Bunch of video apps

Video Related Software
Professional video related programs by NCH
http://www.nchsoftware.com/software/video.html

ShadowExplorer

"ShadowExplorer allows you to browse the shadow copies created by the Windows® VistaTM Volume Shadow Copy Service. It's especially thought for users of the home editions, who don't have access to the shadow copies by default, but it's also useful for users of the other editions."

ShadowExplorer.com

Vista "Send To" Menu Hangs or Open Slowly

"The problem is almost always caused because Windows automatically puts items for each removable drive into the Send To menu, but could also be caused by having an excessive amount of unused items in the list. We'll cover how to get rid of both."

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/why-does-my-windows-vista-explorer-send-to-menu-hang-or-open-slowly

Prevent birds from hitting your window

I had a robin attacking a window. Robins are territorial in spring. This seems to have kept him away. The silhouettes need to be moved routinely to be effective.

PeregrineCut-out_YG.jpg (JPEG Image, 2490x3192 pixels)
http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/mapspublications/images/PeregrineCut-out_YG.jpg

5 Comparison Websites that WILL Save you Money from MakeUseOf.com

PriceGrabber
FindaBetterBank
BillShrink - Cell Phone Contracts
RentoMeter
SkyScanner - Budget Flight Search

More info at
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-comparison-websites-that-will-save-you-money

unassociate a file types in Vista

Windows Vista doesn't have a GUI interface to unassociate file types.
Why Microsoft? Why?
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/231/1/An-utility-to-unassociate-file-types-in-Windows-Vista.html

BtProx - Bluetooth Proximity Lock Utility

"BtProx is a small Windows application working both under Windows XP and Vista. I never tested it under Windows 2000, but there's no reason why it should not work. It locks your computer when you go away from it. How is it done.
It locks on one of your Bluetooth devices which are paired to the the machine. When you walk away from the computer the device is disconnected and the computer is locked after timeout."
http://btprox.sourceforge.net
(didn't work on a HP laptop with built-in, bluetooth was on and working, I hope they fix it soon)

Vista had its chance

The way to fix Vista is to go back to XP.
Since going back to XP

• My Computer is much faster opening
• Coping/moving/deleting files is faster
• Bluetooth works even when the computer comes out of standby and hibernation (Very important to someone that has Bluetooth built in and wanted a bluetooth mouse)
  
• Connecting to networks is easier
• I can install a decent firewall
• No annoying UAC (I eventually turned it off.)
• No Aero (Aero is very annoying)
• My system is faster
• I have more hard drive space (Vista was using more than twice of XP)
• No DRM crap to slow my system! I don't need a babysitter!! (I don't watch DVD's on my laptop. Why should I devote extra resources to prevent me from doing something I don't want to do?)
• More applications work
  
• I can get more themes
• I can customize the toolbar in Explorer (had to add a link to the Recycle Bin to the sidebar, not as convenient as a button!)
  
• No stupid required full row select!
  

I gave Vista a more than fair shot. I bought my laptop with it preinstalled. The laptop scored a 4.5 Vista performance level. I waited for SP1. SP1 messed up standby mode and caused frequent lockups. Enough was enough!
Things I'll miss

• Voice dictation (I could not get it to work well anyway)
• Using the Windows key to launch from the Quick Launch toolbar
• The search in the Start Menu (using Find and Run Robot v2 now)
• The breadcrumb trail in the address bar of Explorer

I just want a fast, light weight, secure system that I can do my work on. It is the applications that are important, not the OS!

Neowin's Freeware Alternative List, Updated 2005/11/27

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=320017

Transform Your Windows XP in Windows Vista without any Customization pack

Visual style (or theme)
Boot screen
Login screen
Sounds
Mouse Cursors
Windows Icons
Windows Explorer
Progress dialog box
Shutdown/log off dialog box
About Windows box
System Properties dialog box
Windows Classic Startmenu Left-side Image and Start button Logo
and a few other things
http://www.askvg.com/transform-your-windows-xp-in-windows-vista-without-any-customization-pack

OS Visual Enhancements

"InterfaceLIFT, your source for graphical user interface enhancements for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux. We specialize in desktop wallpaper, icons, themes, and news with a focus on community. New content is posted virtually everyday"
http://interfacelift.com

Social Wallpapering - Free desktop wallpaper
http://www.socwall.com

What does the lock icon mean on an account in Thunderbird?

"It means that the account uses a secure connection. GMail uses SSL for incoming which is a secure connection. This does not mean that the account is 'locked.'" - Daifne
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=630102&sid=239bcedd71b4c0ae10d1898b8dfa92b0

Creating accounts in Thunderbird for popular email providers - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_accounts_in_Thunderbird_for_popular_email_providers

Remove the profile lock file
"The application may have shut down abnormally, leaving the lock in place. To fix this, open the profile folder and delete the file,

• "parent.lock" (Windows),
• "lock" and ".parentlock" (Linux), or
• ".parentlock" (Mac OS X)

For Mac OS X: You need to use a free utility like Onyx or Maintain to turn on visibility for invisible files to show ".parentlock". This file contains no information, and deleting it will unlock the profile.

For Windows: If you attempt to delete the "parent.lock" file and receive the error, "Cannot delete parent: The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable", restart the computer and run the error-checking tool Chkdsk (Windows 2000, XP) or ScanDisk (Windows 98, ME) [1]."
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use

Online file conversion

Zamzar - Free online file conversion
http://www.zamzar.com

• Document formats
• Image formats
• Music formats
• Video formats
• Compressed formats

Convert bigger files (1 GB) if you signup.


Free online media file conversion (Document, Images, Audio, Video & Archives)
http://www.youconvertit.com
Supported Formats
http://www.youconvertit.com/HTMLFiles/ConvertTypes.htm
no signup needed

Add to Download Actions in Firefox

MIME Edit :: Firefox Add-ons
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4498

To add WinRAR
MIME Type: application/x-rar
Description: WinRAR Archive
Extension: rar
Save it to Disk