Adobe Flash Player Plugin and Active X? Which One I need to Install?

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This puzzling question makes me puzzled - which type of Flash player I need to install? It's plugin or it's Active X? :-?

What is a Flash Player? 

According to Adobe: "A Flash player is a cross-platform browser-based application runtime that delivers uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across screens and browsers. Flash Player 10.1 is optimized for high performance on mobile screens and designed to take advantage of native device capabilities, enabling richer and more immersive user experiences."

Whoaaa.. nice~~ In other words, (my words), Flash player is an enhancer - it is capable of working together with other application in order to maximize the full potential from the any device. If you use it in a browser, it enhance the browsing experience. If you use flash in a mobile phone apps, you can use that apps much much better. ;-)

But wait, What is a plugin?
According to Iolo, A plugin is a small program that is added onto another program, enabling it to perform additional functions. For example, a browser help object is a commonly seen type of plug-in.

And, What is an Active X?
An interesting definition from IdiotsGuidetoTechnology - Essentially, Active X is a program created by Microsoft to facilitate rich media playback. It is used by the Internet Explorer program to load other software applications in the browser.

From here we can make a clever guess that a Flash player plugin is a small program that enhances a device, or an apps, and a Flash player Active X is a program that enhances Internet Explorer, the Microsoft's browser.

Which means that if you prefer browsing the Internet using your Internet Explorer, you need to install Flash player Active X in your computer. But if you prefer to use Mozilla Firefox browser, install Flash player plugin instead. And you can install Flash player for both program, just by installing the Active X version. Sometimes your computer might be somewhat different, so install both Flash player plugin and Flash player Active X (in case of emergency).

This installation is way too easy. Open your preferred browser, go to the download page http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ here, and you might need to choose whether you want to install McAfee software or not, and then you can download your Flash player.

The outcome should be like this scenario, if you're using IE (Internet Explorer), when you click the download button, you get to install Flash player Active X into your computer. If you use Firefox to open the download page, so you'll automatically install the Flash player plugin. This installation is already automated by Adobe website~ :-)

Hope this explanation can help you understand or helps you choose which type of Flash player you need to install into your PC. In case you cannot download from that page, go to Adobe Flash player main page and download it from there. :-)

• This post is created based on question "Flash Player Plugin and Flash Player ActiveX ? : Macromedia Flash" from ObjectMix~

Ooigi.blog: "Flash player is sooo small you can install both without worrying your hard disk space~~"
:-P
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Filename extension: Nama Manja Fail Siapa???

.: Anda sudah buka option "Hide extensions for known file types"? Sudah meng-un-tick pada kotak itu? aduhh.. kes berat nih.. berat la juga kes nih.. hehe :-P

Gambar di sebelah menunjukkan stail biasa yang saya buat kalau saya pakai komputer. Fungsi utamanya ialah nak tengok virus yang tersembunyi, tapi dalam masa yang sama kita akan terfaham kenapa sesetengah fail nama extension nya lain, dan terhafal fail itu software mana yang empunya.

Nanti Ooigi akan bagitahu kenapa.

Jadi, mula-mula kita nak berkenalan dengan Apakah itu File extension?

File extension berdefinisi dan bermaksud dan bercirikan:

• Nama akhiran (nama manja/nama glamer/nick name) untuk fail-fail komputer.
• Ia juga memberitahu apakah identiti kandungan (format fail),
• dan memberitahu aplikasi yang boleh membuka atau menggunakannya. 
• ditulis dengan tanda noktah dahulu, kemudian baru nama file extension.
• terdiri daripada 3 atau 4 huruf, ada juga nama file extension yang lebih dari 4 huruf.
• biasanya file extension adalah unik, dimiliki oleh satu software yang menggunakannya. Tapi ada juga yang dipakai oleh semua (universal). 

