Part 1 Added!

Part one of Star Trek: Borg is now up on YouTube. The next part will be added tomorrow!

FILE: The (Also) Annoying AVG 8 Free Upgrade Notification

Tired of getting that nag from AVG8 Free Edition? Fear not, I have created a batch file for you. Just be sure to save it into your AVG8 program directory (default: C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8) and run it. It will just change some file names around and when you load up the program again, the notification should be gone. Please note that this hack only works on AVG8 8.0.138, and may not work on future versions. Enjoy!




http://www.filefactory.com/file/5744bf/n/AVGNotifyOff_bat

Thanks to Ron Schenone

If you are uncomfortable downloading and using batch files from some stranger, feel free to make them yourselves. Open up Notepad and put this down:

---

@echo off
ren avgmwdef_us.mht avgmwdef_us.mht.bak
ren avgresf.dll avgresf.dll.bak

---

Save it into your AVG8 program directory (default: C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8) as a .BAT file and run it. It will just change some file names around and when you load up the program again, the notification should be gone.

FILE: The Annoying Windows Update Prompt.

Tired of getting that Restart your computer to finish installing important updates message despite putting a suspension on it for it to come back later and bug you again? Fear not, Windows XP and Vista users... I have created a batch file for both operating systems that will disable the annoying prompt all together for that session (until restart). Just be sure you remember to restart because otherwise you will not be able to download and install any more Windows updates.
Here are the links:
Windows XP (Home and Professional, Up to and inc. SP3)
Windows Vista (All editions, SP1)

If you are uncomfortable downloading and using batch files from some stranger, feel free to make them yourselves. Open up Notepad and put this down:

---

Windows XP
@Echo Off
Title Currently disabling Windows XP restart prompt...
sc stop wuauserv
Echo The Windows XP update restart prompt is now disabled for this session.
Echo To retrieve and install further Windows XP updates, please restart.
TIMEOUT 10
EXIT

---

Windows Vista
@Echo Off
Title Currently disabling Windows Vista restart prompt...
net stop "windows update"
Echo The Windows Vista update restart prompt is now disabled for this session.
Echo To retrieve and install further Windows Vista updates, please restart.
TIMEOUT 10
EXIT

---

After you paste that into the Notepad document, save it as a .bat file Example:
disable_restart_prompt_XP.bat
disable_restart_prompt_vista.bat

Just run it when you get your first prompt and it should leave you alone. Again, you will not be able to download and install the latest updates without a restart. You will need to run the batch file every time you restart the computer after installing programs.

TUTORIAL: Cleaning an HP Optical 5 Button Scroll Mouse

After doing some research on the web on cleaning a scrollwheel of this particular model, I thought I'd help somebody who might need it. First of all, I'd recommend you clean the area of the mouse with a slightly damp towel to remove dirt. Be sure not to clean the laser. Next, use a slightly damp towel to remove the dirt on the top portion of the mouse. Do not bother with the scrollwheel, we'll get to that when we open it up. Now, look at the front top portion of the mouse where the buttons begin. Notice how there are little plastic processes in place through-out various places on the mouse. Slowly, and carefully, push up on the bottom of the plastic with a finger nail to wedge it open. Remove the top and use some compressed air to remove of the dirt and dust that may have collected on the internal part of the mouse. Now, carefully, use the damp towel to clean the scrollwheel and be sure to rotate it so you get every spot. Now place the top of the mouse back on, and you're all set.

The reason I'm posting this is because everytime I used the scrollwheel to go up and down the page, it would sometimes jump in the oposite direction that you're trying to use. This method worked for me, and it works like it was brand new again. If this doesn't work, I guess you're out of SOL. Either live with it, return it (assuming you had bought it in the last 30 days), buy a new one, or call up HP Tech. support. Seeing as you'd probably be better off saving your money and trying to fix it yourself, because most optical mouses don't come cheap.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Dynex® - 5.1-Channel PCI Sound Card

Well, I bought this product after reading reviews on here about the card having conflict with locating suitable drivers. I went ahead because I'm a semi-expert computer user, so I went to the store in town and bought it because I was growing tired of the quality of my integrated sound provided with my computer. Anyway, when I went to pick it up, the box said "VISTA COMPATIBLE!" Far from the truth. I got it anyway in hopes I could find a way to get it up and running.

I eventually did, but the drivers provided on the disk are only compatible with Windows XP (or earlier), so I was out of luck there. Vista didn't have any drivers available for it, so I had Vista look up the drivers online. It worked, but it installed a different brand but it works just fine. I usually use the 3.5mm jack for my audio system, but just for the Heck of it, I used the optical out and plugged it into my Sony HT DDW790 (also bought from Best Buy, but after Christmas time last year) just to see if there was a difference. I was blown away when I fired up a Dolby Digital demo video. The sound of 3.5mm shallows in comparison compared to optical. It's pure digital sound is just stunningly beautiful. A very good purchase, and I would recommend it to those who are a little more than casual users of their computers if they have Vista.

F***K YOU, VIACOM!

Well, it seems we're not going to get our Borg clips back any time soon due to the recent court order to Google, requiring them to provide Viacom (the larger part of Paramount and other businesses) with a list of YouTube users, including their names, IP addresses, and other information. I don't want to risk a lawsuit with Viacom anytime soon, so I'm afraid the Borg/Klingon clips will have to wait.

Independence Day...? My ass. If I can't keep my privacy as an American citizen, there's no way in Hell I'm going to be patriotic.

What Happened?

Some of you may be wondering what happened to the Borg clips and the soon coming Klingon clips. Let me clear up the confusion: No, they have not been removed for copyright infringement, but rather, removed to be renovated. I've received a few complaints about the volume level of the clips. This is not the sole reason why I removed them, but it was also because it is difficult to create interactivity. The major problem I had with them is when the decision changes (see: "Your father cheats"), etc. So, hopefully, when I'm done, the changes should be:

• Changing choices.
• Loading only the "selection" part of the video after having to try over again.
• Increased volume so you won't have to increase your computer's volume to hear it.

I hope this makes sense. I don't know of when all of the clips will be up again, but I'm going to begin correcting and re-uploading hopefully sometime next week, with Klingon to follow. In the meantime, if you still want to view the Borg clips, you can visit TrekCore's Borg video page where I have provided every single clip. Enjoy!

Uggghhh...

...so I am trying to add annotations and interactivity to Borg, but certain clips hamper my ability to do so. If I'm going to do it right, I'm going to have to go back and add a few more videos so the user does not have to reload the previous video clip just because of a bad decision. Talk about a friggin' mess.

I think I might just do Klingon, and then get back to fixing Borg. I dunno.

Annoucning STAR TREK: KLINGON

I will soon be uploading the entire interactive episode of KLINGON as soon as I finish the Borg annotation project. I've never played it before, so it might be a while until I figure out the whole scheme of things and play it though. Bear with me!

YouTube Video Annotations

I'm going to start my work on beginning video annotations for the Borg videos and make it a little more entertaining by letting the user click their choice rather than clicking the video response video and maybe pop in some trivia and goofs 'n such. Lemme know what you guys think!

Hard Drive Failure

Well, this stinks... but my 500 GB external hard drive failed a week ago and I have to send it in for a replacement, so it's going to be a long while until I can make some more Trek videos. I lost the work I had made on my Le Disko one for VOY and Bitch for House. It's a bummer, but I guess it'll give me time to think of more ideas for videos. Overall, I'd say my largest disappointment would be the fact it had all my master copies of my music videos. Not much I can do about it it, but still makes me sad. :(