Bluetooth allows you to transfer pictures, videos, and sound files to and from your mobile phone without the use of expensive software.Yeah, I know that motorola wants you to spend money on the their mobile phone tools. You can easily transfer files without it. This requires that you have already established an active connection between your computer and cellular phone through bluetooth. They need to be "paired." Send Files to Phone: 1. Click Start 2. Click All Programs 3. Click Accessories 4. Click Communications 5. Select Bluetooth File Transfer Wizard 6. It will load, click Next 7. Click Send File 8. In the Send to: box your phone should be listed. If not, browse to find it. Click Next to advance. 9. Browse for your file and click Open and after select the file you want to move. 10. Click Next 11. Accept the file transfer on your phone. 12. Save the file on your phone Send Files From Phone to Computer: I am going to describe moving a picture. Sounds and video work the same way. 1. C... Read More

 This hotfix adds a tools menu to msconfig. This menu contains a listing of programs that are typically used in configuration. How to access these tools without msconfig is also discussed.I am not quite sure why this was released. I am kinda glad they did, but most power users know where to find these tools already. What this hotfix does is to place a tools menu in your system configuration utility. This tools menu contains frequently used programs that are helpful in configuring your system. Here is a listing and where to find these tools without the hotfix. Just type the location in your RUN box... About Windows - C:\WINDOWS\system32\winver.exe Command Prompt - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe Event Viewer - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Eventvwr.msc Internet Options - C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetcpl.cpl IPconfig - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /k C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe Network Diagnostics - C:\WINDOWS\system32\netsh.exe diag gui Add/Remove Programs - C:\WINDOWS\system32\appwiz.cpl Regedit - C:\... Read More

 This may help if you want to install older software that was developed prior to the existance of XP.1.Rightclick the executable or the program shortcut to the executable, and then click Properties. 2.Select the Run this program in compatibility mode check box. 3.From the list, select an operating system that the program runs in comfortably. If necessary, also change the display settings and/or resolution, or disable the Windows XP visual themes. Run the program again when youre finished changing the settings. Adjust the compatibility settings again if the program is still not running smoothly: a program thats unhappy on Windows 2000 may flourish on Windows 98.... Read More

 Everytime a system event occurs in Virtual Server, the PC speaker will beep. This will disable it.You can disable to the beep service if you are tired of listening to your PC speaker during every system event. Stop the Beep Service #1: 1. Click Start 2. Click Run 3. In the run box type sc config beep start= disabled Stop the Beep Service #2: 1. Click Start 2. Click Run 3. In the run box type net stop beep Note: Using net stop, the service will restart when the virtual machine is restarted. Windows KB... Read More

 One of the most overlooking tools from the windows command line. Pathping gives the user a ton of information at once.Pathping is basically a traceroute with the estimation of packet loss and latency along each step. If you have a router along the line that is slowly everything down, this tool is your gem. After performing the traceroute, there is a calculation of the response from each step in the chain. That way you can see the weakest link in the chain. The quickest way to get information is hitting the following from the command line: pathping yourserver.com Replace yourserver.com with the server to which you are having problems connecting. The syntax for the rest of the command is the following: Usage: pathping [-g host-list] [-h maximum_hops] [-i address] [-n]                [-p period] [-q num_queries] [-w timeout] [-P] [-R] [-T]        ... Read More

 Quick and easy way to change the text size in internet explorer.Many web sites do not specify what size of font the user must use. On these sites, one can easily change the font size to improve viewer comfort. I'll describe the long way first and then the quick way. Long way: 1. Click on View in the IE menu 2. Goto Text Size 3. Select the font size desired Jedi Ninji Shortcut way: Just hold the CTRL key and scroll your mouse wheel up and down. If the web site allows it, you will see the fonts get bigger or smaller.... Read More

 No reason to buy expensive DVD playing software. Packages are available for free. I was sad to see a buddy of mine paying a ton of money for DVD software for his system. Several free packages exist. Video Lan is an amazing piece of software IMHO. It'll play DVDs (and almost every other media file) without problems. Over 12 OS supported. Equally impressive is MPlayer. It plays DVDs and most other media files without issues. Multiple translations available. Zoom and BSPlayer are both free players that have pro versions that you can purchase.I have used them and they work well.... Read More

