network monitoring software WhatsUpGold

June 26, 2009
network monitoring software/
WhatsUp Gold - Network Monitoring Utility

WhatsUp Gold network management software monitors over 100,000 networks worldwide. At Ipswitch we’ve been dedicated to IT managers for over 15 years and listen to our customer’s network needs.

We strive to simplify your complex networks with easy to understand network management products coupled with excellent support from our own network engineers.

Description
===========
WhatsUp Gold monitors vital network elements and system
services and generates an alarm when there is a problem.
It also facilitates remote support and diagnosis by
providing beeper, pager, e-mail, and voice notifications
and allowing users to view the status of a network map
from a Web browser.

Designed for PCs operating with Windows NT 4.0 or later,
Windows 2000, 98, 95, Me, WhatsUp Gold can be installed
wherever needed and does not require expensive,
dedicated hardware. It will run in the background on your
PC. WhatsUp Gold will work with any 32-bit TCP/IP stack,
such as those bundled with Windows NT and Windows. You
can configure WhatsUp Gold and start monitoring your
network without any special training.


New Features (WhatsUp Gold 6.0x)
===============================
- Web Interface now allows web security per map.
- Updated User Interface - toolbars, icons and dialogs made
more user friendly and intuitive.
- Modified menu layout and context menus.
- Map Improvements: Maps are now vector-based graphics that allow
snap-to-grids, zoom in and out, and the ability to resize maps
independently. Map properties now have unlimited color choices.
- Log Improvements: Improved the log file display to allow
filtering, printing, saving and copying. Also improved the
management of the log file size.
- Customizable notification plug-in system
- Added an SNMP Viewer tool that lets you quickly view the status
of interfaces on an SNMP device.
- Performance Reports now allow on-demand reporting, and the ability
to generate an hourly performance report.
- Added a tool to receive syslog messages.

Installation
============
NOTE: To view performance graphs with WhatsUp Gold, you must
have the ODBC32.dll installed. (If you have Office 97/98/00
or Windows 2000 it is already installed.)

To install or upgrade WhatsUp Gold:
- If you purchased a WhatsUp Gold CD-ROM, insert the CD-ROM.
If it does not run automatically, click Start, select Run,
and then enter the CD path followed by Autorun.exe.
For example, d:Autorun.exe
- If you downloaded WhatsUp Gold from our web site, run the
downloaded application, wugoldec.exe.




Upgrading
=========
If you are upgrading from a previous version of WhatsUp
Gold or WhatsUp, you should note the following:
-- Back up any network maps (.db for WhatsUp and .wup for
WhatsUp Gold). (When you open a .db file in WhatsUp Gold,
the file is automatically converted to the .wup format
and saved with a .wup extension.)
-- Back up your SERVICES.INI and HOSTTYPES.INI files.
During installation, WhatsUp Gold will ask if you want
to overwrite your old SERVICES.INI and HOSTTYPES.INI
files; answer No.
-- Be sure that WhatsUp Gold has completely shut down
before doing an upgrade installation. If you exit
WhatsUp Gold during a poll, it may take up to 30 seconds
for WhatsUp Gold to remove itself from memory. If you
press Ctrl+Alt+Del, WhatsUp Gold will remain in the Windows
task list until it is removed from memory.
-- Defined notifications are stored in a file named
IPNOTIFY.INI in your Windows or NT directory.
This file is shared by other Ipswitch products and is
therefore not deleted or replaced when you upgrade.



Download here

Official Ways to Disable or Manually Uninstall the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications from Microsoft

Official Ways to Disable or Manually Uninstall the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications from Microsoft

June 22, 2009

has released step-by-step removal instructions to disable or manually uninstall pilot or pre-release version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Notifications (KB905474) which is versions that range from 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2, although the instructions can also be used to uninstall the updated release and general release of the anti-piracy tool, but it will not be supported. Instead, Microsoft recommends to install general release of WGA Notifications (1.5.0540.0) to replace and uninstall the pre-release version during the pilot program.



