Convert easily CDA to MP3

Some of the most widely used audio file formats are CDA, MP3, WAV and AU. In the CD Audio, the .cda file has the representation of the CD tracks and not the audio information. These representations are valid only for the CD-ROM. The .CDA files can only be played from a CD-ROM. They cannot be played from a computer hard disk by copying the .CDA files to hard disk. If the .CDA file is copied to another media such as hard disk, then the CD track representation is not valid for that media. Generally, commercial CDs use the CDA format for distribution. The CDA files have to be converted to another format, such as MP3, to store them in a different media. The CDA format has the higher sampling rate. The quality of audio is superior to other audio formats. The MP3 format has the advantage of higher compression without much loss of audio quality. The file size is smaller by 1/10 of its original size depending upon the bit rate setting. The MP3 file can be distributed in all media, such as CD-ROM, hard disk and any removable media. The file can be copied from one media to another. There are a lot of converters available to convert the .CDA format to .MP3 files. AltoMP3CD Ripper is freeware downloadable from the URL http:// www.yuansoft.com/AltoMP3_install.exe (1.55MB)

Xilisoft video converter is another utility that has a lot of audio and video conversions in addition to .CDA to MP3 conversion. You can download this from http://www.sharewareguide.net/ downloads/x-video-converter-41214.exe (15.7MB) Free CD to MP3 converter is yet another utility. This is compatible for Widows 2003 and Windows Vista also. http://www.qwerks.com/download/7779/ cdtomp3freeware.exe When converting .CDA files to MP3 files, please ensure that the bit rate setting is about 128 kbps. The higher the kbps setting, the higher the file size. Also, the quality of audio is better. Most of these conversion utilities offer the option to choose a range of bit rate setting.

How to create Autorun.inf file for CDs and DVDs.

Contrary to what you may have heard from the RIAA, burning a CD-R or CD-RW is not an activity restricted only to music pirates. In many business situations, the burned CD is the best way to distribute information to a target audience. For communications involving PowerPoint presentations, HTML, PDF forms, Flash animations, or a number of other applications, the portable and durable CD has become a common delivery method.

The compact disk drive auto play feature, common to most operating systems, is a good way to simplify user experience. Auto play is controlled by a simple text-only file called autorun.inf. While there are dozens of software utilities available that will help you create the file, all you really need is a text editor and some basic knowledge.

This How do I… is based on Microsoft Windows, but other operating systems will read the autorun.inf file in a similar fashion.

Solution One: Create autorun.inf

The basic configuration of the autorun.inf states the program to run when the CD is inserted in the drive and the icon to display when the disk is viewed by Windows Explorer or other directory listing software. The text-only file, which resides in the root directory of the CD, should follow this pattern:

[autorun]
open=myprogram.exe
icon=myicon.ico

The icon file should also reside in the root directory of the CD.

Variations

Often the program you want to run will not be located in the root directory of the CD. If that is the case you must include the path:

[autorun]
open=folder1\folder1A\myfile.exe
icon=myicon.ico

Sometimes you may need to pass an argument to the program to be auto played:

[autorun]
open=myprogram.exe /argument
icon=myicon.ico

Not a program

Sending customers, salespeople, investors, and employees presentations, PDF files, and HTML documents requires a slight variation to the basic autorun.inf file and the addition of a DOS batch file to the CD root directory. The autorun.inf file opens a batch file, which then opens the file using the default program designated for that file type. For example:

[autorun]
open=autorun.bat index.htm
icon=myicon.ico

And the autorun.bat file reads:

echo off
@start %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
@exit

There is a variation on this idea that takes advantage of the ShellExecute command:

[autorun]
ShellExecute=index.htm
icon=training.ico

Using the autorun.inf file to auto play your burned CDs will prevent another headache for your users and increase the likelihood of reaching your target audience. And because it is a simple text file, it can be created with a text editor and your normal disk-burning software.

Solution Two: Create autorun.inf

While creating your autorun.inf file according to Solution One will work for most of your users, it will fail for a small percentage who have issues with the autorun function in their particular installation of Windows. The batch file in the first solution makes no allowances for errors and will merely fail when an error is encountered.

