Domain, Workgroup and Homegroup

Computer networks is an interconnection of computers that allows communication, sharing of resources and information. Each groupings are being managed using different methods for organizing computers in the network.

Windows-based computers inside the network automatically creates a workgroup or domain. Computers on local area network or home networks are always part of a workgroup and computers in businesses and offices are usually part of a domain.

Definitions

Network

A group of devices that communicate either wireless or wired using physical connection such as ethernet cable or a phone line.

Workgroup

A group of computers that are connected on a network and share resources such as printer and files. All computers are peers, means no computer has control over another.

Domain

A collection of computers on a computer network that share a common database and security policy. A domain is administered as a unit with common rules and procedures, and each domain must have a unique name. This makes it easy to make changes because any changes are automatically made to all computers. Domain users must provide a password or credentials each time they access the domain. There can be thousands of computers in a domain and different local networks.

Homegroup

This is a unique feature in Windows 7 in which a group of computers on a network shares pictures, music, documents, and printers. A homegroup is protected with a password.


On Command Line- Find Out BIOS, Motherboard and CPU info

12:27 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Info about your system's BIOS, then type this command

wmic bios get name,serialnumber,version

Info about your BIOS name, current version and it's serial number if there is any.

wmic csproduct get name,identifyingnumber,uuid

Info about your System motherboard (that happen to be the name) and it's UUID

wmic cpu get name,CurrentClockSpeed,MaxClockSpeed

Info about what's the CPU clock speed, also if you have turbo boost CPUs, what's the Max Clock Speed your system is capable of for the current configuration. Of course you can always overclock your CPU and that will too reflect the change.

wmic cpu get name,CurrentClockSpeed,MaxClockSpeed /every:1

If you have dynamic clock speed running, then add this line, it will refresh and monitor the Clock speed every 1 second.


Run Android Apps on Windows 7/8

12:10 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

A virtualization solution that lets you run Android apps fluidly on Windows 7 systems, or even Windows 8. If you are currently looking for a way to port Android apps on Windows system, looking no farther, this App from BlueStacks is all you need. It's a magic piece that puts Android in to the multi-platform category.

The BlueStacks App Player runs like a desktop widget at the top right corner of your desktop after installed. It runs Android apps pretty smoothly in full-screen. The App Player comes with 10 pre-installed apps out of the box but you can get more apps through BlueStacks Cloud Connect, which requires a Facebook authentication to get in. You can install up to 26 of them with the App Player.

It works on Windows 7 machine and it's free.


Windows Vista Default Services


Windows 7 Default Services

5:49 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments


Show_Hidden_Files_On_Off Toggle-Script

Simply copy paste following code in NOTEPAD and save the file with name " Show_Hidden_Files_On_Off.vbs " (including quotes):

Hidden = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Hidden"

SHidden = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ShowSuperHidden"

Set Sh = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

St = Sh.RegRead(Hidden)

If St = 2 Then

Sh.RegWrite Hidden, 1, "REG_DWORD"

Sh.RegWrite SHidden, 1, "REG_DWORD"

Else

Sh.RegWrite Hidden, 2, "REG_DWORD"

Sh.RegWrite SHidden, 0, "REG_DWORD"

End If

Sh.SendKeys("{F5}")


Unlock Oracle- Scott ID

1:34 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

After installation of Oracle10g, there was a problem ..couldnt login using SQL+. None of the accounts(scott/tiger) worked . At last a quick web search gave the solution . Here is what it is:

From your command prompt, type

sqlplus "/ as sysdba"

Once logged in as SYSDBA, you need to unlock the SCOTT account
SQL> alter user scott account unlock;
SQL> grant connect, resource to scott;

Accessing the "em" web application ?
http://hostname:1158/em

http://database-host:1158/em

Login as:
username : sysdba
password : <password>
Connect : Sysdba

Source


Disable Autorun Functionality in Windows

1:28 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Whenever you insert a USB drive, CD/DVD, etc into your system, Windows automatically launches an Autorun dialog box which allows you to select an action from the given list. You can browse the content, play media files, etc using Autorun dialog box.

To disable Autorun functionality in Windows:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Startmenu searchbox and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If the above key doesn't exist, create it.

3. In right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDriveTypeAutoRun and set its value to any of following according to your requirements:

FF - To disable AutoRun on all drives
20 - To disable AutoRun on CD-ROM drives
4 - To disable AutoRun on removable drives
8 - To disable AutoRun on fixed drives
10 - To disable AutoRun on network drives
40 - To disable AutoRun on RAM disks
1 - To disable AutoRun on unknown drives

4. If you want to disable Autorun on a combination of drives, you'll need to calculate sum of the values. For example, if you want to disable Autorun on CD-ROM drives and removable drives, you'll need to set the value to 20+4=24.

5. If you want to restore the Autorun functionality, simply delete the NoDriveTypeAutoRun DWORD value created in Step 3 Or you can set the default value which is given below:

Windows 2000: 95

Windows XP: 91

Windows Server 2003: 95

Windows Vista, Server 2008 and 7: 91

6. If you want to disable Autorun functionality for all users in your system, use the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" instead of "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" mentioned in Step 2.


