Control Panel menu in Windows XP has many components, such as User Accounts, Add/remove programs, Security Center, and many more. Now, the question is, how to create a desktop shortcut for the componenets? If you find yourself using any of these frequently, and you want to access them from the desktop, you should be create a shortcut, but how?
Follow this simple step: First, go to this directory ---> \WINDOWS\System32, and find these files:
appwiz.cpl -----> Add/Remove Programs
desk.cpl -------> Display Properties
firewall.cpl ---> Firewall Settings
inetcpl.cpl ----> Internet Options
mmsys.cpl -----> Sound and Audio
ncpa.cpl ------> Network Connections
nusrmgr.cpl ----> User Accounts
powercfg.cpl ---> Power Options
sysdm.cpl ------> System Properties
wscui.cpl ------> Security Center
wuaucpl.cpl ----> Automatic Updates Configuration
Those are control panel components files. To create the shortcut, you just right click the files, and then choose Send To ---> Desktop (Create Shortcut), now, in your desktop was added a shortcut that refer to control panel components you have choosen. If you want, you can change the icon of the shortcut with windows standard icon or the icon you were created...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
How to Create a Control Panel components Desktop Shortcut
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Computer Tips
Removing Properties Menu on "My Computer"
"My Computer" context menu (will be appear when we pushed right click of "My Computer"), by default, will shown properties menu. As we known, in the properties menu of "My Computer", there are some important setting for computer. I will tell you how to make the properties menu disappear from "My Computer" context menu. These are the instruction you can do:
Open Registry Editor by click (Start > Run), then type regedit. Find the following key on your registry editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Policies>Explorer
Then create new DWORD Value on the key. Then give the value name by NoPropertiesMyComputer. Double click the value, and set the data value by 1. Close the registry editor. Logout from your account or restart your PC to take the effect. Now when you log in again, there isn't properties on "My Computer" Context Menu.
Hope this could help you!!!
Labels:
Computer Tips
Blocking Application to Prevent from Execution
Now I will give you a trick, that's blocking application to restrict it to execution. This is an useful trick I think to System Administrator or who have a PC that they want to protect their privacy...
Open your registry editor, then find the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Policies>Explorer
If you have found the key, add new DWORD Value and rename it to be DisallowRun. Double click the value and set data value to be 1. Then create new subkey under Explorer key, so the complete key will be like this:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Policies>Explorer> DisallowRun
On DisallowRun key, create new String Value, and rename it to be (example: application1). Double click the value and set the data value by application that you want to block. Example winamp.exe, cmd.exe, or regedit.exe. Close your registry editor. Logout or restart PC to take the effect.
Friday, November 9, 2007
What is herbalism?
Although it may sound a bit primitive, it forms the basis of modern pharmaceutical medicine in many ways.
Often considered and derided as a form of folk medicine, herbalism is something you, I and everyone generally practices whether we realize it or not. It is simply the use of certain plants to relieve a particular ailment. When you take aspirin for a headache, you are essentially practicing herbalism in a sense. Why? Aspirin comes from the inner bark of the Willow tree. Obviously, it does not come in the form of a tablet, but there is no denying the relief you obtain from taking it is from the plant derivative of that bark.
While it is true that most remedies come from natural sources, the modern definition of herbalism is much more restrictive than what I have suggested to this point. It is more about the direct rendering of herbs to a medicinal form where industrial manufacturer of pills is not involved.
This form of herbalism has a long history. From 3000 BC, we have records of Summerians using thyme to treat ailments. The first herbalism book is believed to be one found in China and dating from 2700 BC. This book is of great interest and importance. Why? It listed over 365 herbs and their medicinal properties. One was Ma Huang, which you probably know better today as Ephedrine.
The popularity of herbalism cannot be understated. From the Greeks to the Romans to the Chineses and beyond, herbalism formed the basis of medicine through much of the world. It was only in the 17th century that it began to lose its dominant position as modern medicine slowly started to create new forms of treatment and distractions of plant medicinal properties into hybrid medications.
Does this mean herbalism is dead or should be avoided as a form of medicinal treatment these days? Of course not. Pharmaceutical companies spend vast amounts of money sending people into the rainforests for a reason. They are looking for that next great drug that will revolutionize the world, the next aspirin if you will.
On a more practical level, herbalism has a definite place in your daily life. Herbal medicines tend to be better for you than modern alternatives because they do not contain the additives you find with pharmaceuticals. This makes them better for you, but also easier to take as they are often mixed with teas and so on.
