Useful Microsoft Fix it .

Here are some useful microsoft fix it which will be useful for our day today computer operating system related issue. For most of the issue we face in microsoft operating system can be fixed in no time with help of microsoft fix it, which is why microsoft always stands at the top with most users around the world.

Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks.

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/system_maintenance_for_windows/

Your CD or DVD drive can't read or write media.

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems/



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Automatically diagnose and fix common problems with Windows Update

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/

Hardware devices are not working or are not detected in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/hardware_device_problems/

The Internet Explorer icon is missing from your desktop

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945402/

Diagnose and fix program installing and uninstalling problems automatically

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall/

Diagnose and fix Windows Firewall service problems automatically

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_firewall_diagnostic/

Improve performance, safety and security in Internet Explorer

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/ie_performance_and_safety/

Diagnose and repair sound playback problems automatically

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/AudioPlayback/

After I install Windows Internet Explorer 7 on a computer that is running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, a "Restore My Active Desktop" button appears on the desktop

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929200/

How do I restore the Windows Sidebar?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/963010/

A new window opened in Internet Explorer displays a blank white page

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902932/

How do I make the Recycle Bin appear on my desktop in Windows Vista or in Windows XP?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810869/

After you upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, hyperlinks do not work in Outlook Express

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929867/

When you run an .exe file on a Windows Vista-based or Windows 7-based computer, the file may start a different program

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505/

The Above links are refrence from support.microsoft.com/fixit/   for more information vist microsoft.com

How to reset the Hosts file back to the default?

To reset the Hosts file back to the default, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type %systemroot% \system32\drivers\etc, and then click OK.
   
   Note If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, type %systemroot% \SysWOW64\drivers\etc.
2. Rename the Hosts file to Hosts.old.
3. Create a new default hosts file. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click an open space in the %WinDir%\System32\Drivers\Etc folder, point to New, click Text Document, type hosts, and then press Enter.
2. Click Yes to confirm that the file name extension will not be .txt.
3. Open the new Hosts file in a text editor. For example, open the file in Notepad.
4. Copy the following text to the file:
   
   For Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003

   # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
   #
   # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
   #
   # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
   # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
   # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
   # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
   # space.
   #
   # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
   # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
   #
   # For example:
   #
   #      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
   #       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host
   
   127.0.0.1       localhost

   For Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008

   # Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
   #
   # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
   #
   # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
   # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
   # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
   # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
   # space.
   #
   # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
   # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
   #
   # For example:
   #
   #      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
   #       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host
   
   127.0.0.1       localhost
   ::1             localhost

   For Windows 7

   # Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
   #
   # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
   #
   # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
   # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
   # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
   # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
   # space.
   #
   # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
   # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
   #
   # For example:
   #
   #      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
   #       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host
   
   # localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.
   #       127.0.0.1       localhost
   #       ::1             localhost

5. Save and then close the file.

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In order to make this whole thing simpler Microsoft came with a option called Fix it ,Which does these above job in 3 to 4 clicks .Go to  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034 

Click the Microsoft Fix it button and follow the install wizard  and your host file is now replaced with the Default one.

What is Wifi security and why it is secured ?

Wifi stands for Wireless Fidelity.Most of the people rush through while setting up their wifi connection without thinking about the security of their wifi connection.It is quite understandable that they want to connect to Internet as quickly as possible and Moreover securing a wifi network is a bit tricky for most of the people so they give up their hopes quite early and leave their wifi network unsecured.Their are several loopholes through which your unsecured wireless connection can be easily hacked.So ,In this post you will know how to secure your wifi network with simple steps.

If your wireless network has been hacked or accessed by somebody else then it may lead to complete usage of your data if you have a limited data plan or worse it may lead to extra charges on you.Even if you have unlimited data plan then also you will get less speed if your wifi has been hacked.

The step by step  guide given below summarize all the necessary steps you should take for securing your wifi network.

