A Tutorial for those willing to Learn
Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Binary System
3. Converting Binary to ASCII (Text)
Introduction:
We’ve all seen binary code. We’ve come to think of them as a bunch of ones and zeroes in long strings…
010010101010101001101011
But these ones and zeroes can also represent decimal numbers. First off, I will show you how to read these numbers as the decimal numbers we’re used to in our daily life. Then, I will show you how to use those numbers and your keypad to translate them into text. Note that your computer doesn’t use the decimal system, so technically, when it converts binary to text, it doesn’t go through the process I will show you. This is just a divertive way of explaining you how the binary system works.
The Binary System:
Here’s a simple example of binary:
10101
Let’s think of the example above as empty slots:
_ _ _ _ _
First off, you read binary from right-to-left. It’s just the way it’s designed. The first slot from the right represents a value of one, the second from the right a value of two, the third from the right a value of four, the fourth from the right a value of eight, the fifth from the right a value of sixteen, and the cycle continues by multiples of 2. This will never change.
By putting a 1 or a 0 in those slots you are either saying you want to corresponding value that’s attached to that slot or you don’t. A 1 means yes, and a 0 means no. For example, putting a zero in the first slot from the right, but a 1 in the second slot from the right means you want a two, but not a one:
_ _ _ 1 0
As such, the number above equals to a decimal value of two.
As an example, let’s say you want to represent eight in binary form. Well, thinking about the slots, you want the first slot to be 0 because you don’t want a one, you want the second slot to also be 0 because you don’t want a two, you want the third slot to also to be 0 because you don’t want a four, but you want the fifth slot to be 1 because you want a value of eight. As such, eight in binary form is:
1 0 0 0 (or simply 1000 without those underlines)
Now it is important to note that the amount of zeroes that precede the first value of one from the left is unimportant. So for example:
1 0 0 0 is the same as 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 (1000 = 000100)
To get it cleared up, here’s another example:
0 1 is the same as 1
Exercises: What do the following equal in decimal terms?
a) 100
b] 000100
c) 100000
d) 0010
Answers:
a) 4
b] 4
c) 32
d) 2
If you got the answers above right, then you pretty much understand the basics of binary.
Let’s now understand how to get the corresponding decimal values to the numbers which are not multiples of 2.
To get the total value of a binary number, add the values corresponding to each slot. So, for example, three in binary would be:
11
The above corresponds to three because if you add the total values of all the slots, that is to say a one from the slot to the right, and a two from the second slot to the right, then it equals three.
As another example, let’s say you want to represent 5 in binary terms. Then you would need a value of one to be added to a value of four, and you would not want a value of two:
101 [Reading from the right: 1(one) + 0(two) + 1(four) = five]
Here’s an additional example:
001011 [Reading from the right: 1(one) + 1(two) + 0(four) + 1(eight) + 0(sixteen) + 0(thirty-two) = eleven)
Exercises: What do the following equal in decimal terms?
a) 11011
b] 110
c) 010101
d) 10110
Answers:
a) 27
b] 6
c) 21
d) 22
If you got the above questions correct [without cheating], then you essentially understand the binary system. Understanding the binary system was the hard part. What follows is pretty easy.
3. Converting Binary to ASCII (Text)
ASCII is essentially the letters, numbers and symbols that are stored in our computers through the use of fonts. When the keyboard relays the buttons you pressed, it sends in a code which is then converted to the ASCII equivalent of “k” or “5” or whatever key you pressed.
Here’s an example of a message “hidden” in binary text:
0100100001100101011011000110110001101111
Now there are only so many letters, numbers and symbols stored for ASCII. Having sets of 8 digits for their binary equivalent is more than enough to represent all of these letters and the like. As such, all strings that represent text like in the above are separated into bits of 8 for simplicity:
01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111
Okay, so our example message was separated into 8 digit strings. The decimal value for each of these strings in the example was calculated for you.
01001000 = 72
01100101 = 101
01101100 = 108
01101100 = 108
01101111 = 111
The result was 72,101,108,108,111. Now, there is something called the ASCII table. It essentially corresponds to the binary numbers from yore to the equivalent letters/symbols/numbers. But since we found the decimal values of these binary strings, we can use a major shortcut.
By pressing ALT + [The Number], you will get the ASCII equivalent of that number. For example, by pressing the ALT key and at then (while keeping it down) the numbers 72 in any text editor, you will get the corresponding “H” to show up.
Let’s do so for the entire example message:
72 = H
101 = e
108 = l
108 = l
111 = o
So the entire “hidden” message translates to “Hello”.
Exercise: Decode the following message
010000110110111101101110011001110111001001100001011101000111010101101100011000010111010001
101001011011110110111001110011 00100001
Hint: The first step on your way to decoding the message (separated into bytes for you)
01000011 01101111 01101110 01100111 01110010 01100001 01110100 01110101 01101100 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101111 01101110 01110011 00100001
PS. Please note that this is the information as I've come to understand it. As such, it's somewhat easier to understand, but it may not necessarily be accurate. In other words, if another source contradicts what has been indicated here, that source is probably right. This text was completely written up by me, with no other sources for aid. If you wish to distribute this text, feel free to do so, but I would appreciate it if you contacted me first.
Dalam Hati Biarlah Tuhan Saja Yang Tahu,Luar Biarlah Tenangsudey.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Create A Huge File
You can create a file of any size using nothing more than what's supplied with Windows. Start by converting the desired file size into hexadecimal notation. You can use the Windows Calculator in Scientific mode do to this. Suppose you want a file of 1 million bytes. Enter 1000000 in the calculator and click on the Hex option to convert it (1 million in hex is F4240.) Pad the result with zeroes at the left until the file size reaches eight digits—000F4240.
Now open a command prompt window. In Windows 95, 98, or Me, you can do this by entering COMMAND in the Start menu's Run dialog; in Windows NT 4.0, 2000, or XP enter CMD instead. Enter the command DEBUG BIGFILE.DAT and ignore the File not found message. Type RCX and press Enter. Debug will display a colon prompt. Enter the last four digits of the hexadecimal number you calculated (4240, in our example). Type RBX and press Enter, then enter the first four digits of the hexadecimal size (000F, in our example). Enter W for Write and Q for Quit. You've just created a 1-million-byte file using Debug. Of course you can create a file of any desired size using the same technique.
Now open a command prompt window. In Windows 95, 98, or Me, you can do this by entering COMMAND in the Start menu's Run dialog; in Windows NT 4.0, 2000, or XP enter CMD instead. Enter the command DEBUG BIGFILE.DAT and ignore the File not found message. Type RCX and press Enter. Debug will display a colon prompt. Enter the last four digits of the hexadecimal number you calculated (4240, in our example). Type RBX and press Enter, then enter the first four digits of the hexadecimal size (000F, in our example). Enter W for Write and Q for Quit. You've just created a 1-million-byte file using Debug. Of course you can create a file of any desired size using the same technique.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Ummi, Aisyah Gagal Exam...
www.iluvislam.com
oleh : ummukhadijah
“Kring…kring..kring…”aku bergegas mengangkat telefon. Seusai mengangkat telefon, kedengaran suara anak sulungku, Aisyah di talian teresak-esak menangis. “Ummi, Aisyah sedih,” katanya. Kaget aku seketika. Kenapa dengan anakku ini, setahu aku, Aisyah seorang yang sangat susah untuk menangis. “Aisyah, boleh ummi tahu kenapa Aisyah menangis tiba-tiba ni? Ada sesuatu yang buruk terjadi ke?” aku bertanya.
