Next time you hear someone say that, send them to my latest built-in-three-minutes website:
Is not a backup dot Info
Archive for the ‘Misc’ Category
March 23rd, 2011
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April 7th, 2010
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Firefox extensions are distributed in XPI packages (pronounced zippy).
XPI packages are in reality just a ZIP file with a standard file and folder structure in it.
Two types of add-on installations can be performed : Per-user, and per-workstation (Global). Typically, extensions are installed per-user, especially if the user is not a local administrator on his workstation.
However, there may be cases where a global installation is preferred: a standard extension would need to be installed multiple times for every user of a shared workstation. It would also be harder to push extensions out to users instead of machines.
Here is how to create install a firefox extension globally in a way that can easily be packaged with anything that allows running batch files. The same information can easily be used to create clean MSI packages as well, using WiX or anything else, just put the files in the right location and set the proper registry keys. It would probably be more reliable to do it with an MSI than batch files.
1) Obtain the XPI package
2) Unzip the XPI package
3) Open the install.rdf file in the package.
We need to identify the “ID” of the package. Look for something similar to this:
<em:id>Blah blah</em:id>
The ID contained in the EM:ID anchors may be a name or a GUID. Note it down.
4) Create a registry import file
Create a .reg file.
This will be used to tell Firefox where to look for the new globally installed extension. This can be anywhere you want as long as the user that will open firefox has read access to it.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions]“em-id-of-extension”=”C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\PathToExtension”
5) Create a registry import file for uninstallation
This file needs to be identicaly to the above, but with a minus instead of the path to the extension. This simply deletes the string we created before.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions]“em-id-of-extension”=-
6) Create a batch file for installation
This batch file simply needs to copy the files to the location you specified in your .reg file, and then run regedit /s regfile.reg to import the registry changes.
7) Create a batch file for uninstallation
This batch file simply deletes the directory containing your extension and runs regedit /s on the uninstallation regfile.
March 18th, 2010
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Did I wake up in 1995, or is the SAAQ restricting my choices to two banks in Quebec?
I can renew my license plates online with a credit card, but for some reason, they seem to want to force me to either waste paper and a stamp, or to go to their location to pay.
And yes, paying at their location will cost you an extra $3 on top of that $86/year driver’s license.
September 7th, 2009
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I recently got a Lacie D2 network drive. It has been working pretty well, I’m using it for SMB share, AFP share, time machine and to share movies and music to my ps3.
I own a copy of Office that is the download-able version. It is basically a selft-extracting exe that then runs a setup.
I had it stored in a SMB share on the Lacie drive. I ran it. The setup crashed. Then, AFP crashed on my NAS. Rebooting it made things worse. AFP wouldn’t start. Bonjour wouldn’t start. Not long after, SMB wouldn’t start.
Logfiles seemed to indicate that the system’s drive was full. I presume the system is stored on Flash storage in the NAS itself.
I contacted Lacie support. They could only instruct me to reset the unit to factory settings. At least, no data was lost.
I then asked if it could be related in any way to me running a setup file directly from the share, expecting them to tell me there is a known issue when reading a file and writing a lot at the same time or something similar..
Instead, I got this reply:
Tech Support dude.
Makes no sense
Posted: September 3, 2009 @ 7:23 AM
It was related to running the .exe file on the drive. The file is proprietary to an OS such as XP, Vista, or Mac OS X. Running the file on a non-conforming OS is going to create severe havoc and other issues. I am glad the reset resolved the issue.
Regards,
Tech support dude
August 7th, 2009
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This is a post that will get updated as I get shafted by incredibly poor service from companies, or stellar service.
1) Bell… ok now you know the first section is the NEGATIVE one.
Throttling, DNS Hijacking, Saying they are coming to fix my dry-loop DSL between 5 and 9pm and not showing up (I have an ADSL through Teksavvy).
2) Micro-Boutique (at dix30)
Some of the worst service I’ve ever seen in a computer store. I’d rather get a Mac at Futureshop than there. Took over 30minutes of arguing over a 35$ rubber iPod case that plain didn’t fit properly. They didn’t want to take it back because I had used the screen protector (which you have to install before you put the case on). They couldn’t replace it as the WHOLE BATCH was messed up (iSkin), yet refused to reimburse me for about 30minutes.
When I informed the employee that the case was badly molded, and that I had read on some forums that other people had issues with it, I was told that “This is plain FALSE, we sold a lot of them and they’re FINE”.
Thanks for saying I’m a liar before even checking it out.
Oh, also, when the iPhone 3g was released, they told me, 3 times in a row, that they would ABSOLUTELY have cases for it TOMORROW.
Just bought a Macbook ..from the Apple store.
3) Mobilia
Great furniture, crappy service. My couch has been late for about 2 weeks now, which is not that bad of an issue. What’s bad is I went there two times, to told that the manager would call me the next day. He never did.
Oh, and apparently they ordered only 2 couches but sold 3, so someone is getting the shaft.
http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/furniture-retail/mobilia-thomasville-in-pointe-claire-qc-1034196#ratingdetails
Their awesome BBB rating seems to show I’m not the only one having issues with them.
I was going to get more furniture to match the couch I got from there if I ever receive it, but it’ll have to be somewhere else.
Now, the good ones!
1) Teksavvy
Even though they have to go through Bell’s ADSL network to provide customers with service, they always answer prompty and try their best to fix your problem. It’s sad Bell’s bad service is hurting them, and I hope Bell is forced into playing fair.
2) Zaino Canada
The best products to polish a car, and it ships out so fast I got the stuff the second day after I ordered. Twice.
More to come…
