Category: Microsoft

XP Run commands

Here’s a list of commands you can run from the XP Run command prompt.  Enjoy!

Accessibility Controls

<font size="2">access.cpl</font>

Add Hardware Wizard

<font size="2">hdwwiz.cpl</font>

Add/Remove Programs

<font size="2">appwiz.cpl</font>

Administrative Tools

<font size="2">certmgr.msc</font>

Character Map

<font size="2">charmap</font>

Check Disk Utility

<font size="2">chkdsk</font>

Clipboard Viewer

<font size="2">clipbrd</font>

Command Prompt

<font size="2">cmd</font>

Component Services

<font size="2">dcomcnfg</font>

Computer Management

<font size="2">compmgmt.msc</font>

Date and Time Properties

<font size="2">timedate.cpl</font>

DDE Shares

<font size="2">ddeshare</font>

Device Manager

<font size="2">devmgmt.msc</font>

Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)

<font size="2">directx.cpl</font>

Direct X Troubleshooter

<font size="2">dxdiag</font>

Disk Cleanup Utility

<font size="2">cleanmgr</font>

Disk Defragment

<font size="2">dfrg.msc</font>

Disk Management

<font size="2">diskmgmt.msc</font>

Disk Partition Manager

<font size="2">diskpart</font>

Display Properties

<font size="2">control desktop</font>

Display Properties

<font size="2">desk.cpl</font>

Display Properties (with Appearance Tab Preselected)

<font size="2">control color</font>

Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility

<font size="2">drwtsn32</font>

Driver Verifier Utility

<font size="2">verifier</font>

Event Viewer

<font size="2">eventvwr.msc</font>

File Signature Verification Tool

<font size="2">sigverif</font>

Findfast

<font size="2">findfast.cpl</font>

Folders Properties

<font size="2">control folders</font>

Fonts

<font size="2">control fonts</font>

Fonts Folder

<font size="2">fonts</font>

Free Cell Card Game

<font size="2">freecell</font>

Game Controllers

<font size="2">joy.cpl</font>

Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)

<font size="2">gpedit.msc</font>

Hearts Card Game

<font size="2">mshearts</font>

Iexpress Wizard

<font size="2">iexpress</font>

Indexing Service

<font size="2">ciadv.msc</font>

Internet Properties

<font size="2">inetcpl.cpl</font>

IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration)

<font size="2">ipconfig /all</font>

IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents)

<font size="2">ipconfig /displaydns</font>

IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents)

<font size="2">ipconfig /flushdns</font>

IP Configuration (Release All Connections)

<font size="2">ipconfig /release</font>

IP Configuration (Renew All Connections)

<font size="2">ipconfig /renew</font>

IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS)

<font size="2">ipconfig /registerdns</font>

IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID)

<font size="2">ipconfig /showclassid</font>

IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID)

<font size="2">ipconfig /setclassid</font>

Java Control Panel (If Installed)

<font size="2">javaws</font>

Keyboard Properties

<font size="2">control keyboard</font>

Local Security Settings

<font size="2">secpol.msc</font>

Local Users and Groups

<font size="2">lusrmgr.msc</font>

Logs You Out Of Windows

<font size="2">logoff</font>

Microsoft Chat

<font size="2">winchat</font>

Minesweeper Game

<font size="2">winmine</font>

Mouse Properties

<font size="2">control mouse</font>

Mouse Properties

<font size="2">main.cpl</font>

Netstat

<font size="2">netstat&nbsp;</font>

Network Connections

<font size="2">control netconnections</font>

Network Connections

<font size="2">ncpa.cpl</font>

Network Setup Wizard

<font size="2">netsetup.cpl</font>

Notepad

<font size="2">notepad</font>

Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed)

<font size="2">nvtuicpl.cpl</font>

Object Packager

<font size="2">packager</font>

ODBC Data Source Administrator

<font size="2">odbccp32.cpl</font>

On Screen Keyboard

<font size="2">osk</font>

Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed)

<font size="2">ac3filter.cpl</font>

Password Properties

<font size="2">password.cpl</font>

Performance Monitor

<font size="2">perfmon.msc</font>

Performance Monitor

<font size="2">perfmon</font>

Phone and Modem Options

<font size="2">telephon.cpl</font>

Power Configuration

<font size="2">powercfg.cpl</font>

Printers and Faxes

<font size="2">control printers</font>

Printers Folder

<font size="2">printers</font>

Private Character Editor

<font size="2">eudcedit</font>

Quicktime (If Installed)

<font size="2">QuickTime.cpl</font>

Regional Settings

<font size="2">intl.cpl</font>

Registry Editor

<font size="2">regedit</font>

Remote Desktop

<font size="2">mstsc</font>

Removable Storage

<font size="2">ntmsmgr.msc</font>

Removable Storage Operator Requests

<font size="2">ntmsoprq.msc</font>

Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof)

<font size="2">rsop.msc</font>

Scanners and Cameras

<font size="2">sticpl.cpl</font>

Scheduled Tasks

<font size="2">control schedtasks</font>

Security Center

<font size="2">wscui.cpl</font>

Services

<font size="2">services.msc</font>

Shared Folders

<font size="2">fsmgmt.msc</font>

Shuts Down Windows

<font size="2">shutdown</font>

Sounds and Audio

<font size="2">mmsys.cpl</font>

Spider Solitare Card Game

<font size="2">spider</font>

SQL Client Configuration

<font size="2">cliconfg</font>

System Configuration Editor

<font size="2">sysedit</font>

System Configuration Utility

<font size="2">msconfig</font>

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)

