The WiFi Zone : Vista

Do you have a non working DSM-750 Media Center Extender?

bowman — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:15:35 GMT

Here's some info from Mark Espenschied, a Marketing Communications Manager for D-Link Systems, Inc. in Fountain Valley, California.

" A small number of early production DSM-750 Wireless N HD Media Center Extenders have an issue with a corrupted security certificate, which results in the communication error messages described in this post when trying to affiliate the DSM-750 with a PC running Windows Media Center. Unfortunately, this defect cannot be rectified through firmware upgrade, and can only be addressed by a factory-trained technician.

If you receive the communication error while attempting to affiliate the DSM-750 with Windows Media Center, please call D-Link technical support at 888-900-3939, Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm PST. This a special number which will allow you to directly reach appropriate technical support agents. They will assess the issue and determine if your unit needs to be replaced. D-Link is ready to quickly resolve this issue; tech support agents have been briefed and customers will be shipped replacement units if needed. "

Technorati tags: DSM-750, D-Link, Media Center Extender

Nero 7, Vista, and where did the thumbnails go - registry fix

bowman — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:09:00 GMT

Bad bad nero. Changes the registry from these defaults. So save this as a reg file or carefully edit the registry (need admin rights):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS]
@=""
"PerceivedType"="video"
"MP2.Last"="Custom"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS\OpenWithProgIds]
"WMP.DVR-MSFile"=hex(0):

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{9DBD2C50-62AD-11D0-B806-00C04FD706EC}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS\ShellEx\{e357fccd-a995-4576-b01f-234630154e96}]
@="{9DBD2C50-62AD-11D0-B806-00C04FD706EC}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wmv]
"PerceivedType"="video"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wmv\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wmv\shellex\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile]
@="Windows Media Audio/Video file"
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,01,00
"FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\
00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\
32,00,5c,00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,\
00,65,00,2c,00,2d,00,39,00,39,00,31,00,34,00,00,00
"PreferExecuteOnMismatch"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,00,6d,00,\
70,00,6c,00,6f,00,63,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,37,00,33,00,36,\
00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell]
@="Play"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\open]
"LegacyDisable"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,\
4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,5c,\
00,77,00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
22,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,72,00,65,00,66,00,65,00,74,00,63,00,68,00,3a,00,37,\
00,20,00,2f,00,4f,00,70,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,4c,00,22,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\open\DropTarget]
"CLSID"="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\play]
@="&Play"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,39,00,39,00,31,00,00,00
"LegacyDisable"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\play\command]
@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,\
4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,5c,\
00,77,00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
22,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,72,00,65,00,66,00,65,00,74,00,63,00,68,00,3a,00,37,\
00,20,00,2f,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,4c,00,22,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shell\play\DropTarget]
"CLSID"="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PlayOnMyTV]
@="{FFB699E0-306A-11d3-8BD1-00104B6F7516}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\WMPAddToPlaylist]
@="{F1B9284F-E9DC-4e68-9D7E-42362A59F0FD}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\WMPPlayAsPlaylist]
@="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\shellex\{8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f}]
@="{031EE060-67BC-460d-8847-E4A7C5E45A27}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMVFile\VideoClipContainer]
@="{5cdcb131-a1a1-4fe9-9a10-80effe042ae0}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi]
@="WMP.AVI"
"PerceivedType"="video"
"MP2.Last"="Custom"
"MPlayer2.BAK"="NeroShowTime.Files7.avi"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\OpenWithProgIds]
"WMP.AVI"=hex(0):

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx\{e357fccd-a995-4576-b01f-234630154e96}]
@="{9DBD2C50-62AD-11D0-B806-00C04FD706EC}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile]
@="Video Clip"
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,01,00
"FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\
00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\
32,00,5c,00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,\
00,65,00,2c,00,2d,00,39,00,39,00,30,00,35,00,00,00
"PreferExecuteOnMismatch"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\CLSID]
@="{00022602-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors\auds]
@="{0002000F-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors\vids]
@="{00020001-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,00,6d,00,\
70,00,6c,00,6f,00,63,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,37,00,33,00,31,\
00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\AU]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\AVI]
@="{00020000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\BMP]
@="{00020006-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\DIB]
@="{00020006-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\FLC]
@="{00020007-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\FLI]
@="{00020007-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\TGA]
@="{0002000A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\WAV]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers\AVI]
@="{00020000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers\WAVE]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell]
@="Play"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\open]
"LegacyDisable"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,\
4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,5c,\
00,77,00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
22,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,72,00,65,00,66,00,65,00,74,00,63,00,68,00,3a,00,38,\
00,20,00,2f,00,4f,00,70,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,4c,00,22,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\open\DropTarget]
"CLSID"="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\play]
@="&Play"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,39,00,39,00,31,00,00,00
"LegacyDisable"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\play\command]
@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,\
4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,5c,\
00,77,00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
22,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,72,00,65,00,66,00,65,00,74,00,63,00,68,00,3a,00,38,\
00,20,00,2f,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,4c,00,22,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\play\DropTarget]
"CLSID"="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PlayOnMyTV]
@="{FFB699E0-306A-11d3-8BD1-00104B6F7516}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\WMPAddToPlaylist]
@="{F1B9284F-E9DC-4e68-9D7E-42362A59F0FD}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\WMPPlayAsPlaylist]
@="{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\{8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f}]
@="{031EE060-67BC-460d-8847-E4A7C5E45A27}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\VideoClipContainer]
@="{5cdcb131-a1a1-4fe9-9a10-80effe042ae0}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg]
"PerceivedType"="video"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg\shellex\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg]
"PerceivedType"="video"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg\shellex\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpg]
"PerceivedType"="image"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpeg]
"PerceivedType"="image"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png]
"PerceivedType"="image"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.gif]
"PerceivedType"="image"

