WinTricks

WinTricks is one of the largest and most up-to-date programs for Windows tips, tricks, and secrets available today. WinTricks includes tips/tricks for all versions of Windows, plus the Registry, Desktop, AOL, Laptop, and Internet. You will find that this program is easy to navigate and it has complete instructions on all of our Tips, Tricks, and Secrets. The newest version includes even more new tips/tricks and a new browser interface. Version 5.0a includes new browser interface, more new tips and tricks.

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Unable to Open Hard or USB Flash Drive ?????

In some situation especially when anti-virus program has cleaned, healed, disinfected or removed a worm, trojan horse or virus from computer, there may be error happening whenever users try to open or access the drive by double clicking on the disk drive icon in Explorer or My Computer window to try to enter the drive’s folder. The problem or symptom happens in hard disk drive, portable hard disk drive or USB flash drive, and Windows will prompt a dialog box with the following message:



windows script Host

Can not find script file autorun.vbs.

Sometimes you will be asked to debug the VBScript with error code of 800A041F - Unexpected ‘Next’.
or

Choose the program you want to use to open this file with:

In this case, the “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file” option is grayed out.
The symptom occurs because when autorun.vbs is created by trojan horse or virus. The virus normally loads autorun.inf file to root folder of all hard drive or USB drive, and then execute autorun.bat file which contains script to apply and merge autorun.reg into the registry, with possible change to the following registry key to ensure that virus is loaded when system starts:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Userinit=userinit.exe,autorun.exe
Finally, autorun.bat will call wscript.exe to run autorun.vbs.
When antivirus or security software detected the autorun.vbs file as infected, the file will be deleted or removed or quarantined. However, other files (autorun.*） and registry value still referring to autorun.vbs, and this document no longer exists, hence the error when users double click to open a drive folder.
To correct and solve this error, follow this steps:
Run Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del or right click on Taskbar)
Stop wscript.exe process if available by highlighting the process name and clicking End Process.
Then terminate explorer.exe process.
In Task Manager, click on File -> New Task (Run…).
Type “cmd” (without quotes) into the Open text box and click OK.
Type the following command one by one followed by hitting Enter key: del c:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a
del d:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a
del e:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a
c, d, e each represents drive letters on Windows system. If there are more drives or partitions available, continue to command by altering to other drive letter. Note that you must also clean the autorun files from USB fllash drive or portable hard disk as the external drive may also be infected.
In Task Manager, click on File -> New Task (Run…).
Type “regedit” (without quotes) into the Open text box and click OK.
Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Check if the value name and value data for the key is correct (the value data of userint.exe include the path which may be different than C drive, which is also valid, note also the comma which is also needed): “Userinit”=”C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,”
If the value is incorrent, modify it to the valid value data

Portable Apps for your USB Stick

What is a portable program ?

A portable program is a piece of software that you can carry around with you on a portable device and use on any other computer. It can be your email program, your browser, system recovery tools or even an operating system. The coolest part about it, is that all of your data and settings are always stored on a thumbdrive so when you unplug the device, none of your personal data is left behind.


Portable Office Software


Abiword (6.3 mb) - word processor (compatible with Microsoft word)
OpenOffice (65 mb) - free alternative to Microsoft Office (fully compatible with Ms Office docs)
PDF Viewers: Sumatra (1.1 mb) , Foxit PDF Reader (1.8 mb)


Portable Email Programs


Mozilla ThunderBird (6 mb) - very good email client (built-in address book, import/export, tons of addons)
Quick Mailer [20kb] - tiny program for sending quick e-mail messages


Portable Text and Voice Messengers


All-in-One (Yahoo, MSN, ICQ, etc.): Gaim [6.9 mb], Miranda IM [1.2 mb], Trillian [Win]
Skype - exlpains how to make skype portable

Portable Media Tools (Audio / Video)


Audacity (2.4 mb) - simple audio editor and recorder

VLC (9.3 mb) - powerful media player that plays almost all popular audio and video formats

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack with Media Player - another powerful media player for playing all conceivable formats

Portable Graphics Viewers and Image Editors


GIMP (8.6 mb) - free alternative to Photoshop

IrfanView [1013kb] - fast graphic viewer with basic image editing features

XNView [Win, Mac, Linux] - image viewer and converter (supports more then 400 image formats)

Portable Browsers and Internet Tools (FTP, Torrent Clients…)


Firefox (5.8 mb)

Opera

FTP Clients: Filezilla [2.3 mb], FireFTP [0.1mb]

TrayURL - bookmark manager

uTorrent - popular torrent downloader

Portable Security Software


Antivirus: ClamWin [5.9mb], Dr.Web CureIt [5.5 mb]
Keepass Password [1mb] - securely store and manage your passwords
Omziff [0.5mb] - lets you encrypt/decrypt a file, using secure encryption algorithms. Also includes a password generator, file shredder, file splitter and some more tools.
LockNote - simple text file that lets you store sensitive info with 256bit password encryption.
RoboFor2Go - secure password manager and form filler
Smart Sniff [57kb] - lets you inspect network traffic that passes via your network adapter.

