How to disable restrict USB Drive in Windows 7,8

How to disable restrict USB Drive in Windows 7,8 

How a USB drive can be disabled on a particular computer. So it's a pretty much Registry Tweak.
To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP, and Windows 7,Windows 8 :
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type regedit, and then click OK. (Or simply open registry)
3. Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, change its value to 4, which was 3 and then click OK.

To re-enable a disabled port:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type regedit, and then click OK. (Or simply open registry)
3. Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, change its value to 3, which you changed to 4 to disable the USB drive and then click OK.

6. Quit Registry Editor.
Now whenever a user will attach a USB storage device which is already installed in system, Windows will not detect it and it'll not be shown in My Computer. However, disabling USB ports totally also disables the ability for Windows to use USB based keyboard, mouse, webcam, printer, scanner and etc., which are common devices for a computer nowadays and essential ones as well.

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Find your Computer Uptime In Windows 8

Find your Computer Uptime In Windows 8

A trick for all geeks who would like to know how long since they haven't shut down their computer.
1. Go to Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc brings without UAC popup)
2. Go to performance tab.
3. In the system Information you can check out the uptime in the format
Hour : Minute : Second .

You can track your computer uptime easily now.

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Customize UAC in Windows 8

Customize UAC in Windows 8

Windows 8 User Account Control displays less warning than UAC in Vista, and lets you customize UAC according to your need and preference between security and a less annoying desktop experience. UAC prompts in Windows 8 are not as much as in Windows 7 as very few programs require elevation, and Administrator can adjust these UAC prompts.  

Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change User Account Control Settings.

Here you can select when to notify or bring the UAC prompt. There are 4 levels of security which includes:  

1. Always Notify  

2. Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer 

3. Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop) 

4. Never Notify 

Select them according to your balance between security and desktop experience and adjust the level of UAC prompt. Any change to the level of the UAC will prompt for confirmation. 

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Customize the Windows 7 log-on screen

Customize the Windows 7 log-on screen

Windows 7 makes it easy changing the Windows log-on screen.
1.  Go to start, and click on Run, type Regedit & press enter there.
2.  Navigate to :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background
3.  Double-click the OEMBackground DWORD key
4.  Set value of the key to 1.
5.  Select a background image for Logon Screen with size less than 256KB in size (Use of Image Resize software like VSO Resizer can help)
6.  Copy that image into the
C:\Windows\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds folder
7.  Rename the image to backgroundDefault.jpg
8.  Reboot, and now your logon Image would have changed.

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Check Windows Version

Check Windows Version

Windows Version tells the exact Build of OS and service Pack you are using. You can simply check it by using Winver Command. Open Run Dialog box by using Win+R and type “Winver” there without quotes. This will bring a Windows which has OS details such as Windows details. 
Alternatively you can also use the Command prompt to find the information. Type “Winver” in command prompt. It would display all details in command prompt. 

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Windows 7 and Windows XP Network Performance Tweaks

Windows 7 and Windows XP Network Performance Tweaks

If you want to get the most out of your Windows Box networking, then you will need access to the administrator account, or administrative privileges.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista introduced new features to the TCP/IP stack, including CTCP, and TCP Window Auto-Tuning. The new implementation works much better by default than previous Windows versions with broadband internet connections, and is able to adjust many values on the automatically.

However there is room for improvement and you can adjust some values to better meet your use of your systsem

To enter some of the commands below, you will need to run "elevated" command prompt or "as administrator".

To do this.

1. Click Start
2. Run
3. type: cmd
4. Hit Enter


Check the TCP/IP state

To check the current status of the Vista TCP/IP tweakable parameters, in elevated command prompt type the following command:

netsh int tcp show global

The settings, as well as their default and recommended state are explained below. The two most important tweakable parameters are "Auto-Tuning Level" and "Congestion Control Provider".

