[a task management program win xp]

So my boss looked at me today and said you know computer stuff, maybe you can help... (Great way to start a day)!

Anyways, what he needs is a task manager to run on win xp, that can;

Be signed in/out of, or sign off on tasks, by different people.

A way to print what was done and by whom during set times.

It does not have to sync with anything, this will be on stand alone systems without Internet access.

But it would be nice to run a report from a separate computer (we are on and intranet), but not a requirement.

Would be nice if the software was free but if it being stable and secure means spending a few bucks we might could swing it.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas or recommendations without me spending a ton of time installing and testing them to be sure.

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.

[Good scripting book for win 7]

I am looking for a good book on scripting in windows 7, I have written a couple of little scripts for win xp and Linux. But I can't find a lot of the commands that would work in xp in 7.

I had on Xp a script setup when I start my computer it restarts the network card automatically, (Some error in the network card causes it to fail on startup, but once I disable and enable it is fine). But now I have windows 7 and I can't figure out how to do that and some other things in it.

Any ideas on a good book?

[Vmware Help, Please!]

The problem with efax is he is sending hundreds of faxes a day. For someone who is just faxing contracts or something 200 (the largest amount efax offers) a month would be plenty, but when you are sending out advertisements at 100's a day it's not worth it. Plus he would have re-enter all of his numbers (of which he has thousands) into an efax system. With my way we just port his databases over and uses the same programs. He is just reducing power consumption, and simplifying usage (right now he has one mouse and keyboard for each computer).

But I would like to thank you for the idea. Thank you.

[Vmware Help, Please!]

Thank you all, you all have given me a lot to think about and work with.

I have come up with a couple of hardware solutions, and now have to run them by my client and see what his thoughts are.

If I end up doing it, I will let you guys know what I used and how it worked out.

Plus any SNAFU's I may hit and the work arounds I come up with.

Thanks again.

[Vmware Help, Please!]

Thank you Sober, that was quite helpfull.

[Vmware Help, Please!]

I am trying to help a client, he has 10 windows 98 mechines.

He uses them to send out faxes (swears nothing past 98 will do a good "hand shake").

He wants to reduce his power consumption, and number of monitors, mice and keyboards (clutter control).

What I came up with is one tower, running 12gb of ram, and a good processor (i7, or a screaming amd) and 3-4 hard drive in a raid array for redundancy and backup (right now he has 0 form of backup!).

Then connect 10-12 USB modems to it.

My questions are,

Is VMware workstation stable enough to handle 10 or more OS's running concurrently? Or would you recommend another VM program that would be able to hand it?

What OS would you recommend running VMware (or another VM program) under to maximize both ram and CPU usage?

With win98 able to run on only 512mb or less of ram (trying to give a little over head) will 12gb be enough to run 10 versions of win98 and the primary OS?

I am also running on the thought that you can assign one modem to each instance of VM (please correct me if I am wrong).

I am also thinking I am going to have to reinstall win98 for each instance, and not just make an image of each drive that he already has and drop it into The VM with a little tweeking to the setting for each instance and have it just run?

It would be really nice if I could!

If I do not give the instances of VM access to the Internet (no Ethernet support and they are not dialing a ISP) should I still run some sort of anti virus in each instance of VM or just on the main OS?

Yes I know this will be a hair pulling headache! But if it takes care of my client and its what he wants then its what I will do.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

driveingnow.

[making a IRC server for intranet use only.]

Ok.

What program would you recommend for a IRC chat server on a intranet. That will run on either Windows server 2003 or Linux?

The program needs the ability to be upgraded at a later time to be used by outside users (aka the internet).

How would you recommend taking care of routing?

Setting up a DNS inside the server or the router so when it sees irc.local.com it routes it to the IRC server?

Using the DNS in the users computer (like the host file) to route irc.local.com to the IRC server?

Put in a IP address in the chat client (aka Trillion, Pidgin, ect.) and avoid having to deal with any form of DNS or routing issues?

Or do you guys have any better ideas to better implement a IRC chat client on a intranet?

Thanks for all help.

[making a IRC server for intranet use only.]

That just sounds like your trying to prevent all people on the network from being allowed to use any IRC server but the one on the network. Sure it can be done, but thats not what your initial question seemed to be.

With all things like, there will be many ways around it for the determined user.

I would change the default IRC port to something else... That way normal Irc can go out.

I am not a complete idiot...

[making a IRC server for intranet use only.]

Surely if you want it for only intranet use, just don't port forward on your router to the server for the IRC.

there is not way to set smoothwall to say, route from 192.168.*.* port "irc" forward to 192.168.ser.ver?

[making a IRC server for intranet use only.]

Mainly I was looking for the ability to upgrade it later for outside use. That is why I was picking something well known like IRC.

Also as a note we won't be using IRC to share the files. The server itself will have a 1tb hard drive per-media type/kind (aka one for music, one for movies) (maybe more). Only it will be set up in RAID and partitioned so that if one drive fails, no data is lost (always a good thing).

An like I said I may run a VM of Linux inside it also. Depends on what what all I ended up needing, and which platform is cheapest and easiest to use it on.

