How to find out if TRIM is Enabled and Working: After installing an SSD drive in your computer, you might wonder if trim is working. The Trim command allows the operating system to notify the SSD (solid state drive) of which data blocks are no longer in use so that they can be wiped. Similar to defragmenting a drive (which is not used on an SSD), Trim enables the SSD to handle garbage collection in an attempt to keep drive performance at a maximum.
How To Put Windows XP on a USB Flash Drive
In this simple solution I cover one way to Put Windows XP Install Disk on a USB Flash Drive. Installing Windows XP from a USB Flash Drive might be useful for example if you wish to Install Windows XP on a Netbook or Laptop that has no CD Drive. One of the simplest approaches would be via the use of the YUMI (Your Universal Multiboot Installer tool.
Minimize Windows Live Messenger to System Tray
How to Minimize Windows Live Messenger to the System Tray in Windows 7. By default, Messenger in Windows 7 minimizes to the taskbar, which in my opinion clutters up the taskbar and appears messy. However, you can easily make Windows Messenger run in the System Tray “by the clock” like it does in previous versions of Windows.
WordPress Disable Image Attachment Page Links
WordPress Disable Image Attachment Page Links – In the following simple solution, I’ll show you one way to Remove or Prevent Attachment Pages from appearing for every image attachment you add to WordPress. Because WordPress stores attached image data in the database as a Post Type, hence a URL is automatically created for each image. As a work-around, one can simply redirect the attachment URL to the parent post of the attached image.
Open Task Manager on Remote Desktop Connection
In the following simple solution, I cover how to Open the Task Manager on a Remote Desktop Connection. As I am sure you already know, the local keyboard combination Ctrl + Alt + Del does not work on a remote machine. However, the alternate solution is simplier than one might think.
Photoshop CS4 Open Files in New Window
Adobe Photoshop CS4 – How to Open Files in a New Window: CS4 ships with a new feature called “Tabbed Document Windows” (works like the tabbed browsing many browsers use). However, some people (myself included) do not like this new feature. In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to mimic the old Photoshop behavior of opening each image in a new window.
Simple Adblock for Internet Explorer
Simple Adblock is an Ad Blocker for the Windows Internet Explorer Browser. Created by Simple Adblock, this adblocking browser extension for internet explorer works much like the AdBlock Plus addon does for Firefox. IE Adblocker might be used to block flash ads, banner ads, rich media, fly-ins and much more.
Printscreen on a MacBook Keyboard from Windows
In the Following simple solution, I show you how to “Print Screen” (take a Screenshot) while running from Windows on a Macbook Pro. Since a Mac does not have a physical PrintScreen (PrtScn) key on its keyboard, another BootCamp mapped key or key combination must be used in place of the familiar Print Screen button.
? Question Mark on Email Replies
How I fixed the ? inserted at the beginning of email replies. Recently, Windows Live Mail began inserting question marks at the beginning of every email I would reply to. As it turns out the beta version of Internet Explorer 9, installed a few days earlier was the culprit. Once Internet Explorer 9 beta was uninstalled, my email replies started working normally again.
Partition a USB Flash Drive in Windows XP
One way to Partition a USB Flash Drive from Windows XP and mark it active “bootable”. Windows detects many Flash Drives as “Removable Disks” and flash drives are often shipped formatted as a “Super Floppy” (USB-FDD without a partition table) . The Windows built in format utility cannot create a partition table on Removable Disks. Furthermore, the diskpart utility in Windows XP will not allow you to partition Removable Media, although diskpart does work for partitioning a Flash Drive from Windows Vista/7.
Restore GRUB2 after installing Windows
How I Restored GRUB2 after a Windows 7 Install. GRUB2 (Grand Unified Bootloader) is a universal bootloader used by Ubuntu and other Linux Distributions. If you have a Linux Distribution installed on a partition, and attempt to install Windows alongside it, your GRUB bootloader will be overwritten by the Windows bootloader, and your computer will only boot into Windows.
Reset Zoom in Firefox and Internet Explorer
In this Simple Solution I cover how to Reset Default Zoom Level for your Web Browser (Tested in Firefox and Internet Explorer). There are often times when you might use the Zoom feature of your Browser either intentionally or by accident. The Zoom feature allows everything on a Web Page to scale larger or smaller, making it easier to read the content by zooming in +, or fit the content into your screen by zooming out -.
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Erase Empty Space on Hard Drive
In this simple solution, I cover one method to Erase Empty Space on a Hard Drive. By default when you send items to the Recycle Bin, Delete Email, Clear Browsing History, Etc, the information that occupied that space on your Hard Drive can still be recovered until that space is overwritten several times with new data.
