Call of Duty Advance Warfare Choppy Cutscenes

Even with the best graphics card one year later... there is still a likelihood you will come to experience some choppy cut scenes. There is absolutely nothing wring with wrong with your drivers or OS... The problem lies in the game, but doesn't seems to be patched....

The simple way is to find under options, there is something call "Sync Every Frame". Go ahead and disable that and you will find that the problem just goes away...

Enjoy taking down Atlas...

Windows 8.1 OEM FREE

Just something I went though and thought I might as well share it to save you some pain if you plan to go through it.As you know Windows 10 is not actually FREE if you have to buy it. Its pretty expensive actually from the leaked pricing. The best way to secure it is to get hold of the upgrade NOW by pre-booking.

BUT in order to quality, putting the license issue aside, you better be on Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 U1. Yes, nothing below is going to work. The pre-booking “app” is actually a Windows Update component which will not install on anything lower.

So, for those stuck in Windows 7 or 8.0, maybe it’s time to upgrade.

Windows 8.1 is kinda a SOB cos of the license key and all. Its not compatible with the keys used for 8.0 and such. But what I am going to share is a secret to get whole of the legitimate keys, right in front of you on that bloody machine of yours. A lot of people did not know this. When you buy a Dell, HP and what not, OEM machine, they actually implanted a CD Key into your BIOS. And its always activated automatically based on that key. Its usable for Windows 7-8.1. Meaning if you bought it a few years ago with Windows 7, you are supposed to get Windows 8 and 8.1 upgrade FREE. Looks like your school admins did not do their job :P

But nevertheless, I will tell you how to get it right. Pretty much without their help.

You will need to download the media to install Windows 8.1.

NOT, not from some torrent or fileshare site! But right from Microsoft, perfectly legit.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-SG/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

It’s a few GB of download, but ONLY this version works (out of the ISO) for OEM products. There are other ways to get it to work by changing the ISO or branding it, that’s pretty complex and I won’t discuss it here (Although the 26-in-1 OEM ISO is pretty exciting, with all the Asus wallpaper and all).

While download that, you should EXTRACT your OEM CD-KEY. 3 ways to do it, but I cut the chase and show you the easiest one.

https://github.com/christian-korneck/get_win8key#files

Run the EXE and you better be sure to print it out, especially if you plan to wipe you HDD.

Now, you have all you need to “upgrade”. By Upgrading, Its far too glorified a term to use. I assure you 90% you will fail. But be my guest and try to upgrade your Windows 8.0 to 8.1. Its due to the amount of software and shit that had been in there since 8.0 was installed that cause a lot of complication to just upgrade. In the end, I guess most of us choose to REINSTALL 8.1.

I won’t say it’s a bad choice, but it’s definitely clean. Now, the important point is during the installation right from the start, you will see the CD-KEY prompt and you will be able to fully verified with the one you had extracted. It doesn’t matter if you bought your Acer with Windows 7 or Windows 8 at all. It’s a perfectly legit copy of Windows 8.1 in your hands now and nobody just want to talk about it.

Well, you may or may not need to activate it, more often than not, yes. But if you do not want to use an online account (which gives you Sky Drive Pro, which could sync your personnel settings onto the cloud. This however is flagged by Mcafee Webwasher as “Uploading to Skydrive” though  DOOH!), you should unplug you network during the installation and you will be given a choice to create a local account for Windows 8.1.

Let me know if you find this useful.  

Missing Email Inbox in Outlook 2013

Ever set up a new IMAP account on Outlook and suddenly find that no matter how you set it up, with all the configurations right, you can't seem to fetch your Inbox. Well, if you are getting your Sent or Outbox, then you are right onto this problem.

Its related to 2 of the Microsoft Update in fact, KB2837618 or KB2837643. The long version is here:

http://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/email/email-troubleshooting/imap-issues-affecting-outlook-2013-and-office-365-functionality

But to keep this short, all you need to do is to disable a feature call show only subscribed folders.
To access this,

1. Open the Folder tab. Look for "IMAP Folders". Click it.
2. You should see the dialog below. Uncheck it!

Well, I wondered if Microsoft asked anyone's opinion when implementing this, but this has cause me to loose some hair and a few hours of sleep. I hope I have some some of yours.

