Notepad 2

I always hated notepad, it was too simple, only fit for note taking . It doesn't and can't even do simple formatting that editing php code requires. Wordpad is a better alternative, it also makes me wonder why Microsoft includes both apps which do almost the same thing?

Enter Notepad 2, a free app from http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html . I know about notepad++ but it was giving me a headache with all those generic icons problem that I tried to solve but failed.

Here's how to replace MS notepad with notepad 2.
1. Download it from there http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html Look for "Download Notepad2 <version here>Binary Files" NOT soruce code.
2. Download replacer http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/ Get the stable version.
3. Extract both files.
4. Open the "Replacer" folder and execute Replacer.cmd
5. Open C:\WINDOWS, if you see this message, just click "Show the contents of the folder" 
 
6. Search for notepad.exe
 
7. Click and drag it onto the replacer window, just like dragging a file across to another folder. You should see the following.
 
8. Press Enter/Return on your keyboard.
9. Open your notepad2 folder, rename Notepad2.exe to notepad.exe.
10. Just like step 7, drag the renamed notepad.exe to the window. You should see this.

11. Press enter to continue, you should see this.
 
12. Type "Y" and press enter. After some lines, you may press Enter again to quit.
13. Repeat Steps 5 to 12 but this time replace the notepad.exe in C:\WINDOWS\system32
13. Reboot your computer and enjoy.
 

Labels: WinXp, Notepad2, Apps, Tip

Save Power

 

BTing and downloading 24/7 ? No restarts in weeks ? The PC sucks quite a lot of power, around 140 watts at idle up to 300 watts at full load. Fluorescent bulbs only suck around 14 watts. Computer waste a lot of energy, if you are wondering how to save power while being able to download / store information, buying NAS is the way to go.

NAS wiki article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

The math:
140W - 30W = 110W ( power you saved )
Assuming you switched on computer 24/7 just to download.
110W X 24Hrs X 365 Days = 963.6KW/H saved per year
Using my local power company electrical tariff calculator, I was going to save RM 342.26 or around 110USD which is almost enough to buy a NAS

I have a DNS-323 at home and I am very happy that I bought it.
CNet Reviews - http://www.cnet.com/topic-reviews/nas.html?tag=dir.ct

Technorati Tags: NAS,Bit Torrent,Bt,Download,electricity,ECO

Better Pinyin IME

Stuck with this?

can't type continuously? Don't want to install njstar or Cstar due to high memory ,cpu consumption and lags? Then here's is a free alternative and a solution to your problems...

Introducing the Google Pinyin IME

1. Download the installer and install it.
2. In Control Panel, click on Regional and Language Settings
3. Under the languages tab, click details
  
4. Click Add, and select the following. (if you don't have the following selections , follow this tip first - click here)
 
5. Click ok and apply all changes

Enjoy

Reference - http://tools.google.com/pinyin/
Features - http://tools.google.com/pinyin/feature.html
 

Can't View Chinese or Japanese Characters or Pages

Having trouble with viewing pages with Japanese or Chinese characters? Seeing squares and worms? It is commonly caused by missing encodings or fonts.
Here's how to solve this problems. You will need a XP installation CD.

1. In Control Panel, click on Regional and Language Settings
2. Under the languages tab, tick the both checkboxes.
 
3. Click the Advance Tab.
 
4. Tick every checkbox in the list.
5. Click Apply, Insert your XP CD if prompted

You may try this tip as well - click here

Label Tags: WinXp, Tip, IME, Chinese, Japanese

How to Reinstall windows

Reinstalling windows is a quite a complex task for some, so this a dummies guide to reinstalling windows.

Note : This assumes that you have a previous XP installation

Reinstalling windows can be separated into three parts
1. Backup your important documents
2. Reformatting the hard drive
3. Installing windows
4. Post installation tweaks/Restore Backup

This guide only covers 2 and 3.

What you need:
Windows Installation CD 

Refromating the hard drive

1. To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM (or from the startup disk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to set this configuration. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer. After that you should see this. 
 