Technorati tags: Media center, Vista, Nero

Don't take Microsoft's Advice on this one. WEP is not secure.

bowman — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:30:00 GMT

Microsoft recently posted a column on Ad Hoc WiFi Networking on the Vista Community site and advocated using WEP if WPA was not available. This article further gave instructions on entering a 5 or 13 character WEP key without even bothering to explain the weaknesses of WEP. WEP supplies a false sense of security. In my neck of the woods, the kiddies often forego wide open networks because it's "fun and easy" to crack WEP. This is one of those backward compatibility features that I wish Microsoft had not included. Or at least given users an explanation that this is "use at great risk". The author sees the backwards compat angle but omits the red alert on security and safety side. It wasn't so long ago that MS told us all that security was job #1.

WEP is unsafe at any speed. Use WEP in a hotel and share via ICS and turn on File and Print Sharing to save money is an invitation to disaster. Just say no. Buy yourself a cheap travel router if you MUST share your connection among close personal friends (D-Link's DWL-G730AP works quite well). But do not follow the advice here unless you're interested in having your files stolen and possibly your identity as well.

I don't normally raise a red flag on Microsoft content without first having made every effort to contact them first, explaining my case, and suggesting replacement content. Be assured I've done that.

I'm a Microsoft Networking MVP, and if you know anything about me, you know that WiFi is where I live and breathe.

My Velocity Micro x64 & Vista MCE & CableCARDs=Happy Together

bowman — Tue, 08 May 2007 18:06:23 GMT

Some of you may remember that back in December 2006, Microsoft and AMD shipped me a Velocity Micro Cinemagix Pro Cinema Entertainment System.

This AMD Athlon X2 system with an ATI x1950 dual DVI card, 2 gigs RAM and huge hard drive was a wonder. Microsoft installed Windows Vista x64 Ultimate and Office 2007 and I was in, well, computer heaven. It was exactly the box I'd spec out myself. Perfect in every way. And certainly the fastest computer I'd ever had in my home.

It was perfect then, but today it is more than perfect. It returned last week after visiting the Velocity Micro factory where it received a BIOS upgrade and a tune up. Why send it back for a BIOS upgrade? The only thing missing was Digital Cable Tuner compatibility (to use CableCARD technology to view and record high definition TV). That feature was not available at the time I received this computer, but IT IS NOW.

To use CableCARD technology with Windows Media Center in Windows Vista, you need five pieces:

1. A machine with a certified (by CableLABS) DCT BIOS
2. A video card with HDCP compliance
3. A monitor or TV that is HDCP compliant
4. A Digital Cable Tuner (formerly called OCUR device)/DCT (or two if you want to watch and record at the same time)
5. A CableCARD from your local cable company.

Velocity Micro is offering this amazing machine with either an internal or external DCT. (You can add a second tuner as well).

I've got two external DCT's attached to this machine and I'm in, well, high definition TV heaven.

If you've been waiting for the ability to watch and record high def TV on a kick-ass machine, run, don't walk to Velocity Micro and customize one of these. Even if you aren't into high def, this is one great computer.

Technorati tags: CableCARD, Media Center, MCE, Vista

Velocity Micro PC DCT/CableCARD Ready Arriving Tomorrow

bowman — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:10:05 GMT

My refitted screamer arrives back home tomorrow. I'm ready!

Awaiting Return of Velocity Micro PC with DCT(CableCARD) Upgrade

bowman — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:02:40 GMT

Last week I shipped my screamer VM box back to the company for the upgrade needed to enable cable card support (and to get a few things fixed - busted USB port and screw down the hard drive cage).

I am so missing this computer but when it comes back, it will be without question the meanest, screaming-est pc on the planet.

I wrote about this great pc on another blog last year. I can't believe how much I miss it. So c'mon guys, I'm going into screamer withdrawal.

Technorati tags: Media Center, CableCARD, Vista, Velocity Micro, Barb Bowman