How to Rename Files in Batch Using Windows Explorer

1- Using Windows Explorer, open the folder that contains all the files that you want to rename. I always use this trick to rename photo files that was imported from my camera.

2- Using your mouse or keyboard (CTRL + A), select all files that you want to rename.

3- Press the F2 button on your keyboard. Now, you are required to rename only the first file on the list with any name that you like (in this case, what I like!).

4- Press Enter to complete the batch renaming files process. Automagically, all the files in the list will be renamed!

That’s it! Cool batch rename trick eh?

Tags: windows tips, rename files, batch rename, multiple rename

If you are a Windows power user, accessing those app must not be a problem to you but for most of mortals out there, they don’t even know that those things exists! Some of the features are quite common, like the Windows Command Prompt but Command in Demand does a good job to be a one stop place to access them all (nice improvisation!).

Some of the cool things that you can access easily via Command in Demand:

• Access hard to find Windows tools via simple shortcuts arrange in nicely named categories e.g. File Signature Verificator, Registry Editor

• Read clipboard text via the PC speaker! (not really useful but lol!)
• Hide and show desktop icons
• Open users and system folders easily

• Image conversion
• Search a query with two Internet search engines simultaneously

• View memory usage and do an instant memory cleaning

• Create a network TCP/IP report quickly

• Open Command Prompt in a Folder - this eliminates the need to endless change of directories with the usual Windows Command Prompt tool.

and so much more! If you see yourself as a Windows newbie searching your way to hidden Windows features, give Commands in Demand a shot! It is well worth it!

Tags: windows, command in demand, command prompt, hidden windows

With this setup, you can now access and manage your PC from another computer using the Windows command line. That means that you can copy, edit, move and delete files inside your home computer from another computer in the office, for example. Furthermore, the SSH network protocol secures the connection between the two connected computers! If you are interested, you can read more on SSH .

Step 1: Setup SSH Server in Windows with freeSSHd

This is an absolute noob guide , so I’ll explain in detail. If you are an advanced user (boo!), you are welcome to skip the installation steps.

1- freeSSHd is the easiest software to use to get SSH working in Windows. Download freeSSHd before proceeding any further.

2- Double click the freeSSHd installer that you have downloaded to get started.

3- Click Next -> Click Next (or you can change the default installation directory) -> Click Next (Full Installation) -> Click Next (Start Menu Folder) -> Click Next (Create a desktop icon) -> Click Install (ready to install) -> Wait until installation has been finished -> Click Close (Try other products…)

4- “Do you want to run freeSSHd as a system service?” I choose “No” so I can start freeSSHd manually. This is a good security practice because you don’t want to have running applications in the background if you are not using it. Only turn freeSSHd on when the need for remote connections arise!

5- Click Finish to complete freeSSHd installation.

Step 2: Run freeSSHd

6- Double click the freeSSHd icon on the desktop to load your SSH server. You can see the freeSSHd icon on your system tray.

7- Right click on the icon and click Settings.

8- Make sure that the freeSSHd settings page (Server Settings tab) shows that your “SSH server is running”.

Step 3: Create a New SSH User

9- Click on the Users tab. You need to create at least one user account that will act as your SSH remote user account.

10- Click “Add” to create a new user. Fill in the user details, following the example shown below (with your own unique username and password, duh!). Click OK and make sure it appear on the Users tab list.

Step 4: Test SSH Access with Putty (Local)

11- Using the same computer that you install freeSSHd previously, download Putty. Putty is a desktop command line client that you can use to access SSH servers.

12- Double click the Putty installer to run it. Fill in the details as shown in the diagram below. 127.0.0.1 means that you are testing the SSH access from a local connection.

13- Press “Yes” on the security alert screen. Insert your SSH username and password that you have created previously.

14- If you get a Windows command prompt, you have successfully access your SSH server! Congratulations!

15- Connect your computer to the Internet / local network and take note of your computer’s IP address.

Step 5: Test SSH Access with Putty (Remote)

16- Using another computer e.g. your office computer, download Putty again.

17- Repeat step 12 to 13 above but this time, use your SSH server IP address (type it inside Host Name or IP Address field).

18- If you get a Windows command prompt, you have successfully access your SSH server from a remote computer! Double congrats to you!

There you go, a complete noob guide to setup a SSH server in Windows, using the super simple freeSSHd application. Be geeky and try it today!

Tags: windows ssh, windows ssh setup, setup ssh in windows, sshd, freesshd, ssh, ssh setup

By using any of these tool, you can make sure the anti virus uninstalling process is smooth and all the unnecessary files are removed, so that the new antivirus (don’t forget to install one later!) can perform at optimal performance, without other antivirus interfering with the virus scanning process.

Here are some of the uninstallers of famous antivirus for home users:

1- Norton Removal Tool to remove Norton Antivirus. You can also use this tool to remove a failed / damaged Norton antivirus installation.

2- Avira Registry Cleaner to remove Avira Antivirus. Uninstall the antivirus first and run this tool to remove all the remaining files.

3- NOD32 Removal Tool to remove NOD32 Antivirus. Use this tool if you have problems removing NOD32 Antivirus.

