James Mok’s Soliloquy

Just how is it possible that a brand new computer works until either some software or hardware problem came up even after it has been rectified more strange problems would start cropping up even after a complete OS, drivers, and applications re-installation?

Even since my last complete system reinstallation, things just don’t seem entirely right. Mostly very minor things that I can live with. My latest problem is with the Unionway Cantonese Chinese Input system. It is a free demoware so long as you restright from using it for commercial purposes and keep reinstalling every 60 days. I chose Unionway because it can recognise quite straight forword Romanization of Cantonese as oppose to adhering to some official combination which makes no sense. I would have bought it over 10 years ago if it didn’t cost US$199! A couple of days ago, Avast antivirus reported a Trojan within one of the .dll files being used by Unionway. I uninstalled it, scanned and removed the infacted file, downloaded a new copy of Unionway and had it installed many times. I still get the same virus report!

I then started looking for other Cantonese IME freeware on the net and found Red Dragonfly by the Hong Kong University. One dumb IME. Just how does the Romanization “CAK” fit the word “測” is beyond me! My usual romanization would have started with “CHAK” and then maybe “CHAAK” if not found with “CHAK”. RDF took neither.

I then found this Cantonese IME. It works under WindO$ XP’s own language input system. Although it’s operation is still not as smooth as Unionway but it would have to do for now.