Simple Help http://www.simplehelp.net Common questions, simple answers Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:30:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en 529528http://www.feedburner.com How to mount a remote file system as a local drive in OS X http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/345573975/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/25/how-to-mount-a-remote-file-system-as-a-local-drive-in-os-x/#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:30:27 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=745 Mac

This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up Macfusion. After installing Macfuse (easy) and then Macfusion (even easier), you’ll be able to mount a remote FTP or SSH host as a local drive. This allows you to access, read/view, write/edit and transfer files to and from your local hard drive to the remote one - as if it was local as well. Keep reading for the complete walk-through.

  1. First up, download MacFUSE from Google. The installation is pretty straight forward - mostly you’ll just click next a bunch of times. Once it’s installed, download Macfusion. To install it, just unzip the file and drag the app to your Applications folder.

    Launch it from there.

  2. You’ll likely be notified that the macfusion agent process has not started. If you’d like it to start each time you sign in, place a check in the Start agent automatically on login box. Either way, click the Start button.

  3. You’ll be presented with a rather plain Macfusion window. Lets start by adding a FTP site to mount as a local drive. Click the small + (plus symbol) in the bottom left corner. Select FTPFS from the drop-down list.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. Give your “FTP drive” a descriptive name in the top field, and then enter the appropriate information in each of the additional fields. The Path: refers to the location you’d like to have mounted once you connect. For example, when you FTP to your host and successfully login, you’re “placed” into a specific folder (usually something like /home/your-user-name/). If you’d like to specify a different location, do so in the Path: field.

    Click the Macfusion tab for a few more options.

  5. From here you can change the Mount Point: - if you’d rather have the drive show up in your Documents folder, you would enter something like /Users/your-user-name/Documents/. This tutorial assumes you’re using the default (which means leave it blank). If you’d like to give the volume a name other than the default (which is the host name), enter it in the Volume Name: field.

    When you’re done making any changes, click OK

  6. You’ll be prompted to allow Macfusion to store your login details in the keychain. Click Always Allow (unless you have reason not to - in which case click Allow.

  7. Now click Mount back in the main Macfusion Window. You may be prompted to allow the items in the keychain again.

  8. The status will change from (Unmounted) to (Mounted)

  9. Open a Finder window, and you’ll see your FTP host mounted as a local drive in the DEVICES list. You can browse it as you would any other local drive.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. You can read/view, write and edit files as if they were on your Mac.


    11. click to enlarge

  11. To add a SSH drive the process is very similar. Select the + (plus sign) and then SSHFS from the drop-down list.


    12. click to enlarge

  12. Again, enter the appropriate info in the spaces provided. Click the SSH Advanced tab when you’re done.

  13. From here you can change the SSH port if your host uses one other than 22. You can also select to Enable Compression (I didn’t) or de-select Follow Symbolic Links (I didn’t - it’s useful). When you’re done, click the Macfusion tab.

  14. From here you can change the Mount Point: the same way you can with FTPFS, or give your volume a name other than the default (which again will be the host). Click OK when you’re done.

  15. You’ll go through the Always Allow keychain process again, and then after clicking Mount, your SSH host will be mounted as a local drive.

  16. Now each time you launch Macfusion your sites will be saved, and you can quickly connect to them by clicking the Mount button.

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/25/how-to-mount-a-remote-file-system-as-a-local-drive-in-os-x/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/25/how-to-mount-a-remote-file-system-as-a-local-drive-in-os-x/ 10 Dropbox Invites for Simple Help readers http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/343965846/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/23/10-dropbox-invites-for-simple-help-readers/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:06:04 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=740 Windows

Update: all invites are spoken for. If/when I get more I’ll be sure to offer them up here as usual. Cheers!

If you’d like an invitation to the (currently beta) online backup and file sharing service Dropbox, leave a comment below. Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage, and you can easily set files to be private, public or shared only with people you specify.

Dropbox requires a 32 or 64bit version of Windows XP or Vista, Mac OS X Tiger or Leopard, and either Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari. It may very well work with other browsers or platforms, but they’re not officially supported, yet.

Note: when leaving a comment, just use the email address you’d like the invitation sent to in the E-mail (will not be published) (required) field. Don’t leave your email address in the actual comment box (unless you like spam). Thanks David for the invite!

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/23/10-dropbox-invites-for-simple-help-readers/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/23/10-dropbox-invites-for-simple-help-readers/ 5 Desktop Wallpapers that will increase your productivity http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/342524579/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/5-desktop-wallpapers-that-will-increase-your-productivity/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:45:37 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=714

One often overlooked aspect of using your computer productively is the desktop. Instead of having a pretty picture of the beach, try using one of these wallpapers.


