YS Origin on Windows Seven

Important note: This post is about to review some outdated game.

As I just completed story of YS I The Vanished Omen and YS II Eternal The Vanished Omen Final Chapter on my PSP. Then only I get to know that there is another YS 0 or known as Origin exist in the market. Until then I only realize it release on PC platform which is totally out of my expectation!

Straightaway I dig out the download source from Megaupload and install to my Windows 7. It's a bit risky to install into Windows 7 as the game is only support until Windows Vista. But I believe the infrastructure between Windows 7 and Windows Vista is more or less the same. The installation is successful! But be aware, the english config patch and Vista patch need to install by sequence.

Short Tutorial:
1. Install YS Origin Full Version
2. Next install Vista Patches V1.1.0.3
3. Then only install English Config Patch

During my first attempt, I install step 1, 3 and 2 and it give me a damn error as shown below.


Furthermore, I tried to install AppLocale into Windows 7 too but it just didn't help at all. Anyway, it is relief to know that YS Origin is compatible on Windows 7.

For Vista Version of YS Origin, you can simply unlock Adol Christen and Bonus difficulty setting by create 2 files.

1. To unlock Adol (Only playable in Time Attack Mode): Create an empty file named "data.no" and place it into C:\Program Files\Falcom\Release folder
2. To unlock bonus difficulty setting (Very easy and nightmare added): Create an empty file named "data.ne" and place it into C:\Program Files\Falcom\Release folder

Enjoy your game in Windows Seven :)

Click Here: YS Origin Official Website (included Demo and trailer)

PIKOM PC Fair 11 April 2009

See I've got for this time PC Fair. Yeah, is a 320GB Buffalo Mini Station External HD and a Movie Box/TVBox.

Gosh, year by year the HD price become more and more cheaper. For this 320GB, it only cost me RM248. My friend who brought WD 250GB External HD cost him RM249. Can you see the different? Extra 70GB for only different RM1. But this is genuinely a Japan Product. Hence, i'm not sure about the performance and quality.


What good about this HD is already labeled on the box. As you can see, the data transfer rates is up to 20% faster than the normal Ext HD we have. This is because they have flash a firmware into the HD to boost up the performance. As well as the chassis is specially made for Shock Resistant.


Inside the box, 1 USB cable and 1 Power cable (use only if you PC unable to boot up the HD).




They even give me 1GB pendrive for free. To tell the truth, I hope to get free pouch rather than this pendrive. It's useless anyway, nowadays 1GB is too less for me.


Here's another Product on the day. It seems like this device is start to popular. By the way, what it is use for?
It you have this device, that mean you can throw away your DVD player! Yes I mean it.


This device is same is a DVD player, but it is not using DVD to play the movie. It use USB, SD or MMC to play the movie on TV. This mean you can directly copy some movie into your pendrive or Ext HD and play it using this device! Clear? Great right?


Inside the box: Manual Book, HDMI cable, analog cable, adaptor and remote control.


And what so great about this player is it almost support all type of movie file. But for my case, AVI and RMVB is more than enough. Besides, it also support various type of song file, photo and documents.


Yeah, now you can watch all your downloaded movie without burn it into DVD-R. :)

Encrypt Your Content in BlogSpot!

I always wondering why blogspot never have a features like password protected. I guess a lot of people will like it just like wordpress. Since it allow you to allow set a rules on each entry. Hence, I started to google around to see is there any 3rd party software or script (VBS or JavaScript) that will force this features. Thanks to google, I found a way!

It may not as same as WordPress, but at least it can help you to prevent your entry to be read by others.

Example:

Show encrypted text

Password: unlock

Here's the step:
1. Copy this line: and paste it to your template between and
2. To encrypt your post, click here
3. Enter the password of your choice in The "Key" field.
5. Copy and paste your blog entry in The "Plain Text" field.
6. Click the encrypt button below it. The encrypted text will appear in the "cipher text" field.
7. Copy and paste the HTML Code to your blog HTML field.
8. Publish Post. Done!
9. This is even works for Photo!

Thanks to Vincent, who develop this. Click Vincent Site for more information.

Cooliris 1.9

Cooliris - a cool add-on for Firefox and Windows IE that enchanced the rich style, design and function on viewing the photo such as Facebook, Friendster, deviantArt, picasaWeb and etc etc..

For instance: Once you have install Cooliris on your machine, this is what you will see when you mouseover to the photo (or whatever photo you are viewing on). There will be an small icon beneath on the bottom left corner. When you click on it, Cooliris will start to run.



