Windows Media Player 12 - 'Server Execution Failed'

  Windows Media Player is the most reliable player you can count on to play your songs and movies (except for some video files). But after installing or removing some programs, WMP failed to open when I clicked it. And when I tried to directly open a MP3 file, it would throw me a 'Server execution failed.' message window. So I went to search online for solutions.

QuickTips! : Alternative Pen Drive? Your Phone!

  Do you really fancy carrying those pen drives around? What happens if you lose them? Of course, data is lost. So the best way would be to use your phone! True or not? For me it is. Since most people are using smart phones - and smart phones are suppose to mimic PCs, just use your phones to carry your data around!

World Cheapest Laptop Is In India

  Believe it or not, India developers now have made an iPad-like laptop selling at just the price of $35. Features of it includes :

• Linux OS
• Touch-screen
• 2GB RAM
• Memory card instead of hard disk
• Wi-Fi
• USB ports
• Runs either on battery power or solar power
• Weighs 1.5kg

  It was hoped that this laptop would benefit students throughout schools in the country with 500 Youtube-based courses already available online. Government are also trying to reduce the current price till $10.

  Disadvantage is that the laptop contains games which might conflict with the purpose of implementation of the laptop in schools. So, what do you think of this laptop?

Source : http://www.robaid.com/gadgets/india-is-developing-a-35-dollar-computer-for-students.htm

Solution : Recover Deleted (Or Formatted) Files

  Ahh!! It's good to be back!! Yeah I took this from Iron Man 2, the movie's just freaking awesome! Anyways, back to the point. 

  This is another Solutions post to answer the guy named 'kuku' through cbox. So basically, he/she asked whether a person can recover his files back after he/she permanently delete it, or after emptied out from the Recycle Bin. Well, yes you can, but you'll need to do it quick, here's why.

  When you store your file on a disk, the file is 'locked'. So when there are new files to write on the disk, it won't overwrite the files that have been 'locked', to show that it is still being used and not deleted yet by the user.

  When you delete a file, you remove the 'lock'. So when new files are being written, it is given the permission to overwrite the 'unlocked' files. That is why deleted files are still recoverable, they still exist on the disk, but is exposed to the danger of being overwritten. And here is the ending part of why you have to QUICKLY recover before other files overwrites it.

Here's a drawing of mine to show what I just said,

  There are a few utilities here that is can be used for recovering files, one of them is 'Tuneup Utilities'.

Steps : 

1. Download from Hotfile (choose 'Regular Download')
2. Install
3. Register with the serial given
4. Find the utility that let's you recover files
5. Go through the easy steps given ...& done!

  As a reminder, again, if you accidentally deleted a file, quickly recover it, otherwise the file might be overwritten by new ones and will be irreversible after that.

Benefits Of Restarting Your Computer

  Lot's of people are wondering  - what do you get from restarting your PC? There are lots of obvious reasons here, and it was part of my Mini-Tips. So here I am, explaining. These reasons are fundamentally, theoratically sound reasons.

• Remove minor pc errors. Sometimes while you're running your comp you see some anomalies like maybe volume doesn't run, strange / jumbled language on your screen. It might have been triggered by inappropriate starting of some services / programs. Restarting would shut them down and start it again with better chance of working properly.

• Recover from hang. Of course you restart when your PC hangs. But don't switch it off from the main switch, restart by pressing the power button till it restarts. "Hang"ing might be caused by overloading of the processor from you keep switching between programs.

• Improve internet connection. Seems to work for me. That's why I always shut down when i'm finished or when my internet is really lagging. After a long time of using the computer, the fan can no longer cool the CPU fast enough. Result? Processors can't work properly because it's in a melting state already XD.

• Apply changes after installing programs. After you installed programs, they need to add some things to your PC services and registry. Some program features require things from your computer to run together when they (programs) are started.

And... that's all.

UPDATE(S):

• If you're wondering why your browser is just not showing website correctly, try reading this post. TQ.

Task Manager Disabled, What To Do?!

  Task Manager disabled? Aarrgh! Something's not right! Must be virus. I tell you   -it is. Well, not the true virus, but a malicious software. Or, it could be your Administrator locking you out from using it, so check with him/her first.