“Ummi, hari tu Aisyah ada cerita kan pasal exam Aisyah yang susah. Aisyah ‘fail’ ummi.” Serentak dengan itu, makin kuat esakannya. “Aisyah , tidak mengapa, sabar Aisyah, ummi tahu, Aisyah dah berikan yang terbaik. Allah pun tahu Aisyah dah usaha sungguh-sungguh untuk paper Aisyah yang satu ni,” pujukku.
“Ummi, Aisyah sedih. Kawan Aisyah banyak yang lepas ummi, Aisyah seorang saja yang tersangkut ummi,” katanya dalam sedu sedannya. “Aisyah, sabar sayang, banyakkan istighfar, nak.” Pilu hatiku mendengar esak tangisnya. Teringat aku pada peristiwa yang sama yang pernah terjadi padaku dua puluh lima tahun yang lalu. “Aisyah, tidak mengapa, gagal sekali ni bukan bermaksud gagal selama-lamanya. Aisyah masih ada peluang nak baiki mana yang silap, yakinkan mana yang ragu, sebab Aisyah masih belajar. Nanti Aisyah masih ada peluang untuk ulang semula paper ni kan?” soalku.
“Ummi, tak sama ulang semula dengan tak perlu ulang semula. Aisyah malu.” “Aisyah, malu yang diajar islam bukan begitu caranya. Kita perlu malu kalau kita buat salah dengan Allah, tak ikut apa yang Allah suruh buat, buat apa yang Allah larang. Lulus atau gagal ini letaknya di tangan Allah, Allah dah tetapkan sejak azali lagi. Allah tak kisah kalau kita gagal atau lulus, tapi Allah kira usaha yang kita buat untuk jawab soalan kita,belajar, berdoa, itu semua termasuk dalam nilaian Allah. Lepas tu, keputusan itu di tangan Allah, dan kita sebagai umat islam diajar untuk redha dengan apa yang Allah dah tetapkan untuk kita selepas kita dah berusaha dan bertawakal.
Sepatutnya Aisyah, kita kena rasa malu kalau kita tak percaya dengan apa yang Allah dah tetapkan untuk kita,” nasihatku. “Tapi ummi, perit sungguh rasa ni. Ummi, kenapa Aisyah ummi..Aisyah rasa tak cukup kuat pun nak hadapi ujian Allah ni,” esaknya. “Aisyah, manusia ni pertimbangannya tak jauh. Ilmunya terhad, tak pernah sama dengan ilmu Allah. Yakinlah Aisyah, kalaupun Aisyah tak nampak, bahawa ini adalah yang terbaik untuk Aisyah. Jangan cakap seperti itu nak, itu tanda orang putus asa, Allah tak suka orang yang berputus asa,” pesanku. “Aisyah, ingat tak ayat Quran yang ummi ajar Aisyah baca setiap pagi.. “Allah tidak membebankan seseorang melainkan dengan kesanggupannya….” (Al-Baqarah : 286)
“Aisyah, dalam ayat ni, Allah dengan jelasnya beritahu bahawa dia tidak akan uji kita kalau kita tak mampu. Ini kata-kata Allah Aisyah, yang tiada ragunya, yang sentiasa benar dari dulu hingga kini, kata-kata dari pencipta kita.,” katanya.
“Ummi, Aisyah tahu….tapi, susahnya ummi nak terima hakikat ni,” katanya. “Aisyah sayang, ini barulah apa yang kita katakan praktikal dari apa yang kita belajar selama ini. Kalau dulu, ummi asyik ajar Aisyah teori bersabar, inilah waktunya bila mana Aisyah kena praktikkan sabar itu. Ummi tahu, ia memang manis dan sedap untuk diucapkan, tetapi hakikatnya susah untuk dilakukan. Sebab tu orang yang banyak bersabar ni ganjarannya tinggi di sisi Allah.”
“Aisyah, cuba kita tengok kisah Rasulullah dulu. Sayang Allah padanya, Allah uji dengan pelbagai ujian, Allah uji dengan kaum Mekah yang tidak jemu-jemu menentangnya, Allah uji dengan perginya orang-orang yang tersayang ketika baginda sangat-sangat memerlukannya, Allah uji dengan macam-macam lagi bentuk ujian. Allah tak bagi Rasulullah kemenangan dengan mudah, kerana Allah nak ajar Rasulullah s.a.w. dan umatnya bersabar itu bagaimana. Sabarlah Aisyah, Allah sayang padamu, sebab tu Allah uji dengan ujian sebegini rupa, sebab Allah nak Aisyah lagi dekat padaNya, Allah nak bagi peluang dekat Aisyah tambah pahala berlipat ganda dengan banyak-banyak bersabar.”
“Aisyah, kadang-kadang, gagal inilah yang akan memacu kita untuk lebih berjaya. Bersyukurlah sayangku, sebab Allah tunjuk kelemahan kita sejak dari mula lagi, Allah bagi kita peluang untuk baiki segala kesilapan kita dari awal supaya kita berjaya dengan cemerlang kelak. Allah ajar kita untuk pandai bahagikan masa antara kerja persatuan dan pelajaran, sebagai langkah awal sebelum menempuh alam rumahtangga yang pastinya lebih mencabar kelak.”
“Ummi, Aisyah rasa Aisyah dah bagi yang terbaik ummi,”katanya. “Aisyah, sebab tu ummi kata, pengetahuan manusia ni terhad. Kita sukar untuk nampak hikmah di sebalik sesuatu peristiwa. Mungkin apa yang Allah nak didik Aisyah ialah kemenangan dan kejayaan kita bukan terletak pada banyak mananya usaha yang telah kita buat, tapi pada rahmat dan kekuasaan Allah.” “Aisyah ingat tak kisah perang Hunain di mana bilangan umat islam yang ramai tidak menjamin kejayaan mereka. Kenapa agaknya Aisyah?” tanyaku.
“Kenapa ummi?” tanyanya berminat.
“Kerana bilangan yang ramai itu telah menyebabkan mereka lupa untuk bergantung penuh pada Allah, mereka merasa mereka kuat dengan tentera yang banyak, walhal kemenangan itu terletak pada tangan Allah. “Samalah dengan usaha kita yang banyak. Usaha itu diibaratkan sebagai pancing untuk meraih rahmat dan redha Allah yang akan menentukan kejayaan atau kemenangan kita kelak.” ceritaku.
“Ummi, Aisyah rasa Allah nak ajar Aisyah untuk jadi hamba Allah yang betul-betul hamba, tanpa ada secebis pun rasa aku hebat dalam diri. Mungkin benar apa yang ummi cakap, sebab sebelum ni Aisyah kan sentiasa senang, cemerlang dalam segala-galanya. Nombor satu dalam kelas perkara biasa, semua ‘A’, pelajar terbaik sekolah sampai mungkin Aisyah terlupa untuk mengembalikan rasa syukur itu kembali kepada Allah,” jawabnya.
“Alhamdulillah, itulah yang ummi cuba sampaikan. Itulah yang dinamakan ujian dalam nikmat, yang mana kita selalu terlupa, bak Qarun yang terlupa untuk ingat Allah dengan banyaknya harta yang dimiliki.” kataku.