Enable / Disable - Desktop Settings / Properties of Windows

1:24 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

In Windows you can change desktop wallpaper, screen saver, themes and other appearance settings by right-click on Desktop and select "Properties".

If you want to disable all or a few options in Desktop Properties to restrict users or you might want to enable those options in case they are disabled by your system administrator or a virus infection.

Following tutorial will help you in enabling or disabling all or a particular option in Desktop Properties:

A. Disable Themes Tab in Desktop Properties:

Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer

If "Explorer" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoThemesTab and set its value to 1 to disable it.

B. Disable Desktop Tab in Desktop Properties:

Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System

If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispBackgroundPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.

C. Disable Screen Saver Tab in Desktop Properties:

Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System

If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispScrSavPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.

D. Disable both Themes and Appearance Tabs in Desktop Properties:

Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System

If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispAppearancePage and set its value to 1 to disable it.

E. Disable Settings Tab in Desktop Properties:

Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System

If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispSettingsPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.

* If you want to enable a restricted tab in Desktop Properties, just delete the required DWORD value as mentioned above or change its value to 0 instead of 1.


Hide Control Panel Icons in Windows

12:49 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

To hide or show any specific Control Panel applet in Windows.

A: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\
OR
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\

2. Under this key create a new key with the name don't load , so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load
OR
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\don't load

3. Now in right-side pane, create new String value. Set its name to the file name of the applet which you want to hide, e.g. if you want to hide Display applet then set its name to Desk.cpl now set its value to no to hide it. If you want to show it again, either set its value to yes or simply delete the String value.

To use the above mentioned method, you'll need to know the .CPL file name of the desired applet. You can search for .CPL in Windows Search or you can use help of following list which contains .cpl file names of almost all default Control Panel applets:
Access.cpl Accessibility
Appwiz.cpl Add or Remove Programs
Bthprops.cpl Bluetooth Devices
Desk.cpl Display
Hdwwiz.cpl Add New Hardware
Inetcpl.cpl Internet Options
Intl.cpl Regional and Language Options
Joy.cpl Game Controllers
Keymgr.cpl Stored User Names and Passwords
Liccpa.cpl Licensing
Main.cpl Mouse
Mlcfg32.cpl Mail
Mmsys.cpl Sound and Audio Devices
Ncpa.cpl Network Connections
Nusrmgr.cpl User Accounts
Nwc.cpl Netware client connectivity
Odbccp32.cpl ODBC Data Source Administrator
Powercfg.cpl Power Options
Sysdm.cpl System
Telephon.cpl Phone and Modem Options
Timedate.cpl Date and Time
Sapi.cpl Speech
Wuaucpl.cpl Automatic Updates
Wscui.cpl Security Center or Action Center

B: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Look for a key "Explorer" under it. If its not present, then create a new one and give it name Explorer.

3. Select "Explorer" key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value DisallowCpl and set its value to 1

4. Now create another new key under Explorer key with the name DisallowCpl so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer\DisallowCpl

5. Select "DisallowCpl" key and in right-side, create new String value with name 1 and set its value to the applet name which you want to hide.You don't need to use the .cpl file name of applet in this method. You have to put the applet label which you see in Control Panel.

e.g., If you want to hide AutoPlay applet, then create a new String value, give it name 1 and set its value to AutoPlay. If you want to hide more applets, then simply create more String values with names 2, 3 and so on and set their values to the applet label.

C: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

In this method, you'll tell Windows which applets should be visible and Windows will automatically hide the rest.

Its useful when you want to show a few specific applets and want to hide remaining applets. So you just need to create a few String values to tell Windows which applets you want to show. It'll save your valuable time.

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Look for a key "Explorer" under it. If its not present, then create a new one and give it name Explorer.

3. Select "Explorer" key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value RestrictCpl and set its value to 1

4. Now create another new key under Explorer key with the name RestrictCpl so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer\RestrictCpl

5. Select "RestrictCpl" key and in right-side, create new String value with name 1 and set its value to the applet name which you want to show.You don't need to use the .cpl file name of applet in this method. You have to put the applet label which you see in Control Panel.

e.g., If you want to show AutoPlay applet, then create a new String value, give it name 1 and set its value to AutoPlay. If you want to show more applets, then simply create more String values with names 2, 3 and so on and set their values to the applet label.

Now Windows will only show the applets which you mentioned in String values, other applets will be hidden.

D: For Windows 95, 98 & Me

1. Open "%windir%\Control.INI" file. Where "%windir%" denotes Windows folder which is present in system drive where Windows is installed.

2. You'll see a line saying [don't load] in the file. If you can't find it, then create a new line at last.

3. Now under this line, you can set .CPL file name of your desired applet which you want to hide in following format:

filename.cpl=no

e.g.,

If you want to hide Display applet, then the syntax will be:

desk.cpl=no

You can create similar lines for other applets which you want to hide. The .CPL file name can be obtained from the list mentioned in A.

Source