Comments

My advice is the best I can give but there are many great people on the Internet who have invested the time and effort and have post many good suggestions to solutions and other sites you should check. So please if you have time, compare my post and comments of others, You'll often find that the material in the comments are very valuable and better than my suggestions.

The Marketing of this Blog

I just came across this Blog also about technologies, sort of.
A special thing I have noticed is that each post is accompanied by an irrelevant or semi-relevant picture of good looking girls holding or using the technology (its kinda like some Japanese marketing theory, lol) but has little contribution to the content at all.
I mean I have an irrelevant banner with two females on it but is that enough? What can I do to increase the presentation of my Blog? your comments are necessary.

How do I find my IP number?

What is my IP number?
How can i find out my IP number?
How do i know my IP number?
How do i get my IP number?
I want to know my IP number
I need my IP number

Shouldn't you be looking at the image below instead of still asking these questions?

Sign by Danasoft - Images for Myspace Layouts

MS News

Bill is expected to step down today from his full time MS duties.

MS was told not to use Fiji as the name for the next Windows OS.

Sources: www.smh.com.au

Undo and Redo then to you

Skip past red line if you don't want to hear story.

I am quite sure almost everyone in Asia has heard this story. Maybe some in the West too. Its suppose to be the biggest celebrity scandal of the year. Google almost exploded.

Wiki quote:

In January 2008, Edison Chen was involved in a widely publicized sex scandal when sexually explicit and nude photographs of himself and several high-profile female celebrities from the Hong Kong entertainment industry became widely circulated on the Internet. Celebrities implicated in the scandal included Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan, Mandy Chen, Candice Chan, Rachel Ngan and Cecilia Cheung. Nude photos of Edison's current girlfriend, Vincy Yeung, were also made public and the future of the relationship is in doubt.

The way the pictures were circulated on the Internet is not a hard question. The question is how did they manage to get the pictures from his camera?
According to the newspapers Edison bring his computer in to get it fixed, the servicemen went through his computer and copied all his photos, at least that's what it is to my knowledge. Making a bad name for IT people :( , Edison could have prevented this if he deleted his data off of his computer (like really delete it, not only from the index but the hard drive.) don't tell me your surprised or confused because you should already know that data is not deleted when its deleted from the rubbish bin, its only removed from index to allow data to be stored in that location of the disk now (come on, i posted about this ages ago).

My Story:
When I sent my Sony mp3 player back to warranty I did a complete delete, I only had music on it but for some reason IT people like to leave nothing (so i copied and left 2 songs only), maybe its so the technicians can't know I have bad taste for music, harhar but anyway I was glad to do so as it didn't come back. I got a replacement warranty and my old mp3 player along with my music was not given back to me. I did however place a few good song on it so to allow the technicians to test the mp3 player without having to spend additional time uploading a song to test it.

________________________________________
Use this type of precaution to wipe out private data when:
* Recycling old storage devices
* Selling it
* Giving it to a friend or someone to borrow
* Warranty return
* When ever the situation means someone can use it and you don't want them to see your data

! The above story is used as an example of what can happen, I am not suggesting your have such content on your storage devices ;)

Method 1
Get a large file and fill up the usb drive or mp3 player (only for small devices, don't use this method for hard drives, you've got too much space on a HD and the data will be written in free space, maybe) I deleted all my data and sent a demo game which was 600MB to my mp3 player and that destroyed any recovery option fairly well.

It is probably still possible to recover but for basic security this will do, I mean your not trying to secure a $1 million dollar idea, are you? For general photos etc. for privacy reasons this method should be enough, maybe even delete the large file and write something else large to the usb again? Remember the file you write to the usb to overwrite your personal data should be data you don't care about like a game demo file where it doesn't matter if someone knows you've saved that on there. Overwriting a gallery of family photos with a HD movie your your family's last holiday is not a good idea. Usually if you not important, no one will go to extreme lengths to recover your data so I think this method is the fastest.

Method 2
Use software, commercial grade if you wish or a simple free application like Spybot. Spybot has this feature built into the latest version of it. If you find it too hard to find that feature (on left hand menu under tools, called secure shredder) then you could try and download and use a single purpose deleter. I have Eraser and Restoration (Google to download it, I don't have a URL). Personally, I like Restoration, Its main purpose is to scan your removable (and HDs) drives for data that can be restored. We are interested in this as well, what can we restore?? Find out and then select the files and go to the top menu bar and choose the option to delete completely. This will delete it a couple of times to make sure its been over written with different data. Do a scan again and it shouldn't be recoverable.
For HDs you may want to try Eraser where you can selectively choose the files on the HD that you want to destroy.


