Easy Way To Disable WGA

The easiest way to disable WGA is to deny access to its files. Why? Because if access is denied for all users that can use this file, the file cannot be executed. Normally in Windows, you have these users:

‘BUILTIN\ADMINISTRATORS’
‘BUILTIN\USERS’
‘NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM’
‘NT AUTHORITY\AUTHENTICATED USERS’

The normal way to deny access is to use Windows Explorer to open the C:\Windows\System32 folder and find three files that WGA uses – WGATray.exe, WGALogon.dll and LegitCheckControl.dll. Right-click on each file, go to Properties->Security, click on each listed user, click on Deny All and Apply. But, since there is no Security tab, this can’t be done so easily.

Until now, of course. :)

Instead of disabling access to these files via Windows Explorer, use these simple command prompts:

1. Start->Run
2. Write ‘cmd’ and press Enter (or click OK)
3. Write ‘cd C:\Windows\System32’
4. Write the following commands:

• a. ‘cacls wgatray.exe /d everyone’; when asked if you’re sure, click ‘Y’
• b. ‘cacls wgalogon.dll /d everyone’; when asked if you’re sure, click ‘Y’
• c. ‘cacls legitcheckcontrol.dll /d everyone’; when asked if you’re sure, click ‘Y’

5. Reboot the machine (Start->Shutdown->Restart)

http://www.overclockers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4299:wga&catid=53:editorials&Itemid=4259

Pidgin Users Not Able to Connect To Yahoo

This is a technical problem that a lot of poeple using Pidgin are having. Pidgin is not able to connect to yahoo. Everytime it tries to connect, the connection is timed out. A temporary fix for this is to use

cn.scs.msg.yahoo.com

This is working quite consistently for me.

GTA Vice City Maps

These are maps that show you locations of all the secrets, hidden packages, properties, rampages, etc.

Drive opens in new window on double click in windows XP

One of our readers reported, when ever he double clicks on any of the drive to open, it opens automatically in new window.

As we all know the expected behaviour is that each drive opens in the same window until a user has explicitly set the option Open Each Folder In Its Own Window. under File menu >> Tools >> Folder Options in General.

Why It drive opens in new window?

It happens when a program or virus tries to edit the File Folder or Drive shell entries to add more context menu items and set them as default for double click action.

Lets see how we can fix this.

Fix:

First Method:
1. Open Start >> Run and type regsvr32 /i shell32.dll
2. press ok
3. You will see a message DllRegisterServer and DllInstall in shell32.dll succeeded
4. that’s it

Second Method:
1. Open Start >> Run and type regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Directory/Shell
3. Double click the default key type none and press ok.
4. now navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Drive/Shell.
5. Double click the default key type none and press ok.

Third Method:
If you don’t want to play with the registry ,you can run the following command instead at
Run Prompt: ( Open Start >> Run )
“reg add hkcr\drive\shell /ve /d none /f” (without double quotes)

We hope at least one of the above method may work for you to fix the trouble, if not please let us know.

Note: If still after following the above you are not able to solve the problem then update your antivirus and run a complete scan and make your system virus free.

Courtesy of Trouble Fixers

Double Clicking on Drive Opens The "Open With..." Dialog Box

This is usually happens because there is a malware/virus/trojan on that partition of your hard drive.

The first step is to make sure that the virus is deleted. Run a virus scanner of choice and make sure that it has the latest updates. Run a full scan and your likely to find a few files that are infected and your antivirus will delete them.

However, when you click on the drive letter in My Computer or Windows Explorer, you are prompted to chose a program to open the drive.



In order to fix this, download this little tool: Fix Drive

Run that tool and select the drive that has the problem and click 'Fix'. Now your problem should be solved.

If for some reason it is not, try the methods described HERE.

Rectify problems with Microsoft Zune Theme

There's a rather glaring error in the installation of the Zune theme that causes such things as Windows Explorer's Places Bar (i.e., the left side of the window with common tasks, when the Explorer Bar is closed), as well as Control Panel's Places Bar and Category View (i.e., the left and right sides of the window), to have only white backgrounds, rather than correctly displaying the theme's dark gray, light gray, and orange colors.

