Windows – Mute Shortcut

I listen to music a lot while I’m working.  This leads to situations where I need to quickly mute my music or pause it while either focusing on a problem or taking a call.  Since I’m lazy I went the mute shortcut route.

Mute Shortcut Creation (Windows XP)

1. Download nircmd
2. Extract it to a folder ex: c:\tools\nircmd
3. Create a new shortcut on your desktop
Target: C:\tools\nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 2

4. Update the icon and set it to %SystemRoot%\system32\sndrec32.exe

For a complete list of commands which nircmd can interpret go here.

Windows 2003 Server 64bit Edition – LUN Alignment

Pre-requisites: Disk must be “Basic”.  Dynamic disks are not supported.

Configure Disk Alignment Value:

1. Launch command window start -> run “cmd”
2. type “diskpart”
3. list disk
4. select disk <disk number>
5. list disk (confirm an * is next to the disk you selected)
6. list partition (NO partitions should be visible. If partitions are listed then the disk may contain production data)
7. create partition primary align=<alignment value ex: 32, 64, 128>
8. assign letter=<free drive letter ex: G>
9. list partition
10. exit

Example configuration output:
C:\>diskpart
Microsoft DiskPart version 5.2.3790.3959
Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: Test1
DISKPART> list disk
Disk ###  Status      Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
——–  ———-  ——-  ——-  —  —
Disk 5    Online        60 GB      0 B
DISKPART> select disk 5
Disk 5 is now the selected disk.
DISKPART> list partition
Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
————-  —————-  ——-  ——-
Partition 1    Primary             60 GB   128 KB

Format Disk:

1. Start -> run “diskmgmt.msc”
2. Change the allocation size to match the segment size of the associated LUN.  A common segment size is 64KB
3. Click Format

Windows – Disable Balloon Tips

Windows task bar balloons are a constant annoyance for me.  Today I finally took the time to hunt down the correct registry tweaks to permanently disable them.

To disable balloon tips in the notification area, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate the following subkey:
3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. Right-click the right side pane, create a new DWORD value, and then name it EnableBalloonTips.
5. Double-click EnableBalloonTips, and then give it a value of 0.
6. Close Registry Editor.
7. Log off Windows, and then log back on.

Reference: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;307729

Windows – Force Remote Reboot

While working in enterprise environments specifically those in remote locations servers sometimes do not respond properly to reboot requests.  In situations like this the admin attempting to perform updates on the server can sometimes feel helpless.  Fear not helpless admin… there is a little trick which will save you both time and grief.  The trick/command allows you to force a remote reboot of a system provided you have the proper admin credentials.  

Command: shutdown -r -m \\<IP or DNS name> -t <wait time> -f 

-r = shutdown then reboot
-m = the server in question
-t = wait time between shutdown command execution in seconds
-f = force all applications to close

After executing this command open a new command window and run a continues ping against the server to monitor if and when it goes down and also when it comes back up.  Be sure to judge the required reboot time based on the number of devices on the server, number of apps, and also the amount of memory etc. The more complex the box the longer the reboot time.  

ping <DNS name or IP address> /t

Windows – Track Pad Gestures

I’ve recently had the pleasure of working on a macbook for a couple days. After going back to my Windows laptop one of the key features I missed was the slick track pad gestures. The gestures I speak of are scrolling when pressing down with two fingers and tapping with two fingers to indicate a right mouse click.

So with the use of Google I found this program which attempts to fill the void between Apple ingenuity and Windows lack there of.
Two Finger Scroll

Windows – Disable Windows system beep

Disable Windows System Beeps. 

Start -> run -> Regedit

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound

Once there, locate Beep on the list on the right.

Right click on it and select Modify

Change the value equal to no

Reboot your computer and the beeps will be gone!

Windows – Password Recovery/Reset

This is absolutely one of the best free tools to reset the administrator password and gain access . It modifies the encrypted password in the registry’s SAM file allowing you access to the account in Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista systems. There is an image file to create a bootable floppy disk or bootable CD to modify the admin password and access NTFS partitions. You do not need to know the old password to set a new one. It will also offer to unlock disabled or locked user accounts (a very helpful feature). The program was just updated on April 9, 2007 to include Vista support.

Visit the site by clicking on the link below to download a CD image or floppy image of this program.

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd

Windows – Set User Account Details

The Windows built in command “net user” allows modification of local account settings.   

: Creates account and sets password + user full name & description
net user <username> <password> /ADD /fullname:"name" /comment:"description"
 
: Set Account Password to never expire and add account description
net user <username> /EXPIRES:NEVER /COMMENT:"<comment>"

isable Account
net user <username>  /ACTIVE:NO

elete Account
net user <username>  /DELETE

:Full net user configuration flags and options
net user /help

Expand NTFS Partitions

Expansion of NTFS partitions can be accomplished by using the Microsoft Utility called DiskPart.exe.  DiskPart allows examination of disks, volumes, and partitions. Cloning of disk and also expansion on existing partitions.  

CAUTION! Use at your own risk – Disk corruption can occur if an application is using the partition while expansion is in progress.

Link to Microsofts full description of DiskPart Util
Download DiskPart Util from Microsoft

1. Launch a command window Start -> Run
2. type in diskpart, you will be placed at a DISKPART> prompt
3. list disk to view all visible disks
4. select disk <number>
5. select volume <number>  Note you cannot expand a volume if the volume does not have extra unused space. 
6. extend volume <number> size=<number in MBs>
7. exit exits the program…

Set explorer as your defaul folder view

This is for the old school Windows peeps who grew up with Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 and remember when windows default view used to be Explorer.  

ex:

Set all folders to open in Explorer view:

Open a new window. Go to Tools -> Folder Options and select the File Type tab and scroll down to Folder. Click on Advanced and select explorer and then click the Set as Default option to the right. Click Okay.