Alex M's Blog

Mixed Windows XP and Windows Vista Network

Alex M — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:04:24 +0000

I have had the pleasure of recieving a free copy of Windows Vista Business thanks to my university’s MSDN AA program. Last weekend I thought I would take the plunge and install the thing, alongside XP so I could still dual boot and use XP when needed.

Most things seem to be running quite smoothly in Vista, albeit slightly differently to XP. I have a few shared folders in XP which serve as place for family members to share and swap files over our network. With Windows XP users have never had any trouble connecting to my machine. This has all changed with Windows Vista however. When I first created the same shares in Windows Vista the other XP machines were unable to connect to the Vista shares. Each time it was asking for a user name and password. This was quite frustrating as when you install Vista it never asks you to setup any user accounts with passwords.

The final solution to the problem is to create a new user on the Vista machine. The user does not need to have administrative privileges but must have a password. Once this is done your XP machines should be able to connect to the Vista shares using the user name and password that you just created. This could become frustrating but thankfully you are able to save the user name and password in XP so each time you connect to the share in Vista from then on you no longer need to put in these details.

I hope you find this information useful and that it saves you a few headaches. I know I spent a few hours trying to find away around this problem. I take it the requirements for a password is part of Microsoft’s attempt to up security in Windows Vista.

Back Up

Alex M — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:00:35 +0000

Oops, my bad. Blog went down when I moved server about 3 weeks ago. All back up and running again

Blogging from Live Writer (Beta)

Alex M — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:26:48 +0000

It seems Microsoft really is trying to embrace the blogging phenomenon. Althought Live Writer has been out for a few months now, I thought I might actually give it a try. So far so good, despite there being little to no information on setting up Live Writer with a custom WordPress installation.

The list of supported blogs is quite extensive; Windows Live Space, WordPress.com, Typepad, Blogger, LiveJournal, Movable Type, WordPress Custom Installation, Radio Userland, Community Server, dasBlog as well as any other custom made blogs that utilise the Metaweblog API or Movable Type API are all supported.

The ability to insert links and pictuers is also painless. It’s all done with the click of a button, with a WYSIWYG interface. So far this programme seems more complete then the blogging featuers in Microsoft Word 2007 Beta. The ability to save blog entries as drafts will also come in handy for some, especially those who might be traveling but are unable to connect up to the Internet for a period of time. I suggest anyone that is into blogging give this software a try. It’s really nice to finally see some innovative and useful tools come out of Microsoft.

Simpsons Movie Animatics

Alex M — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:18:00 +0000

Obviously all Simpson fans out there are aware of the upcoming movie – due out worldwide July 27^th, 2007. This week two animatics have appeared on the Internet. Both of which were shown in the US at the annual Comic-Con, and are actual animatics of scenes that will appear in the movie. Feel free to watch both of them after the jump.

P.S. The Simpsons Season 18 premiers September 10th in the US with The Mook, The Chef, The Wife & His Homer.

Blogging from Word 2007

Alex M — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 10:36:00 +0000

Now this is a very cool feature. I am really impressed with Office 2007 so far, apart from a few small bugs and freezes, the application has come a very long way since XP and 2003. I see it as a worth upgrade. Of course I have just written and published this post using Word 2007 – it’s really just feature packed and the new interface is amazing.

If you would like to download and trial Office 2007 Beta, head to the Microsoft Office 2007 Beta Preview site.

Invasion

Alex M — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 05:18:37 +0000

Invasion is a new TV series that has been showing for 5 weeks now in the US, and I can safely say it’s definitely worth watching. Here is a small blurb from TV.com:

Man has searched the skies for centuries and has never come up with conclusive evidence to prove the existence of other forms of intelligent life. What if we have been looking in the wrong place? What if there were other forms of intelligent life already living among us? What if perceived natural disasters were really diversions created to conceal clandestine alien activities?

Over the last 5 weeks pieces of the puzzle are coming together to slowly start revealing the truth behind what is going on. To anyone that hasn’t seen the show, I suggest you fire up BT and check it out. At this stage there is still no word on whether it will make it to Australian TV or not.

The O.C. Season 3

Alex M — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 03:59:05 +0000

That was a really good episode (Episode 2). Looks like it’s going to be a great season. It will be interesting to see what happens with Jimmy and Julie, they both seem as bad as each other now. Jimmy played the good guy in season 1 after the divorce, and ever since he has been the bad guy again. He is just as bad as Julie.

As for the dean, well, I never thought I’d see a guy that is as much of a prick as Julie. I don’t understand why the school hired him in the first place, when it’s obvious he is so biased. It’s a shame Ryan had to punch him.

As a lawyer, I am surprised that Sandy can’t do something to get him out of the school, while at the same time sending Julie to gaol for trying to frame Ryan. Julie in gaol would certainly make for a good turn of events.

Taylor tries far to hard, to the point where it’s just hilarious. Was she also in Gilmore Girls? Her voice sounds familiar. Apparently, Taylor will become a love interest for Seth this season too, so perhaps this boy still hasn’t learnt.

I also look forward to seeing what they are planing on doing with this Charlotte character. I’m yet to understand why she is there, but one thing is for sure, she is evil, which will hopefully leave for a great showdown between her and Sandy later in the season, trying to get Kirsten to come home.

All in all, a fantastic start to the season, with a whole swag of new horrible characters to create conflict and drama in the show. I can’t wait till next week now!

Opera Internet Browser

Alex M — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 07:10:17 +0000

To celebrate Opera’s Internet browsers 10 years of existence, Opera were giving away free program keys to remove ads from the program. I thought, why not, I might go get myself a key and take this program for a spin. I had tried Opera in the past, only to be turned off the browser by its ads, which hog the top part of the browser window - this was several years ago I might add - but without the ads, the browser is quite nice to use. Not only does it look good but it’s functional too. Admittedly, my browser of choice is still Firefox, but for those of you that have tried Firefox, and still don’t enjoy using it, I would suggest Opera as a great alternative, especially to Internet Explorer and all it’s vulnerabilities. While the free program key promotion has finished, the program is still free to download, and is supported by a small ad at the top of the browser. All in all, thumbs up to Opera.

4400 Season Final

Alex M — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:22:52 +0000

All I can say is WOW! That sure is one hell of a way to finish of a season. It leaves so many questions to be answered, while answering so many more. If your not a fan of the show, you should be. Season 1 is out in Australia and is only around $30. Well worth it in my opinion. Now the only problem is waiting for the next season, which will be around 8-9 months away. Luckily the 3rd season of The O.C. aires in less then 9 days in the states. Bless the Internet and bless TV!

The Eternal Wait

Alex M — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 03:01:20 +0000

I hate Monday’s for several reasons.

1) It’s the first day of the working week.
2) It’s the longest possible time before the next weekend.
3) I hate waiting for my favourite TV shows to be released so I can watch them before they air on TV here in Oz.

Point 3) applies especially when the last episode of the 4400 finishes on yet another cliff hanger. I can see today just draging on forever…