Some Usefull tips for Windows Vista

Access Device Manager From a Command Prompt in Windows Vista
A really quick way to access Device Manger in Windows Vista is from the command prompt. Just type a quick command and Device Manager starts right up! Follow these simple steps to access Device Manager from a command prompt.

Accessing Device Manger from within the Computer Management utility couldn't be simpler. Follow these steps to access Device Manager from within the Computer Management utility in Windows Vista.

Access Device Manager From the Control Panel System Applet in Windows Vista
One way to access Device Manger in Windows Vista is from the System applet found in the Control Panel. Follow these simple steps to access Device Manager from Control Panel's System applet:

Automatically Log On To Windows Vista
If security isn't a big concern, having Windows Vista log on to your user account automatically can save you tons of time during startup.

Backup Registry Keys in Windows Vista
Always backup registry keys before making changes in the Windows Registry. Export registry keys from the Windows Vista Registry with these easy steps.

Backup the Entire Registry in Windows Vista
Backing up the entire Windows Vista registry can be useful when making many changes to the Windows Registry. Follow these easy steps to backup the entire registry in Windows Vista.

Change Drive Letters in Windows Vista
For any number of reasons, you may want to change the drive letter of a hard drive partition, CD or DVD drive in Windows Vista. The Computer Management tool in Vista makes this job easy.

Change the Start Menu Power Button Action
By default, Windows Vista sets the start menu power button to sleep mode. Save yourself some time and energy by configuring the power button to do just that - power down your PC.

Change the Windows Vista Product Key Code
Changing the Windows Vista product key may be necessary if you discover your current key is pirated or illegal but you don't want to reinstall Windows Vista to activate your new legal key.

Change Your Windows Vista Logon Password
Changing your password in Windows Vista is pretty easy and is something you should do if you're having problems remembering your current password.

Create a Windows Vista Logon Password
Creating a Windows Vista account password for the first time is very simple. You're just a few clicks away from setting up a new password for your Windows Vista account.

Create a Windows Vista Password Reset Disk
Creating a Windows Vista password reset disk can really come in handy if you forget your account password. With it, you can easily reset your password and get right in to Windows Vista.

Delete Registry Keys in Windows Vista
You may need to delete registry keys from the Windows Registry to fix a problem or complete a registry hack. Remove registry keys from the Windows Vista Registry with these easy steps.

Delete Your Windows Vista Logon Password
Deleting your Windows Vista account password will allow you to completely bypass the normal logon process. While it isn't a very security-minded thing to do, removing your Windows Vista password might be something to consider if you have problems remembering your password.

Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows Vista
You may want to disable a device in Device Manager if you want Windows Vista to ignore it, if it's using valuable system resources, or maybe as part of a troubleshooting step.

Disable Low Disk Space Checks
Are those low disk space warnings in Windows Vista annoying you? Would you like to speed up Windows Vista a little? Find out how to easily turn off the low disk space warnings.

Disable Taskbar Button Grouping
Have you ever "lost" a window because it was grouped with other windows in the taskbar at the bottom of your Windows XP or Vista PC? Taskbar grouping may be handy for some but for most it's just an annoyance. Stop Windows from doing this once and for all.

Disable the Automatic Restart on System Failure in Windows Vista
Windows Vista is setup by default to restart immediately after a major system problem. This reboot usually happens too fast to see the error message on screen.

Disable Thumbnail Previews in Windows Vista Explorer
By default, Windows Vista generates a preview thumbnail for nearly every file when viewed in Windows Explorer. Yes - thumbnails can be really useful for quick photo viewing, but disabling these thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer can really speed things up.

Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows Vista
Each hardware devices listed in Device Manager must be enabled if you plan on utilizing it. Follow these easy steps to enable a device from within Device Manager in Windows Vista

Find the Windows Vista Product Key Code
The Windows Vista product key code can be difficult to locate. You need your Windows Vista key code to reinstall Windows Vista so follow these simple steps to locate the key.

Find What Service Pack Level Your Windows Vista PC Is Running
Knowing what service pack is installed on your Windows Vista system is important for a number of reasons.