Disable TCP Auto-Tuning

At the command prompt type:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

Enable Compound TCP

At the command prompt type:

netsh int tcp set global congestionprovider=ctcp

Enable ECN Capability

At the command prompt type:

netsh int tcp set global ecncapability=enabled

Enable Receive-side Scaling

At the command prompt type:

netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled

Enable TCP Chimney Offload

At the command prompty type:

netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled

Setting

At the command prompt type:

netsh interface ipv4 show subinterface

This will display a list of interfaces, and their respective MTU values.Change the MTUvalue of a specific network card, at the command prompt type:

netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "some network interface name" mtu=#### store=persistent

Example, the name of the network card you want to change iis "Wireless Network Connection" and you want to set its MTU to 1500, at the command prompt type:

netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "Wireless Network Connection" mtu=1500 store=persistent

Registry Tweaks

Note that for changes to these settings to take effect the computer needs to be rebooted.Moderate understanding of the Windows Registry is needed. You are responsible for your own actions. See
Evilware.com Terms of Use



1. Go to Start
2. Run
3. type: regedit
4. Press Enter


While logged in as administrator), you can navigate and edit the following keys.MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) - the maximum packet size.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{...}\

MTU=1500 (DWORD, entry does not exist by default)

The {....} part of the above path is the unique identifier of your network adapter. You can recognize the correct adapter by looking at it's IP address, if obtaining IP automatically labeled by: DhcpIPAddress=192.168.x.x text value, for example.

Leave this at default,  Vista and Windows 7 use the largest possible packet size for the underlying network by default.


TCP 1323 Options

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Tcp1323Opts=1 (DWORD, entry created automatically by Windows when you run the "netsh int tcp set global autotuninglvl=..." command, set to 0 by default).

Setting this seems to have no effect, since auto-tuning uses the TCP 1323 scale factor and changes it on the fly, disregarding this setting. Additional testing may be required to determine it's effect if auto-tuning is turned off. Setting it to 1 is best for broadband connections.



NetDMA

NetDMA enables support for advanced direct memory access. In essence, it provides the ability to more efficiently move network data by minimizing CPU usage. NetDMA frees the CPU from handling memory data transfers between network card data buffers and application buffers by using a DMA engine.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
EnableTCPA=1 (DWORD, 1 to enable, 0 to disable NetDMA. Value not present by default in Vista)

Recommended setting is 1, a new DWORD value may need to be created if not already present in the registry.


DefaultTTL

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
DefaultTTL=64 (DWORD, set to a decimal value between 32 and 128. Recommended: 64)



TcpMaxDataRetransmissions

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\ParametersTCPMaxDataRetransmissions=7 (DWORD, recommended: between 3 and 10, default registry value 255, default 5 in documentation)


SynAttackProtect

This setting provides protection against SYN denial of service (DoS) attacks. When enabled, connections timeout sooner if SYN attack is detected. When set at 1,

TCPMaxDataRetransmissions can be lowered further.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameter\SynAttackProtect=1 (DWORD, recommended: 1, not present in registry by default)


Set DNS and Hosts Priority

Setting can improve DNS and host name resolution by increasing the priority of of related services, while keeping their order. Lower numbers mean higher process priority. The corresponding registry settings are as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\ServiceProvider
LocalPriority=4 (DWORD, recommended: 4, default: 499) - local names cache
HostsPriority=5 (DWORD, recommended: 5, default: 500) - the HOSTS file
DnsPriority=6 (DWORD, recommended: 6, default: 2000) - DNS
NetbtPriority=7 (DWORD, recommended: 7, default: 2001) - NetBT name resolution, including

WINS


TcpTimedWaitDelay (port allocation)

Windows 7 and Vista have improved from previous Windows versions, and are usually sufficient under normal load. In some instances under heavy load it it may be necessary to adjust the settings to tweak the availability of user ports requested by an application.

This is often the case with online games such as World of Warcraft.

The following registry values need to be edited:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
MaxUserPort=65535(DWORD, not in the registry by default. Recommended: leave at default, or use a number above 16384 up to 65535 decimal as necessary) -  maximum number of ports to use. 1024 is
automatically subtracted from entered value to allow for reserved ports under 1024.


TcpTimedWaitDelay=30

(DWORD, 0xffffffff in registry by default. Recommended: 30 decimal, denoting 30 seconds) - time to wait before reclaiming ports, in seconds. Default time before reclaiming ports, if value is at 0xffffffff or not present in the registry is 120 seconds. Just reducing the delay is often sufficient without changing MaxUserPort, as it allows for reusing ports more efficiently.

Ephemeral ports can be checked and changed using netsh as well.

