Zero to Live in 30 minutes!

Most of the non-computer-geeks use Windows and so here’s a proper tip for those who like Windows XP and want to make it better. Usually operating systems other than Windows have inbuilt capability to work without installation. That is you get a linux CD/DVD, you pop that in your drive and it runs the OS without installing. This is useful when you are in a public place or if your PC has crashed and you want to backup some files. This is called a “Live CD”, live because you can use it when you want without the long, boring installation procedures… So Windows can’t be used “live”, eh ? Well this is what Microsoft said. But I beg to differ…

Using a small software called Bart’s PE builder, any one can make a Windows operating system that boots just through the CD without installation. This is my partly successful attempt towards making an operating system that self backups and repairs.. lol

Ok so lets be systematic…

Things needed : A computer with internet connection, a CD burner and an empty CD, and ofcourse your Windows XP CD.

Time needed : 30 minutes (includes time taken to run till to nearest shop to buy a disc)

Copy all the files and folders in your XP CD to a folder on your hard drive.

So first we go to this page and download Bart’s Pre-installation Environment(BartPE). Once the file is downloaded, we have to install it. Open the file and follow the on screen instructions. Installation is pretty simple. Once the installation is done, launch PE Builder… you should see something like this :

Click on the “Yes” button and let PE Builder search for your XP installation files. After the searching is done, click on “Ok”

Now, click on “Create ISO image” in the Media options block and press Build.

So you can get a cup of coffee and listen to your favorite song while the process builds the iso file.

The iso file will be in C:\pebuilder3110a\… use your favorite CD burning application and burn this iso image.

So whenever your system crashes, put this in the CD drive and boot. You can use this basic OS and backup your data!

How secure is your PC ?

You may have a full subscription and original anti-virus and firewall but there will still be leaks…

Check your security status : Gibson Research Corporation with their world famous secuirty test popularly known as ” Shields Up! “. Check your PC here

First it will check whether your connection has reverse DNS. Well, if your connection has reverse DNS, your computer’s identity will be visible.. so using this vulnerability a hacker can steal your cookies( which gives him your passwords ). So after this small test, click on the “Proceed” button. So now, you get something like a services menu… click on ” All service ports ” to scan all ports that are open on your computer. Ok the scanning starts and a red box represents an open port, blue a closed on, and if its green then you are damn stealthy on the net Your computer passes the test only if all the ports are in stealth… that is the hacker does not know whether the port is open or closed. This ” stealth ” function is usually done by your firewall.

Your PC passed the test ? wow thats good…you are safe. It didn’t ? then its better! thats because you are in the right place to know how to be secure on the net.

Total Security : How do you lock down your PC from internet threats ?

Step 1 :

Use a free firewall. By free, I mean totally free. Its not like.. home edition and then the paid stuff. It should have all the features of a good software firewall. I don’t recommend you to bootleg CDs off the shops selling pirated stuff. So its better you download something that is free legally. So the best one in this free sector is Comodo personal firewall plus. Download it here

If you are using an external modem or a router, you can go to the router management and enable NAT/FIrewall. Well this firewall is hardware based. It does not allow other computers to send unsolicited packets of data to your computer. This is how my comp passed the leak test! ” hardware firewall ” Thanks to BSNL

Step 2 :

So now you control the programs that access the net. Thats fine. But if something sneaks in through USB drives or CDs, other storage media… you need something that will protect your computer from viruses. In addition to this you also need an anti spyware. For anti spyware I recommend Spyware doctor and AVG free anti virus for viruses.

Step 3 :

So the basic security is done. Now, we don’t want our personal data to be stolen by hackers! omg… But each time you go to orkut.com or any other website… it stores cookies to store some data like passwords(encrypted) or your login ids or even your name address and the time when you logged on. This thing is like you clean up your kitchen today and still find some flies sitting on your doughnut! So its easy to “bake” these cookies. Almost all anti spyware softwares have ” cookie cookers ” to delete the cookies. As far as identity theft is concerned, you can use anonymity softwares like Tor, which can hide your IP address. So you logon to google with this Tor installed, and google says ” Welcome to Google Deutschland “. Download Tor from www.torproject.org

Emergency security : If you want immediate security, then the basic windows firewall is good enough, or you can ask PC security guys like meee!

