Download WebLaunch and save it on the root of your USB drive.  Then, create an autorun.inf file on the root of your drive with the following contents:

[autorun]
open=WebLaunch http://www.dailycupoftech.com
action=Open Website

You can set the http://www.dailycupoftech.com portion to any website you want and you can tweak the autorun.inf file to be as funky as you wish.

There you go, Shoban!

Is their any way to record the user name of every person who has used your flash drive?

While there is no fool proof way of doing it, you could try a combination of autorun.inf files and batch file.

Create an autorun.inf file on the root of your flash drive with the following contents:

[autorun]
open=getusers.bat
action=Open folder to view files

Next, create a batch file called getusers.bat with the following contents:

@echo off
echo %username%>>users.txt

When a user puts your flash drive into their computer, it pop up with an autoplay option indicating that they are to click on the icon to open the folder to view files.  A small black box will pop up briefly and then disappear.  If you go into the root of the drive, you will find a new file called users.txt.  If you open this file, it wil contain the user names of all the users who have accessed your drive by clicking on the icon.

This is, of course, not a fool proof method as all someone has to do is bypass the autoplay feature and their name is not recorded or they can delete the users.txt file but this is at least a proof of concept.

Better Speed

While the ethernet over power units brag a 200 MBPS transfer rate, I find that a 100 MBPS full duplex is more reasonable.  This is better than the projected 108 MBPS that my wireless N network was providing for me.

Better Security

I find that the security model seems to be better, at least for the time being.  If you want to hack into my WiFi connection, all you need to do is connect to my wireless signal and get cracking.  It may take you some time but anyone who is proficient at wardriving could get into my home WiFi network with little effort.

With EOP, not only is there no way for someone to know that I am running a network like a WiFi connection, they would need to be physically connected to my home wiring via an external power plug and a EOP module that is configured for my home.  Not only would I notice someone with a computer plugged into my home, I control the power to my external plugs from a switch inside my house that is always off.

Hacking my network has just become significantly more difficult.

Reduced Hardware and Increased Flexibility

I have also been able to cut down on some of my hardware.  I can use the EOP devices to work like a patch cable (one to one) or a switch (many to many) so I have eliminated a number of the switches that are available on the network.  I can also use them to segment my network so that I can give a “guest” not to visitors so that they can surf the Internet but they can’t access my home network.

More Info

If you are interested, here is some more info from the D-Link website:

• Web Demo
• Main Website
• High Res Diagram
• Data Sheet

I use remote control when I am in complete control over a computer.  For example, I remote control my home computers from work.  In general, there is usually nobody around who can do things for me at the other computer so I need to make sure that I can do whatever I need from the other side.  My preferred remote control product is LogMeIn since it allows me to remotely access my system from anywhere, regardless of who is on the other computer.

Remote support, on the other hand, is something I usually perform on a computer that is controlled by someone else and that other person is available to help.  I usually use remote support when I am helping someone fix their computer or when they want me to show them how to do something on their system.  I generally will use CrossLoop for remote support of computer systems.  It keeps the computer owner in control and gives them the security of knowing that I cannot just connect in to their system whenever I want but it allows them to give me access when they need help.

If you are unfamiliar with the price matching guarantee, it goes something like this:

Retailer A will sell an item, lets call it a WiggleDo. The WiggleDo goes for $100. And they gave a price matching guarantee that states they will beat all other retail prices by 10%.

Now, Retailer B is selling the WiggleDo for $90. You can go to Retailer A and get the WiggleDo for less that $90.

But, it is never that easy. Just yesterday, I went to get a price match at a common retailer and instead of gladly giving me my price match as indicated in their policy, I was told that I was not eligible for the price match. I needed to really push the manager who was on yesterday until I got my price match. This prompted me to write this post to arm you with as much information as possible so that you are successful in your price match.

Just so everyone knows, I price matched on a PowerLine HD Network Starter Kit (DHP-301). I found it online at DirectCanada for $114.59 plus $9.99 next day shipping (total of $124.58). Staples was selling the same product for $149.99. Once they applied my discount (competitor’s price minus 10% of the difference), I got the unit for $122.04. I ended up saving $27.95 plus taxes.