These are among other anomalies found elsewhere. Unless the sub-directories are correctly placed, which the installer doesn't do, you will only get part of the theme. (As in the Aero theme in Vista, even though only one color scheme is defined, the Theme Management Service still needs its sub-directories, and its resources, in the right places).

To correct this, on your desktop, create a new folder called Shell, and, within this new Shell folder, create another new folder called NormalColor. Go to:
C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Zune and drag the new Shell folder into the Zune folder. Then Cut shellstyle.dll in the Zune folder, and Paste it into the NormalColor folder, so that you end up with:

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Zune\Shell\NormalColor\shellstyle.dll

and NOT

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Zune\shellstyle.dll

To re-apply the theme, you can double click on
C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Zune\zune.msstyles.

The Microsoft Zune Theme looks like this:


The latest version of the theme can downloaded here:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=75078
This did not have any problems.

Protect your rapidshare links

If you are worried about someone reporting the content that you have uploaded on rapidshare as abuse, then you can protect your links by posting them on this website. These websites automaticlly generate a code which will directly link to the download page, where there is no report option available. But that's all it does, and nothing more. You will still have the download time limit if you are a free user.

Link:
http://rs.dr.ag/y0
http://shareprotect.t-w.at/index.php

Try any of the links, although I recommend the first website because there are less number of ads.

How to open multiple instances of Yahoo! Messenger

If you have more than one Yahoo! account, and don’t want to use 3^rd party utilities like Trillian, because they don’t offer all the functions that Yahoo! Messenger offers, then try using Yahoo! Multi Messenger. It’s a small utility that lets you open more than one instance of Yahoo! Messenger.

Screenshot:

I have uploaded the full package of Yahoo Messenger! Along with Multi Messenger and instructions; you can download them here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/33793349/Y_Multi_Messenger_8.0.0.508.rar.html

How to by pass Megaupload premium limit and get unlimited download

Megaupload has limited the number of download slots available to several countries. Only a few countries like USA, UK etc have unlimited access. The rest will either have to buy the premium account, or install the Alexa toolbar, which is a spyware. So here is a small registry fix that can help you solve this problem and you can get unlimited download using internet explorer.

Step 1: Open the run command from the start menu and type: regedit and press Enter

Step 2: Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOW$\CurrentVersionInternet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform]

Those using IE 7 will have to use this:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOW$\CurrentVersionInternet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform]

Step 3: Right click into Post Platform and choose New-> String Value and name it: "Alexa Toolbar" and press enter.

Step 4: Close registry editor and restart the computer.

Now you can use internet explorer to get unlimited downloads from Megaupload.

There is also a fix for Firefox, but I haven’t tested it just yet, when I do, I will post it here.

Thanks xboy for the great tutorial.

XP Royale

Royale is a great theme for Windows XP. This is an official Windows XP theme created by Microsoft. The default wallpaper is slightly blurred, so I have also included an edited version of that image.

Screenshot:

Edited wallpaper:

Download the theme here:

Softpedia

Edonkey is alive

Those of you who have been using the regular version of edonkey, you must have seen this message when you have tired to connect to the network:

“The eDonkey2000 Network is no longer available.

If you steal music or movies, you are breaking the law.

Courts around the world -- including the United States Supreme Court --
have ruled that businesses and individuals can be prosecuted for illegal
downloading.

You are not anonymous when you illegally download copyrighted material.

Your IP address is *********** and has been logged.

Respect the music, download legally.

Goodbye Everyone.”

Worry not. Edonkey still exists, you can get the Lite version of the program here:

http://www.fslite.com/edonkey2000-lite/

This is a version that doesn’t include any adware, so basically it’s like the pro version. And it even lets you connect to Overnet now; the normal version of edonkey had problems connecting to overnet at one time. I have tested the software and it’s working just fine. I have logged on to a server with 95 million files and over 500,000 users online.

