Dashken's I-Blog

Vista's UAC (User Account Control) can be a dread and its usefulness has been hotly debated since its launch more than a year ago. The UAC prompts may give users the impression of a more secure operating system environment but to many (including me), it's just a bugger that should be turned off if you are one who knows how to use your computer and always keep your antivirus and antimalware up-to-date.

Recently, I put in some of my time in enhancing the x264 HD Benchmark by creating some script to detect UAC and automating the x264 HD Benchmark process so that 1st-time users don't have to spend time reading the help file to disable UAC before running the benchmark. The benchmark batch file can be run without UAC turned off, but a problem surfaces when cpuz is asked to create the current system's report into a txt file.

Parameter : -txt=report
Launch CPU-Z in ghost mode : no interface appears, the register dump (report.txt) is automatically created.

Example :
cpuz.exe -txt=c:\mydirectory\mysystem : runs CPU-Z in ghost mode. Report file mysystem.txt is automatically generated in directory c:\mydirectory.

If the report is created in the beginning of the batch file, then there's no problem as UAC prompt will be prompted accordingly. But then the report will not reflect the real FSB and temperatures of the system when its resources are 100% in used. If cpuz is run in the middle of the batch file, just in between the tests, then no UAC is prompted, the report just failed to be created (in my case) or it prompts for elevation but since this benchmark is not short, the user may be AFK (away from keyboard) to actually attend to the UAC prompt.

Continue reading "VBScript : Check if OS is ... »

It has been one heck of a month with new projects coming in non-stop. Been too busy to update anything at all. I predict the month of April will be no different, so I better update whenever I can before this blog starts collecting dust.

Recently, I was asked to create a utility to open and close the ODD (Optical Disk Drive) tray continuously for a set loops. This utility was created for in-house usage to test the ODD tray cover on a new chassis that intermittently got stuck and thus the ODD tray was unable to close properly.

I tried a DOS-based utility provided to me but it doesn't work, not even in FreeDOS.

After getting more info from a colleague, I found out that he'd be running the utility that I came up with on Windows Vista. Hmm... that's better, I'm more familiar with Windows than DOS. I can write a utility for DOS but that will take time (lots of it). LOL!

The utility to eject CD that I tried like ej.com and many others didn't work. I never know why... so, I moved on to Windows. I try searching vbscripts and utility. Found a vbscripts that allows me to use Windows native commands to eject the ODD tray, but no way to close it. Dang...

Continue reading "ODD Tray Open/Close Stress Test" »

The Malaysia 12th General Election has ended with Barisan Nasional (BN) grabbing 140 Parliamentary seats enabling them to form the federal government with a simple majority. The important thing is BN was denied its 2/3 majority which saw the oppositions winning 82 seats out of the 222 Parliamentary seats.

When the voting finished and the results started to come on the night of March 8, BN already guaranteed of retaining their dominance in Sabah and Sarawak after the first/second hour and Johor as well. Those places, no fight at all. My colleagues and me were discussing whether those places got Internet or not. Sorry...

So, the final results should be is 140 - 82. Still an amazing and unprecedented achievement!

Why is the 2/3 majority so important? Well, any party with a 2/3 majority can amend the constitution at will and this has been proven to be very damaging for the past 50 years under the BN.

Continue reading "Malaysia 12th General ... »

After months of waiting.. and weeks of campaigning and going to talks (mostly only the 2 parties talk that I went to), the day has finally arrived for every citizen to cast their votes, for a better tomorrow, a change or the same old same where things will just get worse?

I sure hope it's for the better but we definitely know better with all the cheats and ghosts which will be abundant today. You'll definitely hear ballot boxes go missing too, which will be left unreported by the local media of course.

I've been to quite a few 'ceramah' for the past few days. Was at Anwar's talk, most of the DAP leaders except Lim Kit Siang which I very much looked forward to, at Han Chiang College's field which saw more than 60,000 turnout, a sight to behold, really. I missed the Raja Petra one too. Unfortunately he only went to Raja Uda, was banned in Penang island and didn't make it to Chai Leng Park (he was hijacked or something). But never mind there. I've already concluded who I'll be voting for. You'd surely ask...

You: So, vote for who?
Me: Shhh, secret, cannot tell lah!

Ok, will be casting my vote in about 1-2 hours. Wish me luck. Last but not least.. Malaysia, GOOD LUCK!

Yesterday morning, my computer was working fine. Afternoon, nothing special, but came evening, something really bad happened. I found that the 'drag and drop' function on my computer didn't work. Drag and drop icons on my desktop didn't work, folders also the same, even the tabs on Firefox and IE7 failed to budge when I drag and drop them.

