Customizing The System Tray Clock

Now, here is a nice trick for you. Customizing your system tray clock like the picture above. It has been applied to my comp :). Pretty nice. But maybe you can corrupt some trial licenses of software that you may have installed. Here it is :

Step 1
Open up your registry editor [start > run > type "regedit"]

Step 2
Navigate to : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International

Step 3
There is two strings named "s1159" and "s2359". By default, the "s1159" is for AM and "s2359" is for PM. Just right click to the value and edit the AM and PM text. Make sure the text is not too long because if it is too long, it will be a problem to view it.

Step 4
If both of the string is not in there, just create the two strings "s1159" and "s2359"

Now, you have a special clock of your own. Change applied may start to active after user logoff or restart the comp. Else, just refresh your desktop to activate it.. Happy modding :) =X and good luck

Fixing Double-Click Problems In Your Drive

Cannot double-click your drive? My buddy : right here have a brief explanation about how to fix it using flash disinfector and CHKDSK. But here is my solution to fix it within the power of Command Prompt [CMD]

Several things you must know first :

1. When you double-click your drive, it can't be accessed and an alert pop-out : "cannot find file.js@file.exe@file.vbs@something similar".

2. What is the main problems?
Autorun.inf file cannot find the specific file to be executed [been deleted due to virus alert from antivirus software or accidentally deleted]

3. Autorun.inf usage :

• Not all "autorun.inf" is written to execute the VIRUS.
  
• "autorun.inf" may also automatically load a programs in the Interactive-CD media.
  
• It can load a portable software for USB drive such as "PortableApps"
  
• You can set your drive icon by write some codes in it [will be posted later]
  
• So, "autorun.inf" is NOT A VIRUS. It's a kinda file that run under System Explorer.

Looking by the two main cause of these problems, there is 2 simple solution here:

1st :
If you accidentally deleted the files [the programs compiled with "autorun.inf" accidentally deleted]
Solution :
Just unhide the "hidden folder" [tool > folder options > views > "tick" the "show hidden files & folder"]. Then you can delete the "autorun.inf" files [navigate into the drive using the "address bar"]. Your drive can be accessed by using double-click after the comp rebooted.

2nd :
If the files compiled with "autorun.inf" have been deleted automatically due to antivirus response to a suspected files, which means, the compiled files with "autorun.inf" is a virus suspected file. So, the virus can't be executed when you double-click the drive. Antivirus won't delete the "autorun.inf" because it is NOT A VIRUS.
Solution :
Open up Command Prompt [start > run > type "CMD"]

• The command prompt will now open. Type "attrib -s -h -r -a x:\autorun.inf"
  
• Then type "del x:\autorun.inf"
  

Explanation :
"attrib" : attribute
"s" : system file attribute
"h" : hidden file attribute
"r" : read-only file attribute
"a" : archive file attribute
"x" : this should be change with your drive letter such as C or D or any drive you want to fix
"del" : delete file
"-" : this -ve sign stand for remove, so that it will remove the attribute within the files

So. After you runs the command above, you have successfully remove the "autorun.inf" file in your drive. Just make sure you change the "x" value with your drive letter. Reboot the computer and it's done. Below is a sample advance batch file to remove "autorun.inf" that i've made specially for all my blog reader using these commands above.

Downlaod a sample batch file click here

Change/Add Restrictions And Features [a further info about registry tweak & hack]

If you want to make restrictions to what users can do, you can edit the Registry. You can add and delete Windows features in this key shown below.

Certain things you must know about registry editor:

1. It's very sensitive. Make sure you change anything inside it if you didn't know about it
   
2. Boolean is where elements or "bits" each contain only two possible values, called various names [eg : yes@no, true@false , 1@2]
   
3. The Boolean number "0" is for ON
   
4. The Boolean number "1" is for OFF
   
5. [eg : To make a printer undeleteable set "NoDeletePrinter" boolean to 1. That The value "NoDeletePrinter" will be activated]

Open RegEdit [start > run > "regedit"] and navigate to :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\

Under "Explorer" subkey, this "DWORD" value can be created :