Bagaimana kita boleh melihat File extension? Di mana ia berada? :-P

• Buka (cari) Folder Option
• ketik tab View
• scroll bawah sikit, sampai "Hidden files and folders"
• kosongkan kotak "Hide entensions for known file types". 
• haa.. siap pun. :-)

Tak nampak pun mana File extension? Tak perasan pun yang mana satu??..
Cuba tengok dekat tempat yang ada lagu-lagu kita. Takpun buka folder yang ada gambar-gambar. Sepatutnya, kalau belum buka file extension, nama pada lagu-lagu kita tidak ada .mp3 dibelakangnya, atau nama gambar-gambar kita tiada .jpg atau .jpeg atau .png pada belakangnya. Yang .mp3, .jpg, .jpeg, .png inilah yang dipanggil File extension~~ :-D

Macamana boleh terfaham jenisnya lain-lain dan terhafal pemilik file extension tadi?
Bagaimana terfaham:

• Biasanya, kalau kita nak install software, software itu akan ada extension .exe di belakangnya. Jadi, kalau kita download sotware dari internet, jika hujungnya tiada .exe, maksudnya kalau kita dabel klik, software itu tidak dapat di install. Sebab ia bukannya executable files.
• .exe tu bermaksud executable file. Fail yang kandungannya executable maksudnya bila diketik, ia akan "melancarkan" (execute) program-program di dalamnya. Dan .exe ialah dari EXEcutable. Sebab itu software ada extension .exe. 
• Kalau movie anime pun sama juga. Kadang-kadang kita suka view barang dalam folder gambar dan movie anime kita jadi "Thumbnails". Ada yang jadi keliru mana satu gambar, mana satu movie/anime. Kalau dah buka file extension, senang je nak bezakan yang mana satu. Biasa gambar extensionnya bernama .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif dan movie atau anime pula .avi, .divx, .rm, .rmvb, .mpg, .mpeg, .mkv, dan lain-lain.
• Dengan melihat file extension aja sudah faham fail iu ialah gambar, software, atau movie. Dan jika anda sudah biasa, anda akan dengan mudah membezakan kenapa ada fail-fail "gambar", fail "dokumen" ialah virus, bukannya gambar atau dokumen yang sebenar. ;-) 

Bagaimana pula terhafal?

• Tengoklah hari-hari, baru boleh hafal, hehe X-D 
• Biasanya kalau rajin mendownload, menulis, dan meng-explore folder-folder komputer memang senang nak hafal. 
• Kena ada minat juga, kalau tidak susah mau hafal.

Berikut ialah anugerah file extension yang glamer dalam kategori-kategori.
Dokumen:

• .doc ialah Microsoft Word 97-2003 document file.
• .docx ialah dokumen Microsoft Word 2007/2010 Open XML document file. 
• .xls : Microsoft Excel 97 to 2003 workbook file.
• .xlsx : Microsoft Excel 2007/2010 Open XML workbook file.
• .ppt : Microsoft PowerPoint 97 to 2003 Presentation file.
• .pptx : Microsoft PowerPoint 2007/2010 Open XML presentation file
• .pdf ialah Portable document format. 
• .odt ialah OpenOffice.org Writer text document. 
• .txt ialah Common simple plain text file. 

Gambar:

• .jpg atau .jpeg : JPEG bitmap image file format. (Joint Photographic Experts Group). 
• .png : Portable Network Graphic. 
• .gif : Graphics interchange file format. 

Movie:

• .avi : Audio Video Interleave movie. 
• .mpg atau .mpeg : MPEG 1 video file format. (Moving Photographic Experts Group).
• .mkv : Matroska video-audio multimedia file. 
• .flv : Flash video file. 
• .rm atau .rmvb :  RealMedia variable bitrate file.
• .3gp : Multimedia files for wireless networks. (third generation platform).
• .srt : Movie subtitle file format (SubRip format). 

Lagu/audio:

• .mp3 : Compressed audio and music file, mp3 songs or ringtones. (MPEG-2 Audio Layer 3). 
• .wma : Windows Media Audio. 
• .cda : CD Audio track.

File extension lain yang nak popular juga:

• .zip : WinZIP Compressed ZIP archive file. 
• .rar : WinRAR compressed archive. (Roshal Archive).
• .exe : executable files.
• .nfo : Microsoft MSInfo document.
• .htm atau .html : HTML Hypertext Markup Language web page file. 
• .iso :  CD/DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray disc ISO binary image file. 
• .jar : Compressed archive file package for Java classes and data

Memandangkan kadang-kadang sendiri pun terjumpa file extension yang pelik-pelik dan yang baru, maka perlu mencari di mana boleh mendapatkan maklumat tentang extension ini. Kalau laman web, ini ada...

