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Sunday, November 27, 2005
Our 200th Episode!
- Tech News
- 11a-Noon
- Noon-1p
- Michelle in Los Angeles - preparing court documents in Microsoft Word
- Ben in Madison, WI - sharing files with my buddy
- Brian in Agoura Hills - looking for cheap video recorder on EBay
- Rich in Placentia - HP Pavilion video and sound won’t work
- Paul in Covina - missing the MSVCRT.DLL
- Alan in Orange - video capture cards
- 1-2p
- John in Rosemead - importing Netscape Messenger into Outlook
- Rick in Van Nuys - looking for a still camera with good video
- … setting up a private family blog
- Julian in Reseda - unlocking GSM phones
- Andy in Diamond Bar - putting Flash on DVD
- Kent in Chino - batch renaming files in Windows
- Bruce in Pasadena - my video card is dying
- Steve in Camarillo - how do I get my public IP address?
- Chat Logs and Show Audio
- Listener Comments
Tech News
Apple’s iTunes Music Store is now the number 7 music retailer in the US. It’s the first time Apple has broken into the top 10. Who’s bigger? Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, Amazon, FYE, and Circuit City in that order.
Bram Cohen, the creator of BitTorrent, says he’ll pull pirated movies from BitTorrent’s tracker listings. Of course, dozens of illegall tracker sites still exist.
Verizon Wireless has filed suit against an SMS spammer who sent 98,000 text messages about Bahamas cruises to Verizon Wireless cell phone customers.
HD Radio receivers are here. (Boston Acoustics and others.) This enables multi-casting on the same frequency.
Crimmie’s Caller Of The Week web site
11a-Noon
QDavid in Sunland - multiple operating systems on one system
This is called a dual-boot or multi-boot system. Create at least one partition for each OS. Windows 98 must install into the first partition on the primary drive (that’s the C: drive). XP doesn’t care.
It’s easiest to install Windows 98, then install Windows XP - instructing it to install into a separate partition. After that you can install other non-Windows operating systems like Linux.
Here are Microsoft’s instructions.
You must use the FAT-32 file system for all partitions you want Windows 98 to see, including its own partition, of course. XP can live on an NTFS partition.
Partition Magic is pricey, but it makes organizing partitions (within XP) very intuitive.
For instructions to install XP after 98, see this Free2code.net article
From DaFreak in Denver, CO
Another option is to simply not install Windows 98 at all. Windows XP does have a compatability mode available that will allow you to to run programs in an emulated Windows 95/98/NT enviroment. Simply right click on the program’s shortcut once it is installed, select properties and then compatability. If this doesn’t work then the other option is to install Windows 98 as Leo instructed but this may help you avoid having to do that.
QHerb in North Hollywood - Windows Me won’t shut down
From martinsbm @ Boca Raton, FL
Oh, poor Win-ME! Listen, I have XP, 2000, etc etc and my ME machine still rocks, gets the work done, and viruses don’t care to attack it! OK, enough. The shutdown problem believe it or not is a Windows Update fix that was put on way back when! Only took me two years to run it down. GRIN Go to Add/Remove Programs Control Panel, and remove the windows update that starts with a KB and ends with 11. Sorry, but I’m not where the machine is to give it to you exactly, but if you email me at martinsbm@yahoo.com I’ll give you the exact update. It was an update to protect against a buffer overflow issue that was so rare, it may have happened once in the year 2000.
Update… From martinsbm @ Boca Raton, FL
Now at the ME machine, and the culprit is Security Update for Windows ME KB891711. Remove this in Add/Remove Programs. Yes, Windows Update will try to get you to install it again, so you’ll have to ignore it a lot. Hope this helps.
This is usually caused by a program that’s hanging on shutdown. Norton Anti-Virus is a common culprit. Read Microsoft’s troubleshooter.
QDavid in Marlboro, NJ - can I use Hotmail with Thunderbird
Mozilla says no.
From RHNet
You may want to check out this list from about.com.