Is herbalism for you? Only you can answer that. Just understand that it herbalism is not some extreme fad or something weird. It formed the basis of medicine in our world for such a long period of time that one must wonder how different the world would look today had it not been discovered.
Often considered and derided as a form of folk medicine, herbalism is something you, I and everyone generally practices whether we realize it or not. It is simply the use of certain plants to relieve a particular ailment. When you take aspirin for a headache, you are essentially practicing herbalism in a sense. Why? Aspirin comes from the inner bark of the Willow tree. Obviously, it does not come in the form of a tablet, but there is no denying the relief you obtain from taking it is from the plant derivative of that bark.
While it is true that most remedies come from natural sources, the modern definition of herbalism is much more restrictive than what I have suggested to this point. It is more about the direct rendering of herbs to a medicinal form where industrial manufacturer of pills is not involved.
This form of herbalism has a long history. From 3000 BC, we have records of Summerians using thyme to treat ailments. The first herbalism book is believed to be one found in China and dating from 2700 BC. This book is of great interest and importance. Why? It listed over 365 herbs and their medicinal properties. One was Ma Huang, which you probably know better today as Ephedrine.
The popularity of herbalism cannot be understated. From the Greeks to the Romans to the Chineses and beyond, herbalism formed the basis of medicine through much of the world. It was only in the 17th century that it began to lose its dominant position as modern medicine slowly started to create new forms of treatment and distractions of plant medicinal properties into hybrid medications.
Does this mean herbalism is dead or should be avoided as a form of medicinal treatment these days? Of course not. Pharmaceutical companies spend vast amounts of money sending people into the rainforests for a reason. They are looking for that next great drug that will revolutionize the world, the next aspirin if you will.
On a more practical level, herbalism has a definite place in your daily life. Herbal medicines tend to be better for you than modern alternatives because they do not contain the additives you find with pharmaceuticals. This makes them better for you, but also easier to take as they are often mixed with teas and so on.
Is herbalism for you? Only you can answer that. Just understand that it herbalism is not some extreme fad or something weird. It formed the basis of medicine in our world for such a long period of time that one must wonder how different the world would look today had it not been discovered.
Labels:
Health
10 Tips That Helped You Lose Weight
Someone recently asked me what were the most important things I learned about losing weight during the time I lost 48lbs (22kg). In response I came up with 10 things that I felt were crucial to my success and could help anyone, no matter which diet they chose to follow...
1. Lose weight slowly (1 or 2 lbs per week). Any more than this can cause you to have a "haggard" look when you have reached your ideal weight (Because of the elastic nature of your skin). Losing too much too quickly can also cause you serious health problems.
2. Consistency. Your weight and general health will reflect what you do and eat most of the time.
3. Exercise burns fat quickly and gives you energy. There seem to be many different opinions about whether you need to exercise to lose weight or just change your diet. I believe you need to do both for many reasons and the main two for me are: Number one, it makes you feel great! and number two, it allows to cheat more than you would be able to if you didn't exercise (think chocolate covered energy bars!)
4. Muscle building. I don't mean body building. Your muscles use energy all day so the bigger they are the more energy they need and the less energy gets stored as fat. Just doing small amounts of weight training can make a big difference (especially for women).
5. Metabolic rate. Raising your metabolic rate will use energy which either burns fat or stops fat being stored. Exercise will raise you metabolic rate and so will spicy foods. For instance, I have found adding mustard to food helps me.
6. Planning. Plan what you are going to eat at least a week in advance. This makes sure you stick to the diet and don't accidentally eat the wrong thing. If you find it difficult to plan or just don't have the time try using an online service.
7. Eat regularly and often. Always have breakfast, lunch and dinner - every day. If possible eat 5 times a day, a small snack between breakfast and lunch and another one between lunch and dinner. Each time you eat you raise your metabolic rate - see number 5.
8. Some food should not be mixed. Mix meat and/or diary products (such as cheese) with vegetables and never with rice or pasta or potatoes. For example, at parties if you see a buffet only eat the meat and cheese and vegetables or only eat the pasta and rice. Mixing the wrong foods is worse that eating too much.
9. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated all day helps your general fitness and health which is particularly important when exercising regularly and burning fat.
10. Listen to your body. Your body will let you know how it is doing and what it needs. For example, your stomach produces the same chemicals as your brain when reacting to things. The only difference between the two is that your stomach has not learned to doubt itself!
