Wii Semi-Brick

I bought a Nintendo Wii, a Japanese Wii, also bought a a few games, one of them Wild Earth, African Safari. I don’t understand japanese, so when i played Wild Earth, i didn’t know the game installed installed firmware from its disc. Wild Earth is an US Version game. I didn’t know the installation cause conflict later on. A few days later, i explored Wii and found my Wii number, hit a wrong button (REGISTER) on screen, an Opera error appeared. I thought it was connection problem. I went to Wii Settings, and saw an Opera error as well. Fortunate for me, the error was Semi-Brick. I can play games, other Wii functions still work.

What is Wii Semi-Brick?. Guys from hackmii.com explain it, the result of installing updated System Menus from discs that came from other regions. Semi-brick displays an Opera error message, allows you to boot the system to the main menu, and play games, etc. However, you can’t get into the Settings menu (to enable WiFi, update the software, etc), because when you do, you are presented an Opera error message. You can read their explanation here

Hackmii find a way to fix Wii Semi-brick, launch their hack. The fix is simple. Download the latest version of the system menu for your Wii Region. Mine is a Japanese Wii, i just downloaded JAP (number 1 file). Extract file, it’s a RAR file. You’ll see ISO (an image file). Prepare DVD-R disc. I use GT-PRO DVD-R disc. Burn an image file to DVD Disc using Nero Express (Most people on Hackmii suggested imgburn), Speed 4x.

Insert DVD-R disc into Wii, hit Disc Menu on screen (top left) then follow the instructions.
My Wii settings is back !

I want to thank you to Hackmii for fixing my Wii Semi-Brick!

Shutdown Windows XP using Scheduled Tasks

I use Scheduled Tasks to Shutdown Windows XP after download files from the internet. Yeah, i must leave my computer on to finish my download sometimes, but i also want to shutdown the computer after download.

Windows XP is using shutdown.exe, an external command availabel in Windows XP. The command enables a user to shutdown a Windows XP computer from the command line as well as perform additional features that are not available through Windows.

I’ll give you shutdown.exe syntax, you can use these syntax later on Scheduled Task
Usage shutdown.exe [-i | -s | -r | -a] [-f] [-t xx] [-c "comment"]
-i = Display GUI Interface, mut be the first option
-s = Shutdown the computer
-r = Shutdown and restart the computer
-a = Abort a system shutdown
-t xx = Set timeout for shutdown to xx seconds
-c “comment” = Shutdown comment (maximum of 127 characters)
-f = Forces running applications to close without warning

Note : Shutdown Windows XP using Scheduled Tasks works on Windows XP Professional SP2 and SP3

STEPS

• Click Start, then click Control Panel
• Click Performance and Maintenance, the click Scheduled Tasks
• Double Click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task Wizard starts
• Click Next
• Under Click the program you want Windows to run, click Browse
• In the Select Program to Schedule dialog box, locate your Windows directory (%SystemRoot) \ System32 folder, locate and click the Shutdown.exe file, then click Open
• Under Perform this task, specify a name for the task and how frequently you want this task to run, then click Next
• Under Select the time and day you want this task to start, specify a start time and date for the task, then click Next
• Type the user name and password to run this task under, then click Next
• Click to select the Open advanced propertoes for this task when I click Finish check box, then click Finish
• Click the Task tab
• In the Run box, specify any additional paramaters that you want to use with Shutdown.exe (look for the Syntax above)
• Click OK

Bypass Firewalls : How to Access Banned WordPress.com Blogs

Lorelle wrote down an article on how to access banned WordPress.com with various ways, client side proxy software, online web proxy bypass sites, a peer to peer CDN, TOR. I think we can use resources in the article to access other banned sites as well

Style problem on Windows XP SP3

One of the readers gave me a comment about style problem on Windows XP SP.
I got that problem too :-). Style is missing from display > appearance.
The problem come from UX Theme. You need to get new version of UX Theme, which is compatible with Service Pack 3 to fix the problem.

Download new version of UX Theme from this page. Run the update after you updates Windows XP (which is already have Apple Style) . Follow the instruction here. I suggest you to download and use Replacer.
Replacer help you replace or delete a system file with ease.

What if i have Windows XP SP3 and want to style my desktop from scratch?
Download new version of UX theme from above link, then follow instruction in A Guide to Style A Windows XP Desktop look-alike Mac OS X Leopard.

History of The Color Wheel

I didn’t know Sir Isaac Newton invented The Color Wheel

Nineteen Labs Redesign

I’ve been using ColdBlue theme since last year. Today, i’m starting to design a new theme for Nineteen Labs. Finally, my own theme on my own site. The design almost finish. It’s semi grid, i guess. I cannot preview the design now, cause i need to test some features.

Interesting part of new nineteen labs design is that the design come from so simple or simple blue themes. Yes, that’s an upgrade from my free themes.

