I was using a laptop given by a friend, and everything was ok until recently.  The DVD drive went missing.

Initially, the laptop shows symptom of breaking down.  It was not able to write to a DVD or CD, and occasionally it was not able to read.  Then one day, it decided not to appear at all in my windows explorer.  For a while I thought may be it was over heated, and it should come back after turning off the laptop and let it rest for a while.  However, that doesn't work.  So thought I could be driver problem.  So I went to have a look at the device manager.  And true enough,  there was a yellow exclamation mark for the DVD/CD drive, indicating that somehow there is an error with the driver.

Further investigation reveals that there are some problem in the registry.  So I thought may be I will remove the driver, and re-install again should solve the problem.  But it was not as easy as I thought.  Trying to update the driver also doesn't help.  Finally, after trying all that I could, I decided to google for a solution.

I found one suggested solution is to do something to the registry.  Well that might do the job since the error indicated that there is problem in the registry.  So I followed carefully the following steps :

1. Click Start, then Run, type REGEDT and click OK.

2. Locate and then remove the following registry values:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClassLowerFilters

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClassUpperFilters

3. Close Registry Editor.

4. Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

After rebooting, I started the windows explorer, and what do you know?!! I got my DVD drive back.  Praise the Lord!

I inserted a CD and it is reading well.  I guess I have resolved my missing DVD mystery.

This is recorded for my future reference and also for anyone who faced the same problem I have.

Recently I have subscribed to a VPN connection.  While connected to the VPN, I tried to send email using my Outlook Express, I recevied an error message:

The message could not be sent because one of the recipients was rejected by the server. The rejected e-mail address was 'xxxxxxx@gmail.com'. Subject 'test11.11', Account: 'mail.xxxxxxx.com', Server: 'smtp.xxxxxxx.com', Protocol: SMTP, Server Response: '550 5.7.1 <xxxxxxx@gmail.com>... Relaying denied. Proper authentication required.', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 550, Error Number: 0x800CCC79

It just refused to send out my email.  But once I disconnect myself from the VPN and connect just with my normal ISP internet connection, I was able to send the email without problem.

After doing some research, I came to a solution.  All I need to do is to set my out going Mail [SMTP] port to "587'" instead of the usual "25".

And yes the mail sent out without any problem.

A New Perspective to Understanding and Applying 2 Cor 9:6

 ⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Many of us know this verse in 2 Cor 9:6 as a verse normally used to encourage us about giving unto the Lord.  Recently I was challenged to a new understand of this verse while reading a book entitled “Church Planting Movement” by David Garrison.

In the book, the author uses this verse to explain the principle of over-sowing in evangelism. “Just as nature requires a tree to drop thousands of seeds to produce a single sapling, or a human body to generate hundreds of eggs to yield a single baby, so it is with evangelism. … … … If nature’s principle of sowing abundantly to reap abundantly is true, then so is its opposite: if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly” Have you ever wondered why is our church / ministry today not growing?  

Have we been sowing the seed of the Gospel abundantly, or are we holding back to wait for the right time?  

Pray that the Lord of the harvest will move us to sow generously and boldly for Him, so that we too may reap abundantly the harvest!

Recently I got to upgrade my mobile phone to Acer BeTouch E100 free of charge from Singtel.  It is a windows mobile device.After using it for a few days, I discover some likes and dislikes.

Likes :
1. Works as a PDA, where I have installed pocket E-Sword, and I can read pdf files.

2. Able to record tele-conversation

3. Light weight, thin, and easy to handle

Dislikes :

1. Somehow the touch screen is not very good, always hit the wrong keys on the soft key pad.

2. Hang quite often

3. No Wifi (though the sale-man told me there is wifi for this phone.  May be i should complain to Singtel).

4. User interface not very user-friendly. Unlike some HTC mobile phones.

I have to do clean boot at least once. Check out the following procedures to reset the phone to factory setting.

Acer E100 Clean boot

Warning! You should only perform a clean boot when all other reset options have failed to restore your smartphone to an operational state.
A clean boot will restore your smartphone to the state it was when you got it from the factory.

Warning! This will erase all your personal information, any contacts stored on your phone and any programs you installed.

If your screen responds to stylus input: Go to Start > Utilities > Default Settings. Read the warning information and enter the security code in the empty textbox. Tap OK to proceed.

Acer E100 hard reset with keys
If your screen is not responding to stylus input:

1. Push the Silent button up (the off position).
2. Press and hold the Camera button, then press and release the reset button.
3. Keep the Camera button pressed until you see the ‘Clean Boot’ screen.
4. Press the Home button to continue.

Hope this help.

In view of my current situation, I have decided to sell away my car to reduce my burden financially.

My Suzuki APV (All Purpose Van), is about 1 year old.  This is a 7-seater vehicle, and is has been serving my family very well (we have 6 members in the family).  It comes with beige leather seats.  The aircon is good.  For more information of the vehicle, please visit: http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_overview.php?CarCode=10267.

Should you be interested to consider to purchase an APV, or you know of any one who is interested, please contact me at 97129963 to arrange for viewing and test drive, and then you make an offer. 

Here are some pictures of my APV:

Dear Friends,

Recently, my website crashed and all my previous postings are gone.  So sad.

I learnt a lesson that I should back up and download all my posting to my local harddisk.

Please bare with my as I continue to rebuild the website again.

Thanks for your understanding.

God bless.