 XP has a ton of services enabled by default. By knowing what these services do (or don't do), you can really speed up your system by disabling the ones you don't need.Many services can be modified to increase the speed of your system.If you take a CPU = air conditioner analogy.If you use your A/C during the summer, it's helpful. If you use it during the winter, it's a waste. Here is my suggestions for the settings of the services: If you ever find something not working correctly, you should reset it. However, these are the services that I disable. This guide is very conservative. Many of these services are activated even though only the minority of users will need them. I describe the use of these services so you can make a decision if you should have it enabled or not. How to Access Your Microsoft Services: 1. Click Start 2. Click Settings 3. Select Control Panel 4. Double click Administrative Tools 5. Double click Services 6. Scroll down and highlight the service you want to adjust 7... Read More

 So you are clean from spyware and viruses but your system is still slow. Are you sure you don't have a rootkit installed? These software packages will help you.If your system is still slow after you have used our suggestions for finding and removing spyware, you might have a rootkit installed. What is a rootkit? A rootkit is a special type of evil program that installs itself deep within the operating system. Unlike normal malware, it actually hides by changing the operating system itself. Many of these rootkits actually give the author of the rootkit the ability to log-in directly to a system without being known. Do anti-virus and anti-spyware programs find them? Some yes, some no. As rootkits actually hack the operating system, they can be very difficult to find. As rootkit authors get better and better, anti-spyware and antivirus programs will have a tougher and tougher time finding them. What programs will help me find rootkits? F-Secure Blacklight- The program is quick, will find,... Read More

 As an office developer, I grabbed a copy of the recent office 12 leak as soon as I could. Here are some screenshots and early thoughts.As some of my previous posts may suggest, I have been a Microsoft developer for many years. Some of my recent tools involve integration into Office, so I always grab the latest build that I can find. Hopefully, the tech-recipes guys will host these images for me. Word-- You can see that Microsoft has introduced this new metallic theme throughout the suite. The old menu system is gone and is replaced by toolbars that replace toolbars upon selections. You can see in these two selections how the toolbars change. The drop down menus attempt to keep everything in place. Although this is a more eye-pleasing method, people who are used to navigating the menus system will really be slowed down by this new format. I have not figured out the new default format for saved files. By default, word 2003 does not read this new default format. The saved document has ref... Read More

 Bluetooth is famous for being screwie. Here are an easy fixes for a common problem--a jerky inconsistent mouse.A nearby office recently upgraded to an all bluetooth setup. They were trying to get rid of the wire clutter, and they had several bluetooth tools they used already. Many people started asking me why their mouse movement was not smooth or accurate anymore. Here are the problems that I found and fixed. 1. Excessive bluetooth devices. If your bluetooth network is trying to connect to a bunch of devices at once... your mouse movement will suffer. Turn off the devices you are not using. 2. Poor USB Bluetooth Dongle Location. If you put your dongle on the back of your computer and shove the system into the back of your desk, the signal has to travel far and through a lot of material. Use a USB extender and tape the dongle on the back of the desk. It'll be out of the way but closer to your mouse. 3. Low Battery In Device. If your signal is weak coming out of your mouse or whatever, ... Read More

 Sony Music is evil in multiple ways. Listening to one of their copy protected CDs will install their Digital Rights Management system in your computer. This will remove it.Any of the rootkit systems out there will detect Sony's installation of a rootkit into your system. Sony uses this rootkit to attempt to hide their Digital Rights Management system. Rootkits are bad for a bunch of reasons. You can read more about them in tech-recipes's introduction to rootkit scanning. To remove the rootkit you can install the directX-enabled DRM rootkit removal system from here: http://updates.xcp-aurora.com/... Read More

 If you have lost your "My Computer" icon on your desktop, this is the easiest way to replace it.A lot of people erase their "My Computer" icon from their desktop. However, it's pretty useful and people realize they want it again after a while. Here's the easy fix. Place the "My Computer" Icon on the Desktop: 1. Click Start 2. Right-click My Computer 3. Left-click on Show on Desktop Easy, huh? No registry edit or funky commands required.... Read More