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How to Delete a Windows Service
How to Delete a Windows Service: In the following simple solution, I will show you how to remove a no longer active Windows Service. Typically installed by programs that utilize automatic functions, Windows Services essentially run executables in a non-interactive manner. In many cases, the uninstaller that ships with a program does not remove the Windows Service it installed. However, as long as the Service is stopped, removal is relatively simple.
Embed YouTube Videos in WordPress
Easily Put YouTube Videos in your WordPress Posts: There are many plugins available that can be used to Embed YouTube Videos into your WordPress Posts, but did you know that a default WordPress installation already ships with this capability? Embedding those YouTube Videos into WordPress is much easier than one might think.
WordPress Double Dashes Removed on Post
WordPress Double Dashes -- Removed on Post: By Default the WordPress formatting API automatically converts two dashes or double dashes -- to a single dash –. If you are posting code syntax or Linux command line entries on your blog, this can quickly pose a problem. There are many hard coded core fixes and plugins that work around the dash issue. However, an easier fix is already built into WordPress. Simply use the code button in the html editor.
WordPress Replace URL or Text in all Posts
In the following simple solution, I will show you how to replace all global occurrences of a URL link (or any other text) within your WordPress post content using SQL Search and Replace Query from phpMyAdmin. This is useful if you need to change a link or text that might appear in more than one post, without going in and manually editing each post by hand to reflect the new link or text.
Windows Live Mail Has Stopped Working
Windows Live Mail Has Stopped Working: Recently I was experiencing a sporadic problem when opening Windows Live Mail on my Windows 7 Laptop. After a couple of attempts, Windows Live Mail would work again. It appears many have been experiencing this Windows Live Mail Crashing problem. In the following simple solution, I’ll show you what worked for me to resolve the issue.
HDMI Sound from Laptop to TV
How to get sound from Latop to your TV using an HDMI cable. Connecting your Laptop to a HDMI enabled HDTV offers many advantages. For example you can use the Television display as a presentation device, stream movies from the DVD or BluRay player on your laptop, play games etc. However one of the issues many encounter in this process is enabling sound from the Laptop or Notebook to be played over the TV speakers through HDMI.
USB Creator for Windows 7 or Vista
USB Creator for Windows 7 or Vista is a tool that can be used to put your Windows 7 or Vista Installation Disk on a USB Flash Drive. This enables you to Install Windows 7 or Vista from a USB Flash Drive instead of the Installation CD/DVD. A Windows install from USB is not only faster, but can keep your original disk from getting scratched up. Additionally, NetBooks do not offer a CD/DVD Drive, making Windows Installs from USB optimal.
Make God Mode Windows 7 Control Panel Pin to Taskbar
Make Windows 7 God Mode Pinnable to Taskbar: In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how one way to make God Mode pinnable to the Windows 7 taskbar. God Mode is just a common name for a feature found in Windows 7 that essentially provides an Advanced Control Panel. An explorer shortcut can be created for God Mode and then pinned to the taskbar for quick access.
GodMode Windows 7 Control Panel
Enable God Mode for Windows 7 Control Panel: In my opinion, the new Control Panel in Windows 7 lacks in functionality with a focus on condensed page presentation. This can pose an issue by forcing the user to navigate deeper into a menu item to locate a specific setting or option. With Windows Vista, this was partially resolved by switching to classic view. With Windows 7 comes yet another option. A hidden “God Mode” feature or Master Control Panel.
Photoshop – Unable to continue because of a hardware or system error
Unable to continue because of a hardware or system error. Sorry, but this error is Unrecoverable. If you receive and error like this while starting Photoshop, your not alone. I have noticed that this error often times appears to step from corrupted settings. In the following simple solution, I will show you how I address the issue, and get my Photoshop working when this Unable to continue Photoshop error is encountered.
Check a Download for Viruses
How to quickly Check a Download For Viruses and Malware. Often times we download a file from the internet that appears to be suspicious. Today, a majority of people have Anti Virus Software and Anti Malware Solutions installed on their PC. However, recently most Antivirus Software has not been able to keep up with every new Virus in circulation. As a result there can often be a delay in the update and propagation of new virus definitions. Subsequently this can leave the end user up for potential infection. Fortunately there are some free tools we can use to check a file for viruses to ensure they are clean.
