We’ve covered the excellent multi-purpose command-line tool NirCmd from Nirsoft several times before. This post talks about the new command-line switches added in the current version of NirCmd. Earlier this month, I sent a NirCmd feature request to Nir Sofer, asking to include an "elevate" switch, which should launch an application elevated (Windows Vista, Windows 7 & 2008.) Nir was kind enough to incorporate this feature in the immediate version update (v2.40). Later another update, to fix a bug I reported, v2.41 was released. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Utilities’
NirCmd Elevate Switch Added – Some Useful Uses
How to Restore .BKF Images Using Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7
Here is a walkthrough (with screenshots) on how to restore Windows XP NTBackup’s BKF images in Windows 7 using Microsoft’s Windows NT Backup Restore Utility. Note that our earlier article on How to Restore .BKF files Using NTBackup in Windows 7 and Windows Vista still works. You’re free to choose whichever method you find easier. (more…)
Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 Is Now Available
Earlier we wrote how to restore NTBackup .BKF images in Windows 7, for users who didn’t want to wait for Microsoft’s NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7. Now, Microsoft has made available the Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 in the form of a hotfix, that will restore the Windows XP NTBackup images (.BKF) in a Windows 7 PC. (more…)
How to Install and Run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility if Windows Installer Fails to Work
If you’re greeted with the Windows Installer setup screen for an existing product everytime when you try to install a new program, you usually repair the existing application, or use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to remove the installer information of the existing application before reinstalling it. The problem is the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility Setup itself uses Windows Installer and hence it may not run in the above scenario. Here is an option which can be used to launch the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility without installing it. (more…)
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) Update Utility
Just came across this interesting tool from the AddictiveTips Blog.
MSE Update Utility is a simple app that updates Microsoft Security Essentials when Windows Update is disabled. Windows Update service is responsible for frequently updating MSE. But once it is disabled via Group Policy Editor, MSE won’t update anymore.
You can download the MSE Update Utility from AddictiveTips.com.
[Related Tip] Updating Microsoft Security Essentials Using Command-Line
How to Uninstall Winter Fun Pack 2004 After Upgrading to Windows 7 or Vista
Did you install the Microsoft® Winter Fun Pack 2004 in your Windows XP system earlier, and then upgraded the system to Windows 7 or Windows Vista? In that case, the uninstaller for Winter Fun Pack 2004 may not work correctly under Windows 7/Vista, throwing out error code 1713. If the uninstaller does not work, you can remove the related files and registry entries manually.
The list of registry entries and files added by Microsoft® Winter Fun Pack 2004 for Windows® XP is available at the following link:
Browser Defender™ – Download Analysis for winterfunpack2004forwindowsxp.msi
Important: Before proceeding, take a complete registry backup either using System Restore or using a program like ERUNT. This article is targeted towards intermediate and advanced users.
Registry Fix
To make things easier, I’ve made available a .REG file which removes the Winter Fun Pack 2004 related registry keys. Download winterfunpack-remove.zip (partly based on BrowserDefender.com’s installation track data), unzip and double-click the .REG file to run it.
Things to Remove Manually
1. Registry Values
After running the REG file, you may have to remove some registry values manually:
1. Start Regedit.exe and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Installer \ Folders
2. In the right-pane, delete the values relating to Winter Fun Pack 2004 (Refer the URL above)
3. Exit the Registry Editor.
2. Files & Folders
Use the information at BrowserDefender.com and delete the files and folders added by Winter Fun Pack 2004.
3. Outlook Express Signature
1. Start Outlook Express
2. In the Tools menu, click Options
3. Click Signatures
4. Select MP Song Signature and click Remove
Note: In Microsoft Outlook, you can remove the MP Song Signature via the Tools menu, Options, Mail Format, Signatures.
5. Click OK.
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Creates Bootable USB Flash Drive
Do you own a Netbook without a CD/DVD drive, but want to install Windows 7 on it? No problem! Microsoft has made available a tool known as Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, which takes an ISO image and creates a bootable USB device that can be used to install Windows 7. The utility can create a Windows 7 installation DVD from the ISO file as well.