The last person who used my computer was my sister. I suspected her. When I confronted her, she told me she only watched Youtube using the Firefox and nothing else. WTF? Sure or not?

A search on the web using 'cannot drag and drop windows xp' revealed quite a lot of results. I was happy that I was not alone, TBH.

There were a few registry fixes and most people in forums who know nothing better always suggested to check for trojans and viruses. Well, that's always the easiest suggestions to give I guess.

Continue reading "Cannot drag and drop in ... »

I've covered 'How To Create A WinPE 2.0 Bootable USB Key?' in August 2007 but haven't had the time to finish off with the media (or CD / DVD) version of it. So I think I'll just get on with it. Been really busy for the past month that I can't really find the time to update.

If you've not read the entry on 'How To Create A WinPE 2.0 Bootable USB Key?', do take some time to read it, it's extremely useful and unlike CD/DVD, with USB Key (or USB Flash Drive), you can add stuffs in anytime you like.

Before we go further, if you don't already have Windows OPK (for Vista) installed on your Windows XP system, you can download the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK).

If you don't have Windows OPK and is on dial-up connection to the Internet, I don't think you can go any further, unless you ask someone with a broadband connection to download the Windows AIK which is some 992.2 MB!

Continue reading "How To Create A WinPE 2.0 ... »

Just last weekend, my Dell E248WFP 24" LCD monitor has arrived on my doorstep. Well, not really.. since my front door has no steps.

Anyway, it arrived and I'm finally finishing on my new system setup. Installing drivers and software. It took me nearly 6 months though. LOL! I'm just TOO busy with work and more work.

So, I installed the FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder instead of the Klite Codec Pack. After that I tried to play my collection of 'downloaded' AVIs using the Windows Media Player 11 and to my surprise, everything turned out only in black and white. Where are my farking colors??!!?

Continue reading "Windows Media Player 11 ... »

In Windows XP, to add support for High Definition Audio, we have to install the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) High Definition Audio class driver. This is either the KB835221 (for SP1) or the newer KB888111 (for SP1 or SP2).

If you've already tried your hands installing the Windows XP SP3 RC v3264 and you have a High Definition Audio device on your computer, I bet you must be having problem with the audio drivers as am I. When you try installing the KB888111 which works for SP1 and SP2, it will not work for SP3, at least for the current SP3 RC v3264 and you will be prompted with a message saying that the current service pack installed is newer than the fix you are trying to apply. Even the older KB835221 doesn't work.

So, is there a way to fix it? Fortunately, there is.

Continue reading "Windows XP SP3 RC v3264 Does ... »

For those who are feeling adventurous and want to try out the Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate, FYI, the latest version 3264 was released for public download on 18 December 2007 at the Microsoft Download Center.

This standalone pack consists of over 1000 hotfixes and quickfixes. At 336.1 MB, it will take less than 3 hours if you are on standard ADSL line to download. I'm downloading it now anyway and I hope there's no problem after I install it on my new PC.

Download : Windows XP SP3 RC v3264

Have fun!

MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) is an operating system commercialised by Microsoft. MS-DOS was originally released back in 1981 and has been used extensively in the 1980s and 1990s. After Windows XP was launched, it has somehow seen drop in usage but still an integral part of Windows XP itself. I see it will soon be replaced by Windows Preinstallation Environment (or WinPE) which is more robust and easier to use but not in the near future though. You can even run HTA, vbscript, javascript and many other modern scripting language on WinPE which is a breathe of fresh air I must say.

DOS came in a lot of flavors, by many companies throughout the years.

MS-DOS (created 1981)
PC-DOS (created 1981)
DR-DOS (created 1988)
PTS-DOS (created 1991)
FreeDOS (created 1994)
OpenDOS (created 1996).
and many more...

I'm especially long-winded when talking about stuffs like this. You can read all about DOS in Wikipedia with the links provided above.

What I want to talk about today is how to restart or shutdown the PC when you are in pure DOS mode. Some of you may ask why, when 'no one' uses DOS anymore. Well, surprisingly, many still does, especially those that started since BASIC, DOS, etc. Converting from DOS based process entirely to WinPE or more modern process is a lot of pain. Therefore, many are still stucked with DOS (or enjoy using DOS). With the more recent releases of DOS like FreeDOS and OpenDOS, I still see many are very much interested in DOS still.

Ok, so.. let's move on to the question of the day, how do you restart or shutdown the system in DOS?

Continue reading "Restart or Shutdown in DOS" »