The Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP provides a simple and effective way to defend shared computers from untrusted users and malicious software, safeguard system resources, and enhance and simplify the user experience. The Toolkit runs on genuine copies of Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
» here is a nice write up about how to use the command line in a terminal session. combine a few of these with some batch scripts, and you could save yourself some time.
» finally, there is an alternative to itunes to manage your mp3 collection on the ipod using winamp and this plug-in. i’ve hated using itunes, but it’s worked well so far. one thing i wish i could do with itunes was to have a list that syncs with the ipod and one for all other mp3’s. it looks as if you can with this plug-in and winamp. there are options to put certain albums onto the ipod. this comes in handy since i don’t want to put my entire mp3 collection onto the ipod.
NdisWrapper
Some vendors do not release specifications of the hardware or provide a linux driver for their wireless network cards. This project provides a linux kernel module that loads and runs Ndis (Windows network driver API) drivers supplied by the vendors.
i haven’t had a chance to see if this really works or not. i recently tried to install ubuntu on my machine, but quickly found out that my broadcom 10/100 card was the main cause of ubuntu not installing properly. guess it’s time to try another flavor.
» microsoft has released the administration tools pack for windows server 2003 sp1. before you install it, read knowledge base article 304718 for known issues and the write-up. also, make sure you uninstall any previous versions before you install this version onto your server.
» to enter the diagnostic mode on the iPod, first of all reset it. when you see the apple logo, hold down next, previous, and select. When the apple logo goes away, release the buttons. you’ll see the coolest thing ever: a backwards apple logo, as if you were inside the iPod looking out.
» here are the wallpapers from osx 10.4 (tiger). some of them don’t look half bad.
» this simulator would have been great had it been around when xp came out, but regardless it’s a really good idea. i haven’t tried it out yet, but the idea of a simulator is great especially for someone looking to learn how to install windows. hopefully they’ll make simulators for the future versions of windows and other operating systems as well.
» ever wanted to learn linux? here is a collection of linux how-to’s, tutorials and tips/tricks. i’ve always had trouble trying to mount a windows share in linux. i think i got it right one time, but never again. luckily they have a writeup explaning on how to get it done. let’s see if i can actually get it right without royally screwing it up.
can you live without microsoft?
living without microsoft offers alternatives to software developed by microsoft. it’s not a bill gates bashing site. they just offers alternatives to companies that may not be able to afford the licensing fees, or just want to try out alternatives before purchasing microsoft software. here is how they describe themselves.
This site is for anyone who wishes to explore realistic alternatives to Microsoft software. Our aim is to provide accurate information about these alternatives and to provide a forum for discussing the costs and benefits of adopting a non-Microsoft solution to your software needs. We also try to provide news on industry and legal developments which may be relevant to anyone making decisions about deploying non-Microsoft software.
» ever needed help writing batch files? maybe you want to learn how to write one. here is a site that offers help on how to write batch files along with various examples on how it can be used. i’ve already referred to it a couple of times because i simply forgot how to accomplish what i was trying to get done. then again, that’s what the internet is for right? :)
» mainstream support of windows 2000 is ending on june 30. this is a good time to migrate over to windows xp for your client, or windows server 2003 for your server. according to the article, microsoft is pushing its file server migration toolkit and application compatibility toolkit to help ease the transition over to the new systems.
» processlibrary.com is an excellent website for finding detailed information about the processes that run on your computer (i.e. explorer.exe). they also have a dll search option. i’ve bookmarked this site for future use.
» an excellent site containing a ton of resources on how to customize firefox to your liking. they even have a list of useful firefox extensions, some of which i already use. if you don’t want to manually edit your settings, then check out firetune for firefox. it’s an automated optimizer for firefox.
» An excellent article by Mitch Tulloch on how to remotely enable remote desktop from another computer.