More user options with User Account Control in Windows 7 Beta

User Account Control settings In the Windows 7 Control Panel, you can find a new tool called User Account Control Settings that is accessible from both the Action Center and User Accounts. (The Action Center is essentially a combination of Vista's Security Center and a new Maintenance interface that includes backup and troubleshooting tools.) When you access User Account Control Settings, as shown in Figure A , you'll see that the main control is a slider bar that allows you to choose one of four different UAC levels. Let's begin by looking at the default setting.
Figure A



The new Windows 7 User Account Control Settings allow you to choose one of four different UAC levels.
The Default level
As you can see here, the Default setting is on the second level down. At this level, UAC notifications and the Secure Desktop will appear only when programs try to make changes to your computer that require administrator-level permissions. You will not see UAC notifications when you try to make changes to Windows settings that require administrator-level permissions. This setting provides a medium level of security and will more than likely be satisfactory to most users. For example, at this level I can open and run such things as Computer Management or Disk Defragmenter without encountering a UAC. However, when I launched the AVG antivirus and the installation program launched, Windows 7 displayed the UAC notification shown in Figure B , and the Secure Desktop locked down the system - the desktop dimmed and was inaccessible.
Figure B



At the new default UAC level, notifications will appear when programs try to make any changes to your computer that require administrator-level permissions.
The Always Notify level
The first level is labeled Always Notify and is shown in Figure C . Of course this level represents the default setting used in Windows Vista. At this level, UAC notifications and the Secure Desktop will appear when either programs or you try to make changes to your computer that require administrator-level permissions.
Figure C



The Always Notify level is like the default UAC in Windows Vista.
The Notification-Only level
The third level, as shown in Figure D , is called Notification- Only and works similarly to the default level except that the Secure Desktop is disabled. In other words, when programs try to make changes to your computer that require administrator-level permissions, UAC notifications will appear, but the desktop will not be locked down - no dimming will occur and the desktop will be accessible. You will not see UAC notifications when you try to make changes to Windows settings that require administrator-level permissions.
Figure D



This level disables the Secure Desktop.
The Never Notify level
At the fourth level setting, designated as Never Notify, as shown in Figure E , UAC is completely disabled. You will never receive UAC notifications nor encounter the Secure Desktop.
Figure E



You can disable UAC completely.
Administrator account needed
If you are logged on with a Standard user account and access the User Account Control Settings interface, you will only be able to select and enable the Always Notify level. If you select either the third or fourth levels, you'll see a warning message at the bottom of the window, as shown in Figure F . You'll also notice that the OK button is not accessible.
Figure F



When logged on with a Standard user account, you cannot select the third or fourth levels in User Account Control Settings.
What's your take?
If you've used Vista, chances are that this is the type of UAC that you've always wanted. What's your take on UAC?

Showing Super Hidden Files In Windows Vista

Windows Vista Tips To show Windows Vista "super hidden" files, that is, those files that are normally hidden from the user, you'll need to accesss the registry editor. To turn on (or off) super hidden files: (make sure you backup the registry before making changes)
Click the Start Button , type "regedit" (Registry Editor) in the search box, and press Enter
Click Continue to get past the User Account Control hurdle
On the left panel, double-click to navigate to the key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVe rsion\Explorer\Advanced
On the right panel, double-click on Superhidden
In the Value Data box, change the value to " 1 "
Click OK
Exit the Registry Editor
Restart your machine for the changes to take effect

Cleanup Files After Upgrading to SP1 in vista

During the upgrade to SP1, Vista makes a backup of all the files it is upgrading. This is in case you want to uninstall SP1 for any reason.
If you have no problems with SP1 and want to remove the backup files , run: vsp1cln.exe You will be prompted if you want to remove the files. Simply press the Y key.

Change Windows Vista Power Button Setting to shut down

In vista you would find the default action for the power button on the start menu is 'Sleep'. It simply puts the computer in low power staterather than shutting it all together.But this may not be necessary or useful for everyone.You may want to the system to shut down directly on clicking the power button rather than making it Sleep.To change this setting simply follow the following steps below-1 . click 'StartControl Panel' 2 . In the control panel, double click the 'Power Options ' window. 3 . click the 'Change Plan Settings ' link below the Power saver radio button. 4. click the 'Change Advanced power settings link 5 . expand the 'Power Buttons and lid ' setting. 6 . Expand the Power button action ' and 'Start menu power button ' options. 7. Click 'Setting' and select the 'Shut down' option from the drop down list.
8. Once done click 'Ok' Now your system will get 'shut down' instead of 'Sleep' when you ll press power Button.

Challenge - Customize Notification Icons in vista

Suppose some of the icons in your Notification Area (Systray) are annoying you and consequently you want to hide them. My challenge is can you find the Properties sheet for the Notification Area? One trap is to click too far to the left and select the Properties sheet for the Taskbar, another trap is click on the actual speaker icon instead of on a vacant black area.Once you spring up the menu shown to the right, you can select Customize Notification Icons directly from the short cut menu. Alternatively, you can select Properties and then Customize Icons. To fulfil my objective, we can now focus on the 'Behavior' Column and choose to 'Hide'. Repeat this last sequence for each of the Notification Icons that annoy you.

New vista shortcuts which u dont Know

+d. Which display's the desktop.

+e is for Explorer and Windows Key


+r launches the Run dialog box.

+L is switch user or user exit
New Vista Shortcuts


+u activates the Ease of Use Center. (Used for turning ON/OFF Narrator or Magnify).

+t cycles through programs in Taskbar

+ Tab activates the new Vista feature called Flip 3 -D.New keyboards r having a special key dedicated to this Flip 3 - D.This feature is addition to Alt +Tab.


