1. Backup all data to removable drives (run a full image backup in win 7)
2. Ensure you have all the required drivers (or a second pc to download them)
3. Create a bootable install USB using the Microsoft Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool

Install software:

1. Security
• Virus Scanner
2. Drivers
• Network
• Video
• Others
3. Utilites
• 7-Zip
• Notepad2
• FileZilla FTP Client
• Bullzip PDF Printer
• PDF Sam
• Putty SSH Client
• Start Menu Calculator
• WinDirStat
• Virtual Clone Drive
4. Productivity
• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Reader
• Firefox Browser
• GIMP
• Inkscape
• Microsoft Visual Studio
• Windows Live Messenger
5. Entertainment
• VideoLan Client (VLC)
• Apple iTunes
• Steam (copy steamapps)
6. Diagnostics
• Angry IP Scanner
• TFTPD
• explore2fs

Linked software is OS/Freeware.

Re-writing the script was harder than I anticipated. The command line ftp client on windows expects you to know the names of each file. It does however have the ability to run a script file full of ftp commands. So the solution to getting the script working was:

1. Run a temporary script for ftp to get a file listing
2. Run another temp script for ftp that fetchs and deletes each file in the file listing.
3. Cleanup/delete temporary scripts/files

What it does:

Moves files from the specified ftp directory to the specified local directory prepended with the date and time.

Usage

Create a .bat file with the script below. Then set the parameters at the beginnng of the script as follows:

• set server= the ip address of your ftp server (in my case my scanner)
• set fetch_directory= the directory on the ftp server to copy/move files from
• set target_dir = the directory on the local computer to copy/move the files to

The Script

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
@echo off

:: downloads then deletes ftp files from the given location

set server=192.168.1.6
:: no trailing / on fetch dir path
set fetch_directory=/BROTHER
:: no trailing \ on target dir path
set target_dir=c:\Users\myusername\Docs\Scan
set temp_script_file=ftp_script.txt
set temp_dir_list=ftp_file_list.txt

:: create temp file with ftp script to output file list
echo open %server% > %temp_script_file%
echo. >> %temp_script_file%
echo mdir %fetch_directory% %temp_dir_list% >> %temp_script_file%
echo y >> %temp_script_file%
echo bye >> %temp_script_file%

:: now run the script with ftp
ftp -s:%temp_script_file%

:: now we have a list of the files in the ftp directory

:: now make a script from the file listing to copy each file.
echo open %server% > %temp_script_file%
echo. >> %temp_script_file%
echo lcd %target_dir%  >> %temp_script_file%
:: copy each file to a dated file locally
for /F "tokens=9 skip=3" %%i in (%temp_dir_list%) do (
SET get_file=%%i
echo binary >> %temp_script_file%
echo get %fetch_directory%/!get_file:~0,-1!  "%target_dir%\%date:~10,4%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~4,2% %time:~0,2%.%time:~3,2%.%time:~6,2%.%time:~9,2% !get_file:~0,-1!" >> %temp_script_file%
echo delete %fetch_directory%/!get_file:~0,-1!  >> %temp_script_file%
)
echo bye >> %temp_script_file%

:: now run the new script
ftp -s:%temp_script_file%

::remove temporary script files
del %temp_dir_list%
del %temp_script_file%

• Interactive mode.
  • Pressing the escape key allows you to interact (scroll & click links) with
    the displayed web pages. Interactive mode will turn of again after 5
    minutes of inactivity or you can press escape again to re-enable it
    (eg. When you want to leave the screen saver).
• Support for unlimited monitors (in theory)
• Fading every 5 minutes.
   
  • Every 5 minutes the screen fades to white for a few seconds to help prevent screen burn in (which apparently effects LCD monitors as well as old CRT ones).
• can specify a URL on the internet or your local machine for each monitor

Anyone downloading the screen saver should note:

• The
  screen saver cannot be used for the domain/login screen, due to the
  fact that accessing the internet requires you to be logged in.
• The screen saver is for Windows.
• If you use this with more than four monitors I would love to see a photo ( email it to contact@robotification.com).

Download (Source and ready to use .scr)

WebScreenSaver.zip

Please note: You will need to have the .NET framework installed for this to work.

