Sparkspace Blog

Sparkspace Blog is a nice place where you can get all latest technology related information and also solution to your technical problems. Mr. Spark, an unidentified person helps all in solving their technical problems related to computers and gives latest software and patches.

Evolution of Windows Operating System

It all began in Plaza Hotel, New York City on the 10th of November 1983. Two Microsoft founders Paul Allen and Bill Gates officially announced their corporation’s first and next-generation graphical user interface operating system – Microsoft Windows.

Despite the criticism on stability and constantly being compared to their rivals Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Windows is still the most widely used operating systems in the world.

Windows 1.01 (1985)

Officially released on November 20, 1985, this 16-bit OS that cost less than 1MB in overall is Microsoft’s very first operating system that allows multi tasking with graphical user interface on PC platform that runs on MS-DOS 5.0.

Windows 1.03 (1986)

Introduced in 1986, Windows 1.03 is an upgrade to its previous predecessor Windows 1.01. Entire operating system cost about 2.2Mb hard disk space.


Windows 2.03 (1987)

Taking advantage of the speed of Intel 286/386 processor at that time, Windows 2.03 is a replacement for Windows 1.x. It also starts the era where users are able to overlap windows, customize screens, etc. Still the entire operating system cost no more than 2.5Mb.


Windows 2.86 (1989)

Windows 3.0 (1990)

This is the third major released of Microsoft Windows with a improved set of Windows icons and applications like File Manager, Program Manager that is still being used in today’s Windows. This 22 May 1990 released operating system is then replaced by Windows 3.1 two years later.

Windows 3.1 (1992)

Windows 3.1 is probably the earliest Windows most of us are familiar with. Windows 3.1 and later Windows 3.1x is an upgrade to Windows 3.0 with bug fixes and multimedia support.

Windows NT 3.1 (1993)

The first Windows New Technology (NT) introduced. It maintains consistency with the Windows 3.1, a well-established home and business operating system at the time, the new Windows NT operating system began with version 3.1. Unlike Windows 3.1, however, Windows NT 3.1 was a 32-bit operating system.

Windows 3.11 (1993)

A superset of Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 added peer-to-peer workgroup and domain networking support. For the first time, Windows–based PCs were network-aware and became an integral part of the emerging client/server computing evolution – Microsoft

Windows NT 3.51 Workstation (1995)

The Windows NT Workstation 3.5 release provided the highest degree of protection yet for critical business applications and data. With support for the OpenGL graphics standard, this operating system helped power high-end applications for software development, engineering, financial analysis, scientific, and business-critical tasks – Microsoft

Windows 95 (1995)

Previously code-named Chicago, Windows 95 is a successor to all the existing Windows operating system so far. It gives full graphical user interface support, integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for built-in Internet support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and Play capabilities that made it easy for users to install hardware and software.

Windows NT 4.0 (1996)

Windows NT Workstation 4.0 included the popular Windows 95 user interface yet provided improved networking support for easier and more secure access to the Internet and corporate intranets – Microsoft.

Windows NT Server 4.0 (1996)

Windows 98 (1998)

Windows 98 was the upgrade from Windows 95. Described as an operating system that "Works Better, Plays Better," Windows 98 was the first version of Windows designed specifically for consumers – Microsoft.

Windows 2000 (2000)

More than just the upgrade to Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional was also designed to replace Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on all business desktops and laptops. Built on top of the proven Windows NT Workstation 4.0 code base, Windows 2000 added major improvements in reliability, ease of use, Internet compatibility, and support for mobile computing – Microsoft.

Windows 2000 Server (2000)

Windows ME (2000)

Designed for home computer users, Windows Me offered consumers numerous music, video, and home networking enhancements and reliability improvements – Microsoft.

Windows XP (2001)

Windows XP Professional brings the solid foundation of Windows 2000 to the PC desktop, enhancing reliability, security, and performance. With a fresh visual design, Windows XP Professional includes features for business and advanced home computing, including remote desktop support, an encrypting file system, and system restore and advanced networking features – Microsoft.

Windows Server 2003 (2003)

Released on April 2003, and also known as Win2k3, this operating system is a sucessor to it’s predecessor Windows Server 2000 (Win2k).

Windows Vista (2006)

Came more than 5 years after it’s predecessor Windows XP, Vista is the longest timeline break for Microsoft between two operating system. Read more.

Windows 7 (2009)

Codenamed Blackcomb, Windows 7 is one of the most anticipated operating system which should be available somewhere in Oct 2009. Read more.

Basic Computer Maths

Basic Computer Math


Conversion of Numbers of Different Bases to Decimals

Consider the number 97531.

This is really: 9×10000 + 7×1000 + 5×100 + 3×10 + 1.

This can also be written as: 9×104 + 7×103 + 5×102 + 3×101 + 1×100.

There is nothing special about why we use base 10 except that humans have ten fingers.


In the world of electronics, the natural base is two, because it only has two states: on and off. We use “1” to signify on, and “0” to signify off. This is referred to as the “binary system.”

Example 1: Consider the binary number 1101011001.

To convert this to its decimal equivalent, we rewrite it as:
1×29 + 1×28 + 0×27 + 1×26 + 0× 25 + 1×24 + 1×23 + 0×22 + 0×21 + 1×20.

