Window registry tweeks

Hacking Windows XP Registry



Structure of Windows XP Registry :


When you will open the Windows XP Registry , you will see it's divided into two panes. On the left side there are Five main
Keys as shown below. These can be expanded to several Sub-Keys, which further has many Sub-Keys.

+HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

+HKEY_CURRENT_USER

+HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

+HKEY_USERS

+HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG







Before you try out the Tweaks, learn how to Backup and Restore Windows XP Registry.
Types of Registry Backups :
It?s very important that before you do editing you make a backup of the current registry. If you ignore this warning, it might prove deadly for you?so better listen to me J
Open your registry. Go to Start>Run , type regedit . When you invoke the Export function from File>Export, you are given a choice of different file types that can be saved :
Registration Files (*.reg)
Registry Hive Files (*.*)
Text Files (*.txt)
Win9x/NT 4 Registration Files (*.reg)
All Files

Each one of the different file types above plays an important role in how the data you export is saved. Choosing the wrong type can give you unexpected results. So let me explain you quickly these file types.

Registrations Files : The Registration Files option creates a .reg file. This is the most well known file format used for backing up the registry. The Registration File can be used in two ways. As a text file it can be read and edited using Notepad outside of Registry Editor. Once the changes have been made and saved, right clicking the file and using the [Merge] command adds the changed file back into the registry. If you make additions to the registry using regedit and then merge the previously saved Registration File, anything that you've added via regedit will not be removed, but changes you make to data using regedit that previously existed in the saved Registration File will be overwritten when it is merged

Registry Hive Files : Unlike the Registration Files option above, the Registry Hive Files option creates a binary image of the selected registry key. The image file is not editable via Notepad nor can you view its contents using a text editor. However, what the Registry Hive Files format does is create an image perfect view of the selected key and allow you to import it back into the registry to insure any problematic changes you made are eliminated.

Text Files : This option does just as the name suggests. It creates a text file containing the information in the selected key. It's most useful purpose is creating a record or snapshot of a key at a particular point in time that you can refer back to if necessary. It cannot be merged back into the registry like a Registration File.

Win9x/NT 4 Registration Files : This option creates a .reg file in the same manner used by the Registration Files option. It's used by previous Windows versions and serves no purpose in XP unless you want to merge a key from XP into a previous version of Windows.

Out of the give above choices , the safest method of backing up registry is to use Registry Hive Files option. No matter what ever you do or goes wrong in editing, importing the image of the key will eliminate all changes.

**Note-> I have included the exact name/value between [ ] brackets. [ & ] should be ignored, only the data inside them should be considered.



1. Customize Windows Media Player Title Bar

Change the title bar to read Windows Media Player provided by , so if I had entered text ?Abhishek Bhuyan? , it would read: Windows Media Player provided by Abhishek Bhuyan

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft
Create the Key [WindowsMediaPlayer]
Create String value named [TitleBar]

Data Type: REG_SZ // Value Name: TitleBar
Double click TitleBar and Enter the text to be displayed in the title bar.

Exit Registry / Reboot

2. Minimize Outlook 2002 to the System Tray

If you frequently access Outlook during the day it?s more convenient to have it minimized to the system tray rather than invoking it each time you need to send/receive e-mail. This tweak minimizes Outlook 2002 to the system tray:

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Preferences

Modify/Create Data Type DWORD named [MinToTray]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

3. Specify Default IE Download Directory

This tweak changes the default directory where downloads initiated in Internet Explorer are stored on the system.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [Download Directory]
Value Data: [Enter Path to Directory to be Assigned as Defualt for Downloads]

Exit Registry / Reboot

4. Force Use of Classic Start Menu

This tweak loads the Classic Start Menu and makes it impossible to change back to the Windows XP version

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Modify/Create the DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [NoSimpleStartMenu]
Value Data: [0 = Default / 1 = Force Classic Start Menu]

Exit Registry / Reboot

5. Hide/Show Internet Explorer Desktop Icon

By default, Windows XP does not show the Internet Explorer icon on the Windows desktop. Using the registry tweak below allows you to control whether or not the Internet Explorer icon is displayed.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [NoInternetIcon]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

6. Increase Menu Display Speed

When you click on the Start Menu there is some delay to display the contents , just for no reason. Effects are pretty though. The default speed can be adjusted with a quick registry entry.

The default value is 400. Set it to 0 and the delay is gone. If you are not able to adjust pick a number that suits your style and make the change.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Modify/Create String value of Data type REG_SZ Named [MenuShowDelay]

Value Data: [Default = 400 / Adjust to Preference]

Exit Registry / Reboot

7. Change the Location of Special Folders

This tweak allows changing the location of special folders on the system. Any of the folders listed in the registry key may be moved.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserShell Folders

Modify/Create String value of Data type REG_SZ Named [Various Folder Names]

Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: Consult RegEdit for Folder Names

Value Data: [Move the folder to the new desired location using explorer, and then edit the matching folder in RegEdit to reflect the new folder location]

Exit Registry and Reboot

8. Faster Browsing in Windows Explorer on Network Computers

By default, a Windows XP machine connecting to a Windows 95/98/Me computer will search for scheduled tasks or enabled printers on the remote computer. Two sub-keys control this behavior. Deleting them will speed up browsing on the remote computer.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace

To Disable Scheduled Task Checking
Value Name: {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Delete the sub-key in the left pane of Registry Editor

To Disable Printer Checking
Value Name: {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Delete the sub-key in the left pane of Registry Editor

Exit Registry / Reboot

9. Add Administrator Account to Log In Screen

When Windows XP is first installed it requires you to enter at least one name of a user who will access the computer. Once you create this name the default Administrator account vanishes. To access it, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete twice at the Welcome screen to retrieve the standard Windows 2000 logon dialog. Log on as Administrator from this point. To log the Administrator off, click [Start] [Log Off] and [Log Off] when the [Log Off Windows] selection box appears. The Log On screen with the available users will be displayed.

To Make the Administrator Account Always Visible on the Login Screen use this Registry Tweak.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Administrator]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

10. Increase Internet Download Connections

Increase Simultaneous Internet Download Connections. Increases the number of allowed simultaneous connections to ten (10).

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server]
Setting for Value Data: [0000000a]

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [MaxConnectionsPerServer]
Setting for Value Data: [0000000a]

Exit Registry / Reboot


11. Connected Web Files and Folders

Connecting web files and folders allows a primary .htm or .html file to be moved in conjunction with files associated with the primary document. Once the primary document has been defined, create a sub-folder using the same name as the primary document but assign it a .files extension. Whenever the primary file is moved, the sub-folder will also move and remain as a sub-folder of the primary.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [NoFileFolderConnection]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Enabled (Default) / 1 = Disabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

12. Hide/Show My Documents Folder on Desktop

By default, Windows XP does not show the My Documents folder on the Windows desktop. Using the registry tweak below allows you to control whether or not My Documents is displayed.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}\ShellFolder

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Attributes]
Setting for Value Data: [Default = 0xf0400174 / Hidden = 0xf0500174]

Exit Registry / Reboot

13. Create a Hidden User Account

This tweak allows an account that is normally displayed on the Welcome screen to be hidden from view. To log on using the account it's necessary to use the Log On To Windows dialog box similar to the one in Windows 2000 i.e. press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Type Name of Account to be Hidden]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Account is Hidden / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

While the account is hidden on the Welcome screen, note that the account profile will be visible in C:\Documents and Settings or wherever user profiles are stored as well as in Local Users and Groups.

14. Create Legal Notice Logon Dialog Box

In situations where you need users to read a legal notice before logging on, this tweak will create the caption for the notice.

Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LegalNoticeCaption]
Value Data for LegalNoticeCaption: [Type the Caption for the Dialog Box]

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LegalNoticeText]
Value Data for LegalNoticeText: [Type the Data for the Legal Notice]

Exit Registry / Reboot

15. Manage Internet Explorer Error Reporting

This tweak removes the IE Error Reporting tool from appearing with the option to send browser debugging reports to Microsoft.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

Note:- Create both values listed below and set according to the bold type for the tweak to function properly.

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [IEWatsonEnabled]
Value Data: [0 - Disabled / 1 - Enabled]

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [IEWatsonDisabled]
Value Data: [0 - Disabled / 1 - Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

16. Customize Logon and Security Dialog Title

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [Welcome]
Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

17. Customize Logon Box Message

This is the message displayed on the Classic Logon box, not the XP ?Welcome? logon screen

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LogonPrompt]
Value Data: [Enter the text of the message]

Exit Registry / Reboot

18. Welcome Screen Logon Vs Classic Logon

This tweak specifies whether the Welcome screen or the Classic logon will be used to access Windows XP.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [LogonType]
Value Data: [0 - Classic Mode / 1 - Welcome Screen]

Exit Registry / Reboot

19. QoS (Quality Of Service) Bandwidth Reserve Setting

By default, Windows XP reserves 20% of the connection bandwidth for QoS traffic. This tweak allows the setting to be altered to a different percentage of connection bandwidth. If the system uses more than a single adapter for network connections, each adapter may be set individually by navigating to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Psched\Parameters\Adapters\{Adpater-ID} rather than HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Psched

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Psched

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [NonBestEffortLimit]
Setting for Value Data: [Enter as a Percentage / Default Value = 20]

Exit Registry / Reboot

20. Enable/Disable Save Password in DUN

This tweak saves user passwords for Dial Up Networking so they do not have to be re-entered each session.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan\Parameters

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [DisableSavePassword]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled (Passwords Saved) / 1 = Enabled (Passwords Not Saved)]

Exit Registry / Reboot

21. Change the Registered Organization/Owner of Windows XP

This tweak allows modification of the registered owner and organization of the Windows XP software.

Note:- This tweak has nothing to do with Windows Product Activation (WPA) and will not allow you to register illegal XP software.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [RegisteredOrganization] or [RegisteredOwner]
Setting for Value Data: [Modify the Values to Reflect Current Information]

Exit Registry / Reboot

22. Remove Links Folder in Favorites

The Links folder is part of Favorites whether it's being accessed through Internet Explorer or the Favorites menu in the Start Menu. This tweak will remove it from those locations.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar

Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LinksFolderName]
Value Data: [Set the String Value to a blank string]

Open Internet Explorer and manually delete the Links folder from Favorites Menu.
The Links folder will not be recreated.

