Dec 28, 2009

Tweaking the Regional and Language Options in Windows 7 and XP

*Updated: 23rd of February 2011*

If you are using a program with language other than English (Chinese programs) and weird symbols like these ®" appeared instead, try tweaking the Regional and Language Options.

For Windows 7:
1. Click "Start"---> "Run" ---> type "Intl.cpl"---> "OK"


2. In the Regional and Language Options, select "Administrative" and subsequently "Change System Locale". Select the language you want to use for your program from the drop-down list.

3. Click "OK"

4. Restart your computer. You should be able to read the symbols now. Good luck!


For Windows XP:


1. Click "Start"---> "Run" ---> type "Intl.cpl"---> "OK"

2. In the Regional and Language Options, select "Advanced" ---> under Language for non-Unicode 
programs, select the language you want to use for your program.


3. Click "OK"


4. Restart your computer. You should be able to read the symbols now. Good luck!

Dec 11, 2009

Advanced SystemCare Free 3.4.1

Maintain and optimize the performance of your computer with Advanced SystemCare Free 3.4.1. With Advanced SystemCare Free 3.4.1, you can remove spyware, fix your registry, remove temporary files, optimize your system configuration and defragment your computer in one go.




Details
Publisher :  IObit


Operating systems:  Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows NT, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000


Release date : November 25, 2009


File size : 8.49MB


License model : Free


Download from : CNet - Download.com

Dec 10, 2009

Smart Defrag 1.30

It runs only 14MB of RAM in background. Smart Defrag 1.30 is currently the best and most reliable defragger. It works very fast and works automatically and quietly in the background on your PC, keeping your hard disk running at its speediest.




Details
Publisher :  IObit


Operating systems:  Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows NT, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000


Release date : November 25, 2009


File size : 3.67MB


License model : Free


Download from : CNet - Download.com

Dec 9, 2009

IObit Security 360 1.30 (FREE)

Detect and remove malware with this free IObit Security 360 1.30. You can easily update your security issues for your operating system with IObit Security 360 1.30. Online temporary files can also be deleted easily with IObit Security 360 1.30. It loads very fast and is easy to use. Download now and let IObit Security 360 1.30 speaks for itself!





You can easily update your security issues for your operating system with IObit Security 360 1.30.



Details
Publisher : IObit


Operating systems: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows NT, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000


Release date : November 17, 2009


File size : 7.67MB


License model : Free


Download from : CNet - Download.com

Nov 22, 2009

[SOLVED] Google Chrome - Aw, Snap! He's Dead, Jim!

If you are using Google Chrome web browser and "Aw, Snap" or "He's Dead, Jim!" happens no matter which website you go, please follow the instructions below.






Steps:
1) Uninstall Chrome
2) Open Windows Explorer
3) If you do not have Show Hidden Files enabled, then in Windows Explorer hit Tools - Folder Options - View -Select 'Show Hidden Files and Folders - OK.
4) Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\[the user you're using]\Local Settings\Application Data\Google
5) Delete the Chrome folder.  (some process had this folder locked for me, so I had to navigate into each subdirectory within the folder and delete all files manually)
6) Reboot
7) Install Chrome


Nov 20, 2009

Have a glimpse of Google Chrome OS

Here are some pictures of the new Google Chrome OS from CNET and TechCrunch.


Chrome OS applications

Chrome OS full screen

chromeoshome-1

chromeos2

8ca6d771

chrome20091013

compactnavbar2

Chrome OS panels

Chrome OS contacts

Chrome OS vision

chromeoshome


Related Articles





Nov 19, 2009

PDF Reader

Foxit Reader is the cure to Adobe's PDF Reader. It loads faster and works well with Windows operating systems. It's function are all the same as that of Adobe's. Try it now.



Details
Publisher : Foxit Software

Operating systems: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000

Release date : November 5, 2009

File size : 5.07MB

License model : Free 
Download from : CNet - Download.com

Microsoft Office Professional 2010 beta


Microsoft Office Professional 2010 beta was launched yesterday. It is said to work faster and offers rich and powerful new ways to deliver your best work at the office, home, or school. 


Details
Publisher : Microsoft


Operating systems: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP Service Pack 3


Release date : November 18, 2009


File size : 3 GB of available disk space


License model : Free


Download from : CNet - Download.com

Nov 18, 2009

New Google Homepage



Check out the new Google Homepage which has shrunk from 30+ words to just 5 words in one page.  Google's famous "I'm Feeling Lucky" button famously went missing too. Try moving the mouse to reveal more of the page.


Details
Check it out at Google.com

Google Chrome OS set to be launched on Thursday


chrome-logo
"Google is planning to hold a special Chrome OS event at its headquarters in Mountain View, CA this Thursday morning, we’ve just been notified. The plan is to give some technical background information as well as show off some demos, we’re told. More notably, they will be giving a “complete overview” of the new OS, which they say will launch next year....."