• Wikipedia : File extension.
• Wikipedia : List of file formats. 
• File-Extensions.org : The source for file extensions information. (Laman sesawang ini best, ringkas, sebab ada icon sekali untuk maklumat file extensionnya). 
• Filext.com : A free online resource by Uniblue. (Maklumat lengkap terperinci gitu beserta gambar icon pasal entension. Jangan tension sudah). 
• DotWhat.net : The leading file extension resource. (Tiada gambar icon, semacam forum dengan komen dari pengguna). 
• FileInfo : The file extensions resource. (Laman web aneh. Tapi ada gambar lain dan juga maklumat terperinci?)

Masalah problems yang berlaku bila pilihan (option) file extension dibuka.
Ini juga satu penyakit. Kita kena hati-hati. Kalau terbuat, kadang ada yang boleh dipatahbalik (undo), kadang ada juga yang merosakkan komputer terus. Huhu.. bahaya. Yang terbuat tu maksudnya terbuang file extension untuk mana-mana fail. Pernah ada pelanggan yang terdelete extension unuk dokumennya, jadi dia tak dapat print. Dan dia tak tahu dokumen tu apa extensionnya. Jadi terpaksalah rename balik dengan cubajaya (trial n error) extension untuk dokumen-dokumen.

Kadang salah save pun ada juga. Kan biasanya kalau fail tu normal, contohnya dia ada extension .txt, maka kita akan nampak icon macam notepad pada fail itu. Tapi jika disave tanpa .txt di belakang, icon notepad tu dah takde. Jadi icon dia keluar icon FATD, Fail Asing Tidak Dikenali. X-D Anda boleh cuba try test kalau tak percaya. Tukar option File extension, buat satu new text document, lepas tu save. Memang akan keluar warning. Perhati icon sebelum di-save dengan selepas. Lain kan? :-)

Ilmu File extension terakhir untuk post kali ini. 
Jadi, kalau rasa tak konpiden dengan menengok file exension dalam komputer, maka jangan malu-malu, sila revert balik, kembalikan option kepada asal. Caranya...

• Buka Folder Options kembali. 
• Klik tab View. 
• klik Restore Defaults. 
• Apply-kan, lepas tu OK.

Maka, dengan ini tamatlah kesan degil eh syalah tamatlah kelas File extension. Semoga mendapat manfaat kerana saya sudah fening-fening membaca post yang terlalu panjang. Hahaha ;-P

Saja letak gambar pemandangan sebab boleh rehatkan mata selepas puas membaca ;-)

• image credit: nattu on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons license.

Ooigi.blog: "Nama manja fail-fail komputer pun ada. Memang omputeh suka guna singkatan, kan?"
:-P
:.

How to Show Hidden Files in Windows XP~

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How to view hidden files and folders in Windows?

How to find hidden files/folders in XP?

Or How to open hidden files or folder in Windows XP?

Here is a pictorial e-book guide where you can apply with almost every Microsoft Windows out there. (Sorry, I do not have any Win7 or Vista PC at the moment...). It's almost the same thing, look for your folder settings, and change some options, and apply.

For me, by showing my hidden files I might be able to remember some of my important operating files in my computer. Plus, by remembering this strange and faded-colored files, our quest in detecting and searching for hidden virus will become much faster and more easier. Seriously, it helps~   ;-)

How to show hidden files in windows XP

Just a quick post because important points is already explained inside. Remember, do not delete strange looking files or faded folders, okay? Hidden files is meant to be hidden, by changing their original attribute, hidden files is meant to be a show only. No deletion, absolutely no deletion okay? Good boy~~   :-)


Ooigi.blog: "Understand what others didn't see, maybe your computer can become virus-free~~"
;-)
:.

Avast 5: Makes Computer Slow When Starting Up?

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In response to "Avast 5 - Computer Freezes up/Slow when start up?" and "What is avast! responsible for?". Seriously, Avast 5 do slows down my computer...