Portable Games


Sudoku - popular puzzle game
Bricks2000 - popular tetris clone
Logix - something similar to minesweeper
Gem Drop - fast-paced puzzle game
GeneRally - 2D racing game
Nagaskaki - chess game
NarkoMania - cool minesweeper clone
NeverBall - part puzzle, part action game

Other Portable Utilities


7Zip [1.1 mb] - file archiver and compressor, supports 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, RAR and more
Registry Tweaker [1.52mb] - registry tweaking tool
Restoration [229kb] - handy program for recovering deleted (or formatted) files
YamiPod - powerful iPod manager (copy mp3/AAC files to and from your iPod, import/export playlists, search for songs, remove duplicates,..). More iPod tools
Drive Manager [1191 kb] - quick summary for each local and removable drive.
PStart - lets you organize and create menu-like list for quicker access to your portable programs.
SyncPAppX - script that syncs preferences between portable and local applications.
RQ Money - handy utlity to manage your credits and debts
SIW - a system analysis tool that tells you almost everything you need to know about a computer, i.e. hardware, configuration settings, etc.
WinAudit - one more analysis tool
Convert [155 kb] - fast metric unit conversion tool (distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass…)
UK Calender [321kb] - straightforward calendar with ToDo and reminders
CPU-Z - provides detailed info about your processor and other components
Country Codes [1358 kb] - a small database of country codes and additional information for all countries.
TreePad Lite [866kb] - personal database program, lets you store all your notes, emails, bookmarks, etc. into one well-structured file
StartupList [158 kb] - displays all items that are in any way related to your computer startup and are executed without any user interactions
eTextReader [279kb] - read plain text files provided by Project Gutenberg in a book-like manner.
Index Your Files [640kb] - provides an easy way to create index databases (of specified folders and drives) for quick file/term search
RockXP [768kb] - handy utility for retrieving Win XP’s product key
WhoisThisDomain [42kb] - view owner and registration info for any domain name

Portable Developer Tools (Techies Only)


Nvu (7.3 mb) - easy-to-use webpage editor. Simpler alternative to Dreamweaver and Microsft Frontpage
Server2Go - apache webserver (no configurations needed)
InstantRails[60mb] - contains Ruby, Rails, Apache, and MySQL, all preconfigured and ready to run.
Putty [0.9 mb] - lightweight telnet and SSH client
Follow-Me IP - displays your external IP address
XAMPP [25/17 mb] - integrated server package of Apache, mySQL, PHP and Perl. Just Unzip and Run
HTTP File Server - simple and easy-to-use file server for personal file sharing.
CurrPorts [46kb]- lets you view a list of ports that are currently in use, along with applications that use them
Hamachi
FTP Servers: Quick’n Easy FTP Server [355kb],

All-In-One Packages



PortableApps Suite [89.5mb] - includes 7 programs for essential needs (office, email, IM client, etc.) + cool Startup manager and backup utility

Portable Operating Systems (’HowTo’ Articles)


Mac OS Classic 7
Portable Linux: Knoppix, Ubuntu
Win XP

USB ThumDrive Tips


How to create a bootable USB key
Never Forget your USB Stick
QuickLaunch your USB workspace

That’s mainly it… In case you’re looking for something that wasn’t mentioned above, there are a couple of resources you may want to check out.

These are Portablefreeware.com and Tinyapps.org

Uninstall Symantec Norton Antivirus Client without Password

Norton AntiVirus Clients or Symantec AntiVirus Clients especially Corporate Edition Clients can be installed as managed network setup type by a Symantec AntiVirus Server. When a Symantec AntiVirus Client is managed, it will prompt for password when uninstalling client via local computer Control Panel Add or Remove Program applet. If you don’t know or forget the password, then the client is not able to uninstall or remove. And the SAV client uninstall password won’t work with server group password too, as if you enter that password, you will receive an invalid password message.


The client uninstallation password is different from the server group password, and it can be set by the administrator through the Symantec System Center for the client that is managed. If the client uninstallation password has not been set or changed specifically, it will still be the default password. Thus, first thing to try in order to successfully uninstall a Symantec Client Security program is by using the default password for the uninstalling clients, which is symantec.

In the cases where Symantec AntiVirus server has been taken down and no longer exist, or the client computer has no access to company network, or the default client uninstall password does not work, the following hack will enable you to remove Symantec Antivirus without using a password:

Open Registry Editor (regedit).

Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\INTEL\LANDesk\VirusProtect6\CurrentVersion\Administrator Only\Security\
Change the value for useVPuninstallpassword key from 1 to 0.
Exit Registry Editor and now you can uninstall Symantec AntiVirus Client.
The trick should work on most version of Symantec AntiVirus client or Norton AntiVirus Client, including version 7, 8, 9 or 10.

TIPS AND TRICKS-PC RUNNING SLOW

Is your PC running slow?

Here are step-by-step instructions for a few things you can do yourself.

· Shutdown PC

· Remove temporary Internet files

· Cookies?

· Defragment

1. Remove temporary Internet files

From Internet Explorer Select Tools (at the top of your screen) then Internet Options Click on the Delete Files button. (You can also delete cookies here but wait for the next step if you aren't sure.)

