Showing posts with label Utility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utility. Show all posts

Run Android Apps on Windows 7/8

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 7 WinSxS Folder Size reduce

With Windows Vista, the WinSxS folder was able to be cleaned up via a third party tool (WinSxS Lite here - Vista only!). With the initial release of Windows 7, we lost that capability - but it has since returned with Service Pack 1.

The WinSxS folder is used to store install and uninstall files, windows packages (current and previous versions of a component) and out-of-band releases. (You should not completely delete this folder). Post Windows 7 SP1, there is now a way to remove the unnecessary files from this folder using the command line (elevated/admin mode -> Click Start -> Type "cmd" in Search. Right click on "cmd" and choose "Run as Administrator"). This is great for reducing the Windows folder size for SSDs and netbooks.

c:\dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded


Windows Seven God Mode

1:13 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Enable the Windows 7 God Mode control panel:

1. Create the folder.

First, create a new folder. For this example, I am simply doing this on my desktop via the right-click context menu.

2. Rename the folder with the specific string.

Rename the folder to specifically be: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} . Failure to include this in the folder name will result in this Easter egg not working as expected.

Copy & Paste:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

3. Verify functionality.

The folder having been renamed, Windows has recognized the specific key we've included in the name, and has changed it's appearance, and functionality. Hovering over the folder with the cursor interestingly will still display to us that the item still behaves as a folder within the operating system. Yet while opening it, will display a new and previously hidden control panel.

{There are 266 system administration related tasks, items, and locations you can now access easily and readily all from this singular control panel. They are sorted into collapse sections of a list view, and allow you to quickly set only the preferred system tasks, tools, and utilities to be seen within your view.}


Access and Explore Linux File systems on Windows OS

Mount or Explore Linux file system on windows but rather a collection of software that will enable you to mount and or explore linux file systems such as Ext2, Ext3 and Reiserfs.

Ext2 IFS - Provides Windows NT4.0/2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008 with full access to Linux Ext2 volumes (both read and write access). This may be useful if you have installed both Windows and Linux as a dual boot environment on your computer.

DiskInternals Linux Reader - Provides read-only access and does not allow you to make records in Ext2/Ext3 file system partitions. It is 100% free by the way.

Ext2FSD
- Act as a file system driver for Windows NT/XP/2K to access a linux filesystem such as ext2.

Explore2FS - A linux filesystem explorer for Windows 9x/NT/XP or XPSP2/Win2k3 which supports ext2 and ext3 linux filesystems.


Visual BCD Editor: Edit Windows 7 Boot Configuration Data

The boot configuration data store (BCD) contains boot configuration parameters and controls how the operating system is booted for Windows Vista and later versions. Unlike Boot.ini in XP, BCD stores data in a binary format and cannot be edited with a text editor.

Visual BCD Editor is a free tool for Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, and provides a graphical user interface for command line utility BCDEdit. Once installed, it provides two main features: Startup Repair and Visual BCD Editor.

The Startup Repair feature can be used to repair BCD, repair bootsector and MBR (Master Boot Record), and repair disk as well.

Key features:

# Edit boot menu

# Rename boot menu entries

# Change boot menu timeout

# Repair BCD

# Backup BCD store

# Import BCD store

# Repair bootsector

# Repair disk

# Set default boot menu entry

# Create new Windows XP loader

# Create new Windows 7/Vista loader

# Create new bootsector loader for Unix and Mac OS X

Download Visual BCD


Missing Network Icon Animation Activity in Windows 7

Activate Network Icon Animation Activity in Windows 7 | Solution to Missing Network Icon Animation Activity in Windows 7

How to Activate Network Icon Animation Activity in Windows 7 ?

Windows 7 has a different kind of network activity icon in the system tray and unlike the Windows XP style network icon which blinks, the Windows 7 default icon does not show any activity. Network Activity Indicator is a freeware tool which displays the old 'two monitors' icon in Windows 7 that flashed blue to show network activity on the System Tray.

Unlike the original Windows XP utility (that has individual indicators for each interface), this program indicates outgoing and incoming network packets on all available interfaces. You can configure the blink rate of the icons in the system tray.

This utility is a standalone executable. Run the program, you'll see a new system tray icon. If you want to remove the default Windows 7 network utility, then open the notification center in control panel and select "Hide icon and notifications" for the default Windows 7 network icon.

gor Tolmachev of itsamples.com has developed a very small utility called Network Activity Indicator. It adds Windows XP Style Network Icon in System Tray which is Animated.