Do i have a plan to launch nineteen labs theme into my next free theme?
I can’t answer that right now. But i can assure you that i’m going to fix simple blue theme. I’ll add gravatar into comment feature. I realized that simple blue theme doesn’t have gravatar add-on.

Hopefully new Nineteen Labs and Simple Blue additional feature will be online soon

Another Add On for your leopard-like desktop

Finderbar is a great app for a leopard-like desktop. I mentioned finderbar in a previous post. I tried this app when i was upgrading my desktop. The program delivers resemblance with an original finderbar on Mac OS, but I uninstalled finderbar at the end, because i don’t need finderbar’s features inside my windows xp. The features gives you a lot of new commands from the taskbar, which also confused me, we already have menu bar from any applications.

Finderbar needs restart your computer after installation, you will also need to run a program by click finderbar shortcut in StartUp, although you already put the shortcut inside if you are using Leopard Theme.

A Guide to Style A Windows XP Desktop look-alike Mac OS X Leopard

I have fun today, styling my desktop to a leopard-like desktop.
I change my desktop from tiger-like because one of my friends said my desktop looks old when I posted my tiger-like desktop on Pownce.

These are steps to upgrade my tiger-like to a leopard-like desktop theme.

1. I use Visual Styles to style desktop theme and appearance, same with previous tiger theme, i search the internet for a leopard theme designed for Visual Styles.
2. My tiger dock is an old dock, not suitable for leopard. Remove the dock, Y’z dock and change it to a new program, RK Launcher.
3. Add a search utility. If you see a zoom icon on top corner of screen, that is a search utility. This feature is ‘dead’ on tiger-like desktop, i decide to bring it on.
4. Change all windows icons to leopard icons. I recommend to use IconPackager, the best software for manage and change Windows XP icons. The software isn’t free, i use the trial version.
5. Change Windows XP logon screen. I find a cool and simple way to change Windows XP logon screen without help any software thanks to a Malaysian Designer, Syahmi. Most forums suggested Logon Studio from Stardock as a logon screen changer.

Now, a complete guide to style a Windows XP desktop look-alike Mac OSX Leopard.
1. Download Leopard 3.0 Theme and Appearance file. It’s the best leopard skin for Visual Styles. If you have an alternative skin, please leave a comment below.
2. Extract and copy skin files to c:/windows/resources/theme. open control panel>display>appearance>windows and button>choose skin. Yeah, these instructions same with tiger
3. You have leopard appearances now.

The Dock
4. If you have a Y’z dock, remove it first. How? exit from Y’z dock, delete a Y’z dock icon from Startup folder inside Start Menu, delete a Y’z dock installation folder. Reboot the computer.
5. If you don’t have a Y’z dock or another dock, e.g Rocket Dock, jump right away to install RK Launcher. Download RK Launcher, extract a RK Laucher file to a hard drive where you want to save the Launcher files. Put or drag and drop RK Launcher.exe to startup folder inside Start Menu, RK launcher will be shown on your desktop everytime you reboot or start your Windows.
6. Download a Leopard Theme for RK Launcher. Extract to a RK Launcher themes subdirectory (inside a RK Launcher installation directory)
7. Run RK Launcher by clicked RK Laucher.exe twice. Put your mouse on top of the Launcher, and push mouse right hand button to show a tooltip menu. Open Settings, choose Theme : Leopard.
8. Tips for RK Launcher’s programs customization, open an itemlist.conf file on your text editor and modify the content.

There is a RK Launcher Leopard inspired. This Launcher is more complex than the original version, with awesome effects-you can see in an above link. I don’t use Leopard Inspired edition because i need a program that easy to install and remove. RK Launcher removal process same with Y’z dock.

Search Utility
1. Download MacSearch. It’s a great program from a man who delivers Finderbar. This program allows you to search in Spotlight Style. The program makes a zoom icons alive, not just an accesories.
2. From How-To :No installation is needed. Simply extract all files to the folder “up to you, e.g:Program Files” / MacSearch and make the shortcut to the file MacSearch.exe in the folder StartUp.
3. Reboot and feel it. But this program need adjustment. Right-Click above Zoom icon on the taskbar, choose MacSearch preferences, go to preferences tabs. Start searching option : manually, to show search bar click : Tray Hot Area.

Change Windows Icons
1. Download and InstallIconPackager 30 days-Trial Version.
2. Download Mr.EyePatch’s Leopard XP IconPackager. Extract the files and click one of the files (Revised Blue or Revised Brown) twice, then Apply.

Windows XP Logon
1. Download iLeopard Logon. Extract an iLeopard Logon zip file.
2. Copy logonui.exe from an extracted iLeopard directory to your windows\system32 directory.
3. Reboot your computer, push F8 button before your screen shows Windows’ Flag. Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Login to an Administrator account.
4. Copy iLogon’s logonui.exe to your windows\system32 directory (again) using DOS command. Press Y when you asked to rewrite the file.
5. Reboot the computer by typing shutdown -r.