This screen saver is something I had wanted to make for a while, I
thought it would be a great way to unobtrusively keep an eye on google
news or server up/down status. Making the screen saver was a great learning experience for me as I mainly code ASP.NET, so I got to play with Windows Presentation Foundation for the first time. I found that WPF databinding isn’t quite as easy as in ASP.NET but on the plus side it does force you to create proper view objects. Also some of the animation features in WPF don’t work quite so well for the whole screen (fading is a little jerky).

Feel free to use and adapt the code for your needs (personal or commercial).

Luckily I have been able to get my QuickCam Sphere working with the qc1100 version of the driver (I believe this may also work with the QuickCam Pro 9000). Unfortunately I doubt that this version will work for 64-bit machines (I was working with 32-bit).

Here is a zip (52MB) of this version as you can’t download it from Logitech anymore.

Here are the steps I followed to get it to work:

1. Unplug your QuickCam Orbit/Sphere.
2. Remove all existing copies of Logitech QuickCam drivers and software.
   1. Go into the control panel and open ‘Programs and Features’.
   2. Then select each program with ‘Logitech’ in the name and click ‘uninstall’.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Download the ‘qc1100′ version of the driver and software which works with server 2008 using the zip link above.
5. Extract the zip to your desktop, you should get a file ‘qc1100_server2008.exe’ and a folder called ‘Bin’.
   1. The exe is the one I downloaded from Logitech some time ago.
   2. The Bin folder is extracted from the installer so you don’t have to.
   3. FYI: To extract a zip file in windows right click the file and select ‘extract all’ then follow the prompts.
6. Double Click the ‘qc1100_server2008.exe’ installer.
7. Make sure you de-select ‘get latest version’ otherwise it will download the latest version of the driver software which does not work.
8. Continue through the installer as normal.
9. When the installer finishes Restart (if the installer doesn’t ask you to I suggest you do anyway).
10. Now plug in your QuickCam.
11. All being well Windows should recognise your camera and install it.
12. Check to see if your Camera is working. If it does, great you are finished! If not read on as I had to do these extra steps:
    1. Unplug your QuickCam again.
    2. Restart your computer.
    3. Open the ‘Bin’ folder from the zip file (or extract it yourself from the installer exe).
    4. Then run the driver only installer ‘setup.exe’ in the ‘Bin’ folder.
    5. Then plug your camera in again. This time it should install and start working.

I hope this gets your web cam working too!

The download is the Visual Studio 2008 project so you can grab any bits of code you want or just have a poke around! The code for generating the DTMF tones is nicly encapsulated in a class that should work in anything that is .NET.

Also if anyone makes a proper installer for the app send a copy to contact@robotification.com and I’ll host/post it here for others and credit/link you!

Download Visual Studio Project (ZIP, 160Kb)

DialTone is a Windows Mobile Application that allows you to dial the DTMF telephone tone sequences for your Windows Mobile Contacts phone numbers. DTMF tones are the first beeps you heard when your old school dial-up modem dialled into your ISP and whenever you dial an analogue phone.

With DialTone on your mobile device you’ll never need to remember your friend’s phone numbers again. Simply start DialTone and select any contact you want to call. Then tap ‘Dial’ and hold the microphone end of your land-line/analogue telephone up to the speaker on your Windows Mobile Device. Then talk to your contact!

There are lots of situations where DialTone comes in handy, for example:

• When you’re in the office or at home and don’t want to make an expensive mobile call.
• When you have run out of mobile credit and need to quickly dial on a land-line.
• When you’re out of mobile range and have to use a phone box.
• When you don’t have a mobile device with a built in Cell Phone!

DialTone has a small footprint on your mobile device using only 17 Kilobytes of flash storage. This achieved with DialTone’s custom DTMF tone generator which creates the DTMF tones on the fly.

DialTone’s User interface features larger on screen buttons for ‘finger tip’ operation. DialTone also helps you stay organised by displaying any upcoming meetings you have with the currently selected/dialled Contact, making re-scheduling a meeting or adding some notes only a tap away.