Exit Registry / Reboot

23. Enable/Disable Active Window Tracking to Mouse Movements

When the mouse is moved over an open window it automatically sets the focus to that particular window. It does not bring the window to the foreground of the open windows.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [ActiveWindowTracking]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = ActiveWindowTracking Disabled / 1 = ActiveWindowTracking Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

24. Auto Disconnect for Internet Explorer

Use this edit to automatically disconnect from Internet Explorer after a specified length of time has elapsed. Use this trick on anyone whom you don?t like using your computer with net J

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Autodisconnect]
Value Data: [Enter a new disconnect time. Use Hexadecimal if you are unfamiliar with Binary]

Exit Registry / Reboot

25. Auto Reboot on System Crash

By default, when the Windows XP operating system crashes an automatic reboot of the system occurs. While this behavior can be convenient, the downside is the error message accompanying the crash is not visible. Often times this information can be a great help in troubleshooting the source of the crash. This behavior can be modified in two ways; via the registry or using the System Properties property sheet.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [AutoReboot]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = AutoReboot Disabled / 1 = AutoReboot Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

Open System Properties via Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System

[System Properties may also be opened using the WinKey+Pause key combination]

Select the Advanced tab and then click Settings in the Startup and Recovery section

In System Failure section, clear the checkbox next to Automatically Restart

Click OK and OK to exit

26. Modify Control Panel Categories

Even if you like the new style for Control Panel, you might at times wish you could shift some items around into a different category. It's possible.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Choose one of the applets with .cpl extension]

Setting for Value Data: [Select the value from table below]

Other Control Panel Options 0
Appearance and Themes 1
Printers and Other Hardware 2
Network and Internet Connections 3
Sounds, Speed, and Audio Devices 4
Performance and Maintenance 5
Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options 6
Accessibility Options 7
Add or Remove Programs 8
User Accounts 9

Exit Registry / Reboot

To further customize the items that appear in the new Control Panel, do a search of your system for all files that end in .cpl extension. If they aren't already listed, you can add them with a new DWORD value and then assign them to a category of your choosing.

27. Enable/Disable Run Commands Specific to the Registry

This tweak controls the use of the Run command on the local machine

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer

Create a DWORD value of Data Type REG_DWORD for each Run function that will be disabled.

Modify/Create the Value Name [DisableLocalMachineRun]
Modify/Create the Value Name [DisableLocalMachineRunOnce]

Modify/Create the Value Name [DisableCurrentUserRun]
Modify/Create the Value Name [DisableCurrentUserRunOnce]

Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]

Exit Registry / Reboot

28. Enable/Disable System Properties Access from My Computer

This tweak removes access to System Properties via My Computer as well as via Control Panel.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [NoPropertiesMyComputer]
Value Data: [0 - Display Properties / 1 - Hide Properties]

Exit Registry / Reboot

29. Uninstall Programs Manually

Just because Windows XP has the Add/Remove Programs feature it doesn't mean your application will appear in the list. Furthermore, even if it does appear, it's no guarantee that the uninstall feature will work. When you run across one of these situations the items listed below will help in getting rid of the application. Be aware that these steps may not remove everything associated with the application and can impact other applications on the computer. Have a backup or restore point and use caution.

Find the directory for the application and delete all the files in the directory. Delete the directory.

Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.

Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.

To remove the application entry from Add/Remove Programs (if present) open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.

Some applications have Services attached to them. If this is the case, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services, locate and delete the service.

In Windows Explorer, navigate to the individual user settings and delete program references. Common places to check would be:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.

C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.

[Do this for each User ID listed]

C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.

[Do this for each User ID listed]

If no entries were found in the previous step and the application launches automatically, navigate to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

and delete the entry.

30. Create a right-click command prompt option

You can right-click a folder to get a list of actions you can apply to it. Here?s a way to create an action on that right-click menu that opens a command prompt window with that folder as the current directory. In a text editor such as Notepad, type the following exactly:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here]

@=?Command &Prompt Here?

[HKEY_CLASSES-ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here\command]

@=?cmd.exe /k pushd %L?



Save the file with any name you want, with a .reg extension. Then double-click the saved file and choose Yes to merge the file?s information into the Registry. You can delete the file. Right-click any folder and you?ll see the CommandPrompt Here option.

31. Adjusting System Restore values

The new System Restore feature in Windows XP automatically backs up a snapshot of your system, including your Registry, every 24 hours. It also saves restore points for 90 days. Neither of these values is directly editable in the System Restore program, but you can change them in the Registry. Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore

You?ll find an assortment of settings here. To change the interval between automatically created restore points, change the RPGlobalInterval setting. To change the number of days that a restore point is retained, change the RPLifeInterval setting.

System Restore time intervals are measured in seconds, not days, so you must convert the number of days you want into seconds. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, so multiply 86,400 by the number of days you want to determine the value. (There are 3,600 seconds in an hour, I hope you know)

32. Erase the swap file at shutdown

You might be concerned about someone browsing your users? swap files and gathering up little bits of their sensitive data. A remote possibility, to be sure, but it could happen. For that extra measure of security, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

Set the ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD to 1. This will make shutdowns take longer, because it overwrites everything in the swap file with zeroes. Don?t turn this feature on unless you have a serious security threat.

33. Delete the Files Stored on This Computer category in the My Computer window

In Windows XP, the My Computer window?s listing is broken down by categories: Hard Disk Drives, Devices with Removable Storage, and so on. One of these categories is Files Stored on This Computer, which appears at the top of the My Computer window. If a user doesn?t need it , you can get rid of it. To do so, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\
NameSpace\Delegate Folders

Delete the {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c55595fe6b30ee} subkey to remove the category.

34. Change the desktop cleanup frequency

Through Display Properties (Desktop tab, Customize Desktop button, General tab), you can turn on and off a feature that runs the Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days. You don?t have an option to set a different interval there, but you can change the interval in the Registry. To do so, go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz

Change the Days Between Clean Up Value to some other number of days (in decimal format).

35. Sort menus alphabetically

When you install a new program for a user, it doesn?t find its place in the alphabetical Start menu hierarchy right away; it hangs out at the bottom for a little while. If your users employ the Classic Start menu, they can re-alphabetize it manually by right-clicking the taskbar and choosing Properties, clicking the Customize button next to the Classic Start Menu, and clicking the Sort button. With the Windows XP style of Start menu, however, you don?t have an equivalent button. To make Windows always alphabetize the list, remove the permissions from the Registry key that controls the sort order for the Start menu. To do so, go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder

Choose Edit | Permissions and click the Advanced button. Deselect the Inherit From Parent The Permission Entries That Apply To Child Objects check box and then click Copy when the Security dialog box pops up. Click OK and clear the Full Control entry for your account and all security groups you are a member of. Leave only Read permission.

36. Prevent programs from loading at startup

Remember back in the good old days of Windows 3.1 when you could open up the Win.ini file in a text editor and remove an item from the RUN= line to disable it from running at startup? With Windows 9x and above, the Win.ini file became less useful because 32-bit programs were set to run at startup from within the Registry instead.

One way to selectively disable programs from loading at startup is to use MSCONFIG (from the Run command) to deselect certain items. Another way to remove them is to edit the Registry directly. Consider the following locations:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

for applications that start up for all users

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

for applications that start up when the current user logs on

Remove the entry for a program by right-clicking it and selecting Delete to prevent it from loading.

37. Change categories in the Control Panel

Windows XP?s Control Panel is broken down by category in the default Category view, but the group to which an item belongs is not always obvious. If you disagree with Microsoft?s assignments, you can switch them around. To assign a different category to an item, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\
{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2

Find the item you want to change and double-click it to bring up a dialog box. Change the item?s DWORD value to your preference. Use the Table given below as a guide (shown with decimal numbers, which is the way you should enter them).

DWORD value to set

Other Control Panel Options 0

Appearance and Themes 1

Printers and Other Hardware 2

Network and Internet Connections 3

Sounds, Speed, and Audio Devices 4

Performance and Maintenance 5

Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options 6

Accessibility Options 7

Add or Remove Programs 8

User Accounts 9

38. Grouping multiple open windows

Windows XP will group multiple open windows (IE windows for example) into one group on the task bar to keep the taskbar clear. This can be annoying at times - especially when comparing different web pages because you have to go back to the task bar, click on the group and then click on the page you want and then you only get one page because you have to click on each one separately. I think the default for this is 8 windows - any combination of apps or utilities open.

You can modify this behavior by adding this registry key at:

HKEY_CURRRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\

add a Dword value of type REG_DWORD named [TaskbarGroupSize]

modify "TaskbarGroupSize" entry to be the number of windows you want open before XP starts to group them on the task bar.

A value of 2 will cause the Taskbar buttons to always group

Another tweak is to disable or enable recent documents history. This can be done at:

HKEY_CURRRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\

this key should already be present - if it isn't you'll need to add it:

Add a Binary value of type REG_BINARY named [NoRecentDocsHistory]

modify it so that value reads 01 00 00 00

39. Disable Tips

To disable Ballon tips in Windows XP do this registry tweak

Go to : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Create a new DWORD value, name it EnableBalloonTips, and set it equal to 0. If EnableBalloonTips is already there and equal to 1, set it equal to 0. Quit the registry editor, log off, and log back on. Voila! Your computer will stop talking down to you.

