Network Magic makes router setup easy

ZDNet recommends Network Magic for setting up your home network, and (based on this blogger’s experience) it really works.

This is a freeware application that guides you in setting up your network and configuring your router’s settings.  It’s also good for Vista as well as earlier Windows systems, and works with a number of different brands and models of routers.

MyUSBOnly Free locks others out of your USB ports

Want to keep others from downloading your data, or illegal files, or your keystrokes, using your own computer’s USB ports?

MyUSBOnly Free 2007 is freeware (registration only required) that lets you lock others out of your USB ports while allowing only the devices you trust.

From ZDNet’s TechRepublic.

Laptop security - it’s on you

While this blog normally prefers to stick to free and low-cost services, there are things worth paying for.

Your laptop wasn’t free, for example, and hanging on to it — or getting it back — is likely to be worth something to you.

While this is not an endorsement, the following links are for services which add a measure of security to your laptop.  HOWEVER - they have limitations, and the best defense is to keep it with you at all times, even in the Library and elsewhere on campus.

Laptop Alarm: “Did you ever hesitate to leave your laptop for a few minutes in a public space like a library? Afraid that someone will take your laptop? Now there is a simple and free solution to this problem! Laptop Alarm will emit a loud alarm whenever someone tries to steal your laptop!”

This is freeware.  However, it depends on certain things happening:

1. A/C Power Removal
2. Mouse Removal
3. Mouse Movement
4. Shutdown / Suspend

So, if some jerk simply takes the laptop without bothering to shut it down, no alarm.  And it also depends on others taking the trouble to either stop or remember and identify the thief.  Still, this is better than nothing.

A free service (which may or may not start charging a fee in the future) is LaptopLock.

LaptopLock protects the data and aids in the recovery process of a computer if it’s stolen. The LaptopLock can:

• Delete files (secure data wiping now available)
• Encrypt files
• Show a message to the user
• Execute a program
• Play a sound
• Visible or hidden from user

“If the computer is stolen, login into your account, mark the computer status as stolen. As soon as that machine connects to the Internet, the actions you set during setup will execute. The LaptopLock will also try to find out as much as possible about the connection to help in recovery of the machine. THE LAPTOPLOCK DOES NOT MONITOR OR RECORD USER ACTIONS. THE LAPTOPLOCK DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER OR DATA. THE LAPTOPLOCK CAN ONLY EXECUTE ACTIONS THE USER HAS PRE-PROGRAMMED IT WITH.”

This is a good bit stronger, provided that you have some kind of notice on your laptop that you have this installed and what it does.  On the other hand, somebody might take it simply to sell it rather than use it, and that means they don’t care if it “phones home” for the previous owner.

Remember that some people just like to cause trouble, and stealing a laptop is one way to do that — whether or not it sounds an alarm, or is harder for somebody else to use.

Protect your property!

Connecting from Vista to a printer on an XP via a network

Recommended to try, if you’re having trouble setting up a network printer in Vista when the printer is on an XP computer on the same network:

The blog Yes, I’m Canadian tells how he managed it with a Samsung printer.  Apparently the same technique works for other brands as well.

CPU meters

Internet Fixes has instructions on how to set up a CPU use meter to appear in your system tray.

Vista has something like this built into the Sidebar as one of the options.  Or, you can get a dual core meter widget called Multi-Meter Dual-Core from Download Squad.

Meters are handy if you’re running close to maximum on your system resources and want to be careful about what you add.

A more common use, however, is during bootup, so you can see when all the activity setting up, and then once it settles back down, you can start working with less delay on loading programs.

Multiple monitors

You’ve seen those really impressive-looking setups with two or more monitors showing different things, all from one computer…. ever wonder how to do it?

Internet Fixes has instructions for XP.

The Windows Vista Blog has instructions on doing it with Vista, on a laptop, since many laptops have an additional port for a monitor.

Now, go look really high-tech.

Getmac is for networking, not Apples

When you are working with networks, it helps to have the Media Access Control (MAC) address of your computer network card.

The easy way to find it in XP is using the getmac command, but there are some additional features available.

Internet Fixes has instructions on the getmac command.

Another method is to use the command for ipconfig:

1. Click on the Start button
2. Click on Run
3. Type ipconfig/all

Networking printers

For those with a home or office network (NOT the campus network):

First, remember that you have to install the printer driver for that specific printer on whatever computer you are trying to print from, even if there is already a printer driver installed on the computer it is connected directly to.

Internet Fixes has instructions on mapping a network printer in XP.

Vista is another animal, of course. The official Microsoft instructions are here. Try them first.