Or:
1×512 +1× 256 + 0×128 + 1×64 + 0×32 + 1×16 + 1×8 + 0×4 + 0×2 + 1 = 857.


Computational Devise “A”

Powers of 2 1024 512 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
Their Product 512 256 0 64 0 16 8 0 0 1

Their sum: 512 + 256 + 0 + 64 + 0 + 16 + 8 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 857


Suppose we were to use another base, say “b.” That would mean that the numbers representing the amounts multiplying their powers would range from “0” to one less that the base, i.e. “b-1.” For example, in base ten, these numbers range from “0” to “9.” That is why in base two we only have “0” and “1.” The commonly used base in Information science is base sixteen, or hexadecimal (“hex” means six and “deci” refers to tenth).



Example 2: Consider the base four number (1023)4. Notice the numbers range between “0” and “3,” the subscript “4” indicates the base of the number.

1×43 0×42 + 2×41 + 3×40
1×64 + 0×16 + 2×8 + 3×1 = 73

Powers of 4 256 64 16 4 1
Base 4 Digits 1 0 2 3
Their Product 64 0 8 3

Adding the digits in the last row: 64 + 0 + 8 + 1 = 73


Example 3: (647)8

6×82 + 4×81 + 7×80
6×64 + 4×8 + 7×1 = 73

Powers of 8 512 64 8 1
Octal Digits 6 4 7
Their Product 384 24 7

The sum of the digits in the last row 384 + 24 + 7 = 73


Notice that we have chosen bases that are powers of two. Those are the numbers that followed the progression within computer science. Because it is more convenient to use higher bases to represent quantities because it requires less space, or slots, to do so. The final base that the computational progression settled on was base sixteen or hexadecimal. Using base16, the range of numbers multiplying the powers of the base have to range between “0” and “fifteen.” However, it was decided to represent the amounts from “ten” to “fifteen” by the letter A, B, C, D, E and F (i.e. A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, C=14 and F=15).


Example 4: (D3)16


D×161 + 3×160
D×16 + 3×1 = 13×16 + 3×1 = 209

Most of the hexadecimal numbers used in computer math will only have two places, thus representing numbers from 0 to FF (or 0 to 255).

Conversion of Decimals Numbers to Different Bases

Consider the number 97531.

Computational Devise “B”

Base Divisor Dividend/Quotient Remainder
10 97531
10 9753 1
10 975 3
10 97 5
10 9 7
0 9

Check:

Powers of 1 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Decimal Digits 9 7 5 3 1
Their Product 90000 7000 500 30 1

The sum of the digits in the last row is:

90000 + 7000 + 500 + 30 +1 = 97531


Notice how when you divide each dividend the remainder is the quantity that multiplies the base to the next lower power. And when you have a quotient of “0” you have finished, and the final remainder is the quantity that multiplies the highest powered base.


Example 5: Convert the decimal number 25 to its binary equivalent.

Base Divisor Dividend/Quotient Remainder
2 25
2 12 1
2 6 0
2 3 0
2 1 1
0 1





Check:

Powers of 2 1024 512 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits 1 1 0 1 1
Their Product 16 8 0 0 1

The sum of the digits in the last row 16×1 + 1×8 + 0×4 + 1×2 + 1×1 = 25



Example 6: (48307)10

Base Divisor Dividend/Quotient Remainder
16 48307
16 3019 3
16 188 11
16 11 12 = C
16 0 11 = B

Check:

Powers of 16 4096 256 16 1
Hexadecimal Digits B = 11 C = 12 11 3
Their Product 45056 3072 176 3

Their sum 45056 + 3072 + 176 +3 = 48307














Hexadecimal Equivalents to the Decimal Numbers 0–255

Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex Dec Hex
0 0 32 20 64 40 96 60 128 80 160 A0 192 C0 224 E0
1 1 33 21 65 41 97 61 129 81 161 A1 193 C1 225 E1
2 2 34 22 66 42 98 62 130 82 162 A2 194 C2 226 E3
3 3 35 23 67 43 99 63 131 83 163 A3 195 C3 227 E3
4 4 36 24 68 44 100 64 132 84 164 A4 196 C4 228 E4
5 5 37 25 69 45 101 65 133 85 165 A5 197 C5 229 E5
6 6 38 26 70 46 102 66 134 86 166 A6 198 C6 230 E6
7 7 39 27 71 47 103 67 135 87 167 A7 199 C7 231 E7
8 8 40 28 72 48 104 68 136 88 168 A8 200 C8 232 E8
9 9 41 29 73 49 105 69 137 89 169 A9 201 C9 233 E9
10 A 42 2A 74 4A 106 6A 138 8A 170 AA 202 CA 234 EA
11 B 43 2B 75 4B 107 6B 139 8B 171 AB 203 CB 235 EB
12 C 44 2C 76 4C 108 6C 140 8C 172 AC 204 CC 236 EC
13 D 45 2D 77 4D 109 6D 141 8D 173 AD 205 CD 237 ED
14 E 46 2E 78 4E 110 6E 142 8E 174 AE 206 CE 238 EE
15 F 47 2F 79 4F 111 6F 143 8F 175 AF 207 CF 239 EF
16 10 48 30 80 50 112 70 144 90 176 B0 208 D0 240 F0
17 11 49 31 81 51 113 71 145 91 177 B1 209 D1 241 F1
18 12 50 32 82 52 114 72 146 92 178 B2 210 D2 242 F2
19 13 51 33 83 53 115 73 147 93 179 B3 211 D3 243 F3
20 14 52 34 84 54 116 74 148 94 180 B4 212 D4 244 F4
21 15 53 35 85 55 117 75 149 95 181 B5 213 D5 245 F5
22 16 54 36 86 56 118 76 150 96 182 B6 214 D6 246 F6
23 17 55 37 87 57 119 77 151 97 183 B7 215 D7 247 F7
24 18 56 38 88 58 120 78 152 98 184 B8 216 D8 248 F8
25 19 57 39 89 59 121 79 153 99 185 B9 217 D9 249 F9
26 1A 58 3A 90 5A 122 7A 154 9A 186 BA 218 DA 250 FA
27 1B 59 3B 91 5B 123 7B 155 9B 187 BB 219 DB 251 FB
28 1C 60 3C 92 5C 124 7C 156 9C 188 BC 220 DC 252 FC
29 1D 61 3D 93 5D 125 7D 157 9D 189 BD 221 DD 253 FD
30 1E 62 3E 94 5E 126 7E 158 9E 190 BE 222 DE 254 FE
31 1F 63 3F 95 5F 127 7F 159 9F 191 BF 223 DF 255 FF