These are the things that helped me and I hope you find something in here to help you to. I am not a doctor and this article is for informational purposes only. You should always consult your doctor for your dietary and health choices.
Source : www.diettips.net
1. Lose weight slowly (1 or 2 lbs per week). Any more than this can cause you to have a "haggard" look when you have reached your ideal weight (Because of the elastic nature of your skin). Losing too much too quickly can also cause you serious health problems.
2. Consistency. Your weight and general health will reflect what you do and eat most of the time.
3. Exercise burns fat quickly and gives you energy. There seem to be many different opinions about whether you need to exercise to lose weight or just change your diet. I believe you need to do both for many reasons and the main two for me are: Number one, it makes you feel great! and number two, it allows to cheat more than you would be able to if you didn't exercise (think chocolate covered energy bars!)
4. Muscle building. I don't mean body building. Your muscles use energy all day so the bigger they are the more energy they need and the less energy gets stored as fat. Just doing small amounts of weight training can make a big difference (especially for women).
5. Metabolic rate. Raising your metabolic rate will use energy which either burns fat or stops fat being stored. Exercise will raise you metabolic rate and so will spicy foods. For instance, I have found adding mustard to food helps me.
6. Planning. Plan what you are going to eat at least a week in advance. This makes sure you stick to the diet and don't accidentally eat the wrong thing. If you find it difficult to plan or just don't have the time try using an online service.
7. Eat regularly and often. Always have breakfast, lunch and dinner - every day. If possible eat 5 times a day, a small snack between breakfast and lunch and another one between lunch and dinner. Each time you eat you raise your metabolic rate - see number 5.
8. Some food should not be mixed. Mix meat and/or diary products (such as cheese) with vegetables and never with rice or pasta or potatoes. For example, at parties if you see a buffet only eat the meat and cheese and vegetables or only eat the pasta and rice. Mixing the wrong foods is worse that eating too much.
9. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated all day helps your general fitness and health which is particularly important when exercising regularly and burning fat.
10. Listen to your body. Your body will let you know how it is doing and what it needs. For example, your stomach produces the same chemicals as your brain when reacting to things. The only difference between the two is that your stomach has not learned to doubt itself!
These are the things that helped me and I hope you find something in here to help you to. I am not a doctor and this article is for informational purposes only. You should always consult your doctor for your dietary and health choices.
Source : www.diettips.net
Labels:
Health
Friday, November 2, 2007
Speed up Vista Start Menu Search By Limiting Results
The Windows Vista start menu search box is one of my favorite features in Vista, but searching can be pretty slow if you have a lot of personal files, because by default the start menu search also searches files, windows contacts, windows mail, history, and favorites.
You can customize the search results returned in the Start menu search box to only return the results that you want. I personally only want to use the start menu search to pull up applications, so I disabled everything else.
To configure this setting, right click on the Start button and select Properties. Click the Customize button, and you can scroll down to the Search checkboxes. Here's the screen with my settings:
For best results, change the Search files radio button to "Don't search for files". The start menu is too small to find files anyway. This will speed up searching immensely.
Here's the details on what the other options do:
You can customize the search results returned in the Start menu search box to only return the results that you want. I personally only want to use the start menu search to pull up applications, so I disabled everything else.
To configure this setting, right click on the Start button and select Properties. Click the Customize button, and you can scroll down to the Search checkboxes. Here's the screen with my settings:
For best results, change the Search files radio button to "Don't search for files". The start menu is too small to find files anyway. This will speed up searching immensely.
Here's the details on what the other options do:
- Search - Should disable the search entirely, but doesn't seem to remove the search box. I left this enabled.
- Search communications - Disables searching through emails and contacts. As far as I can tell, it's only Windows Mail and Windows Contacts right now. I assume other applications will eventually be included here. I disabled this since I don't use either product.
- Search favorites and history - Searches through your IE favorites and history. Perhaps it will also search a future version of firefox. I disabled this since I use Firefox.
- Search Files - You can change this to search all files, or just your home directory. Or disable entirely for speed.
- Search Programs - Searches through the start menu and applications.
Labels:
Internet Tips
Use Hotmail from Microsoft Outlook
If you are still using Hotmail but would prefer to access your email from a desktop client, then you might be interested to know that Microsoft has released a connector that will allow you to send and receive Hotmail or Office Live Mail through Outlook 2003 or 2007.
This is especially helpful for those of us that maintain a hotmail account but don't like to ever check it because we don't use it all that often.
Installation
Make sure that Outlook is closed, and then download and install the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector. Open Outlook and you'll immediately be prompted with the settings dialog.
