NOTE!
I am writing this with the Home User in mind. Therefor I will throughout this article refer to all network activity or connections as Internet Connection. Even though it can also apply to Networks in general, being in the Office, or at home (Wlan, Wan, Lan). The usage of DNS within a Local Network can greatly increase or decrease the Network experience, no matter where you sit.

What is DNS

DNS is short for Domain Name Server and is a very important part of your daily Internet Usage. Every time you type a website address or send an email you make use of DNS.

a DNS is actually nothing more than a large database that allows us to use real text addresses, which is easy to remember. It is much easier to remember: www.mintywhite.com than 70.32.91.32 which is the correct address for our site.

What if you were to go around remember all those IP addresses – No one would use the Internet for very long.

Why would you change it ?

First Issue: SPEED!
Most people use the DNS provided by their ISP and are quite happy with it. However, different Internet Service Providers, maintain their DNS differently. If the DNS you are using aren’t updated on a regular basis, or if it’s not maintained properly, your Internet-access gets clogged up and slow.

Another issue: SECURITY!
Most DNS are open for all kinds of sites and domains, thus making it up to you to filter out what you don’t want to see. By switching your DNS to another provider like OpenDNS (Free) you can subscribe to services like Block Pages Customization, White-/Blacklists, Web Content Filtering and so on.

A very good reason to use a specially customized DNS is that is can be setup on all the computers in your household or company – setting global rules – thus avoiding your kids (or employees) to access material they shouldn’t. Let’s face it, filters and other software installed on your computer can easily be overridden (and kids especially are good at that). Setting the rules on a remote server is a bit trickier to override.

Security an Issue? Change it Once!

If you only want to add extra security and control to your Internet Connection you’ll be happy to change the settings once on each computer.

Once you have set up an account with a DNS provider you need to change (each) computers DNS settings. The Procedure is different on Windows XP and Windows Vista/Seven.

You can find good tutorials here:

• Change Your DNS Server in Windows 7
• Change Your DNS Server in Windows XP

SPEED an issue? Change it Often!

If you are more concerned with speed and are constantly tweaking your system to squeeze more juice out of your connection then you should also look to your DNS provider.

A great tool (which is not new by any means) is DnsJumper. The developers recently released a new version (1.0.3 beta).

With several new improvements, DnsJumper has become what I always expected it to be.

The two most important changes; is the ability to add your own DNS settings, and the ability to test all given DNS’s to find which one is faster for your current system (Google also has a tool for this (see here), but having the ability inside this program is way better if you ask me).

Download DnsJumper

DnsJumper does not need any installation. Simply unpack the RAR file and copy the utility to a folder of choice.

DnsJumper, Speed Test

Start up DnsJumper and click on “Fastest Dns”. This will invoke the speed-test where DnsJumper test the connection speed for each DNS-setting in your list (even your custom ones). After it is done, you can choose to change your DNS accordingly. As simple as it gets.

Override ability

For me the possibility to change the DNS on the fly has another great advantage. I want my kids to be safe when they use Internet so I’ve set my OpenDNS account very restrictive. Much so, that my own research abilities gets very limited. After all, many sites that offer free information, software etc. rely on ads to survive – and some display ads I don’t want my kids to see.

By using DnsJumper I can switch to a less restrictive DNS while working, then switch back to the family safe DNS when I’m done, and even, when I leave my computer on, to do other chores. All in a Click.

Further Reading

• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Clean Up old Windows System Restore Points [How To]
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware

There are many different providers of DNS (Domain Name Servers) available on the Internet, from the one you get using your ISP, to Google, UltraDNS, OpenDNS etc.

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to change your DNS settings in XP, no matter which DNS provider you choose. In the tutorial I am however going to assume that you have set up an account at OpenDNS.

