this seems so simple, yet 47% of all of my backgrounds came from this
wikipedia, as you know, has many images on their site. recently a new page called the featured pictures page has popped up that just gives away images
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_pictures
just brows around and you'll find a great image to set as your background.
dont worry if your desktop has a big background... mine is 1280 X 1024 and i still found images big enough - some larger.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
How To Get System Access from the Guest Accout
this is a nifty trick that i found on the net at one point. if you know where i found it please drop me a link, because i forgot where it came from. with this you will be able to run programs as SYSTEM which is higher than administrator, the equivalent of root. if ANY of these steps dont work on the guest account you wont be able to get system.
this is a more of a step-by-stem thing so they will be numbered.
1.) open a command prompt.
go to start > run and type "cmd" without the quotes
2.) in the black box type "at (one minute from now) /INTERACTIVE cmd.exe"
this will start a command prompt with system privileges
3.) now close that first command prompt press CTRL+ALT+DEL
4.) click the processes tab near the top, and press e until explorer.exe is highlighted in the box below
5.) click end process ( your desktop and open files will disappear)
dont close the task manager, thats our life line if something goes wrong.
6.)when the new block box appears type "explorer.exe"
7.) the gui will appear again but now when you look in the start menu, you are logged in as system
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
this is a more of a step-by-stem thing so they will be numbered.
1.) open a command prompt.
go to start > run and type "cmd" without the quotes
2.) in the black box type "at (one minute from now) /INTERACTIVE cmd.exe"
this will start a command prompt with system privileges
3.) now close that first command prompt press CTRL+ALT+DEL
4.) click the processes tab near the top, and press e until explorer.exe is highlighted in the box below
5.) click end process ( your desktop and open files will disappear)
dont close the task manager, thats our life line if something goes wrong.
6.)when the new block box appears type "explorer.exe"
7.) the gui will appear again but now when you look in the start menu, you are logged in as system
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
Sunday, April 15, 2007
How To Burn an iso Image
iso images are useful for many things. the two most common uses (that I know of) are making linux (and bsd and unix) cd's and for "warez" or illegal software from off the net. I will only be talking about the linux cd's. to burn the iso you will need a cd or dvd burner, a program to burn the iso, and the iso itself. first off, if your burner is external it will probably come with some software that will let you burn it. if your buner came built inot the computer there might be some software that cam with it. if there was not, you will need to get a new burner. (it is worth noting that MS's cd burner doen't do iso's). i would reccomend infra recorder for the usual reasons (open source, and free). you can download infra recorder here. go ahead and install your burner if you haven't already, and run it. put in your BLANK cd and kill off any attempts by autorun to make you use microsofts stuff. then if you are using infra recorder goto actions > burn image.
(thanks to the ubuntu website for this image)
in any other burner it will be something similar.
then find your iso which will be wherever you saved it, and hit ok/burn/GO!
wait a bit and your done!
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
(thanks to the ubuntu website for this image)in any other burner it will be something similar.
then find your iso which will be wherever you saved it, and hit ok/burn/GO!
wait a bit and your done!
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
Saturday, April 14, 2007
How To Get an MD5 Sum
MD5 sums - also known as hashes - are very basic levels of protection.
they ensure that the new program you just downloaded is the real one, and not something else - like a virus - that someone posted on the web site.
say you just downloaded the latest version of ubuntu. you pop a cd into your drive, burn it on, and boot it up. but something is wrong its not booting linux, it's killing your computer! what did you forget to do? check the MD5 sum.
so how do you get the MD5 sum? It's very easy. on the website, usually in the download area it will have some text that says
MD5:fb3af44c21f1f68cc25fda7edb8c1bd3
(the ubuntu 6.06.1 hash)
or a link to the md5 sum
next, download the file but DON'T run it.
instead, calculate its MD5
to do this you will need and MD5 calculator.
an MD5 calculator is a program that calculates the MD5 hash of a file on your computer. then you can compare it to the one you got off the net.
I recommend MD5 summer because its free open source, and a stand alone.
I will now explain how get MD5's from MD5 summer.
