I have add a few headers to the website now. There were 12 different headers before, each page selected on at random to display.

It will continue to display a random header, but there are no 20 to choose from.

All headers include images taken by me except one, and that's the satellite image one of my road, as my satellite isn't ready yet! ;-)

I had recently discovered that my Email directory was taking up a lot of space on a server at work. After clearing out some unwanted emails, is then discovered it had done nothing to actually recover any disk space.

I soon found out that Thunderbird doesn't seem to delete emails until over a year after they were actually deleted.

This does allow you to recover some deleted emails by right clicking on the folder in question, selecting properties, then chosing Rebuild Index on that folder.

But if you are like me and just wanted to recover disk space, you need to click File -> Compact Folders. This will recover a surprising amount of space.

This is my first update for a while. The last month have been really busy so over the next long weekend I hope to catch up a bit on my tasks.

I recently had a project where I needed a program to deal with emails automatically. We have an account which emails are sent to, this program needs to save the text of the email and any attachment in a directory ready for another program to process.

I decided to go with c# with the idea that this would provide more options and would be easier to use.

I managed to create a automatic email program with the help of this program from Code Project. I used the classes with attached within to gather the email, save the text and attachment. I had to modify a few things to work for me, and the attachment didn't seem to save until I forced it to do a binary save.

Hope this helps someone.

I have a few tips lined up, I will do the linux one today and my C Sharp tip tomorrow.

I had to fix a machine where it could not boot from it's hard drive. So I decided to try out Pendrivelinux which allowed me to try and see if I could save some files from the hard drive and finally get it to boot up again.

The link above shows you how to install this debian version of linux onto a usb stick so you have a portable operating system with you where ever you go.

Hi guys. Haven't updated in the last week so thought I'd better keep things fresh.

My Office should have the last major update next Wednesday when the carpet is fitted. The I can really start using it and move the racking and cabinets in. Once that is done, the only thing to do is fit the new light and install my graphics card for my dual screen and everthings done.

I do plan on reinstalling everything on both my laptop and my computer because both have become rather sluggish and I could do with a tidy up. But this will hopefully allow me to get more of my projects done as I have the workspace to do everything.

I have a few days off in March and a few long weekends so I plan to have the gallery completely usable with office pictures running by then. The main gallery code is done, I just need to upload the pictures.

Just to let you know that I have finally got my web cam up and running in my office now. I don't know how problem free this will be because I have a new IP address that my server is not used to so may block it at some point, also, I can't remember how much bandwidth I have.

I have been making a few improvements to the web site that I have been meaning to do for a while now.

The main feature that will be most visible to you will be the Categories. Each Blog will be filed under a Category, so you can now view every blog from that Category.

This is mainly just to keep things in order and help new visitors finding the information that they really want.

The Categories menu has been placed below the links menu on the right (a bit lower down the page).

Please note that not all the Blog's have been placed into Categories as yet, but this will be done within the next few days.

I had friday off to get a few things sorted with my office (yes I still haven't finished it). Helen's Dad was again very kind and came round at the weekend and virtually finished everything. The Desk is now complete, and the shelves, blinds, clock and NOBO boards are now up. The Cable Racking has also been installed under the desk.

It also allowed me to use my Drill's for the first time which was cool. Tonight I hope to finished putting my network in place. The cables are all there, I just need to configure a few things to make sure it all works.

My Gallery is almost complete, just need a little script to upload the images now and that complete, then I can upload some pictures of my office.

I was reading some information regarding the latest NASA space mission STS-112 today, and I was interested to find out a little more about the International Space Station.

This lead me to read more about some earlier mission details and I got reading about the longest Golf Drive which was an experiment expected to last just 3 days, but is currently still orbiting the earth.

Official Nasa splurg on the event gives a little more detail on the event.

You can Track the Golf Ball using this link, but you may need IE you view it, as Firefox didn't seem to handle it on my computer and gave me an empty java box.

Apparently a video of the Golf Shot was taken, and is being considered for a TV Advert.

You can view the video on YouTube, but when I watched it you couldnt really work out where the ball was.

I was recently setting up a new laptop with Vista. When setting up a program to run from our network I received the following message 'The publisher could not be verified' then asked me if I wanted to run the program.

Now this was getting annoying for me and it wasn't even my computer.

I found a way of stopping this message appearing every time you run the program and it is as follows:

Run Internet Explorer and click on Tools.

Select Internet Options

Select the Security Tab

Click the Local Intranet Icon and then click the Sites button

Select the Advance Button

In the address type in 'file://servername' replacing servname with the name of the server the program in question is running on

Click add then ok everything.

The program should now work with no more annoying messages

I used this Vista Help Website to give me some sort of clue.

