We all have dozens of passwords floating around in our heads for every computer or machine that we have to deal with. Windows is no exception. The administrator password is very important to remember especially if you are the computer owner and primary operator. Without administrator privileges you may be unable to load programs change system settings, access the internet or access your files. But what if you loose the password. In some cases people forget their user name and the password. Windows creates the administrator password automatically and you can always use the user name “administrator” and the password to login. But if you forget the password, then what?!

 

Ophcrack is the answer to your problem. This tool is a linux tool that can analyze the registry and find passwords for users of a computer. This tool is only successful with Intel hardware and strong passwords it may not be able to crack at all.

 

Offline NT Password and Registry Editor is an alternative tool that will reset the passwords instead of cracking them in the event that Ophcrack can’t crack a tough password.

 

It’s a good idea to read the latest instructions for the file release of the download before using these freeware tools because they have the ability to harm your system if used improperly.

 

Basically you need to download the ISO file to your hard drive then burn a CD from the ISO file, to create the bootable disk. Be aware that burning from an ISO file is not the same as copying the ISO file to a blank cd disk. The burning software must be able to create an IMAGE from the ISO file to the blank disk.

 

 

Installing a printer is pretty easy with Vista or XP.

In XP(Vista is similar):

 

left Click start
left click printers
right click inside window area (or click add printer button)
choose what kind of printer connection usb or network(ethernet)

 

 

If the printer is usb, windows will auto install the correct drivers, if it doesn’t find the correct drivers it will prompt for an installation disk.

 

If a printer is connected to someones computer and you would like access to it. It first needs to be shared by the computer that it is connected to. The printer should be given a share name so it can be found easily. Both computers need to be connected to a network.

 

If the printer is not connected directly to a usb port on your computer but is connected through a LAN (ethernet cable) or wireless. you will need to configure the printers internal NIC card and then configure every computer needing access to this printer. Basically you must configure an IP address for the printer.

 

 

Having Network discovery on in Vista can automate your computer finding a networked printer

 

to enable network discovery:

 

click start
right click network
click properties

 

Under sharing and discovery see that network discovery is ON, click arrow to view extra menu, select turn on network discovery.

 

Using the add printer wizard for network printers

 

 

Windows XP will ask for an address or printer name. Here you should type the static IP address that the printer uses.

 

It may also ask for a port type. Choose a Standard TCP/IP port type.

 

 

 

Windows will begin finding a suitable driver. Or you can just locate the driver from the printers install disk or from a file downloaded from the printer manufacturers website.

 

After installation the wizard will ask if you wish to print a test page to verify that everything works!

 

Windows XP’s remote assistance uses an internet connection to allow a remote user direct access to a problem computer. There are a couple different ways to accomplish this I will cover one way. For Remote Assistance to work you need to allow it to work through your firewall. Windows Firewall has a couple quick check boxes to enable the connection to take place, unless you choose to disable it altogether for now. Also the remote helper has to have his firewall configured to use Remote Assistance on his end.

 

Remote Assistance only works between Vista and XP when the XP user is requesting the assistance.

 

The remote helper can’t be on a XP machine helping a Vista user.

 

Additionally both computers need to enable the remote connections in system properties.
Here are the step by step instructions for creating a request from an XP user machine to a Vista helper machine:

 

click start
click control panel
click System
click Remote tab
(in Vista click Remote Settings)
check the box - Allow Remote Assistance invitations …
(in Vista check Allow Remote Assistance connections…)
click Advanced button
click Allow this computer to be controlled remotely
click ok

 

click start
click Help and Support
under “Ask For assistance”
click Invite a friend to connect with Remote Assistance
click Invite someone to help you
type in the help person’s email address

 

This processes is started by sending an email invitation to the person who you will give access to your pc. You can use Windows Messenger or Outlook from within the Help and Support Center, but you can send this invitation from any outside email program, you would have to save the invitation as a file then attach it to the email.

 

click Invite this person
type your name in the from box
type your message in the message box (example: Please help me!)
click continue

 

You are allowed to specify a time limit for this help request by typing in an expiration time starting when the message is sent from you until the time expires (in minutes hours or days from when the message is sent). If you choose 1 hour for example, the person accepting your request has only 1 hour to respond and make the connection. Then you can require a password be used by the remote person in order to connect to your computer.

 

choose a time limit for the help request
check the box next to - Require the recipient to use a password
type a unique password for this connection
re-type the password for confirmation
click Send Invitation

 

Now you simply wait for the help person to respond to your email. Of course you should be at the computer from where you sent the request and logged in under an administrator account. The remote helper will open your email and the attachment you sent. This will open the remote assistance program on his computer. The remote helper will be asked to enter the password that you the user created for this connection.

 

Helper opens email and attachment

 

 

User will see this box

 

 

The remote helper will then be connected. Once connected the remote helper can see the users computer screen (boxed within the remote desktop program window) just as the user sees it. Once connected the user will see a Remote Assistance chat window.

 

Helper will see this box

 

 

User will see this window

 

 

The two users will be able to chat using the dialog chat boxes in the Remote Assistance windows. From here the remote helper can choose to take control of the users computer. By clicking the Request Control button in the remote users Remote Assistance window. He will be able to control the mouse on the users pc, as well opening programs or typing. It’s recommended that only one person try to control the users mouse at one time. This remote controlling can be stopped at any time by the user or the remote helper (the user may press ESC key to resume local control).

 

Helper see this window

 

 

User will see this box

 

Remote Assistance is a neat program that allows a technician to fix your computer from afar, but if you have internet connection issues or no connection at all this program won’t do you much good. If you are a computer newbie and are unfamiliar with where things are in windows or a particular application is troubling you, this can really help in a fix. Avoiding a computer fix is what I’m all about!

Windows Vista has some cool little features that are worth mentioning even if Vista isn’t all it’s crack up to be. Let’s look at some interesting apps that are worth using.

 

Windows Vista has a small feature that’s an upgrade from the old print screen function- The Snippet Tool

 

You can choose what parts of your screen image you want to copy and paste or save.

 

Click start
Click programs
Click accessories
Click Snipping Tool

 

 

Get cool stuff on the sidebar

 

Windows Vista has a sidebar tool that allows you to put Rss feeds from the internet or snippets of info or content right onto your desktop via the included sidebar tool.

 

Click Start
Click Programs
Click Accessories
Click Windows SideBar

 

 

Vista offers Remote Desktop Connection

 

Vista has Remote Desktop Connection option right from programs, accessories menus. This allows you to access your work computer from your home computer, for instance. Not to be confused with Remote Desktop Assistance, Remote Desktop Connection has to be allowed the in the pc’s firewall options and you must be connecting to a Vista system that isn’t Vista Home, Vista Starter etc. (must be the upper tier of the Vista Family i.e. Vista Enterprise or Ultimate)

 

Click Start
Click Programs
Click Accessories
Click Remote Desktop Connection

 

 

Now you can see how Vista rates your hardware

 

The Performance Information and Tools Menu. Gives a rating from 1 to 5 of the performance rating of system hardware like memory and video card.

 

Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click Performance Information and Tools

 

 

Tired of typing? Talk to your computer

 

Speech recognition is a tool that allows you to give voice commands to the computer. Instead of typing words into Microsoft Word you can just dictate by voice. There is a learning curve that the computer must overcome but it’s a clever feature once you get used to it and train it sufficiently.

 

Click Start
Click Programs
Click Accessories
Click Ease of Access

 

There are other noteworthy apps but these are some of my favorites!