Article: The very best Sysinternals tools for Windows server security

TechTarget reports: "I'm often surprised by the lack of Windows server administration tools that are used in some enterprises. Many administrators I work with just use the built-in tools that ship with Windows Server -- something I liken to going through life without experiencing the exhilaration of a powerful and great-handling sports car."

Sysinternals has some great general purpose diagnostic tools that any Windows power user should have in their digital toolchest, this article points a few of them out.

Windows 7: Run A Program With Administrative Privileges

Older programs sometimes require administrative privileges in order to run properly. To enable this feature follow the instructions below:

• Right-click the program's shortcut, select Properties.
• Press the Advanced button.
• In the Advanced Properties dialog box, check the box "Run as administrator"
• Press the OK button

Now when you double-click the the shortcut to launch the program, it will automatically run as administrator.

Note: If the UAC feature is enabled you will be prompted for your administrative credentials.

Article: Windows 7 'compatibility Checker' Is a Trojan

PCWorld reports: "Scammers are infecting computers with a Trojan horse program disguised as software that determines whether PCs are compatible with Windows 7."

To protect yourself, never open e-mail file attachments from strangers...

Windows XP: Support Expires July 13, 2010

On July 13, 2010 Microsoft will retire support for Windows XP SP2. This means that the company will no longer develop or distribute Hot Fix updates, drivers or security updates.

If you want to know your support options, check out:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/retired

For details on Microsoft Product Lifecycle, check out:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/

Article: Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 Is Released

eWeek reports: "Microsoft's Touch Pack for Windows 7, consisting of six touch applications, has been installed on new Windows 7 PCs by OEMs for some time, but now it is accessible to consumers. Microsoft's Windows and Service teams worked to integrate touch-screen functionality into Windows 7 long before the operating system's release, leading not only to a number of laptops and desktops capable of multitouch input, but possibly a new generation of tablet PCs."

Read the rest of the article here. If you have touch screen, make sure that you get this update.

Google Docs Refresh Aims to Steal Microsoft Office, Lotus Notes Users

eWeek reports: "Google ratcheted up its attack on Microsoft Office April 12 with its revision of Google Docs, which includes faster document, spreadsheet and presentation functionality. Leveraging a new JavaScript engine and HTML5, the new Google Docs is designed for more modern team collaboration at a time when companies are looking to break out of the siloed practice of having one user editing a document at a time. However, with this revision Google is also disabling Google Gears for Docs so it can rewrite this offline technology for HTML5 and modern Web browsers. But this move provides food for thought for current Docs users that work with Gears. In the meantime, eWEEK offers this look at the new features. "

Software: OffiSync - Microsoft Office/Google Docs Syncronization

OffiSync is a Microsoft Office extension that allows you to leverage Google's cloud services (such as: Google Docs and Sites) inside the Office software suite.

Some of the features of the software are:

• Save and open Microsoft Office documents inside Google's Docs and Sites. By keeping your documents in the cloud you can access them from any computer that is connected to the Internet.
• Manage multiple versions, and share and set permissions for viewing and editing.

Software: Microsoft Security Tools

Microsoft now has a web page that contains links to all their IT security tools in one location. Some of these tools are new, or updated, and some or just old (but still useful).

Check it out and see if you can add any of the tools to your system security arsenal to help lock down your servers and protect them.

Some of the featured software includes:

• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
• Microsoft Security Assessment Tool
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

Article: Microsoft Soups Up Internet Explorer 9 Performance

eWeek reports: "Microsoft has delivered a peek at the next version of its popular Web browser, Internet Explorer 9. The Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview is the first look at what's coming in the next version of the world's most popular Web browser. Internet Explorer 9 has been designed to help the Web development community create rich, standards-compliant, interoperable Web applications by providing the platform, tools and features they need to build the modern Web."

Web Site: EasyPainter (Web Based Photo Editing)

EasyPainter is a web-based photo editing tool that you can upload your pictures to, and manipulate them. The types of manipulations are limited, but fairly robust considering its browser-based tool. All you do is upload your photos into the tool, and save them back to your local computer when you're done.

Note: This tool does require that the Microsoft's SilverLight plug-in is installed.

Software: Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a simple to use, real-time anti-malware (i.e.: viruses, spyware, etc.) protection software that is available for free. MSE was designed to replaces Windows Live OneCare, a commercial subscription-based antivirus service and the free Windows Defender, which only protected users from adware and spyware. MSE can run on Windows XP, and above (here is the list of minimum system requirements).