+g switches b/w Gadgets.

+spacebar brings Gadgets to front.

+x cycles thought the Mobility Center.

+a All Programs


F8 to Shutdown computer


F6 to Restart computer


F4 to Log Off


+d Desktop


+e Explorer


+f Search (Find)


+g Gadgets


+l Lock workstation


+m Minimise


+r Run Command (Try with '\' backspace)


+t Quick Launch (Taskbar)


+u Ease of Access Center


+x Mobility Center


+ Tab Flip 3-d feature


+Pause / Break key System Tabs

How to create screensaver shortcuts in Vista

Shortcuts in Windows are good,they save time and also are cool.Just think instead of clicking many times,you can accomplish specific tasks in a single click or a single hot key,wouldn't that increase productivity? Let us take a look at how to make a shortcut to launch any screensaver in Vista.In Windows,screensavers are having the file extension.scr.These files are located in Windows\system32 folder.


If you want a quick look at what kind of.scr files are there,navigate to command prompt ( Start > run > cmd) and type cd /windows/system32.
Once in the system folder,list the scr files with dir *.scr Suppose,I want to make a shortcut to launch the cool Aurora screensaver directly from my desktop.To do this,I create a shortcut that simply points to that particular.scr file. To make a new shortcut,right click on desktop (that's where I want the shortcut) and select New > Shortcut.


The path should be
%systemroot%\system32\Aur ora.scr /s


Name the shortcut and it will show up on the desktop.


To see if it is working,simply double click on it and screensaver will launch. All done...

Hack Windows Vista Admin/Administrator Account password.

Please take note that this handy tip is intended to recover/regain a forgotten Vista Administrator password. It is not intended to illegally hacking into a Vista system that's not owning by users who refer this guide!!
It is also intended to inform Vista users about the method by which anyone can access their private accounts by cracking passwords....Thus anyone can hack into administrator account and bypass guest user restrictions....
Lets start...
Steps to hack Windows Vista Administrator account password:
1. Reboot the Windows Vista and boot up with Windows Vista installation DVD.
Crack Windows Vista logon account password in minute with the Windows Vista installation DVD. Click on the Repair Your Computer option, bring up Command Prompt to open Local Users and Groups management in MMC.
2. While the Windows Vista installation interface pops up, click the Repair You Computer link at the bottom-left corner.
3. Next, the System Recovery Options dialog box appears. There are few options that related to repairing Windows Vista, looks like Recovery Console in Windows XP:
Startup Repair options is used to automatically fix problems that are preventing Windows Vista from starting.
System Restore to restore Windows Vista setting to an earlier point in time.
Windows Complete PC Restore to restore Windows Vista from a full system backup.
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool could be the first Microsoft memory tester toolkit that bundled with Windows setup media.
Command Prompt is the target option of this Vista hacking guide. Click on this option now.
4. In the Windows Vista Command Prompt, type mmc.exe and press ENTER key to bring up the Microsoft Management Console.
5. Click on the File menu, select Add / Remove Snap-in option, locate and select the Local Users and Groups on the left panel, and click Add button to add it to the right panel.
6. Now, the Choose Target Machine dialog box pop up. Keep the default setting by clicking the Finish button - that means using the Local Users and Groups snap-in to manage this local computer, and not another computer in network.
7. Click OK button and return to MMC windows. Under the Root Console in left panel, double- click Local Users and Group that was added earlier. Click on User folder, locate and right-click the target Vista logon account that found in the right panel.
Select the Set Password from the right-click menu to set a new password / reset old password.
Note this does not work on all versions of Vista. But, it can be used to hack administrator account password of Windows Vista...
Further Read:
Hacking Password Protected Laptops
Vista tips,tricks and tweaks
Activate Administrative shares on Vista

Check Your Windows Vista Activation Status

This is an interesting and useful utility that will tell you the status of the computer you are working on that is using Windows Vista. If you are connected to the Internet, the utility will be able to tell you if the Windows Vista version you are using is fully licensed or not.
Click Start
Type cmd in the search box and hit ENTER
Type slmgr.vbs -dli in the command line
Wait a few seconds for a Windows Script Host pop-up window to display the License Activation Status
Click OK
The pop-up will also tell you the edition you are using, a description, as well as the license status.

Best way to "Recover" forgotten Windows Vista password

useful trick to recover forgotten Windows Vista password . I have added method to hack Windows Vista user account in my post Hack Windows Vista admin account.
Recovering lost passwords is not a problem new to Windows Vista. Sure, in a manner similar to Windows XP, Vista will enable users to create an adjacent password hint that the user can turn to in case of need. But what about a severe case of amnesia. No password hint will point you in the right direction. Fortunately, Windows Vista has a built in mechanism designed to help with password recovery.
First off though, you should know that if the account with the misplaced password is not the administrator, then recovery is not even a problem.The administrator can simply change the password and allow the user access back to the account. This action however is not without its downside. If the administrator performs the said task, then you will not be able to access encrypted files, email messages and personal credentials. This is a trade-off that might be, or might not be worth it, depending on the context and on the information you risk losing.


The Windows Vista password recovery mechanism applies mainly to computers that are not part of a domain. If you have made your way to the User Accounts in Windows Vista via Control Panel then you might have noticed the "Create a password reset disk" option in the top left corner.
From within a Windows Vista account, a user can create a password reset disk. A user only needs to create a single password reset disk and store it in a secure location. The disk is a preemptive measure that is actually independent of the account's password. Users of the disk will be able to reset the account's password.
The guys over here might now be able to overcome their lost Windows Vista passwords . If you know any popular method for recovering Windows Vista passwords...