How to really disable DEP (Data Execution Prevention) / BCDEdit

Windows DEP or Data Execution Prevention is often blocking you or your application from working properly.

If you explore Windows configuration and Help, you will find

My computer
  -> Right click
     -> Properties
         -> Advanced System Settings
            -> Performance Settings
               -> Data Execution Prevention

You can set a few options on or off, but this is rarely enough.

In order to REALLY disable DEP, you need to tell Windows at boot time.

For Windows 2003 or Windows XP
You need to go to

My computer
  -> Right click
     -> Properties
         -> Advanced System Settings
            -> Startup and Recovery Settings 

and edit your boot.ini from there
and add the parameter /NoExecute=AlwaysOff


For Windows Vista or Windows 7
There is a command line tool to do so, make sure to launch your command prompt "As Administrator" and run the command

BCDEdit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff

You can also see all your boot options with

BCDEdit /enum

you will something similar to
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {globalsettings}
default                 {current}
resumeobject            {5a9684f2-9ec0-11e1-a7c3-00137290c993}
displayorder            {current}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 5

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {5a9684f6-9ec0-11e1-a7c3-00137290c993}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {5a9684f2-9ec0-11e1-a7c3-00137290c993}
nx                      AlwaysOff


Don't forget, this is a boot option, so you do need to reboot for Windows to take it into account.

If you use Google search, you could Get Me some Free Money

Sorry, this time, it's only Me, but do it for yourself too.

We all see ads all day every day, and there is a way to share with Mr Google some of the profit generated, by simply tweaking your browser's default search engine. The search results displayed will be identical.

Here's how.

For Firefox 3

Save this file MyGoogle.xml to your

c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins

Then set MyGoogle as your default search

In your address bar, type in: “about:config”

scroll down to

browser.search.defaultenginename

Double click that entry and then type in "MyGoogle"

Restart Firefox!

For Google Chrome

Click 'Tools' - 'Options'

For Default Search, click 'Manage'

Click 'Add'

Name   'MyGoogle'

Url    http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-4380136364658264%3Ar0dczk-hxvu&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%s

Click 'Ok'

Click 'Make Default'

Click Close, Close

For Internet Explorer 7

Click 'Tools' - 'Internet Options'

for Search, Change search defaults - Settings

Click 'Find more Providers'

and in 'Create your Own'

Paste the URL   http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-4380136364658264:r0dczk-hxvu&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=TEST

and name it  'MyGoogle'

HomePage

For people who like to have Google as your homepage you can also use this instead.

http://toutbaigne.free.fr/search.htm

Thanks !

List of Sweet spots / number of epic drops for all Castle Age Monsters

I got tired of looking for each individual monsters page to find the amount of damage I needed to do to be on the sweet spot for each monster.
I often have several monsters going at the same time, and keep tracking my damage compared to the sweet spots.
Newest monsters at the top :)

Most data comes of course from the awesome Wikia Monster page


Kessaran, the Undying
1 Epic Drop = 3.5 mil damage (100%)
2 Epic Drop = 7.5 mil damage (100%)

Fenix, Risen From Ashes 
1 Epic Drop = 5+ million
2 Epic Drops = 10+ million (>97%)

Urmek, Protector of Gaia 
1 Epic Drop = 5 million damage (100%)
2 Epic Drop = 12 million damage (100%)

Poseidon, Atlantean King 
1 Epic Drop = 5.2 million damage (100%)
2 Epic Drop = 11.3 million damage (100%)

Vorak, Devourer of Skies 
1 Epic Drop = 6 million? (100%)
2 Epic Drop = 10million? (100%)

Abomination, Ancient Slime
1 Epic Drop = 6 million? (100%)
2 Epic Drop = 12 million? (100%)



Older monsters


Lotus Ravenmoore
1 Epic Drop = 1 million damage
2 Epic Drop = 1.6 million damage

Skaar
1 Epic Drop = 1 million damage
2 Epic Drop = 2.5 million damage

Azriel
1 epic (100%) = 2 million activity
2 epics (100%) = 5 million activity
3 epics (98%) = 9 million activity
Legendary 50.00+ million   = 29.17%

