Stop Windows Error Blue Screen

Sometimes it just keeps happening over and over again and usually without any warning. Unfortunately when your computer shows up with a blue screen it will usually be set to automatically shutdown the computer or sometimes restart it. This makes many people panic because they cannot see, or even have time to write down all of the information on that particular blue screen.

Stop the Windows error blue screen on your screen and stopping it from restarting can be done in all Windows versions. I do not use Windows XP at the moment, however I am sure that this option exists in that operating system as well. The screen shots I have taken below are from Windows Vista, but Windows 7 is very similar to this.

How to stop the Windows error blue screen:
Follow this step:

1. Go to My Computer on Display and Right Click on My Computer Icon.

2. Click on Properties.

3. Now the systems properties will open. Click on Advanced Tab.

4. Under the Startup and Recovery section, press on settings.

5. The start up and recovery box will appear. Go to the System Failure section.

6. Uncheck the box where it says Automatically restart.

7. Press ok to finish.

Rename recycle Bin

How to Remane Recycle Bin?

1. Start, Run, 'Regedit'.

2. Press 'Ctrl'+'F' to open find box and type 'Recycle Bin' to search.

3. Change any value data with 'Recycle Bin' to whatever name you want to give it ( ie, like 'Trash Can' or 'Dump' etc).

4. Press F3 to continue searching for 'Recycle Bin' and change wherever you come across 'Recycle Bin' to new its new name.

5. Repeat step 4 until you have finished with searching and changed all values to its new name.

6. Close regedit and hit F5 on desktop to see the new name on screen.

Note: As a good practice, always backup your registry before changing anything although changing 'Recycle Bin' name is a simple tweak and doesnt affect anything else.

Securing XP

1. NTFS Partition.
2. Disable Error Reporting
3. Disable Automatic Updates (only if your XP copy is pirated)
4. Disable "Recent Documents" Viewed
5. Setup XP Firewall
6. Setup screensaver password
7. Setup BIOS password
8. Setup "AfterBios" login password
9. Account Modifications
-Rename Admin Account
-Disable Guest Account
-Disable Help_Assistant Account
-Disable Support Account
10. Install a virus scanner.
11. Change Login Screen (default shows usernames)
12. Disable Remote Registry (and other services)
13. Disable/Change Auto-Search settings in IE.

1. NTFS Partition.
Be sure to install XP onto an NTFS partition so that you (the admin) can take advantage
of file permissions. You want this option so that "you" can decide who reads, writes,
executes what files.

If you didnt install XP onto an NTFS partition. Convert It. To convert to NTFS follow
the instructions below.

Open a command prompt and type "convert c: /FT:NTFS /v"
This command will convert your c: partition from FAT to NTFS in verbose mode.

2. Disable Error Reporting.
we dont want microsoft to know everytime we fuck up. especially if we didnt pay for winxp.

control panel > performance and maintenance > system > advanced > error reporting (disable all) right click "my computer" > manage > services and applications > services > " stop and disable" Error Reporting.

3. Disable automatic updates.
To update, they must know what we have. thats a NO NO!

NOTE: DO THIS ONLY IF YOUR COPY OF XP IS PIRATED!! I suggest "auto update" if your copy of XP is legal. If your copy is pirated then i suggest that you stay updated with the latest fixes and patches manually.

control panel > performance and maintenance > system > automatic updates (disable updates)

right click "my computer" > manage > services and applications > services > " stop and disable" Automatic Updates.

4. Disable "Recent Documents" Viewed.
Quit listing most recent documents opened under the start button.

control panel > appearance and themes > task bar and start menu > start menu >
customize > advanced

remove the checkmark next to "List my most recently opened documents".

5. Setup XP Firewall.
Before this change, i scanned my xp box and found it to have many ports wide open. After this change, I found nothing and xp logged the attempts in c:\windows\pfirewall.log.

control panel > network connections > right click "local area connection" > properties
> advanced > check the box under "Internet Connection Firewall" then choose "settings".

Services Tab - leave all unchecked unless there is a service you are running that people
must be able to access.

Logging Options - Log everything.

ICMP - I left all these unchecked for the time being. (allowing nothing)

(this does not protect you from "Spy Ware". This only stops traffic from coming into
your win-xp box (not all traffic). It does not stop traffic from going out.) If you
need to stop traffic from going out and need a more secure firewall then download a real
firewall like "zone alarm or black ice".

6. Setup screensaver password.
Setting a screensaver password incase you leave some of that secret pr0n open when you walk away.

right click on the desktop > properties > screen saver > check the box next to " On
Resume, Password Protect."

