Making iPega bluetooth gamepad work on Windows 7 - Tested with Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

This is a guide to make generic iPega/Moga type bluetooth gamepads work in a Windows 7 PC. The bluetooth gamepad I have is an  OEM replica of iPega PG-9021 bought from Aliexpress. Note: I have only tested it with is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

I got this info/ideas from multiple sites, so due credit to them.
Link 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuNr_eMB2jM
Link 2: http://www.logisticsct.com/blog/ipega-controller-windows-drivers/

Part I 
(Pictorial guide in Link 1)
1. Get a USB Bluetooth dongle. I have a cheap one called "enter"
2. Make sure that the Bluetooth icon is showing in the system tray
3. Hold Home + X key. Three lights should flash
4. Click your bluetooth icon in Windows 7 and click Add Device
5. Should show up as Bluetooth Gamepad. Right click on it and hit 'properties'
6. Check the tick box for Drivers for keyboard, mice, etc (HID) and hit apply. This should successfully add the device.
7. To confirm pairing, only the first LED on the gamepad should hold steady while all other lights stop flashing.

Part 2

1. Download "Xbox 360 Controller Emulator". I got the 32 bit one. link https://github.com/x360ce/x360ce 
2. Unzip and open the x360ce app. It should give a message, hit create dll. 
3. App should recognize the gamepad.
4. Allow app to automatically download settings from internet
5. Now the gamepad should be auto configured, make no changes save and exit. (You can test the gamepad in x360ce now, something which I couldn't do from the settings in Windows control panel. )
6. Copy the two files from the x360ce folder - x360ce.ini and xinput1_3.dll
7. Paste both into (program files or wherever you installed)\Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons\Binaries\Win32


Once I started the game, the gamepad was recognized and worked flawlessly. I'm guessing a similar dump of the two files should make it work for other games as well. I'm not sure of the exact intricacies of x360ce, so if something can be done more efficiently, do leave a comment. I did all of this just to play that one game, so I wont be testing it with anything else.

Was a pain to get it to work, so hoping this saves others some time and effort..

Micromax Canvas Spark Specifications - 21/11/2015

MICROMAX CANVAS SPARK SPECIFICATION.

The specs of the just released Canvas Spark. Courtesy Rahul Kasana, Tech Siddhi
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=442620222567287

[SOLVED] Recover Locked Notes from COLORNOTE (Android) (Forgotten Master Password)

I changed the master password of my COLORNOTE app on my android smartphone, but the conveniently forgot it because i never had to use it for a long stretch. Funny thing, we tend to think that some passwords which we make up we'll never forget, but when the time comes, no matter what different combinations of familiar passwords we try, nothing works.

I was quite annoyed by this, because I had locked out some pretty important personal files, and there seemed to be no way of recovering it. After looking around a bit, and tinkering around I finally figured out a solution for me to recover the locked files.

The article I referred to Android Central forum
Credits to users: mohammed rafi, collegemomlynn

STEP1

REQUIRED: AUTO BACKUP must be checked

Go to SDCARD Backup and verify that the latest autoback up is present [ check the date ]
You'll not be able to take back up manually because it asks for the master password.. 

IF AUTO BACKUP IS NOT CHECKED
Enable the "Auto back up" option and  wait for 24 hours for letting it take back up automatically. Then go with the above procedure and verify presence of backup files. 

VERIFY THE BACKUP, open the back up data and view your notes. It should show all your locked and unlocked notes.

ORIGINAL POST STEPS
2. Clear the Master password
Settings-> Master password-clear password

It deletes ur locked notes.. But don worry u still have back up

3.Now set the new Master password
4. Go to back up again.. Check for the recent back up data.. ->Restore
5. Now u can open the locked notes vit ur new Master password

IF you dont have the Autobackup option. credit:jambavo75
 I only had to update Colornote in my new-phone (looking for Colornote at Play Store, and then I choose "update"). Then you should be able to use the automatic backup-files without password.
ALTERNATIVE: [IF YOU HAVE SET UP ONLINE SYNC]

My problem was that I had set up Online sync via facebook.
This is how I worked out my solution.

1. Follow STEP 1, make sure Autobackup is present.
Go to Settings> online sync > Sign out [ use android menu button ]

2. Now you will notice that all your notes have been deleted. In fact they are safely stored in your online sync as well as the auto backup files. So don't worry.

3. Now go to Settings> Master Password  ; and set up a new password.

4. Go to Settings> SD card backup > Click the Autobackup file > View

5. Now if you click the locked files, you will be open them with your new password.

6. Individually open each important locked file and restore.

PS. I tried to restore the whole Auto Backup file, but it didnt work out for me because the online sync came back on and my new password didn't work. So viewing individual files and restoring them individually worked for me.

NOTE 1: You can go back to state , that is with all your notes but with the old password by just going to Online Sync and logging in again.

NOTE 2: Alternatively if the first method doesn't work .. you can set up an online sync first and try my alternative method. I cannot verify the first method as online sync was turned on for me.