“Nauzubillah ummi, Aisyah tak nak jadi macam tu ummi.” katanya.
“Begitulah sayang, Allah suruh ambil pengajaran dari kisah-kisah terdahulu,” nasihatku.
“Terima kasih ummi, Aisyah rindulah nak jumpa ummi. Baiklah ummi, Aisyah akan usaha sungguh-sungguh lepas ni dan berdoa dan berharap betul-betul pada Allah.” janjinya.
“Alhamdulillah nak, kita kembalikan semuanya kepada Allah,” tambahku. “Baiklah ummi, azan dah berkumandang tu, Aisyah solat dulu. Terima kasih lagi sekali, my dearest ummi.” katanya.
“Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, ummi,” katanya menutu bicara.
“Waalaikumussalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, anakku,” balasku. Gagang telefon kuletak perlahan. Tanpa kusedari, air mataku bergenang, teringat perbualanku dengan ummiku 25 tahun yang dulu, yang nasihat dan perangsangnya telah banyak membantuku menjadi seorang doctor pada hari ni. Ummi, Ana rindu ummi juga…
sumber : http://ummukhadijah.blogspot.com
oleh : ummukhadijah
“Kring…kring..kring…”aku bergegas mengangkat telefon. Seusai mengangkat telefon, kedengaran suara anak sulungku, Aisyah di talian teresak-esak menangis. “Ummi, Aisyah sedih,” katanya. Kaget aku seketika. Kenapa dengan anakku ini, setahu aku, Aisyah seorang yang sangat susah untuk menangis. “Aisyah, boleh ummi tahu kenapa Aisyah menangis tiba-tiba ni? Ada sesuatu yang buruk terjadi ke?” aku bertanya.
“Ummi, hari tu Aisyah ada cerita kan pasal exam Aisyah yang susah. Aisyah ‘fail’ ummi.” Serentak dengan itu, makin kuat esakannya. “Aisyah , tidak mengapa, sabar Aisyah, ummi tahu, Aisyah dah berikan yang terbaik. Allah pun tahu Aisyah dah usaha sungguh-sungguh untuk paper Aisyah yang satu ni,” pujukku.
“Ummi, Aisyah sedih. Kawan Aisyah banyak yang lepas ummi, Aisyah seorang saja yang tersangkut ummi,” katanya dalam sedu sedannya. “Aisyah, sabar sayang, banyakkan istighfar, nak.” Pilu hatiku mendengar esak tangisnya. Teringat aku pada peristiwa yang sama yang pernah terjadi padaku dua puluh lima tahun yang lalu. “Aisyah, tidak mengapa, gagal sekali ni bukan bermaksud gagal selama-lamanya. Aisyah masih ada peluang nak baiki mana yang silap, yakinkan mana yang ragu, sebab Aisyah masih belajar. Nanti Aisyah masih ada peluang untuk ulang semula paper ni kan?” soalku.
“Ummi, tak sama ulang semula dengan tak perlu ulang semula. Aisyah malu.” “Aisyah, malu yang diajar islam bukan begitu caranya. Kita perlu malu kalau kita buat salah dengan Allah, tak ikut apa yang Allah suruh buat, buat apa yang Allah larang. Lulus atau gagal ini letaknya di tangan Allah, Allah dah tetapkan sejak azali lagi. Allah tak kisah kalau kita gagal atau lulus, tapi Allah kira usaha yang kita buat untuk jawab soalan kita,belajar, berdoa, itu semua termasuk dalam nilaian Allah. Lepas tu, keputusan itu di tangan Allah, dan kita sebagai umat islam diajar untuk redha dengan apa yang Allah dah tetapkan untuk kita selepas kita dah berusaha dan bertawakal.
Sepatutnya Aisyah, kita kena rasa malu kalau kita tak percaya dengan apa yang Allah dah tetapkan untuk kita,” nasihatku. “Tapi ummi, perit sungguh rasa ni. Ummi, kenapa Aisyah ummi..Aisyah rasa tak cukup kuat pun nak hadapi ujian Allah ni,” esaknya. “Aisyah, manusia ni pertimbangannya tak jauh. Ilmunya terhad, tak pernah sama dengan ilmu Allah. Yakinlah Aisyah, kalaupun Aisyah tak nampak, bahawa ini adalah yang terbaik untuk Aisyah. Jangan cakap seperti itu nak, itu tanda orang putus asa, Allah tak suka orang yang berputus asa,” pesanku. “Aisyah, ingat tak ayat Quran yang ummi ajar Aisyah baca setiap pagi.. “Allah tidak membebankan seseorang melainkan dengan kesanggupannya….” (Al-Baqarah : 286)
“Aisyah, dalam ayat ni, Allah dengan jelasnya beritahu bahawa dia tidak akan uji kita kalau kita tak mampu. Ini kata-kata Allah Aisyah, yang tiada ragunya, yang sentiasa benar dari dulu hingga kini, kata-kata dari pencipta kita.,” katanya.
“Ummi, Aisyah tahu….tapi, susahnya ummi nak terima hakikat ni,” katanya. “Aisyah sayang, ini barulah apa yang kita katakan praktikal dari apa yang kita belajar selama ini. Kalau dulu, ummi asyik ajar Aisyah teori bersabar, inilah waktunya bila mana Aisyah kena praktikkan sabar itu. Ummi tahu, ia memang manis dan sedap untuk diucapkan, tetapi hakikatnya susah untuk dilakukan. Sebab tu orang yang banyak bersabar ni ganjarannya tinggi di sisi Allah.”
“Aisyah, cuba kita tengok kisah Rasulullah dulu. Sayang Allah padanya, Allah uji dengan pelbagai ujian, Allah uji dengan kaum Mekah yang tidak jemu-jemu menentangnya, Allah uji dengan perginya orang-orang yang tersayang ketika baginda sangat-sangat memerlukannya, Allah uji dengan macam-macam lagi bentuk ujian. Allah tak bagi Rasulullah kemenangan dengan mudah, kerana Allah nak ajar Rasulullah s.a.w. dan umatnya bersabar itu bagaimana. Sabarlah Aisyah, Allah sayang padamu, sebab tu Allah uji dengan ujian sebegini rupa, sebab Allah nak Aisyah lagi dekat padaNya, Allah nak bagi peluang dekat Aisyah tambah pahala berlipat ganda dengan banyak-banyak bersabar.”
“Aisyah, kadang-kadang, gagal inilah yang akan memacu kita untuk lebih berjaya. Bersyukurlah sayangku, sebab Allah tunjuk kelemahan kita sejak dari mula lagi, Allah bagi kita peluang untuk baiki segala kesilapan kita dari awal supaya kita berjaya dengan cemerlang kelak. Allah ajar kita untuk pandai bahagikan masa antara kerja persatuan dan pelajaran, sebagai langkah awal sebelum menempuh alam rumahtangga yang pastinya lebih mencabar kelak.”
“Ummi, Aisyah rasa Aisyah dah bagi yang terbaik ummi,”katanya. “Aisyah, sebab tu ummi kata, pengetahuan manusia ni terhad. Kita sukar untuk nampak hikmah di sebalik sesuatu peristiwa. Mungkin apa yang Allah nak didik Aisyah ialah kemenangan dan kejayaan kita bukan terletak pada banyak mananya usaha yang telah kita buat, tapi pada rahmat dan kekuasaan Allah.” “Aisyah ingat tak kisah perang Hunain di mana bilangan umat islam yang ramai tidak menjamin kejayaan mereka. Kenapa agaknya Aisyah?” tanyaku.
