Bloatware removal tool: Decrap!

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“Bloatware” is a term commonly used to refer to preinstalled software on a device, usually included by the hardware manufacturer, that is mostly unwanted by the purchaser. This may account for up to 45% of preinstalled software on a new device.

In our busy lives sometimes we just don’t have the resources or time to set up a new computer from scratch; it’s easier to buy a pre-fab PC from the store and then remove the stuff we don’t need. The removal process often times seems pretty straightforward — plug it in, turn it on, delete the preinstalled stuff that we just don’t need or want. But more often this turns from a few minutes into a few hours of uninstall, reboot, uninstall, reboot…

Almost every PC manufacturer (such as Asus, HP, Dell, Toshiba) is guilty of preinstalling their own versions of programs for things that every Windows OS can already do on its own, like performing backups, managing wireless connections, and monitoring battery health. That is where Decrap comes into play. It is an autonomous tool that removes all manufacture bloat in one, quick strike.

Once installed, the guided “Decrap” is fairly straightforward.

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 Select what you want it to remove. Most manufacturer bloatware will include its name in the preinstalled software. If you’re nervous about whether or not you’re removing something critical, rest assured that Decrap does check its database against a known-bloatware database to know what’s needed and what’s junk. (If you’re still nervous about this, however, just call us at Everon: 888-244-1748.)

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Always create a system restore point in case anything goes wrong.

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For the non-techie I would suggest Fully Automatic mode for a step-by-step walk through of what is happening. Also, the registry clean-up at the end is crucial. Registry affects boot up time, and if it is stuck looking for software that doesn’t exist, it only slows you down.

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Simple as that!

Very useful admin run Commands for Windows

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Good day all !

Today I decided to round up a list of very useful admin commands for CMD.

access.cpl - Accessibility Controls
hdwwiz.cpl - Add Hardware Wizard
appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs
certmgr.msc - Administrative Tools
charmap - Character Map
chkdsk         -       Check Disk Utility
clipbrd   -        Clipboard Viewer
cmd -           Command Prompt
dcomcnfg - Component Services
compmgmt.msc - Computer Management
timedate.cpl - Date and Time Properties
ddeshare - DDE Shares
devmgmt.msc - Device Manager
directx.cpl - Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)
dxdiag - Direct X Troubleshooter
cleanmgr - Disk Cleanup Utility
dfrg.msc - Disk Defragment
diskmgmt.msc - Disk Management
diskpart - Disk Partition Manager
control desktop - Display Properties
desk.cpl - Display Properties
control color - Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab
Preselected)
drwtsn32 - Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting
Utility
verifier - Driver Verifier Utility
eventvwr.msc - Event Viewer
sigverif - File Signature Verification Tool
findfast.cpl - Findfast
control folders - Folders Properties
control fonts - Fonts
fonts - Fonts Folder
freecell - Free Cell Card Game
joy.cpl - Game Controllers
gpedit.msc - Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)
mshearts - Hearts Card Game
iexpress - Iexpress Wizard
ciadv.msc - Indexing Service
inetcpl.cpl - Internet Properties
ipconfig /all - IP Configuration (Display Connection
Configuration)
ipconfig /displaydns - IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache
Contents)
ipconfig /flushdns - IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache
Contents)
ipconfig /release - IP Configuration (Release All
Connections)
ipconfig /renew - IP Configuration (Renew All Connections)
ipconfig /registerdns - IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP &
Re-Registers DNS)
ipconfig /showclassid - IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID)
ipconfig /setclassid - IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class
ID)
javaws - Java Control Panel (If Installed)
control keyboard - Keyboard Properties
secpol.msc - Local Security Settings
lusrmgr.msc - Local Users and Groups
logoff - Logs You Out Of Windows
winchat - Microsoft Chat
winmine - Minesweeper Game
control mouse - Mouse Properties
main.cpl - Mouse Properties
netstat - Netstat
control netconnections - Network Connections
ncpa.cpl - Network Connections
netsetup.cpl - Network Setup Wizard
notepad - Notepad
nvtuicpl.cpl - Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed)
packager - Object Packager
odbccp32.cpl - ODBC Data Source Administrator
osk - On Screen Keyboard
password.cpl - Password Properties
perfmon.msc - Performance Monitor
perfmon - Performance Monitor
telephon.cpl - Phone and Modem Options
powercfg.cpl - Power Configuration
control printers - Printers and Faxes
printers - Printers Folder
eudcedit - Private Character Editor
QuickTime.cpl - Quicktime (If Installed)
intl.cpl - Regional Settings
regedit - Registry Editor
mstsc - Remote Desktop
ntmsmgr.msc - Removable Storage
ntmsoprq.msc - Removable Storage Operator Requests
rsop.msc - Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof)
sticpl.cpl - Scanners and Cameras
control schedtasks - Scheduled Tasks
wscui.cpl - Security Center
services.msc - Services
fsmgmt.msc - Shared Folders
shutdown - Shuts Down Windows
mmsys.cpl - Sounds and Audio
spider - Spider Solitare Card Game
cliconfg - SQL Client Configuration
sysedit - System Configuration Editor
msconfig - System Configuration Utility
sfc /scannow - System File Checker Utility (Scan
Immediately)
sfc /scanonce - System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At
Next Boot)
sfc /scanboot - System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every
Boot)
sfc /revert - System File Checker Utility (Return to
Default Setting)
sfc /purgecache - System File Checker Utility (Purge File
Cache)
sfc /cachesize=x - System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size
to size x)
sysdm.cpl - System Properties
taskmgr - Task Manager
telnet - Telnet Client
tracert - Traceroute to hostname or IP
nusrmgr.cpl - User Account Management
utilman - Utility Manager
firewall.cpl - Windows Firewall
magnify - Windows Magnifier
wmimgmt.msc - Windows Management Infrastructure
syskey - Windows System Security Tool
wupdmgr - Windows Update Launches
tourstart - Windows XP Tour Wizard
write - Wordpad