If you dont have a password set on your user account, you can do so in control panel >
user accounts > change account.

7. Setting a BIOS password.
We dont want anyone rebooting the computer or trying to sneak into our pr0n while we are away at school or work.

I cant explain to one how this is done due to the differences between all computers and
how the BIOS settings are entered. If you know what Im talking about then do it. If you
dont know what Im talking bout then learn how to do it. A screensaver password is useless
unless you setup a BIOS password.

8. Setting up the "AfterBios" password.
Sometimes bios passwords are easily cracked. This password will add extra local login security incase your bios pass is crax0red. I dont know bout you but i love having to type in 3 passwds and a username to login to my box.

Start > run > type "syskey" > choose "update" > choose "Password Startup" > enter a
password and choose ok.
9. Renaming and Disabling Accounts for adminstrator, guest, help_assistant and support.
Right click my_computer > manage > local users and groups
rename administrator account
disable guest account
disable help_assistant account
disable support account

10. Install Virus Protection.
Install a virus scanner. Your firewall might protect your system from unwanted hackers but
what about an unwanted virus or trojan?. I recommend installing a virus scanner such as
"Nortons" or "McAfee".

11. Change Default Login Screen.
Xp uses the "welcome screen" by default. This screen has the names of all accounts on the
system so that the user only has to click on their name and type a password. Come on now....
We arent that damn lazy. If we change this screen to the normal login, then prying eyes
will have to know a username and password to get in. Follow the instruction below to change
this.

control panel > user accounts > change the way users log on or off

uncheck the box next to "Use Welcome Screen" and choose "apply options".

12. Disable Remote Registry.right click "my computer" > manage > services and applications > services > " stop and disable" Remote Registry.

NOTE: disable any services running in this area that you arent using.

13. Disable/Change Auto-search in Internet Explorer.
This is not really a security risk but it is important to some people that prefer to keep their internet surfing to themselves and away from microsoft.

Open Internet Explorer > Click the "search" button > click the "customize" button > click
"autosearch settings" > FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS BELOW...

DISABLE: In the "When Searching" drop down menu, select "Do not search from the address bar". > click "ok" > "ok". Type an invalid address in your address bar and see if it
takes you to the msn search page or if it gives a "page not found" error. In this
case, the "page not found" error is what we want.

CHANGE: If you wish not to disable, but you wish to change it to your favorite "google.com"
search page. Instead of following the "DISABLE" instructions, follow the instructions
below. Choose "Google Sites (or whatever you prefer)" from the "choose a search provider
to search from address bar" drop down menu > click "ok" > "ok"

Update My Computer

How to Updating your computer?

What are updates?
Microsoft offers important updates, which include security and other critical updates, to help protect your computer against new viruses and other security threats that can spread over the Internet or a network. Other updates contain enhancements, such as upgrades and tools that can help your computer run more smoothly.

Update your Computer Follow This Steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Depending on which Control Panel view you use, Classic or Category, do one of the following:
Click System, and then click the Automatic Updates tab.
Click Automatic (recommended) Option and select the day and time you want Windows to install updates. (Your Select Time Every Day 3:00 AM. Your Computer Update Every Day 3:00 AM)
Click Apply -> OK.

Adjusting your cookie security policy

How to Adjusting your cookie security policy?
If you do not want your computer to accept third-party cookies so that marketing companies cannot identify what ads they have shown you, or if you just want to adjust your cookie acceptance settings, then follow these steps:

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Click the Tools menu bar item and select Internet Options.

3. Click on Privacy tab.

4. You will see the up and down slider that allows you to select different levels of cookie security. I recommend that you bypass this and just click the Advanced button instead.

5. Once you click the Advanced button and see the Advanced Privacy Settings window, check the box that says Override Automatic Cookie Handling.

6. Your settings for first- and third-party cookies will now be available for adjustment. I recommend that you always accept first-party cookies. You can decide if you want to block or select the prompt to accept third-party cookies. Prompt will pop up a dialog box notifying you that a cookies request has been received.

7. Once you are finished with your settings, click the OK button to save your changes and return to Internet Options.

8. Click OK once more to close Internet Options.

Now that you have set the cookie privacy setting manually. you can eliminate cookies from being stored on your hard drive in the first place. Doing so will allow you to protect your privacy and still be able to use Web sites that need cookies.

Speed Up Internet

How to Speed Up Internet?