Last ditch solution in getting a printer on an XP computer on the network to print from a Vista computer on that same network (no guarantees but works for some people):

1. On Vista PC go to Control Panel
2. Select Printers
3. Select Add printer
4. Click Add a local printer (which doesn’t sound right, but seems to help)
5. Click Create a new port
6. Click Local Port
7. Click Next
8. Enter a port name in the box, in this format: \\PC name\Printer namewhere “PC name” is the network name of the XP PC or Network Share where you have the printer and “Printer name” is the network name of that printer.

   Check on your XP computer under Control Panel > Printers and faxes > the specific printer > right click and select share > enter the share resources name

9. Choose the manufacturer and printer model of the printer you are adding.
10. Now the printer should be added. Print a test page.

Bluetooth headphones?

I noticed some Bluetooth headphones while shopping… hmmm…. maybe I need to get Bluetooth capability so I can go wireless on my headphones, I thought.

But wait — Bluetooth converts files to a “lossy” codec, meaning data is lost, when sending wirelessly.  Since most codecs such as MP3 are already “lossy” formats, you are losing a lot more data.  So, the sound may be well below the quality you want to accept.

Wired headphones still deliver the best sound, in most cases.

Recommended by PC Magazine, June 2008.

Laptop: no spin, minimum drain

Spinning the hard drive on your laptop is one of the things that runs down your battery.

So, if you load files, movies, etc., onto a solid state device — such as a USB Flash drive — you’re not spinning anything, and cut your battery drain by that much.  Just moving electrons through the wires isn’t as much work for your laptop!

Recycling your old computer by repurposing it

Daily Cup of Tech has an article on how to use your old computer for something else.

How about turning it into a firewall/router to network everything else?

How about a file server?

How about a print server?

How about… oh, just check the article for ideas.

11 ways to fix your laptop

Wasn’t that a Paul Simon song?  “11 ways to fix your… ” no, wait, that’s “11 ways to leave your laptop”… no, it’s “11 ways to leave your lover”…

Never mind.

Laptop Magazine does have 11 ways to fix your laptop.  It covers overheating, a slow hard drive, battery not holding a charge, needing more memory, hard drive failure, a bad keyboard, not connecting to a wireless network, stuck pixels on the screen, system crash, virus or spyware infestation, and outdated video drivers.

Virtual CD/DVD drives

Does anybody really like fumbling with CD cases and DVD cases? Especially when traveling? But if you want to while away the evening with a game or a movie (or even a long, boring meeting — turn the sound off first!)…

Basically, you need to be able to load the contents of your CD/DVD onto the hard drive — which will also be likely to speed up response time — so you can run the files as if they were on the CD/DVD drive. You need a virtual CD/DVD drive. Of course, since you already paid for the CD/DVD, it would be nice if the virtual (or clone) drive software were free. Here are some examples.

MagicDisc is freeware. “MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM is a utility designed for creating and managing virtual CD drives and CD/DVD discs. MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM emulates audio, data, and game CDs and DVDs with ISO image, CD and DVD images. MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM offers 200x speed and noiseless CD/DVD access without a physical drive. It supports creating up to 15 virtual drivers. You can run games, software, see movies (VCD, SVCD, DVD), and hear music directly from your hard disk without inserting and swapping CDs and DVDs. MagicDisc allows you to use almost all CD/DVD image without burning them onto CD or DVD in order to easily access your favorite games, music, or software programs. It works like a real CD/DVD-ROM: You can run programs, play games, or listen to music from your virtual CD-ROM. It can compress ISO CUE MDS NRG CCD image; can encrypt ISO CUE MDS NRG CCD image; can make ISO image from CD/DVD; It can mount UDF only CD/DVD image and multi-session MDS/MDF and CCD/IMG image. Version 2.6.93 can set DVD Region Code.” Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista.

DAEMON Tools Lite is freeware.

” DAEMON Tools is an advanced application for Microsoft Windows which provides THE best optical media emulation in the industry. !! THIS VERSION SUPPORTS 32 AND 64 BIT OS (Microsoft Windows XP, Windows2003, Windows 2000, VISTA) !!”