 Your task manager shows that a process is raging out of control. What is causing a process such as svchost.exe to use up so much CPU time? Here's how to find out.Every process can have a ton of services tied to it. When you hit cltr-alt-del and see you list of process... you really have no idea what services are running behind that process. This will show you. 1. If you have XP home, you'll need to install tasklist. You'll need to put it in your \windows\system32 folder. You can get the directions on installing it from here: XP: Tasklist.exe - Get a List of Processes From the Command Line 2. Click Start 3. Click Run 4. Type cmd.exe and hit enter 5. In the command window type: tasklist /svc /fi "imagename eq svchost.exe" You can replace svchost.exe with whatever process you wish to explore. You'll get output of all the services associated with svchost: Image Name                   PID Services          ... Read More

 Get easier access to all your applications, just use a key board shortcut and open your application.We all know that the usual way to open an application is to double click on an application and then it opens. Some of us might use the quick launch toolbar to open applications. However, there is an easier way. You can use keyboard shortcuts (such as Ctrl+Alt+A) to open an application. To do this 1. Open the Start menu 2. Right click on the desired Application (you can also right click on an icon) 3. Click on properties 4. Go to the Shortcut tab 5. Place your cursor in the Shortcut Key area 6. Then on you keyboard just press the desired combination(you have to press the Ctrl key and the Alt key and the desired letter key together) 7. Click on OK and your done! You can now access that application by pressing Ctrl+Alt+the letter you chose.... Read More

 What to see if you are infected with the sony drm rootkit? This test will take you just a few seconds to do.The sony rootkit hides all files starting with $sys$. By testing for this, you can easily see if you are infected with the sony DRM rootkit. 1. Right-click blank area of the Desktop 2. Select New 3. Select Text Document 4. The name should be highlighted. Name it anything starting with $sys$ and hit enter. For example: $sys$blah.txt 5. If the text document no longer appears on your desktop, then you have the rootkit installed. 6. Sue sony, profit, etc. You may also wish to try the free rootkit scanning software . as well. If you use the rootkit scanning software, do not use it to clean the rootkit. You'll kill your system. You can also use this update to unhide the rootkit.... Read More

 Tired with the same old boring mouse pointer in Windows XP. Then why not change it to something more interesting all for free, without any downloads!Changing the mouse pointer is fairly easy: 1. Click on Start on the Taskbar 2. Then click on Control Panel 3. After that click on Printers and Other Hardware 4. Then on Mouse under the "Or pick a Control Panel icon" 5. In the windows that pops-up go to the Pointer Tab 6. Now you can choose from the various schemes that are available. To mix and match your own pointers: 1. Click on the pointer that you want to change 2. Then click on the Browse button 3. Choose your pointer 4. Click on OK After you are done choosing the best pointer for you then just click on OK.... Read More

 Sometimes you might need to edit the normal appearance of themes. For example the black text on white windows might be too bright for your eyes etc. Fortunately there is a way to change the default colour settings. You can also change the font and so on.It is very easy to change the default settings of themes if you don't like their colours. Note: Doing so is going to change the theme for all windows and applications in your account. 1. Right click on your desktop 2. Then click on Properties 3. Then go to the Appearances tab 4. Click on the Advanced button (located on the bottom right of the window) 5. Now you can select the custom colours that you want for theme 6. Experiment and get the desired colour choices If you change a colour then the colour of the window in the preview section will also change 7. Click on the OK button 8. Then click on the OK button again on the previous window Windows will now apply your settings! *This works with most version of windows... Read More

 Quick registry hack to prevent windows from bugging you about your lack of hard drive space.On one of my small servers, windows likes to remind me of my hard drive inadequacies. Here's a quick registry hack to turn off this notification. If you are not a registry guru, you should stay away from such hacks. Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Name: NoLowDiskSpaceChecks Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Value of 1 disables alerts. A value of 0 will re-enable alerts.... Read More

 For whatever purpose you can hide all the icons on your desktop without having to delete them. This is a very simple way to show you how to temporarily hide all desktop icons (including My Computer and Recycle Bin) 1. Right-click on your desktop. 2. Select Arrange Icons By. 3. You will see a Show Desktop Icons with a check on it; click that. 4. To return the appearance of your desktop items, repeat steps one through three.... Read More