Cheers!

Bloggerwave.com – Pays you for blogging!

Ok I actually didn’t believe it. I thought it was something fake. But when my friend really got some cash just for posting in his blog, its gotta be real… this blog is little known to people… bloggerwave.com is aiming to be Europe’s biggest advertising media on blogs.

Sometimes you might just feel bugged up and want to quit blogging… but this will keep you going  haha! Creating an account is free, easy and safe. No credit cards required, no spam;  Just go to Bloggerwave and sign up as a blogger and submit your blog for approval… Bloggerwave will check your blog and send a confirmation email when your blog is approved. Thats it! you can start making money

Although this post seems to be an ad, it isn’t one. I’m trying to tell all those bloggers out there that there blog can be of use in some other way too! Bloggerwave rocks!

You can sign up here

Pimp your google talk!

well, itz been a long time since I updated this blog.. hmm….well I’m no longer interested in studies or that IITJEE crap or wateva… hehe… give your google talk a cool mod…call ur frenz n show off. Modifying your google talk can include many things…but I’ll tell u only the most significant and interesting ones. ( hu cares abt themes in yahoo now ? add one for gtalk 2day !! )

1. Basics are great.

well u want speed while using gtalk ….rite ?

• F9: Open Gmail to send an email to your friend
• F11: Start a call with your friend
• F12: Stop the current call
• ESC: Close the current window
• ALT + ESC: Minimize the current window
• TAB: Switch between multiple chat windows
• CTRL + I: Same as TAB
• SHIFT + TAB: Same as TAB but in reverse order
• CTRL + TAB: Same as SHIFT + TAB
• Windows + ESC: Open Google Talk (if it’s minimized, or in the tray)

2. Themes

If IM environments are for Yahoo, then themes are for Google talk.

You can download themes for google talk here

After you download the theme, navigate to this directory on your computer ( Windows XP )

C:\Documents and Settings\{yourusername}\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Talk\themes\user

Create a folder named Chat and paste the theme files in that folder. After this, open your google talk and go to settings > appearance > and select from a dropdown list of themes

The theme which you installed must be in the list…select the theme and enjoy!

Here is a screenshot which I took after applying the Bubblegum theme

3. Google talk radio!!

Wanna impress your friends by playing some good songs ?

ok here u go…

•  Unplug the mic cable from your computer.

• Double click the sound icon in your taskbar. You will see something like this

• Go to options > properties > select Recording > Unselect all items except “Wave out mix “.
• Now play a song from your favourite player and ask your friends to call you in google talk… yippee! they can hear the song being played…

Well, I gues I have to stop now, I need to study mechanics for my exams

pen(drive) is mightier than the laptop

Carrying ur laptop evrywher is a passĕ…… welcom 2 this new era wher u carry ur comp in ur pocket!!!

This new concept can enable u 2 run more than 5 operating systems simultaneously !!!!! n tat too widout ur own personal computer! It was founded in 2005 by a Stanford University professor named Dr.Monica Lam. Letz go 2 the real world applications of this live pc ….. named Moka5 in itz infant stage…..

Scenario 1 : You r a student

ur working seriously on tat presentation wich ur chemistry teacher assigned….. u want 2 demonstrate tat thing as tho ur doing it on ur own pc …. in short u can say tat the skol comp doesnt meet ur requirements….. ah alrite…..so u wish tat u had a laptop !!…. but i beg 2 difer…. i say a pen drive is enuf dude!……letz c y .. n how…….