From Luke @ New Germany, PA
Check out this website to get your hotmail, yahoo, lycos and mail.com accounts working with Thunderbird. http://webmail.mozdev.org/
From Echelon @ Roseville, CA (ryan@echel0n.net)
After a little hunting, there is an application that interprets the protocol so thunderbird and other email applications may view. Hotmail Popper does the interpretation. The link takes you to the site, along with instructions on how to set up under thunderbird. Enjoy. :)
Myth is a Linux-based program to turn your PC into a Tivo. The easiest way to do this is with KnoppMyth. Watch Kevin Rose and Dan Huard set up their Myth box on Systm episode 2.
QFran in Madison, WI - looking for multi-function printer
I don’t have the resources to review many of these, but I do recommend PC Magazine’s reviews - David Stone who takes the lead on these is very good and very credible. In the sub-$200 price range they recommend the Canon Pixma MP500 and I concur. I use a Pixma printer and it does an excellent job on photos. One drawback: no fax support, but I think it’s better to use a web based fax service like eFax instead, anyway.
colin? says you can also check http://www.epinions.com for product reviews of almost everything.
Noon-1p
QMichelle in Los Angeles - preparing court documents in Microsoft Word
She needs double-sided pleadings. Use the print driver to set up double sided printing - don’t hack the PCL! You can also use Word’s built-in Legal Pleadings wizard to format your pleading properly. Sacramento County offers this guide.
QBen in Madison, WI - sharing files with my buddy
Best way to share files is with AOL Instant Mesenger there is feature called direct connect and they can each set a foler to drop files into and give ONLY access to yor buddy. The beauty of this is that you just drop the files into your folder and your friend just looks in there and picks it up.
I recommended www.logmein.com but the free version doesn’t allow file transfers. The BBS program I was trying to remember was Hotline. If you use a Hotline server on your side you’ll need to port forward ports 5000–5003 and 5499 for TCP.
The creator of Hotline has created what seems to be a successor to it called KDX
If you are going to run your file sharing server on Mac OS X another server/client solution is Wired by Zanka Software. There is a version of Wired that runs on Linux as well. Work is being done for a Windows based client too.
From Echelon @ Roseville, CA (ryan@echel0n.net)
Your best bet is to check out Hamachi. It is a zero-config vpn, and works without opening ports, and through NAT routers, and firewalls. Therefore, you can then use FTP, or windows file sharing securely, regardless of what ports your ISP filters. :)
From RHNet
You may want to check out Pnext. It Has file transfer and file sharing. It is also encrypted.
From Techeon
The best file sharing program with only people you designate that have access is Grouper. This allows you to set up groups and invite people to be members of your groups. You drag which files and folders you wish to share. Also, it has a built in media player that will stream all of your music files as well. You can’t transfer music files, but you can zip them up and then transfer them. Until Grouper 2.0 is launched you can see Grouper 1.5 via BetaNews.
From klokwkdog @ n. kingstown RI
FTP might work on other than Port 20/21. But when I tried it using a high port through routers, it failed. No routers or one router, worked. FTP is an old, unsophisticated protocol. When it goes thru a router at each end, there are some problems. Amazingly, routers seem to have a patch for this…but only for Port 20/21. SSL-based FTP (sftp) might work better (and would be more secure). Works thru routers at both ends, too.
Nx technology from NoMachine is interesting. One opens up the entire remote desktop and just collaborates that way. NoMachine makes the clients available for free; sells the server. However, one obtain a FreeNx server for Linux. Not sure if there’s a FreeNx port for Windows; the FreeNx server is actually a script around code released by NoMachine. Nx is a bit complex to set up (understatement). It’s included on the Knoppix CDs.
Michael
Two great ways to share files…
http://freespace.filefront.com/1
That is a free service to upload and share files. The other is…
Personally, I like the freespace service from FileFront.