Tip 1: Do Your Homework

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is going in thinking that they will just hand over the product. You are going to be challenged every step of the way so you had better be prepared to make your case.

Tip 2: Know Their Policy Better Than They Do

This is where they tried to get me yesterday. I went in and told them that I needed a price adjustment. I was promptly told that they no longer price match with online retailers. I asked to speak with a manager and he indicated the same thing, that they only price match for authorized retailers and that the online retailer that I was price matching against was not authorized. I asked him to provide me with either a list of authorized retailers that they would price match against or the documentation that showed the criteria for determining an authorized retailer.

After some time, he came back and gave me the price match. I later discovered that while he was away, he was busy reading the policy. It appears that he did not even know the policy and that he was just accustomed to bullying his way out of the situation.

So, the moral of the story is this: know the policy of the company that you are going to be requesting the discount from like the back of your hand and ensure that you are truly within the policy and deserve the discount.

Here are the price match policies of some common retail stores for your convenience (If you know of any others, add them to the comments and I’ll add them in):

• Staples - Canada, US
• Best Buy - Canada, US
• Futureshop - Canada
• Office Depot - Canada, US
• Circuit City - US

Tip 3: Have Your Documentation Ready

Whenever I find myself in a price match situation, I come it with all of the documentation ready. This includes:

• A printout of the product if found online, a copy of the sales flier if found in an advertisement, or a photo of the product and the price if found in a store (a camera phone is very handy for this)
• A print out of the store price matching policy in case when you are challenged

Tip 4: Make It Easy For Them

A store will be less likely to give you a price reduction if they have to do all of the work. You can make things easier for them by:

• Highlighting important information on your documentation such as make & model number, price, shipping price, website address, store location, store name, phone number, date of advertisement, etc.
• Get the product off the shelf and indicate to the sales person that you are looking for a price adjustment as soon as possible so that they can page their manager right away

Tip 5: Be Polite But Firm

Most of you have heard the old saying, “You will attract more flies with honey than vinegar!” You will get nowhere if you come across arrogant, angry, or demanding. Remember, this is a win-win situation. You are getting a deal on a product, they are getting free research on that product.

But, do not back down just because the manager is gruff or rude. This is their policy that they voluntarily implemented. They do not have the right to take it out on you.

Tip 6: Do Your Math

When you are studying the price match policy, make sure that you know exactly how to calculate your reduced price. By doing the math ahead of time, you will remove the chance that there will be a math mistake that is not in your favor.

To help do the math, I have created an Excel spreadsheet that does most of the work for you. This sheet assumes a typical 110% guarantee calculation that is typical of places like Staples and Best Buy and also takes into consideration next day shipping which is often required by many retailers when calculating price matching.

You can download the worksheet here.

Tip 7: Have A Backup

Sometimes, you do make a mistake. You could have your math wrong or you may misunderstand their policy. If this is the case, have another price ready to take advantage of. The more options you have, the greater the chance that you will get a discount.

Tip 8: Maximize Your Discount

It may seem a bit backward at first, but you want to go to the store that has the highest price. This will generate the greatest discount and give you the lowest price in the end. Use the Price Matching Worksheet to help you determine this location.

Tip 9: Keep Shopping After You Have Bought a Product

A lot of retailers will give you money back, even after you have purchased a product. Keep “shopping” for your product until the price match policy is no longer in effect.

Price Canada has a great tool that will monitor a product for you and then send you an e-mail if it finds a lower price.

Miscellaneous Other Helpful Hints

• Go when it is busy. Sales people and managers are less likely to argue with you if there are a long line-up of people waiting to spend money or (better yet) walking out.
• Don’t rush. I know that this is an uncomfortable situation for most people but if you rush, you will make mistakes.
• Don’t let the manager walk away. This is a common tactic. If they do walk away, get another manager.

Price Comparison Websites

Here is a list of price comparison websites that I have run into. If you know of others, please leave them in the comments so that I can update the list.

