Keyboard shortcuts-Windows 7

Keyboard shortcuts-Windows 7

Windows 7 supports several useful new keyboard shortcuts.

Alt+P
Display/ hide the Explorer preview pane

Windows Logo+G
Display gadgets in front of other windows

Windows Logo++ (plus key)
Zoom in, where appropriate

Windows Logo+- (minus key)
Zoom out, where appropriate

Windows Logo+Up
Maximise the current window

Windows Logo+Down
Minimise the current window

Windows Logo+Left
Snap to the left hand side of the screen

Windows Logo+Right
Snap to the right hand side of the screen

Windows Logo+Home
Minimise/ restore everything except the current window

Best Top Features of Windows 8

Here are the Top Best Features of Microsoft’s new Operating System Windows 8 .

•  Touchscreen Support
• Metro User Interface
• Apps (Mail, Messaging, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, People)
• Start Screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles
• Windows Store
• Connected Standby
• Microsoft Account
• Enhanced Task Manager
• Language Packs
• Better Multiple Monitor Support
• Storage Spaces
• Installation of x86/64 and Desktop Software
• Windows Media Player
• ISO/VHD mount
• Exchange ActiveSync
• Mobile Broadband Features
• Remote Desktop (Client)
• Refresh and Reset your PC
• Snap
• Trusted Boot
• Internet Explorer 10
• Cloud Services
• Picture Password
• Device Compatibility
• Backwards Compatibility
• Task and File Management
• Smart Screen
• Microsoft Account
• Better Multiple Monitor Support
• Reset and Refresh your PC
• File History
• Updated Windows Explorer
• Windows Defender

Leave Homegroup at Windows 7

Leave the Homegroup at Windows 7 

Homegroups are an easy way to network Windows 7 PCs, but if you don't use the feature then turning it off can save you a few system resources.

Click Start, type Homegroup, and click Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options. Click Leave the Homegroup > Leave the Homegroup > Finish.

Now click Start, type services.msc and press [Enter] to launch the Services Control Panel applet.

Find and double-click both the HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider service, clicking Stop and setting Startup Type to Disabled in each case, and the services won't be launched when you need reboot.

Windows 8 Add Shortcut, Restart and Log Off icons to your Desktop or Taskbar

Windows 8

Tip of the Day : Add Shortcut, Restart and Log Off icons to your Desktop or Taskbar

First Right click an empty spot on the desktop and select New, Shortcut

Copy and Paste the following in the Window that pops up:

Shutdown:

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00

Restart:

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -r -t 00

Now Click on Next and Name the shortcuts Shutdown and Restart.

Click Finish. Right click and choose properties and change icon to select a nicer icon than the default.

Log Off:

C:\Windows\System32\logoff.exe

Change the theme to improve performance for Windows 7

If your computer is working slowly, you might see a message saying that the theme is using most of its allowed memory. If this happens, you can change to the Windows 7 Basic theme or a high-contrast theme to improve performance.

If you change the theme to Windows 7 Basic, you will no longer get the full Aero experience. Aero is the premium visual experience in this version of Windows. It features a transparent glass design, window animations, Aero Flip 3D, and live window previews.

To change the theme

1. Open Personalization by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type personalization, and then click Personalization.
2. Under Basic and High Contrast Themes, click Windows 7 Basic or one of the High Contrast themes.

Security Using Windows Defender for Windows 7

Using Windows Defender

 Windows Defender is antispyware software that's included with Windows and runs automatically when it's turned on. Using antispyware software can help protect your computer against spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Spyware can be installed on your computer without your knowledge any time you connect to the Internet, and it can infect your computer when you install some programs using a CD, DVD, or other removable media. Spyware can also be programmed to run at unexpected times, not just when it's installed.

Windows Defender offers two ways to help keep spyware from infecting your computer:

• Real-time protection.‍‍ Windows Defender alerts you when spyware attempts to install itself or to run on your computer. It also alerts you when programs attempt to change important Windows settings.
• Scanning options. You can use Windows Defender to scan for spyware that might be installed on your computer, to schedule scans on a regular basis, and to automatically remove anything that's detected during a scan.

When you use Windows Defender, it's important to have up-to-date definitions. Definitions are files that act like an ever-growing encyclopedia of potential software threats. Windows Defender uses definitions to alert you to potential risks if it determines that software detected is spyware or other potentially unwanted software. To help keep your definitions up to date, Windows Defender works with Windows Update to automatically install new definitions as they're released. 

• Open Windows Defender by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Defender, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Defender.

Security checklist for Windows 7

 Use this checklist to make sure you're taking advantage of all the ways that Windows can help keep your computer as secure and safe as possible.

Action Center

Use Action Center to make sure your firewall is on, your antivirus software is up to date, and your is computer set to install updates automatically. For more information, see How does Action Center check for problems?

Windows Defender

Use Windows Defender to help prevent spyware and other potentially unwanted software from being installed on your computer without your knowledge. For more information, see Using Windows Defender.

User Account Control

User Account Control asks for your permission before installing software or opening certain kinds of programs that could potentially harm your computer or make it vulnerable to security threats. For more information, see What is User Account Control?

Backup and Restore

It's important to back up your files and settings regularly so that if you get a virus or have any kind of hardware failure, you can recover your files. For more information about backing up your files, search for "back up" in Help and Support.

Windows Update

Set Windows Update to download and install the latest updates for your computer automatically. For more information, see Install Windows updates in Windows 7.

Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall can help prevent hackers and malicious software, such as viruses, from gaining access to your computer through the Internet. For more information, see Windows Firewall: recommended links.

From Microsoft...

Run Outlook as Safe Mode

Run Outlook as Safe Mode


If Outlook worked correctly the last time and nothing has changed about your account configuration, then checking if things work correctly in Safe Mode is a good first step. Starting Outlook in Safe Mode will prevent some or all add-ins from being loaded, prevents several settings files from being loaded and turns off the Reading Pane.

