How to copy YouTube video or Flash video from Google Chrome cache folder?

Now, knowing that the large YouTube video or Flash video files are cached in Windows temp folder, do you able to directly copy them to other places for “safe-keeping” - either for offline playback or share with your mom and dad who only know how to operate their classic video player and TV set?

Answer: You can copy them BUT NOT with a direct method or the Windows default copy function/command!

Google Chrome cache files technique is defensive!

Why it’s defensive? Let me explain in points form:

• You can’t close page (Tab window or Chrome browser) that contains the video you’ve playback completely. If you do, Google Chrome automatically delete the cached FLV video files in Windows temp folder, immediately.
   
• While the page is open, the Windows default copy command or Windows Explorer function can’t copy the cached Flash videos - it’ll failed with a “File In Use” error message, saying that “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program. Close the file and try again!”

  

  But, you can’t close the Google Chrome or have the cached video deleted automatically, as soon as you close the browser!

So, you’ve to download an open source program called HoboCopy to copy the Google Chrome cache files that are opened (and thus disallow the default Windows copy function/command to function properly)!

For example, I’ve used HoboCopy to duplicate/copy that 72.27 MB flash video cached by Google Chrome in Window temp folder to E: drive:

C:\Users\Walker\AppData\Local>hobocopy Temp\ E:\FLV-Backup\ fla7049.tmp
HoboCopy (c) 2006 Wangdera Corporation. hobocopy@wangdera.com

Starting a full copy from C:\Users\Walker\AppData\Local\Temp\ to E:\FLV-Backup\
Copied directory
Backup successfully completed.
Backup started at 2008-09-18 00:10:43, completed at 2008-09-18 00:11:09.
1 files (72.27 MB, 1 directories) copied, 45 files skipped

If you’re using Windows Vista, make sure you’re using an elevated Command Prompt window (i.e. Command Prompt process with real Administrator privilege) to run the Hobocopy command.

If you find this troublesome or difficult, then just try to Google some freeware or the simple YouTube Downloader of my friend. But, what about other video files hosted on other video hosting sites?

Though, SWF-Export is not a “giant”, as the program itself is merely taking up 16384 bytes or 16.0 KB of disk space in my NTFS hard disk that formatted by Vista Ultimate!

SWF-Export doesn’t require special installation or complicated setup, means that you just double-click SWF-Export to run directly! And, it works even without installing any Microsoft Office program on the host system.

So, SWF-Export can extract the interactive Shockwave flash (SWF) that embedded in a Microsoft Excel 2007 document (*.xlsx), regardless Microsoft Office 2007 is already installed.

Summary of features in SWF-Export v1.8.0.5:

• Extract / Export SWF (Shockwave flash) object from Microsoft Word document (*.doc or *.docx) or Microsoft Excel document (*.xls or *.xlsx) - it’s compatible with the latest Microsoft Office 2007.
   
• Simple user interface and 100% in English.
   
• The running SWF-Export is no longer “hidden” from Windows Flip 3D, ALT+Tab hotkey, or Windows Task Manager.
   
• Rename SWF-Export.exe is allowed - no more “Program name error!” window.
   
• Automatically save the exported SWF object into a file with SWF file extension (The *.swf file can be opened / playbacked in web browser or uploaded to blog for sharing).

Once again, thank you Levente for sharing SWF-Export at WalkerNews.net - click here to start downloading SWF-Export v1.8.0.5 (the md5sum of SWF-Export.exe, not zip file, is e2520633ea21107ea92ab861028f2f14)

And, it’s my pleasure to have one on last Friday, a Hungarian who named Levente sent me a freeware called SWF-Exporter for sharing with the rest of WalkerNews.net readers!

^{A freeware SWF-Extractor sent by a Hungarian.}

Similar to Vista MUI Tools that developed by Same Frank, SWF-Exporter is also green, close-source freeware (at least my Kaspersky IS 7.0.1.325 at home and office are both happy with it).