  1. GTD

    2. If you’re a fan of the GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology, this is the wallpaper for you. Grab it (or one of the others) from here.

  2. Layered Desktop

    3. Available in both light and dark, the Layered Desktop wallpapers allow you to group your icons by categories.

  3. EZ Access Desktops

    4. Though the colors may not suit your taste (there are 6 to choose from) - with a little work using your favorite image editing software (like the GIMP) and you can create your own.

  4. Panels

    5. Similar to the EZ Access Desktops, the panel method outlined here allows you to group icons according to category.

  5. Google Calendar

    6. Lifehacker explains how to use Google Calendar as your Desktop Wallpaper in Windows.

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/5-desktop-wallpapers-that-will-increase-your-productivity/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/5-desktop-wallpapers-that-will-increase-your-productivity/ How to extract Icon files (.ico) from Windows exe and dll files http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/342452174/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/how-to-extract-icon-files-ico-from-windows-exe-and-dll-files/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:15:19 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=701

Using the free software GetIcons, you can extract the icon files (.ico) from any Windows program (.exe) or Dynamic Link Library (.dll). Keep reading for the complete walk-through.

  1. A good start would be to download GetIcons. It’s a stand-alone application, so just extract it to a folder on your hard drive (I put it in C:\Program Files\ and then created a shortcut to it on my desktop).


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Run the program (or the short-cut to it) and click the Open button

  3. Navigate to the file (exe or dll) that you want to extract an icon/the icons from. Select it and click Open. In this example I selected Internet Explorer.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. If the file has more than one icons embedded in it, the total number will be listed. Internet Explorer (v6) has 22. Use the horizontal slider to scroll through each of them.

    When you’ve found one you want to save, click the Save… button.

  5. Navigate to the folder you want to save the icon file in, give it a name and click Save.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. And now that icon will be saved as an .ico file. Repeat steps 4 and 5 if you want to exact more than one icon file from an exe or dll.


    7. click to enlarge

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/how-to-extract-icon-files-ico-from-windows-exe-and-dll-files/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/22/how-to-extract-icon-files-ico-from-windows-exe-and-dll-files/ Screenshot Tour: WordPress for the iPhone and iPod Touch http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/342255944/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/screenshot-tour-wordpress-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:47:44 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=723 iPod/iPhone

WordPress for the iPhone and/or iPod Touch is now available from the App Store. Keep reading for a brief overview with plenty of screenshots.


  1. Download WordPress for the iPhone / iPod Touch the same as you would any other application in the App Store (yes it’s free). Sync your iPhone/iPod Touch and it’ll appear on your springboard.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Tap Set up your blog to get started.


    3. click to enlarge

  3. Enter the relevant info in the appropriate fields.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. Now select your blog.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. A list of your recently published posts (and scheduled posts) will be listed.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. Tap the “write new post” button in the bottom right corner to create a new post for your blog. Start entering info. Tap the Categories and you’ll be presented with a list of all the categories you’ve previously created.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. When you create the actual post, the screen changes to give you more room to work with. Tap the Save button in the upper-right corner to save your post.


    8. click to enlarge

  8. By default, your post will be saved as a Local Draft - which means it’s on your iPhone/iPod Touch - not on your blogs server - yet.


    9. click to enlarge

  9. Tap the Status: field and you can publish, save as a draft (on the server) etc.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. Tap the Preview button from the bottom list, and you’ll get a preview of your post (the yellow fields are AdSense ad locations).


    11. click to enlarge

  11. Tap the Photos button from the bottom list and you can add a photo to your post. Tap Take Photo with Camera if you have an iPhone and want to add a ‘live’ photo, or Add Photo from Library to add a picture from your iPhone/iPod Touch photos.


    12. click to enlarge

  12. I added a photo from my library…


    13. click to enlarge

  13. but when I tried to save it, I got an error (I don’t use the wp-content/uploads/ folder, and it has specific permissions set).


    14. click to enlarge

  14. All in all it’s a very neat app that will come in handy for creating quick posts. I don’t think I’d want to try and write a particularly long post using it mind you.

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/screenshot-tour-wordpress-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/screenshot-tour-wordpress-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/ How to access your OS X partition from Windows in Boot Camp http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/341485591/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/how-to-access-your-os-x-partition-from-windows-in-boot-camp/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:29 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=683 Windows

If you have Windows installed on your Mac via Boot Camp, there are probably times when you wish you could access your OS X files and folders. This tutorial will guide you in doing just that - using free and open source software.

