Installing 'Missing' Windows Apps in Win 7

You might be looking for some applications on Windows 7, some
applications that were installed by default on Vista. These applications
are not installed by default on Win7:

* Windows Mail
* Windows Calendar
* Windows Messenger
* Windows Movie Maker
* Windows Photo Gallery

Well if that is the case, you still want to use the same applications
you've become cozy to, there is a way to get them. All you have to do is
to launch Windows Live and it will install the programs for you. Here's
how:

* Click the "Start button". Select "Programs". Select "Windows Live":
* Alternatively you can click on the "Start button" and just type
"Windows Live" on the Search box:
* Authorize the download:
* Once done, the installation starts and you'll be asked what
applications you want to install:
* After that, wait a few minutes. If you had chosen to install
everything it may take 10-20 minutes to install and download the
additional software:

Update Your Facebook Status With Twitter

The other day I was asked by a friend how I update my Facebook status even if I'm offline. I just said I updated through my mobile. Well, that's half true. I actually set it up so my Facebook status is updated with every tweet I post. I have been using Twitter a lot longer than Facebook and it seemed logical that I should use Twitter status updates to likewise update my Facebook status. Good thing about it is I can update my Twitter status by sending a text message to @tweetitow (more on that in this blog post: Send Twitter Updates Thru SMS).

Here's how I set up Facebook to update with my Twitter updates...

1. Login to Facebook and use Search get to the Twitter application page. It's best to just use Search within Facebook, the URL changes from user to user so I won't link to it directly:

2. Once there, click on Go to Application:



3. Authorize the app by clicking the Allow button:


4. Key-in your Twitter details:

5. After that you'll be redirected to your personal page where you could tweet from within Facebook. Click on the Allow Twitter to Update Your Facebook Status button:

And you are all set. All your tweets will appear in your Facebook as status updates. Happy tweeting!

Send Twitter Updates Thru SMS

Updating Twitter using my mobile used to be expensive. Since I am in the Philippines, I was limited to sending international SMS to Twitter's UK number. But then I discovered phTwitters. Then it stopped working. It was free after all and nobody was required to pay anything for it. I'm not really sure if they stopped because they didn't have enough resources to sustain operations. No matter, though. I found @tweetitow.

With @tweetitow, I simply send a text message to their number and it gets posted on my Twitter page. The major plus to using it is it's free, aside that is from the cost of sending a regular text message that is.

Here's how to sign up and use it:

1. Register by sending an SMS to any of the following numbers (really useful if you have unlimited texting, there's a number for each carrier):

• Globe: 0927-338-9183
• Smart: 0928-102-0579
• Sun: 0923-986-0673

2. Use the following format (without the quotes): 'REG username password'
3. You'll get a text confirmation from a different number.
4. Reply to that number to have your status updated.

There, you should be all set then. Be sure to drop by this Tweetitow's FAQ's to make the most out of service. If you're new to Twitter, drop by the Twitter Help page to learn more about how it works.

If you enjoy the convenience of using @tweetitow, please consider donating load to them to keep operations running. They don't charge anything so they need help maintaining the costs for cellphone numbers used in the service. As much as possible, please send call cards instead of e-load or autoload. They will be able to use call card load a lot longer than the electronic kind that expires in a matter of days. Just send a Direct Message to @tweetitow for details on how you can send your valuable donations to keep the Filipino tweeters tweeting from their mobiles :-)

Happy tweeting!

Pinoy Artists Sing for Awareness on Climate Change

Just wanted to share this video.I know that I don't have that many readers but anyone who reads this and watches the video will be one more aware individual. Let's talk about this, act on it, spread the word:

HowTo - Install Drivers From The Dell Resource CD

You may be wondering why I'm posting this. I was asked by a friend about installing stuff from discs that came with his system. I thought this kind of thing may be useful to some other people as well. I mean, not everyone is as savvy with this stuff. The following is not a comprehensive guide, just something to get you started and give you an idea of what to click and what for.

That said, time for a little rant. I hate what I call the 'yes-click' syndrome -- agreeing to everything the software says it will do by blindly clicking 'agree' and 'yes' without reading the fine print. That's plain asking for trouble, because that is exactly what a trojan, adware or malware will want you to do. Legit programs can also install 'extra' stuff that may slow your system down. Bottomline, read the fine print or any message before clicking 'agree' or 'yes'.

Now back to the guide.

The screenshots are from XP. I would have gotten them from Vista or Windows 7 had I had a system that came with it. Unfortunately, I only had an old Dell laptop to test this with. I used an equally old Dell Resource CD. The screens may look different in newer versions but the basics are the same. Here we go:

• Pop in the CD in the CD or DVD drive. If it doesn't start by itself, double-click on My Computer or use a nifty keyboard shortcut by pressing the Windows Key and the letter E at the same time. The Dell Resource CD would have a name like RESOURCE_CD. Double-click RESOURCE_CD :

• If Autorun is disabled (which I should add is the safest option), double-click on the file AUTORCD.exe or AUTORCD to launch the Dell Resource CD installer:

• That should start the installer right away. Read the message and click OK if you agree:

• The Dell Resource CD will then be 'installed'. In reality, I will be installing links to the actual files on the CD, and pleace those links in your Start Menu options. Here it is prepping the installer:

• Read the message and click Next if you want to continue:

• There's no stopping us now. Read the message and click Install if you want to continue:

• And off it goes:

• Click on Finish so you can start installing drivers:

• Once installed, you'll get the following dialog to help you get started:

• Click on Next in the dialog above will bring you to the main page of the Resource CD, where you'll find link to common tasks in the CD. If you check below you'll see links for Utilities, Drivers, Diagnostic Utility and Applications (click on the graphic for a larger pic):

• Choosing Drivers from the page above will bring you to the main drivers page shown below. You'll notice some drivers already have check marks beside them. That means they've already been installed:

• Clicking on any link in the above screen will direct you to another page where specifics of the driver are listed. Clicking in the Extract button will launch the driver installer for this driver (sample below is for the Audio Driver):

• The succeeding screens show the driver install process. In most cases, the default choices will do fine. The first will tell you what you're installing and what it is for:

• Next it will ask where to unpack the drivers. You can change the folder if you wish, but the default will do fine:

• Then it will ask if you want to allow a new folder to be created for the driver:

• Next is a confirmation that the files were unpacked into the chosen folder:

• As in the earlier part where the Dell Resource CD was installed, the InstallShield takes over and installs the necessary files, but not until you click Next:

• And off it goes to copy files and configure settings:

• Once finished, the next screen will ask what to do next. If your done installing drivers, choose Yes then click the Finish button to restart the computer and have the changes set. If you have any other drivers you wish to install, choose No then click the Finish button:

• You can continue installing other drivers by going back to the Driver page of the Resource CD:

Now, any time you wish to use the Resource CD, just pop it in the drive and let it run :-)