Change the Default Directory in Command Prompt

Change the Default Directory in Command Prompt by kp

To change the default directory in the Command Prompt, you can either do a change directory command or permanently modify the directory using Registry Keys. The Command Prompt directory normally shows the user's documents and settings path as the default. This can be changed manually by using the 'cd' command along with the new directory path name. For example, to change the directory to the WINDOWS folder, type: cd C:\WINDOWS\system32\ This allows you to run programs found within this directory. To permanently change the default directory, the Registry Keys needs to be modified for the Command Prompt application. To open Registry Keys, go to Start -> Run and type: regedit.exe. In the Registry Editor, locate Command Prompt under HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Command Processor. Look for a key named "Autorun." If the key doesn't exist, create one by right-clicking and choosing New -> Expandable Sting Value. Rename the key to Autorun. Right-click on Autorun to edit the string. Under Value data, enter the following: CD /d C:\WINDOWS\system32\ The path name to your directory may vary depending on your custom settings. Re-boot Command Prompt and the new default directory should be shown in the window.

What Happens When You Send Email?

 

You typed in your message and clicked on the Send button in your mailer. What happens next? How does email find its way to the final recipient?

Outgoing SMTP Server

Your Internet Service Provider has a special computer called mail server, which is responsible for collecting mail from their customers. When you click the send button, your computer connects to the mail server and transmits the message along with the list of recipients.

The message is transmitted with Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SMTP is a language that your mail program uses to speak to the mail server. SMTP lets your mail program specify the list of recipients and the text of the message.

The mail server that understands SMTP is frequently called Outgoing SMTP Server.

Destination SMTP Server

Your destination recipient also has an Internet Service Provider. They have a mail server too.

When your SMTP server decides that it's time to send your email, it connects to the destination mail server and transmits the message to it. They use SMTP to speak to each other. Therefore the destination mail server is frequently called Destination SMTP Server.

Destination SMTP server stores the email message until your recipient decides to check if some email arrived.

Incoming POP3 Server

When the recipient decides to check the email, his email program connects to the destination SMTP server and retrieves mail from the server. This time, they use Post Office Protocol Version 3 (POP3), which is a language used to receive mail. Therefore, this server is usually called Incoming POP3 Server.

Destination SMTP server for you is Incoming POP3 server for your recipient. When your recipient replies, the situation reverses - now your mail server becomes a Destination SMTP server from the viewpoint of the reply sender.

POP3 service is not necessary. There are other means to access mail on the destination mail server. For example, you can use Web browser to access Hotmail® or Yahoo Mail without downloading all the mail to your computer.

MX Records

One thing remains unclear. There are millions of SMTP servers all around the world. How your SMTP server knows where to send the message?

This information is stored in so called MX records. MX is not an abbreviation, it doesn't mean anything. The MX record shows which destination SMTP server must be used for the specific email address. For example, the MX record for aysoft@aysoft.com points to the server called slim.aysoft.com.

The database of MX records is maintained by a network called Domain Name Service (DNS). To get access to the MX records, you must have access to the DNS server and have a permission to retrieve MX records.

You can look up MX records for any e-mail address with special software, such as AY Spy.

Relay

As you might have noticed, there are two SMTP servers involved in sending each message. Your outbound SMTP server is working as a relay - it accepts your message and relays it to the other server.

When Internet just started, any SMTP server used to work as relays - the message used to be passed from server to server freely. As the email system got abused by spammers, fewer and fewer servers were working this way. Now all open relays are closed. The only server that will relay for you is the one given to you by your Internet Service Provider.

It is also possible to bypass all relays and send email directly to the destination server. For more details see our article about direct send.

How to Create a CON folder in Windows?

Can you create a folder named “con”, “prn”, “nul” “com1″ “com2″ “lpt1″ etc. in windows ?

The answer is NO and YES!

NO because when create a new folder and try to rename it to any one of the above specified names, you know what happens! In Windows XP the folder name automatically changes back to “New Folder” no matter you try any number of times. Where as in Windows Vista/7 when you try to rename the file you get an error message “The specified device name is invalid”.

What is the reason for this? Simple, these names represent the internal devices and hence we cannot create folders with the above names.

YES because it is still possible to create these folders using the command prompt. Here’s the instructions to create it.