After done with my previous Avast 5 blocking my internet connection, another problem arises. My computer becomes very slow when starting up. This occurs after I've stop my Avast 5 Web Shield permanently. Every time I boot my computer, everything is running fine, but I need to wait for many minutes. Urghhhh.. :-(

One of my first action is to check the PF Usage in Windows Task Manager. To my dismay, with RAM of 512MB, my PF Usage exceeds my RAM = 750++ MB. Wow, no wonder it starts very very very slow...

Strangely, this thing happens only to computer that I've uninstalled other AV before using Avast 5. But with computers that have a clean installation, I mean after reformatting, Avast 5 Free Edition is working just fine. No internet connection problem, no slow start ups, no bad weather, no nothing, just fine. Strange... :-?

And I do think my disabled Web Shield is the culprit. Somehow, because this real-time shield is stopped permanently, Avast 5 is getting it's revenge by slowing down my computer... :-P   What to do, I need to completely remove Avast 5 Web Shield to fasten up my PC. And how to do that?

First, "uninstall" Avast 5.

Control Panel > Add or Remove Program > Avast 5 > Change/Remove

Choose "Change", and wait~

OK. Here we choose to unchecked the Web Shield option, which Avast 5 will uninstall it later.

Wait for Avast doing it's stuff...

Restart~

We should restart again because after the first restart, Avast 5 still has some "headaches". After 2 or 3 restart then Avast 5 is good. (Mine need to restart 2 times) :-P  Successful uninstall will have their Avast 5 without Web Shield anymore. (6 working real-time shields).

That's all for today. Hope this pictorial guide help fasten up our Avast5 computers~   ;-)


OoiGi.blog: "Owh Avast, how come you do this to me? But I still love you~~"
:-P
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Avast5 Blocking Internet Connection : Solved, 2 Working Solution Here (Do add if you know more)

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Avast 5.0.462 blocking internet connection.
Internet connection impossible with Avast 5.
Avast! Antivirus stopping my internet connection?
Avast anti-virus is disabling my internet connection?

Avast5 aaaaaaaaaaaarghhh!!! X-O ;-P

We share the same problem, Avast antivirus is messing up our internet connection. Some computers have no connection problems, their internet line is working just fine. But on some computer, Avast truly show it's color, huh ;-P

Okay, the solution below is done in Windows XP SP3 Home computers, and my Avast program version is 5.0.594. Yours may differ a bit, but if your internet is not working, you can try the solution below. I've tested it and it works on my PC.

But before that, we need to ensure the problem is not caused by Microsoft Internet Explorer. (Usually Microsoft IE 7 & IE 8)

The easiest way to 'make' IE is not the one who caused the connection problems is by resetting it/restore to defaults again. If doing this brings back the internet, this means that you or your software might accidentally change the internet properties. Or,

• Internet Option > Click the LAN Settings... > and check/tick the box for 'Automatically detects settings'. Let other option blank. If this brings your internet back, then problem solved.

Sorry, I dunno how to explain this, but I think that there is conflict in obtaining the working internet settings, making our connections failed. If this is wrong, correct me in comments~ ;-)

If, your internet connection still not working, our Avast might be the problem.

There is 2 way to solve this mess.

1. Introduce your 'AvastSvc.exe' to your firewall
2. Stop Avast WebShield from running

The first option - Introducing process.
What you need to do:

• Control Panel > Windows Firewall
• Click on the 'Exceptions' tab
• Add Program...
• Browse...
• (Locate your Avast folder) say, in My Computer > C: > Program Files > Alwil Software > Avast5
• Open files with name of 'AvastSvc.exe'
• Make sure 'AvastSvc.exe' is checked
• Click OK. :-)

In Avast Forum, there is a message saying that we need to "Ensure that the Web Shield process ashWebSv.exe or aswWebSv.exe is listed as an application that is permitted to connect to the web in your firewall configuration." Because I can't find both 'ashWebSv.exe' or 'aswWebSv.exe' (only available in Avast4 folder), I suspect that 'AvastSvc.exe' in Avast5 is the one we should give permission in our firewall. So, after trying, it works. My internet connection is back. :-)

The second option - Stopping Avast WebShield.
What you need to do:

• Click once on the orange a-ball icon in system tray
• Click on Real-Timeshields
• Click on the WebShield
• Here, you can unchecked the box for 'Scan web (HTTP) traffic', or, just Stop the WebShield protection from running. (Terminate by stopping about until computer restart or stops permanently).
• If you're using Avast4, refer to Avast forum post here.

