Enhance Your Gmail Account in Chrome
Mar/100
Are you tired of items like the Chat and Invite Boxes cluttering up your Gmail account? Then join us as we look at the Better Gmail extension for Google Chrome.
Before
Here are some examples of items that you may be tired of looking at in your Gmail account such as the “Footer” below your “Inbox”, the “Chat Box”, and the “Invitation Box”.
Perhaps you would also like to have the “New Window, Print all, & Create a document Commands” moved elsewhere. And of course there is everyone’s “favorite” sponsored links… Time to do some cleaning up and reorganizing.
Better Gmail in Action
As soon as you have installed Better Gmail a new tab will automatically open and present you with the available options. Place a “checkmark” in the box for each option that you would like activated and click on “Save” when finished.
Note: The final option entry is a tie-in with two other “linked” extensions (Folders4Gmail & HTML Signature) while the middle listing is a link to an article for disabling Google Buzz.
Once you have saved your changes in the “Options” you will be prompted to refresh your Gmail tab to see the changes.
Going back to our “Inbox Area” everything looks so much more streamlined and clean now. Goodbye clutter!
The “New Window, Print all, & Create a document Commands” definitely look a lot nicer as a small toolbar above our e-mail. And the right side…you can see for yourself just how much better that looks. No more distractions there to bother you as you read your e-mail.
Conclusion
If you have been wanting to get rid of the undesirable elements visible in your Gmail account then hurry over to the Better Gmail page, grab the extension and enjoy the better view.
Links
Download the Better Gmail extension (Google Chrome Extensions)
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Restore Your PC from Windows Home Server
Mar/100
If your computer crashes or you get a virus infection that makes it unrecoverable, doing a clean install can be a hassle, let alone getting your data back. If you’re backing up your computers to Windows Home Server, you can completely restore them to the last successful backup.
Note: For this process to work you need to verify the PC you want to restore is connected to your network via Ethernet. If you have it connected wirelessly it won’t work.
Restore a PC from Windows Home Server
On the computer you want to restore, pop in the Windows Home Server Home Computer Restore disc and boot from it. If you don’t have one already made, you can easily make one following these instructions. We have also included the link to the restore disc below.
Boot from the CD then select if your machine has 512MB or RAM or more.
The disc will initialize…
Then choose your language and keyboard settings.
Hopefully if everything goes correctly, your network card will be detected and you can continue. However, if it doesn’t like in our example, click on the Show Details button.
In the Detect Hardware screen click on the Install Drivers button.
Now you will need to have a USB flash drive with the correct drivers on it. It has to be a flash drive or a floppy (if you happen to still have one of those) because you can’t take out the Restore CD.
If you want to make sure you have the correct drivers on the USB flash drive, open the Windows Home Server Console on another computer on your network. In the Computers and Backup section right-click on the computer you want to restore and select View Backups.
Select the backup you want to restore from and click the Open button in the Restore or view Files section.
Now drag the entire contents of the folder named Windows Home Server Drivers for Restore to the USB flash drive.
Back to the machine you’re trying to restore, insert the USB flash drive with the correct drivers and click the Scan button.
Wait a few moments while the drivers are found then click Ok then Continue.
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The Restore Computer Wizard starts up…
Enter in your home server password and click Next.
Select the computer you want to restore. If it isn’t selected by default you can pull it up from the dropdown list under Another Computer. Make certain you’re selecting the correct machine.
Now select the backup you want to restore. In this example we only have one but chances are you’ll have several.
If you have several backups to choose from, you might want to check out the details for them.
Now you can select the disk from backup and and restore it to the destination volume. You might need to initialize a disk, change a drive letter, or other disk management tasks, if so, then click on Run Disk Manger.
For example we want to change the destination drive letter to (C:).
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After you’ve made all the changes to the destination disk you can continue with the restore process.
If everything looks correct, confirm the restore configuration. If you need to make any changes at this point, you can still go back and make them.
Now Windows Home Server will restore your drive. The amount of time it takes will vary depend on the amount of data you have to restore, network connection speed, and hardware.
You are notified when the restore successfully completes. Click Finish and the PC will reboot and be restored and should be working correctly. All the updates, programs, and files will be back that were saved to the last successful backup. Anything you might have installed after that backup will be gone. If you have your computers set to backup every night, then hopefully it won’t be a big issue.
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Conclusion
Backing up the computers on your network to Windows Home Server is a valuable tool in your backup strategy. Sometimes you may only need to restore a couple files and we’ve covered how to restore them from backups on WHS and that works really well. If the unthinkable happens and you need to restore the entire computer, WHS makes that easy too.?
Download Windows Home Server Home Computer Restore CD
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How To Replace Notepad in Windows 7
Mar/100
It used to be that Notepad was a necessary evil because it started up quickly and let us catch a quick glimpse of plain text files. Now, there are a bevy of capable Notepad replacements that are just as fast, but also have great feature sets.
