This thread is for sharing a listing all your techniques, tools, tips, and tricks you know of. Right not I'll start off by listing what I have on my flash drive toolkit. I am sure I am missing alot so I'll just add more later. Off to get drunk!
[list]*Free AVG anti-virus
*A .txt file with a backup dial up number
*Diskeeper for preventitive maintence (auto defragger)
*All critical updates
*A exported copy of my bookmarks for tech sites and stuff
*Latest JAVA JRE
*RealVNC (remote desktop client)
*Firefox
*Spybot Search and Destroy
*Stinger
*Winrar
*Offline NT passowrd reset[/list:u:bb7c524e7a]
Memtest 86 hasnt been updated since 2002 so use www.memtest.org which is Memtest86+. Seems that not that many people know about this.
I didn't find this in the book so here is a tweaking guide on making firefox alot faster. http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/1...
Update to my neglected little book. http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/2...
Item in question here is called NLite. Best way to describe is "Windows Installation Customizer".
Nlite wrote:Have you ever wanted to remove some Windows components like Media Player, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, MSN Explorer, Messenger...
How about not even to install them with Windows ?
nLite is a tool for permanent Windows component removal and pre-installation Windows setup. After removal there is an option to make bootable image ready for burning on cd or testing in virtual machines. With nLite you will be able to have Windows installation which on install doesn't include, or even contain on cd, unwanted components.
nLite Features
- Service Pack Integration
- Component Removal
- Unattended Setup
- Driver Integration *
- Hotfixes Integration **
- Tweaks
- Patches ***
- Bootable ISO creation* - Textmode (CD Boot) and normal PnP
** - only new type 1 hotfixes (for example XP post SP2)
***- supports generic SFC, Uxtheme, TcpIp and Usb Polling patching.So far it supports Windows 2000, XP x86/x64 and 2003 x86/x64 all languages. Windows Vista will be supported as well.
If combined with the Unnatended XP guide you can do some seriously crazy sh*t. For example, my company was hired to redo every PC in the clients company. We wanted to ghost it but there was easily 50 hardware configurations, which is a no-no. Using the guide and Nlite, we were able to do a unattended XP installation based on each department's needs. Accounting got this and this program, while security only got this program and what not. A task which would've easily taken a day or more took a mere ~20 minutes (some old PC's). The advantage with this is that no pre-exsisting image is need and each installation is designed for that PC's hardware like what window normally does.
This is starting to sound like a monologe. Anyways, here is a nice app that someone in class recommened and now I am using it wherever I can. http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/
Available for both Windows and OS X this little app blocks the IP (botch TCP, ICMP, UDP, etc) of black listed known badies, such as the DoD and the Saudi's.
PeerGuardian 2 is Phoenix Labs' premier IP blocker for Windows. PeerGuardian 2 integrates support for multiple lists, list editing, automatic updates, and blocking all of IPv4 (TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc), making it the safest and easiest way to protect your privacy on P2P.
I found a nice speed comparison chart for all types of connection types.
http://www.pixelbeat.org/speeds.html
I also like to have a copy of ERD Commander 2003 handy.
I find have Spybot AND Adaware is a good way to cover your bases.
I find have Spybot AND Adaware is a good way to cover your bases.
AND Spysweeper.
Well, my list looks something like this;[list=1:39f63ccc6f]
[*] Funk Proxy Master/Host install (SMS package with S/N already key''d in)
[*] WinRAR
[*] SpyBot, Adaware
[*] RegCleaner (Superme or whatever it''s called now)
[*] Avast AV (I guess I''m the odd guy out)
[*] BootCD with the primary drivers of the day
[*] Edwin''s DiskDefrag program (freshly added)
EDIT: Forgot one.
[*] Admuncher
[/list:o:39f63ccc6f]
I just copy my post from the other thread since it''s actually on-topic here. Sorry for the repeat.
I know I''m going to forget a lot of stuff so I''ll probably just edit my post to add things as I remember them. There''s repeats and the Gaming stuff I''m sure it known, but just in case this does get stickied I added some obvious stuff.