Microsoft Virtual CD Control Panel (warning: direct download link) Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel is a free CD-ROM emulator that allows you to mount ISO images of CDROMs in a virtual drive. It is a rudimentary program that does not support copy-protected discs such as the game disks supported by commercial CD/DVD emulators. Note that the Virtual CD Control Panel link is a direct download link. It came from a Microsoft KnowledgeBase entry on an unrelated subject, which contains some instructions on how you can install the driver, add a virtual CD drive and mount your images. (If you are visiting that link for instructions about the Virtual CDROM Control Panel, simply ignore references to “Windows PE”.) You will also need to use a third party program to make your ISO images (if you don’t already have it). This is a Windows program. [this entry from www.thefreecountry.com]

Alcohol 52% Free Edition is freeware. “There are no limitations on this version, other than the ability to create only 6 virtual drives. Our retail version still supports 31 virtual drives. Remember you can not run Alcohol 52% if you have Alcohol 120% installed on the same drive. [Alcohol 120% is the pay version with more capabilities.] This version of Alcohol 52% is for private, non-commercial, single home computer use only.The license is provided personally to you and for that reason it does not allow you to make any duplicate (copy) to be sold, borrowed, assigned, leased or transferred. Emulation software allowing users to play CDs DVDs without the need for the physical disc. Notebook users and PC Game players would benifit the most from Alcohol 52% Supports 25 plus languages Can handle up to 6 virtual CD DVD-ROM drives, all at once. The reading speed of a virtual CD-ROM is 200X. This means you can play a CD from the virtual CD-ROM with 200X reading speed. Supports normal CD DVD and CD RAW sub-channel reading methods: RAW reading method enables to emulate all CDs. CD formats supported: CD-DA, CD+G, CD-ROM, CD-XA, Video CD, Photo CD, Mixed Mode, Multi-session CD DVD formats supported: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio Support for all current (ATAPI SCSI) drives: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW Full support for IEEE-1394 (Firewire) and USB protocols. Winner of the 2006 Epsilon Award at the sixth annual European SharewareConference. Windows NT 3.x, Windows NT 4.x, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista.

SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive is freeware.

Features

• Supports all common image formats such as ISO, BIN, CCD
• Supports up to 8 virtual drives at the same time
• Easy to use - just double-click an image file to mount as a drive
• Virtual CloneDrive is freeware, you may use it at no cost.
• Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP

Can you, or can you not, run it on your computer?

Okay, let’s be honest. The big question is, will your computer run your favorite games?

Try Can You RUN It? to see if your computer has what it takes in memory, video card, etc., to run Battlefield 2 or Bionicle Heroes, Pirates of the Burning Sea or Unreal Tournament III.

• Get your complete report in seconds including suggestions for what to upgrade on your computer.
• Only your system’s hardware and system software are evaluated.
• No personally identifiable information is collected.
• Works on Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Media Center, Vista.
• Works with Internet Explorer, Firefox & Netscape browsers.
• You will need to give your permission to download a secure ActiveX/Java browser component.
• You can easily uninstall the ActiveX/Java browser component when the analysis is complete.

As always, use at your own risk, but it claims to be safe to use and could answer your questions.

SATA drives with Windows XP - a driving need

People adding SATA type hard drives to Windows XP systems, or putting XP as a new or second operating system on a PC with SATA drives, may find they have a problem, especially on a newer system without a 3.5″ floppy drive as XP expects.

Softpedia has instructions on how to set up your SATA drive system without an XP floppy disk, by getting the SATA driver software in advance.

Driver hunting goes overseas

A tip from a reader of Windows Secrets, who found that sometimes you can find drivers on the non-United States sites of manufacturers.

When you reach the web site of the manufacturer, if the U.S. site doesn’t have the driver for your older hardware, go around again and try another country, such as English-speaking Great Britain.

You dropped it in the what??????

Okay, so you didn’t mean to drop your cell phone in that puddle… or your handheld in the water fountain when you bent over it… or let the rain leak into your backpack and get to your laptop….

But now that your electronic device is wet, what do you do now?

Windows Secrets has an article on how to handle the situation, called “How to fix that gizmo you dropped in the loo” (’loo’ is British for ‘toilet’).

All may not be lost!

Can you revive a dead pixel?

MakeUseOf has a review of a program called Killdeadpixel which is intended for LCD screens.

“All you have to do is drag the provided graphic onto a dead pixel and let it stay there for about an hour. The graphic will try to fix it by rapidly changing nearby pixels. Although it won’t work for all cases, it does fix most of the broken pixels.”

“If the first method fails, there are two things you can still try:

* 1. Get a soft cloth and gently massage the dead pixel.
* 2. You can also try using a bigger (800×600 or 1024×76 graphic and leave it on the screen for about 12 hours.*”

Video drivers for laptops

Some people report strange results with their laptops’ screens or sending video to other screens or projectors, which often means they need new video drivers.

One source for updated video drivers is called LaptopVideo2Go and seems popular and reputable.  They specialize in NVIDIA related drivers.

These are for XP and Vista.

Best freeware alternatives to Nero for burning

If you have a popular program such as Nero for burning CDs/DVDs, great.  But if you don’t, and you’d rather not spend the money…

MakeUseOf compiled a list of the best free alternatives to Nero.

These included:

• CDBurner XP
• InfraRecorder
• DeepBurner
• many more