To start Outlook in Safe Mode you’ll need to start Outlook with the “safe” switch;

Ms. Windows XP

    Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

Ms Windows Vista and Windows 7

    Start-> type; outlook.exe /safe

Ms Windows 8

    Start Screen-> type; outlook.exe /safe

(just start typing, a search box will automatically become visible)

When typing, please note the space between outlook.exe and /safe.

Secure Your Windows DNS Server

Setting up DNS Server Security

    By default Windows Server 2008 R2 DNS has an “open relay”, which means that anyone can use your server to make DNS lookups. This is dangerous because it allows something called a “DNS Amplification Attack”.

This is a process where your open relay is used to send bogus data to another server, aiding the hackers process to take it offline.

You don’t want this to happen as not only is it illegal, it can use a lot of bandwidth and it will end up in bandwidth overage invoices.

To prevent this, we need to disable “recursion”. To do this:

    Open the DNS Manager again.
    Right click on your server name in the tree and select “Properties“.

  Select the “Advanced” tab.
    Check the “Disable recursion (also disables forwarders)” checkbox.

   
   
   

- Click “OK”.

Note: There are some instances where recursion is necessary and you may need to leave this enabled. If you have problems, re-enable recursion. This may happen in an Active Directory environment.



That’s it, your domain should now be fully functional! You should ask someone to check it for you that hasn’t accessed it recently. Keep checking it for the next couple of days to make sure it carries on working.

Once confirmed working you can continue to add more domains and/or records in the same fashion as explained on this tutorial. Just remember that should your server go down, your domains do too. For most people this won’t matter too much as sites tend to be hosted on the same server, but just remember this hould you off-load your sites elsewhere but continue to host your name servers.

Installing DNS Server at Windows 2008

Installing Windows DNS Server

       
This tutorial will guide you through setting up Windows DNS Server and adding your first domain so that you can host your own domains name servers.

Requirements:

•     Windows Server 2008/2008 R2
•     2 STATIC internet IP addresses routed to your server (1 will work but it is not recommended, however it MUST be STATIC).
•     A domain that allows it’s name servers to be changed (most registrars support this).
•     Port 53 unblocked on your firewall (and port forwarded on your router if applicable), both TCP and UDP (DNS service).
•     A reliable internet connection is a must. If your connection goes down, so do your domains!
•     Patience.

Optional:

    Basic knowledge of how DNS records function is helpful but not necessary for this tutorial.
    A test domain you can use without risk to your main domain (I recommend you use this one instead of your domain domain when setting up for the first time).

1. Install Windows DNS Server (If it hasn't been installed yet):

    Navigate to Start >> Control Panel >> Administrative Tools and open Server Manager.
    In the tree menu on the left, select Roles.

    In the main window, find the sub-section Roles Summary (it should be at the top) and click Add Roles.
    On the pop-up window, read the security warnings and then select Next.
    Select DNS Server from the list of check box options.

Adding your first domain

•     Navigate to Start>>Administrative Tools and open DNS, the tool for managing your DNS records.
•     You’re now presented with the base (blank) DNS Server configuration.
•     Your server name will be listed on the left. Select “+” to make it expand the tree.
•     Select Forward Lookup Zones and then right click and select New Zone.

Adding your first domain    

•     On the pop up box, select Next.

   
•     Now select Primary Zone (default) and click Next.
•     In the Zone name box, enter your domain name without http:// or www.
•     Select Next and on the next screen select Create a new file with this file name, then Next.
•     On the next screen select Do not allow dynamic updates and select Next.
•     On the final screen, click Finish.

Your domain is now created, we just need to configure it.

 

You will see your domain inside Forward Lookup Zones.

    Select your domain and then double click on the Start of Authority (SOA) record.
    In the pop up box we need to enter the following information:

Serial Number: Enter in the following format YYYYMMDDNN

(YYYY = Current year in 4 digits, MM = Current month in 2 digits, DD = Current day of the month in 2 digits, NN = Increment, so 01 to begin with)

Primary Server: ns1.testforyou.com (replace testforyou.com with your own domain name)

Responsible Person: hostmaster.testforyou.com (replace testforyou.com with your own domain name)

   

    Setting up your domain    

   

    Select the Name Servers tab and remove the existing entry.
    Aelect Add and enter ns1.testforyou.com in the top box (replace testforyou.com with your own domain name).
    Where it has , click it and enter the static IP of your server and click OK. This must be the external IP, not a local network or private IP.
    Repeat the last two steps but use ns2.testforyou.com and your 2nd static IP. Skip this 2nd addition if you only have 1 IP.
    Finally click Apply and then OK to close the window.

We have now set up the domain.



   

    Setting up your domain    

   

On the main window, select where the records are in the white space then press F5 on your keyboard. This will refresh the records and 2 more should appear.

    Now right click and select New Host (A or AAAA).
    Leave name blank and enter the IP you will use to host websites on in IIS into the IP Address box.
    Click Add Host. You should get a confirmation message. Click OK then Done.
     Your domain is now set up to be accessed as “testforyou.com” (without www.)
    Now do the same again but in the Name box, enter www. This sets up the domain so it can be accessed with www. in the URL.
    Repeat the same again for any other records such as ftp, pop, smtp, mail, imap, etc so they can be accessed as {name}.testforyou.com.

Now, if you’re going to want mail to be delivered via your domain, you will need an MX Record.

    In the DNS Manager window for your domain, Right click and select New Mail Exchanger (MX).
    Leave Host or child domain blank and enter your domain name into the Fully qualified domain name box as testforyou.com
    Leave the Mail server priority as 10.
    Click OK and the record will be added.