Cooliris will load all the photo on the album and display it as shown on the image below.


Cooliris even have a function to drag the photo feel-alike 3D style which is very cool!


Other than that, if you on full screen mode, this is how it looks like. If you notice there is a Play button which will automated your photo into a slide show.


Check it out more on:
Cooliris Website
Cooliris Downloads

Tweak Thumbnail Preview in Windows Vista

Wish to have larger Thumbnail Preview in Windows Vista?
Yes, now you can do it by editing the value in your Regedit Tools to make it more larger as you wish.

Here's what you can try:

1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
2. Create a DWORD Value and name it ThumbnailSize. Double-click the entry, select decimal and a number between 32 and 256. The default value for the thumbnail size is 100, if you would like a bigger size increase the number above 100, if you like smaller ones choose one below 100.
3. The new settings will become active after you restart your system.

Before:


After:


Enjoy!

Unable to Update Windows Vista Experience Index Score

Recently I face a problem in my machine where my WEI score is having an unrated error.


I suspect it may happen that the error is due to the unsupported drivers which installed into our machine hence the problem arise. Therefore, I spent my time to troubleshoot on the error and this is what I get:

First, please check your WEI score before you installed any drivers into your machine, especially Motherboard and Graphic Card Drivers. Uncompatible sys file will cause your machine to crash into Blue Screen when you attempt to Update your score or rate your score.

Or even if you are able to click on it and and open the 'Rate and Improve Your Computers Performance' window, you find that instead of individual scores, you get a blank windows.

Here is what you can try:

1. Run Regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Performance Control Panel.
2. In the Right Hand Side pane, ensure that the value of PerfCplEnabled is set to 1
3. You may have to reboot.

P/S: For some cases, even if you have installed a correct/compatible drivers, the system will still having an unrated issue. Thus, please feel free to try the above steps provided.

Enjoy!

Pendrive Icon Customization

Bored looking at your old Removable Drive (pendrive) Icon?

Try this:
1. Open Notepad
2. Enter this line
[autorun]
ICON=Folder\Your Icon.ico
3. Save as autorun.inf
4. Copy autorun.inf to your root drive as well as your icons.
5. Hide the file if you do not wish to disclose the file.
6. Done. Unplug and Plug your pendrive for the results!

Note: This trick leaked for "n" years ago. But, in case anyone who still don't know about this trick can try for it. Just for a sharing purpose.

Here the results.
During AutoPlay:


At My Computer Explorer

Enjoy

Hide System Tray Icons Completely

Windows System Tray is to give the user faster access to the program’s options. While this option is quite useful for some applications but it does look kinda ugly especially if a lot of icons are visible in the system tray.

If you wish to have a beautiful appearance of Windows Explorer, you can hide all system tray icons. The programs will still be running in the background but only that the icons would not be visible anymore.

1. Go to regedit.
2. Navigate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Create "NoTrayItemsDisplay" using DWORD entry
4. 0 Disable and 1 Enable. For your case, enter 1 to enable it.
5. Log off!

The screenshot below is before and after apply the registry entry.

Enjoy!

I Hate Shortcut Arrow

This post is about to a guideline on how to remove away the ugly shortcut arrow from you desktop icon completely.


The shortcut arrow is an identifier icon which differentiate a normal link and a shortcut link. Hence, is recommended to leave the arrow there. But for those who dislike the arrow icon, it is a different story for them.

Well, here's the guide:

1. Start regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
3. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
4. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile
5. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
6. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ConferenceLink
7. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
8. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocShortCut
9. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
10.Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut
11. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
12. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WSHFile
13. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
14. Close regedit.

Here the results:

Logoff and... Enjoy!

Change Windows Vista Logon Screen Manually

To modify the Logon Screen for Windows Vista, it is more complicated and troublesome compare to Windows XP.
This is because in Windows Vista, the Logon Screen is now embedded within a DLL file (C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll) instead of EXE file which can be easily manage using regedit tool.