So, that is how I get back my working internet connection in PC with Avast5 installed. If failed, it might be useful for you to post your problem in Avast forum or check their other solution here:

• http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=57853.0
• http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=61389.0
• http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53705.msg456896

Hope this post helps you get connected to the Net ASAP. If you do have other solution for the same Avast internet problems, feel free to post it in comments below~ Thank you~   :-D


OoiGi.blog: "Still love Avast the antivirus..."
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Remove Defense Center: nxourwwtssd.exe?!

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How to remove the fake Defense Center antivirus.

Which Defense Center is a fake one?
This one ----->>

(You can see the unblinking eye asking for your money...) ;-P

It was two days before when I first read about Defense Center in Avast Blog : Defense center and a piece of luck and thought, who will be fooled with such a fake software? Nobody will install such thing. I already use a good AV, why bother to install another fake one?

But, to my dismay, one of the computer where I work is infected with this so called Defense Center. When I open the computer's recent documents, I found out multiple porn .3gps and some horny images. What tha...
>:-(

What happened when Defense Center is inside our computer?
Most notably is this three signs:

• our current antivirus is not running/disabled
• task manager is disabled
• foreign icon exists in our system tray (next to the clock)

Brief autopsy shows that Defense Center has already..

• disable the 'Run' command from Start menu
• prevent us from launching any software from our desktop
• running the .exe from Program Files is also a failure
• blocked our access to Windows accessories, eg: Ms Paint, Command Prompt, etc..
• blocked other Windows system tools (eg: regedit)
• 'scanned' our system and showing pop-ups or fake security alerts telling that how our computer is badly infected with viruses and trojans blablabla repeatedly from time to time
• completely disabling my Avira10 and GVR.exe from launching, grrrr..

So, how can we remove Defense Center then?
I found two ways of removing it, either by:

• using a software, eg: Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware (MBAM)
• refer to BleepingComputer.com : How to remove Defense Center (Removal Guide)
• manual removal, deleting files and modifying registries manually
• refer to 2-Spyware.com : Remove Defense Center. Description and removal instructions.

Back to the infected computer, what I did is..

• restart my computer again
• press F8 repeatly (going Safe mode)
• GVR.exe (kill all process) everything (just to make sure there only legimate windows process is running)
• uninstall the fake av from my computer.. Ay? Nothing unusual???
• my startup got something funny.. "bkcgwysg" and "nxourwwtssd.exe"??

(Click to enlarge)

• delete it.
• go to C;\Documents and Settings\[windows profile]\Local Settings\Application Data\
• search for that "xawtmrviv" folder, delete it
• check other area for similar and other foreign folder
• scan it with av and GVR.exe
• restart again
• check from Autoruns.exe

(Click to enlarge)

• delete
• search other area and folders
• scan the whole computer with av again.

And finally, no more fake rogue dumb av nagging again. :-)
But I wonder, do I need to scan with MBAM again?? Just wait and see.. ;-(


OoiGi.blog: "I'm not so sure.. Need to learn more.."
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Driver Software: Where Can I Download it?

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Long story short, this is a driver download story~~
:-)

When will you need a driver software?

• You just formatted your harddisk to install your operating system
• You just recently rollback-ing your driver
• Your driver CD/DVD is not working
• You want to revert to old driver (new driver is faulty?)
• You need to upgrade to the latest driver version

So Where to check that I've already installed every driver software in my OS?

• Go to My Computer > right click > Properties.
• In System Properties, select the Hardware tab.
• Click Device Manager.
• If you can see a yellow question mark sign there, it means your driver for that device is not installed

Ok, I get it. Now Where can I download my driver?
First of all, there is two way of finding your driver software. Either by using your motherboard name, or your device name. After you get any of this info, then you can download your driver software.

