Hey, just bringing another software review, this time it’s a defrag utility called Mydefrag.

MyDefrag Logo

MyDefrag is fully functional freeware, no cost, no time limit, no advertisements.

I like MyDefrag because it is so well designed. It’s based on the standard defragmentation API by Microsoft, a system library that is included in Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, 2008, and Win7. Most defragmenters are based on this API, including the free defragmenter that comes with Windows and many commercial defragmenters. Basically all MyDefrag does is send “move this file to that location” commands to the API. The API is part of the operating system and can safely move almost any file on the disk, without risk and while the computer is in full use.

Mydefrag attempts to move all your data to the front of the drive, it’s a known fact the the front of the drive can be up to 200 times faster than the end! My Defrag also organizes files into different zones, like directories, Windows files, files used while booting, regular files, and rarely used files. Frequently accessed files are placed at the beginning of the harddisk, and files that are commonly used together are placed in close proximity to each other. This results in a dramatic speed increase, and is in fact more important than defragmentation. The program comes with scripts with a zone organization suitable for most users, power users can customize the zones through scripts.

Sorting the files on your disk can give you even more speed. There are several sorting strategies to choose from. Most of them will take a lot of data shuffling, taking a lot of time for MyDefrag to complete, and therefore should only be used occasionally.

Features:

• Intelligent design.
• User scripts for different configurations.
• Can be ran from Scheduled Tasks, Network Scripts (Active Directory for example) or even run as a screensaver.
• 64 bit support for enhanced performance.
• Good for novices as well as experts.

MyDefrag is fully functional freeware, no cost, no time limit, no advertisements. The MyDefrag site is http://www.MyDefrag.com/.

A NOTE ABOUT DEFRAGGING: Defragmentation and optimization will not only make a hard drive faster, butit can also lengthen it’s life span, because the disk will have less work to do and therefore have less wear and tear. Also, it will refresh and strengthen the magnetic data on the harddisk by simply reading the (weakened) data and rewriting it fresh. However, defragmenting and optimizing is work, so excessive defragmenting and optimizing can actually cause more wear and tear than it prevents.

Download:

http://www.mydefrag.com/Manual-DownloadAndInstall.html

Screenshots:

In Windows 7 there is a feature called Wiggle. I haven’t heard much about it, an I found it on my own by accident one day when I was moving some windows around in a hurry. I’m not sure what Microsoft calls it, but I call it Windows Wiggle. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what it’s called either, as the only thing you have to do to activate this feature, is Wiggle a window around, and it’s neighbors scatter. Kinda like when when you put a rubber snake in the dryer and your mom scatters laundry everywhere when she finds it…

This Screencast I made shows how easy it is….

I love shortcuts, especially the combos. They save me time and people are usually always amazed that I know so many. I think a big part of why I remember so many, is because I use them often.

I also find that I mostly only remember the useful ones (Who can remember Alt- to bring up the right click in Windows 3.1 which changed to SHIFT+F10 in Win98 and greater? (Go ahead, try it, it works.) Well i guess I do, but that’s besides the point). The bigges, like Win+E (My Computer)
Win+R(Run)
Alt+Tab(Next Window)
Windows Logo+Tab (Flip 3d) and
Alt+F4 (Close Window)
are second nature to me, as I use them very often.

Here are some new ones that I just learned for Windows 7. Give them a try and see if you find any of these useful. I already like the Win+Space one.

Just remember, These are for Windows 7.

Enjoy

Sometimes our favorite Archive software (7Zip, WinRar, WinZip to name a few) can break the native Windows’s zipped folder behavior. To fix it back to the way it was before, just unregister zipfldr.dll and re-register it.

7Zip is our friend

To unregister Windows 7 built-in zip file compression, and then to re-register it, use these two commands in a CMD prompt opened with Administrative privileges (“Command Prompt” under Accessories in the Start Menu, then right click and select Run as Administrator):

(Unregister Zipped Folders)
regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

(Reregister Zipped Folders)
regsvr32 /i zipfldr.dll

This is useful if you are installing a Zip program like 7Zip or WinRAR and the install blows up, you can use this to fix the way Windows handles Zip files.