Michael
Rumble in Melbourne, Australia:
Try http://www.foldershare.com. Very easy, cross platform (OS X/Windows)
Wolven Spectre in Prince Albert, SK, Canada:
You can use the BitTorrent Client/Server solution Azureus (Java based so runs on all platforms) and if you go into the options you can create torrents between only you and your friend. It can also be configured to get around most commonly blocked ports if you read the main wiki.
Dave in Woodbury, MN:
The free version of LogMeIn will not allow file sharing. The pay version will allow you do to it.
I have tried transfering file with Yahoo IM, but it is very slow and not that reliable.
If you want to share files with FTP, I would recommend getting Bulletproof FTP Server, and maybe their Bulletproof FTP client. The setup is quite easy and it does allow you to use non-standard ports. The server is about $35 and the client is about $30, both with unlimited upgrades.
You could use only the server to save money and use command line FTP scripting to transfer the files. If you use scripting, you will need to have error checking in your scripts in case the connection drops. You can also split large files into smaller slices to reduce the amount that has to be re-transferred if the connection drops.
Using the Bulletproof FTP client would elminate the re-transfer of files and elminate chopping up large files, since it will automatically re-connect and start up where it left off, even with dialup (if the ISP disconnects you for ‘parking’.
I have owned the Bulletproof FTP client for many years and it is an excellent product. I just recently purchased the Bulletproof FTP server, and it is also an excellent product. The downside to the Bulletproof products is the limited command line interface, however the GUI interface is very good. They have a free demo. Their web site is www.bpftp.com
QBrian in Agoura Hills - looking for cheap video recorder on EBay
He’s found a VHS recorder for $30 - that’s no bargain. VHS is obsolete - it should be $5. I would recommend either a VHS/DVD recorder, or if you don’t have VHS tapes to convert, a standalone DVD recorder. Panasonic, Toshiba, Philips, and so on are good manufacturers. Lite On is also good - and very inexpensive.
John in Buffalo, NY:
This note is for the caller above, but also applicable to the call about a capture card suggestion that happened later in the show.
Some advice based on personal experience: don’t ever buy a used VCR, especially on eBay. Used VCRs are nothing but trouble, you never know just how worn the parts are inside. The heads may be shot or nearly shot, belts could be worn, loose or broken, the load/unload mechanism can easily break or wear out (especially on today’s balsa wood VCRs.) Or, the previous owner could have fed lots of dodgy or gross tapes into it, or lots of rental tapes (which are unsanitary and can muck up the heads and transport mechanism.) You just never know. If you put a tape inside in it that is precious to you and irreplacable and the used machine eats it, you have saved nothing. I have been there, don’t do it.
If you really want to record on VHS (Leo is right, get a set-top DVD recorder, recording on VHS today is a waste of time), at least put the $30 toward a new VCR which can be had for less than $60. $60 buys a rather flimsy machine compared to a VCR made 10–15 years ago, but at least it will last a year or two and you know what you are getting a clean, unworn machine and have a warranty. While $30 may not be an unreasonable price for a used JVC S-VHS VCR (Leo should have asked him what kind of VCR it was and not assumed it was a cheap department store special, some VCRs are radically better than others and sell new for over $350 and $30 used may be justified), I would still not recommend a used VCR for the above reasons.
If you are dubbing lots of VHS to DVD, consider a high quality S-VHS VCR (which costs $120 and up.) If you are dubbing to DVD or other digital formats, definitely don’t be cheap! A quality VCR is way more than a good set-top DVD recorder, but if you are dubbing lots of precious tapes, it is an excellent investment (and in this context Leo is wrong, a quality S-VHS VCR is not obsolete and well worth a good sum of money. With almost 30 years of rare/irreplacable VHS tapes floating around and undubbed, VCRs are as important as ever to some, albeit it is a niche market.)