Method 3
Physically smash the part that is holding your data or the whole storage device all together. Not environmentally friendly but works the best. Smash it into little pieces, grind it into powder, dispose of in garbage bin over 5 months (little handfuls of powder at a time).

If it is still under warranty - make sure to bring the powder and tell the clerk that you can assure it is broken and not working and require a replacement warranty. I am sure they will believe you ... now

If your selling it or giving it to a friend - make sure the powder is in an air tight container and ask your friends to not lose any of it because you want to piece it back later when they are finished borrowing it.

Stuck Files

How can i delete a file, Stuck file can't be deleted, Can not delete this file, File comes back after deleting it, Can't move or delete a file, Stubborn files, Problems deleting a file.

Sometimes you get files that just simply won't delete, is always busy or it comes back after you delete it. I've had that problem more than once before and I am here today to try and help you solve such stress.

If the files are always busy and you can't move them, rename them or delete them or edit in any way:

Try to use Unlocker (search my blog for my post on Unlocker) to try and stop the program that may be locking up that file. Files that belong to torrents, part-downloaded files, ISO virtual drive files and files that are used by applications are common types of files that are locked by programs and you may not know about the application using it because it may not be in the program files folder, e.g. downloading files are not in the FireFox folder so you have no idea FireFox is using it and adding data to it which is preventing you from editing or deleting it.


If the doesn't work try this:

Use a program called Delete Doctor (do a Google search if link no longer works) this program has given me a 90% + success rate. Try the normal functions and if the file still can not be deleted try the function where deleting the file will occur during start up and requires a reboot, that one usually gives me the Best success rate at deleting a file.


If your files are re-born after deletion:

I have bad news for you, in my experience when this happens you got some sort of a virus, spyware, malware etc. it may not always be entirely true but in my experience that is the biggest chance of why the files are re-born, a virus somewhere is creating that file everytime you delete it, the file your deleting may not actually be the virus and that's why you need to get rid of the mother of the file (virus) to entirely stop the files from being re-born.
My solution is to run anti-virus scans in full scan mode, run spybot and whatever you have and even get some other scanners (well known ones, sometimes those so called anti-XXXXX software are the actual cause of viruses, my suggestion, use anti-XXXXX software recommended by my blog! ;)
Do a scan and if your anti-virus can delete it or fix it, do that. If not find out what virus you have and go to Symantec.com and paste the name in the website and search for a solution for that virus, sometimes Symantec will give you an .exe patch to run to get rid of the virus and sometimes it will tell you how to fix it but using registry edits (not recommended for basic users with little technical knowledge)


The file that keeps of being re-born is My XXXX:

When you find a fix for this tell me! LOL using Windows XP and MS products will sometimes create My Sharing folder, My Music folders etc. after you delete them, everytime you run Windows Media Player the My Music folder is re-created if you deleted it. This isn't a virus, just an annoyance from MS. There are ways around this but I don't want to talk about this headache right now, I thought i found a solution before for the "My Music folder" by adjusting a setting in WMP and it worked for a while and is now back so yeah .....

Some may say use Apple!, I'd say only use that as a solution if your never planning to use Windows again because Apple creates files for each folder that describes how the folder should be displayed in Mac OS and these files won't be invisible in Windows OS, so if you annoyed by one My Music folder then hehehehe

How do i burn an .ISO file?

An ISO file is an image of a CD or DVD and contains everything a disc should contain inside that one file, kind of like a .zip file.

A common mistake for people and often frustrating to them, is they burn it and can't run the program or software that the ISO was for. This would be because they have only burnt the ISO file directly to disc with the data disc function. Burning the ISO in data disc mode only burns the whole of the ISO file to the CD/DVD. What you want is to use the burn image or burn ISO function in burning software, this adds the additional step of unzipping the ISO and burning each file contained inside the ISO onto the disc, making it operable as the software CD or DVD rather than a CD or DVD with an ISO file.

Summary: Your burning the ISO file itself not the files contained inside the ISO.