To list the current values, in command prompt, type:

netsh int ipv4 show dynamicportrange tcp

To set both the starting, and max user port using netsh, in elevated command prompt type:

netsh int ipv4 set dynamicportrange protocol=tcp start=1025 num=64511 (start=NNN denoting the starting port, and num=NNN denoting the number of ports)

QoS Reserved Bandwidth

As with Windows XP, nework adapters have a "QoS Packet Scheduler" enabled by default, which reserves 20% of bandwidth by default for QoS enabled applications that request priority traffic.

Change this value to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PschedNonBestEffortLimit=0


Gaming Tweak - Disable Nagle's algorithm - Gaming Tweak

The tweak below allows for tweaking or disabling Nagle's alogrithm. Disabling nagle allows for small packets to be transferred immediately without delay. Note that disabling Nagle's algorithm is only recommended for some games, and it may have negative impact on file transfers such as Bit Torrent.

To implement this tweak, in the registry editor find:

This setting configures the maximum number of outstanding ACKs in Windows

XP/2003/Vista/2008:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{NIC-id}
There will be multiple NIC interfaces listed there, for example: {1660430C-B14A-4AC2-8F83
-B653E83E8297}. Find the correct one with your IP address listed. Under this {NIC-id} key, create a new DWORD value:
TcpAckFrequency=1 (DWORD value, 1=disable, 2=default, 2-n=send ACKs if outstanding ACKs before timed interval. Setting not present by default).

For gaming performance, recommended is 1 (disable). For pure throughput and data streaming, you can experiment with values over 2.

Also, find the following key (if present):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSMQ\Parameters

Add a new DWORD value:
TCPNoDelay=1 (DWORD value, 0 to enable Nagle's algorithm, 1 to disable, not present by default)

Configure the ACK interval timeout (only has effect if nagling is enabled), find the
following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{NIC-id}
TcpDelAckTicks=0 (DWORD value, default=2, 0=disable nagling, 1-6=100-600 ms). Note you can also set this to 1 to reduce the nagle effect from the default of 200ms without disabling it.

Notes:
disabling nagle's algorithm can reduce World of Warcraft latency by nearly half in most cases
Windows XP/Windows 2003 needs hotfix or SP2 for it to work MS KB 815230

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Installing Indian Rupee Font in Windows

Installing Indian Rupee Font in Windows

Here are step by step instructions to use this font under Windows.

1) Download the rupee font from Foradian Technologies blog.

2) Copy the font file to Control Panel > Fonts directory.

3) Now open up Microsoft Word & change the font to “Rupees Foradian” from the font dropdown list.

4) To insert the font in your document, type grave ascent(`) key, the one above tab key. You should have the new rupee symbol in your document.
Download:
http://blog.foradian.com/rupee-font-version-20

Install to Fonts folder of your System
(It is easy. Just copy the font and paste it in "Fonts" folder in the Control Panel)
Done.

Double click to install.

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Pop A Banner Each Time Windows Boots

Pop A Banner Each Time Windows Boots

Pop a banner which can contain any message you want to display just before a user is going to log on.

Go to the key :- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon
Now create a new string Value in the right pane named 'LegalNoticeCaption' and enter the value that you want to see in the MenuBar.

Now create yet another new string value and name it:
'LegalNoticeText'.
Modify it and insert the message you want to display each time Windows boots.

This can be effectively used to display the company's private policy each time the user logs on to his NT box.

It's '.reg' file would be:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] "LegalNoticeCaption"="Caption here."

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Windows Mango vs Android : Which is the best os for your Smartphone

 Windows Mango vs Android : Which is the best os for your Smartphone

A lot of times I come across people who think a phone is a smartphone only if it is powered by Android. Any one having a WP (windows phone) has supposedly wasted his hard earned money. So is this the case? Before we come to any conclusions let us first understand what an OS on a phone means.

Just like your computer a phone also requires a platform to run. An ecosystem is required on which you can install any application or play your favorite games like Angry birds. What windows(xp,vista, 7 or 8) is to a laptop or pc, Android or Windows(mango is the latest version) are to a smartphone. These are the basic software on which any additional software can run. So the question is why has two different OS when they basically do the same thing?

