Video Tutorial - How To Start Blogging On Blogspot?

I was video hopping on YouTube this morning when I suddenly stumbled upon this pretty little video by chrisabraham on "How To Start Blogging On Blogger". Although he'd been working on a version of Blogger that's at least 1 year, it's still pretty good for the current one too. It was hilarious when he tried to show how to upload an image on Blogger but was unsuccessful because of low bandwidth. Also, he'd been accidentally canceling the blockquote while trying to go to a new line. Do watch the video if you want a showdown on how to start blogging and if you're a veteran, still watch it for the kick of it. It's good fun, really.

Freeware Series - Drivers For Windows

This is the 3rd installment of the Freeware Series. The previous two were lists of Games & Security Softwares. Today, I'm listing out all the links to various driver installation pages. I didn't think that it'd be necessary to write descriptive paragraphs for the drivers since there an be a lot mane versions of drivers for a single company itself. Kindly refer the websites referred here for the ones that'll suit your hardware.

Audio & Multimedia Drivers

1. Altec Lansing
2. Creative Labs
3. Crystal SemiConductor
4. Hauppage
5. I/O Magic
6. Logitech
7. Realtek
8. Sony
9. Sound Blaster
10. Yamaha

Printer Drivers

1. Brother
2. Canon
3. Fujitsu
4. Hewlitt Packard (HP)
5. Lexmark
6. Panasonic
7. Xerox

BIOS Drivers

1. AMD Support
2. AMI BIOS
3. ASUS BIOS
4. Award
5. Compaq Computers
6. DELL Computers
7. IBM BIOS
8. Intel
9. NEC Support
10. Toshiba
    

Next Category ; Multimedia

Automatically Clear Temporary Internet Files In Internet Explorer

A lot of us use shared computers to access the internet, even today. For us, privacy is a major matter of concern. However, after one surfs the net and leaves the computer for other to use, it is hardly rocket science to be able to figure out what the previous person had been browsing. Hence, it is very important to clear the temporary internet files and history before logging out. However, it is a tedious job to clear the data every time one logs out. Hence, here's a wonderful tutorial that shall guide to automate the system on Internet Explorer. Another major browser used today is Mozilla Firefox. However, it is pretty easy to automate the same in Firefox. Here's the tutorial to clear temporary internet files in Internet Explorer.

1. Open your registry (type 'regedit' in the 'Run' dialog box) and find/create the key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache]
2. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'Persistent' using the settings
   Name: Persistent
   Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
   Value: (0 = empty, 1 = do not empty)
3. Now again search for this key
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache]
4. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'Persistent' using the settings
   Name: Persistent
   Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
   Value: (0 = empty, 1 = do not empty)
5. Exit Registry Editor.
6. You might need to restart/log out Windows for the changes to take effect.
   

Freeware Series - Security Softwares

Here comes the 2nd installment of the FreeWare Series. As I'd already mentioned, I'd started this series as a help guide for all those who aren't rich enough to buy original software but are conscientious enough not to use the pirated ones.

Security Softwares

1. CyberHawk - Cyberhawk is a next-gen security software. Simply put, it is "threat protection made easy" for everyone, even novices! It provides protection against viruses, spyware, trojans, intruders and other threats to PC security. Cyberhawk does the work of antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall programs. It is designed to work alongside any current security programs you may already have installed, so you don't need to uninstall your previous antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall or other security program before installing Cyberhawk.
2. Security Process Explorer - Security Process Explorer is an enhanced task manager, that provides advanced information about programs and processes running on the computer. It displays all the standard information, including file name, directory path, description, CPU usage etc. as well as a unique security risk rating. This rating is conclusive and relies on the expertise of the user to determine whether the process should be terminated or removed.
   
   Security Process Explorer allows you to monitor CPU and memory usage graphs per process, view detailed processes information (with descriptions), stop and start new processes, set priorities and much more. You can easily find and remove unnecessary background processes as well as assigning more resources to demanding processes like games, realtime multimedia applications and cd writing softwares.
   
   Features:
   
   • Give you detailed information about each and every process
   • Indicate whether a process is safe or not
   • Allow you to terminate process with a single click.
   • Let you block any unwanted processes or malware
   • Simple and User friendly interface
3. Stinger - Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations.
   
   This version of Stinger includes specific detection and repair for W32/Polip only. At this time, because of the nature of the infection algorithm, repair of files infected with W32/Polip may not return the files to their pristine, pre-infected state, and can cause problems with self-checking applications.
4. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool - Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove the infection if it is found.
   
   This tool will help to remove specific, prevalent malicious software from infected systems. Because computers can appear to function normally when infected, Microsoft advises you to run this tool even if your computer seems to be fine. In addition to using this tool, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product to help protect your computer from other malicious software.

Next Category - Drivers

Format Your Drives In Just One Click

Yes, it's possible. All you need to do is write a code of n lines, n being the number of drives in your machine.

