Share a external Drive over the network
So… Yesterday, I tried to be friendly and answer someone’s question in a forum:
How to share a USB or Firewire External Hard-drive over the Network
The sad part is, after typing down the instructions, making sure I’m not lying to this poor soul, and pressing the submit button, I was told to register.
Fair enough, registered, but up to now I still haven’t received a email from them, so Here’s the answer for those who needed to know:
How to share a USB or Firewire External Hard-drive over the Network
I am assuming you have Windows XP professional? (Home Edition will be different) Let me know, and I’ll update.
Click on My Computer
*Right Click on the drive
*Select Sharing and Security
Under the Sharing Tab which should now be open
* Select the option “Share This Folder”
* Provide it with a “Share Name” and a “Comment”
for this example we’ll call it ExternalDRV
* click Apply
* click O.K
To make sure it is being share you can do the following:
Start->Run->CMD
Type in “net share“:
C:\WINDOWS>net share
Share name Resource Remark
————————————————————-
D$ D:\ Default share
C$ C:\ Default share
ADMIN$ C:\WINDOWS Remote Admin
IPC$ Remote IPC
ExternalDRV
I:\
The command completed successfully.
————————————————————–
Someone can now connect to your external in the following two ways:
From their computer:
Click start->Run
Type in \\YourComputerName\ExternalDRV
———————————————————————————–
<gras>If it is in a work environment you might have problems connecting to it that way.</gras>
Firstly : If you are in a work environment ask your support team first, seriously, ask them first.
A workaround would be to find out your IP address:
Click start->Run-> type cmd, and then ipconfig
Now whoever wants to connect to your shared external drive can access it via your IP:
Lets say your IP is 10.24.106.67
Start->Run->
\\10.24.106.67\ExternalDRV
This would be a temporary solution as your IP will most likely change if you are not on a static IP address.
<gras>
PLEASE NOTE: </gras>
Although it is possible it is not really recommended as your Bottleneck will be the USB / firewire connection between your machine and the external drive.
I would suggest rather buying a Network Attached Storage External drive like the ones below:
The 1TB is a good size and they go from about $80 to $200+ (a $100 one should be fine)
NETGEAR SC101 Storage Central
* Price: $80
* Network attached ONLY (but at a great price) and
* only 100Mbps (which is pretty fast for any normal house usage, its fast trust me)
or
Western Digital My Book World Edition 1 TB Network Storage System
* Price : $214.99
* Network attached but can also connect via firewire cable
* Supports up to 1000Mbps transfer rates (but this depends if your machine’s and your network actually run’s at Giggabit Speeds (doubt it)
Both of them will come with software that is easy to configure and once its up and running you can simply access the shares or map to them. Another massive benefit is that it doesn’t require a PC / Mac to be switched on to access it.
Microsoft just LOVES Mac’s
I’ve had a skype chat last night, with a friend that I haven’t seen for ages.
Funny enough after an hour or so, the discussion about Windows vs Mac OS X came up, and dare I say it, I just backed down, *gracefully.
Working with Windows (just about all the version) on a daily basis for support, but also doing research using Mac OS X platform and having an iMac and MacBook for my home use, it’s sometime difficult to explain in our own words WHY so many of us nowadays choose to use Macs .
Lets hear what previous CEO of Microsoft had to say about it:
Microsoft LOVES the Mac
Additionally a lot of people don’t know that the Microsoft Products on the Mac has ALWAYS surpassed the version on Windows when it comes to functionality, ease of use, and plainly just looking and working awesomely (except for Entourage – a Exchange client which only works well with newer Exchange 2003 + Servers)
Microsoft doesn’t want people to know many of their developers also work on Macs.
“Oct. 30, 2003 – Michael Hanscom admits it probably wasn’t the best idea. He thought the photo on his personal blog of Apple computers being offloaded at a Microsoft loading dock might get a couple of smirks from friends. He never imagined it would cost him his job.”
Read the whole story
Vista is not so bad after all.
I have to admit, the only Windows Operating system I have some respect for is Vista (but I will not install it on ANY machine in my lifetime…) Can anyone say SLOW… the reason it requires some respect, is the same reason it irritates everyone, IMPROVED security (but did they have to do it in such a nagging manner?.
To be honest , it is not Microsoft’s fault, Developers COULD have followed the best practices for Coding secure applications that do not require Admin rights, and Vista would have seemed been a lot better.
