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Security Software

June 17th, 2010 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

Best antivirus, antispyware, and just antimalware in general.


     Just doing a bit of research on my own to figure out what antivirus programs I want to use once I do a clean install of Windows 7 on my laptop.  Obviously, I cannot personally try them all, so I'm going to be listing ones I find most mentioned and in general what people say about them.

Free...[More]

Last Updated Jan 14th, 2012 | 1149 unique view(s)

Send As From Google Group

April 6th, 2021 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Below are steps so that, from your personal email account, you can "send as" from the same email address as that used in a Google Group under a business account.  The information is not really spelled out anywhere, so I'm writing this down for future reference.

1.  Login to the business account primary email (the owner / admin).
2.  From Gmail, go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as.  Add the Google Group address here once.
3.  Login to your personal email account in Gmail, which should also be a member of the Google Group to receive messages.
4.  Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as.  Add the same Google Group address here again.

For the login credentials, you'll need to use a user email (non-Google group) from the domain of the business and for password, it needs to be an app password generated specifically for this.
Last Updated Jul 19th, 2024 | 574 unique view(s)

Send Mail As From Gmail SMTP

October 15th, 2015 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
These are directions on how to set up your own domain's email addresses to work from Gmail in case I forget.  In other words, sending from your own user@domain.com address but having it sent from Gmail's servers so you can use gmail as your client, authentication, etc.  You might also want to look at sending from a shared Google Group email to avoid having to maintain an extra email account.

1. Login to gmail.com.
2. Go to settings.
3. Go to accounts and import.
4. Under send...[More]
Last Updated Dec 13th, 2022 | 1235 unique view(s)

SMF1 on PHP5

January 14th, 2020 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
For those still using SMF1, PHP5 or later will throw a lot of deprecated errors and warnings, which quickly clog the error log.  This thread below isolates the 3 changes you need to clear them:
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=534915.0

To stop error logging internally to SMF:
Quote
In index.php:
- Replace set_error_handler('error_handler'); with set_error_handler('error_handler',E_ALL & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_NOTICE);

To stop errors showing on the page itself:
Quote
In index.php:
- Change error_reporting(E_ALL); to error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_NOTICE);

In SSI.php
Change
Code:
$ssi_error_reporting = error_reporting(E_ALL);
to
Code:
$ssi_error_reporting = error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_NOTICE);
625 unique view(s)

Sony P200 Camera - Removing Dust Spots

January 2nd, 2009 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

  The Sony P200 camera, despite being a very good camera, had a known flaw.  Its design was not air-tight and dust would eventually build up on the sensor - which means you get dust spots on pictures you take.  Usually these dust spots are out of focus and only come in for very bright pictures, but as they build up, they become more visible.  This build up I’m talking about usually takes place over a year or two - so it would not be evident at first.

  However, there is a solution for those who wish to keep using it.  Through this simple tutorial at dpreview.com, you can open the camera to brush off (or spray off using compressed air from a can) the dust.  From my experience though, it only buys a few more months before some dust appears again.

  Then again, I usually keep the camera in my pocket so that may be a factor in it. :P

1002 unique view(s)

Spotify Release Checklist

October 18th, 2024 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
These are strategies Waterflame and I have refined over the years for releasing to Spotify (preferably via Distrokid).
- Pre-generating the ISRC. Upload the track privately on Soundcloud first, then edit and check the "Create ISRC' under metadata to have an instant pre-generated ISRC to use on your releases (so you don't need to wait for the first release to finish processing to get the ISRC, in case you need to reupload or have multiple releases or whatever).
- Release Radar. Release on Fridays with global release at 0:00 New York time to ensure it gets on release radar (only updates once a week on Friday, so if you miss it by even a second, you're out of luck).  The fastest distributor is Distrokid, but even they require usually 2 days so you want to have the track uploaded by Wednesday at the latest.
- Release Frequency. Your latest release will generally take the release radar away from the previous, so ideally release once every 2 weeks...[More]
Last Updated Oct 22nd, 2024 | 214 unique view(s)

