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Guy's Top 10 Free Tools

1) FreePing
2) Network Monitor
3) Xobni
4) PuTTY (UNIX)
5) IP SLA Monitor
6) BgInfo
7) Net-SNMP
8) Engineer's Toolset
9) Exchange Monitor
10) WinDiff

Windows Vista Tips

Windows Vista Tips (Vista Tricks)

I developed many of these tips when delivering training courses.  I thank those good, bad and naughty students who have helped to turn interesting ideas into concrete tips.

Windows Vista Tips

I have deliberately chosen a wide range of tips - something for everyone.  A few of my tricks were also available in earlier operating systems, but that revelation does not make them any the less useful for Vista.

• Mouse Scroll Wheel Resizes Icons
• Check Your Vista Stats
• Environment Variable: To Troubleshoot 'Phantom' Devices
• Open Command Window Here
• Hide Contents of A Folder From Vista Indexer
• Speed up Vista?
• Increasing the Vista Activation Period to 120 days.
• Microsoft Software Licence Manager
• Shortcuts
• NCPA.CPL - Network Connection Shortcut
• On Screen Keyboard osk.exe
• Auto Logon for Vista Home Editions
• ClearType Font
• Sendto - Try,  Shell:Sendto
• Ask for a Vista refund!
• 10 New executables - and 20 old friends
• 10 Lost Features

 ♦

Mouse Scroll Wheel Resizes Icons

Let us start with a quick, easy, yet flashy Vista tip.  We are going to resize the desktop icons by holding down the Ctrl key, and scrolling the mouse wheel.  See how icons such as the Recycle Bin enlarge or shrink as you turn the mouse's wheel.  By scrolling you can get over 20 different sizes of icon, there is bound to be one that suits you.   Incidentally, this a classic for learning a tip once, on the Vista Desktop, and then applying wherever you go, for example try Ctrl + scroll the mouse wheel when you are next in Windows Explorer.

A tip from Nick Zara - Increase your font size, see more here.

Check Your Vista's Statistics

Lies, damn lies and statistics, here are two new tools to test how your Vista system is performing.

a) Windows System Assessment Tool

b) Reliability Monitor

a) Windows System Assessment Tool

Find out about your computer's ability to run Vista features, especially Aero Graphics.

Windows Experience Index

Level 1 at least one sub-system needs upgrading.
Level 2 very basic system.
Level 3 systems runs Aero well, suitable for Word-processing and email.
Level 4 systems will play HD video.
Level 5 systems delivers any Windows Vista scenario, especially good for gaming.
Level 6 is impossible! 5.9 is the highest rating!

To discover your Vista machine's WinSat rating
Launch the Control Panel, System and Maintenance --> Performance Information and Tools. 

There is a command line version of the Windows System Assessment Tool called WinSat.  It tests the same components as the GUI version namely, Processor, Memory, Graphics and Disk.

b) Reliability Monitor

Check how well your machine has been running.  Look back over the last week or ten days and see which factors have affected your Reliability Index.  My best score was 9.81.  Between 5 and 6 is my more usual score.

Vista Start button, click Start Search, type perfmon.  When the Reliability and Performance Monitor finishes initializing, select, Reliability Monitor.

Environment Variable:  To Troubleshoot 'Phantom' Devices

Problem: You cannot see the device you wish to configure in the Device Manager.  Here are examples of where this could be a problem, troubleshooting a USB device, a docking station, or possibly a non plug and play device.  Even clicking on the View menu and selecting Show hidden devices makes not difference, the devices don't appear.

Solution: Open the System Properties, Advanced (Tab) and click on Environmental Variables.  What you want is a New.. System Variable.

Set Variable name = DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
Set Variable value = 1

Note 1:  Use the plural NonPresent_DeviceS.
Note 2:  Add to the System variables, and not the User variable section.

I have twice used this DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices technique to fix printers that did not install properly.

Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset v10

The Engineer's Toolset v10 provides a comprehensive console of utilities for troubleshooting computer problems.  Guy says it helps me monitor what's occurring on the network, and the tools teaches me more about how the system literally operates.