 This malicious program is usually just a script that has probably changed some properties in the registry. It would create a registry to disable your Task Manager. No worries, just follow the steps and your computer should be OK.

  If you found out that your registry is fine, please comment or e-mail so that I can find another way out of this according to your details.

Click To Enlarge

Steps :

1.  Open "Start Menu"> "Run"
2. Type 'regedit.exe' > 'OK'
3. Search for the folder by following this path "HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/System"
4. Delete the registry "DisableTskMgr"
5. Restart 'explorer.exe' (read here) ...& done!

UPDATE(S) :

• Download file here from taskmanagerfix.com to do automated job for you. (Link provided by Aaron)

"Dude, I Got Cooliris." "Cool..."

  Ever heard of Cooliris? No? Then you better see one for yourself. Cooliris is an application, more of an extension, where you can browse all photos & videos under 1 roof. By doing this, the company had made everything simple as to just dragging the screen left & right to see the pics & vids. Very Neat. So, for:

• Picture/Album viewers, like "Facebook"ers "Google Search"ers, when you view the images, it'll all be on the wall, kind of like a painting museum, except that everything you're looking at is what you're searching for. "Cool" eh? So imagine you're in a Facebook album, you have to click 1 by 1 to enlarge, and click "next page" to view the rest of the photos. In Cooliris, the whole album is on the wall, all you have to do is scroll around, or drag around. *You can also use it as an app in your Facebook and other supported sites.

• Daily uses. Searching your computer four your pics & vids? No problem, made convinient (and cooler) by Cooliris. the extension allows you to search your computer for pictures without having to open many folders, navigating with ease as if you are just flipping through your photo album.

Steps : 

1. Go to their website
2. Click on their "Download" button and follow their instructions

  So, for navigators out there, get your new tool in sightseeing now!

UPDATE(S) :

• To open a picture in Cooliris, hover your mouse over the pic, then click the small cooliris icon on the bottom left. To see all the pics in a Facebook album, you have to be in the album first.

Understanding Your Processes (In Task Manager)

In Conjunction to the other post, "Processors & RAMs *Explained*", this post here explains more on the functions in Task Manager.

  So, let's see... you should bring up your Task Manager before continuing on the details.

For Windows 7 users,

1. Right click on your "Taskbar" & choose "Task Manager" or
2. Using the traditional method, press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" at once & choose "Start Task Manager"

For XP users,

1. Right click on your "Taskbar" & choose "Task Manager" or
2. Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete", which would lead you directly to "Task Manager"

"Applications" tab. Here, you can see what tasks/programs are running and which one is not responding. This is the place you end programs that you see are not responding to you, solves the problem for windows/applications that cannot be closed. "End Task" button is just riiiiiiiigght at the bottom.

  Priorities, that is, for the processes that you see in the "Processes" tab. Just as the direct meaning suggests, it prioritizes which processes to run first, making it run faster. For example, making your CPU focusing more on your "Left 4 Dead 2" game than your other programs. Steps are shown below.

  Threads, as I have explained in my other post "Processors & RAMs *Explained*", is a single process cut up into pieces called "threads". The threads would then run in parallel, which means different parts of the program running at once together, so it would run better. Normally only exists more than 1 if the program is big (logical, since some only use little memory, no point to chop it up). To see no. of threads specifically for each program, see steps below..

Steps for prioritizing your programs,

1. Just follow the game post link up there and just follow the instructions there.

Steps for looking at your threads,

1. While under "Processes" tab, go to View > "Select Columns..."
2. Tick "Thread Count" then click "OK", you will be able to see threads for each process ...& done!
3. For overall threads, go to "Performance" > under "Totals", see "Threads"

  Now, for some people who wants to save the changes they made to their priorities of the processes, Ashampoo has their own program called "Ashampoo Core Tuner". Here you can save your priorities as "profiles". BUT there is 1 thing you must remember: when everything's high, nothing is. Because when all is high, all is at the same level so it makes no difference.

Steps :

1. Download from Rapidshare or Megaupload
2. Replace 'ct.exe' at 'C:\Program Files\Ashampoo\Ashampoo Core Tuner' with crack before you start the program
3. In Ashampoo Core Tuner, choose your program and change priority at top right corner, changes automatically saves as profile ...& done!