Leo’s advice is usally spot-on, but when people ask about doing VHS-DVD dubbing, Leo should mention that the VCR is impotant and not to be trivialized, and encourage people to use the best VCR their budget will allow. Leo never mentions this, and it can have a serious impact on the quality of the resultant DVD, or in the case of poor quality, worn or damaged tapes, if they will even play properly at all. (At least, make sure to tell people to use a 4 head hi-fi stereo deck, anything less is the definition of penny wise and pound foolish.) If you are doing a LOT of tapes, old and new, worn etc. a good VCR can make all the difference. This is advice from someone who has dubbed many hudreds of VHS tapes (and has hundreds left to dub!), running the gamut from brand new to 18 years old to tapes that have been heavily worn and damaged. I use a JVC S-VHS HR-S9911U, a painful but very worthwide $330. See http://www.digitalfaq.com/ for more info and hardware recommendations, his site is excellent and goes into great detail about VHS to DVD dubbing.
QRich in Placentia - HP Pavilion video and sound won’t work
He reinstalled Windows from a generic XP Home disc. The problem is that you need specialized motherboard drivers for that Pavilion. Go to www.hp.com and get the right drivers for your machine.
Kris from Berea, KY says
For who ever else may have critical HP issues. HPs built in recent years actually came with a pre-partitioned drive that contained nothing but the restore files. So, while HP does prompt you upon initial set-up to create restore CD’s, they knew that most people would not do this, so they created a partition with all of that information already on it. You can not only create the CDs with that partition, but also boot from that partition and I believe you can restore right with it.
QPaul in Covina - missing the MSVCRT.DLL
An anti-virus or anti-spyware program probably removed it because a bad guy had modified it. Reinstalling Windows 98 will fix the problem, or you can download a new version from DLL-Files.com.
QAlan in Orange - video capture cards
He’s copying his old VHS tapes to the computer so he can burn DVDs. You can get external or internal converters. If you get external I recommend a Firewire or IEEE1394 based box. USB just isn’t good enough. Pinnacle’s MovieBox Studio DV would do for this. For an internal card I recommend the miroDC30+. Looks like Pinnacle has rebranded these cards. Take a look at the Studio Plus 700 - I think it’s the same card.
Your recommendations??
Michael says
I love my Plextor video capture device. The online reviews are great. I used them to convert my VHS tapes to DVD with no problem. You can take a look at their two offerings here…
PLEXTOR PX-M402U Digital Video Converter
PLEXTOR PX-AV100U Digital Video Converter
Good luck,
Michael
SparkieinParadise says:
I have used an external firewire box, a Canopus ADVC110 for years and love it. See the Canopus site for more info. It’s pricey but it works.
funcrunch
Check out Miglia Director’s Cut - FireWire external converter box for Win and Mac.
? says:
I have heard you can use a MiniDV camcorder in pass-through mode.
Dave in Woodbury, MN:
I have SageTV that I use for recording television programs. I feed the VCR into the video input in my Hauppage PVR-350 video card. I can then edit the programs and burn them onto DVDs.
DragonCairn says:
I built a system specifically for video capture using a Pinnacle Pro-One RTDV card with break out box. It was a very expensive mistake, be careful.
1–2p
QJohn in Rosemead - importing Netscape Messenger into Outlook
He’s having trouble finding a program to do it.
From RHNet
You could always put the mbox files on a imap server or pop server, and then downlaod them from the server. It could mess up dates though.
From Jason
Apparently Outlook can read the index files (.idx) that are created by Eudora. This link Importing MBOX Mail From Mailsmith Into Outlook
Granted this method starts from Mailsmith but it seems Eudora can act as peacemaker in this. The procedure on this site worked for him.
QRick in Van Nuys - looking for a still camera with good video
Since he’s a Mac user I’d look for a camera with Quicktime movie support.
If video is a priority you might look at the new solid state/hard drive video cameras that produce respectable stills. I like the JVC Everio line.
Nightwing says
Two things…
Been running a Panasonic LX1. Does both true 16:9 stills and video. Video is MJPEG and play great on a Mac. With the IS it like a small DV camcorder. Just need a 60x SD card for max resolution on vid capture.