Using HFSExplorer, the fantastic alternative to MacDrive, you can access all of the files and folders on your OS X partition/drive - from Windows. Though MacDrive has more features, HFSExplorer comes with a much better price tag (free).

  1. Start by booting your Mac into Windows. Download HFSExplorer. Once the download has completed, run the installer file.

    Click Next to begin.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Review the license agreement (right) and if you agree to it, click I Agree


    3. click to enlarge

  3. On the Choose Components screen, decide if you want to register .dmg and .cdr file associations. I went with .dmg and left .cdr alone - but you should decide based on your needs. Click Next to continue.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. If you don’t like the default installation folder, use the Browse… button to select another. Click Next.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. If you don’t like the default folder name (?) - feel free to change it here. Click Install to begin the installation.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. When the installation is complete, click Finish.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. Navigate to the HFSExplorer folder in your Start menu. If you’re using Vista, click Run HFSExplorer in Administrator mode. If you’re using XP and are signed in with an administrative account, you can click HFSExplorer. If you’re not using an administrative account, use Run HFSExplorer in Administrator mode and enter an administrators password.

  8. If HFSExplorer launches, skip down to step #12.

    If you don’t have the Java Runtime Environment installed, you’ll receive an error message telling you as much. Now’s the time to head over to the Sun download page to download and install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).


    9. click to enlarge

  9. If you get an error stating that MSVRC71.dll wasn’t found, have no fear. Click OK to close the error message.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Java\jrelx.x_x\bin\ (where x.x_x is the version number of the version of JRE you have installed). In that folder, copy the file msvrc71.dll.


    11. click to enlarge

  11. Now navigate to C:\Program Files\HFSExplorer\ (or whatever folder you installed HFSExplorer in) and paste msvrc71.dll into it. Now launch HFSExplorer again.


    12. click to enlarge

  12. You’ll be presented with the main HFSExplorer window.


    13. click to enlarge

  13. Click File and then Load file system from device…

  14. Click the Autodetect…

    15. button.


    click to enlarge

  15. Assuming you have just one HFS+ partition, click OK. If you have more than one, select the one you want to access, then click OK.

  16. And now you can navigate through your OS X partition.


    17. click to enlarge

  17. To copy files over to Windows, select them and then click the Extract button.


    18. click to enlarge

  18. In the Extract here window, navigate to the folder you want to save the files in. Click Extract here when you’re ready.


    19. click to enlarge

  19. Click OK after the files have been extracted (copied).

  20. And now you can open/edit/whatever the files.


    21. click to enlarge

  21. Note: you can not write files back to the OS X partition. This is actually a good thing - should you get a virus in Vista, it won’t cause any harm to your OS X installation. If you change the files in Windows, you can always copy them over the next time you boot into OS X, as your Windows partition should automatically mount when OS X starts.

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Are you the one that your friends and family call every time they have a problem with their computer? Put these tools on your USB thumb drive and troubleshooting will be that much easier.

Please feel free - encouraged even - to suggest other helpful, portable troubleshooting apps. Just leave a comment and I’ll check out the app then update the list accordingly.

  1. AutoRuns (startup monitor)

    The most comprehensive tool for info on auto-starting locations of any startup monitor/utility. It shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and displays the entries in the order Windows processes them. To download and/or get more details, click here.

  2. Avira UnErase (file recovery)

    3. File Recovery tool for Windows 2000 and XP. Install on a PC, then copy the installation folder to your USB thumb drive. Though it’s no longer officially supported, it’s still available for download, and it still works. Download here.

  3. CCleaner (PC optimization)

    4. The popular PC optimization and privacy tool has a Portable Edition that you can download and install on your USB thumb drive. Related tutorial: How to use CCleaner to free up disk space on your Windows PC

  4. ClamWin (anti-virus)

    5. Following the instructions found here, you can carry the open-source anti-virus software ClamWin on your USB pen drive. Great for removing viruses when you’re unable to install anti-virus software on the host PC.

  5. DBAN (secure disk eraser)

    6. DBAN is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. Download the USB flash drive version from http://dban.sourceforge.net. Related tutorial: How to completely wipe all the data from your hard drive

  6. JkDefrag (disk defrag)

    7. JkDefrag is a portable disk defragmenter and optimizer for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/2008/X64. Completely automatic and very easy to use, fast, low overhead, with several optimization strategies, and can handle floppies, USB disks, memory sticks, and anything else that looks like a disk to Windows. And it’s open source.

