How do I use the old Windows Search?
Posted by: David
Where did your old Windows Search go?
The old Windows Search was replaced in a patch a while ago. If you have Windows XP and you are fully up to date you probably have notice your little dog pal hasn't been showing up recently when you've been trying to search for your files. The new system doesn't actually scan your computer like the old search does. Instead, the new search scans your computer for you even when you don't want it to (slowing your computer down) and when you search for a file it goes through what it knows your computer has instead of what might be on your computer now.
That actually increases the speed of your search, but what if you just accidentally misplaced a file a second ago and you can't find it with the new search. Well, use the old faithful search. It is still there.
How do I get to the old search?
- In windows, you may notice the icon in your system tray. If your computer is running slow and you hover over this icon and it says indexing, you can stop it.
- Now, to get to your old search you can go to hover over the start button and right click it and select Explore.
- Now when you have the explorer up, you can hit the search button at the top of the explorer. This will bring up the nasty new search.
- From here, in the new search area use the scroll box to scroll down to the bottom of it, and you can see your old search companion dog! And beside him it says to click there to use the old search companion!
- Once you have clicked to use the old search companion you will be familiar with the search and probably more likely to find your files you just recently lost!
Building a “curved” table with php, mysql and html
Posted by: David
http://www.sitepoint.com/graphics/table3.gif
Why build a "curved" table
Many web designers like to build these "curved" tables in order to make their websites more aesthetically appealing. The tables aren't really curved obviously, but you can alter their contents to make them appear that way.
How to build a "curved" table
It is really simple. Your easiest solution if you are just going to make one out of HTML is to go to THIS LINK and follow that guide. If you are familiar with some web design and just haven't done this before I will save you some time and break it down in slow mode right now.
- Open up an image editing software.
- Create a 40x40 file (if you want a table with a 20px turn).
- Make sure the background is transparent.
- In the center of the file create a circle with the color of your table and extend it to the edge of your file working area.
- Crop the file into 4 separate files. You will want each corner of the circle saved into its own file.
- Save the corners of the circle, and then open up your HTML editor
- The first <td> tag in the first row of your table will need to have the top left circle image in it with the <img> tag. Since you are using a 20x20 image, set the <td width=20 height=20>.
- The next <td> tag in your first row of the table should be empty and only include a colspan option equalling the amount of columns you have in your table without the two edges. (N-2 = Number of columns - 2 curved columns).
- The last <td> tag in your first row of the table should have the top right circle image in it with the <img> tag.Since you are using a 20x20 image, set the <td width=20 height=20>.
- For all of the rows that will contain your information start with a <td> tag with a width of 20 and the bgcolor to match that of your curved column image. Also end the row with the exact same tag with the width of 20.
- Repeat steps 7-9 but with the respective images for the bottom.
- Publish it and make sure you tagged your table correctly.
How do I build a "curved" table with a loop using php and mysql?
Ok, now you have to pay attention. This is not quite nearly as easy.
Start by doing the usual and creating your database connection, and running your query and saving it to a variable, I use $r (standing for results).
Start by building the first row of your table.
echo '<table><tr bgcolor="#B6E6E7"><td width="20" height="20"><img src="topleft.png" /></td><td colspan="2"></td><img src="topright.png" /></td></tr>';
Now that you have the first row of your table you can begin your loop with your query. I have my loop set up to check if the row is odd or even in number that way to create a table with different alternating colors for each row.
$i = 1;
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_array($r)) { // LOOP THROUGH QUERY RESULTS
if ( $i&1 ) {// its an odd result
echo '<tr bgcolor="#B6E6E7"><td width="20"></td><td>'.$row[0].'</td><td>'.$row[1].'</td><td width="20"></td></tr>';
} else { //it's an even results
echo '<tr><td width="20" bgcolor="#B6E6E7"></td><td>'.$row[0].'</td><td>'.$row[1].'</td><td bgcolor="#B6E6E7" width="20"></td></tr>';}
$i ++;
} // END LOOP
Now if you noticed, the even rows had the <tr> tag with a bgcolor instead of the <td> tag. This is because I want those entire rows to match the color of the table corners. The odd rows only had the first and last <td> tags with the bgcolor selected so that it would appear our table was outlined.
The final thing you have to do is finish off your table by essentially doing the same thing you did in the table's first row.
echo '<tr bgcolor="#B6E6E7"><td width="20" height="20"><img src="bottomleft.png" /></td><td colspan="2"></td><img src="bottomright.png" /></td></tr></table>';
I hope at this point you can tell what is going on. The table is done. You can release your query results.
