Temp files? What are they good for?
May 31, 2007
Temporary files - or temp files - as they are commonly referred to, are everywhere. When you add software to your computer, change a setting, browse a webpage and create a document, a temporary file is created. Some are beneficial, most are a nuisance and take up precious hard drive space. What’s more, cleaning them is not so easy because they often reside in many different folders. It can be quite a task locating them and deleting them. Some of them are can even be operating system required files. Delete one of these and you’ll quickly learn the hard way that temporary files cannot haphazardly deleted with a fell swoop of the delete key. For the most part, yes they can be, and if they are needed by the operating system, they won’t easily be deleted.
Some say that temporary files are the droppings of bad software; when a developer forgets to include the instructions to clean out the temporary files. When a program is installed, or requires large amounts of data, they will often create a temporary file. These usually end with file extensions such as tmp, or a leading ~ tilde in the filename. Internet explorer and Microsoft Office utilize capitalized alphanumeric folder names to store temporary data. If you are working on a word document, a temporary version is opened as well until you save it.
Not all temporary files are bad though, you may often find log files that signify the process of an installation or an update to a piece of software. One example may be installing Microsoft Office, and then reinstalling it to add or remove a component. Office leaves temporary files that are used to aid users in modifications, upgrades, un-installations and so on. Microsoft is not the only software designer to use temporary files and you will find temporary files in Linux as well. Just as dust mites grow and multiply, so do temp files! The million dollar question – how do you get rid of them? There are some computer data-swiffer’s and electric broom’s to clean up the data-mites. If you care to use the 3rd party route, then look here for some great cleanup utilities. If you are curious as to where to look for them, and what they look like, start off:
- Your local user profile (c:\documents and settings\(your username)\local settings\temp
- Same as above, but temporary internet files (easily cleaned by opening Internet Explorer, selecting Tools\Internet Options\Temporary Internet Files – delete
You may also locate more temp files in the following folders:
- C:\temp
- C:\windows\temp
- C:\windows\system32\temp
The death of the Screensaver!
May 30, 2007
Screen savers on computers have been around since the first versions of Windows. The purpose was to save the monitor from screen burn in. Early versions of computer monitors used a phosphorescent backing on the inside of the screen to help display colors. If the image on the screen was not changed frequently, the image would actually burn into the phosphorous permanently. Screen savers are designed to activate after a set period of computer inactivity. Original screen savers on Windows 3.1 systems would display the windows logo in random on the screen. Then came the starfield effect, where you could pretend you are Captain Kirk of the enterprise and watch the stars zoom by from your captain’s quarters.
If zooming through space is not your thing, how about your own marquis banner. You can customize your own text, text colour, size and text direction. Pretty snazzy stuff!
Soon after Windows 3x came Windows 95 and the screen saver desktop basically stays unchanged. There was of course the option to make your own slideshow screen saver. Windows would collect images from your favorite folder and randomize them. Many 3rd party sites popped up offering customizable screensavers for download. Really, this is where the spyware and adware started. Screen savers became no-no’s and were spyware and adware breeding grounds. Still, very popular and very much a part of our computer persona’s.
For a short time, there was the option to use the active desktop with your screen saver. This would allow you to place a website, or an animated picture on the desktop. The screen saver would be tied into the active desktop with the same type of theme. Microsoft released a package called Plus! which included additional games, desktop themes and matching screen savers. Not much has changed in the world of screen savers until now.
Microsoft Windows Vista has taken the screen saver to a new level. Vista offers a free download for certain releases of Vista Ultimate, it is called Dreamscene. This offers some great features for your desktop background. Essentially, allowing you the option to use video as the desktop background. Dreamscene includes sample videos such as a waterfall, a flower complete with bees and all! You can choose videos, pictures, tiled background patterns, or the standard one color desktop. Nothing like having your favorite music band or family gathering as your desktop! One limitation however– there is no sound on these desktop videos. T o change the desktop to a video:
- Download the Windows Vista Dreamscene an then reboot.
- Right click on your desktop and select Personalize.
- Click desktop wallpaper.
- Open the drop down list to select Video File.
- Browse to your favorite video and select it.
Note, only certain types of video files are support, primarily AVI and WMV. Your selected video file will now be displayed as your wallpaper.
Team Linux car crashes at Indy!