Preventing Your Game From Crashing (Sucks Right?)

  Hey there, YOU, yes, you. Do you play 3D games that uses 3D engines and having graphic details that are great? You were like playing it, with the 'Piu Piu' sounds and the 'Aarrrggghhhh' screams from the monsters or whatever.

  But suddenly, all of it ended with the screen unmovable and the keyboards and mouse not functioning, occasionally with the sounds still there in looping motion in some games. W.C.S. (Worst Case Scenario, i'll be using this initials more often), the game doesn't support "save game" when halfway through the action, like Harry Potter, Counter Strike and those 1st person mode games. And then you have to restart your computer by force from the main plug or from your CPU, AND restart the level all OVER again. Don't know about you but I never liked that.

  So, to solve that, I have a few ways that works (for me). So, first :

• Make sure of your hardware graphic accelerations are all used. This is not really a tweak but something that is only turned off if you're computer is having graphic problems other than games. So to check this, you follow the...

Steps :
XP :

1. Right click your Desktop > "Properties" > "Settings" > "Advanced" > "Troubleshoot"
2. Make sure the bar is set to "full" ...& done! (for this step)

Vista & 7 :

1. Right click Desktop > 'Personalize'
2. Find 'Display Settings' > 'Settings' > 'Advanced' > 'Troubleshoot'
3. Make sure the bar is set to "full" ...& done! (for this step)

• Set process priority to high. If you are a multitasker, then you would know that multiple processes are choosen to be run first through their priorities. I was suprised when I saw that it was set to "Low". You would have to start your game first to do this.

Steps :

1. Press 'Alt+Tab' to get out of your game to Desktop
2. Press 'Ctrl+Alt+Delete' for Task Manager (right click 'Taskbar' > 'Task Manager' also can)
3. Under 'Applications' tab, Right click on the task with the name of your game > "Go To Process"
4. Right click on that process > "Set Priority" > "High" / "Realtime" ...& done!

Restart your computer. This is just a precaution before you start your game. if you just started your computer to play, then it's fine.

  For additional reading on the process priorities, read post here. If you're not getting the result, comment this post here for help.

UPDATE :

• Steps for Vista/7 included

Voted #2 : Advantages Of Restarting Your "Explorer.exe"

 There are stuffs you can do by restarting your explorer.exe process in your computer, not much, but still they're mostly useful. They can replace having to restarting your whole computer for changes made to take place to just restarting a process only, and solve problems too. Although many have said it could damage the computer, I say with the proper handling, you should be able to do so just fine.

 From the troubling experience I've got and the information from others, I have combined into 3 here :

• Explorer hang or closed altogether with icons, taskbar. Sometimes when you copy a file or doing some other things with your Windows Explorer, it hangs and you're unable to do anything, including opening your Start Menu. By default you would have thought of force shutdown from the CPU, but that way some things you did in your computer would not be saved and some files MAYBE corrupted after that.

• Registry changes (installed programs). That's when you finished installing a program, the installer will tell you to restart your computer to apply changes that has been made, especially the registry. Restarting the explorer.exe process only would eliminate that need.

• Usb drives cannot eject. You click on the 'Safely Remove Hardware' to eject your thumb drive, and found out you can't do so because 'the device cannot be removed at this time', even when all the files or folder opened from the drive are closed.
  

Steps :

 Click 'Turn Off Computer'  ...  then hold ctrl+shift+alt & click 'cancel'

 Start "explorer.exe" again

1. Open 'Start Menu' > 'Shut Down Computer'
2. Hold 'Ctrl' + 'Shift' + 'Alt' buttons & press 'Cancel'
3. Hold 'Ctrl' + 'Alt' + 'Delete' to open 'Task Manager'
4. File > 'New Task (Run...)', then type "explorer.exe" and click 'OK' ...& done!

*Note : For  those with explorer hang problem, skip to step 3 and delete 'explorer.exe' before proceeding to step 4.

Update:

• Vista and 7 users can immediately hold on to 'Ctrl + Shift + Alt' and press the 'Off Button' you see at the Start Menu.
• For those who want to read about advantages for the computer instead, read here.