The bit I found is more than half way down the page.

I was recently changing the MOTD (message of the day) on a linux machine. I like to have the name of the machine appear in this. I used to create the title myself, which used to tack ages.

I found a web site that will do this for you. The Ascii Generator takes your text and creates the ascii art for you in a wide range of fonts.

I haven't added an entry in the last couple of days so I feel that I need to add one. Otherwise I run the risk of forgetting all about it like I have done before.

But at the moment I think I still have the enthusiasm for it. Maybe because I am still writing some of the back-end code for this blog.

For the last few days over the weekend I have been working on my Gallery, which is not far off being finished. A few minor kinks need to be ironed out, but I hope to have it up and running by the end of next weekend at the latest.

At first there might only be a few test images up, because one of my other projects is to write a program to sort through all my pictures across 3 computers and sort the duplicates and other images still on my camera. Give me a few weeks and it should all be up and running smoothly.

If you can't wait till then, then my Simple Linux Commands blog has been updated a couple of times in the last week with new things I learn't which might come in handy for you if your new to Linux.

Just a quick update today. I recently had to burn a CD image, but I was given a .BIN file instead of the .ISO files that I am used to.

I tried to use the .Bin image as this was clearly the bigger file size, but Nero said that this was not a correct Image Format.

A quick search found that .BIN files should come with a .CUE file, which is the file you select if using software like Nero.

I used the .CUE file instead and it did the trick.

I'm in a sharing kind of mood today, and what better thing to share than software?

I use a large amount of free and open source source software which include Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, Thunderbird instead of Outlook, Filezilla for ftp, Pidgin instead of Messenger and Dia instead of Visio.

I have mentioned just a few, and there are far more that without looking into I can't remember.

But I was told about a web site yesterday that you should always use before buying software. Osalt is a directory of Commercial and Open Source software. Look for any software, and this web site will tell you of an alternative.

So if you search for Microsoft Office, it will come back with Open Office, and a few others. Well worth a try.

Just thought I'd let you know about a neat bit of software I am currently using. Our office have recently installed dual monitors, and the software that comes with the graphics card are a little light on the features.

A quick search lead me to a couple of sites with software for trial. After testing several, my favourite has to be Ultra Mon.

This program lets you have the best of a stretched screen, and two seperate screens at the same time. For example, if you want you screensaver and wallpaper to stretch across both screens then this will allow you to do that. You can then decide if you want Firefox at a custom size, or to expand to one screen, or expand to both.

There is also a neat button to flip any window to exactly the same position on the other screen.

Also the feature that I wanted most was the taskbar extras. Each taskbar now acts as a seperate taskbar, displaying only the windows on that screen.

This also stops messages appearing in the middle of both screens, and just in the middle of your selected primary monitor.

Yesterday I was in need of a Hard Disk software. I had a computer that was a fresh install, but the Hard Drive that everything was intalled on was a 40gb one. The user needed a much bigger one. Once a new 160gb drive had been purchased I then needed to copy across everything from the smaller drive to the larger one so that I didnt have to reinstall everything again.

We do own a copy of Partition Magic, but for some reason I couldn't get this to install.

A quick google search lead me to Parition Logic. This software is a small application based on the Visopsys OS. You download the .iso and write it to a CD, or you can copy a version to a floppy and its all FREE. They are bootable so you need to restart your computer and either boot off the floppy or CD.

You are taken into the software which has a range of facilities, just like Partition Magic. This allowed me to copy across the partition from the smaller drive to the new drive, then resize the partition to fill the new drive.

This software also allows you to create, move and delete partitions. Well worth a try before splashing out on commercial software.

First real entry of 2008. I have been working hard over the last couple of days on the search facility for this blog. It now searches both blog entries and comments.

My next aim for this web site is to get the web cam up and running, even if its not in its final resting place, also get the gallery up and running, which I have been working on behing the scenes, and I plan to sort every entry.

The web cam I can get working but I need to connect it somewhere, possible in my unfinished office.

I have been working on sorting out the Gallery. I havent written any code for it but I do now have a program that will sort out all my photo's and find any duplicates. I think it is really helpful so I may make it available at some time.

I want every entry to be sub categorised. So that they can be sorted under general, programming, football etc.

For now atleast you can enjoy the new search facility.

Hi everyone, hope you all had a very good Christmas and hope you have a great 2008.

I have a few projects that I hope to have finished early in 2008, so keep an eye out for them.Test

I have been getting an error message when trying to update my Thunderbird Email client. After it updated, it was asking me to restart Thunderbird, after restarting I was greeted with the following message.