40. Add/Remove optional features of Windows XP

To dramatically expand the list of applications you can remove from Windows XP after installation, navigate to C:\WINDOWS\inf and open the sysoc.inf file. {Opps , if you didn?t find the inf directory, you are right. It?s a hidden folder, so go to Tools>Folder Options> View , enable Show Hidden Files & Folders.}

[Version]

Signature = "$Windows NT$"

DriverVer=07/01/2001,5.1.2600.0

[Components]

NtComponents=ntoc.dll,NtOcSetupProc,,4

WBEM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wbemoc.inf,hide,7

Display=desk.cpl,DisplayOcSetupProc,,7

Fax=fxsocm.dll,FaxOcmSetupProc,fxsocm.inf,,7

NetOC=netoc.dll,NetOcSetupProc,netoc.inf,,7

iis=iis.dll,OcEntry,iis.inf,,7

com=comsetup.dll,OcEntry,comnt5.inf,hide,7

dtc=msdtcstp.dll,OcEntry,dtcnt5.inf,hide,7

IndexSrv_System = setupqry.dll,IndexSrv,setupqry.inf,,7

TerminalServer=TsOc.dll, HydraOc, TsOc.inf,hide,2

msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,,6

ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7

fp_extensions=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Extensions,fp40ext.inf,,7

AutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,au.inf,hide,7

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

RootAutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,rootau.inf,,7

IEAccess=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,ieaccess.inf,,7



Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,,7

AccessUtil=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.inf,,7

CommApps=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,communic.inf,HIDE,7

MultiM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,multimed.inf,HIDE,7

AccessOpt=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,optional.inf,HIDE,7

Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,HIDE,7

MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf,HIDE,7

ZoneGames=zoneoc.dll,ZoneSetupProc,igames.inf,,7

[Global]

WindowTitle=%WindowTitle%

WindowTitle.StandAlone="*"

The entries that include the text hide or HIDE will not show up in Add/Remove Windows Components by default. To fix this, do a global search and replace for ,hide and change each instance of this to , (a comma). Then, save the file, re launch Add/Remove Windows Components,

41. Remove Windows Messenger

It seems that a lot of people are interested in removing Windows Messenger for some reason, though I strongly recommend against this: In Windows XP, Windows Messenger will be the hub of your connection to the .NET world, and now that this feature is part of Windows, I think we're going to see a lot of .NET Passport-enabled Web sites appearing as well. But if you can't stand the little app, there are a couple of ways to get rid of it, and ensure that it doesn't pop up every time you boot into XP. The best way simply utilizes the previous tip:

If you'd like Windows Messenger to show up in the list of programs you can add and remove from Windows, navigate to C:\WINDOWS\inf and open sysoc.inf (see the previous tip for more information about this file). You'll see a line that reads:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

Change this to the following and Windows Messenger will appear in Add or Remove Programs, then Add/Remove Windows Components, then , and you can remove it for good:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,7

42. Rename multiple files ( it is not a Registry tweak though. I thought this to be really cool, so I have put it here)

A new, small, neat feature for Windows XP deals with renaming files. I personally have always wanted the OS to include a way to do a mass file renaming on a bunch of files. You can now rename multiple files at once .Its really simple:

Select several files in Explorer, press F2 and rename one of those files to something else. All the selected files get renamed to the new file name (plus a number added to the end). Simple J




I hope you enjoyed the above Registry tricks ! May be next time I?ll come up with more. That's all for now .
To know more tricks + topics on Hacking, Security, Programming.

How to Get someones ISP password.

How to Get someones ISP password.



1.) run your telnet program:
on windows , go to START -> RUN -> "TELNET".
on linux , you should open a shell , and write telnet.
2.) then connect (on windows "connect" , on linux "open") some anonymous server , if don't have any then search for one , if you are too lame then email me now! i'll give you in the minute! note: you should connect the server mail program (port "25")!
3.) now , write the following :

mail from:[**YOUR FRIEND'S ISP WEBMASTER**]
rcpt to:[**YOUR FRIEND'S EMAIL ADRESS**]
data
Hi there [YOUR FRIEND'S NAME] , this is [NAME OF YOUR FRIEND'S ISP] support team , lately , our server had some problems with the connection and the user-password files were destroyed , a backup was then released , and it was ok.
but yesterday we found out that it is not an updated version of the file , so , it will start charging you for a larger amount of money for each our you use!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To correct the problem , we have made a speical program to correct the error , all YOU have to do is email :
"[**YOUR'S FRIEND'S ISP NAME**]@GalaxyCorp.Com" and in the SUBJECT write your "user name" and "password".

note: No moeny will be returned if you don't follow our instructions!

thank you,
the support team!

4.) press enter twice and then write "."(without the "") and press ENTER!

--
now , the places you saw ** say that maybe you didn't understood it all , so i'll give you a simple example .

[**YOUR FRIEND'S ISP WEBMASTER**] - example , if your friend is connected througe AOL , then type "webmaster@aol.com" , get it?

[**YOUR FRIEND'S EMAIL ADRESS**] - example , if your friend's email is john@aol.com, then type "john@aol.com".

[YOUR FRIEND'S NAME] - if your friend is called "John" then type "John".

[NAME OF YOUR FRIEND'S ISP] - if your friend is connected through AOL(American Online) , then type "American - Online"

"[**YOUR'S FRIEND'S ISP NAME**]@GalaxyCorp.Com" - this is the hard-part , but if you are reading this , then don't worry , you're one step from the end! ..

* launch your WWW browser(MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER\NETSCAPE) , and type "HTTP://www.galaxycorp.com".

* Sign there for an account , now , when they ask you what username you want, then try the closest thing to your ISP name(ex - if your friend is connected thourgh American Online[AOL] then try "aol" or "a_o_l" or "american_online" !)

* and when they ask for your email , type your Real one!!!
now continue in your normal life , and remember to read your email!
if you suddenly get a message from your friend's email adress , and the subject is "john j4o87HnzG" then , guess what , you just saved 10$ a month!

HOW TO SET UP FTP SERVER

This is a full tutorial for creating you're very own FTP.

The first thing to do is to go to
Code:
www.no-ip.com

Register free at the page. (follow all the instructions you get there)
Look at the top, and you see the Host Search. Write the name you want, and press Go! Then download the program called No-IP on the site, or use this:
Code:
http://download.com.com/3000-2165-10055182.html?legacy=cnet
Download and install the software, then write you're registerd username and password in the requested fields. A smiley face should now appear in the program box. Press the box next to it, and I will change to a happy face. Press it again, and you have you're ip guided to you're registerd host name. You have to press the smiley every time you log on to the internet. If you are connected all the time, you whont have to do it again, but try to make sure. It will tell you if you are guided to you're host name or not.

That was the basics. Now it's time for getting this thing online.

Got to
Code:
www.bpftpserver.com
(it's a pay prog. you can crack it or buy it)
Download Bullet Proof FTP Server, and install it. Start the program, and you will see a big white screen, and some icons on the top.
Press the lightning, and it will say: (example)

31.07.02 10:41:22 - FTP Server On-line : IP(s) 192.168.1.10,80.212.4.10, on port 21

Then you press the human head (nr. 6 from the right)
Make an account for you're self, and press ok. Minimize the program, and go to the internet again. Go to
Code:
www.smartftp.com
and download the prog (I'm sure the most of you have an FTP prog from before. Write the host name you made at NoIP, and the login pass and port. (Default is port 21.) Press connect, and you are online. I did not get into all details, but you can learn more about the progs in the help section.

8 People Can Use The Same Msn Dial Up Account

8 People Can Use The Same Msn Dial Up Account

its easy really. want to have an entire family on dial-up with just one bill?

step one. purchase 20 dollar a month subscription to MSN unlimited access dial up. This will include an MSN 9 cd which you will need. With the software installed, fill up your secondary account slots with new users. Make sure you pick @msn if it gives you the choice, hotmail email addresses will not work..

say the secondary account is johnsmith@msn.com type in the Dial up connection

USER : MSN/johnsmith
PASS: ******* (whatever)

connect to your local msn phone number and the other people you gave secondary accounts to will be able to do the same, while you are connected. Its a sweet deal considering everyone is paying about 2 bucks a month for internet access, especially if you cannot get broadband. if you wanted to sell off the access to people you could actually make money doing this.. but i do not suggest it.

I used to be an msn tech and this was a little known secret even to most of the employees.

After you do this you do not need the software any more. I would suggest keeping it on to micromanage everyone else's accounts. and for the simple fact that if they don't pitch in, cut them off HEHEHE

i'm on broadband now so i dont care if i tell you my little secret. anyone else knew of this?

Rename Recycle Bin

1. Start, Run, 'Regedit'.
2. Press 'Ctrl'+'F' to open find box and type 'Recycle Bin' to search.
3. Change any value data with 'Recycle Bin' to whatever name you want to give it ( ie, like 'Trash Can' or 'Dump' etc).
4. Press F3 to continue searching for 'Recycle Bin' and change wherever you come across 'Recycle Bin' to new its new name.
5. Repeat step 4 until you have finished with searching and changed all values to its new name.
6. Close regedit and hit F5 on desktop to see the new name on screen.

Note: As a good practice, always backup your registry before changing anything although changing 'Recycle Bin' name is a simple tweak and doesnt affect anything else.

How to Bypass BIOS Passwords

How to Bypass BIOS Passwords

BIOS passwords can add an extra layer of security for desktop and laptop computers. They are used to either prevent a user from changing the BIOS settings or to prevent the PC from booting without a password. Unfortunately, BIOS passwords can also be a liability if a user forgets their password, or changes the password to intentionally lock out the corporate IT department. Sending the unit back to the manufacturer to have the BIOS reset can be expensive and is usually not covered in the warranty. Never fear, all is not lost. There are a few known backdoors and other tricks of the trade that can be used to bypass or reset the BIOS

DISCLAIMER
This article is intended for IT Professionals and systems administrators with experience servicing computer hardware. It is not intended for home users, hackers, or computer thieves attempting to crack the password on a stolen PC. Please do not attempt any of these procedures if you are unfamiliar with computer hardware, and please use this information responsibly. LabMice.net is not responsible for the use or misuse of this material, including loss of data, damage to hardware, or personal injury.


Before attempting to bypass the BIOS password on a computer, please take a minute to contact the hardware manufacturer support staff directly and ask for their recommended methods of bypassing the BIOS security. In the event the manufacturer cannot (or will not) help you, there are a number of methods that can be used to bypass or reset the BIOS password yourself. They include:

Using a manufacturers backdoor password to access the BIOS

Use password cracking software

Reset the CMOS using the jumpers or solder beads.

Removing the CMOS battery for at least 10 minutes

Overloading the keyboard buffer

Using a professional service

Please remember that most BIOS passwords do not protect the hard drive, so if you need to recover the data, simply remove the hard drive and install it in an identical system, or configure it as a slave drive in an existing system. The exception to this are laptops, especially IBM Thinkpads, which silently lock the hard drive if the supervisor password is enabled. If the supervisor password is reset without resetting the and hard drive as well, you will be unable to access the data on the drive.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Backdoor passwords

Many BIOS manufacturers have provided backdoor passwords that can be used to access the BIOS setup in the event you have lost your password. These passwords are case sensitive, so you may wish to try a variety of combinations. Keep in mind that the key associated to "_" in the US keyboard corresponds to "?" in some European keyboards. Laptops typically have better BIOS security than desktop systems, and we are not aware of any backdoor passwords that will work with name brand laptops.