4- avast! uninstall utility to remove avast! Antivirus. Also known as the aswClear tool.

5- BitDefender Uninstall Tool to remove BitDefender Antivirus. An alternative choice to uninstall your BitDefender AV without any hassle.

6- McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool to remove McAfee Antivirus. Also known as MCPR.exe.

7- KAVRemover to remove Kaspersky Antivirus 9. Uninstalling Kaspersky may be not a good option. LOL.

8- Uninstallation 3 to remove F-Secure Antivirus. This will remove F-secure client utility up to version 7.

9- TISSuprt.exe (Trend Micro Diagnostic Kit) to remove TrendMicro Internet Security / Antivirus. You can find this file inside your Trend Micro Program Files folder.

10- AppRemover. If all of the above fails, try this. AppRemover enables you to thoroughly uninstall security applications such as antivirus and antispyware from your computer. Check out the list of antivirus applications that AppRemover can remove.

There you go, a list of 10 famous antivirus that you can remove easily with the correct antivirus uninstaller / removal tool. Make sure that you don’t forget to fresh install a new one!

Tags: antivirus, antivirus uninstaller, remove antivirus, antivirus removal tool, uninstall antivirus

Fences is a Windows program that helps you get out of insanity by managing and grouping your icons in a usable way. Once installed, Fences will create a group of shaded areas or “fences” and try automatically to determine the right group for each icons on your desktop. Furthermore, you can add, move, remove, rename and resize the areas to your own liking. If the icons are not in the right group, move it then! In the end, your huge number of icons will be more manageable inside its functional groups.

Another trick that Fences can do is that you can hide all your icons in an instant by double clicking on a free space on your desktop. Nice to show off your colorful new wallpaper to your friends and make them jealous (or just to make you happy by seeing spaces on your desktop!). To make them reappear again, double click once more! Kawaii!

Fences are free and runs on Windows XP, Vista and 7. It’s practical, useful and eye popping-ly cool. Are you still reading?

Tags: fences, stardock fences, arrange icon, hide icon

Step 1 - Ripping online video from Youtube with Video DownloadHelper

1- Open Mozilla Firefox. IE users stay away (lol!)

2- Install this add-on - Video DownloadHelper.

3- Restart Mozilla Firefox to complete the installation.

4- You should notice the DownloadHelper icon (three colored balls) on your Navigation Toolbar.

5- Open any Youtube videos that you want to rip. In this example, I will rip Susan Boyle’s famous audition on Britain’s Got Talent 2009.

6- Wait a few minutes until DownloadHelper managed to capture the video. Click on the downward arrow next to the DownloadHelper icon to view available videos for download.

7- Click on one of the videos to download the file. Make sure that you are downloading the video with the .flv extension (normally the first one on the list).

8- Save the file to your Windows desktop. Congratulations, you have successfully ripped a Youtube video! You can play the downloaded file with VLC player.

Step 2 - Ripping MP3 audio from a downloaded Youtube file.

1- You need to download FLV Extract first.

2- Unzip the downloaded file and run flvextract.exe afterwards.

3- Deselect all extract options except “Audio”.

4- Drag and drop the ripped video in Step 1 above to FLV Extract.

5- Wait for a few minutes. Your audio file will be successfully ripped in MP3 format!

Tip 1: You can use Audacity to remove noises / cut unnecessary audio from the ripped Youtube audio file.

Tip 2: FLV Extract allows you to convert the default .flv format from a ripped Youtube video to the preferable .avi format.

There you go, one of the simplest way to rip / download video and audio from an online Youtube video. Remember that these activities are illegal in some countries. You have been warned! (and enjoy!)

Tags: rip video, rip audio, rip youtube video, rip youtube audio, rip youtube, download youtube video

Having said so, if you have the boss from hell that did not tolerate all of the above activities, you can still do them at your own risk. Using softwares that are considered as a “boss key” application, you can hide all the windows / applications that you are currently using from your boss in an instant, with just a press of a shortcut key!

Having scoured the web a few times, I’ve managed to find 12 tools to hide your application windows from the prying eyes of your boss. Here are the free ones:

1- Boss Key

Boss Key works by creating 10 virtual desktops that you can switch in between. Switch between “work” desktop and “play” desktop in just an instance.

2- Magic Tweak Boss Key

Press the default “F12” key and Walla! All your Windows will be hidden. It is also able to mute the sounds from so your boss won’t hear any “Rihanna”, “My Chemical Romance” or others singing around the office.

3- Boss Key (Firefox Add-On)

Designed specifically for Mozilla Firefox, this add-on will minimize your Mozilla Firefox to the system tray and cleans its memory. Great for heavy office Internet surfers.

4- CloseWin

CloseWin works a little differently from all the above. It will close all opened programs having its icon on taskbar and whose window contain selected text.

5- Dad’s Around

This simple program from the renowned Donation Coder team will silence audio, minimize all programs and forcefully terminate foreground processes (such as full screen games) when dad’s (or boss if you are and adult) walks into the room.

6- Clicky Gone

Defines itself as a window hider application, Clicky Gone protects your privacy by hiding your Windows from the screen and the taskbar with a press of a key. Simply divine.