Download


How To Create Bootable Windows 7, Vista, or XP USB Flash/Pen Drive Quickly

Users who have been struggling to follow our command prompt based install Windows 7 from USB flash drive and make bootable USB guides have a good reason to rejoice. Now you can create Windows 7, Vista, or the old XP bootable USB key with a few clicks. Yup, this is true. Read to know more!

Let's begin the guide without wasting time. Just make sure that you have a pen drive with 4GB + capacity if you are making a bootable USB flash drive.

Requirements to create bootable Windows USB:

# Windows 7 or Vista ISO

# Pen drive with 4GB+ (2 GB is sufficient for XP)

# 15 Minutes of free time

Procedure:

1. Insert your USB flash/pen drive to your system and backup all the data from the USB as your USB drive will be formatted during the process.

2. Now download WinToFlash tool (free) from here.

3. Run the tool, and browse to your Windows 7, Vista, or XP DVD files (make sure that your USB drive letter is correct).

4. Click Create button to begin the bootable USB process. Wait for few minutes to see the bootable USB.

5. That's all!


Fix Windows 7 Errors With FixAuto Tool

1:01 AM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Whether you like it or not, you need to deal with several Windows related errors in your day to day life. Though most of these errors are caused by malicious items, fixing those errors is a time consuming job.

Luckily there are some free utilities available to fix common Windows errors easily. FixAuto is one such free tool that allows you fix several common errors with a click. The interface is simple and easy-to-use. Along with several fixes, the utility also offers a few handy settings to secure your Windows operating system.

FixAuto

Once you install and run this program for the first time, you will be asked to select your language. Select English to start fixing Windows.

FixAuto 1

You can block autorun.inf file, disable write to flash disk, and turn on/off UAC (User Account Control). With FixAuto, you can manage startup programs as well.

Key fixes available in FixAuto:

# Enable task manager

# Enable registry editor

# Fix IE (Internet Explorer)

# Fix blue screen blue screen when shutdown

# Fix run

# Fix system host and protocol

# Fix logon

# Fix debugger

# Show hidden files/folders

# Fix system time

# Fix Windows system errors

# Fix Windows explorer errors

# Fix start menu errors

# Fix msconfig (system configuration utility)

FixAuto 3

If you can't find a fix for a Windows error in FixAuto, you can try FixWin tool which comes with over 50 fixes for common Windows errors.

Download FixAuto


Customize Windows 7 Installation Setup With Win Integrator Tool

12:58 AM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Win Integrator to create customized Windows 7 installation ISO setup with tweaks and drivers.

Win Integrator

The user interface is easy-to-use and extremely simple, just like the Vlite tool. The main windows allows you browse to the Windows 7 installation files. Once the folder is selected you will be given options to select your operating system that you want to configure using Win Integrator.

Win Integrator for Windows 7

One can add updates, drivers, and language packs just with a few clicks. As me mentioned before, it's extremely easy-to-use. It allows you remove Windows programs and features such as Internet Explorer, Games, Snipping tool and more from the installation setup. Other than that, you can also turn Windows features on or off using this tool.

Win Integrator for Windows

All in all, it's a great tool to make a customized Windows 7 ISO setup in a few minutes. Note that you need to have installed Microsoft .NET Framework 4 and Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows or Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) for Windows 7 to use this tool.

Download Win Integrator


Unattended Windows 7 Installation

12:57 AM by Yash Kalra 1 comments

Se7en Unattended is an excellent tool for Windows to create unattended Windows 7 installation setup. With Se7en Unattended, one can disable services, include add-ons, integrate drivers, add third-party applications, add Windows updates, and add other tweaks to create a customized Windows 7 ISO.

This tool comes in handy when you want to create your own customized Windows 7 setup ISO. Click on the labels of an item to view a short summary of what it will do.

As the developer says, Se7en Unattended makes it really easy to maintain your Unattended Installs for Windows 7. Whether you are using it for the homebuilt machine or for OEM CD/DVD creations, it will help you create customized Windows 7 ISO with a few clicks.

If you are new to unattended Windows, we recommend the Vlite tool as it's extremely easy-to-use for a beginner.

Download Se7en Unattended


Intel Processor Identification Utility Helps You Know Your Intel Processor

12:54 AM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

Intel Processor Identification Utility is a handy tool for all Windows users who have a PC running on Intel processor, which helps you know features, package, intended frequencies and actual operating frequencies of their Intel processor.