• Price Canada
• ShopBot (Canada)
• PriceGrabber (Canada or US)
• PriceProtectr (US)

Some Gotchas That Can Break The Deal

• Limit quantities sold to an individual. If you want to get three of a product, you will probably have to go back three times and talk to three different managers because they will limit you to only a single quantity of the item.
• “Limited quantities”, “while supplies last”, “clearance”, “close-outs”, “bankruptcies” or special events should send up alarm bells. Be prepared for them to not match on these items (but don’t let it stop you from trying)
• Typos. This just makes sense. If a competitor incorrectly types 10¢ inctead of $10, don’t expect the competition to match it.
• Calculate in next day shipping for online items. This can often add as much as $20 to an item. Once you take this into consideration, it may not be worth it.
• Make sure it is in stock. If the product is not in stock at the competitor’s store, they will not price match.
• Make sure it is in local currency. This is less of an issue now with the Canadian and American dollar so close but there have been a number of times I got pretty excited only to realize it was in US, not Canadian dollars.
• Is it worth your time? I have to admit that I’m often in it just for the fun of it. You need to make sure that the savings are worth the time you put into it.

Your Turn

Let everyone in the comments know about the wonderful deal you made through a price match and don’t hesitate to name names as others may want to get in on the action. Also, help me to expand my list of price matching companies and their policies. And more price comparison websites are also welcome.

1. Learn a Card Trick
2. Play Solitaire
3. Learn How to Touch Type
4. Go Swimming
5. Tidy Up Your Room
6. Rename Your Collection of 10,000 Photos
7. Defragment Your Hard Drive
8. Go to the Gym
9. Go Jogging
10. Bake Fudge Brownies
11. Have a Picnic
12. Watch a Movie
13. Have a Nap
14. Mess Around With Photoshop
15. Update Your Address Book
16. Organize Your Documents
17. Lie in the Grass and Watch the Clouds
18. Write in a Journal
19. Drink 8 Cups of Water
20. Learn How to Cook
21. Learn How to Dance
22. Read a Book
23. Visit a Graveyard
24. Get in Touch With Old Friends
25. Look Through Your Old Yearbooks
26. Give Out Free Hugs
27. Figure Out the Meaning of Life
28. Watch TV
29. Organize Your Bookmarks
30. Arrange Your Library Using the Dewey Decimal System
31. Clean All the Monitors Around Your House
32. Play Some Sports
33. Count From 1 to a Million
34. Just Lay Back and Chill
35. Go to the Beach
36. Meditate
37. Walk Around Town
38. Get in Your Car and Keep Driving Till You Run Out of Gas
39. Clean Up Your Garage
40. Wash Your Car
41. Study For an Upcoming Exam
42. Learn How to Make an HTML Webpage
43. Make an HTML Webpage
44. Uninstall Useless Programs Taking Up Valuable Space
45. Play Racing Games and Lose the Race on Purpose, Every Time
46. Go to a Zoo
47. Go Outside and Take Pictures of Random People
48. Mow the Lawn
49. Open a Dictionary and Learn 100 New Words
50. Make a Prank Call
51. Type “bush hid the facts” in Notepad and Try Not to Act Amazed When it Disappears
52. Try Renaming a Folder Into “con”
53. Keep Trying…
54. Call a Friend and Ask Him What to Do
55. Find Out What All the Buttons on Your Keyboard Do
56. Open the Registry and Delete All the Entries Starting With the Letter “a”
57. Re-Install Windows Vista After You’ve Messed it Up
58. Slap Yourself For Using Vista in the First Place
59. Blame Politics and Global Warming
60. Open “about:robots” With Firefox and Press the “Try Again” Button
61. Press the “Please Do not press this button again.” Button
62. Ask Yourself Why It Disappears and Nothing Happens
63. Take a Shower
64. Eat Something
65. Treat Yourself to a Fancy Dinner
66. Play the Pre-Installed Games on Your Mobile
67. Count the Number of Cars That Pass by Your Window Each Minute
68. Arrange Your TV Channels
69. Comb Your Hair
70. Take Something Apart
71. Put it Back Together
72. Read Your Computer’s User Guide, For the First Time
73. Call Your Internet Provider
74. Ask them What’s Wrong With Your Connection
75. Understand All the Network Jargon They’re Saying
76. Dismiss Everything They’re Saying as Gibberish
77. Play a Board Game
78. Invite Friends Over
79. Read a Newspaper
80. Watch the News
81. Look in the Mirror and Try to Act Cool
82. Write an eBook
83. Do Your Homework
84. Buy a Metro Pass and Keep Going Back and Forth All Day Long
85. Smile at a Random Person on the Street
86. Watch Titanic For the 15th Time
87. Hide Behind Bushes and Scare People
88. Go to a Mall and Sit on a Bench While Staring at a Fixed Point for the Whole Day
89. Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks
90. Roast Marshmallows
91. Create Your Own Black Book
92. List All Your Friends and Family Members in it
93. Accidentally “Lose” the Book at School/Work
94. Ask Yourself Why You Didn’t Just Go to an Internet Cafe
95. Rearrange Your Desktop Icons
96. Synchronize All the Watches You Have
97. Think up a Clever List of Comebacks For Your Teacher/Boss
98. Open a Blank Page in Your Browser and Repeatedly Press F5
99. Cry Desperately
100. Open Videos and Images Using Notepad
101. Write a List of 101 Things to Do When You Have No Internet