Let me know if this is helpful!

SFC failed May 2015 - utc.app.json telemetry.ASM-WindowsDefault.json

After some Windows Update in May / Jun, you may find that your Windows 8.1 SFC /SCANNOW suddenly failed with some corrupted files. If you followed some instruction to check the logs, you will notice that there are 2 files mentioned.

• telemetry.ASM-WindowsDefault.json 
• utc.app.json

Well, the guys at Microsoft had did it again and broken their own tool. Luckily there is a way to fix this. Well, there are 2 exactly, the hard way or easy way. I would link you to the easy way instead.

The hard way is to manually do what the easy way did, line by line on console.

Tech Cookbook SFC Fix:
http://thetechcookbook.com/windows-7-update-kb3022345-causing-corrupt-files/

Visual Studio 2010 Offline Help

Visual Studio 2010 is the old platform whereby you can still create Windows Form applications with C++. You can't from Visual Studio 2012 onward. However, you will find that it is quite troublesome when you needed some help and references while you are on the move and possibly offline. In the good old days, there was MSDN Library for older Visual Studio, but there isn't any for Visual Studio 2010 on... So what happened to it?

Simple. Its on the DVD for Visual Studio 2010. And a separate download for Visual Studio 2012 and 2013 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=34794

Well, since the steps are similarly, you should be able to follow through it similarly for Visual Studio 2012 and 2013. So back to Visual Studio 2012. Grab your DVD (or mount your ISO) and let's start.

1. Launch Visual Studio 2010. Help Menu. Select "Manage Help Settings".
2. Strange path, but accept it nevertheless.
3. Select "Install content from disk".
4. Browse to your DVD "ProductDocumentation" folder and select the file " HelpContentSetup.msha".
5. Click "Add" for all items (or some, but don't cry when you can't access it when you are offline).
6. Local help is available now.

Hope this helps. Let me know on the comments!

Bad Bad Cards from Dominion Adventures

As we look forward to the new release of Dominion Adventures, we should also remind ourselves that there are some hiccups with this release which may want you to hold back and wait for a re-print.

Some of the threads:
http://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/34c9wh/gamers_beware_newest_printings_of_rio_grande

TL;DR, The cards are inferior, lighter and so much so that it can be distinguished whether sleeved or not. That's bad enough, especially if you are mixing it with other elements from another Dominion set. This gives you the "predictability +5" ability to know whether the next cards are from Adventures.

I would suggest to hold back and wait. Look out for the "Made in USA with pride" logo. It means it sucks for this instance anyway.

Install Dot Net Framework 3.5 onto Windows 8 / 8.1 and Server 2012

Do you know that it is a lot more complicated than just throwing in a installer to install Dot Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 8 / 8.1 or Server 2012? The reason is that it already came with Dot Not Framework 4.5 and the installation of these Windows actually comes with Framework 3.5. It is just not enabled.

So, actually all you have to do is to enable it. But wait, why does it need to go to the Internet to do that? The installation is really stupid. If you are stuck in an offline environment, this is really terrible. But fear not, there is a way around it.

Simply locate your CD or where the Windows installation source files are and run this command to enable Dot Net Framework 3.5 :

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:(CD Drive):\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

Remember to run this as administrator though. And you should see something like this.

Hope this had been helpful. Let me know in the comments.

VMware vSphere Client V5.5 Update 2

I have no idea why VMware want to make life so difficult for everyone by going through so much forms and that and in the end you find that you are unable to find the download for VMware vSphere. Well, here I put up a direct link to their official copy for my own use and yours.

Download it here:
http://vsphereclient.vmware.com/vsphereclient/1/9/9/3/0/7/2/VMware-viclient-all-5.5.0-1993072.exe

If me know if this helps you.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology - Intel Smart Response Technology Problems and Solutions Unable to Activate Acceletate

Intel Rapid Storage Technology
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/rapid-storage-technology.html

This should be the reason why you had bought your Z series or other high end motherboard. If not, then you might be under utilizing it. This group of technology had evolved into many complex functions which I might talk about in the future when I have time. Today I want to talk about one particular expects of it. Smart Response Technology.

