10 Easy Steps To Speed Up Windows Xp

1. Disable Indexing Services

Indexing Services is a small little program that uses large amounts of RAM and can often make a computer endlessly loud and noisy. This system process indexes and updates lists of all the files that are on your computer. It does this so that when you do a search for something on your computer, it will search faster by scanning the index lists. If you don't search your computer often, or even if you do search often, this system service is completely unnecessary. To disable do the following:

1. Go to Start
2. Click Settings
3. Click Control Panel
4. Double-click Add/Remove Programs
5. Click the Add/Remove Window Components
6. Uncheck the Indexing services
7. Click Next


2. Optimise Display Settings

Windows XP can look sexy but displaying all the visual items can waste system resources. To optimise:

1.Go to Start
2. Click Settings
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click System
5. Click Advanced tab
6. In the Performance tab click Settings
7. Leave only the following ticked:
- Show shadows under menus
- Show shadows under mouse pointer
- Show translucent selection rectangle
- Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
- Use visual styles on windows and buttons


3. Disable Performance Counters

Windows XP has a performance monitor utility which monitors several areas of your PC's performance. These utilities take up system resources so disabling is a good idea.

To disable:

1. download and install the Extensible Performance Counter List
2.Then select each counter in turn in the 'Extensible performance counters' window and clear the 'performance counters enabled' checkbox at the bottom.button below.


4. Speed up Folder Browsing

You may have noticed that everytime you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers everytime you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing significantly:

1. Open My Computer
2. Click on Tools menu
3. Click on Folder Options
4. Click on the View tab.
5. Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
6. Click Apply
7. Click Ok
8. Reboot your computer


5. Improve Memory Usage

Cacheman Improves the performance of your computer by optimizing the disk cache, memory and a number of other settings.

Once Installed:

1. Go to Show Wizard and select All
2. Run all the wizards by selecting Next or Finished until you are back to the main menu. Use the defaults unless you know exactly what you are doing.
3.Exit and Save Cacheman
4.Restart Windows


6. Optimise your internet connection

There are lots of ways to do this but by far the easiest is to run TCP/IP Optimizer.

1. Download and install
2. Click the General Settings tab and select your Connection Speed (Kbps)
3. Click Network Adapter and choose the interface you use to connect to the Internet
4. Check Optimal Settings then Apply
5. Reboot


7. Optimise Your Pagefile

If you give your pagefile a fixed size it saves the operating system from needing to resize the page file.

1. Right click on My Computer and select Properties
2. Select the Advanced tab
3. Under Performance choose the Settings button
4. Select the Advanced tab again and under Virtual Memory select Change
5. Highlight the drive containing your page file and make the initial Size of the file the same as the Maximum Size of the file.

Windows XP sizes the page file to about 1.5X the amount of actual physical memory by default. While this is good for systems with smaller amounts of memory (under 512MB) it is unlikely that a typical XP desktop system will ever need 1.5 X 512MB or more of virtual memory. If you have less than 512MB of memory, leave the page file at its default size. If you have 512MB or more, change the ratio to 1:1 page file size to physical memory size.


8. Run BootVis - Improve Boot Times

BootVis will significantly improve boot times

1. Download and Run
2. Select Trace
3. Select Next Boot and Driver Trace
4. A Trace Repetitions screen will appear, select Ok and Reboot
5. Upon reboot, BootVis will automatically start, analyze and log your system's boot process. When it's done, in the menu go to Trace and select Optimize System
6. Reboot.
7. When your machine has rebooted wait until you see the Optimizing System box appear. Be patient and wait for the process to complete


9. Remove the Desktop Picture

Your desktop background consumes a fair amount of memory and can slow the loading time of your system. Removing it will improve performance.

1. Right click on Desktop and select Properties
2. Select the Desktop tab
3. In the Background window select None
4. Click Ok


10. Remove Fonts for Speed

Fonts, especially TrueType fonts, use quite a bit of system resources. For optimal performance, trim your fonts down to just those that you need to use on a daily basis and fonts that applications may require.

1. Open Control Panel
2. Open Fonts folder
3. Move fonts you don't need to a temporary directory (e.g. C:\FONTBKUP?) just in case you need or want to bring a few of them back. The more fonts you uninstall, the more system resources you will gain.

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Ways to Disable Unnecessary Vista Features

Sidebar

Sidebar; click to view full-size image.You pay a heavy performance price for the analog clock, thumbnail slide-show viewer, and Microsoft-centric RSS news feed that dock in the Windows Sidebar. Turning the whole thing off gives you a big speed boost, especially at boot time.

