How to open chm file in Windows?

For many years, I cannot open CHM file in Windows. I never knew why. I thought, the CHM file was old or outdated or generated with old compiler or wrong encoding.

Until one day I am so fed up, I search for solution. Surprisingly, there are some softwares offer to open CHM file, including a plug-in in Firefox to open CHM file. However, the Firefox plugin still cannot open some CHM file correctly, there are missing pages or images.

Finally, I come across this simple solution:

I read somewhere, for security reason, Windows cannot open downloaded CHM file automatically. We have to right click the file -> Properties -> General tab -> [Unblock] button.

k-lite cannot play rm rmvb file RealAudio COOK

When I install K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 6.5.0 on WinXP SP3, Windows Media Player and Media Player Classic can play rmvb/rm files smoothly.

After I install Real Player ver 14 Hexlix Powered, WMP and MPC failed to render rmvb/rm files. It shows the following errors:

C:\Downloads\Movie\movie.rmvb::Output 00 (Audio Stream) Media Type 0: -------------------------- Audio: RealAudio COOK 44100Hz stereo AM_MEDIA_TYPE: majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} subtype: Unknown GUID Name {4B4F4F43-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A} bFixedSizeSamples: 1 bTemporalCompression: 1 lSampleSize: 14880 cbFormat: 112 WAVEFORMATEX: wFormatTag: 0x2004 nChannels: 2 nSamplesPerSec: 44100 nAvgBytesPerSec: 0 nBlockAlign: 930 wBitsPerSample: 16 cbSize: 0 (extra bytes) pbFormat: 0000: 04 20 02 00 44 ac 00 00 00 00 00 00 a2 03 10 00 . ..D¬......¢... 0010: 00 00|2e 72 61 fd 00 05 00 00 2e 72 61 35 00 00 ...raý.....ra5.. 0020: 00 10 00 05 00 00 00 4e 00 18 00 00 03 a2 00 00 .......N.....¢.. 0030: 00 00 00 07 55 67 00 00 00 00 00 10 03 a2 00 ba ....Ug.......¢.º 0040: 00 00 00 00 ac 44 00 00 ac 44 00 00 00 10 00 02 ....¬D..¬D...... 0050: 67 65 6e 72 63 6f 6f 6b 01 07 00 00 00 00 00 10 genrcook........ 0060: 01 00 00 03 08 00 00 25 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 05 .......%........

I un-install all. No matter how I change the installation steps, i.e. install RealPlay first then K-Lite, or install K-Lite first then RealPlayer, or install older version of K-Lite, or Real Alternative, the result is the same. Once RealPlayer is installed, K-Lite is broken.

Official FAQ says:
http://www.codecguide.com/faq_mpc.htm#item23

Q: RealMedia files (.rm .rmvb) freeze or play without sound A: MPC is not fully compatible with RealPlayer 11 and 12.

or C:/Program Files/K-Lite Codec Pack/Info/faq_playback_issues.htm#item32

Q: RMVB files play without sound A: You are probably missing a decoder for RealAudio COOK. You can install that by following these steps: Download the Windows version of binary codec pack for MPlayer. http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html#binary_codec Extract these files from the .zip archive: cook.dll, pncrt.dll, sipr3260.dll, drv33260.dll, drv43260.dll Put those files in this folder: C:\Windows

It seems redundant as K-Lite itself is the bundle of media libraries, why do we need to download additional binary from 3rd party? And the above steps are troublesome.

The easier way and solution is that:

1) Install K-Lite Mega Codec Pack (contains Real Alternative) or Real Alternative first. You'll see the following directory:
C:\Program Files\K-Lite Codec Pack\Real\Codecs

2) Save a copy of this [Codecs] directory. Because it'll somehow disappear when RealPlayer is installed, or you install K-Lite after RealPlayer, this folder won't exist (I don't remember clearly).

3) Then, install RealPlayer. As expected, WMP and MPC cannot play rmvb/rm properly (without sound, missing RealAudio COOK)

4) Go Control Panel -> System -> Advanced tab -> [Environment Variables] -> edit Path

Add the following path:
%path%;C:\Program Files\K-Lite Codec Pack\Real\Codecs

Adding the above path, [Codecs] folder is visiable to Windows. Now you try to play rmvb/rm with WMP and MPC, it will play smoothly again.

IIS on Windows 7 / Vista / XP Pro

A project may propose using Webservices. So here I find how easy it is to enable IIS on Windows.

For Windows 7 / Vista, it is a build-in feature:
http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/28/installing-iis-7-on-windows-vista-and-windows-7/
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-install-iis-on-windows-vista/

For Windows XP Pro, it can be installed free:
http://www.webwiz.co.uk/kb/asp_tutorials/installing_iis_winXP_pro.asp

Free Audio Sound Card Recorder

This software, is able to record input sound into computer with various formats.

http://www.freeaudiorecorder.net/Files/FreeAudioRecorderSetup.exe

Using tips:
1. To reduce noise, set the recording volume to 10.

Powepoint PPT to Video VCD / JPG JPEG convert conversion

If we really have to go somewhere with TV but without projector and computer, to give the presentation, how to do?

1) Convert PPT to Video DVD

There are a few Powepoint PPT to Video DVD convert conversion software. However, it seems all of them need to pay.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/10/09/how-to-convert-powerpoint-presentation-ppt-to-video-avimpeg-flash-and-cddvd/

I am using this one:
http://www.ppt-to-video-converter.com/downloads/smart-ppt-converter-setup.exe

Note: To maintain the quality, only DVD is accepted.

2) Convert PPT to picture JPEG

Most of the DVD players today can show JPEG file. So covert PPT to picture JPEG file will do also.

Note: name of JPEG file as
01.jpg
02.jpg
03.jpg
...
10.jpg

So that the sequence of the pictures will remain in order.

Setup Voice for Chatting Software - Microphone Boost

When using Skype, MSN, etc voice chatting software, by default the sound is recorded softly and the opposite party has difficulty to listen clearly.

In Windows XP, we can enable Microphone Boost.

Go Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices -> Audio tab -> [Volume] in Sound recording


Then, in Recording Control -> [Advance] -> tick [x]Microphone Boost


Enable this option will help the computer to boost up the voice. People will listen clearer.

In some of the Voice Chatting software such as Skype and VoipCheap, inside Tools -> Options -> Audio Settings.

There is a setting called "Let Skype adjust my audio settings". The feature will most likely disable the Microphone Boost which you have just set. So untick "Let Skype adjust my audio settings".