Windows Tricks & Tips

1) Disabling Display of Drives in My Computer :
This is yet another trick you can play on your geek friend. To disable the display of local or networked drives when you click My Computer go to :
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Now in the right pane create a new DWORD item and name it NoDrives. Now modify it's value and set it to 3FFFFFF (Hexadecimal) Now press F5 to refresh. When you click on My Computer, no drives will be shown. To enable display of drives in My Computer, simply delete this DWORD item. It's .reg file is as follows:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDrives"=dword:03ffffff
2) Pop a banner each time Windows Boots :
To pop a banner which can contain any message you want to display just before a user is going to log on, go to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon
Now create a new string Value in the right pane named LegalNoticeCaption and enter the value that you want to see in the Menu Bar. Now create yet another new string value and name it: LegalNoticeText. Modify it and insert the message you want to display each time Windows boots. This can be effectively used to display the company's private policy each time the user logs on to his NT box. It's .reg file would be:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"LegalNoticeCaption"="Caption here."

3) Exiting Windows the Cool and Quick Way

Normally it takes a hell lot of time just Shutting down Windows, you have to move your mouse to the Start Button, click on it, move it again over Shut Down, click, then move it over the necessary option and click, then move the cursor over the OK button and once again (you guessed it) click.This whole process can be shortened by creating shortcuts on the Desktop which will shut down Windows at the click of a button. Start by creating a new shortcut( right click and select New> Shortcut). Then in the command line box, type (without the quotes.)

'C:\windows\rundll.exeuser.exe,exitwindowsexec'

This Shortcut on clicking will restart Windows immediately without any Warning. To create a Shortcut to Restarting Windows, type the following in the Command Line box:

'c:\windows\rundll.exeuser.exe,exitwindows'
This Shortcut on clicking will shut down Windows immediately without any Warning.

4. Ban Shutdown

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

NoClose(String Value)=1

5. Start Screen Saver when the mouse is at Top Right Corner

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionScreenSavers

MouseCorners(String Value)=-Y-N

6. Change Internet Explorers Caption

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain

Window Title(String Value)=String

7. Making Explorers Toolbar Fancy

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar

BackBitmap(String Value)=Path of BMP Image File.

8. Changing Default Background Files Directory For DesktopProperties.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion

WallPaperDir(String Value)=Path Of Image FilesDirectory.

9. Remove Documents From Start Menu

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

NoRecentDocsMenu(Dword Value)=1

10. Sometimes, even after programs are uninstalled, or dueto the files

being deleted instead of uninstalled, the entry in the Add/RemovePrograms

list do not get removed. To remove them from the list:

1. Start the Registry Editor and navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall.

2. Locate the program entry here and delete it.

11. Cracking Windows XP Passwords

Windows XP is said to be the most secure operating system, it is said to be an invulnerable operating system. 80% of the computer users in this world use Windows XP. Microsoft has said that Windows XP has will help you to have a safe and secure computing experience. I am completely agreeing with this, but I want to tell that Windows XP is not invulnerable; there are some security holes in this operating system. Here, I will be discussing a security hole. Through this security hole, you will be able to penetrate the administrator password.

NOTE: Please note, here, I am assuming that your Windows XP box has an administrator password.

First of all, get a Windows XP bootable CD, if you don’t have one , please read the section Hacking Techniques – Beginners.
Okay, after you get a Windows XP bootable CD, place it in your CD ROM or CD Re-Writer, now boot your computer through CD.

In Windows XP, during the splash screen, press F4 and then choose boot from CD.

Now, you will see a message on the screen saying that
“Press any key to boot from CD”

Once you get into the setup, you will observe that setup is inspecting your system and loading setup files. Once you get the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to setup windows. The Licensing Agreement will be displayed next press F8 to agree it. The next screen will give you an option to do a repair. You will see that “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to select Windows XP Installation and then press R to begin the Repair Process.


“Your Computer will reboot in 15 seconds”

During the reboot, do not press any key to continue because if you do then the normal boot up process will start.
Setup will automatically start and you will observe that Installing Windows is highlighted.

You have to keep your eye on the lower left side of the screen, when you see “Installing Devices”, press SHIFT+F10, this is the security hole in this operating system, you will now see a command console which will enable you to access your system.

Now, you have to type NUSRMGR.CPL and then press enter, to execute your command. Believe it or not, you will now gain a graphical access to your User Account in the Control Panel.

Now, you can do anything, you can change the passwords of the accounts or you can even remove the passwords. After you have completed the manipulations, go to command prompt and type exit. Wait for the repair process to get over, then reboot your system and find the change.

You can also stop the password prompt, for this you must follow the same procedure given above. But, only one thing you have to change, in the command prompt type in control userpassword2, a screen will popup, choose log on without being asked for the password.

NOTE: After making changes in the command prompt or through the command prompt, always exit using the exit.