Machines with an Intel 82579LM, 82578DC, or any number of on-board NICs running Windows 7, have a good chance of reporting “Network Cable Unplugged” when the PC is first booted up (either after a cold boot or a reboot), even though the cable is fine. Disabling and Re-Enabling the NIC alleviates this problem until the next boot. After wrestling with this problem on my new Dell E6420 laptop for weeks, updating drivers, rolling back drivers, nothing was fixing the problem. When there is no fix, we try the workaround.
Tech Tips: Remove Login Screen for Windows XP
This is not recommended, as this is a major security hole. However, if for some reason you are still using Windows XP and you have a situation where you need to go straight to the desktop upon boot, here is how you can bypass the login screen-
- Click the Start Button, then click Run. Alternatively, you can hit Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- In the text box type: control userpasswords2
- Turn off Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer then click Ok.
Ceton InfiniTV4: Part 2 – Review
The Ceton InfiniTV4
Getting Up and Running
So the Comcast truck-roll was scheduled for last Thursday, but as expected, that did not end with success. The Comcast tech verified that the card was authenticated, but while the Media Center was scanning for channels, he left. After the scan was complete, I noticed that I did not have any HD cable channels- only SD cable channels and HD local channels. I called comcast twice and tried to have them send the signal to allow my CableCARD to permission more channels. Still no luck. So I opened up a ticket with Ceton thinking maybe there was something wrong, but more likely that they might be able to interface between Comcast and myself to suggest something that might prove successful. After I opened the ticket online at about 11:43pm CST, I received a response from Ceton 19 minutes later! In fact, during the troubleshooting part, all the responses I received from Ceton came within 25 minutes. I am very impressed by the customer service I received from Ceton, even though they were not able to directly resolve my issue (as the issue was with Comcast). (more…)
Bejeweled Blitz – Advanced Tips
Ah, Bejeweled. The massively addicting game by PopCap. If you have ever played Bejeweled Blitz, chances are you have set out to play a couple of the 1-minute games, then looked down and realized you have wasted a couple hours of your life. Are you a Bejeweled player trying to leap to the top of your leader-board? You’ve come to the right place. (more…)
Ceton InfiniTV4: Part 1 – Unboxing
The Ceton InfiniTV4
So the day has finally come. After months upon months of waiting for the release of this device, and a 5-month pre-order period, my Ceton InfiniTV4 has finally arrived. After gazing upon a $225+ Comcast bill, I decided I would do everything in my power to lower by bill but retain as much of the service as I could. Buying the Ooma and getting rid of Comcast Voice was step one. Step two was getting Windows Media Center set up with Xbox360 consoles around the house as Media Center Extenders. This setup has been awesome except for one thing- I have not been able to get high-def cable channels. I really only watch one HD channel on cable and having to record most of the 2009-10 Bulls season in standard-definition was taking a huge step backwards. Enter Ceton. For roughly the past year or so, Ceton has been working on getting their 4-tuner CableCARD tuner out for public consumption. There have been a series of twists and turns expected from any company, let alone a smaller one, but their dreams (and many of ours) are starting to come true. The truck-roll from Comcast to deliver and set up the CableCARD is set for Thursday, so this first part is just the unboxing. (more…)
Official Palm Pixi site now live
In anticipation of the Palm Pixi which will debut on Sprint sometime “soon,” palm has a new page on their site dedicated to the Pre’s little brother.
Microsoft Security Essentials finally out of beta. Protects your PC for free.
Microsoft has finally brought the Security Essentials software out of beta, and is offering up downloads from it’s site. Security Essentials is free and will protect your XP, Vista or Windows 7 PC from viruses, spyware, and malware. Click the link to get your copy.
ZAGG hates scratches. Water, too.
Many of you know ZAGG as the maker of the invisibleShield which protects your precious devices from scratches. Today, they have announced an agreement with HzO Inc. for the exclusive rights to a new technology that will allow your device to be waterproof. The technology, which will be labeled “Golden Shellback™,” will require you to send your device in to be vacuum-coated with the thin film which repels water, oil, synthetic fluids, hazardous materials, dust, dirt, and water based solutions. ZAGG has plans to strike up deals with consumer electronic device manufacturers. The coating is scheduled to roll out in 2010, with pricing somewhere in the $50-75 neighborhood, depending on the size of the device.
WebOS 1.2 now available!
Finally, after a few delays, Palm has released the much-anticipated 1.2 version of WebOS. The head-lining feature of 1.2 is the improvements made to the app catalog, which allow users to purchase apps. Thanks to precentral, here is the extensive list of the updates you can expect when you update.
WebOS – 1.2.0
Sprint Config – 1.8
- Enhanced copy feature added to browser and email (shift key + tap and drag to select text).
- Improved global search to catch synonyms. For example, “Movies” brings up YouTube and Videos.
- Send/Receive vCards via the contacts application (tap left menu drop down).
- LinkedIn enhancements
- Filter search in email
- Bluetooth for expanded car-kit support
- Improved auto-linking of contacts
- Save inline images in email
- Resume support for podcasts and long songs
- Download files in browser
- Backup/Restore of web browser bookmarks
- Support Amazon MP3 over WAN (not just WiFi)
- Photo Albums sync via Media Sync
Addresses the following issues:
- Capability has been added to dial phone numbers from a calendar notes field.User interface now displays “updating PRL” correctly when you tap on Update PRL in Phone Preferences.
- Device will no longer reboot while attempting to download music when there was not available user memory.
- Real-time updates on Yahoo Finance now work properly.
- Sprint Navigation is now able to use free form addresses for navigation, including addresses from personal email accounts.
- PDF files can now be opened from a browser link.
- If the device receives a notification alert (for example an SMS), a clock alarm would not play unless the notification alert was dismissed.
- If a calendar event is snoozed then moved to a future time, the event notification will now appear at the proper time.
- When editing or creating a calendar event and toggling to another application before saving the event, the event will no longer be duplicated.
- On Google calendar, all day events that are changed to timed events on a computer are now properly updated.
- If a cancellation is received for an event and the user selects “Remove from Calendar”, the event is now removed from the device and desktop.
- If large attachments are sent in an e-mail, the e-mail is no longer sent twice.
- When setting email sync time to manual the device will no longer automatically sync the email accounts.
- Certain properties of tasks that can be set via the computer (but not displayed on the device) will no longer be deleted on the server.
- When two contacts were linked (one with a last name and one without) you will now be able to find them in SMS and email.
- Syncing issue with personal accounts has been resolved.
Straight from Palm, here is their page detailing all of the enhancements!