1. Go to command prompt
2. Type in prompt (FOR EG. TO CREATE CON FOLDER IN E: DRIVE)

C:\>md \\.\e:\con

NOTE: “con” can be replaced by any other names such as “prn”, “nul” “com1″ “com2″ “lpt1″ etc.

3. To delete the folder use the following command

C:\>rd \\.\e:\con

NOTE: The folder can only be deleted from the command prompt.You cannot remove it by right-click delete.

Installing Active Directory Domain Services (AD-DS)

Installing Active Directory Domain Services (AD-DS)

In Windows Server 2008, unlike previous server operating Systems, there is an additional step that needs to be taken before running DCPROMO to promote the server to Domain Controller and installing Active Directory on it. This step is the installation of Active Directory Domain Services (AD-DS) role on the server. In fact, the AD-DS role is what enables the server to act as a Domain Controller, but you will still need to run DCPROMO the regular way.
AD-DS can be installed in one of 3 methods:

Method 1 – Server Manager/Initial Configuration Tasks

Roles can and should be added from Server Manager (but they can also be initiated from the Initial Configuration Tasks wizard that auto-opens the first time you log on to the server).

1. Open Server Manager by clicking the icon in the Quick Launch toolbar, or from the Administrative Tools folder.
2. Wait till it finishes loading, then click on Roles > Add Roles link.

3. In the Before you begin window, click Next.

4. In the Select Server Roles window, click to select Active Directory Domain Services, and then click Next.

5. In the Active Directory Domain Services window read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.

6. In the Confirm Installation Selections, read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.

7. Wait till the process completes.

8. When it ends, click Close.

9. Going back to Server Manager, click on the Active Directory Domain Services link, and note that there's no information linked to it, because the DCPROMO command has not been run yet.

10. Now you can click on the DCPROMO link, or read on.
    1. To run DCPROMO, enter the command in the Run command, or click on the DCPROMO link from Server Manager > Roles > Active Directory Domain Services.
    
    2. Depending upon the question if AD-DS was previously installed or not, the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will appear immediately or after a short while. Click Next.
    Note: The Advanced features of DCPROMO will be discussed in a future article.
    3. In the Operating System Compatibility window, read the provided information and click Next.
    
    4. In the Choosing Deployment Configuration window, click on "Create a new domain in a new forest" and click Next.
    
    5. Enter an appropriate name for the new domain. Make sure you pick the right domain name, as renaming domains is a task you will not wish to perform on a daily basis. Click Next.
    Note: Do NOT use single label domain names such as "mydomain" or similar. You MUST pick a full domain name such as "mydomain.local" or "mydomain.com" and so on. The wizard will perform checks to see if the domain name is not already in use on the local network.
    6. Pick the right forest function level. Windows 2000 mode is the default, and it allows the addition of Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers to the forest you're creating. Read my "Understanding Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Levels" article for more information on that.
    
    7. Pick the right domain function level. Windows 2000 Native mode is the default, and it allows the addition of Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers to the domain you're creating.
    Note: If you select "Windows Server 2008" for the forest function level, you will Not be prompted to pick a domain function level. Read more about domain and forest function levels on my "Understanding Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Levels" article.
    8. The wizard will perform checks to see if DNS is properly configured on the local network. In this case, no DNS server has been configured, therefore, the wizard will offer to automatically install DNS on this server.
    Note: The first DCs must also be a Global Catalog. Also, the first DCs in a forest cannot be a Read Only Domain controller.
    9. It's most likely that you'll get a warning telling you that the server has one or more dynamic IP Addresses. Running IPCONFIG /all will show that this is not the case, because as you can clearly see, I have given the server a static IP Address. So, where did this come from? The answer is IPv6. I did not manually configure the IPv6 Address, hence the warning. In a network where IPv6 is not used, you can safely ignore this warning.
    
    10. You'll probably get a warning about DNS delegation. Since no DNS has been configured yet, you can ignore the message and click Yes.
    
    11. Next, change the paths for the AD database, log files and SYSVOL folder. For large deployments, carefully plan your DC configuration to get the maximum performance. When satisfied, click Next.
    
    12. Enter the password for the Active Directory Recovery Mode. This password must be kept confidential, and because it stays constant while regular domain user passwords expire (based upon the password policy configured for the domain, the default is 42 days), it does not. This password should be complex and at least 7 characters long. I strongly suggest that you do NOT use the regular administrator's password, and that you write it down and securely store it. Click Next.
    
