HOW TO: Run Android Apps on Windows

With BlueStacks, you can run your favorite Android Apps on your Windows computer. Although a number of apps have their Windows version, some other apps are only available on Android. One example is WhatsApp.*

By installing BlueStacks, you can run Android apps as a "window" on your Windows PC. You can also make it full screen, setup Play Store and install other Android apps on it. It uses resources of your PC, which means Android apps and run faster, have more RAM and storage resources to run your apps. For some apps, like simulation games, this is important.

To download the free beta version, go there - http://www.bluestacks.com/. Although it is a beta version, it runs quite stable on my Windows 7, really worth a try!

*To install WhatsApp, you need to provide your phone number for activation, which will not work on a normal PC; but, after the activation timeout, then you still have an alternate method to activate it. However, note that your WhatsApp can only be installed on ONE machine.

SOLVED! IE, "Page Cannot be Displayed"

Just upgraded my laptop to Windows 8.1, with built-in IE 11. Weird, my Chrome browsing web pages working fine, but Internet Explorer can't browse to any pages, with the error message "Page Cannot be Displayed".

Ping test, working fine. On IE, even using IP address, will return the same error message "Page Cannot be Displayed". Reviewed IE settings, reset to default settings. Same.

This reminds me of the "WinSock" problems... with some research, different individuals offer their "Winsock Fix" apps... well, be honest, I'm not comfortable with those "tools"...

Then, come across two simple commands, which actually fixed my problem!

SOLUTION: 

netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset reset.log hit
These two commands reset winsock entries, and the TCP/IP stack. You need to REBOOT your computer. After reboot, IE works fine as before.

No need to re-install IE or downgrade / re-install your Windows. Just two commands!!

SOLVED! Windows 7 Not Install, "Starting Windows..."

Many new models of laptops are with BIOS settings default to Windows 8. Some of the drivers for come with your Windows 7 disc may not work properly with these settings.

SOLUTION: Restart your computer, go to BIOS setup. Different brands use different keys, e.g. Lenovo, press ENTER key, while for HP, press F10. Check for the option, like "CSM", "Legacy" mode for booting. Enable these options and try installation again.

Example:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/Unable-to-Install-Windows-7-without-CSM-support-enabled-in-BIOS/ta-p/1038089

SOLVED! Microsoft System Center End Point Protection Failed to Remove Infected Mail in Thunderbird

Normally, Microsoft's SCEP is able to remove infected mails in Thunderbird without any difficulties. However, in rare situations it could repeatedly reported infections but failed to remove infected emails.

Added to the difficulty, the reported infected CANNOT be found anywhere in Thunderbird mailbox folder!!?

After some tests, studies and investigation, the cause is found! The infected mail is actually HIDDEN in Thunderbird, marked as available space, waiting for a "COMPACT" to release the space.

SOLUTION: Start your Thunderbird, right click on the infected mail folder, select "Compact". Once the mail folder is being compacted, the infected mail is removed and SCEP reported no more infection!!

I suspect similar problems also happens to users of Microsoft Security Essential and the built-in Windows Defender in Windows 8. It really sounds ridiculous that Microsoft antivirus will treat a deleted, hidden mail as a "production" mail.

TOOLS: You may want to verify if the "COMPACT" of the mail folder is effective. I found grepWin a good tool to use (http://stefanstools.sourceforge.net/grepWin.html). Another helpful tool is Notepad++ (http://notepad-plus-plus.org/), which actually can open, read and search Thunderbird mailbox files.

SOLVED! Internet Explorer - This page is accessing information that is not under its control. This poses a security risk. Do you want to continue?

For many days, this error message annoys me and a number of others. Once the page goes for a HTTPS access, this happens:

• "Internet Explorer - This page is accessing information that is not under its control. This poses a security risk. Do you want to continue?"

In my case, this helps: Disabling the “Compatibility View” of the IE browser. Please follow these steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, press Alt key
2. Choose “Tools”, “Compatibility View Settings”
3. Uncheck the two boxes “Display intranet sites in Compatibility View” and “Display all websites in Compatibility View”
4. Press “Close” button, F5 to refresh your page or restart IE.

Hope this helps in your case.

SOLVED! SkyDrive - This item might not exist or is no longer available

My friend wants to share some Excel files to me, through Microsoft SkyDrive. The files are on list, but when click on them, this is the message shown:

This item might not exist or is no longer available

This item might have been deleted, expired, or you might not have permission to view it. Contact the owner of this item for more information.

SOLUTION: Save your Excel files to XLSX format and upload them again.


