PIN stop working on Windows login. Cannot change or reset the PIN.

I was using PIN to unlock my Windows 10 computers for years. But one day my laptop requested Password instead of PIN. Moreover the PIN option disappeared from the Welcome screen completely :(

Finally, I've remembered my password, get logged and decided to set the PIN again.

But System Settings worked weird: "Add New PIN" button was available, but when I clicked it, the system asked for the PIN instead of Password! Moreover, there was no "Reset PIN" or "Forgot PIN" option :(

I've been Googling this bug for about 30 minutes but none of the solutions worked for me… Then I tried to remove the PIN settings manually and solve the problem :)

Here is a step by step instruction:

You need a file manager with Administrator access level and enabled view for "hidden files". You can use Windows Explorer but you have to add permissions for some folders manually.

Go to "[Windows]\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc" folder:

Delete or rename "{xyz}" sub-folder.

Open "System Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options", press "Add" button and create a new PIN code for your account.

After that the PIN will work on the Login screen. "Remove" button and "I forgot my PIN" options are also available:

Let me know if you have any issues with PIN on Windows login. Just write a comment to describe how and when the problem appeared. Thank you.

No Sound from Speaker but Headphones Work?

Some notebooks manufactured by ASUS (maybe by other vendors too) have strange issue with sound output. When all required drivers are installed and everything is properly set, you can not hear any sound from the internal speakers. Only plugged headphones or external audio works...

I was trying different tricks. Even soldered new audio jack connector to the motherboard of my ASUS U36SD notebook. I've spent lots of time, but found the solution! It is not a hardware issue. It is software/driver glitch :)

So if you have the same issue with your notebook: no sound from speakers, but headphones works. Here is the solution:

1. Restart computer.
2. Open BIOS/Setup console, by pressing F1, F2, F10 or Del key depending on your notebook model.
3. Choose "Load Default Settings" option at the beginning.
4. Then search for "Ring on Boot" or "Boot Sound Volume" option(s) and TURN IT OFF or set the volume level to ZERO!
5. Save BIOS/Setup settings and restart computer again.

Now you can hear sound from the internal speaker of your notebook, laptop or tablet :)

Let me know if this workaround helps you and please specify the model of your notebook in comments. Thank you.

BTW, do you know about my Auto Mute software utility to make computer silent by default? :)

Touchpad Scrolling doesn't work on Windows 10?

If two or even single finger scrolling doesn't work after update to Windows 10 and your touchpad is manufactured by Synaptics company, download and install driver for touchpad version 16.2.x. Everything will work like a charm.

Open this link Synaptic Touchpad Driver 16.2, supports scrolling on Windows 10, check "I agree" options on the bottom of page and press "Submit" button. The driver will be downloaded.

How to detect Internet Explorer 10 and higher?

For a long time detecting of Internet Explorer browser was easy using Conditional Comments, something like:

<!--[if IE]>
 <script type="text/javascript">
  var isIE = true;
 </script>
<![endif]-->

Starting version 10, Internet Explorer doesn't support conditional comments feature :(

Here is the JavaScript code to detect IE of any version since 5 till 11:

var isIE = (function(){
    var undef,rv = -1; // Return value assumes failure.
    var ua = window.navigator.userAgent;
    var msie = ua.indexOf('MSIE ');
    var trident = ua.indexOf('Trident/');

    if (msie > 0) {
        // IE 10 or older => return version number
        rv = parseInt(ua.substring(msie + 5, ua.indexOf('.', msie)), 10);
    } else if (trident > 0) {
        // IE 11 (or newer) => return version number
        var rvNum = ua.indexOf('rv:');
        rv = parseInt(ua.substring(rvNum + 3, ua.indexOf('.', rvNum)), 10);
    }

    return ((rv > -1) ? rv : undef);
}());
 

Hope Internet Explorer 12 and higher will work the same way :)

How do I make software products?

Here is a screencast on x8 speed of all processes are required to create the software product and to publish it online:

As you see coding takes less than half of time. Making of screenshots is more important than programming. Pages in social networks are more important than pretty looking website. And so on...

Program in this video is a first public version of Missing Buttons software

New software for hidden features

I was not able to find "Monitor Off" feature on any notebook while are using external keyboard. Lots of PCs have no "Hibernate" button even if this feature is turned on. Working on computers using remote desktop software disallows many of system shortcuts. You cannot switch Num Lock or Scroll Lock if there is no hardware buttons for that. And so on...

I've created small software utility to have all missing features right under the hand. Missing Buttons is software for Windows, maybe I'll create a Mac OS version in the future.

The product is distributed as try before you buy, the license costs $9.95 per user.

If you have ideas for other "missing buttons", let me know. I'll add them into the future versions.

Did you remember this?

If you are old enough to remember Windows 95 or 98, this is for you:
Black screen at the end.

Software product in less than 1 hour!

There were about 3 hours of free time before visit to the cinema. So, just for fun, I've decided to measure the speed of my work. Also I was planning to record a screencast movie "how to make software products" :)

Unfortunately CamStudio recorder sucks for high resolution screen, so there is no movie :( But in less than 1 hour I've finished following tasks:

• Purchase domain for new site and setup Wordpress there
• Create Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts for new software
• Make a copy of Caps Lock Indicator software for Scroll Lock key
• Setup trial protection routines
• Build installation package and upload it to the website

Not bad, isn't it? ;)

So, here it is: Scroll Lock Indicator software for Windows.