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1. Change Default Administrator Passwords (and Usernames)

Whenever you purchase a new moden or new connection then you are required to configure your modem.The modem configuration page can be accessed by entering a username and password for protecting it from unauthorized access.By default the usernames that most of the modem companies use are adminor administrator and the default password that is used is password,public,admin or some other simple word.So change your usename and password as soon as you setup your modem because these username and password combinations are known by most of the hacker .

2. Turn on (Compatible) WPA / WEP Encryption

Most of the modern modems allows both wpa and wep for securing your wifi.Applying these keys will not only encrypt your wifi network connection but it will also apply authentication .So,you should select the strongest encryption to secure your wifi network.

3. Enable MAC Address Filtering

Mac addresses are also known as  physical address of a computer.Mac address is unique address of a computer and it is static and cannot be changed.So,your router can be configured to connect to only to those devices whose MAC address match to the home devices.It will secure your wifi connection by just allowing the home devices to connect to it.

4. Enable Firewalls On Each Computer and the Router

Most of the modern routers come with a inbuilt firewall capability to secure your wifi network.Make sure that your router firewall is turned on if your router has one.On the other hand you can also use firewall in your computers.They provide an extra and a strong layer of protection to secure your wifi connection from hackers or network attackers.

5. Position the Router or Access Point Safely

A small leakage of wifi signal from home to the outside cannot be stopped but the leakage of the signal can be minised to a greater extent by just changing the direction of your antenna of the router.Never place your router near windows instead try to place it in the center of the house.You will get best quality of wifi signal through out home with less leakage of wifi signal to the outer world.

6. Turn Off the Network During Extended Periods of Non-Use

Turn of the router when it is not used.It will secure your wifi connection by giving out less access  time to hackers to your wifi network and it will be difficult for them to hack in short period of time.Moreover it will be saving your electricity which will be a secondary advantage for you.

How to make portable version of any software you like.

Now a days almost everybody  carries a pendrive whether he is a IT professional or a home User.There are a lot of softwares that you want to carry with you so that you can open them anywhere without any installations.Here isthe solution to create a portable version of any software.Moreover you can also create a package of software.

Consider you love using opera browser and addicted to its user interface.You can create the portable version of opera with java and flash already installed in the opera.So you are not creating a portable version of your favourite browser instead you are creating a portable executable package file that has opera with flash and java already installed in it.

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Your Opera Package= Opera Browser+Java+Flash+Addons

You can create a portable package of your choice of softwares.

Here is the complete step by step video tutorial  to  Make Portable Version Of any Software Using Cameyo

1. Download the Cameyo software.Its completely free.

http://download.cnet.com/Cameyo-Application-Virtualization/3000-18514_4-75212702.html?part=dl-10092223&subj=dl&tag=button

2.Install the software.

3.Now Click on Start->Cameyo->Caputre Software Installation

4.Intstall the software into your system whose portable version you want to create.

5.After Complete installation of the software click on the Install Done of the cameyo screen.

6.Now it will create a portable version of your installed software which you can carry and run anywhere without any installation.

What is Adware

Adwares are the advertisements that popup in your computer screen in .These are different from viruses and malwares becuase most of the times it is installed with the user’s consent.If an adware is installed on your computer it will provide monetary gains to the publisher moreover these adware can automatically install keyloggers or other harmful softwares without the consent of the user which can send credit card details or other private information.

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How To Detect An Adware

• If you get popup windows when your browser is not open then your computer may have an adware installed.
• If your are automatically redirected while visting websites then you may be infected by an adware.
• If your homepage is changed then you may be infected.
• If some programs startup automatically then you may be infected with an adware.
• If your computer is running slow then this may be due to adwares installed in your computer.

How Does An Adware Work

Adwares are usually installed while surfing websites or while installing softwares.They are installed most of the time with user’s consent.So,always try to avoid softwares that install browser toolbars.Once an adware is installed in your computer it can download keylogger or viruses from the internet and steal you important or private information that can be misused.