Intel(R) Processor ID supports the following Intel processors:

# Core 2 processors

# Core processors

# Xeon(R) processors

# Pentium(R) dual-core processors

# Pentium 4 and later desktop processors

# Mobile Pentium M processors

# Celeron(R) dual-core processors

# Celeron processors based on the Pentium 4 and

# Pentium M processor cores

# Atom(TM) processors

Key features:

# The Frequency Test section of the utility provides information regarding the operating status of the selected processor.

# The CPU Technologies section of the utility displays the Intel processor technologies and features present in the selected processor. The CPUID Data section of the utility identifies the Intel processor(s) in the system.

# The Save feature enables the processor information to be saved into a text file.

# The Web Update feature enables updating to the latest version of the Intel Processor Identification Utility.

Download Intel Processor ID Utility

Download Intel Processor ID Utility (Softpedia Mirror)


Slipstream Service Pack into Your Windows Installation CD


Next time you wipe your PC's hard drive clean and reinstall Windows with that old installation disc, you don't want to connect your fresh, unpatched and vulnerable system to the internet only to download 176 new updates from Microsoft. If your XP installation CD is older than 2004, once your system is online, you'll have to wait for hefty service packs to download, chained to your mouse while pushing the Next button, watching progress bars, and rebooting multiple times. Wouldn't it be better to start your installation, head out to run errands or grab coffee, and come back to an up-to-date system before your system gets online? It's possible, using some free software and a blank disc. After the jump, I'll show you how to create an automated, customized XP installation CD or DVD, that includes Microsoft's official-but-not-released Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.

Note on the current status of Service Pack 3: As of May 2, 2008, Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack 3 to PC manufacturers, but due to a last minute bug discovery which has to do with software for businesses (not home users), they have delayed the "release to web." This means they are not yet pushing it to users via Windows Update, and they have not yet published a Microsoft Download Center page for it. However, the official SP3 file is available for download on Microsoft's servers. Here's the direct link to the English version. No word on when SP3 will appear on Windows Update, but no doubt it will be soon. For more on what you get with the new service pack, here's our complete field guide to SP3.

Why make a "slipstreamed" disc?

Maybe you're the type who can't fathom being absent while Windows installs, unable to prune all the unnecessary applications and features, customize the desktop, set up user accounts and install needed drivers. Well, you and I have a lot in common, but we can both enjoy what nLite, a free slipstreaming utility, can do:

  • Pre-configure and tweak Windows-Nearly every power-user setting, from hidden file showing to deep registry hacks, can be set from the get-go.
  • Pre-install drivers and printers-No more searching through the Nvidia, ATI, or printer manufacturers' sites for the exact package after install.
  • Strip your system for speed-Adam's already showed us how nLite can help you trim Windows to its bare essentials, which not only saves disk space and frees up memory, but saves you the time of disabling and removing the superfluous stuff later (and clicking "Yes" on every "Are you sure ..." prompt).

What you'll need

Note for Vista users: There's a similar utility for creating a slipstreamed Vista DVD, vLite, which got the step-by-step treatment from Digital Inspiration. That tool, however, doesn't allow for half as much customization-not yet, anyways.

Getting started

nlite_1.jpgAfter you've installed nLite, load your installation CD into your disc drive and make sure you've got your 25-character product key handy. Launch nLite, click to the next screen, "Locating the Windows installation." Before you go further, create a new folder somewhere on your computer, at the hard drive root (as in "C:\") if possible. Click "Browse," select your CD drive, and you'll be prompted to copy your CD to a folder. Select the folder you created, then wait for the copy to finish.

nlite_3.jpgNLite's next screen will ask what you want to customize on your install disc. If you only want to update to SP3, only click the "Service Pack" button. But unless you love answering questions and never touch a setting in Windows XP, you'll want to flip all the switches green and click "Next."

nlite_2_2.jpgNow nLite will ask for slipstream files, or packages you want to integrate into the installer. You'll always want to have the latest service pack available, since, for instance, Service Pack 3 incorporates the fixes made in SP1 and SP2, so it makes them unnecessary. If you grabbed the latest beta of nLite, you'll see a Service Pack 3 already offered for integration, but it's an older release candidate. Hit the "Choose" button, select the executable file you downloaded from Microsoft with the seriously long file name, and give nLite a few minutes to implement it. When you see the version number change, hit "Next" and move on.

wul_cropped.jpg"Hotfixes and Update Packs" is for all the tiny little Windows Updates between service packs. If you're including SP3, you can pretty much skip this part. But in the future, and for those not jumping onto SP3, I recommend running WinUpdatesList. You'll see a list of all the updates you've installed, and sorting by date and type should show you what you've installed since the last service pack. Right-click on an update, and you'll get a link to a related Microsoft Knowledge Base article, where you should be able to download the fix directly and patch it into nLite. You can also roll executables for Windows updates-like Internet Explorer 7, which (still!) doesn't install by default-into your disc.

