6 mistakes new Windows administrators make

#1: Trying to change everything all at once
When you come into a new job, or start working with a new technology, you may have all sorts of bright ideas. If you're new to the workplace, you immediately hone in on those things that your predecessors were (or seem to have been) doing wrong. You're full of all the best practices and tips and tricks that you learned in school. If you're an experienced administrator coming from a different environment, you may be set in your ways and want to do things the way you did them before, rather than taking advantage of features of the new OS. Either way, you're likely to cause yourself a great deal of grief. The best bet for someone new to Windows networking (or to any other job, for that matter) is give yourself time to adapt, observe and learn, and proceed slowly. You'll make your own job easier in the long run and make more friends (or at least fewer enemies) that way.
#2: Overestimating the technical expertise of end users
Many new administrators expect users to have a better understanding of the technology than they do. Don't assume that end users realize the importance of security, or that they will be able to accurately describe the errors they're getting, or that they know what you mean when you tell them to perform a simple (to you) task such as going to Device Manager and checking the status of the sound card. Many people in the business world use computers every day but know very little about them beyond how to operate a few specific applications. If you get frustrated with them, or make them feel stupid, most of them will try to avoid calling you when there's a problem. Instead they'll ignore it (if they can) or worse, try to fix it themselves. That means the problem may be far worse when you finally do become aware of it.
#3: Underestimating the technical expertise of end users
Although the above applies to many of your users, most companies will have at least a few who are advanced computer hobbyists and know a lot about technology. They're the ones who will come up with inventive workarounds to circumvent the restrictions you put in place if those restrictions inconvenience them. Most of these users aren't malicious; they just resent having someone else in control of their computer use - especially if you treat them as if they don't know anything. The best tactic with these users is to show them that you respect their skills, seek out their input, and let them know the reasons for the rules and restrictions. Point out that even a topnotch racecar driver who has demonstrated the ability to safely handle a vehicle at high speed must abide by the speed limits on the public roads, and it's not because you doubt his/her technology skills that you must insist on everyone following the rules.
#4: Not turning on auditing
Windows Server operating systems have built-in security auditing, but it's not enabled by default. It's also not one of the best documented features, so some administrators fail to take advantage of it. And that's a shame, because with the auditing features, you can keep track of logon attempts, access to files and other objects, and directory service access.
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) auditing has been enhanced in Windows Server 2008 and can be done more granularly now. Without either the built-in auditing or third-party auditing software running, it can be almost impossible to pinpoint and analyze what happened in a security breach.
#5: Not keeping systems updated
This one ought to be a no- brainer: Keeping your servers and client machines patched with the latest security updates can go a long way toward preventing downtime, data loss, and other consequences of malware and attacks. Yet many administrators fall behind, and their networks are running systems that aren't properly patched. This happens for several reasons. Understaffed and overworked IT departments just may not get around to applying patches as soon as they're released. After all, it's not always a matter of "just doing it" - everyone knows that some updates can break things, bringing your whole network to a stop. Thus it's prudent to check out new patches in a testbed environment that simulates the applications and configurations of your production network. However, that takes time - time you may not have. Automating the processes as much as possible can help you keep those updates flowing. Have your test network ready each month, for instance, before Microsoft releases its regular patches. Use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or other tools to simplify and automate the process once you've decided that a patch is safe to apply. And don't forget that applications - not just the operating system - need to be kept updated, too.
#6: Getting sloppy about security
Many administrators enforce best security practices for their users but get sloppy when it comes to their own workstations. For example, IT pros who would never allow users to run XP every day logged on with administrative accounts think nothing about running as administrators themselves while doing routine work that doesn't require that level of privileges.

