, for networks with both Windows 7 and Windows Vista computers

Faster File Transfer Speeds In Networks With Windows 7 & Vista

This method consists of two main parts, and assumes that your network is otherwise functioning properly. That is, each computer can access the others, except that the file transfer speeds are considerably slower than expected. This may be especially noticeable if you have just recently upgraded one or more computers on your network to Windows 7, from Windows XP or Vista for example.

Credit goes to the post at this link, which specifically discusses Windows Vista networks (parts of which are quoted below). A detailed description of the method is given there, along with some of the reasoning behind it. But this method also can be adapted for use on mixed networks with Windows 7 and Vista systems, as described here.

Part 1: Before Making Changes

It’s recommended to check your settings and your transfer speeds before starting, but if you just want to go ahead and perform the changes to your computers, then skip ahead to Part 2.

Otherwise, to test that this method works for you and your network, you may want to copy a single large file over your network (i.e. a video file over 100 MB), both before and after performing the steps below, then comparing the transfer times.

Then check your current TCP settings on each of your Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems, by performing the following:

1. Open an elevated command prompt, in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, with administrator rights. You can do this by right-clicking on the link for "Command Prompt" in the Start Menu, then selecting "Run as administrator".

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following and press Enter:

netsh interface tcp show global

Make note of the settings for "Receive Side Scaling State" and "Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level", in case you want to undo your changes later.

Part 2: Disable TCP “Receive Window Auto-Tuning” and/or “Receive Side Scaling”

Repeat the steps below for each of your Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems to change TCP settings to disable "Receive Window Auto-Tuning" and to disable "Receive Side Scaling".

1. Open an elevated command prompt, in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, with administrator rights. You can do this by right-clicking on the link for "Command Prompt" in the Start Menu, then selecting "Run as administrator".

2. To disable "Receive Window Auto-Tuning", in the Command Prompt window type the following and press Enter:
   
   

   netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

   Your system should confirm the command was entered correctly by showing "OK" in the Command Prompt window.

3. To disable "Receive Side Scaling", in the Command Prompt window type the following and press Enter (this step is optional, so you may choose to skip this step for now and restart your computer first, to see if the transfer speed has improved):
   
   

    netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled

   Your system should confirm the command was entered correctly by showing "OK" in the Command Prompt window.

4. Restart your computer.

Part 3: Disable "Remote Differential Compression (RDC)" in Vista

If after performing the steps in Part 2 above, file transfer speeds on your network are still slower than expected, then disable "Remote Differential Compression (RDC)" on your Windows Vista computers only, by performing the following:

1. In Windows Vista, open the Control Panel, then click on "Programs".

2. Under "Programs and Features", click on "Turn Windows features on or off".

3. In the window that appears, uncheck the checkbox for "Remote Differential Compression", then click OK. You may need to wait several minutes for the changes to be applied.

4. Restart your computer, after the changes have been applied.

Undo Changes If Needed

To reverse the changes of Part 2, open an elevated Command Prompt as in Part 2, then type the following and press Enter after each line (then restart your computer):

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

netsh interface tcp set global rss=default

To reverse the changes of Part 3, repeat all the steps of Part 3 except make sure to check the checkbox for "Remote Differential Compression" (then restart your computer).

Check your TCP settings for each system as in Part 1, to make sure that your changes have been undone.

More Information

How To: Fix Slow File Transfer Problem In Windows Vista
Vista TCP settings and tweaks
Microsoft Answers: Why Is Windows 7 Still As Slow As Vista With File Copy?

Remove ZoneAlarm With The ZoneAlarm Removal Tool

One option to safely and completely remove ZoneAlarm from your Windows 7 system, is to download and run the free ZoneAlarm Removal Tool.

From ZoneAlarm technical support at the ZoneAlarm forum:

Try Removing Zone Alarm and see if Windows 7 stabilizes?

use the new ZoneAlarm Removal Tool: Click here http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/support/cpes_clean.exe

Save to desktop, right click and "run as administrator" This tool will remove all ZoneAlarm products from your system.

Please just download and run the tool, following the instructions. (you can un-install without net connections)

Click to download the free ZoneAlarm Removal Tool from ZoneAlarm

The ZoneAlarm Removal Tool may require you to restart your computer after it runs, to complete the uninstall.

Remove ZoneAlarm With Revo Uninstaller

If the ZoneAlarm Removal Tool does not work for you, then another option to totally uninstall the ZoneAlarm firewall from a Windows 7 computer, is to download and run the free portable version of Revo Uninstaller.

Click to download the free portable version of Revo Uninstaller

The link above will download the portable version of Revo Uninstaller as a ".zip" file. Just copy the contents of the ".zip" file to any location you like (i.e. your desktop, a USB drive, etc.), and run the program from there.

