another program

Another one of the many annoyances I came across in Windows Vista is its "nerfed" file and program association screen.

In previous versions of Windows, you could go to Folder Options -> File Types and be able to change program association or just delete file associations to reset them.

If you associated the wrong program with a file type or wanted to change a file types icon, you could easily do so.

Under Vista, you are simply allowed to change what program a file extension is associated to. That's it. You can't remove a program or do much of anything else without having to open up Registry Editor and browse to a key several branches deep.

I started working on a program that would make things a little easier.
Right now, all it does it remove all associations for the file for the current user, basically resetting the extension to defaults.

I didn't know what to call it, but you can click here to download the XdN File Association program.

Here is an image of what it looks like:

I've tested it under Vista and XP, and it works fine.

another program Read More »

updates and stuff

today i posted updated versions of a few files.

XdN Directions:
xdn_directions_setup.exe

XdN Tweaker:
xdn_tweaker_setup.exe

Both programs now come in an installer package. The package will extract and install the program, and update it if you have an older version already installed.

Both programs have also been tested under 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, XP and Vista.

Besides making sure the programs work under 64-bit Windows, I've also posted updated 64-bit TV card drivers for my STB TV PCI.

stb_tv_pci_wdm_x64.zip

The drivers are based on generic BT8x8 TV card drivers, have been compiled with a 64-bit compiler, work under 64-bit XP and 64-bit Vista, and have had the INF file modified to work with the STB TV PCI card.

If you don't have an STB TV PCI card, you can still use the enclosed INF and SYS file to make it work with your BT8x8 TV card.

updates and stuff Read More »

programming madness!

"XdN Directions"

an update to a program i made *6 years ago* ...

XdN Directions

it sits in the tray and gives you quick access to address forms to look up something on Google Maps.

yeah, i *guess* you could just open a browser, then open a bookmark. but this program is for someone who may look up a lot of addresses.

the original program i made was because i worked with several people (mostly nurses) who needed to look up addresses a lot. i thought it was a pretty good idea to have a big shiny icon for them to go to get some forms for address entry.

this new program does what my old program did, and a bit more. it sits in the tray, out of the way, and will keep the address info filled in even if the "X" is hit to send it back to the tray.

its also easy to enter data. just double click the tray icon, start typing, and hit Enter for each field. focus is given to the first address box, and the Enter key takes you to the next one and so on, until at the last address box it then opens your web browser window and hides itself.

the permanent page link for the program will be:
https://xenomorph.net/?p=486

my XdN Tweaker program has also been updated to 0.8.6.2, with some new tweaks for XP/2k3

https://xenomorph.net/xdntweaker/

programming madness! Read More »

running Vista? anyone want to try this?

i just uploaded a Vista-specific XdN Tweaker

0.8.5.0 is posted on my XdN Tweaker page

- remove Media Player items off right click menu
- add Windows 2000 style user account manager to Control Panel
- remove "SendTo" from right click menus
- remove ATI CCC from Desktop right click menu
- disable Zip/Cab folders
- add "Take Ownership" to right click menu
- disable UAC
- force Vista to treat all folders the same
- remove "- Shortcut" text when making new shortcuts
- change tcp/ip settings
- increase/reset folder views
- put Menu bar on top in IE7
- remove Search bar in IE7
- disable Windows Mail splash screen

all items have an on/off toggle to enable/disable all changes.

running Vista? anyone want to try this? Read More »

so i broke my ankle...

me and some friends had a camping trip planned for months. we paid a bunch of money for some camp ground, right next to a river.

we had all kinds of plans for the weekend. lots of music, booze, fishing and swimming.

on the first day there, while walking down a hill towards the river to go swiming, the sandy dirt started to slide, causing me to lose my balance. i was wearing flip-flops, and besides not providing a lot of traction, they also don't stay on your feet that well.

so while twisting and turning, trying to regain my balance so i wouldn't fall, i ended up twisting my legs and falling on my foot, causing a loud crack sound to happen.

most of the people near me heard the "crack" sound since it was so loud, and thought i had stepped on a fallen tree and broken a tree branch off or something.

i couldn't make it back up the hill since i couldn't get any traction, and a friend slid and fell when he tried to pull me up as well. two friends eventually lifted me up and were able to walk me back up the hill. they then laid me on a picnic table.

we had no cell phone signal where we were at, so 911 calls were a bit difficult. eventually they backed a minivan up to the table, so i could be loaded into the back of it. they drove me down to the camp registration building, where we were met by an ambulance that took me to the hospital.

i broke my ankle on thursday, i had surgery friday to put a metal plate in my leg and a bunch of metal screws, and saturday i started physical therapy.

so i broke my ankle... Read More »