Try Steves Digital cameras site. List what video a camera can do along with a small vid clip.
CaptainLando says
A good place to find the video format a digital camera will record in is the specifications of Cnet.com… but PcMag.com is still better for reviews.
TheBum says
My Canon Powershot S1 IS takes tremendous video. It supports full 640×480 at 30 fps and has a 10x optical zoom. I used it at a wedding reception to record the toasts and the results were better than I expected. It saves the video as an AVI (MJPEG video; 16-bit, 22.050 KHz uncompressed audio), which plays just fine using Quicktime Player.
Q … setting up a private family blog
Free (ad-based) services:
- Google groups
- Yahoo groups
- Teens like www.myspace.com - but I don’t recommend it for adults.
Paid services:
- www.Typepad.com
- www.mac.com (for Macintosh users)
From funcrunch :
Also check out LiveJournal - Free, or paid accounts for extra features. No ads; offline clients and web-based editing available.
Kris from Berea, KY says:
Blogger - Blogger is an awesome free blogging service. I have used it for a while now. Easy and simple to use and better yet, Google recently bought this service and currently runs it, so you know it is good! They actually just implemented a new plug-in that you can download that allows you to type your new post right into MS Word and publish it without even having to open your browser and publishing. I have just begun using that service, it is free also.
From Jason
Also may want to try wordpress.com - I use wordpress as the base software in my own blog that I host privately. Wordpress.com allows for free wordpress based hosting. Very versatile software. I also used Blogger for a long time and have been very happy.
QJulian in Reseda - unlocking GSM phones
Here’s a good FAQ but they’re selling a service I don’t have any experience with. The information is good, though.
woden adds: Some cell companies will provide an unlock code on request if you’ve had the phone for a certain amount of time. Consider calling theme before buying any software to unlock the phone.
Westminster Dave says:
You may want to check out the forums on http://www.mobiledia.com They have great phone hacks.
Jimmy Hat adds: We were taking a trip to Europe and wanted to just buy a prepaid SIM card while there since it would be cheaper than international roaming. I just called our provider (T-Mobile) and told them this and they gave me an unlock code. Remember that you have a fixed number of times to try it and then it will lock the phone and make it useless.
QAndy in Diamond Bar - putting Flash on DVD
Macromedia’s Captivate will do it http://www.macromedia.com/software/captivate/. Or you can capture the animation as video with a program like HyperCam, SnagIt or Camtasia.
From RHNet
You can create an avi from a flash file. Check this article from Macromedia out.
From Neil in Toronto
You might also try Flash To Video Encoder from a company called GeoVid. I have not used it, but it might be something that will solve the problem.
QKent in Chino - batch renaming files in Windows
Try 1-4a Rename (needs a new name itself). For mass renaming MP3s I recommend the free Godfather.
JohnDGeekAdds: Try Irene - Rename Wizard. Select a directory or group of files and rename them all at once. It’s free and works well for me. I just noticed that it isn’t available by the programer anymore so I’ll add a link from my site for it.
Klinean in Vancouver, BC heartily recommends the MP3 Book Helper. It’s open source (i.e. 100% free), has an easy CDDB inteface, and (best of all) has powerful batch renaming features for labeling your MP3/Ogg/Flac files precisely how *you* want them organized.
Tag and Rename Try this program for manipulating your mp3 filenames and tags.
QBruce in Pasadena - my video card is dying
Check the cable and monitor first to make sure it’s not really them. Then try a different driver. If you recently updated drivers, rollback to a previous version. If none of this works, you might need a new video card!
QSteve in Camarillo - how do I get my public IP address?
The easiest way is to surf to a site like www.ipchicken.com. He wants to login to his home system from work. That’s more complicated. You’ll need a VPN router or something similar to make this possible. Steve and I are working on this ourselves on our Security Now! podcasts on VPNs. Listen to episode 15 and the upcoming 17 for more information. Fair warning: it’s not for newbies!
Chat Logs and Show Audio
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