“Kenapa ummi?” tanyanya berminat.
“Kerana bilangan yang ramai itu telah menyebabkan mereka lupa untuk bergantung penuh pada Allah, mereka merasa mereka kuat dengan tentera yang banyak, walhal kemenangan itu terletak pada tangan Allah. “Samalah dengan usaha kita yang banyak. Usaha itu diibaratkan sebagai pancing untuk meraih rahmat dan redha Allah yang akan menentukan kejayaan atau kemenangan kita kelak.” ceritaku.
“Ummi, Aisyah rasa Allah nak ajar Aisyah untuk jadi hamba Allah yang betul-betul hamba, tanpa ada secebis pun rasa aku hebat dalam diri. Mungkin benar apa yang ummi cakap, sebab sebelum ni Aisyah kan sentiasa senang, cemerlang dalam segala-galanya. Nombor satu dalam kelas perkara biasa, semua ‘A’, pelajar terbaik sekolah sampai mungkin Aisyah terlupa untuk mengembalikan rasa syukur itu kembali kepada Allah,” jawabnya.
“Alhamdulillah, itulah yang ummi cuba sampaikan. Itulah yang dinamakan ujian dalam nikmat, yang mana kita selalu terlupa, bak Qarun yang terlupa untuk ingat Allah dengan banyaknya harta yang dimiliki.” kataku.
“Nauzubillah ummi, Aisyah tak nak jadi macam tu ummi.” katanya.
“Begitulah sayang, Allah suruh ambil pengajaran dari kisah-kisah terdahulu,” nasihatku.
“Terima kasih ummi, Aisyah rindulah nak jumpa ummi. Baiklah ummi, Aisyah akan usaha sungguh-sungguh lepas ni dan berdoa dan berharap betul-betul pada Allah.” janjinya.
“Alhamdulillah nak, kita kembalikan semuanya kepada Allah,” tambahku. “Baiklah ummi, azan dah berkumandang tu, Aisyah solat dulu. Terima kasih lagi sekali, my dearest ummi.” katanya.
“Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, ummi,” katanya menutu bicara.
“Waalaikumussalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, anakku,” balasku. Gagang telefon kuletak perlahan. Tanpa kusedari, air mataku bergenang, teringat perbualanku dengan ummiku 25 tahun yang dulu, yang nasihat dan perangsangnya telah banyak membantuku menjadi seorang doctor pada hari ni. Ummi, Ana rindu ummi juga…
sumber : http://ummukhadijah.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Getting used to using your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows
Windows key + R = Run menu
This is usually followed by:
cmd = Command Prompt
iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
services.msc = Services
eventvwr = Event Viewer
dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
Windows key + E = Explorer
ALT + Tab = Switch between windows
ALT, Space, X = Maximize window
CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager
Windows key + Break = System properties
Windows key + F = Search
Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows
CTRL + C = copy
CTRL + X = cut
CTRL + V = paste
Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.
Keyboard Shortcuts
[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications
[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter
[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu
[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)
[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window
[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document
Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word
Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph
[F1] Open Help for active application
Windows+M Minimize all open windows
Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows
Windows+F1 Open Windows Help
Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box
acessability shortcuts
Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.
SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.
NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
explorer shortcuts
END....... Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME....... Display the top of the active window.
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.
LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.
Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run
devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
msinfo32 = System Information
cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
mmc = Microsoft Management Console
excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
notepad = Notepad
wordpad = WordPad
calc = Calculator
msmsgs = Windows Messenger
mspaint = Microsoft Paint
wmplayer = Windows Media Player
rstrui = System Restore
netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
netscp = Netscape 7.x
netscape = Netscape 4.x
waol = America Online
control = Opens the Control Panel
control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog
internetbrowser
type in u're adress "google", then press [Right CTRL] and [Enter]
add www. and .com to word and go to it
This is usually followed by:
cmd = Command Prompt
iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
services.msc = Services
eventvwr = Event Viewer
dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
Windows key + E = Explorer
ALT + Tab = Switch between windows
ALT, Space, X = Maximize window
CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager
Windows key + Break = System properties
Windows key + F = Search
Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows
CTRL + C = copy
CTRL + X = cut
CTRL + V = paste
Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.
Keyboard Shortcuts
[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications
[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter
[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu
[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)
[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window
[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document
Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word
Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph
[F1] Open Help for active application
Windows+M Minimize all open windows
Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows
Windows+F1 Open Windows Help
Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box
acessability shortcuts
Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.
SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.
NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
explorer shortcuts
END....... Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME....... Display the top of the active window.
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.
LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.
Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run
devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
msinfo32 = System Information
cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
mmc = Microsoft Management Console
excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
notepad = Notepad
wordpad = WordPad
calc = Calculator
msmsgs = Windows Messenger
mspaint = Microsoft Paint
wmplayer = Windows Media Player
rstrui = System Restore
netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
netscp = Netscape 7.x
netscape = Netscape 4.x
waol = America Online
control = Opens the Control Panel
control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog
internetbrowser
type in u're adress "google", then press [Right CTRL] and [Enter]
add www. and .com to word and go to it
Saturday, August 16, 2008
GASTRIK / ANGIN PERUT
Ulser peptic ditakrif sebagai luka kecil yang terjadi di bahagian usus, selalunya di bahagian duodenum (dipanggil duodenal ulcer) ataupun perut (dipanggil gastric ulcer). Ulser ini selalunya benign (tidak menyebabkan berlakunya kanser). Bagaimanapun peratusan kecil ulser ini boleh menjadi malignant (akhirnya menyebabkan kanser).
Apakah yang menyebabkan terjadinya penyakit ini?
Penyakit ini dipercayai disebabkan oleh ketidakseimbangan kandungan asid dan pepsin di dalam usus. Pengeluaran asid yang berlebihan menyebabkan terjadinya ulser.
Bagaimanapun, pada tahun 1982, dua orang saintis Warren dan Marshall telah mengaitkan bakteria Helicobacter pylori (lebih biasa dikenali sebagai H. pylori) dengan ulser. Didapati sehingga 80% ulser gastrik disebabkan oleh bakteria ini. Bakteria ini boleh hidup dalam keadaan yang berasid tinggi kerana ia boleh mengeluarkan sejenis enzim yang meneutralkan asid tersebut.
Apakah faktor yang mempengaruhi penyakit ini?
Antara faktor-faktor yang perlu diperhatikan ialah:
· pengambil ubat-ubat tahan sakit seperti aspirin, brufen dsb. Kumpulan ubat dari jenis NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) ini boleh menyebabkan atau memburukkan lagi ulser yang dihidapi.
· orang yang lebih tua, berusia 50 tahun ke atas. Ini mungkin kerana mereka lebih kerap mengambil ubat tahan sakit untuk penyakit arthritis (sakit sendi), atau sebab-sebab lain.
· penyakit tertentu seperti Crohn's disease dan Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
· hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan reflux. Kecederaan pada proses ini boleh menyebabkan asid bile masuk ke dalam perut dan menipiskan lapisannya. Pada orang tua pula, pylorus boleh merenggang, menyebabkan kejadian yang sama berlaku.