Click "Next," and you'll see an identical screen for drivers. If you know where to find the .INF files that connect your hardware to Windows, you can roll them into your install disc, but be warned: a small printer INF increased the final size of my ISO by at least 200 MB-I'm still trying to figure out why, but if you encounter similar problems, simply throw the driver installation files into spare space on the disc (more on that soon).

Customize your install


nlite_4.jpgYou start really making your XP system your own on the next screen. The "Compatibility Window" that pops up can protect you from yourself; unless you're sure you can do without an item, you'll want to leave it checked. Behind it, the "Remove Components" section is where you can pull out all the stuff you don't ever use or don't have. Most of the savings are small in hard drive size, but keep your system from clogging with services and drivers it doesn't need. Among the almost-guaranteed safe removals:"Briefcase" from Accessories; most of the non-red items in Hardware; Keyboards and Languages that you don't ever plan to use; "Tablet PC" from Multimedia; and MSN Explorer and Windows Messenger from Network.

nlite_5.jpgUp next is the "Unattended" section, if you checked it, and this one requires attention to detail. If you want to set and forget your XP install, change "Unattended Mode" to "Fully automated," but then move slowly through every tab, filling in every section you'd expect to get prompted for during install. You can fill out your Product Key in advance here, and you'll also want to check "Skip OOBE" (Out Of Body Experience, or the introduction tour). Fill out all the name fields in "Users" and "Owner and Network ID," and make sure to set the time in "Regional." Once you're content you've pre-empted your installer, click "Next."

nlite_7.jpgYou can pretty much leave the "Options" pane alone, although I enable the "merge" option by way of hoping for a smaller package. The "Tweaks" options are up next, and while I can't tell you how to customize your desktop, I'll note that you can basically set up your desktop, Start Menu, Internet Explorer and lots of other Windows tweaks from these prompts. Check the bottom bar for descriptions, and fear not-all of these can be undone, and we've posted a good many here at Lifehacker.

nlite_6.jpgHit "Next," and you're almost done-click "Yes" to start the bundling process. Once that's finished (about 7-10 minutes on a faster computer), you can click through to make or burn an ISO file. Before doing that, gather up any files you want to keep on the disc, like that finicky printer driver or your favorite app installers, and place them in their own folder in the directory where you copied your original XP CD to. Now hit "Make ISO," choose where to save the image, and then burn it to CD or DVD using your favorite utility, like the free ISO Recorder.

You've now got a CD that's completely up to date, and installs by itself (once you get past the initial blue-and-white loading screens, that is). You might have to run through nLite a few times if your images turn out bigger than you want, but you can always create a bootable DVD if needed.

What changes, updates, or advanced features have you slipstreamed into your Windows disc? What do you still wish you could have loaded onto your Ultimate No-Touch Install CD? Let's hear 'em both in the comments.

Kevin Purdy, associate editor at Lifehacker, won't be pulling any more late-night emergency XP re-installations for himself or desperate friends. His weekly feature, Open Sourcery, appears every Friday on Lifehacker.


Creating Multi-boot DVDs with MagicISO

MagicISO Maker is a powerful CD/DVD-image-file editor, CD burner, and CD/DVD-backup tool. It can directly create, edit, extract, and burn ISO files. It also can convert almost all CD and DVD image formats to ISO and BIN/CUE. With MagicISO Maker, you can handle DVD images up to 10GB; make CD-image files from CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs; and burn ISO files and other CD and DVD image files (BIN, IMG, CIF, NRG, BWI, VCD) to CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW. The program supports the making of bootable CD and DVD image files; the loading of boot-image files exported by WinISO; the processing of CD and DVD image files with ISO9660, Joliet, Rock Ridge, and UDF volume; edit properties of CD and DVD image files; the searching of files or folders with wildcard characters; the creation of multibootable CD and DVD image files by a bootable setup wizard; expert settings for creating Linux or Unix bootable CDs; and the opening, editing, and extraction of a floppy-disk image file.

