CPU Speed Test

A simple test of your CPU.  Download  Includes stats for worldwide CPU scores.

3GB Barrier - Fix XP and Vista

32bit processors and operating systems have a limitation of 3GB.   Programs are limited to 2GB of RAM.  These tweaks increase the OS’s ability to recognize more RAM and increase the ceiling for programs that can recognize more than 2GB of RAM.

Tweaks can be dangerous if you don’t check everything twice!

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx  <- Reference

To get more from Windows XP, you have to modify your Boot.ini file.  You have to be familiar with windows explorer.  (You must show hidden and system files.  If the boot.ini file is read only, uncheck it to make changes.

Windows XP

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT   <-yours may be different!
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=”Windows XP Professional” /PAE /3GB  <-add this

The /3gb switch allows programs written specifically to use more than 2gb of ram.

Windows Vista

To add to Vista’s boot process, from a cmd line (you must run the cmd line as an administrator)-
type:
BCDEDIT /SET PAE ForceEnable

In Vista, To get programs written for more than 2gb of ram:
BCDEDIT /Set IncreaseUserVa 3072

Note: In Vista, you can type BCDEDIT and hit enter to see the PAE  and UserVA settings

Turn on Menu Items in Vista Explorer

For the life of me, I don’t understand why Microsoft plays peek-a-boo with Menu’s.  First it was with Internet Explorer and we all had to right click where the menu was suppose to be to get IE’s menu back.  Now with Vista, moving around can be a hassle.   This tip puts File, Edit, View, Tools and Help on top.

Click Organize, Layout and select the Menu Bar. 

Windows 7 - Get with the Program

Many users have complained about Windows Vista. I have noticed that this is because of the lack of sufficient hardware and users NOT wanting to change. As time goes by, Operating Systems will not wait for us (the end-user).

Several websites have theories on Windows 7 (the next OS). From all of the screenshots, it appears to be much like Windows Vista and it will offer touch screeen capabilities.

You will have to change. Whether it is Windows Vista, Windows 7 or (Linux) Ubuntu. With Web 2.0- Wiki, RSS, PodCasts, blogging and changes here, you will change.   Are you blogging yet?

We are at a transitional stage where change is becoming more frequent. You can ride the XP bus until 2014, but in this world, to stay competitive, you will change or fade away….technology will not wait.

You can fight with Microsoft, deny Linux or ignore Web 2.0, but you will be lost.  Linux is coming up, Microsoft is changing and the World Wide Web is not waiting for you.  You will have to educate yourself.  You will have to change or,  you can be a lamer.

 

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows

One of the best diagnostic tools for repairing a computer is free.  The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows offers several features that repairs Microsoft Windows.

  Site Link

From their website:

UBCD4Win is a bootable recovery CD that contains software used for repairing, restoring, or diagnosing almost any computer problem. Our goal is to be the most complete and easy to use free computer diagnostic tool. Almost all software included in UBCD4Win are freeware utilities for Windows®. Some of the tools inlcuded are “free for personal use” copies so users need to respect these licenses. A few of the tools included in UBCD4Win are paid for and licensed software owned by UBCD4win. On occasion we work with software companies/authors for permission to include their software in our download or have requested their software better support PE. Users can freely share copies of UBCD4Win with friends but selling UBCD4Win for a profit is not acceptable. We have worked hard for many years helping people for free with this project, others should not make money from our hard work. If you are a dialup user having a hard time downloading UBCD4Win, please visit our ordering page. UBCD4Win is based on Bart’s PE©. Bart’s PE© builds a Windows® “pre-install” environment CD, basically a simple Windows® XP booted from CD. UBCD4Win includes network support and allows you the ability to modify NTFS volumes, recover deleted files, create new NTFS volumes, scan hard drives for viruses, etc. Our download includes almost everything you need to repair your system problems. This project has been put together to be the ultimate recovery cd and not a replacement OS (Operating System). Please visit the “List of Tools” page for a complete list of what is included in the latest version of UBCD4Win.

 

UltimateDefrag - Visual!

Thanks to Coffee County’s IT Director Billy Bellamy for referring us to this great site and software.