Software offers two Scroll Lock state indicators: Tray Icon and On-Screen Display. Notifications by different sound when On and Off are also available.

The product is distributed as try before you buy (shareware) with 30-day trial period. The license costs $2.95 per user.

Back to Shareware :)

I have never ever planned back to shareware business, but one of my technical tasks requests testing of modern software protection and integration with billing services. So I've decided to make a small utility and push it to all required tests.

I have many ideas and feature requests form users of free Keyboard LEDs software, so there was no problem with idea of new software. So, here it is: Caps Lock Indicator

Software for Windows, offers two Caps Lock state indicators: Tray Icon and On-Screen Floating Text. Notifications by sound are also available. The product is distributed as shareware with 30-day trial period. The license costs $9.95 per user.

Keyboard Leds 2.0

Keyboard LEDs version 2.0 has been released.

Program allows you to see the current state of keyboard locks (Caps, Num, Scroll). Information is shown in the system tray or on a floating window over your screen. Also there is an option to indicate the locks state changing with sound.

You can download and use Keyboard Leds program absolutely free!

Function IsValidEmail for Delphi

It's hard to believe, but there is no standard function in Delphi to verify the email address. Also there is no native RegExp support. So I have to create own routine for email verification. It is not fully RFC compatible (there is no support for user@[10.20.30.40] and John Dow <a@b.c>) but is good enough for 99% of end-user programs.

//------------------------------------------------------------------------------ // Verifies is the given string valid email address or not. Domain names without // dots (user@localhost) are acceptable if AllowRootDomain is True. function IsValidEmail(const Value: string; AllowRootDomain: Boolean = False): Boolean; //------------------------------------- function _Verify(const S: string): Boolean; var i: Integer; begin Result := False; for i := 1 to Length(S) do if not (S[i] in ['a'..'z' ,'A'..'Z', '0'..'9', '_', '-', '.']) then Exit; Result := True; end;{Internal _Verify} //------------------------------------- var i: Integer; User, Domain: string; begin Result:= False; // @ is must, but not first i := Pos('@', Value); if i < 2 then Exit; User := Copy(Value, 1, i - 1); if User = '' then Exit; Domain := Copy(Value, i + 1, MaxInt); if Domain = '' then Exit; if not AllowRootDomain then begin // Dot is must, but not first i := Pos('.', Domain); if i < 2 then Exit; end; // Dot should not be first and the last if (Domain[1] = '.') or (Domain[Length(Domain)] = '.') then Exit; // Verify each char of User and Domain Result:= _Verify(User) and _Verify(Domain); end;

Click on code, press Ctrl+A to select all, Ctrl+C to copy the text.

P.S. Does anybody use Delphi in 2011? :)

Keyboard Leds 1.5

Keyboard LEDs version 1.5 has been released.

Program allows you to see the current state of keyboard locks (Caps, Num, Scroll). Information is shown in the system tray or on a floating window over your screen. Also there is an option to indicate the locks state changing with sound.

You can download and use Keyboard LEDs program absolutely free!

Keyboard Leds 1.3

Keyboard LEDs version 1.3 has been released.

Program allows you to see the current state of keyboard locks (Caps, Num, Scroll). Information is shown in the system tray or on a floating window over your screen. Also there is an option to indicate the locks state changing with sound.



You can download and use Keyboard LEDs program absolutely free!




Software works on Windows, there is no MacOS edition. Yet :)

ClearType Switch Software for Windows

Options for text anti-aliasing ("Smooth edges of screen fonts") and ClearType are located in different places depending on Windows version. This is very annoying and confuses users much!

So I've create a small program to fix this issue - ClearType Switch.



You can download and use ClearType Switcher absolutely free!

Touchpad Blocker software for Windows

How often your cursor jumps to another paragraph when you are typing a text on notebook and accentually touch a touchpad by hand? Hate this behavior? Me too!

So, I've created a small program to solve this annoying problem. Touchpad Blocker automatically disables mouse events for a few moments if some key has been pressed.



You can download and use Touchpad Blocker program absolutely free!




Wish you happy typing :)

Keyboard Led Software

My new netbook has no keyboard indicators, so I've created a small software to know the state of Caps, Num and Scroll Locks.

Keyboard Leds is a program for Microsoft Windows. Software allows you to see the current state of keyboard locks. Information is shown on a small icon in the system tray or on the floating window over your screen. Works on Wondows platform



You can download and use Key Leds program absolutely free!

New FTP software

I've created a web site for new FTP automation software. Program is called FTP Auto Sync. It automatically synchronizes local folders with folders on server via FTP protocol.

Auto Mute 1.3

I've add some new features to Auto Mute program. Now you'll get a balloon tooltip notification if sound is muted on system startup or resume. Some people ask me to add such reminder, because they always forget to turn the sound on after computer restart.



You can download Auto Mute 1.3 right form this blog. Software is absolutely free.

Created just for fun - Auto Mute

I've created small software utility to make notebooks silent when it's turning on or is waking up from a sleep mode. So the computer becomes quiet even if you forgot to turn the sound off in previous session. Very useful if you have small children or are trying to work in public places, on conferences for example.

Actually, this is my old idea of software for people who have small children, but nobody wants to make such tool for years. So if you want to have something you cannot buy, do it by yourself :)






Hope this program will be helpful to many people. If you need additional feature or know how to improve this sound control software let me know.

How to burn BluRay and HD-DVD discs

Article about software that helps everybody to burn BluRay and HD-DVD discs as well as CD or DVD. Program works on any version of Windows system.