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Disable Autorun or Autoplay option on Windows XP/ Windows Vista

The CD Autorun feature has the task to pop-up a dialog box every time you insert a new disk in your DVD-ROM drive. Disabling CD Autorun can make your operating system best fit your needs if the dialog box appearance bothers you. I’ll show you how to disable it in seconds using the GPEDIT editor on your Windows XP/Vista.
First of all you have to use the “RUN” command by pressing both Windows Key and “R” key in the same time. Now you have to type “MSEDIT.MSC” in the Run dialog and press the “Enter” key. Navigate to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates and System, localize “Turn autoplay off”, right click on it and select “disable”. Using the same method you can enable the feature if it’s disabled.

How to disable the User Account Control (UAC) feature on my Windows Vista or Windows 7? How to Disable user Account control notification? Disable User Account control warning?

Windows Vista / Windows 7 has some build-in features that sometimes can be considered as annoying.  For example the User Account Control prompt - that’s designed to reduce the potential of security issues - can slow you down while you’re using your computer. The problem persists even if you’re logged like a system administrator, not only as a user with no privileges.

The UAC feature can be disabled and there are many ways to do this. If the only reason why you want to disable it is that you want to get rid of the extra clicks that this feature requires we suggest that it’s better you don’t do that.

The fastest way to disable UAC is to use MSCONFIG:

- press Windows Key + R

- type “MSCONFIG” in the run menu

- click on “Tools” tab and select the “Disable UAP” option

- reboot the computer

The feature can also be re-enabled using similar technique.

Recently, this problem became a regular one as a big number of computer viruses disable this option “Show Hidden Files” on your Windows Vista operating system. The option disappears from the “Folder Options” dialog and it seems like there’s nothing left to do.  Not being able to see the hidden files and folders on your computer can be an issue that endangers the security of your data.

Now, the solution:

The best you can do is to perform a virus and spy ware scan on your computer but there’s a good chance that the option would still be unavailable. However, you can restore the option by doing a Manual Registry Tweak.

Open the “RUN” box by pressing Windows key + R. Type “regedit” and then navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden.

Locate the key named “Type” and change it’s value to “group”. This will fix your problem and you’ll be able to use the “Show Hidden Files and Folders” option on your Windows Vista.

Do you get this error in your Windows PC or Laptop :

SMART Failure Predicted on Hard Disk 0

WARNING: Immediately back-up your data and replace
your hard disk drive. A failure may be imminent.

Press F1 to continue

This error is generated by the SMART (Self Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology). SMART is a feature of your Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that continuously monitors & records your HDD activities like read errors, power on cycles etc. Basically, based on this it determines the state of your Hard Disk, and compares it with that of the  failed disks in the past. Therefore it gives an idea into the possibility of your disk’s failure.

SMART Failure Predicted on Hard Disk 0 - So what does this Imply?

If you systems shows this error, it means that there is a 50-60% chance that your HDD may crash. The crash can happen anytime - within the next few days or even months. In some cases, the systems continue to run for years without problem.

However, in your own interest it is best to back up your important data. If your system is under warranty, it is best to get the Hard disk drive replaced for not cost. Otherwise, it is still best to replace your hard disk, unless a system failure doesn’t cost you much!

There are a lot of questions concerning the “must have software” for Windows XP. Anyone should have a certain list with the main programs which are going to be installed right after the operational system have been renewed and refreshed. These are specific software called “must-to-have” for real among PC owners. Without having these extremely useful programs around, you‘re not going to be that satisfied when operating on your computer. Anti-viruses, Anti-Spyware, Firewalls, ITunes, VLC or any other preferred media player, Picasa, Irfan View, Adobe Reader, browsers like Firefox or Google Chrome, Office Pack (Word, Excel, Power Point), Outlook Express or ThunderBird for e-mail services and the list can continue; these are some of the primal software that should help your PC work properly and  so become your best companion.