Changing DNS settings

1. Click Start-Button and Open The Control Panel.
2. Locate and open Network Connections
3. Double-Click your default Network Connection from the available list
4. Click Properties
5. Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on Properties again
   
6. Click on: “Use the following DNS server addresses”
   The text fields below will be enabled
   Type in DNS IP addresses you have obtained from the DNS provider
   
   Example:
   Preferred DNS server address for Open DNS is: 208.67.222.222
   Alternate DNS server address for Open DNS is: 208.67.220.220
7. Click OK
8. Close any open dialogue window and Control Panel
9. Restart all Browsers

Further Reading

• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• FlashHacker, Watch FullScreen Flash Videos without Interuptions [Freeware]
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows

Now there is a solution…

A tech savvy person, named Jmaxxz has developed a Tool that hack The Flash Player so it ignores any activity on the other monitor. Thus enabling you to keep watching the Full Screen Flash Video without interruptions.

1. Download Here, and Run it.
2. Close all browsers before you continue.
3. To Activate the Full Screen Mode, Click: Hack My Flash!
4. Start your Browser and open your Flash Video in Full Screen Mode.
5. Click UnHack Flash to Reset the Flash Player

Further Reading

• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Clean Up old Windows System Restore Points [How To]
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]

There might, however, be  some reasons to shut this feature off. Like, when my kids discovered the burn to disk feature, they tried to “make movies” by placing tons of YouTube links on the disk and burn them. Suddenly my stash of 50 DVD’s were gone. Filled with nothing useful what so ever.

Therefor, I needed a way to disable the Burn To Disk Function in my Windows 7. Now This may also work in Vista, tho I haven’t tested it.

1. Click the Start-Button, and type: gpedit.msc, in the Search Field
2. In the Left Pane, Locate the following Folder:
   Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components > Windows Explorer
   
3. In the Right pane, scroll down until you find: Remove CD Burning Features and Double-Click it.
4. In the Options Window, Click on Enabled, then Click OK
   

That’s it.

If you want to Enable the Burn Function again, follow the above steps, and choose Disabled.

Further Reading

• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Can’t Delete a File? Use the Command Prompt [How To]
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows

This time, Let’s share stories about the Tech Support People who weren’t any help, or who never should have picked up the phone that day at all. I have a few stories here that made me laugh and I hope they can brighten you day as well.

What I’d really like thou, is for you to share your story, with me and the rest of our faithful readers.

“Who’s the MCSE Certified Expert here ??”

You probably already know where this is going, right ?
Okay, a System Manager Trainee was called over to a workplace together with the company’s MCSE. The computer in question would not log on to the network. After about 30 minutes of troubleshooting, the trainee tapped the MCSE guy on the shoulder, saying:” I might know what causes it..” The MCSE Replied: “Shut up, just watch and learn how a professional does things.”.. “But…” The trainee said, before he was cut off, yet again, “Hey, Who’s the MCSE certified Expert, here ? You, or me ?”

The Trainee, then crawled under the table and pulled out the Network Cable, which was unplugged from the wall socket. Guess who got blamed for not saying so in the first place…

“Let’s do it My way…”

Customer: “My laptop won’t boot.”
Tech Support: “Have you tried rebooting?”
Customer: “I can’t reboot, because it doesn’t boot in the first place.”
Tech Support: “Sir, we have to do things my way, okay?”

“Are you sure it’s not a CD-Rom Drive ??”

This one I found on the net somewhere:

Back in 2000 a family decided to get ISDN Internet connection. Now the computer they had at the time, was not the most modern one, it didn’t even have a CD-Rom Drive. The only tech savvy person in the household was out for the day (let’s call him Rich) when the Internet Tech Support guy showed up to install everything they needed.

When Rich came home, he found the tech support guy scratching his head, looking very confused. And Rich’s mother in front of the computer trying to pry out the CD-Rom from the 5 1/4″ floppy drive.

“I have no clue, mam”, The Tech Support Guy said, “I’ve never seen one of those before, are you sure it’s not a CD-Rom drive ??”

[Side Note: You might learn something...]
What is a 5 1/4″ (5.25″) Floppy ? Well, back in the good ol’ days – it was what we used even before there were Hard Drives. It was the predecessor of the 3.5″ diskette and was called a floppy because they were housed in bendable jackets. It could store a staggering 1.2MB. The Disk Drive had the approximately same size as the CD, but was mostly out of use in the mid 1990 ies.

Your Turn!

I’m sure you have a funny story around somewhere in the back of your mind. It doesn’t need to be self experienced. But it should have some plausibility to it. Please share your story in the comments.

I can’t hardly wait!