How to configure a VPN connection with Windows XP

If you want to configure a VPN connection from a Windows XP client computer you only need what comes with the Operating System itself, it's all built right in. To set up a connection to a VPN, do the following:

1. On the computer that is running Windows XP, confirm that the connection to the Internet is correctly configured.

• You can try to browse the internet
• Ping a known host on the Internet, like yahoo.com, something that isn’t blocking ICMP

2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

3. In Control Panel, double click Network Connections

4. Click Create a new connection in the Network Tasks task pad

5. In the Network Connection Wizard, click Next.

6. Click Connect to the network at my workplace, and then click Next.

7. Click Virtual Private Network connection, and then click Next.
8. If you are prompted, you need to select whether you will use a dialup connection or if you have a dedicated connection to the Internet either via Cable, DSL, T1, Satellite, etc.  Click Next.

9. Type a host name, IP or any other description you would like to appear in the Network Connections area. You can change this later if you want. Click Next.

10. Type the host name or the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that you want to connect to, and then click Next.
11. You may be asked if you want to use a Smart Card or not.

12. You are just about done, the rest of the screens just verify your connection, click Next.

13. Click to select the Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop check box if you want one, if not, then leave it unchecked and click finish.
14. You are now done making your connection, but by default, it may try to connect. You can either try the connection now if you know its valid, if not, then just close it down for now.

15. In the Network Connections window, right-click the new connection and select properties. Let’s take a look at how you can customize this connection before it’s used.
16. The first tab you will see if the General Tab. This only covers the name of the connection, which you can also rename from the Network Connection dialog box by right clicking the connection and selecting to rename it. You can also configure a First connect, which means that Windows can connect the public network (like the Internet) before starting to attempt the ‘VPN’ connection. This is a perfect example as to when you would have configured the dialup connection; this would have been the first thing that you would have to do. It's simple, you have to be connected to the Internet first before you can encrypt and send data over it. This setting makes sure that this is a reality for you.

17. The next tab is the Options Tab. It is The Options tab has a lot you can configure in it. For one, you have the option to connect to a Windows Domain, if you select this check box (unchecked by default), then your VPN client will request Windows logon domain information while starting to work up the VPN connection. Also, you have options here for redialing. Redial attempts are configured here if you are using a dial up connection to get to the Internet. It is very handy to redial if the line is dropped as dropped lines are very common.

18. The next tab is the Security Tab. This is where you would configure basic security for the VPN client. This is where you would set any advanced IPSec configurations other security protocols as well as requiring encryption and credentials.  

19. The next tab is the Networking Tab. This is where you can select what networking items are used by this VPN connection.

20. The Last tab is the Advanced Tab. This is where you can configure options for configuring a firewall, and/or sharing.

Connecting to Corporate

Now that you have your XP VPN client all set up and ready, the next step is to attempt a connection to the Remote Access or VPN server set up at the corporate office. To use the connection follow these simple steps. To open the client again, go back to the Network Connections dialog box.

1. One you are in the Network Connection dialog box, double-click, or right click and select ‘Connect’ from the menu – this will initiate the connection to the corporate office.

2. Type your user name and password, and then click Connect. Properties bring you back to what we just discussed in this article, all the global settings for the VPN client you are using.

3. To disconnect from a VPN connection, right-click the icon for the connection, and then click “Disconnect

Tips to improve Fuel Economy

Here are some very good tips on improving your vehicle's Fuel Economy / Increase Fuel Efficiency / Mileage. With increasing fuel prices it is becoming more and more prudent to use them.

 

Use your gears wisely.

