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Open “inetmgr”.

My colleague loved my term for iMacs, iPods et al.

Nightmare scenario with SP2 install files…
Installed from D:/ USB drive. Now I’m stuck with approximately 10 folders with long hex folder names.

Tried:

Uninstalling SP2. Complete horror story. Took absolutely ages. And then found files were still undeletable.

The fix:

Boot to Safe Mode.
Log in as Administrator.
Change security settings; give full permissions to Administrator. Delete!

Kiss ‘em goodbye!

Started at 16.55.

1. Shut down computer, entered BIOS (F2) and chose to boot from CD.
2. Waited for drivers to load, then entered Recovery Console (R)

In the “Recovery Console”, specify the appropriate Windows installation. It will be listed. It’s probably #1. Then log on by using your Windows XP Administrator password. You are probably the administrator and the password if you have never assigned is probably blank, so just hit the Enter key. If you run Windows XP Pro and want to turn off the password prompt then learn how here.

Next, type:

map

and hit the ENTER key.

Note the drive that you want to reformat. The drive letters may be different in the Recovery Console from what they are in Windows XP, but if you want to reformat the C: drive then its likely the largest.

Next, type:

format C: /fs:ntfs

Or if you don’t want to format C, use the drive letter of the hard drive that you want to format. Hit your ENTER key.

Next, type:

y

Then press ENTER to continue. When the formatting process is finished, type

exit

and then press the ENTER key to restart the computer.

Hard drive is reformatted @ 17.45.
Entering custom details @ 18.00.
Installing XP SP2 @ 18.15.
Installing Norton AntiVirus 2004 @ 18.30.
Uh-oh! No Internet access! @ 18.50.
Locate Dell device drivers CD-ROM. Install network card drivers. Install graphics card drivers. Reboot. @ 19.00.
Still can’t connect. Delete Norton AV shortcut from desktop. Back to the Dell CD. Install audio drivers. Install Intel Mobile chipset drivers. Reboot. @ 19.05.
Cute Windows sounds are back.
Install Dell QuickSet application. Reboot. @ 19.08.
Yay! Internet connection is back.
Install Microsoft updates.
Remove the language bar.
Restart.
Install TweakUI Powertoy. Install Firefox 1.0.2. Install Miranda IM 0.3.3.1. Install Miranda database and plugins.
Restart. Install Office 2003 Professional. Delete installation files. Install Visio 2003. Install Project 2003. Import email from USB HD. @ 19.43.
Can’t retrieve email. Damn!
Back to Dell driver CD. Install TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI. Nothing doing. Google Dell TrueMobile 1400. Get a Dell WLAN installer. Radio detection happends. @ 20.25.
Pizza break @ 8.32!

1. You don’t think things are that bad right now.
2. You have to think twice about throwing away an empty instant coffee jar.
3. You carry a plastic shopping bag with you “just in case”.
4. You say he/she is “on the meeting” (instead of “at the” or “in the meeting).
5. You answer the phone by saying “allo, allo, allo” before giving the caller a chance to respond.
6. You save table scraps for the cats living in the courtyard.
7. When crossing the street, you sprint.
8. In winter, you choose your route by determining which icicles are least likely to impale you in the head.
9. You are impressed with the new model Lada or Volga car.
10. You let the telephone ring at least 4 times before you pick it up because it is probably a miss-connection or electric fault.

Read more You know you have been to Russia too long when……

This can easily be done without doing any registry editing. All it takes is a few clicks of your mouse.

Go to Start>Run and type in gpedit.msc which will take you to the Group Policy and Local Computer Policy settings. Now click on User Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Messenger. Set both settings to “ENABLED” and reboot. That’s it! This will allow you to disable Windows Messenger, which will stop it from loading at start-up.

This is by far the most straight forward and easiest way to disable Windows Messenger. And should you decide to use Messenger in the future, just simply reverse the changes you made and turn it back on anytime you like!

I’m a fan of the ICRA Labelling system (“A safety net for children”). I’ve updated my website’s profile. This is it:

This label declares:

• Female breasts
• Deliberate injury to human beings
• Deliberate damage to objects
• Violence appears in a sports context
• Explicit sexual language
• Crude words or profanity
• Mild expletives
• Promotion of weapon use
• Promotion of discrimination or harm against people
• Material that might be perceived as setting a bad example for young children
• Material that might disturb young children
• Unmoderated chat

ICRA

These are the steps to perform a “Planner Rebuild” when your Sky+ box gets confused and think it’s run out of disk space:

• Services
• 4
• 0
• 1
• Select

“Planner Rebuild” -> Housekeeping.

All venues:
Highlight the “My Corner” option at the main menu, then press Left(3), Right(3), Left, Right(2). A sound will confirm correct code entry.

Big head mode:
Highlight the “Fight Now” option at the main menu, then press Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left. A sound will confirm correct code entry. Select the “Fight Now” option to have a big headed boxer.

Small fighter:
Highlight “Play Now” option at the main menu, then press Left(3), Right(3), Left, A. A sound will confirm correct code entry. Alternately, press Left, Right, Left, Right, Left at the main menu.
Read more Fight Night 2004 Cheats…

My brief comments on Fight Night 2004 (Xbox/PS2 since I owned this game on both systems):

What! No Michael “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” Buffer? Who is this “Tigger” guy and what does he have to do with boxing?

Fight Night 2004 is an all-new boxing game that features revolutionary new gameplay mechanics and a dramatic new-school attitude to immerse players like never before.

Featuring an innovative new analog ‘Total Punch Control’ that allows gamers to throw punches, block, bob, and weave with unprecedented fluidity and precision, Fight Night 2004 also includes a deep create-a-player option and career mode.

Roy Jones Jr. headlines an all-star cast of the toughest fighters in the world along with Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard plus many other internationally recognised fighters. Jones is one of the most dynamic stars in boxing today with a record of 49-1 with 35 KO’s and is the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World. He is also a former Olympian and National Golden Gloves winner and has held several Championship titles in his professional career, including the Heavyweight title.

Fight Night 2004 also features customizable ring entrances where you can assemble an entourage, choose your theme music, select your pyrotechnics and set the tone for the fight to follow in addition to an all-new physics-based action that assures no two knockdowns will ever be alike.

Read more Fight Night 2004 (Xbox/PS2)…