2. Cookies

Cookies aren't all bad. They store your use rids and passwords and help sites identify you. If you delete all of your cookies you may have to enter your use rid and password again when you go back to a Web Site. Cookies don't generally store any secure information. You can view and delete cookies. From Internet Explorer Select Tools then Internet Options click on the Delete Cookies button. Or, copy and paste (or type) this location in the address bar at the top of your screen. You will see all of your cookies and can selectively delete the cookies you don't want stored on your PC. c:\windows\cookies Use the BACK ARROW in your Browser to get back to this page. More Cookies More cookies may be stored in your temporary files. Copy and paste (or type) this location in the address bar. c:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files Since we just cleaned out all of the temporary files the only files we see right now are dated today so we're not deleting these cookies

3. Get rid of PC Junk

Delete the temporary files from your PC. Look for a directory named TEMP. It's usually in c:\temp. You can go to "Run" and type in %temp% and it will bring up the temp files to erase. Click Start Run %temp%Hit "select all" and then delete. You can usually safely delete all of the files but don't delete any system folders. If it says "this is a system folder" don't delete it. Hit "select all" and then delete. You can usually safely delete all of the files but don't delete any system folders. If it says "this is a system folder" don't delete it. Note: You can do this right now while you are reading. Use the BACK ARROW in your Browser to get back to this page.

4. Get Rid of adware and Spyware

Use a good adware/spyware tool to find and delete infection.For example; Spybot Search and destroy, Adware se.

adware. Spyware gets downloaded without you knowing it and it tracks your keystrokes. Adware is attached to some programs that you download. It's the thing that gives you all of the popups. The Yahoo Toolbar with Anti-Spy is available as a Yahoo free download.

Download Google Toolbar Prefer Google? The Google toolbar eliminates annoying pop-up ads. Download Google Toolbar

5. Defragment

Reorganizing Your Hard Disk to Improve Speed System running slow? Time to do a defrag. Over time as you write to your hard disk the data gets fragmented, broken into separate pieces. You can optimize your hard drive by defragmenting. It may take an hour or more to run if you haven't defragmented your drive in a while. If the defrag takes a long time (more than an hour) that's a good thing. It means your PC needed to be defragmented. This is where you can really speed up your PC. A fragmented drive runs slow. We usually Defrag every few days. You might need it more often or less depending on how much you use your PC. Close or quit all other programs before running the defrag. Click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter Or... Double-click on your desktop MyComputer. Right-click on the C: Right-click on Properties Select the Tools tab Defragment Now... Now you can select Defragment Now.... We usually check both boxes Rearrange and Check drive for errors.

Defragment never finishes?

If the Disk Defragment just hangs with 0% finished then you need to run it in Safe Mode. Hold down the Ctrl key while restarting. Release the Ctrl key when it says it's running in Safe Mode. Now try to run the Disk Defragmenter. It might work.

Why is My Computer Slow?

Slowdown culprits can include screen savers and custom cursors. Both can interfere with your system performance. Don't forget to shut your PC down every once in while. It will clean itself during the shutdown. Another step that will make your PC run faster is defragmenting your hard drive when it needs it.

How to remove WGA Notification

Click the download link below to download:

Download

RemoveWGA description

A small utility that enables you to remove the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications tool

RemoveWGA will enable you to easily remove the Microsoft "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" tool, which is calling home and connect to MS servers every time you boot. Futures updates of this notification tool will (officialy) setup the connection rate to once every two weeks.

Once the WGA Notification tool has checked your OS and has confirmed you had a legit copy, there is no decent point or reason to check it again and again every boot.

Moreover, connecting to Microsoft brings security issue for corporate networks, and privacy issues for everyone. It is also unclear which information are transmitted (Microsoft published an official answer, but an individual study brought some questions).

All of that, along the fact that Microsoft used deceptive ways to make you install this tool (it was told you it was an urgent security update, whereas it is a new installation giving you no extra security) makes me calling this tool a spyware.

Also, Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is different than Windows Genuine Advantage Validation. RemoveWGA only removes the notification part, phoning home, and does not touch the Validation part.

Here are some key features of "RemoveWGA":

· Tell you if the WGA notification tool is active on your system
· Allows you to remove the WGA notification tool from your system
· Accept the "-silent" command line parameter to silently check if the WGA notification tool is active on your system, and popup only if it is found (usefull for checking automatically at startup for instance)

Note: Some antivirus and antispyware programs flag RemoveWGA as being infected/malware, although the application is perfectly safe and does not pose a threat to your system. This is called a 'false positive'. The term false positive is used when antivirus software wrongly classifies an innocuous ( inoffensive ) file as a virus. The incorrect detection may be due to heuristics or to an incorrect virus signature in a database. [Similar problems can occur with antitrojan or antispyware software.]

12 Quick Tips To Search Google Like An Expert

If you’re like me, you probably use Google many times a day. But, chances are, unless you are a technology geek, you probably still use Google in its simplest form. If your current use of Google is limited to typing a few words in, and changing your query until you find what you’re looking for, then I’m here to tell you that there’s a better way – and it’s not hard to learn. On the other hand, if you are a technology geek, and can use Google like the best of them already, then I suggest you bookmark this article of Google search tips. You’ll then have the tips on hand when you are ready to pull your hair out in frustration when watching a neophyte repeatedly type in basic queries in a desperate attempt to find something.

The following Google search tips are based on my own experience and things that I actually find useful. The list is by no means comprehensive. But, I assure you that by learning and using the 12 tips below, you’ll rank up there with the best of the Google experts out there. I’ve kept the descriptions of the search tips intentionally terse as you’re likely to grasp most of these simply by looking at the example from Google anyways.


12 Expert Google Search Tips


1.Explicit Phrase:

Lets say you are looking for content about internet marketing. Instead of just typing internet marketing into the Google search box, you will likely be better off searching explicitly for the phrase. To do this, simply enclose the search phrase within double quotes.