Before following the rest of this how-to, ensure that you’re logged into an account with Administrator access.
Note: The following instructions involve modifying some Windows system folders. Don’t mess anything up while you’re in there! If you follow our instructions closely, you’ll be fine.
Choose your replacement
There are a ton of great Notepad replacements, including Notepad2, Metapad, and Notepad++. The best one for you will depend on what types of text files you open and what you do with them. We’re going to use Notepad++ in this how-to.
The first step is to find the executable file that you’ll replace Notepad with. Usually this will be the only file with the .exe file extension in the folder where you installed your text editor. Copy the executable file to your desktop and try to open it, to make sure that it works when opened from a different folder.
In the Notepad++ case, a special little .exe file is available for the explicit purpose of replacing Notepad.If we run it from the desktop, it opens up Notepad++ in all its glory.
Back up Notepad
You will probably never go back once you switch, but you never know. You can backup Notepad to a special location if you’d like, but we find it’s easiest to just keep a backed up copy of Notepad in the folders it was originally located.
In Windows 7, Notepad resides in:
- C:Windows
- C:WindowsSystem32
- C:WindowsSysWOW64 in 64-bit versions only
Navigate to each of those directories and copy Notepad.
Paste it into the same folder.
If prompted, choose to Copy, but keep both files.
You can keep your backup as “notepad (2).exe”, but we prefer to rename it to “notepad.exe.bak”.
Do this for all of the folders that have Notepad (2 total for 32-bit Windows 7, 3 total for 64-bit).
Take control of Notepad and delete it
Even if you’re on an administrator account, you can’t just delete Notepad – Microsoft has made some security gains in this respect. Fortunately for us, it’s still possible to take control of a file and delete it without resorting to nasty hacks like disabling UAC.
Navigate to one of the directories that contain Notepad. Right-click on it and select Properties.
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Switch to the Security tab, then click on the Advanced button.
Note that the owner of the file is a user called “TrustedInstaller”.
You can’t do much with files owned by TrustedInstaller, so let’s take control of it. Click the Edit… button. Select the desired owner (you could choose your own account, but we’re going to give any Administrator control) and click OK.
You’ll get a message that you need to close and reopen the Properties windows to edit permissions. Before doing that, confirm that the owner has changed to what you selected.
Click OK, then OK again to close the Properties window. Right-click on Notepad and click on Properties again.
Switch to the Security tab. Click on Edit….
Select the appropriate group or user name in the list at the top, then add a checkmark in the checkbox beside Full control in the Allow column.
Click OK, then Yes to the dialog box that pops up.
Click OK again to close the Properties window.
Now you can delete Notepad, by either selecting it and pressing Delete on the keyboard, or right-click on it and click Delete.
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You’re now free from Notepad’s foul clutches!
Repeat this procedure for the remaining folders (or folder, on 32-bit Windows 7).
Drop in your replacement
Copy your Notepad replacement’s executable, which should still be on your desktop.
Browse to the two or three folders listed above and copy your .exe to those locations. If prompted for Administrator permission, click Continue.
If your executable file was named something other than “notepad.exe”, rename it to “notepad.exe”. Don’t be alarmed if the thumbnail still shows the old Notepad icon.
Double click on Notepad and your replacement should open.
To make doubly sure that it works, press Win+R to bring up the Run dialog box and enter “notepad” into the text field. Press enter or click OK.
Now you can allow Windows to open files with Notepad by default with little to no shame! All without restarting or having to disable UAC!
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Share Folders & Files Between Vista and XP Machines
Mar/100
Since Microsoft has three operating systems in use, chances are you’ll find yourself needing to share files between XP, Vista, Windows 7, or some combination of the three. Here we take a look at sharing between a Vista and XP on your home network.
Share Without Password Protected Sharing
If you’re not worried about who’s accessing the files and folders, the easiest method is to disable Password Protected Sharing. So on the Vista machine open Network and Sharing Center. Under Sharing and Discovery make sure Network Discovery, File Sharing, and, Public Folder Sharing are turned on.
Also turn off Password Protected Sharing…
Now go into the Vista Public folder, located in C:UsersPublic, and add what you want to share or create a new folder. In this example we created a new folder called XP_Share and added some files to it.
On the XP machine go into My Network Places and under Network Tasks click on View Workgroup Computers.
Now you’ll see all of the computers on your network which should be part of the same Workgroup. Here we need to double-click on the Vista computer.
And there we go…no password to enter so we can access the XP_Share folder or anything else that is located in the Public folder.
Share with Password Protected Sharing
If you want to keep Password Protected Sharing turned on, then we need to do things a little different. When it’s turned on and you try to access the Vista machine from XP, you’re prompted for a password, and no matter what you think the credentials are, you can’t get access…very annoying.