"Software Update Failed. One or more files could not be updated. Please make sure all other applications are closed and that you have permission to modify files, and then restart Firefox to try again."

I found the solution was to stop Spybot TeaTimer running. To do this, run Spybot, click on Mode, and check Advanced Mode. Click on Tools, then Resident, then untick TeaTimer.

Once you have done this, check for Thunderbird Updates, then restart Thunderbird when asked. This should now work as supposed. You can then restart TeaTimer to resume your protection.

I found the solution on this forum post.

Been over a week since my last post, and I didnt want things to get like before, so I have made myself post again.

My decorating seems to take one step forward and two steps back at the moment.

My Sky is being installed as we speak, and my broadband should be switched on tomorrow, so posting should be a little easier.

Once all that is done I can start uploading some pictures.

Last thing I would like to say is good luck to my colleague Edd (Communication) who today announced that he is leaving our place of work for a new job in Brighton. I would like to wish him luck in his new job and we will all miss him.

So far I have managed to keep my blog ticking over nicely. I have updated it on a regular basis since the facelift it had and I hope to continue doing that.

Last night I finally got round to ordering Sky along with my broadband. The TV stuff is being installed next week, and the Broadband stuff should be here within the week and once the line has been connected, although I still don’t have an office at the moment, my laptop should help me through this tough time lol.

So once this is all up and running, I will be able to reconnect my web cam, which has been out of action since I cancelled my broadband at my old house.

If you haven’t already noticed, I have added a Simple Linux web page. I will be installing atleast one linux machine in my new office, so I will keep a list of handy comands that I’ll need on this page that might be useful for linux newbies.

I was recently given a PC from my girlfriends uncle and aunt the other day. They have upgraded to laptops and didn’t want this machine any more. First impressions are that it doesnt look that old, and probably runs XP, but I haven’t got round to starting it up yet.

Is it just me, or does taking a 3,000 year old corpse from its ancient tomb in Egypt seem a bit creepy?

The news was full of reports about King tutankhamun being taken from his sarcophagus and being put on display for tourists to see. But with a new Indiana Jones film in production, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was part of the film.

But if Hollywood has taught us anything, then its that whenever an ancient pharaoh, king or holy artifact has been removed from its resting place, then it is usually followed by some curse...or killer monster.

But if you ask me, its still grave digging, doesnt matter if if its 3,000 years old or not.

Its Friday afternoon, and we have the weekend to look forward to, after finishing off these last few hours at work.

I have football to look forward to tomorrow. It will be our first game without our manager as he left last week due to work commitments.

I suppose I will spend Sunday either mowing the lawn, or sanding down the office ready for painting, or probably both. I tried laying the network cable down the stairs for the modem, but I am affraid that the cable I chose was too short, and I need to take it up and relay it with a longer one. But I think I am going to wait until I have a headphone extension cable. I plan to use this to connect my computer to my stereo down stairs, so that I can play my ripped music from my computer, and internet radio and stuff down stairs.

Hopefully on Monday I will have sorted out my pictures and have some to show you in the gallery, which I also need to finish. Busy weekend ahead.

A few updates to the site in the last couple of days. The Guest Book is now up and running again with the old entries included. Also the Contact Me page is now functional.

I have also added a Word of the Day feature to the menu on the right. Hopefully it will help improve vocabulary of both me and my visitors.

Yesterday it was announced that Brazil will host the World Cup in 2014, so another competition England wont win because ‘It was too hot’.

Yesterday I didn’t get much done because I ended up watching Die Hard 4, instead of laying the network and telephone cable for my new office, maybe tomorrow instead.

I have now moved over my new website from my testing server as everything is now here. All the old tutorials and stuff can be found on the menu on the right under Main Blog Entries.

I have created this website from scratch, all buy myself. I even modified the header images, and expect to add a few more when I finish my office and sort through my pictures from my holiday and house moving.

That reminds me, I still havent finished the gallery yet, I need to create that, but that is for another day.

First entry for a while, and the first in this new look web site. Took me a couple of days to create it, not completely finished yet as there are still the search features to add a copy over a few pages from the old site which will soon be here.

Spent the weekend playing football which we lost, then dinner round my parents for my nans birthday treat.

Sunday was spent decorating my new office. Helen's dad spent the day with us helping to put the skirting board and coving on, and sort out the ceiling. We just need to let it dry before we can start painting it.

It looks a lot better than it did. Once I get broadband at home, or a little more time, I will post some pictures of the current progress on this web site.

Helen and I got through a couple VHS Home Videos last night and copied the bits we want onto the computer. I think we are half way through another and have two more left after that, then we will need to move onto the few DV tapes I have lying around.