Burnaware has a good, easy and simple ISO burning tool but it is no longer available as seen in last post.

File extension

File extension
How do i open this file?
What do i use to open this type of file?
How do i open this file extension?

Solution: A huge list of file extensions and software assiciated with it.

Use the letter index at the top of the site and then you can also use the Ctrl + F to quickly jump to certain words.

Service Pack Update

Service Packs are now avaliable for:

Below are links to .exe versions of the service packs, for back up and easy restore reasons i download these files to prevent having to use windows update to get the service packs installed again. If anything ever goes bad and you need to re-install Windows then a .exe version of the SP will come in handy. I always try to ownload the .exe version to save downloads in the future and also to easily install SP on multiple PCs.

Before downloading you may want to make sure your Windows Auto-Update hasn't already downloaded and installed the SP by:

• Right-clicking My Computer and clicking properties (In Vista), should be the same in XP

It should say something like Windows XP with SP2 or SP3 etc. Evn if you already have it installed you may still want to download this .exe file for the reasons mentioned above and also to get things that only run with these SP working as soon a recovery starts ;)

Windows XP : Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Windows Vista : Service Pack 1 (SP1)

FREE Stuff / Advertisment SUPPORTED

Where can i get free stuff?
Free stuff supported by advertisements
Advertisement supported free stuff


Its not new a new concept that advertisements can support people with free content such as entertainment and even promotional gifts and products.
The Internet is one of the best places for this exchange to occur, from free web hosting and free e-mail to free music and web services. By free we all know nothing is free and the use of free really only means that the cost is not directly put on the consumer but the advertisers, who make their money buy persuading the consumer who gets the free stuff to by stuff off of them.

Now not to wreck the perfect theory of being able to get free stuff as such I'll stop explaining how it works and instead list some free stuff.

Feel free to post a comment with a personally approved free site.
Also keep an eye out for future posts, I will explain how to make money from exchanging this advertisement for credit points which can be used to buy things online or have a cheque sent to you. I have personally received $60 from these services and can clarify that payments are real ;D


SMSPup Free SMS and multimedia for your phone. Read advertising e-mails to get points which can be used to send SMSs over the Internet or get multimedia sent to your phone.
Link: SMSPup
Frequency: 1-4 e-mails per month
Clarified: Yes


SpiralFrog Free Mp3 downloads and videos to watch, fully advertisement supported. I am guessing its top 30 charts music and not individual artists but am not sure. This offer is only open to USA and CANADA.
Link: SpiralFrog
Frequency: unknown system
Clarified: No


* Frequency is justified by me, the frequency you may receive e-mails or advertising differs on what your interests are in your profile therefore reflecting differences in demand. e.g. interests in investments may receive more advertisements than a user who is interested in gardening.

Good ranged wireless router

Today i got a Belkin G (802.11g) router, the shop i got it from was moving to a bigger store so i managed to get a higher-ranged model for less then the short range model.

I am sure I'll have to post something about this router as wired networking was hard enough to set up, I am sure it must be harder with wireless, lol.

Anyways I just wanted to post my thought about super long ranged routers, they are good for schools and offices but for home, unless your in a double story house, think about your neighbours or drive-by people being able to download with your Internet connection, even do illegal things using your account.

Speech over the Internet

I am quite sure its not new news that when you send messages over the Internet that the recipient can't read your face or detect your tone.

If it is you may want to send a sorry message to Mary right now telling her that when you said your stupid, you really meant your stupid lol.

It gets annoying after a while but it seems that adding lol, is a good way to make people know your saying that in a joking or sarcastic way and that no meaning was attached to the words you said.

BTW lol means Laugh Out Loud, it basically means to have fun about or make a joke out of , kind of like just laughing after saying a joke, to ease up people and stop them from thinking about the joke in a serious way.


Now I want a laugh so post your messages that sounded funny or was taken the wrong way because of the nature of saying things over the Internet.

Lots of development wok being done on the Internet

I have noticed that many websites are undergoing better user interfaces and adding a little practicality too.

MySpace
Yahoo! home page
Windows Live

Keep an eye out for some friendly competition which means better looking graphics and maybe some added features to you, the customer.

Your MS Vista stories

I want to hear your stories on Vista, go on now, commenting is quick and easy and you don't need to join anything.

