Enrich your Desktop with Windows 8 Transformation packs!

So you are missing the required configuration for Windows 8, or you might be in dilemma to which version to choose, or you might not want to pay for an upgrade to Windows 8. We, at TechSiddharth.com, brings you the spectrum of various transformation packs & themes available for Windows se7en , Windows Vista & the most widely used, Windows XP.

These packs will change the entire appearance of your current desktop from boot screen to icons. Try any one of them & post your reviews in Comment box!

 1. Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.5 by ThememyPC.com

2.Windows 8 Transformation Pack by windowsx @ deviantart

HIREN's Boot CD - One step solution to all major boot problems!

By Siddharth

Boot-up problems are sometimes really confusing and we usually end up messing the programs or system codes. Most of the times we just format our PC or Reinstall Windows operating system because we don't really have any other solution.
HIREN's Boot CD is one of such powerful tool which gives you an alternative to format your PC. This ultimate boot-able CD which contains almost all necessary softwares to recover or troubleshoot your Windows operating System.
It is that invaluable tool which you should always store in your USB drives or CD Bag.

Link to Official Webpage - http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Download Link - http://www.hirensbootcd.org/files/Hirens.BootCD.15.2.zip
Filesize: 592.5 MB (621283886 bytes)

Benefits of using Sleep Mode in Windows

This is our first post on the custom domain. :)


We try almost everything to boost-up our PC's performance. All of us hates the long long booting time of windows. But the fact is, though we use several software, several techniques like defragmenting or disc clean-up, we still can't get the appropriate results most of the times. I have personally used other operating systems such as Ubuntu Version 12.04 and earlier versions, and found their boot time is little less then windows operating system,

As an Alternative, we have an option of Stand-by mode in Windows XP, and Sleep mode in other higher versions. The sleep mode reduces the power consumption of the computer system & it takes very very little time to wake up and to get a truly usable desktop.

As per the data collected from Tech Hive, we have following approximate results-

For Windows 7-

Shutdown Time: 0:16 secs
Boot TIme: 1:06 secs
While,
Sleep TIme: 0:18 secs
Wake-up Time: 0:02 secs

Talking about the power consumption in sleep mode, in most of the computer system, the power consumption is under 10Watts, which is not a big deal.
So rather than booting up your computer systems, try keeping your desktop on sleep mode, so that the long boot time of more than 1 min. is reduced to wake up time of 2-3secs.


Comment below if you have any queries or suggestions.

Protecting Your Privacy on Windows XP

When you log in to the computer system, windows keeps track of all activities that you do on your computers. It keeps track about all the activities like the Web sites that you have visited, the addresses that you type in, the applications that you launch etc. This information is used by computer to tailor your computer experience and power features such as the frequently run programs or recently run documents lists. This information is used to save your time and help you to access it easily. However, this is not always the best. This information, combined with the useless browser history, will allow anyone to see what you browse on the Web.

The recorded information by windows Xp becomes the stake when others are using the same system and your complete privacy reviel. I would like to share some nice and interesting ways to protect your privacy by using the features available in Windows XP.

Internet Explorer (Browser)

Internet Explorer is a browser developed by Microsoft Co. and it is come with Windows XP. It is a default browser and widely used browser. I am providing information about this browser only. You can perform these steps on other browsers like Firfox but some other similar ways.

Internet Explorer stores its data (browsing histroy etc) all over your hard drive, which makes cleaning this data a little tricky and anoying. Generally you need to cleaned four different parts of Internet Explorer to ensure privacy. These four parts are:

1. Clearing Recent Addresses


2. Removing History Files


3. Erasing Temporary Web Files and


4. Removing Cookies

Clearing Recent Addresses

Windows XP has a feature called AutoComplete that always activated for the address box. This can be convenient feature but more unsecur if someone else using your computer. To ensure your privacy, there is some way to stop this
suggessions or auto-complete feature. The file that stores this information is called the URL cache and is named index.dat. This file resides in your Cookies directory within Documents and Settings (C:\Documents and Settings\). But it is not easy to delete this file and you can't do it normal way. The URL cache file is always in use when theoperating system is running. Since, it is not possible to delete it when computer is running, the
only way left is through Safe Mode. One other solution for this is to use a utility called Dr. Delete, which can be schedule the file to be deleted the next time when you restart your computer.