In Revo Uninstaller, choose to uninstall ZoneAlarm, and follow the instructions on the screen to completely remove ZoneAlarm.

More Information

ZoneAlarm User Community (Forum)
Revo Uninstaller Features

This had been a very useful way to make use of Skype’s call service and international calling rates from your cell phone, without the need for extra network or data fees, and without needing to be at your computer all the time.

The reason why Skype has been disabled in Fring is not exactly clear though, as both Skype and Fring seem to disagree as to what happened.

From Skype’s Blog: Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging to our brand and reputation

An hour or so ago, Fring reported on their blog that we had blocked their access to Skype. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: this is untrue.

Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. We’ve been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably.

However, over time, Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers.

…

In this case, however, there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.

From Fring’s Blog: Skype Cowardly Blocks Fring

Now that fring expanded capacity to support the huge demand for video calling for all users, Skype has blocked us from doing so.

They are afraid of open mobile communication. Cowards.

Needless to say, we are very disappointed that Skype, who once championed the cause of openness is now trying to muzzle competition, even at the expense of its own users.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience Skype has caused you.

More Information

Use Fring To Make Skype Calls From Your Mobile Phone

A previous article on TechUserFriendly.com dealt with how to change Facebook’s Instant Personalization Pilot Program privacy settings, so that it would be disabled for your account.

But depending on if Facebook has applied these "Improved Privacy Controls" to your Facebook account, those instructions may no longer apply to you, and instead the instructions below may be applicable.

The Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program, acts to personalize your visits to other selected partner websites such as MicrosoftDocs.com, Pandora, and Yelp. This will make it so that information is tailored towards you on these external partner websites, based on your "public Facebook information". But it may be difficult for you to know exactly what information in your Facebook profile is public (i.e. your Facebook Friends list).

Check your privacy settings, to get greater control over your online privacy with Facebook. If you do not want this feature activated, then make sure it is disabled in your Facebook Privacy Settings, using the steps shown here.

Does Your Account Have Facebook’s Improved Privacy Controls?

If under Facebook’s Privacy Settings, you have the following control layout as shown in the image below, then these basic instructions apply to you.

How To Turn Off The Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program

1. Go to Facebook’s Privacy Settings page, and at the bottom in the "Applications and Websites" section, click on "Edit your settings".

    

2. For "Instant Personalization", click on "Edit Settings".

    

3. On the "Instant Personalization" settings page, make sure the box is unchecked for "Enable instant personalization on partner websites".

    

4. You are now opted out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization Pilot Program.

Related Information

How To: Disable Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program
How To: Hide Your Facebook Friends List On Your Profile

To get greater control over your online privacy in relation to Facebook, you may choose to opt-out of this program. If you do not want this feature activated, then you can disable it through the Facebook Privacy Settings, using the steps shown here.

Update: Facebook recently changed their privacy setting layout. New and slightly different instructions for Facebook’s "Improved Privacy Controls" are here.

How To Turn Off The Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program

1. Under Facebook’s Privacy Settings, select "Applications and Websites".

    

2. For the "Instant Personalization Pilot Program" select "Edit Setting".

   

3. Make sure to uncheck the box that will "allow select partners to instantly personalize their features with my public information when I first arrive on their websites".

   

4. You have now opted out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization Pilot Program.

Related Information

Updated: Disable Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program
How To: Hide Your Facebook Friends List On Your Profile

Facebook has gone through many changes to their privacy settings and policy over the past several months. For a while, you could not completely hide your Facebook Friends list from people who had access to your profile page. But now, you can prevent others from viewing your Friends list if you wish.

How To Keep Your Facebook Friends List Private

Here are the steps on how to keep your Facebook Friends list totally private, so that it will not show on your profile page.

1. Go to "Privacy Settings", and click on "Friends, Tags and Connections".

    

2. In "Friends, Tags and Connections", select the drop-down options box for "Friends".

   

3. In the drop-down options box for "Friends", select "Customize".

   

4. In the pop-up window showing the Custom Privacy options for "Friends", under "make this visible to" select "Only Me". Then click on "Save Setting".

    
   (Alternatively, if you would still like some other people to see your Facebook Friends list on your profile page, you can adjust these settings to the appropriate level for you. You can also choose to hide your Facebook Friends list from only certain people, by entering names under "hide this from".)

5. Now, your Facebook Friends list on your profile page will only be visible by you (if you selected "Only Me"). Click on "Preview My Profile" and enter some of your friends’ names to confirm that they can no longer see your Facebook Friends list on your profile.