How to use data validation in Excel

In Excel we usually find a situation wherein we want to limit the values of certain fields. This tip is useful if you want to standardize a certain field and limit it to a few predefined values.
For example, we want a gender field to have only one of the two values: "MALE" or "FEMALE".
Instead of letting users type "MALE" or "FEMALE" we can provide a dropdown like field to make sure we won't type other information:
As an added validation, Excel will also prompt you if you inputted a value other than the options provided:
This is what we call data validation in Excel. So how do we do that? First position your cursor on the field that you want to add data validation. Then click the Data menu and then Validation:
The Validation dialog box will appear, enter the list of choices delimited by comma on the "source" field, check in-cell dropdown option, choose "list" on the "Allow" field:
You can also apply the data validation rule to a column or row or even a few selected cells. With data validation, you can be assured that there are no invalid data inside your spreadsheet.

Top 20 Windows 7 tips,tricks,tweaks and secrets [part 1]

The Latest OS release Windows 7 is very much cool and faster than all of the previous windows versions.
Like the Previous Windows OS there are many secrets,tips,tricks,tweaks and hacks but the top 20 secrets which we 300allpctips recommend to 7 users are as follows.
1)Fix the Clutter:
Remove all background windows while running/using a document by just pressing WIN+HOME keepong the window while ur in the current position,to restore the background windows press WIN+HOME again.
2)Problem Steps Recorder(PSR):
PSR is a great little tool in Windows 7 used for recording the steps to reproduce a problem in the computer. The captured data is stored in a MHTML document which is enclosed in a zip file. You can send the zip file to someone else who can help you fix the problem.


The Problem Steps Recorder provides a simple screen capture tool that enables you to record a series of actions. Once you hit "record", it tracks your mouse and keyboard and captures screenshots with any comments you choose to associate alongside them. Once you stop recording, it saves the whole thing to a ZIP file, containing an HTML-based "slide show" of the steps. It's a really neat little tool and I can't wait for it to become ubiquitous on every desktop! The program is called psr.exe ; you can also search for it from Control Panel under "Record steps to reproduce a problem".
3)Running with Elevated Rights: Want to quickly launch a taskbar-docked application as an administrator? It's easy - hold down Ctrl+Shift while you click on the icon, and you'll immediately launch it with full administrative rights (assuming your account has the necessary permissions, of course!)
4) Keyboard shortcuts :
Windows 7 has several useful new keyboard shortcuts.
Alt+P ->Display/ hide the Explorer preview pane
Windows Logo+G ->Display gadgets in front of other windows
Windows Logo++ (plus key) - >Zoom in, where appropriate
Windows Logo+- (minus key) - >Zoom out, where appropriate
Windows Logo+Up ->Maximise the current window
Windows Logo+Down ->Minimise the current window
Windows Logo+Left ->Snap to the left hand side of the screen
Windows Logo+Right ->Snap to the right hand side of the screen
Windows Logo+Home ->Minimise/ restore everything except the current window
Shift + Click on icon ->Open a new instance
Middle click on icon ->Open a new instance
Ctrl + Shift + Click on icon - >Open a new instance with Admin privileges
Shift + Right-click on icon - >Show window menu (Restore / Minimize / Move / etc) Note: Normally you can just right-click on the window thumbnail to get this menu
Shift + Right-click on grouped icon ->Menu with Restore All / Minimize All / Close All, etc.
Ctrl + Click on grouped icon - >Cycle between the windows (or tabs) in the group
5) Display your drives :
My Computer in Windows 7 hides drives like memory card readers etc.. if they're empty.We think it's helpfull and an improvement, but if you disagree then launch Explorer, click Tools > Folder Options > View and clear "Hide empty drives in the computer folder" to get your empty drives back.
6) Burn images: ISO images can be burned into CD/DVD Drives in windows 7,To burn an ISO Just double-click the ISO image, choose the drive with the blank disc, click Burn and watch as your disc is created.


7)Windows Movie Maker: Windows 7 doesn't include a movie editing tool - it's been moved to the Windows Live Essentials package, along with Photo Gallery, Mail and Messenger. Unfortunately, Windows Live Movie Maker is currently still in an early beta that is missing most of the old feature set.best solution for this is to use Windows Movie Maker 2.6 (which is essentially the same as the most recent update to the Windows XP version). It's missing the full set of effects and transitions from the Windows Vista version, and doesn't support HD editing, but it's pretty functional for the typical usage scenario of home movie editing.