Control Panel

CONTROL: opens the control panel window
CONTROL ADMINTOOLS: opens the administrative tools
CONTROL KEYBOARD: opens keyboard properties
CONTROL COLOUR: opens display properties.Appearance tab
CONTROL FOLDERS: opens folder options
CONTROL FONTS: opens font policy management
CONTROL INTERNATIONAL or INTL.CPL: opens Regional and Language option
CONTROL MOUSE or MAIN.CPL: opens mouse properties
CONTROL USERPASSWORDS: opens User Accounts editor
CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2 or NETPLWIZ: User account access restrictions
CONTROL PRINTERS: opens faxes and printers available
APPWIZ.CPL: opens Add or Remove programs utility tool
OPTIONALFEATURES: opens Add or Remove Windows component utility
DESK.CPL: opens display properties. Themes tab
HDWWIZ.CPL: opens add hardware wizard
IRPROPS.CPL: infrared utility tool
JOY.CP: opens game controllers settings
MMSYS.CPL: opens Sound and Audio device Properties. Volume tab
SYSDM.CPL: opens System properties
TELEPHON.CPL: Opens phone and Modem options
TIMEDATE.CPL: Date and Time properties
WSCUI.CPL: opens Windows Security Center
ACCESS.CPL: opens Accessibility Options
WUAUCPL.CPL: opens Automatic Updates
POWERCFG.CPL: opens Power Options Properties
AZMAN.MSC: opens authorisation management utility tool
CERTMGR.MSC: opens certificate management tool
COMPMGMT.MSC: opens the Computer management tool
COMEXP.MSC or DCOMCNFG: opens the Computer Services management tool
DEVMGMT.MSC: opens Device Manager
EVENTVWR or EVENTVWR.MSC: opens Event Viewer
FSMGMT.MSC: opens Shared Folders
NAPCLCFG.MSC: NAP Client configuration utility tool
SERVICES.MSC: opens Service manager
TASKSCHD.MSC or CONTROL SCHEDTASKS: opens Schedule Tasks manager
GPEDIT.MSC: opens Group Policy utility tool
LUSRMGR.MSC: opens Local Users and Groups
SECPOL.MSC: opens local security settings
CIADV.MSC: opens indexing service
NTMSMGR.MSC: removable storage manager
NTMSOPRQ.MSC: removable storage operator requests
WMIMGMT.MSC: opens (WMI) Window Management Instrumentation
PERFMON or PERFMON.MSC: opens the Performance monitor
MMC: opens empty Console
MDSCHED: opens memory diagnostics tools
DXDIAG: opens DirectX diagnostics tools
ODBCAD32: opens ODBC Data source Administrator
REGEDIT or REGEDT32: opens Registry Editor
DRWTSN32: opens Dr. Watson
VERIFIER: opens Driver Verifier Manager
CLICONFG: opens SQL Server Client Network Utility
UTILMAN: opens Utility Manager
COLORCPL: opens color management
CREDWIZ: back up and recovery tool for user passwords
MOBSYNC: opens Synchronization center
MSCONFIG: opens System Configuration Utility
SYSEDIT: opens System Configuration Editor (careful while using this command)
SYSKEY: Windows Account Database Security management (careful while using this command)