Driving in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine is a fuel-efficient way of driving. A vehicle travelling at 60kmph in third gear uses 25 percent more fuel than at the same speed in fifth gear

Drive smoothly

Think ahead! By applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you can reduce both fuel consumption and wear and tear. Try to predict traffic at junctions and when in queuing to avoid accelerating and then braking. Research suggests driving techniques can influence car fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Switch off your engine

There are two schools of thought on this one. Switching your engine off for short periods of time can actually increase fuel consumption, as it requires more fuel to get the engine started. Also your catalytic converter will no longer be running at full temperature and so your car will be less efficient, increasing the amount of pollution you cause. However if you are stopped for more than a few minutes then your car will simply burn less fuel with the engine stopped.

Drive off promptly to prevent wasting fuel

Don't leave your engine running when you first start up. Drive off straight away if you can, but drive gently until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature. This doesn't increase fuel efficiency as such, but it does mean your engine is switched on for less time.

Lighten your load

Think carefully about what you need on a journey. if you do not need something, do not pack it. Remove roof racks if not needed. The lighter the load, the lower the fuel consumption, and emissions, and the higher the fuel efficiency.

Tyres effect fuel efficiency

It is estimated that about 50% of tyres on the road are under inflated. Aside from increasing the rate of wear, this wastes fuel and decreased your fuel efficiency. Check your tyre pressures every fortnight. Worn tyres will also decrease fuel efficiency (and your safety!), so check the tread regularly. If you are replacing tyres then consider some of the newer 'Eco' tyres that are designed specifically to increase fuel efficiency.

Car Windows

Driving with your windows open drastically reduces your fuel efficiency, far more so than putting the air conditioning on when motorway driving. So in those hot summers(?) preferably keep the windows shut, and the air conditioning on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air conditioning decreases fuel efficiency too, so try not to over use it.

Invest in a new fuel efficient car

New cars come in all shapes and sizes, but it is possible to pick a new car that can greatly reduce your fuel bill, and your fuel emissions. 

Size matters. Choose an economical car - small cars use far more fuel efficient and produce lower emissions than large cars.

Drive the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs. Compare models and classes. Even similarly sized cars can vary in fuel efficiency by up to 45%.

Consider diesel engines (with a particulate trap), and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fuelled cars - all have lower CO2 emissions than standard petrol cars.

Consider 'hybrid' vehicles - they combine a conventional engine with an electric motor and battery. These offer reduced fuel consumption and CO2 with potentially lower emissions of all pollutants.

Diesel Engines

If your going to buy a diesel, ensure it is a new 'common rail' type, as these are approximately 10% more efficient than older diesels. also replace (or clean if applicable) air cleaner elements as often as is required by your vehicles servicing schedule.

Regluar Maintenance maintains fuel efficiency

Air Filter:

One of the most common reasons for a drop in fuel efficiency is a dirty intake filter. This will decrease the amount of air entering the cylinders of the engine resulting in incomplete combustion. Check the filter regularly to ensure that it is clean.

Spark Plugs

Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals specified by the owners manual. This will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.

 

Lube Oil:

Change the lube oil at intervals specified by the owners manual. Use the recommended oil only especially in newer cars. Use of an engine flush before changing the oil will help to get rid of a lot of the dirt that collects in the engine that a normal oil change will not remove. On older engines it is advisable to use an oil treatment agent. This basically thickens the oil which creates a better seal between the piston and the liner, preventing blow past and consequent loss of combustion pressure, resulting in higher fuel efficiency.

Exhausts alter fuel efficiency

Most cars have special sizes for the exhaust. When cars are reasonably old the silences has to be changed. The garage people always try to fit a size that they have in the garage it self. Which might not be the exact size recommended for the car. The wrong size a bigger or smaller silencer size effects on the MPG of the car and the HP of the car. It may be cheaper to put another size than your recommended size for your car but on the long run it will cost you in many ways, especially on fuel consumption. Always put the recommended size of the exhaust that is indicated in your car manual because the car company knows how to optimize the performance of your car.

Laptop Cooling Solution N100

If you're concerned about your lap burning because of your very hot laptop, Logitech seems to have a solution. The company has launched its Cooling Pad N100.

The portability factor brings along excessive heating of the notebooks due to the densely packed components. A cooling pad helps keep your laptop's
temperature in control.

 

How it works

The N100 improves airflow around your notebook. It comes with a slotted surface, which allows the USB-powered fan to distribute air quietly and evenly to maintain a cool temperature. That in turn, protects the human skin from facing discomforts caused by the over heated notebook.

 

Logitech says that to create a steady, unobstructed airflow, the Cooling Pad N100 uses rear air intake, unlike other cooling pads, which generate airflow from angles that are easily blocked by the laptop itself or loose articles of clothing. Plus, the enclosed, durable construction protects the internal fan from dust and damage.

 

The company also claims that the N100 offers a low power-consumption USB cable that connects to a users' computer with minimal impact on their notebook's battery - while still delivering enough power to improve airflow around the laptop.

 

Price and warranty

 

Logitech Cooling Pad N100 is priced at Rs. 1,995 and comes with a three year warranty.

50 windows registry tricks

everything that you want to do with the registry. 

1)Load Applications Faster
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
The default value for the EnablePrefetcher setting is 3. You can change this value 0 to 3.
0 – Disable Prefetching
1 – Speedup boot process
2 – Speedup applications
3 – Speedup boot process and load application faster.
2)Optimization of Boot files
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOpt imizeFunction
A string value named Enable under this key need to be set to Y. With setting Y, boot file optimization occurs automatically if the system is idle for 10 minutes. It’s recommended to reboot to take effect.
3)Unload Unused DLLs
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer
Create a DWORD value named as AlwaysUnloadDll and set to 1. After this, application – associated DLLs will get unloaded when the application is closed.