Similar problem likely happens to other older versions of Word files as well. In this case, my friend has saved the file in the old Excel format (XLS), which causes problems.

SOLVED! My Android Too Many Pattern Attempts, Locked!

Just got a call from a friend, his Android tablet is locked because of too many failed pattern attempts. I don't have his Google account information and he's forgotten his Google account information! Even his Google account name has been forgotten!

Last resort, wipe data and return to factory default. Follow these steps*:

*it works on his Vido Tablet, same set of buttons may work for you; principle the same.

1)      Turn OFF the tablet.

2)      Hold <Power><Vol+> until the tablet is ON.

3)      You will see a screen different. Now, press <Vol+> to see a menu

4)      Press <Vol-> to change to option “wipe data/factory reset”

5)      Press <Power> button to select

Now, your Android is wiped clean and returns to the factory default settings. All your personal data gone, ... well, it won't take you too long to re-setup everything...


For Alcatel Phones/Tablets
Long press “# key” and “power on key” at the same time in power off mode, then you will be asked “All data will be lost, continue?” After you select “Yes,” the sequence will be entered with reminder “Formatting flash, please wait.” The phone will auto switch on when reset finishes. Please do not manipulate the phone or remove the battery during this process.

NOTES: For OT-Mini (OT-708) specifically, due to the touch panel design, reset can be performed only by long pressing “upper side key” and “power on key” at the same time.

Reference: http://www.alcatelonetouch.com/global-en/support/faq/phone_reset.html

TIPS: How to Install Microsoft Apploc in Windows 7

Sometimes, you may want to run some older software on your Windows 7, which requires the use of Microsoft Application Locale tool (apploc). You will notice a normal installation seems hopelessly failed. Here's how you may install it.

STEPS:

1. Download apploc.msi from Microsoft's website
2. Press Windows Start, in "Search Programs and Files", type "cmd"
3. The command prompt tool "cmd.exe" shows on list, right click on it "Run as administrator"
4. Using this command prompt window, go to the folder where you've stored your apploc.msi.
5. Type "apploc.msi" to start the installation
6. You should be able to finish the installation wizard

SOLVED! Windows Live Mail or Outlook Cannot Connect to Hotmail Account, Keep Asking for a Password

If you're using HOTMAIL or OUTLOOK.COM, and recently you have started the 2-STEP Verification (i.e., you've asked Microsoft to send you a verification code to verify your mobile device or computer), the chance is that YOU NEED TO ENTER THE App Password generated by Microsoft instead of the password you set for yourself.

SOLUTION:

1. From your web browser, logon HOTMAIL / OUTLOOK.COM mail. You can successfully logon, because your password is correct.
2. Go to your Account, Overview, then Security Settings
3. Scroll down the page to find the section "App Passwords"
4. Click on the click "Create a new App Password"
5. Copy the App Password and paste it on your Email Client (like Windows Live Mail or Outlook) when it prompts for a password. IT SHOULD BE THE APPS PASSWORD, NOT THE PASSWORD YOU YOURSELF MADE.

Sorry, life is getting complicated!!

SOLVED! Thunderbird Portable Takes Extremely Long to Load or Cannot Load

A friend has a copy of Thunderbird Portable installed on his computer for checking emails. After a month's using, it's getting unstable and suddenly one day it stops loading. He called me for help and here're some findings, then a possible FIX for you..., besides an overview of my troubleshooting steps.

The first thing I check, Task Manager, I see one instance of "thunderbirdportable.exe", but two instances of "thunderbird.exe". Obviously, these are from previous freeze, and he double clicked on the Thunderbird icon again. Stopping all these tasks won't help.

Then, I used PROCMON.exe (from Microsoft) to monitor what the thunderbird.exe is actually doing, and it seems that it's doing nothing...or maybe waiting, or even it's hanged...

I copied the whole Thunderbird folder (because it's a portable version) to my PC and started it. It started perfectly fine! Well, this is something related to the "SYSTEM" of his computer, not just with the Thunderbird...

I started to suspect the way Thunderbird is working, TEMP FILES!!! I checked and found out that there're 4,000+ temporary files in the temporary folder "C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp", which is also the folder that Thunderbird is storing some temporary files*. Most of the temporary files in this folder reported 0KB in file size.

SOLUTION: Delete temporary files from the folder "C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp". Then, restart Thunderbird again. Or, reboot and start Thunderbird. (if you do not know how to End Task of all Thunderbird processes)

*Notes: When Thunderbird starts, a temporary folder is being created in the user's TEMP folder, you may identify this folder by looking for a file with name "splash.jpg" inside the folder.