Example: "internet marketing"

2.Exclude Words:

Lets say you want to search for content about internet marketing, but you want to exclude any results that contain the term advertising. To do this, simply use the "-" sign in front of the word you want to exclude.

Example Search: internet marketing -advertising

3.Site Specific Search:

Often, you want to search a specific website for content that matches a certain phrase. Even if the site doesn’t support a built-in search feature, you can use Google to search the site for your term. Simply use the "site:somesite.com" modifier.

Example: "internet marketing" site:www.smallbusinesshub.com

4.Similar Words and Synonyms:

Let’s say you are want to include a word in your search, but want to include results that contain similar words or synonyms. To do this, use the "~" in front of the word.

Example: "internet marketing" ~professional

5.Specific Document Types:

If you’re looking to find results that are of a specific type, you can use the modifier "filetype:". For example, you might want to find only PowerPoint presentations related to internet marketing.

Example: "internet marketing" filetype:ppt

6.This OR That:

By default, when you do a search, Google will include all the terms specified in the search. If you are looking for any one of one or more terms to match, then you can use the OR operator. (Note: The OR has to be capitalized).

Example: internet marketing OR advertising

7.Phone Listing:

Let’s say someone calls you on your mobile number and you don’t know how it is. If all you have is a phone number, you can look it up on Google using the phonebook feature.

Example: phonebook:617-555-1212 (note: the provided number does not work – you’ll have to use a real number to get any results).

8.Area Code Lookup:

If all you need to do is to look-up the area code for a phone number, just enter the 3-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from.

Example: 617

9.Numeric Ranges:

This is a rarely used, but highly useful tip. Let’s say you want to find results that contain any of a range of numbers. You can do this by using the X..Y modifier (in case this is hard to read, what’s between the X and Y are two periods. This type of search is useful for years (as shown below), prices or anywhere where you want to provide a series of numbers.

Example: president 1940..1950

10.Stock (Ticker Symbol):

Just enter a valid ticker symbol as your search term and Google will give you the current financials and a quick thumb-nail chart for the stock.

Example: GOOG

11.Calculator:

The next time you need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator applet, you can just type your expression in to Google.

Example: 48512 * 1.02

12.Word Definitions:

If you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the "define:" command.

Example: define:plethora


Hope this list of Google search tips proves useful in your future Google searches. If there are any of your favorite Google expert power tips that I’ve missed, please feel free to share them in the comments.

1 Million Serial Numbers for Windows Applications

1 Million Serial Numbers for Windows Applications

530 word pages, font size 12 = Over 1 Million Serial Number

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Amazing XP Tips

1.) TO INCREASE INTERNET BANDWIDTH...

just Click Start then Run and type "gpedit.msc" without quotes.This opens the group policy editor. Then go to:
Local Computer Policy
then Computer Configuration
then Administrative Templates then Network then QOS Packet Scheduler and then to Limit Reservable Bandwidth.

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab i.e."By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default."
So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, then set it to ZERO. This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%......

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2.)TURN ON UR PC IN JUST 10 SECONDS........

so u wanna know how to turn the pc on in 10 seconds (may vary)here's what u have to do to turn ur pc on in 10 seconds

Click on the start button then press R it will take u to Run well go to run
n type Regedit
press enter
this will open Registery Editor
now look for the key

HKEY_LOACAL_MECHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contr ol\ContentIndex

now there find the Key Called
"Startup Delay"
Double Click On It
Now where its Base
Click Decimal
Now its Default Value Is 4800000 (75300:hexadecimal)
Change The Value To 40000
here u go u have done it
now close the Registery Editor and Restart Your Computer
You'll See The Result

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3.)Go ahead, do this little trick to impress and amaze your friends
For Microsoft Windows XP.

Go to:
Start.
Control Panel.
Regional and Language Options.
Click the Customize button.
Select Time tag.
Highlight AM and type the name you want to display . Repeat with PM.
cliKl apply and than ok

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4.)Bill Gates still doesn't know why it happens:

Try out yourself...
Open Microsoft Word and type
=rand(200,99)
and then HIT ENTER....see what happens.
it won't hurt ur system!!

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5.)You can lock any folder without using any software. Follow these steps.

1.Suppose you have a folder named abcd in D:\abcd.

2.In the same drive next to the folder create a new notepad file with the exact statement
ren abcd abcd.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

3.Now save this text file as loc.bat

4.Create another notepad file and type
ren abcd.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} abcd

5.Save this as key.bat

6.Now there are two batch files . Double click loc.bat and your folder will change into Control Panel and its contents cannot be viewed .

7.To open the folder double click key.bat and you get back your original folder .

8?For more safety keep the key.bat in another location .Only for unlocking copy paste to the original location and double click .

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6.)Hidden Star Wars Movie in Windows XP

Microsoft has hidden a version of Star Wars done entirely with ASCII characters in the Windows XP operating system.But you must be connected to internet to view it.When online,go to start->run.Now type ' telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl ' without the single quotes.See it for yourself.

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7.)How will u die ( Very Funny )

1]
http://evil.berzerker.net/death_predictions.php

2]
http://www.deathclock.com/

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8.)TO CHANGE THE NAME OF RECYCLEBIN....

open notepad and paste this following matter there and now save this as recyclebin.reg and now click on the created file and then click yes........now rename the recyclebin as u wish....

