From Piriform, the makers of CCleaner, comes a very useful and promising system information summary tool.
It’s called Speccy:
You can Download Speccy Here , including a handy portable version
I find I have to generate GUIDs often (mostly due to using WiX) and the in-built Tools > Create GUID tool is too cumbersome for this.
I found a blog post that has a simple macro you can customize to bind a keyboard shortcut to paste in a new GUID
Here are some full instructions, using their simple macro code:
Public Sub PasteNewGuid()
DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "{" & System.Guid.NewGuid().ToString("D").ToUpper() & "}"
End SubTags: 2008, guid, macro, new, paste, visual studio, vs, vs.net
As promised, Opera 10 final was released on Sep 1st
I’m not sure of the exact details, but this is what I think I’ve found. Perhaps someone at Microsoft would correct or elaborate on this.
Previously, actxprxy.dll (ActiveX Interface Marshaling Library) was used as the proxy for a multitude of system interfaces, such as IShellFolder and IServiceProvider.
In Windows 7 (and probably Vista also), the GUID of this library has changed from {B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9} to {C90250F3-4D7D-4991-9B69-A5C5BC1C2AE6}
Secondly, there is also a new Proxy/Stub provider found in ieproxy.dll of Internet Explorer (IE ActiveX Interface Marshaling Library). Some interfaces that previously used actxprxy.dll are now registered to use ieproxy.dll.
Now various problematic software (such as Vault 3.x) will try to register against actxproxy using the old GUID, and for interfaces now proxied by ieproxy.dll.
You must use regsvr32 to re-register the two proxy DLLs, then reboot
You can use the below batch file to do this.
You must run this batch file with administrative privileges (right click on the file and choose Run as administrator):
If you don’t run the batch file as an administrator, you will get an error as pictured:
[Download RegisterActxprxyAndIeproxy.cmd]
RegisterActxprxyAndIeproxy.cmd source:
@echo off :: 32 bit and 64 bit IF EXIST "%SystemRoot%\System32\actxprxy.dll" "%SystemRoot%\System32\regsvr32.exe" "%SystemRoot%\System32\actxprxy.dll" IF EXIST "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\ieproxy.dll" "%SystemRoot%\System32\regsvr32.exe" "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\ieproxy.dll" :: 64 bit only (32bit on 64 bit) IF EXIST "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\actxprxy.dll" "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe" "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\actxprxy.dll" IF EXIST "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Internet Explorer\ieproxy.dll" "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe" "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Internet Explorer\ieproxy.dll"
Don’t forget to reboot after re-registering the DLLs!
Edit: The script has been updated to support 64-bit Windows
Tags: actxprxy.dll, explorer, ieproxy.dll, iserviceprovider, management studio, no such interface supported, open each folder, same window, sourcegear, sql server, team explorer, vault, {B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9}, {C90250F3-4D7D-4991-9B69-A5C5BC1C2AE6}
I had a bit of trouble getting WC3Banlist (mainly due to its dependency on WinPcap) on Windows 7
This is working on Windows 7 RC1, with User Acount Control (UAC) on (set to Default)
I did quite a few things when troubleshooting so it’s hard to replicate the exact steps, but here’s some instructions on how I have it set up now:
If this still isn’t working, I would recommend turning off UAC and trying again.
Tags: dota, frozen throne, uac, user account control, warcraft, wc3banlist, win7, windows 7, winpcap
iTunes without the bloat, and the invasive Quicktime installer + annoying Bonjour service.
Install Quicktime Alternative, then the iTunes installer from Ajua Online.
That’s currently 17.8MB for the iTunes installer, and 10.8MB for Quicktime Alt. As opposed to the 80MB of bossy Apple iTunes installer.
Tags: alternative, bonjour, installer, itunes, lite, quicktime
20 Top Optical Illusions [Telegraph.co.uk]
Some I haven’t seen before, and some of the most famous. Trippy!
Tags: illusion, optical, optical illusion
News on the London front! I still have quite a few months left on my visa, but my 12 months of allowed work are nearly used up. This means I can still stay in London but won’t be allowed to work.
My job wants to keep me on, so I will basically have to come back to NZ for a short time soon. From there, work will arrange sponsorship for me, and I will then re-enter London on a work visa that lasts for up to 2 years and is then renewable.
So, I will be coming back in the next month or 2, provided the money situation at work gets sorted out. This time I will try to arrange to stay for at least 2 weeks to make the trip worthwhile.
I will keep things up to date once I get some more money and can choose some dates and book flights.
So my workmate offers me a green tea pill this afternoon. I like green tea, and a green tea pill sounds healthy and good enough (if not a strange way to be getting your green tea).
He then checks on the bottle, and notes a warning saying “Do not take after 4pm” and tells me about it after I’ve already downed the pill.
Turns out the pill has got caffeine, guarana and every other possible legal stimulant and anti-oxidant you could name.
It’s just after 11pm now and I feel like I could stay up for another 5 hours.
Well, at least the buggers work. I’ll just try to make sure if I try one again, it’s in the morning.