Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Install Windows 7 via USB disk
Hey there, you can now install windows 7 or vista from your USB disk. All you need is a command prompt on Windows XP or above, USB disk at least 4 GB in size, and a courage to perform command line action.
Here are the steps.
Open cmd as administrator
type diskpart
in diskpart command console, type the following commands
list disk (to list the disk available on your computer)
select disk 1 (or disk 2, etc, according to your USB flash disk number. Be careful!)
clean (this command erase everything on your disk and produce raw format)
create partition primary (to create primary partition)
select partition 1 (to work on newly created partition)
active (mark the partition as active so that the computer can boot from the disk)
format fs=ntfs quick (formatting rapidly as NTFS file system)
assign (to give a drive letter to the newly created partition)
Now insert your Windows 7 DVD, navigate to directory named “boot”
Restore the command window, type the following commands
D: (according to your DVD rom letter)
cd boot (change working directory to folder named “boot”)
bootsect /nt60 E: (according to your USB disk letter)
Now copy all files and folders on your USB disk root (without making any folder). Now the USB disk is bootable and can be used to install Windows 7 or Vista. For boot from the USB disk, you must change your BIOS boot priority to USB.
Monday, June 28, 2010
TREATMENT FOR A NEW PC OR NOTEBOOK
When you have just bought a new PC or notebook, you may be confused about what to install on it. Especially you bought a new PC or notebook without operating system. Here are my recommendations for you.
1. Operating system
Operating system is the most important part of your computer. Without it, your computer will be unusable. You must choose the right operating system for your computer to make it usable and give you great productivity.
· Windows
Windows is the most common operating system. It is used by many people all-around the world. It provides support for most hardware and software. It also provides more capability that doesn’t exist in other operating system. Beyond all those features, it is the most expensive operating system. So that if you don’t have enough budgets to buy licensed Windows, I recommend you using Linux as it is free and developed by a large community. But if you are still forced to use Windows, here is my suggestion.
For computer with 2 GB RAM or higher: Windows 10 64 bit (x64)
For computer with less than 2 GB of RAM: Windows 10 32 bit (x86)
In order to use windows, it is recommended to buy a windows license. If you can't afford the Windows license, don't worry. Windows 10 is usable without any functional restriction, except the ability to use personalization settings.
I am really against using unsupported OS such as Windows XP and Vista. If the hardware is unable to run supported Windows, better turn to another OS such as supported Debian/Ubuntu or FreeBSD
· Linux
Most Linux distributions are free to use, so you can save your budget for operating system and move it for your business. Every hardware supported by latest Linux distributions although there exist some incompatible hardware. Linux distribution is a good choice for today's computing. There are some difference to Windows and learning to solve the problem that may arise upon installing Linux distribution is just a matter of using search engine. For the beginner, I recommend to use a distribution that has a large number of users in order to get better support, such as Ubuntu.
· MacOS
Macintosh is another operating system that has a good user interface. It is used widely in large companies for its powerful system capability. It cannot be installed on a PC. It comes with Apple computer and designed especially for it. As it is not compatible for PC, I don’t recommend using MacOS coz it’s not compatible for PC – unless you have a MacBook or Apple iMac.
2. Application
A PC without applications is not productive. Applications are needed for your productivity. I recommend using open source software as it comes with greater productivity at less or no cost at all. Here are some recommendations:
· Office Productivity
Creating documents is the most important capability that a computer must have. I recommend you using OpenOffice.org as it is free, quickly developed, gives you more than just a productivity, saves your money and it has rich features. In spite of those values, Microsoft Office is still the best office software for those having enough budgets. For PDF documents, I recommend using Nitro PDF Reader as it has more features than Adobe Reader and it is free.
· Web Browser and Internet
Mozilla Firefox is a must application for browsing the web. It comes for many platforms and it is free. It also has thousands of extension that enriching your web experience. Beside Firefox, you should have Google Chrome as it is a light browser with a lightning speed. For the complete web experience, you should also have Opera web browser as it has rich features such as email client, internet chat, and torrent support. You can also use the built in Windows web browser, Internet Explorer, but it comes with security risks. Decide what you want to pick up!
