Oct 20, 2015

Windows 7 - WSUS Offline Updater

Recently there's been several request from end users requesting for Windows Update/Patches, it's not a problem doing the updates..... the problems arises where you have to click every computers to run the updates and its a repetitive tasks.

Also every computers is downloading the same updates over and over again, it was a bandwidth waste. So there must be much more simpler way in doing this (beside using Microsoft Windows Server Update Services or commonly know as WSUS).

I found a few alternatives available in the internet, this is the one that I preferred due to the following reasons :-

  1. Auto download catalogue of update list.
  2. Auto download updates (as per your selections).
  3. Options to download others updates (such as .NET Framework).
  4. And able to perform single click installation on clients.
  5. No installation required both on the servers & clients (portable software).
Now a few screenshots below shows a few of the many selections available. You may download this software here.


 
 
Oh by the way... did I mentioned this is FREE ? And if you find it useful, some donation to the developer will help to continue his efforts.
 
Happy Computing ! :)
 
 

Oct 12, 2015

Windows XP - Serial (RS-232) Port Emulator

Again my friend have requested my help to solve yet another communication port issue and this time its a RS-232 (COM) port or mostly known as COM1 or COM2 ports.

The problems arises when a software always detect the availability of the port each time it starts which if failed will return an error message. To avoid this annoying message the workaround is to install a COM1 port (which the software detects) and sadly Windows doesn't allows that.

Although you may be able to install the port (manually), Windows will try to detect the physical port availability and if failed it will give you a "bang sign" (exclamation mark) in your device manager.

The simplest workaround is to emulate the port hence the word "Emulator", I've found a FREE program that just works the magic.

Download the program here courtesy of HW-Group.

The installations is very easy and depending on the operating environment, you need to select accordingly, mine is "Standalone Application".




After installation complete, just run the application and configure accordingly, as I need it to emulate "COM1" port the following was my settings.


Note : the "IP Address" was a loopback address, this is to avoid any IP Address conflict in the network.

Now you might want the emulator to start automatically each time the computer startup and also each time the program start it automatically create the port for you.

Select "Settings" tab --> Select (tick) --> "Create VSP Port when HW VSP Start-up" option.


Now you also need to add it into "Startup" folder for the program to auto launch each time :-

1. Create a shortcut of the program.

2. Move it to :-
--> For Windows XP = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.
--> For Windows 7 = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.

3. Now Right-click on the shortcut --> Select "Properties" --> at the "Shortcut" tab --> under "Run" dropdown box --> Select "Minimized" --> Click "OK" button.


Note : This is to ensure the program doesn't pop-up / displayed during start.

Of course this small utility have more capabilities but mostly are designed to work with its own products from HW-Group. There are many virtual port emulator available and with tons of features and functions, but I just need to emulate the port to avoid the error message thus a simple yet easy to configure utility is the main objective.

Happy Computing !

Oct 6, 2015

Batch - Batch to EXE Converter

Well as the saying goes "All good things must be share..." and so I'm sharing a tools that I find it very useful and convenient.

Ever created a batch file (.bat) that you don't want other people to mess with it ? Or simply you just wanted to hide the commands ?

There's a lot of free tools available when you google it but none are free for commercial use or there's no limitation on usage. I'm recommending using F2KO utility to convert your batch file into an .exe file format.

It's very simple to use and no installations required, do give it a try and there's others of cool stuff to in his website.

Oct 4, 2015

CloneZilla - Create Bootable HDD

If you know Norton Ghost then you must know CloneZilla, same functions as Ghost (cloning) but with supports on the latest UEFI system.

Now in CloneZilla official website, they only provide you a tutorials on making the USB flash drive bootable but you still need to plugin your external USB HDD for the "/Home" drive mounting (that's where you save all your images).

Well I've created a video on how to make your external USB HDD to be bootable and in the same time have the images stored.


Happy Cloning ! :)

Web - Online Forms

Sometimes all you need for your simple website is a way for visitors to have the ability to register as a "Member" and the form is sent via email to you.

This happens to be one of the request from a friend asking me whether there's such a free services available, and the answer is YES.

After some googling, I found this particular website useful and met all the requirements, though the free version only allows a maximum of 100 forms per month and the rest well you need to pay. Yeah, fair enough for a free services.

URL : http://www.jotform.com

For a more easier management, I would suggest that you create a free account first. It's easy to register a free account.

1. Once you're at the website --> Click the "Sign Up" link.


2. As usual, fill-in all the required details then click --> "Create My Account" button.



3.  Once completed, you will be automatically login, just click --> "Templates" link. Select your desired templates (in this case mine is "Registration").


4. You will be prompted for confirmation, just click --> "Use template" button to continue.

 
5. Then you will be forwarded to this screen, it looks dull right ? Now, click --> "Themes" link located above.


6. Here you can choose whatever colour and themes you like, mine I preferred to have an easy view on mobile devices thus the mobile themes is selected.


7. Note that some themes required purchases, so select carefully. Once selected, you will be prompted for confirmation, just click --> "Use Theme" button.



8. Now choose your previously loaded "Templates" by clicking the form displayed on the right column, then click "Install Theme" button to continue.



9. Once it's installed, you will see the following screen. Just click on the "X" button on the top right corner column.


10. Now you new theme is preloaded with the template you have chosen, you may proceed to modify any of the contents you deem fits.


11. Take note on the right column bar where all your tools for form creation is located, just a simple drag-n-drop function.


12. Also the menu bar on top displayed multiple configurations and settings for this particular form, such as "Emails" button where you configure the recipient email address. Click --> "Add New Email" button.

 

13. Now select --> "Notifier" option since you will want to be notify via email if someone have fill-in the form and have it email to you. Click --> "Next" button.


14. On the next screen, you'll be prompted to key-in all the relevant details. Once completed, click --> "Next" button.



15. Preview the information displayed as it will be the information you're going to receive via email. Once you have confirmed the information & layout, click --> "Finish" button.


16. You can also configure the "Thank You" settings where once the form been clicked "Submit" by the visitor, it will display this screen.

 
16.1. Change/modify any format you wanted, but this is an example and I'll be showing some basic stuff only.
 
16.2. Note the font's colour have been changed.
 
 
17. Once completed and the form is "Save", you can manage it by clicking --> "My Forms" link located above.


18. You can view all your online forms, edit it or even delete it.


19. Once all is done, what left is to publish this form to your website. Now there are several options available and the easiest way is to create a shortcut link in your website and redirect it to your form.

20. Explore more yourself for more "Advanced" settings and configurations for your forms, JotForm does have a tutorials for you on those basic configurations and some more advanced configurations.

Do visit their website for more information.