A potential cure for Windows 7 hanging on shut down
My Windows 7 PC suddenly started hanging up when attempting to shut down. It would just sit on the "Windows is Shutting Down" screen indefinitely, and I would have to force the computer to shut off. The weird thing is that the problem seemed to come out of nowhere; I Googled solutions 'til I was blue in the face — all to no avail.
What finally fixed it (and I'm not sure why I even thought to try this) was changing the power settings to not power down the hard drive(s). Don't ask me why this fixed the problem, but it did.
To find these settings, go to Start > Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Power Options. Next to the currently selected power plan, click Change plan settings.
At the next screen, click Change advanced power settings. Click the + next to Hard disk, and then click the plus again on Turn off hard disk after. In Setting (Minutes), type "0" (without the quotes). This will set your hard disk(s) to never power down. Click OK when you're done.
After changing the hard disk power setting, my hanging shut down problems were resolved. I'm sure there are many causes of this issue, so I'm not pretending this is the definitive fix. But it's worth a shot!
We have an app store for that
Uh oh. You knew this would happen—app stores are becoming as ubiquitous as iPhone apps themselves.
I guess even Intel has an app store now, and it's called AppUp. But that's not all! So do Ford, Samsung, Microsoft (still in the works), and many others. I don't mention Apple because...well, do they really need mentioning?
Will all of these app stores be useful? In my opinion, not at all. The concept of an app store is going to become so diluted and overcrowded that they will all become useless, save for one or two. I have a hard time managing all of my apps in one app store; I can't imagine trying to manage hundreds of apps spanning multiple devices and stores! imho, the only way it will work if there are one or two unified platforms.
Further reading on the subject:
NY Times: Even Intel Has an App Store Now
SiliconIndia: Now tweet from your TV with Samsung app store
How to Activate God Mode in Windows 7
So apparently there's a secret mode in Windows 7 called "God Mode" that gives you one-click access to all of Windows 7's "tweaky" functions. And all you have to do is create a folder with a special name! Here's how:
- Create a new folder somewhere
- Name the new folder this:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} - The folder will transform into something that looks more like a control panel icon.
When you open God Mode, bask in your new tweaking ability, as you now have access to hundreds (nay, thousands!) of Windows 7 settings.
Note: I originally heard about this here.
Update 1.8.2009: Guess there are a lot more of these modes, and they work in Vista too! Also, looks like you can name it whatever you want. So you could call it AwesomeTweak.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, for example.
Plants Vs. Zombies – location of save game file

Wanna continue playing Plants Vs. Zombies on a different computer, but don't want to lose your progress? I know I ran into this scenario: I've been playing the game on my netbook, but really wanted to start playing on my desktop's 24" monitor.
So I poked around and eventually figured out where the elusive save files are located.
Steam version
- Vista/Window 7: C:\ProgramData\Steam\PlantsVsZombies\userdata
- XP: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\plants vs zombies\userdata
Non-Steam version
- Vista/Windows 7: C:\ProgramData\PopCap Games\PlantsVsZombies\userdata
- XP: C:\Program Files\PopCap Games\Plants vs. Zombies\userdata
So, locate the files on the computer you're currently playing on. Then, copy all of the .dat files into the directory on the computer you want to start playing on (in my case, I copied them from the netbook to the desktop). Note that this will overwrite any progress on the target computer, but you probably figured that already.

Note: I can't vouch for XP, but in my Windows 7 + Steam scenario, the 'C:\ProgramData\Steam\PlantsVsZombies\userdata' folder is hidden. I had to turn on viewing of hidden files: Computer > Organize > Folder and Search Options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives (works in Vista too). In XP it's My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files — or something like that.
How to make Ubuntu Linux even more Windows-user-friendly
I think Ubuntu Linux is awesome in terms of how for it has come in terms of user-friendliness.
That said, I think there are still a few barriers when it comes to replacing Windows as a general purpose desktop for the average user (like my wife for example, who didn't even notice when we changed from Windows XP to Windows 7!)
