Windows 7
Windows 7 God Modes
29/01/10 11:08
In Windows 7, there are a whole bunch of shortcuts you can build to really useful places such as a Monster Control Panel, and other useful links that will save you a lot of searching.
To get access to these “God Modes”, all you need to do is open a “cmd” Command Prompt window, and paste in this bunch of commands:
cd \
mkdir GodModes
cd GodModes
mkdir "Monster Control Panel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}"
mkdir "Enter a default location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}"
mkdir "Use biometric devices with Windows.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}"
mkdir "Select a power plan.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}"
mkdir "Select which icons and notifications appear on taskbar.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}"
mkdir "Store credentials for automatic logon.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}"
mkdir "Install a program from the network.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}"
mkdir "Choose the programs that Windows uses by default.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}"
mkdir "Assembly Cache Viewer.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}"
mkdir "Manage wireless networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}"
mkdir "Network.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "Devices and Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}"
mkdir "Windows Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}"
mkdir "Windows Explorer.{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}"
mkdir "System.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}”
Then just open “Computer” from the Start Menu, double click on C: then on “GodModes” and you will see the list. Double click on any one of them to see what it can do for you!
To get access to these “God Modes”, all you need to do is open a “cmd” Command Prompt window, and paste in this bunch of commands:
cd \
mkdir GodModes
cd GodModes
mkdir "Monster Control Panel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}"
mkdir "Enter a default location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}"
mkdir "Use biometric devices with Windows.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}"
mkdir "Select a power plan.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}"
mkdir "Select which icons and notifications appear on taskbar.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}"
mkdir "Store credentials for automatic logon.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}"
mkdir "Install a program from the network.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}"
mkdir "Choose the programs that Windows uses by default.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}"
mkdir "Assembly Cache Viewer.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}"
mkdir "Manage wireless networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}"
mkdir "Network.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "Devices and Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}"
mkdir "RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}"
mkdir "Windows Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}"
mkdir "Windows Explorer.{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}"
mkdir "System.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}”
Then just open “Computer” from the Start Menu, double click on C: then on “GodModes” and you will see the list. Double click on any one of them to see what it can do for you!
Comments
Installing Windows 7
25/09/09 16:14
This is a highly-polished installation of Windows 7. It has been used mostly on Dell laptops, but is not hardware-specific at all. This will produce a very nice, usable installation of Windows 7 containing the basic software that most people need for everyday office and travel use.
Customising a Windows 7 Enterprise Installation
Boot off Windows 7 Enterprise DVD
Choose English (United Kingdom)
Custom install
Advanced drive options, delete all partitions
Leave it to install
User account
- Username "User"
- Computer name: "Dell " + the model number
- Password "password"
Updates
- Use recommended settings
Time Zone
- UTC
Wireless Network (if presented)
- Use ECS-WLAN, tick "Start this connection automatically"
- Work Network
Start / Computer / Properties
- / Advanced / Computer Name - Change suffix to ecs.soton.ac.uk
- / Remote - Untick Allow Remote Assistance Connections
ECS VPN
- staffvpn.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Name "ECS vpn"
- Allow other people to use
- Don't Connect
- No username or password, leave all blank
Start Menu Properties
- Power button: Hibernate
- Untick "Store and disp... and the taskbar"
- Customize
- Control Panel - menu
- no Default Programs
- no Music
- no Open submenus when I pause
- no Pictures
- yes Run Command
- System Administrative Tools on All Programs menu
- Toolbar tab
- no Lock the taskbar
- Notification area: customise and Always show all icons
Control Panel / Personalization
- Window color / Advanced Appearance settings
- Border Padding = 0
- Active Title Bar = minimum allowed
- Desktop background
- Picture location = Top Rated Photos
- Untick all except penguins
- Left-hand pane / Change desktop icons
- Hide all
Control Panel / Action Center
- Left-hand pane / Change User Account Control settings
- Change to bottom level + 1
Control Panel / Autoplay
- no Use AutoPlay for all media and devices
Control Panel / Folder Options
- Navigation Pane / yes Show all folders
- View tab
- Hidden files and folders - Show hidden files
- no Hide Empty Drives
- no Hide Extentions
- no Hide protected operating systems files
Control Panel / Internet Options
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Search / Settings...
- Find more search providers...
- IE8
- yes Use Suggested sites
- yes Use express settings
- Search the gallery for "google"
- Search with Google United Kingdom
- Add to Internet Explorer
- Google Search Suggestions
- Add to Internet Explorer
- yes Make this my default
- yes Use search suggestions
- Close IE
- yes Prevent Programs
- Tabs / Settings...