"Help! I Forget My Windows Vista Password!"
So you forgot your Windows Vista password? Don't worry - it happens to the best of us. We're supposed to use secure passwords by making them difficult to remember but sometimes we make them so hard to remember that we forget them ourselves!

"How Do I Open Windows Vista Device Manager?"
You may need to open Device Manager in Windows Vista for a number of reasons. Open Device Manager in Windows Vista from the Computer Management utility, the System applet in Control Panel, or from a command prompt.

Restore Registry Keys in Windows Vista
You can restore a registry key after a registry edit if you have a backup if the key. Import registry keys into Windows Vista Registry with these easy steps.

Top 5 Windows Vista System Utility Gadgets
Windows Vista gadgets can do more than show the weather and keep you updated on the latest news. The Windows Vista Sidebar can also be used to install gadgets that are useful as system utilities that keep track of the resources Windows Vista is using.

View a Device's Status in Device Manager in Windows Vista
Viewing the status of a piece of hardware is necessary if it's not working properly or if you were warned of an issue by a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager.

"Why is There a Black Arrow in Device Manager?"
A black arrow next to a hardware device in Device Manager might not be a problem. No matter how the black arrow showed up in Device Manger, there's usually a really easy solution.

"Windows Vista: The Missing Manual" Book Review
Windows Vista - The Missing Manual lives up fully to the phrase stamped on the front of the book - The book that should have been in the box. You can say that again.

Some usefull tips for Windows XP

Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows XP
You might need to disable a device in Device Manager if you want Windows XP to ignore the device, if it's using valuable system resources, or perhaps as part of some troubleshooting.

One really quick way to access Device Manger in Windows XP is from the command prompt. Just type a quick command and Device Manager starts right up! Follow these easy steps to access Device Manager from a command prompt.

Access Device Manager From the Computer Management Utility in Windows
Accessing Device Manger via the Computer Management utility is very easy. Follow these steps to access Device Manager from within the Computer Management utility.

Access Device Manager From the Control Panel System Applet in Windows XP
One of the ways to access Device Manger in Windows XP is from the System applet found in the Control Panel. Follow these simple steps to access Device Manager from Control Panel's System applet.

Backup Registry Keys in Windows XP
Always backup registry keys before making changes in the Windows Registry. Export registry keys from the Windows XP Registry with these easy steps.

Backup the Entire Registry in Windows XP
Backing up the entire Windows XP registry can be useful when making several changes to the Windows Registry at once. Follow these easy steps to backup the entire registry in Windows XP.

Change Drive Letters in Windows XP
After a new hard drive installation or maybe just to keep your system organized, you may want to change the drive letter of a hard drive partition, CD or DVD drive in Windows XP. The Computer Management tools makes this a snap.

Change Your Windows XP Logon Password
Changing your password in Windows XP is easy and is something you should think about doing if you're having problems remembering the one you're using now.

Create a Windows XP Logon Password
If you've never had a password before, creating a password for your Windows XP logon account is very simple. You're just a few clicks away from setting up a new password for your Windows XP account.

Create a Windows XP Password Reset Disk
Creating a Windows XP password reset disk is a great way to protect yourself from the possibility of forgetting your account password. With it, you can easily reset your password and get right in to Windows XP.

Create the Blue Screen of Death in Windows XP
Did you know that you can actually create your own Blue Screen of Death - BSOD - on your Windows XP PC? Believe it or not, Microsoft created this possibility in XP as long as you're willing to make a harmless registry change.

Delete Registry Keys in Windows XP
You may need to delete registry keys from the Windows Registry to fix some problems or complete certain registry hacks. Remove registry keys from the Windows XP Registry with these easy steps.

Delete Your Windows XP Logon Password
As long as you're the only user on your PC, deleting your Windows XP account password will allow you to completely bypass the logon process. It's not a secure thing to do, but it might help if you're the only user on your PC and you keep forgetting your password!

Disable Error Reporting in Windows XP
Windows XP's error reporting feature is turned on by default. You may want to disable error reporting for privacy concerns, if you're not connected to the Internet all the time, or simply to stop being annoyed by it.

Disable Internet Explorer In Windows XP Using A Dummy Proxy Server
One way of disabling Internet Explorer in Windows XP is by using a dummy proxy server address inside the IE connection settings, disabling the browser from accessing anything on the Internet.

