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Open Windows Live Mail in Newsreader Mode

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:49:36 -0500

The only thing I use windows live mail for is reading newsgroups. And I always thought that it would be nice to have it open directly in newsgroup mode rather than have to click a second time to get there.

Print from Mac OS X Snow Leopard to a Windows 7 Shared Printer

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:08:23 -0500

I've been trying for a long time to print from MAC OS X to a printer shared on my windows network. Throughout various MAC OS X operating system releases and updates I have had this working and then break over and over again. My latest upgrade to MAC OS X Snow Leopard once again broke printing for me. And, until now, I hadn't found a solution. So, here's how to print to a printer shared on Windows 7 (64 bit in my case, but this should work for 32 bit too) from MAC OS X Snow Leopard.

No CSS Intellisense in Visual Studio 2008

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:41:38 -0500

If you don't see intellisense for your cascading style sheets in Visual Studio 2008 or if the CSS intellisense seems to have dissappeared or just stopped working here's how to get it back:

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:47:32 -0500

Here's a list of the newest keyboard shortcuts for Windows 7. The best ones (in my opinion) are the ability to use the arrow keys to control the new Windows Snap feature. The keyboard shortcuts for Windows Snap are especially useful if you have more than one monitor since by dragging the windows you can only snap them to the far left or right. With the Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts you can place snapped windows on the left or right of any monitor.

Mac OS X Show Hidden Files and Folders

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:04:45 -0500

Every so often I need to view the hidden files and folders on my Mac OS X system. And I end up looking for the terminal command each time. So I'm documenting the commands here:

View Multiple Pages in Microsoft OneNote

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:49:38 -0500

you use OneNote (It's a great program) you will eventually want to be able to see more than one page in a notebook at the same time. You can do so by clicking CTRL-M.

Screen Saver Utility Program - Lock Windows and Start a ScreenSaver (Freeware)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:38:16 -0500

There are two methods I know of to lock windows and "immediately" run a screensaver at the same time. The first method uses a batch file to run the screensaver. The second line of the batch file locks windows. But that line doesn't fire until after the screensaver is stopped. If a screensaver contains a way to be bypassed (some screensavers can be run in different modes such as "windowed") then a batch file to run a screensaver will not secure your machine. Another method which uses a .NET console application (command prompt program) to reset the screensaver's timeout value when windows locks and the sets it back again when windows unlocks is a secure way to lock your computer and run your screensaver right away. Using this method the screensaver automatically runs 1 minute after the computer is locked. I've created a freeware application that does just that.

Microsoft BizSpark - Free Software and Production Licenses for Your Startup!

Sun, 31 May 2009 10:47:04 -0500

Microsoft has created a special program for startup companies called BizSpark. If you're a developer who uses Microsoft products, if you've ever had an idea for a software or website product, if you've ever wondered how to get started and/or how to afford to get started, then you have to become a member of BizSpark. Just this should be enough to get you to check it out: you get a full MSDN kit for 3 years for $100.00 U.S. and FULL PRODUCTION Licenses for the same 3 years!

Internet Explorer 8 - InPrivate Filtering

Mon, 18 May 2009 07:18:10 -0500

Internet Explorer 8 comes with a tool called InPrivate Filtering. Website content provided by third parties is often used to track what sites a user visits and/or to display ads. InPrivate filtering keeps these third parties from collecting information about you and may be used to block ads. Unfortunately InPrivate filtering is off by default each time Internet Explorer 8 is re-opened. Here's how to set it up and keep it turned on:

Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Tookit - Developers

Sat, 02 May 2009 06:56:16 -0500

If you're a website developer then the newly released Internet Explorer 8 means there is yet another browser you need to know how to develop for. IE8 is easier to develop for than any other IE browser so far because Microsoft is finally making a real effort to be standards compliant.

Internet Explorer 8 InPrivate Mode

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:34:20 -0500

IE8 - InPrivate Mode Protects Your Personal Data. But it's not as easy to use as it could be. Here's what InPrivate Mode does and how to make it easy to use:

Internet Explorer 8 Review

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:25:36 -0500

I've been using the release version of Internet Explorer 8 for a few days now and I've found plenty of things to like about the new browser and only a few things I don't like.