If you are downloading lot of stuff from the internet, you should have Free Download Manager to accelerate your download. You can also try Download Accelerator Plus or Internet Download Manager, but I recommend FDM for free and money saving. Personally, I only use command line download tool such as curl and aria2c, since I only need the functionality. I don't need fancy gui or bloated features of download manager.
· Video and music
Windows Media Player is a good choice, but it lacks in codecs for many video and audio formats. For the complete entertainment experience, I recommend you using VLC Media Player and K-Lite Codec Pack that make your entertainment perfect! For internet TV, you can try Miro. No cost for entertainment needs! Personally, I use mpv for viewing videos and foobar2000 for music playlist.
· Email client
Microsoft Office Outlook is already included with Microsoft Office. You can use it for email correspondences. The opensource email clients that should be used are Mozilla Thunderbird and Evolution. I recommend using open source email client for your security and stability. Personally, I use mutt on linux to interact with mailing list and mostly I don't need email client on the windows desktop since email can be viewed using web browser.
· Other
- Photo editing
The most powerful application for photo editing is Adobe Photoshop. But it cost too expensive for home users. You can try the GIMP – an opensource alternative that has almost the same capability as Photoshop at no cost!
- Drawing
For drawing, you can use OpenOffice.org Draw that is already included with OpenOffice.org. But if you want more features, you can try Inkscape. It comes with almost the same features as CorelDraw at no cost! But if you want a professional application, you should use CorelDraw Graphic Suite at a high cost!
- Photo viewer
Windows Photo Viewer is commonly enough for viewing photos. But if you want a lot more powerful photo viewer, you should try Picasa or IrfanView. They have capability to manage your photos. You may try the free Microsoft software – Windows Live Photo Viewer – that is included in Windows Live Essentials suite.
- Video Editing
Here I recommend you using Windows Live Movie Maker that is included in Windows Live Essentials. But if you want a professional movie editing software, you can use Ulead Movie Producer or Adobe Premiere
- Blogging
If you have Windows OS, you can use Windows Live Writer that is included in Windows Live Essentials. For other OS, you can use ScribeFire – a Firefox add-on that has capability to manage and post your blog even when you are disconnected from the internet! Edit: Windows Live Writer is deprecated. You should use Open Live Writer instead.
3. Security
· Firewall
Leaving a port open is leaving a door open for thieves. Firewall is a significant part of security. Windows Firewall is the best built in firewall for Windows. Don't ever disable Windows Firewall!.
· Antivirus and antispyware
I recommend using Avira Free AntiVir. Microsoft Security Essential is not a bad option, but it lacks in detection for some new threats. You can also use other antivirus based on your choice and budgets.
· Cleaner and maintenance
Using computer regularly makes your computer full of junk files and thrashes. Maintenance is urgently needed. CCleaner is a free maintenance solution that must be present on your system. Besides that, Advanced System Care Free is a little better for your system maintenance. If you have enough cash, you can use TuneUp Utilities or upgrade to Advanced System Care Pro. Run those maintenance tools at least once a week to keep your computer optimized.
· Security trick and tips
Windows is vulnerable to viruses and damages. To stop the risk, you must make some tweaks to Windows computer before introducing it to wide world (such as internet, removable devices, etc.). Here are some security tricks from my experience.
- Disabling autorun of removable drives (turning off autoplay)
Autorun is a Windows feature that could lead to virus or malware infection. To prevent this, you should disable autorun. Just open command prompt as administrator and type this command
- Disabling running application from removable drives
Although the autorun has been disabled, you may open a malware accidentally. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to disable some extension from being opened directly from removable disk.
Just open Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) as administrator, and right click “Software Restriction Policies”, choose “New Software Restriction Policies, choose “Additional Rules”, right click an empty area, “New path rule”, type the possible drive letter for removable drives on your computer then set security level to disallowed. Repeat this several times until every removable drives included in this rule.
- Disabling Windows Script Host
Some viruses spread through Windows Script Host. To prevent this, you must disable Wscript.exe and Cscript.exe by using these simple commands on Administrator Command Prompt
- Installing Windows Update
Make sure that your computer is up to date with latest updates from Microsoft. You have two options: installing updates automatically or manually download the update files. If you prefer to download the update files so that you can use the downloaded filed on another computer, you can use Autopatcher to download the latest updates. Do it at least once a month!
