So I run dual Displays on my Windows XP System and since upgrading to iTunes 7.2 (7.2.0.34 is my current version) every time I would switch users or even go into sleep mode with iTunes open, I get a nice little “Unsupported Display” error message and Windows would hang up. This forces me to press my favorite 3 keys Ctrl, Alt and Esc (I get me to where I’m going faster than Ctrl, Alt, Del, plus thats far too cliche by now…but I digress) to end the iTunes task and get running again. Now I should note my secondary monitor is on the left and has a lower resolution and reinstalling in all shapes, forms, etc, did nothing but waste my time.
The iTunes support page was little help and the other solutions I saw were to simply keep iTunes on the monitor with the lower resolution…however, that’s not a great solution in my opinion. The better solution I discovered is to adjust a Quicktime setting.

Go to Start >Control Panel >Quicktime
Select the Advanced tab and set the Video option to Safe Mode (GDI Only)

The only downside that I have found is that you can no longer jump into full screen…However, since I am running dual monitors it does not really bother me that much. Hope this helps & please let me know if anyone finds another solution.

Cheers,
aa!2on

As an avid Roller Coaster enthusiast, I was shocked(not really that shocked) to learn that one of the best coasters in the known universe a coaster that duplicates one of the best coasters in the known universe has gotten stuck. That’s right the X at Six Flags Magic Mountain the X at Magic Springs in Arkansas, had some people hanging upside down for about a half an hour…what a ride…Oddly enough a newer ride that opened in 2006.And to think I was really wanting to ride this (or the other) sometime soon.

Link is here

I would still ride it though. Also, thanks to people who only comment to correct. Where would the world be without you?…

I have always been a big fan of free email and have switched back and forth over the years. I have tried Hotmail, Yahoo, Aim and a few other too and honestly I they all fall shot of what email should be… However since the arrival of Gmail I have and continue to be impressed… In fact, I am usually the friend that tried to constantly bombard you with reasons so as to steer you away from the alternatives. So as a tribute to the kinds gents and ladies at Google here is my list of the Top 10 Reasons Gmail beats the
competition for Free Email (and most paid emails honestly.)

10. I can use pop in any email client or forward its messages elsewhere…I know why would I want to right but still it’s nice to have the option. In fact, one the reasons I encourage people to stop using Hotmail or Yahoo is because of their dropped support for this feature…then again I could always just get Gmail on my mobile phone! (Seriously people…therapy would be an issue if you really need this…seek help.)

9. Integrated with the wide world of Google. Google Calendar. Google Chat. I can even see my email messages using an widget on my Google homepage!

8. It’s free (duh) and the storage space just keeps growing!

7. Loads of extensions and scripts for G-mail. For example… the Gmail notifier for Firefox (1 of many web extensions that are a must for using Gmail with Firefox.) and also Greasemonkey for Firefox gives you tons of scripting options (see this on the top 10 Greasemonkey scripts for Gmail) to make your Email experience even better.

6. Gmail also retrieves mail from up to 5 POP accounts and lets you use these email addresses as the From: line of mail. A nice time saver…now if only hotm…wait…we’ve been through that.

5. Organization. Starring and custom labels let me neatly organize my conversations and search options find emails fast.

4. Gmail’s filters can , among other things (like throwing anything with a FWD: on it directly in the trash!) archive, star, label, forward or delete messages automatically.

3. The name Gmail just sounds a lot cooler than the others… except maybe Yahoo..that’s pretty fun to say.

2. Ads that don’t annoy me. Have you seen Yahoo Mail, AIM Mail or Windows live? The most intrusive ad’s I could stand to put up with. I know nothing comes without a cost but at least Gmail’s ads are related to my messages and NOT annoying as hell.

1. SPAM protection that works and works well. I mean seriously. We spend a lot of money at my company to get rid of SPAM and Google does it for free at a level way beyond the results we get here. In fact, if it wasn’t such a pain I would move all 200 mailboxes to Gmail just for that reason!

So there you are…do with the info what you will. If you still have not tried Gmail, now would be a good time. Comment if you would…I would love to hear if someone can add to this or disagrees totally (though I can’t imagine why). Cheers.

Sorry folks for not posting lately. With my partner in crime on maternity it’s been me vs. 300 in IT world.
I’ll be back soon.
Cheers,
aaron

Trendiness annoys me… the mac trend I can accept because they have a quality product and freaking awesome commercials (see my earlier post on mac ads.)
However… the whole “global warming” or now p.c. “climate change” (climate change… you mean seasons right?)thing is ridiculous…either way. now computer manufacturers like dell (who I really like by the way) are letting you plant a tree with each computer purchase to offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated to power you system.
and what a deal at only $6. Now this whole thing is absurd to me but let me ask you this… how much does it cost to plant a tree?