1.) download MD5 summer here
2.) extract the file
3.)run it
it will ask you if you want to associate *.md5 with md5 summer
4.) select no
5.)in the browser window, find the folder that your ubuntu iso is in
6.)click create sums. select your ubuntu iso, and click ok
7.)same the file as md5summer.TXT this is very important step if you have trouble with computers. it makes it easy to read.
8.) look at the sum on the website, and look at the sum in the file. if they match, then you have a real copy.
it seems like a lot of trouble to go through, but this can save you from malware and other bad things.
if you have another md5 summer that you think works better, drop me a link
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
they ensure that the new program you just downloaded is the real one, and not something else - like a virus - that someone posted on the web site.
say you just downloaded the latest version of ubuntu. you pop a cd into your drive, burn it on, and boot it up. but something is wrong its not booting linux, it's killing your computer! what did you forget to do? check the MD5 sum.
so how do you get the MD5 sum? It's very easy. on the website, usually in the download area it will have some text that says
MD5:fb3af44c21f1f68cc25fda7edb8c1bd3
(the ubuntu 6.06.1 hash)
or a link to the md5 sum
next, download the file but DON'T run it.
instead, calculate its MD5
to do this you will need and MD5 calculator.
an MD5 calculator is a program that calculates the MD5 hash of a file on your computer. then you can compare it to the one you got off the net.
I recommend MD5 summer because its free open source, and a stand alone.
I will now explain how get MD5's from MD5 summer.
1.) download MD5 summer here
2.) extract the file
3.)run it
it will ask you if you want to associate *.md5 with md5 summer
4.) select no
5.)in the browser window, find the folder that your ubuntu iso is in
6.)click create sums. select your ubuntu iso, and click ok
7.)same the file as md5summer.TXT this is very important step if you have trouble with computers. it makes it easy to read.
8.) look at the sum on the website, and look at the sum in the file. if they match, then you have a real copy.
it seems like a lot of trouble to go through, but this can save you from malware and other bad things.
if you have another md5 summer that you think works better, drop me a link
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
Friday, April 13, 2007
hosting a simple web server
hosting a web server can be useful for many things. if you want to give someone a HUGE file like 4 gigs, you can start a web server and they can download it.
before we begin, if you are behind a router, you will need to forward port 80 (the http port)
see port forwarding
now that you have port 80 open it's time to get a program to host your files.
apache is the most popular web server, but this time I will be talking about HFS because it is very simple and easy to run.
I like HFS because it is a stand alone, open source, free, and packed with features
so go ahead and download that and run it.
you should see a window that looks like this
click on menu > self test
it will tell you about routers yada yada yada
click ok
if everything, port forwarding ect. is set up, you now have a running web server!
now for adding files...
there are 2 methods.
1.) drag n' drop
this doesn't really need an explanation
2.) real folders
if you have a folder on your hard drive that you want to share try using the real folders whatzit
its kinda like drag n' drop but when it asks you about it, just say real folder.
real folder have 2 advantages over virtual folders.
1.)faster. HFS has an easier time loadin' them this is good if you have 210 backgrounds that you are sharing with friends.
2.)upload-compatable.
thats one of the great things about hfs, it how it supports uploads.
now if you are on the road and you... go into a mac store and make a kickass song with garage band, you can upload it to your home computer.
but wait... what if someone else finds my server and puts a virus on my computer?
good question!
its not a problem. HFS supports passwords on specific files. that means that you can make one file that only you can see and upload to, or you could make one that only you can upload to but others can see. any thing is possible here's how to do the latter
in hfs, right click on the file that you want to alow uploading in.
then go to upload>upload for accounts> and the username.
this will be kinda hard if you haven't made a user name yet. to do so just click on new account
and fill in the boxes
thats really All you need to know
if you have anything else that you want to know about this, leave a comment
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
before we begin, if you are behind a router, you will need to forward port 80 (the http port)
see port forwarding
now that you have port 80 open it's time to get a program to host your files.
apache is the most popular web server, but this time I will be talking about HFS because it is very simple and easy to run.