Optional - Install RAID / SCSI driver
2. Wait for a few minutes
 
3. Press "Enter"

4. Press "F8" to continue

5. Press "Esc"
 
6. Highlight the drive you want to install XP (should be C:)
7. Press "D"
 
8. If you are sure that you have no vital information on your hard drive,Press "L" to confirm.
 
Optional - Partition your Drive(not recommended)
Why do you need to partition? Click here
Partitioning DOES NOT save you from HDD failure
Short Guide to partitioning
a) Press C

b) Type in the size you want the partition to be
c) Press "Enter"
9. If you don't want to partition the drive, highlight the "Unpartitioned space and press "Enter". It will automatically make a partition with the maximum possible size.
 
10. Highlight " Format the partition using NTFS file system <quick>" and press "Enter
For more information regarding "formatting with non quick, NTFS and FAT file system" click here and here /
11. You have just finish formatting, from here on, don't touch anything. If you are going to continue to the next part, grab something to eat or something, it takes quite a while.

Installing Windows

If you are continuing from the last part, you should see this

1. Wait until it reaches this screen
 
Optional - Setup and install encodings/fonts/text inputs. This step is not necessary but strongly recommended. It installs the various encodings that the web or documents uses. If you do not do the following step, some documents and web pages will not display correctly, you may do this after installing XP though.

a) Click "Customize", click the "Languages" tab and tick both checkboxes as shown in the screenshot below
 
b) Click the "Advanced" tab and tick all the checkboxes as shown in the screenshot below
c) Press "Ok"
d) Press "Details..." and then Press "Add..."
 
e) Select the "Input language" and "Keyboard Layout" Further Information, please click here
f ) Press "Ok" to return to the parent window
 
2. Click "Next"

3. Key in your computer name and click "Next"

4. Key in your product code, For OEM machines, there should be a sticker on your machine with your product code on it. Click "Next" to continue.
 
Optional - Key a Administrator Password, This is Strongly recommended, if not, this happens.
5. Click "Next" to Continue

6. Setup your date and time, a sample is shown in the screenshot above. Click "Next" to continue

7. Wait for windows to install some stuff, takes a while. When it is done, it should look like this.

8. Unless you are in a special network, press "Next" to continue. If not, you may need to install some stuff, contact your network administrator for this.
If you don't know what it is, just press "next"  will do.

9. Again, If you don't know what it is, just press "next" will do.
 
10. Wait for windows to install some stuff, takes a while. When it is done, it should reboot and will look like this.

11. Press "Next" to continue
12. If you are using an original license select "Help protect my PC by turning on Automatic Updates now" else select the other one.
13. Press "Next" to continue
 
14. If you see the above page, it is most likely you are not connected to the Internet, Press "Skip"  to continue.
If you have and Internet connection you should see the screenshot below instead of the above.

15. Select "No, not at this time" and press "Next" to continue.

16. Fill in the names of the user of the computer and press "Next" to continue.

17. Press "Finish" to continue.

Congratulations, you have just finished installing a fresh copy of Windows XP.

FAT and NTFS

Official Microsoft Article - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/russel_october01.mspx

What you need to know:

Only use FAT when
- You have older operating systems on the same machine (Win 98)

Quick or Full Format

Official Explanation from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302686

What you need to know:

Full Format	Quick Format
Better(checks for bad sectors)	Not so good
Slow (several hours)	Quick (several seconds)
Renders Data unrecoverable	Sensitive data recoverable

Conclusion - Use full format if you have the time or want to render sensitive info or your stash unrecoverable. If not, just use quick format.

Tip#7 - Auto Login/Boot Directly to Explorer

After you boot into windows do you see this

or this  

If you want to see this 

every time you switch on your computer, do this

1. Press start and press Run
2. Type in "control userpasswords2"
3. Untick "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer"
4. Click "ok"
5. Key in your credentials, leave your password field blank if you don't have a password.

Tip#6 - Accessing passworded windows

Using a school computer? or someone's computer that needs a password to use the computer? Here's an easy way to gain access  to windows without any tools.

1. When you are at the login screen, Press CTRL + ALT + Delete
2. The magical combo will give you the traditional login screen
3. Type in "Administrator" as the username, Leave the password field blank.
4. Press login and enjoy.

How it works :
When most people install windows, they left the administrator account password empty. Therefore this mistake can be exploited easily.So the next time you reinstall windows, remember to put the administrator password with something.