How to search for my motherboard or driver device name?
Well, it is hard to find it from the Device Manager, how about you do some diagnosis then?

• Windows button + R (or just click Run from the Start menu)
• type 'dxdiag' inside (minus the apostrophe)
• Click Yes and wait~~

Right from the first tab you can see your System Manufacturer and your System Model. That is your motherboard name. Click on Display tab, and the device name and info is at your left side. For audio device, click on Audio tab. If this step is too hard for you, install a software dedicated for finding out your device driver info such as:

• Lavalyst's Everest : Lavalys has created and developed market leading computer diagnostics, hardware monitoring, network audit, and benchmarking software solutions. EVEREST Ultimate Edition is a complete PC diagnostics software utility that assists you while installing, optimizing or troubleshooting your computer by providing all the information you can think of about your system – from hardware devices and installed drivers to operating system security and stability metrics.
• Piriform's Speccy : Piriform - Authors of the hugely popular software CCleaner, Defraggler, Recuva and Speccy. Speccy is an advanced System Information tool for your PC. We're always improving it, but have just published a Final Release version for you to download!

And, using your motherboard name/model or your device name/model, try Google it for the software. ;-) Type or copy and paste the exact name and search your driver there~~ :-)

• With motherboard model, you should getting the full list of drivers you needed
• With device model/name, you should get the exact software for your driver

You should get this in mind, searching using the device name will get you the software but it may not suitable for your OS. But searching for drivers for your motherboard will "always" get you the correct driver. :-)

The second method to download your driver is by going directly to your motherboard/device manufacturer/company website. Choose your model and your operating system.

The last method is searching from driver provider site. Or the driver hosting site. Which is I list already for you below~~

• http://www.pctools.com/guides/drivers/ : Reviews, news and resources for Windows software and applications. Search your Intel's driver here~~
• DriverGuide : Are you looking for a driver? DriverGuide.com has the Web's largest collection of drivers for all device types. The site includes an easy step-by-step process for finding, downloading, and installing drivers, a company and driver search engine, manufacturer specific discussion boards, driver uploading and file sharing, and many other useful features.
• DriversCollection. : Driverscollection.com - One of largest free net library of device drivers for computer hardware. Daily update. All drivers available for free download.
• DriversDown : Drivers Download for Free, Computer hardware drivers for free download, Notebook drivers free download. Dell driver free download, Hp driver free downlaod.
• DriverFiles : Download drivers A BIG drivers collection.
• DriversKit : Drivers Download for Free.
• DriverZone : Large device driver database. Search drivers for all types of devices. Find a driver fast by searching our huge database of drivers.
• WinDrivers : WinDrivers.com: Your One-Stop Source For Device Drivers, Anti-Virus Updates and Security Patches. Locate current and out-of-date Device Drivers, Anti-Virus Updates or Security Patches at WinDrivers.com.
• DriversPlanet : Find drivers for all types of devices. Get the driver you need easily by searching our huge database of drivers.

Audio driver?

• Realtek : Next-level Connections, Realtek Network and Communications Solutions. (Realtek audio driver)
• Via : A total silicon platform provider, VIA offers a broad spectrum of imaginative solutions that are redefining the size, shape and scope of computers as we know them. VIA's current product portfolio consists of individual components for high performance computing, as well as embedded products. (Via audio driver)

Graphic card/display driver?

• NVIDIA : Download drivers
• AMD Ati : Graphics drivers and software

Manufacturer driver? (US version)

• Dell : Dell drivers and downloads
• HP - Hewlett Packard : HP's Support and drivers
• Acer : Acer support
• Asus : ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support
• Intel : Intel download center

Well, that's the story of the driver for today. Hope this blog post will help you get your driver back, working for you and only you~~ ;-P

P.s: I didn't know whether you should install the USB driver, because, logically, the each time I insert any USB to my computer, it will automatically plug-n-play (automatically install it's own driver the first time we insert it). So, let your USB do their work, and you can have more time to rest~~ heehee ;-)

P.p.s: Unless you were not confident, just install and forget. Laalala lala laa~~ X-D


OoiGi.blog: "I wish I had the driver who will automatically writes for my blog post each time I think about it~"
;-P
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