Now you can see something similar to
http://www.sitepoint.com/graphics/table3.gif
But with your data in it and the rows are alternating colors. Simple, yet appealing.
Quick tip: saving a chkdsk log
Posted by: David
Why save a chkdsk log
Sometimes you can't find your chkdsk log in the event viewer. It happens. Instead of freaking out and wondering what happened and if your drive is actually good or not you should go ahead and prevent such worries.
How to save the chkdsk log
Open up the run command. Type in cmd and hit enter or click OK.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, in Vista or Windows 7 you can go to start, then click on All Programs, then click Accessories, and then click on Command prompt.
When the command prompt is up, type in "chkdsk c: > c:\logfile.txt" and hit enter. What this command does is chk the c: drive and creates a .txt file that will display the results of the scan. The log file will be located at c:\logfile.txt.
Here is an example.
If you want to do something else with the chkdsk command such as run repairs on the drive, type in chkdsk /? to find out what options you can give the command. The most common command to try and fix your hard drive is to type in "chkdsk c: > c:\logfile.txt /f /r"
Exporting a spiceworks database
Posted by: David
Spiceworks Logo
Export your spiceworks database
I've had a few search queries hit my site looking for information on the spiceworks database. Here is some key information:
- The database store all of the information you need for spiceworks
- You will want to stop running spiceworks before you attempt to export it
- Once you export the database, it should be exactly like the old one
- This will allow you to put a spiceworks database on a different server/computer with the same information it had before
What do you do?
In file explorer go to C:\Program Files\Spiceworks\db\ and find the file spiceworks_prod.db.
Make sure Spiceworks is closed and the service is not running. You don't want anything manipulating the database file while you attempt to export it.
Once you have made sure that Spiceworks is not running, copy the database file locally on the hard disk renaming it as you please.
Once you have copied the database locally, you can go ahead and start Spiceworks up again if you need to.
Now you need to put the copy of your Spiceworks database file onto some media that you can transfer it to the computer that it will be going on. Or just transfer it over the network.
When you are ready to use the database on the next computer you will need to already have Spiceworks installed. Make sure the the program is not running and the service is stopped.
Browse back to C:\Program File\Spiceworks\db and replace the spiceworks_prod.db file with the copy of your database from the last computer. You can do this by deleting spiceworks_prod.db and renaming the copied .db file to spiceworks_prod.db.
Start spiceworks and you should have all your settings and information copied over from the last computer.
It is that easy!
Tip for success
Make sure that anyone using or that is going to be effected by Spiceworks being down knows ahead of time that there will be a short down time in exporting a database.
Keep your stakeholders happy.
What happens to your private data when you search google or bing? Which one is safer to you?
Posted by: David
What happens to your private data?
First off lets get it straight. It isn't private data if you are sending that information through Google or Bing to have them complete a search for you. You shouldn't have a problem with them taking and storing for any point any information which they can get from you.
They should be able to know what you search to improve their data processes, and they should know be able to know who and where their data comes from to be able to provide better service. In other words, they are taking your information (what you believe to be private) to make things better for you in the future. Kind of sounds like parents, right?
Your private data isn't really private. Anyone can find your IP address if you go to their website. It really isn't hard at all. In fact, I've designed a URL shortener before that would store IP's and limit IP's to a certain # of URL's to be shortened in a day (with the consent of the people using it).
Your search information isn't really private either. You literally (ok maybe not literally) hand them this information. How can you be upset when they analyze the information that you give them.
So if they can easily see my data any way why should I be concerned?
This one is where the controversy lies. When they connect your data that can almost identify you (your IP) with your search criteria they can analyze more than just what searches come from where, but they can also analyze what type of person you are. Search for things about Marijuana or other illegal substances, then they could use their data to find out that you have a lot of interest in those illegal substances.
That is the problem. Should Google or Bing really have the right to know what kind of person I am? Better yet, should the information that Google or Bing gathers from my searches be able to be used to determine what I do or how I behave?
So what is the difference between Google and Bing?
Look at this image from cnet.com.
I will break this down for you.
Bing takes your search information along with your IP and disassociates the two immediately, thus keeping your searches separate from your IP (or on line identity). After 6 months, Bing deletes IP addresses that have been stored. After 18 months, any information possibly correlating a search to an IP address is deleted.