4.) Turn off Indexing Services to speed up XP
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\CiSvc
Change the value of Start DWORD value to 4 and reboot your PC to take effect.
5.) Enable automatic reboot on BSOD
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\CrashControl
Change 0 to 1 in AutoReboot DWORD value to enable this setting.
6.) Increase NTFS performance
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\FileSystem
Create a DWORD value (if not exists) named as NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and set to 1. Restart required.
7.) Automatically close Non-Responding applications
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
And
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Change the value of AutoEndTasks String value to 1
8.) Automatic Window Refersh
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Update
Change the value of UpdateMode to 0. The default value is 1
9.) Boost response time of start menu
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
Create or modify a DWORD value named as MenuShowDelay and set the value to 1. The default value is 400
10.)If you have a lot of RAM, Disable swap paging file
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management
Create or modify a DWORD value DisablePagingExecutive and set to 0
11.)boost XP speed by changing Real-Time clock priority
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\PriorityControl
Create or modify a DWORD value IRQ8Priority set it to 1
12.)Reduce IO and increase turnaround which speed-up Windows XP
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management
Modify DWORD value IoPageLockLimit. Depending upon how much RAM you have, you can increase your disk-cache size by entering a higher value in IoPageLockLimit. Typically your computer won’t come optimized for disk-cache and you can set to a value which works best for you by trial and error. Rule of thumb is to have a ratio of 1 or 2 for every 64K chuck. But try out various different values as each case would be a little different.
13.)Set your L2 cache and improve performance
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management
Modify DWORD value SecondLevelDataCache and set it to L2 cache of your CPU. Eg. AMD Athlon64 3200+ have 512KB of L2 cache, So we have to enter 200 in Hexadecimal and 512 in Decimal format.
14.)MFT (Master File Table) manipulations to improve disk performance
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\FileSystem. In right pane, add one more key by the name NtfsMftZoneReservation with the DWORD value of 2. DWORD value of 1 is interpreted as 12.5%, 2 as 25% and so on.
15.)Improve system performance by disabling DOS 8.3 naming convention
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\FileSystem
In right pane, look for key by the name NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and sets its value to 1. That’s it. You would see improvement in system performance for sure.
16.)Set the low level hook time-out and stop certain programs from crashing or becoming unstable
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Desktop and create or modify a DWORD value LowLevelHooksTimeout in the right pane. Now set it to a small number in milliseconds for example a value of 3500 would mean 3.5 seconds.
17.)Disable autoplay function of CD or removable devices.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\policies\Explorer
Create and modify a DWORD value named as NoDriveTypeAutoRun and set its value to 185 (decimal). This would stop auto play.

18.)Improve shutdown time & close apps quickly at shutdown
You can reduce the time it takes for Windows to issue kill directive to all active/hung applications. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP and make sure that HungAppTimeout is greater than WaitToKillAppTimeout. Change the values of WaitToKillAppTimeout to say 3500 (since default value for HungAppTimeout 5000 and for WaitToKillAppTimeout is 20000)
19.)Secure your privacy by cleaning page file.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management
Change or modify DWORD value ClearPageFileAtShutdown and set to 1

20.) Lock known dll’s list and make your computer a bit more safer
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager
And look for ProtectionMode parameter. Set it to value of 1.
21.)Remove unnecessary Scheduled Tasks scan by Internet Explorer and make Internet Explorer Load faster
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace and then looking for shared tasks CLSID key {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}. Simply delete it and get out of registry. No need to reboot. Launch Internet Explorer and see the difference.
22.)Enable UDMA/66 mode on IDE Channels
Even if DMA is enabled on IDE channels, by default UDMA/66 mode is disabled. You can improve disc performance by enabling it. Open Registry Editor and Navigating to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\ {4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}000 in right pane add a DWORD value by the name EnableUDMA66 and set its value to 1.
23.)Run your Windows Desktop in its own process environment
This may take a little more memory but would make your Desktop more stable. So this is more of a security tip. Security from other applications running on your desktop. Open registry editor and navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer and look for value of DesktopProcess. If this is the first time, you may not see this key and if so add the DWORD key by the name DesktopProcess. Now sets its value to 1
24.)Clean the history of start menu Run
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\RunMRU. You can choose what you want to delete and simply delete it. Or you can clear all command lines as well.
25.)Open Command Window Here and Open with Notepad context menu to folders and all file types with Shift holding feature to display menu.
Copy all reg code to a text file and save as context.reg or whatever you want n patch it to add Open Command Window Here and Open with Notepad context menu to folders and all file types.

