Multiple YM Instance

I ceased being a fan of the Yahoo Messenger 9 client ever since I started using Pidgin a few weeks ago.

Nevertheless, just wanna share this registry tweak which allows multiple instances of YM (v8 or v9) in one login session.

1. Create an empty text file then paste the following:

---

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\yahoo\pager\Test]
"Plural"="1"

---

2. Save it as a registry file (e.g. MultipleYM.reg) or you can just download the file from this link.
3. Double-click the .reg file.



4. Click "Yes".

You can now have hundreds of YM running.

That's it. ^__^

Desktop Icons, Stay Put!

I know, I know, the frustration when you painstakingly arranged your desktop icons such so you can even close your eyes and click somewhere on the desktop, and you will know exactly what you clicked.

Then...

Windows crashes... somebody changes the screen resolution... a housemate, a son, a sibling messes up your icons. Aaarghh!

Make those desktop icons remember.

Desktop Restore 1.6.1

How to use:

1. Download from this link and install.
2. Set your desktop icons.
   
3. Right click on the desktop and click the "Save Desktop" option.
4. 
5. You have now saved your desktop icons layout. Just choose "Restore Desktop" to restore.
   
6. Custom Save/Restore lets you choose a file to save/restore the layout from.

That's it! ^__^

Visit the official website here.

Windows XP Techtip #14 >> Iconize Taskbar Items

Is your taskbar getting crowded?

Then you could do away with the text description that normally goes with the icons.

Here's a simply registry trick to do it:

1. Create an empty text file then paste the following:

---

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"MinWidth"="-255"

---

2. Save it as a registry file (e.g. TaskbarIcons.reg) or you can just download the file from this link.
3. Double-click the .reg file.



4. Select "Yes". Hit Enter.
5. Restart.

Voila! All icons for your taskbar!

If you don't want the feel/look of it, just delete the tweak by running "regedit", locating the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics and deleting the MinWidth entry.

That's it. ^__^

Pidgin!

My original intent was to find a YM9 client alternative since the client available from Yahoo fails to meet my standards. So there was I again, googling till my eyes dropped out.

After trying out Yah-Too, YahELite, YaZak, CheetaChat, Y!Mlite, YAM, YahEh, JAM, El33tchat, YMSG, no5. I finally gave up on searching for a YM9 client alternative.

I realized then I was aiming for the wrong program. So why not seek a multiclient program instead that also supports YM?

There were three major candidates - Trillian, Miranda IM and Pidgin. I guess you already know which won my favor; performance, compactness and features - wise. ^__^

So here is the winner:

Pidgin 2.5.4

How to use:

1. Download from this link and install.
   
2. Run the program and add your accounts by clicking on the menu, Accounts -> Manage Accounts (Ctrl+A).
3. Explore the rich features of Pidgin, plugins, grouping cross-client contacts, and so much more!

If you have questions, comments or suggestions just visit the pidgin community. Check out this link for a quick Windows FAQ.

That's it. ^__^

P.S. Don't uninstall your default clients as pidgin doesn't support voice and video conferencing... yet.

FlashNote 3.1

I have used TurboNotes and PostIt for the past few years of my computing life.

Recently though, I came across this simple but intuitive and compact freeware program by Softvoile.

Try it out!

FlashNote v3.1

How to use:

1. Download from this link and install.
   
2. Press Alt+S. (You may change this in the program preferences later)
   
3. Start typing notes (no need to save).
4. Explore.

That's it! ^__^