Related Information

How To: Disable Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program
Updated: Disable Facebook Instant Personalization Pilot Program

Skype software allows you to make low-cost long distance calls from your computer, to phones or other computers around the world. Fring is a free software application for mobile phones, that easily allows you to make calls from your mobile phone, with your Skype account. Fring needs to connect to the internet to make calls, so use an existing Wi-Fi or wireless network connection to make calls without paying any extra costs. In other words, with Fring on your mobile phone, you can save money with Skype’s low long distance rates, and you can use your mobile phone when making long distance calls, without being stuck at your computer.

Why Use Fring to Make Skype Calls

The mobile phone version of Skype, Skype Mobile, may not be available for your phone, or it may not be reliable on your mobile phone (causing dropped calls or poor call quality). If you have problems using other mobile Skype software to make clear calls with good and stable connections, Fring may be a valuable free alternative for you to try.

Using Fring on a mobile phone does not require any additional costs, as compared to using Skype on a computer. If you use Fring from your mobile phone through an existing Wi-Fi or wireless connection (at your home, office, or free wireless public hotspot), then you will not need to pay any extra data fees to your phone company. This is the preferred method of using Fring, so that no additional fees are charged. Also, using Fring will not use up your phone plan’s voice call minutes.

Note: If you don’t have access to an existing Wi-Fi or wireless network, then you can use your phone’s data plan to connect to the internet. Then you would need to check if your plan covers the amount of data transfer needed. Fring’s website states that a one minute call with Fring uses about 133 Kb of data (i.e. a 20-minute long distance call would use about 2 Mb of data).

How Fring Works

Fring works on your mobile phone by logging into your Skype account and listing all of your Skype contacts. From there, you can make calls as if you were using Skype at your computer, and all applicable call charges will be charged to your Skype account (as if you were using Skype from your computer). Of course, if you have a Skype Subscription, then there will be no additional call charges for calls within your subscription area. Fees for calls outside of your subscription area will be deducted from your Skype Credit, with the amounts determined by Skype’s calling rates. If you don’t have a subscription, then you will need to have Skype Credit in order to call other phones from your mobile phone, with Fring.

How To Make Skype Calls From A Cell Phone With Free Fring Software

The following is a general guide on how to setup Skype and Fring, so that you can make long distance calls from your mobile phone, using Fring software at Skype’s calling rates (or using a Skype Subscription). Screenshots are from the Android phone version of Fring; versions on other phones are similar but instructions for different phones will have slight differences.

1. If you do not have a Skype account, download the latest version of Skype to your computer. Install and run Skype to setup a free account.
2. Purchase Skype Credit or a Skype Subscription, if you want to use your Skype account to call mobile phones or landline phones.
3. Download Fring in one of several ways. It is available for the iPhone, Android phones, Symbian phones (Nokia, Sony Ericsson), and Windows Mobile phones.
4. Make sure your mobile phone is connected to the internet, either through a Wi-Fi connection or through your phone’s data connection.
5. On your mobile phone, open Fring.

   

6. In Fring, if you do not already have a Fring account, select "New User". Setup your new Fring account and continue.

   

7. Enter your Fring login details and continue. 

   

8. In Fring, go to "Add-ons" and select "Skype". Enter your Skype login details (user ID and password) and log in. A green checkmark will appear next to "Skype" in the Fring "Add-ons" list, after your Skype and Fring accounts are successfully connected.
    
9. Go to your Fring contact list and you should see your Skype contacts are now displayed, if you have any. You can now make Skype calls to your Skype contacts using Fring, by selecting the option to call as a "SkypeOut" call or by choosing "SKP" when calling a contact.
10. Use the Dialer to make Skype calls to other phones, not listed in your contacts. Make sure to dial the phone number as a Skype call by selecting the option to call as a "SkypeOut" call or by choosing "SKP" when calling.

     

Skype Mobile

If you prefer to compare with Skype’s own mobile phone software, Skype Mobile, then you can learn more about the different versions here:

• iPhone App for Skype
• Skype Mobile for Android
• Skype Mobile for Symbian phones (Nokia, Sony Ericsson)
• Skype Mobile for Blackberry phones

Summary

Use Fring to make phone calls from your mobile phone, while saving money on long distance with Skype’s low calling rates and subscriptions. With Fring you are not limited to making calls while sitting at a computer. No voice call minutes are used up from your mobile phone’s plan. If you use an existing Wi-Fi connection, then you will not need to pay any extra fees, when compared to using Skype from a computer.

More Information on Skype and Fring

Skype Users Are Now Blocked From Making Calls Using Fring
Fring – Official Website
Fring – Supported Phone List (Click on "visual list")
Skype Subscription Prices
Skype International Calling Rates
Skype Mobile
Skype "Pay As You Go" Credit vs Monthly Subscription

One reason to remove, repair, or reduce the unflattering appearance of oily or shiny skin on someone’s face, would be to prevent embarrassing that person in a picture that must be shared, as it may be a one-of-a-kind moment or meeting between friends, for example.