WARNING: Some BIOS configurations will lock you out of the system completely if you type in an incorrect password more than 3 times. Read your manufacturers documentation for the BIOS setting before you begin typing in passwords

Award BIOS backdoor passwords:

ALFAROME ALLy aLLy aLLY ALLY aPAf _award AWARD_SW AWARD?SW AWARD SW AWARD PW AWKWARD awkward BIOSTAR CONCAT CONDO Condo d8on djonet HLT J64 J256 J262 j332 j322 KDD Lkwpeter LKWPETER PINT pint SER SKY_FOX SYXZ syxz shift + syxz TTPTHA ZAAADA ZBAAACA ZJAAADC 01322222
589589 589721 595595 598598

AMI BIOS backdoor passwords:

AMI AAAMMMIII BIOS PASSWORD HEWITT RAND AMI?SW AMI_SW LKWPETER A.M.I. CONDO

PHOENIX BIOS backdoor passwords:

phoenix, PHOENIX, CMOS, BIOS

MISC. COMMON PASSWORDS

ALFAROME BIOSTAR biostar biosstar CMOS cmos LKWPETER lkwpeter setup SETUP Syxz Wodj

OTHER BIOS PASSWORDS BY MANUFACTURER

Manufacturer Password
VOBIS & IBM merlin
Dell Dell
Biostar Biostar
Compaq Compaq
Enox xo11nE
Epox central
Freetech Posterie
IWill iwill
Jetway spooml
Packard Bell bell9
QDI QDI
Siemens SKY_FOX
TMC BIGO
Toshiba Toshiba

TOSHIBA BIOS

Most Toshiba laptops and some desktop systems will bypass the BIOS password if the left shift key is held down during boot

IBM APTIVA BIOS

Press both mouse buttons repeatedly during the boot


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Password cracking software

The following software can be used to either crack or reset the BIOS on many chipsets. If your PC is locked with a BIOS administrator password that will not allow access to the floppy drive, these utilities may not work. Also, since these utilities do not come from the manufacturer, use them cautiously and at your own risk.

Cmos password recovery tools 3.1
!BIOS (get the how-to article)
RemPass
KILLCMOS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Using the Motherboard "Clear CMOS" Jumper or Dipswitch settings

Many motherboards feature a set of jumpers or dipswitches that will clear the CMOS and wipe all of the custom settings including BIOS passwords. The locations of these jumpers / dipswitches will vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer and ideally you should always refer to the motherboard or computer manufacturers documentation. If the documentation is unavailable, the jumpers/dipswitches can sometimes be found along the edge of the motherboard, next to the CMOS battery, or near the processor. Some manufacturers may label the jumper / dipswitch CLEAR - CLEAR CMOS - CLR - CLRPWD - PASSWD - PASSWORD - PWD. On laptop computers, the dipswitches are usually found under the keyboard or within a compartment at the bottom of the laptop.
Please remember to unplug your PC and use a grounding strip before reaching into your PC and touching the motherboard. Once you locate and rest the jumper switches, turn the computer on and check if the password has been cleared. If it has, turn the computer off and return the jumpers or dipswitches to its original position.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Removing the CMOS Battery

The CMOS settings on most systems are buffered by a small battery that is attached to the motherboard. (It looks like a small watch battery). If you unplug the PC and remove the battery for 10-15 minutes, the CMOS may reset itself and the password should be blank. (Along with any other machine specific settings, so be sure you are familiar with manually reconfiguring the BIOS settings before you do this.) Some manufacturers backup the power to the CMOS chipset by using a capacitor, so if your first attempt fails, leave the battery out (with the system unplugged) for at least 24 hours. Some batteries are actually soldered onto the motherboard making this task more difficult. Unsoldering the battery incorrectly may damage your motherboard and other components, so please don't attempt this if you are inexperienced. Another option may be to remove the CMOS chip from the motherboard for a period of time.
Note: Removing the battery to reset the CMOS will not work for all PC's, and almost all of the newer laptops store their BIOS passwords in a manner which does not require continuous power, so removing the CMOS battery may not work at all. IBM Thinkpad laptops lock the hard drive as well as the BIOS when the supervisor password is set. If you reset the BIOS password, but cannot reset the hard drive password, you may not be able to access the drive and it will remain locked, even if you place it in a new laptop. IBM Thinkpads have special jumper switches on the motherboard, and these should be used to reset the system.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overloading the KeyBoard Buffer

On some older computer systems, you can force the CMOS to enter its setup screen on boot by overloading the keyboard buffer. This can be done by booting with the keyboard or mouse unattached to the systems, or on some systems by hitting the ESC key over 100 times in rapid succession.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jumping the Solder Beads on the CMOS

It is also possible to reset the CMOS by connecting or "jumping" specific solder beads on the chipset. There are too many chipsets to do a breakdown of which points to jump on individual chipsets, and the location of these solder beads can vary by manufacturer, so please check your computer and motherboard documentation for details. This technique is not recommended for the inexperienced and should be only be used as a "last ditch" effort.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Using a professional service

If the manufacturer of the laptop or desktop PC can't or won't reset the BIOS password, you still have the option of using a professional service. Password Crackers, Inc., offers a variety of services for desktop and laptop computers for between $100 and $400. For most of these services, you'll need to provide some type of legitimate proof of ownership. This may be difficult if you've acquired the computer second hand or from an online auction.

Windows Update without registration

Would you like to use the Windows Update feature without being forced to register with Microsoft? OK then, this is what you can do:

Launch good ol' Regedit.
Go down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion.
Look for a value named RegDone. If it isn't there create a new value with that name.
Right click the new value and choose Modify. Make the value 1.
Close Regedit and
Enjoy!

Avast Pro Antivirus 4.8 Serial key

Avast Pro Antivirus 4.8Serial Key 100% working


W1208070R9900D1199-T549MYK0

How to modify *.exe files

How to modify *.exe files

learn how to change *.exe files, in 5 easy steps:

1) Don't try to modify a prog by editing his source in a dissasembler.Why?
Cause that's for programmers and assembly experts only.

try to view it in hex you'll only get tons of crap you don't understand.
First off, you need Resource Hacker(last version). It's a resource editor-
very easy to use, You can download it at h**p://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/

2) Unzip the archive, and run ResHacker.exe. You can check out the help file too


3) You will see that the interface is simple and clean. Go to the menu FileOpen or press Ctrl+O to open a file. Browse your way to the file you would like to edit. You can edit *.exe, *.dll, *.ocx, *.scr and *.cpl files, but this tutorial is to teach you how to edit *.exe files, so open one.

4) In the left side of the screen a list of sections will appear.
The most common sections are
-String table;
-RCData;
-Dialog;
-Cursor group;
-Bitmap;
-WAV.
*Icon: You can wiew and change the icon(s) of the program by double-clicking the icon section,chossing the icon, right-clicking on it an pressing "replace resource". After that you can choose the icon you want to replace the original with.
*String table: a bunch of crap, useful sometimes, basic programming knowladge needed.
*RCData: Here the real hacking begins. Modify window titles, buttons, text, and lots more!
*Dialog:Here you can modify the messages or dialogs that appear in a program. Don't forget to press "Compile" when you're done!
*Cursor group: Change the mouse cursors used in the program just like you would change the icon.
*Bitmap: View or change images in the programs easy!
*WAV:Change the sounds in the prog. with your own.


5) In the RCData,Dialog,Menu and String table sections you can do a lot of changes. You can modify or translate the text change links, change buttons, etc.


TIP: To change a window title, search for something like: CAPTION "edit this".
TIP: After all operations press the "Compile Script" button, and when you're done editing save, your work @ FileSave(Save as).
TIP: When you save a file,the original file will be backed up by default and renamed to Name_original and the saved file will have the normal name of the changed prog.
TIP: Sometimes you may get a message like: "This program has a non-standard resource layout... it has probably been compressed with an .EXE compressor." That means that Resource Hacker can't modify it because of it's structure.

Compression and Cracks for Dummie

Compression and Cracks for Dummies. By Bad Boy!
The WareZhouse BBS
(209) 772-9165

**NOTE*****NOTE******NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE**
This document has been completly updated as of 05-27-95 to include
Information on the instalation of CD-Rom rips. If you have read this
document reguarding Compression and Cracks and are have some problems
with some of the CD-Rom Rips proceed to the Authers notes #2 on page 16.
**NOTE*****NOTE******NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE*****NOTE**

January 23 1994

The following is a comprised collection of the many problems and
solutions when working with .Zip and .Arj file compression and cracks.

First you should understand that most software comes on floppy disks
stored as many files and subdirectories on each disk. Now days most of the
software is compressed on the floppies so the software manufactures don't have
to buy so many disks. There install programs usually uncompress the files as
there installed onto the hard disk. Therefore very few programs these days can
be file copied to a hard disk directory and expect the program to run.
Therefore about the only reason we use programs like Pkzip and Arj is so
that we can create one simple file per disk. This is the only way we can
effectively work with these programs when Uploading and Downloading from the
Bulletin boards.
The following is a detailed explanation of the process that takes place
from the time a cracking group buys the originals and you type the command to
play the game on your hard drive. All examples given will be using a IBM or
compatible computer running MsDos Version 6.0. If you don't have Dos 6.0
or higher installed in your computer then get with it.

Before we start make sure you have MsDos version 6.0 or higher
installed and that you have the following files in your C:\Dos Directory.

Pkzip.exe Version 2.04 or higher
Pkunzip.exe Version 2.04 or higher
Arj.exe Version 2.41 or Higher

Also note that your C:\dos directory must be in your Path statement in
your autoexec.bat file. This is done so that from any dos prompt you can type
Pkzip, Pkunzip or Arj and that program will load. You see for example If you
are in the C:\downloads Directory and you issue the Pkunzip command, Dos
looks first in the current directory which is C:\downloads for the Pkzip.exe
file and does not find it . It then looks every where your Path statement says to
look and finds it in your C:\dos directory and loads it.

OK so the originals for the game SpaceX just arrived and the program consists
of four 1.44 kb floppy disks. A quick look at the disks shows that the disks
contain disk Labels as follows.

spacex1
spacex2
spacex3
spacex4

As a quick test diskcopy was used to copy the disks to four formatted floppies
and the disk labels were removed by putting each floppy disk in the B: drive
and then from the B: prompt typing Label and then return. Then instead of
giving the disk a new name we just hit return to delete the volume label. Then
we tried to install the game from the new floppies and the install program
just kept saying please put disk 1 in drive B: , OK this proved that the
install program looks for the Volume Label so we will have to save the volume
label when we Pkzip these disks for Uploading.

After returning the volume labels to the copied disks we did a normal install
and then ran the program. After the normal boot up sequence we were asked
for some word from the documentation on Page 3 line 6 word 3 or some shit
like that. This proved to us that the protection was the basic word look up
version and a simple crack patch was written by one of our Hackers to
intercept the doc check and allow us to use the program no matter what our
answer is.