I like HFS because it is a stand alone, open source, free, and packed with features
so go ahead and download that and run it.
you should see a window that looks like this
click on menu > self test
it will tell you about routers yada yada yada
click ok
if everything, port forwarding ect. is set up, you now have a running web server!
now for adding files...
there are 2 methods.
1.) drag n' drop
this doesn't really need an explanation
2.) real folders
if you have a folder on your hard drive that you want to share try using the real folders whatzit
its kinda like drag n' drop but when it asks you about it, just say real folder.
real folder have 2 advantages over virtual folders.
1.)faster. HFS has an easier time loadin' them this is good if you have 210 backgrounds that you are sharing with friends.
2.)upload-compatable.
thats one of the great things about hfs, it how it supports uploads.
now if you are on the road and you... go into a mac store and make a kickass song with garage band, you can upload it to your home computer.
but wait... what if someone else finds my server and puts a virus on my computer?
good question!
its not a problem. HFS supports passwords on specific files. that means that you can make one file that only you can see and upload to, or you could make one that only you can upload to but others can see. any thing is possible here's how to do the latter
in hfs, right click on the file that you want to alow uploading in.
then go to upload>upload for accounts> and the username.
this will be kinda hard if you haven't made a user name yet. to do so just click on new account
and fill in the boxes
thats really All you need to know
if you have anything else that you want to know about this, leave a comment
questions?
pointers?
typos?
death threats? (depreciated)
leave a comment
Thursday, April 12, 2007
port forwarding
port forwarding is one of the many useful things that you will want to know for doing anything hosting related. from http to ftp to ssh you will need port forwarding.
except if you don't use a router... then you don't...
anyway, to begin, you need to find your router's ip address. assuming that your router also works a a DHCP server, (and almost all do) this is very easy.
first go to the command prompt (start>run> type"cmd")
a black window should come up
then in the black window, type "ipconfig" and press enter
look down to where it says "Default Gateway" and copy the address. it is usually something like
192.168.1.1
now that you know the ip address it is time to connect. if you know what kind of router you have, you can look it up on the help files on the vendors website or you could just look here
once you find the username and password its actualy time to connect. open up your web browser, and point it to http://(whatever the router ip is) and hit enter
you should be asked for a username and password. enter the one you found. if it didnt work you or someone else who uses your router might have changed the password, or you just found the wrong one.
once you get in look around for where it says forwarding, or applications and gaming. click on it.
you should see something like this
you can see that i already have some things forwarded, my webcam and my server.
for this to work you will need to know your computers ip. if you dont know it, open up that command prompt, and type ipconfig again. look where it says ip address, that is your ip address.
back on the website, enter your ip what you are running on what port and weather it uses tcp, udp, or both and hit save.
congrats! thats how to port forward.
except if you don't use a router... then you don't...
anyway, to begin, you need to find your router's ip address. assuming that your router also works a a DHCP server, (and almost all do) this is very easy.
first go to the command prompt (start>run> type"cmd")
a black window should come up
then in the black window, type "ipconfig" and press enter
look down to where it says "Default Gateway" and copy the address. it is usually something like
192.168.1.1
now that you know the ip address it is time to connect. if you know what kind of router you have, you can look it up on the help files on the vendors website or you could just look here
once you find the username and password its actualy time to connect. open up your web browser, and point it to http://(whatever the router ip is) and hit enter
you should be asked for a username and password. enter the one you found. if it didnt work you or someone else who uses your router might have changed the password, or you just found the wrong one.
once you get in look around for where it says forwarding, or applications and gaming. click on it.
you should see something like this
you can see that i already have some things forwarded, my webcam and my server.
for this to work you will need to know your computers ip. if you dont know it, open up that command prompt, and type ipconfig again. look where it says ip address, that is your ip address.
back on the website, enter your ip what you are running on what port and weather it uses tcp, udp, or both and hit save.
congrats! thats how to port forward.
John's how-to's
Welcome to John's how-to's
this blog will consist of various tutorials mainly for computer things, but some other.
this blog will consist of various tutorials mainly for computer things, but some other.
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