Disable Internet Explorer In Windows XP Using The Defaults Utility
Tired of using Internet Explorer? Disable it in Windows XP by using the Set Program Access and Defaults utility available as part of all Windows XP installations with at least Service Pack 2 installed.

Disable Taskbar Button Grouping
Have you ever "lost" a window because it was grouped with other windows in the taskbar at the bottom of your Windows XP or Vista PC? Taskbar grouping may be handy for some but for most it's just an annoyance. Stop Windows from doing this once and for all.

Disable the Automatic Restart on System Failure in Windows XP
Windows XP is programmed by default to restart after a major error, like one that causes a BSOD. This is usually too fast to record the error message. Follow these easy steps to disable the automatic restart feature for system failures in Windows XP.

Disable the Windows XP Splash Screen
The process to disable the splash screen in Windows XP is very simple. A single configuration change will stop the splash screen from coming up during the boot process.

Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows XP
All hardware in Device Manager must be enabled if you plan on using it. Follow these easy steps to enable a device from within Device Manager in Windows XP.

Enter Windows XP Safe Mode Using Msconfig
Entering Safe Mode in Windows XP is usually done by pressing F8 but this can sometimes be difficult. This tip will get you in to Safe Mode easier using the System Configuration Utility, often called "msconfig".

Find What Service Pack Level Your Windows XP PC Is Running
Determining the latest service pack that is currently installed on your Windows XP PC can be important for a number of reasons.

"Help! I Forget My Windows XP Password!"
So you forgot your Windows XP password? Don't worry - it happens to the best of us. We're supposed to use secure passwords by making them difficult to remember but sometimes we make them so hard to remember that we forget them ourselves!

Hide Hidden Files and Folders in Windows XP
Hide hidden files from view with these easy steps. Showing hidden files isn't normally necessary and keeping them hidden is usually a good idea. Disable hidden file viewing easily.

"How Do I Open Windows XP Device Manager?"
You might want to open Device Manager in Windows XP for several reasons. Open Device Manager in Windows XP from the Computer Management utility, the System applet in Control Panel, or from a command prompt.

"How Do I Remove Internet Explorer From Windows XP?"
There are all kinds of reasons to want to remove Internet Explorer from your Windows XP PC. Alternative browsers are sometimes faster, provide better security and contain great features that Internet Explorer users only dream of.

Prevent Programs From Stealing Focus in Windows XP Using Tweak UI
Windows XP is setup by default to prevent programs from stealing focus but this setting is sometimes changed. If programs are stealing focus from your current window, follow these instructions to download, install, and use the TweakUI program from Microsoft to stop this from happening any longer.

Prevent Programs From Stealing Focus in Windows XP
By default, Windows XP is setup to prevent programs from stealing focus. If programs are stealing focus from your current window then this setting has been changed. Follow these instructions to prevent this from happening from now on.

Restore Registry Keys in Windows XP
You can restore a registry key after a registry edit if you have a backup if the registry key. Import registry keys into Windows XP Registry with these easy steps.

Retrieve the Administrator Password in Windows XP
The administrator password in Windows XP is the password used to access the Administrator account. You will at times need the administrator password so if you don't know it, you'll need to get your hands on it one way or another.

Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows XP
Show hidden files and folders in Windows XP by following these easy steps. You may need to view hidden files and folders to troubleshoot certain problems.

Start Windows XP System Restore From a Command Prompt
Some issues are so bad that System Restore can not be started in Windows XP in Normal Mode or Safe Mode. Fortunately there is an easy way to run System Restore from a command line interface.

View a Device's Status in Device Manager in Windows XP
You might need to view the current status of a piece of hardware if it's not working properly or if you were warned that there might be a problem by a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager.

"What Is the Default Administrator Password For Windows XP?"
Default administrator passwords might exist for some things, but in Windows XP you'll have to work a little to get the administrator password.

"Why is There a Red X in Device Manager?"
See a small red x next to a hardware device in Device Manager? You may have made a change on purpose that resulted in that red x showing up or there may actually be a problem.