After talking with many of my completely non-techie friends and family, here are my top six things Ubuntu Linux could still improve upon (I am focusing solely on Ubuntu, not only because of its relative popularity, but also because it is the easiest distribution of Linux the world has ever seen, imho).
- Not available pre-installed on enough PCs. I am not saying this one is easy, nor is it even anything Canonical can control, but it begs to be said anyway. But buying a PC without Windows might simply be too daunting for the average user. Why not offer PCs with both? A dual boot menu out of the box? Just a thought, and it may be a good strategy rather than forcing users to quit Windows cold turkey. Of course, convincing OEMs to actually do this would be no small task.
- Ubuntu is not generally available on store shelves. I would love to walk into Best Buy and see boxed copies of Ubuntu (or Linux Mint!) next to Windows. I bet there are a lot of users who would pay $10 - $20 for a boxed copy of Ubuntu on CD/DVD, especially sitting next to a $200 copy of Windows 7 Pro. Believe it or not, there are people out there who don't know how to download and burn an ISO, don't have CDs/DVDs handy, or are just plain too lazy to learn how (just like I'm too lazy to learn about how to fix my car). The Linux elite might say "We don't want those people anyway," but remember Ubuntu's mantra? "Linux for human beings." The typical human being is not an elite Linux user, and probably never will be.
- No installation from Windows. The typical user checking out Linux is coming from Windows, period. It is a statistically unavoidable fact. I know Wubi has taken great strides toward letting people try out Ubuntu within Windows, but what Ubuntu really needs is an auto-run feature that works in all flavors of Windows. It could ask a couple questions, reboot the machine, and install Ubuntu and Windows side-by-side (dual-boot by default). The average Windows user won't be ready to cut the cord with Windows that quickly.
- Cryptic names within the boot loader. The names in the boot loader should be written in Plain English. Instead of "Ubuntu 9.10 Kernel 2.xxx.xx.blah-blah-generic," just put "Ubuntu." Don't even both with the version, as the typical user doesn't care. Instead of "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)," just display "Windows 7." Of course, give advanced users the option to change this, but chances are, they already know how.
- No shortcuts to common applications on the desktop. The average Windows user typically surfs the web, writes documents, and maybe touches up some photos. Perhaps start Ubuntu for the first time with an interactive wizard that asks the user how they use their PC, and place shortcuts on the desktop accordingly.
- Avoidance of the terminal at all costs. For better or worse, Windows has trained millions of users that they can accomplish any task through the GUI. Every time I have had to use Ubuntu, even the latest version 9.10, I have had to fire up a terminal for some unforeseen issue. The average user is not usually inclined to Google the answer, and usually even less inclined to actually do it (in Ubuntu's defense, a lot of Microsoft pages direct the user to try cryptic registry editing, so...you know...just saying...).
Those are my top points. Again, these are not meant to be critical...I have nothing but the utmost respect for what the Ubuntu team has done, and continues to do. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments area below.
Want better fonts in Ubuntu or Linux Mint? (or any Linux distro for that matter)
I have been a Windows user my whole life, and only in the last 3-4 years or so did I become interested in Linux. It started with Xandros, which, honestly, I didn't like, and then I tried Ubuntu, which I liked, and then finally Linux Mint, which I like even more. I currently dual-boot Windows 7 and Linux Mint 8 on my main desktop.
One area where Linux consistently lags behind Windows and Mac OS (in my opinion) is in fonts. The fonts included with Ubuntu and Linux Mint, for example, are nowhere near as pretty as the Windows Vista / Windows 7 fonts.
So here's what I did to "fix" it (this guide assumes very basic familiarity with Linux systems).
Note: this will only work if you also have Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed (for all you dual-booters out there, lol). It may also work with Windows XP if Microsoft Office 2007 is installed, but I'm not positive on that one.
- Open Nautilus by opening a terminal and typing 'sudo nautilus' and entering your password.