Other free anti-malware programs:

• avast! Free Antivirus
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Windows 7: Mount an ISO Image (Freeware)

Do you need free way mount ISO images in Windows 7, thankfully there’s program that does work. It called Virtual Clone Drive, it allows you mount .ISO, .CCD, .DVD, .IMG, .UDF and .BIN files.

After you install it you should be able to mount your ISO images by double-clicking or right-click on the file. To unmount the image, just right-click it file or virtual drive in the explorer.

Windows 7: Automatically Syncronzing Your System Clock

By default, Windows will automatically synchronize its clock with a time server on the Internet. If for some reason, your clock isn't automatically getting adjusted, here is how to fix it:

• In the Start menu search field type "Date and Time" and press Enter, this should be bring the Date and Time control panel
• In the Date and Time dialog box, click the Internet Time tab.
• Press the Change Settings button. Press the Continue button in the User Account Control dialog box (if it displays).
• In the Internet Time Settings dialog, click the Server drop-down arrow and select another time server. The default is time.windows.com, try using time.nist.gov and see it works for you.
• Press the Update now button to update your computer's clock, and test your computer's
  
• Press the OK buttons close the dialog boxes.

Windows 7: Use the Windows XP Style Alt-Tab Menu

Here is one of those pointless Windows tricks you can use to show off your uber-geekness. I am not sure this is a bug or feature, but if you follow the instructions below, you can access Windows XP style Alt-Tab menu. You might even miss this if you're not paying attention.

• Hold down the Left (or Right) Alt key (don't let it go).
• Press and release the other Alt key.
• While keeping the first Alt key still held down, press the Tab key.

Windows 7: Global Control Panel

Want to create a Global Control Panel that gives you access to most Windows 7 control panels and system settings.

Its really easy, all you have to do is create a folder (anywhere on your computer, but for right now create it on your desktop), then call the folder Global Control.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

When you open up the folder you will have shortcuts to several system options.

Windows 7: Windows Explorer Tricks

Do you want to change the default starting directory for Windows Explorer? Below is a cool trick to make it open to the "My Computer" folder, instead of the Libraries folder.

Follow the steps below to create a shortcut

• Show your desktop by pressing the Windows key + D
• Right-click on an empty area of the desktop, and select New > Shortcut from the pop-up menu
• When the Shortcut wizard displays, in the field type: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}, then press the Next button.
• In the shortcut name field, type whatever you want. For example, I used explorer.exe. Press the Finish button, when done.
  

Windows 7: Windows Live Messenger Icon Trick

If you downloaded and installed Windows Live Messenger from the the Windows Live Essentials applications suite. Then you probably noticed (or will notice) that by default Messenger will put its Icon in the taskbar and not the notification area like it use to.

If you prefer messenger to appear in the notification area like it did in the past there is a trick. You have to fool the application into using its old behavior. To make this happen, follow the step below:

• Close Windows Live Messenger
• Right-click the Messenger shortcut, and select Properties for the icon in the Start menu.
• Click on the Compatibility tab, and set the application to run in Windows Vista compatibility mode. (See the graphic below)
• Press the OK button when done.
  

Windows 7: Built-in ISO Support

Another new feature of Windows 7 is it's built-in ability to burn .ISO files to a CD or DVD. ISO files are digital copies of regular CD or DVD, this file can then be stored on your local computer, a removable or network drive. Before Windows 7, you had to install a separate tool for converting these files back into a CD or DVD.

To access this new feature, double-click on any .ISO file, and you will be prompted to burn the ISO image to a disc.

Windows 7: ClearType Text Tuner

In the last article I talked about the Display Color Calibration Wizard (DCCW) that helps you to optimize your monitor's settings. Included in the DCCW tool is access to another tool called "ClearType Text Tuner", which allows you to adjust the ClearType text settings to make it look better on your monitor.

To access this tool, in the search field under the Start menu, type: "cttune".

Windows 7: Display Color Calibration Wizard

Windows 7 includes a new feature called Display Color Calibration Wizard. This tool is designed to helps you adjust your computer monitor's brightness, gamma, contrast & color settings.

To access this tool, in the search field under the Start menu, type: "dccw"