Bwsides this is all in the planning stages atm. Right now I am just building a list right now and try to find out if what I want to do is work-able.

Thanks

[making a IRC server for intranet use only.]

Ok, forgive me if there is already a topic on this. I did do a quick search and couldn't find anything.

But I am thinking about building a server that will store all files that roommates and I would want to share, i.e music, movies, any collaboration documents, ect. As well as printers.

It will be fairly beefy, atleast a core 2 duo, maybe even a quad core (depends on how much they can cough up for it). I will either put Win server 2003 (I have a copy lying a round that I got from a class I took) or a linux server on (haven't full decided yet (maybe both using a VM...?).

Anyways what I would like to also have set up on it is a IRC chat server. For those quick little "what do you want on your pizza" kind of times, without shouting through the house. An to send the odd web link.

Anyways anyone have any idea ideas/tips on this. aka what server client to use, routing tips, setup tips, ect.

Thanks.

(sidebar: how hard would it be to set it up for other friends or even us when away from home to access it?)

[What linux distro are you running on your netbook?]

So I just picked up an 1000HE recently, and I'm trying to decide what version of linux to put onto it. Now I normally run Mandriva. I've had better luck with them and I'm more familiar with their stuff. However, Ubuntu seems to have better netbook support atm, so I'm debating on going with them.

So what version of linux are you running on your netbook and why?

I have the acer aspire one. I am wunning windows xp normally. But I do have a thumb drive with the netbook remix ubuntu 9.04.

I may in the future see about installing it on the hard drive. but for now I need the windows xp for some stuff for school. It's also been awhile since I worked with linux regularly so I relearning a lot of stuff.

However I have to say that now that I have been playing with Ubuntu I will probably install at the least a vm of it on my desktop when I rebuild it. I might even duel boot with it. not sure yet.

Alas so may projects, not enough time... Or money...

[Firefox issue]

ok, but what is "it"...? the update?

If it's really a update why won't the admin side pick it up thats what is confusing me...

Plus searching Firefox website I can't find a listing for (2008120122).

[Firefox issue]

Are you saying the update is a virus...? or that a virus is giving you this alert?

I am saying my fear is that it is a virus... I don't have any proff yet. I want some proff that it isn't before I proceed.

[Firefox issue]

why not just make your limited user an admin while installing the update?

Um cause my main worry is that this could be a Virus...!

How many of those claim to be Security updates these days. I would trust it to be a real update if the Admin one saw it. But since it doesn't It's got me worried.

Now granted i don't think i have done anything or been any where that would warent this caution, but I still rather be safe than sorry.

Also i don't have any recovery disk for this computer. if I did, I would probably try it. But since I don't I am worried about doing so.

[Firefox issue]

I have a new computer using XP home.

I run as a Limited user.

I installed firefox v3.0.5 on it using the Admin account.

Now my limited account version of Firefox wants to update to v3.0.5.

But since it's a limited use account it can't install it.

An since it is the most current version if I go to the admin account and run update it says there are none.

So now I am compleatly lost.

I tried to uninstall and reinstall, didn't work.

I tried to uninstall and then delete the App Data in all personal settings and the Program Files, then install it. Didn't work.

The only reason i found out that it was trying to do a update is if failed enough that it tried to redownload it and do it again.

If I go into the options and look at the update history it shows a security update (2008210122) Install pending...? What is this, and could it be the cause of the problem?

If I go in under the Admin and look it doesn't show the security update.

Please help me I am going nuts with this. I can't start firefox with out this damn error. That leaves me stuck with Opera at the moment (not really a bad thing, I just want my firefox back).

[Darren reviews Acer Aspire One]

Dear Darren,

I have a couple questions for you regarding the Acer Aspire One.

I am thinking about buying one.

But I REALLY want to be able to play Diablo 2 and Starcraft on it. Do to the fact that many of my friends still play it and I want to join in again. I just don't have the money for full blown laptop right now.

The only other things I will be using it for is school work and surfing the web. (for now, when I can get a full one I will turn this into a hackbook)

So do you think you could test it out for me?

Or have you all ready...?

Also the version I am getting has XP home, I want to wipe it and put XP Pro on it (Mainly to get rid of all the pre-installed stuff I don't need and I like having more security on something that's more out in the open). How do you think the best way to go about this would be...? (I don't know anything about the bios and what it will let me boot from) (I have a external dvd drive if that will help)

Thanks for any info you can give. Keep up the good work (I have to admit I am behind in shows, But I look forward to catching up). Take care and keep that geek knowledge flowing.

[Acer Aspire One 8.9" netbook]

I think the Acer is probably more than enough for those two games, but that really isn't the point. It's not really meant as a gaming pc. Diablo II and StarCraft need pretty much nothing other than direct-x to run. They aren't intensive graphic games. But if thats all the games you wanted to play on there, then go for it.

Thanks digip, that was quite helpful.