Since the file is a DLL extension, how we going to modify it?
Here's the answer:

1. Download this program: Resource Hacker
2. Extract it and Run ResHacker.exe


3. Go to File and Open, browse to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll and open the file.


4. Once open, you will see IMAGE, MUI and etc... expand IMAGE and you will see 50xx -> 1033
*1033 - represent english language. If you use another language, you have different language code here.
*50xx - is a resolution, xx represent different resolution and here is the list.
5031 = 1280x1024
5032 = 1280x960
5033 = 1024x768
5034 = 1600x1200
5035 = 1440x900
5036 = 1920x1200
5037 = 1280x768
5038 = 1360x768
5039 = 1024x1280
5040 = 960x1280
5041 = 900x1440
5042 = 768x1280
5043 = 768x1360

5. Right Click on 1033 and select Replace Resource.


6. Click on "Open file with new resource..." button and browse your favourite wallpaper.
Then enter the following:
Resource Type = IMAGE
Resource Name = 5031 (if your wallpaper resolution is 1280x1024)
Resource Language = 1033 (depend on your language)


7. Press Replace. Repeat the process above for all 50xx images that you want to change. When done go File and Save as... and save the file as imageres.dll in other location. (e.g. Documents).
8. So, how we going to save and replace the original file since it is a protected file? Follow the steps below:
9. By default, local admin has read only permission on c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll and the owner is trusted installation. To Take the ownership of the file:

1. Right Click on imageres.dll and Properties
2. Go to Security Tab
3. Go to Advanced
4. Go to Owner Tab
5. Click Edit
6. Rename the current C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll to C:\Windows\System32\imageres_original.dll.
7. Copy your modified imageres.dll into c:\windows\system32\.

Done! Ctrl+L to view the changes. If do not appear, reboot your machine.

IMPORTANT!
Use at your own risk, do not modify/change/edit the settings of imageres.dll if you are insure of it. Always make a backup before perform any changes to the original file.

Related Topic:
Change Windows XP Logon Screen Manually

Change Windows XP Logon Screen Manually

I believe most of people know how to change their Windows XP Logon Screen by using third party software. But do they really understand how exactly it works?

Actually is very simple...

1. Go to download your favourite Logon Screen. (make sure the file extension is EXE)
2. Open Regedit
3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon
4. Inside this directory, look for uihost
5. Modify the value of uihost to the location that point to your downloaded/created logon screen (e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\logon\mylogon.exe)
6. Done. Ctrl+L to view your new logon screen.
7. If you wish to change back to default Windows XP logon screen, just modify uihost value back to logonui.exe.

Again! Please use your registry tool wisely else it will corrupt your machine.
Enjoy your new logon screen!

Related Topic:
Change Windows Vista Logon Screen Manually

Create Your Own Context Menu (Right-Click Menu)

This information is show to you guys on how to create your own customize context menu (right-click menu) on your desktop.

1. First of all, Open your Regedit.exe and expand HKEY_CLASSESE_ROOT (HKCR)
2. Follow the path given below for Context Menu Customization.

Computer: CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\
Internet Explorer: CLSID\{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}\shell\
Network: CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\shell\
Start Menu/Folders: Directory\Shell
Desktop/Explorer: Directory\Background\shell\
Windows Explorer (All Files): *\shell\
Drives: Drive\shell\

3. What you have to do is create a sub folder into the path above
e.g. For Desktop/Explorer: HKCR\Directory\Background\Shell\Open Windows Media Player\
* This folder name can be any name

4. Add another sub folder under "Open Windows Media Player" folder that you create
e.g.HKCR\Directory\Background\Shell\Open Windows Media Player\command
*This folder name is fix

5. Inside "command" folder, double-click the "(Default)" and add the value whereby the value is the application (EXE) path that you would like to execute.
e.g. For my case, I would like the context menu to execute Windows Media Player. Hence, the value will be C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe



Done. Right-Click on your desktop and you will see an additional context menu has been added.


Enjoy!

PSP Game Unable To Load

Yesterday I face a situation whereby my PSP was unable to load the game. The game named Patapon. What I was doing is only copy Patapon ISO file into my memory stick and next the game was appear in the game list. So, I enter the game and the game start loading. At first, the game was able to run but unfortunately it hanging halfway in "NOW LOADING" screen.

If you ever face the situation explain above, please feel free to try the solution provided below. Tested and it works!

Currently, my PSP installed with a firmware version 3.80-5 M33. If you are using this version too, then by default your ISO loader will be "M33 - No UMD". To solve the problem above, what you have to do is change the default ISO loader to "Sony NP9660 - NO UMD". How?

1. First, Go to your PSP Recovery Mode (hold R trigger and turn on your PSP)
2. Recover Mode should now load, go to Configuration
3. Then you will see an option "Use M33 - No UMD"
4. Change it to "Use Sony NP9660 - No UMD"
5. Done.

While you still in Recovery Mode, why don't try to change a bit on other settings?

