Data that Matters

DATE: 28-Mar-2008
Filed under: Windows

Windows Tip Number 9
Do file Maintenance from the Open Dialog Box

Files can be deleted and renamed from the Open dialog box. While in an open dialog box right click on the file and you can either rename or delete the file. There is a caveat though; in order to perform these tasks the file must be closed.

DATE: 20-Mar-2008
Filed under: Windows

Windows Tip Number 8
Zip-up your Files in Windows XP Explorer

Files can be zipped and unzipped from Windows Explorer. To access the Windows zipping utility, open Windows Explorer, click on the files to be zipped. (Click on the first file and click and hold down the CTRL key and choose additional files.) Once you have chosen the last file or folders to be zipped right click on anyone of the selected files or folders and choose Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder. The Windows zipping utility will pick-up one of the names of the files that were chosen as the name of the zipped file. Right click on this file and choose Rename to give the file a more descriptive name.

DATE: 19-Mar-2008
Filed under: Sites, Windows

Old Software Versions and Updates

The other day after trying to run a training video on my Windows 2000 laptop I visited Apple to download the required QuickTime plug-in. It was then that I noticed that the current version of QuickTime required the minimum of Windows XP SP2. I did some additional research and found out that Apple no longer supports Windows 2000 and that QuickTime 6 a version that will work on my laptop was no longer available from Apple.

Back to Google, where I found several sites that offered old versions of software including QuickTime 6:

Old Software offers older versions of many popular titles. Software is broken into categories including a category for cell phones & mobiles, BIOS, drivers…

Oldware offers a long list: 1831 archived software versions available for download.

OldApps also offers a pretty extensive categorized list of older applications; providing 2787 old versions of 192 programs.


Another extensive categorized list can be found at the site Old Version, which is where I found QuickTime 6. Old Version also offers multiple versions of many titles and the site boasts that it features 2417 versions of 181 programs.

DATE: 14-Mar-2008 Filed under: Windows, DOS, System Tweaks & Utilities
A Selection of DOS and Windows Based Hard Drive Utilities
Windows Disk DOS Utilities You will need administrator rights to run some of these DOS commands. Some commands like the Format, ChkNtfs, Convert and Fdisk commands can only be accessed from DOS and not from the DOS prompt. You can access DOS by using a DOS boot disk.
CHKDSK	Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS	Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CONVERT	Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
DISKPART	Replaces FDISK in Windows XP and Vista
DISKPART REPAIR	Repair a RAID-5 volume.
FDISK	Used to view existing partitions, delete, and create partitions
FORMAT	Sets-up disk for files and folders.
RECOVER	Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
Windows Disk Utilities These are built in Windows XP Utilities.
Disk Properties	Displays used and free space on a hard drive, and includes a button for Disk Clean Up. Right click on a drive and choose Properties
Disk Cleanup	Used to clean out a verity of folders including the Recycle Bin and Temporary Internet Files.
Scan Disk	Used to scan the disk for errors. In Windows XP Scan Disk must be scheduled to start at start-up if hard drive fixes are needed. Click on the Disk Properties Tools tab to access Scan Disk and Defrag.
De-fragmentation	Scans the file system and rejoins any split files back into consecutive pieces.

DATE: 12-Mar-2008
Filed under: Windows, Portable Applications, How to

Auto-start your Portable Applications Menu

1. Open My Computer and navigate to your portable device
2. Right click on the StartPortableApps.exe and choose Send to-Desktop(create shortcut)
3. Verify that the shortcut has been added to your desktop.
4. If needed, click on the folders button on your toolbar to switch to a two pane view.
5. Expand the C:\ drive, Documents and Settings, your user name, Start Menu, and Programs folders.
6. With the desktop still viewable in the right pane, right click on the StartPortableApps.exe shortcut and choose Cut.
7. In the left hand pane click on the Start-up folder, right click and choose Paste. The icon for the StartPortableApps.exe should appear in the Start-up folder.
8. Make sure that your portable device is plugged in to a USB port and restart your computer.
9. An icon for your portable applications menu should appear in your tray. You can now access your portable applications menu whenever you start windows. In order to access your portable application menu your portable device must be plugged in before starting your computer.

DATE: 22-Feb-2008
Filed under: Windows, Portable Applications, Hacking

Two Interesting Uses for Windows PE

Windows PE or AIK is short for Windows Preinstall Environment. Recently I have come across a couple of interesting uses for Windows PE.