How to make a moving bootscreen

Here’s what we can do, to setup the moving wallpaper :

1. Download Vital Desktop.
2. Install it and open VDConfig.exe
3. Select the installed screensaver and that’s it.
4. Enjoy your screensaver as desktop!

How to change bootscreen of your computer

The following programs and files will be used to change the boot screen:

1) Resource Hacker
2) Jasc Paint Shop Pro (Version used here is version 7.04)
3) Color Palettes (16.pal & win.pal)

After installing Paint Shop Pro and Resource Hacker, we are going to create a working directory on our hard drive. I will be using the directory C:\Bootscreen.

Copy from your Windows\System32 folder the file "ntoskrnl.exe" into the working directory.
Also extract the color Palette zip file to the working folder.

Start Resource Hacker open the "ntoskrnl.exe" and go to "Bitmap" - "1" -"1033".
Next click on "Action" - "Save [Bitmap :1 : 1033]..." to the working directory, giving it a name of your choice.

Next start Paint Shop Pro, and load the bmp file you saved in the previous step.
Click on "Colors" - "Load Palette" - make sure to choose "Maintain indexes", browse to the location of "16.pal" and click open.

Now the boot screen is shown,

and you can rebuild it as you wish, using Paint Shop Pro.

Once finished, go back to "Colors" - "Load Palette" - "Maintain indexes" - and browse to "win.pal" and "open".

The bitmap will turn black again.
Click "File" and "Save". Paint Shop Pro can be closed now.

Next step to do, is to load your modified bmp into the "ntoskrnl.exe"
To do so, start Resource Hacker, open the "ntoskrnl.exe" and go to "Bitmap" - "1" -"1033".
Next click on "Action" - "Replace Bitmap..."

Click on "Open file with new bitmap", browse to your modified bitmap file and click "Replace"

Next click "File" and "Save"

To replace the "ntoskrnl.exe" of your running system, reboot your computer hitting F8 and starting it with command prompt.
Replace the ntoskrnl.exe

How to change text on Start menu

I’ve read a number of articles on the internet about changing the text on the Start button in XP. On more than one occasion I’ve seen references to a five (5) letter limitation when the button is renamed. I always wondered if this was true or just an assumption someone made because the default ‘start’ just happened to fit the button size. So, I decided to run a test and see if there really was a five character limit.

As you can see from the screen capture above it would seem that the five character limit isn’t etched in stone. The button expanded to accept the text I entered with no problem. I’ve been using the system for a few weeks now with no adverse effects. That’s not to say I won’t discover something down the road a bit, but for now I feel comfortable with the changes. If you’d like to try the procedure I used, the instructions follow.

Step 1 – Modify Explorer.exe File

In order to make the changes, the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows needs to be edited. Since explorer.exe is a binary file it requires a special editor. For purposes of this article I have used Resource Hacker. Resource Hacker^TM is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems. Navigate here to download Resource Hacker.

The first step is to make a backup copy of the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer. Place it in a folder somewhere on your hard drive where it will be safe. Start Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer.exe as shown in Fig. 01.

Fig. 01

The category we are going to be using is String Table. Expand it by clicking the plus sign then navigate down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout rather than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable as shown in Fig. 02. We’re going to modify item 578, currently showing the word “start” just as it displays on the current Start button.

Fig. 02

There is no magic here. Just double click on the word “start” so that it’s highlighted, making sure the quotation marks are not part of the highlight. They need to remain in place, surrounding the new text that you’ll type. Go ahead and type your new entry. In my case I used ElderGeek as shown in Fig. 03.

Fig. 03

Compare the screen captures in Fig. 02 and Fig. 03 and you’ll notice that after the new text string has been entered the Compile Script button that was grayed out in Fig. 02 is now active in Fig. 03. I won’t get into what’s involved in compiling a script, but suffice it to say it’s going to make this exercise worthwhile. Click Compile Script and then save the altered file using the Save As command on the File Menu. Do not use the Save command – Make sure to use the Save As command and choose a name for the file. See Fig. 04. Save the newly named file to C:\Windows.

Fig. 04

Step 2 – Modify the Registry

Now that the modified explorer.exe has been created it’s necessary to modify the registry so the file will be recognized when the user logs on to the system. If you don’t know how to access the registry I’m not sure this article is for you, but just in case it’s a temporary memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else) Run and type regedit in the Open: field. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

Fig. 05

In the right pane (Fig. 05), double click the Shell entry to open the Edit String dialog box as shown in Fig. 06. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.

