Where to download AVG 2016 standalone offline installer

Hi again , don't spend time looking for the offline installer, The link to the AVG 2016 offline download files is here . The link is direct download for the windows 64-bit version of the AVG. Thanks to AVG company for providing one of the best virus protection around the globe for free....

Windows Arabic Keyboard Layout for Mac Keyboards

I recently found that the Mac arabic keyboard layouts available online didn't work on my computer. I happen to work with a macbook pro with windows installed as a second OS option.. I wanted to use the Arabic language for writing my files , and then i discovered that the arabic mapping was different. I went online and i tried the popular Aktub and moeys arabic layouts , both didn't work for me  :(   .. I couldn't really identify the problem ,both will install just fine , but will not enable the layout on my 64 bit windows 7 machine.. Anyway , i searched online and i found this amazing tool from Microsoft , it's called The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator , and this is actually the tool that the mentioned website used to create their keyboard layouts. So , i created my own layout , and I also published it on GitHub , an open repository for code and downloads, so that people can re-create their own keyboards from the current layout if they want to...


Download Link @ github : here

Source Link @ github :  here



Additional instructions to use the download :

1. Download the zip files from the link above
2. extract to a location you'll remember
3. Run the Setup ,then you'll have the language automatically added on 
4. Use Alt+Shift to switch the language

It has been tested for compatibility with All windows versions : 7, 8, 9 and 10

Apply MSP patches to MSI (Slipstreaming)

So, I use an Active directory and group policies to assign software to the computer machines using the remote deploy function of the group policy, people now also use the SCUP ... I started sending the packages that I have to make sure that they should be updated , (for example : Adobe reader , Adobe flash player and plugins , office updates ,, etc)... I started to have MSP packages for all the software.. MSP are only patches , or can be considered as differences between msi(s) ..  Now we need to merge them into a new MSI so that this will be the package i send through group policy..

Steps :
1- Windows+R , and type cmd to open the command prompt
2- Copy the msi file and the msp files to any directory
3- Navigate using the command line to this directory
4- Go Ahead and write the command in the following format
 msiexec /a oldmsi.msi /p update1.msp               
5- A normal setup will open , this setup will actually update your existing MSI instead of installing the new patch on your computer ,, so that when you're done with the wizard , you can go back and re-run the MSI , and it will install the setup with the applied patches ....

NOTE: for Adobe reader ,, you'll have to:
1- Run msiexec /a C:\AIP\AdbeRdr1010_en_US.msi without any /p commands first , this will create an uncompressed image of the program . In this step , choose a folder for image creation , C:\AIP for example.. 
2- Run msiexec /a C:\AIP\AdbeRdr1010_en_US.msi /p AdbeRdrUpd1013.msp and you can choose the same directory , you will end up having the C:\AIP\adberdr1010_en_US.msi all patched to the latest 10.1.13 patch, and this will also resolve the "adobearmhelper.exe" error !!..


References :

1. How to Apply Patches (.msp) to Group Policy Deployed Software (.msi) 
2. Installation fails when slipstream update 10.1.2 into 10.1.0 MSI-Package
3. http://helpx.adobe.com/content/dam/kb/en/837/cpsid_83709/attachments/Acrobat_Enterprise_Administration.pdf

Installing Windows on Tiger (10.4) without using BOOTCAMP

Hello , So i was trying to install windows on an Imac on which mac os x 10.4 is installed. Searching around, i couldn't find the bootcamp utility for non-destructive partitioning of the disk and also diskutility GUI is not allowing my changes, so i had to improvise. You should have your Tiger updated to at least 10.4.6 in order to proceed with this tutorial

1- To resize the current disk without loosing data :
for example: lets say i want the system drive to become 100 gb
If you are resizing another external disk or that you have multiple disks , do a diskutil list first and know which disk you want resizing ..
go to terminal :

                diskUtil resizeVolume disk0s2 100G  

2- Download rEFIt and Gparted Live CD
download both,  burn Gparted on a CD ..
install refit and reboot ,  put your Gparted , run it and format your freespace to NTFS for your windows volume

3- reboot and use windows CD for installation

Note : If you're restoring using winClone , make sure you use the 1.6.6 version of winclone
Winclone , you can download it here :

Where can you get Adobe reader standalone and MSI installers

Adobe Reader ®

Hi again, a lot of people search about where to download the offline installers of adobe reader . It is really common with IT people who usually don't want to waste their time downloading the software on every machine they configure. So , here is the public FTP directory that lists all version of adobe reader
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/ . So , pick the version and download , Enjoy

Mobile Number converter for Egyptian cellular phones new format

Over the last month , mobile companies in Egypt announced a change in all mobile numbers , the new formats added an extra digit to the number . So that the carriers are back to their original prefixes mobinil : 012 , Etisalat: 011, vodafone: 010  .... too many changes were to be handled by the customers .Since i was the destination of my whole family , because i am their tech guy , apparently :D.  Some mobiles were old and the carrier programs like felsaree3 or engezly were not compatible with them , other some had to be configured for internet to download those softwares . Anyway , it was easier for me to program my own simple program that could handle numbers copied from an excel sheet . CSV or comma separated values , is an excel file that is exported from most mobile suites , this is the type of excel from which you can copy your numbers. So the steps will be as following :
1- Export the contacts you have on the phone to .CSV (comma separated values : a file that can be opened with excel) .
This feature is available to all samsung mobiles and all nokia mobiles (sync with outlook , and on outlook , you can export to CSV) , and is generally available to all mobiles that can sync contacts with outlook , ex : motorola , lg . etc...
2- download the Program here , or get it from my public directory here
3- Copy the numbers column from excel and paste it in the program ,look the images

4- hit Convert

5- Copy it back to excel
6- import the contacts back on the mobile

Notes : 
- the program will still work even if the prefixing 0's were removed . E.x : 12xxxxxxx , 16xxxxxxx
- The Program will handle prefixing +2 numbers
- Despite the fact that the program was tested several times, user is encouraged to keep a backup of all data (keep a version of the exported CSV)

forward to all your IT friends and tech savvy guys :)
Thanks