Processors & RAMs *Explained*

  When a potential buyer wants to buy a computer, they should always see what processor and RAM it uses as it will determine how fast it can get the job done. But the main problem is they don't understand how that 2 things work together, all they know is "newer/bigger chip, faster performance". That is true in some way, but to know which type of processor and RAM is right for you, you'll have to understand the works of both together.

  

(from left) This is a Core 2 Duo processor (showing the 2 cores at the top)... and this is Core i7 Extreme (4 cores) cool eh?

The Processor
  To make it short, choosing a good processor means how fast can it process your datas, how fast can it complete it. There are several things that come with the processor :

•   Clock Speed determines how fast can the processor performs in an activity, like a stopwatch. But when you are just using your computer for daily usage, you wouldn't need that high of a clock speed. Imagine comparing a race car speed with the speed of a guy running, you wouldn't be able to use up that much speed as the car if you're the runner.  Besides, running a high-speed processor would need lots of money and uses lots of electricity.

•  Threads are processes(activities) like gaming or word processing cut into pieces. The processor will switch between threads fast enough to look like they're running at the same time. Some processors have multi-threading technology that literally allows threads to run together rather than keep switching. This allows much smoother multi-tasking.

•   No. Cores in the lowest processors, including Pentium and Celeron, are 2 and only 1 in ultra-low battery usage processors. High-end processors like Core i7 have 4 cores. Cores mainly handle threads(explained above). If you have read above, then you can see here that a core switch between threads for multi-tasking. By having 2 cores, 1 core can work on a single activity and another work on multi-tasking, or both working together on 1 thing.

Kingston RAM

The RAM
  RAM is part of the cpu that also decides how fast your computer will be. So I suggest you buy a quality RAM like from Kingston.

• Temporary storage for datas, unlike the hard disk. Datas are sorted here from where they came from, then is send to the specified places.

• Storage size increases, then the more datas that can be sorted.

     So here's the wrap-up :

• Fast processor + Small RAM = less things get done, because even if you process things fast, you wouldn't have enough space for all those things to be sorted
  
• Slow processor + Big RAM = less things get done too, this time you have lots of space to sort datas, but the datas comes in slow
• Fast processor + Optimum RAM = good multi-tasking, I refer to the RAM as "optimum" because too big the RAM, then you'll have to apply the 2nd equation

   Even if you have fast processor, having a 4G RAM would not make much difference, the processor can only use the RAM space to so much only. Unless you are using Windows Vista or 7, then you go get that big RAM.

  Additional reading can be obtained here (Multi-cores & RAMs), and credits from part of the explanation goes to Intel website. To see what is the specification of your Processor and RAM on your computer :

My Computer properties

Steps :

1. Right click 'My Computer' > 'Properties' ...& done!
   

Voted #1 : Defrag Your Computer With Better Utility

  Westlife excerpt, 'everybody's looking for that something, one thing that makes your computer fast...' just messing with you. Want to know the story of how defragmentation works? First you must know how a hard disk writes datas.

A look on the inside of the hard drive

  If you look at the inside of the hard disk, there is a long and pointy end thingy called the actuator arm and the head, the round disk is called a platter. The hard disk writes data by magnetizing the parts on the platter through the the head of the actuator arm. The platter has to keep turning in order for the head to write datas on the whole disk with the actuator arm moving left and right. Long story short :

• Platter turns & actuator arm moves left and right to be able to cover the whole place
• Head writes the data onto platter by magnetizing it

 When the hard disk does this, it fragments the disk. Take for example : when you saved your file, the hard drive writes the data onto the platter wherever there's space on it. It does that by splitting your data into bits and is written everywhere on the disk whereever there is space. When you want to retrieve your data, it has to go all over the disk just to piece the whole data together.

  As it repeats this process on every data, the hard disk gets to messy to find, resulting in longer time to open your files. The way to undo this is to defragment it, meaning putting the files into one piece again so that it's easier to get the whole piece of the file without having to go through cycles. And here's the program, IObit Smart Defrag :

Advantages :

• Simple interface
• Defragments your computer much more effeciently than other products
• There is a auto-defrag that can be set-up
• It's free!!

