If you have an iPod, Archos, iRiver, Sandisk or Olympus mp3 player, chances are you can add some extra features which the original manufacturer did not have in mind. To do so you have to gain access to your device, in short to hack your mp3 player and replace the original software inside your player, the firmware, with Rockbox.

Rockbox is an open source firmware for mp3 players, written from scratch. It runs on a wide range of players:

• Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
  (not the Shuffle, 2nd/3rd/4th gen Nano, Classic or Touch)
• Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio
• Cowon: iAudio X5, X5V, X5L, M5, M5L, M3 and M3L
• iriver: iHP100 series, H100 series, H300 series and H10 series
• Olympus: M:Robe 100
• SanDisk: Sansa c200 series, e200 series and e200R series (not the AMS models)
• Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series (not the S series)

Rockbox features are impressive: it supports for over 15 sound codecs, gapless playback, 5-band fully-parametric equalizer, and crossfeed high-resolution volume control, ability to create themes, advanced crossfading, volume normalization, album art, JPEG image and text-file viewing, Doom! video playback, voice spoken interface and more…

To install Rockbox on your mp3 player, simply visit the Rockbox website at http://www.rockbox.org/and follow the easy step by step instructions. It took 5 minutes for my iPod video to look like this:

Mr. Boulanger, Computer Teacher - Victor Boulanger presents the work of his students at the ISC

To speed up Windows, it is necessary for you to choose the list of programs which should automatically load with Windows. Not all programs need to but if they do, they will slow down your computer a lot. This article will show you 2 techniques to keep resident programs in check.

The graal of any program installed on your computer is to become a “resident”. A resident program sets itself to start with Windows and remains in memory throughout your whole session. These programs may show up as icons in the system tray but most of the time they remain silent and only show up in the task manager list of processes.

Many programs are greedy in that respect, but some of the worst offenders which are found on most computers are: Adobe Reader, While these programs may be useful, they do not need to be preloaded.Quick Time, Real Player, or Java because any program loaded in the memory takes away some of that memory and makes Windows noticeable slower to boot.

In order to remove some of these programs, you may want to use a dedicated application, such as CCleaner, or simply try the System Configuration Utility.

Using CCleaner

1. Download CCleaner from filehippo
2. Install (I suggest unchecking all options but “Install in Start Menu”)



3. Run CCleaner and go to Tools > Startup



4. Choose items to disable
5. Restart your computer

Using System Configuration Utility

1. Click Start > Run
2. Type in msconfig
3. Click on Startup



4. Uncheck items you want to disable
5. Restart your computer and disable the warning message

Which programs should not start with Windows?

Both solutions will allow you to disable startup programs, but which programs are essential (antivirus…) and which should you remove (updates…)?

I usually remove all the HP update programs, Google update, qttask (from Apple Quicktime), realsched (from Real player), any Adobe prelauncher, iTunes helper (except if you sync your iPod with iTunes but I prefer MediaMonkey)

To find out more about these programs, run a search in Google for each command handle, or check with database such as the one maintained by Bleeping Computer to make sure you are removing an unecessary program: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/

e.g: according to Google, rthdcpl.exe in the screenshot above triggers the Realtek HD Audio Control Panel for my soundcard so i will keep it

Mr. Boulanger, Computer Teacher - Victor Boulanger presents the work of his students at the ISC

You have 3 options if you want to update to Windows 7:

Windows 7 Release Candidate

You can download a beta version of Windows 7 from the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx. This free download is available until 21st August. This version will work until 1st June 2010.

Free upgrade to Windows 7

If you purchased Windows Vista or a computer with Windows Vista between June 26, 2009 and January 31, 2010, you can qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 7.

If you bought a boxed version of Windows Vista, go here: https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/Validation.aspx?StoreID=127971aa-ac70-438f-9304-4bd05de66415&LocaleCode=en-us

You will need:

1. Your Windows Vista Serial Key
2. A Copy of your receipt

If you bought a computer with Vista, go here and click on the manufacturer: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-option.aspx

Conditions vary but you will probably need at least:

1. The serial number of your PC
2. A Copy of your receipt

Purchase Windows 7 upgrade

You can buy an upgrade to Windows 7 home edition for $119.99 from the Microsoft store at: http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Upgrade/product/B0F9E641.

This is pre-order form as Windows 7 will be released in stores and on new computers on 22nd October 2009.

Mr. Boulanger, Computer Teacher - Victor Boulanger presents the work of his students at the ISC