Monday, June 29, 2009

Shut Down Remote Computer - Windows XP

I already have a post on "Remote Shutdown in Windows NT".But the things are little different in XP. Windows XP comes with the component "SHUTDOWN.exe" that would help us in making the task successful.

* Click Start ==> Run ==> Type "cmd"

* Enter the commands below:


SHUTDOWN -r -m \\computer name -- Restarts the remote computer with the specified computer name

SHUTDOWN -s -m \\computer name -- Shuts down the remote computer

There are other options available for -r and -s....

-i -- Help on the command

-l -- Displays GUI

-a -- Aborts the system shutdown

You can also spencify the time after which the operation should occur

SHUTDOWN -r -f -m \\computer name -t xx -- Shuts down the computer after xx seconds.

Where -f -- Forces running applications to close.

Please Comment!!

Have Fun!

Google Docs - Offline Mode

Wouldn't it be great to access all your documents offline. Google uses Gears, an open source component, to provide the users the offline mode of the Google Docs.

Here is how you do it....

* Register with "http://docs.google.com"

* In the header, click the 'Offline' link ==> 'Download Gears' in the dialog box.

* Click 'Install Gears' ==> Save the "Gears.exe" file.

* Double-click the file and start the setup.

* Browse the site "http://gears.google.com" and check if the component has been successfully installed.

* Log into the Google account and click the 'Offline Link' ==> 'Activate Offline Access'

* Activate the 'I trust the site' option in the security note for external access to your computer with Gears.

* Now you can select the direct links that you want to create.

* You can browse the files through the link created to Google Text or browse 'http://docs.google.com'


Once connected to the internet, the documents are automtically synchronized.

What do you say??


Please Comment!!!


Enjoy!

Advanced Error Search

Did you know that, with a simple log file, you can have a clear information about all the actions and the user profiles, during a crash or any error??

Windows XP and Vista provides you with such enhanced features!!

* Click Start ==> Run ==> Type "Regedit"

* Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon"

* Right click in the right-pane and click New ==> DWord Value

* Name it as "UserEventDebugLevel"

* Double click and enter any of the Hex-Values below:

- 10001 ==> Log file with default output
- 10002 ==> Log file with extended output
- 20001 ==> Debugging file with default output
- 20002 ==> Debugging fiel with extended output


* Restart the machine and the desired information is found in the "userenv.log" in the 'Debug\User Mode' directory in the Windows folder


To stop creating the logs, either delete the entries or change the value to "0"


Please Comment!!

Have Fun!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Hide Users from Login Screen in XP

Windows displays the list of users by default in the login screen. But want to give it a new look!!! Follow these tweaks....

* Click Start ==> Run ==> Type "Regedit"

* Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList"

* Right-click on the right pane and click "New" ==> "DWord Value"

* Create the DWord with the exact name of the user you want to hide and assign a Decimal value of 0/1.


0 - To hide the user
1 - To show the user

* Click "OK"

Now Restart the system!!

* To logon with the account of hidden user, Press "CTRL+ALT+DEL" twice and you are displayed with the classic style of XP logon where you can enter both the username and the password of the user.


Wasn't that cooool!!!

Please Comment!!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Restore "Show Desktop" Icon

"Show Desktop" icon is very handy and useful while you are working with many of the windows. And there might be cases where we might have accidentally deleted the icon. Then here is the way to restore it back in no time.

* Change the Folder options so that the hidden folders are shown.

* Navigate to "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch".

Where User - username of the desktop user.

Note: The folder "Application Data" is Hidden.

Now you can see the icon show dessktop. Create a copy and place it in the taskbar.

OR

You can even alternatively try this method -

* Open Notepad and type in the following piece:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop


* Save the file as "Show Desktop.scf" (without quotes)

* Now you have the shortcut. Just drag the icon to the task bar.


Was that Useful?? Let me Know...


Please Comment!!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Shut Down Remote Computer

Shock your colleague or surprise your friend by restarting or Turn Off their PC with this simple pack

Windows NT comes with a Resource kit with the files SHUTCMD.exe.

This can be used in a variety of ways to play with your enemies computer. Just download and install the resource kit in the "Service Pack 6a".

