Double Disaster …

Areal 'cracker', this one. First, my hard drives failed without warning. For the geeky, they were set up as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent [or Inexpensive] Disks) array which, in non-geeky terms meant that everything written to one disk was mirrored to the other. A RAID setup (there are many levels) is a bit of overkill for a home computer and is normally found on a commercial server. But that is the way it was configured when I bought the computer about 18 months ago, and I didn't see any reason to change things.

Effectively this should mean that one never loses information when a disk fails, because the computer should automatically stop reading and writing to the failed disk and continue operating (seamlessly) using the second!

HAH!

So what happens when both fail at the same time? I guess that's a rhetorical question and needs no answer. I am sure everybody understands what the implied consequences are.

The failure, which I still haven't analysed, forced a trip to the local computer shops and I ended up with a new beast with all the bells and whistles. Never mind that there are still 3 perfectly working computers in the house.

I WANTED A NEW ONE (lying on back and kicking heels in air like a spoilt child).

So I bought it, even though the timing was a bit off. The release of Windows-7 is only three weeks away and I have pre-ordered my copy which will necessitate a 'clean-install'. That isn't such a big deal because I would have backed-up my data before installing and then copied the old stuff across.

But when you find yourself in a situation where you didn't have time to save all the important 'gubbins', you are faced with restoring from your latest backup. Something I do religiously, and on a Sunday, too! The most I am likely to lose is the stuff I've added between Monday and Saturday.

But worse was to come.

The new computer rejected the backups with total disdain. The new computer is a 64-bit OS; the old computer ran 32-bit. That shouldn't have mattered because 64-bit will run 32-bit perfectly well under normal circumstances. My circumstance was obviously 'abnormal'.

Much 'too-ing' and 'fro-ing', with the assistance of Maria who slowly but inexorably unzipped old backups to see what was where, and I've managed to put back some of the more important stuff. But my attempts have been rather listless, knowing I will have to do this all over again in a couple of weeks.

To add to the gloom my web hosts informed me that on Saturday they had a massive RAID failure (where have I heard that before?) and that all user accounts on that particular server would need to be set up from scratch. That would be OK under normal circumstances, but my circumstances at the moment are not. I'm sure I have relatively recent backups of the various accounts I run from that server (this is one of them), but there are a few things missing. And I really can't be bothered chasing down missing files.

So if this blog and Paradise have a graphic or two missing, please bear with me until such time as I can track down the little bleeders and restore them.

One 'positive' that has come out of this is that I was determined to reinstall Windows Live Writer (WLW). Cath had already contacted me, before the failure, to say that she had discovered that WLW didn't work with a 64-bit OS. I sympathised, looked for solutions and forwarded them to her, but couldn't help any further because I wasn't running 64-bit.

I am now. And Cath, I have to tell you that all I did was go to the download page and after checking the system requirements …

 

… I hit the download button and the programme installed itself without throwing a single 'hissy-fit'!

That's it for now …

 

TIP - Demise of Soapbox

Just when I thought I'd discovered a real GEM in 'Windows Live Writer', Microsoft has decided to cripple its functionality by closing down their video repository called Soapbox.

Apparently Microsoft said in June that it was re-evaluating Soapbox (it's in direct competition with Google's YouTube), although Microsoft vice president Erik Jorgensen said in a published report that Soapbox might become a site where bloggers and citizen journalists could post videos, possibly for a fee.

Whoa! That's not going to happen!

Microsoft have notified customers that Soapbox will stop accepting videos on July 29 and that users who want to retrieve their videos should do so by August 31. If you've used the feature you will probably receive an email notifying you of this fact. But you'd need to be extra vigilant to spot it because, if you're running a Windoze e-mail client, you will find that it is consigned to the 'JUNK' mail folder as the 'sender' cannot be verified. Hell of a way to run a circus!

A spokesman for Microsoft said, "We remain committed to delivering amazing experiences for consumers while keeping a keen eye on our business objectives during this tough economic climate."

Horse crap!

Microsoft is focusing its resources elsewhere. The company is challenged by declining PC sales due to the worldwide economic downturn and has recently shut down other non-performing businesses, including the online encyclopaedia Encarta.

What does this mean to us, the average blogger?

Not a lot. Unless you are besotted by WLW's ability to upload your home videos!

I suspect that not many bloggers will be too worried about the loss of this functionality. All the other 'Bells & Whistles' in WLW remain intact for the moment so, if you're a fan and user, continue using it until such time as they pull the plug.

End of the bad news ...

 

TIP - 'SnagIt' & Image Mapping

This post is only a little taste, a teaser, of what you can achieve using SnagIt. It isn't simply a 'screen capture' utility, it can be used to produce small objet d'art.

 

 

Can you spot the Google Ad?

 

If you combine a 'good' graphics programme (GIMP is 'Open Source' and FREE) with 'WLW', it is only your imagination that limits what you can produce for the edification of your visitors. Let me put it another way; why would you spend hours behind your camera capturing exotic and unusual subjects, and then serve them up in a frying pan rather than on an elegant Wedgewood dinner plate?