Windows utility and applications

EPLORER: Opens windows Explorer
IEXPLORER: Opens Internet explorer
WAB: opens Contacts
CHARMAP: opens Character Map
WRITE: opens WordPad
NOTEPAD: opens Notepad
CALC: opens Calculator
CLIPBRD: opens Clipbook Viewer
WINCHAT: opens Microsoft Chat Interface
SOUNDRECORDER: opens sound recording tool
DVDPLAY: run CD or DVD
WMPLAYER: opens Windows Media Player
MOVIEMK: Opens untitled Windows Movie Maker
OSK: opens on-screen Keyboard
MAGNIFY: opens Magnifier
WINCAL: opens Calendar
DIALER: opens phone Dialer
EUDCEDIT: opens Private Character Editor
NDVOL: opens the mixer volume
RSTRUI : opens Tool System Restore (For Vista only)
%WINDIR%\SYSTEM32\RESTORE\rstrui.exe: opens Tool System Restore (for XP only).
MSINFO32: Opens the System Information
MRT : launches the utility removal of malware.
Taskmgr : Opens the Windows Task Manager
CMD: opens a command prompt
MIGWIZ: Opens the tool for transferring files and settings from Windows (Vista only)
Migwiz.exe: Opens the tool for transferring files and settings from Windows (for XP only)
SIDEBAR: Open the Windows (Vista only)
Sigverif : Opens the tool for verification of signatures of files
Winver : Opens the window for your Windows version
FSQUIRT: Bluetooth Transfer Wizard
IExpress opens the wizard for creating self-extracting archives. Tutorial HERE
MBLCTR: opens the mobility center (Windows Vista only)
MSRA : Opens the Windows Remote Assistance
Mstsc : opens the tool connection Remote Desktop
MSDT: opens the diagnostic tools and support Microsoft
WERCON: opens the reporting tool and solutions to problems (for Vista only)
WINDOWSANYTIMEUPGRADE: Enables the upgrade of Windows Vista
WINWORD : opens Word (if installed)
PRINTBRMUI : Opens migration wizard printer (Vista only)

Disk management

DISKMGMT.MSC: opens disk management utility
CLEANMGR: opens disk drive clean up utility
DFRG.MSC: opens disk defragmenter
CHKDSK: complete analysis of disk partition
DISKPART: disk partitioning tool

Connection management

IPCONFIG: list the configuration of IP addresses on your PC (for more information type IPCONFIG/? in the CMD menu)
INETCPL.CPL: opens internet properties
FIREWALL.CPL: opens windows firewall
NETSETUP.CPL: opens network setup wizard

Miscellaneous commands

JAVAWS: View the cover of JAVA software (if installed)
AC3FILTER.CPL: Opens the properties AC3 Filter (if installed)
FIREFOX: Mozilla launches Firefox (if installed)
NETPROJ: allow or not connecting to a network projector (For Vista only)
LOGOFF: closes the current session
SHUTDOWN: shut down Windows
SHUTDOWN-A: to interrupt Windows shutdown
%WINDIR% or %SYSTEMROOT%: opens the Windows installation
%PROGRAMFILES%: Opens the folder where you installed other programs (Program Files)
%USERPROFILE%: opens the profile of the user currently logged
%HOMEDRIVE%: opens the browser on the partition or the operating system is installed
%HOMEPATH%: opens the currently logged user C: \ Documents and Settings \ [username]
%TEMP%: opens the temporary folder
VSP1CLN: deletes the cache for installation of the service pack 1 for Vista
System File Checker (Requires Windows CD if the cache is not available):
SFC / scannow: immediately scans all system files and repairs damaged files
SFC / VERIFYONLY: scans only those files system
SFC / Scanfil = “name and file path”: scans the specified file, and repaired if damaged
SFC / VERIFYFILE = “name and file path”: Scans only the file specified
SFC / scanonce: scans the system files on the next restart
SFC / REVERT: return the initial configuration (For more information, type SFC /? In the command prompt CMD.