You gotta love Dilbert.

I get asked quite often to help people buy new computers/laptops. I know it may be a cop out but 90% of the time I refer them to Dell. I have quite a few reasons for doing this.
1. I won’t be expected to support every problem that comes along since they buy from dell…and by the way I NEVER recommend an extended warranty. Although my Grandmother has a P75 Gateway with Lifetime support…so funny, they all laugh when she calls in for support, but it’s still running! More on that some other day…
2. They are quite dependable. I used to be one of “those people” (geeks, I suppose) that would only build my own computer. To Hell with the computer manufacturers, right? Well…now that I work on computers all day the last thing I want to do is fix my own once I get home. Call me whatever… at least I have a life.
3. I can no longer feasibly build a computer as cheap and quickly as they can.
4. Articles like these:
Users force Dell to resurrect XP
Dell brings back XP on home systems
Dell: we’re going Linux
Here comes the Dell Linux desktops, laptops
Clearly…Vista isn’t ready. I hear some good things but overall I tell people to hold off a while. Even though Microsoft says it will stop selling XP by the end of the year, thus forcing users to go to XP or find an alternative OS. Here is a quote from the full article :

By early 2008, Microsoft’s contracts with computer makers will require companies to only sell Vista-loaded machines. “The OEM version of XP Professional goes next January,” said Frank Luburic, senior ThinkPad product manager for Lenovo. “At that point, they’ll have no choice.”

This thoroughly pisses me off anyways. Way to be thoughtful of your customers MS… not like I expected anything else. Either way, I would really encourage people to try out the Linux option. Linux options such as Ubuntu or Freespire are really well done and more user friendly than the Linux that scare all but the bravest of geeks off for years. Plus, you could always dual-boot between XP (even Vista if you must) and Linux if you wanted. Another option would be those trendy little contraptions call macs. You can read an earlier post of mine on why people truly buy macs.
Either way, I really believe Vista will come around and be a good OS choice, but for now I would stick with XP until it has a better showing and probably even start experimenting with some “other choices.”

I love command line tools! Don’t ask why, maybe I enjoy being “old school.” Either way. We use Terminal Services and Citrix here. Sometimes users login from a computer and sometime from a Winterm or dumb terminal. I use Microsoft Terminal Services Manager to help users remotely and often it’s really nice to know the client’s ip address.

Well Thanks so much to the peeps over at Ctrl-Alt-Del It Consultancy for their great set of Terminal Services command line tools. The tool that is perfect for this job is called GETSCIP. Take this file and put in in the %system root%\Windows\System32\ folder on your Server and then from any client session open up the command prompt and type GETSCIP. There, in glorious CLI fassion, will be the current sessions client ip address!

Enjoy & here is a direct link to download: GETTSCIP zip download

Now I have used PC’s for a long time. I have a job because of PC’s and I rather enjoy them. I use Linux quite a bit also, however mac are the new status symbol. Is it because of their sleekness? Their applications? Price? Stability? The tiny squad of Mac leprechauns that sneak around threatening to burn your house if you don’t ditch the p.c. and buy a mac? Is is because Steve jobs is a witch and has tricked us all?
The answer is …no.
Is because their ads are so bloody funny!

..and this one has to be the best ever!

almost makes me wanna buy one. enjoy.

Let me start off by explaining my situation. I work for a bunch of doctors. Doctors who are very busy people. Doctors who sign my paycheck. Doctors who, for the most part, are very resistant (nicest word I know) to change. Doctors who give me free lunch (I know it’s a big problem with modern medicine today, but they don’t pay me enough so I have to make up for it somewhere). Doctors who say,

“I don’t give a damn about network security and I don’t want to be bothered with silly things like changing my password”.

This by the way will drive any decent IT worker mad.
Now this, from my point of view, is a great source of animosity and the definition of stupidity. Your network is only as strong and your weakest user. For example, if you never change your passwords or leave requirements too simple then your security is weak and can be broken into by a mouse who is eating the crumbs dropped in your keyboard. On the other hand, if you set password requirements incredibly stringent (ex. 10 characters, enforce combination of uppercase, lowercase, number, special character and the periodic symbol for Boron) then your going to create a system so secure that users will write down their passwords and tape them to their monitors. This will allow your network to be violated by the technologically illiterate, a heard of flying monkeys…or other doctors.

So what is the solution? Well for me, there really isn’t one. However I have found that I can sometimes scare the docs into changing it. Nasty rumors their wife finding what they look at online or their finances floating around the office usually works! In fact, if you ever need to get a doctor to leave you alone, start talking about spending their own money. They will vanish! true story…

That aside, I really feel a good password age is 60 – 90 days. 8 characters long at least and enforce being alpha-numeric.

Either way, I just needed to vent for a moment. I leave you with the amazing knowledge of Scott Adams.