How to Create an Invisible Folder

Yes it is possible to create an invisible folder.Note that this is not the same as Hiding a folder.

Now to Create an Invisible Folder follow the following simple steps:


First create a normal folder and then we will learn how to make it invisible.

Now make a right click on the folder and select 'Rename' Option from the mouse menu.

Now press backspace to remove the default name(' New Folder') of the folder.

Now press hold the ALT key and along with it press the digit 9 from the number Keypad (only) eight times.

Now you will get a nameless folder.Actually pressing ALT with 9 for eight times creates a space which cannot be seen.

Now Right click on nameless folder and select 'Properties' from mouse menu. Next in properties dialog box click on 'Customize' option.

Click on 'Select Icon' (in the lower part of box) option and a new icon window will open.

Now from icon window select the icon which is an empty blank square with no border probably located in the 14th column of 1st row and 13th column of second,third and fourth row. Select any one of them. Now Save and apply the changes and Refresh, and you have an invisible folder.

Note : This has been tested in Windows XP and might not work on other Operating Systems.

How to Hide a Disk Drive

There are two tested methods to hide a Disk drive.

The first method is for people who are familiar with Windows Registry.But if you are not comfortable in manipulating Registry then it is advised to follow the second method.

First method to hide a Disk Drive:

Click on 'Start' and then click on 'Run' and then type 'regedit' in the box and click on OK.

Registry Editor will open. Now navigate to:

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

Now from the Menu bar of Registry Editor click on 'Edit' and then 'New' and select DWORD Value.

Now Rename the DWORD Value to 'NoDrives'.

Now Right Click on 'NoDrives' and Select 'Modify' , now Check 'Decmial' Option under Base.By Default Hexadecimal is selected and enter the Decimal value (under Value Data) of the Drive you would like to hide.

The list of decimal values of drive is given below:

Drive Letter	Decimal Value
A	1
B	2
C	4
D	8
E	16
F	32
G	64
H	128
I	256

Click OK once finished and then Restart your PC.

The Drive which you have hidden will not be displayed.

Summary : Hiding your Disk Drive:

1) Click Start.
2) Click Run.
3) Type 'regedit' in the Box.
4) Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Policies\
5) Explorer.
6) From Registry Editor Menu Bar 'Edit' -> 'New' -> 'DWORD Value'.
7) Rename DWORD Value to 'NoDrives'.
8) Right click on NoDrives -> Modify -> Select 'Decimal' Option -> Put Decimal Value of Drive.
9) Click OK.

Second Method : This is a risk free method and will hide the drive instantly without any need to reboot.

Click on Start and then on Run and type in 'diskpart' in the box below:

A command prompt screen will appear.Now type 'list volume'.

It will look like this:

DISKPART> list volume

On Pressing ENTER you will see details about all the volumes.

Now type 'select disk 0'.

The following message will be prompted:

"Disk 0 is now the selected disk."

Now type in 'detail disk' and you will get all details about your hard disk and disk drives it contains.

Now type in select partition 3 (You may select any partition of your choice , here i want to hide Drive D:/ which is in Partition 3).

A message will be prompted:

"Partition 3 is now the selected partition."

Now type in 'detail partition'

This will show the disk drive in this partition.In my case its D :/ drive

Now to hide D:/ drive we type in 'remove letter D'

Now open 'My computer' and you will not see the drive.But don't worry the data is still intact.Now to get back the drive , type in 'assign letter D'.
and you will get D:/ drive back.

If you have hidden C:/ drive then type 'assign letter C' and so on.

Summary : Hiding Disk Drive the Easy Way.

1) Click Start.
2) Click Run.
3) Type 'diskpart' in the Box.
4) Type 'list volume'.
5) Type 'select disk 0'.
6) Type 'detail disk'.
7) Type 'select partition 3'.
8) Type 'detail partition'.
9) Type 'remove letter D' .

Note : This has been tested in Windows XP and might not work on other Operating Systems.

How to Rename Guest account in Windows XP

Generally it is not possible to Rename a Guest account in Windows XP but with this simple tip you will be able to Rename the Guest Account.

Guest Account in XP

First Click on Start ; Control Panel ; Performance and Maintenance ; Administrative tools ; Local Security Policy.

In Local Security Settings Window click on Local Policies in the left hand panel.From the right hand panel Double click on Security Options.

Now in the Policy section in the right hand Panel search for 'Accounts:Rename Guest Account' Now right click on this Policy and Select Properties . Now in the 'Rename Guest account Properties Window' Rename the Guest account to whatever you like and Click on Apply ; OK to save the settings.

How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Windows XP

Use Administrator account to log onto your Computer.If you are not logged in as Administrator then you will not be able to Create a Password Reset Disk.

Now after you are logged in Click on Start and then click on Control Panel.

Under 'Pick a category' section , click on 'User Accounts'.

In the 'User Accounts' window, click the Account name (preferably Administrator) that you want to create a Password Reset Disk for.

Under the 'Related Tasks section' , click on 'Prevent a forgotten password'.

On the 'Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard' page, click Next.

Insert a floppy disk into your floppy disk drive.Note that you can only use floppy disk for this task.

Type your Password, and then click Next.

After the Forgotten Password Wizard creates your Password Reset Disk, click Next.

Click Finish.

Keep this Password Reset Disk in a secure place because anyone who gets the disk can access your computer without knowing your Password. If you ever forget your password , you can use this disk to reset and Change your Password.

Disable the Send Error Report 'to Microsoft

To disable the stupid feature in WinXP which tries to send a report to microsoft every time a program crashes you will have to do this:

• Open Control Panel

• Click on Preformance and Maintenance.

• Click on System.

• Then click on the Advanced tab

• Click on the error reporting button on the bottom of the windows.

• Select Disable error reporting.

• Click OK

Get your stolen Lappy back !

According to various surveys, 90% of laptops in India are stolen during travel. Worldwide, a laptop gets stolen every 12 seconds.
These figures are obviously alarming, and will only go up as laptop sales increase.
But the good thing is that IT industry has not leave any opportunity unexplored.
The solution to this is an Open Source Program. It enables you to map out your stolen laptop. And Adeona is one such Open Source solution.

Download it here

How to Use?

Installing Adeona is easy.
During installation it will ask for a password.
Remember the password carefully as it will be required when you try to retrieve position of your laptop.
Once installed Adeona will automatically start a background service.
By Default, the client sends update at randomly defined time, usually an update every 30 mins.
As the installation finishes it places an '.ost' file on the desktop.
This is the file you will need to determine the location of your laptop.
It's recommended to backup this file at a secure location away from your laptop.

Now to determine the location of the laptop, you would need to run Adeona Recovery Tools.
These tools are by default installed with the client, and can also be installed separately.
Once you run this tool, it will ask you for the '.ost' file and password for the file.
If authentication is successful, it will now coonect to its server and try to retrieve the last IP address from which Adeona client had sent the update.
Once it has retrieved the details, it will automatically save them on the desktop in a text file format.
This will include the last IP address and names of nearby routers if available.


Source: PCQuest