Code: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad] @="" "Extended"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad\command] @="notepad.exe %1" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd] @="Open Command Window Here" "Extended"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command] @="cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\"" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd] @="Open Command Window Here" "Extended"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd\command] @="cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""

26.)Do your eyes a favor, Use Clear Type Fonts.
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
And
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Change the value of FontSmoothing to 2 and FontSmoothingType to 2
27.)How is the Icon color depth and Size information controlled?
Icon color and Icon Size information is controlled by following entries in Registry. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics and look for two keys by the following name:
“Shell Icon BPP”
“Shell Icon Size”
Value of “Shell Icon BPP” determines bits per pixel (color depth) and value of “Shell Icon Size” determines icon size in pixels. You can determine number of colors that Icon have by raising 2 to the power of “Shell Icon BPP” value. If value is 16, total number of colors (or color depth) is 2^16 = 65536

28.)Private information about who is logged on your computer at a time.
XP stores certain information about you as and when you are logged on in following places in registry:
· Logged on User: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Logon User Name]
· Personal: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Personnal]
· Default Document folder: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment\HOMEDRIVE]
· .Net email account: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MessengerServ ice\ListCache\.NET Messenger Service\IdentityName]
· Number of Open programs: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SessionInformation\ProgramCount]
29.)IE crashing unexpectedly. Make stable IE via launching separate process
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer and add a new string by the name BrowseNewProcess and set its value to yes.

30.)Num Lock to be switched on at boot time
Navigate to: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard and look for a string key by the name InitialKeyboardIndicators. If its not there, create it else change its value to 0 to set NUMLOCK OFF or 2 to set NUMLOCK ON.
31.)Secure your computer: Enable Advanced File System Security Options
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Lsa
Create or modify a DWORD value named Forceguest. Set its value to 1. This would enables Windows XP logic for advanced permissions.
32.)Customize taskbar grouping
If you want to change the default number of grouping in task bar do this.
Navigate to: KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curren tVersion\Explorer\Advanced . Change value of TaskbarGroupSize. You can set it to any value you want. Default is 3.
33.)Disable Registry Editor to remember last access key
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Applets\Regedit
And look for the value LastKey. Double-click it and clear the string. Then right-click the Regedit key (in the left-hand pane) and select Permissions. Set Permissions to Deny for any/all users/group.
34.)Create program aliases to run any program via start menu Run
You can use program aliases to run actual program. Well there are ways to hide actual program name. Not sure what’s the good use for this tip but here it is anyway
In Registry Editor, Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths
To create a new alias, create a sub-key, and call it the name of the alias you wish to create. Then modify the Default value of the sub-key to equal the fully qualified path and filename of the application you want to be launched.
35.)How to disable MSN Messenger from loading up whenever you start Outlook Express
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft. Create a new key by the name Messenger and then within that another key by the name Client. This is equivalent to creating and navigation to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Mes senger\Client. Within this create a DWORD key by the name PreventRun and set its value to 1. Quit registry and even though not a must, it’s a good idea to reboot.
36.)Change alignment of Start Menu panel.
This is a customizing tip. If you have noticed, start menu panel has all the entries aligned to left. Well that’s not a cause of concern but may be you are one of those who want it to be the other way, say you want it to align to right. This can be done by a quick registry tweak. In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop and look for key MenuDropAlignment. Set its value to 1 to align the menu entry to right or if you did not like the idea of entries aligned to right, set it back to 0 for align back to left which is the Default XP behavior.
37.)Customize windows explorer’s Default search
This is a customizing tip. If you want to customize your windows explorer search here are some tips. In Regstry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer and look for following keys
“CaseSensitive”
“IncludeSubFolders”
“SearchHidden”
“SearchSlowFiles”
“SearchSystemDirs”
Key names are self revealing. If you want a CaseSensitive search set its value to 1 else 0. This is the technique, if you prefer to enable any of the above feature, set its value to 1 else set it back to 0.
38.)Get back to old days, see the file attributes in Windows Explorer
I have noticed that in Windows Explorer, when you click on the detailed mode, you do not see the file attributes any more. This used to be there in previous versions of Windows (Well in office, I still use Windows 95 and Windows Explorer out there shows the file attributes). If you want to enable this setting, follow these steps.
In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\ Explorer\Advanced and look for key “ShowAttribCol”. You may not find it there if this is your first time. In this case, create a new DWORD key “ShowAttribCol” and set its value to 1 to enable it.
39.)Kill the IE About windows that popup from time to time
There is an Internet Explorer vulnerability to which allows some web sites to open a hidden popup tracking minimized window either upon your first visit or when you leave their web site or even when you close your browser while one of their web pages is still displayed. They do this by using the little known “about:” browser built-in command into their HTML/DHTML/XML code. Sometimes this window Go undetected as these are not resizable as you come to expect of a typical window app. If you do not have anything specific with Welcome to About.com, there could be a registry tweak that you can do.
Run the Registry Editor and navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\ProtocolDefaults
And add two DWORD keys about and about: and set its value to 4.
40.)Stop Windows XP from displaying unread messages count on Welcome Screen?
I received few mails from users requesting How-to on disabling unread message count from Welcome Screen. To stop XP from displaying count of unread messages, Open registry editor and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\UnreadMail and look for the data key “MessageExpiryDays”. If you do not see this key, create one DWORD key by the name “MessageExpiryDays”. Setting its value to 0 would stop Windows XP from displaying the count of unread messages.
41.)Add Empty Recycle Bin context menu to right click any where.
Navigate to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\Con textMenuHandlers
Create a key named {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and press F5 to refresh and enjoy.
42.)Enable Administrator account on Welcome screen.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\
SpecialAccounts\UserList
Create a DWORD value named as user name and set the value “1” for enable and “0” for disable.
You can also enable Administrator account by naming as “Administrator” and set the value “1”.
43.)Stop Error Messages from Displaying on Startup
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows
Create a new DWORD called NoPopupsOnBoot and give it a value of 1. Exit the Registry and reboot for the setting to take effect. To disable it, either delete the DWORD value or give it a value of 0.
44.)Boost your network application performance by changing thread priority
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\AFD\Parameters and set the following key values to the values shown.
“TransmitWorker”=dword:00000010
“PriorityBoost”=dword:0000000a
45.)Change title of Command Prompt
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
Create a string value named Autorun and set it to “Title ” without quote.
46.)Startup programs get loaded in Windows at boot time. Run keys of Windows Registry
Run keys cause programs to automatically run every time computer/XP boots up. The Windows XP registry includes the following four Run keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunOnce
Each of these keys has a series of values. The values allow multiple entries to exist without overwriting one another. The data value for a value is a command line. There are some special considerations for the third and fourth keys in the list, the RunOnce keys: By default, Run keys are ignored when the computer starts in Safe mode. Under the RunOnce keys, you can prefix a value name with an asterisk (*) to force the associated program to run even in Safe mode. You can prefix a RunOnce value name with an exclamation point (!) to defer deletion of the value until after the command runs. Without the exclamation point prefix, a RunOnce value is deleted before the command runs. As a result, if a RunOnce operation does not run properly, the associated program is not asked to run the next time you start the computer.
47.)Prevent a Program from Being Displayed in the Most Frequently Used Programs List
Open registry and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ Program and look for where Program is the name of the application that you do not want to be displayed in the Most Frequently Used Programs List. Add an empty string value named NoStartPage. That’s it. Reboot your computer.
48.)Control parsing of autoexec.bat
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Here look for value of “ParseAutoexec”. If available, do one of the following:
If you want to disable parsing of autoexec.bat, set its value to 0.
If you want to enable parsing of autoexec.bat, set its value to 1.
49.)Removing Programs listed from the Control Panel’s Add/Remove Programs Section
If you remove an installed program and its files by deleting the files, it may still show up in the Add/Remove programs list through the control panel.
In order to remove it from the list (so you don’t need to re-install in order to just remove it again).
Open Registry and Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Uninstall
Delete any programs here.
50.)Recycle Bin Edits
Playing with Recycle bin context menu. Why not make the icon context menu act like other icon context menu’s.
Add rename to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=hex:50,01,00,20
Add delete to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=hex:60,01,00,20
Add rename and delete to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=hex:70,01,00,20
Restore the recycle bin to win 95 defaults including un-deleting the icon after deletion:
.. Restore the icon.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop
\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]
@=”Recycle Bin”
… reset windows defaults
. [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=hex:40,01,00,20
Other edits to the recycle bin icon:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=hex:40,01,01,20 … standard shortcut arrow
“Attributes”=hex:40,01,02,20 … another shortcut arrow
“Attributes”=hex:40,01,04,20 … and another shortcut arrow
“Attributes”=hex:40,01,08,20 … make it look disabled (like it’s been cut)
I added the above edits for fun. But it gets you thinking.
Note: Adding rename and delete to the context menu takes effect instantly. To restore the icon after deletion requires screen refresh (F5). 