Enter in your account details into this screen, and then close the dialog. You'll be prompted to restart Outlook again.
Once you've restarted, you'll now see your Hotmail account in the list of mail accounts, and you can send/receive to download your messages.
If you want to send email with the hotmail account, you'll notice a new drop-down for Account, which will let you switch the account you are sending the email as.
Hopefully this will save you some of the pain of the slow-loading hotmail website.
This is especially helpful for those of us that maintain a hotmail account but don't like to ever check it because we don't use it all that often.
Installation
Make sure that Outlook is closed, and then download and install the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector. Open Outlook and you'll immediately be prompted with the settings dialog.
Enter in your account details into this screen, and then close the dialog. You'll be prompted to restart Outlook again.
Once you've restarted, you'll now see your Hotmail account in the list of mail accounts, and you can send/receive to download your messages.
If you want to send email with the hotmail account, you'll notice a new drop-down for Account, which will let you switch the account you are sending the email as.
Hopefully this will save you some of the pain of the slow-loading hotmail website.
Labels:
Internet Tips
Resize Picture Attachments in Outlook 2007
Those who are familiar with resizing picture attachments in Outlook 2003 might wonder where on earth they hid this feature in Outlook 2007 - at first glance, it seems like they removed it completely, when in reality they buried it in the Ribbon.
Resizing picture attachments before they go out is one way to be nice to the people you are sending files to… there's really no reason to send emails with gigantic picture files when the other person just wants to see the picture. It's also easier than resizing them before sending.
On the Ribbon select the Insert tab and click Attach File.
Windows Explorer opens up. Select and double click the picture you want to send in your email. *Note: You can also drag and drop the picture into your email message.
Now that you have the picture attached in your message click the Include Dialog Box Launcher (Yes really is the official name for this little icon). Look where the mouse is in the following screenshot… yes, you have to click that tiny little icon.
Once you click that icon, the "Attachment Options" panel will pop up on the right hand side of your window. In the Picture Options section, you can resize the attached picture automatically to one of the pre-set sizes.
Notice especially the checkbox for "Show when attaching files". If you check this, then the next time you attach a file, this side panel will show up the next time without having to do anything extra.
This comes in extremely useful when sending pictures that have not been resized, cropped, or scaled down from the original size. As picture files can get quite large this allows you to send them as a reasonable sized attachment.
Resizing picture attachments before they go out is one way to be nice to the people you are sending files to… there's really no reason to send emails with gigantic picture files when the other person just wants to see the picture. It's also easier than resizing them before sending.
On the Ribbon select the Insert tab and click Attach File.
Windows Explorer opens up. Select and double click the picture you want to send in your email. *Note: You can also drag and drop the picture into your email message.
Now that you have the picture attached in your message click the Include Dialog Box Launcher (Yes really is the official name for this little icon). Look where the mouse is in the following screenshot… yes, you have to click that tiny little icon.
Once you click that icon, the "Attachment Options" panel will pop up on the right hand side of your window. In the Picture Options section, you can resize the attached picture automatically to one of the pre-set sizes.
Notice especially the checkbox for "Show when attaching files". If you check this, then the next time you attach a file, this side panel will show up the next time without having to do anything extra.
This comes in extremely useful when sending pictures that have not been resized, cropped, or scaled down from the original size. As picture files can get quite large this allows you to send them as a reasonable sized attachment.
Labels:
Internet Tips
Customize Windows Vista Logon Screen
For those of us looking to customize the Windows Vista UI experience, there's nothing more annoying than seeing the default logon screen every time you start up your computer, or when you lock your workstation. Thankfully the nice folks at Stardock have created a free utility to replace the logon screen with any wallpaper you choose.
All you have to do is download and install the utility, and click the apply button to immediately see the changes. (It will lock your computer to show you, so you'll have to use your password to unlock it)
The utility is remarkably easy to use, just click on an entry in the list, and use the Apply button to select it. The download button will take you to the directory of logon screens on WinCustomize.
You can also click the Create button and choose any image you want. For instance, if you wanted to have the logon screen match your desktop wallpaper, just choose the wallpaper using the browse button.
You can then save the wallpaper as a logon screen file and even share it with other people on WinCustomize.
All you have to do is download and install the utility, and click the apply button to immediately see the changes. (It will lock your computer to show you, so you'll have to use your password to unlock it)
The utility is remarkably easy to use, just click on an entry in the list, and use the Apply button to select it. The download button will take you to the directory of logon screens on WinCustomize.