So what we need to do is add the XP Machine as a user. Right-click on Computer from the Start Menu or desktop icon and select Manage from the context menu.
The Computer Management screen opens up and you want to expand Local Users and Groups, then the Users folder. Then right-click any open area an select New User.
Now create a new user name and password, you can also fill in the other fields if you want. Then make sure to uncheck User must change password at next logon and check the box next to Password never expires. Click the Create button and close out of the New User screen.
You’ll then see the new user we created in the list and you can close out of the Computer Management window.
Now back on the XP computer when you double-click on the Vista machine, your prompted to log in. Just type in the username and password you just created.
Now you’ll have access to the Public folder contents.
Set up Sharing on XP
If you want to access a shared folder from the Vista computer located on the XP machine, it’s the same process in reverse. On the XP computer in Shared Documents, right-click on the folder you want to share and select Sharing and Security.
Then select the radio button next to Share this folder and click Ok.
Go into Computer Management and create a new user…
Now from the Vista machine double click on the XP machine icon, enter the password, then access the folders and files you need.
If you have multiple versions of Windows on your home network, you’ll now be able to access files and folders from each of them.
If you want to share between Windows 7 and XP check out our article on how to share files and printers between Windows 7 and XP. You might also want to check out our article on how to share files and printers between Windows 7 and Vista.
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Desktop Fun: Fast Cars Wallpapers
Mar/100
Have you been feeling a need for speed lately? Then get ready to jump into the driver’s seat with our Fast Cars Wallpapers collection.
Note: Click on the picture to see the full-size image—these wallpapers vary in size so you may need to crop, stretch, or place them on a colored background in order to best match them to your screen’s resolution.
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For more fun wallpapers be certain to visit our new Desktop Fun section.
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Review: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (multiplayer)
Mar/100
For those who prefer their multiplayer experiences to be full of camaraderie rather than competition, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 delivers a bonding experience like few other games can. By pushing the idea of teamwork upon players, Bad Company 2 is a game that discourages the “lone wolf” mentality found in many, if not most, online first-person shooters.
A question I’ve been asked a lot this week: “I barely played and/or didn’t really enjoy the first Battlefield: Bad Company’s multiplayer. How does this stack up?” The sequel is more Battlefield 1943 than Bad Company. It’s a more balanced experience like developer DICE’s summer hit, but with a modern setting and delivering the scope one would expect from a full-priced retail experience.
Squads. It’s one of the most important elements to Battlefield and a feature that has gotten better through each iteration. A squad is your mini-team within the game; working with them just makes sense, since you’ll be respawning with them when you die. In previous Battlefield games, squad members would sometimes be switched to the other team, even as total strangers were inserted in your squad. (As one comrade-in-arms aptly put it this week: “It’s like being invited to a Rock Band party, but you’re accidentally given the address next door and they’re playing Guitar Hero. Sure, it’s almost the same, but that’s not the party you wanted to attend.”) Thankfully, the biggest problem with making a squad is resolved in this outing.
Continue reading Review: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (multiplayer)
Review: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (multiplayer) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Molyneux combats fear of Natal input lag
Mar/100
The problem of input latency is something that keeps popping up in coverage of Microsoft’s Project Natal. It’s something we noticed when demoing Natal at TGS last year, something Microsoft promised to address before launch. Apparently, certain outlets are still noticing latency issues, which has prompted both Microsoft and Peter Molyneux to come to the peripheral’s defense. The comments come in response to reactions from a recent event held in London for non-enthusiast press.
Speaking to GI.biz (account required), Molyneux noted his “frustration” at seeing the press use a version of Natal that has since been “exceeded many times over.” Said Molyneux, “So very often you get a position that what a person’s looking at is two, three, four months, a year old and you kind of want to go, ‘no, no, it’s 10 times better than that!’” He added that there have been “countless” revisions to Natal’s camera and software since X10, which was held just weeks ago. Furthermore a Microsoft source told GI.biz that the unit demonstrated in London was “one-tenth as responsive” as the current revision.
Microsoft doesn’t have any Natal presentations planned for GDC next week, but maybe, just maybe Molyneux will show us how far the peripheral has come during his panel on intuitive game design.
Molyneux combats fear of Natal input lag originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Geek Fun: Virtualized Old School Windows – Windows 95
Mar/100
Last week we enjoyed looking at Windows 3.1 running in VMware Player on Windows 7.? Today, let’s upgrade our 3.1 to 95, and get a look at how most of us remember Windows from the 90’s.
In this demo, we’re running the first release of Windows 95 (version 4.00.950) in VMware Player 3.0 running on Windows 7 x64.? For fun, we ran the 95 upgrade on the 3.1 virtual machine we built last week.
