Stop Autoplay In USB Flash Drives By Pressing One Keyboard Button

Today I want to share a little tip that will stop autoplay in USB Flash drives. Not only flash drives, it also stops autoplay for CD and DVD also. While inserting CD, DVD or any flash drive, simply press and hold the Shift key, this will disable the autoplay dialog box. Holding down the Shift key will also block the applications that starts automatically. Note : Works fine in Windows XP and Windows Vista

Forcefully Eject USB Flash Drives In Windows

While ejecting USB flash drives from PC, sometimes an error comes saying The device “Generic Volume” cannot be stopped right now, Try stopping the device again later. Here is a free utility called EjectUSB that forcefully stops all the running programs and helps in ejecting pen drives safely. It is designed to be a simple utility to close all programs running from a specified drive or folder and then attempt ejection if a drive was specified. Download Instructions: Click here to download this software from the official website.

Assign a Permanent Letter to a USB Drive

If you have multiple pen drives you might have noticed that every time you put in your drive it will be assigned a different drive letter.

This can be frustrating when trying to run backups or opening files from software as recent drive letter is changed. Even if you have created playlist of the songs which are in your pen drive it won’t work if the drive letter is changed.

Here are the steps you will have to follow to assign a permanent drive letter:-

1. Go to Start > Run

2. Type mmc in the box and hit enter.

3. Select File > New

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How To Install Windows 7 From a USB Drive

Windows 7 can run on machines with lower specs than required for Windows Vista, and many users are actually finding it runs better than Windows XP on lower spec machines. It’s also ideal to run on newer netbook machines, but unfortunately many of these do not include a DVD drive so how do you install windows 7 on a machine without a DVD drive?

How To Install Windows 7 From A USB Drive

1. Find a standard 4GB USB Drive and plug it into your machine
2. Click Start in your enter ‘cmd’ in the run field. Once cmd is open type in ‘diskpart’ and a new window will open
3. In the new diskpart window type:

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Disable Autorun

If your pen drive is affected by any virus/worm/malware then it is suggested to disable the autorun function in your computer. Here are the steps to disable the autorun. 1.Go to start ->Run Type gpedit.msc press Enter 2.In that go to Administrative Templates->System->Turn off autoplay 3.Now set it to Enabled if you want to turn off the autorun feature. The default value will not configured 4.There is one more option in it We have to select between All drives/ CD-ROM drives Select CD-ROM drive if you want to disable autorun only for CDS or select all drives if you want to turn off autorun for all drives including your pen drives or flash drives

Format USB Drive with NTFS File System

The advantage of NTFS file system is more security options and fast. Normally USB drive capacity is very small enough that NTFS is not recommended. But, nowadays USB drives are coming with larger capacity also. So we can format USB drive with NTFS to have more security options. NTFS enabled USB Drives are write-able only on one PC and becomes read only on all other PCs. Hence, we can read and write on our own PC and transfer files to elsewhere without any fear of virus. In XP, only FAT and FAT32 file systems are available in format options, use the below steps to format in NTFS File System. 1). Insert USB drive in your PC 2). Goto Device Manager (Start>Run>devmgmt.msc) 3). Select Disk Drives and expand 4). Right Click on USB drive and select Properties 5). Goto policies tab and select Optimize for performance and press OK 6). Open My Computer, Click on USB Drive and select Format Opton Now you can have NTFS option there.

Block USB Devices

To this what can be done is that the USB can be blocked and then stopping the use of USB drives. Here is a simple registry hack to do so, try it with care. 1. Go to Start –> Run, type Regedit. 2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlset\Services\USBStor 3. In the right pane, look for value Start and have value as 0000000(3) 4. Double click on that and change that value to 4. You might be required to restart the PC, and then you are done with it, USB is now blocked. In case if you want to get the USB unblocked, just change the value again to 3. See, its so easy. Isn’t it

5 ways to speed up your PC

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Vista to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online. Free up disk space By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files. Use Disk Cleanup to: • Remove temporary Internet files. • Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets). • Empty the Recycle Bin. • Remove Windows temporary files. • Remove optional Windows components that you don't use. • Remove installed programs that you no longer use. Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later. To use Disk Cleanup 1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean. 2. In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list. 3. Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK. 4. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes. After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and performing better. Speed up access to data Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer. Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up. When to run Disk Defragmenter In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when: • You add a large number of files. • Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less. • You install new programs or a new version of Windows. To use Disk Defragmenter: 1.Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. 2.In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives. Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take. 3.To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment button. Note: In Windows Vista, there is no graphical user interface to demonstrate the progress—but your hard drive is still being defragmented. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results. 4.To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report. 5.To close the View Report dialog box, click Close. 6.To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, click the Close button on the title bar of the window. Detect and repair disk errors In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility. As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced. If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss. To run the Error Checking utility: 1.Close all open files. 2.Click Start, and then click My Computer. 3.In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties. 4.In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab. 5.Click the Check Now button. 6.In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start. 7.If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them. Tip: Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors. Protect your computer against spyware Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. Learn all about ReadyBoost If you're using Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.

