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Windows 8 - new Metro start menu (screenshot)

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:20:46 +0100

I have yet to find an application installed on Win 7 that does not run smoothly on the new Windows Developer Preview OS.

Link to a larger screenshot of the Metro menu on a regular PC running Windows 8

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Windows 8 - disable Metro start menu

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:45:19 +0100

This needs to be set for each individual user:

Windows > System 32 > Regedt32 >

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer>
RPEnabled = dword change from 1 to 0

Enable

Windows > System 32 > Regedt32 >

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer>
RPEnabled = dword change from 0 to 1

Installing Windows 8 from bootable USB

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:11:27 +0100

Windows Developer Preview (aka Windows 8) is available for free download from Microsoft; at the time of writing it is a pre-Beta version. So far I can confirm that all my Programmes from the Win 7 environment run smoothly in Win 8.

Windows Developer Preview Installation
(instructions assume a reasonable knowledge of IT; I suggest you back up all data prior to the install)

Prepare an HDD of at least 20 GB; you can always "shrink" a volume by this amount should you lack spare drives.
It might be easiest to use the hard drive on which your current Operating System is loaded.

Right click on the drive in Disk Management, shrink by the required amount - and then create a new simple volume
that you call "Windows 8" or as you wish. You can format in the default Fat 32, but the Windows 7 USB tool will
later reformat to NTFS. Make a note of the drive letter allocated to the new volume.

Have on hand an empty 8 GB USB thumb drive (or at least one which you are happy to wipe.)

Download the appropriate version of the software from Microsoft - 32-bit/ 64-bit (search "windows 8 download microsoft"
- I suggest you download direct from MS.)
Download the Windows 7 USB tool (it works fine for Windows 8)

Install and run the Windows 7 USB tool; now you need to transfer the installation .iso file onto the USB to create a bootable medium

Should you have more than one hard disk, I suggest you make a note of the reference number of your OS HDD - this will be handy when later you revert to the usual boot priority, to boot from HDD.

Once you have your bootable USB drive, leave it inserted and restart your computer in order to enter the BIOS.

You'll need to change your boot priority in the system BIOS to instruct your machine to start from USB. At computer
start up start tapping your F1, F8 or delete key (as appropriate) to access the BIOS. Go to the boot priority menu
and change it from a HDD to USB or, perhaps, external media.

When the BIOS hands over to the new OS, the installation process will begin. Unless you want to wipe your existing OS -
be sure to choose the Custom install (NOT upgrade) and then select the HD volume on which you want the new OS to reside. Complete the regional settings, etc. - navigation is via the tab key, to tick the "agree to license" box, tap on the spacebar.

Now, the PC will need to restart once Win 8 has installed - but remember you have changed the boot priority so be sure to enter the BIOS again (tapping F keys or "del" at start up) and reset the boot priority. Also, remove the USB stick, the OS will not need any other files.

You ought to be greeted by a dual boot screen showing Windows Developer Preview and your regular OS.

Some further questions are asked, e.g. what you want to call the PC, your email address, etc. MS will try to tie up your install with a Windows Live ID - it might be easiest for you to obtain a Live ID account prior to the install assuming you wish to have the link; otherwise you can configure with a regular user name.

Log On Screen

The new log on screen takes some getting used to as it is essentially designed for a touchscreen device. On a non-touchscreen PC or laptop you can press enter, double click, or click your mouse near the bottom of the screen and push up (as if you were swiping bottom-to-top on a phone or tablet.)

Skype update / upgrade email alert from www.skype-news-center.net

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 04:06:16 +0100

The Skype application always upgrades/ updates from within the applications itself, never by an email that asks you to click on a URL and furnish payment details. This might be an affiliate site, but is not a Skype site, do not provide Credit Card details. A check on the DNS returns "www.skype-news-center.net has no DNS entries"

Please note the return path in the email header below: bo-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@b.e.rhapsody.com
A DNS search for b.e.rhapsody.com returns "Sorry, we are currently missing dns information for b.e.rhapsody.com"

Delivered-To: xxx@gmail.comReceived: by 10.151.157.4 with SMTP id j4cs49786ybo;
        Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:10:55 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.52.97.36 with SMTP id dx4mr4597517vdb.481.1310832655252;
        Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:10:55 -0700 (PDT)
Return-Path: <bo-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@b.e.rhapsody.com>
Received: from mta904.e.rhapsody.com (mta904.e.rhapsody.com [63.211.90.44])
        by mx.google.com with SMTP id dk8si3468960vdc.81.2011.07.16.09.10.55;
        Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:10:55 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of bo-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@b.e.rhapsody.com designates 63.211.90.44 as permitted sender) client-ip=63.211.90.44;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bo-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@b.e.rhapsody.com designates 63.211.90.44 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=bo-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@b.e.rhapsody.com
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:11:16 -0000
Message-ID: <bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g.14726481251.9434@mta904.e.rhapsody.com>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:rm-0bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@e.rhapsody.com>
From: "Skype" <newsletter@skype-update-center.com>To: .com
Subject: New Skype Has Been Releases ! Upgrade NowMIME-Version: 1.0
Reply-To: "Skype" <support-bwhfj3cbgv4ht3au7grgeqcwd0769g@e.rhapsody.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
New Skype Has Been Releases
This is to notify that new updates have been released for Skype.
http://www.skype-news-center.netFollowing are major new features :
* Up to 5-way group video call.* Redesigned calling experience.
* Improved video snapshots gallery.
* Improved browser plugins performance on some websites.
* Reduced false positives on browser plugin phone number recognition.
* New presence icons.
* Improved handling of calling attempts made when the user has run out of credit.
* Improved access to sharing functionality

To download the latest version , go to : http://www.skype-news-center.net

Start downloading the update right now and let us know what you think about it.