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes Always switch to new tabs
- yes Always open pop-ups in a new tab
- Security tab
- Custom level
- Display mixed contents = Enable (just over half way down)
- Programs tab
- HTML Editor = Notepad
Control Panel / Power Options
- Require a password on wakeup
- When I press the power button = hibernate, Shut down
- Change settings that are currently unavailable
- Don't require a password
- Choose when to turn off the display
- Plugged in = never, never, never
Control Panel / Programs and Features
- Turn Windows features on or off
- Printing and Document Services
- no Internet Printing Client
- no Windows Fax and Scan
- no Remote Differential Compression
- no Tablet PC Components
- yes Telnet Client
- no Windows Gadget Platform
- no XPS Services
- Restart later.
Control Panel / User Accounts
- Change your picture
- Choose the kitten
Restart Windows.
Start Windows Explorer
- Organise / Layout / Menu bar
- find Recycle Bin / Properties
- no Display delete confirmation dialog
Firefox
- www.mozilla.com
- Standard Install
- yes Launch on completion
- Don't import anything
- Tools / Options
- Main
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Tabs
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes When I open a new tab
- Quit Firefox
- Quit and restart IE
- When it asks about being default browser
- no Always perform this Check
- Click "No" button
- Right-click on Favorites bar and untick the Favorites bar
Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- Allow the add-on to install
Adobe Flash Player
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- At end of installation manager, Firefox will start and need to install Flash plug-in.
- Quit Firefox and IE
Office 2007
- Install from DVD
- Get activation code from https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Thump the big Install button
Sophos
- Use IE to go to www.sophos.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Install and run "Sophos 7 Remote Installer for Windows" (35MB)
- Allow to put temporary files in c:\savwsa
- In user details page of wizard:
- Address = http://www.update.ecs.soton.ac.uk/esxp/
- Username = ecs2000\your-username
- Password = your-Password
- no Access the update source via a proxy
- yes Remote third-party security software
- Right-click tiny Sophos taskbar icon and "Update now"
Putty
- Google for "putty" and download Putty, pscp, psftp & pageant
- Download into C:\Users\User\Downloads
- Move then into C:\Windows
- Right-click Putty.exe, paste a shortcut in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs
- Rename shortcut to "Putty"
Device drivers
- Open Device Manager
- Check for unknown devices
- If mouse is just a PS/2 mouse, get Vista driver from www.synaptics.com
- Dell Mini 12 Vista drivers often work on a Windows 7 Dell Mini 9
- You can only download 1 driver at once from Dell!
- Download any drivers necessary from www.dell.co.uk to make all unknowns vanish
- Install ControlPoint if necessary to make fingerprint reader work
Control Panel / Folder Options
- View tab, yes Don't show hidden files, folders or Drives
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Check for updates
- Optional Updates
- Don't install Windows Live Essentials or any Language Packs
- Install all other updates
- After updates are complete, retry if any failed
- Restart Windows
- Check for updates again and install all new updates (there will be some)
- Rinse and repeat until no new updates are found
Control Panel / System
- Change product key (right at the bottom)
- Get activation code
- Staff: https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Students: Microsoft e-Academy
- That will activate Windows
- System Protection (left pane of window)
- Configure... / Delete
Taskbar
- Right-click on Windows Media and IE in the taskbar and "unpin"
- Firefox and Outlook
- Right-click on them in the Start menu
- Pin to taskbar
- Make order (left to right) Start, Firefox, Outlook, Windows Explorer
Start Menu
- Right-click Firefox and "Pin to Start Menu"
- Right-click Outlook and "Pin to Start Menu"
Clean Up
- Start menu
- Right-click on each icon, select "Remove from this menu" for most
- Leave only Getting Started, Connect to a Projector
- Control Panel / Internet options
- Browsing history / Delete... / tick all boxes
- Firefox
- Tools / Clear Recent History... / Everything
- Desktop
- Delete all icons, files and directories
- Filesystem
- Delete C:\Dell, C:\savwsa, C:\PerfLogs
- Windows update
- Start / Administrative Tools / Services
- Stop "Windows Update"
- Delete the whole of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Start "Windows Update"
- Recycle Bin
- Empty Recycle Bin
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Optional Updates
- Right-click on each Language Pack and "Hide update"
- Okay and close window
Restart the PC
Backup system image to external hard disk (Control Panel / Backup and Restore / Create a system image), having checked there is no "WindowsImageBackup" dir in the root directory. If there is, first move it back to its home in a sub-dir if present. Backup will create a new "WindowsImageBackup" directory in the root directory of the external disk.
You're done!