There are so many good gadgets, it's like having free rein of a sweetshop. Thankfully the utilities are displayed logically: monitoring, discovery, diagnostic, and Cisco tools.  Download your copy of the Engineer's Toolset v 10

Open Command Window Here

Here is an example of 'Power Toy', or an member of the 'Options Pack', making it into the final program.  For years I have been extolling the virtues of cmdhere, now in Vista, the ability to 'Open Command Window Here' is built into the operating system.  The trick is to hold down the shift key, then right-click inside a folder.

Please note, there is a knack to getting this command to work.  The secret is that it does not work if you shift and right-click the outside of a folder.  You have to open the folder and shift and right-click from the inside, then you will see 'Open Command Window Here' on the shortcut menu. 

Dare I suggest, that even when you have followed the instructions and opened the command prompt, you still need a way to remember, shift, right-click and inside.

Shift and Right-Click

Try this combination in other situations, for example on executables, compare a normal right-click with holding down the shift key and then right-clicking.

Speed up Vista?

As with XP, in Vista you can speed up performance by sacrificing the visual effects.  Go to the Control Panel, System and Maintenance, System Properties, Advanced (Tab) and settings.  Set the radio button in 'Adjust for best performance'.

This may produce a marginal improvement on a low spec machine, but it I could not detect a faster response on a machine with a 1.2 Ghz processor and 2GB of RAM.  In truth, I was under-whelmed by this Adjust for best performance.   A better way to truly speed up your Vista machine is to buy a 1GB USB RAM stick and use Vista's ReadyBoost feature.

Trap: As you adjust for best performance, you may inadvertently turn off the Aero graphics, particularly if you experiment with the Custom settings.

Is Your Vista Machine Running Slowly?  Check with SolarWinds ipMonitor

Analyze your network with ipMonitor.  Get a free evaluation copy, and monitor the performance of the computers on your network.  Free Download of SolarWinds ipMonitor

Hide Contents of A Folder From Vista Indexer

The idea behind this Vista tip is to create a folder which is invisible from the indexer.  Please note that the files are neither encrypted nor hidden from anyone looking with Windows Explorer.

For your files to remain hidden, this secret folder needs a special extension
.{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}.

Create a normal folder, for example stuff.  Now rename it with this special clsid extension.  You will need the dot and the curly brackets.

stuff.{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}

Testing your hidden files

Create a file inside your folder with the .{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} extension.  For example 'Guy Stuff.doc'.  Now search for Guy Stuff.doc.  You should get a negative result, Vista's search will ignore files in this folder.

Just in case you believe this is a false result due to slow indexing, create another document in a regular folder, search for that document.  You should have a positive result.

There is a fancy variation of my non-indexing tip, what you do is use a different clsid extension. 
.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

I say fancy variation, because it creates a Recycle Bin folder.

Increasing the Vista Activation Period to 120 days.

Normally you get a grace period of 30 days before Vista insists that you activate, online or over the phone.  However you can increase the period by running this command:

slmgr.vbs -rearm

The trick is to run the above command, just before it expires, rather than 3 times all at once.
Note: Check the Vista Activation Hack SkipRearm

Check Licence

Microsoft Software Licence Manager

Discover if your software is legitimate.  Also check which Vista edition you are running.

Click Start (button), in the 'Start Search' dialog box type:

slmgr.vbs -dlv

or

slmgr.vbs -dvi

See more on slmgr and the SkipRearm hack

Shortcuts

New Shortcuts in Vista

Winkey +g cycles through the Gadgets, naturally you have to install a few gadgets for this to work!

Winkey +u activates the Ease of Use Center.

WinKey +x cycles though the Mobility Center.

Winkey +Tab activates the new Vista feature called Flip 3-D.

Guy's Favourite Keyboard shortcuts.

Ctrl +c  and Ctrl +v  I mention these pair as they are the oldest keyboard shortcuts in my armoury.  Many of the latest generation of IT staff don't know, or don't rate this Ctrl +c and Ctrl +v combination, but over the years they have been great time savers for me.

Alt + Tab is the keyboard combination that I use the most.