OK now that we have a good copy of the four floppies with the correct volume
labels and we have put the crack patch file spccrk.com and the Group.nfo file
on disk one we are now ready to .Zip the files and Upload them to our BBS.

Putting Disk #1 in the B: Drive, and we have the file Pkzip.exe in the Dos
directory or in any directory that is always in the Path command. from a dos
prompt we issue the following command.

c:\> Pkzip -P -R -$B c:\upload\spacex-1.zip b:\*.*

OK the first command calls the Pkzip program.
The next commands are Switches for the Pkzip Command.

-P is the Path switch. In other words if the files contained on the floppy
disk are in subdirectories then by using the -P the directory structure will
be saved in the .Zip file.


-R is recurse subdirectories. This command switch always goes with the -P
switch so that the directory structure remains intact. Note. even if the
Floppy disk contains no subdirectories it is a good habit to always use the
-P -R switches.

-$B is the Volume label switch which simply says store the volume label from
the disk in drive B in the .Zip file. Remember always use the -$(drive)
switch so that the (drive) is the drive in which the Floppy you are zipping is
in. In other words if you were to simply use the -$ switch with out a (drive)
the volume label saved to the .Zip file would be the Volume label of your
C:\ hard drive.

OK so now you have a zip file Named Spacex-1.zip in the upload directory all
you need to do now is zip up the other 3 files and your done. These commands
will do the trick.

c:\> Pkzip -P -R -$B c:\upload\spacex-2.zip b:\*.*
c:\> Pkzip -P -R -$B c:\upload\spacex-3.zip b:\*.*
c:\> Pkzip -P -R -$B c:\upload\spacex-4.zip b:\*.*

OK so now you have just Downloaded the following four zip files and cant wait
to install the damn thing and play the game. For now we will unzip to floppies
and install. Later I will explain how to install using a Subst drive.

First judging by the size of the zip files its pretty easy to tell we will
need four 1.44 floppies formatted for this game. With the first disk in
Drive B: issue the following command. Dir B: return. Hopefully you will
receive a File not found from the dos . If not delete the files on the disk
or format it, whichever you prefer. Taking into account that the four zip
files are in you Download directory change to that directory and with your
floppy in drive B: Issue the following command from dos.

C:\download > pkunzip -d -$ spacex-1 b:

OK well the following explanation will be as follows. The pkunzip command
calls the program Pkunzip located in your c:\dos directory just the same as
when you called the Pkzip program earlier. The Switches are as follows.

-D simply tells Pkunzip to put the files back onto the disk with the correct
directory structure and subdirectories as when it was created using the -r -p
switches.

-$ tells Pkunzip to label the destination disk with the Volume label stored
in the Zip file if it is . And in which in this instance it was stored.

OK now so after that floppy number 1 is done issue the following commands to
do the other 3 floppy disks and you will be ready to install.

C:\download > pkunzip -d -$ spacex-2 b:
C:\download > pkunzip -d -$ spacex-3 b:
C:\download > pkunzip -d -$ spacex-4 b:

Now remember after you Unzip all four disks you need to use some kind of
text file viewer to look for files on disk 1 for installation info or etc
before you install and try to run the program. In this example you would
find the file on disk 1 called group.nfo and in that file would be the typical
information as to when the program was cracked. Who cracked it and the most
important thing is that you need to install the program as normal then copy
the file strcrk.com into the game directory after installation and then switch
to that directory and run that crack program once before you try to play the
game so that you will be able to Bypass the protection.

Will that's about it. for the first example . Most programs will be somewhat
similar to that but below are some more detailed explanations of most of the
things you can expect to run up against.

Answers to common asked questions.

Q. Why are some Zip files larger that a 1.44 Floppy disk.

A. Will most software companies will use the entire 1.44 floppy disk before
starting another and because most companies use there own compression
method when they store the files zipping the disk does not make it any
smaller. Then with the crack patch and .Nfo files added they are larger than
the floppy. Then when the file is uploaded to some Elite BBS the BBS software
will automaticly append there BBS advertisement to the disks and over and
over. Sometimes the zip files are 1.48 or so in size.... This is no problem
and also the reason that when you are Unzipping a file to your floppy disk you
get a Disk full error... That is not usually a problem as the files are
unzipped to a floppy in the same order as they were zipped so the Program
files are always restored and its usually the BBS advertisements that get left
off. NOTE: Remember that the important crack files and .nfo files may also
be left off and even though they are not required to install the game they
will probably be required to defeat the protection. Just remember that after
you install to the floppies and you receive a disk full message then Unzip the
same file to your Hard drive in a temporary directory so that you can read the
files in case you need them. Then delete them after you are finished with
them.

Q. What do I do if the Install program wont work to install the program.

A. I find that occasionally some people install the program and in doing so
all the files from the program are copied into a directory on the hard drive.
Then that person does not have the original disks decides to Pkzip the
installed game and upload it to a BBS. The problem is that when you unzip it
and try to run the Install program it looks for what used to be on the
original floppy disks and cant find the original file structure, It either
aborts, locks up or whatever. No Problem thou. Usually you can just unzip all
the files to your hard drive and run the executable program required to run
the program. Often there is a Setup.exe or similar program that will allow
you to configure for your hardware etc..

Q. Sometimes the Install fails and wants you to keep putting in the correct
disk , Whats up.

A. Usually there are two reasons for this. (1) No or incorrect disk volume
labels. Sometimes they forget to save the volume labels using the -$ switch on
some of the disks. Check the volume labels of each disk by typing Label at the
Dos prompt. If one of the disks has a label like disk_1 then make sure you
Label the other disks Disk_2 Disk_3 etc.... If you cant find any then
sometimes the error message will give you a clue. Ie. If during the install
process it says please insert the disk gameII-1 into the B: drive then try
labeling the disks gameII-1 gameII-2 etc.... I even found a game once that
would not install if any volume labels were present. The disks I used were
old disks and even Though all the files were deleted before I unzipped to them
they still had there old volume labels and until I deleted them I could not
install the game. (2) the other reason is that you may have left out the -D
switch when you unzipped the files and the install program is looking for the
files on the floppy disk in a subdirectory that does not exist. If this is the
case just Pkunzip again using the -D switch.

Q. What do I do if there are CRC errors when Unzipping the files.

A. Will it depends on which files are affected but one things for sure . If
the file fails the CRC check then it no good. You can try to install the
program but most cases if the install program tries to install a file that
had CRC errors It will most likely fail. Sometimes only unimportant BBS
advertisements and such are affected . If you download a file using the
Zmodem protocol and it has CRC errors don't bother downloading it again it
wasn't in the transfer.

Q. Whats up with crack files and how do they work.

A. Will as you know the days of putting Errors on the floppies so that you
could not copy them is long gone as you see if they do that then the game
cannot be installed on the hard drive.If a game now days cant be installed on
a hard drive then no one will buy it period. So the ever popular doc check
which requires you to look up something in the book is there to help thwart
software piracy. Most of the cracks are small TSR Memory resident programs
that will intercept the doc check answers and issue the correct answers to the
program so that it will continue.. The best cracks are Byte cracks where the
actual program is modified so that when the answer is checked and compared to
the correct one the program will branch to the correct code. Example. If the
correct answer is input the program may Branch if equal to go run game. and if
the incorrect answer is input the program may branch not equal to go to dos.
One byte changed in the program and the program Branches to run game no
matter what answer is given. Even the most difficult programs can be cracked
even if the cracker has to code in all the correct answers in the crack file.

Q. Sometimes the programs install perfectly and they still don't run. Why.

A. Well there are many reasons that can happen. First off as I said before if
you don't have Msdos V6.0 then get it. Use memmaker to get your conventual
memory. All the hype about conventional memory is Bullshit. Sure you can get
632k with qemm7 or 386max version 7 but first off you will have problems
with a lot of programs and second you don't need that much. I use memmaker
from dos 6.0 and have about 615k conventual memory and no problems at all.
With all that said about conventual memory I believe the most problems with
new programs are incorrect sound board settings. Sometimes the auto-detect
settings of the programs will incorrectly detect your IRQ settings and other
times the software will just use the default settings and they may be wrong.
First thing to try if you have problems getting a program to run is redo the
setup for no sound or PC Speaker. If the program then runs then you know its
a sound board problem. Sometimes you have to completely re-install the
program to be able to re-configure it but most often you can just run either
setup or Install from the program directory. Sometimes there are even options
in the program itself to re-configure the sound. Most important thing to know
Is the 3 settings of your sound card. Example. Most sound Blasters and Sound
Blaster Pros default to the following settings.
IRQ = 7
Port = 220h
DMA = 1
Most Sound Blaster 16 boards default to the following.
IRQ = 5
Port = 220h
DMA = 1
The most common problem I have is with my Sound Blaster 16. Most programs
don't have a setup for the 16 so I have to choose the sound blaster Pro and
then the program just configure for IRQ 7 and I am at IRQ 5 even though My
sound blaster 16 is 100% compatible with the Sound Blaster pro. A simple
custom setup of the program for IRQ 5 and I am ready to Rock and Roll.


Q. Can I install the programs from the Hard drive without unzipping to all
Those floppy disks.

A. I thought you would never ask. I very seldom Unzip programs to Floppy
disks anymore. Especially with the new Msdos 6.0 SUBST Command. First
things First.

More hard drive space is required to do this but if you have it its the best
way to install programs.. I will walk you thru the following Installation of a game
called Mystery that is 12 1.44 Meg Files., Without touching a floppy disk. If
we take for granted that the 12 .ZIP files are located in your C:\Download
Directory, Then we need to make a temporary Directory on the hard drive in
order to install this game. I use C:\temp so go ahead and make that directory
with the following dos command.

C:\Download > MD C:\temp

Then from the Download directory where all the .Zip files are. By the way the
.Zip files are named as follows Myst_01 thru Myst_12 for our example. Issue
the following dos command.

C:\Download > Pkunzip -d Myst* c:\temp

OK now that command will start with the first file found and start Unzipping
the files to the C:\Temp directory. Most Likely at some point during the
second file one of the files will contain the same Filename as a file from the
first .Zip file. Example The File File_ID.Diz will be on every disk so when
it reaches the second on the Pkunzip program will Halt and Tell you that the
same file exists and wants to know if you want to Skip, Overwrite, ETC.
The Command I always use is 'A' For always overwrite existing files. This
way the Pkunzip program will continue to process all 12 .Zip files with out
asking for confirmation of overwrite every time. Remember 99% of the time
the software companies will always have different filename on all of the files
and it will always be the .nfo and BBS Advertisements that are overwriting. OK
after all this is done you may want to delete the .ZIP files from your Hard
drive if your running short of space. OK now we need to make Dos think that
the files are on Floppies Instead of the Hard drive so this is where the Subst
Command comes in. From any dos Prompt issue the following command.