[list]
[size=18]Utilities:[/size]
[*]RealVNC (Free) - remote desktop viewer, this is the ""distro"" I use.
[*]Win2VNC (Free) - an add-on for VNC that will let you mouse over to a monitor on a second system, somewhat hard to explain. If you have two computers at your desk, each with their own monitor, you can mouse to the second system like it''s a secondary monitor on your primary computer. Variation on a KVM hardware switch.
[*]VNC Manager - a MDI interface for VNC sessions with a lot of great functionality.
[*]UltimateBootCD (Free) - A bootable CD loaded with system utilities (drive imaging, anti-virus, memory checkers, etc.)
[*]Bart''s PE Builder (Free (requires XP)) - create a CD bootable XP environment for system diagnostics/recovery.
[*]Unattended XP CD (Free (requires XP)) - instructions on how to make an XP CD that will automagically configure itself and install drivers, etc. to speed your reinstall time.
[*]Dave''s Search Bar (Free) - a cool taskbar add-on with all kinds of functionality. Quick-Google, RUN, etc.
[*]TrueLaunchBar - QuickLaunch replacement with folders, nifty controls, etc.
[*]Desktop Sidebar (Free) - Longhorn-esque utility bar with various plugins. Most useful with multi-monitor systems
[*]Ultramon - utility that adds extra features for controlling multiple monitors.
[*]Lavalys Everest (Free) - A system inventory, Device Manager on steroids app. The old AIDA32 remade.
[/list:u:21a7085639]
[list]
[size=18]Internet goodies:[/size]
[*]IESpell (Free) - an add-on for IE that will spell check text boxes.
[*]MaxThon (Free) - a tabbed browser that uses the IE engine. A lot of great features.
[*]NetCaptor - another great browser that uses the IE engine.
[*]CleverKeys (Free) - quickly look up highlighted text at dictionary.com
[*]K9 (Free) - a Bayesian-based spam filtering proxy
[*]BookmarkSync/SyncIT (Free) - a program that will synchronize your favorites between multiple computers in real-time.
[/list:u:21a7085639]
[list]
[size=18]Informative Sites:[/size]
[*]Blocking with a Hosts file - info on how to use a Hosts file to speed up and protect your browsing
[*]SysInternals - A lot of cool free utilities and information
[*]AnalogX - more cool free utilities.
[*]Pricelessware - collection of top freeware from alt.comp.freeware. Great finds here.
[/list:u:21a7085639]
[list]
[size=18]Gaming:[/size]
[*]TeamSpeak (Free) - voice chat program for in-game communication.
[*]TeamSpeak Overlay (Free) - add-on for TeamSpeak that will disply in game who is speaking (or panting). Currently incompatible with Fraps.
[*]Fraps (Free) - shows framerate, does video/screenshot capture
[/list:u:21a7085639]
Ok, I need to shower, that''s all I''ve got for now.
[Edits] Fixing formatting...
This should be sticky.
![Pyroman[FO]'s picture](https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-27.png "Pyroman[FO]'s picture")
Win2VNC (Free) - an add-on for VNC that will let you mouse over to a monitor on a second system, somewhat hard to explain. If you have two computers at your desk, each with their own monitor, you can mouse to the second system like it''s a secondary monitor on your primary computer. Variation on a KVM hardware switch.
For this I use Synergy, which not only moves your mouse, but shares the clipboard, screensaver and it allows you to do any combination of any number of computers. Pretty nifty.
Edwin''s DiskDefrag program (freshly added)
What is this? I can''t find a reference for it.
Edit: Whoops, I''m an idiot.
And yes, this thread should be sticky.
I also like to have a copy of ERD Commander 2003 handy.
This combined with the BartPE disc (and many of the plugins you can use with it) pretty much help me solve 99% of problems associated with the OS.
For people new to BartPE think of it as a Windows version of Knoppix, ie, a cd bootable windows environment.
Here''s what I have in my toolkit:
Bootable Linux Distros:
Knoppix
Morphix-LightGUI
F.I.R.E.