Well for one having a choice is always good. Just because some prefer chrome over Firefox doesn't mean Firefox shouldn't exist. Every one has a different taste and while Android may suite to some not all may find it similarly pretty or useful. Though Windows and Android basically do the same thing they do it in a totally different way. Some users may find tile system on the windows appealing while others may prefer the customization on Android.


Android

Android has been in the market for quite a while now and Google has made has proved that their little monster is not only here to stay but to dominate. One can find a slew of Android powered phones in the market from various manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, HTC. So what makes Android so special?

Well the number of applications you can find on Google market( the online store where you download your apps from) is one of the major reason for the success of this platform. There are over 400000 apps available on the market( though you probably wouldn't download more than 100-150 of those but still its good to have a choice). One can find apps for anything from getting latest stock updates to monitoring your heart beat(not sure if it gives accurate results).

The problem with Android is fragmentation. Presently there are phones with Gingerbread, Ice cream Sandwich or Froyo available in the market. Every version of the android is named after a dessert. Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) is the latest version available. One can still find phones Gingerbread (Android 2.3, the predecessor to Ice Cream Sandwich on phones). It is all good as long as you get the lastest and greatest version of the software on your phone. But usually the manufacturers drop support after one or two updates and you are left with an older version on your phone that makes it somewhat obsolete.


Windows Phone

Windows is relatively a new comer to the market. The number of devices available with Windows are relatively less as of now but with Nokia joining the bandwagon recently this number is only going to increase in the future. The greatest difference between Android and Windows is the interface. While the Android offers the conventional interface with round icons and widgets, the Metro interface on the Windows uses live tiles as icons.

It is a breeze of fresh air from the conventional system and many may find it appealing. The core idea is to make things simple and provide live feed on the tiles rather than having to open them individually. Social media like facebook and twitter come intergrated out of the box.

Windows has got its own marketplace. Though the number of applications aren't anywhere close to that on Android; Microsoft & Nokia are personally taking care of that. Presently there are around 70000 apps available to choose from and that number is definitely gonna increase in the near future.

Now the big question comes what to choose? Both OSes have their own pros and cons.

Android
Pros

1. Number of applications
2. Customization
3. Internet tethering (sharing) over wifi or usb
4. Removable battery and Sd card support
5. More number of devices available to choose from

Cons

1. Due to a large number of devices available some application may be incompatible on some phones
2. Fragmentation( you can never be sure whether your phone will get the next version of the os or not)
3. Poor battery life


Windows Mango
Pros

1. Facebook and twitter integration
2. More fluid and responsive than Android
3. Multitasking
4. Social gaming on xbox live account
5. Simple user interface

Cons

1. No external sd card support(though windows phones come with 8-16 gb of inbuilt memory)
2. Bluetooth file sharing only with other windows phones
3. No internet tethering (an update to fix this problem promised by Nokia though)
4. File sharing with pc requires Zune

Bottom line being it all depends on your own preference. Both OS have their pros and cons. While there are a lot of sites and a lot of people on the forums over the web who will defend on one OS or another, the truth is both of them are equally good. If you already have an Android tablet or you are looking for an upgrade from your old android phone, Windows mango can provide you with that fresh change. For users who are getting their first smartphone it depends on what you want. Even though windows doesnt support dual core processors, that is because it doesn't need them. It is equally(or probably more) fluid and responsive on a single core as Android on a multicore.

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How to hack Windows XP Admin Passwords the easy way

How to hack Windows XP Admin Passwords the easy way 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This hack will only work if the person that owns the machine has no intelligence. This is how it works:
When you or anyone installs Windows XP for the first time your asked to put in your username and up to five others. Now, unknown to a lot of other people this is the only place in Windows XP that you can password the default Administrator Diagnostic Account. This means that to by pass most administrators accounts on Windows XP all you have to do is boot to safe mode by pressing F8 during boot up and choosing it. Log into the Administrator Account and create your own or change the password on the current Account. This only works if the user on setup specified a password for the Administrator Account.