For me, the advantages found in ?Vista are:

• Renaming files is smarter cause it only selects the file name, not extension as well, so you never have to re-select the file name to avoid over typing the extension. e.g. selects "Holiday".jpeg rather than "Holiday.jpeg"
• Transferring files now has a cooler interface where you can see transfer speeds, data remaining, data copied or moved etc.
• The calendar is better on Vista (when you roll over the time with your mouse)
• Noticeably faster shut down times than XP.
• Simplified naming, "Users" folder is used instead of "documents and settings" which is faster for when i have to search things by typing directories.
• The ability to sorft files and folders by a bigger amount fo critera (last edit, open etc.)
• Ability to right click shortcuts and locate and open the destination folder that the shortcut leads to.
• Much better (files and folder) search function
  

For me the things i dislike are:

• Sidebar, I never used it, it was more annoying me.
• Shut down buttons are customisable so when your in the wrong power mode the button can be standby instead of shut down and you have to change all the profiles to conform to avoid having to turn the computer back on to shut it down.
• Shut down also has no confirmation windows, which is faster to shut down but the shut down button being visible in the Start menu means i can accidentally shut down when using a touch pad.
• Common one, incompatibility of Windows XP apps in Vista and even worse being able to run Windows XP apps but then having it crash when you save your work before closing it.
• Control panel has had some major changes and being able to adjust settings is sometimes a pain, e.g. the method used to enable hibernation is no longer in the same place and I've given up and have no time to try and enable it no more.
  

Googling my Blog

Try using this:

site:gecsoft.blogspot.com gec living

as a search query and you can browse around all my posts in my blog with helpful previews of the post and the normal functions you get with Google search.

Of course you could also use the top search bar of this blog.

Currently Reading:

Trying to get more content on blog soon so I am just following these guides:

http://www.thesite.org/workandstudy/studying/howtostudy/studymotivation

http://www.study-habits.com/blog/2007/05/01/learning-motivation-study/

Outlook on my blog

I think i might start sharing entertaining stuff. This blog doesn't get a heap of hits and you would hope not cause if it did it means a lot of people are stressing and pulling out hair like i did when i had those tech. problems that your looking up.

So as an addition I'll try posting multimedia to make things a bit more interesting and also link to many funny and entertaining sites (to nerds at least)

Use of search feature

As my blog gets bigger it may become harder to find the posts you want so you can use the search box at the top of this page and search for specific posts.

You can also use the labels to find similar topics but I might not have allocated labels very efficiently so keep in mind you can use the search box.

Labels

LOL, I just realised what labels are for and how to use them.

Sooo, I will probably group my posts from now on into label categories. Check previous post for description of labels.

Is your e-mail provider compatible with E-mail clients?

I one who is lazy and i like to use e-mail client software such as Outlook 2003, well i did until one day it tried to install a missing feature and couldn't be fixed so instead of trying to trouble shoot it i decided to convert to ThunderBird all together, lucky TB had an import feature so i could just add all my addresses and e-mails from Outlook.

One bad thing with ThunderBird is when you open hyper links it doesn't open at all unless if you install ThunderBrowse which is currently the only problem i have found.

One of the annoying things is many services don't support pop and SMTP services no more, that is, the services needed to grab and send mail from your e-mail client. Hotmail and Yahoo do not support it, Yahoo.com.au or .com.something else will usually work but not .com which is what i have. I don't know what i did but i have registered as Australia twice and i have always only gotten .com and could never get .com.au

Gmail (Google's e-mail service) does provide this feature currently. Others stop this service because when you log in to your account on the Internet you will see adverts on the same screen as your e-mail and this generates revenue for the companies that provide you this service, using TB or Outlook doesn't as the adverts are not sent to you or viewed by you in any way. I have a feeling that Gmail will change in the future but for now if you need to be lazy and need an e-mail account i would say e-mail me or send me a message and i will get you an invitation (currently only invited peoples can join Gmail)

If you already have the other accounts like me (i have Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail) then i could only recommend using a TB plugin called WebMail or install a software called freepops of which both i have not been able to successfully use at this time of posting.

Please note, you have to Google keywords i post such as "thunderbird plugin webmail" because i don't want post the link to actual software or what not unless i feel you can not search for it. This is slightly due to the fact that links can sometimes change or be outdated so it is always better to search for the latest versions of my suggested software to avoid missing features and compatibility issues that may arise.