> u install the live pc engine in ur pen drive ….. start working on ur presentation … n finish it….. the next day u take it 2 skol …. n insert it…. boot …. ur comp comes up instead of the native comp’s OS….. isnt tat gr8 ??

this is how ur live pc luks wen itz ready >

so this is how u finish ur presentation n agree 2 this ==> pen drive > laptop

Scenario 2 : ur a very busy guy hu works in sum office….. !

ooof….hectic work… u cudnt finish ur work in office…. NO PROB !!….. if u do it in ur live pc … get it home

n finish it here

tomrw…. just go 2 office as if ntn has happened n ur boss wil b ” impressed “

so this is how it works frenz…. if u want more info … go HERE

More tech stuff in next post.!…. till then cheers !!!

PC vs Console

The PC and the console hav evolved as 2 big gaints in the world of gaming…..but the high pitched battle for the supremacy has begun….wich is the best > PC or console ??? letz c hu wins now!!!

Graphics

The PC is the clear winner here…….coz graphics can b upgraded in PC wid high end graphic cards…and phyX processors wid nitro cooling…so this means the PC can juice up HD quality graphics…….

Now coming 2 the console…..1 major drawback is the lack of upgradability…..u cant upgrade ur graphics processor in a console n u hav 2 wait 4 a new 1…….so PC wins here…..

Processing Power

The PC has more power than the console in processing…..but stil the console wins here……tats bcoz the console has dedicated procesors wich r made 4 only gaming n nthn els….whereas a PC needs 2 take care of other things also…one point to console……

Ease of use

Consider this : u dont knw much in computers and still want 2 play a game….u need 2 take the CD/ DVD and install it…and then check al the settings and then start the game…..this is very difficult 4 inexperienced users…..but in a console….just put in the game CD/DVD and voila!!! u r game is ready 2 b played! console wins!

Money matters

PC has to win bcoz of multiple uses….for example if a person spends 30 K and buys a gud gaming PC …it can b used 4 other purposes also…..but for a gaming console u need 2 spend 30 K just for the model and u need an additional LCD or plasma TV also ( graphics wont luk gud on normal TV )……so PC wins as it doesnot hav additional costs and can juice up decent graphics…..

Points tally

PC –> 2

console –> 2

So there is no clear winner here !!!!

If u r a novice in gaming u can opt 4 a PC

If u r a veteran or frag-god then go 4 the console!!!!!!!

plz post ur views and comments abt this

Hello every1!!!

Welcom 2 my new blog!!! this is the 1st post!!!

Namasthe Apple iPod !!!

Groove on the Go

Whether u r a casual listener or an all-out music afficianado, u’ll agree tat iPod has refreshed portable audio xperience. But wich iPod fits ur lifestyle ???

>>> Basically there r 2 types of iPods ( or MP3 players in general )

1. Hard-drive based players
2. Flash memory/ Solid state players

Hard drive based players hav a hard drive inside (of course !! )..but they r not rugged…they can store huge amounts of muzik/photos/videos….but only thing is tat they cant be ruf used…..this is bcoz as there is a hard drive inside….the platters in the disk keep rotating…so they cant be used rufly ( or even tuf shaking will do !! )

Solid state players use a flash memory(1 used in pen-drives)…n so even if u drop it in the ditch( oops ! ) or even if u keep shaking it a lot….nothing happpens…they can b perfectly used rufly… !!

If u want entertainment wen u r spontaneous, i.e , lyk wen ur jogging or trekking…or even going on a bimpy road….. use solid state players…..

If u want entertainment while u travel ( not very bumpy ! ) …n u want 2 carry ur whole collection of muzik wid u….then the best idea is 2 go 4 hard drive based players….

FORTUNATELY solid state iPods r less expensive n store less of course!

But if u want 2 carry ur humongous collection of songs wid u …then go 4 the follwing models…..