Share an External USB Drive Connected to a Windows Vista Computer

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:41:54 -0500

I use an external USB Drive connected to my Windows Vista desktop computer for backing up files. I also wanted to be able to back up files directly to the same drive from other computers on my network. But if you share an external USB Drive connected to a Windows Vista computer the share will be forgotten if the drive is removed or if the computer is re-booted. To permanently share a USB Drive connected to Windows Vista a .cmd script may be written and then run via Scheduled Tasks each time the computer is booted up. Here's how:

How-To: Use Boot Camp to Dual Boot Mac OS X and Windows Vista 64 bit

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:17:44 -0500

Here's how to use Apple's Boot Camp to dual boot Mac OS X and Window's Vista 64 bit on a Mac Book Pro:

Automatically Start Your Screensaver when Locking Windows

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:42:57 -0500

Before Windows XP starting the screen saver would also lock your computer. But as of Windows XP and continued in Windows Vista there isn't a built in way to lock your computer and start the screen saver. The screen saver I use, Marine Aquarium 3 is so beautiful that I prefer to have it start right away whenever I lock my computer. Here is a way to start your screensaver and lock your computer at the same time which will work on Windows Vista 32 bit, or 64 bit, and Windows XP 32 bit or 64 bit.

Marine Aquarium 3 - A Saltwater Reef Simulator / Screen Saver

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:36:24 -0500

Marine Aquarium 3 is a screensaver that is so realistic that many refer to it as a saltwater reef simulator. It's so beautiful and relaxing that you'll find yourself mesmerized by it.

Backup Files from Anywhere for Free

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:24:35 -0500

One of Microsoft's new "Live" services is a peer to peer technology based file sharing system. It's called Windows Live Sync. And it has the makings of a Backup solution that will let you backup your files no matter where you are as long as you have an internet connection. Plus it's both Windows and Mac compatible.

Use SyncToy for File Backup

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:20:33 -0500

The backup solution built into Windows Vista is less than perfect. I would recommend it highly except for the fact that it doesn't backup all file types! SyncToy V2.0 is a free utility from microsoft that IS a good backup solution for everybody.

Upconvert Your Music with the Creative X-Mod

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:41:24 -0500

Creative Labs claim they can upconvert music back to 24 bit audio. When I first heard that claim I thought it was preposterous. It's not possible to replace something that's missing completely from a digital file right?

I.T. Job Hunting - Important Questions

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:59:11 -0500

With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are getting laid off - even in the tech field. I thought it might be helpful to some to know the kinds of questions I ask whenever I go on an interview.

NVidia Makes Laptop Drivers Available

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:47:44 -0500

I've had quite a few laptops over the years. And each one has had a graphics card manufactured by NVidia or ATI.

Gathering Project Requirements

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:40:14 -0500

No matter how small a project is, some type of specification should be created. A good specification makes certain that all parties involved in a project know what the end result is going to be. Typically it takes longer to get the specifications of a project than to create/code the project. And that's a good thing. Proper planning upfront saves time in the long run.

Project Planning

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:12:28 -0500

How do you decide what projects to work on first? If a project is going to run past a deadline do you have a way to decide what part(s) of the project could be dropped in order to still meet the deadline?

Visual Studio .NET 2008 - Database Projects

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:09:00 -0500

Visual Studio's Database Project is very useful and should always be used with any solution in which a developer will be creating/accessing database data. Using a database project will get you: Versioning, the ability to rollback, ease of deployment to multiple environments, give you the ability to manage existing database objects and create new database objects.

Microsoft One Note Makes Me a Better Programmer

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:54:50 -0500

Have you heard of Microsoft One Note? Have you used it? If you haven't I highly recommend checking it out.

Macbook Pro - Dual Boot OS X and Windows Vista Ultimate via Bootcamp

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:53:53 -0500

I use both Apple Mac OS X and Windows Vista Ultimate. Both are great operating systems. They each have their strong and weak points. And I can't say I have a favorite.