Windows 95
So let’s get started.? Here’s the first setup screen.? For the record, Windows 95 installed in about 15 minutes or less in VMware in our test.
Strangely, Windows 95 offered several installation choices.? They actually let you choose what extra parts of Windows to install if you wished.? Oh, and who wants to run Windows 95 on your “Portable Computer”?? Most smartphones today are more powerful than the “portable computers” of 95.
Your productivity may vastly increase if you run Windows 95.? Anyone want to switch?
No, I don’t want to restart … I want to use my computer!
Welcome to Windows 95!? Hey, did you know you can launch programs from the Start button?
Our quick spin around Windows 95 reminded us why Windows got such a bad reputation in the ‘90’s for being unstable.? We didn’t even get our test copy fully booted after installation before we saw our first error screen.?
Windows in space … was that the most popular screensaver in Windows 95, or was it just me?
Hello Windows 3.1!? The UI was still outdated in some spots.
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Ah, yes, Media Player before it got 101 features to compete with iTunes.
But, you couldn’t even play CDs in Media Player.? Actually, CD player was one program I used almost daily in Windows 95 back in the day.
Want some new programs?? This help file about new programs designed for Windows 95 lists a lot of outdated names in tech.?
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And, you really may want some programs.? The first edition of Windows 95 didn’t even ship with Internet Explorer.?? We’ve still got Minesweeper, though!
My Computer had really limited functionality, and by default opened everything in a new window.? Double click on C:, and it opens in a new window.? Ugh.
But Explorer is a bit more like more modern versions.
Hey, look, Start menu search!? If only it found the files you were looking for…
Now I’m feeling old … this shutdown screen brought back so many memories … of shutdowns that wouldn’t shut down!
But, you still have to turn off your computer.? I wonder how many old monitors had these words burned into them?
So there’s yet another trip down Windows memory lane.? Most of us can remember using Windows 95, so let us know your favorite (or worst) memory of it!? At least we can all be thankful for our modern computers and operating systems today, right??
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Activision/Infinity Ward court documents detail ex-studio heads’ many, many complaints
Mar/100
Beyond a statement released by ex-Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella’s lawyer yesterday detailing the lawsuit the two are filing against Activision, we’ve seen little in the way of back history on the various events that lead us to the debacle we’re seeing this week. This morning, though, Joystiq obtained the entire 16-page court document (gallery-ized below for you) that details, among many other things, the ex-employees’ complaints about Activision in the wake of their untimely departure.
The initial claim of unpaid royalties is represented in the documents, even going as far as to claim that the publisher fired West and Zampella just weeks before having to pay out said royalties. “Activision fired them in hope that by doing so, it could avoid paying them what they had rightfully earned, and to seize control of the Infinity Ward studio, to which Activision had previously granted creative control over all Modern Warfare branded games,” the document reads. In the history lesson portion of the complaint, it’s revealed that Activision allegedly purchased the studio for just $5 million originally (in two different chunks), and the Call of Duty franchise (including Treyarch-developed titles) has earned over $3 billion since 2003.
Finally, the complaint claims that, before Infinity Ward agreed to develop Modern Warfare 2, the then-studio heads “were not eager to extend their employment” as Activision had apparently begun demanding a more constant development pace at the studio. “Despite assurances by Activision that West and Zampella would have complete freedom to run Infinity Ward as an independent studio, Activision had begun to intrude upon Infinity Ward’s ability to create quality games. For example, Activision forced Infinity Ward’s employees to continue producing the games at a breakneck pace under aggressive schedules, and West and Zampella were concerned that Activision was emphasizing quantity over quality.”
Regardless of the veracity of these allegations, it would certainly appear that the gloves have come all the way off. We’ll have a more thorough breakdown of the entire document later today, but for now you can see it in its entirety below.
Activision/Infinity Ward court documents detail ex-studio heads’ many, many complaints originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ask the Readers: Share Your Tips for Defeating Viruses and Malware
Mar/100
We’ve shared some of our best tips for dealing with malware over the years, and now it’s your turn! Share your favorite tips for protecting against, or getting rid of viruses and other types of malicious software.
Unfortunately, if you’re a PC user it’s a given that you have to play defense against various forms of Malware. We’ve written several articles showing how to get rid of viruses and other forms of malware over the years using various strategies.
We have some excellent articles explaining how to get rid of Advanced Virus Remover, Antivirus Live, Internet Security 2010, and Security Tool – all of which disguise themselves as legit antivirus apps.
Now we turn it over to you to share your favorite tips and tricks for defending against malicious infections. If your computer has been infected, what steps did you take to get rid of it and clean up your machine?
Leave a comment below and join in the discussion!
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Ask the Readers: Share Your Tips for Defeating Viruses and Malware