SQL Azure Users

June 23rd, 2019 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Something to remember to do every time you add SQL users to an Azure database.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/19334041/the-select-permission-was-denied-on-the-object-users-database-xxx-schema
515 unique view(s)

Start Menu for Windows 8

November 26th, 2013 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Windows 8 is pretty fast and streamlined compared to Windows 7, despite all the negative hype on its Metro screen and whatnot.  You can disable the Metro screen and restore the Start button by downloading Classic Shell.  With Windows 8.1, you can use the 8.1 start button to bring up the classic start menu as well.
974 unique view(s)

Stopping File From Running

October 30th, 2014 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Recently had a case where a file kept running and spawning many instances of itself to keep from being killed.  It was probably Malware (though it called itself Chrome version 36.0.1985.143 with a random exe name Dkzbhjgkyhj.exe). 

Easy way to stop these from running is to just rename the file and extension so that it isn't an executable anymore.  Then you can kill the process in task manager before deleting the file.
1169 unique view(s)

Things That Are Funny

April 29th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

Funny quotes, funny facts, weird headlines, and more!

  Here you will find a compilation of silly things I find on the net. This includes quotes, facts, jokes, and more. Only good stuff is put here (as usual on this site Tongue ). Useful if you happen to work on the the school newspaper or something.
  This list is always growing. If you happen to find any you consider really good, feel free to send them to me. Please keep it clean.
Last Updated Dec 6th, 2019 | 1103 unique view(s)

Things to Do

January 11th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Bored? Need something to do? Just want to burn time? These are some "interesting" sites to check out... Feel free to send me more links to add!
Aninote.com - Type a name into the addresses it gives you on the site and it'll display that name in the animation. Pretty neat. Here's an example with wow in the address: wow.youaremighty.com
Boxhead 2Play - Addicting 2-player stickman shooter game to kill time at school.
Crimson...[More]
Last Updated Oct 21st, 2017 | 1197 unique view(s)

Things to Read

June 3rd, 2009 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Below are just interesting sites to go through, to read or skim through, if you're ever bored or just looking for something to read or skim through because you're bored or not. Tongue (say that 10x fast! Ha!)

100 Most Beautiful Places in the World - All the places I want to one day see with my own eyes. Cheesy
Enneagrams...[More]
Last Updated Oct 25th, 2016 | 1131 unique view(s)

Things to Watch

June 3rd, 2011 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Just things on the internet worth seeing over time if you haven't seen them already.  Some are old, some are new, ... Feel free to send me more links to add! Tongue
3D Projection Mapping - Using projectors to apply effects to real buildings and objects.  More with live people from Sila Svetta, Bot & Dolly's Box, Light Harvest's Immersive Surfaces (Manhattan Bridge)
The Box Man - A man and a box.  Inspired by Japanese author Kobe Abe.
Caldera...[More]
Last Updated Feb 25th, 2017 | 1126 unique view(s)

UE4 Game Module Error

January 5th, 2020 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

"Game module could not be loaded. There may be an operating system error or the module may not be properly set up."


After reinstalling Unreal Engine, my project stopped loading up. The above error message was extremely unhelpful, especially as any search for it online referred to moving DLLs around which had nothing to do with my issue. It turns out what was missing was the exact version of Visual Studio that I had when I last worked on my project. It has to be the exact version with the extras for C++ game development included. Any newer or older version still returns the same error. In my case, it was Visual Studio 2019 paired with Unreal Engine 4.23.1; it took me a few reinstalls just to figure that out because the help docs point you instead to Visual Studio 2017.
This is more a reminder for myself in the future to avoid losing a day to this again, but maybe it helps save someone else the time as well.
866 unique view(s)