We're working on making Skype better all the time !

Talk soon,

The people at Skype

iPad / iPhone Quick Fixes

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:46:19 +0100

iPad / iPhone stops receiving email - hard reset*, remove and replace SIM, restart

iPad / iPhone calendar stops syncing - update device software

iPhone: can’t phone out, can’t end calls, no ring tone – update device software

iPhone: can receive SMS text messages but cannot send SMS – refer to Telco who’ll need to adjust configuration

iPhone / iPad: no ringtone but speaker works – check the physical mute button on the side of the device

iPhone / iPad: can’t backup as iTunes asks for Apple ID – get an Apple ID from their website (free) which will enable you to perform backups for up to 5 devices

iPhone / iPad: I can't find the backups I made in iTunes - in Windows these are generally stored in :
Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

* Hard reset or shutdown solves many problems relating to Apple mobility; it is the equivalent of rebooting a PC or laptop. Simultaneously hold the Home and Power buttons for about 10 seconds; ignore the power off slide, just keep holding those 2 buttons until the screen is blank.

Supporting iPads & iPhones in an Enterprise environment

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:46:50 +0100

Where resources permit, have a dedicated PC for mobility users - replete with the necessary adapters and software. You'll need iTunes, and the iPhone configuration utility should you decide to utilise an enterprise configuration file for security reasons.

Mobility is now deemed part of the old "Desktop Support" environment which is gradually being renamed IT Support. I bring numerous phones or tablets on line each week, all of which have sizeable data plans enabled. Once the go ahead is given by the Telco that the SIM cards are enabled, we set about enabling mobility (the ability to sync with our Exchange Server.) I have learned through experience that the best approach is as follows:

Insert SIM but do not power on the device
Attach to a PC (with iTunes installed) via the usb/ proprietary Apple cable
(Use an admin account without Outlook configuration, otherwise all your contacts, etc. will sync with the device – this can be undone, but it is an unnecessary step)
iTunes ought to recognise the device and start up
iTunes will power on the device
Enter SIM pin if applicable
Name the device, sync with Outlook (or other, as appropriate), and update the device software (allow 5-10 minutes for download and extraction of the software to the device)
Do not register the device with Apple unless you are the user (leave that to the user)
Do not configure “find my phone” unless that is an Enterprise requirement (leave that to the user)
I suggest you say “no thanks” to Apple’s offer of tracking

We use an iPad/ iPhone configuration utility to drop an Enterprise configuration file onto the device

Install the config file (on the device)/ enter the Exchange or other email server details (on the device)
Allow a minute or so for the syncing to complete: all emails, contacts and calendar items ought to have been imported
If no email/ Internet, or if you cannot get past the SOS call screen on your iPad or iPhone
Check what error is being reported; is the data plan active? (Can you get to the web?)
Eject the SIM and reseat it; enter pin if necessary – if that doesn’t work:
Take the device off the PC
Do a hard reset of the device (simultaneously hold down Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds); remove the SIM and replace.
Re-attach to PC and let iTunes start the phone.
Enter SIM pin if applicable.
Still no joy? – resync the device to Outlook/ email in iTunes

Should your sync have failed, and the error concerning a data plan is showing, or you remain stolidly stuck on the SOS screen with no error messages to guide you, it is likely that something went wrong with the activation of the data plan on the Telco’s end – contact them and query; ask for the reactivation of the SIM data plan (making sure the device is switched off when they do.) Once they have confirmed the reactivation, wait a few minutes before powering on via iTunes.

In my experience in Australia, 1 or 2 in 10 will fail and we need to contact the Telco for reactivation. Before I used iTunes to do the initial power up, I found about 3 in 10 failed – it is not logical, even our largest Telco agrees, but the syncing success rate seems genuinely higher using iTunes instead of simply powering on the Pad or Phone by itself.

Backups

It is customary to make the users (or their secretaries) responsible for backups. Should this be your MO, and users are unable to install their own software (as in most security-conscious enterprises,) remember to deploy the appropriate software (iTunes) to their work PCs.

iTunes Account and Apple ID

Encourage users to register in order for them to be able to perform backups, and install apps (assuming this is permitted in your organisation.)

Windows System Assessment Tool | Test RAM (winsat mem)

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:11:40 +0100

Open a Command Prompt (you ought to have UAC turned off, otherwise "run as administrator")

type: winsat mem

Speeds will be influenced by RAM type (DDR2 or DDR3, frequency and basic timings)

Optimised DDR2 ought to score above 4000 MB/s, DDR3 above 10 000 MB/s

iPad Screenshots: an in-built feature

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:07:35 +0100

Screenshot capability is built in to the iPad and users don't need to pay for a dedicated iPad screenshot App, though plenty are available.

While holding the iPad Home button, quickly press and release the Power Button at the top right hand side (when the iPad is held as per the illustration)
You'll hear a camera shutter sound and see a whitish flash
The screenshot will automatically have been saved to the Photos App

This can be transferred to a computer via iTunes or similar; another way of moving the resultant image to another device is by email.

iPad waiting icon

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 09:29:49 +0100

Should a "waiting" icon appear as an App on your iPad, and refuse to be deleted even after doing the icon jiggling trick (no "x" will appear) - it is likely waiting for a wi-fi connection in order to download a file larger than the 3G limit (about 20 MB.) Either connect to a wi-fi network to complete the download, or:

sign out of the App Store
do a hard shutdown (i.e. hold down Home and on/off buttons simultaneously, and do not use the slide to switch off: it will eventually power down by continuing to hold those 2 buttons)
Wait a few seconds then power on again
The "waiting" icon ought to have disappeared

Wikileaks Wallpaper

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:52:22 +0100

This is just a sample taken from their site, low image quality and resolution. Originals can be downloaded from: here

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