In response to a script request recently from one of our readers, here is a VBScript that I came up with, that displays last logon date/time details for each local user account in a computer.
[Download lastlogon.vbs] (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘scripts’
Scan USB Drives Using Microsoft Security Essentials via the AutoPlay Dialog
We’d like to share with you an interesting registry hack that adds a Microsoft Security Essentials AutoPlay handler so that you can thoroughly scan a CD/DVD media or USB flash drive for viruses, via the AutoPlay dialog. See article Scan Your Thumb Drive for Viruses from the AutoPlay Dialog at the How-To Geek website.
Thanks to Lowell & Brian for publishing my tip/script idea at How-To Geek. Also, this was later featured at Lifehacker.
How to Add “Desktop Background File Location” Option to Desktop Right-Click Menu in Windows 7
Desktop Background Slideshow is a neat little feature in Windows 7 which helps you shuffle your desktop background from a image file store folder, at predefined intervals. But, as Windows doesn’t show the file name of the currently displayed wallpaper, it becomes a problem if you have thousands of images in a store folder and you need to find the file name and the directory location of the currently displayed wallpaper.
Here is a small script which adds the Desktop Background File Location option in the Desktop context menu, which opens the current wallpaper file’s target folder and selects the file. (more…)
How to Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews Quickly Using Right-Click Menu in Windows Vista and Windows 7
If you had disabled thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer for performance, but want to have a means of enabling or disabling thumbnail previews in a jiffy, here is a solution for you. To enable or disable thumbnail previews in Windows Vista and Windows 7, you normally click on the Organize button in the folder view, choose Folder and Search Options, select the View tab and then select or deselect the Always show icons, never thumbnails. (more…)
BlockThisSite Menu Extension for Internet Explorer
Did you accidentally land on a bad site when browsing the Web? While it’s advisable to close bad websites immediately, you can quickly block that particular site before closing it so that you don’t visit that site in future. This can be done using the BlockThisSite Internet Explorer Menu Extension that I’ve created. The extension works by automatically adding an entry to the HOSTS file for each site you block. (more…)
Script to Backup the Services Configuration (Startup Type) in Windows 7/XP/2003/Vista
After doing a fresh install of Windows XP/2003/Vista/7, disabling unused Windows Services is one of the time consuming tasks you perform. One configured, you can backup the service startup state using a Batch file or Script so that it can be used for subsequent installations, or if you need to automate the task on several computers in your workgroup. (more…)
Quickly Clear the Google Chrome Cache Using Script
Here is a VBScript to automatically clear the cache in Google Chrome. This script has been tested with Google Chrome Final version 1.0.154.36, under Windows XP and Windows Vista systems. (more…)
Error “Invalid Update Control CTF File” When Updating AVG Anti-Virus 8.0
When updating AVG today, I received the error "Invalid Update Control CTF File". After searching the AVG support forum, I found a couple of easy solutions which can resolve the error.
Note: (Nov 03, 2009): AVG Team is working on this issue and should fix this update issue soon. No user action is needed. The following methods worked for some users, though.
Method 1
1. Double-click the AVG icon in the Notification area.
2. Click the Tools menu and click Advanced Settings…
3. Navigate to the Manage option in the Update branch.
(The Manage option is included in AVG version 8.0.233 and higher.)
4. Click the Delete temporary update files button.
5. Click Yes to confirm removal.
See if you’re now able to update AVG.
Note: The above button deletes all the temporary files, downloaded .BIN and .CTF files which were created by AVG. Whereas the Vbscript file included under "Method 2" deletes only the .CTF files.
Method 2
From AVG forum:
You need to rename/remove the CTF temp files in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avg8\update\download…. Dont delete all the .bin files in there unless you want to re-run all updates since your original installation (reinstallation seems to cause a problem in IEs Link Scanner which causes IE to Crash). Only rename/remove the avginfo files that end with .ctf.
There were two .CTF files (avginfoavi.ctf and avginfowin.ctf) in that folder, and deleting them fixed the problem indeed.
Note: The Application Data folder is hidden by default. You need to enable Windows Explorer to show hidden files in order to view the Application Data folder. Alternately, type the above folder path in the Start, Run dialog and press {ENTER} to launch the folder.
Windows Vista users: Delete the .CTF files from the following folder:
C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download
Script to automate the task
I’ve scripted the above so that it can help if you want to run the task in multiple PCs. Download del_avg_ctf.zip and save to Desktop. Unzip the file and run the script del_avg_ctf.vbs. The AVG Update .CTF files should be deleted automatically. The script runs fine in Windows XP and Windows Vista systems.
How to Determine the Last Shutdown Date and Time in Windows XP/2003/Vista
The easiest way to determine the last shutdown date/time is to check the event logs. When you shutdown a computer Event ID 6006 is written to the Event log which denotes a clean shutdown. Here is a sample event. (more…)