C:\download> SUBST A: C:\Temp

We have now substituted the c:\temp directory on your hard drive to the A:
Floppy drive. You can substitute the B: Drive if you like the Install program
does not care which Floppy you install from as long as it thinks its a Floppy
and not the Hard Drive. Anyway now anytime you or any program trys to
access the A: Floppy Dos will send it to the C:\Temp directory.
Now switch to the Gigantic floppy by typing A: and return from the dos
prompt. To test the Subst drive try Dir and you will see all those files from
the Unzipping of the 12 files. OK enough fun now just type Install or setup
and you are on your way to installing the game. Most often the complete game
will install in a fraction of the time it would take from floppies. Sometimes
it will hesitate between disk 1 and disk 2 etc asking you to put disk 2 in A:
drive and press any key. Just press any key each time and your on your way.
OK now that everything is installed look in your c:\Temp directory for any
.NFO or readme files and any crack patches you may need and then once all
that is taken care of delete everything in the c:\temp directory. As I said
before most programs for Dos will install this way but there are exceptions.
If you try this and it fails then Please read on as there are many other ways
to Install programs without having to use floppies.

Q. What if the Program files are overwriting and not just the .NFO files.

A. Occasionally Software companies will have the same filename on each disk
so that when you try to Unzip to the hard drive the file from Disk2 overwrite
the file on disk 1 etc. In this case you will have to Multi-task to Install
programs such as this.

Q. I just hate to use floppies , Is there any way of avoiding this as the
hard drive is so much faster.

A. YES!!! I will address this subject right now. I have only had to unzip to
floppies about 1 in 1000 programs. Here is a set of Examples. OK Lets
assume the worst case, There are 12 files and each as a different Volume label
which is required by the install. Also the file names on each disk is the same
so that if you unzipped all 12 disks to the same directory they would
overwrite and you would be left with only one file. This is what to do!.
follow each step exactly. you can try this with any multi disk program just
for practice.

Step 1. Load Windows and Drop to a Full screen dos window by double clicking
on the Dos Prompt Icon.
Step 2. Unzip disk 1 to the Substitute B: Drive using the -D -$ . This will
only unzip the first disk and Label the Hard drive with the stored
Volume Label. The Volume Label will also be Present on the Subistuted
B: drive.
Step 3. Press "CTRL ESC" which will bring back Windows and the Task Manager.
From here select Program Manager and from the Program Manager Open
another Full screen Dos session.
Step 4. Now from the second DOS Window select B: and Type Install or Setup to
Start the installation process. The Installation will now proceed
properly as the correct volume label is present and only the correct
files from disk 1 are in the substitute drive. Now you will soon be
requested by the Install program to Please Insert disk 2.
Step 5. Press "CTRL ESC" Again and from the task manager screen select the
1st or other Dos window. From this dos window delete all the files in
B: and Unzip the second disk to B: which will also put the proper
files in the Substitute drive and re-Label the volume label as
required by the install program.
Step 6. As you should see by now just repeat this process until all the disks
have been processed and thats all there is to it.

Q. How do I get rid of a Subst drive so I can use my floppy again.

A. Will you have to choices. This command will remove the subst drive in the
above example SUBST A: /D as long as you don't try to issue that command
from the A:\> prompt. Rebooting your computer will also eliminate the Subst
Drive.
I personally never use my 1.2 Meg Floppy Drive so I always Subst that drive
for c:\temp in my Autoexec.bat file. That way it is always there when I need
it. I still have my 1.44 drive B: available for use with floppies.

Q. If the Media was originally on 1.44 floppy disks and I use My 1.2 Meg
Floppy for the Subst Drive will I have problems.

A. No! Most install programs only look to see if your installing from a floppy
drive and not the hard drive so if it finds A: Or B: It will install fine.

Q. How much space will be taken on my Hard drive using a subst Drive.

A. Will in the above example without deleting files in between the process you
could have as much as 80 Megs of space used just to install one program. OK
follow me in this example.
12 1.44 Meg .Zip files in the C:\download directory ====== 20 Megs
All those files Unzipped in to the c:\temp directory ===== 20 megs
The Game installed in the hard drive c:\game ===== 40 megs
Remember the 40 Megs installed is because the install program uncompressed
the files when it installed itself.
Anyway it took 80 Megs to install but now you can delete everything except the
installed game so your down to 40 Megs.

Q. Will the Subst command work in Windows.

A. Interesting question. If you subst a floppy Ie SUBST A: C:\DOS or
whatever and load windows, then yes file manager will treat the A: drive as a
Substituted drive. Not much here is accomplished here because all programs
will install in windows with out having to Unzip to Floppies. There are (2)
methods to install programs from the hard drive. Both will be covered in
complete detail .

Q. It seems that there are a lot of programs that have a File called
Install.dat or disk.Id on each disk and when unzipping them to the
hard drive the install.dat file always overwrite the next on so then
the installation fails after after looking for the 2nd file. How Come?

A. It is very common for the software companies to use the Install.dat
installation routine. What they do is have a text file on each disk called
Install.dat that contains a list of all files on that disk with there
respective sizes. Then the Install.exe program reads the Install.dat and
installs those files checking to see if the size is correct on the list Then
you insert the next disk and it reads the Install.dat file again and so on.
This is a very convenient way for them as when they update the program a
slight change to the install.dat and the same install program works. The
problem for us is that after Unzipping multiple files to one Directory on the
hard drive you see we only end up with one Install.dat file so when you run
the Install.exe it installs only the files from one disk and stops asking for
more disks with different Install.dat files. Some people get around this by
making there own Install.bat containing a list of all the files from every
disk so after they unzip all the files to the hard drive you copy the custom
Install.dat over the one existing one and install from the subst drive. This
reads the custom Install.dat and all the files are installed. An example of
this can be found on the Patch for 3D Studio Version 3.0 for Subst Install.
Also using windows to Multi-Task as in the example above is another effective
method to use to install programs such as this.

Q. What is the best way to install programs in windows with out using floppies

A. No Problem. I have 2 methods that seem to work for 100% of all
software I have tried. First just forget about Subst Drives when working in
windows and Unzip all files to one Directory on your hard drive just as you
would with dos programs, Overwriting all files. Next load windows and the
File Manager and select the directory that contains the unzipped files.
Example C:\temp Then from the list of files in the right most window within
file manager select Setup.exe or Install.exe just as if you were Installing
from Floppies. This will load and run the install or setup program as normal.
The exception to this is that the setup program will sometimes prompt you that
it cant find files and it is looking for them in the Disk1 directory or the
Disk2 directory. This is very common and can easily be tricked. For example
if the prompt is something like this Cant Find [ c:\disk1\FileX ] then you
know its the Disk1 Directory trick. Go to Dos and create a Disk? directory
for every .Zip File the program has. Example if there are 4 .Zip Files Named
as follows in the c:\Download Directory.
lots123-1.zip
lots123-2.zip
lots123-3.zip
lots123-4.zip
Make four directories on your hard drive as follows.

MD C:\disk1
MD C:\disk2
MD C:\disk3
MD C:\disk4
Then Unzip the four files as follows.

Pkunzip lots123-1 c:\disk1
Pkunzip lots123-2 c:\disk2
Pkunzip lots123-3 c:\disk3
Pkunzip lots123-4 c:\disk4

OK then return to windows and select c:\disk1 from the File manager and select
Setup or install. The installation will proceed as normal. Then remember to
delete all files and directories used in installation. This is an example that I
would use after the program is installed from Dos.

Deltree c:\disk1
Deltree c:\disk2
Deltree c:\disk3
Deltree c:\disk4

Ok will also if you have the same problem with files over writing then just
as before only unzip one file at a time and switch between the Windows
File Manager install program and a Full screen Dos window.

Q. What are the commands for .ARJ files and are they similar to .Zip

A. Sure. The one thing that is different is there is only one program to ARJ
and Unarj files with the .ARJ Extension where as with PkWare there is Pkzip
the Zip files and Pkunzip to Unzip files. The following examples are for ARJ.
Remember you need version 2.41 or newer version of the file ARJ.EXE in
your C:\Dos directory.
To arj all files from the B: Floppy to a file called game in the c:\wares
directory issue this command from any dos prompt.

ARJ -R -D -$B C:\wares\games B:\*.*
Remember -R === Recurse Subdirectories
-D === Store Full subdirectory Paths structure
-$B === Store the Volume Label of the B:floppy disk

To Unarj all the files from the above created .ARJ file in the Wares directory
back to a blank formatted floppy disk issue the following command

ARJ X -$ C:\wares\games b:
Remember X === Extract files using pull path and subdirectory structure
-$ === Put Volume Label on the B: disk if it exists in .ARJ file

Note: A few differences here between .ZIP and .ARJ The X switch does not
need the - before it in fact it wont work if you use it. Other than that
everything is about the same.

Q. Sometimes when I Unzip Multiple files to a disk all I end up with is Files
Like this.
PROGRAM.ARJ
PROGRAM.A01
PROGRAM.A02
PROGRAM.A03
PROGRAM.A03
ETC.....
Also there is no install or anything so what do I do with this.

A. These are ARJ Data Extension files. Most Likeley someone wanted to back up
an Installed program on the Hard drive with multiple Subdirectories. If they
were to Zip this installed program the maybe the Zip file would be lets say
20 Megabytes or so. Arj provides a way to Archive the intire Installed program
and create seperate Data Extension files no Larger than the Type of Floppy you
designate in the Command. I will not go into the proceedure to creat these
archives as all that information is in the ARJ Docs and can get somewhat
complicated. I will explain now how to Install these programs.
In the above Example the following command would Install the Entire program
in the C:\Programs Directory.
ARJ X -Y Program.* C:\Programs
Ok the X Switxh is to Extract with Subdirectory Structure
The -Y is simply Answer 'Yes' To all questions. This is not required but ARJ
will ask you every time before it created a Subdirectory. That can be a Pain
in the Butt so the -Y will take care of that.
The Astrics (*) athe the end is required so that all the extensions (.ARJ,.A01
.A02 etc are all merged together.
There is a new PKZip Utility that will create these Data Extension files but I
have yet to run across a program that was archived in this manner usink Pkzip.