Follow the below commands to start off:

* SHUTCMD \L -- Shuts down the local computer

* SHUTCMD \\Computer Name /Y -- Shuts down the remote computer specified their IP address


Please Comment!!

Have Fun!

Change the Drive Letter

Bored of the same old C, D, E, F drive letters? Here is a simple way to change the drive alphabets.

* Right-Click on "My Computer" ==> "Manage"

* In the "Computer Management" screen click on "Disk Management"

* Now Right-click the drive you want to change and select "Change Drive Letters and Paths.."

* Click on "Change" ==> Select from the list of alphabets in the drop down

* Click "OK"

Now check your "My Computer"........;)

Please Comment!!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

" Passwords in Windows XP "

When a site prompts for "Remember Password", where are all the passwords and login information stored??

This is a question for which, many of you might be searching an answer. Well, then here goes a simple information that might give you a start!!

On checking the option, all the information are stored in the form on SAM files. The files are defaulted to the directory:

C:\Windows\system32\config

Though the files look like simple notepads, the information cannot be viewed by any of the editors. They contain hash codes and have no decryption algorithms.

But!!!!, Every problem has a solution.

These files can be viewed in LINUX. But in Windows, these files can neither be modified nor can be moved to a different location.

The emerging technologies have a solution too....The tool "PWDUMP" can decode these hashes. If you have lost your password, then this can be an easy way to get back the track.

These passwords can be deleted or disabled. For more information, check my tutorial on "Auto Complete Passwords"


Please Comment!!

Have Fun!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Access Folders From Taskbar

Tired browsing to the Windows Explorer to find your files?? Then try this simple trick that can add your explorer to the task bar.

* Right-click on the taskbar on the space between Start Menu and the Tray

* Click "Toolbars" ==> "New Toolbar"

A New Window opens with a list of folders

* Select the desired location and click "OK"

* The task bar now displays an icon for the access of your selected destination, just with a click.


Wasn't that Cool and Simple!!


Please Comment!!

"Auto Complete Passwords"

Hi Techies!!
Remember the Windows "Password Remember" prompt, each time you login to a new website?? Here's some freaking information about the magic box.

For some sites, we don't require the auto login , and so might choose "No" in the dialog box. This may end with the dialog box not being displayed ever. So just follow the steps below if you want the prompt back.

* Enter the site and double click the login field

* This displays a list of usernames that are Auto saved.

* Highlight the Username and click "Delete".

Now try logging in and you are again with the same dialog box.

This can also be acheived with a simple registry setting, if the above isn't working for you....

* Start ==> Run ==> Enter "Regedit"

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IntelliForms\SPW

* You can see a list of encrypted passwords.

* Now select the SPW key and click "Delete".

Every password that you enter is saved with a unique SPW key, whether you select "YES" or "NO".

But the Auto complete data is saved in a different storage:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider


Each of the passwords can be decrypted with various tools available.


Please Comment!!

Have Fun :)

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Delete "Recent Documents" History

Any document that you open in Windows is added to the Recent Documents list. Now with this simple trick you can stop that!!!

* Start ==> Run ==> Type "Regedit"

* [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

* Right Click on the right Pane and create a new DWORD value.

* Assign Value Name as "NoRecentDocsHistory"

* Data Type as "REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)"

* If Value Data = 0 : disable restriction
1 : enable restriction



Wasn't that quite simple??

Please comment!!!

Have Fun :)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Find IP address from Mail ID

Hello Freinds, I am back with some more cool tricks this time that can save you from various security threats.

Now i am gonna just tell you, how easy it is to find the IP address of the person who has sent a mail in Yahoo.

(The information is meant only for security use and any misuse can be liable to punishment)

* Login to your account and Open the mail.

* On the right-top corner, click Options ==> Select "Standard Headers".

* There you are with all the ip addresses of the person who sent you the mail.

Check the ip address aside to the from:

But the mail sometimes may not come directly from his/her pc. Inorder to deviate the user the mail is passed through many gateways and then finally sent. And to trace out the IP address in such a case find the last "From :" and check the IP there.

Wasn't that cool and helpful...??

Please Comment!!

Have Fun!!

Find Who Hacked You

To find or trace the IP address of the person who has hacked you just follow these simple steps :

* Start ==> Run ==> Type "cmd" (or) "command".