  7. K-MAC (MAC address changer)

    8. Useful for network troubleshooting. Download here.

  8. On-Screen Keyboard (virtual keyboard)

    9. Working on a PC with a broken keyboard? Or one that has keys remapped to the strangest of places? On-Screen Keyboard will come in handy. Note: part of the PortableApps suite.

  9. Portable MV RegClean (registery cleaner)

    10. Registry cleaner for 32 and 64bit Windows. Also allows you to make backups of any registry change made by MV RegClean. Download here.

  10. Portable UnInstall Cleaner (software uninstaller/cleaner)

    11. When a program does not properly uninstall or problems occur in the uninstallation, there will be excess entries in the registry. UnInstall Cleaner can delete these entries so that you don’t take the painstaking job of cleaning the the registry manually. Download here.

  11. Process Explorer (advanced task manager)

    12. Hugely improved version of Windows Task Manager. Download here. Related tutorial: How to get detailed information on each running process in Windows

  12. Restoration (file recovery)

    13. Restoration is another file recovery tool, but this one works on Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. If you’re trying to recover files in 2K or XP, try Avira UnErase (see above) first.

  13. Roadkil’s Boot Builder (create custom boot sectors)

    14. Boot Builder allows you to create your own custom boot sector from scratch. This utility allows you to recreate or restore boot sectors lost due to virus or other damage to a drive. Boot sectors can be imported/exported to a disk or created from a template. This program supports FAT and NTFS boot sector types.

  14. SpyBot Search and Destroy (spyware removal)

    15. Download SpyBot Search and Destroy, install it on your PC and then follow the instructions found here to make it portable. Related tutorial: How to remove spyware from your PC

  15. System Spec (System Information Utility)

    16. Find detailed information on the PC you’re troubleshooting. Works in Windows 2000 and XP completely, some info won’t be displayed (though it does work) on Windows 98 and ME. Download here.

  16. TinyResMeter (real-time system and resources)

    17. TinyResMeter provides real-time PC system and resource info in a small display window, and detailed info when that window is selected. Download here

  17. What Is Transferring (TCP packet sniffer)

    18. What Is Transferring is a portable packet sniffer for Windows 2000/XP. It can capture and display the TCP/IP packets that pass through a network adapte. Very helpful for determining unwanted connections and then viewing what those connections have sent/recieved.

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/15-portable-apps-to-help-troubleshoot-pcs/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/21/15-portable-apps-to-help-troubleshoot-pcs/ How to jailbreak your iPod Touch running the 2.0 firmware http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/341154761/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/20/how-to-jailbreak-your-ipod-touch-running-the-20-firmware/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:10:03 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=694 iPod/iPhone

This tutorial will walk you through every step required to jailbreak your iPod Touch running the latest (2.0) firmware. Note: this tutorial uses the Pwnage Tool v2.0 - which is currently Mac only.

First a few FAQs -

Q: Can I still use the apps I’ve purchased from the App Store if I jailbreak my iPod Touch?
A: Yes. After you jailbreak your device, they will re-sync when you run iTunes.

Q: Can I still purchase/download apps from the App Store if I jailbreak my iPod Touch?
A: Yes.

Q: Will all of my music, contacts, videos, photos etc be deleted if I jailbreak my iPod Touch?
A: Yes. You’ll need to re-sync your device to get all of that data back on your iPod Touch.

Q: Is it worth it?
A: Depends on the individual. Many of the apps you had to jailbreak your iPod Touch to run previously, are now available in the App Store. If you like having full control of your device, then yes it is worth it. Though there are few apps available to install now (jailbroken apps) due to incompatibility with the 2.0 firmware, many will be updated. Also, there are certain features that Apple doesn’t want to release to developers (theme managers is an example), which will require a jailbroken iPod Touch to run.

So with all of that said, here are the steps to jailbreak your iPod Touch running the 2.0 firmware.

  1. To get started, download PwnageTool 2.0. Or, grab version 2.0.1. This tutorial was created using version 2.0, but the steps will be nearly identical if you’re using 2.0.1. Actually, using 2.0.1 will help you avoid some of the errors that this tutorial highlights (and shows you to resolve).

    Whichever version you download, unzip it and drag the app to your Applications folder. Launch it from there. You’ll be greeted with a warning message. Read it, then click OK.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Select the iPod Touch entry (make sure there’s a check mark) and then click the Next button (the right-arrow in the bottom right corner of the PwnageTool screen).