Enable Quick Launch Windows 7
Enabling Quick Launch in Windows 7: In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how I quickly enabled quick launch in Windows 7. By default Microsoft’s Windows 7 doesn’t include the quick launch toolbar option, however, some people may wish to continue to use the quick launch toolbar feature that was previously available in Windows XP, Vista, etc.
Fixing Simple Tags – WordPress 2.9 Upgrade
One way to Fix Simple Tags after Upgrading to WordPress 2.9; In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how I fixed the Broken Simple Tags Plugin after upgrading to WordPress 2.9. It appears that the Plugin Author has hard coded values to check the version of WordPress that is currently installed. If the value does not match, the plugin will not function.
Error from park wrapper: Domain is already configured
Recently I received an error in cPanel stating; Error from park wrapper: Domain is already configured when attempting to add an addon domain. The domain was previously an addon in one of our other accounts on the same box, and we were trying to move it to another account. As it turns out, when I deleted the addon from the other account, traces were still left behind on the server, making the domain appear to be configured.
Shell Commands Windows 7
The following are the Shell Commands available in Windows 7. These can be used for many things like launching paths from a command window or to create shortcuts to specific Windows 7 applications (enabling you to Pin Items to Windows 7 Taskbar). This complete list was stripped and converted from an exported FolderDescriptions registry folder found here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions
Pin Computer to Taskbar Windows 7
How to Pin Computer to Taskbar in Windows 7. Windows 7 offers a feature called Pin to Taskbar that allows you to drag and drop or right click items and Pin them to the Windows 7 Taskbar. However, some items, particularly those that are already a part of another pinned item, cannot be pinned. For example, since Computer is a part of Windows Explorer, Computer will not Pin. To fix this, we simply need to create a new shortcut that can be pinned.
Windows Mail and Windows 7
Windows Mail and Windows 7: Upon starting Windows 7 you may notice that Windows Mail is missing (Where is Mail in Windows 7?)! Microsoft evidently felt there is no longer a need to bundle a Mail Client. In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to quickly add Windows Live Mail to Windows 7 and get you on your way.
Convert Doc to PDF files using PDFCreator
In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to Convert Doc to PDF files using the Open Source PDFCreator. I stumbled upon this PDF Creator tool while I was doing some research for a client who was looking for an offline tool he could use to convert his document files into PDF (Portable Document Format) files. This tool seemed to do the trick and more. PDFCreator includes a PDF print driver which allows the user to print to a file from virtually any Windows application that supports printing. It can be used like a printer in Word, StarCalc or any other Windows program.
getPlus + (R) Adobe Download Error
If you have encountered the dreaded getPlus + (R) Adobe Download error, your not alone. The error seems to stem from the package manager Adobe uses to fetch downloads like Adobe PDF Reader. In the case of downloading Adobe PDF Reader, I will show you my simple solution for fixing the problem and getting Adobe Reader downloaded once and for all.
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 33554432 bytes exhausted
When attempting to upgrade WordPress, you might encounter a Fatal error like we did on one of our WordPress installs when upgrading to WordPress 2.8.5. The error is typically encountered when automatically upgrading (from the dashboard) WordPress installations containing a lot of posts and or using many plugins. The Fatal error might appear as follows:
United Parcel Service Email Trojan
Beware, email appearing to come from (UPS) or United Parcel Service may be a Trojan. The infected email states that it’s coming from “United Parcel Service” or “United Parcel Service of America” and usually starts out stating in the subject line “UPS Delivery Problem“. An attachment is shipped (pun intended) with the message and once the attachment is opened, your computer becomes infected with a virus variant of the Win32/Kryptik.ARB trojan.
Mass Delete WordPress Comments
In the Following Simple Solution I will show you how to Mass Delete WordPress Comments directly from the WordPress database. If you have hundreds of pending WordPress comments that are mainly spam comments, it can take forever to delete them manually via the WordPress dashboard. By using the following process to delete WordPress Comments, you can acheive this goal in a matter of seconds.
Free 3GP Video Converter
“Free 3GP Video Converter” is a free video conversion utility created by DVDVideoSoft Limited. The Free tool can be used to Convert 3GP video files (3GPP format) recorded using your cell phone to acceptable video formats that can easily be played back on your computer. Quickly convert 3GP to AVI or 3GP to MP4 files or extract audio from 3GP video files and save the audio in MP3 format. Free 3GP Video Converter can also be used to convert AVI or MP4 video formats back to 3GP.