Update (Nov 10, 2009): Microsoft pulls download tool over GPL violation accusation
Download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from Microsoft Store Website. To copy the ISO image to USB flash drive, ensure that the drive has minimum 4 GB of free space.
Additional Note
The tool works only for the Windows 7 ISO image downloaded from online Microsoft Store. It throws the following error if you use a custom Windows 7 ISO image.
The selected file is not a valid ISO file. Please select a valid ISO file and try again.
However, Rafael Rivera of Within Windows has written a tool that will allow you to use your own ISOs with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. For more information, read the excellent post Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool with custom ISOs by Rafael.
Microsoft Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool Determines if CPU Supports Virtualization
Windows XP Mode is a new Windows 7 feature that lets you run older Windows XP applications on your Windows 7 desktop. Windows XP Mode is available for the Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
In order to use the Windows XP Mode in Windows 7, your system must support hardware virtualization (and also the option should be enabled in the BIOS). The Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool (HAV detection tool) helps you check if your computer processor supports HAV. The tool also checks if this setting is enabled for the processor.
References
How to confirm your PC can run Windows XP Mode
Edison Helps Reduce Your PC’s Power Consumption
Edison is an excellent power management tool made for Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista systems. Edison optimizes Windows Power Management settings for maximum power savings and provides a friendly user interface to configure the power settings.
Download Edison from Verdiem’s Website. (See also Verdiem :: Edison FAQ.)
Alter the Work Time Power Settings by moving the slider. To input custom values (hours: minutes) click the Custom button. And, click the Schedule tab and set your Work Time.
Edison creates a custom power plan, which can be viewed using Power Options (Windows Vista).
Edison changes the power plan options automatically, based on Work Time and Non-Work Time settings.
RegASSASSIN Resets ACL Permissions and Deletes Stubborn Registry Keys Easily
When dealing with a Malware infested PC, you may have to prune several registry entries manually in case the cleanup tool you use does not remove all of them. In most cases, you would get an error ("Error Deleting Key") stating that you don’t have permissions to delete the specified branch. So, additional steps are required to reset the registry ACL Permissions first, before deleting the key. RegASSASSIN from MalwareBytes makes it very easy to reset the ACLs and delete the keys. Whew! You don’t have to perform half a dozen steps to reset the permissions for each key.
RegASSASSIN is a portable application which makes difficult to remove registry keys placed on your system by Malware a thing of the past. The program allows you to remove registry keys by resetting the keys permissions and then deleting it. Please use with caution as deleting critical registry keys may cause system errors.
Let’s assume that a Malware has added a Service to the registry and protected the key using ACL Permissions. Deleting the key using the Registry Editor causes the following error.
Caution: It’s prudent to backup the registry completely before modifying it. For more information, read articles Take a complete registry backup using ERUNT & How to backup the Windows Registry?
Deleting a Stubborn Registry Key
1. Copy the Registry key in question. This can be done by right-clicking on the key and choosing Copy Key Name.
2. Download RegASSASSIN from MalwareBytes Website.
3. Run RegASSASIN and paste the registry key that was copied in Step 1.
4. Select the following checkboxes:
- Reset registry key permissions
- Delete registry key and all subkeys
5. Click the Delete button. Click Yes when you see the following dialog:
6. Click Yes when you’re prompted for confirmation:
The registry key is deleted!
RegASSASSIN to Just Reset the Registry Key Permissions?
In case a software installation in your PC fails due to lack of permissions to write to a specified registry key, you can simply reset the corresponding registry key (without deleting the key) using RegASSASSIN. To just reset the ACLs and preserve the registry key, uncheck the Delete registry key and all subkeys checkbox in RegASSASIN.
Editor’s Note
- This tool does not substitute for anti-malware / anti-virus software. All this tool does is to reset the permissions for the specified registry key and delete it.
- This tool needs to be run as administrator (elevated) in Windows Vista & Windows 7. To do so, right-click on the RegASSASSIN executable, and choose Run as Administrator option in the context menu.
- Complex Malware removal is to be performed by trained personnel, as they’re capable of doing a surgical cleanup without affecting other components of the Operating System. The above article is for informational purposes only.