    3. click to enlarge

  3. Select the firmware bundle displayed in the main window, and click Next.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. When asked if you want to create a .ipsw file on your Desktop, click Yes.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. PwnageTool will now build a IPSW file.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. During the creation process, you’ll be prompted to enter your password. Do so, then click OK.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. Click No when asked if you’ve Pwned your iPod Touch before. Even if you’ve used this tool in the past, once you updated to the 2.0 firmware that means it was wiped any traces of PwnageTool.


    8. click to enlarge

  8. If you get a Failed to enter DFU mode, have no fear.


    9. click to enlarge

  9. Open a Terminal and enter the following two commands:

    cd ~/Library/iTunes/
    mkdir “Device Support”

    If that folder already exists, delete all of the files inside of it.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. Start the Pwnage process from the beginning. This time you should pass the Failed to enter DFU mode screen. Turn off your device when prompted.


    11. click to enlarge

  11. If you don’t turn off your device and re-start it the way prompted (holding down the bottom button) you may get a different Failed to enter DFU mode error. This time you won’t need to start from the beginning again, just follow the on-screen instructions carefully.

  12. After you’ve successfully entered DFU mode, you’ll get a message indicating as much. Quit PwnageTool and launch iTunes.


    13. click to enlarge

  13. iTunes will detect an iPod in recovery mode. Click OK.


    14. click to enlarge

  14. Hold down the alt-key on your keyboard and then click Restore.


    15. click to enlarge

  15. An Open window will appear. Navigate to the .ipsw file on your Desktop, select it and then click Open.

    If iTunes prompts you to download a file, you did not hold down the alt key when clicking Restore. You do not want to download and install the file from Apple (or you’ll just be re-installing the 2.0 firmware).


    16. click to enlarge

  16. First it will extract…

  17. then it will restore the software…

  18. verify the software…

  19. and finally restore the firmware.

  20. You’ll get a message telling you that your iPod has been restored to the factory default settings. That couldn’t really be farther from the truth, but click OK.


    21. click to enlarge

  21. Select Set up as a new iPod and click Continue.


    22. click to enlarge

  22. Give your iPod a name, and determine the sync settings you want to use, then click Done.


    23. click to enlarge

  23. Now your iPod Touch will sync. The first thing it will do is re-install any apps you downloaded from the App Store.


    24. click to enlarge

  24. And now your iPod Touch will have your downloaded/purchased apps, in addition to Cydia (which is like Installer.app, with improvements).


    25. click to enlarge

  25. Launch Cydia.


    26. click to enlarge

  26. If you get a message about installing upgrades, click Upgrade Essential


    27. click to enlarge

  27. Click Confirm from the upper-right corner.


    28. click to enlarge

  28. The essential updates will download.


    29. click to enlarge

  29. Then install.


    30. click to enlarge

  30. If you get a message saying Reorganizing One Minue! Please wait… DO NOT STOP, follow that advice and let it do its thing.


    31. click to enlarge

  31. Now you can take a look at your installed packages…


    32. click to enlarge

  32. Or review the info on using OpenSSH (yay!)


    33. click to enlarge

  33. Finally, remember to set all of your syncing preferences in iTunes. Contacts, Calendar, Bookmarks etc. Once you’ve done that, re-sync and they’ll be restored to your device.

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This brief will take you through the steps required to install WordPress - and all of its dependencies (Apache, PHP and MySQL) - in Windows Vista, using the fantastic open source software BitNami WordPress Stack.

A bit of background: BitNami Stacks are completely self-contained, and therefore do not interfere with any software already installed on your system. For example, you can upgrade your system’s MySQL or Apache without fear of breaking your BitNami WordPress Stack. If you have Apache already installed, the version that installs with BitNami won’t interfere with it.

Though this tutorial covers installing WordPress in Vista, BitNami WordPress Stacks are also available for Linux, Mac x86, Mac PPC, Solaris x86 and Solaris SPARC.

  1. To get started, head over to the BitNami WordPress Stack page and download the “Full Stack” for Windows (about 39.1MB for WordPress 2.6). Run the installation file once the download has completed.

    Click Next to begin.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Decide if you want to include PhpMyAdmin as a part of your installation (why not) and leave it checked if you do. Click Next to continue.