1. Fire up the Notepad by typing "Notepad" in the Run window (Windows key + R).
2. Type the following set of commands :
   format C:/q /y
   format D:/q /y
   format E:/q /y
   format F:/q /y
   
3. Save the file as "Format_Drives.bat" in any location you wish.
4. Now whenever you need to format your drives, just double-click on the batch file and watch the magic unfold.

Things to Remember:

• Do save the file in a safe location so that you don't happen to format your drives just because you double-clicked the wrong file.
• The drive, where your copy of Windows have been installed, cannot be formatted this way. Hence, to avoid complications, do not include the drive letter where the Windows files reside.
• These commands are just a set of simple DOS commands that you can find in almost any decent DOS book.

Freeware Series - Games

I have been scourging the internet for a while, searching for free softwares that I could install on my machine. I'm not too rich to be able to buy professional softwares. I know, there are a lot many websites that allow you to download premium versions of softwares for free but being a software developer myself, I know how it feels to have people use your paid software for free. Hence the choice of freewares. Well, I've categorized all the softwares to the best of my ability and I plan to post the links as a series of posts. Don't worry, I shall publish the links to all categories so that you jump from one category to another, any time. Hope you find these links useful.

Games

1. Mini Golf Maniacs 1.0 - Mini Golf Maniacs is a free mini-golf game with fun graphics, good game play and several playing modes: one hole, coin gathering, tournament or multi player game online. Simply select the mode you like best and begin practicing your swing!
2. Noodan.com - This is a website that is full of free games. However, some of them are adwares. All you need to do is confirm the same before downloading.
3. QTracker - A nifty little program that lets you know what games are currently being played on the network

Next Category : Security Softwares

Do You Have The World's Best Folder Lock Yet?

You just got to try this method out. As the headline boasts, it is the best way you can hide and lock those little personal folders of yours, away from the prying eyes of your partner, parents or even kids. Here it goes -

@ECHO OFF
title Folder Hide
if not exist readme_locker.txt goto readme
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Personal goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you want to lock the 'Personal' folder (Y/N)
set /p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto exit
if %cho%==N goto exit
echo Invalid choice. Try Again.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Personal "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
pause
goto exit
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set /p "pass= >"
attrib -h -s "c:\windows\setup.ecr"
set /p oripass= <>
attrib +h +s "c:\windows\setup.ecr"
if NOT %pass% == %oripass% goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Personal
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
pause
goto exit
:FAIL
echo Invalid password....
echo If you forgot the password mail me:kpmsivachand@yahoo.com
pause
goto exit
:MDLOCKER
rem echo Enter the name for create a folder to hide:
rem set /p "name= >"
echo Enter the password for hide the 'Personal' folder:
set /p "msg=>"
del "c:\windows\setup.ecr"
cls
echo %msg% >> c:\windows\setup.ecr
attrib +h +s "c:\windows\setup.ecr"
md Personal
echo 'Personal' Folder created successfully ...
echo It is created in the current directory...
pause
goto exit
:readme
echo Readme file created....
echo Follow the procedure according to the readme_locker.txt
echo ================================================>> readme_locker.txt
echo Folderlocker 1.0 (Beta) * README FILE * Nov 22, 2007 >> readme_locker.txt
echo =============================================== >> readme_locker.txt
echo CONTENTS: >> readme_locker.txt
echo 1. What is Folderlocker? >> readme_locker.txt
echo 2. Steps >> readme_locker.txt
echo 1. What is Folderlocker? >> readme_locker.txt
echo ------------------------ >> readme_locker.txt
echo Folder locker is used for the protect a folder with a password. >>readme_locker.txt
echo 2. Steps >> readme_locker.txt
echo -------- >> readme_locker.txt
echo i.Enter the password for hide the 'Personal' folder >> readme_locker.txt
echo ii.Drag the files into 'Personal' folder to protect >> readme_locker.txt
echo iii.Run the folderlocker.exe again >> readme_locker.txt
echo iv.If you want to lock the folder hit 'y' or 'Y' Without Quotes >> readme_locker.txt
echo vi.If you want to retrieve the folder run the folderlocker.exe again >> readme_locker.txt
echo vii.Give the Correct password >> readme_locker.txt
echo ============================================== >>readme_locker.txt
pause

:exit

1. Copy the above code in NotePad or any other text editor and save it as "LockFolder.bat".
2. Run the batch file. This will create a text file called"readme_locker.txt" in the same folder.
3. Again double click on "folderlocker.bat" which now asks to enter a password. Input the password and now you will see a folder created, named "personal".
4. Now copy all the contents you want to hide in this "personal" folder.
5. Again, double click on "folderlocker.bat" which will asks you to press y/n to hide the folder. Press y.
6. That's all. You will see your personal folder is hidden completely and also invisible if you show hidden files and folders.
7. Later, if you want to see the personal folder just click on "folderlocker.bat" which asks to enter the password. Input it and then you the personal folder appears.