Protection is the most important for any computer connected to the Internet. Definitely, the Anti-Virus is a “must”! There are different products on the market that can secure your machine from Worms, Trojans and hijackers. Another helpful advice is that after installing Zone Alarm, you should make sure that the Windows Firewall is disabled. Some of the more mainstream spyware removers include AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Microsoft AntiSpyware. CCleaner also helps speed up your system. Extra defragmenters, disk-keepers, disk consolidation programs, recovery software and many other maintainers are good to be installed on your computer, for unpredicted emergencies.

Java Software is also a must-to-have for playing YouTube clips and other online movies. Acrobat Reader is necessary for PDF’s but you can also go for Cute PDF which is going to help you a lot. Norton Commander can be useful too for moving large files from a directory to, faster and easier. Music players and digital media/podcasting software like iTunes, media players such as VLC, Media Player Classic Homecinema, BSPlayer, Real Player, Winamp etc. are also to be considered. After all there can be no party without this kind of software! Archive operators (.zip, .rar), text editors, image editors (Picasa, Irfan View etc.) are good to have, just because Paint has only basic editing features like crop, resize and a few others that cannot substitute a full professional Photo Editing Pack.

WinRAR and WinZIP are well-needed upgrades for Windows XP’s compressed folders. UltraISO or DAEMON Tools are also strong applications for dealing with ISO images. Nero or any other CD-burning programs are highly necessary for writing a compact disk or a dvd on your own. There are several extra software which aren’t exactly a must for Windows XP but rather optional: KeePass for keeping a safe password database, Google Earth, Camtasia Studio (excellent screencasting software), video studios, Registry Cleaner, video converters, Power DVD and so on.

From now on, every time you will format your PC, accidentally or not, you’ll have the list with all the main applications and software that should be installed on your computer. It is important to permanently keep your machine under protection, set strong filters for suspicious web-sites and put up for de-fragmentation and re-consolidation of your hard-disk once a month. Some specially designed software for maintaining a constant cooler’s temperature can also be considered a “must-to-have” program if you care enough for your PC.

I found this site to send free sms to India. It allows upto 15 free SMS per day, with a free registration. Best of all, they provide Delivery Reports for the SMS sent from their system!

In my experience this is a pretty good service with fast delivery of SMS.  So, if you’re looking to send free sms to India from anywhere in the world this should help. Here’s the link again : Spicesms.com

It has become a popular complaint from owners of Nokia N73, that the battery of the N73 phone swells or bloats after a few months of usage. Infact, other phones like Nokia N77, Nokia N93 also exhibit this character. The truth is, all these phones carry the BP-6M Model Battery and this defective battery swells over time.

The BP-6M batteries are actually used in a wide range of Nokia Phones.  Nokia has reportedly announced that the battery swelling issue hasn’t affected the functioning of the phone or the battery.

Other models that were affected by this issue include Nokia 3250, Nokia 6151, Nokia 6233, Nokia 6234, Nokia 6280, Nokia 6288, Nokia 9300, Nokia 9300i, Nokia N73, Nokia N73 Music Edition, Nokia N77 or Nokia N93. The owners of these phones with defective batteries can get the batteries replaced with new ones for free from the nearest Nokia service center, according to the sources.

There’s a common problem with especially laptop users with their keyboards - the keyboard behaves abnormally?

2eyb6ard err6r

2eyb6ard he3*

2eyb6ard r6b3e0

2eyb6ard 5ss4es

2eyb6ard br62en

2eyb6ard n40bers

2eyb6ard v5r4s

2eyb6ard tr64b3e

Is this what you see when you try to type in normally? The Solution to this problem is simple. You’re keyboard is NOT spoilt, but you have pressed the NUM-Lock key of your laptop. Disable NUM-Lock by pressing the NUM-Lock Key of your keyboard again. Once this is done, your keyboard will be back to normal ways!

Hope that helps!

