Windows 10 Preview

Take a look at My Windows 10 Preview video.

I installed Windows 10 in VirtualBox since it's still in beta and may have problems. Video covers main features introduced in Windows 10.

You can download Windows 10 Preview here.

Supported platforms are: IA-32, x64, ARMv7.

You need to join Windows Insider program in order to get Windows 10 ISO.
Here's Windows 10 announcement blog.

Lollipop update review Moto G(1st Gen) (based on 10 hours of usage)

Quick review of Lollipop update after 10 hours of usage on Lollipop (I would've made in depth YouTube video, but no secondary camera right now.):

1) I've been using Android since 2.1 Eclair had launched(~Dec 2010).
After 4.+ Android series, Lollipop feels really solid package. where all things are bundled neatly.

2) Lollipop comes with neat tools so that we needn't use Screen Filter, Flashlight, Notification apps and any other UI enhancement tools(launcher, others fancy apps, etc.)

3) Memory management is far superior than that of Kitkat. On the same setup my Moto G(1st Gen); gained ~75-100 MB free RAM. Multi-tabs browsing in Chrome is much better now.

4) New Material UI stands out sharply and feels aesthetic. Animations and color blending are pleasing.

5) Headphone volume levels are refined for soothing levels. Adaptive brightness now initially sets to lower levels, serves its purpose.

6) Things are grouped and unnecessary things are removed, giving comfy space to main controls.

7) No benchmarking yet, but it does surely feels fluidic. Battery stats will take time, though today it drained quickly(since things changed, something might be running in background.)

I may update this after further usage.

And at last, good job Motorola! like emoticon

DataGrid in Visual Basic 6

In VB application, its quite often needed to display Data in the application using Database.
I created video on how to do it to with Oracle SQL Database. Check out how to on my YouTube video.

At the time of publishing, this was the only video, which explained including datagrid in VB6 with detailed explanation!

FTP (using TCP and UDP) programs in Java

Check out Java videos on FTP on my YouTube channel.

For FTP applications, TCP is used as it ensures successful file transfers. UDP is used only for files of small sizes(few kBs).

There are 2 Java programs in each FTP code, one for Server and Client. I've explained for Download only, i.e., from Server to Client, but similar code can be expanded for Uploading the files, i.e., from Client to Server.

Best settings for WiFi Router for Improved Performance

I experimented with my TP-Link WR740n router for various parameters and concluded few things. I've listed them below, it'll surely help you.

Best way to configure your Router is by using Browser.

Enter http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 or use any specific URL provided by your Router Vendor to access the settings webpage.

Usually on Status page you see all information about your Router. Keep this in mind for quick access.

Backup your current working Router settings.

1. Go to your Router System tools and look for 'Backup router's Settings' option. It's always preferred to have backup in case if you face any problem. Restoring backed up settings is single click task and saves lots of efforts and TIME!

   

   Backup and Restore

   
   
   
   
2. Upgrade your Router Firmware.
   Having latest firmware always helps you to secure your WiFi network as well as get bug fixes if any and performance improvements.
   
   Make sure of your Router model and other specifications before upgrading the firmware for not running into trouble.
   Upgradation process just takes few seconds(<10 Seconds!). So go ahead and do it! Read Router specific instructions on your Vendor's website.
3. Google's Public DNS!
   Use Google's Public DNS. It's fastest and always running.
4. Clone MAC ID
   Your ISP locks your Primary Computer's MAC ID to your Service Account. Generally only one MAC ID is saved on ISP's servers. So, for not losing your Internet access, clone your Computer's MAC ID to Router's MAC ID.
   
   You can always revert back to your Router's Default MAC ID.
5. IP Address
   You can set your preferred Private LAN IP Address. There are only 3 Private IP networks:
   10.0.0.0-10.255.255.255
   172.16.0.0-172.31.255.255
   192.168.0.0-192.168.255.255.
   
   Last one is the most popular IP Address set by default. You can set any of these. For example: 192.168.2.1 and so on.
   To check if your new IP address has been changed, check it in WiFi network status.
   
   You'll have to reboot your router for changes to take place. The next time you want to access router's settings webpage, enter this IP address instead of previous abovementioned http:// addresses.
   
6. SSID and Region

   

   Wireless Settings

   
   
   
   It's preferred to hide your WiFi SSID or stop broadcasting it. You can easily connect to known hidden WiFi network by entering SSID manually.
   Select your Region so that it won't conflict with licensed wireless frequencies.
7. Single/Dual Band
   If your router supports dual band, i.e., both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, then enable 5 GHz if all your devices are next-gen WiFi devices which support 802.11 ac Standard. These devices are rare but increasingly becoming common. You may have to keep the band mode on Auto if you've 802.11 b/g/n compatible or even legacy devices.
   