    13. In the Summary window review your selections, and if required, save them to an unattend answer file. When satisfied, click Next.
    
    14. The wizard will begin creating the Active Directory domain, and when finished, you will need to press Finish and reboot your computer.
    Note: You can automate the rebooting process by checking the Reboot on Completion checkbox. To automate domain controller installations, you can use an answer file or you can specify unattended installation parameters at the command line. More on that in my "Creating an Unattend Installation File for DCPROMO in Windows Server 2008" article. Note: As written in my "Installing Active Directory on Windows 2008 Server Core" article, configuring a Windows Server 2008 Server Core machine REQUIRES you to perform an automated installation of Active Directory on that server, as there is NOT DCPROMO GUI on Server Core. Your server now acts as a Domain Controller. Make sure you properly back it up. You can test functionality by using AD management tools such as Active Directory Users and Computers, examine the Event Logs, services and folders and shares that have been created.

    Links

    AD DS Installation and Removal Step-by-Step Guide


Method 2 – Servermanagercmd.exe

Servermanagercmd.exe is the command prompt equivalent of the Add Roles and Add Features wizards in Server Manager. Through the use of various command line options, you can quickly and easily add or remove features and roles to or from your server, including the AD-DS role. To install AD-DS by using Servermanagercmd.exe, simply enter the following command in the Command Prompt window:

Servermanagercmd.exe –I ADDS-Domain-Controller

Let the command run and when it finishes, AD-DS will be installed on the server.

Method 3 – Letting DCPROMO do the job

Oh yes. If you forget to install AD-DS or simply want to skip clicking on some windows, you can run DCPROMO from the Run command and before it is executed, the server will check to see if the AD-DS binaries are installed. Since they are not, they will auto-install. After you complete the Add Roles Wizard, either click the link to start the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard, or close Server Manager and manually run DCPROMO from the Run command.

Running DCPROMO

After installing the AD-DS role, we need to run DCPROMO to perform the actual Active Directory database and function installation. Note: This guide assumes this is the first Domain controller in the forest, thus creating a new domain in a new forest. For a guide on how to add additional Domain Controllers to existing domains, please read my upcoming "Installing Additional Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers in your Existing Active Directory Domain" article.

Two account in one Outlook 7

It is probably a bit easier to just create two new folders with names like Personal and Business. They can be inside the current Inbox or on the same top level as the Inbox. Click on New in the menu bar and select Folder... . You will get a dialog box that will let you name the folder and choose its location.

To create Rules to sort incoming mail ...

1) Select Rules and Alerts from the Tools menu.

3) Click on New Rule in the Rules and Alerts screen.

4) Select Start with Blank Rule in the Rules Wizard. Choose Check messages when they arrive and then click the Next button.

5) Put a check in Through the specified account in the Step 1 box. The On this machine only box will also be checked.

6) Click on specified in the Step 2 box.

7) Choose an e-mail account from the drop down list in the Account screen and click OK.

8) Click Next in the Rules Wizard.

9) Put checks in Move it to the specified folder and Stop processing more rules in the Step 1 box.

10) Click on specified next to the word folder in the Step 2 box.

11) Select the desired target folder from the list and click on "OK"

12) Click "Finish" in the Rules Wizard.

13) Click on "Apply" and then "OK" in the Rules and Alerts screen.

14) Repeat the above steps for as many accounts as needed.

You can also apply any combination of created rules to existing messages in the Inbox:

1) Select Rules and Alerts from the Tools menu.

3) Click on "Run Rules Now..." in the Rules and Alerts screen.

4) Put check marks in for the rules you wish to apply

5) Do not put a check in the sub-folders option.

6) Click on Run Now.