1. NoDeletePrinter : Disables Deletion of Printers
   
2. NoAddPrinter : Disables Addition of Printers
   
3. NoRun : Disables Run Command
   
4. NoSetFolders : Removes Folders from Settings on Start Menu
   
5. NoSetTaskbar : Removes Taskbar from Settings on Start Menu
   
6. NoFind : Removes the Find Command
   
7. NoDrives : Hides Drives in My Computers
   
8. NoNetHood : Hides the Network Neighborhood
   
9. NoDesktop : Hides all icons on the Desktop
   
10. NoLogoff : Hides the Log Off in the Start Menu
    
11. NoRecentDocsMenu : Hides the Documents shortcut at the Start button
    
12. DisableRegistryTools : Disable Registry Editing Tools
    
13. NoChangeStartMenu : Disables changes to the Start Menu
    
14. NoFileMenu : Hides the Files Menu in Explorer
    
15. NoActiveDesktop : No Active Desktop
    
16. NoFolderOptions : Hides the Folder Options in the Explorer
    
17. ClearRecentDocsOnExit : Empty the recent Docs folder on reboot
    
18. NoActiveDesktopChanges : No changes allowed
    
19. NoInternetIcon : No Internet Explorer Icon on the Desktop
    
20. NoFavoritesMenu : Hides the Favorites menu
    
21. NoClose : Disables Shutdown
    
22. NoRecentDocsHistory: Clears history of Documents
    
23. NoSaveSettings : Don't save settings on exit
    
24. NoControlPanel :Hide the control panel visibility
    
25. NoCDBurning : Disable Cd burning

Under " System" subkey, this "DWORD" value can be created :

1. NoDispCPL : Disable Display Control Panel
   
2. NoPwdPage : Hide Password Change Page
   
3. NoDispScrSavPage : Hide Screen Saver Page
   
4. NoDispBackgroundPage : Hide Background Page
   
5. NoSecCPL : Disable Password Control Panel
   
6. NoDispAppearancePage : Hide Appearance Page
   
7. NoDispSettingsPage : Hide Settings Page
   
8. NoDevMgrPage : Hide Device Manager Page
   
9. NoConfigPage : Hide Hardware Profiles Page
   
10. NoVirtMemPage : Hide Virtual Memory Button
    
11. NoAdminPage : Hide Remote Administration Page
    
12. NoProfilePage : Hide User Profiles Page
    
13. NoFileSysPage : Hide File System Button

Alternatively, if you want to create a string or edit it without opening Registry Editor, you can just fire up these string in the "run box" :

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\

Policies\Explorer /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

This can be more easier for you to add or change the value in the Registry Editor. In a long explanation :

• REG ADD : adding a registry value
  
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer : It will navigate through this value
  
• /v DisableRegistryTools : It will create a value named "DisableRegistryTool". This can be change to your desired value that you want to create.
  
• /t REG_DWORD : And the value created is a "DWORD" value type
  
• 0 : The boolean is set to "0" [off]. "1" = [on]
  
• /f : The data will be force overwritten without any
  

Create Your Own Password Protected Folder

Ever had a situation where you want to keep your file secretly. Avoid others from accessing your private data by your own application! Write the codes by yourself. In today how2.0 tutorial, i'll teach you a simple batch [*.bat] file programming, using only your notepad. This program runs under command prompt "CMD". Maybe it's too advance to learn this before you know about the basic of batch [*.bat] file itself. But nevermind, i'll explain the codes for your understanding. Yeah, lets rock the codes!! Here it is :

Step 1
Firstly, i'll explain about the method used in this batch [*.bat] program.

1st method :
Here, we'll use an unique method to create a folder that seen as "control panel". Magic? Yeah. This unique string : Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} ,represent as "control panel" folder. So, if you rename any folder using this string, it will become a "control panel" but actually that is your folder. The is many more unique string such as:

• Internet Explorer.{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
  
• Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
  
• My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
  
• My Documents.{ECF03A32-103D-11d2-854D-006008059367}
  
• Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

You can change the middle string such as, "MyOwnFolder.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}". The folder will appear as "control panel" icon, named "MyOwnFolder", but you will also redirected to control panel folder. Thats means, your folder cannot be accessed as usual. The data inside the folder will remain safety.

2nd method :
We'll change the folder attributes to "system files attribute" and "hidden files attribute" by using "attrib" method that i've explain in my last post. [attrib x:/filename +s +h]

Step 2
Copy & Paste these codes into your notepad [start > run > "notepad"]. These codes combine the two method i've mention above to secure your folder.

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Passworder [Beta Test] by zXara
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== password goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End

[explanation]

1. @ECHO OFF <<- the programs header
   
2. title Folder Passworder [Beta Test] by zXara <<- your program title
   
3. if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK <<- tell CMD to go to :UNLOCK path it the folder "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" is exist
   
4. if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER <<- tell the CMD to go to :MDLOCKER path if the folder "Locker" does'nt exist
   
5. :CONFIRM <<- Command path
   
6. echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N) <<- tell CMD to print out text "Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)" on the screen
   
7. set/p "cho=>" <<- Choice selection
   
8. if %cho%==Y goto LOCK <<- tell CMD to go to :LOCK path if key Y was pressed
   
9. if %cho%==y goto LOCK <<- tell CMD to go to :LOCK path if key y was pressed
   
10. if %cho%==n goto END <<- tell CMD to go to :LOCK path if key n was pressed
    
11. if %cho%==N goto END <<- tell CMD to go to :LOCK path if key N was pressed
    
12. echo Invalid choice. <<- tell CMD to print out text "Invalid choice" on the screen
    
