Ideationizing

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Windows 7 to Windows XP: Peer-toPeer Networking

Below is a list of instructions for getting Windows 7 and Windows XP to communicate via peer-to-peer networking. I have compiled them from notes and forum posts I have found all over the internet. None of the posts I have found were anywhere as complete as these so I thought these might be helpful for someone.

Note: a large part of these notes use a concise GUI notation system called GCGUINS™ that I have devised for brevity.

Create separate accounts just to use for sharing:

This is only necessary if you are not going to be the only person sharing the files on these computers.
Can be standard user. In fact more secure if standard user.

Disable Simple File Sharing

WinXP: In Windows Explorer: { Tools / Folder Options… ; <View> ; ( ) Use simple file sharing… }
Win7: In Windows Explorer: { Tools / Folder Options… ; <View> ; ( ) Use Sharing Wizard… }

Set as part of a Home Network

{ System Properties ; <Computer Name> ; [Network ID] ; [Next] ; (x) This computer is for home use… ; [Next] ; [Finish] ; [OK] ; [OK] ; [Yes] } computer will reboot.
This step will reset the workgroup names so you must not skip the next step.

Workgroup:

All computers must be in the same Workgroup.

WinXP:
- Logged in with administrator rights: { RC:My computer / Properties ; <Computer Name> ; [Change] ; (x) Workgroup = "desired_workgroup_name" ; [OK] ; [OK] ; [Yes] } Computer will reboot.
Win7:
- Logged in with administrator rights: { RC:My computer / Properties ; Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings , [Change Settings] ; <Computer Name> ; [Change] ; (x) Workgroup = "desired_workgroup_name" ; [OK] ; [OK] ; [Yes] } Computer will reboot.

Network Protocol Settings:

{ Control Panel ; Network Connections ; RC:appropriate network connection / Properties ;

<General> ;
- (x) Client for Microsoft Networks
- ( ) QoS Packet Scheduler
- (x) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
- ( ) IPv6
- (x) Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder
- (x) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (IPv4)
  - [Properties] ;
    - <General> ;
      - (x) Use the following IP address ;
        
        IP address = 192.168.1.1 (other machine 192.168.1.2) ;
        
        Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0 ;
        
        Default gateway = 192.168.1.2 (other machine 192.168.1.1) ;
      - (x) Use the following DNS server addresses ;
        
        both blank ;
      - [Advanced] ;
        
        <IP Settings> ;
        
        IP addresses = default from previous dialog. ;
        
        Default gateways = default from previous dialog. ;
        
        [x] Automatic metric ;
        
        <DNS> ;
        
        DNS server addresses = blank ;
        
        (x) Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes ;
        
        [ ] Register this connection's addresses in DNS ;
        
        <WINS> ;
        
        WINS addresses … = blank ;
        
        [x] Enable LMHOSTS lookup ;
        
        (x) Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP ;
        
        <Options> ; [Properties] ; All filtering turned off ; [Cancel] ;
        
        [OK] ;
        
        [OK] ;
<Advanced> (<Sharing> on Win7);
- Windows Firewall = Set to allow windows networking through this connection (Not found here in Win7) ;
- [ ]Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection

Windows 7 Advanced Sharing Settings:

Getting there:
- { Control Panel (with All Control Panel Items view turned on) ; Network and Sharing Center ; Change advanced sharing settings }
Settings:
- Home or Work section
  - Network discovery
    - (x) Turn on network discovery
  - File and Printer Sharing
    - (x) Turn on file and printer sharing
  - Public folder sharing:
    - All this controls is whether the "Public folders" such as the "Public Music" of "Public Pictures" are automatically shared.
    - If you want the public folders to be shared choose "(x) Turn on …"
    - If not then choose "(x) turn off …"
  - Media Streaming:
    - This is apparently an entirely separate issue. I do not know what protocol it operates on or how it affects or is affected by regular networking.
  - File sharing connections:
    - Most say to use 128 bit.
  - Password Protected Sharing
    - (x) turn on …
      - Just make sure that the user of the XP machines will have the user-name and password of an account on this machine. This may be the main account if no one else is going to share files on this machine or you can create a separate, standard user account just for this purpose.
      - It seems that, if you use a separate account then you must share your files with that account on this machine in order for the other machine to then see those shares. The idea is that you are sharing the folders with another user on this machine but then someone is logging into this machine as that user from somewhere else.
  - Homegroup connections:
    - (x) Use user accounts and passwords …
  - Note: Click [Save Settings] before going on to the Public section or it will not save your settings for this section.
- Public section
  - Network discovery
    - (x) Turn off network discovery
  - File and Printer Sharing
    - (x) Turn off file and printer sharing
  - Public folder sharing:
    - All this controls is whether the "Public folders" such as the "Public Music" of "Public Pictures" are automatically shared.
    - If you want the public folders to be shared choose "(x) Turn on …"
    - If not then choose "(x) turn off …"
  - Media Streaming:
    - This is apparently an entirely separate issue. I do not know what protocol it operates on or how it affects or is affected by regular networking.
  - File sharing connections:
    - Most say to use 128 bit. I got it to see the shared folder contents with this setting so it must be OK.
  - Password Protected Sharing
    - (x) turn on …
      - This is just to make it harder for anyone in the "Public" to get access to any shared folders.
  - Homegroup connections:
    - (x) Use user accounts and passwords …

Windows 7 LAN Manager Authentication Level

{ Win+r ; Open = "gpedit.msc" ; Computer Configuration / windows settings / security settings / Local Policies / Security Options / Network Security: LAN Manager Authentication Level = Send LM & NTLM responses }
Without this setting the Win7 machine will not be able to browse the network and find the WinXP machine without you explicitly entering the IP address.
This is usually already set in WinXP.

Modify the hosts file on both computers:

Edit the Windows/System32/drivers\etc\hosts file. Enter the static IP addresses of both machines along with their computer names.
For instance:

192.168.1.1 First-PC 192.168.1.2 Second-PC

This will enable you to enter the actual computer's name in the address bar and shortcuts instead of the IP address.

Conclusion:

With all these settings I have been able to get my Win7 laptop see the WinXP desktop in the Win7 laptop's network map. Everything is working fine when viewed from Win7. However, I still cannot browse the network and find the Win7 laptop from the WinXP desktop. If I enter the static IP address of the Win7 machine into the address bar of the WinXP machine then the WinXP machine will see the shared folders on the Win7 machine. I also have been having trouble getting the WinXP machine to go directly to the Win7 machine by entering the Win7 machine's computer name, even though I put it in the hosts file. So, at this point, I still have to use the statid IP address of the Win7 machine when I want to address it from the WinXP machine. But at least they can communicate.

The contents of this post are hereby released to the public domain.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Scooters in the Snow

OK, so I don't ride my scooter in the snow. I used to be able to when I had a much lighter scooter. But that is another story.

This is just a story about how darned reliable my 2007 Genuine Buddy 125 scooter is. As everyone in the U.S. knows, the Midwest has been gripped in a winter freeze for a few weeks. I live in an apartment so my scooter has been sitting in the parking lot buried in a snow drift a couple of feet deep for a couple of weeks at least. I loose track of things like that.

Anyway, I just decided to try to start it up. After a few tries it started up pretty well.

Now, I do have to say that the battery is not the original battery. The original battery did not last past the first winter. So this is also a testament to the quality of the batteries available at Batteries+. When the original started giving out I went down to my local Batteries+ and bought the most expensive battery they had that would fit my scooter. It was just under $90 but it was worth it. I have never had a problem since.

So, if you are looking for a scooter, a Genuine Buddy 125 is a pretty good deal and a really good scooter. I love mine. However you may have to spend about $100 more for a new battery soon, as the battery is not covered in the warranty. And, no, I am not being paid to say any of this. I was just so happy that my scooter started up so easily that I had to come in and blog about it. Even though I know that only a couple of people in the world are ever going to see this.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The coolest non-gadget things for thinking people.

OK, I'm not usually one for product recommendations on blogs, and I haven't actually used either of these products myself. I just found them on the internet after reading this LifeHacker post. But I am so excited just knowing that they exist. The products are:

A "magnetic" paint from a company called Magamagic™.
- Actually it has iron filings in it so magnets can stick to it.
- I'm just guessing but it probably blocks WiFi and other microwave frequencies as well.
Whiteboard paint from a company called ideapaint.
- Although certain people I know might not like the idea of drawing dry-erase drawings all over the house, I would definitely like to have some major surface area covered with this stuff.
- It comes in more colors than just white. They are actually pretty nice, subtle colors.