· orang yang berdarah jenis A.
· pengambilan kafein dan alkohol berlebihan.
· perokok.
· pemakanan yang tidak terurus.
· stress (tekanan) secara tidak langsung boleh mempengaruhi penyakit ini.
Tanda-tanda
Pesakit akan mengalami satu atau lebih tanda-tanda di bawah ini:
· sakit perut dan rasa tidak hadam makan. Sakit perut selalunya dirasai di bahagian atas perut
· rasa pening kepala.
· mengalami angin. Terasa sakit di bahagian ulu hati. Sendawa dan kentut yang kerap.
· muntah.
· badan rasa lemah lesu.
· berat badan menurun.
· najis menjadi hitam atau gelap (kerana ia sebati dengan darah).
Langkah-langkah yang boleh anda lakukan
Langkah-langkah untuk melegakan penyakit ulser perut ini termasuklah:
· makan yang kerap. Ambil makanan ringan antara makan utama. Ini untuk mengelakkan perut daripada kosong.
· rehat yang lebih.
· jauhkan daripada perkara-perkara yang boleh mempengaruhi terjadinya atau memburukkan lagi ulser (sila rujuk di atas).
· pengambilan makanan yang mengandungi sulfur seperti bawang putih, kobis, brocolli harus ditambah. Sulfur membentuk glutathione yang melindungi lapisan perut.
· ambil vitamin C 100mg untuk mengurangkan kandungan nitrosamines yang boleh menyebabkan kaser perut.
· tambahkan zink dalam pemakanan untuk proses penyembuhan.
· pengambilan probiotik (bakteria baik) hendaklah diamalkan.
Ubat-ubat yang boleh diambil
Antara ubat yang selalu diberikan untuk melegakan gastrik ialah :
· antacids. Ubat-ubat ini melawan asid (anti-asid). Antara jenama terkemuka ialah seperti Actal, Gelusil, Mylanta, dsb. Antacids yang mengandungi aluminium boleh menyebabkan sembelit manakala yang mengandungi magnesium boleh menyebabkan cirit-birit sekiranya diambil berlebihan. Ubat-ubat ini selalunya dalam bentuk cecair atau tablet yang dikunyah. Antacids adalah ubat-ubatan yang selalu diberikan sekiranya anda mengambil ubat-ubat tahan sakit, dan penggunaannya dalam keadaan ini boleh menghalang berlakunya gastrik.
· H2receptor antagonists seperti Zantac (Ranitidine), Tagamet (Cimetidine), Axid (Nizatidine) dan Pepcidine (Famotidine) - dalam kurungan adalah bahan aktifnya.
· proton pump inhibitors seperti Losec (Omeprazole) dan Lansoprazole.
· prostaglandin analogues seperti Cytotec (Misoprostol).
· ubat-ubat terbaru untuk merawat ulser ini adalah bertujuan untuk membunuh H. pylori. Pengambilannya hendaklah diteruskan selama satu hingga dua minggu. Antara rawatan yang popular ialah pengambilan Losec (Omeprazole) bersama-sama dengan Clarithromycin dan Metronidazole selama dua minggu. Ketiga-tiga ubat ini diambil sekali.
Ulser didapati sering berulang-ulang terutama sekiranya H.pylori tidak dibunuh. Dalam erti kata lain, pengambilan ubat-ubatan selain daripada yang boleh membunuh bakteria H. pylori adalah sebagai langkah yang berterusan. Pesakit yang mengambil ubat untuk membunuh bakteria H. pylori selalunya (90%) tidak lagi mengalami masalah ulser selepas itu.
Kajian terkini mendapati ada kaitan antara H. pylori dengan kejadian kanser perut. Di Colombia dan China, di mana kehadiran H. pylori dalam usus adalah biasa, peratusan yang menghidapi kanser perut adalah tinggi.
H. pylori boleh berjangkit melalui air minuman dan pemakanan. Ia juga boleh berjangkit melalui air liur (seperti bercumbuan).
Sekiranya ulser tidak dikawal ia boleh menyebabkan masalah yang lebih teruk lagi:
· haemorrhage iaitu pendarahan dalaman yang teruk. Akibatnya pesakit akan kehilangan banyak darah. Pesakit juga mungkin muntah darah dan mendapati darah dalam najis mereka.
· lubang akan terbentuk di dalam lapisan usus. Ini boleh menyebabkan acute peritonitis dan memerlukan pembedahan segera.
· perjalanan makanan dalam usus boleh terhalang bila terdapat parut hasil daripada ulser tersebut. Ini menyebabkan pesakit muntah dan boleh menurunkan berat badan.
Apakah yang menyebabkan terjadinya penyakit ini?
Penyakit ini dipercayai disebabkan oleh ketidakseimbangan kandungan asid dan pepsin di dalam usus. Pengeluaran asid yang berlebihan menyebabkan terjadinya ulser.
Bagaimanapun, pada tahun 1982, dua orang saintis Warren dan Marshall telah mengaitkan bakteria Helicobacter pylori (lebih biasa dikenali sebagai H. pylori) dengan ulser. Didapati sehingga 80% ulser gastrik disebabkan oleh bakteria ini. Bakteria ini boleh hidup dalam keadaan yang berasid tinggi kerana ia boleh mengeluarkan sejenis enzim yang meneutralkan asid tersebut.
Apakah faktor yang mempengaruhi penyakit ini?
Antara faktor-faktor yang perlu diperhatikan ialah:
· pengambil ubat-ubat tahan sakit seperti aspirin, brufen dsb. Kumpulan ubat dari jenis NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) ini boleh menyebabkan atau memburukkan lagi ulser yang dihidapi.
· orang yang lebih tua, berusia 50 tahun ke atas. Ini mungkin kerana mereka lebih kerap mengambil ubat tahan sakit untuk penyakit arthritis (sakit sendi), atau sebab-sebab lain.
· penyakit tertentu seperti Crohn's disease dan Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
· hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan reflux. Kecederaan pada proses ini boleh menyebabkan asid bile masuk ke dalam perut dan menipiskan lapisannya. Pada orang tua pula, pylorus boleh merenggang, menyebabkan kejadian yang sama berlaku.
· orang yang berdarah jenis A.
· pengambilan kafein dan alkohol berlebihan.
· perokok.
· pemakanan yang tidak terurus.
· stress (tekanan) secara tidak langsung boleh mempengaruhi penyakit ini.
Tanda-tanda
Pesakit akan mengalami satu atau lebih tanda-tanda di bawah ini:
· sakit perut dan rasa tidak hadam makan. Sakit perut selalunya dirasai di bahagian atas perut
· rasa pening kepala.
· mengalami angin. Terasa sakit di bahagian ulu hati. Sendawa dan kentut yang kerap.
· muntah.
· badan rasa lemah lesu.
· berat badan menurun.
· najis menjadi hitam atau gelap (kerana ia sebati dengan darah).
Langkah-langkah yang boleh anda lakukan
Langkah-langkah untuk melegakan penyakit ulser perut ini termasuklah:
· makan yang kerap. Ambil makanan ringan antara makan utama. Ini untuk mengelakkan perut daripada kosong.
· rehat yang lebih.
· jauhkan daripada perkara-perkara yang boleh mempengaruhi terjadinya atau memburukkan lagi ulser (sila rujuk di atas).