This has worked  on both Windows XP Home and Pro.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
cd\ *drops to root
cd\windows\system32 *directs to the system32 dir
mkdir temphack *creates the folder temphack
copy logon.scr temphack\logon.scr *backsup logon.scr
copy cmd.exe temphack\cmd.exe *backsup cmd.exe
del logon.scr *deletes original logon.scr
rename cmd.exe logon.scr *renames cmd.exe to logon.scr
exit *quits dos
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now what you have just done is told the computer to backup the command program and the screen saver file, then edits the settings so when the machine boots the screen saver you will get an unprotected dos prompt with out logging into XP.
Once this happens if you enter this command minus the quotes
"net user <admin account name here> password"
If the Administrator Account is called Frank and you want the password blah enter this
"net user Frank blah"and this changes the password on franks machine to blah and your in.

Have fun
P.S: Don't forget to copy the contents of temphack back into the system32 dir to cover tracks.

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How to recover password in Windows

How to recover password in Windows

Because of the security features built into Windows XP, it is virtually impossible to get back into the system without the password.
You have several options to try and get around this problem.

If you have access to another user account with administrator rights, you can use that account to change the password of the account that is locked out. You can also use the default Administrator account that is built into Windows XP.

First you need to boot the system into Safe Mode.
1.Restart your system.
2.When you see the blue Dell globe or screen, press the ( F8 ) key about 3 times a second.
3.You should get the Windows startup menu. Use the (Up or Down) arrow keys to highlight (SafeMode)
4.Press (Enter) on (Safe Mode), then press (Enter) on (Windows XP).
5.The system should boot to Safe Mode.

Once you are at the Account Log on Screen, click on the icon for the user account with administrator rights, or click on the icon for the administrators account.
Note: For Home the Administrator account isn't normally shown & in Safe Mode you have to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys twice to show.
For PRO you can do this in normal mode

When the system has booted to the desktop, use the following steps to change the accounts password.
1.Click Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools.
2.Click Computer Management.
3.Double click Local Users and Groups, double click the folder Users.
4.Right click on the account name that is locked out, and click on Set Password.
5.You may get a warning message about changing the password, simply click proceed.
6.Leave the New Password box blank, also leave the Confirm Password box blank.
7.Click OK, and OK again.
8.Then close all Windows, reboot the system and try to log in.

There are also applications that can recover the password for you.
The following companies provide these applications at a cost.
iOpus® Password Recovery XP here.
http://en.kioskea.net/download/start/download-17730-iopus-password-recovery-xp
Asterisk Password Recovery XP 2.14
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1903&file=15&evp=2e7b41299bb4858eb129888d11ddcfdf
Windows XP / 2000 / NT Key here.
http://dw.com.com/redir?edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3000-2094_4-10219965&ontId=2094_4&spi=05e8cc79a80bf6567db4aaaa19dffa0d&lop=link&tag=tdw_dltext&ltype=dl_dlnow&pid=10280982&mfgId=101313&merId=101313&pguid=UUM1ywoOYJEAAAzBLlcAAACo&ctype=dm;&cval=TIGHTROPE;&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.cnet.com%2F3001-2094_4-10219965.html%3Fspi%3D05e8cc79a80bf6567db4aaaa19dffa0d

If the above information does not help in recovering the password, the only option left is to format the hard drive then reinstall Windows and the system software.

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Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu

Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu

Installation

Windows 7
Pros
- Install is quick, easy and painless.
- After working through a few wizard screens at the beginning, the install is automatic
Cons
- None really

Ubuntu
Pros
- Option to “try before you install” using the Live CD feature
- Can easily install as a dual boot or even inside Windows using the Wubi installer
Cons
- Unless you’re luck to get a CD, you do have to mess about with .ISO files and burn a

disc. If you’re happy doing that, it’s not really a problem.

Speed/Performance

Windows 7
Pros
- Both are excellent
Cons
- None really

Ubuntu
Pros
- Both are excellent
Cons
- None really

Usability

while neither OS is perfect (far from it), both are also just as usable once you devote

the time to figuring things out.