Alpha Mephistopheles
1 epic (100%): 4.5 million
2 epics (100%): 8 million
3 epics (100%): 17 million
Legendary 43.00+ million   = 95.65%

Aurelius, Lion's Rebellion
1 epic drop (100%): 3 000
2 epics (100%): 4 500
3 epics (100%): 9 500
Legendary 25500+ kills = 100.00%

Corvintheus 
1 Epic Drop = 5 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 9 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 20 million (100%)
Legendary 50+ million = 100.00%

Jahanna, Priestess of Aurora
1 Epic Drop = 10 million activity (99%)
2 Epic Drops = 19 million activity (99%)
3 Epic Drops = 35 million activity (99%)

Aurora 
1 Epic Drop = 11,000,000 damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 19,200,000 damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 34,000,000+ damage (100%)

Ambrosia 
1 Epic Drop = 11,000,000 damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 20,500,000 damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 34,500,000+ damage (100%)

Malekus 
1 Epic Drop = 11 mil damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 22 mil damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 33 mil damage (100%)

Azeron 
1 Epic Drop = 12 mil damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 25 mil damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 37 mil damage (100%)

Cronus, the World Hydra
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 3 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 5 million (100%)

Battle of the Dark Legion
1 Epic Drop = 1000
2 Epic Drops = 2500

Genesis, the Earth Elemental
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 3 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 8 million (100%)

Ragnarok, the Ice Elemental
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 4 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 8 million (90%)

Bahamut, the Volcanic Dragon
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 3 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 5 million (95%)

Alpha Bahamut, the Volcanic Dragon
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 6 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 9 million (95%)
Legendary 25M = 100%

War of the Red Plains
1 Epic Drop = 1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 3 million (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 7 million (95%)
Legendary 25M = 100%

Gehenna, the Fire Elemental
1 epic (100%) = 4 million activity
2 epics (100%) = 6 million activity
3 epics (99.61%) = 10.5 million activity
Legendary 30.5+ million = 100.00%

Valhalla, the Air Elemental
1 epic (100%): 11 million
2 epics (100%): 17 million
3 epics (100%): 33 million
Legendary 55+ million = 100.00%

Kromash, the Storm Giant
1 Epic - 1 million (100%)
2 Epics - 2 million (100%)
3 Epics - 3 million (100%)

Shardros, the Mountain Giant 
1 Epic - 2.8 million (100%)
2 Epics - 5.2 million (100%)
3 Epics - 9.3 million (99%)

Glacius, the Frost Giant
1 epic drop - 6 million damage (99%)
2 epic drops - 12 million damage (99%)
3 epic drops - 19 million damage (99%)

Magmos, the Lava Giant
1 Epic Drop = 13.5mil damage (99%)
2 Epic Drop = 18mil damage (~40%)
3 Epic Drop = >25mil damage (~20%)

Typhonus, the Chimera
1 epic (100%): 8.3 million
2 epics (100%): 19 million
3 epics (100%): 31 million

Kraken 
1 Epic Drop = 2.1 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 4.1 million (100%)
Summoner Drop Eligible = 5 million (85.71%)

Alpha Kraken
1 Epic Drop = 5 million (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 8.5 million (100%)

Vermilion, the Tyrant
1 epic (100%): 2.9 million damage
2 epics (100%): 5.2 millon damage

Thanatos of Fire & Ice
1 Epic Drop = 5 million activity (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 8,5-10 million ??
3 Epic Drops = 15 million (100%)

Agamemnon, the Overseer
1 Epic Drop = 10,000,000 damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 20,000,000 damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 34,000,000+ damage (100%)
Summoner Drop Eligible = 86.84%

Alexandra, the Unbreakable
1 Epic Drop = 11 mil damage (100%)
2 Epic Drops = 22 mil damage (100%)
3 Epic Drops = 33 mil damage (100%)
Summoner Drop Eligible = 85%

Synaptics LuxPad V1.5 keeps disabling accidently

I recently got a new laptop, HP EliteBook 8570w, and like all the new line of HP laptops, it comes with the Synaptics LuxPad. It's a very large touchpad that supports multitouch and advanced gestures the way your smartphone would.