- Next, browse to usr > share > fonts > truetype. Create a new folder here (I called mine 'windows-fonts').
- Open another Nautilus window (does not have to be "sudo"), then mount your Windows drive in Ubuntu / Linux Mint. This should be as easy as double-clicking on it and entering your password.
- Browse to the Windows\Fonts directory.
- Find a font you like. I grabbed all of the SegoeUI fonts, for example. Calibri and Cambria are nice ones too. Copy the desired fonts to the new folder you created in usr > share > fonts > truetype.
- Type 'sudo fc-cache -fv' in a terminal window to refresh the font cache.
- Go to Appearance Preferences > Fonts and choose your new fonts!
This obviously doesn't jibe with open-source software principles, as it requires the purchase of Windows. But to all of us suckers who have already forked over the cash for Windows, why not? (OK not really suckers, since I am openly positive about Windows 7).
P.S. If you're looking for the Microsoft Core fonts package, open a terminal and type sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts. Then type sudo fc-cache -fv to reset the font cache.
Enable remote desktop on Windows 7 Home Premium? (32 bit and 64 bit)
Hey everyone,
I am taking this post down for now. The Windows 7 Home Premium desktop hack does not work for the time being. I'll bring it back up as soon as I find/figure out a way that works. Thanks!
Writing marketing copy for the Web (part 1 of 2)
Working at a content marketing agency, where the bulk of our business has shifted toward Interactive work, I've come across several simple, handy ways to make our Web copywriting more effective. Some I've gleaned from the 'Net, others I've made up myself. Whether or not they're any good...well, I'll let you be the judge of that.
Here are my first five tips, in no particular order of importance:
#1 - Give 'em what they want & skip the fluff
Most Web-bound marketing copy is geared toward getting the reader to do something: click a link, download a file, read an email, sign up for something, leave a comment, etc. Other times, you may want to change readers' perceptions of a product or service, solicit their feedback about something, or get them to remember key information.
So whatever it is you want your reader to do, make it accessible early in your copy. Rather than making them sift through four paragraphs to get the goods (remember the average Web surfer has the attention span of a hyperactive toddler), get them what they want in the first paragraph. If it's a link, put it in the first sentence. If it's valuable information, break convention: put your main point first, and save the puff & fluffery for the later paragraphs.
#2 - Don't underline stuff that's not a link
This one shouldn't need explaining. If it's not a link, and you want to emphasize it, use bold or italics. People see something underlined on the Web and they want a link, period. Same goes for emails.
#3 - Avoid "click here"
Saying "click here" is redundant. Underlined means hyperlinked, so saying "click here" is almost insulting. Instead, try writing your link copy with an appropriate action (note: I realize I violate #2 in my examples below. It's just for illustration purposes, gosh!).
BAD: Click here to view prices in your area.
GOOD: View prices in your area.
Not only does this practice reinforce the solution you are trying to get them to ("view prices"), but it also makes your copy shorter. Sweet.
#4 - Multiple ways to get to the same place is not a bad thing
Several links to the same page within your copy doesn't hurt anything. In fact, Web surfers will appreciate multiple opportunities to navigate. It is an admittedly brute-force approach, but it works: the more links there are, the better chances that your reader will at least click one of them!
#5 - Avoid target=_blank
In case you're not a nerd like me, target=_blank is the HTML parameter that tells a link to open in a new window. Some people take a carte blanche approach to this, having every single link open in a new window. This is annoying, and worse, it violates a fundamental principle of user interface design: users should always be in control of the interface they are interacting with.1 Plus, let's face it: browsers have back buttons for a reason.
Bonus tip - Never, ever, under any circumstance, use emoticons
If you do, I will hunt you down and kill you.
So there you have it...short and sweet (anything else would be hypocritical). Check back soon for part 2!
1Should Links Open In New Windows?, Smashing Magazine, 7/1/2008
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/01/should-links-open-in-new-windows/