Regards, Thomas

Further Reading

• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• FlashHacker, Watch FullScreen Flash Videos without Interuptions [Freeware]
• ImgBurn, Free CD/DVD Burning and Backup Tool
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]

Windows Guides’ Rating	User Rating	Compatible with
4+ out of 5	Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

PROS: The program is simple and very easy to use. It has all the necessary functions you would expect and a few more. ImgBurn is not just for the Novice User, but also for the Experienced Tweaker. CONS: No direct MP3 to CDA conversion VERDICT: Get it while it’s free :) Some day they’ll discover they can make money on it. PRICE: Freeware VERSION REVIEWED: 2.5 Download Link in the Article

My first impression

I have always been partial to use Nero Burning Rom – the all time best – in my book. Until, that is, I discovered ImgBurn. Not only is it a great freeware, but it is also easy to use and handle. Where as Nero has grown to be this gigantic Software Suite with tools I would never even consider using, ImgBurn has kept it simple and neat. All the important functions is a tiny interface.

Overall I love it from the very beginning.

Discovery and Burning

First time I boot up a program I try to use it without tweaking anything. Sometimes that is a good idea and sometimes it’s not. This time it was. The default settings works like a charm. I chose some DivX files I had lying around and told ImgBurn to burn the DVD.

ImgBurn then prompted me; it had discovered that my disk contained DivX files and therefor should be burned using  another setting, than the default. Talk about smart. One thing I didn’t get ImgBurn to do, was to detect MP3 files and ask me if it should be converted to CDA (Music CD) or burn as ISO.

Calculate Space

Once you have put a blank disk in your drive, ImgBurn let you calculate necessary Disk Space and available Free Space, after Burn. The Calculate Function is not on by default, but it remembers the Auto Feature if you leave it on when you close the application.

Backup

If you have expensive DVD’s or CD’s lying around being in danger from kids, girlfriends, dog, your cat etc. Then ImgBurn can help you. ImgBurn has the ability to create ISO-Files from an existing Disk (even commercial ones), it can also create ISO-Files from files and folders and of course write ISO-Files to disk.

Just insert your disk into the drive and click on Create Image File from Disk, and press the Action Button.

For the Tech Savvy, as well…

ImgBurn isn’t just for the novice users who need a simple program to burn their files on a disk. It allows you to control ever aspect of the burning and ISO-Creating session.

In the Settings Dialog you are allowed to control How ImgBurn should interact with Windows, with your Registry and how your Disk Drive should behave. So if you love to tweak your applications, squeezing every ounce of performance out of it – you should really give ImgBurn a try.

Download ImgBurn 2.5

Download ImgBurn

Further Reading

• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware

Using Local Group Policy Editor

1. Click Start-Button, and type gpedit.msc
2. In the left pane, navigate to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar
   
3. In the Right Pane, Click the Setting Tab to Sort the list alphabetically
4. Double-Click on: Turn off taskbar thumbnails
5. Change Configuration to Enabled (Or Disabled to restore them)
6. Click OK

Using RegEdit

1. Open Regedit
2. Locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
   NOTE: The Subkey Explorer Might Not Be Present. If that be the case you need to add it (Right-Click on Policies and click New -> Key and name it: Explorer)
3. In The Right Pane, add a new DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it: TaskbarNoThumbnail
4. Modify the Value (Double-Click) to 1 (one)
5. Close RegEdit and Reboot.

NOTE!
To enable the Taskbar Thumbnails, remove the key you named:  TaskbarNoThumbnail

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]
• Clean Up old Windows System Restore Points [How To]
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]

I have found two freeware applications for you that will do the trick. One plain and simple and one with a few more options.

This is also for those of you who desperately miss your MAC taskbar, but have to use XP at work or whatever. Curious? Read on!

Visual Task Tips (What you expect, is what you get)

Visual Task Tips is a straightforward little application that gives you exactly what you’d expect. A Thumbnail Preview. Nothing more, nothing less. Just Download and install.

Visual Task Tips Supports both 32bit and 64bit platforms.

Download here!

Visual Tooltip (The one for MAC lovers)

If you want more than just a preview, then Visual Tooltip is for you. Not only do you get the pretty Taskbar Thumbnails, you also get more.