You can also click the Create button and choose any image you want. For instance, if you wanted to have the logon screen match your desktop wallpaper, just choose the wallpaper using the browse button.
Labels:
Computer Tips
Hide Desktop Icon Text on Windows Vista
Some icons are just obvious enough that nobody should need text below them to tell them what the icon is for. A good example of this is the icon for Internet Explorer. We're all really used to it by now, and the text just makes it ugly.
Just right-click on the shortcut, and choose Rename. Now hold down the Alt key and type in 255 on the keypad to the right of the keyboard. You can't use the number keys right above the keyboard, they won't work. If you have a laptop, you can turn on numlock and then use the little number keys next to the regular letters. (You know you always wondered what they were for)
For the first shortcut on the desktop, a simple Alt+255 will do. For the next shortcut, you'll have to enter the combination twice (Alt+255, Alt+255). For the third, 3 times… you get the idea.
The way this works is that the Alt+255 character is blank, so the shortcut filename is actually just named with a character that is completely blank. Since you can't have two shortcuts or files named the exact same thing, the second shortcut will have to be named with two blank characters.
Now we have a sweet looking icon on the desktop, with no bothersome text beneath it.
This tip should actually work on any version of Windows, but it works a lot better on Vista, because Vista has beautiful icons.
If you use this tip to rename a folder, you will not be able to rename the folder back using the right-click rename. I’m not sure why this is. What you’ll have to do is open a command prompt and change directory into the containing folder (For instance, the desktop folder), and run this command:
You will need to actually type the Alt+255 characters where illustrated in the command. It will appear as a space.
Just right-click on the shortcut, and choose Rename. Now hold down the Alt key and type in 255 on the keypad to the right of the keyboard. You can't use the number keys right above the keyboard, they won't work. If you have a laptop, you can turn on numlock and then use the little number keys next to the regular letters. (You know you always wondered what they were for)
For the first shortcut on the desktop, a simple Alt+255 will do. For the next shortcut, you'll have to enter the combination twice (Alt+255, Alt+255). For the third, 3 times… you get the idea.
The way this works is that the Alt+255 character is blank, so the shortcut filename is actually just named with a character that is completely blank. Since you can't have two shortcuts or files named the exact same thing, the second shortcut will have to be named with two blank characters.
Now we have a sweet looking icon on the desktop, with no bothersome text beneath it.
This tip should actually work on any version of Windows, but it works a lot better on Vista, because Vista has beautiful icons.
If you use this tip to rename a folder, you will not be able to rename the folder back using the right-click rename. I’m not sure why this is. What you’ll have to do is open a command prompt and change directory into the containing folder (For instance, the desktop folder), and run this command:
ren “Alt+255” “NewFolderName”
You will need to actually type the Alt+255 characters where illustrated in the command. It will appear as a space.
Labels:
Computer Tips
Show Your Name In the System Clock
This tip is absolutely and completely useless, and will even make applications that depend on timestamps have issues. It's mostly just to be used as a cool trick you can show off to your friends, so we're going to show you how it works.
The way this trick works is by modifying the regional settings for the time format. Instead of using just AM or PM, you can put up to 12 characters of text in that field.
Start by opening Regional and Language Options from the start menu search box or the control panel.
On the Formats tab you'll see the "Customize this format" button, which you'll need to choose.
Select the Time tab, and then here's where we can make whatever settings we want.
I chose to set mine to "AM - Geek" so I could still see AM or PM, but you can choose any 12 characters for either field. Keep in mind that the PM symbol is only going to display during the "PM" hours.
This does change more than just the displayed clock, so I'd advise not using this on a computer you do actual work on. Using the F5 key in notepad shows the "Geek" text as well:
It's one of those things that's interesting to know… just not very useful. It does work in XP as well.
The way this trick works is by modifying the regional settings for the time format. Instead of using just AM or PM, you can put up to 12 characters of text in that field.
Start by opening Regional and Language Options from the start menu search box or the control panel.
On the Formats tab you'll see the "Customize this format" button, which you'll need to choose.
Select the Time tab, and then here's where we can make whatever settings we want.
I chose to set mine to "AM - Geek" so I could still see AM or PM, but you can choose any 12 characters for either field. Keep in mind that the PM symbol is only going to display during the "PM" hours.
This does change more than just the displayed clock, so I'd advise not using this on a computer you do actual work on. Using the F5 key in notepad shows the "Geek" text as well:
Labels:
Computer Tips
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