If you uninstall or WGA Notifications component in your Windows computer which is part of the Windows Genuine Advantage program, Microsoft will offer the general release version of WGA Notifications at a later date (actually is immediately if you check for updates via Windows Update) through the Microsoft Automatic Update service or Windows / Microsoft Update service. So you must unselect the updates or reject the EULA when asked to install again. Microsoft instructions can be found here, or listed below.

Disable WGA Notifications

  1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrative permissions.
  2. Make sure that the WGA Notifications version that exists on the computer is a pilot version listed above. The version format for the pilot version is 1.5.0532.x. In this case, you can uninstall versions 527-532 only (Note: the steps should disable other version of WGA Notifications too). To find the WGA Notifications version, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Add or uninstall Programs, locate and then click Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, and then click Click here for support information.
    3. In the Support Info dialog box, verify the version number, and then click Close.
  3. Rename the following files by changing the extension to .old:

Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll to %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.old

Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe to %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old

  1. Restart the computer.

Uninstall WGA Notifications Manually

  1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrative permissions.
  2. Make sure that the WGA Notifications version that exists on the computer is a pilot version that range from 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2 (Note: other versions should works too). To find the WGA Notifications version, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Add or uninstall Programs, locate and then click Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, and then click Click here for support information.
    3. In the Support Info dialog box, verify the version number, and then click Close.
  3. Rename the following files by changing the extension to .old:

Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll to %Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.old

Rename %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe to %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old

  1. Restart the computer.
  2. Unregister LegitCheckControl.dll by using Regsvr32 with these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    2. At the command prompt, type the following, and then press ENTER:

Regsvr32 %Windir%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll /u

  1. Restart the computer.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
  3. At the command prompt, delete the following files by typing the Del command and follow by pressing ENTER after you type each command.

Del %Windir%\system32\wgalogon.dll

Del %Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe

Del %Windir%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll

  1. At the command prompt, type regedit.
  2. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkeys. Click Delete after you locate each subkey.
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\WgaLogon
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\WgaLogon
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\removeremove\WgaNotify
Restart the computer
Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen

Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen

June 22, 2009

This page has been updated, visit the new article on how to bypass and disable the WGA or way to make your Windows genuine permanently.

Microsoft has released WGA Notifications application which effectively turned Microsoft Windows operating system into a ‘nagware’, with a “This copy of Windows is not genuine” warning. What the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application does what it will check your Microsoft Windows XP validity. If it found that the copy of Windows XP is not validated, not genuine, counterfeit, unlicensed, pirated, illegal, unauthorised or simply failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, then the notification messages will appear at various places and time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purpose only, as most information is found on various part of Internet. Readers should contacts Microsoft if their licensed or OEM software cannot be validated or purchase genuine software.

When you log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, the following notification error message “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will pop-up on the logon process:


And the nicely said “You may be a victim of software counterfeiting” message on the bottom right corner of log-in screen:


Microsoft allows Windows faithfuls to have 2 options: Get Genuine or Resolve Later. Click on Resolve Later will temporarily bypass the notification and let you login into and use Windows nagged with notification icon and messages, which will randomly appear as balloon notification message with an icon in the notification area (system tray).


Clicking on the balloon notification or the notification area icon will lead you to the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Failure Web page that contains the specifics of the validation failure and the steps that you can take to make the operating system genuine.

To get rid of the WGA notifications that intends to remind you that your Windows is not validated, you can buy a validly licensed copy of genuine Microsoft Windows.

Update: Bypass WGA Validation with Crack or Hack and Disable WGA Notifications Warning Message Workarounds

Latest Version: 1.5.554.0 on October 2006 (distribute to some computers with no known roll-out pattern), 1.5.708.0 on September 2006 (distribute to whoever wants to download from Microsoft Download Center), 1.5.540.0 on 28th June 2006, 1.5.532.2 on 6th June 2006, 1.5.532.0 on 30th May 2006, 1.5.530.0 on 23rd May 2006, 1.5.526.0 on 26th April 2006.

More information on WGA Validation Tool (KB892130) and WGA Notifications (KB905474) which install LegitCheckControl.dll, WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe.