To remove the Sidebar, right-click anywhere on the Sidebar and select Close Sidebar. Uncheck Start Sidebar when Windows starts, and then click OK.


Aero

Microsoft put a lot of Vista's visual enhancements under one technological and marketing umbrella: Aero. Among those features are the thumbnails of your windows that appear when you hover the mouse pointer over the taskbar, as well as the Flip 3D view you get by pressing Windows-Tab. Aero adds a little practicality and a lot of panache to the Vista user interface, and personally, I like it.

If your PC is underpowered or overloaded, however, Aero may be more trouble than it's worth. To turn it off, right-click the Windows desktop and select Personalize, Window Color and Appearance. In the resulting 'Window Color and Appearance' dialog box, click Open classic appearance properties for more color options (if you don't see the option, that means Aero is already turned off). Select Windows Vista Basic and click OK.


Assorted Interface Beautification Options

Interface options; click to view full-size image.You can save some additional clock cycles by turning off all or some of Vista's pretty interface options, not all of which are directly connected to Aero.

To see the options, click Start, right-click Computer, and select Properties. Click the Advanced System Properties link, the Advanced tab, and then the Settings button inside the Performance box.

You can uncheck all of the listed options by selecting Adjust for best performance, or you can simply uncheck the ones you don't care for. I unchecked Fade or slide menus into view, Fade or slide ToolTips into view, Show shadows under menus, and Slide open combo boxes. The rest I left on.


Remote Assistance

Don't worry about turning this item off if you run Vista Home (Basic or Premium). You don't have it. If you run Vista Business or Ultimate, though, you can use Remote Assistance to control one PC from another--a useful tool if you regularly provide tech support for a relative living far away.

On the other hand, if you're not providing long-distance support, or if you prefer a third-party remote-control program, Remote Assistance is just a waste of resources. To get rid of it, click Start, right-click Computer, and select Properties. Click Remote Settings. Uncheck Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.


Internet Printing Client

Internet Printing; click to view full-size image.Do you ever print documents over the Internet? Neither do I. Chances are, you won't miss out on anything by disabling Vista's Internet Printing Client.

Open the 'Programs and Features' control panel and click the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left; you'll get the Windows Features dialog box. Expand the Print Services section and uncheck Internet Printing Client.

Click OK at this point, and then wait several more minutes for the system to ask to reboot.


Windows Meeting Space

Meeting Space; click to view full-size image.I like Windows' built-in peer-to-peer collaboration program, Meeting Space, which lets you share files across a network while editing them with a remote colleague. But I don't have any use for it in my daily life, and neither do most of the people I know.

So I shut Windows Meeting Space off. You can, too. Simply uncheck Windows Meeting Space while you're in the Windows Features dialog box. If you're not in the Windows Features dialog box, see the tip further up the page for instructions on getting to it.


Windows Ultimate Extras

Ultimate Extras; click to view full-size image.One of the best things you can do exclusively in Vista Ultimate Edition is turn off the really pointless features that are found exclusively in Vista Ultimate Edition. I refer, of course, to Ultimate Extras, a set of downloadable add-ons available only to Ultimate users. If you didn't pay for the most expensive version of Vista, these useless add-ons aren't a concern.

If you do own Ultimate, go to Windows Update (Start, All Programs, Windows Update), click View available updates, and check out all the worthless stuff Microsoft has made available exclusively to people who paid through the nose for the most bloated version of Vista.

As of this writing, the extras include a poker game, some BitLocker and EFS enhancements that hardly anyone uses, several sound schemes, and an odd tool called Windows DreamScene that lets you waste your precious system resources by using video as your wallpaper. If PC World ever asks me to write an article on pointless ways to slow down Vista, I'll start with DreamScene.

You can turn Windows Ultimate Extras off in the Windows Features control panel by clicking Turn Windows features on or off to open the Windows Features dialog box, and then unchecking Windows Ultimate Extras.


Tablet PC Stuff

Tablet PC options; click to view full-size image.I own a tablet PC, and I love Vista's tablet-oriented features--especially the Input Panel for writing with the stylus. But if you don't have a tablet, these features are useless to you.

Turning off Vista's tablet features is a two-step process: Start in the Windows Features dialog box. If you're not already there, see the tip further up the page for instructions on getting to it. Once there, simply uncheck Tablet PC Optional Components.

You complete the job in the Services window, which you open by clicking Start, typing services, and pressing Enter. Find and double-click Tablet PC Input Services. In the 'Startup type' drop-down menu, select Disabled, and then click OK.