Q. Can you explain a little bit about how Pkzip and Arj files are stored.

A. Sure. You see when normal Data is stored on the floppy disks there is a lot
of repetitious strings of data thru out the files on the disks. What a
compression program like Pkzip or Arj does is starting at the beginning of the
process it will create one file and start by storing information about your
floppy disk. First it stores how many files are there and how many
subdirectories and stores the names and subdirectory structure within the
.Zip file. Next it starts reading the Data and writes what it finds into the
.Zip file in a Compressed encrypted code. It can do this by looking for
strings of repetitive data, For example if it found 40 Consecutive ASCII Bytes
of the value of 20 Which would represent spaces. It would write into the .Zip
file a 40-20,. You see that it only took 4 bytes to store ( 40-20, ) In the
.Zip file where as it takes 40 Bytes on the Floppy to store 40 Spaces. As you
can see when the .Zip file is completed it is just simply a bunch of coded
data that can at some point be Pkunziped back to a floppy in its original
state. Two things are basicly accomplished by .Ziping a file and that simply
is that we have only one file to work with that can represent hundreds of
files from the floppy disk and that in most cases the Pkzip file will take
up less space than the original floppy.

Q. Why are some .Zip files actually larger than to combined size of the floppy
that was .zipped up.

A. You see when software companies finish programming a large game for
example. They then must put the Data on Floppies in order to sell them. The
less floppies it takes the More prophet for them so they will also use a
compression program like Pkzip to compress the files as they are stored to the
floppy. Now when we pkzip the floppy first the file and subdirectory structure
is saved to the .Zip file and then the data is searched and written. But
because the files are already Compressed, No repetitive sequences of data is
found so no compression take place. Wa La the file we now have is larger than
the original floppy. It is still just fine and great to work with as it is
only one file but just not smaller.

Q. Sometimes after I install a program I cant find a file in the program
directory that will run the program Why?.

A. Will one of the things some software manufactures do is put all of the
program files in a directory and then put the program that you need to run in
order to start it in the Root directory of the hard drive that way you can
type that name from any dos prompt and the program will load. The reason for
this is that the root directory is always in the path. I personally always
copy these files to the directory in which the program is installed and then
all I have to do is switch to that directory before I run the program.

Q. Could you give me some more examples of using Pkzip, Pkunzip, And arj
so that I fully understand the concept behind this compression commands.

A. OK will do it in the following format with examples using some of the
switches available. always look at the dos prompt I give so you understand
what the current directory is when I issue the command.

C:\> Pkzip -r -p D:\Cbackup c:\*.* This command backs up the entire c:
hard drive with one file in the root directory of the D: drive named
Cbackup.zip

C:\? Pkzip d:\cBackup c:\*.* This command like the one above will make a
file in the root directory of D: named Cbackup.zip the same as above but this
zip fill will only contain the files in the root directory of the C:\ drive
because we left out the -R -P switches there will be no subdirectories or
files in those subdirectories stored in the zip file.

C:\> Pkzip c:\temp\games c:\games\game1.exe game2.exe game3.exe
The above command will create a .Zip file named games.zip in the c:\temp
directory and that file will contain the 3 game?.exe files found in the
c:\games directory.

C:\> Arj X -R D:\Cbackup C:\*.* Same as the first >zip example this
command will create an entire backup of your C:\ drive and store it in the
root directory of D:\ with the filename Cbackup.arj

C:\> pkunzip -D -$ -O C:\download\game* c:\temp This, the most common
command used when installing files on your hard drive will Unzip all files in
the C:\download directory that have a file name starting with game to the temp
directory on your C:\ drive. for example if you have the following files in
your C:\download directory.

Game-1.zip
Game-2.zip
Game-3.zip

All these files will be unzipped to the C:\temp directory. The switches will
do the following.
-D Creates subdirectories on the C:\temp directories if they exist in the zip
file.
-$ rename the volume label of your C:\ hard drive with the Volume label stroed
in the Zip file.
-O Always overite existing files if they exisit.

I hope these are enough examples to get you started. If all else fails read
the documentation found on the Pkware or Arj installation disks for complete
explanation of these commands. Also typing either Pkzip /h or Pkunzip /h at a
dos prompt will give you some help templates to check out explaining the
templates etc...

Q. Is there any other ways to compress Floppy disks other than Pkzip or Arj.

A. Sure. You see because pkzip and arj can only handle normal dos file
structures and occasionally some software companies put some Non Dos data
on there installation disks Pkzip and arj are unable to duplicate these
floppies. There are several programs that will make an entire Image copy of
the floppy disk but the 2 most popular are Teledisk and DDD (Dan's disk
duplicator). Both work in the same manner. They will read each track and
sector of the floppy disk and store the data in one large file with the
extension .TD0 for teledisk and .DDD for Dan's. This works fine as long as
you use the same media to undo the files that was used to store them in the
first place. In other words if the file for example game.TD0 was created from
a 720K floppy disk you cannot Un teledisk that file to a 1.44 or 1.2 meg
floppy. Only a 720K floppy. A good example of this is found when you try to
use the Windows NT downloaded from the BBS. Because Microsoft put some
abnormal hidden files on the disk number 1 you cannot Pkzip or Arj disk one.
That is why when you Unzip the windows NT file number 1 you will see a large
file called winnt.DDD and the DDD.exe file. This is the Disk number 1 Image
file and the Dans Disk Duplicator program. All you have to do is Put a 1.44
floppy disk in your drive B: and from the directory on your hard drive that
the .TD0 and the DDD.EXE file are found Type DDD.exe winnt.td0 b: and the B:
disk will be formatted and written to so that the original disk1 of windows
with abnormal hidden file and everything are there. Then just unzip the other
21 files to floppies and install.


Authors Note: #1 July 20Th 1994

It has been a Year since I just updated this document. There are a
few comments I would like to Make to keep you up to date. As of now 7-20-94
CD'S Thank god have still not caught on and most software is still being
released on floppies. Programs have grown Larger which has caused me to Stop
the Downloading of Software and Switch to (D.A.T.) Tape Backup. The present
amount of IBM Uploads each Month is about 1.5 to 1.9 Gigabytes. The DAT
Tapes hold 2.0 Gigs of Uncompressed Data so I just purchase the Tape each
month. The IBM PC has been going thru the roof in Popularity. The Commodore
has finally Die'ed as Commodore has recently filed Bankrupcy and is going
thru liquadation at this very moment. Prices of PC Clones are dropping like
HOT Cakes as Ram, Hard Drives etc.prices are dropping every day. Pentium
processors have not been as popular as predicted but that will change as
CPU Prices drop. Many companies are producing Competitve CPU'S like Cirrix
AMD. It will be interesting to see if they can take some of the Monopoly
away from INTELL. Microsofts Windows (4) -Chicago- should be released this
Fall of 94 and the question is , Will it be more of the same or a truly
great multi tasking operating system like the Amiga has had for 10 years.
Pre Release Betas have it looking just like the Macintosh!





Authors Note: #2 January 26 1995


OK so much for CD-Roms not catching on. Starting at the end of 1994
just before Christmas most companies have decided to release all software on
CD-Rom and Floppies with more and more releasing on only CD-Rom. The following
question and answer session is done to update you on the ever changing world
of pirating software. I have eliminated the Phreaking section of this manual
as it doesn't pertain to the reason this was written. I am still getting
software on DAT Tape but its up to about 3 Gigs a month and with the most
popular software today being the CD-Rom Rips this next section will cover just
that subject.



Q. When I purchase a CD-Rom game from the store, Does that mean it will
be a monster game and can I be sure it will be better than the Floppy version.

A. NOPE! No way, Most CD Rom releases consume only 15 to 50 Megs of
information on the CD. That doesn't mean it isn't an awsome game it just means
there is no Guarantee that you will get 300 to 500 Megs on that game. In
fact there are many CD-Rom programs that take as little as 3 Megabytes. That
leaves 647 Megs free on that CD. Some companies like Apogee for example,
When you by Rise of the Triad CD-Version you get the same Version as the
Floppy but they also include the shareware version of every game they ever
made.

Q. How do I know if Im getting a good value for my Money when I purchase
A CD. I cant try it an return it. Do I just take a chance.

A. Will one way is to get the GOLD Series CD Listings from my BBS and
Look them over. They list many different CD'S on each Disk and Give the Size
of each program. This is an example of GOLD-5 for the IBM.


TITLE manufacture VERSION SIZE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ECSTATIC PSYGNOSIS CD 29 MEGS
INFERNO US GOLD CD 97 MEGS
PGA PRO TOUR 486 GOLF EA SPORTS CD 233 MEGS
LORDS OF THE REALM IMPRESSIONS CD 101 MEGS
MICROSOFT MULTIMEDIA GOLF MICROSOFT/ACCESS CD 86 MEGS
ZORRO CAPSTONE CD 86 MEGS


You can see right off the bat what the size of the CDs are. Compare this
Gold disk with Gold-01 and you will see many CD Titles under 8 Megs.
Buy the way this is one of the Latest ways to Pirate software. I offer these
Gold disks for $40.00 each. As you can see that way you get multiple CD
Games for one around the cost of one CD game. These Gold disk also offer an
advantage over other software as they Install and work exactly like the
store bought CD'S. No .ZIP Files to fool with. No complicated installation.
Just change directory to your CD rom and type Gold. You will be presented with
an Installation menu to install any of the games on the cd. All Plug and Play.
Also the CD Games that are designed to play from the CD'S will do so just the
same so all your Hard drive space isn't robbed.

Q. What exactly does CD-Ripped Mean?

A. It means that the program has been taken directly from the Original
CD-Rom. This can mean many things. It may be 100% Exactly like the Original
or it may be only working parts of the program. I will follow this with some
examples so you will get the Idea!

(1) DARK Forces CD-Rip 50 Megs. This is the full version of Lucas arts DOOM
II Killer, Dark Forces. When you purchase this CD Title from the store
and proceed to install it, You will have 2 option's Minimal Install (5)
Megs or Full install (70 Megs). The instruction suggest that you do the
full install if you have the hard drive room because the game will play so
much better. The CD Rip is the Full 100% Installed version. The only
difference between this release on CD-Rom 17 and the Original CD Is that
you cannot do a minimal install and play off the CD-Rom drive.
(2) Disc World (Psygnosis) When this Original CD Game is purchased, It
contains about 30 Megs of Game and music, And 300 Megs of Digital Voice
files. The CD Rip from CD-Rom #17 contains everything except the 300 Meg
Voice files. When you install this CD-Rom Rip you need to set the sound
card configuration for Music but No Digital Speech sound card. That way
all Interaction is written to the screen for you to read instead of the
character actually speaking. This CD Rip is exactly like the Floppy disk
version.
(3) X-COMM II Terror from the DEEP CD-Rom Rip. This is Exactly like the
Original store bought CD Rom. No Difference. It is a Major graphic and
sounds improvement from the Floppy version although game play is the
same.