Downloading music or any copyrighted material is illegal. But since edonkey is a file sharing program, there are plenty of files that are NOT copyrighted, like music, wallpapers, old demos, collection of ebooks from project Gutenberg, user videos etc.

No one has the right to tell you what to use, and what not, as long as you are doing nothing illegal.

Assuming that everyone uses edonkey just to download music illegally is wrong, and so shutting down the network is not a way to solve the problem. If some (or majority) of the users decide to share music illegally, then its not the fault of the network. So go ahead, download all you want, just stay away from the copyrighted material.

You have been warned! Download music at your own risk!

How to create Userbars using Photoshop

Go to this website for complete tutorial

http://www.m3xvv.co.uk/ubtut/

Max Payne - Make it work on Windows XP SP 2

Just use the 1.05 patch, and the game works just fine. Grab it here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/28379838/Max_Payne.rar.html

Includes NoCD patch as well.

Windows XP - Tips and Tweaks

I found a website that has a good collection of tweaks,

Customize a New XP Installation

How to use Uploading.com

Uploading.com is an file hosting service. Instead of emailing large attachments, it's better to use a file hosting service. The file hosted on the server will remain for 30 days, and if it has not been downloaded for more than that, it will be deleted.

Some file hosting services support downloading managers, and uploading.com is one of them. But if you are on a slow connection, it could be a problem if you are downloading a large file, because links expire after 24 hours.

So here is a tutorial which will help you to use the service to your best advantage, from queuing the file in your download manager to resuming download even after 24 hours.

FlashGet is used to explain the tutorial becuase it's one of the best download managers available, but the principle remains the same:

When you visit the download page, you have to enter a number in the box, after which there is about 40 seconds of waiting. Once the time is up, you will find this message:

Click here to download
Download will start during 5-30 seconds after click.

Chances are your default download manager will catch the click, i.e it will queue the file and the download will start.

If however, the download manager doesn't start the download, here is what you can do:

1. Right click on the link that says: 'Click here to start download' and copy the link location.

2. Start a new download task by clicking on the 'New' button in your FlashGet window.

3. In the URL section of the new window, you will find a link already placed.

4. Start the download. You will find that initially it doesn't show the file name, but after a few seconds, the file name will appear in the download window and the download will start.

To resume files after a delay for 24 hours

Files will have their links changed every 24 hours. So if you have a file in queue that's over 24 hours old, chances are the link won't work.

So you will have to get a new link. Here is what you do:

1. Visit the page again, and repeat the process to get a new link.

2. Copy the link location of 'Click here to start your download' again.

3. Now, right click on the file in FlashGet and open the properties. Now paste the new link in the URL section, and press OK.

4. Now start the download. It will resume again.

How to use FlashFXP

How to use FlashFXP, a beginner's tutorial

FlashFXP is one of the best FTP clients available. It’s very reliable, and very easy to use once you get the hang of it. Here is a great tutorial to learn the basics of FalshFXP

Getting Started:

1. Press [F6] to open the options tab.

2. General Tab -

* Email address - leave the default one in place (flashfxp-user@flashfxp.com)
* Default download path - this is where downloads will automatically be stored on your computer, change to the folder you want.
* Make sure the following checkbox is checked:
*Send keep alive command (NOOP) every (60) seconds

3. Connection Tab -

* Type = "0. None"
* Check the use passive mode box - almost all of the time you will need to connect in this manner.
* Check the "Send noops during transfer" box - this will work to keep the connection alive once connected.
* Leave the rest alone unless you know what you doing.

4. Options Tab -

* Toggles: check all boxes except the following: 2,7,11
* Confirmations: check all

5. Transfer Tab -

* Options: check following boxes - 1,2,3,..6,7,8
* Transfer Mode - check auto
* Filename Case Conversion - "Don't Convert" option for all three
* On transfer complete - choose an option (Disconnect)
* Check "show confirmation" checkbox

6. Leave the rest of the tabs alone for now.


Select the "View" tab

1. Check the "Show raw command line" and "Show graph"
2. Select "show Winbl@ws" - check all 4 options
3. This will split the application view into 4 quadrants, the left side showing your computer and folder tree and right side showing the FTP folder tree.
4. You can navigate through your computer using the left side of the screen and navigate through the site you connected to using the right side of the screen (after connected)

When you find links to sites that you want to connect too, copy and paste the address into the FlashFXP address bar. The Site Manager can be accessed by pressing [F4] when the applicaiton is running. Once this window opens paste the link address into the [Site Address] field, the applicaiton will automatically parse the link into the correct fields. After pasting the link into the appropriate field, hit the [connect] button.

