AutoRun Disabler: Portable Utility to Disable Autorun Functionality in Windows

We have blogged about a detailed tutorial in past which teaches you how to disable Autorun functionality in Windows: How to Disable Autorun Functionality in Windows Using Registry Editor? It requires some registry skills. Once again our regular reader "Masroor Aijaz aka JX Great" has created another excellent tool called "AutoRun Disabler" which...

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How to Disable / Remove Annoying Shutdown Event Tracker (Shutdown Reason UI) in Windows Server 2003 / 2008?

UPDATE: Tutorial updated with registry method. If you are using Windows Server 2003 or 2008, you might have noticed that whenever you click on Shutdown button, it shows a dialog box asking you the reason behind shutting down the system. You have to select an option from drop-down box or write into Comment box to be able to shutdown the system. Many...

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How to Show Large Icons in Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows Taskbar?

That's one of the frequently asked questions on this website. Many people who download "SevenVG RTM" theme, always ask how to show large icons in Quick launch toolbar to mimic Windows 7's Superbar. Actually its a very simple task which requires a few easy steps but most of the people are not aware of it. So today in this tutorial, we'll tell you how...

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Microsoft Releases Fix for Random Incorrect Icon Change Problem in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Microsoft has confirmed an issue in Windows XP, Vista and 7 which causes random incorrect icon change problem due to icon cache not updating correctly. Problem Symptom:Some icons in the following locations are randomly changed to other icons on a computer that is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7: My Computer Windows Explorer Desktop Quick Launch bar Problem Cause:This issue occurs because the icon cache is not updated correctly. Solution:To fix this problem, follow these steps: 1. Close all open windows if a Close Open Programs...

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List of Environment Variables in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Environment variables work like placeholder or alias for drives, file/folder names and various paths. We here at AskVG frequently use environment variables reference in our tutorials like %windir%\Resources, %programfiles%\Internet Explorer, etc. Many people don't know about them and get confused how to access the mentioned path. So today we are going to list some important and frequently used system-defined environment variables in this article which will help you in better understanding them. Most of these environment variables are same...

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[Official Windows 7 Themes Update] Microsoft Releases “Cherry Blossom” Theme for Windows 7

Microsoft has released another new theme "Cherry Blossom" for Windows 7. Download LinkDownload the .themepack file, double-click on it and Windows will automatically install and apply it. PS: You can also download other official Windows 7 themes, Desktop gadgets and wallpapers from Microsoft using following steps: 1. Right-click on Desktop and select...

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Download New Wallpaper Found in Latest Windows 8 Milestone 3 Build

The latest Windows 8 Milestone 3 build comes with a new wallpaper which is very minimal and looks awesome on screen. Our friend "Stephen Chapman" has shared the new wallpaper which looks as following: Download L...

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[UPDATE] Download Leaked Windows 8 Metro Inspired “Aero Lite” Theme for Windows 7

Recently we posted about a leaked build of Windows 8 which features a new Metro inspired "Aero Lite" theme. Leaked Windows 8 Build Features “Aero Lite” Metro UI and Language Explorer Now you can enjoy the theme in Windows 7. Our friend "thepanda-x" @ DA has created a look-like theme for Windows 7 which provides the awesome Aero Lite interface in...

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How to Show / Add Accidentally Removed Bluetooth Icon in System Tray?

Today we are going to talk about one of the most annoying problem in Windows! As we know Windows shows "Bluetooth" icon in system tray and if you click on it or right-click on it, it shows a menu. The problem starts when "Remove Icon" option is listed at the bottom of the menu and you click on it accidentally and BOOM!!! The bluetooth icon disappears...

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Create Simple Script to Close and Restart Explorer Automatically in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Many times we need to log off or restart Windows to apply the changes made by a registry script or software. Sometimes we can avoid the log off or restart by doing a simple "End Task" of Windows Explorer and restart Explorer using Task Manager. Hidden Trick to Exit Windows Explorer Using Shutdown Dialog Box in Windows XP Hidden Trick to Exit Windows Explorer Using Start Menu in Windows Vista and 7 But doing End Task and restarting Explorer using Task Manager requires a few manual steps. Wouldn't it be great if you can get a simple shortcut...

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Universal Theme Patcher"Universal Theme Patcher" is an excellent UxTheme Patcher which supports Windows XP SP2/SP3, Server 2003, Vista SP1/SP2, Server 2008 and Windows 7. It can be used in both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) systems. You can download it using following links: Download Link | Mirror1 | Mirror2 Following are simple steps to use this...

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Autorun Manager: Portable Utility to Disable / Enable Autorun Functionality in Windows

We have blogged about a detailed tutorial in past which teaches you how to disable Autorun functionality in Windows: How to Disable Autorun Functionality in Windows Using Registry Editor? It requires some registry skills. But our regular reader "Hackerpunk1" has created an awesome tool called "Autorun Manager" which allows you to disable or re-enable...