If your confused, I'll break down in slow mode for you now. When you search Bing, they take your IP address and Search criteria and store it in a database. However, the search criteria and IP address are not associated with each other, but with a code created by bing they can later be associated back together again if needed. After 6 months, the IP address is completely deleted. After 18 months, that small code that could possibly have linked that search result to your IP address which they no longer have will be deleted.
Unless the government suspects you of doing something wrong, no one, unless going through lots of trouble wouldn't be able to easily view your search data and identify you.
Google on the other hand is much different. Where Bing dissasociates IP addresses and search criteria immediatly, Google waits until 9 months to even dissasociate them. That is 3 months after Bing deletes your IP, and 9 months after Bing does exactly what Google is doing at this moment!
However according to guidelines they have to delete all their data like Bing does after 18 months, but you get the idea that they would much rather keep your information as long as possible. I'm sure they probably do.
So which one is safer to use?
Neither are really safe. I suppose Bing would be the one I would prefer to use if I cared enough about keeping my search information private. The fact is even Bing can associate the information up to 18 months from when it is received, and since Google can too, your not really helping yourself.
I think Microsoft has spent a lot of money and time making sure you feel safe using their search. Seeing as Google recently was attacked and lost information I would say that this is working pretty well for Microsoft.
The Kingpin's preference....
Google.
If someone is going to have my information for possibly up to 18 months, I would rather be giving my information to someone where I get more information from than the other. I honestly can't think of a time when I would prefer Bing over Google search.
Perhaps that is part of the problem though. We want Google to have our information to make our searches better, but we don't want them to have it either. Microsoft is going to have to play catchup for a long time to keep strides with Google in the on line search industry, and it doesn't get any easier when one site is gathering much more information to improve their processes than yours.
Spellcheck not working with Office 07?
Posted by: David
What is wrong?
Someone probably just replied back to an e-mail or a letter you typed up in Word and they were probably laughing at you for horribly misspelling a word. You go to see the e-mail again and realize that spell check didn't work when you typed it or else you wouldn't have made the mistake.
How do I fix it?
- Close all office products.
- Go to Start -> Run.
- Here type in regedit and hit Enter. If you are Windows 7 you will need to go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories and then you need to right click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator. Once the command prompt is up, type in regedit and hit Enter.
- Once the registry editor is open it would be a wise Idea to back your registry up in case you accidentally mess something up. To do this go to File -> Export and choose where to save the registry backup.
- Once you have your registry backed up you can go on and delete the keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\ProofingTools\1.0\Override\en-US
- Now try opening your Outlook or Word and try typing a word incorrectly and see if you have fixed your issue. If not, this issue could be caused by something else. Make sure you have spell checking enabled in Outlook if you are only experiencing the issue in Outlook.
Tip for success
Pay attention when you are typing. Even if you have mad skills, look up occasionally to make sure you type things correctly. Also, go back over whatever you type when it is important. Even better than that is to have someone else read over what you have typed because they may notice mistakes that you may have missed. The sooner someone notices that spell check may not be working the quicker it can be fixed, and the better you look, since you won't send out documents with words misspelled.
Installing a low profile kit for video cards
Posted by: David
What is a low profile kit?
A low profile kit is a set of brackets that are designed to let technicians install video cards that originally come with large brackets into slimline computer cases. For example, the computer that I installed this kit in for today was a Dell Optiplex 760. It was the thin desktop model which doesn't allow for normal size card brackets.
If you are confused on what I mean by brackets, that is the long metal piece that you can see from the outside part of the computer.
How do I install it?
First you have to make sure your card can fit in the computer case without the bracket. If your card is as big as the original (large) bracket then it wont fit in the box no matter how hard you try, and you shouldn't try, you will break your card.
Once you make sure your card can fit you need to take off the old bracket. For some of you first timers when you look at the bracket you think to yourself, how does this come off? Well that is very simple. The screw holes where the monitor cables plug into can unscrew from the bracket and come out. Once you take the screws out from the DVI or VGA (or other) ports on your video card you can remove the old VGA cable attached to the card if necessary and use the replacement one in the low profile kit if you got one in your kit. Align the pins properly on the video card.
Once you have the new cable attached you are ready to attach the new brackets to the card. Align the video ports on card up with the slots in the new brackets and secure them with the screws you removed from the old bracket. Once you have them secured again you are good to insert the card back into the machine.
Big time tip for success
Make sure you have space above or below your PCI (or other) slot to make sure that the second teir to the profile kit will still be in the bracket slots on the case. For example, if the PCI slot is in the top slot, you can't have a profile kit with the PCI card attached to the bottom bracket because the top bracket would not be able to attach to the case anywhere.