Customising a Windows 7 Enterprise Installation
Boot off Windows 7 Enterprise DVD
Choose English (United Kingdom)
Custom install
Advanced drive options, delete all partitions
Leave it to install
User account
- Username "User"
- Computer name: "Dell " + the model number
- Password "password"
Updates
- Use recommended settings
Time Zone
- UTC
Wireless Network (if presented)
- Use ECS-WLAN, tick "Start this connection automatically"
- Work Network
Start / Computer / Properties
- / Advanced / Computer Name - Change suffix to ecs.soton.ac.uk
- / Remote - Untick Allow Remote Assistance Connections
ECS VPN
- staffvpn.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Name "ECS vpn"
- Allow other people to use
- Don't Connect
- No username or password, leave all blank
Start Menu Properties
- Power button: Hibernate
- Untick "Store and disp... and the taskbar"
- Customize
- Control Panel - menu
- no Default Programs
- no Music
- no Open submenus when I pause
- no Pictures
- yes Run Command
- System Administrative Tools on All Programs menu
- Toolbar tab
- no Lock the taskbar
- Notification area: customise and Always show all icons
Control Panel / Personalization
- Window color / Advanced Appearance settings
- Border Padding = 0
- Active Title Bar = minimum allowed
- Desktop background
- Picture location = Top Rated Photos
- Untick all except penguins
- Left-hand pane / Change desktop icons
- Hide all
Control Panel / Action Center
- Left-hand pane / Change User Account Control settings
- Change to bottom level + 1
Control Panel / Autoplay
- no Use AutoPlay for all media and devices
Control Panel / Folder Options
- Navigation Pane / yes Show all folders
- View tab
- Hidden files and folders - Show hidden files
- no Hide Empty Drives
- no Hide Extentions
- no Hide protected operating systems files
Control Panel / Internet Options
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Search / Settings...
- Find more search providers...
- IE8
- yes Use Suggested sites
- yes Use express settings
- Search the gallery for "google"
- Search with Google United Kingdom
- Add to Internet Explorer
- Google Search Suggestions
- Add to Internet Explorer
- yes Make this my default
- yes Use search suggestions
- Close IE
- yes Prevent Programs
- Tabs / Settings...
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes Always switch to new tabs
- yes Always open pop-ups in a new tab
- Security tab
- Custom level
- Display mixed contents = Enable (just over half way down)
- Programs tab
- HTML Editor = Notepad
Control Panel / Power Options
- Require a password on wakeup
- When I press the power button = hibernate, Shut down
- Change settings that are currently unavailable
- Don't require a password
- Choose when to turn off the display
- Plugged in = never, never, never
Control Panel / Programs and Features
- Turn Windows features on or off
- Printing and Document Services
- no Internet Printing Client
- no Windows Fax and Scan
- no Remote Differential Compression
- no Tablet PC Components
- yes Telnet Client
- no Windows Gadget Platform
- no XPS Services
- Restart later.
Control Panel / User Accounts
- Change your picture
- Choose the kitten
Restart Windows.
Start Windows Explorer
- Organise / Layout / Menu bar
- find Recycle Bin / Properties
- no Display delete confirmation dialog
Firefox
- www.mozilla.com
- Standard Install
- yes Launch on completion
- Don't import anything
- Tools / Options
- Main
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Tabs
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes When I open a new tab
- Quit Firefox
- Quit and restart IE
- When it asks about being default browser
- no Always perform this Check
- Click "No" button
- Right-click on Favorites bar and untick the Favorites bar
Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- Allow the add-on to install
Adobe Flash Player
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- At end of installation manager, Firefox will start and need to install Flash plug-in.
- Quit Firefox and IE
Office 2007
- Install from DVD
- Get activation code from https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Thump the big Install button
Sophos
- Use IE to go to www.sophos.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Install and run "Sophos 7 Remote Installer for Windows" (35MB)
- Allow to put temporary files in c:\savwsa
- In user details page of wizard:
- Address = http://www.update.ecs.soton.ac.uk/esxp/
- Username = ecs2000\your-username
- Password = your-Password
- no Access the update source via a proxy
- yes Remote third-party security software
- Right-click tiny Sophos taskbar icon and "Update now"
Putty
- Google for "putty" and download Putty, pscp, psftp & pageant
- Download into C:\Users\User\Downloads
- Move then into C:\Windows
- Right-click Putty.exe, paste a shortcut in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs
- Rename shortcut to "Putty"
Device drivers
- Open Device Manager
- Check for unknown devices
- If mouse is just a PS/2 mouse, get Vista driver from www.synaptics.com
- Dell Mini 12 Vista drivers often work on a Windows 7 Dell Mini 9
- You can only download 1 driver at once from Dell!
