Submitted by drew on

 

I created an easy way to enable/disable one of the mice attached to my computer. When VirtualBox is running, that mouse is captured within VB (for my daughter to play with). However, when VB isn't running, I don't want that mouse interfering with my mouse, so I created a batch file to enable and disable it using Microsoft's devcon utility. Unfortunately, the legal way to get it is to download the huge WDK (Windows Driver Kit).

My wife's new HP Envy, which has Windows 8.1, doesn't have a way to disable its touchscreen or touchpad. So I wanted to use a variatoin of my script to do that as well. (In the end, I got the script to work for the touchscreen, but not the touchpad... which is run by a different kind of driver so needs a different method).

Under Windows 8, this worked in a simple batch file:

    devcon.exe enable "USB\VID_046D&PID_C501"

 

I did not even need to elevate to admin priveleges for that to enable/disable the mouse.

I updated to 8.1 last night and the batch file stopped working. Using the same batch file, devcon SAYS it enabled the device (below), but the mouse was actually NOT enabled if I tried to move it around (and vice versa if I enabled it in Device Manager and then tried to disable via devcon... it did not disable). I could enable/disable perfectly fine in the Device Manager GUI.

    USB\VID_046D&PID_C501\5&3514F6C9&0&1                        : Enabled
    1 device(s) are enabled.

 

I made sure I was using the x64 version of devcon on my x64 Windows 8.1. I tried doing it as elevated to admin rights as well as not elevated (both for the batch file and devcon itself). I also tried it in a few different compatibility modes.

I googled and googled and did not find anyone else having an issue with devcon on 8.1 and all of the example I saw matched what I was already doing.

I decided to read through the help screen again, and I saw the restart command. Once I put it after the enable/disable command, it started working. Finally.

    devcon.exe enable "USB\VID_046D&PID_C501"
    devcon.exe restart "USB\VID_046D&PID_C501"

 

The restart command requires elevation to admin rights. So I created two shortcut files to the batch file (one to enable and one to disable) and set the shortcuts to run as administrator. And then I use the shortcuts to run the batch file.
 
Tags
Windows

Installing GBridge on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

Submitted by drew on

 

Just because I don't want to have to look this up again. Windows 8's driver signing enforcement prevents installing GBridge's network drivers. I posted how to work around that on gbridge.net forums when I was testing the Windows 8 preview, but their forum is offline now.

Windows 8

This method works for Professional or Home versions.

Grape Harvest

Submitted by drew on

 

I finally got a full harvest off of this vine (before birds, etc.) These grapes are pretty sour, if you just pick and eat. And seedy. However, I always thought they might make good jelly or something. So this year, I have lots of grapes to try something.

Basically, the process is:

Raspberry-Vanilla Pudding

Submitted by drew on

We have a picnic on July 4 where we are supposed to bring a dish. An hour before the picnic... what should we bring? We have lots of fresh-picked raspberries and that vanilla pudding I got last week. After a few minutes of Google-searching for things that use those two ingredients (no results, except for baked items and stuff of the wrong kind), I am going to make my own recipe for this.

Five Crunch Mix

Submitted by drew on
 
Five different textures of crunch for a delightful and versatile snack that doesn't leave your taste buds feeling like you drank an ocean of saltwater.
 
Shake together in a container (or snack bag) in the desired proportions....
  • honey nut cheerios
  • pretzels (thin style, broken in pieces)
  • unsalted peanuts
  • Spanish peanuts
  • banana chips
  • raisins
 
I usually go heavy on the cheerios.