Of course, I needed to mess around with it before I let her use it and, of course, I royally messed it up. I wasn’t too worried because it came with a recovery DVD that I could use to get it back to factory.

Unfortunately, when I went to build the recovery USB device, it failed. Now what?

Well, after some research and effort, I was able to build a new bootable USB device that allowed me to get the system back up and running.

Since I pieced the information and process together from a number of different sources and even used some new techniques myself, I figured that I should document the process and let everyone else know how I did this.

Step 1: Get Your Tools

In order to do this properly, you will need to download come tools from the Internet. You will need:

1. 7-Zip (download)
2. SelfImage (download)
3. MD5 verification software (e.g. WinMD5Sum)

Download and install these applications.

You will also be needing a USB drive. I recommend something 4GB or larger.

Step 2: Download The Image

Next, you will have to download the drive image. It is available from here or you can get the torrent. Be aware that this is a very large file and is 958MB in size so it may take some time to download.

Also, download the MD5 hash file to confirm that the drive image has downloaded properly.

Step 3: Verify the Drive Image File

Once you have downloaded the drive image, make sure that the MD5 hash that you downloaded matches the one that you generated.

Step 4: Extract the Raw Image

Using 7-Zip, extract the raw image from the drive image that you downloaded.

Step 5: Write the Drive Image to the USB Drive

Using SelfImage, write the drive image to the USB drive. In order for this to work, you need to make sure that you are driving to the USB device, not the partition on the device. If you write to the partition, it will not work.

Wait for the process to finish prior to removing the USB drive.

Note: You will probably get a warning that the image was not made for the specific device. This is not a problem and you can continue to image the drive.

Step 6: Boot Aspire One from USB Device

On your Aspire One, put the newly created USB device into one of the USB ports. When it boots up to the BIOS, press F12 and select the USB device to boot from. This will then take you into the setup process where you can then work you way through rebuilding your Aspire One from scratch.

I hope that his has been a helpful tutorial and gets your Aspire One up and running again.

And if you liked the video, you’ll love the game!

1. It is slow
2. The indexer is a real
3. resource hog

So, a long time ago, I learned how to index all of the files on my computer that provides me with accurate results in a fraction of the time. And, the index is completely portable so I can keep a copy of the index on my USB drive so that I can tell my wife exactly where that file is on my computer at home that I need at work.

How exactly is this done? Read on.

Create the Index

The index is really nothing more than a text file listing every single file that is on your computer’s hard drive. To create the index, simple go to a command prompt and type the following:

dir c:\ /s /b>>fileindex.txt

Wait for a couple of seconds and it will be done. If you want to add more hard drives to the index, simply retype the command and change the c: drive letter in the command to the other drive letter you want to index.

