SOLVED! - Youtube Adobe Flash Player Error

Youtube videos require Adobe Flash Player to run. Sometimes, for unknown reasons, the player simply stop functioning, which results in Youtube videos unable to play.

Often uninstall and install the Adobe Flash Player will solve the problem. Go to your Windows program manager, or Add/Remove programs in your control panel.

However, in some cases, you need to reset the player. Follow these steps:

1.Uninstall your Flash player: http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/current/uninstall_flash_player.exe

2.Download SubInACL from Microsoft from - http://www.microsoft.com/...

3.Install SubInACL.

4.Download the reset_fp10.zip file from - http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/ts/documents/fb1634cb/reset_fp10.zip

5.Extract the reset_fp10.cmd file to C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\.

6.Double-click reset_fp10.cmd, when it is finished you will see "Press any key to continue"

8. Download the executable installer for Flash Player from http://www.adobe.com/...

Now, try reload your Youtube video again. If this works for you, no need to thank me. This method does not come from me, just would like to share with those who are frustrated by this Youtube/Adobe program like me.

SOLVED! - eBay PayPal not working with IE9

After upgrading to IE9*, the eBay payment by PayPal is not working properly. For some reason, it keeps looping back to the login screen.

Workaround: Browse eBay using Firefox, the payment by PayPal should work properly.

Seemingly there's compatibility issue of IE 9 with eBay or PayPal.

*IE9 only available for Windows 7 or higher.

TIPS - Installing Ubuntu Linux

To make your own Ubuntu Linux system, I'll recommend you download the ISO image and the software tool unetbootin (site: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/). Get a SanDisk 8GB USB thumbrive, by default it's FAT32 formatted, which is fully supported in Ubuntu Linux.

When creating your boot thumb, remember to setup some storage space for your user data. Otherwise, your installed sessions and personal data will be lost in your next boot. For me, I recommend 4GB for data storage.

The whole process is pretty straight forward, surely you're smart enough to get it started.

After install, you may go to the Software Centre to install other software like Skype, VLC video player, etc. You'll be happy that printer drivers are well supported. To my surprise, Windows Remote Desktop Client is fully supported!!

SOLVED! - Pro Tools Recording Delay

Suddenly, my Avid Pro Tools does not respond immediately after pressing "3" to start recording. Recording starts a few seconds after the key is pressed. Here's the solution!

SOLUTION: Press "8" on the numpad to toggle the midi countoff mode.

Give it a try!

SOLVED! - "no default or UI configuration directive found"

After creating an bootable USB thumbdrive of Ubuntu Linux, the resulting thumbdrive can't boot, with the error message "no default or UI configuration directive found".

Google the error message found a number of reasons described by other users, like:

• FAT32 / FAT16 issue
• corrupted ISO image file
• configuration file issues

However, in my case the reason is none of the above. If you're using Pendrivelinux to create your USB bootable drive, the chance is that the tool itself causes the error.

SOLUTION: Use unetbootin - http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Give it a try!

China iphone clone

Just have a chance to work on an iphone clone from China, beware! About USD100, the "look" can be deceiving ... you pay for what you have!

Cloning to a Smaller Hard Disk

Have a special need to clone a current 320GB hard disk to a smaller disk (80GB)... after researching, download and test quite a number of disk cloning software available in the market, this is my choice -

EASEUS Todo Backup Home 2.0, which is free for home use.

Download link: http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm

It works efficiently, with a very easy to use GUI. The most important is, unlike other freeware, it supports cloning to a smaller disk, which involves more complicated functionality (resizing of partitions).

Highly recommended for Home Users!

Virus and Unable to Show Hidden Files

If you find your computer unable to show hidden files, the chance is that your computer is already being hijacked by a trojan! Even you try to configure your Explorer to show hidden and protected files, the settings simply not being saved.

SOLUTION - Check these registry keys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\NOHIDDEN - make sure the values for "CheckedValue" and "DefaultValue" should be 2
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL - make sure the values for "CheckedValue" should be equal to 1 and "DefaultValue" should be equal to 2

Besides, make sure that all these key values are of the type "DWORD". Some trojans are so cunning that they make the values correct but with the wrong type. If the values are not of DWORD, delete the key and create a new one of the type DWORD, keep the name exactly the same as it should be.

Now is the time to proceed to full scan your computer for viruses!!

Working on the iPAQ H3950

Someone has recently given me an old Compaq iPAQ to see if anything could be done to make it workable, well... anyway... just to give it a try...

Change the OS from Traditional Chinese to English
Google a lot, and many people say using MTTY to upgrade the ROM - no success, with error message "...error connecting to Host".

Then, I found an easy way - simply download the English ROM from HP's website. Then, open the ".nbf" file with an editor like "UltraEdit" (download the trial version will do). Look at the very first line of the ".nbf" file, which is the ROM file. Change the language identifier text, e.g. "ENG", to the language in your current PDA, such as "CHT". This will fool the upgrade program that it's a Chinese ROM!

Now, run the upgrade program and follow the upgrade instructions. Done!


 "error occured while formatting storage card folder (error code 31)
Read many posts on forums that iPAQ 3900 series not support 2GB SD card. In fact, in my test 2GB SD card is fully supported. Check if your card is formatted with FAT.

However, many have experienced the error code 31 when inserting their SD card into slot, including me. The slot is either unstable or simply stop reading any card. What I found out is that the slot has a pin crooked! Get a torch and see if this is the cause of your IPAQ not reading any SD card...

In my case, what I did is to open the iPAQ case and straighten the pin of the SD card slot. Now, it works again!!

Skype being banned in China

In these couple of days many were discussing the sudden news that Skype is being banned in China. The news started on Dec 30, 2010 and quickly spread, becoming a heat topic of discussion.

The actual impact is not yet known. However, for sure under the "one country two system" policy, Hong Kong and Macao should not be affected. But, communication with friends or relatives in China will probably soon experience interruptions of Skype service. Interestingly, a few days ago Skype users had already experienced interruptions, as some "supernode" "technical problems" had caused Skype service temporary down. I believe that the incident is actually related to the China Government's new law.

From the legal point of view, China has made it illegal to use Skype in the country. This certainly restricts the growth of Skype business in China. The rationale is obviously - to protect the huge and fast growing VOIP market in China. In comparison, Skype can be 10 times cheaper than the other local telecom providers.

Technically, it may be difficult to shut down Skype completely in China, especially the Skype PC to PC calls. Even China can do it, there are still other options and people are always able to find ways to work around. Still, there are much inconvenience as nowadays people and business depend so much on Skype commmunications.

Let's keep an eye on the future development. Too bad!!