Download an offline installer of Google Chrome in a jiffy!

Google Chrome is awesome. Period.

However, if you're on a very slow or do not have an internet connection, the default Chrome installer (which is an online installer) is a pain.

I'd rather have a large download file for a completely offline install rather than a small file with an online one.

And you can get an offline installer for Chrome really easily. Here's how:

Head over to http://filehippo.com/download_google_chrome/ to get to know the latest version of Chrome available. Or you can just google that.

As of today, the Beta version is currently at

3.0.196.2

Now we've only got to take note of the last two parts of that version number. In this case: "196.2".

And then simply enter the following address into your browser and replace the xxx.xx with the version no.

http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/xxx.xx/chrome_installer.exe

In my case, it would be http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/196.2/chrome_installer.exe

Go to the link and you should get a prompt box telling you to save the file. It would be around 10mb. Just save the file and you're done.

The next time you've got to install Chrome, you can do it without an internet connection. Just fire up the newly downloaded installer and you're golden!

Start copying using TeraCopy!

TeraCopy is a tiny freeware program that is an alternative for the default Windows XP (or Vista) file-copying tool. It copies files at the maximum possible speed, providing the 'current status' of the copying (which includes the estimated time of completion, %left, no. of files completed in batch copying etc..) and it also has an error recoverability feature which is a terribly missed feature in the default copying application.

In case of a file-copy error, it will try several times again to copy the file. And incase a copy still isn't possible it will not terminate the entire copying process (unlike the default copying application in Windows which abruptly stops the copying), but it will just skip the faulty file and copy the rest of the files successfully.
Teracopy also displays the speeds at which files are copied and also offers a unique feature of pausing and resuming a file-copying process.

A portable version of Teracopy is also available incase you're running a slow system.

So, XP and Vista users, stop just copying and start teracopying now!

Fixing iKernel.exe/Installshield error

I recently ran into this iKernel.exe error while trying to install Dreamweaver on my lappy.
It read "The Installshield engine could not be launched. %1 ikernel.exe is not a valid Win32 application"
The same error popped up while trying to install another application. So I decided to look it up and I managed to find a simple solution for the same and this solution works for most of the other iKernel.exe or Installshield errors as well!

Simply head over to C:/Program Files/Common Files/Installshield and delete the 'Engine' folder. Then empty it from recycle bin!
Try the installation again and you should be golden! :)

Protect your Pen-drives from viruses by disabling autorun!

Well most of the times that your pen drive get's infected is usually due to plugging in a previously infected pendrive to a PC and then plugging yours to the same.
If you've got your "Folder Options" missing, "Regedit" missing or your usb devices not opening in Windows Explorer, it's most usually because you're infected with a virus.
Well, an anti-virus scan and a spyware removal tool would help you get rid of the virus, but then you've got to be careful not to get infected again!

Most viruses spread by utilizing the autorun.inf file that autmatically runs every time you plug-in your pen drive to your computer. They configure the autorun file to launch the virus-executables that may be bundled along with the autroun.inf file on your pendrive. And thats how they spread from machine to machine, cripplings systems along the way.

So how I'll try to help you here is by disabling the autorun feature which would minimize the chances infection considerably incase an infected pendrive is plugged into your comp.
Also, we'll see how to prevent viruses from infecting pen drives that are plugged into your computer.

1. Disabling the Autorun feature.
Simply fire up your registry editor. (Start>Run>regedit)
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Now double click the value ""NoDriveTypeAutoRun" and set the Hex value to "ff" or the Decimal value to "255".
Hit F5 (to refresh your registry editor) and you're done.
Autorun.inf will no longer be executed automatically.

2. Prevent Autorun.inf files being writted to your pen drives.
All you've got to do here is create a folder named "Autorun.inf" without the quotes!

(Headover to folder options and unhide file extensions incase it isn't already.)
These files should prevent malicious autorun files from infecting your pendrive.

Thats it! :)
These 2 steps should minimize (if not immunize) your pendrives from viruses to quite an extent!
Incase you still need some more help on this topic, ask away!


Get rid of the shortcut-arrow from Shortcut Icons.

Well, this tip is mainly for the desktop conscious, the ones who like to flaunt their sleek looking desktops with the magnificent wallpapers, smooth looking themes and arty icons.
But the little shortcut-arrow that shows up on shortcut icons always seem to blemish the beauty of your icons.
So this little tweak here helps you get rid off these ugly marks.
All you've got to do is edit a single registry value.
Here's how its done...


Head over the the Registry Editor (Start>Run>"regedit">OK)
Navigate to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile".
Backup the key just incase you would want the shortcut-arrows back in the future. To do this, right click on "lnkfile">Export>and save the .reg file to a directory with an appropriate name like "Show shortcut arrows".
Now that you're done backing up,
Delete the "IsShortcut" string. Hit F5 (To refresh).
Log off. Log back on.
Your're done! :)

View your Folder Sizes in the Details section of your folders

It's always a pain to not be able to view a folder size directly in the Details-view of a folder. Right-clicking>Properties and then waiting for the folder size to show up isn't the only way out anymore.
You can now use the application Folder Size 2.4 to enable the folder-size attribute to show up in the Details section as seen in the screenshot below.

All you've got to do is download the 228kb .msi file from here. Close any open explorer windows. Run the installer and you're good to go.
Now, just rightclick the Details tab and check the Foldersize attribute to view the folder sizes.
The app also lets you see the number of Folder Children, File Children and All Children.
Enjoy the tweak! :)

Prevent Firefox from Hogging Memory When Minimized

Got this tip off of Lifehacker.. Head on over there to hack life better.. :)

Heres another handy little tip for those of you who are low on RAM. You could prevent Firefox from taking up RAM when it's minimized into your taskbar.
Just like earlier, all you need to do is only enter a new value in the about:config page.

So heres how its done..
Type about:config into your address bar.
Hit Enter.
Confirm to your browser that you'll be careful messing with your configuration.
Right-click somewhere outside all those period-separated values and choose New/Boolean.
In the window that pops up, enter config.trim_on_minimize
Hit OK.
Then select "True" in the next dialog.
Close out your about:config window, restart Firefox, and you're done! :)

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