Search the Index

The next step is to search the file index for a file you are looking for. Let’s say you are looking for a file with the word “accounting” in it. You would use the following command to get a list of all the files with the work “accounting” in them:

find "accounting" fileindex.txt

You will instantly get the results. No waiting!

Updating the Index

Since it is so quick and easy to build the index, to update the index all you need to do is delete the fileindex.txt file and recreate the index just like you did earlier.

Suggestions

What you may want to do to simplify the process is create a couple of batch files to simplify the process. For example, you could create a batch file called MakeIndex.bat that would delete the fileindex.txt file and then rebuild it with information from all of your hard drives. This file may look something like this:

@echo off
del fileindex.txt
dir c:\ /s /b>>fileindex.txt
dir d:\ /s /b>>fileindex.txt

You could also create a file called WhereIs.bat that will find your files easier for you. It might look something like this:
@echo off
find %1 fileindex.txt

Now, all you would have to type is:

WhereIs "accounting"

This will give you the same results!

• When you are driving home.
• Someone who is visually impaired.
• You do not want the contents of a text file edited.

So, I started looking into how difficult it would be to create such a program. As it turns out, not very difficult.

I used AutoIT to create a simple executable that lets you either double click on the program and select a text file or drop a text file right on it. It will then automatically create a WAV file with the same name in the same folder as your original file.

You can download the MakeWAV application for free.

Also, if you are interested, here is the source code that you can copy and compile to make your own application. It’s open source so have fun!

#NoTrayIcon

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)
Dim $strTXTFile ;Name of the text file to convert to a WAV
Dim $strWAVFile ;Name of the WAV file to create
Dim $strTextData ;Text information to convert to a

WAV file

If $CmdLine[0] > 0 Then
$strTXTFile = $CmdLine[1]
Else
$strTXTFile = FileOpenDialog("Select Text File...", @MyDocumentsDir, "All (*.*)|Text files (*.txt;*.csv;*.log;*.msg;*.asc)", 1)
EndIf

If Not FileExists($strTXTFile) Then Exit

$strWAVFile = StringLeft($strTXTFile, StringLen($strTXTFile) - 3) & "wav"
$strTextData = FileRead($strTXTFile)
SplashTextOn("", "Creating WAV file. Please be patient.", 275, 20, -1, -1, 1)
_MakeWAV($strTextData, $strWAVFile)

Func _MakeWAV($strSentence, $strFileName)
Dim $oVoice ;SAPI voice object
Dim $oFilestream ;SAPI file stream object
$oVoice = ObjCreate("SAPI.SpVoice")
$oFilestream = ObjCreate("SAPI.SpFileStream")
$oFilestream.Open($strFileName, 3, False)
$oVoice.AudioOutputStream = $oFilestream
$oVoice.Speak($strSentence)
$oFilestream.Close
$oFilestream = 0
$oVoice = 0
EndFunc ;==>_MakeWAV

Today, everything is trying to look pretty. CSS, graphics, flash have all changed how we see the web. The one thing that has not changed is how we search the web. We still rely on the basic old concept of words.

But a company called TouchGraph is out to change that. They have created a search tool that lets you see how different websites are related in a visual format.

How TouchGraph works is actually pretty difficult to explain. Think of planets revolving around a star. Each “star” is a central web page with related website “planets” circling around the “star”.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Check out how TouchGraph displays a search for “Daily Cup of Tech“. Simply click here.

I have come to rely on this tool for a number of things, especially when I am looking for inspiration while blogging. It simply presents me with options that I don’t get with regular search engines.

I have come to the opinion that people are either really impressed with some really odd/common things or someone is gaming the system. I believe that it is probably the latter because the type of things that have been coming up lately on StumbleUpon are either really common or have a very limited audience.

Just so I can vent (and I then decide to not hit someone), here is my list of things that I am tired of seeing on StumbleUpon:

• Wallpapers
• CSS websites
• Nanotechnology
• MySpace/
• Facebook
• Proxy Sites
• Photoshop Tutorials
• Freeware/Open Source Lists
• Icon Sites
• How To Make Money Online

If you really want to send a message (and add a dash of irony) stumble this page so everyone can see it.

