Saturday, July 25, 2009

Outlook Express Setup

Here are some screenshots that will help you to configure Outlook Express so you can start downloading messages from the F1NGers Newsgroup.

Start Outlook Express. Click TOOLS > ACCOUNTS

Since F1NGers is hosted on a News Server (NNTP), click ADD > NEWS

Type in your desired name. This is what other users will see in the FROM field.

Now enter your email address. We’re proud to say that we’ve never ever had a F1NGer complain of receiving spam or unwanted junk email as a result of displaying an email address in the newsgroup. This is so, because only people with valid credentials can view F1NGers. Even search engines can’t crawl and make a record of messages posted here.

Fill in the fields as shown. Make sure you check/tick the indicated box.

The next step is to enter the login credentials that were sent to you when you asked to join us. Do be careful to enter the username and password exactly as displayed in the email, both of which are CASE SENSITIVE, so PassWord is not the same as pASSwORD !

The initial configuration is almost complete. All that remains is some final tweaking. This is the next screen that you’ll see. Click FINISH to move the second and last phase of this exercise.

We’ve now set up OE with the details needed to access the server. We’ll now configure OE so the F1NGers groups and the messages they contain can be downloaded. Click YES to the prompt which will then take us to a window where OE will connect to the server and display the groups.

This next step is where you’ll subscribe to the groups that are part of F1NGers.

f1ng.ers is the primary group where all the discussions (both on and off-topic) take place.
f1ng.spa98 is a group where some of our more enthusiastic members upload media files like images or videos.
f1ng.teams is the least active and is devoted to us boffins trying to improve F1NGers, this is where the bureaucracy is holed up and where we think of newer ideas for bettering the F1NGers community. We recommend you subscribe to all three groups, be active and post regularly in all groups.

The very last step will be to tell Outlook Express to include this account and download the messages when you next click the SEND/RECEIVE button.

That’s it. You’re all set !

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

How to install Windows XP on a HP dv9500 series Laptop:

First we need to "create a new Windows XP installation disk integrated with SATA drive controller drivers" (Intel SATA AHCI Controller Driver). Otherwise Windows XP will not find the hard disk during the installation procedure.

  1. Download and install nLite
  2. Download the Intel SATA AHCI Controller Driver and run the executable installing to the default c:\swsetup\SP37005 path
  3. Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD drive
  4. Navigate to Start -> Programs -> nLite and click nLite to launch the program
  5. Once you get to the Locating the Windows installation section, Click the Browse button and navigate to the CD drive where your Windows install CD resides, then click OK and Next
  6. Locating the Windows installation

  7. Next, the program will ask you where to save the CD installation files for modification, click OK
  8. Save Location

  9. Next, you will need to create a folder to save to and work from. Click the Make New Folder button, type in a folder name, and click OK
  10. Make a Folder to save to

  11. Next, nLite will attempt to copy all files from the Windows installation disk to the folder you have created. Once it has finished, click Next
  12. Once you arrive at the Task Selection page, select the Drivers and Bootable ISO option and then click Next
  13. NLite Tasks

  14. Next to select the SATA drivers to integrate. Click Insert, select Single driver and navigate to the c:\swsetup\SP37005\Files and click iastor.inf and click Open
  15. Integrate drivers nLite

  16. Next, select "ALL" of the driver files listed and then click OK
  17. nLite Driver integration

  18. Next, when prompted to start the process Click OK
  19. After the process has finished, click Next till you arrive at the Bootable ISO page
  20. I prefer to Create an ISO Image and then use other software to burn the ISO to a CD
  21. Create the custom Windows XP ISO

  22. Next, find your newly created ISO and burn your ISO to a CD using your preferred burning software
  23. Insert the remastered Windows XP CD into your HP dv9500 series Laptop and proceed to install Windows XP

Install System Drivers for Windows XP and HP dv9500 series Laptops:

Windows XP should now be installed on your HP dv9500 series Laptop. Next, you will need to install the related system, audio, network and video drivers for your new XP install. I am assuming that you have a wired internet connection established, if not you will need to use another PC to download the driver pack and then extract the files to a USB device.

  1. Download the Driver Pack (note this is for Intel processor based systems only)
  2. Extract the Driver Pack
  3. Navigate to where you extracted the Driver Pack files and run chipset – infinst_autol.exe to install the Chipset Drivers and reboot
  4. Once rebooted, navigate back to the Driver Pack files and run intel matrix – iata78_enu.exe to install the Matrix Storage Manager Drivers and reboot once again
  5. After reboot, to install the nVidia Graphics Drivers, extract nv_gfgo_101.34-2kxp32.exe and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder. Click Continue Anyway if a popup dialog box appears warning you that the driver is unsigned
  6. To install the Audio Drivers, extract files from the realek HD audio – WDM_R183.zip and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder
  7. Navigate back to the Driver Pack files and run UAA – sp32646.exe
  8. Next, extract the files from realek HD audio – WDM_R183.zip and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder
  9. To install the modem drivers from the motorola modem – Windows_SM56_6.12.07_DFV.zip
  10. Next, run synaptics touchpad – sp35444.exe
  11. Next, run quicklaunch – sp34796.exe. If you get a few popup New Hardware Found windows. Choose
    one and click No, then click Next. Choose Automatic then click Finish.
  12. Proceed to install any additional drivers you might need from the Driver Pack For example: Ethernet Card or Wireless drivers

If all has gone well, your HP dv9500 series Laptop should be up and running from Windows XP with all of your peripherals working properly