With new release of WGA, some methods no longer works, and some has been updated. Several methods that has certain success on certain people, you may try until you success.


First Method

  1. Lauch Windows Task Manager.
  2. End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
  3. Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
  4. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
  5. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
  6. Lauch RegEdit.
  7. Browse to the following location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
  8. Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
  9. Reboot Windows XP.

Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA Notifications again which can still be unselected.

Second Method

Another alternative suggested by dman is by using System Restore to restore the PC to a previous restore point that WGA Notifications hasn’t kicked in, and then carefully stop KB905474 from been applied to the system. To use System Restore, go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.

Note: Again, you may be prompted again to install WGA Notification, so it must be bypassed.

Third Method updated

This method involves using a cracked version of LegitCheckControl.dll to replace the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll, and thus bypass the WGA validation and make Microsoft believes that your copy of Windows is genuine. To get rid of WGA Notifications warning messages, the patched version of WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe to replace the existing files.

To apply the patch by replacing the files manually, try to end the respective processes in the Task Manager before deleting the existing files. Most likely is you will have to restart your PC in Safe Mode in order to replacing the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll and related files. However, there has been automatic updater and even cracked WGA installer that automatically apply the patched version of WGA files.

How to Find and Change Windows Product Key and Registration Information

How to Find and Change Windows Product Key and Registration Information

June 22, 2009
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is freeware utility by which you can you do the following:
Find your Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Windows Vista product keys.
Find your Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Windows Vista registration information.
Change your Windows 95, 98, ME, and XP product key. (Windows 2000, 2003, NT4 and Vista supported)
Change your windows registration information.
Find your Microsoft Office 97, Office XP, and Office 2003 installation key. (Office 2000 not supported).

The screenshots provided below illustrate the process of changing your windows product key and registration information.


Is this software legal?
Yes this legal because Microsoft itself has knowledge base article which describes how to change your windows key and provides the script for this process. This freeware utility utilizes those scripts.

You can download this freeware (File Size: 260Kb):Download 1
Download 2

Disclaimer:
Certain antivirus software like Mcafee and Nod32 consider this file as spyware and delete it, but this file is absolutely harmless you can go ahead and try it.

XP expires

XP expires

June 18, 2009

To reduce instances of "casual copying" (a nice name for software piracy), Microsoft has implemented a two-stage antipiracy scheme in its upcoming OS. The first stage is the installation and registration counter: this lets you install Windows XP only five times on the same system. (Note that you'll be able to install the final version of XP on only one machine, as opposed to the current beta, which can be installed on five machines for testing purposes.) The second stage creates a profile of the system to prevent you from reinstalling or registering the OS on different PCs.

To make this scheme work, you must activate your copy of Windows--over the Internet or by calling for an activation code--within 30 days of installation. Activation differs from a classic registration process in that no personal information is requested by or sent to Microsoft, just a record that a specific copy of Windows XP is installed on your specific PC. If you fail to activate your copy of the OS within 30 days, your login will fail. (Since XP is based on Windows NT-like privilege levels, you can't use your computer until you log on.)

Microsoft says the scheme should not prevent you from reinstalling your copy of XP on your PC as many times as you need to, as long as it's the same PC or close to it, allowing for some hardware changes. It's the "some" that has most folks worried. In theory, you might have to reactivate your OS if you upgrade significantly or swap out a lot of components because XP might think it's running on a new PC. So far, Microsoft isn't saying what system information the OS uses to determine the "same PC or close to it" status. That means we don't know to what degree you can upgrade your hardware before you cross the invisible line. We also don't know how much, if any, personally identifiable data Microsoft is gathering from your PC.

Microsoft says you can, of course, change at least one and possibly several hardware components--RAM, video or sound cards, CPUs, motherboards, and so on--without having to reactivate your OS. But if you try to reinstall your copy of Windows XP on what Microsoft calls a "different or significantly upgraded or changed PC" (again, the company declined to specify how different), the activation will most likely be rejected, requiring you to call Microsoft to explain and get a new (free) activation code.