SUSE 9.1 LiveCD
Gentoo LiveCD (x86 and PPC)
SystemRescue PPC
Windows Password Recovery
Utilities:
Norton Ghost
Western Digital Data Lifeguard bootable floppy
Memtest86 boot floppy
PartitionMagic floppies
Win98 boot floppy
Ad-Aware
Adobe Reader
AVG free edition
Easycleaner
Firefox
Ghostscript
HD utilities from various manufacturers
Spybot
Sygate Personal Firewall
TuneXP
TweakUI for 98, 2000, XP
Video drivers for various cards/chips
WinRAR
Winternals Admin Pak
WinZIP
Windows:
Win2000 custom CD patched to SP4
WinNT 4.0, 95, 98, XP CDs
Service packs for NT, 2000, XP
I use the various Linux bootable distros whenever possible, especially for system recovery. They''re just so much better than almost any Windows-based recovery solution I''ve used. Some of those CDs even do things like scan Windows partitions for viruses (VERY helpful to be able to scan without Windows RUNNING), or recover Windows passwords, etc.
I know most ""IT guys"" like to be macho and say ""if you can''t edit in notepad, get out of my way"" - hell, I do that and I laugh at my fellow contractors that _have_ to open VS.NET to make a quick change to a web page.
But for general purpose text editing - which comes up often for me, EditPlus(shareware, 30 days free) is a boon. Syntax highlighting is a godsend. (Yeah, yeah, I know. EMACS does it better blahblahblah) There''s plenty of others out there - PFE, various notepad replacements. I just found it odd I didn''t see one listed.
I need to make a bootable Windows CD like mentioned above - can you slipstream in other apps?
I absolutely refuse to boot up a PC of mine without ZoneAlarm and it''s the first thing I install on a rebuild. Every time. Followed quickly by Firefox or Opera, whichever one I still have a zipfile for. 
My Kit:
Dustbuster XP (one stop trash removal)
Stinger
Avast Antivirus
Adaware +Spybot
jv16 Powertools
Knoppix (latest version)
BBLean
Winkrellm
Firefox
7-zip or winrar
Crimson Editor
1stPage
Keynote
FreeCommander
Check out this badass puppy: Solution from PC Magazine: Revealing Passwords
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759...
I know most ""IT guys"" like to be macho and say ""if you can''t edit in notepad, get out of my way""
If an IT guy tried to talk up Notepad to be macho, it''d be hard not to laugh in his face.
VIM or Emacs, then maybe we can talk. Notepad? LOL. Notepad is a little baby''s editor.
Id like to add to the list of bootable linux distros, Koppix STD is simply awesome and extremly useful when your friend calls to tell you he forgot all his passwords for windows.
Also I keep two copies of firefox installed on a USB flash drive, one for windows and one for linux.
Blah blah, nothing to see here. Feel free to delete at your descretion.
Would people please STOP this {ableist slur} Linux Roolz Windoze Drools bullshit and vice versa?
You like one thing, someone else likes another, respect it.
You missed the point - by a mile.
Did I mention ""Windows"" anywhere?
NOPE
You do realize VIM and Emacs are multiplatform, and not related to ""Linux"" in any way, right?
Probably not.
You do realize among those platforms VIM and Emacs support is Windows (and Macintosh, for that matter)?
Probably asking too much.
The topic of discussion was NOTEPAD - a simple, very lightly featured little editor that people shouldn''t exactly feel uber-geek''d out about. Nothing ""wrong"" with it per se - it does what it does - but if we''re talking about IT guys pulling superiority complexes over using it instead of an IDE, well, it would be incredibly humerous.
Ghastly, you''ve got to relax and cut down on your own special brand of jumping the gun BS
This thread will not remain a sticky if it turns into bickering.
* Araxis Merge - A visual file diff and merge utility. The single most bestest, most usefulest tool for a guy who ever has to work with source code or maintain various configuration files. Nothing in the field even comes close to the simplicity, elegance, and power of this nifty app. A free trial is available. I encourage you to buy it wholeheartedly.
