IT Support & Training Projects

Not able to 'Safely Remove Hardware' in Windows?

2009-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, always struggling to find the trick to safely removing or unplugging external drives without the hassle of seeing this error message popping-out of your screen.

-The device 'Generic volume' cannot be stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later-

This can be quite annoying particularly if you just want a quick and easy way to take out your drive at that time!

Found the solution and discovered this free application called Unlocker that can do the unlocking literally to whatever system that is accessing your external drive.

You need to install the small exe file and after it's now ready for right-clicking the drive to unlock it.

It can actually show you who's reading the drive and simply 'Kill the process' to stop accessing the drive.

After that it's now ready for the proper and guilt-free 'green' arrow safely-remove-drive option.

With all this, it still better than actually restarting your Windows!

Intranet Presentation at the OATSIH Workshop

2009-07-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

I was asked by Department of Health (NT) to do a presentation at the OATSIH Workshop held in Alice Springs (20th May 09) to explain about the Intranet site we developed and used at AMSANT.

There was a good number of people who listened to the talk with interest as I explain the practically of having a collaborative tool for all the staff to use. Including the challenges of having remote offices and the on-going training element to keep the staff interested in using the Intranet.

Getting into the Bandwagon of Twitter

2009-07-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

If you're new to Twitter like me, finding motivations to tweet is a challenge.

I'm still evaluating the pros & cons of posting little trivia about myself for the rest of the world to see.

If I consider myself that famous as Kevin Rudd or Barack Obama with a thousand or

more followers (twitter patrons) and I don't mind that kind of attention.

Knowing what famous people and celebrities do to boost their on line profile through use of social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace and now with Twitter.

I bet it'll be a long way for me to increase my followers more than ten (10) and obviously from close friends that I have already (followed) added on my list.

Still the joy of tweeting needs to be seen as a way to connect yourself to the rest of the virtual world and signalling that you're not alone!

Try to read other Twitter related topics by clicking here.

Why reinvent the wheel if you have Google Docs templates!

2009-07-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Checking up my Google Docs today found this interesting red link that tells about New! Submit a template - a link to vast resource of document templates (Document, Spreadsheet & Presentation).

Different formats of doc resume, planners, calendars, business forms and a lot more.

Normally I look for the MS Office Online for these types of template but it's a lot quicker to use the Google Docs because it's already part of the site, no need to download anything!

Goodbye Google Page Creator!

2009-07-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

It has been couple of years now that I've been using Google Page Creator, and it's disappointing to hear the news that Google is pulling the plug to this very easy to use and quick web publishing app.

I have created a number of sites using the Google Apps interface to manage and maintain different page templates that incorporates flash banners, calendars, picasa galleries and forms.

Sample websites like - Radio Larrakia, The Arch Rival & Balmac House.

Google Page Creator enables you to run or embed Javascripts (to create dynamic navigation) and flash banner animations (not only Picasa or Youtube videos) that can make the look&feel more exciting that the default templates.

Migrating to use the Google Sites is not very easy to do, due to the limitation to add these scripts and inline embedding is quite impossible.

I'm hoping that this is not totally the end of the line for a not-so-famous but very useful app like Google Page Creator.

Back to blogging again!

2009-07-13T04:25:00.000-07:00

It might already been a year since I posting something on this blog and I'm happy to get back to blogging again. Ofcourse with some fresh and new ideas to share coming from different news feeds and blog of interest.

With everyone tweeting these days, I've started to create a twitter account and possibly start tweeting as well, but to tell you frankly I'm still struggling to find the real value of putting every minute - moment of your life as tweets for other people to read and gossip on any story or news you posted on your twitter.

Finally! I have received my TAA40104 certificate today...

2008-08-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

It has been a couple of days that I've been following up DHRCA regarding my TAA40104 certificate and today I've finally got it. Four months ago I'm only dreaming of actually getting to this day to see my name printed on a piece of paper validating my competency in training and assessment under a nationally recognised Vocational Education Training (VET) course.

Looking at all the folders I've compiled and put together over time, I can say that I have accomplished something for myself, learning to organise well, structuring my notes and ideas, including writing journals and blogs. I've also met some great people in the class that inspired and challenge me to finish all the assignments just like when you're back at school in the early days. I've also realised the importance of summarising my notes after the class, saved me a lot of time later on when I'm compiling my Cluster folders. I would say I have improved my note taking and listening skills particularly in understanding the unfamiliar VET concepts and terminologies. As a technical person coming from an IT background, trying to understand the practically of the methodology and approaches used in gathering proof and evidences can be a real stretch to my patience as suppose to just the actual training delivery which I have done many times before.

At the start, I'm a little bit apprehensive on how I can manage my time well and let alone demonstrate competency on this unfamiliar course but after attending the regular sessions every week for 11 days and seeing the motivation from my classmates and teacher, I started to appreciate the learnings and the skills that I can improve in the process. The presentation in front of the class, the planning and facilitation exercises gave me the boost that I need to build confidence and understanding of the concept of the VET framework.