You can control where the thumbnails appear as well as  how they appear.

With Visual Tooltip you can also replace your Windows Taskbar entirely with a
MAC-Look-A-Like Taskbar similar to the one found i OS X.

We previously covered this program here a couple of years ago and it seems to be running even more smoothly now.

Download here!

The MAC Cloned Taskbar

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Collection of 14 Free Windows Sidebar Gadgets [Chameleon Glass Style]
• Clean Up old Windows System Restore Points [How To]

One of our readers asked:
“Where would one find the values associated with different functions?
What other kinds of functions could be added in this manner?”

Well, Alan – I think I’ve just come up with an answer.

.

.

You have, of course, read about the different “God-Mode-Folder” settings available. These settings are often undocumented features coded by windows developers for their own personal use, leaked to the public. No doubt to keep the OS interest on a high. This time there are no such hidden features – but with the help of two Freeware applications you can customize your Context Menu (Right Click menu), Exactly the way you like.

First of all, We are not just going to add functions that everyone has seen before. What I am about to show you is how you can make your own, how you control how Windows works.

First Download the two applications:

• Open++ 32-bit or  Open++ 64-bit
• NirCmd

Open++

Open++ is the tool of which we will use to add functionality to the Context Menu. It comes with its own set of settings and customization features like:

• Open Elevated Command Prompt
• Copy Path
• Register/UnRegister Dll
• Open / Close CD Drive
• Open any Program / Application

NirCMD

NirCMD is a Command-Line tool which allows you to run Actions as if you were clicking your mouse or pushing a button using Command-Line Arguments. By combining these Actions with Open++ you get the most versatile and powerful tools to completely revamp your Context Menu and it’s functions.

Wide range of Features

• Mute/UnMute Sound (nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 1)
• Dial to “My Internet” connection (nircmd.exe rasdial "My Internet")
• Center all top-level windows (nircmd.exe win center alltop)
• Open RegEdit (nircmd.exe regedit )
• Shutdown Computer (nircmd.exe exitwin poweroff)
• Add text to an existing file (clipboard addfile "c:\My Files\info1.txt").
  Which would be useful if you do a lot of research on the web.

The Above is of course only a few examples, but I think you get an idea of what you can achieve.

How To Do it

Both applications can be programmed in so many ways, that mentioning them all would take many many hours and articles here on Mintywhite. instead I intend to show you a few examples and let you work it out from there.

NOTE!
The Context menu has a limit of 128 Commands (including Separators) – depending on how many add-ons you already have

Installation

Installing Open++ is like installing any other application: Run Setup and follow the instructions.

NirCmd doesn’t need any installation to work, just unzip the file to a folder and you are good to go. If you want to, you may copy the NirCMD file to the Windows Directory. That way you don’t need to tell Windows where it is. Once you have unpacked the files, run the file called: NIRCMD.EXE and Click on “Copy To Windows Directory“.

Add Functionality using the Custom Open++ functions

Open++ Installs itself into your Context Menu by default. To change the settings; Right-Click your desktop, choose Open++ then Customize Open++. Now you see which setting have been added to your Context Menu. If some of the settings are of no use to you, highlight it and click Delete.

I have set Windows to always open JPEG files in the Windows Photo Viewer, but every now and then I want to edit a photo in Photoshop. Of course this is already possible using the Open With Function, difference is; I can add my own “Open With Photoshop” function for any file without having to save settings for each file type.

1. Choose Where in the menu you want the new item (Or use the UP and Down buttons later)
2. Click Add
3. Choose Run With Parameters
4. Give it a Title: Open With PhotoShop
5. Click on the Browse Button (…) to choose the Program Path
6. under Parameters Choose (or type): %TargetPath1%
   (or leave blank to open Photoshop only)
7. Give it an Icon, by using the same Path as the Program path
8. Choose Associate with: Files only
9. If you want, you can set File Type Limitations, like *.jpg; *.png; *.gif (separated by semicolon)
   This will Disable it If you Click on the” wrong” File Type.
10. Click Apply or OK (OK to Finish, Apply to do more changes)
11. Test your New Context Menu Item by Right-Clicking on a File

Add Functionality from NirCMD

The Procedure is much the same as above. Instead of using the cryptic %…% Parameters we are going to use NirCmd Parameters Instead.