Search Indexing

This one is a real trade-off. Turning off Vista's indexing will slow searches to a crawl--I'm talking minutes, not seconds. But ditching this convenient feature could very likely speed up your general PC use significantly.

In other words, turning off indexing will help your PC's performance only if you seldom search by file content, or if you use a third-party search tool such as Copernic Desktop or Google Desktop (in which case you probably have two indexing routines running at the same time, which is an even bigger waste).

If you match either of those descriptions, turn off indexing by clicking Start, typing services, and pressing Enter. Find and double-click Windows Search. In the 'Startup type' drop-down menu, select Disabled, and then click OK.
Offline Files

If you work on files stored on a server somewhere, and you can't depend on that server always being available, Vista Business and Ultimate's Offline Files feature makes your life easier by copying the files to your hard drive and keeping them synced.

Of course, that sort of thing isn't for everybody, which is probably why Microsoft didn't include Offline Files in the Home editions of Vista. But if you have Business or Ultimate and still don't need Offline Files, turn it off by clicking Start, typing services, and pressing Enter. Find and double-click Offline Files. In the 'Startup type' drop-down menu, select Disabled, and then click OK.


Windows Error Reporting Service

Every time Windows experiences an error--either with its own processes or with a third-party program--it offers to report the problem to Microsoft. In theory, doing so can help the company locate problems with its OS (and heaven knows that would be a good thing). But more than likely, your report will either go unresolved or just end up in a big ol' pile of other people's reports on the same problem. Either way, you're wasting your system's precious resources on a feature that isn't doing you any good.

To disable this unhelpful service, open the Services window: Click Start, type services, and press Enter. Find and double-click Windows Error Reporting Service. In the 'Startup type' drop-down menu, select Disabled, and then click OK.

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Remove Ads from Windows Live Messenger

Remove Ads from Windows Live Messenger with WLM Universal Patcher













Nowadays almost all Instant Messenger like Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger shows ads to generate revenue.

A latest version of Windows Live Messenger 9 also carries ads. Most of the time these ads annoying and distracts a lot. There are few ways to remove, disable and get rid of the ads on Windows Live Messenger so that the messenger is ads free.

WLM Universal Patcher also lets you to hide the actions pane and search bar, or to enable multiple logons.

WLM Universal Patcher Plus

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Make Your PC Talk with Notepad!

Open a text file in notepad and write:

Dim msg, sapi
msg=InputBox("Enter your text","Talk it")
Set sapi=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
sapi.Speak msg

Save the file with a (*.vbs) extension, it will create a VBScript File.
It will prompt you for a text when u open the file, input the text and press ok."

u will hear what u typed

this works in xp,vista,se7en.

- Aztec

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Enabling right click on sites that disable it

Lots of web sites have disabled the right click function of the mouse button... it's really, really annoying. This is done so that you don't steal (via right-click->save picture) their photos or images or any other goodies. Unfortunately, it disables ALL right-click functionality: copy, paste, open in new window.

It's easy to change, assuming your using IE 6:

Click "Tools"->"Internet Options"
Click the "Security" tab
Click "Custom Level"
Scroll down to the "Scripting" section
Set "Active Scripting" to "disable"
Click "Ok" a couple of times.

You'll probably want to turn this back to "enable" when your done... 'cause generally the javascript enhances a website.

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Bypass uploading.com wait time

when it says wait X amount of secs etc. in the URL bar type

java script:document.getElementById('downloadform').submit();return true;

Press enter once or twice too feel good then type

java script:document.getElementById('downloadform').submit()

press enter and enjoy

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BlackBerry Tricks

Important Keys
==============
ALT Key = :alt: has half moon on top of it. Left side of keyboard below A.

(New BlackBerry devices have "ALT" spelled out on the key)

CAP key = :cap: bottom right key (AKA Shift Key)

IN General
==========
Hold the :alt: key while you roll the thumb-wheel to scroll horizontally in any field where you can center or view text.

Hold the :alt: key while you roll the thumb-wheel to scroll through a field to view options.

Hold the :cap: key while you roll the thumb-wheelto select multiple items in the list:

alt:+Escape - Allows multitasking, brings up Taskbar on any screen.Similar to Windows ALT+TAB

alt:+:cap: - Turns on CAPS lock.Hold :alt: first thenpress :cap:. An oval with an up arrow screen shows up in the upper right corner of the screen.

cap:+:alt: - Turns on NUM lock. Hold :cap: first then press :alt:. A # sign shows up in the oval in the upper right corner of the screen.