What is RSS (Rich Site Summary) ?

What is RSS?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.

Why RSS? Benefits and Reasons for using RSS

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds is growing rapidly and includes big names like Yahoo News.

What do I need to do to read an RSS Feed? RSS Feed Readers and News Aggregators

Feed Reader or News Aggregator software allow you to grab the RSS feeds from various sites and display them for you to read and use.

A variety of RSS Readers are available for different platforms. Some popular feed readers include Amphetadesk (Windows, Linux, Mac), FeedReader (Windows), and NewsGator (Windows - integrates with Outlook). There are also a number of web-based feed readers available. My Yahoo, Bloglines, and Google Reader are popular web-based feed readers.

Once you have your Feed Reader, it is a matter of finding sites that syndicate content and adding their RSS feed to the list of feeds your Feed Reader checks. Many sites display a small icon with the acronyms RSS, XML, or RDF to let you know a feed is available.  

Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

What's the Difference between Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

 

Core Duo is Intel's first dual-core CPU. It's a whole new architecture for Microsoft, using two cores on a single die, which, put simply, gives you two chips in one package. Running at lower speeds than the old Pentium line, the Core Duo conserves substantial power vs. ratcheting up clock speed while offering what was, at the time, record-breaking performance.

 

 

Now there's Core 2 Duo. In many ways Core 2 is the same as Core: The chips are built using the same production process and fit in the same sockets as Core Duo chips. Putting aside Core 2 Extreme (a fancy version of the Core 2 Duo), you won't see many spec changes: Both chips have the same frontside bus speed of 667MHz, but Core 2 Duo is now available at somewhat faster clock speeds (as I write this, 2.67GHz chips are available). The frontside bus communicates between the CPU and RAM (and other components), and it's a notorious performance bottleneck for computers. The Core 2 also has the same L2 cache that the Core has. However, there are architecture changes to the silicon that give the Core 2 more sophisticated processing abilities. Both chips exist in desktop and laptop versions.

