Restrictions for Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and 7 - Part 2

NOTE: If you want to remove the restriction, then simply delete the DWORD value or set its value to 0

6.) Restrict adding/deleting items from Toolbars:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoToolbarCustomize and set its value to 1

7.) Restrict adding/deleting toolbars:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoBandCustomize and set its value to 1

8.) Restrict right-click in Start Menu:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoChangeStartMenu and set its value to 1

9.) Restrict Desktop Cleanup Wizard:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoDesktopCleanupWizard and set its value to 1

10.) Restrict notification at low disk space:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoLowDiskSpaceChecks and set its value to 1

11.) Restrict Taskbar Context Menu:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoTrayContextMenu and set its value to 1

12.) Restrict Programs to run:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun

Create String value with any name, like 1 and set its value to the program's EXE file.

e.g., If you want to restrict msconfig, then create a String value 1 and set its value to msconfig.exe. If you want to restrict more programs, then simply create more String values with names 2, 3 and so on and set their values to the program's exe.

13.) Restrict Registry Editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\System

Create DWORD value DisableRegistryTools and set its value to 1

14.) Restrict Task Manager:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\System

Create DWORD value DisableTaskMgr and set its value to 1

15.) Restrict Writing to USB Drives:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Current Control Set\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

Create DWORD value WriteProtect and set its value to 1

Restrictions for Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and 7 - Part 1

Following is a list of some interesting restrictions, which can be made in Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and 7. Like you can restrict Display properties, taskbar properties, folder options, etc. All tricks are based on Registry editing. So I'll tell the key name and the value, that you have to create for the restriction. If the key is not present, then simply create it.

NOTE: If you want to remove the restriction, then simply delete the DWORD value or set its value to 0

So here we start:

1.) Restrict Display Properties:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\System

Create DWORD value NoDispCPL and set its value to 1

2.) Restrict Taskbar Properties:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoSetTaskbar and set its value to 1

3.) Restrict Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoFolderOptions and set its value to 1

4.) Restrict Locking/Unlocking the taskbar:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value LockTaskbar and set its value to 1

5.) Restrict Active Desktop:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

Create DWORD value NoActiveDesktop and set its value to 1

Delete an "undeletable" file in Windows XP

Have you ever tried to delete a file in Windows Explorer and received the error message that it could not delete the file because it was in use? This can happen even when you know for a fact that the file is not in use.

You may open a command prompt and try to delete the file with the Delete command. But this method also fails.

Here's how you can delete an "undeletable" file. Follow these steps:

1. Close all open programs.
2. Open a command prompt.
3. Right-click the taskbar, and select Task Manager.
4. On the Processes tab, select Explorer.exe, and click the End Process button.
5. Minimize Task Manager, but don't close it.
6. At the command prompt, use the Delete command to remove the file, and close the command prompt.
7. In Task Manager, go to File | New Task (Run).
8. In the Create New Task dialog box, enter Explorer.exe, and click OK.
9. Close Task Manager.

Create a right-click command prompt option

You can right-click a folder to get a list of actions you can apply to it. Here’s a way to create an action on that right-click menu that opens a command prompt window with that folder as the current directory. In a text editor such as Notepad, type the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here]
@=”Command &Prompt Here”
[HKEY_CLASSES-ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here\command]
@=”cmd.exe /k pushd %L”

Save the file with any name you want, with a .reg extension. Then double-click the saved file and choose Yes to merge the file’s information into the Registry. You can delete the file. Right-click any folder and you’ll see the CommandPrompt Here option.

Adjusting System Restore values

The new System Restore feature in Windows XP automatically backs up a snapshot of your system, including your Registry, every 24 hours. It also saves restore points for 90 days. Neither of these values is directly editable in the System Restore program, but you can change them in the Registry. Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore

You’ll find an assortment of settings here. To change the interval between automatically created restore points, change the RPGlobalInterval setting. To change the number of days that a restore point is retained, change the RPLifeInterval setting.

System Restore time intervals are measured in seconds, not days, so you must convert the number of days you want into seconds. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, so multiply 86,400 by the number of days you want to determine the value. There are 3,600 seconds in an hour.

Change the desktop cleanup frequency

Through Display Properties (Desktop tab, Customize Desktop button, General tab), you can turn on and off a feature that runs the Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days. You don’t have an option to set a different interval there, but you can change the interval in the Registry. To do so, go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz

Change the Days Between Clean Up Value to some other number of days (in decimal format).

Boot Windows XP Fast...

