XMetaL 5.5 (SP1) DITA and Windows 7
I use XMetaL Author Enterprise for my work. We use a customized DITA Open Toolkit. With XMetaL, the customized files are placed in the Common Files folder under the XMetal Shared folder.
These files get updated from our version control system. Once there are updates, sometimes I need to make changes such as changing product name variables. Then, I need to refresh XMetaL by deleting the XMetal Shared folder under my user profile.
This used to work fine in Windows XP. It didn’t work in Windows 7. After some investigation, I’ve found the reason: Virtual Store.
I see the variable file changed in the Common Files folder. I deleted XMetaL Shared under my user profile. Then I see that XMetaL updates the shared folder in my user profile. But none of the changes I made to Common Files make it there.
In Windows 7, applications are not supposed to write to the Program Files folder after installation. Once an application tries to make changes to it’s Program Files folder, Windows 7 creates a folder for that application in the Virtual Store folder. From then onwards, all reads and writes from the application regarding these files are made in the Virtual Store folder. In other words, I was editing the DITA OT files in the Common Files folder but when XMetaL recreates the XMetaL Shared folder in my user profile, it was using the one in the Virtual Store (it didn’t know any better as Windows redirects it silently to Virtual Store).
However, if I make changes to the one in the Virtual Store instead, I have a problem as the source control system make changes directly to the Common Files folder – I gave it Administrator rights. So, you’ll have to give Admin rights to XMetaL too. But would that work?
Don’t know. I hate having to click Yes every time I start XMetaL with admin rights.
So, the solution is to turn off User Account Control. Then, copy all files in the Virtual Store’s Program Files folder back to Program Files, overwriting files in the main Program Files folder.
I never noticed it in Vista because I hate Vista’s UAC so much that I disabled it before even installing anything. I guess I have to live without UAC in Windows 7 too… at least until XMetaL changes the way it work with DITA OT.
Actually, you’ll experience the same problem with other software too. For example, I see hundreds of megabytes in the Virtual Store for my antivirus (McAfee Enterprise). Every time it updates, it tries to write to Program Files so Windows redirect it to Virtual Store. Waste of space.
There is another workaround to the virtual store which is to use system local policy to disable it. If you do this without disabling UAC, Windows 7 won’t create Virtual Store but applications that tries to write to Program Files will fail without any warning. You’ll need to give the application admin rights.
Another way, more hassle but more secure, is to monitor the Virtual Store. Once you see an application using it, and it’s wasting space (like for antivirus updates), you can give admin rights to the application without having to turn off UAC. You’ll just have to click Yes every time you start the app, though.
So for me, no UAC. I’ll just have to be extra careful with what I install… well, I survived Windows XP for 7 years, didn’t I?
Installing Windows 7 on the Lenovo 3000 Y410
Lenovo does not officially support Windows 7 on the Lenovo 3000 Y410. However, you can get all devices to work without much problems. Here’s how.
- Backup your files somewhere and prepare to install Windows 7. Since the DVD drive of Y410 is not that reliable (based on Lenovo support forum as well as my own experience: it works some times, but mostly it doesn’t), you’re better off installing from USB. To do this, get an ISO image of the Windows 7 DVD (if you’re downloading from torrents instead of Microsoft Store, be sure to verify the image). Then, download, install, and use the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool to create a bootable Windows 7 Installer USB.
- With the prepared USB in the drive, reboot your Lenovo Y410. During the POST message while booting, press F12 and select to boot from the USB drive.
- Install Windows 7. Very straightforward. Just a few clicks and not more than half an hour, your Windows 7 should be ready to use. The USB installation method is faster than DVD, by the way.
Now, it’s time to configure hardware. On start up, the Wireless works but there are several missing devices. You’ll need a working Internet connection to perform the following steps.
Masalah Melayu Yang Tidak Istimewa
Terlalu banyak perbincangan tentang hak Melayu akhir-akhir ini. Di sebelah pihak, orang bukan Melayu meminta kesamarataan. Di satu pihak lagi, orang Melayu mempertahankan sebab-sebab mengapa keistimewaan Melayu harus dipelihara dengan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (yang sudah tidak baru lagi).
Memang benar orang Melayu itu perlu diberi sedikit keistimewaannya supaya dia tidak terlalu kecil hati kehilangan sebahagian tanah asal nenek moyangnya (yang sudah berkali-kali dia hilangkan kepada hampir sesiapa pun yang inginkan menjajahnya). Benar juga orang Melayu itu perlu ada bantuan dari kerajaannya supaya dapat bersaing secara samarata dengan orang bukan Melayu yang sudah jauh maju (sedangkan mereka itu datang ke Tanah Melayu hanya sehelai sepinggang).
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Everything that happens, happens for at least one reason that every so often alludes us. When someone does an unreasonable thing, oftentimes it is because the person is unreasonable. This could be due to upbringing, society, education, or just unreasonable genetic codes. Pondering the reason will get us almost somewhere - specifically: nowhere.