J.U.D.E

J.U.D.E used in conjunction with Windows PE, provides a bootable desktop environment for your USB drive that includes an application menu, desktop wallpaper, and desktop icons for all the applications on your portable drive. Windows PE is first installed on your operating system and then JUDE. The JUDE wizard will walk you through the process of installing JUDE on a USB drive of your choice. Your system must support booting from a USB device.

Malware Removal Starter Kit

The Malware Removal Starter Kit combines Windows PE and a set of tools that will allow you conduct offline scans for malware and resources for virus removal.

The process of creating a bootable removal tool is as follows:

Task 1: Install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK)
Download the AIK  image and burn it to a DVD, restart your system and follow the installation instructions.

Task 2: Download the Malware-Scanning Tools and Utilities
In order to insure that you are using the most up to date signature files use the most current versions of the following three: cleaner, scanner, and removal tools.

• avast! Virus Cleaner from Alwil Software
• McAfee AVERT Stinger, a stand-alone virus scanner from McAfee
• Malicious Software Removal Tool from Microsoft
• Spybot - Search & Destroy from Spybot Search and Destroy
• Drive Manage a freeware drive analysis tool
• System Spec a freeware system program that specifies the current installed software

Task 3: Create the Malware Removal Starter Kit CD-ROM
Using AIK and the DOS Prompt compile a bootable disk. Although the command prompt processes must be completed in one sitting the process should prove to be an interesting.

DATE: 19-Feb-2008
Filed under: USB Devices, Windows, How-to

Quick Sync Your Files without
Installing Syncing Software

You can quickly sync files from your desktop to a folder of your choice on your USB drive. Here’s how.

1. Create a folder on your USB drive.
2. Right click on the folder and choose Send to Desktop (create shortcut).
3. Drag the files to the desktop shortcut and they will be added to the folder on your USB device.

DATE: 13-Feb-2008
Filed under: Windows

Quick Start your Projects

There are several ways to open files. One method is to use the Open command in the program in which the file was created. Another method is to use your My Recent Documents file shortcuts to open a document. The trouble with this method is, if the file happens to be a HTML file, the file be opened in your default browser. However, what if you wanted to edit the file in Dreamweaver?  Right click on the file and choose Open With and choose the correct program from the list, in this case you would choose Dreamweaver.

DATE: 7-Feb-2008
Filed under:  Windows

Quick Folder Sizes in Windows Explorer

To get a quick directory size hover your mouse over a directory. It will list the folder size and a partial list of what is stored in the folder. To obtain the size of a directory and the number of files it contains right-click on the directory and choose properties.

DATE: 3-Feb-2008
Filed under:  Windows

Use Windows Explorer to FTP your Files to a Server

To use Windows Explorer as a FTP client open a fresh copy of Windows Explorer. I usually open my local www folder to the left of the FTP window. In the FTP window, ensure the address bar is accessible. Type the address of your servers FTP address. It will start with FTP and include your domain name (ftp:\domainname.com). If you are using a sub-domain then the address will look something like this:

Click Enter and if your host is available you will get a dialog box informing you that anonymous logins are not allowed. Click OK and go to your File menu. Click on Login As. Enter you username-usually it is same as your domain name, and your password.

Simply drag your updated files from your www folder to the servers www folder. You will be prompted whether or not you want to replace the files on the server with those from your hard drive. Click Yes.

DATE:  21-Jan-2008
Filed under: Windows, USB Devices

Changing Drive Letters in Windows XP

If you are having drive letter conflicts after plugging in an additional USB drive, USB hub or card reader. Run USB Driver Lister to see where the drive conflicts are.

Next:

1. Right click on My Computer and choose Manage.
2. Choose Computer Management Console. On the left hand side click on the scroll bar in the lower portion and scroll to the device where you are having conflicts.
3. Right click on the device and choose Change Drive Letters and Paths.
4. Click the change button and choose a drive letter that is not being used.
5. Click Yes on the confirm window and OK on the Change Drive Letter for the drive.

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Additional Resources

Windows XP Home Page
How to change drive letter assignments in Windows XP

DATE:  13-Dec-2007
Filed under: Microsoft, USB Utilities

Although Microsoft offers quit a few freeware programs Microsoft only offers one USB utility. Microsoft’s USB Flash Drive Manager allows you to copy files between drives, back-up and restore drives, manage back-up libraries and save wireless network configuration settings to an USB device.

Unfortunately the USB Flash Drive Manager is not a portable utility and must be installed on your hard drive. The USB device back-ups are stored in a directory in the My Document folder.