^{SWF Extractor - A freeware program used to extract SWF object embedded in Microsoft Excel and Word document.}

SWF-Exporter is also a standalone program:

• No installation required (i.e. double-click to run directly)
   
• No need installation or present of any Microsoft Office programs, including Microsoft Excel or Word (as mentioned by Levente in another email).

What about the negatives? Well, here are some of the minor restrictions in SWF-Exporter:

• You can’t simply rename this tiny program. Otherwise, SWF-Exporter will exit with a “Program name error!” window (as shown in the screenshot of email).
   
• While the program is running, I can’t find it in Windows Flip 3D or the Application view in Windows Task Manager.
   
• Because of previous point, it’s a bit hard to bring the running SWF-Exporter back as active window after clicking Show Desktop. If you do this, you’ve to run Show Desktop again and minimize all other program windows one by one until SWF-Exporter is seen again. Another way is to terminate it from Windows Task Manager Processes view.

Overall, I found it really useful for the purpose. Simple user interface, tiny size, and ultra-portable! Thank you Levente for sharing SWF-Exporter - Download SWF-Exporter freeware!

1. Select Show hidden files and folders
2. Deselect Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)

Once you’ve turn on these two options, you will see the hidden files with their icons appear with a lighter color in Windows Explorer, e.g. the $Recycle.bin hidden system folder:

Turn on Windows Explorer option to view Windows Vista hidden system files

(I was gifted a copy of Vista Ultimate SP1 license during the “Heroes Happen Here” event. Then it caused me to get a 2GB RAM upgrade for running Vista Ultimate without fancy Aero interface :-(

However, I just notice that unwanted glitch happens in my own Vista machine, where Windows Photo Gallery exactly renders the white background in yellow color, right after replacing the CRT with LG Flatron LCD monitor!

Next, I also found that the Photoshop CS3 starts up with a warning dialog box, said that the monitor profile “LG L1753S” appears to be defective, please rerun your monitor calibration software!

OMG! What happen to this out-of-the-box LG Flatron LCD monitor?

How to fix the Windows Vista Color System related problem?

After google a while for the subject, I found this Microsoft Article ID 939395, which I’ve referred to fix these two problems, i.e. Photoshop warning my LG monitor profile appears to be defective and Windows Photo Gallery in yellow tint background:

1. Click Vista Orb, type Color Management in the Start Search text box, locate and click the “Color Management” shortcut that appears in “Programs” listing.
    
2. In the Color Management dialog box, tick the check box that labelled with “Use my setting for this device”
    
3. In the “Profiles associated with this device” section, remove all the color profiles by selecting to highlight them and click Remove button.
    
4. Now, close the Color Management dialog box and restart Windows Vista.

If the problems are still not resolved, you may try to remove all the color profiles and click the Add button to install a Vista-bundled color profile sRGB IEC61966-2.1, as suggested by MDL.

If you’re going to change a LCD monitor for Vista-based computer, remember where to find the solution if the Vista Color System related problems happen to you :-p

Windows Vista supports multiple clocks, maximum up to three clocks, with each displaying different time/time-zone. The biggest clock that appears on the left side showing local time, while the rest showing time at different time-zone.

To enable multiple clocks display, click on the “time display” that appears at Windows Vista System Tray (bottom-right corner), click “Change date and time settings…” to bring up “Date and Time” dialog box, go to “Additional Clocks” tab, tick the check-box of “Show this clock”, select the time-zone of the clock, enter the display name and click OK button. When your mouse rest or click on the “time display” again, Windows Vista should show multiple clocks that you’ve just defined.

How to show multiple clocks in Windows Sidebar

If system performance is not an issue, Windows Sidebar bundled with a gadget that supports multiple instances of clock showing different time-zone too.

How to show multiple clocks in Windows Sidebar?

Right-click the Windows Sidebar, select “Add gadgets…”, double click on the “Clock” gadget to insert additional instance of clock to Windows Sidebar.

