TurfSite Manila

Internet + Computer = Life! (version 3.20 build update 21012012)

Tag Archives: windows xp

FTP Alternative in Windows 7

When I started teaching in 2004, most of the machines (read as PC units) we used in school run on Windows XP already. It was during this time that the Network Administrator of the school decided to keep the FTP port closed in all of the multimedia labs (good thing he was replaced already; such a pain in the a#*). Imagine how tormenting it was to upload an entire website using cPanel’s File Manager.

So, I decided to teach my students then a work-around that will somewhat enable them to FTP using a Windows XP-based machine: Network Places.

When Windows Vista, and later Windows 7, were introduced, Network Places was scrapped out. Then, I came across this nifty utility called Gladinet Cloud Desktop.

Gladinet Cloud Desktop allows you to map a cloud storage (that includes Google Docs & Windows Live SkyDrive) or any FTP location as a virtual network drive. Using Gladinet Cloud Desktop doesn’t require for a separate FTP client software to be installed in your machine, since you can tap the features of Windows Explorer to cut, copy, and paste files and folders from your PC to a remote location/server storage.

ReadyBoost of Microsoft Windows 7

So, I found a spare 512MB SD card in one of my bag’s side pockets this morning and thought of using it to try ReadyBoost in my Windows 7 lappy. So what is ReadyBoost? Wikipedia defines it as:

ReadyBoost is a component of Microsoft Windows, first introduced with Windows Vista in 2006 and also included with Windows 7. It works by using flash memory, USB 2.0 drive, SD card, CompactFlash or any kind of portable flash mass storage system as a drive for disk cache.

ReadyBoost is also used to facilitate SuperFetch, an updated version of Windows XP’s prefetcher which performs analysis of boot-time disk usage patterns and creates a cache which is used in subsequent system boots.

So, I reformatted the PQI SD card and activated ReadyBoost:

readyboost

Then, I did a simply test to check if ReadyBoost really works or not. With ReadyBoost activated, I fired up Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended and it just took me 40.1 seconds to see it’s GUI.

Now, I ejected the PQI SD card (ReadyBoost), made a reboot, then fired Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended again, and it took me some 77.0 seconds just to see the GUI. That’s around 30 seconds difference, and indeed it’s a big thing. Indeed, ReadyBoost works!

If you’re wondering the specs of my Windows 7 laptop, it’s an eMachines by Acer D725 running Intel Pentium Dual-core T4200 with 2GB of RAM. Now, I am thinking of getting a 2GB SD Card to be dedicated for ReadyBoost on my lappy.

HP Mini 2133 Battery Tests

Less than a month ago, I “upgraded” my HP Mini 2133 from Microsoft Windows Vista Basic to Windows XP with Service Pack 3. The overall responsiveness of the netbook has improved, though it seems that the battery consumption is a little bit higher. I made another partition to accommodate Windows 7 Beta. Here are the results of my HP Mini 2133 battery stress test experiment:

Total Charging Time: 01 hour, 55 minutes, & 17.6 seconds

I fired up the anti-virus software to scan the hard drive while the netbook is unplugged from the power outlet.

Windows XP SP 3 Usage Time: 01 hour & 33 minutes (low battery prompt goes on at 01 hour & 19 minutes of usage)

Windows 7 Beta (Build 7000) Usage Time: 01 hour & 33 minutes (low battery prompt goes on at 01 hour & 27 minutes of usage)

I remember having used the HP Mini 2133 for full two (02) hours when it was still using Windows Vista Basic. Wondering what’s draining the battery fast in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Setup a Home Network for Less than 500 Pesos

An experiment if I can setup a home network for less than PHP500 proved to be a success. I just needed to shell out around PHP300 and some minutes falling in line, and wallah! I can surf the net wirelessly thru my HP Mini 2133 anywhere within the range of our Home Network.

Here’s how I did it:

  1. Go to the nearest CDR King branch and buy a Bluetooth Dongle. I went to CDR King Park Square earlier today, and was able to get the smallest bluetooth dongle (the size of a USB stick cap) at PHP300.
  2. Head back home, attach the USB Bluetooth Dongle to your Desktop PC (mine is running Windows XP) and install the drivers.
  3. In your Desktop PC, open your Network Connections and open the Properties for your Internet Connection, or simply double-click on the Network icon from your Task Bar.
  4. Click on the Advanced tab of your Local Area Connection Properties, and make sure that the Internet Connection Sharing checkboxes are ticked. Click on OK and close the Properties window.
  5. Open a Command Prompt window (the shortcut is by Running the CMD command at the Start Menu). Check on what is the IP address of your bluetooth network by executing the IPCONFIG /ALL command. Take note of this IP address.
  6. Now, fireup your bluetooth enabled device, say a laptop. Connect to your PC using the bluetooth connection. In my HP Mini, I simply right-click on the Bluetooth icon from the Task Bar of Windows Vista, and click onJoin a Personal Area Network. Now you are connected to your Desktop PC.
  7. To verify that your are indeed connected to your Desktop PC, execute a PING of the IP address that you had seen earlier. If you will encounter a “Request time out” error, it simply means that your laptop is not able to connect to your desktop.
  8. On your laptop, launch the Connection Properties and supply an IP address for your mobile machine. This IP address must be different to the one that we had seen from our desktop.
  9. The IP address that you got from your desktop PC will be the Gateway in your mobile device or laptop’s Connection Properties.
  10. Now, launch your favorite internet browser and you should be able to surf from your mobile device or laptop, utilizing the connection from your desktop PC.

If you were helped of this post, your “Thank you!” is accepted, but your PayPal donation is better.

Ignoramus, SmartBro CSR-us

Two days ago, my wife noticed that the Smart Bro connection in our Windows XP machine is off and on. The network connection icon at the Windows XP task bar keeps on changing from “Connected 100Mbps” to “A cable is unplugged.” As someone who understands how computers work, I checked on the lan cable (that is connected to the Motorola Canopy antenna): it’s secured; checked on the LAN card thru the Intel diagnostics tool: it’s working properly; then I just noticed that when you move the AC adaptor cable, the connection is UP but when you drop it, the connection is DOWN. Could it be that the AC adaptor that powers the Motorola Canopy antenna is malfunctioning?

That very same night, I called Smart Bro Customer Support, and after talking to someone by the name of Jason for almost 30 minutes using a GlobePH mobile phone, the line was disconnected. It was almost 2300H already that night, so I didn’t bother to make another call to them.

Last night, the same problem is being experienced. I made call to the Smart Bro Customer Support again, and after being on hold for more than 15 minutes — using my GlobePH mobile phone (I did advised the CSR that I am using a mobile phone), the CSR instructed me to replace the UTP cable of the Smart Bro. WTF?! All I am asking was for a technician to drop by our place and check the cable connections, and now you are asking me to change the UTP cable by myself?