Type the first letter of an item in an option list or menu to jump directly to that item.

Type the first letter of a name or initials separated by a :space: to find a contact in the Address Book screen.

Press C to compose a new message from the ho,e screen or within Messages. (If this does not work, ensure Phone>Options>"Dial From Home Screen" is turned off.This re-enables key press shortcuts for icons from the home screen)

Press :alt:+:enter: to keylock your BlackBerry quickly from the home screen. (Alternate keypress is just press K, but this only works if "Dial From Home Screen" is disabled)

Rearrange the ribbon: In the Home Screen (ribbon), hold the :alt: key and click the thumb-wheel to bring up a menu. You can then select Move Icon, Hide Icon, or Show All. If you hide an icon to show it again click Show all and it'll appear with an X over it, bring up the menu on it and uncheck hide icon.


The BlackBerry display can be backlit to allow reading messages in the dark. To get the light to come on, hit the backlight button usually in the lower right of the keyboard.Hopefully you've a backlit keyboard as well as you can type in the dark.

Turning the radio off and back on when coverage is spotty and you've lost signal seems to help.Also going into network and selecting register now will help.And if you've a phone/combo BalckBerry then on some you can go into network and select Scan for networks. Then select the network you're on, for example T-Mobile, then save. After doing this, the radio will reset and you may receive a register message and a new service book, which you can accept from the service book menu in options.

Password protect your BlackBerry. To set a password, go to the Options menu to the Security item. Set the desired timeout (atleast 15 mins) and enable a password. In conjunction with this, you should also go to the Options menu to the Owneritem, and enter your name, phone number, etc. When the password protection kicks in, this is what is displayed on the screen.

After 5 incorrect attempts in typing in your password, the password starts echoing. After 10 attempts, it performs a lobotomy on itself and almost all data is ckeared. The Memo database, however, is retained and visible.

To support more than one signature. Wipe out your auto-signature in the Redirector of the Desktop Software and just use 'AutoText' to configure alternate signature.

In the message list
===================

Sorting:

alt:+I - show only incoming mail

alt:+0 - show only outgoing mail (messages you've sent)

alt:+P - show phone log messages

alt:+S - show SMS messages

alt:+V - show VoiceMail messages

Navigating T - go to top message listing

B - Go to the end of message listing

del: - close message listing and return to home screen

space: - pagedown

cap:+:space: - pageup

Deleting multiple messages at one:

Highlight a date in the messages list, hit the thumb-wheel and select delete prior. All messages prior to that date will be deleted.

Hold down the :cap: key and use the thumb-wheel to scroll up or down to select messages. Click the thum-wheel and select 'Delete Messages'. Combine this with a sorting tip to make it even more useful, press :alt: then the letter '0' will show all your sent messages, then per this tip scroll down and select the last 5.

While in a message:

Navigating:

enter: or :space: - scroll down a page at a time

alt:+:enter: - scroll back a page at a time

B - scroll to the end of page
T - scroll to the top of page
U - Jump to closest unread message
N - Jump to next message
P - Jump to previous message
del: - close message and return to message listing

Reply-to/Forward: R - Reply to or answer this message

F - Forward this message Select Text (OS v2.1): Press the :cap: key and then scroll the thumb-wheel to select. If you release the :cap: key and scroll the thumb-wheel you'll select entire lines. Press the :cap: key again at any time to start selecting by character again.

Hold down :alt:key + CLICK the thumb-wheel, release the thumb-wheel and then use it to scroll whole lines. You can press and hold the :alt: key at anytime to start selecting by character again.

Click scroll wheel and select SELECT from the menu.Scroll wheel to select entire line.Click scroll wheel again and select copy.With either method, click the thumb-wheel and select'Cut Selection' or 'Copy Selection'.. to paste, open a new message or whatever, click the thumb-wheel, and then select 'Paste Selection'.

Composing Message
Press and hold a letter to capitalise it (with Key Rate enabled)

Press the :space: key twice to insert a period and capitalise the next letter.

Press the :space: key to insert the "@" and "." characters in an email field. Backspace and type again to over-ride this like you would with AutoText.

Press and hold a letter key and roll the thumb-wheel to scroll through international/accent characters, equation symbols and other marks.

Calendar
Press T to go to "Today" in the Calendar screen.

Press G to go to a specific date in the Calendar screen.

The default date range for Calendar synchronisation in Desktop Manager may not suit most people. While configuring the Calendar synchronisation, click the Advanced button and specify the desired range.