However frustration often comes because the touchpad tends to disable itself if my hand rests on it while typing.

I'm then left without my touchpad trying to go in the LuxPad's configuration panel in order to re-enable it. After this happened a couple times, frustration rises.

Today I found out the proper way to enable or disable it, I simply need to double tap the top left corner of the pad! and Voila

Back to work now ! :)

Which of the new Castle Age monster should I farm? and how to equip my Runes and Gems?

With the new systems of Runes, Gems, Resistance and the new monsters, it gets confusing, what should I try to get? and where should I equip it?

I will present this from the stand point of a PVP player.

Let's prioritize what a PVP wants
- a lot of damage, I want my tokens to count!
- many various Pierce combined to boost my attacks
- highest Physical Resistance possible (directly to oppose opponents attack strength on me, all other resistances are useless unless the opponent has that specific pierce)


From there I know where to load each item

PVP load out
attack rune + Physical pierce => Best Weapon
damage rune + Earth Fury => should be on Glove
Health rune + Physical Resistance => should be on Helmet
Defense Rune + Earth Protection => Best Armor


I would always load Earth Protection rather than any other, to counter Earth Fury which is the most easily obtainable Gem.

Monster load out can be adapted to whatever is needed.


now what monster should I farm for this?

=> I would primarily farm Urmeks (both for the +25 Physical Resistance and the Shining Gem), Voraks and Fenixes (highest chance to get the +25 Physical Pierce) and .
Also they all give damage essences which are my favorites!

Enjoy !



Now below a bunch of facts helping to justify / understand the above conclusions.

most weapons can be equipped  (offensively)
off Hands cannot be equipped
only helmet that can be equipped is : Soldiers Bone Helm  (defensive)
most armors can be equipped   (Defensively)
Amulets cannot be equipped
only glove that can be equipped is : Knights Bone Gauntlets (offensive)
Magics cannot be equipped
Boots  cannot be equipped


attack runes can be forged to : Weapons
Defense runes can be forget to : Armors / Helmets
Damage runes can be forget to : Weapons / Gloves
Health Runes can be forged to : Armors / Helmets


Current list of Gems and where to get them

Cloudy Gem of Earth Fury +15Ea / -15Wi
Cloudy Gem of Earth Protection   +15Ea / -15Wi
=> easily obtained from Conquest duels

16 Fragment of Water Protection => Dull Gem of Water Protection +15Wa / -15Fi
=> obtained from farming Poseidons Water elementals

9 Bronze Ore of Physical resistance => Bronze Ingot of Physical Resistance +15
9 Bronze Ore of Physical piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing +15
6 Dull shard of Water Protection => Dull Gem of Water Protection +15Wa / -15Fi
=> obtained from farming Poseidons
Poseidon gives no Essence

6 Dull Shard of fire Fury => Dull Gem of Fire Fury +15Fi / -15Wa
9 Bronze Ore of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing  +15
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Piercing +25
=> obtained from farming Fenix
Fenix also gives 105 Damage Essences

9 Bronze Ore of Physical resistance => Bronze Ingot of Physical Resistance +15
9 Bronze Ore of Physical piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing +15
6 Dull shard of Water Protection => Dull Gem of Water Protection +15Wa / -15Fi
6 Dull shard of Water Fury => Dull Gem of Water Fury +15Wa / -15Fi
6 Dull Shard of Earth Protection => Dull Gem of Earth Protection +15Ea / -15Wi
6 Dull Shard of Earth Fury => Dull Gem of Earth Fury +15Ea / -15Wi
=> obtained from farming Baal / Abomination
Baal also gives 108 Attack Essences
Abomination also gives 108 Damage Essences

16 Fragment of Earth Protection => Dull Gem of Earth Protection +15Ea / -15Wi
16 Fragment of Water Protection => Dull Gem of Water Protection +15Wa / -15 Fi
=> obtained from farming Water Slime/Earth slimes from Abomination

9 Bronze Ore of Physical resistance => Bronze Ingot of Physical Resistance +15
9 Bronze Ore of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing +15
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Resistance => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Resistance +25
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Piercing +25
=> Obtained from farming Kessaran
Kessaran also gives 108 Attack Essences