Top 10 LAN Messenger Software for Windows

LAN Messenger can facilitate the intercommunication and file transfers anywhere in within the network, without the need to connect to the Internet or to a centralized server. The most common LAN Messenger software for Windows are Softros LAN Messenger, Outlook Messenger, Akeni Messenger, BigAnt Messenger, BORGChat, Net-C, Pichat, LanTalkPop Messenger, Bopup Messenger and many others.

WinPopup Review

The first LAN messenger for Windows is WinPopup which uses SMB/Net BIOS protocol and was initially generated to send and receive short text “pop up” messages. Within Winpopup LAN Messenger, no information ever leaves your local network. It’s safe, easy to use and fun too, because of those pop-up-windows which can actually entertain the user and animate the conversation. Winpopup LAN Messenger supports two types of operation: one with a server and one without.

Outlook LAN Messenger Review
Outlook LAN Messenger is a messaging platform designed for use within small, medium and corporate office’s local area network. This Intranet useful tool is an ideal replacement for Internet messengers in companies. The messages are completely secure, the chat is exclusively private and so the internal communication in a company or corporation, as well as the relationships among the internal personnel, become closer enough to increase the productivity and keep the balance up in harmony’s favor. Outlook Messenger is compatible with LAN, WAN, VPN, Terminal Services and Sub-Network and works across Windows using the IP protocol.
Softros LAN Messenger Review

Another successful LAN Instant messaging program which works for Windows is Softros LAN Messenger. This easy-to-use application stands for intra-office communication and doesn’t require a server. Softros LAN IM comes with a variety of features such as precise notification alarms, offline messaging, file transfer and a specially designed interface. The program is used for getting in contact with internal users throughout logged chat messages which are going to be archived and viewed anytime you want. All settings can be saved and transferred to another computer when necessary.

Akeni LAN Messenger Review

Akeni LAN Messenger is a different IM system designed for your LAN. It is easy to setup and does not requires a dedicated server or Internet connection. The rich client support chat, notification, message logs, powerful rich-text editor, typing indicator, conferencing and file transfer – these are specific features that bring the best out in Akeni when it comes about dynamic environments for peer-to-peer dual communication, as long as the network keeps running. No snooping allowed! It’s perfectly safe and secure to use it and have no worries about the…outsiders.

BigAnt Messenger Review

BigAnt Messenger is a total instant messaging alternative for enterprise. It includes voip, web conferencing, video chat and many other facilities serving as enterprising solutions. BigAnt supports the collaboration and brings effectiveness into a company or organization, considerably reduces the travel costs and boosts office productivity by reducing the distance barriers all over the world. By using the innovative feature called “Quick send” you can stay in touch with your colleagues and transfer data in no time!
The program is packed with features like customized fonts, status and notification options.

BORGChat Review
BORGChat is for those who are willing to send instant messages through LAN or WLAN without signing into any mainstream IM service like Yahoo! Messenger. Sharing is easy with BORGChat which doesn’t require any setup at all. Just get it into your computer and it’s all done. You can now communicate over the LAN, not the Internet. This is not only useful for home-chat but for office work too. Some of the available options allow customization from font size, smileys, chat modes to preferences regarding an intuitive interface. In comparison with other similar LAN messaging services, BORGChat has a message board, allows message filtration but has no encryption and Unicode like BigAnt, for instance.

LanTalk NET Review
LanTalk NET is an inexpensive lan messaging tool. No server and no configuration at all! If you are looking to set up IM within your company, you should definitely go for LanTalk NET XP. This is an excellent winpopup substitute with some other unique integrated features. As time is important for everyone around, this software allows you to schedule the time when the message should be send. It can be both sound and visual, including visible lighting down on your keyboard! Rather than gather hundreds of people around for a meeting by making phone calls, any manager can notify the entire personnel in a single “flash”, only by pressing a button.

