Windows Media Player 11 download

Windows Media Player 11 is the latest release of Microsoft's video and audio player that can rip CDs and play videos/DVDs.

Windows Media Player 11

Requirement: Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed.

Download Windows Media Player 11 (23Mb)

Windows Live offline installer

Windows Live Writer

This is the complete standalone version of Windows Live. The complete standalone package of Windows Live includes options to install Live programs such as Messenger, Live Mail, Live Writer and Live Photo Gallery.

Click here to download the standalone version (offline installer) of Windows Live.

Note: Windows Live Movie Maker will not run on Windows XP.

Last updated on July 7, 2011.

Change file format (Dos/Unix) in Vim

Unix and dos (Windows) use different file format. Even though the latest Vim can detect the file format automatically, sometimes you also need to convert your file to the other format, especially if you are sharing the file with your friends.

Fortunately, in vim you can set the file format using a very simple command.

Change the file format to dos

:set ff=dos

Change the file format to unix

:set ff=unix

Note:

You can also add those commands in .vimrc file to make Vim starts with the desired format of file.

Missing Windows "Show Desktop" shortcut icon

If you by mistake deleted the Windows "Show Desktop" shortcut icon in the QuickLunch, you can get it back by creating a text file named "Show Desktop.scf", and drag it to the QuickLaunch.

This is the content of the "Show Desktop.scf" file, for Windows XP and Vista respectively.

Windows XP

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Windows Vista

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=shell32.dll,34
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Reduce image file size with GIMP

This is an easy way to reduce image file size. What you have to do is to convert the image mode from RGB to Indexed colours.

In GIMP, click on Image > Mode > Indexed.

Finally, change the "Maximum number of colors" property value from 256 to 16 or 32 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Indexed Color Conversion

Resize image using Imagemagick

Imagemagick is a powerful image manipulation program. This tutorial is about resizing image with Imagemagick.

Resize an image to 500px width.

mogrify -resize 500 image.png

Resize an image to 500x300, with aspect ratio preserved.

mogrify -resize 500x300 image.png

Force resize an image to 500x300.

mogrify -resize 500x300! image.png

Resize multiple images.

mogrify -resize 500x300 *.png

Disable Vista Welcome Center and Sidebar

Disable Windows Vista Welcome Center

1. Click Start, Control Panel.
2. Select Welcome Center.
3. Uncheck the "Run at startup"option, located at the bottom of the Welcome Center screen (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Disable Windows Vista Welcome Center

Disable Windows Vista Sidebar

1. Right click on the Windows Sidebar icon in the system tray.
2. Choose Properties.
3. Uncheck the "Start Sidebar When Windows Starts" checkbox (Figure 2).
4. Click OK.

Figure 2: Disable Windows Vista Sidebar

How to use multiple windows in Vim

This article provides some tips on how to use multiple windows in Vim.

Start Vim with n multiple windows

1. n verticals windows.
   
   vim -On filenames
2. n horizontal windows.
   
   vim -on filenames

Note: n is the number of windows.

Close a window

1. Close the current window.
   
   Ctrl+W c
2. Close the current window. If it is the only window left, quit Vim.
   
   Ctrl+W q

Split a window

1. Split horizontally the current file.
   
   Ctrl+W s
2. Split horizontally and open a file.
   
   :sp filename
3. Split vertically the current file.
   
   Ctrl+W v
4. Split vertically and open a file.
   
   :vsp filename

Move the cursor between windows

1. Move to the right window from the current windows.
   
   Ctrl+W l
2. Move to the left window from the current windows.
   
   Ctrl+W h
3. Move to the top window from the current windows.
   
   Ctrl+W k
4. Move to the bottom window from the current windows.
   
   Ctrl+W j
5. Move to the next window below the current one. If no below window exist, move to the top window.
   
   Ctrl+W w

Rotate windows location

1. Move the current window to the right.
   
   Ctrl+W L
2. Move the current window to the left.
   
   Ctrl+W H
3. Move the current window to the top.
   
   Ctrl+W K
4. Move the current window to the bottom.
   
   Ctrl+W J

Window resizing

Resizing windows can be made by using the mouse as well as the following commands.

1. Make all windows equal in height.
   
   Ctrl+W =
2. Increase height.
   
   Ctrl+W +
3. Decrease height.
   
   Ctrl+W -

Note: Thanks to Ferd T-H, resizing could also be done by using

Ctrl+W < or >

Conclusion

I hope that these commands are enough for you to start using windows in Vim. However, if you know some good command(s) to please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

7 Habits For Effective Text Editing 2.0 video

Tips on using Vim effectively by the main author of Vim, Bram Moolenaar, who writes the core Vim functionality.

Archive and Compress Files Using zip

Zip and unzip are two free command line programs that comes with Linux. For Windows, they can be downloaded from the Info-ZIP Website. This article provides the basic of archiving and compressing files using the command line zip program.