And, if you are sick of seeing something on StumbleUpon, feel free to add it to the comments!

This should serve as a warning for all other software developers out there and software companies. It is really easy to screw up your market and turn your clients against you.

This has prompted me to provide you with some lessons that we should all have learned from the Vista debacle.

Just because you decide you are going to lead does not mean that others will follow.

Microsoft figured they had it all figured out. Windows XP was arguably the most popular operating system on the market and the most successful version to date. Now was the time to lead the sheep clients to a bold, new OS.

Unfortunately, computer users like to think for themselves. They will not purchase something new just because they are told to do so.

Some of the more common alternatives that users went with other than buying Vista include:

1. Doing nothing and sticking with Windows XP
2. Buying a Mac
3. Learning Linux
4. Putting off purchases in the hopes that something better comes along

Lesson: Let your clients lead. Get to know what they want and put in the new options that they want, not what you think will make you money. Make the client happy and the money will find you.

Terms like “better”, “easier” and “improved” are subjective.

I will be the first person to admit that there are some definite improvements to the way that things are done in Vista. Yet, I often miss the way things were done in XP.

Microsoft has told us that Vista is better, easier and improved. Does this mean that XP was worse, harder and crappy? Of course not! So if many people feel that this is inaccurate, your credibility may just go out the window.

Lesson: Make certain that any claims you make about your new product does not reflect poorly on your old product and can be, more or less, agreed upon universally without leaving much room for opinion.

People will not change for the sake of change.

There is a certain geek element out there that want the latest and greatest in anything that you make. These are the types who stand in line for the new iPhone, even though they will not be able to get service for several months.

But, the majority of your clients do not fall into this category. Rather, they are cautious and are concerned about spending their money.

Lesson: You need to give your clients a reason to upgrade and change. Without that, they will not part with their money.

More options are not always better.

Have you ever stood in the cereal isle at he grocery store? Have you ever tried to decide which cereal to buy? It is insane how many different types and brands of cereal there are out there. Different manufacturers have knock off versions of other brands. Manufacturers try to create a new cereal by simply changing something small about one of their old cereals. It’s almost enough to make the buyer go cereal serial.

It appears that Microsoft hired all of their marketers from the cereal industry. They have split Vista into multiple editions and made the selection process so confusing people are not even sure how many editions there are. There could be four, five or six, depending on who you ask. And this does not even take into consideration OEM and open licensing. How is the average consumer suppoed to decide?

Lesson: Make your product models/editions/versions simple and easy to understand. Preferably, make one model and allow them to purchase additional options, much like the automotive inductry (but stay away from the upgrade bundle concept).

Trying to force users to upgrade will just make them find other ways of doing things.

Windows XP can no longer be purchased from Microsoft. This has been the case since June 30, 2008. They had announced that this was going to be the case back in April but they decided to postpone it. But, as it stands, you can not purchase a Windows XP from Microsoft.

Has this stopped people from selling it? No way! In fact, Dell is turning this into big business along with other companies.

Lesson: Do not try to force the hand of your clients. If they do not like your new product, they will find ways to stay with the old and send you less money in the process.

Don’t make people relearn something they already know.

With so many “improvement” in Vista, it is really difficult to know how to navigate around the system. While it may be more intuitive for a new user, the vast majority of people who will be using Vista will be those who have experience in other versions of the Windows operating system.

I know as someone who is technical, this really put me off because I’m not really interested in learning a whole new operating system, especially when I am finding it harder and harder to learn new things.

Lesson: Make your new product intuitive for both old and new users.

Make sure that those who are selling and supporting your software are on board with the upgrade.

I think that one of the biggest reason that Vista has done so poorly is that it failed to be adopted and promoted by the people who are in the trenches. I mean the techs, company computer guys, and sales personnel. Since these people were not behind Vista, they were not recommending it to friends, family and clients. This is where a new product is made or destroyed.