Battery
The largest draw on battery life is the transmitter, so if you're transmitting a lot, you can expext reduced battery life.And the backlight.

Being in fringe or no coverage areas will eat up your battery as it attempts to transmit. If you're in an area that is out of range, turn BlackBerry's radio off manually or use Options/Auto On off to conserve battery life.

Geek Tips
Rather than looking at the bars, you can change the display of the 'signal strength' to read in real numbers. While at the home screen, hold down the half moon :alt: key while you type NMLL. The bars should change to read numbers. For the 'signal strength', if you're in the 100 area(that means -100 dBm) you'll be transmitting at maximum power(2 watts), and since coverage is hit and miss at this weak signal, you may end up transmitting many times before the packets make it through.This might help explain any poorer than normal battery life. I consider anything at -90 to -50 excellent.

To get the bars back: While at the home screen, hold down the half moon :alt: key while you type NMLL again.

Hold down the half moon :alt: key and the :cap: key at the same time, then the letter 'H'. This brings up the "Help Me!" sceen that lists version, appversion, pin, imei, uptime, signal strength, battery level, file free and total file.

Hold down the half :alt: while you type LGLG. This brings up the event log where you can clear events (frees some memory) or view them or copy the contents to mail to someone.

alt:+:cap:+: del: will reboot your BlackBerry

- wintermute

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Real Media Guide

You may find this helpful if you download hundreds of short episodes in rm format like me and tired of double-click to open next files.

Very easy. Use notepad to open a new file, type this inside:
file://link to file1
file://link to file2
(type as many as you want)
Close file. Rename it to FileName.rm

Then you`re done!!!!

Ex:
I put my playlist file here: C:\Movies\7VNR
And the movie files are in C:\Movies\7VNR\DragonBall

Then inside my playlist file I`ll have something like this:

file://DragonBall/db134.rm
file://DragonBall/db135.rm
file://DragonBall/db136.rm
file://DragonBall/db137.rm
file://DragonBall/db138.rm

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8 People Can Use The Same Msn Dial Up Account

Its easy really. Do you want to have an entire family on dial-up with just one bill?

1. purchase 20 dollar a month subscription to MSN unlimited access dial up. This will include an MSN 9 cd which you will need. With the software installed, fill up your secondary account slots with new users. Make sure you pick xxx@msn if it gives you the choice, hotmail email addresses will not work..

say the secondary account is second@msn.com type in the Dial up connection

USER : MSN/second
PASS: ******* (whatever)

connect to your local msn phone number and the other people you gave secondary accounts to will be able to do the same, while you are connected. Its a sweet deal considering everyone is paying about 2 bucks a month for internet access, especially if you cannot get broadband. if you wanted to sell off the access to people you could actually make money doing this.. but i do not suggest it.

I used to be an msn tech and this was a little known secret even to most of the employees.

After you do this you do not need the software any more. I would suggest keeping it on to micromanage everyone else's accounts. and for the simple fact that if they don't pitch in, cut them off HEHEHE

I'm on broadband now so i dont care if i tell you my little secret. anyone else knew of this?

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Fixing broken Internet Explorer

So one of your friends, “not you of course”, has managed to nuke Internet Explorer and they are unsure how they did it. You’ve eliminated the possibility of viruses and adware, so this just leaves you and a broken IE. Before you begin to even consider running a repair install of the OS, let’s try to do a repair on IE instead.

THE REPAIR PROCESS

Start the Registry Editor by typing regedit from the Run box.

Go to :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Active Setup \ Installed Components \ {89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383} and then right-click the “IsInstalled value.” Click Modify. From there, you will change the value from 1 to 0.

All right, go ahead and close the editor and reinstall IE from this location.

/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

If messing with the registry and something goes horribly wrong, you can use “Last Known Good Configuration (F8 Safe Mode)” or a Restore Point to get back to where you were before, with your settings. Then you can try again, this time taking care to watch the portion of the registry you are changing. Most people who have troubles with this end up changing the wrong registry key.

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mIRC Commands

/ Recalls the previous command entered in the current window.
/! Recalls the last command typed in any window.
/action {action text} Sends the specifed action to the active channel or query window.
/add [-apuce] {filename.ini} Loads aliases, popups, users, commands, and events.
/ame {action text} Sends the specifed action to all channels which you are currently on.
/amsg {text} Sends the specifed message to all channels which you are currently on.
/auser {level} {nick|address} Adds a user with the specified access level to the remote users
list.
/auto [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles auto-opping of a nick or address or sets it on or off
totally.
/away {away message} Sets you away leave a message explaining that you are not currently paying attention to IRC.