Zip one file

zip filename.zip file_to_compress

Zip multiple files

zip filename.zip file_to_compress1 file_to_compress2 file_to_compress3

Compression options

The compression level ranges from 0 to 9. Level 0 means no compression, 1 compress faster, and 9 compress better. The default is 6.

zip -9 filename.zip file_to_compress

Password protect zip archive

zip -P the_password filename.zip file_to_compress

To be prompted for password instead of specifying the password in the command line, use -e instead of -P.

zip -e filename.zip file_to_compress
Enter password:
Verify password:

Unzip files

unzip filename.zip

Unzip files with informations (verbose mode)

unzip -v filename.zip

List files that will be unzipped

unzip -l filename.zip

Test Files That Will Be Unzipped

unzip -t filename.zip

How to give name to a thumb drive

Each time we plug in a thumb drive, the PC will assign a letter to it. But, what if we plug more than one thumb drive? How are we going to know which one is the one we that want just by looking at the drive letter.

Fortunately, Windows enable us to give the thumb drive a name.

To give the thumb drive a name, right click on the drive letter, and choose Properties.

In the Properties windows, we can change the name, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Properties Windows

How to reopen the last closed tab in Firefox or IE8

The last closed tab in Firefox or Internet Explorer 8 can be reopened using a keyboard shortcut.

If Ctrl+T will open a new tab, to reopen the last closed tab, use Ctrl+Shift+T.

To reopen the second last closed tab, hit Ctrl+Shift+T twice, and so on.

Digsby offline installer

Digsby is an easy to use application for managing all your existing IM, email, and social network accounts.

Supported Chat/IM accounts:  AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber, and Facebook.

Supported emails: Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP, and POP.

Click here to download the latest Digsby offline installer.

How to create a secure, memorable PIN number

Usually people will use their existing numbers, such as telephone number, house number, birth date or social security number as their PIN number for banking. These numbers are easy to remember, nevertheless easy to be broken.

This article will give an idea on how to create a secure, but memorable PIN number.

How to create the PIN number

The technique is so simple. You need to create your own simple algorithm to generate the PIN number, based on the number that you already memorized. In case you forget the PIN number, it can always be generate easily using the algorithm.

An example of algorithm

Let say you want to generate a PIN that consists of six digits.

1. First create the secret number. Think of a 3 digits number that you won’t forget. For example, if you are born in 1965, you can use 965 as the secret number.


2. Use your algorithm to create the PIN number.
   Example: Add the secret number in step 1 with the number one, and multiply it back to itself.
   965 * (965 +  1) = 932190


3. Therefore, your PIN number is 932190.

Different PIN number for different bank

Using this technique, you will have a PIN number that cannot easily be guessed by others. But, what if you want different PIN number for different bank?

You can also create different PIN number for different bank, using the same algorithm and secret number.

Just associate bank1 with 1, bank2 with 2, and bank3 with 3. Then, you can replace the number one in your algorithm with two for bank2 and three for bank3.

Conclusion

This article shows on how to create PIN numbers from one secret number and an algorithm. Using this technique you will only need to remember the secret number, the algorithm and the bank association number.

Windows Defender definition update download

Windows Defender is a free software from Microsoft that helps protect against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer.

This is a link for downloading Windows Defender definition update.

It is useful for manual update, or if the automatic update fails.

Click here to download.

How to displays a list of applications currently running in Windows XP

In Windows XP, tasklist command line tool displays a list of applications and associated tasks/processes currently running on either a local or remote system.

Examples of usage:

1. Lists all tasks that have DLL modules loaded in them that match the given pattern name. If the module name is not specified, displays all modules loaded by each task.
   TASKLIST /M
   Tasks under module that match wbem* such as wbemcomn.dll.
   TASKLIST /M wbem*


2. Specifies that the verbose information is to be displayed.
   TASKLIST /V


3. Displays services in each process.
   TASKLIST /SVC

How to show line number and set tab size in vi or vim

To show line number:

:set number

To stop displaying the line number:

:set nonumber

To set tab size to 4:

:set ts=4

Yahoo! Messenger 9.0.0.2162 offline installer

Yahoo! Messenger offline installer.

Click here to download.

112 useful Windows XP commands

Here is a list of 112 useful Windows XP commands. You can run it from the command prompt, or using the Run command located in the Start menu.