Last but not least
Built in features:
And lastly, I found this video of Steve Jobs commenting on what his gripes are with Microsoft.
Having been both a Mac and PC user for quite a few years, I have to agree with Steve 100%.
Why Cartoons Scare Politicians
It is amazing the immense impact something as simple as a Cartoon can have in mostly non-literate countries, and the lengths that the governments of such countries will go to to try to suppress the cartoons.
The whole world remembers the uproar that was caused by the Danish Cartoons showing the Muslim Profit Mohammed in 2005. In case you missed it, read this Wikipedia story explaining the case
Yesterday in another part of the world (South Africa), a similar uproar started to brew.
ANC party spokesman Doughnut Phiri said that Jonathan Shapiro aka Zapiro, a Cartoonist that is known for his Struggles against apartheid and his Satirical cartoons “needed to be eliminated, destroyed or killed, both literally and/or metaphorically and/or metaphysically, or whichever one we are allowed to do by the Human Rights Commission”. – from Nothing to do in Joburg Besides...
I believe the reason that the politicians or rulers of religion (similar creatures) in these Third World countries are so scared of the Cartoons is due to the following reasons:
- No literacy is required to understand what is being depicted
- The cartoon section of a News-papers is probably the most “read” *from my experience of shoulder surfing on the London tube system
- It will cause the populous to start asking Questions, and that is their main fear
One of the most interesting aspects about Shapiro’s predicament is that the ANC have now tried to brand him as a Racist which is regarded as a cheap blow.
For those familiar with Visual Communication techniques, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Whether you agree with the cartoon or not, it is definitely a brilliant piece of communication
Why you should use the “Flock” browser
I’ve recently started using the Flock Browser because it was recommended to me by one of the many SEO and Web monetization courses I have been doing over the past few months.
For those of you who haven’t heard of Flock, it is a browser that is based of the popular Firefox.
It was specifically created to make it so simple and easy for average users to access their Facebook, YouTube and various other social and web 2.0 services.
After using it for only 20 minutes I was hooked!
Why you should use Flock:
- You can see all my friend’s facebook updates in a sidebar as they are updated (without being distracted from your work)
- You can post to your blog directly from the browser without having to visit wordpress or many other Blogging services. (now a definite favourite feature)
- You can receive your Twitter updates instantly
- All your firefox extensions work seamlessly with Flock.
- It’s just great…
I am sure there are many more features that I have probably not even tried, but will probably be lost without them in a few months.
I am at the point now where I have all my social sites open with flock, hidden in the System tray with PowerMenu, and have firefox running all my normal job sites.
Its strange sometimes that you think everything is fine, until you find out there is something much better!
The web without Flock for me is like Gmail without GoogleTalk notifier.
iCTel cellphone software has been RELEASED!
26 July 2008
I’m quite excited to try out the much anticipated iCTel voice-over-IP cellphone software that has now been released in South Africa which allows cheap or free calls to other members and normal phones.
I’m still quite interested to see how I can save and even make a whole lot of extra money simply by using and referring a telecom system in SA.
Now with the SMS registration fixed someone doesn’t even need a computer to install it! iCTel cellphone software can simply be downloaded to your phone (thousands of phones are compatible)
You still have to register to download the ictel software
How to install it on your phone:
Visit wap.ictel.co.za on your Mobile / cellphone
Read my post further down to setup your Vodacom, MTN, cellC or Virgin Mobile 3G settings to allow you to easily download icTel software after registration directly to your phone.
Download ictel directly from your phone: visit wap.ictel.co.za
All registered iCTel members can now visit wap.ictel.co.za and download the software really easily DIRECTLY from your phone. No Computer required. Whohoo!
It also seems to work on thousands of phones.
You can purchase icTel airtime which allows Internet phone calls from your phone at really good rates I have found.
Additionally icTel has also launched additional services which will definitely cut your phone bill in half!
Briefly here are some of the developments:
The call back service is structured for members to save money on communication using any phone
You call to a local cell phone number and punch in your international destination of 52 countries to call without the need to buy airtime by iCTel (pay only the cell phone cost)
You can now call from any phone to international destinations by calling with your free minutes. Call from Telkom or cellphone to a local landline and pay only for your discounted international part of the call.
iCAirtime can be used on all the products iCCallBack, iCCallVia and iCCoIP.