Pichat Review

Pichat is also a free functional P2P chat platform, mostly used in Europe, including an organized contact list, webchat, Multilanguage facilities and many other additional plugins. The current updated version comes along with a better interface, different tabs, webchat and automatic download of updates. This software was influenced by IRC, ICQ and other similar technologies and it’s written in the C++ programming language.
Bopup Messenger Review

Bopup Messenger is a LAN Messenger product designed to communicate over LAN and enterprise-size networks which offers solutions for most of the business needs all over the world. Users can freely organize their personal contact list, detect whoever is online, safely exchange information, deliver and store data and keep the situation under perfect control by accessible monitoring the entire intranet activity within any workplace and location. It has a smart-looking interface and it’s extremely easy to work wit, especially because you don’t have to manually install it on all user computers.

Cheap Ways to Communicate from USA, UK to India

There is no person on this planet that can ever stand the distance without making tones of phone calls back home when missing the dear ones. Sometimes, missing is priceless. But trying to fire down that feeling is even more priceless, meaning…expensive!

Time is money indeed!
We all spend long hours on the phone. When calling overseas we definitely spend long money. How can we handle this? Fortunately, there are multiple cheap packages, some with destinations or minutes included, so that people all over the world to save their money and talk to the ones they care about from one side to the other on the planet. VOIP, calling cards, SMS, tele-cards and similar alternatives are to be considered when making phone calls overseas. Nowadays, providers fight for exclusivity. They lay promotional packages on the market in order to attract much more clients and keep the constant ones “on the wire”. Credit cards, pre-paid packages, teen programs, promotions and SMS bonuses are also an effective solution for the departed.

International calls are optimized to unlimited broadband, evening and weekend calls in Northern states like UK or Asian regions like India. We are lucky to live in these days when Communication-Era already had its bloom all over the countries. We can now talk less expensive or we even can talk for free because of the PC-to-PC and online calling services. There are no constraining contracts any longer, we simply pay per month and enjoy the bonuses and extra favors which are mostly available in phone call bills or even on call-cards.

India has become a call centre paradise for many British and international countries over the past years. It’s thought to be the perfect combination of cheap, quality and advanced modern telephony services that saw the change of many call centre operations away from the UK to India. However, that trend took its start well before the recent advent of internet telephony or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).There have been a significant rise in the communication field between UK and India, everyone knows it. This happened because of the special need of UK companies to relate more easily with their operational units in India, which later on leaded to the usage of computer services and the VoIP software. There are also computers connected to broadband assuring the communication via voice and video calls with any other computer using the same software, no matter what continent or region. This includes India, UK, USA and many other outstanding “polls” on the telephonic global market. Anyway, this is not always the most common solution because of the people who don’t have Internet connection. Due to VoIP technology which stands for direct connection to traditional telephony networks, we can all go for cheap calls, let’s say, to India, even by using pre-paid calling cards.

If it’s not low, it’s free!
There are three ways to make conversation abroad for free: from computers, phones and mobiles. Wherever your call starts and finishes, it travels most of its path via the web.
Simply by installing VoIP software that supports calling to landlines and mobiles, anyone can turn their PC into a telephone and make calls to regular phones. This option is probably one of the most advantageous ways to reduce costs for your phone bills. As you can see, these are just alternatives. That’s because cheap phone calls can actually be placed from one continent to another, especially from UK and USA to India, because of its historical past.  If you are in the UK and have a mobile phone, the following service is an easy and cheap way to call abroad. In parallel, more and more USA companies are going to buy services in India for the lowest costs in the world. It is all about taking advantage of cheap overseas phone companies. These can help to massively cut the cost of calls, without changing phone line or without setting up an account.

The quality for such phone calls is not really bad. Of course it depends on the connection speed, route calls and line capacity. To make a cheap call from a normal home phone to an overseas mobile works exactly the same way as calling a landline. That doesn’t mean that the cheapest provider for calling a country’s landline is always going to be the cheapest way to call a mobile in that country. For more details such as criteria, prices and registration, go for the International CallChecker and choose the lowest costs. This way, you’re going to make your wife happy when you’re away with the job, keep your mother young and communicate bigger and better with your friends and acquaintances all over the world.