1.Use a registry editing tool to navigate to the following tool:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Colors\Background

2. Change the following value:
Data Type:
REG_SZ
Value Name:
Background
Value:
Decimal RGB value for the colour you wish to set, for example:

Red: 255 0 0
Green: 0 255 0
Blue: 0 0 255
Black: 0 0 0
White: 255 255 255

We will use a software called Thinstall. Thinstall is an Application Virtualization Platform that enables complex software to be transformed into self-contained EXE files which can run instantly with zero installation from any data source. It creates a virtual operating system, a type of sandbox, around each “Thinstalled” application with it’s own virtual registry and file system. Everything is good about Thinstall except it’s price which is an outrageous $4,995. (What were they thinking when they priced that!). A fully functional 30 day trial version is available for download on request (even that can be a little difficult to obtain).

Let us create a portable version of MS Office 2003

Thinstall requires you to have a clean PC, one that has been freshly installed with Windows. Also the application that you are converting into a portable one shouldn’t be already installed in the machine. But don’t worry, it works equally well with an old Windows system. I had MS Office 2003 on my system but I had it removed prior to this proce
ss and it worked with any problem. However, it might not work with all application. In that case, you can carry the following operations on a virtual PC.

1. Install Thinstall and run Setup Capture (the application’s main executable). Click Start.

2. Select drive C and the drive where you plan to install the application (in this case, MS Office). If you want to install MS Office in drive C itself, then select only drive C.

3. Click Pre-Install Scan and allow the program to complete scanning of the selected drives.

4. After it finishes scanning, install MS Office on your PC like you normally would.

5. After you have finished installing Office, click Post-Install Scan and again wait till it completes.

6. You will be now asked to select the executables that you wish to make portable. Select all the boxes from the list and click continue.

7. Finally you will asked to specify a path where you wish to store the files.

8. Now open the directory where the files were saved and run build.bat.

Thinstall will now create the portable files required and save them inside a folder named bin inside the same directory. Inside bin you will find the self contained exe files of MS Office. Copy this directory into your USB drive. Now you can run MS Office directly from the thumb drive.

I even made a portable version of Photoshop CS2. Create as many portable applications you like!

Source
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• www.instantfundas.com –> Computers – Internet – Blogging

You want to host a file, be it photo,movie,program anything.
Then you’ve lot options like rapidshare, megaupload etc. While also generate you
some money based on how many people download it.

But my trick is for small personal use of hosting small sized files.

procedure:

1. get your self a gmail id

2. sign into http://pages.google.com/ with that id.

3. Accept the terms etc.

4. click on the upload button on the right hand side column

5. Browse for the file in your hard disk

6. It’ll be uploaded and listed there. Right click on the file name and click ‘Copy link location’

Now you can post that link to any one to whom you want to share that file/photo/video.

Benefits:

1.some forums don’t allow images from some image hosts but files hosted in googlepage don’t have that problem.

2. no timer limit like rapidshare

3. no advertisement / toolbar installing required.

4. its free and fast!

I’ve uploaded my video with the same trick!

Firewalls:

In this day, when broadband and LAN/Cable Internet access is rampant, there is always a chance that somemay may break into your computer, gain access and control your computer to do malicious acts without your permission. A firewall acts like a filter for the data that’s going in and out of your computer. If it detects that a program is trying to access the Internet or your local network without your permission, it will stop such activity. Also, if a hacker or any other user tries to gain access to your computer without your permission, it will block all such activity too. The Windows Firewall that comes bundled along with Windows XP SP2 is woefully inadequate when it comes to protecting your computer.

The key to running a firewall efficiently is to configure it right. When it comes to configuring, the key steps to remember are these:
a) If you do not know the program, deny it access to the Internet and the local network.
b) Never allow the software to “remember” the access rights for a program, that is, do not wantonly check the “I know this program. Do not ask me again” for programs that you are not absolutely sure about.
c) Some Windows processes need access to the Internet or your local network to work the way its supposed to. Make sure you check the name of the program and its use before you allow or deny access.
d) Unless you run a server or play/host online or network multiplayer games, go ahead and deny inbound access to all programs except your mail clients, browsers, etc.
e) Do not allow programs to connect to the Internet unless they absolutely need to. So while Adobe Acrobat checks for an update with its servers when you start it up, thats OK. But when you are planning to play Quake 3 Arena offline and it tries to connect to the Internet, go ahead and deny it access this time around.

Good firewalls include;

ZoneAlarm (Free) (The best among them all, when you configure it right)
Kerio Personal Firewall (Free)
SyGate Personal Firewall Standard (Free )
Kaspersky Anti-Hacker v1.7 (Trial)
Norton Personal Firewall 2005 (Trial)
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus (Trial)
Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005 (Trial)

Anti-Spyware:

Chances are that you’re probably using the default Internet Explorer browser that came along with your OS. The browser is literally the weakest link in the Microsoft OS and is a very popular target for people that write software to either attack your computer, or as in most cases, just increase their revenue. People write code called spyware/adware/malware that hijack your browser settings or install software that track your movements online or in some cases, totally prevent you from getting any work done and steal your Internet passwords. And if you’re using Internet Explorer, you’re their favorite snack.
To test the “integrity” of your browser and whether it is vulnerable to spyware and being hijacked and exploited, run the Browser Security Check here. Chances are, yes, you’re very vulnerable. Fortunately, we have software just like antivirus programs – antispyware programs that prevent and clean attacks on your system. As with antivirus, the key to a good antispyware program is to leave its protection system running at all times and to update them regularly with the “signature libraries” of spyware.

Some of the well known products are:

SpyBot – Search and Destroy 1.3 (The best, in my opinion)
LavaSoft Ad-Aware SE Personal v1.05
Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware Beta

Another tools that prevents your browser being hijacked and your critical system settings being changed in BHODemon 2.0. You can download it here. Also, when you install antispyware like SpyBot, you will be prompted to install system protection software called “TeaTimer” and will be prompted to have it automatically startup along with your computer. Select this option and when an important change occurs, you have the option to either accept the change or deny it, effectively killing unwanted program installs and browser hijacks.

Misc. Tools:

Of course, you can always ditch the browser and go for a safer alternative. The best I would recommend is Mozilla Firefox, currently at version 1.0.1. Also the lightest browser around, it makes for the best replacement for Internet Explorer. It also automatically imports all your IE cache, settings, cookies and bookmarks, so you have to do nothing but install it and browse safe.

Get Mozilla Firefox 1.0.1 here!

Also, Microsoft has a Malicious Software Removal Tool that you can download and scan for and remove unwanted malicious software. A newer version of the tool will be released each month. Get it here.

In all my time, one tool that really caught my eye and bowled me over was BlackICE PC Protection. The program is actually a firewall for incoming data, but its being paranoid totally. The program totally blocks all incoming requests and literally hides your PC from the local network and from the Internet, making it totally invisible to the outside world. The program also bundles a nifty tool called “Application Protection.” What it does is create a snapshot of all the installed programs and their “code” and if there is ANY change at all in the program, it refuses to let the program load without your permission. Of course, you can always authorize and add the program to a list, authorize it to run only once, or terminate it completely. This is the way a paranoid person like myself protects his system. There is no trial that I know of, but if you’re interested you can take a look at the link I posted to find out more about the program.

I hope this helps. If anyone has anymore info to add on protecting their systems, please feel free to add it. I will post a HOWTO on fixing your problems with viruses, spyware and hackers tomorrow.