For me, I have change 3 settings here that should be useful.

Go to Recovery Mode -> Registry Hacks, you will see 3 options here:

Button Assign, by default your X button is enter and O button is exit. For me who love Japan regions so much, so I prefer O button as enter and X button as exit. Well, change it whatever you like but only for X and O button.

Activate WMA, by default this function is disabled. Enabled it to make your PSP Internet Browser capable to load a webpage which contains WMA playback format.

Activate Flash Player, by default this function is disabled. Enabled it to make your PSP Internet Browser capable to load a webpage which contains Flash format.

Warning, don't play around with your Recovery Mode settings if you are unsure of what's the options is all about. Else you will screw up your PSP! Always get advise from Expert before make any further steps, don't ask me because i'm not an expert.

Play wise and enjoy!

My Windows Experience Index Score

Before I start, I would like to explain what is Windows Experience Index (WEI) first. Alright.

WEI - is a new feature built into Windows Vista that is designed to help you better understand how well Windows Vista and other software will perform on your PC. If your rating is high, mean your hardware performance are excellent. If your rating is low, mean your hardware performance are poor or should I say cheap?.

Please take a look on the screenshot below, it shows the rating and performance of my desktop.

Surprise? Haha, I know you will. But frankly speaking, my actual WEI score is not as high as shown on the screenshot. But I also won't tell you the actual rating on my desktop. Is better to keep it secret.

Well, curious is it? Actually is very simple.

Go to this folder: C:\Windows\Performance\Winsat\DataScore. You will see a XML file inside the folder. Each time you perform benchmarking using WinSAT (Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSAT), is a free benchmarking tool that measures various performance characteristics and capabilities of a computer running in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The ratings are displayed as Windows Experience Index or WEI score in your System), it creates a new XML file and store it in this folder. All you have to do is to open the latest XML file and edit it using NOTEPAD. I have tested, it only show the score between 0.1 up to 9.9. Else it won't show in your WEI.

Save the file and done. After modify, you can show it to your friend for fun.

Is important to know this. Nowadays, many computer shop owner may trick their customers by editing the WEI scores. So please be careful! Always check them by Re-running WinSAT.

How to check? Go to Control Panel\Performance Information and Tools and click "Update my Score" (Refer to the 2nd screenshot).

Enjoy!

Windows 7 Ultimate, Postponed to 2011

I think most of you guys didn't know that the new OS from Microsoft is now in development. They named it as Windows 7 Codename "Vienna". Why they named it as Windows 7??? Is it because this is the 7th OS release from Microsoft??? Sound weird and funny...
I think this new OS is no more a secret since a number of people already test on this new OS and leaked out the information to public.



I think there will be a lot of screenshot related to Windows 7 if you search from Google, but is the screenshot true or false, don't ask me (since there are a lot of skinning and visual style third party software available, is not weird if you saw something different on your so called Windows 7). But we better wait for the final version ourself and test it out!
However, I found out a website which provide the screenshot I think can be trusted. Go take a look: Windows 7 Screenshot

Sadly, when I read on the forum today, Microsoft says that Windows 7 isn't headed for 2009 but 2011. Want to know more? Click here. I lazy to write out the content here.

What I wondering here is weather Windows 7 will be able to enhance a new features like Windows Vista or even cooler than that. And also the GUI design which I most curious. Well, we only to know about this once the final version release.

Changing OEM Branding Logo for Windows Vista Part 2

Did you ever wonder how famous Laptop/PC manufacturers such as Sony, Dell, Asus, HP, ACER and others put their logo into your computer?

If you notice the screenshot above, I already added my own Logo into my Windows Vista Welcome Center.
So here the simple guide:

1. Go to "C:\Windows\System32\oobe" Folder. If your computer is DELL, you will see the file "DELL_BAR.png". If the file not exist, you can create your own banner.
2. First, go to "C:\Windows\System32\oobe\INFO".
3. Right Click on "oobe.xml" file to uncheck the "Read Only" properties(If any)
4. Open "oobe.xml" using NOTEPAD as administrator and add/edit the path as below.

Take note that Brand.jpg is the file name that you create. It can be any name.

Enjoy!

Related Topic:

Changing OEM Branding Logo for Windows Vista Part 1

Windows Vista SuperFetch Technology

Well, another technology information to share but this time is not a tutorial yet is a disadvantage of using Windows Vista OS.