Thanks to Carole Buck (mentor & teacher) and to my classmates for the inspiration to finish!

Last day in class at the Darwin Computer Academy

2008-06-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Feels great to finally reach the 11th day of my CertIV class at the Darwin Human Resource and Computer Academy (DHRCA) and

wrapping-up some of the final assessment exercises under Cluster 4. I had a great time taking up the course and meeting great people who shares interests in training and assessing other people in the workplace, coming from different backgrounds and industries.

After 3 months compiling evidence documents and resource materials for the Cluster folder(s), I finally realised the importance of preparation and planning in the delivery of any workplace training as well as being organised in collating reports and evidences in order to prove your competency in delivering and facilitating training.

Below are some of the photos taken at the DHRCA classroom on our last day...

From left to right - Mark, Suzie, Sharon, Kelly, Dave, Rilda, Carole, John, Venjie, Scott & Rebecca.

Other photo links below courtesy of Mark & Kelly -

Mark's picasa album - click here

Kelly's photos at the Saturday night party at Carole Buck's place in NAKARA - click here

For human resource and computer training courses visit the DHRCA website - click here

'Train the Trainer' - IT Training Workshop

2008-06-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

Last 30th of April, I was requested by my colleague at LGANT to facilitate a half-a-day training session to the participants of the 'Train the Trainer' IT Training Workshop held at the Darwin Wharf Function Centre.

The aim of the workshop is to train adult learners from a wide range of backgrounds and literacy and are willing to train other people in community on IT related issues, a way of transferring their own knowledge and skills to other people in the remote communities.

After the workshop, the learners are expected to be able to start-up their own computer workstation. Locate and manage their own files including the running of some basic office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Able to surf the internet on topics of their interest.

Attended by at least 13 delegates from the communities of Yirrkala, Galiwin'ku, Angurugu, Milingimbi, Warruwi and Walungurru (Kintore).

Future Leaders - Forum 2008

2008-06-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

Mal Nairn Auditorium, Charles Darwin University, 4 June 08

A couple of days ago, I received a call from Helen Sykes (Future Leaders) about the possibility of delivering a talk to year 12 students (graduating class) to learn more about the career prospects in IT industry and some work experiences worth sharing at the forum. I said Yes, so yesterday night I put together a simple powerpoint presentation to cover some of the issues as noted by Helen earlier. I would have love to add some multimedia stuff into it but ran out of time to do so but anyway, I thought the best way to present my idea and experience is through the use of own photos to guide me through my presentation.

I've started my session by displaying (slideshow) some of the photos I have taken over the years working with LGANT. Some aerial shots, wild horses/animals and some remote scenic shots of the top-end, a couple of these photos have already been shown at the WeatherPixNT section at ABC's 7pm news.

My presentation is called the 'The Journey...to the next thing ahead'.

It is all about my own journey of discovery into my career path and the challenges I've faced over the years. By explaining to the students that you can finish any qualification (or degree) that you want and still get a different job afterwards depending on the circumstances and opportunities available at the time. You can find yourself doing different jobs from time to time but the important thing to remember is that through these events you'll learn how to adapt (be flexible) and always take a proactive approach to the changed environment and always looking for ways to improve the situation, it can be through self-evaluation of your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own passion to achieve something for yourself.

Finding that PASSION in anything you do, will make a big difference to your own success!

I can seen how the student were very attentive to advices and willing to take on the challenges presented to them. I finished off by raising the following issues noted in my final slide;

Develop Socially Responsive Websites
Bridge the Technology gap amongst people from different backgrounds
Inspire future leaders in the area of their expertise!

I am privileged in witnessing and inspiring the future leaders of this country.

For more information on Future Leaders - Forum 2008 website - click here

or/ request for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation used at the Forum, by sending an email to info@itsatp.net.

Other Speakers at the Forum (in alphabetical order)

Ngaree Ah Kit, Executive Assistant, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs.
Justin De Zylva, Electrical Engr, Power and Water Supply
Lucia Ku, Law Officer Department of Justice
Ben Langford, Journalist, NT News
Dr Pippa Wilson, Medical Doctor, Royal Darwin Hospital

Issue with naming of pages in Google Page Creator...?

2008-05-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to find a solution to the naming issue of the each of the duplicated pages in Page Creator....(sample illustration below)

As shown above...each of the duplicated pages comes up with the 'no title' header (this is the case if you're re-using the sample pagelayout copied each time duplicate a page).

Thanks to my Guru friend...who told me the trick to this problem...

It is as simple as adding the HTML tag below - part of the header coding...(you need to be edit HTML mode to do so).

 Home Page

Now my 'Site Manager' looks better with those proper names...specially when I use the page title part of the Google Analytics stats...!

FreeMind - mapping program

2008-05-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile that I've been looking for a program /or application that will help me to put my ideas into visual tree and diagrams. Helpful to classify and categorise ideas into structures useful in problem solving, decision making and aids visual memory.