Microsoft plans to set up a new call center for U.S.-based customers to expedite activation issues. Many non-U.S. customers will likely have to go through the existing, shared Microsoft technical support lines they currently use. Microsoft says it expects only 2 percent of the total installed base of Windows XP to have to reactivate the OS. Whether the anti-piracy initiative will present problems for consumers or result in fewer upgrades to XP remains to be seen. Remember, the final release is at least a few months off.

Automated System Recovery

Automated System Recovery

June 18, 2009
This tip will attempt to show you how to set up and use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP.
ASR is a two–part system of recovery:
1.ASR backup
2.ASR restore.
You should make Automated System Recovery (ASR) sets regularly as part of your plan for system recovery in case of it failing.
IMPORTANT: ASR should be a last resort for system recovery, it should be used only after every other option has been exhausted, such as Safe Mode Boot and Last Known Good Configuration.
1. ACCOMPLISHING THE ASR BACKUP
The backup part uses the ASR Wizard located in Backup to complete this task. The wizard backs up:
the system state
system services
and all disks associated with the operating system components.
It also creates a file containing:
information about the backup
the disk configurations (including basic and dynamic volumes)
and how to accomplish a restore.
HERE'S HOW TO CREATE AN ASR SET USING BACKUP
1.You will need a blank floppy disk to save your system settings and media to contain the backup files.
2.To open Backup. Click Start-->All Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->then click Backup. The Backup Utility Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled.
3.Click the Advanced Mode button in the Backup Utility Wizard.
4.On the Tools menu-->click ASR Wizard.
5.Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
IMPORTANT: Only those system files necessary for starting your system will be backed up using the Backup Utility Wizare.
HOW DOES ASR WORK?
You can get to the restore portion by pressing F2 when prompted in the text–mode portion of setup. Automated System Recovery will read the disk configurations from the file that it creates and restore all of the disk signatures, volumes and partitions necessary, so that, at least, you'll be able to start the computer. Although, under some circumstances, it might not be able to restore all of the disk configurations. ASR then installs a simple installation of Windows and automatically starts restoring using the backup that was created by the Wizard.
RECOVERING FROM A SYSTEM CRASH USING ASR
Here's how:
1.Make sure you have the following items before you begin:
Your previously created Automated System Recovery (ASR) floppy disk.
Your previously created backup media.
The original Windows XP installation CD.
2.Insert the Windows XP installation CD into your CD/DVD drive.
3.Restart your PC. If prompted to press a particular key in order to start the computer from CD, do so.
4.Press F2 when prompted during the text–only mode section of Setup. You will be prompted to insert the ASR floppy disk you have previously created.
5.Follow the directions on the screen.
Important To Remember:
ASR will not put back your data files.
McAfee Command Line Tool for removing Virus

McAfee Command Line Tool for removing Virus

June 18, 2009
Follow the steps to clean Virus:

1) Click Here to Download a File (Download) (OR) Go to the following link
http://www.mcafee.com/apps/downloads/security_updates/superdat.asp?region=us&segment=enterprise
I. Select SDAT tab
II. Click on sdat5598.exe and save the file
NOTE: Verify that the file should be more than 100MB
2) Create a folder SDAT at c:\
3) Copy the file into SDAT folder.
4) Turn off System Restore on All Drives.
I. To turn off System Restore Do the Following.
II. Right Click on My Computer icon on Desktop Select Properties.
III. Select System Restore tab, put a click on Check box and click ok
5) Reboot the System and Press F2/F8/ or whatever your computer document suggest when the POST begins but before Windows start.
6) Select Safe Mode and allow the system to boot in Safe Mode.
7) Click START Select Run and type CMD to get Command Console.
8) Type cd \SDAT.
9) Type sdat5598.exe /e at command console .
10) This Command will Extract 19 files.
11) After Extracting all files Type "scan /adl /all /clean" Command.
12) This Will Clean virus from your system.
13) After Completing scanning restart your computer Normal Mode.
14) Turn on System Restore point (For this user Point 4)
System Restore Window