To make windows XP boot really fast follow the following steps:

1. Open notepad.exe, type "del c:\windows\prefetch\ntosboot-*.* /q" (without the quotes) & save as "ntosboot.bat" in c:\
2. From the Start menu, select "Run..." & type "gpedit.msc".
3. Double click "Windows Settings" under "Computer Configuration" and double click again on "Shutdown" in the right window.
4. In the new window, click "add", "Browse", locate your "ntosboot.bat" file & click "Open".
5. Click "OK", "Apply" & "OK" once again to exit.

Lots Of Windows Xp Tips - Part 2

 11. Display Hibernate Option on the Shut Down dialog
       For some reason, Hibernate isn't available from the default Shut Down dialog. But you can enable it simply enough, by holding down the SHIFT key while the dialog is visible. Now you see it, now you don't!

12. Enable ClearType on the Welcome Screen!
      As laptop users and other LCD owners are quickly realizing, Microsoft's ClearType technology in Windows XP really makes a big difference for readability. But the this feature is enabled on a per-user basis in Windows XP, so you can't see the effect on the Welcome screen; it only appears after you logon.

But you can fix that. Fire up the Registry Editor and look for the following keys:



HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\FontSmoothing (String Value)
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\FontSmoothingType

(Hexadecimal DWORD Value)

Make sure both of these values are set to 2 and you'll have ClearType enabled on the Welcome screen and on each new user by default.

Lots Of Windows Xp Tips - Part 1

01. Lock XP Workstation 


You can lock your XP workstation with two clicks of the mouse. Create a new shortcut on your desktop using a right mouse click, and enter 'rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation' in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That's it -- just double click on it and your computer will be locked. And if that's not easy enough, Windows key + L will do the same.

02. Remove Windows XP system software 


XP hides some system software you might want to remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can tickle it and make it disgorge everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file /windows/inf/sysoc.inf, search for the word 'hide' and remove it. You can then go to the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components and there will be your prey, exposed and vulnerable.

03. New commands


For those skilled in the art of DOS batch files, XP has a number of interesting new commands. These include 'eventcreate' and 'eventtriggers' for creating and watching system events, 'typeperf' for monitoring performance of various subsystems, and 'schtasks' for handling scheduled tasks. As usual, typing the command name followed by /? will give a list of options -- they're all far too baroque to go into here.

Fix “Task Manager has been Disabled by Your Administrator”

when you try to run Task Manager, Windows shows following error message:

Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator.

There are 2 possible reasons behind this problem:

• Your system administrator applied the restriction using Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor.
• Your system has been infected with Virus and it has disabled the Task Manager.

The 10 most useful Word shortcuts

Keystroke	Function	Notes
Shift + F3	Toggles through capitalization options.	This one isn’t perfect — for instance, it insists on capitalizing articles and prepositions in Title Case mode — but it’s still a big timesaver.
Ctrl + Shift + N	Applies the Normal style.	If you work with documents that are riddled with obscure and specialized styles (typically other people’s), it’s handy to turn them into Normal paragraphs on the fly.
Ctrl + Shift + C	Copies the formatting of selected text.	Once you’ve copied the format, you can press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste the formatting onto a new selection. Yeah, I know — Format Painter does this, too. But Format Painter forgets the formatting as soon as you’re finished with it. This shortcut remembers what you copied until you close out of Word.
Alt + F9	Toggles the display of field codes on and off.	Unless you work with field shading turned on — and I don’t know many users who do — you can’t necessarily tell what’s literal text and what’s being generated by an underlying field code. A quick peek using this shortcut can prevent the headache of inexplicable changes and unwanted editing consequences.
F4	Repeats your most recent action.	This might be the all-time best shortcut (except for Undo, which I’m not including in this list because for me, at least, it’s like breathing and requires no conscious thought). The F4 shortcut will repeat nearly all the actions you take on document text: typing: formatting, deleting.It will also let you repeat the action of adding or removing table rows, but it isn’t well implemented with tables overall. For instance, changing table properties is not replicable via this shortcut.
Ctrl + H	Opens the Find And Replace dialog box with the Replace tab selected.	Replace functionality is my constant companion, so this one is essential for me. Ctrl + F opens to the Find tab if you just want to locate something in a document (or make sure something isn’t in there).
Ctrl + drag text or an object	Creates a copy of the text or object.	Apologies to the keyboard purists, but this useful trick does require mouse action. It’s handy when you need to copy an object and control where that copy ends up. For example, a picture or other object that has certain positioning attributes may land in some unpredictable location if you use the standard copy and paste functions. This shortcut lets you drag it exactly where you want it.Just make sure you drop the text or object before you release the Ctrl key or Word will move the original instead of copying it. BONUS: If you hold down Shift along with Ctrl as you drag, Word will keep the copy aligned with the original.
Ctrl + Q	Removes paragraph formatting that isn’t part of the style assigned to a selected paragraph.	When you want to strip out manually applied formats and return to only those characteristics defined by a paragraph style, this is the quickest way to get there. Ctrl + Spacebar works the same way for character formatting.
Ctrl + 0 (zero)	Applies or removes 12 points of space above the current paragraph.	This sounds a little lame, but you can improve readability of selected text in about two seconds using this trick. For instance, table text is often jammed up against top borders. Select the table and hit Ctrl + 0 and you’ll get an instant improvement.
Alt + drag the mouse vertically	Make a vertical text selection.	Another keyboard/mouse hybrid, this one is obscure but useful. Some users have trouble making it work, but the problem is usually sequence. Just make sure you press Alt before you press the mouse button and drag. Then, release Alt before you release the mouse button.