- Making a regular backup
Just type Backup on start menu and click set up backup. Follow the given instruction to make the backup. You should do it at least once: when your computer is in a stable condition (after installing Windows). If your Windows crashed accidentally, you can restore the backup previously made to recover your system. Besides that, you should create a system repair disk to recover your system – especially for OEM installation that isn’t equipped with Windows installation disk.
That’s all my recommendation for your new PC or Notebook. I hope you enjoy a faster and stable and more productive with your computer.
1. Operating system
Operating system is the most important part of your computer. Without it, your computer will be unusable. You must choose the right operating system for your computer to make it usable and give you great productivity.
· Windows
Windows is the most common operating system. It is used by many people all-around the world. It provides support for most hardware and software. It also provides more capability that doesn’t exist in other operating system. Beyond all those features, it is the most expensive operating system. So that if you don’t have enough budgets to buy licensed Windows, I recommend you using Linux as it is free and developed by a large community. But if you are still forced to use Windows, here is my suggestion.
For computer with 2 GB RAM or higher: Windows 10 64 bit (x64)
For computer with less than 2 GB of RAM: Windows 10 32 bit (x86)
In order to use windows, it is recommended to buy a windows license. If you can't afford the Windows license, don't worry. Windows 10 is usable without any functional restriction, except the ability to use personalization settings.
I am really against using unsupported OS such as Windows XP and Vista. If the hardware is unable to run supported Windows, better turn to another OS such as supported Debian/Ubuntu or FreeBSD
· Linux
Most Linux distributions are free to use, so you can save your budget for operating system and move it for your business. Every hardware supported by latest Linux distributions although there exist some incompatible hardware. Linux distribution is a good choice for today's computing. There are some difference to Windows and learning to solve the problem that may arise upon installing Linux distribution is just a matter of using search engine. For the beginner, I recommend to use a distribution that has a large number of users in order to get better support, such as Ubuntu.
· MacOS
Macintosh is another operating system that has a good user interface. It is used widely in large companies for its powerful system capability. It cannot be installed on a PC. It comes with Apple computer and designed especially for it. As it is not compatible for PC, I don’t recommend using MacOS coz it’s not compatible for PC – unless you have a MacBook or Apple iMac.
2. Application
A PC without applications is not productive. Applications are needed for your productivity. I recommend using open source software as it comes with greater productivity at less or no cost at all. Here are some recommendations:
· Office Productivity
Creating documents is the most important capability that a computer must have. I recommend you using OpenOffice.org as it is free, quickly developed, gives you more than just a productivity, saves your money and it has rich features. In spite of those values, Microsoft Office is still the best office software for those having enough budgets. For PDF documents, I recommend using Nitro PDF Reader as it has more features than Adobe Reader and it is free.
· Web Browser and Internet
Mozilla Firefox is a must application for browsing the web. It comes for many platforms and it is free. It also has thousands of extension that enriching your web experience. Beside Firefox, you should have Google Chrome as it is a light browser with a lightning speed. For the complete web experience, you should also have Opera web browser as it has rich features such as email client, internet chat, and torrent support. You can also use the built in Windows web browser, Internet Explorer, but it comes with security risks. Decide what you want to pick up!
If you are downloading lot of stuff from the internet, you should have Free Download Manager to accelerate your download. You can also try Download Accelerator Plus or Internet Download Manager, but I recommend FDM for free and money saving. Personally, I only use command line download tool such as curl and aria2c, since I only need the functionality. I don't need fancy gui or bloated features of download manager.
· Video and music
Windows Media Player is a good choice, but it lacks in codecs for many video and audio formats. For the complete entertainment experience, I recommend you using VLC Media Player and K-Lite Codec Pack that make your entertainment perfect! For internet TV, you can try Miro. No cost for entertainment needs! Personally, I use mpv for viewing videos and foobar2000 for music playlist.
· Email client
Microsoft Office Outlook is already included with Microsoft Office. You can use it for email correspondences. The opensource email clients that should be used are Mozilla Thunderbird and Evolution. I recommend using open source email client for your security and stability. Personally, I use mutt on linux to interact with mailing list and mostly I don't need email client on the windows desktop since email can be viewed using web browser.
