Personal IT Experiences » Weekend Warrior

Turn on or off your wireless LAN card from a command line or batch file

Scott — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:53:24 +0000

My trusty Dell C640 laptop with Windows XP doesn’t have a built-in function key sequence for disabling the wireless LAN card.

On a Intel support forum, I ran across this thread and I followed the suggestions for installing the Microsoft DevCon utility and launching an on or off batch file. I’m now using an on and off batch file in conjunction with the free version of the Keybreeze utility

FireFox + ScribeFire Add-on = Killer Off-line Blog Editing

Scott — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:22:45 +0000

For simple off-line blog editing, from either a Mac or Windows platform, I really like the simplicity and efficiency of the ScribeFire add-on for the FireFox browser. I’ve tried Microsoft’s Live Writer beta on Windows and Ecto on the Macintosh.

Completed Blog Move To A Small Orange Hosting

Scott — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:13:41 +0000

A very clean export from Wordpress.com and import to wordpress 2.2.2 blog hosted on A Small Orange.

What Microsoft Uses For Vista Anti-Virus

ptsnorth — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:02:59 +0000

Meaningless technical tidbit, but if Computer Associates (CA) is good enough for Microsoft’s coders, why not the rest of us? Mark Russinovich in a recent blog posting.

iTunes Authorization FAQ

ptsnorth — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:44:51 +0000

Songs purchased on the iTunes Store can be copied to an unlimited number of computers. However, only five computers at a time can play your iTunes DRM-protected music*.

You can enable a computer to play your purchased music by authorizing it. You can remove a computer from the authorization list by deauthorizing it. Deauthorizing your computer does not erase your music files; it simply prevents your purchased music from playing until you authorize that computer again.

Apple – Support – iTunes Store – Authorization FAQ

Extract Individual Files From An .MSI Installer File

ptsnorth — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:29:23 +0000

Works from a command prompt. It extracts files and maintains their target directory structure just like a new install.

Less MSIerables Utility

Obtain Microsoft Supported Hotfixes Without A Phone Call

ptsnorth — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:38:55 +0000

Need a “supported hotfix is available…” fix that isn’t generally available on the technet web site? Are you dreading having to call and navigate the Microsoft call prompter (or HP enterprise support) to obtain a supported hotfix? Submit a simple web form to Microsoft and receive a link to the download.

Spat’s WebLog (Steve Patrick) : Get a hotfix — without having to call MS…

Prevent .DS_Store file creation on network volumes

ptsnorth — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:43:22 +0000

Article explains how to prevent OS X from creating new .DS_Store files when opening folders on remote volumes mounted using SMB/CIFS, AFP, NFS, and WebDAV. The creation of .DS_Store files (and more so, ._AppleDouble files which are not covered in this hint) is frequently the source of complaints against Mac users, who often leave a trail of these files scattered throughout the file system when “visiting” a Windows computer. Even with this hint in place, the .DS_Store files will continue to be created on local Mac volumes (which is a good thing).

To prevent the creation of these files, open the Terminal and type:

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores true

It may be necessary to log out and back in, or even to restart the computer (which is what the article states), for the change to take effect.

macosxhints.com – Prevent .DS_Store file creation on network volumes

Shopping For New Vista PC Hardware?

ptsnorth — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:49:36 +0000

Solid “core” recommendations when shopping for new desktop PC hardware.

What I look for in a Vista PC | Ed Bott’s Windows Expertise |

The Windows Vista Master Driver List

ptsnorth — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:42:50 +0000

Drivers for common hardware types in a single location.

The Vista Master Driver List | Ed Bott’s Windows Expertise |

Join Two Text Files Together From A Command Prompt

ptsnorth — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:00:50 +0000

No third party utilities required.

Merge two file names ( may.csv and may1.csv ) into a new file called may2.csv, use the following from a command window:

copy/b may.csv +may1.csv may2.csv

How do I merge or join files from the command line?

Mount A Stored DVD Image From Your Hard Drive

ptsnorth — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:59:32 +0000

Alcohol 52 is emulation software allowing users to play CDs DVDs without the need for the physical disc. Notebook users and PC Game players would benefit the most from Alcohol 52%. It supports 25 plus languages and can handle up to 6 virtual CD DVD-ROM drives, all at once. The reading speed of a virtual CD-ROM is 200X.

Example use: Trying to install the Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit to access the Windows PE utilities. This WAIK download saved to a hard disk is stored as vista_6000.16386.061101-2205-LRMAIK_EN.img (note the .img file extension). Mount the WAIK image via the Alcohol 52 interface.

Alcohol 52% Free Edition

Windows XP – Fat32 Windows Partition Size

ptsnorth — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:38:21 +0000

Have a 40GB external USB drive you’re trying to use with Ghost? If you format the external drive with the XP formatting tool, the maximum size XP will format it to is 32 GB. To format the drive to a full 40 GB, use Windows 98 or ME formatting tools — yes that means booting into one of those operating systems.