* RARLabs FAR Manager - Something legions of fanatics in Eastern Europe absolutely can''t imagine living without. An excellent shell replacement and file manipulation tool, working entirely in text mode in a Win32 console window and thus extremely fast, compact and agile. Those who used Norton Commander back in DOS days would feel right at home. Besides usual file copy/delete/move/search, has great file viewer that dynamically updates if it senses a change to the file (great for monitoring logs), excellent file editor and support for plugins that truly make it a tool of devastating power. There are plugins for transparent handling of FTP, archive files, and registry as if they were file system, for source context-based text coloring in the editor, for regexp-based search and replace in multiple files and devil may care what else. If you haven''t tried that one, you ain''t seen nothing yet. Supported by the same people who develop RAR archiver. Unlimited shareware. Plugins are free.
* RARLabs FAR Manager - Something legions of fanatics in Eastern Europe absolutely can''t imagine living without. An excellent shell replacement and file manipulation tool, working entirely in text mode in a Win32 console window and thus extremely fast, compact and agile. Those who used Norton Commander back in DOS days would feel right at home. Besides usual file copy/delete/move/search, has great file viewer that dynamically updates if it senses a change to the file (great for monitoring logs), excellent file editor and support for plugins that truly make it a tool of devastating power. There are plugins for transparent handling of FTP, archive files, and registry as if they were file system, for source context-based text coloring in the editor, for regexp-based search and replace in multiple files and devil may care what else. If you haven''t tried that one, you ain''t seen nothing yet. Supported by the same people who develop RAR archiver. Unlimited shareware. Plugins are free.
Oh yeah. That right there is retro slick. And real useful too!
Bah! You guys call yourself IT guys? ALL USB Flash Drives need a copy of Doom installed! 
Oh yeah. That right there is retro slick. And real useful too!
There is a plug on Far Plugin Ring website that allows you to bring up the context menu for a highlighted object, if you wish. Still in text mode, in same console window!
* RARLabs FAR Manager - Something legions of fanatics in Eastern Europe absolutely can''t imagine living without. An excellent shell replacement and file manipulation tool , working entirely in text mode in a Win32 console window and thus extremely fast, compact and agile. Those who used Norton Commander back in DOS days would feel right at home. Besides usual file copy/delete/move/search, has great file viewer that dynamically updates if it senses a change to the file (great for monitoring logs), excellent file editor and support for plugins that truly make it a tool of devastating power. There are plugins for transparent handling of FTP, archive files, and registry as if they were file system, for source context-based text coloring in the editor, for regexp-based search and replace in multiple files and devil may care what else. If you haven''t tried that one, you ain''t seen nothing yet. Supported by the same people who develop RAR archiver. Unlimited shareware. Plugins are free.
That sounds alot like a *nix command manager. I''ve never really used either Norton Commander, nor a Linux one but is what I am thinking accurate?
mTAIL (Free) - a Windows port of TAIL. Monitor text files (e.g. log files) in real-time.
Yankee Clipper (Free and new expanded pay version) - A clipboard power tool with multiple cuts, etc.
Good set of screwdrivers (philips, flathead and hex-head)
Needle-nose pliers
PuTTY/PSCP/WINScP are my friends.
Spend 90% of my time in VIM, 10% in the best windows text editor ever: Textpad.
-Fan
With that little FAR tool I mentioned above, one doesn''t need a TAIL utility at all anymore. The built-in viewer is fast, is capable of tailing files, like I said, and at the same time you can earch for text forward and reverse, do line-end wordwraps if you want, switch to Hex and back and jump to a position in file calculated as line # or dec/hex byte offset. The viewer uses paging to fetch file portions, which is very useful when I inspect a 10mb file on one of our servers in Tokyo.
The GodFather is here to put order to chaos and put you in control. No more strange file names and endless search for ""that song""!. Rename, update Tags, restructure files on hard disk, create/merge play lists, encode-decode with LAME/Ogg Vorbis/MpcEnc, export/import to/from file, play, use freedb.org & allmusic.com with ease of use and perfect results every time.
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