Follow these steps to delete the index.dat file with Dr. Delete Software

1. Download the Dr. Delete SOftware from the URL www.docsdownloads.com/dr-delete.htm


2. Open the Dr. Delet Software and click the Browse button to specify the file that you want to delete.


3. Navigate to the C:\Documents and Settings\ folder


4. Now open the folder which is named after your User Name.


5. Open the Cookies folder and then select the index.dat file and click Open


6. Once you see the path of the file in the text box, click the Delete! button, as shown in below figure





7. If it confirms then click Yes on the screen


8. You will be shown a message that says that the file will be deleted after the next reboot. Reboot your computer now to delete the file.

Once your computer reboots, the file will be deleted and the URL cache will be cleared.

Removing History Files

Internet Explorer, by default, has an option to cleared record all of the Web sites you visit for a 30-day period. To ensure your privacy, it is best option to clear your web history. Here are the steps to perform this task.

1. Open the Internet Explorer Browser from desktop or from Start Panel.


2. In the IE, click the Tools menu bar item and then select Internet options.


3. Then, just click the Clear History button


4. Now, you have cleared your web history. You can adjust the amount of days that your browsing histroy is stored default is 30 days.


5. Then, click OK to save your changes and exit the Internet Options screen

After you have cleared your browser history and modified the history setting, your privacy will be much easier to protect.

Clearing temporary Internet files and cookies

Cookies:- Cookies are another type of file that is created on your computer when ever you visit any web site. It is generally used by web servers to save user data and it is not bad or harmful to computer. One of the example of this is the automatic logon when you visit a web site. Advertisers also use cookies to store paersonal data. Instead of showing you the same advertisement for 50 times, they use cookies to keep track fo how many times an advertisement is displayed on your screen.

Follow the below steps to clearing the Temporary Internet Files and Removing the Cookies.

1. Open the Internet Explorer Browser from desktop or from Start Panel.


2. In the IE, click the Tools menu bar item and then select Internet Options.


3. Under the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button.


4. You will be prompted to confirm if you would also like offline files to be deleted. For maximum privacy, check the box and Click OK.


5. Select OK once more to close Internet Options after it delets and you are done

Adjusting your cookie security policy

Cookies are not as bad as many people thinks about it. Instead, the only risk with them is a loss of some privacy, as mentioned. If you allow your browser to created cookies and after using computer for an hour. It gets very good collection of cookies in your computer. Any other user, if login to your system then he or she can analyse and easily find out what sites you have visted. The latest version of Internet Explorer includes many new enhancements. One of the
enhancements includes a new way of accepting cookies. Now, you have the ability to specify if you would like your browser to block all cookies or just certain types. To understand this feature very well, you have to understand what are the types of cookies available. First-party cookies and Third-party cookies.

First-party cookies are placed on your computer by the current site that you are visiting. Third-party cookies are placed on your computer by remote sites such as advertisement servers.

If you do not want your computer to accept third-party cookies so that marketing companies cannot identify what ads they have shown you, or if you just want to adjust your cookie acceptance settings, then follow these steps:

1. Open the Internet Explorer Browser from desktop or from Start Panel.


2. In the IE, click the Tools menu bar item and then select Internet Options.


3. When the Internet Options window up, click the Privacy tab


4. You will see the up and down slider that allows you to select different levels of cookie security. Don't do anything to this and click the Advanced Button instead.


