Archive for the ‘Quick Tip’ Category

Back Up Pidgin Settings and Data

Pidgin stores the buddy list, pounces, preferences, and other data as XML files in a “hidden” directory in Windows. This data can be useful for transferring data between Pidgin clients without reentering your data each time.

To copy/backup your data, head over to C:\Documents and Settings\[your username]\Application Data\.purple\ and copy the XML files.

To transfer them to a Pidgin Portable installation, paste the files in \PidginPortable\Data\settings\.purple\ overwriting any existing files.

Pidgin also stores cached buddy icons in the icons folder of the same directory and HTML logs (if enabled) in the logs folder (which can also be viewed through the main window with Buddies → View User Log.

Keep Pidgin Always on Top

For Windows - Keep Pidgin’s buddy list “always on top” of other windows for easy access to instant messaging without the hassle of switching windows. First, head to Tools → Plugins in the buddy list.

Scroll to the bottom, make sure Windows Pidgin Options is checked, then click it and Configure Plugin.

Next to Keep Buddy List window on top, click the menu and select Always. Hit Close to both windows and Pidgin should now remain on top of your other windows.

Sound Notification on Hitting *lock

Windows stows away a setting that enables a beep whenever one of the lock keys are hit (Caps Lock, Scoll Lock, and Num Lock). For those of you who need extra notification when you accidentally hit the Capslock button, we’ll show you the quick Control Panel setting.

Open Control Panel, enter Accessibility Options, and check the box that says Use ToggleKeys. Hit OK and you now have auditory notification when you hit a “toggle key.”

Open Firefox Searches in a New Tab

When you search using Firefox’s Search form, it’ll automatically open the queries in the same tab that was open. This behavior can be annoying, but luckily there’s an about:config setting to tell Firefox to open searches in a new tab.

Head over to about:config in the location bar, then type the following in Filter:

browser.search.openintab

Double click it so that the value becomes true, then restart Firefox.

Disable “Phrase Not Found” Sound in Firefox

Firefox, by default, makes an annoying sound everytime you type an additional letter in the “Find” field which it cannot find. A quick trip to about:config will easily resolve this problem.

Type about:config into the URL bar and in the Filter, type the following:

accessibility.typeaheadfind.enablesound

One entry should show up, and the value should by default be true. Double click it to change the value to false. Restart your browser, and changes have been applied.

Disable the Sleep Button Function

New keyboards now often come with a sleep button, which can sometimes be in an easy to hit location (e.g. near Esc key). Luckily, the Control Panel provides an easy way to change the function.

Head over to the Control Panel, hit Power Options, and click on the Advanced Tab. Under When I press the sleep button on my computer, select from a number of choices. I picked “ask me what to do.”

Disable Windows XP’s Startup and Shutdown Sounds

We’re going to show you how to easily disable Windows XP’s startup and shut down sounds, and optionally, any other sounds that Windows makes when you perform an action. You can also use these settings to change the sounds associated with start up and shut down.

Head over to Control Panel, head over to Sounds and Audio Devices, and hit the Sounds tab. Scroll down to either Start Windows or Exit Windows and select [None] from the option menu. That’s it!

Quick Screenshots with Faststone Capture

For Windows, Faststone Capture 5.3 is a free (for noncommercial use) lightweight application allowing you to take screenshots (pictures) of your desktop.

It allows you to easily take a picture of the current window, the selected window/object, a rectangular region, a freehand region, full screen, and scrolling regions (like a webpage in a web browser). It’ll allow you to save or annotate the image in the same dialog, eliminating the need for pasting into Paint. Other features include a magnifier and a screen color picker.

Download it here.

Ridding Skype of Bloat

Skype 3.8 comes with unwanted/unneeded application bloat, including the Skype Extras Manager and features tabs on the main window which you may never use.

Disabling the Extras Manager

I don’t need or want to play games or other activities on Skype. By default, the Extras Manager is set to autostart. Head into Tools → Options, then hit Advanced → Advanced Settings. Uncheck the box where it says “Automatically start Extras Manager.”

Hide Unneeded Tabs

I use Skype exclusively for PC to PC calls. I don’t need any of the extra tabs they have, so go into View → Tabs and Panels and uncheck what you don’t need. I personally uncheck all the settings. Enjoy your cleaner Skype!

Enable Auto Login For Ubuntu

Single user on a desktop and local security isn’t a concern? Enable autologin for Ubuntu to avoid having to type in your details at boot.

Hit System, Administration, then Login Window.

Go to the Security tab, check the Enable Automatic Login, and select your user name from the list. That’s it. When your system loads up it should head automatically to the desktop.