How to use a cheap 2.5 drive as an Xbox 360 Slim drive

(Tips & tutorial on upgrading the Xbox 360 Slim 4G with a cheap 2.5 laptop drive – particularly to those who bought the 4G console in Singapore)
note: this is not for the faint of heart. it will get quite technical.
oh! and use at your own risk)

Out of a whim, i just got myself a new Xbox 360-Slim 4G Kinect bundle!
(And yes, that just killed what ever budget i have planned for my supposed small-form-factor PC gaming rig i have been daydreaming about)

Anyhow, i got the 4G version, not the 250G bundle. 4 Gigabytes (actually just around 3Gb) is fine for game saves and all but once you start downloading apps and game demos on the Xbox (like i did, the very day i got the console) – you’d know that it’s just not enough.

The official Xbox drive sells at around S$150~200. You can get it at 250 or 320Gb versions. That’s quite a hefty price for me. Thankfully, i found 2 alternatives: buy a cheaper ‘compatible’ Xbox drive (not the official Microsoft drive) or buy a much cheaper 2.5 (laptop) drive and set it up as an Xbox drive. We’ll we know which route i took.
(this post will probably be moot soon enough with the new Xbox coming out, but a friend ask me for details)

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Tools: Change Windows Live Writer Save Location (and sync it with Dropbox)

also: using mklink, symbolic links for Windows and OS X

I seem to be doing this a lot of times now: manually changing Windows Live Writer save location so it points to my Dropbox folder. I’m a huge fan of this two programs/services. I don’t know about the future of Live Writer but i’d probably be using it still for a long time. And, to those who have been using it for sometime now, would know that one of its biggest limitation is that it doesn’t allow you to change the location where it saves your local drafts/posts.

You can always go the slightly hard way (see link for the how to, in the next section). Set the links manually to Dropbox. i guess it’s the normal way, which isn’t really difficult, only a hassle.

So, to save myself of the same hassle every time – i’ve created a simple tool to automate it. I’m posting this app for anyone who might need it as well.

 

Here it is.
https://sites.google.com/site/mickeymicks/DropTo.Dropbox.zip?attredirects=0&d=1

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TIPS: 5 Easy Steps on how to organize your data on a Windows 7 PC

tags: Windows 7 tips, separate data and system files, organize libraries, save documents on another drive, preparation for SSD, Windows 7 Libraries

 

This is my attempt at telling people to STOP putting everything on their drive C. Of course, every one has their own way of organizing things – this is my way. Lol.
And, this is just one of the many ways to help you organize your Windows 7 PC.

It’s really good to separate your personal data files (documents, pictures, movies) from your system files (Windows OS files), especially these days when those files could easily grow to unmanageable amount.

In my case, i’ve always separated my system drive (where Windows resides, normally drive C) and my data drive/s (where all my personal files are saved). It’s a habit that i’ve developed since the early days of Windows 98SE. Can anyone still remember that OS?

It used to be quite a task to do that, but with Windows 7 (don’t know about Windows 8 though) – it’s just a breeze.

Why do it?

Here are some of the reasons i can think of right now: 

1. If you want to secure (a bit more) your personal files in-case your OS becomes troubled (i.e. virus, crash, corruption)

2. If you have a larger storage (a second drive, a second partition or even an external drive).

3. If you want to backup just your system files (or just your personal files)

4. If (like me) your planning to move your system to an SSD. woot woot.

5. If you want to make a better organization of your data (easier to find, manage and even share your files).

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How to Hard Reset an iPhone

My iPhone just blacked out on me.. again!
This has happened to me several times before. The last time, it went back on after while. This time it just went dead.

Since the iPhone doesn’t really have a battery that you can pull out (like the other smartphones) nor does it have a reset ‘hole’ that you can insert a pin or a pick – it isn’t obvious how you can hard-reset the unit. Well, not obvious if you haven’t read about it before.

How to: Hold down both the power button and the home button at the same time until it shuts down.

Of course, make sure it’s not connected to your computer (as that would give a different effect when connected to iTunes).

That’s it!

I just keep on forgetting this, almost all the time. I admit that my iPhone isn’t the only one whose got bugs. Haha.

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Essential App: Virtual Clone Drive (How To Use an ISO Image)

As mentioned in my previous post as to Why and How To make disc images, I make backups of my most important discs – from Driver discs, Installer discs and even some movie discs. I could just as well burn these backup onto blank discs but most of the time I just load them up (or mount them) as virtual drives.

Even if you don’t make your own disc images, some software-makers are now opting to use ISO images for download instead of distributing them as physical discs (or at least provides the option to). And with the widespread use of netbooks (laptops that doesn’t normally come with DVD drives), you might find yourself still trying to find out how to use ISO images. Again, you can burn these files to physical drives (which you would probably still use another App) or just mount them using simple, widely available tools.

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How To: Create backups (ISO drive images) of a Disc

Disclaimer: You already know about software piracy so i won’t iterate the details. This post is not intended to condone it. It’s best that you just create backups of what you already own.
And by the way, this is more of a ‘Why’ than a ‘HowTo’ since the tutorial is too simple. Hehe

 

Drive images, specifically ISO files – is one of the reasons why my external storage devices are starting to stack up on my desk. These are the (virtual) software copies of a drive – usually a CD or DVD. Every important CD/DVD that i have, has a virtual copy. I started with the driver disks for my motherboard and video card. Then, with the installers for my major applications. They are backups I made because the physical disks are just so easily scratched and damaged over time.