Surely everyone notice that Windows Vista has improve a lot and impress users with the cool aero GUI (compare to Windows XP), Flip 3D, Thumbnail View and Sidebar Gadget and etc... But do you know that Windows Vista is actually a Blood Sucker or should I say "Memory Sucker" for more accurate term.

Indeed, Windows Vista has implemented a new services called SuperFetch which is a new memory management tool designed to allow your frequently used programs additional memory by making better use of your systems random access memory (RAM). Hmmm, the definition sounds great ya. In fact, you could get Windows XP away with 1GB of memory, with 2GB making it run much smoother. To get the same smooth experience from Windows Vista, you really need to double the memory to 4GB!!!

Article can be found on this link: How SuperFetch Works

Thus, think twice before you plan to upgrade your desktop/Laptop to Windows Vista.

If you think that you have enough resources to upgrade your RAM to 4GB, please ignore this info. Else you will be suffer...

If you think that you really love Windows Vista GUI and other cool functions as mentioned above, maybe... you are recommended to install Vista Transformation Pack 8.0.1 which is a package that change your Windows XP GUI into Windows Vista like GUI. Advisable to read the Term and Condition before you transform your Windows XP! God Bless You.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta. release since 29th November 2007. Finally i got a chance to hands on on this latest version 9.0, not on my own desktop nor office desktop but on Training center desktop. Haha. Although is a Beta version, but it still provide us a full functionality. I have tested on it and there are couple of new cool features added. GUI still remain the same.

New Features:

• Sign-in and messaging in multiple locations - You asked for it, now you have it! You can now sign into Messenger from more than one computer at a time, up to four at once. Simply sign into Messenger from one computer, install Messenger on another computer and sign in using the same account. (Only works if all computers are running Messenger 9.0 Beta. Currently enabled only for users whose Windows Live ID country is US or Canada.) - [My comment] Not useful at all. I don't think that we need it
  
• Signature sounds – Pick your own personal sound that your contacts will hear when you sign into Messenger (only works if you and your contacts have Messenger 9.0 Beta). [My comment] Cool Features!
  
• Per contact sounds - Pick unique sounds for each of your contacts. You will be able to tell from across the room who is sending you a message. [My comment] Cool Features!
  
• SPAM Reporting - If users send you unsolicited messages or invitations that you consider spam, you can block them and report them as spammer. If you report a user as a spammer, the messenger service will collect this data and put appropriate restrictions on the spammer accounts. All reports of spammers are kept confidential. [My comment] hmmm, maybe useful nowadays cause a lot of unidentified invitation.
  
• Animated Display Pictures – Show your moves! Messenger now supports animated .gif files as display pictures. [My comment] Wow! I like it, but sadly it support up to 200kb .gif file only
  
• Link in Personal Status Message – URLs in Personal Status Messages are hot and clickable in the Messenger contact list. [My comment] hmmm, good for those who like information sharing
  
• Behind the Scenes Changes – Architectural changes that modified how things work but shouldn’t have changed how things look. [My comment] Unable to try it. Don't know what is this features all about.
  
• Changes to sign-in, connectivity, presence, sending text IM’s, voice & video features.[My comment] Not my concern as long as not lack and disconnected
• Windows Live Contacts Server – wlcomm.exe runs in the background to keep your contacts’ information up-to-date and helps Messenger sign you in faster. [My comment] Hope it won't cause my desktop lack and slow.

Overall comment: Not bad but still, I will install third party software like Mess patch to make it more cool.
You can download the software here: Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta if you wish to participate as a beta user.

Make your Shut Down Function Easier for Windows Vista Users

Again, here some tips to share with all of you. If you are Windows Vista users, you will find out that the Shut Down button is quite annoying because of the small arrow button that need to activate the drop down list.



So, in order to make your life easy. Follow the steps below:
Firstly, go to Control Panel -> Power Option


Then click on Choose When to Turn Off the Display

Then click on Change Advanced Power Settings

Go to Power Buttons and Lid -> Start Menu Power Button. The default value for the setting here is Sleep. Hence, change it to Shut Down.


Click Apply. To make sure you really apply the changes, go to Start Menu and you will notice that one of icon button have changed.

Before:


After:


Once you click the button, Shut Down will activated. Enjoy!!!

Microsoft Surface

Hi, there's something cool to share again with all of you. Sorry if i'm outdated with the world technology if you already known surface technology from Microsoft before I do. But I believe there are still a lot of people who don't know the existing of this technology.

Is hard to express on how cool and incredible this technology features is but the time you saw it, only one word express from your mouth. Is "WOW". Believe it o not.
Try to navigate this link: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/