Quarter-life Crisis...

BEING IN TWENTIES – SOMETHING…

I thought this couldn't be more appropriate for us..

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly thegreatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling onto the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority.

Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.You begin to think a companion
for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now.You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that every one reading this relates to it.

We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Send this to your twenty-something friends... maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion...

We call it the "Quarter-life Crisis…."

How to Change or Create Boot Screen in Windows using TuneUp Utilities

TuneUp Utilities is one of the best system optimization suite for Windows. It provides various options to tweak your system. It also provides options to change Windows theme, boot screen, login screen and icons.

Here is a step-by-step procedure to change or create new boot screen in Windows XP and Vista using TuneUp Utilities:

1. First download and install TuneUp Utilities from the following link: http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/
You can either purchase the full version or download 30 days trial version. After installation, run it from desktop or from Programs menu or by right-clicking on My computer icon and select "TuneUp Utilities".

2. Now click on Customize Windows -> TuneUp Styler

3. It'll open a new window. Click on "Boot Screen" link in left-side pane.

4. Now click on "Add -> Load Boot Screen From File..." option.

5. Select your boot screen file and click on "Install Boot Screen" button.

6. You can also create your own boot screens. To create new boot screen, click on "New Screen" button. It'll open a new window. Now click on "Search Local Drives" link and select the image.You can also set the image alignment, borders, background color and progress bar position.

7. Once you finish, click on "Save boot screen" link and provide a name to your boot screen.

8. You can even see the preview of the boot screen by clicking on "Show large preview" link or by clicking on the image in Preview pane.

9. Vola!! Your new boot screen is ready. You can apply it by clicking on "Install Boot Screen" button.

ReadyBoost for Windows XP??!!

MDO Ltd. announced the release of eBoostr, a complete replacement for Microsoft ReadyBoost technology for Windows XP. Upgrade the performance of your PC without upgrading its components. Get ReadyBoost-like technology in Windows XP.
Adding more RAM speeds up Windows and applications, allowing the system to access the hard disk less often. This is especially true for older PCs with 256 or 512 MB of RAM, and laptop computers with slow hard drives. Upgrading computer components can be costly, and is not always possible. Buying and plugging a USB flash memory stick, on the other hand, is neither expensive nor complicated. That is why MICROSOFT developed a new technology called ReadyBoost.

ReadyBoost uses flash memory plugged into a computer to enhance operating system responsiveness, decrease loading time, and improve computer performance. Unfortunately, Microsoft ReadyBoost is only available in Windows Vista. Since the day Microsoft announced its ReadyBoost technology for Windows Vista, the company made it clear that no ReadyBoost upgrade will be released to support Windows XP and older operating systems.

eBoostr is a third-party implementation of speed-enhancing technology based on using flash memory to enhance the responsiveness and performance of a Windows XP computer. eBoostr works similar to Microsoft ReadyBoost, providing many of the same benefits to the end user.
Improved Performance with No Costly Hardware UpgradeseBoostr improves the performance of any PC without having to upgrade its components or the operating system. Using flash memory allows Windows XP to access hard drives less frequently, which results in improved performance and responsiveness of Windows XP and all applications.

No Ready Boost Limitations:

Ready Boost is a great technology, but it has its limitations.

1.Its current incarnation does not support more than one flash memory stick or card at a time.

2.ReadyBoost requires using fast flash memory that can be more expensive than the typical flash drive found on everyone’s desk.

3.Finally, ReadyBoost helps the most to those with little amount of RAM installed, and provides slim benefits to PCs with a gigabyte or more of RAM.

eBoostr overcomes these limitations. While it works great with ReadyBoost Certified devices, eBoostr also supports slower, less expensive flash memory sticks and cards, allowing for a really inexpensive way to improve your computer performance. eBoostr is not limited to a single stick or card, and supports up to four flash units simultaneously. Finally, unlike ReadyBoost, eBoostr provides noticeable performance benefits even to PCs that are stuffed with RAM sticks to the max.

Procedure:

1.Download the file

2. Un-zip it

3.Install using setup file and then apply crack by choosing the installation folder.Before that paste the crack in the installation directory.

4.Restart your system (its mandatory)

5.Launch eBoostrCP (the control panel for eBoostr, circled in RED)

6.PLug in the USB Drive and then click on ADD. Add the USB Drive.

7.Then Click on Build Cache Now. It will take approx. 10-15 min for the process.

Thats it.. now your system will work faster.

Link:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/mnnfd1nkfno/EBoostr.2.02.Build.424.rar

Windows Se7en Look V.2 for WinXP

The pack contains a file which acts as a modifier for making your old, boring Windows XP to look, sound and welcome you in a new way. I personally like it.

The package includes:

1. Windows 7 Themes

2.BootScreen

3.Logon Screen

4.Sound

5.Styler

6.Windows 7 Wallpapers.

Along with the modifier file, you will need Tune-Up utility (the 2008 version) for every feature to be deployed. Google for it and you will find tons of site giving you the download link.

Below is the link for the Windows Se7en package.

Link:

http://www.thatsprime.com/link/142b0fc8

Password:

www.dl4all.com

To install themes, double click the extracted file, click on Themes and the location to extract themes should be C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Windows 7

To install Windows7 logon, copy file logonui.exe to C:\WINDOWS\system32 and run logonui.reg

Incase you are not able to load any feature, upon launching the modifier, you will get an option HELP. Cick on that, it contains the screenshot of how to deploy every feature.