    3. click to enlarge

  3. To change the default installation location, click the folder button and navigate to the folder you want to install the BitNami WordPress Stack in. The default is fine. Again, click Next to continue.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. Enter the user name and password you want to use for WordPress. This user name will be the default administrative user - so opting for something like admin isn’t a bad idea. Then enter your real name and email address in their respective spaces. Yet again, click Next.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. Give your blog a name. Since I’ll be using mine as a development environment for Simple Help, I gave it the creative name of “Simple Help Dev Blog”. Your Hostname will be filled in for you. You’ll likely want to leave this alone. You guessed it - click Next.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. One last time - I promise - click Next.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. Now sit back and watch as the BitNami WordPress Stack installs itself. It can take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your computer etc. You might want to grab a cup of coffee, but don’t go too far.


    8. click to enlarge

  8. If you have Vista’s Firewall enabled, you’ll be prompted to Keep Blocking or Unblock mysqld. Click Unblock. If you have another Firewall installed, make sure to unblock mysqld.


    9. click to enlarge

  9. And a minute or two later, you’ll be prompted with the same message, but this time for Apache. Again, click Unblock. And the same holds true if you’re using another Firewall - make sure Apache is unblocked/allowed.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. Towards the end of the installation, it may appear as though BitNami has “stalled”. It hasn’t, just give it another minute or two….


    11. click to enlarge

  11. and it will finish. Leave Launch BitNami WordPress Stack checked, and click Finish.


    12. click to enlarge

  12. Your default browser will launch and open and load the BitNami Welcome screen. Click the Access BitNami WordPress Stack link.


    13. click to enlarge

  13. Your brand new WordPress blog will appear! Use the Login link in the bottom of the right-column to sign in to WordPress (or just add wp-admin/ to the end of the URL in the address bar).


    14. click to enlarge

  14. Sign in with the user name and password you created way back in step #4

  15. After signing in, you’ll be at the WordPress Dashboard. From here you can write a new page, post, etc.


    16. click to enlarge

  16. Below you’ll find a screenshot of the first post in my new blog.


    17. click to enlarge

  17. If you opted to install PhpMyAdmin as a part of the BitNami WordPress Stack, you can access it by loading the page http://127.0.0.1/phpmyadmin. The default user name is administrator and the password is the same one you set for WordPress (in step #4). If you’re using your newly installed WordPress as a development environment, you can use PhpMyAdmin to import your existing WordPress database. If you’d rather use MySQL directly, the administrative login is root and the password is the same as your WordPress pass. The non-root account used to access the database is named bitnami, and its password is bitnami as well.


    18. click to enlarge

  18. Happy WordPress’ing!

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/18/how-to-install-wordpress-in-windows-vista/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/18/how-to-install-wordpress-in-windows-vista/ How to use Transmission as your BitTorrent client (OS X) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/338459942/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-to-use-transmission-as-your-bittorrent-client-os-x/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:28:31 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=669 Mac

From the About Transmission page:

Transmission has been built from the ground up to be a lightweight, yet powerful BitTorrent client. Its simple, intuitive interface is designed to integrate tightly with whatever computing environment you choose to use. Transmission strikes a balance between providing useful functionality without feature bloat. Furthermore, it is free for anyone to use or modify.

This tutorial will guide you through the steps to install, setup and use Transmission to download files using BitTorrent.

  1. First up - download Transmission. The installation is simple - open the .dmg file and drag Transmission to your Applications folder. Launch it from there.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. Transmission will open. Don’t be fooled by it’s fairly simplistic interface - it had a lot of advanced features, and way less bloat than some other BitTorrent programs. To open a torrent, click the Open torrent files button (2nd from the left).


    3. click to enlarge

  3. Navigate to a .torrent file, select it and click Open


    4. click to enlarge

  4. A confirmation/information window will pop up. This window lists all of the files that you’ll be downloading as a part of the .torrent. If you remote the check mark next to a file (in the DL column, that file won’t be downloaded. When you’re ready to start downloading, click Add.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. After a few seconds, the Transmission icon in your Dock will display the download speed (blue) and the upload speed (green).

    6. Of course that info (upload and download speeds) is also displayed in the main Transmission window - along with your current ratio (how much you’ve downloaded:how much you’ve uploaded), the completion percentage, and an estimated time until the download is done.


    click to enlarge

  6. Click the Shortcuts for changing global settings button in the bottom left corner of Transmission. From here you can alter a number of Transmissions settings/preferences.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. Click the Toggle the filter bar button (second from right), and the filter bar will appear. This allows you to quickly view which torrents are active, which ones are seeding, paused etc.


    8. click to enlarge

  8. With a torrent selected, click the Toggle the torrent inspector button (far right). This will bring up a window that provides detailed information on the torrent you’re downloading. By clicking the various tabs across the top of this window you can find out things like which Tracker you’re using, the peers you’re connected to, and some bandwidth related options.

