Tips and Tricks

Have you heard of it already?

I never thought that Firefox can be such a highly customizable browser with regard to viewing web pages. Taken from Mozilla itself, Greasemonkey scripts allows you to customize the way a web page displays using small bits of JavaScript. There were a lot of scripts available in http://userscripts.org that applies to hundreds of website.

My favorite script is the Gmail + Google Reader integration. What it does is, it inserts a drop down menu for your Google reader. So it’s like opening to application in one. No need to have a separate tab for Google reader. Also the script Gmail beautifier is a must if you frequently lobby on your Gmail account. It removes the adsense ads on the right bar and drastically improved the way the buttons look like.

How to install scripts to your firefox?

1. First, download the Greasemonkey script.
2. Once done, head over to http://userscripts.org for vast selection of scripts for different websites.

BTW this post was made using my Linux Mint OS.

This is yet the most effective way EVER to double your bandwidth instantly.

But, before I go to that…. Let me share you some of my personal experience with my previous internet connections. Hope you find this interesting. *wink *wink

My First ISP and My DSL

About 1 and a half years ago, My very first connection was Smart BRO. It was during time that this wireless connection is in it’s experimental stage, I supposed. The bandwidth that they’d offer me before was 256 kbps which is fair enough for a starting internet cafe business. DSL is not yet available at that time, so it leaves me with no other choice.

At first, it was doing good until such time that bad weathers and little rain showers made a bad impact to it’s line of sight. It was needed to have a well established connection from the control tower. So just to make that story short, I discontinued the service after Digitel (our local phone and internet provider) made an enticing offer.

It was a switching plan package that consist of both land line and a 512 kbps internet bandwidth.

I got what I want, a prepaid phone with no MSF and a faster broadband connection BUT the good things didn’t last long coz every now and then I often get a faulty modem, a cut telephone line and slow connection issues. So there you go with the usual pattern of calling technical support, asking for sup (supervisor) and talking about the shitty internet connection and rebates. And guess what? 1 year had passed and my rebates still isn’t showing. What a great customer service experience that I had with these guys. By this time I think you already have an idea on what am I talking about…hmmm *wink

Now, How to double your Bandwidth nga ?

There’s no really trick or special tweak that you need here, sorry to disappoint you guys. But what I want to point out is how you can actually take advantage of this service competitions.

Just this morning, Globe Broadband came to our house offering their DSL service. I knew for a fact then that they were building their infrastructure already in our town but I didn’t expect it to be this fast.

The Offer? The installation and service charge are lifted. My current connection of 512 Kbps (I usually get 400-420kbps) will then be tripled to at least 1.5 Mbps for the same price but limited to internet-only connection, considering the price and speed isn’t that great enough? How is that for their switching offer? (too bad, that this package isn’t available anymore).

The second one is not bad either as it has a landline and a 1 Mbps bandwidth. So before the special promo expires and the slots become unavailable, I promptly said YES and filled that application form right away. Next week, will be the baptism of fire. Yebah!

With Smart BRO still on it’s early stages and Digitel’s line is beginning to deteriorate, I bet that Globe will have a much better connection and efficient customer service because of the relatively new lines installed in our area.

Are you getting this http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx? Looking for Run Once / runonce Fix answers in IE7? You’re just in luck. I have compiled a couple of good workarounds that can clear that annoying issue out on your Internet Explorer 7

GPEDIT.MSC Workaround:

1. Set your favorite home page in Internet Explorer, under Tools\Internet Options
2. Click Start\Run and type gpedit.msc, then press OK
3. Under Local Computer Policy; select Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
4. Select prevent performance of First Run Customized Settings
5. Enable this setting, and then select Option 1 to go to your default home page, or Option 2 to get the default Internet Explorer welcome page.

REGEDIT Workaround:

1. Click Start > Run and type the following into the Open box: regedit
2. Click OK.
3. Using the left-hand pane, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
4. In the right-hand pane, right-click on RunOnceHasShown and change the value to 1
5. Close Regedit and restart Internet Explorer 7

Adding a .reg file Workaround

Open Notepad.
Copy and paste the following into Notepad:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
“RunOnceHasShown”=dword:00000001
“RunOnceComplete”=dword:00000001

Save the text file as IE7_RunOnceComplete.reg.
Double-click the newly created file.
When the UAC prompt appears, click Continue.
When the confirmation box appears, click Yes.
The file will be merged to the registry. A confirmation box will appear, click OK.
Restart the computer for the change to take affect.

TRUSTED SITE Workaround:

1. Click Tools > Internet Options
2. Click on the Security tab
3. Click on Trusted Sites and then the Sites button
4. Add the following site to the trusted zone: *.msn.com
5. Click Add and then uncheck the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone and click close
6. Click OK

For Windows XP users who upgraded to IE7, I’m sorry if any of theses didn’t work for you but you can always go back to IE6 (which is much stable) by simply uninstalling IE7 in add/remove programs under control panel. I’m pretty sure runonce will not show up again.

But if I were you, I’ll shift to Firefox and quit using IE. Just a suggestion. ;-D