- Download any drivers necessary from www.dell.co.uk to make all unknowns vanish
- Install ControlPoint if necessary to make fingerprint reader work
Control Panel / Folder Options
- View tab, yes Don't show hidden files, folders or Drives
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Check for updates
- Optional Updates
- Don't install Windows Live Essentials or any Language Packs
- Install all other updates
- After updates are complete, retry if any failed
- Restart Windows
- Check for updates again and install all new updates (there will be some)
- Rinse and repeat until no new updates are found
Control Panel / System
- Change product key (right at the bottom)
- Get activation code
- Staff: https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Students: Microsoft e-Academy
- That will activate Windows
- System Protection (left pane of window)
- Configure... / Delete
Taskbar
- Right-click on Windows Media and IE in the taskbar and "unpin"
- Firefox and Outlook
- Right-click on them in the Start menu
- Pin to taskbar
- Make order (left to right) Start, Firefox, Outlook, Windows Explorer
Start Menu
- Right-click Firefox and "Pin to Start Menu"
- Right-click Outlook and "Pin to Start Menu"
Clean Up
- Start menu
- Right-click on each icon, select "Remove from this menu" for most
- Leave only Getting Started, Connect to a Projector
- Control Panel / Internet options
- Browsing history / Delete... / tick all boxes
- Firefox
- Tools / Clear Recent History... / Everything
- Desktop
- Delete all icons, files and directories
- Filesystem
- Delete C:\Dell, C:\savwsa, C:\PerfLogs
- Windows update
- Start / Administrative Tools / Services
- Stop "Windows Update"
- Delete the whole of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Start "Windows Update"
- Recycle Bin
- Empty Recycle Bin
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Optional Updates
- Right-click on each Language Pack and "Hide update"
- Okay and close window
Restart the PC
Backup system image to external hard disk (Control Panel / Backup and Restore / Create a system image), having checked there is no "WindowsImageBackup" dir in the root directory. If there is, first move it back to its home in a sub-dir if present. Backup will create a new "WindowsImageBackup" directory in the root directory of the external disk.
You're done!
vSphere Client will not Run on Windows 7
23/09/09 20:08
When you start the vSphere Client on Windows 7, you get an error about it being unable to read the "clients.xml" file, followed by an another error "The type initializer for "VirtualInfrastructure.Utils.HttpWebRequestProxy" threw an exception".
The workaround is this:
You can now use the VpxClient.cmd (or the shortcut) to launch the vSphere client in Windows 7.
This workaround bypasses the normal .NET Framework loading mechanism. Assembly versions found in the DEVPATH folder are not checked.
The workaround is this:
- Create a folder (e.g. Lib) in the Windows 7 machine where the vSphere client is installed (%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\).
- Obtain a copy of %SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\System.dll from a non-Windows 7 machine that has .NET 3.5 SP1 installed. Copy this file into the folder created in Step 1.
- In the vSphere client launcher directory, open the VpxClient.exe.config file in a text editor and add a <runtime> element and a <developmentMode> element within the <configuration> element. Save the file.
- <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
...
<runtime>
<developmentMode developerInstallation="true"/>
</runtime>
</configuration>
- Create a batch file (e.g. VpxClient.cmd) in a suitable location (e.g. Desktop). In this file add a command to set the DEVPATH environment variable to the folder where you copied the System.dll assembly in step 2 and a second command to launch the vSphere client. Save the file.
- SET DEVPATH=%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib
"%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe"
You can now use the VpxClient.cmd (or the shortcut) to launch the vSphere client in Windows 7.
This workaround bypasses the normal .NET Framework loading mechanism. Assembly versions found in the DEVPATH folder are not checked.
Upgrading Windows 7 from Beta to Release Candidate
07/05/09 09:37
This is actually very easy.
Copy all the files from the Release Candidate DVD into a directory on your hard disk. Go into that directory, look in the “sources” sub-directory for a file “cversion.ini”.
Change the line
MinClient=7100.0
to
MinClient=6900.0
and save it.
Burn a new DVD from the directory containing everything, and use that to upgrade your Windows 7 Beta system to Windows 7 Release Candidate.
This information is available officially from Microsoft, but I forget where.
Copy all the files from the Release Candidate DVD into a directory on your hard disk. Go into that directory, look in the “sources” sub-directory for a file “cversion.ini”.
Change the line
MinClient=7100.0
to
MinClient=6900.0
and save it.
Burn a new DVD from the directory containing everything, and use that to upgrade your Windows 7 Beta system to Windows 7 Release Candidate.
This information is available officially from Microsoft, but I forget where.