You can script UAC on and off with these commands:

Disable UAC

%windir%System32cmd.exe /k %windir%System32reg.exe ADD HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Enable UAC

%windir%System32cmd.exe /k %windir%System32reg.exe ADD HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Shell Execute these commands with any scripting language, or even just by typing them in! But remember, you or your script need administrator rights.

And optionally, the following comand to suppress all elevation consent request and notification:

%windir%System32cmd.exe /k %windir%System32reg.exe ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem /v ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

And before you ask, yes, that’s the UAC logo from Quake

I’ve posted before about a “GodMode” in Win7. This time I will tell you about the other GUID’s that directly access the sub panels with in the GodMode Panel.

Same as before, make a new folder, anywhere, and raname it to one of the names below to create that control panel.

Here are all the GUID codes I could find around the net that activate different control panels:

Ever have trouble changing your IP address in Windows 7? Just having to adjust to a new operating system is a total shock for most people. All the places where settings used to be are all moved or rearranged. Microsoft really paid attention to making the systems easier to learn for beginners, so if you have never used a pc before that’s great but for those of us who have, relearning actually puts us to a disadvantage.

Win7 has cheat codes?

Enter the “Godmode” Folder. Ok I know that this is not a new trick, and that it’s been brought back to life by the colorful naming but I must admit, I like it easy, and “Godmode” makes it easy. I have found this to be quite useful so I decided I would share it with you.

Godmode is a reference to the old IDDQD cheat code in ID Software’s Doom game series. IDDQD made your player invincible ie: godlike.  IDKFA gave the player all the weapons, and all the keys to all  the doors in the game. This is kinda similar to the latter as it gives you every control panel that is spread throughout the computer, on one screen. I remember how difficult it was to find the new Add Remove Programs, well not anymore! IP address settings? Not any more! This is pretty humorous as “Godmode” really has nothing to do with creating Control Panel Icons.

Gaining this super elite Godmode over your computer is actually pretty simple! Just create a folder, anywhere, and rename it to: GODMODE.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

You can copy / paste that into the rename field to make it easier. This will grant you access to ALL system settings in one location. Which in Win7 can be pretty handy. If you’re like the average person, finding where Microsoft has moved everything to can be tiresome. Having it all in one place is really helpful.

Want to really impress your friends? Well Godmode has nothing to do with this Hack. Actually the GUI ID in the name is everything to do with it, that word in front of the period is just what the folder will end up being named. The word before the period/fullstop can be whatever you want to call the folder. So Green_CompleX.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} Would work just as well, but the functionality is really the most interesting part of all. Enjoy exploring all those hard to find settings!

Just right click your desktop, and goto new, then click on folder name it:

GODMODE.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Some Screenies for the nonbelievers:

And the coup de gras:

*Special thanks to a reader for pointing out my typo in the Cheat code for DOOM..

Well I was really hoping with the release of Win7 Microsoft would have reinstated the default install state of telnet.

To my dismay, I received the old ‘telnet’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,operable program or batch file.

Fortunately, to get access to Telnet all you need to follow are these simple steps and the functionality will return to normal.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Programs -> Programs and Features there should be something that says Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Click Turn Windows features on or off then on the list that appears simply check the box for Telnet Client.
4. Click ok. (Wait a long time)

And that’s all there is to it!

Here is my review on Windows 7 comparing it to Vista.

This isn’t for everyone, so if you want the short version, just scroll to the bottom…. I was a beta tester for Windows 7 (in fact, all the way back to Whistler; I missed out on Chicago) and this is an honest review of what I think about Vista, Windows 7, and XP, with 7 being the primary focus. This review assumes you are familiar with XP. Windows 7 is a major upgrade from Windows XP, if this is the route you are taking, you missed out on a lot of new features brought about by Vista, and you might be a little overwhelmed at first at everything that has changed in 7. However, if you were a Vista user, then the only things to really take note of, from a users perspective, is that the Start bar has received a major reworking. Getting familiar with the new start bar is pretty easy and will come naturally after a few days for most people.

Other than that, Win7 is very much like Vista. I also published this article on Experts-Exchange.

The Verdict:

In short, if you’re shopping around and aren’t sure about making the switch from XP, please skip Vista, and grab a copy of Windows7 today. It’s wonderful…