You need iCAirtime before you can make calls through iCTel unless you are calling to other iCTel members using your iCCoIP software and they too are using iCCoIP software.
Your subscription of R2.60 is deducted from your iCAirtime daily so that you do not need to pay other accounts.
NOTE: There is no fee during free period (May 2008 to end of August 2008) which could probably be extended after that.
Heres the link where you can join iCTel
If you have a WiFi enabled cellphone you could call for FREE wherever you have access to a wireless network.
iCTel is flirting with Telecom Market – and sharing Profit with users
May 2008 
New VOIP Competition to Telkom in South Africa is taking the Market by storm.
This has sparked a nation wide sign up of people, not only interested in the service which iCTel provides, but also the Profit sharing in the product.
Have a look at how you can phone for 3c to 10c per minute on your mobile phone
# Fixed line calls from 10c per minute
# Mobile calls from 10c per minute
# You save more than 70% on phone calls
# Keep your present phone contract and number
# 5 000 free minutes per month for iCTel to iCTel phone calls
# Text messages charged at only 1 cent
for only R79 (First 3 Months free trial between 19th May and August)
Comments, questions, curiosities or complaints: Please click here to email me
Note: I am also independent promoter so iCTel technical issues will affect me too. Ask the iCTel helpdesk about your number details once registered
Additional help and support available from myself at the links below:
Is iCTel a Scam? What thousands have found revealed (screenshots included)
I’m amazed to see some websites hint to suggest that iCTel might be a scam without providing any reason or facts…I’ve decided done a bit of thorough investigative reporting. None of the other websites (including moneyweb, imod or mydigital life) can say the same.
With all disruptive technologies there will always be a certain amount of scepticism to new ideas and technology, especially in the case of South Africa where it’s telecommunication services has been miss-managed by the government for so long.
The main concerns initially were:
1) What is ictel’s physical address :This has been visible on their website for a long time : www.ictel.co.za/11405
2) How can their prices be so low compared to Telkom and normal Cell phone rates?
iCTel uses technology called Voice-over-IP (similar to what products like Skype use) but go further by allowing you to call landlines and cellphones from your computer, or even call computers and ictel members from your cellphone for a fraction of the traditional price using their pre-configured software downloaded via SMS to your cellphone.
3) If it is just a service, why is so many people advertising it as a business opportunity?
Well, although it is just a nice telecom service which allows you to call for cheap (even internationally) to landlines and celllphones, or for free to other ictel members on their mobiles or on their computers, many people have become very excited to share it with their friends because ictel will PAY you simply to use the service and tell your friends about it.
If you are not interrested in making extra money, don’t worry, it is not compulsory to advertise the service. You can simply just use the service without ever having to tell anyone about it.
If however you would like to suppliment your income or just get all the ictel services for free you can tell friends, family or colleages and you will get discount for everyone that uses it and buys additional airtime, and possibly make quite a bit of extra money if you seriously advertise it.
For the real entrepreneur iCTel offers additional business opportunites which will require more of a commitment but will provide higher income. Some of these opportunities require technical installers of Wireless internet spots, Business premises owners and some more.
4) Why did they take so long to launch?
As a matter of fact iCTel only launched one and a half month later than initially advertised. As part of their pre-launch advertising campaign they allowed people to tell their contacts that something good is coming and to potentially earn some extra money when the commercial service launched.
It seems that iCTel refined its focus a few months after the launch and the massive amount of registrations to focus on the mobile phone software client, which is now available via SMS.
register for free and then click on products-> icCoip to get instructions on how to quickly download the software to your phone to start saving.
I believe iCTel could have done a better job at communicating with their clients to keep them up to date with all the nice developments, but I’m sure they will soon send out somehting that will blow everyone’s mind!
Watch this space.
3G Settings South Africa – Automatic setup on your cell-phone
To make use of the iCTel services and reap all the benefits (of cheap calls to other members and landlines / mobiles) you need your data settings configured on your cellphone.
DON’T PANIC! It’s really easy to do (I once showed a 70 year old lady how to do it, and then she showed her husband)
The following Cellular service Providers in SA provide automatic setup of your 3G/ GPRS settings:
- Virgin Mobile (SA)
- Cell C
- Vodacom
- MTN
The guys from imod.co.za have summed it up at:
CONNECTIVITY
Setting up GPRS/3G
Get connected via your service provider’s service menu; just follow the simple instructions below:
(It helps to know your mobile’s manufacturer and model. Oh and remember, you only have 2 minutes to complete these steps, don’t ask us why!)
