Send Email from a Static HTML Form using Google Apps Mail!

As taken from :

https://github.com/dwyl/html-form-send-email-via-google-script-without-server/blob/master/README.md

Developing a cloud based application

 

I was introduced to a new tool, swagger and  I didn't realize the wonderful development trip it would take me on.
I job was to create a cloud application and I was adamant I would work on the server side of the project and leave the GUI to more capable coders.

Swagger creates great documentation for the rest interface. The definition language uses the OpenAPI specification (formerly known as the Swagger Specification). An OpenAPI document that conforms to the OpenAPI Specification may be represented either in JSON or YAML format. I created my document in YAML format as per the "Petstore" example that comes with the swagger editor.

Add logical subst drives permanently to Windows

A Windows program expected to see a D: and an O: drive and the program was running on a virtual machine.

My first thought was to get the system admin to create 2 virtual drives on my VM machine but then I remembered from my MSDOS days the "subst" command.

Subst associates a path with a drive letter.

I had a problem that the subst command wouldn't associate drive d: because the virtual CDROM was assigned to that drive.

Another internet bandwidth sink

Rachael was complaining that her internet usage was sky high and yet she was on holiday.

I had a déjà vu  moment and thought that I've fixed this before with Judy. See Judy's problem in my Blog May 2015 "Irate ADSL customer wanting WEB access.

Judy's issue was dropped packets and a noisy link. After some investigation I had to discount this as a cause.

Computer Information Template

launch4j - Program packaging tool for Java applications

The audience for this blog

As with all my blogs the audience is  myself, a computer programmer not too bright who wants to know how to launch a Java App as a one-click executable

So the aim of this blog is to show how to create an executable program from a Java jar.file.

Margaret wants to boot her Windows 8.1 machine and without logging on go straight to her desktop.

Run Dialog

Margaret wants to boot her Windows 8.1 machine and without logging on, go straight to her desktop.

She didn't want to go through the process at boot time prompting her for her password, interrupting and slowing down the procedure.

She explained that she only reads news or uses her computer's word processor to write "snail" mail, all her financial transaction do not occur in cyber space which greatly relieved me.

Irate ADSL customer wanting WEB access

Judy rang to tells me, "I can't stand it anymore, it takes minutes to get a WEB page up can you do something about it".

She was experiencing extremely slow internet speed and to exacerbate matters the  telecommunication carrier was shaping her download link speed because some mystery process was consuming all the bandwidth.

Hola is a free VPN but with a big catch.

I've already told you the benefits of a VPN in a previous blog.

Why use Hola? 

If you install the hola plugin on your browser your leveraging the power of your resources for the benefit of  all the users who want a VPN in your location.

Hola is sort of a bit-torrent but instead of sharing files your sharing your internet bandwidth.

So by sharing other peoples bandwidth your making your bandwidth sharable by others. 

Effectively a peer to peer sharing application.

As with any VPN, hola include features like data compression, hiding your IP address and encrypting all of your traffic.

Who registered Hola?

Derry Shribman Hola Networks Ltd. 7 Giborei Israel St. Netanya, 42935 Israel Phone: +972.542271300 Email:xderry@yahoo.com

Free Windows Virus & Malware Protection. Yes FREE!

Its Free but...

Microsoft provides its users with it's own software that is used to help guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. 

It provides real-time protection for your PCs. 

I however want to state here my disclaimer. I am not a security expert and I do not pontificate which is the better antivirus or anti malware software.

Converting PVR files to a NAS drive.

Akai AD185X High Definition Set Top Box

The Akai AD185X High Definition (HD) set-top box (STB) converts Digital TV into an analog TV format.

A bonus feature is that it can also save the Digital TV programs to an external USB drive so you can defer watching your programs. At the time PVR's were expensive so the STB looked like a cheap alternative especially if you had a spare USB drive lying about.

What would those guys at Hornstein do?

Upgrading Windows XP to Windows 8.1

To directly upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows XP, you'll need to install it from a Windows
 8.1 DVD and perform a clean installation. This means you won't be able to keep any files, settings, or programs when you upgrade.

The alternative procedure would be to upgrade to version Windows  8 and get a free downloadable upgrade to Windows 8.1

Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7

Upgrade Path

The first and hardest truth about migrations from Windows XP to Windows 7 is that there is no direct
upgrade path, you will have to do a clean installation. Microsoft doesn't have an easy way to make this happen. Cost of the upgrade DVD is about $100 for the software alone.

I like the idea of not upgrading, and just buying a reconditioned PC. All the work is done for you, plus $50 more than the price of the software DVD  a 2nd hand PC that you know runs Windows 7.

Improving Windows 7 Performance

Disclaimer: This is an evolving check list for my own reference. Use at your own risk!!!

First things first, set up a restore point on your system so you can back out of these changes.

We want to Monitor Resources (resmon):

• System
• Services
• Processes 
• Memory
• Disk
• Network

How to factory reset a laptop

Taken from:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/laptop/3462995/factory-reset-laptop/

Diagnosing Computer Problems with Flowcharts

Below are examples of flowcharts which look useful in fixing a PC.

A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows. This diagrammatic representation illustrates a solution to a given problem. Process operations are represented in these boxes, and arrows; rather, they are implied by the sequencing of operations.

These are not my flowcharts and are not exhaustive in their detail, but I'll refer you to them and leave it to you to purchase them. They're a typical example of how an algorithm or process can be represented and used and in this case to fix the components within a computer system.

PC's Boot Process

Boot Process

Firstly let me state this is my "adapted" version of the boot process for a Windows system.

The boot process is divided into 3 stages:

1. Powering on the PC
2. BIOS Power On and Self Test (Post)
3. Bootstrapping the Operating System

WPS - The Simplest Technique to connect a device to your WiFi Router

What is WPS?

WPS or Wi-Fi Protected Setup allows you to add new wireless clients to your local network in a swift and easy way, without the need to enter any of your wireless settings (network name, wireless key, encryption type).

Most wireless routers support this technique of setting up new clients.

Dell - Restore the computer to the default factory configuration

Dell have incorporated the ability to restore the computer back to the original factory configuration.

Recently my cousin rang me and told me that she had found whatever they did they couldn't get WiFi working on their Dell Laptop.

When I booted a Linux virus scanner the WiFi worked fine. Woops looks like the software was screwed. As they had a virus protection I figured the software was really screwed, screwed enough that it should be reloaded with the original software.