Powerful Features:

1.Process almost all CD-ROM image file(s) including (ISO,BIN,NRG,CRF,BWI,BWT,LCD,CUE,CCD,MDF,MDS,VCD,CIF,FCD,VDI,C2D,PDI,IMG,etc).

2.Ability to directly add/delete/rename/extract file(s) within image files.

3.Convert image files to the standard ISO format(Include BIN to ISO,NRG to ISO,CIF to ISO converter etc).

4.Backup CD to your hard disk.

5.Burn CD with most of CD image file(include ISO,BIN,NRG,CIF etc)

6.Supports ISO 9660 Level1/2/3 and Joliet extension

7.Duplicate disc to ISO file from CD-ROM.

8.Magic ISO maker embed with Windows Explorer.

9.You can convert almost all image file formats, and save it as a standard ISO format file.

10.Edit ISO file in many format(such as Nero burning ROM, Easy CD Creator, CDRWin, CloneCD, BlindWrite, winiso, reader etc).

11.Select some files or directories, and then create the ISO based on these files.

12.Make bootable ISO file.

13.Because of its file associations, you can simply double click an ISO file in Windows Explorer to open it.

14.Very easy to use interface but powerful enough for an expert.

15. edit properties of CD/DVD image files.

16. Correct volume serial number after editing original CD/DVD image files.

17. Can searching files or directories in CD/DVD image file.

18. Command line utility (miso.exe) for creating, editing, extracting ISO file on Windows Console

19.Supports ISO image with Rock Ridge extension (Linux/Unix CDs)

20. Supports expert bootable setting for creating Linux/Unix bootable CD

21. Supports creating Multi-Boot CD/DVD so that the user can install Multiple Operation System from one CD/DVD

22. supports opening/extracting/editing floppy disk image file.

Rapidshare:
Magic Iso
http://rapidshare.com/files/142609704/Magic.ISO.rar

Magicdisc
http://rapidshare.com/files/142608790/setup_magicdisc.exe

Easy-Share
MAGICISO
http://w14.easy-share.com/1701454335.html

MAGICDISC
http://w17.easy-share.com/1701454298.html


Creating Multi-boot DVDs with EasyBoot

6:41 PM by Yash Kalra 0 comments

f you are a system administrator, then you probably have a whole bunch of CDs of all the operating systems installed on your network. So you d be hunting for the right CD every time you have to install an OS on any machine. This can be difficult and time consuming. The way out is to put all your operating systems on a single DVD. These DVDs can also be made to support multi-booting. So whenever you insert the DVD into a drive and reboot the machine, it will list all the operating systems it has so that you can choose the one you want to install. Here�s the way you can do it.

First you need a boot loader for the DVD, which supports multi-booting. There are many ways to burn a multi-boot DVD.

The easiest is to use a software called Easy boot 4.1, which is a shareware utility. It even lets you create colorful boot menus with background pictures. It is easy to use and creates an ISO image as the output file, which can then be used to burn a DVD using Nero.

After the utility is installed, it creates an EasyBoot shortcut on your desktop. Double click it to open a preview menu window and the Easy boot window. From the Easy Boot window, you can change the menu layout and boot menu settings. Click on the Menu tab to set the text for each menu and the command for each to load its corresponding boot image. This command will be executed when the menu is selected. In multi-booting, the boot loader calls the selected boot sector, which will be present in an .img or .bin file. The boot sector, then further searches for the OS kernel and loads it.

After configuring the menus, you need to dump installers for all the operating systems to C:\EasyBoot\Disk1 folder. Then copy the OS boot image (a .bin or .img file) to the C:\EasyBoot\Disk1\ezboot folder. This is the same image file that you specified in the menu command while creating the menu.

Now from the EasyBoot window, select the File tab and click the Make ISO button. This will prompt you to create an ISO image out of all the contents dumped in C:\EasyBoot\Disk1. Click Make button. The tool creates the bootable ISO file in the C:\EasyBoot\iso directory.

Finally you need to make a Bootable DVD out of this ISO image. Start the Nero burning software and select Recorder>Burn Image from the menu bar. Here a burn compilation window will pop up. Select DVD from the drop down list and click the Burn button to make your multi-boot DVD.

Now whenever you insert this DVD into a drive and boot the machine, it will show you a menu of all the operating systems stored in it. Choose the one you want to install

Download OR Download