From a XP command prompt type:

format X:/fs:fat32

Free Windows XP Defrag Utility JkDefrag v3.16

ptsnorth — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:35:59 +0000

Free (released under the GNU General Public License) disk defragment and optimize utility for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/X64. Completely automatic and very easy to use, fast, low overhead, with several optimization strategies, and can handle floppies and USB disks/sticks. Included are a Windows version, a commandline version (for scheduling by the task scheduler or for use from administrator scripts), a screensaver version, a DLL library (for use from programming languages), and versions for Windows X64.

JkDefrag v3.16

Windows XP Retrieve Accidentally Deleted Files

ptsnorth — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 17:13:27 +0000

Undelete Plus is a quick and effective way to retrieve accidentally deleted files, NTFS files, files removed from the Recycle Bin, in a DOS window, from a network drive, from Windows Explorer with the SHIFT key held down. Free utility software that does not have to be “installed” before using.
Undelete Plus. Free file recovery software. Retrieve accidentally deleted files

Netmeeting Built Into Windows XP

ptsnorth — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:49:27 +0000

Windows NetMeeting is already installed but hidden on your Windows XP computer.

From the -> Start button, select -> Run…
In the run field, type -> CONF and press -> OK.

What Group Policies Have Been Applied?

ptsnorth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:57:47 +0000

In Windows XP or Windows 2003, open an entire command window and type -> GPUpdate . All of the current policy settings affecting your computer (or server) and your account are displayed.

You can also see a history of the application of group policies by inspecting the registry.

To inspect the group policies applied to your local computer, use Regedt32 to navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\History

To inspect the group policies applied to your account, navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\History

Each sub-key represents an installed Group Policy Extension and each Group Policy Object is a subkey numbered from 0, the first GPO applied.

JSI Tip 2487. What group policies have been applied?

Overcoming The 4,095 MB Paging File Size Limit In Windows

ptsnorth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:30:42 +0000

To get a complete memory dump from computers that have 4 GB RAM or more, it is still necessary to use the /MAXMEM switch in the Boot.ini file. One of the page files on the system partition must still be 1 MB larger than the amount of RAM installed in the computer to successfully create a memory dump.

How to overcome the 4,095 MB paging file size limit in Windows

Add Or Remove An Administrative Template

ptsnorth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:14:23 +0000

Simple Microsoft how-to to install an .adm file in your GPO.

Add or remove an Administrative Template (.adm file)

Get Mom and Dad Inexpensive DSL – $10 month

ptsnorth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:44:24 +0000

AT&T finally is delivering on the $10 month DSL pricing it promised when it gobbled up Bellsouth this year.

$10 month buys 768 Kbps down and 128 Kbps up speeds and this price lasts for 30 months when you sign up as a new DSL customer.

$15 month buys 768 Kbps down and 384 Kbps up speeds and this price has no expiration.

http://tinyurl.com/ypuwzx

Hey, it’s faster than dial-up…

Windows SteadyState: What Is It?

ptsnorth — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:46:24 +0000

Windows SteadyState, successor to the Shared Computer Toolkit, is designed to make life easier for people who set up and maintain shared computers. Windows SteadyState runs on workgroups or standalone computers. Not every computer user should have access to every software capability. Your system can be more stable and consistent when you limit user access to control panel functions, network resources, and other sensitive areas. No charge and it’s from Microsoft.

Windows SteadyState: What Is It?

Resize Volumes in Windows Vista

ptsnorth — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:17:57 +0000

How-to resize disk volumes in Vista. This blog entry makes it look easy.

IntelliAdmin.com: Resize volumes in Windows Vista

Free Online Training From Microsoft

ptsnorth — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:51:27 +0000

Many of the courses listed here are for up and coming Microsoft products.

English Catalog, Free Products

Free Screensharing – Remote Access

ptsnorth — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:35:01 +0000

CrossLoop is a FREE secure screen sharing utility designed for people of all technical skill levels. CrossLoop extends the boundaries of VNC’s traditional screen sharing by enabling non-technical users to get connected from anywhere on the Internet in seconds without changing any firewall or router settings. It only takes a few minutes to setup and no signup is required.

Crossloop.com

tlbox – System Administration Tools

ptsnorth — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:52:38 +0000

Large variety of SysAdmin tools. Various types and sizes from tools for web interface to troubleshooting hardware on Mac or Windows systems.

tlbox – System Administration Tools

TestDisk – Hard Drive Data Recovery Utility

ptsnorth — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:48:00 +0000

TestDisk is a powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting your Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

TestDisk can

Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
Fix FAT tables
Rebuild NTFS boot sector
Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
Fix MFT using MFT mirror
Locate ext2/ext3 Backup SuperBlock

TestDisk has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, TestDisk can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find TestDisk a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.

TestDisk Download