Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Stop User Account Control (UAC) screen flicker / flash

Every time I get one of those UAC prompts asking me to authorize an administrative action my LCD screen flashes when the box pops up. This is caused by the switch to the secure desktop, similar to what happens when you hit CTRL + ALT + DELETE. The only difference is that the background is a snapshot of your desktop that gives it the effect that it is just a pop up window. Although if you look carefully you will notice it is static since the clock does not change and anything else that was animated is now static. The secure desktop provides an extra level of security to UAC by making it immune to any application that may try to automate the click on the allow button bypassing the purpose of UAC.
This sounds like a great thing but it is really annoying to me. I hate that screen flicker. Rather than disable UAC, there is a better alternative. Instead, I can just disable the secure desktop switch that causes the flicker. I know this is not as secure but it is better than disabling UAC completely.
Follow the steps below to disable UAC secure desktop:
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1. Click on the Start Button and key in secpol.msc and hit Enter.
2. Navigate through Local Policies and Security Options.
3. Scroll to the bottom and right click on “User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation” and select Properties.
4. Set the option to Disabled and hit OK.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Unblock attachments in OUTLOOK

Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2000 SP3 (but not Outlook 98 or earlier Outlook 2000 versions) allow the user to use a registry key to open up access to blocked attachments. (Always make a backup before editing the registry.) To use this key:
Run Regedit, and go to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security (change 10.0 to 9.0 for Outlook 2000 SP3 or to 11.0 for Outlook 2003, 12.0 for Outlook 2007 )
Under that key, add a new string value named Level1Remove.
For the value for Level1Remove, enter a semicolon-delimited list of file extensions. For example, entering this: .mdb;.urlwould unblock Microsoft Access files and Internet shortcuts. Note that the use of a leading dot was not previously required, however, new security patches may require it. If you are using "mdb;url" format and extensions are blocked, add a dot to each extension. Note also that there is not a space between extensions.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Installing Pre Vista windows after installing Vista

1. To install a previous version of Windows onto a computer running Windows Vista (Post-Beta 2)
With Windows Vista Beta 2 as well as in Windows Vista Build 5456, the only command one needs to run is:
bootsect /NT60 ALL
(Copy bootsect.exe from the boot folder of your Windows Vista DVD and paste it into your Windows XP Windows\system32 folder)
This pulls all Windows operating systems into the Windows Vista boot menu.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Login Logoff looping while starting windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555648


Edit these values and type the correct path of shell : Shell = explorer.exe Userinit=X:\windows\system32\userinit.exe NOTE: These files may also be deleted by spywares. You may need to extract them using Windows CD. Steps for rectifying this problem:

Log on to a networked computer.

Run Regedit.exe

Point your cursor to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Select File > Connect Remote Registry

Type computer name (infected computer)

Navigate to the following location in registry of destination or infected computer HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Edit these two values in right pane: Shell Userinit

Change these two values to Shell=explorer.exe Userinit = x:\windows\system32\userinit.exe

Exit from Registry

Restart Infected computer.

You should be able to log on to computer.