CIPHER to do the trick!

Here's how to use CIPHER:

1. After closing all windows, open up a command window.

2. Type the following: cipher /w:�driveletter:�foldername where driveletter and foldername correspond to the drive a location of where your deleted file used to live.

3. Sit back and enjoy your freedom and privacy while your file is truly permanently deleted!

Here's an example:

I have a picture I want permanently deleted which stored on my computer at the following location:

C:�images�scandalous_picture.jpg

After deleting this picture and emptying the recycle bin, I would type the following (in a command prompt) to ensure that I can still run for senator (as long as they don't catch me in the airport bathroom):

C:>cipher /w:C:�images

I can then move on to my life of privacy and carefree surfing!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1145950

Free Calls with you home phone. No PC required.

OBIHAI

http://obihai.com/

I saw Ryan Block review this device with Veronica Belmont on TekZilla. They use it as their home phone. There is no e911 so you need a cell phone for emergencies. It looks like I'm going to cough up the money for this one. They said it runs $45 one time no yearly subscriptions. The OBIHAI network is not part of your call connection so there is one less point of failure and this will likely work if OBIHAI goes out of business which if we all buy one likely won't happen.

Update:
I finally purchased this box and plugged it in my router and the RJ11 into my phone. I followed the setup and it simply works. A flawless clear connection. It hasn't dropped. I have a Android app installed as well that gives you ObiHai numbers to call directly between other OBIHai devices. This app lets your cell phone use the WiFi to make calls so if you are in a bad location without cell but you are on WiFi you have a working phone anywhere.

This can be used on a PC as well. (No Cost What So Ever)

Use Google Voice™ on your regular phone and make calls to the USA & Canada for FREE !! *

Make calls to other countries with Google Voice's incredibly low international rates using an OBi100 or OBi110 and your broadband connection to the Internet.

Absolutely Convenient use of Google Voice on a phone connected to the OBi device — No PC required.
Amazingly Simple is the best way to describe how to get going with Google Voice on your OBi. Just add your Gmail credential to the OBi and start making calls!
What You Need:
1. The OBi100 or OBi110 device – Get it here.
2. Gmail username & password – If you do not have this already, get it here.
3. A Telephone – Make A Google Voice call using your everyday phone – no need to be at your computer.
Set-Up:
1. Sign-in to your Gmail account, locate the Gmail “Call Phone” feature and make a call from your PC to any phone number. If you have already done this before, you may skip this.
2. Connect the OBi to a broadband connection via your Internet router.
3. Register with the OBiTALK portal, then add your OBi device and use the configuration wizard to set-up the OBi with your Gmail username + password.
4. This step requires you have previously set-up a Google Voice phone number at www.google.com/voice
- Sign-in to Google Voice.
- Select the "Settings" link in the upper right corner of the window and then choose "Voice Settings."
- On the "Phones" tab, check the box next to the "Forwards to: Google Chat."
- The selection will be saved automatically and you may sign-out of Google Voice.
5. Now, start making and receiving calls on your OBi with Google Voice!