Software

Windows 7
Pros
- If you’re willing to pay, there’s a lot of software for the Windows platform
- Equally, there’s a LOT of free stuff if you look around
Cons
- Bundled fayre is pretty poor

Ubuntu
Pros
- Comes complete with an excellent array of software
- Access to, and installing, new software is a snap
Cons
- None really … just don’t expect to run Windows software (even if you do resort to Wine)

Media Support

Windows 7
Pros
- Excellent support for media formats, including DRMed media, out of the box
Cons
- Windows Media Player isn’t the best bit of software around

Ubuntu
Pros
- Good support for media formats
Cons
- If you want to play DVDs then you need to resort to “Restricted” codecs


Hardware support

Windows 7
Pros
- On the whole, Windows 7 offers excellent support for modern hardware right out of the

box
Cons
- You might be out of luck with old hardware

Ubuntu
Pros
- Overall, hardware support is good, and getting better
- On really low-end hardware you can substitute Ubuntu
Cons
- There are no guarantees
- There’s no “Works with Linux” logo that buyers can look for when buying new hardware

Windows 7

The most of the Users are using Windows 7 than Ubuntu.

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Windows Registry : Introduction and Structure

Windows Registry : Introduction and Structure

The Windows registry is a directory which stores settings and options for the operating system for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versions and Windows Mobile. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, users, preferences of the PC, etc. Whenever a user makes changes to Control Panel settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the registry.

Accessing the Windows Registry
You can view the registry files by running the regedit command.
To view the registry files
Click Start > Run...
Type regedit in the Open: box.
Click OK.

Structure

Keys and Values

The registry contains two basic kinds of elements: keys and values.

Registry Keys are similar to folders - in addition to values, each key can contain subkeys, which may contain further subkeys, and so on. Keys are referenced with a syntax similar to Windows' path names, using backslashes to indicate levels of hierarchy. E.g.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows refers to the subkey "Windows" of the subkey "Microsoft" of the subkey "Software" of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key.

Registry Values are name/data pairs stored within keys. Values are referenced separately from keys. Value names can contain backslashes which would lead to ambiguities were they referred to like paths. The Windows API functions that query and manipulate registry values take value names separately from the key path and/or handle that identifies the parent key.

Hives

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

Abbreviated HKCR, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT stores information about registered applications, such as Associations from File Extensions and OLE Object Class IDs tying them to the applications used to handle these items.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Abbreviated HKCU, HKEY_CURRENT_USER stores settings that are specific to the currently logged-in user.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Abbreviated HKLM, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE stores settings that are general to all users on the computer.

HKEY_USERS

Abbreviated HKU, HKEY_USERS contains subkeys corresponding to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER keys for each user registered on the machine.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

Abbreviated HKCC, HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG contains information gathered at runtime; information stored in this key is not permanently stored on disk, but rather regenerated at boot time.

HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA

This key provides runtime information into performance data provided by either the NT kernel itself or other programs that provide performance data.

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10 Reasons to switch to Windows 7

10 Reasons to switch to Windows 7

Some people still use Windows XP - even if it's 10 years old now. The support will end in April 2014 but there are 7 main reasons why not to use it these days.

#1. Security
Windows 7 is way more secure than Windows XP; it has two completely different user profiles; normal user and admin. In Windows XP you have this as well but as a normal user you will have a lot of trouble running your system without any problems. Another thing that is missing in WinXP is Data Execution Prevention and the Address Layout Randomization.

#2. Speed
Windows XP and Windows Vista need a lot of time to start up. Windows 7 does this in a faster way plus gives you a lot of abbreviations while using it, like running a program through the search box in the startmenu.

#3. Hardware Support
Latest hardware needs the latest operating system. Some people think it was this way back in the 90s when you had to buy Windows 98 to get USB support (didn't really work in Win95C) just as an example. Nowadays it's the same situation: If you want to use SSD's, HDD's >2TB or 'just' a lot of RAM, then you need Windows 7. Windows XP can't handle all of this at all.

#4. Software Support
Sure, most programs still work with Windows XP, but some features require Windows 7. Even Microsoft stopped shipping their Internet Explorer or Media Player for it. Same will happen with other software developers as well.

#5. Stability
How many bluescreens did we have with WinXP? Maybe 10? Maybe 100? Did you ever see one running Windows 7? No? It's because Windows 7 uses a newer kernel than Windows XP; this one can handle driver crashes and other stuff.

#6. Comfort
Aero. It doesn't just look nice; no, it even makes EVERYTHING easier like handling window management with Aero Snap. The Superbar brings a ton of new features that make the OS feel the round way.

#7. Configuration
Did you notice that no-one defrags his HDD anymore? No? It's because Windows 7 does this job in the background so that you don't need to care for that anymore. Now you might say: Ouuh, defragging, so outdated. Ok, now take a search on your Windows XP machine and see how long it takes to find some files or programs.