My vote for the 'coolest' keyboard combination goes to:
Windows Logo Key +Pause / Break (Key next to Print Screen and Scroll Lock).  What this does in bring up the System Icon.

Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset v10

The Engineer's Toolset v10 provides a comprehensive console of utilities for troubleshooting computer problems.  Guy says it helps me monitor what's occurring on the network, and the tools teaches me more about how the system literally operates.

There are so many good gadgets, it's like having free rein of a sweetshop. Thankfully the utilities are displayed logically: monitoring, discovery, diagnostic, and Cisco tools.  Download your copy of the Engineer's Toolset v 10

NCPA.CPL - Network Connection Shortcut

For years I wished that Microsoft would make a keyboard shortcut for the Network Connection.  The nearest I have found is Start Search : ncpa.cpl.  Try this combination and see the network connections appear by magic.  Note: Mr Angry wrote saying ncpa did not work for him, what Mr Angry was missing was the .cpl, you must type the full name ncpa.cpl.

Reverting to my keyboard shortcut idea, what I did was to make a shortcut to ncpa.cpl, and assign it to a keyboard combination, for example Ctrl +Alt +n.  See more on creating a Network Shortcut

On Screen Keyboard osk.exe

Here is the scenario, you boot Vista, but for a variety of reasons, there is no keyboard.  For this eventuality you can use the built-in program osk.exe.  In this hypothetical situation, the mouse is working and you have the foresight to create a shortcut, so that you can double-click and thus launch the On-Screen Keyboard.  Your alternative is to drill down with the mouse, follow the path, Windows -->  System32 and double-click on osk.exe.

More Windows Vista Tips

Windows Vista Help

Windows help has never been popular, indeed, 'Help' has been the butt of many a joke.  I want to stand up and say: 'Give Vista's help a chance'.  I see a glimmer of hope that skills learned while 'Googling' will transfer to Vista and its help.  Thus my short and sweet tip is, 'When you are stuck, press F1, you will be surprised at the wealth of help on tap'.

Auto Logon for Vista Home Editions

I have been using AutoAdminLogon since NT 3.5.  However, in Vista Home editions there is a much easier alternative. 

Navigate to the Control Panel, User Accounts, Users and remove the tick in:
Users must enter a user name and password.  All you need to do next is type the password twice a the, 'Automatically Log On' dialog box.  Once Vista restarts it will logon that user automatically.  See screen shot. 

Before you go try this configuration, I did not, repeat, not find this setting in a machine which had joined an Active Directory domain.
See more about the registry setting AutoAdminLogon

ClearType Font

The new thin TFT LCD monitors benefit from ClearType fonts.  However, the older fat CRT monitors may display text more crisply if you turn off ClearType fonts.

Configure ClearType thus:

1. Right click the Vista Desktop, Personalize.
2. Select: Windows Color and Appearance.
3. Click on Effects... and experiment with 'Standard' or ClearType

SendTo + Shell:

One of the most requested menu changes is to adjust the items on the Send To menu.  If you right click any folder, then about half-way down is Send To.  If you want to open this folder you need one of the shell: commands.  Therefore, click on the Start Search dialog box and type:
Shell:SendTo.  See more on Shell:commands

MSConfig

Similar to the startup configuration tool of previous Windows, however, the Vista MSConfig has a nifty Tools tab.  To launch and test, click in the Start Search dialog box, and type: msconfig.

Ask for a Vista Refund!

A Vista tip from my friend 'Mad' Mick, all I can say is the tip is up to his usual standard.  Mick brings you - refund!

Seriously, ask for a Vista refund! http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/productrefund/refund.asp

Please send me your Vista Tip and I will publish it with a credit to you.

• 10 New executables - and 20 old friends
• 10 Lost Features

Windows Vista Training

Train Signal have an excellent Windows Vista Training Course.  As an MCT trainer, I am a huge advocate of Train Signal’s products.  What impresses is me is that they demonstrate everything that they teach and they stay away from traditional 'lecture-style' training.  If you are looking for a complete DETAILED coverage of Windows Vista, then I highly recommend that you give this course a try.  I have reviewed their 18 hours of videos myself, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Watch a Vista Training Video Demo.

Configuring Windows Vista Topics:

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