1. Accessibility Controls: access.cpl
2. Add Hardware Wizard: hdwwiz.cpl
3. Add/Remove Programs: appwiz.cpl
4. Administrative Tools: control admintools
5. Automatic Updates: wuaucpl.cpl
6. Bluetooth Transfer Wizard: fsquirt
7. Calculator: calc
8. Certificate Manager: certmgr.msc
9. Character Map: charmap
10. Check Disk Utility: chkdsk
11. Clipboard Viewer: clipbrd
12. Command Prompt: cmd
13. Component Services: dcomcnfg
14. Computer Management: compmgmt.msc
15. Date and Time Properties: timedate.cpl
16. DDE Shares: ddeshare
17. Device Manager: devmgmt.msc
18. Direct X Control Panel: directx.cpl
19. Direct X Troubleshooter: dxdiag
20. Disk Cleanup Utility: cleanmgr
21. Disk Defragment: dfrg.msc
22. Disk Management: diskmgmt.msc
23. Disk Partition Manager: diskpart
24. Display Properties: control desktop
25. Display Properties: desk.cpl
26. Display Properties (Appearence tab): control color
27. Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility: drwtsn32
28. Driver Verifier Utility: verifier
29. Event Viewer: eventvwr.msc
30. File Signature Verification Tool: igverif
31. Findfast: findfast.cpl
32. Folders Properties: control folders
33. Fonts: control fonts
34. Fonts Folder: fonts
35. Free Cell Card Game: freecell
36. Game Controllers: joy.cpl
37. Group Policy Editor: gpedit.msc
38. Hearts Card Game: mshearts
39. Hyper Terminal: hypertrm
40. Iexpress Wizard: iexpress
41. Indexing Service: ciadv.msc
42. Internet Properties: inetcpl.cpl
43. IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration): ipconfig /all
44. IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents): ipconfig /displaydns
45. IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents): ipconfig /flushdns
46. IP Configuration (Release All Connections): ipconfig /release
47. IP Configuration (Renew All Connections): ipconfig /renew
48. IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS): ipconfig /registerdns
49. IP Configuration: ipconfig /showclassid
50. IP Configuration: ipconfig /setclassid
51. ava Control Panel: jpicpl32.cpl
52. Java Control Panel: javaws
53. Keyboard Properties: control keyboard
54. Local Security Settings: secpol.msc
55. Local Users and Groups: lusrmgr.msc
56. Logs You Out Of Windows: logoff
57. Mcft Chat: winchat
58. Minesweeper Game: winmine
59. Mouse Properties: control mouse
60. Mouse Properties: main.cpl
61. Network Connections: control netconnections
62. Network Connections: ncpa.cpl
63. Network Setup Wizard: netsetup.cpl
64. Notepad: notepad
65. Nview Desktop Manager: nvtuicpl.cpl
66. Object Packager: packager
67. ODBC Data Source Administrator: odbccp32.cpl
68. On Screen Keyboard: osk
69. Opens AC3 Filter: ac3filter.cpl
70. Password Properties: password.cpl
71. Performance Monitor: perfmon.msc
72. Performance Monitor: perfmon
73. Phone and Modem Options: telephon.cpl
74. Power Configuration: powercfg.cpl
75. Printers and Faxes: control printers
76. Private Character Editor: eudcedit
77. Quicktime: QuickTime.cpl
78. Regional Settings: intl.cpl
79. Registry Editor: regedit
80. Remote Desktop: mstsc
81. Removable Storage: ntmsmgr.msc
82. Removable Storage Operator Requests: ntmsoprq.msc
83. Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof): rsop.msc
84. Scanners and Cameras: sticpl.cpl
85. Scheduled Tasks: control schedtasks
86. Security Center: wscui.cpl
87. Services: services.msc
88. Shared Folders: fsmgmt.msc
89. Shuts Down Windows: shutdown
90. Sounds and Audio: mmsys.cpl
91. Spider Solitare Card Game: spider
92. SQL Client Configuration: cliconfg
93. System Configuration Editor: sysedit
94. System Configuration Utility: msconfig
95. System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately): sfc /scannow
96. System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot): sfc /scanonce
97. System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot): sfc /scanboot
98. System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting): sfc /revert
99. System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache): sfc /purgecache
100. System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x): sfc /cachesize=x
101. System Properties: sysdm.cpl
102. Task Manager: taskmgr
103. Telnet Client: telnet
104. User Account Management: nusrmgr.cpl
105. Utility Manager: utilman
106. Windows Firewall: firewall.cpl
107. Windows Magnifier: magnify
108. Windows Management Infrastructure: wmimgmt.msc
109. Windows System Security Tool: syskey
110. Windows Update Launches: wupdmgr
111. Windows XP Tour Wizard: tourstart
112. Wordpad: write

Dr.Web CureIT! free and portable virus removal

Dr.Web CureIt! is a free and portable, anti-virus and anti-spyware utility for Microsoft Windows, which will help you quickly scan and cure, based on the Dr.Web Anti-virus.

Dr.Web CureIt! detects and removes Rootkits, Mass-mailing worms, E-mail viruses, Peer-to-peer viruses, Internet worms, File viruses, Trojans, Stealth viruses, Polymorphic viruses, Bodiless viruses, Macro viruses, MS Office viruses, Script viruses, Spyware, Spybots, Password stealers, Keyloggers, Paid Dialers, Adware, Riskware, Hacktools, Backdoors, Joke programs, Malicious scripts and Other malware.

Click here to download.