  9. To view and change the Transmission preferences, select Transmission from the menu bar, and then Preferences… from the drop down list.

    The General tab offers exactly what you’d expect - general preferences. Make any changes you see fit - though the defaults are fine.


    10. click to enlarge

  10. Click the Transfers tab. One of the neat features of Transmission can be found on this page - and it’s disabled by default, but enabling it is a piece of cake. If you want Transmission to automatically load any .torrent files as they’re downloaded, place a check in the box labeled Watch for torrent files in: and then select the folder you normally download torret files to.


    11. click to enlarge

  11. Now each time a .torrent is downloaded to that specified folder, and Transmission is running, the confirmation/Add window will appear automatically (as seen in the screenshot below).


    12. click to enlarge

  12. Back in the Transfers tab, select Management. From here you can set things like “stop transfer after seed ratio hits x”, the maximum number of active transfers etc.


    13. click to enlarge

  13. Click the Bandwidth tab. Here you can set the maximum upload and download speeds you want to use with Transmission. Removing the check marks from Download rate: and Upload rate: will tell Transmission to use the maximum bandwidth your connection allows.

    Another neat feature of Transmission is that you can set bandwidth rates based on the time of day. If you use your PC for work during the day, and don’t want Transmission to “hog” all of your bandwidth while you’re trying to get important Internet related tasks done, set a lower transfer rate in the spaces provided, place a check in the Schedule Speed Limit between: box, and set the start and end times for this Transmission “throttle”.


    14. click to enlarge

  14. Click the Peers tab. Generally, the defaults here are good. If you have an insanely fast Internet connection (higher than cable or DSL), you can increase the Connection: numbers. Again, the defaults are good.


    15. click to enlarge

  15. And finally, click the Network tab. If you want to change the default port that Transmission uses, this is the spot to do it. If you do change the port, make sure your Firewall (or router) is set to use this new port.


    16. click to enlarge

  16. If you’d like to use Transmission as your default BitTorrent client (program) - and another one already is, select a .torrent file (any will do) and bring up its properties by clicking Apple Key+i. In the Open with: section, click the drop-down button, and select Other… from the menu.

  17. Navigate to Transmission in your Applications list. Select it, and click Add.


    18. click to enlarge

  18. Back in the properties/info window, click the Change All button.

  19. Click Continue when asked if you want to use Transmission to open all .torrent files.

    Now each time you double-click a .torrent file (or open one directly from a web page), Transmission will launch.


    20. click to enlarge

  20. If you have Growl installed, Transmission will use it to notify you of completed downloads.

  21. If you quit Transmission with an active transfer still going, you’ll be notified that it will continue the next time you open Transmission.

  22. And that’s about it - have fun!

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-to-use-transmission-as-your-bittorrent-client-os-x/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-to-use-transmission-as-your-bittorrent-client-os-x/ How access the files on your Mac from Vista http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/338001012/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-access-the-files-on-your-mac-from-vista/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:14:20 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=663 Mac Windows

This tutorial will guide you through the steps required to access your OS X files and folders from Windows Vista.

  1. First you’ll need to enable File Sharing in OS X. Click the “Apple button” from the main menu, and select System Preferences… from the drop-down list. In the Internet & Network section, click the Sharing icon.

  2. Place a check in the File Sharing box, then click the Options… button.


    3. click to enlarge

  3. Now place a check in the box labeled Share files and folders using SMB. Finally, place a check in the box next to the user name (account) you want to connect to your Mac with.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. You’ll be prompted to enter the password for the user name you want to connect to your Mac with. Enter it now.

  5. Now click Done and close the System Preferences window.


    6. click to enlarge

  6. In Vista, click the Start button and select Network. If your Mac is listed, skip down to step #9.

    If you get a yellow “bar” telling you that File Sharing is disabled, click that bar.


    7. click to enlarge

  7. Select Turn on network discovery and file sharing.

  8. Now you’ll be prompted with a window asking if you want to turn on Network discover and file sharing for all public networks, or just “private” network (like the computers in your home network). In all likelihood you’ll want to select No, make the network I am connected to a private network, but if you know for certain you want discovery and file sharing enabled for public network, select it.


    9. click to enlarge

  9. And now all of the computers - including your Mac - will be listed. Double-click the icon that for your Mac.

  10. In the User name: field enter your user name in the format:

    Your-Mac-Name\Your-User-Name

    “Your-Mac-Name” is the name of the icon you just double-clicked. And yes, it is case sensitive. Your user name is your OS X user name - which can be found in the Accounts section of your System Preferences. Then enter your password in the Password: field.