/away Sets you being back.
/ban [#channel] {nickname} [type] Bans the specified nick from the curent or given channel.
/beep {number} {delay} Locally beeps 'number' times with 'delay' in between the beeps. /channel
Pops up the channel central window (only works in a channel).
/clear Clears the entire scrollback buffer of the current window.
/ctcp {nickname} {ping|finger|version|time|userinfo|clientinfo} Does the given ctcp request on
nickname.
/closemsg {nickname} Closes the query window you have open to the specified nick.
/creq [ask | auto | ignore] Sets your DCC 'On Chat request' settings in DCC/Options.
/dcc send {nickname} {file1} {file2} {file3} ... {fileN} Sends the specified files to nick.
/dcc chat {nickname} Opens a dcc window and sends a dcc chat request to nickname.
/describe {#channel} {action text} Sends the specifed action to the specified channel window.
/dde [-r] {service} {topic} {item} [data] Allows DDE control between mIRC and other
applications.
/ddeserver [on [service name] | off] To turn on the DDE server mode, eventually with a given
service name.
/disable {#groupname} De-activates a group of commands or events.
/disconnect Forces a hard and immediate disconnect from your IRC server. Use it with care.
/dlevel {level} Changes the default user level in the remote section.
/dns {nickname | IP address | IP name} Uses your providers DNS to resolve an IP address.
/echo [nickname|#channel|status] {text} Displays the given text only to YOU on the given place
in color N.
/enable {#groupname} Activates a group of commands or events.
/events [on|off] Shows the remote events status or sets it to listening or not.
/exit Forces mIRC to closedown and exit.
/finger Does a finger on a users address.
/flood [{numberoflines} {seconds} {pausetime}] Sets a crude flood control method.
/fsend [on|off] Shows fsends status and allows you to turn dcc fast send on or off.
/fserve {nickname} {maxgets} {homedirectory} [welcome text file] Opens a fileserver.
/guser {level} {nick} [type] Adds the user to the user list with the specified level and
address type.
/help {keyword} Brings up the Basic IRC Commands section in the mIRC help file.
/ignore [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles ignoring of a nick or address or sets it on or off
totally.
/invite {nickname} {#channel} Invites another user to a channel.
/join {#channel} Makes you join the specified channel.
/kick {#channel} {nickname} Kicks nickname off a given channel.
/list [#string] [-min #] [-max #] Lists all currently available channels, evt. filtering for
parameters.
/log [on|off] Shows the logging status or sets it on or off for the current window.
/me {action text} Sends the specifed action to the active channel or query window.
/mode {#channel|nickname} [[+|-]modechars [parameters]] Sets channel or user modes.
/msg {nickname} {message} Send a private message to this user without opening a query window.
/names {#channel} Shows the nicks of all people on the given channel.
/nick {new nickname} Changes your nickname to whatever you like.
/notice {nick} {message} Send the specified notice message to the nick.
/notify [on|off|nickname] Toggles notifying you of a nick on IRC or sets it on or off totally.
/onotice [#channel] {message} Send the specified notice message to all channel ops.
/omsg [#channel] {message} Send the specified message to all ops on a channel.
/part {#channel} Makes you leave the specified channel.
/partall Makes you leave all channels you are on.
/ping {server address} Pings the given server. NOT a nickname.
/play [-c] {filename} [delay] Allows you to send text files to a window.
/pop {delay} [#channel] {nickname} Performs a randomly delayed +o on a not already opped nick.
/protect [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles protection of a nick or address or sets it on or off
totally.
/query {nickname} {message} Open a query window to this user and send them the private message.
/quit [reason] Disconnect you from IRC with the optional byebye message.
/raw {raw command} Sends any raw command you supply directly to the server. Use it with care!!
/remote [on|off] Shows the remote commands status or sets it to listening or not.
/rlevel {access level} Removes all users from the remote users list with the specified access
level.
/run {c:\path\program.exe} [parameters] Runs the specified program, evt. with parameters.
/ruser {nick[!]|address} [type] Removes the user from the remote users list.
/save {filename.ini} Saves remote sections into a specified INI file.
/say {text} Says whatever you want to the active window.
/server [server address [port] [password]] Reconnects to the previous server or a newly
specified one.
/sound [nickname|#channel] {filename.wav} {action text} Sends an action and a fitting sound.
/speak {text} Uses the external text to speech program Monologue to speak up the text.
/sreq [ask | auto | ignore] Sets your DCC 'On Send request' settings in DCC/Options.
/time Tells you the time on the server you use.
/timer[N] {repetitions} {interval in seconds} {command} [| {more commands}] Activates a timer.
/topic {#channel} {newtopic} Changes the topic for the specified channel.
/ulist [{|}]{level} Lists all users in the remote list with the specified access levels.
/url [-d] Opens the URL windows that allows you to surf the www parallel to IRC.
/uwho [nick] Pops up the user central with information about the specified user.
/who {#channel} Shows the nicks of all people on the given channel.
/who {*address.string*} Shows all people on IRC with a matching address.
/whois {nickname} Shows information about someone in the status window.
/whowas {nickname} Shows information about someone who -just- left IRC.
/wavplay {c:\path\sound.wav} Locally plays the specified wave file.
/write [-cidl] {filename} [text] To write the specified text to a .txt file.