How To Fight/Remove Adware

The best way to protect your computer from adwares is to always run a firewall.A firewall will automatically block suspicious incoming and outgoing connections and would not allow the adwares to install keyloggers and other spying softwares.It is very difficult to detect and uninstall adwares manually and there are very good free adware removal tools available .Some of the best are listed below

• AdAware
• SpyBot Search and Destroy

I recommend you to run any of these softwares in conjuction with your antivirus for extra protection.

How To Download Youtube Videos or any other online videos Without Any Tools

Have you ever liked a video shared by your friend on facebook and wanted to download it…Well this this tutorial is not only for facebook or youtube instead it can be used for any video streaming website like metacafe,dailymotion,veoh or yahoo videos.There are websites on the internet that will convert your video link into a download link but it has the following drawback

• If you already watched the whole video and then you decide to download it to your computer it will take double time becuase you already have spent time watching it and now have to spend time downloading it to your hardrive.
• Moreover, the download speeds are very slow and its very irritating to download the whole video again.
  
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But if you have already played the whole video on the site then there is no need to waste the time on downloading it again.We simply have to locate the cache folder of the browser as when the video is streamed it is automatically saved in the cache folder and just have to copy paste the video file from cache folder to your desired location in your computer.

Before reading this tutorial make sure that you have uncheck the hide files and folders box.

Here is the step by step tutorial with screenshots on how you can locate the cache folder for various browsers in various operating systems

Case 1:Google Chrome

For windows Vista and Windows 7

If you use google chrome in windows vista or windows 7 then here is the location of the cache folder

C:\Users\USER_NAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\UserData\Default\Cache

C, being the system root. If you are not sure about the system root you can replace C: with %systemroot%.

Also donot forget to replace USER_NAME to your windows username

For Windows Xp Users

In windows Xp the google chrome cache folder can be found at

C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome

CASE 2:Mozilla Firefox

For Windows 7 and Windows Vista

The temporary cache folder can be located at

C:\Users\USER_NAME \AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

For Window Xp Users

The temporary cache folder can be located at

C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME \Local Settings\Application Data

CASE 3:Internet Explorer

In case of Internet Explorer you need to go to Tools>Internet Options and then in Genreal tab click on Settings button

A new window will popup in front of you now click on View Files button.

How To Find Your Video In Cache Folder

Once you have found the cache folder of your browser the next thing you have to do is locate your video file.To do this arrange the files of the folder according to their size because video files are usually large in size.Open the largest files with Vlc player.Once you have found your video just copy it to your desired location.

Note:There are usually Some data files with names like data_1 in cache folder.Donot open them with Vlc open the rest of the files with Vlc and you will easily find your video.

Note:Make sure that you replace the USER_NAME with your windows username in the above addresses

Search an image in Google by uploading it

Google the pioneer search engine giant keeps on rolling new and innovative features.They have now launched Search by Images.If you have an image and you want to get more information about it or you want a similar image but with high resolution then google Images will help you out.In search by images you give an image as a search query and google will give search results with images that similar to query image as well as text results of websites that have been using that image.

There are also some special Google search techniques.You can read about them by clicking here

How To Use Search By images?

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• Go to Google Images by clicking here
• Google has been still rolling this feature.You could only use search by images if you see a camera icon in the search query box

You can use search by images by four methods

• Drag and Drop:You can directly drag and drop an image in the query box from your computer or a website.
• Copy Image Url: If you have Url of image, you have to click on the Camera icon in the query box and then paste the Url in the new popup query box.
• Upload the Image:To upload an image click on Camera icon in query box and then select Upload an image
• Browser Extension:If you have to use regularly Search By images feature then you can can download extension for google chrome and firefox browsers.

Download Search by Images extension for Google Chrome

Download Search By Images extension for Firefox

After installing these extension in your browsers you can simply right click on any image and use search by images feature.