 

Why You Need to Make Disc Images?

To avoid hair-pulling frustration over a slightly scratched DVD that just won’t continue loading because the damage was enough to cause a ‘redundant cyclic error’ or some other obscure problem – I simply create backups of every important disc I have: from driver discs, installers, games and sometimes even video discs. Their ISOs can easily be loaded as a virtual drive – appearing as if physical drives on a PC.

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How To: Use iPhone 4 as a Personal Hotspot (Globe Tattoo SIM)

Thanks to the 4.3 iOS, iPhone 4 owners can now turn their phones into a personal WiFi Hotspot! Woohoo!

It beats buying a separate 3G hotpot device or router!

(although, i'm not sure if this feature has already been supported by some jailbroken app. this time it is natively supported by the iOS).

In this HowTo, we’ll be setting up the personal hotspot using a postpaid Globe Tattoo SIM. We’ll be needing the following:

1. A Tattoo SIM (or any SIM that is 3G enabled) – cut into a microsim if necessary (see my separate post)

2. iPhone 4 that’s been updated to the latest iOS version (4.3 up)

3. Other wi-fi enabled devices (laptop, other phones, e-readers)

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How To: Use a new SIM for iPhone 4 internet browsing

Okay, there really is ‘supposed’ to be no need to give this how to since by default, you should be able to browse the internet using a 3G connection. Well, that’s not usually the case, particularly for iPhones that were factory unlocked and is now using a different SIM/carrier.

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Introduction to Debugging Tools

note: this was reposted from my wordpress (w/c i did several months ago).

Out of boredom and not having anything remotely interesting thing to do at the office, I’ve written this lengthy guide for ‘newbies’ to the world of debugging tools. I’m not really sure if anyone would be using that document within the group since the members aren’t really used to documents (so unlike, the previous company I’ve worked at). And also, considering that the info in that document could be a help to someone out there, I figured might as well post it in a blog.

So, here it is: my own introduction and tutorial to debugging tools.

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How To: Turn off background apps on the iPhone 4

A teammate of mine, just told me this ‘new’ feature of the iPhone 4 that i wasn’t aware of. It’s ‘new’ to me since the feature was not present in the iPhone 2G which i had for the longest time.

The iPhone 4 supports background apps, unlike the 2G. Well, technically, it isn’t the hardware but the software OS that supports it.

Anyway, you can view the apps running in the background by simply double tapping the home button.

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Moving From iPhone (2G, 3G, 3GS) to iPhone 4

A pleasant surprise: I just got my iPhone 4 from my sister who just came from Singapore about 1 week earlier than scheduled. I’m still using my old (but well loved) iPhone 2G (yep, i didn’t bother upgrading to 3G/S since i did not like it’s form factor). Now, I need to move from 2G to 4G and that involves more than just transferring data from the computer. No need to fret though.

First things first, here are the info that needs to be said regarding this How To:

1. One of the main difference between the iPhone 4 and it’s earlier versions is MICRO SIM.

2. The iPhone sold in Singapore is already ‘open-line’. So, it makes this how to a lot easier. I don’t know for other countries.

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Kindle 3 Collections Editor

About a few weeks ago, i got my Kindle 3!

Now, i’m just addicted, not sure if to the Kindle itself or to the books i’m reading – it’s just too seamless.
With just a short period of using it, i can say: I love my Kindle!

I plan on posting a review on Kindle. I know there are already a lot out there but i’d be focusing on my experience as a non-US user. But that’s for later.

One minor complaint i have is that i don’t have an easy way to edit my collections. Kindle users know about this: you’d have to do the editing of your collections on your device which would be quite tedious especially when you have a number of e-books. I wished there was an easier way.

Thanks to a forum i read, i was able to make an editor to update my collections. Now, I’m sharing it!

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How To: Cut a SIM into a Micro-SIM

So why does a typical person needs to cut a normal SIM into a Micro-SIM, you ask.

All credits should go to Apple for making their latest iPhone and iPad use micro SIMs.

Just to clarify, the normal SIM that we have is already a mini SIM. If your mobile phone is not an iPhone 4, then it’s probably using this normal SIM. Most telco’s these days provide (sell) this type of SIM. To date, there are only quite a few in the world that actually commercially produces micro SIMs. Thankfully, the normal SIM and the micro-SIM aren’t that much different, that one can actually use them in place of the other given the right tools and setup.

I am aware that there are already a lot of tutorials and videos about how to convert a normal SIM into micro one. I am also aware that you could probably ask a technician (from a shop, who owns a SIM cutter) to do this for you. However here are my reasons for posting this:

1. I’ve read most of the tutorials about this already and I have some simple tips to make it easier (mainly the use of the Post It).

2. If you go to a shop to get your SIM cut, it will cost you money. Duh. They would normally over charge you for something so simple. This is actually the main reason why i did the cutting myself!

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How to Share your 3G USB Internet with Windows 7 thru Wi-fi without a Router

Tags: 3G USB, Connectify, Windows 7, Wi-Fi, Router, Share Internet, 3G Modem

I have spent two sleepless nights just trying to connect my Wii to the internet using my 3G/HSDPA USB modem. I didn’t want to spend on a 3G router since i wasn’t sure if i’m going to stay at the service. I tried using ‘ad hoc’ and using an actual wi-fi router with a ton of trials and errors (all results were errors).

And, after some hair-pulling frustration, i found this nifty little tool that practically solved my problem almost instantly.

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