My Internet Life

USB Safely Remove is giving away FREE License!

2008-02-13T03:49:00.000-08:00

For a time-limited offer USB Safely Remove is giving away a one-year license for FREE! With the free license, it allows you to use the newest recently released version 3.3.

Hurry as this is only a time-limited promotion (Feb. 10th - 20th, 2008) and register here.

The latest release has the following changelog for version 3.3.1.617:
+ Automatic device icons detection
+ New languages support
+ Stopping mechanism improved
+ Proxy server support added
+ Catched and fixed some bugs

Download the setup file here.

I'll tell you this piece of software is a must-have for any computer geeks out there!

Removing Avira's AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic Nag Screen...

2008-02-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

I'm just a recent convert of this great free antivirus software from Avira (had AVG free previously).

Well, here's my gripe on my previous AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition...the damn installation file is 31MB as compared to Avira's AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic of only 17MB!

Now going back to topic, since this nice software is free it has one annoying feature...everyday when it updates itself there's this huge nag window that displays an advertisement to upgrade to its non-free but more equipped sibling the Premium Edition.

To fix the nag screen from ever displaying:

Windows XP Pro/Vista Users

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy (For Vista: Just type "Local Security Policy" on the Start Search)
Right-click on Software Restriction Policies > Create New Restriction Policies
Right-click on Additional Rules > New Path Rule
Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe and click OK.
Set the Security Level: Disallowed
Click Apply, then click OK.

Viola! The big nag screen/window will not anymore appear during update...

Tip: Any free antivirus is better-than-none at all.

So here's my top 3 list of free antivirus softwares (sorted according to setup file size):

Avira's AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic (17MB)
avast! 4 Home Edition (18.01MB)
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition (31MB)

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will be out next week...

2008-02-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

Start marking your calendars now, word on the street is that the highly anticipated release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will be out next week, Feb. 4, 2008. This will be designated as RTM (Release to Manufacturing).

Other than the vast improvements incorporated into this update, the most notable is the security update that will disable the two most common exploits being used by pirates:

oem bios hack
grace timer exploit

As microsoft have put it,"they will not try to stop every mad scientists trying to defeat their protection but to make it more and more difficult to be hacked..."

Well I guess only time can tell...

More info on the What's New in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 here.

Windows XP: Unknown Device Error?!? on your flashdisk...

2008-02-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

Have you ever encountered when you try to plug your USB 2.0 devices (flaskdisk or external storage drive) on your windows xp system and all of a sudden it spits out an error saying "unknown device" error?

What the f#$k! Thinking this was working before... I tried everything except my last resort of formatting my windows system again (duh...i'm to lazy to create a system image on my system). Taking a break just to clear my mind out of frustration, it got me thinking, if this happens to me, somewhere out there someone has also encountered this problem before...and probably fixed it.

Well, well, well...lo and behold a quick search on google came up a lot of hits...after eliminating every post in which I have already done, I came across technophobe's post on his experience. Given the non-techy fix, it worked for me!

To re-iterate on how to fix it:

Shutdown your PC completely and disconnect the power cord at the back of your power supply. For laptop users, remove the battery pack also.

Try to power it ON just to make sure it doesn't have any residual power/current left.

Reconnect everything and boot up your PC.

Viola! Enjoy your fully working usb 2.0 devices again.

My tip: Google is your friend, use it just like I did...

Contest: Win an Ipod Nano!

2008-01-29T21:23:00.000-08:00

Dom Ramsey aka "MoneyBlogger" is giving away his 8GB 3rd-generation Ipod Nano to one lucky blogger.

This contest is open to everyone, worldwide! So hurry now and join. His contest ends on Feb. 8, 2008.

** Updates: **
Had no luck but I would like to extend my congratulations to Andrew Bowers for winning the Ipod Nano Contest by Dom Ramsey!

Blank screen flash when you start Vista...

2008-01-29T00:28:00.000-08:00

I have been using Microsoft's Vista OS and i wondered what's this 2-3 seconds delay and a blank screen flash when i start my vista laptop.

Guess what? Vista is actually searching for an external monitor. If your not using one or don't switch back and forth always...we need to turn off TMM (Transient Multimon Manager).

To fix it:

1. Go to START > CONTROL PANEL > ADMINISTRATIVE OPTIONS > TASK SCHEDULER or better yet just type TASK SCHEDULER on the START SEARCH.

2. Expand TASK SCHEDULER LIBRARY, then MICROSOFT, then WINDOWS, then click on MOBILEPC.

3. You'll see a task called TMM, right-click on it and click END (if its currently running). Right-click again and click DISABLE. Be careful not to click on DELETE, you'll never know when we might need it again.

4. Right-click again on the TMM task, click on PROPERTIES. Go to TRIGGERS tab. Double click on the "At log on" trigger or highlight it and press the EDIT button. Unchecked the ENABLED on the Advance Settings group.

That's it!

This tweak will reduce the start time on your vista and the blank flash is gone at bootup.