Bootable Windows USB Thumbdrive

    In a previous post I told you how to make a Linux bootable usb thumb drive. Ive been working with ways to use windows 7 bootdisks and found an easy way to do it with Vista and Windows 7.
    Step one format the thumbdrive you want to use to NTFS filesystem.(right click on the thumbdrive in "My Computer" and choose format.  Make sure you choose NTFS filesystem and choose ok)

    Then in the start menu right click on the "command prompt" and choose "run as administrator".

    Next in the "command prompt" type "diskpart" then enter.

    Then type "list disk".  The results will tell you which Disk the thumbdrive is(Disk X).

    Now type "select disk X" (X is the number displayed for thumbdrive)

    Type "list partition" (it will display a partition number probably 1)

    Next type "select partition 1"(or whatever partition you choose)

    Then you take all the files from a boot cd/image and put them in a folder you create, and know the path to.  (c:\windows7 in my case)

    Now in a new "command prompt" type cd \windows7\boot (this is the path to your folder for your files windows disks will have a boot folder)

    Then type bootsect /nt60 X:  (X is the partition letter of your thumbdrive)

    Now copy the contents of your boot cd/image you put in that folder directly to the thumbdrive.

This worked great for my windows 7 install image.  Now its on a bootable thumbdrive.

Using Google as a resource for computer problems.

    If you are like me you already know how great Google is, but I am finding most people don't realize how robust a tool it really is.  I start with Google as a jumping off point for any research I do.
    Computer errors you don't understand can be solved quickly by simply searching them.  I find that when an error pops up, typing it into the search word for word brings up the exact answer you need.  If the problem exists odds are someone else has had it also.
    Forums that Google crawls will pop up with solutions to your specific problems.  I find being adept with Google solves 90% of my tech problems.   Being persistent pays off if the answer doesn't present itself right away. 

Using iTunes with an Android phone.

   Recently I ran into my cousin who was complaining about his iPhone.  I asked him why he didn't switch to an Android phone, His answer was he didn't want to lose all his music off iTunes.  We can't have that, so I offered to find him a way to us iTunes with an Android phone.
    I had heard of an app on sourceforge.net(I love sourceforge) a while ago so I went looking.  Searching the word iTunes on Sourceforge.net I found iTunes Agent.  It runs in the background and puts a device you setup on iTunes.  This sweet little proggy will do what he needs.
    You need iTunes on your PC, and the latest Microsoft .NET framework.  Install iTunes Agent.  Once installed open the preferences and chose the "New Device" button. I named it Android but you can call it whatever you want(maybe the name of you phone).  The "Synchronize pattern" I left as iTunes. For the "Music Location" and "Recogonize by" field I chose a folder I named Music on my phone(I'm assuming your phone is plugged in). The last field I left default, you use this to limit what gets put on if you are worried about your phone getting full.  Now I clicked "Save Device".
    Now iTunes Agent should be running in your task bar.  Right click on it and select "Synchronize devices"
this will put all music on you phone.

Preferences break-down:
click "New device"
"Name"-What you want to call device.
"Synchronize pattern"-Order of music on your device.
"Music location on device"-Folder where your music needs to be on the device.
"Recognize by folder/file"-Folder where agent will install a necessary file on the device.
"Associate with playlist"- Playlist device will sync with.
 Click "Save device"

Download iTunes Agent Here