Fig. 06

Close Registry Editor and either log off the system and log back in, or reboot the entire system if that’s your preference. If all went as planned you should see your new Start button with the revised text.

How to remix Songs

1. Get a MP3, CD, or other digital format of the song you want to remix.
2. Download Audacity if you haven't already done so.
3. Download a beat. Try Sound Click.
4. Import or open the song onto Audacity.
5. Import the beat onto Audacity.
6. Edit the tracks however you want. Strip it, separate the verses from the choruses, change the pitch/speed/tempo, phase it, do what ever you want.
7. When you're satisfied with the sound, export it into an MP3. Download the LAME MP3 codec and install it per the instructions for Audacity.

Trikkk-How to make your internet connection fast...

1. Do some basic maintenance on your PC. Run Disk Defrag, a scan disk, a virus scan, a malware scan, and clear your recycle bin. An unusually slow Internet connection experience is often the only sign that your computer is infected with viruses or other malware. Delete old files and temporary files. Never allow the free space on your C: drive to be less than 10% of the total size or twice the installed RAM (which ever is larger). A well maintained PC will operate much better than a PC that has never had any maintenance. Google or your local computer repair store should be able to help you with this if you don't know how.
2. Reset Your Home Network. Sometimes restarting your home network if you have one will drastically increase the speed of your connection.
3. Optimize your cache or temporary Internet files. These files improve your Internet connection performance by not downloading the same file over and over. When a web site puts their logo graphic on every page your computer only downloads it when it changes. If you delete the temporary files it must be downloaded again. if you disable the cache, it must be downloaded every time you view a page that uses it. This can be done by opening Internet Explorer, clicking on "Tools" at the top and choosing "Internet Options". On the General tab, click the "Settings" button next to Temporary Internet Files. Set Check for newer versions to "Automatically". Set amount of disk space to use to 2% of your total disk size or 512 MB, which ever is smaller. On Firefox, click "Tools" then "Options," and go to the privacy tab. Then click on the Cache tab within this.
4. Never bypass your router. Most routers include a firewall that is very difficult for hackers to defeat. If you don't need to use Wireless then hook your computer directly to your router. Routers will only slow down your connection by a few Milli-seconds. You won't notice the difference but the hackers will.
5. If you are using a Wireless router, make sure it doesn't conflict with a cordless phone or wireless camera. Wireless routers come in two varieties; 802.11bg (2.4Ghz) or 802.11a (5.8Ghz) If you are using a 2.4Ghz Cordless phone and 2.4Ghz Wireless router then your Internet connection speed will slow while you use the cordless phone. The same is true of wireless security cameras. Check on your phone and camera, if it's 900Mhz then it's fine. If it says 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz then it could be the cause of your slow connection speed while they're in use.
6. Call your Internet service provider (ISP). Sometimes you just have bad service. They can usually tell if your connection is substandard without having a technician come to your home. Just be nice and ask.
7. Upgrade your computer. If your computer is slow, it doesn't matter how fast your Internet connection is, the whole thing will just seem slow. You can only access the Internet as fast as your PC will allow you to.
8. Replace your old cable modem. Any solid-state electronics will degrade over time due to accumulated heat damage. Your broadband modem will have a harder and harder time 'concentrating' on maintaining a good connection as it gets older (signal to noise ratios will go down, and the number of resend requests for the same packet will go up). An after-market cable modem as opposed to a cable-company modem will frequently offer a better connection.
9. Often your connection speed is slow because other programs are using it. To test if other programs are accessing the Internet without your knowing, Click Start, Click Run. Type "cmd" (without quotes). Type "netstat -b 5 > activity.txt". After a minute or so, hold down Ctrl and press C. This has created a file with a list of all programs using your Internet connection. Type activity.txt to open the file and view the program list. Ctrl Alt Delete and open up the Task Manager. Go to the process menu and delete those processes that are stealing your valuable bandwidth. (NOTE: Deleting processes may cause certain programs to not function properly)
10. After you have tried all this try your connection again and see if it's running any