Apple iPod nano :

These cute looking iPods a sleek n they hav decent storage capacities ( 1 GB – 4 GB )…they can play muzik ( hmm….) …n can store photos ( gud…huh ?)……approx 1 GB can store 240 songs….!

Apple iPod video

TV shows, games, muzik, movies, musik videos….wat els ?? get ur whole hom in ur pocket !! …this iPod not only burns a hole in ur purse ..but also givs sum thing wich is worth keeping….available in 30GB, 60GB n 80GB ( dont worry all r of the same size !! ) models….( wow ! )…u can carry all ur CDs + movies in ur pocket !! ( It holds up to 20000 songs, up to 25000 photos, and up to 100 hours of video — or any combination of each )….go 4 this only if u hav a huge muzik collection n promise me tat u wont mishandle !! [ ; ) ]…..

Apple iPod shuffle

Gud newz 4 budget ppl….this wont cost u a bang !….moreover u can carry it 2 ur gym ( hmm…sounds gr8 )…coz this is a solid state player..so there r sum hiccups…lyk limited storage…( 512mb or 1 GB ) …but still u can store ur fav songs!….

Apple iPhone !!!

OK…ur parents told u tat they’ll get u only 1 thing..either a gud cell phone or iPod….u want both…( not ne ordinary mp3 player) ….so gud newz 4 u ppl also !…tell ‘em u wanna buy an iPhone….itz the latest member in the category….n luks damn hott!……ne wayz…frenz will feel jealous of u…..u can go 4 it…n ( plzz stopp !!) …b4 u head 2 the shop….plz know tat it costs around $499 for the 4 GB model n abt $599 for the 8 GB one !!!…. but it reely pays off!

itz not just iPod + phone…itz iPod + cell phone + internet device + sum other technology + smart phone ( itz diffrent..u can carry ur skol or office in a smart phone !! ) == iPhone……

so tats all abt iPods !!..

did u lyk this post ??? plz comment !

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What money can’t buy !! ~ free softwares

Piracy ?? Stop it!! After v buy a comp… v invest more in softwares…. isnt it ?? But many opt 4 a cheaper alternative… bootleg CDs off the road or buy them in local pirated CD shops….. but little do they realise that they r encouraging illegal stuff…

NO therez a better way of saving money if u really want 2…. but how ?? yeah… by using free alternative softwares.
Herez a list of alternative free softwares…. by using these u can also stop piracy n also save so called ” money “….

Genuine Paid Softwares ———–Free Alternatives

* Microsoft Office * OpenOffice.org

* 3Ds MAX * Blender 3D

* Adobe Photoshop * Gimp 2.0

* Windows Media Centre Edition * Media Portal for Windows XP

* Norton Antivirus * AVG free edition

* Norton Anti-Spyware * SpyBot Search and Destroy

* WinZip * 7 – Zip

* Microsoft Outlook * Mozilla Thunderbird

Award Winning free softwares

Best free audio editor : Audacity

Best browser : Tie — Mozilla Firefox 2 and IE 7

NEXT gen art ~~~ ASCII images !!!

wanna put ur pictures in a special way …. ?? but how??
u must be wondering…..did u ever imagine tat u cud put ur images in TEXT !!!!
Well just download the software given below n follow these instructions :

ASCII generator dotrNET
Download it here : http://ascgendotnet.jmsoftware.co.uk/

Download Microsoft’s .NET framework 2.0 (needed 4 this)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en

1. u need Microsoft’s .NET framework 2.0 to run this software…. u can download this here : Once u hav .NET framework… run this software….. go 2 ” File ” menu and select ” Load Image ” and load select ur image from where u hav stored it….
2. There u r…..the conversion is over !!! click on the Text tab next 2 the tab of ur image n u can view ur “TEXT ” picture….
3. Go 2 file menu n u can select save as an image or save as colour text…. after this u can share the file wid ur frenz n boast off!!!

The picture wich u can c above is a cute pic that I converted!!!
Did u lyk this post??? Go ahead n post a comment !!!