For a readup, here is the official site:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/smart-response-technology.html

In English, its just the use of SSD to cache your HDD whether the SSD is build in or a separate one.
Let's see that is the requirement to have this feature:

1. SSD free space (unpartitioned) 16GB-64GB (MAX, Intel had determine anything more than 64GB is not effective)
2. HDD (whether OS is on it is optional, do not believe the BS that tells you that OS MUST be on a HDD)
3. Intel chipset Z68, Z87, Q87, H87, Z77, Q77, H77 motherboard.
4. Intel RST Software installed. (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=intel%C2%AE+rapid+storage+technology+%28intel%C2%AE+rst%29)
5. BOTH SSD and HDD must be plug into the Intel SATA clot, not the 3rd party ones. You can verify this when you
6. At least 2MB of unallocated space on your HDD.

I am not going to write a set up guide, but link to one instead:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032826.htm

Most people either had partioned the SSD or simply plug into the wrong SATA port which make the installation failed. For those who could not activate SRT because there is no Accelerate button. TAKE NOTE OF POINT 6 above! Somehow Intel need some space (2M on mine.,. but I suspect it may varies depending on your HDD). Simple shrink your partition and expand it again later.

Happy SSDing...

Rooting Xiaomi Mi Pad and Installing Google Play Store!

The Xiaomi Mi Pad is a power tablet that can rival the Nexus and even Nvidia Shield itself as it is build upon the Tegra K1 chipset as well. However, rooting it and installing Google Play is slightly more than trivial if you do not know where to look.

Firstly, before we even start about Rooting. THE XIAOMI MI PAD OFFICIAL STABLE ROM IS NOT ROOTABLE! Yes, the stable is fully patched and there is no way to root it (and make it stable) as proven by many who tried including myself.

Now, you will see many articles teaching to install Vroot etc on your PC to root this. BUT do note that Vroot is detected as malware (probably because of the rooting codes) by many AV products. And whether it does contain anything malicious, that is entirely another topic. But I guess its safe to say we want to avoid installing anything if possible. And that is why you are reading this. :)

So this article is going to provide you a way to Root your Mi Pad without installing anything on your PC. BUT still it means you will need to be on one of the developer ROM. And there is NO INTERNATIONAL version of the Developer ROM. What is the difference? See this:

STABLE ROM

• International - Comes with Google Play
• China - No Google Play

DEVELOPER ROM

• China - No Google Play

I think by now you know why we are even talking about Google Play in this article. Because if you are going to root it, you will need to be on a Developer ROM and you are going to lose Google Play if you come from an International ROM.

You can of course download the official Developer ROM from Xiaomi. But then you will need to find a matching Google Play what works with it. I decide to give you at least something that I tried and claim that it will work. Here is the Developer ROM I based on:

https://mega.co.nz/#!eQ1TUJLQ!AcmWKgVOD1DNqKgS9oby6xs7ieQoBlRP4x-uID95pNk

Now just flash this using the build in Updater. Nothing fancy. And get used to the Updater, you are going to use it at least one more time!

Next, after on the Developer ROM and rebooting a few time to make sure everything is stable (so that we can avoid blaming the rooting and all for something that already exist on the default ROM). Let's start Rooting... No wait. To be able to Root, you cannot use the default Bootloader. So I had chosen to use the CWM since I prefer that than TWRP since I had some screw up with it.

https://mega.co.nz/#!bVkSDBLQ!gJYdBgUOrIDxThx6WwuC8oVGgD74wgQwyRDnQyART84

Put this onto your Mi Pad and.... No wait... Listen to me and your save yourself a few plugin and out with your cable.

Download the Root Package :

https://mega.co.nz/#!OJlHgJiD!yIg9UoQH4801pyz7YVPX6vd80jhW4UR3wM-ORnG7ync

Download the Google Play Package. Well you can ignore this if you prefer not to use Google Play.

https://mega.co.nz/#!CYc0gDrT!vo5wX57EU3LJKwcaMeFyBmMCRunWcFUPOlVsNhtLOTk

Put these 2 into the root of your Mi Pad (preferable on your SD Card if you need to re-use it again...)

OK, now you are ready to go to the Updater again. Select to flash a update and choose the CWM Package. It will reboot... If you are fast enough, hold Volume +, if not, reboot again to recovery anyway.