Rule For stop sending Email in outlook 7

Sometimes the Send button can backfire. Have you ever sent a mail to the wrong person by mistake? Have you ever sent an email and then realized a second too late that you forgot an important point, or could have worded things more carefully, or even misspelled something obvious, like your own name?
Luckily, in Outlook you can set up a safety net for the Send button. On the Outlook team, we call it “delayed send.” You may find that it saves you a lot of potential embarrassment.
Delayed send is a simple idea: When you hit Send, Outlook automatically retains the message in your Outbox folder for a short length of time (for instance, one minute) before sending. Most times you won’t notice the delay. And if you hit Send and then realize you made a mistake, you can go to your Outbox, open up the message, modify it, and then re-send it – and the recipients never see the mistake.
But what about e-mails that need to be sent immediately? With a little more effort you can set up Outlook so that if you tag a message as urgent, it will be sent without the delay.
Here’s how you set up delayed send in Outlook 2007:
1. Go to Tools>Rules and Alerts.
2. Click New Rule.
3. Select Check messages after sending and then click Next.
4. Click Next again.  When Outlook confirms that you want this rule to apply to every message you send, click Yes.
5. Check the checkbox next to defer delivery by a number of minutes:
6. Click on “a number of” and choose how many minutes you want mail to be delayed.  I find that 1 minute works very well.
7. Click Finish.
8. If your mail server is Microsoft Exchange, Outlook will tell you that this is a client-side rule, which is fine; click OK.
9. Click OK to close the Rules and Alerts window.
And now the safety net is in place! Try it – send a mail message, then go to the Outbox. Your message will wait patiently in the Outbox until the delay is over, and then away it goes. During the delay, you can double-click the message at any time to stop it from being sent, so you can make modifications and hit Send again. (Hitting Send again will reset the delay, so that you get another minute to rethink your changes.)
Note that Outlook needs to be running in order to actually send the message, so you should leave Outlook open until the message leaves the Outbox.  If you’re in the habit of dashing off a quick mail and then immediately closing your laptop or powering down your computer, you’ll want to set up an exception to the delayed-send rule, which leads me to…
The exception to the rule
It’s important to remember that this delayed-send rule will apply to every message you send. There may be times when you don’t want the delay in place. For instance, you may want to send mail immediately. Or, you may want to delay the delivery of a single message for longer than the rule specifies. (The delayed-send rule will override any delay-delivery settings you put on a single message, so it could cause messages to be sent sooner than you want.) If you want to be able to send mails without triggering the rule, you can set up category that exempts mail from the delayed-send rule. Here’s how to do that:
1. Go back to Tools>Rules and Alerts.
2. Select the delayed-send rule that you just created and click Change Rule > Edit Rule Settings.
3. Click Next, and click Yes for the “apply to every message” prompt.
4. Click Next again.
5. Under “Are there any exceptions,” check the checkbox next to except if assigned to category category.
6. Click on the “category” link.  You’ll be taken to the Color Categories window.
7. Click New to create a new category.
8. Name it “Urgent” (or whatever you prefer) and click OK. (Note that some people who receive your messages marked in this manner may see the category attached to your message; it’s best to choose a category name that you don’t mind other people reading.)
9. You should now see the “Urgent” category checked:
10. Click OK.  You should now see that the rule will only apply to messages that don’t have the “Urgent” category:
11. Click Finish.
Then you can do the following to mark an individual mail as urgent before sending it:
1. Under the Home tab, click the dialog launcher () for the Options chunk:

2. Click on the Categories button and choose “Urgent.”
3. Click Close.
When you click Send, the message will send immediately.
Let us know if you think this is useful!

How to Remove Windows Genuine Advantage From the Registry

If you're sick and tired of receiving the Windows Genuine Advantage warnings on your Windows XP operating system, you're in luck. By following a few fairly easy steps, you can wipe out the program and its annoying pop-ups using a quick registry fix. Just remember to follow the directions exactly as given, because registry errors can wreak havoc on your PC.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Removing Windows Genuine Advantage From the Registry

1. 1
   Click on the "Start" button and then the "Run" icon.
2. 2
   Type "regedit" without the quotation marks in the "Run" text field and click "OK." Your register editor program will now display.
3. 3
   Navigate to the following registry file: "My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify." You can find that key by first clicking on "My Computer," then "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE," then the "Software" folder, followed by the "Microsoft" folder, which brings you to the "Windows NT" folder, then the "Current Version" folder, followed by "WinLogon" and finally the "Notify" folder.
4. 4
   Find the "WgaLogon" folder inside the "Notify" folder and right-click on it. Choose the "Delete" option and left-click on it. You have now removed the program files from the registry.
5. 5
   Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. The program should now be removed from your registry