7- Elongosoft Hide Window Hotkey

This program hide your windows and goes the extra mile to protect it with a password (optional). Lots of options to protect your privacy here.

8- Hide Windows Free

Hides everything running on your screen with a key. This is a free version of the infamous Anti Boss Key application.

9- Window Hide Tool

Another windows hider application, with configurable hotkeys for different actions that you want to complete.

10- Quick Windows Hiding Tool

The name says it all. Go test it.

11- ZigZag Cleaner

ZigZag Cleaner lets you use your mouse to hide running windows applications from curious people looking at your screen.

12- Windows Hidie

A lightweight hider that can be run from a thumb drive. Portable privacy protector if you ask me what I think of it.

Extra tip: If you don’t like any of those applications above (wow!), you can still use any of these free windows virtual desktop applications like Dexpot to quickly hide windows from your boss too. Just make sure that you set the right hotkey!

Enjoy the ride and happy hiding!

Tags: hide windows, hide applications, hide open windows, windows hider, bosskey, boss key

Brief information about Conficker worm

• The worm attacks only Windows operating system
• It exploits a known vulnerability in the Windows Server Service
• Conficker disables a number of system services such as Windows Automatic Update, Windows Security Center, Windows Defender and Windows Security Reporting.
• Next, the worm downloads and installs additional malware on an infected computer.
• The worm also attaches itself to a certain Windows processes such as svchost.exe, explorer.exe and services.exe, making it even harder to detect.

Why should I care / be afraid of it?

• In just four days, the number of computers infected rose from 2.4 million to 8.9 million.
• There are various variants of the worm so it is here to stay.

Your PC / network is probably infected when…

• System network gets unusually congested. This can be checked with network traffic chart on Windows Task Manager.
• Account lockout policies being reset automatically.
• You can’t access your antivirus provider sites such as “trendmicro”, “sophos”, etc. (cool and evil at the same time!)
• Certain Microsoft Windows services such as Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Defender and ErrorReporting Services are automatically disabled.
• Domain controllers respond slowly to client requests.
• Launches a brute force dictionary attack against administrator passwords to help it spread through ADMIN$ shares, making choice of sensible passwords advisable.

Conficker worm can infect computers / networks via..

• The network (via svchost.exe)
• Via removable drives, your USB thumb drive for example

Conficker has several other names / variants, for example:

• TA08-297A
• CVE-2008-4250
• VU827267
• Win32/Conficker.A
• Mal/Conficker-A
• Trojan.Win32.Agent.bccs
• W32.Downadup.B
• Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.aqfw
• W32/Conficker.worm
• Trojan:Win32/Conficker!corrupt
• W32.Downadup
• WORM_DOWNAD
• Confickr

How to prevent Conficker virus from infecting your computer

• Apply the MS08-067 Windows Critical Security Update (and keep your Windows constantly updated!)
• Disable removable drive autorun feature in your Windows system. Check out how to disable autorun feature here or you can just do it simply with Tweak UI.
• Have some common sense, set your antivirus program to auto-update everyday.
• Set a strong Windows administrator password.
• Use other OS other than Windows (joking!)

My PC / has been infected, how do I remove Conficker - (Conficker Removal Tool) ?

• Download and use Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) to remove malicious software such as Conficker.
• Use these removal tools (either one, or two if you like!):
  • FSMRT by FSecure
  • Network, Single PC by BDTools, BitDefender
  • Conficker Removal Tool by Sophos
  • W32.Downdup Removal Tool by Symantec
• Remove Conficker manually by following the instructions here. (for the adventurous!)

There you go, some information and Conficker removal tool to prepare you for the worm onslaught (if you are “lucky” to meet one!)

Tags: conficker, confickr, downup, downdaup, remove conficker, remove confickr, conficker removal tool

• Identify the hardware components inside your computer - CPU, memory, motherboard etc.
• Understand conflicting hardware inside your computer.
• Helps the computer repair guy to understand your computer with a written, detailed hardware report (therefore he can find the missing drivers faster, for example)
• Make you look geeky (and impress some geek friends)

To create your own PC hardware report, you need to:

1- Download Everest Home Edition.

Before you start asking silly questions, Everest Home defines itself as a “diagnostics and memory benchmarking solution for home PC users, based on the award-winning EVEREST Technology. It offers the world’s most accurate hardware information and diagnostics capabilities, including online features, memory benchmarks, hardware monitoring, and low-level hardware information.”

In short sentences: Everest Home Edition is a cool application that returns report on the cool computer hardware that you have.

2- Install Everest Home Edition, and run the software by clicking on its icon on the desktop.

3- (Quickly!) Click on the “Report” button.

4- Click Next -> Choose “All Pages” -> click “HTML” -> click “Finish”.

5- Wait a few minutes while Everest Home works its wonders.

6- Read your report (you are going to read it, aren’t you?)

There you go, you will now have a cool looking HTML-formatted computer (PC) report / profile covering all your computer hardware. Enjoy!

Tags: computer hardware, computer hardware report, computer profile, computer hardware profile, pc hardware report, pc hardware profile