5. Now the settings for First and Third party cookies will now available for adjustment as shown in the figure. I recommend to accept only first-party cookies. And for the third-party cookies select "prompt" option. It will prompt you if it receives any cookies (third party)





6. Once you are finished with your settings, click the OK button to save your changes and return to Internet Options.


7. Click OK once more to close Internet Options.

Do Not Accept Encrypted Web pages

If you generally manage your bank account online and purchase anything online then you experience using secure web connections, otherwise known as SSL. Encryption is nothing but the changing the data to some other format and sending it through internet. There are several encryption algorithms utilised by web programmers to enable secure trasactions. Once the data gets to your computer, your browser has a special key that decrypts the information and displays it on your computer. During this process, when the file is decrypted, it is saved in the Temporary

Internet Files directory so that the browser can display it. However, it seems to be safe as it saving files on your computer. But it becomes more dangerous if someone access your computer locally and check or view temporary internet files which had saved on your computer.

The best option to secure your computer from this type of hacking by increasing your computer security. You can use complex passwords also. But Internet Explorer has a very nice feature which completely eliminates this issue. Simply
called Do Not Save Encrypted Pages to Disk, this feature, when enabled, will solve your problems. To enable it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Internet Explorer Browser from desktop or from Start Panel.


2. In the IE, click the Tools menu bar item and then select Internet options.


3. Then, select the Advanced tab.


4. Scroll down through the list toward the bottom of the window until you see the Security section.


5. Locate Do Not Save Encrypted Pages to Disk, and check the box to the left of it.


6. Click OK to save and activate your changes.

Different ways to Log-off | Shutdown PC

Different ways to Log-off | Shutdown PC

To log off your computer:

1.Press window key ;Press log off ;Again press log off
2.Press window key ; Press ‘l’ alphabet of keyboard ; Again press ‘l’ alphabet of keyboard
(In short press window key ; Press two times “l” alphabet of keyboard)
3.Right click on your desktop and select new;shortcut option. It will ask you to browse the shortcut. Browse “C:\WINDOWS\system32\logoff.exe” and give name to shortcut. Click on finish. When you want to log off your computer just double click on that shortcut.

To Shut down your computer:

1.Press window key ;Press shut down ; From windows dialog box select shut down option and click OK.
2.Press window key ; Press ‘u’ alphabet of keyboard ; Again press ‘u’ alphabet of keyboard OR From windows dialog box select shut down option and click OK.(In short press window key ; Press two times “u” alphabet of keyboard)
3.Right click on your desktop and select new;shortcut option. It will ask you to browse the shortcut. Browse “C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe” and give name to shortcut. Click on finish. When you want to shut down your computer just double click on that shortcut.

Restore Default Desktop Icons

You can restore the all windows default desktop icons, if you accidentally deleted them from your computer desktop.

List of windows default icons.

• My Computer
• Internet Explorer
• My Documents
• My Network Places
• Recycle Bin

Fellow the given steps to restore the windows default icons:

• Go to Start Button and open Run
• Type the given command to open windows Desktop items dialog box.
  Control desk.cpl,,@Web
• Click OK
• Now Select Items that you want on your Desktop
• Click Ok

Disable the Unread Mail Notification in Windows XP

1. Click on Start button and type “Regedit” in Run option.

2. Here locate to :HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail

3. In right side panel, double click on the key MessageExpiryDays and set its value to 0.

4. If MessageExpiryDays key doesn’t exist, then in right side panel, click right to create a key with the nameMessageExpiryDays and then set its value to 0.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Reduce the Shutdown time of Windows 2000 and XP

You can reduce the shutdown time of windows 2000 and XP using some tricks. Actually windows XP take time to close all running programs and applications before shutdown, but you can minimize this time if you have little knowledge about editing windows registry.

Follow the given steps to reduce the shutdown time:

· First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. Here locate the location to:
HKEY_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop

· Here in right side panel, double click on AutoEndTasks and here its default value is 0. Now change it to 1.

· Now in same side panel double click on value name WaitToKillAppTimeout. Its default value data is 20000; now change this value of WaitToKillAppTimeout to 3500.

· Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Hiding Log Off Button

On the Start menu there is Log Off button. The position is beside Turn Off Computer button. If you don't want to have Log Off button, you can hide it by doing the following steps:

1. Click Start - Run.
2. Type "regedit".
3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
4. On the right window of registry editor, right-click the empty space.
5. Choose New - DWORD Value.
6. Type the value name "StartMenuLogOff" and press Enter.
7. Right-click the new key you've made and choose Modify.
8. On the Value Data type the number "1" to hide the button.
9. Press OK.
10. Restart your computer.