The above three examples pretty much cover CD-Romm Rips. There have
also been CD-Rom ripps released that are complete Abortions. They are so
ripped apart that they are almost impossible to play but I do not post these
on my filelists.

Q. Please explain how CD Rom Rips are packaged.

A. Will because of the vast storage capacity of CD-Roms (650 Megs) most
companies don't compress the files on the CD, And because Pirating CD-Roms
is almost un-Heard of (Hehe) they don't use much protection. At most the only
protection I have ever seen is that the program actually looks to make sure
the CD Is in the CD Rom drive. A simple CD-Rom Check Crack is all that is
needed to defeat this. The easiest way to ripp a cd would be to PkZip the
entire CD-Rom. Ie. PkZip.exe -R -P c:\game\ripoff E:\*.* example would create
a file in the games dir of C:\ named ripoff.zip . Only problem here is that
file could be huge, Like 50 Megs and most people don't have enough BBS Time
in one session to download 50 Megs. Therefore we need to split the file into
smaller chunks. The size of a 1.44 Floppy seems to be the standard. This is
not done so as to put this rip on floppies but rather give you the ability to
download a few files each time you call the BBS. Also by using a program like
ARJ.EXE we can get maximum compression as most cd's do not contain compressed
files. There is a simple command line parameter that will ARJ Any CD-Rom, File
or Groups of files into multiple .ARJ Files. As explained earlier in this
document when this is done it typical creates ARJ Data extension files as
follows.
GAME.ARJ
GAME.A01
GAME.A02
GAME.A03
ETC.......

Each file being 1.44 Kb in size. There is other ways to do the ARJ but the
bottom line is if you see files with extensions like .A01 or .001 .002 .003
etc. The its probably ARJ Files.

Q. How do I go about taking these Data extension files and making the
game install or run?

A. The answer is lots of Hard drive space. To begin thou you need to
Un Arj the files as follows.

ARJ X -v -y GAME.ARJ d:\temp

The above example would Un-Arj and create an exact image of everything
that was on the CD and do it in the Temporary directory on D Drive. You can
then Delete the .Arj, .A01 etc files to free up some hard drive space as you
are done with these. Now you will most likely need to Install the game just
as if you wer installing the game from the CD-Rom. In order to sucsesfully
do this you will most likely need to Substitute your D:\TEMP Directory for
another drive so that the Install program will seem to think its a CD-Rom
drive and not the subdirectory of your D:\ Hard disk. Do the following.

(1) Make sure that the LastDrive command in the Autoexec.bat = Z
(2) From Dos Type SUBST H: D:\TEMP Where H: does not exist on your
system and D:\TEMP Is where you Un-Arjed to.
(3) Change directory to H: and type Install or Setup. Or if Its Windows
Load windows and Run Setup from the H: drive in Filemanager.
(4) Proceed as required but make sure that if give more than one Install
method, You choose Full install so that all files are installed to the
hard drive.
(5) After this is complete you can DEL all files in D:\TEMP or
Deltree d:\temp
(6) Try to run the game. If there is an error message, Cannot find CD-Rom
or C:\Game is not a CD-Rom drive ETC... Then you will need to Patch it
with a crack or whatever it takes. Read the .NFO Files on the 1st Zip
file for all information needed to get it going.

That's basicly all there is to it. Its pretty much common sense and will worth
the effort to get these awsome releases working.

Q. I have come across some games that have .001 .002 .003 - .027 files
and when I try to un-Arj them I get a Not An ARJ File. Whats up!

A. Yup! Some Idiot group out there has decided to use Pkzip to Ripp
the CD'S and then break them down using another program like Carve or Zip
chucker pro. When done with Zip Chunker pro and that program is also on the
disk the it works pretty good. Just use Zip Chunker pro to reasemple all the
files back to one huge zip file and then Unzip that file to the temporary
directory. other than requiring more Hard drive space to get thru the install
process there is not a problem with this. The problem is with a program
called CARVE.EXE. It seems a if the person was sucsesfull in Carving the
monster zip file down into 1.44 Kbyte files but when we use Carve.exe to Put
in back together it fails.

Q. OK so I have 29 Files with .001 thru .029 and CARVE.EXE wont put them
back into one big zip file. What can I do.

A. Will its a Piece of Cake! (Hehehe) You may have to think about it for
A while but this will work. OK we are going to use the DOS Join Option within
the COPY Command. If you want more information about the Dos COPY Command
type Help Copy from any DOS Prompt.
We would like to join all of these 29 files together but DOS wont
let use type that long of a command line so we will join them 5 at a time
until we get 6 files then we will join the six into one. Confused? Just
follow along and I think you will get the Idea. The 29 files are named
GAME.001 GAME.002 ---------- thru GAME.029

(1) From the Dos prompt type exactly line exactly pressing enter after each
line also make sure your current directory is where all the files are.
Also make sure you have enough hard drive space available.

COPY /B GAME.001 + GAME.002 + GAME.003 + GAME.004 + GAME.005 NEW.001
COPY /B GAME.006 + GAME.007 + GAME.008 + GAME.009 + GAME.010 NEW.002
COPY /B GAME.011 + GAME.012 + GAME.013 + GAME.014 + GAME.015 NEW.003
COPY /B GAME.016 + GAME.017 + GAME.018 + GAME.019 + GAME.005 NEW.004
COPY /B GAME.020 + GAME.021 + GAME.022 + GAME.023 + GAME.024 NEW.005
COPY /B GAME.025 + GAME.026 + GAME.027 + GAME.028 + GAME.029 NEW.006
DEL GAME.* ;(rem) FREE UP SOME HARD DRIVE SPACE
COPY /B NEW.001 + NEW.002 + NEW.003 + NEW.004 + NEW.005 + NEW.006 FINAL.ZIP
DEL NEW.* ;(rem) FREE UP SOME MORE HARD DRIVE SPACE

At this point you will be left with one MONSTER File called Final.zip
and if you typed everything correctly you can now Unzip that file to your
temporary directory. Ie: D:\TEMP and then delete that BIG! .Zip file. Its a
little more complicated but the end result is the same. If you don't use the
DOS Command line history utility (DOSKEY) The start as it will save you a lot
of time typing commands.

(2) Now go to the temporary directly and install the game.

Q. I install the CD-Rom Rips and even crack to CD Check but the game
wont run. It keeps saying that MsCdex isn't loaded and I do not have a CD
Rom in my computer so I cant load it. Is there anything I can do?

A. Sure! You need the file CDEMU2.COM Its a small MSCDEX Cd Romm
driver for network drives. That means it wont check your system to see if
theirs a CD-Rom installed because it assumes it could be on another computer
on A network. Just put the file in your Dos Directory and from the dos
Prompt type CDEMU2 H: where H: is a Subistuted drive. You could create a
small batch file to load the game as follows.

MD C:\temp1 ;REM Make phoney dir for substitute drive
SUBST H: C:\temp1 ;REM Substitute Phony drive for H:
C:\DOS\CDEMU2.COM H: ;REM Load MSCDEX Driver for H:
cd\Games ;REM Change to the Game directory
Game.exe ;REM Load Game
SUBST /D H: ;REM Remove Subistuted drive with /D Switch
RD C:\temp1 ;REM Remove Temporary directory (House Cleaning)


NOTE: MSCDEX does not have to point to the drive with the game. Its just that
the game will check to see if MSCDEX is running.

Q. The CD Games take so much hard drive space Isn't is just better to
BUY The CD.

A. Will I always condone supporting the Software Authors but I don't
believe your argument is Valid. I just purchased A 1.3 GIG Western Digital
hard drive for $325.00. It wouldn't take purchasing very many CD Rom games
at $49.00 to buy a couple of them. Also If you buy A CD and it a piece of
shit game then your out. Getting it from me and you just delete it from your
hard drive and move on to the next one. Hell one thing is for sure. When a
CD Rom game is 100% Installed to the Hard drive it plays much better and
faster than when its loading scenes from the CD-Rom. Even Quad speed is slow
compared to a hard drive.

Q. What will we do when all of the CD Games are two big to put on the
Hard drive. when there over 100 Megs its not worth it.

A. That's why I now offer GOLD Series disks. These are disks that contain
many CD Games on One CD-Rom. with some games as big as 600 Megs. That will be
the future for a while. As the CD Programs get bigger the price of blank CD's
will come down. At some point I believe we may carry our portable CD-Rom
drives from house to house copying CD'S just as we did for years with floppy
disks. If and when they introduce CD-Rom Disc based Protection like putting
certain physical errors on the disc's then it could get interesting but for
now we change with the times and have FUN!


FINAL Comments for April 27 1994.

Commenting on past issues. Clone CPU Makers have finally caught up
with INTEL. AMD Is selling more DX/4 100 Megz CPUs in one month than INTEL
will sell is 6 Months. Cirix still hasn't caught on to much but after the
INTEL Pentium Math bug INTEL has lost some of its market share. As for PC
operating systems IBM/Warp is still the most user friendly for running DOS
and windows programs. As for Windows 95, Bill Gates held to his Promise and
removed all support for your Previous DOS Operating system. In fact when you
Install the newest Beta the install program deletes all of your Dos Commands
and replaces them with Win95 commands. This is a Bold move by Microsoft
because if they can get it to fly they would have a Monopoly on PC Computers.
If you decide to use Windows 95 then you will need to Buy or use all Windows
programs because the Dos support is worth shit anymore. Because of this there
has been a ton of BAD Press on Win95 forcing Microsoft to delay its release
until Aug 1994. Microsoft did decide to release some 400,000 copies at $29.00
each. This is just a bullshit smoke screen. Its there way of releasing the
program for sale but still calling it a late Beta. That way the press cant be
to hard on them. I personally hope the whole Product Dies!. But! Of course it
wont. Bill Gates isn't the richest man in the world because he is stupid.
Although after releasing a program like MICROSOFT BOB One would have to
wonder about him.

Bad boy!
The WarEZhouse BBS
(209) 772-9165
USR V-34 Everything 28.800
5 Gigs Hard drive
12 Gigs 100% Check software
Software available on
4MM/90M D.A.T. Tape
Qic-80 Tape
CD-Rom (Pinnacle Micro Recorder)