CONVERT A 512 MB duo/produo/MMC CARD TO 640 MB

CONVERT A 512 MB duo/produo/MMC CARD TO 640 MB I guess it works for duo/produo/mmc cards. Principle:--Your files in duo/produo/MMC is stored in multiple (disk) blocks. So if you format using 16K block, the space used will be 16K eventhough your file is just 1K. If you buy DUO/PRO-DUO, it is usually preformatted with 16K block. Therefore a lot of space is wasted as most installed program files are usually less than 2K. ProCeDure:-- You will need a card reader to do this:- edit:you can also do it by connecting your phone via usb 1. Connect card reader and copy all your files in the memory card to computer disk. (Make sure you set the show all/hidden/os files to "on") 2. Do a format of the memory card using command line "format" and use the /A=size option. Alternative, you can use the Disk Management in Adminstrative Tools to format. Make sure you select FAT16. For 256MB memory card, smallest block you can use is 4K, 128MB is 2K, 64Mb is 1K and 32MB is 512B. (Note: You cannot use the phone "format ext.mem" to do this as the format just clear the allocation table and does not change the block size) 3. Copy back all files to memory card. Now you will find that you will have more space. I have installed many software to to my 256MB memory card and it is nearly full. After doing above, I got an "extra" 32MB. For those who have problem with command line format:: Just use the Disk Managament to format 1. Goto Start->control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer management->Disk management 2. Select your memory card/usb drive. Right-click and select "Format" 3. Select "FAT". Choose Allocation size. For 256Mb MMC select 4K, 128Mb MMC select 2K, 64Mb MMC select 1K and 32Mb MMC select 512B

Optimize Windows Vista for better performance

No matter how fast or shiny computers might be when they are new, they all seem to get slower over time. That state-of-the-art PC you bought last year might not feel like such a screamer after you install a dozen programs, load it with antispyware and antivirus tools, and download untold amounts of junk from the Internet. The slowdown might happen so gradually you hardly notice it, until one day you’re trying to open a program or file and wonder, "What happened to my poor PC?"

Whatever the cause, there are a lot of ways to help speed up Windows and make your PC work better—even without upgrading your hardware. Here are some tips to help you optimize Windows Vista for faster performance.

Delete programs you never use

Many PC manufacturers pack their new computers with programs you didn’t order and might not want. These often include trial editions and limited edition versions of programs that software companies hope you will try, find useful, and then pay to upgrade to full versions or newer versions. If you decide you don’t want them, keeping the software on your computer might slow it down by using precious memory, disk space, and processing power.

It’s a good idea to uninstall all the programs you don’t plan to use. This should include both manufacturer-installed software and software you installed yourself but don’t want anymore—especially utility programs designed to help manage and tune your computer’s hardware and software. Utility programs such as virus scanners, disk cleaners, and backup tools often run automatically at startup, quietly chugging along in the background where you can’t see them. Many people have no idea they are even running.

Even if your PC is older, it might contain manufacturer-installed programs that you never noticed or have since forgotten about. It’s never too late to remove these and get rid of the clutter and wasted system resources. Maybe you thought you might use the software someday, but never did. Uninstall it and see if your PC runs faster.

Limit how many programs load at startup

Many programs are designed to load automatically when Windows starts. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background, where you can’t see them running, so they’ll open right away when you click their icons. That's helpful for programs you use a lot, but for programs you rarely or never use, this wastes precious memory and slows down the time it takes Windows to finish loading.

Decide for yourself if you want a program to load at startup.

But how can you tell what programs load automatically at startup? Sometimes this is obvious, because the program will add an icon to the notification area on the taskbar, where you can see it running. Look there and see if there are any programs running that you don’t want to load automatically. Position your mouse over each icon to see the program name. Be sure to click the Show hidden icons button so you don’t miss any icons.

The Show hidden icons button in the notification area

Even after you check the notification area, you might still have missed some programs that load automatically at startup. You can find and disable them using Windows Defender.

The Software Explorer screen in Windows Defender shows which programs automatically start when you launch Windows

If you’re unsure about whether a program should open automatically at startup, you can try disabling it, restarting your computer, and then using the program. If that causes any problems with the program, you can go back and re-enable it to start automatically.

Note:Some people prefer to manage which programs load at startup using the System Configuration tool.

Defragment your hard drive

Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow down your computer. Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently. Disk Defragmenter runs on a schedule, but you can also defragment your hard disk manually.

Clean up your hard disk

If you want to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your hard disk to free up disk space and help your computer run faster, use Disk Cleanup. It removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no longer need.