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Tips to Easily Choose Good Secure PINs and Passwords

As it is necessary to be able to remember passwords and PINs readily, we are tempted to use something that we are already very familiar with to make it easier. We are also tempted to opt for universal passwords and PINs for everything because it is easier to remember just one set rather than several different sets. Unfortunately, it is dangerous to do this as a smart identity thief can break them with relative ease.

Basing a password on the real name or user name of a user should always be avoided. Also avoid basing passwords on information that can found with a bit of research on you, such as your spouse's name, child's name, type of car you own, a phone number or vehicle license tag, your address, a parent's name, your date of birth, etc.

A common method used by identity thieves to break a password is the dictionary method of attack. This method uses a dictionary in any language to try large numbers of words to see if an actual word is in the password. Reversed words, frequent misspellings and look-alike letter replacements are also checked.

Breaking PINs is approached in much the same manner. The thief begins with easy to remember number combinations like sequential numbers, duplicated numbers or numbers that can be years or birth dates.

One solution that is popular is to use a sentence that is easy to recall and use the first letter of each word in the sentence for the password. Using this method, Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you" translates into the password "anwyccdfy"

To make it more complex, mix in some upper case letters and maybe "K" for Kennedy. The year the speech was given can also be added to make the password "Anwyccdfy1961". It looks complicated but it is easy to recall the year, the speaker and the quote.

Since a great many passwords are case sensitive, the use of upper case letters greatly increases the difficulty of breaking such a password. Symbols can be used with some systems, so using an easy to remember question mark and a dollar sign will make the password "Anwy?ccdfy$1961" makes it an even better password.

A change like this adds length to the password, making it far more difficult for an identity thief to break. A password should be a minimum of eight characters but fourteen or more, like the example above, is best.

With a PIN, your options are typically more limited, usually to four numbers. It is best to select numbers at random and avoid repetition. You can also use an obscure combination such as phone extension of an employer a few jobs ago, especially if the company no longer exists. Obvious combinations, such as part of your phone number, vehicle tag number, or your birth date, are where a thief is likely to begin testing, so these should be avoided.

To enhance the security of your passwords, you should:

Use a separate password for each program or application, don't use a common password for all.

Keep all passwords private, don't share them with anyone who doesn't really need to know.

Every three or four months, change your passwords.

So not use your passwords on shared computers such as in a public library or cyber café as there could be keystroke software installed.

If someone says they are from your bank or some such place and asks for your password, do not give it. Banks and other similar places will never ask for your PIN or password.

- Leon Edward

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Hide private files in JPEG pictures

Requirements :
- Winrar
- An jpeg image file
- A file (whatever it is)

Let's say I want to hide a file (secret.pdf) into an image (lisa.jpeg)

* Create a folder on your hard drive, i.e. C:\Hide and put in all of the files that you want to hide into that folder include the image file.

* Now select all of the files that you want to hide, right-click on them, and choose the option to add them to a ".rar" file. Only select the files you want to hide, not the picture.
Name it whatever you want, i,e. “secret.rar”.
* Now you should have a folder that looks something like this with files, a JPG image, and a compressed archive:

* Click on Start, and then click on Run. Type in “CMD” without the quotes and press Enter. You should now see the command prompt window open.
Type in “CD \” to get to the root directory. Then type CD and the directory name that you created, i.e. “CD Hide“.

* Now type in the following line: “copy /b lisa.JPG + secret.rar lisa.jpg” (without quotes) and press Enter.
You'll see this :

The picture file will have been updated with the compressed archive inside! You can actually check the file size of the picture and see that it has increased by the same amount as the size of the archive.

Last, delete the secret.pdf (original file) & secret.rar except lisa.jpg

Two simple ways to access the file :
-change "lisa.jpg" extension to lisa.rar and open the file using winrar.
-right-click on the jpeg file "lisa.jpg" and choose Open With and then scroll down to winrar.