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20

"CallForAttributes"=dword:00000000

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9.)Removing Multiple Boot Screens:

If you are getting unwanted multiple boot screen
Then Follow these Steps.
1> Right Click on My Computer
2>Select Properties
3>Select Advanced Tab
4>Select Settings In the Startup & Recovery Section(3rd grp)
5>Select the operating system which u want.
6>And Click OK.
7>Further again press the setting and click on Edit.
8>It will open boot.ini File.
9>Now u can delete those o/s which you don't want to be displayed.

Note: For deleting operating systems from boot.ini file, keep it mind that you can't
delete that o/s which is selected by default there. Before
making any changes make a copy of boot.ini file.

--------------------------------------

10.)To Increase the Internet Speed:

Open Notepad and paste the below code in it.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters]
"SackOpts"=dword:00000001
"TcpWindowSize"=dword:0005ae4c
"Tcp1323Opts"=dword:00000003
"DefaultTTL"=dword:00000040
"EnablePMTUBHDetect"=dword:00000000
"EnablePMTUDiscovery"=dword:00000001
"GlobalMaxTcpWindowSize"=dword:0005ae4c

Now save this file as speed.reg. Execute it and observe the change!

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11.)Use system restore when you cannot boot your system

If your system has failed to the point where you cannot access the Windows GUI either through booting normally or through safe mode, you

may still have the chance to use the System Restore feature if you have it enabled, by running it form the command prompt. To do this:

Restart your computer and press F8 after the POST screen to bring up the Windows XP boot menu. Choose 'boot in safe mode with command

prompt.'

If your system gets to the command prompt successfully, type '%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe' and then press enter. Follow the

onscreen instructions to restore your computer to a previous saved point.

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12.)Change your windows font...

-first right clcik on your desktop ,go to properties
-den go to the appearnce tab and select advanced
-den scroll down to the part icon
-you can change your windows font there...

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13.)Hide Hard Drives Partitions(C:,D:,E: etc.)

This is a great trick you can play on your friends. To disable the display of local or networked drives when you click My Computer.



1.Go to start->run.Type regedit.Now go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Now in the right pane create a new DWORD item and name it NoDrives(it is case sensitive). Now modify it's value and set it to 3FFFFFF

(Hexadecimal) .Now restart your computer. So, now when you click on My Computer, no drives will be shown(all gone...). To enable display of

drives in My Computer, simply delete this DWORD item that you created.Again restart your computer.You can now see all the drives again.

Magic.

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14.)GETTING BACK MISSING FOLDER OPTIONS

Open Run and then type "gpedit.msc".
Now goto User Configuration > Administrative templates > Windows Component > Windows Explorer.
Click on Windows Explorer you will find the 3rd option on the right side of screen "Removes the Folder Option menu item from the Tools

menu"
Just check it, if it is not configured then change it to enable by double clicking on it and after applying again set it to not configured.

I hopes that you will find the option after restarting windows.

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15.)Make ur Windows Genuine using notepad!!!!

1. Copy and Paste the following code in the Notepad.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents]
"OOBETimer"=hex:ff,d5,71,d6,8b,6a,8d,6f,d5,33,93,fd
"LastWPAEventLogged"=hex5,07,05,00,06,00,07,00,0f,00,38,00,24,00,fd,02

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"CurrentBuild"="1.511.1 () (Obsolete data - do not use)"
"InstallDate"=dword:427cdd95
"ProductId"="69831-640-1780577-45389"
"DigitalProductId"=hex:a4,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,36,39,38,33,31,2d,36,34,30,2d,\
31,37,38,30,35,37,37,2d,34,35,33,38,39,00,5a,00,00,00,41,32,32,2d,30,30,30,\
30,31,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0d,04,89,b2,15,1b,c4,ee,62,4f,e6,64,6f,01,00,\
00,00,00,00,27,ed,85,43,a2,20,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,31,34,35,30,34,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,ce,0e,\
00,00,12,42,15,a0,00,08,00,00,87,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,94,a2,b3,ac
"LicenseInfo"=hex:9e,bf,09,d0,3a,76,a5,27,bb,f2,da,88,58,ce,58,e9,05,6b,0b,82,\
c3,74,ab,42,0d,fb,ee,c3,ea,57,d0,9d,67,a5,3d,6e,42,0d,60,c0,1a,70,24,46,16,\
0a,0a,ce,0d,b8,27,4a,46,53,f3,17

2. Save the file with the .reg extension.

3. If you run the file means it will ask you the confirmation to add the value to your Registry.

4. Press Yes.

5. Reboot your System.

6. Start Downloading from Microsoft Site.


--------------------------------------

16.)Disabling Balloon Tips:

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\

3. Create a DWORD value of EnableBalloonTips

4. Give it a value of 0

enjoy................


--------------------------------------

17. how to enable the rask manager

type: regedit in RUN
Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0isablethis key, that is Don't Disable, Enable TaskManager

How to Reinstall Windows Without Losing Your Data

Over time, Windows loses stability. If you keep a computer for more than two years, at some point you're going to have to bite the bullet and reinstall Windows from scratch. But contrary to popular belief, you won't have to reformat your hard drive (with one exception, discussed below). The bad stuff you need to get rid of is all in your Windows folder.

