How to disable the annoying audio warning to clear cache

 Annoyances, Google Software, Google Toolbar, Software, Utilities  2 Responses »
Nov 292011
 

1951881 blog 300x219 How to disable the annoying audio warning to clear cacheDo you keep hearing a voice message warning you to clear your cache and cookies? I don’t, but my father experiences it and when he described it I could not believe it. Why would such a pointless and stupid message be played every time you opened the browser?

At first I thought it was something wrong with Internet Explorer but removing the Google Toolbar solves the problem. Further investigation results in problem with Google’s data gathering process (surprise surprise).

If you wish to keep the Google Toolbar this is what you need to do:-

1. Click the Toolbar’s wrench OR the dropdown arrow beside the search .
2. Click Manage.
3. Click Privacy.
4. Then select Turn off features that send information

However this has not worked for everyone – with some claiming they disable it and it automatically enables itself again later.

On the subject of People have said….

Some think this is a ploy by Microsoft to stop people using or supplying information to Google. No one has suggested that it might be Google trying to get people to switch from IE to Chrome which is a more likely result (Google Toolbar does not work in Chrome!).

I think it is more likely a programming error and the issue, apart from being extremely annoying, Google are taking so long to fix it.

As for whether this is a Microsoft or Google problem IMO it is Google at fault, if they want to offer their Toolbar on IE then its up to them to get it to work properly.

Roudham Heath to Thorpe Woodlands Circular Walk

 Norfolk, On The Front Line, River Bank, Sport, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating  No Responses »
Nov 272011
 

Ironically to reach the unbeaten track you sometimes need to get close to fast roads. Last week crossing the M25 and Mll over bridges and through tunnels ensured my path was a lonely one. This week the A11 through Bridgham Heath provided a barrier between occasional walkers and ardent hiker. A little patience is needed to get across safely.

The footpath also crosses the railway at Roudham Heath (Or Anfield Road, L4 Liverpool, according to a sign beside the Union Jack). I took extra care after reading a tragic report of yet more life lost. Fortunately there is a good view in both directions so felt little danger as I walked across.

There was some confusion after crossing the bridge at Thorpe Woodlands into Suffolk. I met some people trying to find their way back to their camp site. A sign warning them away from the land between them and the site meant they were going to have to return the way they came. They saw I had a map and asked if it was possible to compare and find out where they had gone wrong. Their map was part of a brochure but did seem clear enough for the walk they were taking.

The land is (at least in part) a nature reserve and access land. This I confirmed with my OS map and I offered to guide them to the footpath back to their campsite as I was going in the same direction. They showed me the sign and I think it might be incorrectly placed. Its grid reference is TL 945 841 beside the stand of trees and after the track.

As the entire area is free access anyone with an OS map can easily negotiate around the area the sign protects however a good path with footpath posts appears just after the sign. If the sign was moved about 5 metres people using the nature reserve map would not have to worry where they walk. Alternatively OS and the nature reserve should adjust their maps accordingly.

Distance: 12 Miles
Elevation Range: 45 to 140 feet
Weather Check: Thetford, Norfolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Roudham Heath to Thorpe Woodlands Circular Walk
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010

Epping Forest Circular Walk Via Toot Hill & The Moletrap

 Essex, Forest, On The Front Line, Walking Hiking Navigating  1 Response »
Nov 202011
 

I didn’t take my Camera on this walk so these are from my phone. Not Pulitzer material but it was a bright day, bright enough to produce good pictures under the circumstances.

I have wanted to visit Epping for a while and the chance arose without warning or time for proper planning. I want to walk the tunnels and bridges across the M25/M11 motorways. I decided to leave them to the end of the walk knowing it would be dark by the time I arrived. This may seem foolhardy however there are two attractions to the dark. The first is the tunnels will be creepy and secondly the land around motorways offers interesting navigation. If the dark freaks you out and you are considering this walk in the winter then I suggest you do the walk in reverse, and bring torches.

The sun is winter-low but bright enough to keep the air warm enough for me to walk wearing a T-Shirt and shorts (changing to longs before walking through brambles – and for decency’s sake before Lunch in the Moletrap pub).

Distance: 12½ Miles
Elevation Range: 85 to 365 feet
Weather Check: Epping, Essex
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Epping Forest Circular Walk Via Toot Hill & The Moletrap
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010

Circular Walk of Culver Down on the Isle of Wight

 Coastal Walks, Isle of Wight, On The Front Line, Sport, Walking Hiking Navigating  No Responses »
Nov 172011
 

A hot sunny day in mid November, a reminder we are closer to the sun in winter and the low angle of the sun the only clue it’s not summer, made this an extraordinary walk.