  11. Now you can access all of your OS X files and folders from Vista!


    12. click to enlarge

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-access-the-files-on-your-mac-from-vista/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/17/how-access-the-files-on-your-mac-from-vista/ How to use Cover Stream to control iTunes http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/337673448/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/16/how-to-use-cover-stream-to-control-itunes/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:18:08 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=656

Cover Stream is an interesting little app that allows you to control iTunes - with very pretty interface, without having to leave your currently open program. Though I’m somewhat partial to using Quicksilver for everything iTunes-control-related, Cover Stream is without question much more visually appealing. The drawback? It’s not free. Cover Stream costs €14.95 EUR, which comes out to about $23.77 USD (at the time this was published). BUT, it does come with a lifetime of free updates, and there is a fully-functional (time limited) demo available for you to try out. Keep reading for a tour of the features and plenty of screenshots.

  1. The Cover Stream installation is about as straight forward as it gets - unzip the file and drag the application to your Applications folder. Before you start using Cover Stream, take a look at some of the preferences. To do so, select Cover Stream from the menu bar, and then Preferences… from the drop-down list.

    On the General tab you can set options such as Launch at login, Launch when iTunes opens etc.


    2. click to enlarge

  2. After you’ve set the General preferences to your liking, click the Browser tab. If you frequently add/remove songs to iTunes, you may want to place a check in the Sync with iTunes at startup box.


    3. click to enlarge

  3. Now select the Visuals tab. You may not want to make any changes until you’re familiar with the program, but give them a quick review so you know what you can change after you’ve used it for a while.


    4. click to enlarge

  4. The Hotkeys tab is one of the more important ones. Because Cover Stream is intended to allow you to control iTunes without having to leave your current application, hotkeys are an important part of this process. Set the shortcuts to whatever you want (or review the defaults and decide if they’ll work for you).

    The remaining tabs (Last FM, Remote and Update) are pretty straight forward. If you’re a Last FM user, and don’t scrobble your songs using another app, you can enter your info on that tab.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. One of the main features of Cover Stream is the mini-player/Desk Art. By default, it will show up in the bottom left corner of your desktop.

  6. When you mouse-over the Desk Art section, a mini-player will appear. From here you can control some of the iTunes features - Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track etc.

  7. To bring up the main Cover Stream window, use the (default) keyboard combo of alt+Apple Key+F8. Use the left and right arrow keys to move through your iTunes library.


    8. click to enlarge

  8. When you’ve found an album you want to listen to, hit enter. Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate to the track you want to play, and again hit enter.


    9. click to enlarge

  9. You can also access a number of the Cover Stream features from the Apple menu icon.

One bug (or intentionally strange “feature”) - if you change songs using any method other than Cover Stream (iTunes itself, Quicksilver etc) - the ‘desktop player’ remains stuck at whatever previous song was playing.

All in all I don’t think I’ll be purchasing Cover Stream, but it may be the ideal solution for you. And it sure is pretty.

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]]> http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/16/how-to-use-cover-stream-to-control-itunes/feed/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/16/how-to-use-cover-stream-to-control-itunes/ How to use the Content Library feature of Publisher 2007 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/simplehelp/~3/336042356/ http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/07/15/how-to-use-the-content-library-feature-of-publisher-2007/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:30:15 +0000 Ross McKillop http://www.simplehelp.net/?p=652 Windows

This tutorial will show you how to add items to the Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 Content Library, and then re-use them whenever you want.

The Publisher Content Library is a repository of frequently used items. You can add frequently used phrases (text), images, even entire text boxes - to the library. Then when you want to re-use an item, just pull it from the content library and add it to your document.

  1. Right-click on the item you want to add to your content library (in this case an image - see the screenshot below) and select Add to Content Library…

    2. right click an image in microsoft publisher and select add content to library

  2. Give the item a descriptive name in the Title: field. You can also add it to a Category to make finding pieces of content easier once you have a lot of them.

    3. content library adding an item window
    click to enlarge

  3. To re-use an item, make sure the Task Pane is displayed (select View -> Task Pane).

    4. publisher view task pane menu

  4. Select the top menu of the Task Pane and select Content Library from the drop-down list.

    5. task pane menu with content library selected

  5. All of the items in your content library will be displayed.

    6. publisher content library

  6. To insert one into your current document, click it and select Insert from the drop-down list. That item will be added to your document.

    7. insert an item from the content library into a document

  7. You can also drag items right out of the content library into your document. It can be easier/faster to place the item this way.

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