· pengambilan makanan yang mengandungi sulfur seperti bawang putih, kobis, brocolli harus ditambah. Sulfur membentuk glutathione yang melindungi lapisan perut.
· ambil vitamin C 100mg untuk mengurangkan kandungan nitrosamines yang boleh menyebabkan kaser perut.
· tambahkan zink dalam pemakanan untuk proses penyembuhan.
· pengambilan probiotik (bakteria baik) hendaklah diamalkan.
Ubat-ubat yang boleh diambil
Antara ubat yang selalu diberikan untuk melegakan gastrik ialah :
· antacids. Ubat-ubat ini melawan asid (anti-asid). Antara jenama terkemuka ialah seperti Actal, Gelusil, Mylanta, dsb. Antacids yang mengandungi aluminium boleh menyebabkan sembelit manakala yang mengandungi magnesium boleh menyebabkan cirit-birit sekiranya diambil berlebihan. Ubat-ubat ini selalunya dalam bentuk cecair atau tablet yang dikunyah. Antacids adalah ubat-ubatan yang selalu diberikan sekiranya anda mengambil ubat-ubat tahan sakit, dan penggunaannya dalam keadaan ini boleh menghalang berlakunya gastrik.
· H2receptor antagonists seperti Zantac (Ranitidine), Tagamet (Cimetidine), Axid (Nizatidine) dan Pepcidine (Famotidine) - dalam kurungan adalah bahan aktifnya.
· proton pump inhibitors seperti Losec (Omeprazole) dan Lansoprazole.
· prostaglandin analogues seperti Cytotec (Misoprostol).
· ubat-ubat terbaru untuk merawat ulser ini adalah bertujuan untuk membunuh H. pylori. Pengambilannya hendaklah diteruskan selama satu hingga dua minggu. Antara rawatan yang popular ialah pengambilan Losec (Omeprazole) bersama-sama dengan Clarithromycin dan Metronidazole selama dua minggu. Ketiga-tiga ubat ini diambil sekali.
Ulser didapati sering berulang-ulang terutama sekiranya H.pylori tidak dibunuh. Dalam erti kata lain, pengambilan ubat-ubatan selain daripada yang boleh membunuh bakteria H. pylori adalah sebagai langkah yang berterusan. Pesakit yang mengambil ubat untuk membunuh bakteria H. pylori selalunya (90%) tidak lagi mengalami masalah ulser selepas itu.
Kajian terkini mendapati ada kaitan antara H. pylori dengan kejadian kanser perut. Di Colombia dan China, di mana kehadiran H. pylori dalam usus adalah biasa, peratusan yang menghidapi kanser perut adalah tinggi.
H. pylori boleh berjangkit melalui air minuman dan pemakanan. Ia juga boleh berjangkit melalui air liur (seperti bercumbuan).
Sekiranya ulser tidak dikawal ia boleh menyebabkan masalah yang lebih teruk lagi:
· haemorrhage iaitu pendarahan dalaman yang teruk. Akibatnya pesakit akan kehilangan banyak darah. Pesakit juga mungkin muntah darah dan mendapati darah dalam najis mereka.
· lubang akan terbentuk di dalam lapisan usus. Ini boleh menyebabkan acute peritonitis dan memerlukan pembedahan segera.
· perjalanan makanan dalam usus boleh terhalang bila terdapat parut hasil daripada ulser tersebut. Ini menyebabkan pesakit muntah dan boleh menurunkan berat badan.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
HOw To Remove LInux And FIx your MBR
First of all you need to know where your Linux OS is installed to. that is what drive it is currently living on. Bear in mind that Linux formats the drive as HFS rather than Fat/Fat32 or NTFS. ( These are the file systems used by various Operating Systems).
So HFS Partitions are not seen by windows, so its hidden.
To remove the partitions of Linux in WindowsXP go to your 'Control panel' > Admistrative Tools > Computer Managment
Open 'Disk Management' and you will see your Linux drives recognised as 'Unknown Partition' plus the status of the drive. Bearing in mind you know what partition and disk you installed to it will be easier to recognise as the drive/partition where you had installed it to.
Once you have identifed the drives, 'right-Click' on the drive/partiton and select 'Delete Logical Drive'
Once you have followed this through, you will now have free space.
This next part is very important. Once you have formatted the drive, re format it as your required file system type. either Fat32 or NTFS. Now the important part is coming up !
Fixing your Master Boot Record to make Windows Bootable again.
Have a Windows Boot disk with all the basic DOS Commands loaded on to the disk. A standard Windows 98/Me Boot Disk will work too.
Type in the DOS command :
e.g, from your C:\
fdisk /mbr
Or use your Windows XP run the recovery console, pick which xp install you would like to boot in to (usually you will pick #1)
then type: fixmbr. Answer Y to the dialoge.
Your master boot record will now be restored and Windows XP will be bootable once again. Your System will be restored with your original boot loader that you got with Windows XP.
So HFS Partitions are not seen by windows, so its hidden.
To remove the partitions of Linux in WindowsXP go to your 'Control panel' > Admistrative Tools > Computer Managment
Open 'Disk Management' and you will see your Linux drives recognised as 'Unknown Partition' plus the status of the drive. Bearing in mind you know what partition and disk you installed to it will be easier to recognise as the drive/partition where you had installed it to.
Once you have identifed the drives, 'right-Click' on the drive/partiton and select 'Delete Logical Drive'
Once you have followed this through, you will now have free space.
This next part is very important. Once you have formatted the drive, re format it as your required file system type. either Fat32 or NTFS. Now the important part is coming up !
Fixing your Master Boot Record to make Windows Bootable again.
Have a Windows Boot disk with all the basic DOS Commands loaded on to the disk. A standard Windows 98/Me Boot Disk will work too.
Type in the DOS command :
e.g, from your C:\
fdisk /mbr
Or use your Windows XP run the recovery console, pick which xp install you would like to boot in to (usually you will pick #1)
then type: fixmbr. Answer Y to the dialoge.
Your master boot record will now be restored and Windows XP will be bootable once again. Your System will be restored with your original boot loader that you got with Windows XP.
How To Setup Your Own Dns (Domain Name Server)
This is only a quick tutorial, there are literally hundreds of little tricks you can do with a DNS, but this will get your basics up and running. I'm assuming you want to setup a windows DNS server, but the principals will work for most servers.
You will need..
1) A domain name over which you have full control
2) DNS server software(Windows server always comes with one of these)
3) At least one fixed IP address, allthough two is highly desirable
4) An idea of what services you want on your server
The first thing you need to do is create your new domain entry. In windows this is called a "Zone" and you will have one for every domain name you have. Add your main domain in the forward lookup zone as a Primary zone, which will be in the format "Domainname.com", or .co.uk, or whatever, you shouldn't need any more details for this bit. Do *not* allow dynamic updates unless this is a local network DNS. Once it is created you will have 2 entry's under your new domain, "SOA"(Or Start of Authority) and "NS"(Or Name server). If you want a 100% compliant DNS then you should now follow the same process but adding a domain as a reverse lookup zone. Any changes you make to the forward lookup should have the "Update Reverse Lookup" option ticked if its available, if not you must update the reverse zone manually(This is very important).