OK, that was a bit of an arrogant statement, but my point is that, despite some of the limitations that Blogger imposes on the average user, you can post images that grab the imagination!

The 'girlies' I have used here have featured before when I showcased  'Thickbox', another great little FREE script. The girls are only a bit of eye-candy and you shouldn't hold it against me!

SnagIt can easily insert 'hotspots' on an image that takes you to a new page when the graphic is clicked. This is called 'Image-Mapping', but it is worth it. Once the hotspots have been created on a single graphic image you can direct the viewer to just about anything you care to link to.

You can do exactly the same thing without needing to invest in a software programme. Visit the Poor Person's Image Mapper page and give it a test run. I am always ready to field questions if you run into trouble!

You won't regret it ...

 

TIP - WLW Exposed

I have spent some time exploring the many attributes of 'Windows Live Writer' and it continues to surprise me with its versatility.

Your needs will probably NOT be as demanding as mine (I'm a 'geek' who likes to push the envelope), but even for the simplest of tasks, like putting up a new post, this little gem is going to make your life so EASY that when you start to use it you'll wonder how you managed without the darn thing!

This is truly a WYSIWYG editor of unparalleled excellence, because you actually type into the space allocated to you by your blog template. So, what you see in the window is exactly what you get when the post is published. You can format your paragraphs with the alignment of your choice, 'left', 'right', 'centred' or 'justified' (as this post is). It spell-checks as you type, underlining your spelling mistakes just like a word processor does, so there is no longer any excuse for those hilarious 'typos'. You can even select to  'bold', 'italicise', 'underline', 'strikeout' or 'change the colour of the font' on the fly.

What's not to like about that?

And none of this requires you to get your hands dirty with HTML and CSS. The programme does it all for you, although, in its typical Microsoft way the code produced isn't necessarily 'standards compliant'. But I don't suppose you care about that little nicety if you are an 'average' blogger. You should, but I won't hold it against you!

If you haven't already tried it out you're probably wondering what all the hype is about. So I suppose a couple of graphics are in order. I haven't planned any of this, so I shall post and edit, look at how things are being displayed, change formatting to 'present' the post as I'd like it to be presented, then click on the button that says 'Publish', and it is done …

 

I use 'SnagIt' almost exclusively for my screen captures and this programme comes with a plug-in that allows me to use SnagIt directly from this window. That's a 'wooo-hooo' for me!

 

Of course, the graphics 'sizing', 'placement' and 'effects' are far superior to anything I've seen in any other WYSIWYG editor. And the three little tabs at the bottom of the window, 'Edit', 'Preview' and 'Source' do exactly what they are intended to. 'Edit' is the pane I've shown in the screen captures above. 'Preview' is a preview of your post as it would appear on your site, including banners and sidebars. 'Source' shows you the HTML source code, something I am very grateful for as it gives me a chance to insert the little 'extras' that aren't included. I still have to investigate whether little bits of JavaScript and other HTML formatting can be added to the programme, but if it can't I am not going to get bent out of shape about it.

 

The graphic above is there to emphasise the 'power' of the various features of the programme. When you set up the 'Options' tell the programme to not allow you to publish until it reminds you to add a label or two. You still have the choice of publishing a post without a label, so it will only remind you, not refuse to publish. You can also defer publication date, just like you would do in Blogger, but the option is there for you if you wish to use it.

When I discover more, I'll let you know.

Enjoy, really enjoy, your blogging …

 

 

No Stopping Me Now …

There really is no stopping me now! This 'Windows Live Writer' programme is so easy to use that I can't think that I shall go back to editing things in either the WYSIWYG (Compose) window, or in the HTML window, or in a text editor - ever again!

This programme even has an HTML window (I'm actually typing in it at the moment) that allows you to insert snippets of code that aren't carried as standard. The 'capital' letter I use to start each new post, for example!

 

My Patch ...

 

With a single click you can insert a map, as I have done above. It is the area of Lisbon, Portugal in which I live. Precisely at the apex of the L-shaped building, bottom left, that you can't see in the thumbnail (sorry about that). The bit of 'green' is the space I use to walk the dog and let him exercise a little a couple of times a day. On reflection, it really is a crime to keep a hyper-active Boxer locked up in a 7th floor flat!

 

Adding images is a GAS. The proggy actually manages to add all sorts of little effects that it would take you a month of Sundays to reproduce with CSS or HTML. The above took one click to produce rounded corners.

Now, how cool is that?

I shall post more about the functionality of 'Windows Live Writer' as I discover the various things it has to offer. In the meantime, why don't you take it for a test drive? The learning curve is so shallow that you'll wonder why this has been such a well-kept secret for so long!

Have a blast …

 

TIP - Windows Live Writer

This is  a test post to see whether Windows Live Writer actually works, or whether I should go back to the drawing board …

 

That pic insert is a WOW! Reflection ‘n’ all.

If this ‘post’ is actually uploaded as I’ve composed it, I shall probably revert to using this software for all my posts.

The software is FREE, but it is a Microsoft offering. You need to be a participant in ‘Windows Live’, and you will need to have the .NET Framework installed.

Pick it up here. What are you waiting for?

You really should consider using it …