 

 

Why does all of this matter? Performance, pure and simple. In my tests, Core 2 Duo computers outperform Core Duo computers on tasks across the board, from rendering graphics and video to spell-checking documents. The speed improvement varies widely, but on average it's about 30 percent. That's significant in an industry that thrives on tiny, incremental improvement. Better yet, there's not an appreciable difference in battery life on notebooks, as power consumption for both chips (at the same clock speed) is about the same.

 

 

Now let's consider pricing. Initially, Core 2 chips were more expensive than Core, but that has changed, as Core is practically gone from the desktop market now. Surprisingly, you can now get a 2.13GHz Core 2 CPU for less than the price of a 1.66GHz Core CPU.

Still, expect to see some systems still on the market that use the Core CPU, especially in laptops. Performance is still very good with Core, so don't feel like you're getting second-class goods if you buy a Core Duo notebook, but remember you are buying a chip that Intel is no longer actively selling, and prices for Core 2 systems aren't really any different than they were for Cores. If it was my money, I'd hold out for a Core 2 system unless you got a great deal on a Core... which will be all but vanished from the market in a matter of months.

Automobile Maintenance Tips

Here, you would find maintenance tips for all kinds of vehicles. Check them regularly and be a smart owner of an automobile. 

Tyres- At regular times rotate the position of the tyres and you must balance them at around 10,000 km. There are under-inflated tyres that one must check. A regular check for stone and gravel in the tyres is compulsory. 

Brakes - top up the brake fluid reservoir occasionally when you notice that the brakes tend to become wobbly and act slowly. 

Battery - for the prevention of corrosion, one must clean the battery terminals from time to time and apply a light coat of grease. Check the level of distilled water in the battery and see that the plates are covered at all times. 

Interior - regularly vacuum the interiors which will prevent the deposition of sand, dust, grime, salt, etc that otherwise damage the floor surface. Wipe the dash, seats and instrument panel and rear parcel shelf. You can use special car cleaners and not household stuff for cleaning. Clean the leather interiors with specific products and avoid cleaners with high alkaline content as they bleach the color off the leather. 

Exterior - wash windscreens with water and soap followed by clean water wash. Then use chamois leather to dry the spots. When the car is dry, use methylated spirit dipped rag and water solution to polish the glass. 

Lights- make sure that lights are clean and are working fine. Check the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. Make sure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. 

Hoses - Inspect the hoses and belts every month. If a hose looks bad or feels hard, then it is time for replacement. 

Exhaust - Check for loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports. Also look for holes in muffler or pipes. Change the rusted or damaged parts and have the emission checked every year. 

General Tips - Always use genuine spare parts for your car. 

Give your car an anti-rust coating before the monsoons.

For Bike Maintenance there are the following tips: 

Regularly check the tyres and air pressure.

Check your tyres for cuts and scrapes on the tyres that might result in a blowout. Also keep checking the tyre treads once every week and the wheels are balanced and the alignment checked if the wear is uneven.

Check the engine oil level every day before you ride your bike. The oil level should be between upper and lower marks. Top up the engine oil if required and also check for oil leakage.

Check the two-wheeler body surface regularly to ensure good surface finish. Before cleaning the bike, see to it that the ignition switch unit, H.T. Coil and silencer are covered with plastic sheets.

While cleaning the bike, use low pressure water. The painted surfaces must be washed only with water.

Take periodic checks of the motorcycle battery for a long life. Check the electrolyte levels against the top and bottom markings on the battery shell. Top up with distilled water. Check for battery leakage.

Clean the sparks regularly. You can clean the spark points with emery paper.

Keep the carburetor clean by regularly cleaning the carburetor float chamber and other parts. Clean the jets by forcing compressed air through them.

Keep the brakes spaced in the right way. If kept too tight or too loose, is dangerous. Brakes must be tightened as per the rider's requirement.

Check the cables frequently for kinks, bends and frayed ends. Replace if the strands appear broken.

Ensure that the insurance cover is done in the valid time frame.

For Scooter maintenance, these are the following tips: Regularly clean the mobility scooter which will prevent dust, dirt and grit from entering the moving parts and causing wear and tear.

Always prevent your scooter from rusting and keep it dry at all times possible. By drying fabrics such as the seat, will ensure a longer life of the scooter. It is also advisable to purchase a wet weather cover to prevent against the rain.

Maintain the battery at all times. Ensure that you follow the guide lines of the manufacturers while charging the battery. This ensures that you receive the maximum travel range.

You must spend time reading the manual and ensure better maintenance. Ensure regular servicing which is possible at home itself.

In the case of front brakes, one must ensure that the brake fluid levels are in the normal state.

The rear brake pedal should be regularly checked to ensure that it is free of any trouble.

In the case of a low tyre pressure, ensure that it is inflated as per the guidelines and that in case of more they should be deflated.

Free movement of tyre should be ensured and service center must be called immediately.

If there are problems in starting the vehicle, it indicated low fuel and one must refill the fuel levels.

Horn, lights and fuel gauge need to be checked thoroughly before riding your scooter. 

Automobile maintenance is all about efforts on your side to ensure that you get better mileage and be hassle free from abrupt breakdown of your vehicle.