Schedule a Database Backup in SQL 2005

To schedule a database backup operation by using SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2005, follow these steps:

1. Start SQL Server Management Studio.
2. In the Connect to Server dialog box, click the appropriate values in the Server type list, in the Server name list, and in the Authentication list.
3. Click Connect.
4. In Object Explorer, expand Databases.
5. Right-click the database that you want to back up, click Tasks, and then click Back Up.
6. In the Back Up Database - DatabaseName dialog box, type the name of the backup set in the Name box, and then click Add under Destination.
7. In the Select Backup Destination dialog box, type a path and a file name in the Destinations on disk box, and then click OK.
8. In the Script list, click Script Action to Job.
9. In the New Job dialog box, click Steps under Select a page, and then click Edit if you want to change the job parameters.
   
   Note In the Job Step Properties - 1 dialog box, you can see the backup command.
10. Under Select a page, click Schedules, and then click New.
11. In the New Job Schedule dialog box, type the job name in the Name box, specify the job schedule, and then click OK.
    
    Note If you want to configure alerts or notifications, you can click Alerts or Notifications under Select a page.
12. Click OK two times.
     

You receive the following message: 

The backup of database 'DatabaseName' completed successfully.

Note To verify the backup job, expand SQL Server Agent, and then expand Jobs. When you do this, the SQL Server Agent service must be running.

Ethernet Cable - Color Coding Diagram

The information listed here is to assist Network Administrators in the color coding of Ethernet cables. Please be aware that modifying Ethernet cables improperly may cause loss of network connectivity. Use this information at your own risk, and insure all connectors and cables are modified in accordance with standards.

T-568A Straight-Through Ethernet Cable

 

The TIA/EIA 568-A standard which was ratified in 1995, was replaced by the TIA/EIA 568-B standard in 2002 and has been updated since. Both standards define the T-568A and T-568B pin-outs for using Unshielded Twisted Pair cable and RJ-45 connectors for Ethernet connectivity. The standards and pin-out specification appear to be related and interchangeable, but are not the same and should not be used interchangeably.

T-568B Straight-Through Ethernet Cable   

Both the T-568A and the T-568B standard Straight-Through cables are used most often as patch cords for your Ethernet connections. If you require a cable to connect two Ethernet devices directly together without a hub or when you connect two hubs together, you will need to use a Crossover cable instead. 

RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable 

 

A good way of remembering how to wire a Crossover Ethernet cable is to wire one end using the T-568A standard and the other end using the T-568B standard. Another way of remembering the color coding is to simply switch the Green set of wires in place with the Orange set of wires. Specifically, switch the solid Green (G) with the solid Orange, and switch the green/white with the orange/white. 

Ethernet Cable Instructions:

1. Pull the cable off the reel to the desired length and cut. If you are pulling cables through holes, its easier to attach the RJ-45 plugs after the cable is pulled. The total length of wire segments between a PC and a hub or between two PC's cannot exceed 100 Meters (328 feet) for 100BASE-TX and 300 Meters for 10BASE-T.
2. Start on one end and strip the cable jacket off (about 1") using a stripper or a knife. Be extra careful not to nick the wires, otherwise you will need to start over.
3. Spread, untwist the pairs, and arrange the wires in the order of the desired cable end. Flatten the end between your thumb and forefinger. Trim the ends of the wires so they are even with one another, leaving only 1/2" in wire length. If it is longer than 1/2" it will be out-of-spec and susceptible to crosstalk. Flatten and insure there are no spaces between wires.
4. Hold the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing down or away from you. Push the wires firmly into the plug. Inspect each wire is flat even at the front of the plug. Check the order of the wires. Double check again. Check that the jacket is fitted right against the stop of the plug. Carefully hold the wire and firmly crimp the RJ-45 with the crimper.
5. Check the color orientation, check that the crimped connection is not about to come apart, and check to see if the wires are flat against the front of the plug. If even one of these are incorrect, you will have to start over. Test the Ethernet cable.