* Type "netstat –a"

Now you have a list of IP addresses and the Domain names

The local address indicates your IP address and the foreign address indicates the ip address of the person who hacked you.

For more detailed or clear look

* Start ==> Run ==> "netstat –an".

This give the Ip addresses at local address.

Have Fun!!

Please Comment!!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

"Star Wars" Movie in Windows XP

Wanna watch a movie for free of cost??

So grab your popcorn and get ready for the exciting Space opera.....

Wondering what the movie could be!!!!

"STAR WARS"

Ya, i m not joking. Windows XP has the Star wars movie in it. All you need is an internet connection.

* Start ==> Run

* Enter "telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl" (without quotes) in the text field

* Click "OK".

So there you are........enjoy your movie!!!

Please Comment!!!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Define a Reply Address in the OUTLOOK

Outlook offers many features and most of them are hidden from many of the users....
Do you know that Outlook offers features to define the reply address to a mail sent from any mail address. This might be helpful when you are sending a mail from your company server but want to get the reply directed to a different address.....

OUTLOOK XP, 2003:

* Write the new message and before sending it, click "View" ==> "Options"

* Activate the checkbox "Have replies sent to" under "Delivery options" section.

* Enter the mailing address in the field or can alternatively select from the Contacts list by clicking "Select names".


OUTLOOK 2007:

* While composing the message, in the "Options" tab on the ribbon, click on the "Direct replies to" button.

* Check the box "Have replies sent to" in the "Delivery Options" section and enter the desired address.

* And to select the address from the Contacts list, click the "Select names" button.

* "Close" the dialog and send the message.


Please Comment!!

Delete Windows Messenger

Windows messenger loads by default with the MS Windows. And it is not even displayed in the list of installed softwares. This is because the corresponding entry is hidden. But if the chat box is annoying and you never use it, the messenger can be shut....

* Navigate to "C:\\Windows\Inf\"

* Open the file "sysoc.inf" file in the notepad

* Search for the following line in the text file:

msmsgs-msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7


* Delete "hide". And make sure u don’t delete the comma with it.

* Save the file.

* Click "Start ==> Control Panel ==> Software" and select "Add/remove Windows components".

* The list now shows an entry for Windows Messenger, which u can now uninstall.


Please Comment!!


Have fun!

Latest News As Your Desktop Screen

Wide screen monitors have lots of space. Then why not design and customize it with your convenience. How about the idea of embedding a website on to your desktop? This can be easily done with Windows XP. Just follow these steps......


* Open your favorite webiste in IE.

* Now find the RSS feeds and click on the arrow beside "Display feeds from this website" and select the desired entry in the toolbar.

* Copy the URL of the site in address bar to clipboard .

* Now Right-click on free space on the desktop ==> Properties ==> 'Desktop' tab ==> "Customize Desktop"

* Click on "Web" tab ==> "New"

* Paste the URL in the 'Location' field ==> "OK"

* Now the item added is displayed in the Webpages listbox.

* Make sure the checkbox next to the URL is checked adn click "OK".

* Now you can see that an area of the desktop is running live with the News.

You can move it on the desktop to your desired location and can even scale the window.

To remove the webiste.....

* Right-click on the Desktop ==> Properties ==> 'Desktop' tab ==> "Customize desktop"

* Uncheck the checkbox of the webiste you wish not to display.

* Alternatively, you can even remove the item completely from the list by selecting the item and click "Delete" button on the right.



Wasn't that coooooollllll.........


Eager to hear from you!!

Please Comment!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Auto Numbering In Word 2007

MicroSoft Word provides the best features to format the text in no time. One of such features is the auto numbering format to the paragraphs. But this soemtimes can be annoying if you dont want to auto number the lines of text.

So, here is how you can control it Word 2003 & 2007.....

* Click Tools ==> AutoCorrect ==> "AutoFormat As You Type" tab

* Under "Apply As you Type" section, uncheck "Automatic Numbered Lists"

For Word 2007:

* Click "Office" button ==> "Word Options" button

* Select "Proofing" from the diaog box

* Click "Auto Correct Options" button ==> "AutoFormat As You Type" tab

* In the "Apply As You Type" section, uncheck the "Automatic numbered list" box.

* Click "OK" to save the changes.