You can also access this window by pressing [F8] or selecting the lightening bolt a the top of the screen, right side. This is just a different view of the site manager. You can paste links in here also.
If the link address is still valid FlashFXP will connect you to the site. For example copy and paste this link into the [site address] field and press the [connect] button:

ftp://ftp.adobe.com

This link will take you to the Adobe FTP site, this site is open to the public. Once connected you will see a list of folders that you can browse through that has all of their applications.
Occassionally you will need to connect to site using the NON-PASSIVE mode. This option can be found through the [F8] option and selecting the "Toggles" tab. Make sure the "Use Passive Mode" checkbox is completely clear to connect in this manner. In addition sometimes it is useful to force a server to list all files. To do this, select the "Use Stat-l" checkbox on this tab.

Anatomy of an FTP address
ftp://movies:pardes@130.160.104.232:65171/

Section 1 - (ftp://) defines connection type FTP vs. HTTP

Section 2 - (movies:pardes) Username = movies: Password = pardes

Section 3 - (@) the word "at"

Section 4 - (130.160.104.232) IP Address of site

Section 5 - (65171) Port Number to connect through

Section 6 - (/) This is where any folders would be listed that need to be navigated through

Procedure to restore the boot loader in Windows XP

Procedure to restore the boot loader

When Windows 98 is installed in a computer when Windows XP is already installed, boot loader will be overwritten, and not appended. That is, there will not an option to choose between operating systems at boot time, instead Windows 98 is automatically started at each boot time.

In order to restore the boot loader to show the choice of booting between both Windows 98 and Windows XP, here is the procedure:

Step 1: Create a Windows 98 bootable floppy disk.

Step 2: Create a text file with the following entries, exactly as shown below:

L 100 2 0 1
N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
R BX
0
R CX
200
W
Q

Now save this text file in the Windows 98 bootable floppy disk as READ.SCR

Step 3: Reboot the computer with the floppy disk and type the following at the A: prompt DEBUG READ.SCR

IMPORTANT: Insert the symbol "<" between the two words DEBUG and READ.SCR, and type it as a single string. Blogger is showing HTML errors when the whole string is typed.

Step 4: Now configure the BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD ROM drive. Insert Windows XP CD and let the computer boot from the CD.

Step 5: At the XP installation, there will be an option to install Windows XP or repair the existing installation, chose repair.

Step 6: Choose the XP installation that has to be repaired. Considering that there is only one XP installed on the computer, press 1.

Step 7: At the console, the password has to be entered. For Windows XP Home users, just press enter. For Windows XP Professional users, enter the password that has been entered for the administrator account at the time of installation. If there is no password entered, just press enter.

Step 8: At C:\Windows prompt type FIXBOOT. There is a confirmation prompt, accept it.

Step 9: Once the boot loader is fixed, remove the XP CD from the drive, and reboot the computer by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.

Now you should find that there is an option between Windows 98 and Windows XP at startup.

Make Firefox Faster For Broadband Users

Here's something for broadband people that will really speed Firefox up:

1.Type "about:config" into the address bar and hit return. Scroll down and look for the following entries:

network.http.pipelining network.http.proxy.pipelining network.http.pipelining.maxrequests

Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page loading.

2. Alter the entries as follows:

Set "network.http.pipelining" to "true"

Set "network.http.proxy.pipelining" to "true"

Set "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" to some number like 30. This means it will make 30 requests at once.

3. Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set its value to "0". This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.

If you're using a broadband connection you'll load pages MUCH faster now!