I finally managed to get Azureus working on Wednesday, my router is now working fine, and I have connected it to my Belkin 8-port switch that I had lying around.

I stumbled across a problem last night while using Adobe Premier Pro. I was creating the titles using a few pictures, some of the pictures had text in them. When I exported the project to an AVI file, the text, and the rest of the image, appeared a bit blurry. If anyone knows why this might be happening, on knows of a way to fix this, then please let me know.

Haven't added an update for a while, really busy at the moment. I am currently in the process of moving all my Dads Home Videos from VHS to my PC, this is taking some time. I then plan to cut them and put them on one DVD using Adobe Premier Pro.

I am also trying to get Azureus working. At the moment I can't get port forwarding to work even with the help of this website.

I decided to replace my Modem with a modem router, I now have two Belkin routers which I need to get talking to each other. I want one to act as a switch, but I have no idea if this is possible yet. If anyone knows then please let me know.

My Dad has a TomTom GO 500 which we got him for his birthday last year. This week he lent it to my sister, but when she went to use it, she found that it would not start up.

I set out to find the problem. After a quick inspection of the device, I could see that it didn't need charging up because Dad had left it on charge for about 24 hours with no effect. Even with the device plugged into the wall it would still not turn on.

One thing I did notice was that the Green Light on the front was lit, telling me that it did have power and was not completely dead.

A quick search of the web lead me to this web site. A quick read told me that the problem could be with the in-car charger. To fix this problem you need to press the small reset switch under the unit, after which the screen would appear as normal.

This done the trick, and the SatNav was up and running again. Also the good thing was that the Speed Camera patch that we had put on it before had not been removed during the reset.

As I mentioned before, my PC Tip I suggested to PC Mechanic for their Daily Tips email appeared today, as well as on their blog web site.

Click here to view the blog entry, or to sign up to their daily tips email for yourself.

I sent and email to the daily e-newsletter I get from PC Mechanic after I discovered a neat little bit of software we are going to use at work. The Software can be found here and it is called Code Collector.

Every time you stumble across a useful bit of code that solves a problem of yours, store it in this program under the code type. I don't need an install to work, so you can place it on a network to allow everyone to have access to the same tips and update them.

PC Mechanic emailed me back saying that thought it was a neat bit of software as well and are going to use it as one of their tips of the day with a mention of me with a link to this web site which I though was great, and it will hopefully up my hits counter.

Football was cancelled today because of the bad weather, so I had more time to work on my computer game and some other stuff.

I got my layout for my Wesley Computers web site done today, but it is only in the test directory at the moment, and the old design is still live for the moment.

I just need to sort out some content for this site then it’s finished.

While looking for bits of code for my computer game, I found an small snippet of code that makes the gradient on a control in C#, I will use this for a progress bar I need to make.

When doing R&D for my Custom Controls for my computer game, I stumbled over a problem when making a semi-transparent/translucent control.

I can make semi-transparent user control, but when you subclass a control it become more difficult.

I found a bit of code where a text box was possible here, but this could not be added to a form at design time.

I got round this by adding it to a new user control in the Form_Load event of that control, that way I was using the new user control to add the new text box at design time for me.

But this then caused another problem with Windows Smooth font, making a funny red shaded border appear around the text. When making the translucent effect, you choose the colour, so I need to choose a cross between the font colour and the background colour to make it look more professional.

Right I have set myself a few projects that I hope to get completed. I will post my progress on this site for each project, along with the problems that I encounter, along with a guide as to how to overcome the problems I found so that it may help others.

Projects that I have are the following:

Count Down Screen Saver

My current screen saver is one that I created myself in VB6. It counts down to a specific date and time. It counts down the weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds while bouncing around the screen. I hope to convert this to a C# version so that it can be more pleasant on the eye.

Fantasy Football Manager

This is also another conversion to C# from VB. My football club and work run Dream Team leagues based on the The Sun’s Dream Team. My VB program stores all the teams, players and transfers.

It updates the league from the touch of a button from The Sun’s web site and works out each teams scores before displaying them in a League Table. I have also added extra features for Cup competitions, extra Transfers and multiple formations, along with an Automatic web site update to keep managers informed of how well their team is doing.

Football Manager Game

One of my targets in life is to create my own computer game. My favourite types of games are football games, mainly management games. I hope to create one of my own using C#.

Right, I have wanted to continually update my web site for a while, but because I was never fully happy with the old girlie design and it was never fully finished I never bothered.

I have now redesigned the site with a layout that I am happy with (for now), and I have a load of articles that I wish to apply to this site.

I have kept a few 'blog' style entries that I would have posted had the site been finished, so I will add them to this page to make it look like it's been working longer than it has.