Before you begin, gather your Windows and application CD-ROMs. Back up your data files (just to be safe), and then clear two days off your calendar. If everything goes smoothly, you can reinstall Windows in a few hours. But you have to assume something will go wrong: You may not be able to find a necessary CD, or data won't be where you thought it was, or something will simply refuse to work.

There's a difference between a repair reinstall and a complete reinstall. Though a repair (also called a refresh) will let you keep your current settings, a complete reinstall will give you a truly fresh version of Windows. Repairs are fast and easy, but they don't fix anywhere near as many problems. The instructions below are for total reinstalls, except where noted.

Your Vendor's Restore CD
Most computers ship with a vendor-specific restore CD rather than with a Microsoft Windows CD-ROM. (If your PC came with a Microsoft Windows CD, or if you bought a retail copy of Windows, skip to the section for your version.)

Some restore CDs give you all the options of a full Microsoft Windows CD, but with better instructions and the convenience of having all the right hardware drivers. Others can do nothing except reformat your hard drive and restore it to the condition it was in when you bought the PC. (This case is the exception I mentioned above that requires a reformat.)

If your restore CD is reformat-only, back up your data files to a network or a removable medium before reinstalling Windows. If you use Windows 98 or Me, back up C:\My Documents, plus the folders inside C:\Windows discussed in the 98/Me section below. If you have Windows 2000 or XP, back up C:\Documents and Settings. Also back up any other folders in which you store your data files.

Windows 98 and ME CDs
These Windows versions keep some important data inside your soon-to-be-erased Windows folder, so you need to copy several of its subfolders to another location. Right-click My Computer and select Explore. Double-click the C: drive icon (in Me, you may then have to click View the entire contents of this drive). Right-click in the right pane and select New, Folder. Name the new folder oldstuff.

Go to the Windows folder (you might have to click View the entire contents of this folder), hold down Ctrl, and select the following subfolders: All Users, Application Data, Desktop, Favorites, Local Settings, Profiles, SendTo, and Start Menu. If you don't see them all, select View, Folder Options (Tools, Folder Options in Me), click the View tab, select Show all files, and click OK. (If you still don't see them all, don't worry about it.) Press Ctrl and drag the folders to C:\oldstuff (see FIGURE 1).

Restart Windows with a start-up disk in your floppy drive. (To make a start-up floppy, insert a disk, select Start, Settings, Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click Startup Disk, Create Disk, and follow the prompts.) At the Startup Menu, select Start computer with CD-ROM support. While the drivers load, insert your Windows CD-ROM.

Unless you're doing a repair reinstall, type the command c:\windows\command\deltree /y c:\windows and press Enter. Deleting your old files could take time, but the /y switch suppresses confirmation prompts, so take a break.

When you're back at the A: prompt, type x:setup, where x is your CD drive letter (it's likely one letter past what it usually is in Windows, so if it's D: in Windows, it's probably E: here). Press Enter and follow the prompts.

Once you're back in Windows, reinstall your graphics card driver. If you have Windows set up for more than one user, you'll also have to re-create each account. Select Start, Settings, Control Panel, Users to do so. It's important that the user names match those in the old installation. If you're not sure, open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\oldstuff\profiles. There you'll find a folder for each registered user name (see FIGURE 2). Don't worry about passwords. Log off and log back on as each user. When you're done, log off and back on one more time, but instead of choosing a user name and a password, press Esc to enter Windows without being a specific user.

Select Start, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt (in Windows 98) or Start, Programs, Accessories, MS-DOS Prompt (in Windows Me). Type xcopy c:\oldstuff\*.* c:\windows /s /h /r /c and press Enter (if you want to know what the xcopy switches do, enter the command xcopy /?). When xcopy asks if it should overwrite a file, press a for All.

When xcopy is through, reboot and log on (as a particular user, if necessary). Open My Documents to make sure all your personal files are where they belong, including your Internet Explorer favorites and your custom Start menu shortcuts.

Now skip ahead to "Finishing the Job."

Windows 2000 and XP CDs
Boot your computer with your Windows CD-ROM inserted. When you get the 'Press any key to boot from CD' message, do so. (If you don't see that message before Windows starts, restart Windows, press the key you're prompted to enter for your PC Setup program, and change the boot order so your CD drive is first.)

At the 'Welcome to Setup' screen, press Enter. The R (repair) option takes you to the Recovery Module, which is useful if Windows won't boot, but it's no help with a reinstallation. Soon you'll be told that there's already a Windows installation on the computer. Press r for a repair reinstall or Esc to begin a complete, destructive one. For a complete restore, select your C: partition and press Enter. When you get the warning that says an operating system is on that partition, press c. When you are asked your partition preference, select Leave the current file system intact (no changes). When you're told that a Windows folder (or Winnt folder for Windows 2000) already exists, press l ('ell') to delete it and create a new one. Follow the series of prompts. When the installation program asks for your name, enter temp.

Once the installation is complete, your system will reboot into Windows, and you'll be logged on as user Temp. If the screen is difficult to read, reinstall your graphics card driver.

If you are reinstalling Windows XP, skip to "For Both Windows XP and 2000."

If you're reinstalling Windows 2000, log off as Temp and back on as Administrator. Now log off and on again, this time as Temp. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings. One of the subfolders will be named Administrator. Another will be named something like Administrator.computername.