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[Windows Utilities Launcher] Access Device Manager, Task Manager, Services Manager and Many Other Useful System Shortcuts in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Task Manager, Device Manager, Display Properties, Add/Remove Programs are a few system utilities which we use frequently while working in Windows. But we have to follow a few steps to open these utilities. Wouldn't it be great if we can have a single window providing access to all such useful system utilities in a single place? Thanks to "ShraOne"...

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Vista Drive Status: Get Windows Vista and 7 Drive Status Bar in Windows XP Explorer

We all know that Windows Vista and 7 show small status bar below the drives in Windows Explorer. If you are still on XP and want to get the same functionality, here is an interesting and free utility for you. The utility is called "Vista Drive Status" developed by "elektrownik". The utility is also mentioned in our XP to Vista and XP to 7 tutorials. Following...

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List of Best “Microsoft Fix it” Troubleshooters to Automatically Diagnose and Repair PC Problems

Microsoft has put the best of its "Fix it" troubleshooters in a single place at following link: List of Most Common Microsoft Fix it Troubleshooters Microsoft Fix it troubleshooters help you automatically diagnose and repair problems with common computer problems, such as audio, Internet, and printing problems. If your problems aren't fixed, Fix it troubleshooters provide you with the next steps to take. Simply download and run the Mats_run.exe file whose name most closely matches the issue that you are experiencing. When you run the Mats_run.exe...

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Microsoft Releases “Fix It” for MHTML Script Injection Vulnerability

Recently Microsoft released Security Advisory 2501696 to alert customers to a publicly disclosed vulnerability in the MHTML protocol handler. This vulnerability could allow attackers to construct malicious links pointing to HTML documents that, when clicked, would render the targeted document and reflected script in the security context of the user and target location. The end result of this type of vulnerability is script encoded within the link executed in the context of the target document or target web site. By default, the MHTML...

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Add Customized Strings (OEM Information) and Logo in System Properties Dialog Box of Windows XP

We have told you how to add customized OEM logo and strings in System Properties window of Windows Vista and 7: Add Customized Strings (OEM Information) in System Properties Dialog Box of Windows Vista and 7 Recently one AskVG reader "TacoTaco" asked us how to add the same information in Windows XP system? Today in this tutorial, we'll tell you how...

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Run Editor: Yet Another Small Utility to Allow Opening Any Program by Typing its Name in RUN Dialog Box in Windows

We have posted a tutorial in past about opening a program by just typing its name in RUN dialog box in Windows: How to Open Any Program by Typing its Name in RUN Dialog Box in Windows? One of our reader ".Rain" also created a small utility to do the whole task automatically which was called "RunIt". The same tutorial again inspired our one of very...

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Microsoft Disables Autorun in Windows 2000, XP and Vista via Windows Updates

Autorun is the most widely used way by malicious items to spread in a Windows system. Many virus create autorun.inf file in removable media to spread in your system. Windows 7 comes autorun disabled for removable media by default. Autorun is only enabled for CD/DVD drives in Windows 7. The same behavior was applied in Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003 and 2008 by an update "KB971029" which was released by Microsoft in 2009. Now Microsoft has released this update via Windows Updates so that more people can know about this update and install...

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OEM Configurer: Utility to Add Customized Strings (OEM Information) in System Properties Dialog Box of Windows XP, Vista and 7

We have posted tutorials for customizing System Properties window in Windows XP, Vista and 7: Add Customized Strings (OEM Information) in System Properties of Windows Vista and 7 Add Customized Strings (OEM Information) and Logo in System Properties of Windows XP The above tutorials inspired our reader "Masroor Aijaz aka JX Great" and he created...

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QTTabBar is Back in Action, Add Tab Feature to Windows Explorer

We have already posted about "QTTabBar" in past when it was developed for Windows XP and Vista users. Suddenly its development was stopped by the developer. Now a new version of QTTabBar is available for download which comes with lots of new improvements and support for Windows 7 as well. QTTabBar is a wonderful shell extension adding tabs and many...

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Restarter: Restart Explorer, uxms Service and Kill Not Responding Tasks Using Windows System Tray

UPDATE: New version released with major updates. We have posted following tutorials in past: Create Simple Script to Close and Restart Explorer Automatically in Windows XP, Vista and 7 Add “Restart Explorer” Option in Desktop and Explorer Context Menu under Windows Vista and 7 Add “Restart uxsms” Option in Desktop and Explorer Context Menu under Windows...

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Hacking System Properties Dialog Box (Sysdm.cpl) in Windows XP

NOTE: If you are facing problems while saving the file after editing in resource hacker, then make sure you have disabled WFP (Windows File Protection) service using WFP Patcher, it can be found in our "Download" section. Also if you are getting error "Can't create file...", that means you have edited and saved the file in past and there is a ...

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