In CWM, choose to flash ZIP. Now you can select the Root Package. And if you want Google Play, flash that in after the Root. NEXT, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. And is the reason why 90% of the rooting and flashing screwed up. GO TO ADVANCE AND CLEAR DAVIK CACHE!

Now you can reboot, and accept the few prompts with Yes. Your Mi Pad should boot up nicely without any error about Google Service failing etc. If you do, its likely you screwed up on the flashing, but you can easily repeat it.

Well, that's all and although it sound so simple, I had bricked and crashed at least a dozen times with different configurations and packages, so I had decided to save your the trouble. Leave some comments and tell me how it works for you!  

Mcafee vs Mcafee aka Error 12152 vs the Internet

Today, I am going to tell you a joke. Well, seriously I find it funny. There is this quite clumsy web proxy product from Mcafee call "Webwasher" (or Web Gateway as what it is called today) which more or less prevents direct downloading of most binaries, thus crippling most web storage as well as even Windows Play Store itself. This is the product information:

http://www.mcafee.com/sg/products/web-gateway.aspx

And which other product is the most well known from Mcafee? Yes, Viruscan or Internet Security:

http://home.mcafee.com/store/packagedetail.aspx?pkgid=272

As the days of media evolves... think is long forgotten. I recalled "buying" my viruscan DOS update from computer shops before BBS got popular, then there were diskette... and later CDs and so on... Now, guess what? You can no longer install Mcafee Internet Security from a media. You will need to download it via the "web installer". And I am not bullshitting this, read this:

http://service.mcafee.com/faqdocument.aspx?id=TS100407 

Normally, I would see other product introducing the offline installer here. But not for Mcafee.

Well, I promise you a joke, so here it is. Why do you think I need an offline installer? Yes, its well thanks to Mcafee Web Gateway! The very product that is stopping me from Mcafee Internet Security is from Mcafee! And to make it worse, it is not even listed as an incompatible product here:

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?lc=1033&id=TS101083

Well, it was a good laugh and I guess gave me the perfect reason to say "No" to Mcafee and move on. Well in case you are still wondering if the CD does exist, I would say... "Maybe.." Try asking the local store for the box version and shake it real hard... If it sound like there is a CD inside... you mayb be in luck, but I am skeptical.

Domain Name Change

The previous domain for this blog :

http://blog.winston-avalon.com

is not longer working and has been replace with :

http://www.winstonavalon.com

Please update your links and bookmark accordingly.

Thanks.

Clustrmaps Resetted

As indicated by http://blog.clustrmaps.com/2015/03/25/important-www4-servermap-news/, it seems that my clustrmap data might had been destroyed... So following their suggestion, I recreated the account. Hopefully I will get back my stats... I can only hope.

Kali KEYEXPIRED 1425567400 KEYEXPIRED 1425567400 KEYEXPIRED 1425567400

While updating Kali Linux, I got a rather strange message:
KEYEXPIRED 1425567400 KEYEXPIRED 1425567400 KEYEXPIRED 1425567400

Somehow that indicate that the keys used for GPG is likely to be expired. 

I dig a bit and found that the way to update the keys is as follows:
apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-keys 7D8D0BF6

Now your Kali should be updating normally again!
BTW, Kali v1.1.0a is out. Maybe its a good time to reinstall the latest version!

Download Windows 7 ISO from Microsoft

There are times you loses your Windows 7 machine and you will need to find some way to resinstall it, but then you realized you have no Windows 7 CD!

Well, that has been a problem and it is finally solved now when you can legally download the Windows 7 ISO from Microsoft and not from other other unverified sources where you might be installing spyware to your system.

Simply go to this website and key in your CDKEY and you are all ready to download it!
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Trillian and MSN

As MSN chat is closing down slowly, the original server "gateway.messenger.hotmail.com" is no longer available and as such messagers like Trillian will fail to connect to the MSN chat network.

A simple solution is luckily available for now, simply change your MSN server address to :
bn1msgr1011204.gateway.edge.messenger.live.com

And it will work. For now. 

Solution is also highlighted on the official Trillian forum:
http://help.trillian.im/kb/accounts/windows-live-msn-the-servers-protocol-did-not-match-our-requested-protocol