Through my research I discovered this really useful and exciting mind mapping program called FreeMind.
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FreeMind is a free mind mapping program application written in JAVA. FreeMind enables you to create your own tree like structure with branches coming out from the central idea or concept. (Sample illustration below)

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Learn more from WIKI - click here

How to send an email with resized photo(s)...low res for emailling...

2008-05-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

Most people don't realise how bad it is to receive an email with massive photo attachment(s)...files downloaded directly from DIGICAMs with higher resolution settings - 5mega pixels+ and emailed to you...expecting that you'll be able to download them all in one hit...!

...taking forever to download! Good if you've got broadband all the time...If you're like me who accesses email via Blackberry...it can be a problem. Good if you've got time to resize them all in Photoshop...

If you're using Outlook as your default email browser...I've got a solution for you.

(1) Go to the folder where you keep all the photos that you want to email...
(2) Right-click on the file(s)...and wait for the sub-option to popping out...
(3) Select the 'Send To'.....then....'Mail Recipient'....and a window will prompt and ask you if you would like to resize the photos...etc...
(4) Make sure that you select the 'Make all my pictures smaller'...and the 'Ok' button.
(5) As it automatically open your default email browser...type-in the recipient and hit the 'Send' button.

Hope this helps)

- altbat

Free PDF converter - CutePDF Writer

2008-05-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've been struggling to find an easier way of converting documents files to PDF files (Adobe Acrobat) without the hassle of going through all the complicated steps and procedures etc.

CutePDF Writer is the free software program that solves this problem. It is as simple as printing the document and selecting the 'CutePDF Writer' as the printer...Type in the name-location...and finally click the 'Save' button...and that's it!

Download the program by visiting the website here - www.cutepdf.com

Simply follow the prompts of the installation after downloading the program from the website and after that you'll have printer option ready for creating PDF files.

Hope this helps)

- altbat

How to get rid of viruses and worms?

2008-05-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, I consider viruses/worms as one of the nasty things that can really push me to the limit particularly when you realised that you haven't got a BACKUP copy of your files and you've got the time to do it AGAIN?!?... what a way to spend hours and hours trying to recover your files with out any guarantees of recovering anything, just the hope that you will...Goodluck!

With this issue, I've listed some easy steps to remove these nasty critters in your computer. Just a note that this is my own version of resolving this problem, there can be a hundred and one ways but this one works for me...

(1) Download STINGER from this site - vil.nai.com/vil/stinger
* STINGER is a McAffee program that is good for removing Trojan worms etc...

or/ the AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition - free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
* Make sure to copy the file externally onto a flash or floppy disk...

(2) Install the AVG Anti-Virus by simply double-clicking the file and following the instructions on your screen.
* You can also try to get the latest updates from the internet.

(3) 'Turn Off System Restore' by right-clicking on 'My Computer' icon on your desktop and then selecting the properties options.

(4) By clicking on the 'START' button and then typing 'msconfig' under the 'Run...' and then tick the '/SAFEBOOT' option under the 'BOOT.INI' tab and then restart the computer.

(5) After restarting in SAFEMODE, Run the STINGER program and see if it detects all the viruses/worms, you might need to do it twice or so to fully clean the system.

I guess the ultimate resolution to this problem is PREVENTION and the habit of backing up files regularly through flash disks, CD/DVDs or other external drives...a guarantee for a good sleep at night...!

Hope this helps)

- altbat

I can't change my cursor in Photoshop?

2008-05-01T04:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but over years of using Photoshop, it is only lately that I've found this thing about my cursor automatically changing to a HAND tool when dragging an image on my screen...and I didn't know about this trick before in Photoshop ver. 7 something that I haven't really thought about...only to discover this, when I was doing some Photoshop training that I can't seem to change my cursor so I can do the resizing of the image because of the HAND tool???...I'm stuck...anyway afterwards through experimentations...I've found the trick to this issue...!

- Simply press hold your [SPACEBAR] for awhile to toggles it back to it previous tool...

Only after reading more about this issue that I've realised that it is actually a short-cut to toggle your cursor to a HAND tool at anytime...What a relief to discover this trick, it'll come pretty handly next-time around.

To all you Photoshop users out there!

Training Session for the NMNRC staff

2008-05-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

NYIRRANGGULUNG MARDRULK NGADBERRE REGIONAL COUNCIL

Training Date: 07/11/2007

It was to a full days work doing some training sessions for 2 of NMNRC (Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council) council staff- Tyron Major (admin) and Kellie Birch (receptionist). Showing them how to update the council website, create online/print newsletters and use image manipulation softwares like GIMP or Photoshop.

Both of them are based in the council's regional office in Katherine. Other community outstation under the NMNRC include BARUNGA, JODETLUK (Gorge Camp), Manyallaluk (Eva Valley), Mardrulk (Weemol), Werenbun (Edith Falls), Wugularr (Beswick) and Gulin Gulin (Bulma).

The first day started with some background explanations on the softwares used in the development of the website (eZ publish - Content Management System, Dreamweaver, Fireworks & Photoshop)