Select Start, Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt. Type cd "\documents and settings" and press Enter. Then type xcopy administrator\*.* administrator.computername /s /h /r /c, replacing computername with the last part of that folder's name (after "Administrator.") in Documents and Settings. Now press Enter, and when you're asked about overwriting files or folders, press a for All.

If you have any users on the old installation besides Administrator, continue with the "For Both Windows XP and 2000" section. Otherwise, open Windows Explorer and make sure your data files are where they belong. Then go to Control Panel's Users and Passwords applet and delete the user Temp before skipping to "Finishing the Job."

For Both Windows XP and 2000
Reopen Windows Explorer. Select your C: drive (you may have to click Show the contents of this folder). Right-click in the right pane and select New, Folder. Name the new folder oldstuff. In the left pane, choose the Documents and Settings folder. It should have subfolders for each user from the previous install, plus one for Temp and a few others. Move the folders for your previous user names to oldstuff.

Select Start, Control Panel, User Accounts (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Users and Passwords in Windows 2000). Create an account for each user who was registered before the reinstall. Be sure to use the exact names. They are the same names as the folders you just moved to oldstuff (as shown in FIGURE 2). In Windows XP, at least one user must have administrator privileges.

Log off and back on as each user, before logging back on as Temp. Make sure that you select Log Off and not Switch User at Windows XP's Log Off dialog box (this isn't an issue in Win 2000).

Log on as Temp, select Start, Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt (in XP, Start, All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt), type xcopy c:\oldstuff\*.* "c:\documents and settings" /s /h /r /c, and press Enter. Press a when asked if you want to overwrite a file. Log off Temp and log on to each restored account to make sure everyone's documents and data are where they belong. Log on as an administrator and run Control Panel's User Accounts applet again to remove the user Temp.

Finishing the Job
Now you've got Windows going, but not much else. You may have to reinstall your printer, sound card, and so on. Luckily, if a driver for the gadget came on your Windows or vendor restore CD, it was probably reinstalled automatically.

You'll have to reinstall your applications to reintroduce them to Windows. Some of their settings will not be changed by the reinstallation, but those that were stored in the Registry were wiped out.

Once your Internet connection is running again, browse to Windows Update and download all critical updates for your version (see FIGURE 3). Then visit the sites of your hardware vendors to update your drivers.

After the reinstall, some of your data may not show up where it should. Search for it in both your Application Data and oldstuff folders, and see if you can move it to the folder in which Windows or your apps are looking for it. If you find a folder called Identities with two subfolders whose names are long and indecipherable, try moving the contents of one to the other and see if your data reappears.

You've probably guessed that the final step is deleting the c:\oldstuff folder--and the Administrator folder in Windows 2000. Make this the very last step, however. Wait a couple of days, weeks, or even months until you're confident that all of your needed files are accessible.

How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

Disable WGA Notifications

1.	Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrative permissions.
2.	Make sure that the WGA Notifications version that exists on the computer is a pilot version. The version format for the pilot version is 1.5.0532.x. In this case, you can uninstall versions 527-532 only. For example, you can uninstall versions that range from 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2. To find the WGA Notifications version, follow these steps. a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. b. Double-click Add or Remove Programs, click Windows XP - Software, click Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, and then click Click here for support information. c. In the Support Info dialog box, verify the version number, and then click Close.
3.	Rename the following files by changing the extension to .old: • Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll to %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.old • Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe to %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old
4.	Restart the computer.

Manually uninstall WGA Notifications

1.	Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrative permissions.
2.	Make sure that the WGA Notifications version that exists on the computer is a pilot version. The version format for the pilot version is 1.5.0532.x. In this case, you can uninstall versions 527-532 only. For example, you can uninstall versions that range from 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2. To find the WGA Notifications version, follow these steps: a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. b. Double-click Add or Remove Programs, click Windows XP - Software, click Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, and then click Click here for support information. Note If Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications does not appear, the release version is installed. You cannot uninstall the release version of WGA Notifications. c. In the Support Info dialog box, verify the version number, and then click Close.
3.	Rename the following files by changing the extension to .old: • Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll to %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.old • Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe to %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old
4.	Restart the computer.
5.	Unregister LegitCheckControl.dll by using Regsvr32. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK. b. At the command prompt, type the following, and then press ENTER: Regsvr32 %Windir%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll /u
6.	Restart the computer.
7.	Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
8.	At the command prompt, delete the following files by typing the Del command. Press ENTER after you type each command. • Del %Windir%\system32\wgalogon.old • Del %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old • Del %Windir%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll
9.	At the command prompt, type regedit.
10.	Locate and then right-click the following registry subkeys. Click Delete after you locate each subkey. • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\WgaLogon • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WgaNotify

When starting up Windows, before the desktop appears I get a STOP 0x0000007F blue screen error message.

Possible Solution: If you have Symantec’s Norton Anti-Virus, this problem occurs because there is a limited amount of kernel space available for kernel drivers. For Windows 2000, this limit is 12 KB. If the operating system runs out of kernel space, then the computer displays a blue screen error message. See this web site for more information: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/docid/2002071208532048?Open&src=w (See also: KStackMinFree.reg)

Also, turn OFF Windows XP’s Prefetching.

The Prefetcher component in Windows XP is part of the Memory Manager, and helps to shorten the amount of time it takes to start Windows and programs.

In some configurations, the prefetcher can cause errors (such as drivers not loading after bootup, Code 10 errors, etc.). It has also been said that the application prefetcher does not actually speed up application launching.