Download Windows Movie Maker 2.6 from here:
http://microsoft.com/download s/details.aspx?FamilyID=d6 ba 5972-328 e-4 df7-8 f9 d-068 fc0 f80cfc
8) Protect your MP3 files :
Along with many good new features, the Windows 7 beta also includes a nasty bug. Its version of Windows Media Player 12 will automatically add missing metadata, including album art, and this can overwrite the first few seconds of the file. Oops. Installing an update may fix this (from http://300 allpctips.blogspot.com/2009 /01 /kb 961367 -windows-7 -beta- wmp-12-corrupt.html ) but it would be a very good idea to back up your MP3 files, too.
9)System Repair Disc: There are always in Bad times when you're in a really bad spot - you can't boot up properly, and what you really want is something you can quickly use to get at a command prompt so you can properly troubleshoot. Windows 7 now includes the ability to create a system repair disc, which is essentially a CD- bootable version of Windows that just includes the command prompt and a suite of system tools. Just type "system repair disc" in the Start Menu search box, and you'll be led to the utility.
Read part 2 to continue

Breaking the Restrictions of the Administrator

This works on WIn 2000 & WIN XP.
Dis can be used to gain access to the website you want to
for free, and how you can gain access to 'control panel', and the various
other tools of Widows that may have been blocked from your grasp like 'regedit' by the administrator. IT can be used in schools & colleges..
When u are at the log on screen, type in your username and
password. NOW When you hit enter, and it comes up with
the next screen, the rectangle one, immediatly pull out the network
cable i.e. the cable wire.
Now u can log on without any restrictions because when the cable is pulled off then it does not download any settings from the server. Now you have access to control panel, & all the other features which had been blocked BUT there will be no
network access. But that's cool because now we can access 'Internet options',
click in the 'connections' tab click the LAN settings, click the proxy
settings, and in the little white box at the bottom we can specify websites
that bypass the proxy server (eg www.yahoo.com) Now once you have changed
the settings to what you wish, apply them and restart the computer. Now get someone else to log onto it because if you log in it will load the cached settings from your previous log in, then after the other person logs in, everyone that logs in after them included themselves will have the
internet settings you specified.
Its only an 'Unplugging technique' to gain access to a comp. locked by the administrator.
Now you can gain access to msconfig, regedit, command etc disable the virus scanner, or to install a trojan or a virus according to u're will..
XP HOME ADVANCED FILE PERMISSIONS.!!
Access *Advance file Permissions* on NTFS file systems for XP Home simply by booting into *Safe Mode*, rt-clicking any file or folder, and navigating to the *Security tab*. This gives the user the ability to allow or deny read, write, execute, read & write, display contents, full-control, iheritance, and take ownership permissions, with many more options available to apply to different users and groups stored on the computer. Well, you don't have to do this in *Safe Mode* (XP Home). Although it is a little less intuitive, you can simply go to your command prompt - Start>All Programs>Accessories> Command Prompt. Now type "cacls" in the window (without the quotes). This gives you the ability to add, remove or modify file permissions on files and folders through the command prompt. Type "cacls /?" for help on different options and variables. You do not need to be in safe mode to use this so it makes it a little quicker than using the safe mode security tab GUI. Remember - this only applies to NTFS. Here also is a very useful link to find a lot of extras and tweaks straight from the horse's mouth - the Microsoft Resource Center. You will find a lot of very useful web-based extra's here, most of them left unknowing to the general public - such as, "Online Crash Analysis" - a site that looks like Windows Update but you can upload your crash "dump logs" (when you get those system or application crash error reports). Microsoft will then analyze the log file and tell you some more info about WHY the system crashed (ie. faulty hardware/software/confl icts, etc).