13. goto CONFIRM <<- tell CMD to go to :CONFIRM path
    
14. :LOCK <<- Command path
    
15. ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" <<-CMD will rename the "locker" folder to "control panel"
    
16. attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" <<- CMD will add "system" & "hidden" file attribute to the folder
    
17. echo Folder locked <<- tell CMD to print out text "Folder locked" on the screen
    
18. goto End <<- tell the CMD to go to :UNLOCK path
    
19. :UNLOCK <<-Command path
    
20. echo Enter password to Unlock folder <<- tell CMD to print out text "Enter password to Unlock folder" on the screen
    
21. set/p "pass=>" <<- Choice selection
    
22. if NOT %pass%== password goto FAIL <<-here it is, if the password is not "password", CMD will move to :FAIL path
    
23. attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" <<- CMD will remove "system" & "hidden" file attribute to the folder
    
24. ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker <<-CMD will rename the "control panel" folder to "locker"
    
25. echo Folder Unlocked successfully <<- tell CMD to print out text "Folder Unlocked successfully " on the screen
    
26. goto End< <- tell CMD to go to :END path
    
27. :FAIL <<- Command path
    
28. echo Invalid password <<- tell CMD to print out text "Invalid password" on the screen
    
29. goto END <<- tell the CMD to go to :ENDpath
    
30. :MDLOCKER <<- Command path
    
31. md Locker <<- CDM will create "locker" folder
    
32. echo Locker created successfully <<- tell CMD to print out text "Locker created successfully" on the screen
    
33. goto END <<- tell the CMD to go to :END path
    
34. :END <<- Command path

What a long explanation is'nt it.. huh.. I also burn my finger typing these post.. Hehe.. but it's my pleasure to share my knowledge with you all. :)
Ok, By simple explanation, you must change the "password" in line 22 to your own password. You can also change the title name in the 2nd line to your own. Hope you can find this tutorial useful, and, good luck coders :)

Step 3
Now you can save your file as anyfileneme.bat . You can put any name that you want as long as you keep the extension as *.bat. Now you can put your secret data inside the "locker" folder.

note that AVG will detect these commands as a HackTool. So, Make sure u make an exception list for this file to AVG. This why I hate AVG so much ~ daa

Attrib command ( Change attributes of a file or folder)

Displays, sets, or removes attributes assigned to files or directories. If used without parameters, attrib displays attributes of all files in the current directory.

Syntax

attrib [{+|-}r] [{+|-}a] [{+|-}s] [{+|-}h] [{+|-}i] [:][][] [/s [/d] [/l]]

Parameters

Parameter	Description
{+|-}r	Sets (+) or clears (-) the Read-only file attribute.
{+|-}a	Sets (+) or clears (-) the Archive file attribute.
{+|-}s	Sets (+) or clears (-) the System file attribute.
{+|-}h	Sets (+) or clears (-) the Hidden file attribute.
{+|-}i	Sets (+) or clears (-) the Not Content Indexed file attribute.
[:][][]	Specifies the location and name of the directory, file, or group of files for which you want to display or change attributes. You can use the ? and * wildcard characters in the FileName parameter to display or change the attributes for a group of files.
/s	Applies attrib and any command-line options to matching files in the current directory and all of its subdirectories.
/d	Applies attrib and any command-line options to directories.
/l	Applies attrib and any command-line options to the Symbolic Link, rather than the target of the Symbolic Link.
/?	Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

• You can use wildcard characters (? and *) with the FileName parameter to display or change the attributes for a group of files.
  
• If a file has the System (s) or Hidden (h) attribute set, you must clear the attribute before you can change any other attributes for that file.
  
• The Archive attribute (a) marks files that have changed since the last time they were backed up. Note that the xcopycommand uses archive attributes.
  

Examples

To display the attributes of a file named News86 that is located in the current directory, type:

attrib news86 

To assign the Read-only attribute to the file named Report.txt, type:

attrib +r report.txt 

To remove the Read-only attribute from files in the Public directory and its subdirectories on a disk in drive B, type:

attrib -r b:\public\*.* /s 

To set the Archive attribute for all files on drive A, and then clear the Archive attribute for files with the .bak extension, type:

attrib +a a:*.* & attrib -a a:*.bak 

With (native) Windows NT 4+ commands:

    NET LOCALGROUP Administrators

Or, to remove header and footer lines:

   FOR /F "delims=[]" %%A IN ('NET LOCALGROUP Administrators ˆ| FIND /N "----"') DO SET HeaderLines=%%A
   FOR /F "tokens=*"  %%A IN ('NET LOCALGROUP Administrators') DO SET FooterLine=%%A
   NET LOCALGROUP Administrators | MORE /E +%HeaderLines% | FIND /V "%FooterLine%"

Inventory drivers on any PC

With (native) Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2003 commands:

    DRIVERQUERY /V /FO CSV > %ComputerName%.csv

Or, for remote computers:

    DRIVERQUERY /S remote_PC /V /FO CSV > remote_PC.csv