November 22, 2005
fixed dvd player
add dvd player to the list. a friend dropped off their dvd player after it stopped working (no power). they actually already checked the internal fuse, and didn't know what to do after that.
these things are so cheap you can't really take them in for repair, you'd spend more than just buying a brand new one! would be a shame just to toss it out, if it's something simple like a busted switch.
read more...November 17, 2005
inkernet
originally a cute term for the internet, alluding to the emerging "printing press for the masses" given the advent of the modern & widespread blog-o-sphere.
now, even more recently (and aptly so), refers to the addition of digital ink to the internet & blog experience.
this also hails the impending doom of illegible handwriting and poor chickscratch drawings on the net... see my other post (the dark side of the pen).
enable windows xp remote desktop
for along time i thought xp pro wouldn't support incoming remote desktop sessions. here's where to allow that... unusual place for this setting, no?
system properties | remote | remote desktop | allow users to conect remotely to this computer | (check)
TIP tablet input icon removal
The TIP (tablet input panel) toolbar takes up a lot of space on the taskbar, which you may want to free up. doesn't appear there's a user setting for it.
If you want to remove the button, you can do so as follows & reboot :
regsvr32 /u "c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\ink\tipband.dll"
read more...November 16, 2005
rex 6000 irq setting
the interrupt for the com port is automatically set. curiously enough on the new laptop it set com 3 to irq 7 along with a different i/o memory address than standard.
i had trouble get the rex to work & sync when bluetooth was on, even though the com port is set aside...
read more...November 11, 2005
how apgs works
AGPS uses a reference GPS receiver in each tower that sends SV data to
the mobile handset. The handset does not have a full GPS installed;
instead it uses the SV (space vehicle, e.g. the satellite) data to receive the time pulses from a single SV and sends the time delta to the tower. The tower is then able to compute the position of the phone via a differential calculation and log it for E911 compliance. It is typically accurate to 100m indoors and
15m outdoors.
November 10, 2005
bluetooth com port drivers
there are differences in how bluetooth drivers assign com ports.
on one system, ports are assigned on the fly, and don't proliferate when you swap devices. on another system, pairing up the new devices creates fixed assignements for the ports that each device might use, even on each physical input port.
read more...November 09, 2005
windows xp pro file sharing
turn off "simple file-sharing". creates more trouble than it's worth. just seems to break the standard file sharing - including using the default share along with being able to specify a user account logins while networking to other machines.
Open Explorer, click Tools, Folder Options. Click View. Scroll to the bottom. Uncheck "Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended)".
i say, not recommended.
read more...outlook find contacts
if you make / replace your own pst file you may want to add the contact folder to the stock find contact search input on the menubar... here's how:
right click contacts > properties > outlook address book > show this folder as an e-mail address book (check).
November 07, 2005
pairing T39 with cambridge bluetooth
i was very frustrated by cambridge bluetooth... had trouble pairing with my ericsson t39. usually, i just discover devices to pair with, enter a new passkey then answer the prompt on my laptop and enter the passkey. i'm used to not being able to pair the other way around with the t39 (one of the first phones w/ bluetooth).
column autofitting hotkey tip
there's a way to have windows automatically resize all the columns to fit the widest entries in each field.
Simply hold down the Ctrl key and then press the + key on the numeric keypad.
This Ctrl-+ combination works for folder views, Find File, etc.
November 06, 2005
acer travelmate c113Tci review
i've had my eye on the c100/c110 acer travemate line of laptop/tablets for a long time. at least, ever since i started looking for a replacement for my original travelmate 350TE-N earlier this year. i past over this model for the c300 series.
while i'm pleased with my purchase of the c300 series, it's a little larger than i like for travel, and for taking notes. i was resigned that my next purchase would be a tablet in the c110 series. just something 'better fer the road'. i was not in a rush, could hold out for better specs - give it a rest till my next purchase. but i noticed that acer was not releasing any updates to the c110 series line. in fact, it's clear they've decide to discontinue the c100/c110 line in favor of a new c200 series (i'm just not a fan of the new c200).
ok, so with the c113Tci being retired, and stores starting to report the model discontinued - i decided there was really no waiting. despite the timing and higher price tag than my preference, i picked one up.
read more...November 05, 2005
stuck garmin data tracklog download
i had a full (10k point) tracklog in my garmin e-trex and various programs kept freezing up intermittently when i attempted to download the tracklog... sometime hanging after a few points, sometimes after fetching several thousand.
i don't think it's the software or the cable, could be my e-trex, not sure really. it's been like that for a long time, but i've never left so much data on the device without downloading it.
here's how i got the data.
read more...ctrl-alt-del launches task manager?
when control-alt-delete doesn't give you the stock security screen, and launches taskmanager instead...
disable fast user switching & welcome screen under control panel | user accounts | change the way users log in or off.