Point the mouse over the new instance of clock, click the little configuration button (with spanner icon), select the time-zone and enter a name for the clock.

If you prefer to view the second hand (the “red moving needle” that indicate second), tick the “show the second hand” check-box and click OK.

How to synchronize Windows date and time with an Internet time server?

To get the precise local time, configure Windows time system to automatically synchronize with an Internet time server.

While at the “Date and Time” dialog box (see how to get this dialog box at above), go to “Internet Time” tab, click “Change settings…” button (Consent UI pop-up unless you’ve tweaked Vista UAC), tick the “Synchronize with an Internet time server” check box, select a time server from default listing (e.g. time.windows.com) and click OK button.

Note: The Windows Time service needs to be enabled for the Windows time synchronization to work. To enable/disable Windows Time service, click the Vista Orb, type services at the Start Search text-box, click “services” icon that appears at the Program list and locate the “Windows Time” service from the Services window.


When is the Daylight Saving Time starts or ends at local time-zone?

If you’re staying at or travelling to northern or southern hemisphere, take note that some of the countries (e.g. US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc) practice time adjustment that introduced by Daylight Saving concept. If you can’t online to check the start/end of daylight saving, Windows Vista can give the hints.

At the “Date and Time” dialog box (see how to get this dialog box at above), the start or end of daylight saving time information is displayed on those known time-zone. For example, the “go back 1 hour” means plus one (+1) go forward means minus 1 (-1) hour.

Note: When you click the “Change time zone…” button for a new time-zone with Daylight Saving practice, remember to tick the “Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Time” check-box so that Windows Vista “could be clever” in this subject :-).

How to display long date and time format in Windows Vista System Tray?

By default, every Windows editions (including the Vista Ultimate) display the simple hour and minute clock view in System Tray.

With a large display (modern Desktop LCD screen are mostly 17″ or bigger), you may consider to enlarge Windows Taskbar to get a long date and time format displayed in Windows System Tray (not limited to Windows Vista alone).

Windows Vista display multiple calendar view

When you click on the “time display” at the System Tray, there is a date link in the dialog box. Do you know what the function of this link is?

The Windows Vista calendar toggle views when you click on the title bar. The date link is simply used to go back the current date view, as shown in the flash video (embedded with JW Media Player).

Using Windows command to check system uptime

In NT-based Windows (e.g. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, etc), just click Start button followed by Run menu to type cmd and press OK to bring up Command Prompt window.

For Windows Vista, click the Vista Orb, type cmd.exe in the Start Search text box (Vista Instant Search), and click the cmd.exe icon in the Program listing will do.

1. net statistics workstation shows a line “Statistics since” in command output that indicates the Workstation service starting time. By default, this Windows system service started automatically when Windows boots up. It’s not the precise uptime indicator, but the variance is usually less than 60 seconds (at most, probably).

   To simplify the command output, pipe it to the find command, i.e.

   net statistics workstation | find "Statistics since"

2. systeminfo output is lengthy, but there is a line that exactly showing the last Windows boot up time.
   • In Windows Vista, look for “System Boot Time”.
   • For other non-Vista, NT-based Windows (such as Windows XP), find the “System Up Time” keyword.

   To shorter the systeminfo command output for this subject, use the find command.
   For Windows Vista SP1:

   systeminfo| find "System Boot Time"

   For Windows XP:

   systeminfo| find "System Up Time"

3. uptime.exe command. Sound familiar right? This Windows version of uptime command is not bundled with Windows, although the command is available for download from Microsoft.com since Windows NT SP 4.

   Update.exe command output in Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 (Though, the update.exe command options are not working correctly in this Vista version):

   C:\Users\Walker\Desktop>uptime.exe
   \\WalkerPC has been up for: 0 day(s), 2 hour(s), 3 minute(s), 20 second(s)

If you wonder when is your Windows PC rebooted, pick up one of those options to check it out!