Now edit the "NS" entry in your forward zone to "NS0.DomainName.Com", and set it to the relevant IP address. Add another (NS) record and set it to "NS1.DomainName.Com". If using 2 IP address, try to make NS0 the first IP. Now you need to configure the SOA entry in the forward lookup zone. The serial number should be changed to a date followed by a number in this format "YYYYMMDDnn", this is not required, but is advised by RIPE. The primary server will be the "NS0.domainname.com" entry you just made and the responsible person should be left for now. The refresh interval should be set somewhere between 1200 to 43200 seconds, the retry should be between 120-7200 seconds and the expires after should be around 2-4 weeks(I'll let you work out the seconds for that). The minimum TTL is quite important, and depending on what you are going to do with the domain, you might need to tweak this a bit. Typically a value between 1-3 hours should be used. Now go to your "Name server" settings in your SOA record(In windows this is a tab in the same window) remove the defaults, and add your two Name servers that you just setup. We will come back to the SOA record later, but for now we need to do some more stuff.
If you want a website, then your going to want the WWW. setting up. We will set it up as an "A" record, which means it is a separate top level record and will be populated separately from other entries. So add an "A" to your forward lookup zone and put the entry as "WWW", and set the IP address to wherever you want the website to be. This will be where the domain always goes, and it could be anywhere. Just make sure there is a web server waiting there for it. If you want FTP, then setup the same thing but with "FTP" in the entry. You will now also have to setup "A" records for the NS0 and NS1 name servers that you added previously, just make them the same as WWW and FTP, but make sure the IP addresses match the ones used for setting up the "NS" records. Also add a blank "A" record, this will make sure that "domainname.com" works as well as "www.domainname.com".
Now you should decide whether or not you want to have mail on this domain. It is Hegel advisable that you set one up, even if it just to catch domain mail about abuse or potential problems that might occur. You can find plenty of high quality free mail servers out there, but I would recommend "Mail Enable", its free and provides everything you would want, but if you want webmail you do have to pay something extra for it. We will now configure the MX records. Add an "A" name for your mail server, you can add 2 if you want, but for simplicity I would advise staying with 1. We will call ours "Mail.domainname.com", and point it to one of our IP addresses. Now add an "MX" record in the Forward Lookup zone, giving it the full "A" record you just entered "Mail.domainname.com", and do not setup a host or child domain, just leave it blank.
This next step isn't needed, but is again highly recommended.
Now to finish the SOA you need to add two more records. A "RP" entry, which is a Responsible Person, and they will be the contact point for domain complaints and a "MB" entry, which is a mailbox entry. The "MB" should just be pointed to the mail server domain name "Mail.domainname.com", and the "RP" should have the host or domain set to the name of your mail box. So for this server it will be "Tony.Domainname.com", and the mailbox will be set to the "MB" record you just made. Don't worry about the RP address having no "@" in it, this is the expected format for an "RP" entry. You will now have to go back into the SOA and change the responsible person to the new "RP" record you just made.
And thats it, your done! You can add as many "A" records as you like to point to other web servers, or a multitude of FTP sites. And you can add "CNAME" records to basically point to another name, usually an "A" record, like an alias.
Now before you switch your domain on, you need to check that the server is performing properly. So go to www.dnsreport.com, and run the report on your domain "domainname.com", and it will give you a very detailed report of any problems, and even a short description of how to fix the problems. If all is OK, then you are ready to go live. If your domain name is new, or not currently hosted anywhere then the first thing you should do is re-point the domain at your new server. You will typically do this with the provider who owns the domain, and it will be different with all hosts. But the basic settings are the same. You will be asked for at least 2 name servers and ip addresses to go with them. Just put in "NS0.domainname.com" and "NS1.domainname.com" and put in the correct IP addresses. Make sure you do not mess this up, as changes to your main NS servers could potentially take several days to straighten themselves out. Update these settings, and then sit back and wait. You can do a whois on the main DNS server of your domain provider to check if the settings have worked, but again this doesn't always work. For the big 3 domains(.com .net .org) you can do a whois on the network associates site to see the changes instantly. You can also track the progress of the domain changes by doing an NSLookup in dos, like this...
c:\nslookup ns0.domainname.com NS0.yourprovidersdns.com
That will give you the entries your domain provider has
c:\nslookup www.domainname.com ns0.domainname.com
And this will tell you if the changes for your domain have gone through to your ISPs DNS yet. It should give you back the IP address of your new DNS server.
You should always make sure your server is backed up, and that you refresh or update the DNS when you are making changes
You will need..
1) A domain name over which you have full control
2) DNS server software(Windows server always comes with one of these)
3) At least one fixed IP address, allthough two is highly desirable
4) An idea of what services you want on your server
The first thing you need to do is create your new domain entry. In windows this is called a "Zone" and you will have one for every domain name you have. Add your main domain in the forward lookup zone as a Primary zone, which will be in the format "Domainname.com", or .co.uk, or whatever, you shouldn't need any more details for this bit. Do *not* allow dynamic updates unless this is a local network DNS. Once it is created you will have 2 entry's under your new domain, "SOA"(Or Start of Authority) and "NS"(Or Name server). If you want a 100% compliant DNS then you should now follow the same process but adding a domain as a reverse lookup zone. Any changes you make to the forward lookup should have the "Update Reverse Lookup" option ticked if its available, if not you must update the reverse zone manually(This is very important).
Now edit the "NS" entry in your forward zone to "NS0.DomainName.Com", and set it to the relevant IP address. Add another (NS) record and set it to "NS1.DomainName.Com". If using 2 IP address, try to make NS0 the first IP. Now you need to configure the SOA entry in the forward lookup zone. The serial number should be changed to a date followed by a number in this format "YYYYMMDDnn", this is not required, but is advised by RIPE. The primary server will be the "NS0.domainname.com" entry you just made and the responsible person should be left for now. The refresh interval should be set somewhere between 1200 to 43200 seconds, the retry should be between 120-7200 seconds and the expires after should be around 2-4 weeks(I'll let you work out the seconds for that). The minimum TTL is quite important, and depending on what you are going to do with the domain, you might need to tweak this a bit. Typically a value between 1-3 hours should be used. Now go to your "Name server" settings in your SOA record(In windows this is a tab in the same window) remove the defaults, and add your two Name servers that you just setup. We will come back to the SOA record later, but for now we need to do some more stuff.
If you want a website, then your going to want the WWW. setting up. We will set it up as an "A" record, which means it is a separate top level record and will be populated separately from other entries. So add an "A" to your forward lookup zone and put the entry as "WWW", and set the IP address to wherever you want the website to be. This will be where the domain always goes, and it could be anywhere. Just make sure there is a web server waiting there for it. If you want FTP, then setup the same thing but with "FTP" in the entry. You will now also have to setup "A" records for the NS0 and NS1 name servers that you added previously, just make them the same as WWW and FTP, but make sure the IP addresses match the ones used for setting up the "NS" records. Also add a blank "A" record, this will make sure that "domainname.com" works as well as "www.domainname.com".
Now you should decide whether or not you want to have mail on this domain. It is Hegel advisable that you set one up, even if it just to catch domain mail about abuse or potential problems that might occur. You can find plenty of high quality free mail servers out there, but I would recommend "Mail Enable", its free and provides everything you would want, but if you want webmail you do have to pay something extra for it. We will now configure the MX records. Add an "A" name for your mail server, you can add 2 if you want, but for simplicity I would advise staying with 1. We will call ours "Mail.domainname.com", and point it to one of our IP addresses. Now add an "MX" record in the Forward Lookup zone, giving it the full "A" record you just entered "Mail.domainname.com", and do not setup a host or child domain, just leave it blank.