At any rate, the following is a quick and simple method to fix or improve the shine on a person’s face in a photo, whether it involves someone’s forehead, cheeks, nose, or other area of their face. Photoshop is used for the method below to reduce the appearance of oily or shiny skin.

Reduce a Person’s Oily or Shiny Skin in a Picture

1. Open your image in Photoshop.
2. From the Toolbox in Photoshop, click to select the "Healing Brush Tool" (or press the "J" key).

   

3. From the Options Bar in Photoshop:
   a. For "Mode" choose "Darken".

   
   b. For "Source" choose "Sampled".
   c. For "Sample" choose "All Layers". 

   

4. From the Options Bar, click on "Brush".
   a. For "Diameter" (brush size), choose "30 px".

   
   b. For "Hardness" choose "0%". 
    
   c. For other settings shown under "Brush" match the values in the screenshot, but settings for Diameter and Hardness are more important here.  

5. Create a new layer, and name it as the "Repair Layer"
6. On the person’s face with the oily/shiny skin, find an area of skin that you think looks "good", which is the target skin tone that you would like in the final photo. On this "good" area of skin, hold "Alt" and click on this area. (In some cases, it may be helpful to look for a "good" area that is as close to the problem area as possible. For example, if the problem area is the forehead, then try to choose a "good" skin area on the forehead. This is not necessary in general, but may help some to achieve improved results.)
7. Make sure the Repair Layer is still the active layer, then while still using the Healing Brush Tool, click on the problem areas to paint over these oily/shiny spots.
8. Apply a slight Gaussian Blur to the Repair Layer.

    

9. For the Repair Layer, lower the opacity to get a more natural result. A value of about 60% should give good results. You may find a different value fits your photo better.

   

10. Save your Photoshop file in case you would like to make further changes later.
11. Save your final edited image file.

You should now see a noticeable improvement in the edited photo, so that the oily or shiny skin of the person in the photo has been reduced and is no longer an issue.

References

"Oily/Shiny Skin" – planetphotoshop.com

The purpose is to allow you to download and sample the original MTS files, in an uncompressed form to view and edit on your computer. These videos are taken straight out of the camera, with no post-processing of any kind. This can be useful if you do not have access to the Panasonic ZS3, and want to inspect the video quality, the audio quality, the zoom, the quality of video playback on a computer, and the ease of video editing on a computer for MTS video files made by the Panasonic ZS3. Videos made by the Panasonic TZ7 will be identical in quality to Panasonic ZS3 videos, but with a different limit on recording time.

Panasonic ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video Sample (MTS File)

Note: To download, click “Download Now” at the bottom of the download page linked below.

Sample Video – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1e2320/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-05.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 50 sec
File Size: 92.7 MB

More sample unedited AVCHD Lite HD video from the Panasonic ZS3, as MTS files, are available here.

Related Information

Download Sample MTS Files of AVCHD Lite HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 10MP Camera – Wide Angle with 12x Zoom

Free Download Links for MTS Video Players

Media Player Classic – Free Video Player
VLC Player – Free Video Player

Please note, these videos were not originally made for use as video samples, thus they were not filmed under controlled conditions (i.e. please excuse the bit of shakiness and imprecise zooming in these samples). But this may give you a representation of real-world use and conditions, where people get in your view to throw off the camera’s focus, or you may zoom in a little too much only to zoom out a bit which makes the camera work harder to focus. Overall, the Panasonic ZS3 does well under these conditions and is easy to handle. The emphasis in these samples is on the zoom power, and the picture quality or sharpness.

Scene for Filming AVCHD Lite Sample HD Videos

Here is a un-zoomed photo of the scene used in the sample videos, to give some perspective on the zoom power used in the Panasonic ZS3 video samples below. This photo is also unprocessed, and is only reduced in size.
 

Panasonic ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video Samples (MTS Files)

These MTS video files from the Panasonic ZS3 are available for free download from the links provided below. Videos made by the Panasonic TZ7 will be identical in quality to these Panasonic ZS3 videos, but with a different limit on recording time. Again, please excuse the bit of shakiness and imprecise zooming in these samples as they were not taken in controlled conditions.

Note: To download, click “Download Now” at the bottom of each download page linked below.

Sample A – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1d6780/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-02.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 28 sec
File Size: 51.9 MB

Sample B – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1d68ge/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-04.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 31 sec
File Size: 58 MB

More sample unedited AVCHD Lite HD video from the Panasonic ZS3, featuring its 12x zoom while recording, are available here as MTS files.

Related Information

Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Download Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sample AVCHD Lite Video Featuring 12x Zoom
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 10MP Camera – Wide Angle with 12x Zoom

Free Download Links for MTS Video Players

Media Player Classic – Free Video Player
VLC Player – Free Video Player