May 29, 2007
On Sunday, the Tux 500 sponsored Indy-car crashed on turn-1. Roberto Moreno was driving the Chastain Motorsports and Team Linux car, he was taken to the hospital for observation after complaining of back pain.
” As of this report, no less than 5 cars have french kissed the wall during the 91st running of the Indy 500.”
“For now though, let it be known. We, the Linux Community, did what we set out to do. We started to tell the world about Linux. Via this event, millions of people that have never heard of Linux now have. ”
All I have to say is that it was worth my 10 dollars! I would love to see more people running linux as their main operating system and this is only the first step!
[via Tux500]
360s “Wireless” Steering wheel
May 29, 2007
Yesterday, at my place of employment we got talking on the world of Forza 2 and how we would all be missing a few days (of work) to fully enjoy the game. Of course, we were kidding but in the back of our minds I know we were probably thinking that would be one hell of an excuse to use. lol. Anyway, we got talking about the 360s wireless steering wheel. I have had one sitting in my closet for some time and have never had the desire to try it. One of the reasons is that it’s not a truly wireless solution! Firstly, the cables from the foot pedals must connect to the steering wheel. Not a big deal, right….right. Secondly, in order to use the force feedback option you must plug the wheel into a wall socket. If you’re like me you do not have a wall socket near your couch and that proved to be an awkward situation. In the end it was just an inconvenience that was well worth the extension cord. Finally, the actual wireless solution requires a battery pack? Why can it just draw power from the wall socket? Because you don’t need to use force feedback….well how about it draws power from the wall socket if you use force feedback? No. Ok then.
I got everything plugged in and ready to go with PGR 3. My thoughts….the wheel is excellent but a little bit difficult to get used to. The paddle shifters are fun and add a sense of control that you normally wouldn’t get. The force feeback is perfect and unlike my MadCatz steering wheel it doesn’t feel as though your arms are going to be ripped off.
All-in-all I recommend this “wireless” steering wheel and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of Forza 2 to try with it. After all this wheel was designed for use with Forza!
Make Vista more like XP
May 29, 2007
Never thought you would call Windows XP good, and old would you? How many bars of soap would your mother have made you eat for all the bad words you uttered towards XP, and the headaches you had installing it and learning it.
Guess what … it’s “start me up” - all over again, if you’ve been bit by the Vista bug.
Microsoft has changed some of the rules in upgrading to Vista from your previous version of Windows. The first problem is upgrading from XP. It also seems that Vista makes the decision whether it will let you upgrade or not.
Generally, it looks as if upgrading any Windows version always has some surprises in store. Forget the fact that the upgrade just might not work. It would be better to allow the user to make the decisions about partitioning, formatting, and where to install the version, but sometimes we just want fast and simple. So Windows makes those assumptions and decisions.
Nevertheless, there are some tools and options in the setup of Vista, but you have to really dig – and heaven forbid – read the documentation.
The first Vista annoyance – Vista renames and moves many folders, including:
- your existing Windows Installation folder
- your profiles folder (C:\Documents and Settings)
- your Program Files folder
- Your My Documents folder
It doesn’t delete them. It only manipulates and buries them.
Get that shovel out again, and be ready to dig! After you have installed Vista, browse your C: drive, you will notice a folder called Windows.old. Open that folder and you will find all your previous data. You will also see a C:\Users folder. Microsoft did away with Documents and Settings naming conventions and changed to the obvious – Users isn’t that where the user folders SHOULD be?
If you have come to love the look and settings of Windows XP, and Windows 2000 for that matter, there is some saving grace to get some familiarity of Windows of old back. You can easily change your Start Menu to the one you have been forced to love.
Right-click on your start button\circle\bubble? Select Properties, then left-click that to get Start Menu and Taskbar Properties. Under the Start Menu tab, select Classic Start Menu. This will bring back some Windows XP/2000 familiarity and have you screaming through Vista in no time.
Sony increases holographic storage read/write speeds
May 28, 2007
After increasing the storage capacity of their holographic storage system, Sony’s only direction to go was to increase read and write speeds. Sony has managed to increase the holographic storage systems speed from crappy 3mpbs to 92mbps(read) and 107mbps(write). The hard to believe advancement in read and write speeds has been attributed to a new image stabilization technique, with an improved CMOS sensor. Sony isn’t finished yet, promising to increase rates to 1gbps.
Gas Prices - Animated
May 28, 2007