Lesson: Make sure that those who are speaking directly with the people who are parting with their money believe that your new product is the best version of the product ever made. Ensure that these people know as much about the product, they are excited about the product, and that they are using the product themselves every single day.

Don’t make people choose between functionality and aesthetics.

There are a very small number of people out there who will choose something useless that looks pretty over something that just gets the job done. Unfortunately, Vista, while it looks really nice, often does not get the job done.

Many people, especially those who decide to upgrade to Vista, find that the cost of all the bells and whistles means that some of their old hardware and software does not work and their system is now slower than ever.

Lesson: Focus your attention on ensuring your product gets the job done. If you have time and it is warranted, make it look pretty.

Make sure your product is ready for the market.

Even Steve Ballmer admits that they messed up the release of Vista. There are too many incompatible software packages that were critical to business and many hardware manufacturers had not gotten around to finishing up releasing new drivers for existing hardware.

All this made Vista a show stopper before people even looked at it.

Lesson: Make sure your product is usable by the largest audience possible with as few barriers to upgrade or replacement as possible.

Don’t force a hardware upgrade unless you absolutely have to.

This has goe to be one of the biggest complains made by users. Vista rarely runs well on hardware that XP was more than happy to work on. So now, the cost of purchasing Vista has just gone up significantly. This can get very expensive, expecially if they are part of a large business that has hundreds or thousands of machines to replace.

Lesson: Try to keep the collateral cost of upgrading to a minimum. Do not make people buy new products or add-ons unless they absolutely have to.

This is a program called Teddy, written by a gentleman from the University of Tokyo ten years ago! I mean, really! Ten years ago I was just getting started in IT and I was really looking forward to Windows 98!This was so cool that I did a bit of research and got the actual Java program applet! If you want to play around with Teddy, the fully functional program is running below! (You will need to have Java installed on your computer for this to work!)

Left click and drag to draw, right click and drag to rotate.A full tutorial is available online.

Sorry, but I do not have the example models online.

All you need to do is drag the Edit Page link below to your Bookmark Toolbar.

Edit Page

Then, browse to your favorite website and click on the Edit Page shortcut. Now, start editing!

Once again, kind of useless but it can be really helpful when you would like to edit a page before printing so you don’t get all the extra junk!

IpMessage.net is a service that allows you to leave a message for a visitor from a specific IP address. All you need to do is enter an IP address and then write your message. When someone from the IP address that you entered comes to the website, they will see the message that you left.

To be honest, this is a pretty useless “service” but it is fun to play around with!

So, if you were to click on http://www.google.com/ig/add?feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/DailyCupOfTech (Go ahead! Do it! You know you want to!), you would be provided with the option to add the Daily Cup of Tech RSS feed to your Google homepage or Google Reader. To configure this for your own RSS feed simply use the following URL:

http://www.google.com/ig/add?feedurl=<Your RSS Feed URL>

and replace <Your RSS Feed URL> with (duh!) your RSS feed!

This is by no means a comprehensive troubleshooting chart but it is a very effective tool that will help you focus your attention when you are having difficulties accessing a website and you think that the problem may be with DNS either on your network or with your Internet service provider.

Ping DNS Server?

Check to see if the DNS server is even available through a ping. First, determine your DNS server by typing in the following in a command prompt:

ipconfig /all

and search for DNS servers to determine the IP address of your DNS server.

Next, ping the DNS server IP address. So, if your DNS server IP address is 192.168.0.1, you would enter:

ping 192.168.0.1

If you get a response back, your DNS server is accessible. If not, there are a few potential problems:

1. DNS server is down
2. Internet is down (when DNS is provided by Internet provider)
3. DHCP is giving out the wrong DNS name
4. DNS server is set statically and is wrong

Can You Ping?

If you can ping your DNS server, next check to see if you can ping a website on the Internet. I typically use google.com. Type the following command into a command prompt:

ping google.com

You should get a ping response. If you get something like:

Ping request could not find host google.com. Please check the name and try again.

this could indicate that you have a DNS issue but it warrants further investigation.

Can You Telnet?

If you can ping, check to see if yo