Unreal Engine 4 Notes

May 16th, 2020 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
General notes and things I wish I knew as I delved deeper into #UE4:
- Package build by default includes unused assets, which can bloat the size of your game.  Go to Project Settings -> Packaging -> List of Maps to package only assets referenced by that map.  To be more aggressive and reduce unused assets in general (or to keep smaller backups), right-click your map and Migrate to a new project to create a new folder with only the assets used in your game.  More tips on this here.
- Shipping build will give you an instant 10-15 FPS increase, if you're trying to squeeze performance (ie for VR).  However, it disables using command line arguments (such as to create listen servers); the way to get around that is to build both shipping and dev in the same folder.  You can then create shortcuts to target the shipping or dev exe file depending if you want to launch server or client version of the game.
- Do not use numbers in the project folder name.  Otherwise builds will fail to run.
- Do not use Duplicate, as it moves the object slightly.  Use copy+paste.
- Never use...[More]
Last Updated Dec 27th, 2021 | 937 unique view(s)

VCR-VHS Resources

June 17th, 2009 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

Maintaining or obtaining the VCR and VHS, for whatever purposes...

    Yes, VHS is dead technology, but for various reasons, some might want to keep the tape and machine.  A few might even want to obtain them.  You might want a VCR spare to watch really old tapes, or you might want to start converting tapes and still need the VCR to do it.  Good VCRs are becoming harder to come by, so it's ever more important to keep whatever ones you have in working condition - same goes for tapes, especially if you recorded them yourself.

    Below are possible links to check out if you want to obtain or maintain your VCR and tapes, as well as other links related.


Diagonal Lines on Capture - Something to watch out for if you're...[More]

Last Updated Feb 11th, 2021 | 603 unique view(s)

VPN Windows Setup

January 4th, 2022 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Edit: Easiest way is to just buy the TP-Link AX1500 Router or similar.  It's just a checkbox to turn it into an OpenVPN server.

Below is how to turn a Windows server into your own VPN using OpenVPN.  I pretty much spent the entire day piecing all this together.  The OpenVPN documentation is very out of date, so the steps on their site do not work for Windows - for example, the init-config command in their docs is not recognized.  Sadly, the devs/mods seem more interested in dismissing their users than actually fixing or providing help (ie here and here).

The steps I have in this post are sourced from the below links:
- Download...[More]
Last Updated Dec 17th, 2022 | 420 unique view(s)

Web Design Resources

December 9th, 2006 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #

Learning to web design from the ground up...

  This site was my first real attempt ever at coding a website from scratch. I started this with absolutely no clue as to what I was doing, and to be honest, I still don't really know what I'm doing.
  For those wondering, I use nothing but a simple text editor to type all my code - type the code, yes. You really can't "program" your site if you're using a click-and-drag interface. At most, I'd use Notepad2, which is the same as Notepad on Windows except with highlighting. Anything extra is cumbersome.
  The following are tutorial and resource sites in the order I found them. This site wouldn't be here if I didn't manage to find these. If you're just starting web design, you might want to bookmark a few of these.  Once you're done with those and want to learn actual programming...[More]
Last Updated Jun 2nd, 2020 | 1749 unique view(s)

Web Hosting and Space

January 3rd, 2009 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
     At some point, you will have to switch to paid hosting if you want a truly functional website.  By then, you'll probably have figured out how to find some decent hosts (search on Google for starters).  I also list a few recommendations for paid hosts further down.

Free Website Hosting

1 ASP Host -Simply set up an account and you get about 100MB of free space.  Back when I used it, it was one of the few hosts that put nothing on your pages, allows folder structured-site, very generous.
Domain...[More]
Last Updated Feb 23rd, 2014 | 1244 unique view(s)

Window Stuck Minimized

April 18th, 2022 | Posted by pftq in 42 | #
Useful trick that saved me hours of render, but if an application is stuck minimized and won't come back up, hover your mouse over it on the taskbar and right-click the preview to restore.
333 unique view(s)