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.

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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"


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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!!!

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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...


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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


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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"........;)

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Enjoy!

" 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"


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Have Fun!

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!!


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"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.


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Have Fun :)