This next step isn't needed, but is again highly recommended.
Now to finish the SOA you need to add two more records. A "RP" entry, which is a Responsible Person, and they will be the contact point for domain complaints and a "MB" entry, which is a mailbox entry. The "MB" should just be pointed to the mail server domain name "Mail.domainname.com", and the "RP" should have the host or domain set to the name of your mail box. So for this server it will be "Tony.Domainname.com", and the mailbox will be set to the "MB" record you just made. Don't worry about the RP address having no "@" in it, this is the expected format for an "RP" entry. You will now have to go back into the SOA and change the responsible person to the new "RP" record you just made.
And thats it, your done! You can add as many "A" records as you like to point to other web servers, or a multitude of FTP sites. And you can add "CNAME" records to basically point to another name, usually an "A" record, like an alias.
Now before you switch your domain on, you need to check that the server is performing properly. So go to www.dnsreport.com, and run the report on your domain "domainname.com", and it will give you a very detailed report of any problems, and even a short description of how to fix the problems. If all is OK, then you are ready to go live. If your domain name is new, or not currently hosted anywhere then the first thing you should do is re-point the domain at your new server. You will typically do this with the provider who owns the domain, and it will be different with all hosts. But the basic settings are the same. You will be asked for at least 2 name servers and ip addresses to go with them. Just put in "NS0.domainname.com" and "NS1.domainname.com" and put in the correct IP addresses. Make sure you do not mess this up, as changes to your main NS servers could potentially take several days to straighten themselves out. Update these settings, and then sit back and wait. You can do a whois on the main DNS server of your domain provider to check if the settings have worked, but again this doesn't always work. For the big 3 domains(.com .net .org) you can do a whois on the network associates site to see the changes instantly. You can also track the progress of the domain changes by doing an NSLookup in dos, like this...
c:\nslookup ns0.domainname.com NS0.yourprovidersdns.com
That will give you the entries your domain provider has
c:\nslookup www.domainname.com ns0.domainname.com
And this will tell you if the changes for your domain have gone through to your ISPs DNS yet. It should give you back the IP address of your new DNS server.
You should always make sure your server is backed up, and that you refresh or update the DNS when you are making changes
Boot Win XP Fast
Follow the following steps
1. Open notepad.exe, type "del c:\windows\prefetch\ntosboot-*.* /q" (without the quotes) & save as "ntosboot.bat" in c:\
2. From the Start menu, select "Run..." & type "gpedit.msc".
3. Double click "Windows Settings" under "Computer Configuration" and double click again on "Shutdown" in the right window.
4. In the new window, click "add", "Browse", locate your "ntosboot.bat" file & click "Open".
5. Click "OK", "Apply" & "OK" once again to exit.
6. From the Start menu, select "Run..." & type "devmgmt.msc".
7. Double click on "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
8. Right click on "Primary IDE Channel" and select "Properties".
9. Select the "Advanced Settings" tab then on the device or 1 that doesn't have 'device type' greyed out select 'none' instead of 'autodetect' & click "OK".
10. Right click on "Secondary IDE channel", select "Properties" and repeat step 9.
11. Reboot your computer.
1. Open notepad.exe, type "del c:\windows\prefetch\ntosboot-*.* /q" (without the quotes) & save as "ntosboot.bat" in c:\
2. From the Start menu, select "Run..." & type "gpedit.msc".
3. Double click "Windows Settings" under "Computer Configuration" and double click again on "Shutdown" in the right window.
4. In the new window, click "add", "Browse", locate your "ntosboot.bat" file & click "Open".
5. Click "OK", "Apply" & "OK" once again to exit.
6. From the Start menu, select "Run..." & type "devmgmt.msc".
7. Double click on "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
8. Right click on "Primary IDE Channel" and select "Properties".
9. Select the "Advanced Settings" tab then on the device or 1 that doesn't have 'device type' greyed out select 'none' instead of 'autodetect' & click "OK".
10. Right click on "Secondary IDE channel", select "Properties" and repeat step 9.
11. Reboot your computer.
All mIRC Commands
All 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.
MoViEBoT #xdcc-help /server irc.atomic-irc.net
We strive to make IRC easier for you!
/ 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.
MoViEBoT #xdcc-help /server irc.atomic-irc.net
We strive to make IRC easier for you!
23 Ways To Improve Windows XP Performance
Since defragging the disk won't do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of your customers' PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.
1.) To decrease a system's boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software -- the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine -- and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.
2.) If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.
3.) Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you're not sure, here's how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it's important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.
4.) Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index." As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.
The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP's built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.
Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you're a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.
Here's how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Next, apply changes to "C: subfolders and files," and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as "Access is denied"), click the Ignore All button.
5.) Update the PC's video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.
6.) Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can "prefetch" portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That's fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.
7.) Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here's how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button -- it's just to the right of the Capacity pie graph -- and delete all temporary files.
8.) In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to "DMA if available" for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.
9.) Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support "cable select," the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.
10.) Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.
11.) Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here's how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don't want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.
12.) Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.
13.) Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here's how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer -- only its responsiveness.
14.) If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.
15.) Visit Microsoft's Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.
16.) Update the customer's anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.
17.) Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts -- that is, anything over 500 -- will noticeably tax the system.
18.) Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP's NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called "D drive." You'll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won't be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won't need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.
19.) Check the system's RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC's memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than one), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.
20.) If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer's Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you'll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it's free.
21.) Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.
22.) If you're sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to "Launch folder windows in a separate process," and enable this option. You'll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.
23.) At least once a year, open the computer's cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you're in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks. For more information on this leaking-capacitor phenomena, you can read numerous articles on my site.
Following any of these suggestions should result in noticeable improvements to the performance and reliability of your customers' computers. If you still want to defrag a disk, remember that the main benefit will be to make your data more retrievable in the event of a crashed drive.
1.) To decrease a system's boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software -- the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine -- and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.
2.) If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.
3.) Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you're not sure, here's how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it's important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.
4.) Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index." As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.
The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP's built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.
Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you're a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.
Here's how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Next, apply changes to "C: subfolders and files," and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as "Access is denied"), click the Ignore All button.
5.) Update the PC's video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.
6.) Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can "prefetch" portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That's fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.
7.) Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here's how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button -- it's just to the right of the Capacity pie graph -- and delete all temporary files.
8.) In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to "DMA if available" for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.
9.) Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support "cable select," the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.
10.) Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.
11.) Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here's how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don't want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.
12.) Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.
13.) Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here's how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer -- only its responsiveness.
14.) If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.
15.) Visit Microsoft's Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.
16.) Update the customer's anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.
17.) Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts -- that is, anything over 500 -- will noticeably tax the system.
18.) Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP's NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called "D drive." You'll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won't be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won't need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.
19.) Check the system's RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC's memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than one), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.
20.) If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer's Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you'll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it's free.
21.) Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.
22.) If you're sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to "Launch folder windows in a separate process," and enable this option. You'll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.
23.) At least once a year, open the computer's cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you're in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks. For more information on this leaking-capacitor phenomena, you can read numerous articles on my site.
Following any of these suggestions should result in noticeable improvements to the performance and reliability of your customers' computers. If you still want to defrag a disk, remember that the main benefit will be to make your data more retrievable in the event of a crashed drive.
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