Vodacom:
1. On your mobile, dial *111#
2. Select option 5 (phone settings) from the menu that follows. (Answer -> 5 -> send)
3. Select option 1 to choose your mobile make and model from a list, or options 2 to have Vodacom identify the phone for you.
4. In both cases, simply follow the steps provided to get the WAP settings sent to your phone.
5. Connection settings will be sent to your phone; save these settings.
6. If any of the above mentioned steps fail, simply retry.
7. Still having trouble? Call Vodacom’s call centre on 111 from your Vodacom cellphone or 082 111 from another phone. Alternatively visit a Vodacom outlet near you.
(GPRS/3G can only be activated by the person in whose name the contract was taken out, so some of you might have to get mom or dad’s help on this one. Good luck!)
Cell C
1. On your mobile, dial *147#
2. Connection settings will be sent to your phone; save these settings. If a password is requested enter 0000
3. If any of the above mentioned steps fail, simply retry.
Still having trouble? Call Cell C’s call centre on 140 or visit a Cell C outlet near you. (GPRS/3G can only be activated by the person in whose name the contract was taken out, so some of you might have to get mom or dad’s help on this one. Good luck!)
MTN
1. On your mobile, dial *123#
2. Select option 1 (phone setup) from the menu that follows. (Answer -> 1 -> send)
3. Select option 3 (WAP).
4. Connection settings will be sent to your phone; save these settings.
5. If any of the above mentioned steps fail, simply retry.
Still having trouble? Call MTN’s call centre; dial 808 (contract) or 173 (pay as you go) from your mobile phone. Alternatively, visit an MTN outlet near you. (GPRS/3G can only be activated by the person in whose name the contract was taken out, so some of you might have to get mom or dad’s help on this one. Good luck!)
Virgin Mobile
When you first insert your Virgin Mobile SIM into your mobile you’ll receive an SMS asking you if you would like to accept Virgin Settings.
If you reply YES, your settings for MMS and WAP can be automatically downloaded and installed on your mobile.
Do the following to manually request MMS and WAP settings:
Go to the ‘Virgin Mobile’ menu which you will find on either the main menu or applications menu of your mobile.
Select ‘Virgin Settings’ and reply YES when asked if you’d like to download them.
Still having trouble? Call Virgin Mobile’s call centre on 123 or visit a Virgin Mobile outlet near you. (GPRS/3G can only be activated by the person in whose name the contract was taken out, so some of you might have to get mom or dad’s help on this one. Good luck!)
Interesting News for the Mobile phone industry in SA
I found interesting news:
Consumers will no longer be locked into long-term contracts with mobile operators, should the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) have its regulations approved.
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2008/0806231100.asp?A=CEL&S=Cellular&O=FPLEAD
This will be of great benefits to south African Mobile phone users, so if you’re like me and like to be able to move around you can do so.
icTel Mobile / Cellphone version available soon (New and improved)
May 2008
The Desktop icTel Softphone is still running fine (so you can still make ridiculously cheap calls to landlines and mobile phones), but icTel has temporarily disabled the downloading of their mobile phone version of the icTel / fring software until they have sorted out some issues with the customised Fring download.
Looking forward to the new software being released.
Signup for free to get updated when the new mobile software is released.
You can still use the Softphone version to call landlines and mobile phones over the internet for cheap cheap..
Refer to my blog entry Softphone downloaded and tested on 16th May 2008
Hope they fix this quickly.We know they are working on a simple download via SMS method… but its still in the works
O.K — SO what to do then ?
This is not a solution but it should keep some of you busy for the time being. Note that you will have to remove fring from your phone again when icTel has enabled the download of icTel mobile software again.
Step 1: Go and register with www.ictel.co.za/11405
(you can use my referral ID:11045 
)
Step 2: Download the non-ictel customised version of fring from www.fring.com
Step 3: Changed the settings under SIP to reflect sip.voipstream.co.za with your icTel username etc…
Related posts:
Youtube video on icTel
icTel Mobile version currently unavailable 
icTel Desktop Softphone screenshots
icTel compatible with X-lite
icTel is flirting with Telecom Market – Make Money as a referral