..continue reading at TechCrunch

Google Set to Dash

Google Dashboard is here to allow you to have an overview of all your Google accounts. Here, you can change your profile and account settings for Google applications such as Blogger, Gmail, Youtube and many more.

Check it out at Google.com/Dashboard

Launch it from your keyboard

How to launch programs just using your fingers?

Use Launchy to launch everything, from applications to documents to searching websites.


Details:
Publisher : Josh Karlin


Operating systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000


Release date : August 19, 2008


File size : 3.87MB


License model : Free


Download from : CNet - Download.com

Oct 25, 2009

October Revisited - Headers

These are all the headers  for the month of October.


My first header (30 Sept / 1st Oct)



 Header in commemoration of the Mid-Autumn Festival (3rd Oct)


  

 Header in commemoration of the first motion picture shown by Thomas Edison (6th Oct)


  
 Header in commemoration of the invention of the bar code (7th Oct)



 Header for Week of Portables (9th to 15th of Oct)



Header for Week of Portables (13th of Oct)




Header for the launching of Windows 7 (22nd of October)




Oct 22, 2009

Installing the Chinese IME in Windows Vista and in Windows XP

Installing the Chinese IME in Windows Vista

How do I install the Chinese IME in Windows Vista?


To install the Chinese IME in Windows Vista, start by opening the Control Panel.

Click the Start Button:
 
   
and chose Control Panel:



Then click the "Clock, Language and Regional" option.



You should then see the Regional and Language Options option as shown below. Under the Regional and Language Options item select Change keyboards or other input methods.



That will bring up the Keyboard and Languages tab in the Regional and Language Options dialogue. Click the Change keyboards... button:



In "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog box we need to add the Chinese IME and the Chinese Keyboard components.

Click the "Add..." button.



You should now see the "Add Input Language" dialog box.

Scroll down to the Chinese (PRC) entry, expand it and select the Chinese keyboard that you would like to use (I would recommend the Microsoft Pinyin IME is you are using Simplified Chinese) as shown below:



Finally click the "OK" button.

You should end up with a "Chinese" entry under "Installed Services".



Finally click the "OK" button.

You may be asked to put your Windows Vista CD-ROM in the CD drive so that the relevant files can be copied across to your hard drive. NOTE: You can not install the IME without the CD (please do not email me to ask..!).

That's it. You should now see the IME icon in your task bar that has a Chinese option when it is clicked... like this:





Installing the Chinese Fonts in Windows XP
How do I install Chinese fonts in Windows XP?
This is the minimum required step to run Declan's Chinese Language Learning Software in Windows XP.

Users of Windows XP do not need to download the IME - it comes on the XP installation CD and just need to be manually installed.

Open the Control Panel (Click the "Start Menu" and chose the "Control Panel").
Then click the "Date, Time, Language and Regional Options" icon.



The select the "Add Other languages" task.



You should then see the "Regional and Language Options" dialog box as shown below.
Two things need to be done here:

1. Click on the "Install files for East Asian Languages" check box
(This ensures that the correct fonts are installed).

2. Then click the "Details" button.
You should then see the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog box.



This is all you need to do to run Declan's Chinese Language Learning Software (ReadWrite Chinese, Chinese FlashCards and our Chinese-English Dictionary) - just click the OK button. You may be asked to reboot your machine.


How do I install the Chinese IME (Simplified)?

While installing the Chinese fonts is sufficient if you only want to view Chinese characters in emails or when browsing the web, if you need to type in Chinese characters then you need to complete a couple of additional steps.

First return to the "Regional and Language Options" dialog box as we showed above. But this time click the "Details..." button in the "Text services and input languages" frame as shown below:


That will bring up the "Text services and input languages" dialogue box. Now we need to add the Chinese IME. Click the "Add..." button in the "Installed services" frame:


You should now see the "Add Input Language" dialog box as shown here:


Now click the "Input language" drop down box and select "Chinese (PRC)".



While there are a number of other Chinese choices for Simplified Mandarin Chinese we recommend this one for its functionality and ease of use.
BTW - PRC stands for Peoples' Republic of China.


Once you have select "Chinese PRC" click the "OK" button.


Now you should see "Chinese (PRC)" as one of the listed Installed Services. Click the "OK" or "Apply" button to finish.



You may be asked to put your Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD drive so that the relevant files can be copied across to your hard drive. PLEASE NOTE: You can not install the IME without the CD (please do not email me to ask..!).
Now we are ready to take the Chinese IME for a spin.

All installed IMEs are accessed through the the Windows Icon Tray. Here we see the EN signifying that the English Input Method is active.


  To view the other installed IMEs simply click in the EN icon. You should then see a popup listing all the other languages installed.

If you go ahead a click the Chinese (PRC) item in the IME popup menu you will see a new active IME icon will display - namely the Chinese (PRC) IME signified by the CH icon.



NOTE: The Chinese IME will only become active if there is software running in the foreground and active that will accept Chinese input.

Now we are ready to use the IME....