This time, I want to add the Command: Clear The Clipboard, which is very usable for me, as I tend to have large amount of data (screen captures) wasting valuable memory-space in my Clipboard.

1. Choose Where in the menu you want the new item (Or use the UP and Down buttons later)
2. Click Add
3. Choose: Run With Parameters
4. Give it a Title: Clear The Clipboard
5. Write: NirCMD in the Program field
6. under Parameters write: clipboard clear
7. Choose an icon (Read: Choose Icons, below)
8. Choose Associate with: Files and Folders (not that it matters really)
9. No File Type Limitations
10. Click Apply or OK (OK to Finish, Apply to do more changes)
11. Test your New Context Menu Item

.

Ideas for Context Menu items

• Add specific data to the Clipboard, like the content of a specific text file:
  Set Parameter to: clipboard readfile "c:\My Files\info1.txt"
• Add new text to an existing file: clipboard addfile "c:\My Files\info1.txt"
• In need of a Series of ScreenCaptures within a time range ?
  nircmd.exe loop 10 60000 savescreenshot c:\temp\scr~$currdate.MM_dd_yyyy$-~$currtime.HH_mm_ss$.png.
  This Parameter will let you take 10 photos with a 60 second delay between each, saving the pictures in a folder using timestamps as filenames.

Choosing Icons

Any EXE file and DLL file in windows have a set of Program Icons you can use. When you add a filename, like the Windows Default icon-library  (C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll) you get to choose from all the icons stored in that file.

Further Reading

To learn more about the settings and options this is where to look:

• Open++ Website
• NirCMD Website

Good Luck !

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Can’t Delete a File? Use the Command Prompt [How To]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Clean Up old Windows System Restore Points [How To]

Now, we know better. If your CD or DVD gets a scratched surface – it’s virtually unreadable. Which Is why many make backup copies of their disks – before they get damaged.

What do you do, if you don’t have backups?

There are many freeware applications that may save the contents of a scratched disk, tho the end result will depend on how scratched the surface is. Here’s my tip on how to make the unreadable, readable – again.

Repairing the surface

There hundreds of special products promising to save your scratched discs. I have tried several, with less or no luck. What I found to be working, was something that you don’t usually associate with computers or Cd’s and DVD’s: Car Polish with Rubbing compound.

Yes, you read it correctly. I Did say: Car Polish with Rubbing compound. Whats more -  you need a Polish Pad made of Wool and a power-tool or similar (Use whatever you used when shining your car). Why this?

First of all; Car polish, rubbing, wool pads etc. are easy to come by, cheaper than those “specially developed” products and, its way better. Wool pads will actually work as a sandpaper and remove the scratches, leaving a smooth surface when done. It is not good enough to do this by hand as you need speed, heat and friction to get rid of those pesky scratches.

Here is how:

• Apply the Rubbing Polish onto the disk’s surface, and smear it
• Start your power tool and carefully run the disk back and forth over the rotating wool pad, until the desired result. Now and then, wipe it clean with a soft cloth to check your progress.
  
  Not every scratch needs to be removed – the worst ones are the tiny ones that covers the surface in all directions. You just have to try. Sometimes you get it running on the first go, other times it takes a bit longer.

Readable again

The reason this works is that a CD or DVD (and even Blu-Ray) consists of layers. The precious layer where data is stored, is somewhere in the middle of several protective plastic layers (or on the backside of it). So the data is rarely damaged. The damage is only surface deep – so to say – therefore it is possible to make a disk readable again.

After you have rubbed the disk, clean and rinse off leftover polish. make sure it’s dry before testing the disk in your player.

Personally I have saved many disks this way, both “Pro” disks and home-burned ones.

The “stuff” I’m using is called Innotec Easy Polish New Formula (and is available all throughout Europe). As long as you use something that contains rubbing – you’re good to go.

Best of Luck! Not every scratch need to be removed – the worst ones are the tiny ones that covers the surface in all directions.

Further Reading

• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]
• DVDShrink Makes Back ups of your DVD’s [Security]
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Can’t Delete a File? Use the Command Prompt [How To]