Quick trick on How To Remove ALL Windows Temp Files

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Windows has temp files stashed in a wide variety of places, including hidden directories that most people will never find.  These hidden temp file locations are some of the favorite hiding places for viruses and malware.  In some cases, they can slow down a computer that is running low on disk space.

The best application that I have found to accomplish this is TFC.EXE by Old Timer.

I clear all temp files
1. before running virus/malware scans
2. and on computers that are running slow.

Here is how I use TFC.exe to remove all these hidden temp files.

NOTE:
TFC (Temp File Cleaner) will clear out all temp folders for all user accounts (temp, IE temp, java, FF, Opera, Chrome, Safari), including Administrator, All Users, LocalService, NetworkService, and any other accounts in the user folder. It also cleans out the %systemroot%\temp folder and checks for .tmp files in the %systemdrive% root folder, %systemroot%, and the system32 folder (both 32bit and 64bit on 64bit OSs). It shows the amount removed for each location found (in bytes) and the total removed (in MB). Before running it will stop Explorer and all other running apps. When finished, if a reboot is required the user must reboot to finish clearing any in-use temp files.

TFC only cleans temp folders. TFC will not clean URL history, prefetch, or cookies. Depending on how often someone cleans their temp folders, their system hardware, and how many accounts are present, it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more. TFC will completely clear all temp files where other temp file cleaners may fail. TFC requires a reboot immediately after running. Be sure to save any unsaved work before running TFC.

Here is how to use TFC to remove all your hidden temp files.

1.

Download your copy of TFC.exe

You can do a search for TFC.exe and Old Timer to find a current location that offers the file.

One such location is:

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/

2.

Close all open applications

Save your work and close all applications.

3.

Run TFC.exe

All applications will be stopped and you maybe forced to reboot after the scan and removal process is completed.

SAVE ALL YOUR WORK

TFC needs no installation and can be run directly.by clicking on the TFX.EXE file.

The quick how to on creating your own shortcut keys with Windows 7!

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Normally everyone has a specific program, or folder that they have to open every day usually multiple times. There is a really neat trick that can help save some time as well as is fun to setup.

Please remember that this will only work for shortcuts that are actually located on your desktop.

1: Create a desktop shortcut for the application you want one created for. In order to do this go to where the application or folder reside and right click on it, then mouse over the Send to -> then click on where it says “Desktop (create shortcut) and click on that. This will place a shortcut on your desktop.

2:  Once this has been sent to your desktop, you can now right-click on the short cut you have created, select properties, then you will see a line that says “Shortcut Key: None” If you click in this line you may now create a short key.

 

3:  Put in your shortcut, for example if you use the letter A, a shortcut key will be created. Windows will automatically format the shortcut key for you with a Ctrl + Alt + A. What this means is if you press Ctrl, Alt and A at the same time, your program or folder will automatically open for you. Once you have selected the letter you would like to use, press apply and then ok.

4: That is it you now have your very own shortcut key for your computer. As long as that shortcut that you have created resides on your desktop you may use this trick.

Dropbox is increasing their tier sizes to paying users for free!

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There is some great news coming down the wire from drop box, for its paid user accounts.

Recently the Dropbox Company revealed that it would be increasing the storage space available to its paying users at no extra cost! Dropbox is planning on raising the 50 and 100 GB tiers with 100 and 200GB tiers for FREE! This will allow users to really take advantage of online cloud storage.

Also, there is great news on the wire for power users too, Dropbox plans on pushing out a 500GB plan for those users that require much more space, allowing more file portability for businesses! There is no word yet however on how much this will cost, but keep your eyes peeled.

These upgraded Dropbox plans will went live late night Tuesday 7-10-12, and the DropBox team converted all the paid users by early Wednesday morning 7-11-12.

What is this Dropbox some might ask? Dropbox is an innovated online storage solution. No more need to loft hard drives and pen drives around anymore. As long as you have internet access, you would be able to grab your files off the internet. The days of accidently forgetting to bring a pen drive or leaving a file on your local desktop at home are now over!