But yeah those are the only two games I want to play on it. I am not interested in allot of games and don't have a lot of time to play them, I was just looking for something more than just solitaire to kill time every now and then. (Side note, I am registered with blizzard so I can download a copy of Diablo, Diablo 2 and Starcraft that don't need the CD to run. There is also a update for Diablo 2 that lets you run it with out the CD (Not sure about Starcraft haven't checked))

The main reason I was asking if anyone new if it would be fast enough is cause the benchmarks I have seen for the atom processor show it only beating out a P3 and it did that just barely.

My budget is really limited at the moment, this is mainly just to get me though school for now, then I will look into getting something better and converting this over to a hack/modding/testing/whatever laptop. Plus this is the only computer I have seen at my job that I like that I can get a good discount on. All the others are 17" ones and that's to big and they cost to much.

I haven't read Darren's review yet I will probably do that next.

But thanks for all your help.

[Acer Aspire One 8.9" netbook]

I am looking at getting the Acer Aspire One Netbook.

It's a small computer but I only "really" need it for taking notes in class, checking the web, email, little stuff like that.

But what I really want to know is will it run Diablo 2 and/or StarCraft? If it will that is a insta-sell for me.

Here are the specs for it.

Hard Drive Size: 120 GB

Installed Memory: 1024 MB

Processor Brand: INTEL

Operating System: Windows XP Home

Processor Series: Atom

Screen Size: 8.9" Widescreen

Optical Drive Detail:No Optical Drive Installed

Chipset: Intel 945GSE Chipset

Package Contents: Acer One Notebook, 3-Cell Notebook Battery, Power Cord, Power Adapter, Modem Cable, Setup Poster, Wireless Set up Card, Registration/Limited Warranty Card, COA label for Microsoft Software Installation, McAfee Internet Security Suite 60-day insert

Graphics Brand / Model: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Processor Bus (MHz): 533MHz FSB

Memory Type: DDR 533GHz

Energy Compliance: No Energy Star Rating

Processor Speed (GHz): 1.60 GHz

Fingerprint Reader: No Fingerprint Reader

Processor Model: Intel Atom N270 Processor

Weight: 2.19 lbs.

Hard Drive Detail: 120GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive

Modem Detail: No Modem Installed

Dimensions: 9.8" (W) x 6.7" (D) x 1.14" (H)

Installed Memory DIMMs: 2 x 512MB

Graphics Memory: Up to 256MB Total Video RAM

TV Tuner: No TV Tuner Installed

Optical Drive: Not Applicable

Processor Cache Size: 512KB L2 Cache

Screen Resolution: 8.9" WSVGA High-Brightness Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD Display (1024x600)

Networking Detail: 10/100 Ethernet Port

Audio: High-Definition Audio Support, 2 Built in Speakers

Webcam: 0.3 Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam

Card Reader: Multi-in-1 Media Card Reader

External Ports: 3 USB (2.0), 1 VGA Port, 1 headphone/ microphone/ line-out Jack, 1 Mic In Jack

Wireless Compatibility: Acer InviLink 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi Certified

So if anyone has one that they would test for me I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

[RAM upgrade not showen]

All the info I have found on the motherboard says it will support 1gb across 3 slots. (I have 2 1gb sticks)

There is a update for the BIOS. But I don't have a floppy disk at the moment. An I can't figure out how to make a boot floppy based on the instructions on ASUS website.

Is there anyway to make a boot CD?

And it doesn't support booting from usb.

Thanks.

[RAM upgrade not showen]

I have a custom built computer that was handed down to me.

It has a Asus a7v333 Motherboard in it with a AMD Athlon XP 1800+

It came with two sticks of 256mb ddr 2700 Ram in it.

I recently picked up from a friend 2 1gb ddr 2700 RAM chips.

I put them in a everything is fine.

But... (and this I have never heard of happening)

What ever I look at (i.e. system properties or BIOS) it still only shows that I have 512mb of RAM.

I don't know if it is using all 2gb or just 512mb of them. But it's kind of bugging me that it hasn't registered the upgrade.

If you have any ideas on how to fix this please let me know. Thanks.

[finding my diablo 2 key]

I am having issues with my game so I want to reinstall it. But I have lost my box. So before I uninstall it I want to find the key. But I don't know what file or where to find it. An no I Do Not! want someone elses key I want to find my own.

Thanks for any help you can give.

[Opening Control Panel with runas?]

Nope. Didn't work with the Runas command.

[Opening Control Panel with runas?]

Ok so I run as a limited user for security reasons, on Windows XP.

But I am always having to go into control panel to do stuff (i.e. Add/Remove programs, Hardware, Firewalls ect.).

I have been trying to figure out how to do this for some time, right now I have IE 6 and I just do a Runas on it, then in the address bar type "Control Panel". But I have another computer I have IE 7 on and it won't let me do it there, I also can't get Windows Explorer to open with the runas command.

So basically I want to go to Run type in "Runas /user:Admin "...Open control panel" *enter* and put in my password. And there it is, ready for me to use.

I can use any help you guys can offer. Thanks.

[I am looking for WSUS for linux?]

Yes I want a Automatic Update server for Windows computers. But I want to run the program it self on a Linux computer.