Run fewer programs at the same time

Sometimes changing your computing behavior can have a big impact on your PC's performance. If you’re the type of computer user who likes to keep eight programs and a dozen browser windows open at once—all while instant messaging your friends—don’t be surprised if your PC bogs down. Keeping a lot of e‑mail messages open can also use up memory.

If you find your PC slowing down, ask yourself if you really need to keep all your programs and windows open at once. Find a better way to remind yourself to reply to e‑mail messages than to keep all of them open.

Turn off visual effects

If Windows is running slowly, you can speed it up by disabling some of its visual effects. It comes down to appearance versus performance. Would you rather have Windows run faster or look prettier? If your PC is fast enough, you don’t have to make this tradeoff, but if your computer is just barely powerful enough for Windows Vista, it can be useful to scale back on the visual bells and whistles.

You can choose which visual effects to turn off, one by one, or you can let Windows choose a bunch for you. There are 20 visual effects you can control, such as the transparent glass look, the way menus open or close, and whether shadows are displayed.

The Performance Options dialog box lets you turn on or off up to 20 visual effects

To adjust all visual effects for best performance:

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.

2. Click Adjust visual effects. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3. Click the Visual Effects tab, click Adjust for best performance, and then click OK. (For a less drastic option, select Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer.)

Restart regularly

This tip is simple. Restart your PC at least once a week, especially if you use it a lot. Restarting a PC is a good way to clear out its memory and ensure that any errant processes and services that started running get shut down.

Restarting closes all the software running on your PC. Not only the programs you see running on the taskbar, but also dozens of services that might have been started by various programs and never stopped. Restarting can fix mysterious performance problems where the exact cause is hard to pinpoint.

If you keep so many programs, e‑mail messages, and websites open that you think restarting is a hassle, that’s probably a sign you should restart your PC. The more things you have open and the longer you keep them running, the greater the chances your PC will bog down and eventually run low on memory.

Add more memory

This isn’t a guide to buying hardware that will speed up your computer. But no discussion of how make Windows run faster would be complete without mentioning that you should consider adding more memory to your PC.

If a computer running Windows Vista feels too slow, it’s usually because the PC doesn’t have enough memory. The most sure–fire way to speed it up is to add more.

Windows Vista can run on a PC with 512 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), but it runs better with 1 gigabyte (GB). For optimal performance, boost that to 2 GB or more.
If you're going to the trouble of opening up your PC case to add more memory, you might as well boost the total to at least 2 GB. Especially if you're the sort of person who keeps a dozen e‑mail messages, ten browser windows, and six other programs open at once—all while instant messaging.

Another option is to boost the amount of memory by using Windows ReadyBoost. This feature allows you to use the storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer. It’s easier to plug a flash drive into a USB port than to open your PC case and plug memory modules into its motherboard.

Check for viruses and spyware

If your PC is running slowly, one dreaded possibility is that it might be infected with a virus or spyware. This is not as common as the other problems, but it is something to consider. Before you worry too much, check your PC using antispyware and antivirus programs.
A common symptom of a virus is a much slower-than-normal computer performance. Other signs include unexpected messages that pop up on your PC, programs that start automatically, or the sound of your hard disk constantly working.

Spyware is a type of program that is installed, usually without your knowledge, to watch your activity on the Internet. You can check for spyware with Windows Defender or other anti-spyware programs.

The best way to deal with viruses is to prevent them in the first place. Always run antivirus software and keep it up to date. Even if you take such precautions, however, it’s possible for your PC to become infected.

Check your computer’s speed

If you try these tips and your computer is still too slow, you might need a new PC or some hardware upgrades, such as a new hard disk, faster video card, or more memory. There’s no need to guess the speed of your computer, however. Windows provides a way to check and rate your PC’s speed with a tool called the Windows Experience Index.

The Windows Experience Index rates your computer on five key components and gives you a number for each, as well as an overall base score. This base score is only as good as your worst-performing component sub-score.

Base scores currently range from 1 to 5.9. (There is no score yet of 6.0 or higher, although Microsoft plans to raise the ratings in the future as hardware improves.) If your PC is rated lower than 2 or 3, it might be time to consider a new PC, depending on what tasks you want to do with your computer.

Disable services you don’t need

This is the most technically advanced of all these tips. If you don’t want to mess with anything too advanced or complicated, you can skip this one.

Windows has more than 100 services running quietly in the background with names such as Network Access Protection Agent and Shell Hardware Detection. These typically launch when your computer is started and they run until your computer is shut down. Some secure Microsoft services cannot be disabled, but most others can be. Many software companies also install their own services, some of which you can disable to conserve memory and processor power.

You should not turn off a service unless you understand what it does and are confident you don’t need it. Explaining what the many services in Windows do is beyond the scope of this article, but there is plenty of information about this on various websites.

Don’t settle for slow

Don’t assume you have to sit there and tap your fingers while you wait for programs to open and tasks to complete. With these tips, you just might be able to turn your tortoise into a hare—or at least a faster tortoise.