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Moving mouse cursor without mouse

Here's what you could do :

-Log onto your computer with administrative rights.
-To activate this feature, press Alt+Shift+NumLock keys, all at once and you will receive a small MouseKey box.
To keep MouseKeys on, click on Ok button or click on cancel button to cancel MouseKeys box.
Click on Settings button, if you want to adjust the mouse cursor detail settings.

Here a new dialog box will appear with the title "Settings for MouseKeys", now you can manage all mouse settings for example mouse cursor speed, acceleration and some other features.

Now using Numeric keypad, you can move your mouse pointer.
The controls are:

1,2,3,4,6,7,8 and 9 keys are used to move the mouse cursor into different directions.

Key 5 is used as mouse click button.

Insert key used to hold down mouse button.

+ key used to double click on any object.

Delete key used to release the mouse.

NumLock button to disable this keyboard mouse feature.

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Increase Windows Shutdown Speed

Click on start>run>regedit

Navigate to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\

Find the

WaitToKillAppTimeout value.

Set it to ‘1000′ (the default should be 20000).
Find the

HungAppTimeout value.

Set it to ‘1000′ (the default should be 5000).

Again, stay on regedit,

navigate to

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

Find the

WaitToKillAppTimeout value.

Set it to ‘1000′ (the default should be 20000).
Find the

HungAppTimeout value.

Set it to ‘1000′ (the default should be 5000).




















Last step
navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\

Find the

WaitToKillServiceTimeout

Set value to ‘1000′ (the default should be 20000).




















Here we go, it's done.

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Solve Slowing Down Desktop

After installing Internet Explorer 7, ctfmon.exe was causing some random issues and slowing down desktop.
Removed ctfmon.exe and all the issues were resolved.

ctfmon.exe was able to disabled as follows

Go to

Start>Control Panel>Regional and Language Options

Click on

Languages tab>Details>Advanced tab

and then put a check next to

Turn off advanced text service

then hit Apply.

When you hit apply ctfmon.exe will be removed from Task Manager process list permanently.
This will helps anyone else who is having slow desktop issues.

Repeat step will be required when reinstalling any component of Microsoft Office, or Internet Explorer 7.

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Easiest way to check dead links on rapidshare etc

1. Go to firefox address bar and type :

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

Click the green "Add to Firefox" button and install Greasemonkey.
Greasemonkey allows you to customize the way a webpage displays using small bits of JavaScript.
After installing Greasemonkey, restart Firefox.

2. Go to firefox address bar and type

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/190

Click the green "Add to Firefox" button and install Linkification.
Linkification converts text links into genuine, clickable links.
To view and set options, you can
(1) use the Linkification right-click context menu,
(2) right-click the status bar icon and click "Options", or
(3) click Tools->Extensions, and double-click the Linkification item.
After installing Linkification, again, restart Firefox.

3. Go to Rapidshare Links Checker Script Page

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/9467

To the upper right, click on the install button.

The Rapidshare Links Checker
Automatically checks rapidshare.com, megaupload.com and filefactory.com links from the page that you are visiting.

The script can check hundreds of rapidshare.com megaupload.com and filefactory.com links in a split of a second (300 links in 0.1 - 0.3 sec and 900 links in 0.5 sec on my ADSL connection).
There is no limit in the number of checked links, you will not be blocked from rapidshare.com even if you check 2000 links at once.
This script is very fast because is checking all the links in batch, not one by one using the original link checker pages of the file host (rapidshare.com megaupload.com and filefactory.com)
When a link is dead the text-decoration of the link is changed to line-through.

Sample of the results :

Additional script (to checks links for rapidshare.de netload.in easy-share.com mediafire.com megashares.com depositfiles.com) :

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/24953

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5 Easy Steps to Speed Up Firefox Browser

1. Go to address bar and type "about:config", hit enter.

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








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








4. Set "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" to some number like "30".
It means browser will make 30 requests at once.








5. Right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer.








Name it "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set its value to "0".
nglayout.initialpaint.delay is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.










Happy browsing!

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Restart windows without restarting your pc

Windows Vista :
Select Start, then hover over the right arrow that is to the right of the padlock icon until the pop-up menu appears that contains “restart” as one of it’s choices.
Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking on the “restart” choice.

Windows XP :
Select Start. Select “Shut Down…”.
Change the drop-down combo box under “What do you want the computer to do?” to “Restart”.
Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking on the “OK” button.

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