<font size="2">sfc /scannow</font>

System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)

<font size="2">sfc /scanonce</font>

System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)

<font size="2">sfc /scanboot</font>

System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting)

<font size="2">sfc /revert</font>

System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache)

<font size="2">sfc /purgecache</font>

System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x)

<font size="2">sfc /cachesize=x</font>

System Properties

<font size="2">sysdm.cpl</font>

Task Manager

<font size="2">taskmgr</font>

Telnet Client

<font size="2">telnet</font>

Traceroute 

<font size="2">tracert &lt;hostname or IP&gt;</font>

User Account Management

<font size="2">nusrmgr.cpl</font>

Utility Manager

<font size="2">utilman</font>

Windows Firewall

<font size="2">firewall.cpl</font>

Windows Magnifier

<font size="2">magnify</font>

Windows Management Infrastructure

<font size="2">wmimgmt.msc</font>

Windows System Security Tool

<font size="2">syskey</font>

Windows Update Launches

<font size="2">wupdmgr</font>

Windows XP Tour Wizard

<font size="2">tourstart</font>

Wordpad

<font size="2">write</font>

Safari browser in Windows

Apple has finally released a version of Mac Safari that runs on Windows. The look and feel emulates the OS X version pretty good; however, I’ve given up on it [and back to using Firefox]. There’s a lot of bugs that need to be fixed! For example, on dual LCD Safari will not maximize on the secondary monitor; I also get weird errors when viewing the Black Hat website; it seems too sluggish just like iTunes [on Windows].

Here’s a screenshot:

Understandably, it’s still in beta and can be excused…but thanks to Google, beta has pretty much lost its meaning these days… 😉

What to check when encountering Exchange user name and password errors

A C# web app I’m developing requires pulling (and deleting already read e-mails) from an Exchange 2003 server.  I used the POP3 code that I actually shared/posted about yesterday; however, I was getting this error, though I had the correct user name and password:

-ERR Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password.

It was getting to be very annoying, so I googled for any answers and found out that setting up an Exchange alias was (sort of like) a requirement to get the issue resolved.

Here were the questions and needed settings I had to check on the Exchange 2003 server:

  • Do the accounts have an email address, i.e., username@ad_domain?
  • Do the accounts have the POP3/IMAP protocols enabled?  They can be set to on or off on a per-account basis – default is on?
  • Are the Exchange Alias and account user name the same for all accounts?

I had bullet’s #1 and #2 set – but not bullet #3!

So if all else fails, check that setting out if you encounter POP3/IMAP user name/password errors.  =0)

Get rid of those pesky Windows startup programs

Numerous companies over the years have joined the computer-industry bandwagon and have added their own quick launch and/or startup shortcuts of their applications in Windows.  

Though their intent is good, it most of the time results in system slowdowns and user unproductivity.  What happens is system resources, i.e., memory, are used unnecessarily that could otherwise be used in some other, more efficient, way like playing graphic-intensive games.  =0)

So in this post, I’ll show you techniques I implement to get rid of the pesky startup programs.

  1. Startup folder – Check what’s in this folder; anything in here “starts up” whenever Windows boots. 
    1. In Windows XP, simply right-click the Start button and go to Explore All Users.  Note: You must be an administrator to do this.
    2. Then go to Programs > Startup.
    3. Delete or move out the applications that you believe you don’t need, since these are normally shortcuts to the actual application only. 
  2. MSConfig – This built-in Windows boot configuration utility allows you to modify what programs should startup, edit configuration files, and modify Windows Services. 
    1. To access, go to Run.
    2. Type msconfig then OK.
    3. In this post, we only want to modify anything/everything only in the Startup tab.
    4. So navigate to the Start tab and uncheck what you don’t need.  Again, search Google to find out if it’s needed.
  3. Windows Registry‘s RUN subfolder – Some programs add their executable in here too.  You only want to go in here if the MSConfig steps above don’t resolve your problem.  Be warned that modifying the registry is not recommended unless you know what you are doing.
    1. To access, go to Run like step #1 in MSConfig.
    2. Type regedit then OK.
    3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Run.
    4. Before deleting anything in here, search Google to make sure you don’t need it.  Also, backup the whole Run subfolder just in case.
  4. Preferences or Properties of the app – If all else fails, you can access and disable the system startup options through the application itself; for example, Yahoo! Messenger.
    1. Login into Yahoo! Messenger.
    2. Then go to Messenger > Preferences > General.
    3. Uncheck the Automatically start Yahoo! Messenger option, which is under When I start up my computer.

That’s pretty much it.  There are tools out there that you can also use, but I’d rather try the steps above first, as they might install their own quick launch or startup to their program themselves.  =0)

Where’s the disk monitoring?

I was doing research on a development project I’m currently working on and encountered this error on a developer-resource website (anonymous to prevent any legal action):

Fig. 1.1 – ASP.NET 2.0 Error: Not enough disk space

ASP.NET 2.0 error

Googling for “disk monitoring tools” came up with a TON of results. The lesson to learn from this:

Monitor the back and frontend servers that is the bedrock and foundation of your website/business.

Use systems like MOM (if a Windows shop), Nagios for open-source, or if unsure try external monitoring providers.

I personally use mon.itor.us. It’s still in beta, but it’s free and easy to use.