Remeber, the package is not a stand-alone OS. Its just a package, a modifier package and that too only for Windows XP.

How To Fix Disappearing System Tray Icons in Vista

When icons start disappearing from Windows Vista's system tray—like the networking, volume control, or time display—and you can't restore them from the standard options menus, the itch to re-install can be strong indeed. I too faced this problem, a few clicks here and there got me the solution.

Normally we can re-enable the items by right-clicking on the Taskbar, choosing properties and going to the Notification Area tab:

Incase its grayed out, then we gotta do a workaround.

WORKAROUND 1: Open up regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then browse down to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If you see any of the following key names in the right-hand pane, delete them:

NoTrayItemsDisplay
HideClock
HideSCAPower
HideSCAVolume
NoAutoTrayNotify
HideSCANetwork
After deleting the values in that pane, browse to the following key and then repeat the process:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

You'll have to logout and then back in, and then most likely go back into taskbar properties and re-check the boxes for each.

WORKAROUND 2:
Just download, extract, and double-click on RestoreMyTrayIconsPlease.reg to enter the information into the registry.

http://www.howtogeek.com/geekers/RestoreMyTrayIconsPlease.zip

NOTE: Most of the problems are solved after installing SP1 for Vista.

I wish i could do something to help them.. just wish...

25th November,2008 @ 21:30
I was happy, sitting in train for Chennai. The happiness was not of immeasurable depth, but yes.. was happy.

26th November,2008 @ 13:00
Got up around 10am, didn’t sleep that well; reason being I got the base berth in the side. One thing I still don’t understand, why rail govt. introduced the middle berth concept in the side berths. It causes a lot of trouble for travelers, one while sleeping, second for keeping luggage. Leave that aside.
Around 11am came vijaywada and came good idli /dosa and buttermilk. That when my dad had called me up, and he informed me that tamil nadu is experiencing heavy rain for past 3days. The state is knee deep water. I was like, ok. I didn’t take it seriously. But when we entered Tamil Nadu around 15:30, what I saw, I couldn’t believe my own eyes. It was water everywhere. Fields were destroyed, houses were submerged. It was not a pleasant picture to watch. Somewhere in my heart i was happy that i am back, but not happy with the conditions, state of people. I wish i could do something to help them.. just wish...

Excerpt from various newspaper articles

CHENNAI: Cyclone Nisha was bearing down on the Tamil Nadu coast on Wednesday night as heavy rains lashed coastal districts, taking the death toll since the north-east monsoon set in last month to 64. At least 22 people have been reported dead over the last few days alone, while more than 50,000 hectares of crops in the Cauvery delta districts were submerged and 64,000 hectares officially declared flood-hit. As revenue officials in several districts moved into disaster management mode, the Met office said the cyclone lay 20km off the Nagapattinam district and was likely to cross the southern coast early on Thursday. Chennai reeled under sheets of water for the second successive day…

CHENNAI: Every time the skies open up, T Nagar takes a good lashing. On Wednesday, the scene was no different. In many areas, commuters waded through knee-deep water and roads riddled with potholes, as vehicles battled traffic snarls. There was a general sense of frustration and frayed nerves among commuters and residents alike...

My life in Bhubaneswar.................

On 8th October, @ 5:45pm I received a mail from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) regarding my initial training which they call it as ILP. I was jubilant seeing the subject line, but was not very excited after reading the mail, coz my training was scheduled in BHUBANESHWAR. God, of all the places in India, Bhubaneswar (this was my perception). Half-heartedly I packed my bags and boarded the train for Bhubaneswar from Chennai on 24th Oct night. The only thing that kept me a good mood is that, my friends were also allocated Bhubaneswar for Phase 1 of ILP, so no problem for company.
The train which was suppose to reach Bhubaneswar @ 5:30pm on 25th October reached @ 8pm. I was like, wow…. What a start. Reached the office, got our villas (cottage house). It was good. We even had fridge and T.V. Atlas.. something good. We 5 friends were tired to core, so decided to call the day off @ 10pm.
Next day, Sunday.. we had planned that we will explore the area and do some shopping. It all went till 2pm. Then we started to search for a good place to eat. Guess what, the best place for veg we found was Udipi (famous in south india). The food taste was okay okay type.

I had hoped, Bhubaneswar being the capital of Orrisa, we will find good restaurants; but no. Later, after few enquiries we found that we are staying @ border of Bhubaneswar city limit. About 200mt from our villa, the Bhubaneswar city limit ends. Wow… even better. And also, after 9pm ; everything gets closed.
We all were like, what?? 9pm?? That was a shock.. We usually have our dinner @ office mess and then reach the villa by 9pm. After that, none of us would even feel like going out, bcoz
(1) Tired
(2) None of the places will be open after 9:30pm. Even Big Bazar closes by 9:15pm.
(3) Even if we go to city(which is about 10km from our villas), after 9pm.. its hard to find transport for a return trip.
On Saturdays and Sundays, we get up @ 11am.. we either chat or watch movies or tv series (LOST or PRISON BREAK) or play game on our laptops.

(two of my friends, playing Counter Strike.. look @ thier concentration.. thier dedication)

This monotonous lifestyle helped me in one way, it gave me lot of time to think.. about me, my future, my failures, my success .