Usage Notes:

• If you run DialTone with no contacts in the address book it assumes it is being tested and adds two dummy contacts and two dummy meeting appointments. The contact’s telephone numbers are the analogue telephone test numbers and will play a recorded message when dialled.
• When using a Cordless Phone press the ‘Call’ or ‘Pickup’ button before holding up to your Mobile Device and tapping ‘Dial’.
• For best results hold the microphone end of the phone as close as possible to the speaker on your Mobile Device. You may need to increase the volume if it was previously set at a low setting.
• If running the Mobile Device Emulator on a virtual PC, ensure that the sound card is working (Virtual Machine Additions may need to be re-installed). DialTone works just as well with a phone held up to a speaker or headphone.

It currently works with my Australian Virgin Pre-Paid Mobile Account (with auto top-up) and I am hoping it will work for standard monthly plans as well. If it doesn’t and you are willing to send me the html (‘Save As’ in browser), send me an email at contact@robotification.com and I can let you know which pages I need to make it work.

Download it now: NEW VERSION AVAILABLE HERE Requirements: Windows Vista Sidebar An Australian Virgin Mobile Account

Click ‘Read More’ or scroll down to find out how to use it.

UPDATE 11 Aug 2008: I am currently working on making the gadget work with post-paid virgin mobile accounts, stay tuned.

Installation

Simply double click the downloaded ‘VirginMobileCredit.gadget’ and click ‘Install’ when prompted.

Once installed the Virgin Mobile Credit Gadget will appear in your sidebar.

Setup

To setup the gadget simply place your mouse over the gadget and click the ‘wrench’ icon when it appears.

The setup screen will then be displayed. Put your mobile number in the first box and your mobile account pin in the second box. Then click ‘OK’. Don’t worry these details are only stored on your computer and only used when updating the gadget’s display.

Usage

When you have new credit the green ‘New Credit’ message is displayed. You can make your credit last longer by trying not to make any calls or send any messages, as your credit will not begin to expire until you start using it.

Once you have started using your credit the amount left and time remaining to use it are displayed.

On the day your credit will expire the red ‘at midnight’ message is displayed. You can make the most of your credit by calling anyone might need to talk to over the next few days so you don’t need to start your next block of credit so soon (Be careful though if you use it all up and you have auto top-up turned on you will start using your next block of credit).

Refresh

The gadget updates your current balance hourly. If you have just made a call and want to update your balance immediatly just click on the gadget.

Licence

This gadget is free for personal use and is provided on an ‘As Is’ basis. You may not sell it and should always direct people to this site so they can download the latest version.

Disclaimer

The only affiliation I have with Virgin Mobile is that I have a mobile phone account with them.

By default after installing the MFC-440CN drivers the scanner/fax is blocked by windows firewall so you need to unblock the network ports the scanner/fax tries to connect to.

Brother has some nice instructions located here that show exactly how to unblock the required ports.

I ran into this problem with both Windows XP and Windows Vista, but to get my scanner to work I just turned windows firewall off, not really the best practice!

Using Command Line

Get the Drive Usage / Free space

Use command: df -h

Get the Folder size

Use Command: du –h

Schedule a command

This will edit current users crontab config: crontab –e

This will list current users crontab config: crontab –l

Tasks are entered with the following syntax:

* * * * * (command; another command ;)

Where the *’s represent: Min, hrs, days of month, month of yr ,day of week

Printing a PDF

The following command line command prints a PDF file and moves it to a folder called printed.

Prerequisites:

• GhostScript is installed
• Printer is installed (and is a hp laserjet)
• There is a ‘printed’ folder in the same folder as the PDF file

Using VI Editor (VIM)

Basic Operation

Enter edit mode with ‘Ins’

Return to command mode with ‘Esc’.

Quit without saving with ‘:q!’ in command mode.

Quit with saving with ‘ZZ’ in command mode.

Save with ‘:w’ in command mode.

Save As with ‘:w newfilename’ in command mode.

Turn on syntax highlighting with ‘:syntax on’.

Modify Configuration Defaults

Open /etc/vim/vimrc or .vimrc in your home directory

To turn on Syntax Highlighting by default, change the line “ syntax on to syntax on.

The problem was that the Catalyst Control Centre software installed with the driver needs the .NET Framework to be installed to work properly.

The Solution/Fix for the problem is to download and install the .NET Framework.

The latest version of the .NET Framework can be download for free from Microsoft here.