Please Comment!!


Enjoy!!

Easy Download With Firefox

Firefox is secure of the browsers available around. And when it comes to downloading, Firefox displays a dialog box on the progress of the download whether it be one or many. But this requires the browser to open a new window and hence utilizes more resources. But it is often in a minimized state. A new Add-on "Download Statusbar" is the solution....

This displays the progress in the stauts bar and hence doesn't require to open a new window.

Download the utility from "https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/26"
Click on "Add to Firefox"

It also provides options to configure the status bar like the style and colors.

* Click Tools ==> Add-ons ==> Options

* Under "General" tab, you have two modes - Full mode and Mini Mode.

* "Mini Mode" displays just the number of files being downloaded while "Full Mode" displays the complete name of the files.

* "Progress Notifications" section displays the notifications. And the highlight of all is that the files are cleared from the status bar once the download is done.

* Click "Appearance" tab ==> "Custome Style" radio button

Now you can select from the range of colors to design the status bar according to your style. You can even adjust the font sizes and width, height of the bar.

* Finally click "Apply" for the immediate effect of the changes and Click "OK" to fianlize.

Please Comment!!


*

Design Your Toolbar With Registry

Toolbar in IE, is the easy access to the wide features provided. But it is even dumped with unused icons. But now you can design your own toolbar with few simple commands.

So here you go for a complete new look.....

* Click Start ==> Run

* Enter "Regedit"

* Browse 'HKEY_CURRENT_USERS' ==> Software ==> Microsoft ==> Windows ==> CurrentVersion ==> Policies ==> Explorer

* Righk click in the right-pane and select "New" ==> DWORD value
* Name it as " SpecifyDefaultIcons" and enter the value as "1".

Now begins the adventure....

* For individual icons, create the DWORD values provided below and then double-click on each and assign a value of "2"

Btn_Back ==> Hide Back

Btn_Forward ==> HIde Forward

Btn_Stop ==> Hide Stop

Btn_Search ==> Hide Search

Btn_Refresh ==> Hide Refresh

Btn_Home ==> Hide Home

Btn_History ==> Hide History

Btn_Favorites ==> Hide Favorites

Btn_Folders ==> Hide Folders

Btn_Fullscreen ==> Hide Fullscreen

Btn_Tools ==> Hide Tools

Btn_Size ==> Hide Size

Btn_MailNews ==> Hide Mail

Btn_Print ==> Hide Print


Now to make the icons visible, simply double-click the DWORD value of the icon and assign a vlue of "1" (or)delete the DWORD value.


Wasn't that cool!!! Please comment...


Have fun!!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Increase Size Of Command Prompt

The command prompt window shows only a text of 25 lines at a time and can be fuzzy sometimes. Now play around with the size and view the text in a complete drag with these simple changes.

* Start ==> Run ==> Enter 'cmd'

* Right-click on the upper left corner of the window and select 'Properties'.

* Click on the "Layout" tab and edit the 'Height' value under 'Window Size' - say 50.

* Also change the "Height" under 'Screen Buffer Size' to 500. This is the number of lines the command prompt notes.

* Click 'OK' to confirm the settings and close the dialog box.

* Type 'Exit' in the command prompt and the changes will affect the next time you open Command Prompt.


Please Comment!!

Explore "My Computer"

Every time you open "My Computer", it takes you to double click the folder to dig to the content. Now with simple registry hacking, you can open "My Computer" in the Explorer view.


* Start ==> Run ==> 'Regedit'

* Navigate to 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell' key.

* Double-click on '(Default)' in the right pane and in the "Edit String" dialog box, in the "Value data" field, enter 'explore'.

* Click 'OK'.

Now restart your system to explore the explorer.



Please Comment!!


Have Fun!!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Diary With Notepad

Just sketching down your daily adventures, secrets and referring them at a later time sounds cooool.......but how personal are your secrets?
Just use this simple trick to turn a simple notepad into diary with auto added dates and just hide it.

* Start ==> Run ==> Notepad ==> OK

* Now type ".LOG" (without quotes) and save it.

* Close it and try opening it again.

* The day's date is auto added.......

Wasn't that wonderful ? What are you waiting for...just fill it with your secrets.

Have fun!


Please Comment...