Smart Defrag 1.30

Steps :

• Download from main website
• Install it
• Choose the drive you want to defragment and the type of defragmentation method ...& done!

  I recommend using the 'fast optimize' than the other 2 options. It defragments files + places all your files all in the same area for easy access. You should also defragment your hard drive before it get's to fagmented. Try imagining your room being very messy. It'll take more time to  clean up compared to when it is just a little bit dirty. So try weekly defragmenting.

  From this information, you will know that comparing the speed of a computer you just bought with a computer full with your works is just not right. So whatever computer you are buying, always have a good defragmenter on the go. For more info on hard disks, go here.

Update(s) :

• Comparison with other defragmenting products can be found here. I personally think IObit Smart Defrag is already the best defragmenter as I have already try it out myself.
  

Blocking Messenger Spams (SPIM)

  Annoyed with messenger spams? Hate having to tell your friends through personal message that it was spam and wasn't you? Seeing popups on your computer with the anti-virus telling you it's from the internet? If you are (I hope you are), then this should help you. Through some websites (*whew*) I have found some info on how to prevent it.

  Steps For Messenger :

• Sue the guy with a good lawyer (Just kidding)
• Close the message and NEVER click on it, don't even type it in your browser
  
• Change your password every time you receive one
• make sure you click 'Use enhanced security when you login just below the password entry or always use this link. Just make sure there's an 's' in 'http' in the web address
  
• Use this script at WLM and install into your messenger (program is needed to install this)
  
• Always sign out your messenger and e-mail account properly before closing them

Messenger.exe under Services

Steps To Do In Computer :

1.  'Start' > 'Settings' > 'Control Panel' > 'Performance & Maintenance' > 'Administrative Tools' (the P & M only applies if you are using 'Category View')
   
2. Services > find and double click 'Messenger'
3. Change 'Startup type' to 'Disabled', stop the service too if it's running...& done! (This won't affect your Live Messenger at all because this has nothing to do with your program)
   

  These steps will prevent your computer from sending spams to other people and with luck, people to yours. The details I obtained are from these websites , Messenger and a random web. If you don't prevent these things, they might do some damage by sending trojans to your computer. Do you want to take the chance?

Faster System Startup @ Boot (Part II)

  This post continues from the other one here. Ok, so....... this time to tweak your computer to be faster at BOOT time, you can use a tool from Microsoft called 'BootVis'. Note : Microsoft don't supply this program anymore (don't know why...), so we're gonna download it from SoftPedia.

BootVis program

Advantage :

• Faster bootup time
• Program has simple interface
• Program takes up small space
  

Disadvantage (1st time I have to write this) :

•  It'll take 'some time' for the program to evaluate your computer after you restart

Steps :

1. Go to SoftPedia, then download the program
2. Install
3. In the program, go to the toolbar and find 'Trace' > 'Boot + Driver delays' (After clicking this, it'll ask you whether you want to restart now or later, that'll be your choice)
   
4. After restart, wait for the program to evaluate. DON'T CLOSE THE PROGRAM YET EVEN IF NOTHING IS HAPPENING!
5. Then after it has shown the graphs, go again to toolbar and find 'Trace' > 'Optimize System' (the restart in step 4 & 5 will repeat again) ... & done!

More details could be found here (with pics).

Make Your System Startup Faster At Login

  For most users, their computers slow down at startup after installing loads of programs on their computer. Programs that load themlselves at startup like anti-virus are the ones causing this. With this, users get frustrated and lose patience real fast. The solution is right in your computer itself.

 Msconfig.exe

Advantages :

• Need I say more? Your computer will load faster at startup
• Your emotional status returns to normal
• Saves time

Steps :

1. "Start Menu" > "Run..." <-- (for vista & 7 users is in the search box)
   
2. type 'msconfig' without the brackets
3. Click 'startup' tab
4. Untick unwanted programs to start at login, then click 'OK' ...& done!

  If anything appears after you click 'OK', just continue clicking 'OK' for the messages, unless its asking you about restart. If you want to restart right away just click 'Restart' or otherwise. List of what programs is safe to untick will be given in the next update.