Windows XP

1. First, open the Windows Registry using Regedit, and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\ServiceProvider

2. Note the following lines (all hex dwords):
Class = 008 ( biggrin.gif - indicates that TCP/IP is a name service provider, don't change
LocalPriority = 1f3 (499) - local names cache
HostsPriority = 1f4 (500) - the HOSTS file
DnsPriority = 7d0 (2000) - DNS
NetbtPriority = 7d1 (2001) - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS

3. What we're aiming to do is increase the priority of the last 4 settings, while keeping their order. The valid range is from -32768 to +32767 and lower numbers mean higher priority compared to other services. What we're aiming at is lower numbers without going to extremes, something like what's shown below should work well:

4. Change the "Priority" lines to:
LocalPriority = 005 (5) - local names cache
HostsPriority = 006 (6) - the HOSTS file
DnsPriority = 007 (7) - DNS
NetbtPriority = 008 ( biggrin.gif - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS

5. Reboot for changes to take effect

2. Windows 9x/ME

1. The tweak is essentialy the same as in Windows 2000/XP, just the location in the Registry is slightly different. For a more detailed description see the Windows 2000/XP section above

2. Open the Windows Registry using Regedit, and (after backing up) navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\MSTCP\ServiceProvider

3. You should see the following settings:
Class=hex:08,00,00,00
LocalPriority=hex:f3,01,00,00
HostsPriority=hex:f4,01,00,00
DnsPriority=hex:d0,07,00,00
NetbtPriority=hex:d1,07,00,00

4. The "priority" lines should be changed to:
LocalPriority=hex:05,00,00,00
HostsPriority=hex:06,00,00,00
DnsPriority=hex:07,00,00,00
NetbtPriority=hex:08,00,00,00

5. Reboot for changes to take effect

3. System.ini IRQ Tweak - Windows 9x/ME ONLY

1. Find your Network Card's IRQ

1. In order to add the entry to your System.ini file, you'd first have to find your NIC's IRQ

2. Right-click on My Computer icon on your Desktop, then left-click on Properties (a shortcut for that would be to press the 'Windows' + 'Pause' keys). Navigate to Device Manager and double-click on Computer. Under "View Resources" you will find a list of IRQs, each with description of the device that's using it. Note the IRQ number used by your Network Adapter

2. Adding the entry to System.ini

1. Once you've found the IRQ of your Network Card, you need to reserve some RAM for its use, by adding an entry to the System.ini file. You can edit the file in any text editor, however the easiest way is to use Windows' built in "System Configuration Editor"

2. Navigate to Start > Run and type sysedit . Find the [386enh] Section in the System.ini file and add Irq[n]=4096 under it, where [n] is the IRQ number of your NIC and 4096 is the amount of RAM you want to reserve in Kbytes. We recommend using 4096, however you can experiment with different values if you want. Save changes in the file, exit and reboot for changes to take effect.

Note: If you choose to try different values, keep in mind that reserving too much RAM for your NIC will decrease the amount of RAM available for applications, while reserving too little might not give the desired effect

3. Additional Thoughts

1. The only negative effect of the System.ini IRQ tweak is that it will reduce the amount of RAM available for running applications a bit, by reserving some specifically for your Network Card's use. The gain in performance usually outweighs the negative effect by far, considering any Computer with 32Mb of RAM or more

2. This tweak may or may not work for you. It is not a documented tweak by Windows.

3. Keep in mind that if you add hardware to your system the IRQ of the Network Adapter might change, in which case you will need to modify the setting in System.ini

4. In systems with multiple NICs, you might want to add the setting for both IRQs. Also, you could reserve RAM for other IRQs if you wish, just use common sense and don't forget it reduces the amount of RAM available for running applications.

5. If you are using an USB device, it does not have a specific IRQ, however you can try adding the entry using the IRQ of the USB Controller.

6. For internal Cable Modems, you'd have to add the entry using the IRQ of your modem, rather than the IRQ of a Network Card

RESULTS WILL VARY
No matter how good your systems may be, they're only as effective as what you put into them.

Speed Up Bandwidth

How to Speed Up Bandwidth?

Windows uses 20% of your bandwidth Here's how to Get it back

A nice little tweak for XP. Microsoft reserve 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes (suspect for updates and interrogating your machine etc..)

Here's how to get it back:

Click Start ->Run -> type gpedit.msc

This opens the group policy editor. Then go to:

Local Computer Policy ->Computer Configuration ->Administrative Templates ->Network ->QOS Packet Scheduler ->Limit Reservable Bandwidth

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab :

"By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default."

So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth then set it to ZERO.

This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%.