#8. Greater stability
Unlike Windows Vista, most hardware and software is readily compatible with Windows 7 and will work right out of the box, with no need to download and install additional drivers. Happily, in instances where necessary, locating and adding these updates to your PC proves a relatively painless procedure.

#9. Upgrading from XP is easy
If you are one of those who switched back to XP after your terrible encounter with Vista, and aren’t sure about upgrading to Win 7, then here’s the good news - it has been built in a way that it supports most of the apps supported by XP and so upgrading isn’t that difficult.

#10. XP Mode and Virtualization.
All of your applications should run fine on Windows 7 if they run on XP. 7 also has built-in virtualization with Virtual PC if you purchase the Ultimate or the Enterprise version.

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Windows 8 Security Tips

Windows 8 Security Tips

Windows 8 is being touted as a major change in the way that people will use and interact with their PCs, tablets and other devices. Much of the change is evident in the user interface, with its tiled appearance and app-friendly setup. But there are some important changes behind the scenes, as well, and many of them are designed to make life online safer and more secure for users.

Here’s eleven quick tips on how to keep Windows 8 running securely:

1. Turn on Family Safety. This feature allows parents to set up separate accounts for each child and have the option of receiving reports on the kids’ activities online. Parents can create lists of allowed sites and will be able to see which sites their kids visited, how much time they spent on them and which blocked sites they tried to visit, as well

2. Use automatic updates. This should be one of the first things you do on any new Windows PC. Using automatic updates removes the worry from the patching process and instructs Windows to download and install new updates as soon as they’re available.

3. Be smart. Microsoft has added a new anti-phishing feature to Windows 8 called SmartScreen, which helps protect users against fraudulent sites or malicious apps. It checks downloaded apps against a reputation database to see whether they’re known to be malicious. The feature also is deployed in Internet Explorer and warn users when they hit a reported attack site. Heed these warnings.

4. Encrypt your data. Math is hard, even for attackers with lots of time and powerful computers at their disposal. So take advantage of the beauty of massive integers and use the built-in data encryption feature in Windows 8, known as BitLocker. Once enabled, this system will automatically encrypt any files or other data stored on designated drives, making it useless to hackers.

5. Run antimalware software. This should go without saying at this point, but you need to run antimalware software on all of your computers. Windows 8 includes an application called Windows Defender that provides basic protection against viruses and other threats, but you also should install a premium antimalware product, such as Kaspersky Internet Security or Kaspersky PURE, that is designed to work with Windows 8. This will defend your PC against the broadest set of threats, including unknown malware.

6. Use picture passwords. Typical alphanumeric passwords are easy prey for attackers, so Microsoft has added a new feature that allows users to select an image from their photo library and then perform several gestures on the photo, either with a mouse or on the touchscreen. Those gestures on the photo become part of the authentication method and are required to be performed in the same way on the same photo in order to unlock the machine.

7. Turn on the firewall. Windows includes a built-in firewall, which helps prevent malicious traffic from getting through to your PC. It’s enabled by default, so unless you have a 'very' good reason, leave it alone.

8. Remove Java. There’s no good reason to have Java installed on your PC these days, and there’s a very good reason not to have it: attackers target Java more than almost any other software. Java vulnerabilities are plentiful and easily exploitable and so hackers love to use them in attacks. If Java is installed on your Windows 8 PC, disable it or remove it.

9. Use the Windows 8 style UI version of Internet Explorer
By default, plugins are disabled, blocking a major target for exploit kits and Blackhole attacks.

10. Disable hard drive encryption hibernation
Hard drive encryption is a cornerstone of data protection. If possible, disable the hibernation option in Windows 8 through group policy, as it doesn’t always work well with encryption.

11. Treat Windows RT (ARM) devices like any other mobile devices
Make sure you impose the same security levels on Windows RT devices as all others. You should have the ability to control, track, remote wipe and encrypt them.

You should still run a full security suite for superior filtering and centralized management and reporting. While Microsoft has included a minimalist antivirus and firewall, most organizations will still require commercial-grade security.  And of course, all the old security rules also apply with Window 8. It’s still a bad idea to allow automatic log-on. Above all, remain vigilant.

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