· Other
- Photo editing
The most powerful application for photo editing is Adobe Photoshop. But it cost too expensive for home users. You can try the GIMP – an opensource alternative that has almost the same capability as Photoshop at no cost!
- Drawing
For drawing, you can use OpenOffice.org Draw that is already included with OpenOffice.org. But if you want more features, you can try Inkscape. It comes with almost the same features as CorelDraw at no cost! But if you want a professional application, you should use CorelDraw Graphic Suite at a high cost!
- Photo viewer
Windows Photo Viewer is commonly enough for viewing photos. But if you want a lot more powerful photo viewer, you should try Picasa or IrfanView. They have capability to manage your photos. You may try the free Microsoft software – Windows Live Photo Viewer – that is included in Windows Live Essentials suite.
- Video Editing
Here I recommend you using Windows Live Movie Maker that is included in Windows Live Essentials. But if you want a professional movie editing software, you can use Ulead Movie Producer or Adobe Premiere
- Blogging
If you have Windows OS, you can use Windows Live Writer that is included in Windows Live Essentials. For other OS, you can use ScribeFire – a Firefox add-on that has capability to manage and post your blog even when you are disconnected from the internet! Edit: Windows Live Writer is deprecated. You should use Open Live Writer instead.
3. Security
· Firewall
Leaving a port open is leaving a door open for thieves. Firewall is a significant part of security. Windows Firewall is the best built in firewall for Windows. Don't ever disable Windows Firewall!.
· Antivirus and antispyware
I recommend using Avira Free AntiVir. Microsoft Security Essential is not a bad option, but it lacks in detection for some new threats. You can also use other antivirus based on your choice and budgets.
· Cleaner and maintenance
Using computer regularly makes your computer full of junk files and thrashes. Maintenance is urgently needed. CCleaner is a free maintenance solution that must be present on your system. Besides that, Advanced System Care Free is a little better for your system maintenance. If you have enough cash, you can use TuneUp Utilities or upgrade to Advanced System Care Pro. Run those maintenance tools at least once a week to keep your computer optimized.
· Security trick and tips
Windows is vulnerable to viruses and damages. To stop the risk, you must make some tweaks to Windows computer before introducing it to wide world (such as internet, removable devices, etc.). Here are some security tricks from my experience.
- Disabling autorun of removable drives (turning off autoplay)
Autorun is a Windows feature that could lead to virus or malware infection. To prevent this, you should disable autorun. Just open command prompt as administrator and type this command
- Disabling running application from removable drives
Although the autorun has been disabled, you may open a malware accidentally. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to disable some extension from being opened directly from removable disk.
Just open Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) as administrator, and right click “Software Restriction Policies”, choose “New Software Restriction Policies, choose “Additional Rules”, right click an empty area, “New path rule”, type the possible drive letter for removable drives on your computer then set security level to disallowed. Repeat this several times until every removable drives included in this rule.
- Disabling Windows Script Host
Some viruses spread through Windows Script Host. To prevent this, you must disable Wscript.exe and Cscript.exe by using these simple commands on Administrator Command Prompt
| reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer /v DisallowRun /t reg_dword /d 0x1 |
| reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun /v 1 /t reg_sz /d “wscript.exe” |
| reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun /v 2 /t reg_sz /d “cscript.exe” |
- Installing Windows Update
Make sure that your computer is up to date with latest updates from Microsoft. You have two options: installing updates automatically or manually download the update files. If you prefer to download the update files so that you can use the downloaded filed on another computer, you can use Autopatcher to download the latest updates. Do it at least once a month!
- Making a regular backup
Just type Backup on start menu and click set up backup. Follow the given instruction to make the backup. You should do it at least once: when your computer is in a stable condition (after installing Windows). If your Windows crashed accidentally, you can restore the backup previously made to recover your system. Besides that, you should create a system repair disk to recover your system – especially for OEM installation that isn’t equipped with Windows installation disk.
That’s all my recommendation for your new PC or Notebook. I hope you enjoy a faster and stable and more productive with your computer.
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