CD/DVD Drive Not Detected?

Before Windows can see your Drive, it first has to appear in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). When getting error messages from Windows that state the CD or DVD drive is not detected, check to make sure it appears in the BIOS. Here's how:

1. Boot up your PC.

2. At the first logo screen, press F1 repeatedly until you see the BIOS setup screen.

3. Using the left and right arrows to navigate, select Main (usually at the top left).

4. The CD or DVD Drive name should be listed next to Primary Slave, Secondary Slave or Secondary Master.

5. Navigate to Exit and exit without saving changes.

CD/DVD Drive Not Detected?

If it is listed in the BIOS but the CD/DVD Drive no longer functions, then a ribbon cable could have come loose. If that is not the case either, try uninstalling the device in Device Manager. Here's how:

1. Go to Start; Control Panel; System; Hardware tab; Device Manager button.

2. In Device Manager, locate and expand the entry titled "DVD/CD-ROM drives".

3. Right click the appropriate drive and select "Uninstall" from the resulting menu.

4. When prompted, confirm that you would like to remove the selected device.

5. At the "Action" menu, select "Scan for hardware changes".

6. Click out of the Device Manager and the Control Panel.

If none of the above has worked, it is likely that your CD or DVD Drive no longer functions. Replace the drive with a compatible drive. See your manufactures web site for details.

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.

Keyboard Shortcuts

cmd = Command Prompt

iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer

compmgmt.msc = Computer Management

dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management

dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management

services.msc = Services

eventvwr = Event Viewer

dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers

dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services

Windows key + E = Explorer

Windows key + Break = System properties

Windows key + F = Search

Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows

[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications

[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter

[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu

[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)

[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window

[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document

Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word

Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph

[F1] Open Help for active application

Windows+M Minimize all open windows

Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows

Windows+F1 Open Windows Help

Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons

Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box]

Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.

SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.

NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

explorer shortcuts

END....... Display the bottom of the active window.

HOME....... Display the top of the active window.

NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.

LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.

RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.

Run commands

Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run

devmgmt.msc = Device Manager

msinfo32 = System Information

cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup

ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)

mmc = Microsoft Management Console

excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)

msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)

powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)

winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)

frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)

notepad = Notepad

wordpad = WordPad

calc = Calculator

msmsgs = Windows Messenger

mspaint = Microsoft Paint

wmplayer = Windows Media Player

rstrui = System Restore

netscp6 = Netscape 6.x

netscp = Netscape 7.x

netscape = Netscape 4.x

waol = America Online

control = Opens the Control Panel

control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog

More XP Shortcuts.

Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin. SHIFT+DELETE

Create shortcut to selected item. CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item

Rename selected item. F2

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. CTRL+RIGHT ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. CTRL+LEFT ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph. CTRL+DOWN ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph. CTRL+UP ARROW

Highlight a block of text. CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys

Search for a file or folder. F3

View properties for the selected item. ALT+ENTER

Close the active item, or quit the active program. ALT+F4

Opens the shortcut menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR

Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. CTRL+F4

Switch between open items. ALT+TAB

Cycle through items in the order they were opened. ALT+ESC

Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F6

Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer. F4

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. SHIFT+F10

Display the System menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR

Display the Start menu. CTRL+ESC

Display the corresponding menu. ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name

Carry out the corresponding command. Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu

Activate the menu bar in the active program. F10

Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. RIGHT ARROW

Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. LEFT ARROW

View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. BACKSPACE

Cancel the current task. ESC

SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

HOW TO SHUTDOWN PC WITH TIMER?

1)Right click on your desktop and choose "New=>shortcuts".
2)In the box that says
"Type the location of the shortcut",
type in "shutdown -s -t 100" without the quotation marks and click next. (100 is time in
sec, u can give any value for that)
3)Give a name for the shortcut and you're done.
4)double click to activate timer
TO ABORT:(while the timer is running)
1)create another shortcut and make
the "location of the shortcut" to " shutdown -a" without the quotes