   5 GHz band is very less occupied, so interferences are extremely low, rather none. It'll matter only if you're using Gigabit networks.
8. Channel, Mode, Channel Width and WMM
   The most important in this guide!
   
   Check channel availability in your WiFi area by running WiFi analyzer tools like inSSIDer or Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector. Select channel which is not overlapping with others. You may need to do multiple scans at different times to decide best channel for you, else leave it on Auto or select either from 1, 6 or 11.
   
   802.11 n standard is capable of very high speed data transfers, typically 72.2+ Mbps. If you've 150 Mbps or 300 Mbps or even higher speed capable Router, then set your Router to 11n Mode only, if and only if all your WiFi devices are 802.11n supported. Then you'll be able to achieve very high link speeds, highly useful if your NAS or you own Wireless Storages, heavy Multimedia stramer.
   
   In other cases you've to chose from 11bgn mixed and other modes as listed in your settings.
   
   40 MHz channel width doubles data transfer speeds, particularly significant in case of 11n or 11ac routers, otherwise set it to Auto mode, i.e., 20/40 MHz.
   
   You must enable WMM for enhanced Multimedia experience.
   
   

   

   Advanced Wireless

Guide: To-do list and IMP things on any laptop / factory reset laptop

Check list and To-dos for HP laptop or Factory reset laptop using HP recovery discs:

Following instructions apply for all laptops using Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 OS.

I’ve created this small guide to help users to make best out of the awesome HP laptops and keep system running like brand new laptop all the time! 

I advise you to restart System several times during this course to get things configured well.

1)      Charge laptop battery to 100% and restart it at least twice, so that all the drivers get configured well.

2)      Run all diagnostic tests from Boot menu. Press F2 when laptop boots. It’s good to get all tests done, to prevent further problems/issues.

3)      Turn off Windows features like Indexing, Games, etc. if not required.

4)      Defragment hard-disk and use Disk clean-up to clean up files.

5)      Don’t partition HDD or copy your data into HDD. Copying personal data may slow down tasks those need to be performed.

6)      Install Latest BIOS, HP Software frameworks, Intel Management Engine Interface, Chipset Utilities, Essential System updates, Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Be sure to restart laptop after each installation, as these are critical updates.

7)      Run Windows updates and install all of them except Intel HD graphics AND/OR AMD/NVidia Graphics driver.

8)      All Windows updates aren’t installed at once. So restarting and checking for updates 2-3 times is necessary.

9)      Install Intel HD graphics driver if applicable and then install AMD/NVidia Graphics driver.
After installation check if both the graphic control panels are working by right clicking on desktop. If it doesn’t work, uninstall non-working driver, restart and install again.

10)   You may install Intel HD graphics driver downloaded from Intel Site.

11)   Now install other drivers such as Bluetooth, WLAN (Wi-Fi), LAN card, Card reader and other drivers.

12)   I suggest you not to install extra Software except essential apps like Browser, VLC, MS Office, PDF reader, etc.  Also don’t use any registry editor during this course.

13)   If you don’t have HP recovery discs, I strongly recommend you to create them using HP recovery media creationtool. You may need 4-6 DVD-R or DVD+R or USB drive of at least 16 GB. Also create System repair disc; it’ll be useful if you face nay boot-time problems/errors.

14)   After you’ve created recovery discs, now you can repartition your hard-disk.

15)   I suggest you not to remove/format/delete any partition. Use Partition manager like EaseUS or other you like. Windows tool is little complex and doesn’t have many options.

16)   Resize C drive to at least 70 GB or more as per your need. I suggest 100 GB. Use unallocated space to resize D drive (Recovery partition) to unallocated size.

HP_TOOLS can’t be resized as it is FAT32 partition and others are NTFS. Also HP_TOOLS contain important HP diagnostic tools, which are much better than Windows tools.
By resizing Recovery partition, you don’t lose recovery folder and additionally you can create recovery media anytime later if not possible at that instant.

17)   After resizing partitions and installing all drivers and if they are working well, create a system image to external HDD or Blu-ray, because the size of image will be larger to accommodate on DVD.

18)   Create additional power plans. I suggest you not to tweak system power plans too much.

19)   Delete System restore points except latest one, as they are not needed after all is working well. Use CCleaner to delete them.

20)   At this point you can use CCleaner to clean data and invalid registry files.

21)   Rate your system to get latest system rating after configuring all things.

22)   Install Monitoring tools like Speccy, HWMonitor, GPU-Z to check if System is working normally and perfectly.

23)   Check if your System protection for C drive is On or not. It is essential if you want to use Restore points.

24)   Now you can tweak your system and install your favourite apps. Enjoy! 

Thanks for reading!