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 »

shitty virus scanners

lots of people run their computers completely unprotected. anything that wants to infect their system can. usually those who don't bother protecting their systems are the same type that are too lazy to bother verifying if that awesome file link they just clicked on will infect their system.

some people will say "well, i just double clicked the file, and nothing happened!" - well, it may look like nothing happened, but in all reality perhaps that file just extracted several more files on your computer, and just loaded a key logger, a virus, and possibly a back door program so everyone can look at all your files. way to go! it did all that behind the scenes, without showing you that anything happened. after the user double-clicks it a few more times, they just go ahead and delete it. it's too late though, for it has already delivered its payload.

some people install a virus scanner, but then never update it. having a scanner with definition files from 2004 has almost zero effect on everything that has come out then.

its possible to see certain brands of virus scanners advertised and sold at local stores. the two biggest are Norton AntiVirus and McAfee AntiVirus. obviously these are the most popular. not because they are the best, or because they are even good - but simply because they are advertised the most. they spend money to advertise, they make money, and can spend more to advertise even more. clueless people buying these products just perpetuate them being sold to even more clueless people.

they cost a lot and require you to keep paying yearly fees to stay up to date. they usually take up a lot of disk space and system resources. they usually present you with false information as well. false information to make you think you are more secure, or false information about how it has just done something to protect you.

they may end up letting something slip through, or they may mark valid files as "dangerous".

there is also the whole "performance" issue. many people pay top dollar for their computer, and then pay a lot for one of these crummy virus scanners. i've always noticed speed reductions with the popular virus scanners - it seems like someone has done some benchmarks on the issue now, testing many virus scanners and other applications.

you can check out that information and the benchmarks here:
http://www.thepcspy.com/articles/other/what_really_slows_windows_down/5

at the top of the list for slowing down systems the most:
- "Norton Internet Security 2006"
- "McAfee VirusScan Enterprise"

regardless of what virus scanner you get, make sure you pay attention to what files it marks as "bad". many virus scanners will mark legitimate programs and other software as a virus, trojan, or other malware when the file may actually be perfectly safe.

shitty virus scanners Read More »