9 Bronze Ore of Physical resistance => Bronze Ingot of Physical Resistance +15
9 Bronze Ore of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing +15
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Resistance => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Resistance +25
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Piercing +25
6 Dull shard of Wind Protection => Dull Gem of Wind Protection
6 Dull shard of Wind Fury => Dull Gem of Wind Fury
=> Obtained from farming Vorak
Vorak also gives 108 Damage Essences

16 Fragment of Wind Protection => Dull Gem of Wind Protection
=> Obtained from farming Vorak Wind Elemental

9 Bronze Ore of Physical resistance => Bronze Ingot of Physical Resistance +15
9 Bronze Ore of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot of Physical Piercing +15
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Resistance => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Resistance +25
16 Bronze Ores of Physical Piercing => Bronze Ingot Stack of Physical Piercing +25
6 Dull Shard of Earth Protection=> Dull Gem of Earth Protection +15Ea / -15Wi
6 Dull Shard of Earth Fury => Dull Gem of Earth Fury +15Ea / -15Wi
=> Obtained from farming Urmek
Urmek also gives 108 Damage Essences

Cloudy Gem of Earth Fury + Dull Gem of Earth Fury => Shining Gem of Earth Fury +25Ea / -25Wi
Cloudy Gem of Earth Protection + Dull Gem of Earth Protection => Shining Gem of Earth Protection +25Ea / -25Wi

Read also:
http://castleage.wikia.com/wiki/Essence
http://castleage.wikia.com/wiki/Piercing_and_Resistance

Failed updating configuration file

Sometimes you install applications or services that creates their own service account to run under. Unfortunately since the installer or configuration itself creates the service account, this also means that you ran the installer under a different account and thus the service account is not the owner of its own folder structure where the binaries resides.

In a secure environment, think with Windows UAC (User Access Control) turned on the application or service might fail to update its own configuration files and send you errors

"Failed updating the server config file."
"Service user does not exist."
"Permission denied"

In this case it would often help to set the owner of the installation directory to be the service account under which the application run.
If you know the exact file that the service needs to update you can change only this file, if not you can change for the entire directory.

To do so: 

Right click on the folder -> Properties -> Security -> Advanced Security Settings -> Owner -> Edit -> select your service account user and check  also ‘Replace owner on subcontainers’, OK OK OK OK 

Hennessey Venom GT Drag Racing Tune - 7.538s Fully Detailed

Drag Racing Android Game tune for the Hennessey Venom GT car.
This is the fastest car in the game!

I'm still trying to reach or beat the world record on this car 7.525s, but meanwhile here's the best I can repeatedly get:

Full details of the tunes and the race above.
Upgrades: 5 5 5 5 5 5
I only use 2 gears
1: 1.635
2: 1.125
and I launch at full rev so is really easy to reproduce only 1 shift to aim right, right at the beginning of the blue zone, release the noos at the exact same time.

I easily ranked 5 stars with this tune.

Enjoy!

How to set Proxy settings for SYSTEM account? / BITSAdmin tool

Earlier (dec 2010) I was posting about how to set the proxy settings for a SYSTEM account using manual registry modifications.

There is actually a much easier way to do this using the BITSAdmin tool from Windows.

This tool allows you to change the proxy settings for

• LOCALSYSTEM
• NETWORKSERVICE
• LOCALSERVICE

Quick examples:

Static proxy for LOCALSYSTEM:
bitsadmin /util /setieproxy localsystem MANUAL_PROXY http://myproxy.mydomain.com:8080

Static proxy for NETWORKSERVICE that bypasses local addresses:
bitsadmin /util /setieproxy networkservice MANUAL_PROXY http://my.proxy.com "<local>"

Set a proxy.pac for LOCALSERVICE:
bitsadmin /util /setieproxy localservice AUTOSCRIPT http://myproxy.mydomain.com/proxy.pac.js

Remove all proxy settings for LOCALSYSTEM:
bitsadmin /util /setieproxy localsystem RESET

full details are on MSDN Library