From their site:

Don’t you miss the old Windows defragmentation utility that displayed all the nice visuals while you waited for your hard drive to be optimized? I do.

UltimateDefrag not only displays nice visuals while defragging your hard drive, it also has many other options such as placing regularly accessed files on faster areas of your hard drive - and this can be done automatically for you.  Link

I Right Clicked on One of Vista’s Icons

I just installed Service Pack 1 on Vista, got on the net, seemed O.K.  Then I right clicked on my computer and waited….. 30ish seconds to get to Properties under My Computer. After that, right click  was fine.  I rebooted waited for AVG, the sidebar and other stuff to load.  Right click , and waited… what is this?  You gotta love it!

After that all O.K.

Other Microsoft OSs don’t do this.  Is there really an Engineer out there looking at these things?

Change Vista’s Desktop Icon Size

It’s the little hidden things in Vista that makes it cool.  Highlight all of your icons on the desktop.  Hold down the Ctrl key.  Scroll up and down to size.

     

Ever Wonder What Is Using All Of Your Harddrive Space?

Drivespacio is an excellent utility you can use to find those mystery files hiding somewhere on your harddrive.  Remember, clean your harddrive with an excellent utility such as ccleaner to get rid of internet and temporary files before running and then search your harddrive.  Drivespacio allows you to move through directories, delete files as necessary and find the mystery behind what is hogging your harddrive.

How to Install Ubuntu - A Video Tutorial

Installing Ubuntu is easy.  This YouTube video shows you how to from square one:

 

Thanks to Ming’s videos (YouTube user chandlerming223233)

Tweak Your Server Registry

Finding any tweak in the registry is sometimes tricky and can have adverse outcomes.  We feel this is a good tweak. 

Optimize the Windows Server Service (Windows XP, Vista and Server 2000, 2003)

This setting in your registry allows for the optimization of memory, network or to balance these two.   Click on start  type ‘regedit’ Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, named “Size”.

Change the value to 1 for memory
Change the value to 2 for balanced
Change the value to 3 for network throughput

Exit the registry

Reboot your computer

Best Wireless Tool - Free

Xirrus offers an excellent sidebar widget.  The radar type image presents wireless netwoks in range.  Detailed information can be found by clicking on the radar.

From their website:

Xirrus has created a collection of easy-to-use tools to help you more effectively use and manage your Wi-Fi networks. The Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor allows you to monitor the status of your Wi-Fi connection and the surrounding Wi-Fi environment - in real time and directly from your desktop.

The Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor is useful for both IT managers and end users, and is available as a Yahoo! Widget for Windows XP and a Gadget for Windows Vista. A radar-like display graphically shows available Wi-Fi networks and their range. Detailed information is available about your current Wi-Fi connection in addition to surrounding Wi-Fi networks, including SSID, signal strength, IP address, MAC address, security level, vendor, and network type. A Terminology section helps you make sense of all the Wi-Fi terms. Nine different color skins are available to customize the Wi-Fi Monitor’s look for your desktop.

Slipstream SP3 with Your Windows XP CD

Because you survived this long with Windows XP, the likelihood that you will reinstall is good.  Use Nlite to slipstream SP3 into your Windows XP installation CD and make a new installation disc.  It’ll save you a ton of time.  99% of your updates will be there along with your service packs.

What You Will Need:

Windows XP Disc
.NET 2.0
SP3
Blank CD

Install Nlite on your computer.  Follow the step-by-step instructions to slip stream Microsoft SP3 into your installation files.  Step-by-Step Guide.  The next time you install Windows, SP3 will be installed automatically.

AVG 8.0 Freeware Antivirus-Why McAfee and Norton?

Finally 8.0 has been released. I really think it finds more viruses than Norton or McAfee.

Funny thing is I have seen the aforesaid antivirus suites up-to-date on a sluggish machine-after installing AVG and uninstalling Norton or McAfee, AVG found several dozen viruses and spyware and the machine ran great.

Another thing is why do you have to have removal tools for McAfee and Norton if it is such great software? AND why do these programs slow your computer down soooo much?