Windows (XP) and Printers

I often have problems with Windows when I add or remove printers.  When I try to install new or reinstalling deleted printers I get that generic irritating message "Windows cannot connect to printer."  This is especially irritating when I am reinstalling a printer because it stopped working so I know that Windows used to connect to it. 

In the past I have used two solutions, to use either you must run as an administrator:
1.  clear all spool files  (stuck, cannot print)
2.  clean the spooler install

To clear all spooled  files:

This will have you stop the print spooler, delete the spool files then start the print spooler.

1. Open the Service administrator: Start->Run->services.msc
2. Locate the Print Spool service-> right click, select stop
3. Open a  commaind window: Start->Run->cmd
• cd c:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS
• del *.*
4. Go back to the services window
5. Locate the Print Spool service-> right click, select start 

Clean the spooler install:

This will have you download and install the windows resource kit tools, then run the spool cleaner.   n.b.  you will have to reinstall *all* printers

1. Download Windows 2003 Resource Kit tools
2. Install the downloaded file rktools.exe
3. Open a  commaind window: Start->Run->cmd
• cd c:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools
• cleanspl.exe
• You will have to select a computer name (yours)
• Do not delete the 'Standard TCP/IP Port' print monitor nor the 'USB Monitor' print monitor
4. Reboot your system
5. Reinstall all of your printers

Thunderbird + google calendar

It is possible to configure thunderbird email client to view and update your google calendar!

Configuration

1. Install 2 addons for thunderbird:

• Lightning
• Google Provider

If your addons are installed correctly you will see an Events and Tasks menu
2. Get the xml link for your calendar(s)

1. sign into Google Calendar:
2. click on settings (upper right hand side of the page)
3. under Calendar Settings heading, click on calendars
4. click on the calendar you want to see in thunderbird
5. at the bottom there is a section Private Address:, click on the XML link, a url will pop up in a window, copy that url to use in thunderbird. (ex: drop it into a text editor or leave it in the clipboard.

3. Configure Thunderbird

1. select the File menu (upper left hand side of the window)
2. select New
3. select Calendar
4. select On the Network
5. select Google Calendar (if you do not see it reinstall Google Provider addon)
6. paste the XML link from step 2.5 into the Location box
7. you'll be asked for a userid and password

That's it you should now see your google calendar in Thunderbird

Troubleshooting

You may not be able to see your google calendar due to Thunderbird time zone settings:

1. Drop down the Tools menu
2. select Options
3. select Timezone tab
4. set the timezone correctly.

If the timezone is correct or that doesn't fix it, you may need to reset your Private Addresses in google:

Follow the instructions above, after 2.4 pause and do the following
at Private Addresses there is a link Reset Private URLs, click on that then continue with 2.5 and the rest of the instructions.

vim syntax colour markup can be turned off/on

You can turn it off using last line mode (:)

• off :syntax off
  
• on :syntax on
  

You can change the displayed font size in firefox

If the text is too small to read or takes up too much of a page you're viewing firefox has a builtin zoom:
ctrl + will enlarge the page (hold down control key hit plus sign)
ctrl - will shrink the page (hold down control key hit minus sign)
Or use the Scroll wheel

ctrl scroll up will enlarge the page (hold down control key move the scroll wheel up)

ctrl scroll down will shrink the page (hold down control key move the scroll wheel down)

ctrl 0 resets it to default  (hld down control key hit 0)

can be done multiple times, each time will increase/decrease the font size more.