Installation/Uninstallation of VMware Player Hangs

If you are like me, where the installation or uninstallation of VMware Player keeps hang/fail, then you are lucky here.

I used to install VMware Player and then I upgrade to VMware Workstation 7.1 (trial). After the trial expire, and I'm planning to uninstall VMware Workstation and keeps only VMware Player (which is free).

I tried multiple times, the uninstallation process keeps hang (forever). Then I try to download the latest copy of VMware Player, and wish I could install to override it. It doesn't work.


Then I tried to be a "good-boy" and follow the installation instruction (manual way) provided by VMware at the following URL:

• http://faq.sanbarrow.com/index.php?solution_id=1113

Same thing happens. I even tried install the new copy using command line as below:

VMware-player-4.0.0-471780.exe /z "action"="install"

Still fails. :-(

Then I also tried extract the installation EXE to a temporary folder:

VMware-player-4.0.0-471780.exe /e tempdir

And then double click the MSI to install it. End up the same shit happens.


Finally, when I about to give up on VMware, I found 1 last thing to do before switching to VirtualBox.

1. start regedit.exe
2. Browse to the following sub-key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\
3. You should see keys named 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. In my case I had a folder named "L" before the 0.
4. Remove the key with "L" (actually it is  "└", unicode #2514)

It works like a charm now.

P/s: This is due to Microsoft screws up the registry Internet Zone settings in the registry. With the "└" key, it cause Javascript not to be called from an application. 

iPhone still sucks

There are 2 groups of iPhone users: those who love it so much and hate it. This is the post for those who hate it.

OK, we all know iPhone sucks, partly it is due to iTune (another crap). And the number 1 reason I say "iPhone sucks" is because it has no easy way for your iPhone to connect to a new laptop. It will wipe off everything on your phone if you try to do it. Having a new laptop or re-install your laptop nowadays in common. It may due to virus or loss of your laptop. (Don't tell me to use MacBook, your MacBook can be stolen or affected by virus too).

Today, I found a way to overcome this issue when you bang into a similar situation next time.

Here's the step:

1. Authorize your new laptop with the same iTunes account.
2. Plug in your iPhone to the new laptop, and select File > Transfer Purchases [ This cause iTunes to transfer apps from iPhone to new laptop]
3. Sync your iPhone with iTunes by click the Apps tab, ticking the sync apps link, and applying.  
4. Now, right-click your device in the iTunes sidebar and select backup. 
5. Now, just apply any update like iOS 5 like you normally would by click the Update button. 

All your apps and settings should remain in tact. Now should I say iPhone is not suck anymore?

No, iPhone still sucks because this method only transfer apps you've grabbed through the iTunes Store, which means, for example, the MP3s you'd synced to your device that you didn't buy from Apple probably gone (forever).

WhatIsMyIPAddress by Google

You can now ask Google what is your public IP address by query with the following:

• my ip
• my ip address
• show my ip
• what is my ip

Very cool ;-)

Automated Telnet Commands with VB script

Here's a VB script that can automate simple Telnet commands. Below is what happens during the telnet session in manual way:

• Connect to an IP address on specific TCP port.
• Press [ Enter ] to login.
• Input the numeric key "5" and follow by an [ Enter ] key.

Below is the VB script that can automate the steps above:

<job>
<script language="VBScript">
Option Explicit
On Error Resume Next
Dim WshShell
set WshShell=CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.run "cmd.exe"
WScript.Sleep 1000
'Send commands to the window as needed - IP and commands need to be customized
'Step 1 - Telnet to remote IP and port 99'
WshShell.SendKeys "telnet 192.168.1.1 99"
WshShell.SendKeys ("{Enter}")
WScript.Sleep 1000 

'Step 2 - Issue Commands with pauses'
WshShell.SendKeys ("{Enter}")
WScript.Sleep 1000
WshShell.SendKeys "5"
WshShell.SendKeys ("{Enter}")
WScript.Sleep 1000 

'Step 3 - Exit Command Window
WshShell.SendKeys "exit"
WshShell.SendKeys ("{Enter}")
WScript.Quit
</script>
</job>

>>>> Original article at MakeUseOf

Update My Nexus S to CM 7.1

Below are the steps I took to upgrade my Nexus S to CM 7.1 recently.

1. Step 1: Download the update-cm-7.1.0-NS-signed.zip file of CyanogenMod 7.1 for my phone. 
2. Step 2: Transfer the .zip file to the root folder.
3. Step 3: Turn off my phone once the transfer is complete. 
4. Step 4: Boot into ClockworkMod Recovery mode by holding volume up and power buttons.
5. Step 5: Using the volume up/down (to navigate) and power key (to select), then navigate to backup and storage > backup. 
6. Step 6: From the main menu: install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > update-cm-7.1.0-NS-signed.zip
7. Step 7: Once flashing is complete, reboot and it is done.

CyanogenMod 7.1