Video Conversion

VideoHelp.com This is an excellent website regarding Video file ripping/conversion/recording etc. It has lots of tutorials and guides.

Links for NedKelly

Virtualdub: http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/ TMPGEnc: TMPGEnc Net

QWIX Tutorial for SilverFox

QWIX MAIN Here is a guide on how to use Qwix to copy ISOs from your PC to the Xbox.

Taoski calling Silverfox... come in Silverfox

Silverfox, Thought you might find these 3 pages interesting. Its about converting DIVx to DVD! Part1: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=569 Part2: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=570 Part3: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=571 Also, a message for my friend with the numpty jobs from the Midlands... here is a guide (from the same website) that tells you how to make VCDs from DIVx files: Page1: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=510 Acually - the website they come from has all sorts of HowTo articles: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp Enjoy!

XP Service Pack 2 and Bittorrent

This is something i saw a while ago regarding a new restriction put in place with XP Service Pack 2. Basically Microsoft have implemented a fix where by the PC is only allowed 10 concurrent outbound connections at the same time. If you are downloading via Bittorrent then only 10 connections at any one time can be made - the others all queue up behind and make the connection when needed. Someone has produced a fix for this but patching a file called TCP.SYS to allow as many connections as you want! I have mine running at 255 but i have read others putting it up to 10000! Since running this i have noticed an increase in my download speed via Bittorrent! Check out the patch here on the creators website. This post is made with no warranties or guarantees. If you screw your machine, don't email me pal!

Firefox is just COOL!

Ahh. Firefox keeps impressing me! I have now downloaded and installed an Extension called "Adblock" which allows you to right click any image and block it from ever being show again! It even works with Flash animations too but puttin a little tab at the top or bottom of the image that you can click to block. Simple, sweet and cool.

First Firefox fault found

Thought i would flag up my first failure of Firefox. When attempting to load a site with "Macromedia Shockwave" content - it attempted to download the plugin, failed, asked for a manual install of the plugin, which i did - but it still refused to show it. Not major really - just annoying - also not so bad as i might get in trouble hanging out at that site anyway! eek!

Firefox

First, a question from a reader: "Firefox? Any good? I've been using Opera recently. Quite good once you get used the orientation. Nice and fast and gives a nice progress / feedback bar when browsing. " Ghone, MK, UK I have pretty much used all the browers on the planet... well... not all - but i have tried opera and a few others. I used to use Firefox when it was called Phoenix ( i think ) and it was [pretty good then but now they have made available a proper "version 1" release it is alot better. I think i am someone who likes to tinker with new software/interfaces/UIs but also tends to go back to the original settings - just cos i am so used to using things that way. Firefox is probably one of those moments - as was StyleXP - but at the moment - Firefox is pretty good! It is skinnable - but i quite like the original setting and it does load the pages quickly. It does appear to give me quite alot of "Page cannot be located" error messages with an OK dialog. If i click OK and then try the link again it loads the page fine. It is probably something to do with the fact i have AOL as my provider - as they have no download limits ;). I guess i can modify the Firefox ini file to get round that. I think i just need to set the timeout a little higher. Firefox also supports extra plug-ins and extensions that augment the interface and usability - although i have not messed with them as yet. The RSS feeds one looks handy - but i am not sure i would ever get to read all the stuff! I will try to stick with it for now - just for a change really. My real quest will be to switch to Linux! Why? Why not... i bet it will only last a month. Maybe i should blog "a Linux Month" as i attempt to convert.... I feel a new blog coming on.

Updated Howto!

Just a quick update to tell you where i am at with my blog at present. Bittorrent: I have been messing around with quite a few other bittorrent clients like Azareus and Shareaza to attempt to get good speeds since i am now on a 1meg link with AOL. I still think that Bittornado is the best though - so stick with that one. Get it from bittornado.com - although at this time of writing - the site appears to be down - or hacked! Kazaalite and other P2P Apps: I have pretty much given up using Kazaa now. The jolly folks over at suprnova have provided me with enough stuff for a lifetime so i only ever pop onto Kazaa to get single tracks. I am also currently using WinMX and also Limewire Pro. I am only using the others as they all provide content from different P2P networks and therefore are a useful resource. Limewire Pro seems to be pretty good and i can get good download speeds from them too. When searching for stuff you are able to see which clients have a faster connection - which is a useful way of getting stuff quicker. You can get the Limewire Pro client from Suprnova. Easynews: I have cancelled my Easynews account. I never hit my 6gb download limit and found that alot of the stuff on there i never wanted. I might go back there one day. Its nice to have a fast connection to something like that if i need to get something in a hurry. AntiVirus: I am now sticking to Symantec AntiVirus Coroprate Edition. I went off McAfee big style after me emails ground to a halt as they went through its scan procedure. Also, the coprporate version of the software comes without all the usual bells and whistles that the retail versions have. This makes for a client that has low memory usage - and also - one that never expires! AdAware/Pop-up Stoppers etc: I still swear by Ad-Aware to clean off spyware/adware and nasties. They have a new version out which can be downloaded for free from their website. Remember to use the Update function on the program each time you scan so you can ensure it is looking for all the latest stuff. I am now running with XP Service Pack 2 so i no longer use the Google Toolbar pop-up stopper in Internet Explorer. The one with XP SP2 does such a good job that it is no longer required. I still have the Google Toolbar running though - as i am used to searching from there. I am also now trying to switch to using Firefox which is an alternative browser (not made by Microsoft!).