I freaking LOVE whiteboards. I used whiteboards extensively when working out various aspects of DEMML™ and my Trinary Space concepts (not posted yet). And being able to stick a magnet to the wall anywhere? How cool is that?

Monday, December 21, 2009

Non-Profit Health Insurance

So, why is it that we currently seem to think that insurance companies must be some kind of giant, for-profit, mega-corporation or run by the government? Until recently, a lot of companies were self insured. Those insurance programs were usually run as a non-profit-earning segment of the company. Well, why not go one step further. Why can't someone start up a health-insurance company that is entirely not-for-profit? The only real difference would be that the company doesn't earn more than it spends and pay that difference out to investors. Customers would still pay premiums and co-pays. They would simply pay based on what they could afford rather than how badly the insurance company wanted to ream them for profit. The company would still earn a lot of it's money by investing in other things, just like a regular insurance company and just like a non-profit endowment.

But where would such a company get the initial seed money to start operations? Just like any other company, they would get that money from investors. Except those investors would be foundations and individuals who where not expecting a cash return on their investment. As with other non-profits, this is usually called a donation.

But here is the twist: Rather than those "investors" simply giving money to the Non-Profit Insurance Company (NPIC), they would buy what I am going to call "Non-Profit Stock" (NPS). That stock purchase would not be directly tax deductible. Instead, the NPIC would calculate how much money they would have paid out in dividends based on the insurance premiums they received, the claims they paid out, and the average profit earned by other, for-profit, insurance companies with similar premium/claims ratios and volumes. Then, the NPIC would offer that "Non-Profit Dividend" (NPD) back to the "Non-Profit Investor" (NPI) with a choice. The "investor" could use the "dividend" to "purchase" more "stock" in the NPIC, thus ensuring that they would receive an even larger "dividend" in the future. Or the "investor" could simply give that "dividend" to the NPIC as a pure donation, thus taking the tax deduction on the cash value of the "dividend." So, it is a way to defer tax deductions into the future while ensuring that the potential deduction will grow over time.

I realize that this may require a change in the tax code but I think it would be worth it to promote the creation of many different, competing, NPICs. The tax code could even allow for other types of "Non-Profit Stock" in other types of non-profit companies that would normally earn a profit but choose not to in order to serve more of the public. Heck, the code could even allow for people to sell their "stock", thus allowing someone else to take that tax deduction in the future.

The contents of this post is Copyright © 2009 by Grant Sheridan Robertson.
However, anyone is welcome to use this idea to go out and reform health care using the principles of competition that the conservatives pretend to be so fond of.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Spiderman?

I am often anxious about everything that will be involved when I finally start getting some attention for DEMML and start actually implementing it. When I feel this way I am reminded of a classic Spiderman line and encourage myself with my own modification:

With a great idea comes great responsibility.

Conflating Two Freedoms

Freedom of the people should always trump businesses freedom to make money. Conflating the two inevitably leads to reversing them.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

A word to describe me.

In my graphic design class one of my first assignments was to take a word that I felt described me and stylize it in some aesthetically pleasing way. Most of the other students quickly sat down, typed a word, tried different fonts, and then used some of the fancy tools in Adobe Illustrator to mess with the outline of the word and add drop shadows and such. I went home to think.

I really don't believe that I can be described in only one word. On top of that, most people see me one way based on my outward appearance but I think I am actually quite different and more nuanced than they usually think. Sure, most everyone thinks they are unique. But I am a pretty unassuming guy and I tend to get pigeon-holed quite a lot. And, if you have read any of the other posts on this blog, you will see that I am not your average Joe either. So I decided that people usually think I am predictable while I feel that I am actually pretty indecipherable. So I set out to design a graphic that made that point. Here is what I came up with:

(You can click on the picture for a full sized view.)
At first glance it looks as if the word is "Predictable." But, if you look closely, you can find the word "Indecipherable."

In critique, my teacher said that, although the design was simple, it was the only one that was actually "Designed" and that was what the class was really about. I thought that was pretty cool