This is where a shell utility can save the day, because these third-party applications contain routines for handling common errors and will complete the autorun process even if an error is encountered. For this example, we’ll use autorun.exe, which can be downloaded from Tarma Software Research. Tarma has made autorun.exe freely available for both personal and commercial use, and there are no requirements for copyright notices, etc.

To use autorun.exe, you make a simple modification to the autorun.inf file by replacing autorun.bat with the .exe file. The basic autorun.inf under this scenario would look like this:

[autorun]
open=autorun.exe index.htm
icon=myicon.ico

The only other requirement is that a copy of the 8KB autorun.exe file be included in the root directory of each burned CD. This application also contains several options and supports an extended autorun.inf structure that provides more flexibility in how you design your CD package.

Google Chrome - A Shining browser

What is Google chrome?

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the Web faster, safer, and easier. Use one box for everything--type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and Web pages. Thumbnails of your top sites let you access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. Desktop shortcuts allow you to launch your favorite Web apps straight from your desktop.

Version 0.2.149.30 is a security and bug-fixing update.

Note: The Download Now link will take you to the Google Chrome Web site, where you must accept the end-user license agreement before downloading. Also, the 474K downloadable file is only a stub installer. You must remain connected to the Internet during installation to complete the full download of Google Chrome.

Geeks view :

Chrome is Google's attempt to make the browser disappear and to focus on the applications and pages users are viewing, rather than on the border with its tools. Some of Chrome's basic underpinnings are quite novel, but people will recognize other features as they exist in other, open-source browsers on the market today.

Currently only for Windows, Chrome is blazingly fast and is easily the quickest browser available. Based on Webkit, the same open-source engine that powers Apple Safari and Google's Android mobile platform, Chrome's interface is a drastic departure from other browsers. Instead of the traditional toolbar, Chrome puts its tabs on top. Moreover, the tabs are detachable: "tabs" and "windows" are interchangeable here. Detached tabs can be dragged and dropped into the browser, and tabs can be rearranged at any time. By isolating each tab's processes, when one site crashes, the browser does not.

Within each tab are individual controls, such as forward and back buttons. The search box and the address bar have been fused into a hybrid "Omnibox." The Omnibox includes not only suggestions for URLs culled from your browser's history, it also includes search suggestions from your search engine, and remembers site-specific search engine results. There's also Application Shortcuts, a feature that allows you to create desktop icons for Web-only applications, such as Gmail or Calendar. The stealth mode, Incognito, lets you surf without the history recording cookies.

Chrome lacks plug-ins, and there's the potential for high memory usage given that each tab is its own process. If you're addicted to Web apps and a need for speed, though, Chrome just might be the shine your browsing experience has been looking for.

How to fight with windows Boot error

When this error occurs :

“A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

“BAD_POOL_HEADER

“If this is the first time you have seen this stop error screen, restart the computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

“Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation ask you hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

“If the problem continues, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components restart your computer press…

“Technical Information:

“0x00000019 (0x00000020, 0x81CDEAB8, 0x81CDEAD8, 0x1A040003) beginning dump of physical memory

“Dumping physical memory to disk”

----
Soloution :-

The error messages are due to a faulty driver or service. If the device is an add-on card you can try removing it and booting the computer.

If the computer still cannot boot, then you can disable the driver or service either using safe mode or from the “Recovery console”.

To enter into safe mode, please follow the steps: Restart the computer. While booting, tap F8 function key until you get the “Windows Advanced Options Menu” and select Safe Mode. After logging in to the system you may disable the problematic driver or service.

To go to the recovery console, boot the computer from the XP Operating System CD. At the “welcome to set up” screen, press F10 or press R to repair.

This will list the Windows Installations found on the disk. Select the appropriate one. There will be a prompt for the administrator account password.

After logging in, use the “listsvc” command to list the services and drivers on the computer.

Note the name of the driver or service to be disabled.

Disable the service or driver using the “disable servicename” command.

This command will display the old start_type before disabling the service. Find out if the service has to be enabled again from the recovery console.

After eliminating the service or driver that causes this error a newer, error-free version can be installed.

For more details about the Recovery console in Win XP, please refer the following

URL http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/EN-US/