Disable WordPress Autosave
In the following simple solution, I cover how to Disable WordPress Autosave function. A lot of people are having problems with the WordPress Autosave feature. The WordPress Autosave feature was intended to automatically save your work in the background after a certain period of time to prevent you from losing your work. However many are finding that their most recent post or page edits are getting lost when they go to preview and publish the entry.
Clear Cache Firefox
In the following Simple Solution, I’ll show you an easy way to Clear Cache in Firefox. We will Add a Clear Cache Button to Firefox Web Browser by using an extension or addon called Clear Cache Button and then adding the button to our toolbar. This eliminates any additional steps (I.E. Ctrl + F5) that may be commonly used to Clear Firefox Cache and enables you to perform the task on demand via a single mouse click.
Free Nero 9
FREE Nero: Nero is now offering their Free Nero 9 basic, easy to use CD/DVD burning utility. This Nero 9 Free Edition is pretty much like its bigger brother Nero 9 Ultra, but without all of the additional features and amenities. Offered with only the most essential basic features you may have come to know and enjoy with other Nero burning products, Free Nero 9 is an entirely free offering with limited functionality.
Repair Windows Update
In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to attempt to Repair Windows Update or Automatic Updates automatically by using an innovative little tool called “Rizone’s Internet Recovery Kit” created by Rizone Technologies. This tool can also be used in an attempt to repair SSL/HTTPS/Cryptography if your having troubles connecting to secured websites. I.E. Bank Account logins, PayPal etc.
Windows Update Error 0X80070005
In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to fix the Windows Update Error 0X80070005 that is ever so often encountered after a Malware attack. The automated fix was created by Rizone Technologies and has worked wonderfully on the select few troubled computers I have had the opportunity to test it on.
PhpMyAdmin SQL Search and Replace
In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to Search and Replace SQL database information from PhpMyAdmin. This SQL query method is extremely helpful when you need to replace multiple text strings and do not wish to export the entire database just to make those changes. With the SQL Search and Replace (SQL Query Method) the database changes can be made instantly on the fly.
Reboot or Shutdown from Remote Desktop Connection
Reboot or Shutdown from Remote Desktop Connection: The following simple solution covers the process of rebooting a machine from a remote location or shutting down a remote computer. The process assumes your using Microsoft’s (RDC) or “Remote Desktop Connection”. By default, Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Connection only enables a user to disconnect or log off. This solution will allow you to Shutdown or Reboot that remote PC.
Pool Chlorine Level Does Not Register
Chlorine Doesn’t Register? If you use chlorine in your pool and are noticing that your chlorine levels PPM (Parts Per Million), are not rising or even registering with your Pool Test Strips or Pool Test Kit, your not alone. This is a common problem many pool owners face at one point or another.
Adsense WordPress Shortcode
Adsense WordPress Shortcode: In the following simple solution, I will show you how to create a WordPress Shortcode that can be used to display your Google Adsense ads anywhere within your posts or pages. This simple function added to your Themes functions.php file, makes it very easy to include your Adsense Ads with post or page content while you are writing the content for your blog.
Display more than 15 recent posts – WordPress
Show More than 15 Recent Posts in WordPress 2.8 +. By default the number of recent posts that can be displayed in your WordPress sidebar is (at most 15). Maybe you want to display 30 recent posts or more? It is really a shame that the default limit is 15 posts, so in the following simple solution, I will explain how to modify the WordPress Recent Posts Sidebar Widget entry to Display More Than 15 Recent Posts.
Margin Differences – Internet Explorer and Firefox
Margin Spacing Different in Firefox than Internet Explorer: If you have spent a good amount time messing with CSS, you may have noticed that the margins set for a Class or ID can often preview different in Firefox and Internet Explorer (IE 6 and earlier versions). In most cases the alignment problem will appear if you have margins applied to a floating element. This issue is also known as the IE6 Double Margin Bug. In the following simple solution, I’ll show you how to make the margin spacing appear the same in both Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers.
Reset Internet Explorer
In the following simple solution, I’ll show you a quick and easy way to Reset Internet Explorer Settings back to the default. Restoring Internet Explorer as if you just performed a fresh installation of the web browser. Resetting Internet Explorer can be used to solve many problems such as errors like: “Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close” slow browsers, crashes and hanging and conflicting settings. The tool we are going to use is called Microsoft Fix it.
Firefox Inline Spell Checker
Firefox includes a built in spell checker that can check for spelling errors. However, by default the spell checking feature only checks for multiline fields, which does no good if your typing a single line entry into a single line entry box. In the following simple solution, I’ll cover the process of tweaking the firefox spelling checker to allow you to detect spelling errors and mistyped words as you type them in single line entry fields.