To disable the Prefetcher component, use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to locate the EnablePrefetcher value under the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session

Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

Change the value of the EnablePrefetcher value to 0 , and then quit Registry Editor. The next time you start your computer, the Prefetcher component will not start.

You can also adjust how the Prefetch behaves by chaning the value of "EnablePrefetcher" as follows:

0 ---- Disable Prefetching

1 ---- Enable Application Prefetch

2 ---- Enable Boot Prefetch

3 ---- Enable both Boot and Application prefetching (Default value)

5 is not a valid value for this parameter as it is a 2 bit switch.

Even if you keep the prefetch ON, you should periodically delete the contents of the following folder. It's contents will be refreshed in 3 days or immediately if you run the command below. Be sure to reboot

twice after deleting the contents of the folder.

Contents to Delete: c:\windows\prefetch

Rebuild Now (run):

%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you log on to Microsoft Windows, a Microsoft Windows Explorer window may open that displays the contents of the System32 folder.

This behavior also occurs if there is a String value that contains only a single quote character (") as the Value data in the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a null, incomplete, or damaged entry exists in the registry.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Use Registry Editor to view the following two Windows registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Verify that all the values in these keys do not contain any incorrect, incomplete, or null entries (such as "").

MORE INFORMATION

An incorrect entry in the following registry value has been confirmed to cause the behavior described above:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Value: ActiveMovie File Extensions
Value Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: ActMovie.exe /Check

If the value data for this entry is null or appears in Registry Editor as quotation marks, you may experience the problem described above. To correct the problem, change the value data to match the entry above or delete the ActiveMovie File Extensions value.

You can resolve this behavior by deleting the Remainder value that has "" next to it is in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run

If you are uncertain whether an entry is incorrect or incomplete, you may want to delete all entries other than the default Windows entry. The following entry to run the System Tray is the only required Windows default entry:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Value: SystemTray
Value Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: SysTray.exe

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile

Create a New User Profile in Windows XP Professional

1.	Log on as the Administrator or as a user with administrator credentials.
2.	Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3.	Click User Accounts.
4.	Click the Advanced tab, and then click Advanced.
5.	In the left pane, click the Users folder.
6.	On the Action menu, click New User.
7.	Enter the appropriate user information, and then click Create.

Create a New User Profile in Windows XP Home Edition

1.	Log on as the Administrator or as a user with administrator credentials.
2.	Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3.	Click User Accounts.
4.	Under Pick a task, click Create a new account.
5.	Type a name for the user information, and then click Next.
6.	Click an account type, and then click Create Account.

Copy Files to the New User Profile

1.	Log on as a user other than the user whose profile you are copying files to or from.
2.	In Windows Explorer, click Tools, click Folder Options, click the View tab, click Show hidden files and folders, click to clear the Hide protected operating system files check box, and then click OK.
3.	Locate the C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder, where C is the drive on which Windows XP is installed, and Old_Username is the name of the profile you want to copy user data from.
4.	Press and hold down the CTRL key while you click each file and subfolder in this folder, except the following files: • Ntuser.dat • Ntuser.dat.log • Ntuser.ini
5.	On the Edit menu, click Copy.
6.	Locate the C:\Documents and Settings\New_Username folder, where C is the drive on which Windows XP is installed, and New_Username is the name of the user profile that you created in the "Create a New User Profile" section.
7.	On the Edit menu, click Paste.
8.	Log off the computer, and then log on as the new user. Note You must import your e-mail messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the old profile.

How to Manually Remove Programs from the Add or Remove Programs Tool

MORE INFORMATION

The Currently installed programs list in the Add or Remove Programs tool lists all of the Windows-compatible programs that have an uninstall program or feature. Occasionally, a program may not be removed completely, and the registry key that is used to display the program in the Currently installed programs list remains. In this situation, you may need to manually remove the program from the Currently installed programs list in Add or Remove Programs. To do this, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1.	Click Start, and then click Run.
2.	In the Open box, type regedt32, and then click OK.
3.	In Registry Editor, locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
4.	In the left pane, click the Uninstall registry key, and then click Export on the File menu.
5.	In the Export Registry File dialog box that appears, click Desktop in the Save in list, type uninstall in the File name box, and then click Save.
6.	Each key listed under Uninstall in the left pane of Registry Editor represents a program that is displayed in the Currently installed programs list of the Add or Remove Programs tool. To determine which program that each key represents, click the key, and then view the following values in the details pane on the right: DisplayName: The value data for the DisplayName key is the name that is listed in Add or Remove Programs. -and- UninstallString: The value data for the UninstallString key is the program that is used to uninstall the program.
7.	After you identify the registry key that represents the program that you removed but which is still displayed in the Currently installed programs list of Add or Remove Programs, right-click the key in the left pane of the Registry Editor window, and then click Delete. Click Yes in response to the "Are you sure you want to delete this key and all of its subkeys?" message.
8.	On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
9.	Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs. In the Currently installed programs list, verify that the program whose registry key you deleted is no longer listed.
10.	Do one of the following: • If the program list is not correct in Add or Remove Programs, double-click the Uninstall.reg file that you saved to your desktop in step 5 to restore the original list of programs in the registry. -or- • If the program list is correct in Add or Remove Programs, right-click the Uninstall.reg file on your desktop, and then click Delete.