 

Ethernet Cable Tips:

• A straight-thru cable has identical ends.
• A crossover cable has different ends.
• A straight-thru is used as a patch cord in Ethernet connections.
• A crossover is used to connect two Ethernet devices without a hub or for connecting two hubs.
• A crossover has one end with the Orange set of wires switched with the Green set.
• Odd numbered pins are always striped, even numbered pins are always solid colored.
• Looking at the RJ-45 with the clip facing away from you, Brown is always on the right, and pin 1 is on the left.
• No more than 1/2" of the Ethernet cable should be untwisted otherwise it will be susceptible to crosstalk.
• Do not deform, do not bend, do not stretch, do not staple, do not run parallel with power cables, and do not run Ethernet cables near noise inducing components.

Speed up Menu Display

To Speed up Menu Display do the Following

• Click 'Start' - Right Click 'My Computer' - Click 'Properties'
• Click 'Advance' tab- in Performance area click 'Settings'
• On 'Visual Effects' tab in Performance option dialog box, clear the 'Fade or Slide menus into view' check box.
• Click OK.
• In System Properties dialog box, click OK.

XP Forever

We all want XP Pro to continue as "the" Windows OS for years to come. We know that it is stable, we know that we can do fast adjustments to the system, we know that it is compatible with everything you throw at it. Lastly, it's easy to navigate. Let's take for example.

Let's change the following in XP then try to do the same thing in Vista.

1. Right click on My Computer choose Properties and you have immediate access to reducing the amount of space used on the hard drive for System Recovery. (Does not exist in Vista)

Or: Choose Hardware and immediately see Device Manager (Several clicks later Vista shows Device Manager - overkill page)

Or: Choose Automatic Updates. Simple and easy to adjust. (The process, another overkill page in Vista is just plain silly)

Or: Choose Advance - System Startup and Recovery - Settings - Edit and copy the "Boot Loader". (Does not exist in Vista)

The above are fast and simple to do in XP Pro and there are many other tasks that are easily accessible via the "right click" on My Computer that do not exist in Vista.

Windows Browser Tool Bar (XP) Simple: Go up a folder or back and forward, fast and simple.

Windows Browser Tool Bar (Vista) Complex, period. The once easy to see address field is totally different. Clicking names of folders in an ethereal address bar or clicking a drop down menu next to each folder is tedious. Again, "overkill". No one needs four options on how to get to the next folder.

Power Options in XP:

Right click the desktop, choose Properties, Screen Saver then Power Options. Simple dialogue box to choose when to stop all local hard drives, adjust standby and hibernate. (Does not exist in any way, shape or form in Vista - A complex effort to make advanced power adjustments in which hibernate gets deleted in Vista Business to Ultimate)

A major glitch in Vista on many systems is Disk Cleanup. We all like to run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmentation often. Vista's Disk Cleanup can delete half your hard drive if you do not see the "error dump files logs" before completing the cleanup. Totally disregarded by M.S. and shameful that a Windows Update has not been available to everyone to correct this! Tens of thousands of people around the world have lost their data and any access to the hard drive through conventional means. Outrageous!!!

I could rant about another two dozen user interfaces in Vista that either do not exist or are down right silly or complicated to work with, especially for the average home user.

Microsoft can easily enhance the 3D appearance of XP Pro (no other XP OS compares to Pro) for those who like the Aero effect. But continue to give us the ability to disable all special effects as you have done since XP was released.

I am speaking on behalf of my clients world-wide and myself. Vista is bloated and I bet Windows 7 will also be bloated.

You want to sell 5 times the amount of operating systems then you have in the past year? Then GO BACK TO XP PRO and put a few frills into it but DO NOT change the way users navigate Windows and access tasks. It's just that simple.

Apologize to the world that "forward thinking" went "sideways" on Vista. Bite the proverbial bullet and bring us back to the path you walked us down since Windows 95. Simple, crisp fast and eventually a wonderfully stable XP Pro operating system.

You can hear the shouting around the world, "give us back XP Pro!". It's a resounding shout from all users from every corner of the earth. Make XP prettier if you must, but leave the classic interface intact. Those of us who do not care about "rich user interfaces" can simply click "classic Windows".

Keep this in mind. Most all of us came onboard with Windows 95 and you kept the interface the same from 1994 to 2007. Then someone had a psychedelic party in R&D and created Vista. Bad party, bad idea! Time to regress a bit and make "things right"! We want it, you have the means and the smarts to make a terrible blunder with Vista become a vague memory, just like ME's fast disappearance.

It's OK to make a mistake, it's "mandatory ethics" to own up to that mistake and set things right again.

Like Nike's slogan. "Just do it!"

Contact me

Your Name :
Your Email :
Subject :
Message :
Image (case-sensitive):