This is a way to recover some important notes that might have been locked out. I hope this helps you.

Regards
GPT

[SOLVED] Removing BOSS Linux from Amma Laptops

Fixing up That Free Laptop ;)

Ok , so you got a free laptop from the Tamil Nadu government. The guys over at Loyola including meself got the Lenovo B460e. Though it has some important stuff missing like and internal wireless adaptor, dvd drive and such, I personally feel that its a pretty good piece especially for students.

Though I am grateful to our Amma,  I don't really fancy her staring at my face as soon as I turn the laptop on [some Rosie Huntington bootay for me please! :P].  I'm pretty sure most people peeled off the sticker of her glorious countenance, and switched the desktop wallpaper.

The lap comes with dual operating systems , Win 7 and BOSS Linux. I did some research to optimize the lap to my needs and decided to write a guide to make things easy for others. This guide will cover the following issues.

1. How to Change Account name from ELCOT to whatever
2. How to change System Name From ELCOT to whatever
3. Login Details for BOSS Linux.
4. How to remove BOSS Linux while retaining Windows 7.
5. How to remove GRUB and replace it with the normal Windows NT bootloader.
6. How to reallocate the 100gb previously used up by BOSS.
7. How to get rid of the annoying Drive Q, which gives the drive inaccessible error.
8. About the BIOS splashscreen with the TN Logo

How to Change Account name from ELCOT to whatever

 Go to Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change your account name.
Simple!

How to change System Name From ELCOT to whatever

Go to Start Menu
In the Search column type " sysdm.cpl "
Click " Change " button.
knock yourself out naming your pc, I personally prefer AlottaV Agina

Login Details for BOSS Linux

Though I liked Ubuntu, I found the BOSS Linux thing crappy. But if you want to try it out and are annoyed by the constant request for login, here's what you need
For TamilNadu Free Laptop the Linux login is
username: root
password: root

How to remove BOSS Linux while retaining Windows 7 : 

a] How to remove GRUB and replace it with the normal Windows NT bootloader
b] How to reallocate the 100gb previously used up by BOSS.

This one is a bit tricky, but do as I say and all will be well young padwan

First Download the following: [ free from both payment and malware ]

A> Required EASEUS Partition Master – Home Edition

B> option 1 EASY BCD  [ have to give name and email for download , can give fake one]
To download Scroll down, click register, put in your details and ou should be able to download the installation file.

                                                         
This has two steps.  RESTART ONLY AFTER COMPLETING BOTH STEPS

STEP 1 - Two options, choose one

Process [ with EASY BCD 2.1.2 Community edition, this is easy  and has GUI ]

-Run EASY BCD 2.1.2 Community edition
-Select BCD deployment
-In MBR Configuration options > choose Install windows vista/7 bootloader to MBR
-Select Write MBR

This has removed GRUB and replaced it with windows bootloader.

NOTE: This video tutorial is with and earlier version of easy BCD 1.7.2. Current downloadable version is 2.1.2.



STEP 2 


Process

- Start EASEUS Partition Master – Home Edition
- Click Go to main screen
-Select The last partition of 100gb capacity, EXT3 file system
- Right Click > Delete Partition
- Now it shows Unallocated space . Right Click > Create Partition , to create a new Patition E:\ .
- You can  also merge it with C or D partition using the merge command
- Click Apply on left-top side of the menu bar

NOTE - DO NOT TOUCH THE 200MB NTFS PARTITION NAMED *: , IT CONTAINS WIN7 FILES

Done! Reboot your computer and it should now be done.
Now you are free of linux and have 100gb more space for yourself on windows.

How to get rid of the annoying [hide] Drive Q, which gives the drive inaccessible error

The presence of the Drive Q:\ is because of the“Click-To-Run” Office 2010. Though it is harmless, it can get quite irritating when you accidentally click it while browsing through the system.
Here’s how to hide it.
Process

-Go to Start Menu

-In the Search column type " Regedit " . Open the program regedit.exe
-Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
If you don't have the EXPLORER folder in  POLICIES,
right click Policies > New > Key .  Name it as " Explorer "

- Open the folder Explorer

-  Right Click inside the bigger column on the Right>  New > DWORD 32bit Value

- Name it as " NoDrives " . Right Click it > Modify... > input Value Data as " 65536 " > choose base as      "Decimal " > Click ok

Restart and the drive should be gone. Simple  as that.

About the BIOS splashscreen with the TN Logo

I was reading up about changing the TN boot screen but it apparently needs fidgeting with the BIOS , which is not recommended anywhere. Any screw-ups and your motherboard gets bricked.
Guess I can live with the 2 sec reminder of the donor of the laptop.


I hope this stuff helps you guys. Comment if you got any questions.
May the force be with you!

Sources:
http://technicalmeltdown.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/hide-local-disk-q-added-by-office-2010-beta/
http://geekmontage.com/texts/review-ubuntu-netbook-remix/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoverlessTech

Win a 8GB iPod Nano at DatMoney

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