Trees and plants not fooled continue preparations for cold weather yet gleam in momentary stasis. A red squirrel sat on a bench in the woods eating, carefully I backed away to avoid disturbing it planning to take a photo but alas the boot-up on my camera produces an unnatural *ping* and in the same second the squirrel disappeared.

A short two-hour walk. It begins from the public car park at the top of Culver Down and ends in the Pub next door.

Take care on paths in Whitecliff Bay where land erosion has left them damaged or missing. In one place car tracks fall over the edge but careful examination from a safe position proved these were old and unlikely recent misfortune.

culver down walk 1024x648 Circular Walk of Culver Down on the Isle of Wight

Distance: 5¼ Miles
Elevation Range: 10 to 322 feet
Weather Check: Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: A Circular Walk of Culver Down on the Isle of Wight
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010

How to change text size in chm help files

 Annoyances, Help Files, Microsoft  No Responses »
Nov 092011
 

hard to read fonts Custom How to change text size in chm help files
I am experiencing a problem with fonts in help files. As you can see from the picture the font used for the Index is readable. The font used for the content is too small.

read using magnifier Custom 150x150 How to change text size in chm help files

Read with the magnifier

Once so desperate and in a hurry the only solution I found was to start the Magnifier which proved awkward and intensely frustrating but that had as much to do with the useless information in the help file as the sheer stupidity of not being able to read it. I remember swearing if I ever found out who was responsible it would take an army to stop me from blinding the bastard.

A little research resulted in a suggestion to change the Accessibility options. I felt a little resentful at the suggestion my eyesight was in some way to blame but I gave it a try. Here’s what you do:-


Open the CHM file.
-> Options -> Internet Options -> Accessibility -> Ignore Fonts Sizes on specified Web pages

Presto! You can read the help file but don’t get too excited, now go to Internet Explorer and visit your favourite website, what do you see? In most cases it will be a mess with silly font sizes.

I was crushed.

Further research suggests CHM Authors set font sizes but all files were using tiny fonts. Either the entire help file writing fraternity had gone bonkers or something else maybe wrong.

Clearing cache, using various mouse and keyboard combinations changed nothing. The fonts remained too small in the content area.

Forums, Microsoft and Yahoo Answers and other searches were not coming up with any results so I loaded Sysinternals Process Monitor, set some filters and nosed around the registry to find a bizarre call being made to some default entries buried deep under ‘International’ settings for Internet Explorer. It’s not surprising it has been difficult to fix, anyway, this is how you do it:-

How to change text size in chm help files

Easy way

1. Download this .reg file unzip and double-click fix-font-in-chm.reg and follow instructions to change your registry.

Not so easy but less risk as you are in control of the changes

1. Open regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\Scripts\3
3. Change IEFontSize to 03,00,00,00

A Circular Walk Around Wet and Misty Mistley & Bradfield Essex

 Essex, On The Front Line, Sport, Walking Hiking Navigating  No Responses »
Nov 062011
 

Hundreds of swans and sea birds crowd into Mistley and show little fear for people or vehicles alike. When I drove through a couple of weeks ago traffic halted while three Swans strolled from Lower Park to the river.

A Circular Walk Around Wet and Misty Mistley & Bradfield Essex

A large coppice tree looking like a monster from the Never Ending story sits high on a mound in Furze Hills on the eastern leg of the walk. I have seen pictures of similar aged more than 1,000 years; I like the idea this tree may host memories that date beyond 1066. I like to imagine how people have used the tree to shelter from the sun or rain over the years, the conversations held and the politics of the day. Could the tree hold a grisly history too? Lightening appears to have struck it and due to its size and place may have been involved in punishment. With so many years it is likely to have many interesting stories, perhaps science will find a way to unlock these one day.

A Circular Walk Around Wet and Misty Mistley & Bradfield Essex

Despite the misty wet weather the walk was full of colour, checkout more of the photos here.

mistley bradfield walk A Circular Walk Around Wet and Misty Mistley & Bradfield Essex

Those who enjoy navigating will note there is an aerial and water tower visible from almost anywhere on the walk allowing easy positioning.

Distance: 12 Miles
Elevation Range: 0 to 119 feet
Difficulty: Easy but be ready to backtrack or find alternative routes due to mud.
Weather Check: BBC Weather Mistley, Essex.
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: A Circular Walk Around Wet and Misty Mistley & Bradfield Essex
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010