Hey, Oracle! We hate this crap.

Opt-out McAfee “security scan plus” on Java install. Not only does it make the download larger, it might cause computers with perfectly functioning anti-virus to slow down. Thanks, Oracle!

Bypass PdaNet Trial Restriction on Android

Disclaimer: I do not condone utilizing this “hack” as a means to avoid paying for the program.

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Back when I used June Fabric’s PdaNet on my T-Mobile G1 and later on the Motorola Droid X, I discovered (as I’m sure many others did) an easy, temporary, bypass on the trial restriction to connect to secure https web sites using PdaNet during the trial period. Eventually, I rooted (discover rooting) my device and now enjoy the benefits without the need for USB tethering using PdaNet.

To connect to secure web sites, simply use the program’s nag screen, or the context menu when you right-click on the system tray icon to start the process of purchasing the program. Continue through the process as if you are going to purchase the program. Once you reach a web page which utilizes https during the purchasing process (either PayPal, or June Fabric’s other credit card processing choice), you should now have access to any other secure web site. Though, I never quite pinned down if the bypass worked per session, or within some time frame, but at some point, you will likely loose the ability to connect to secure web sites. At this point, just repeat the procedure.

Again, you are responsible for your actions with this information. I used this as a means to fully vet the program before deciding that rooting was a better way to go. Futhermore, I am not sure this will even work with newer versions of the program as I haven’t used it for some time. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Alternatively, PdaNet allows you to continue using its free version (with nag) without access to secure web sites. If you’re more technically inclined, you can set up a VPN through a computer at home and use that to encrypt all traffic keeping PdaNet and your carrier out of your traffic, https or not. More information on this is available on post #13 on this DroidXForums.com thread.

See my previous post on using PdaNet to tether without rooting.

Removing Malware

This is, essentially, a list for myself… sometimes I forget a step if I’m having trouble, or forget about an especially helpful resource!  I won’t provide a lot of explanation, but if you know what you’re doing, help yourself. I’m going to list anything and (eventually) everything I like to do/use, so not everything is useful or even necessary in all situations.

Read more: http://www.365discoveries.com/removing-malware/

Unstoppable Cell Selection in Microsoft Excel

In Excel, moving the mouse anywhere on the screen will result in selecting all cells the mouse passes over. Excel does not respond to the right or left-click and can only be closed forcibly. In other words, the mouse cursor behaves as if the left-click is being pressed while in Excel causing it to do nothing but select cells indefinitely.

I believe this issue to primarily be a conflict with the Novell GroupWise Office integration (ODMA) for Microsoft Office. Secondarily, it may be an issue with the mouse driver.

Resolution:

1. In GroupWise, turn off or uninstall integrations (who likes them anyway?)
2. Search the computer and remove any instances of GWxl97.xla or GWXLUS.XLA.
3. In Excel, reset the Worksheet Menu Bar by going to View > Toolbars > Customize > Toolbars… then select “Worksheet Menu Bar” and hit Reset… This screen also shows a “Standard” toolbar which sometimes must also be reset.
4. Reboot.
5. If the issue persists, remove the mouse driver, reboot, and allow Windows to install a generic driver.
6. If the issue still persists, remove the mouse driver, install the driver specific to the mouse and reboot.
7. If the issue persists, then it’s not an issue with GroupWise integrations or your mouse driver. Good luck!

Budget Advisor (Professional Edition) Runtime Error

This is caused by a corrupt DLL file; seems to happen thanks to Windows Update. I’m not sure if this issue occurs in any other OS than Windows XP.

Replace FM20.dll in the user’s \%windir%\system32\ with the FM20.dll from a computer without the issue.

Students: $30 Upgrade to Windows 7 Home Ultimate or Professional

Looking for a cheap, legitimate, almost free Windows 7 copy? Microsoft is offering Windows 7 Home Ultimate or Windows 7 Professional (32 and 64-bit versions) for $30 to college students with a valid .edu email address. Head on over to the order page, enter your email address and get in your pre-order! For the record, Windows 7 upgrades retail for $200. Take note: If you want the Professional version, click the link that says “Need to join your school’s network domain? Click here”. Since its the same price, I recommend getting the professional version since there are more usable features than Home, and less useless features than those contained in Ultimate.

Windows 7 will be available for download on October 22; those who pre-order will be sent a reminder email with the download link on that day.

The offer is good until January 3, 2010. Check out the table below to see what kind of upgrade experience you’ll be looking at. Keep in mind, though, if you purchase an upgrade instead of a full retail version, you need to keep the  discs and keys for the OS you’re upgrading. If you ever need/want to reinstall Win 7, you’ll need those things.

Windows 7 Upgrade Chart

Video Not Playing? Check Your Overlay Options!

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Utility

The problem: This recent discovery–rather, rediscovery– was the final straw, causing me to reformat and reinstall a fresh copy of Windows on my laptop. I had been meaning to do it for a long time (something like 2 years), but I never found myself in the mood. However, something came up, and I needed to play a video on my laptop, which hadn’t worked for a few months (sound worked, no picture). On previous occasions I reinstalled the graphics driver, I reinstalled all the required codecs, and I tried playing the videos on Windows Media Player, VLC, Windows Media Classic, and Quicktime. Flash based videos from Hulu and YouTube worked wonderfully, just nothing else. So, on this particular occasion, I decided that it was far more difficult to troubleshoot the video problem than to just wipe the sucker.

But, the problem returned. $%&#!!

The solution: In a rare moment of serendipity, I recalled the Intel driver for my laptop’s integrated Intel 915GM Express Chipset installs a utility. This utility, the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, includes a interface for adjusting the color, contrast, and brightness of a hardware accelerated video overlay. Years ago, I had the same problem where I eventually discovered (likely serendipitous as well) that, for reasons unknown to me, the options for the video overlay had been set to zero, so the overlay would appear pure black. So, the picture had been there the whole time, it had just been blacked-out. Returning the values to default will set everything right.

Now, knowing what to search for, I’ve found that it’s a known issue with the latest version of the driver, and can be corrected by downgrading (meaning Intel no longer support the driver, and you’re stuck with it.).

For more information, see the official Intel support page.