Want to get the cheapest gas prices in you area. Sign up for Mobgas and get text messages for gas in your area.
6/18/08
6/17/08
Firefox 3.0 is Here
It's here and it's going to revolutionize the way we browse the internet. So if your getting kicked out of other sites trying to download Mozilla Firefox 3.0, give this link a try.
6/16/08
Adobe 9
Adobe just released it's new version 9 with new improvements to it's reader. Upgrading is mostly a user preference, but I still see any reason going to version 9 if you don't use acrobat that often.
6/15/08
Metro PCS bring other carriers
If you have a cell phone and want to switch over to MetroPCS here is great news for you. In some cases you can still use your regular cell phone, when joining up with the MetroPCS service. The new service is an open door for other cell phone carriers to do the same.
6/14/08
Get 42 Gig on a DVD
The concept and idea is here it's just a matter of time before they figure out how a dvd and blue ray player can read these special formated DVD's.
6/13/08
Solar TV
If you are thinking green this year you might be interested to know that solar television has now arrived. The launch date is years to come, but it is nice to know that someone is thinking solar energy.
6/12/08
Zipcar
This is a new concept in car rentals in which you need not to rent a car for a day. With Zipcar you rent the vechicle per hour instead of per day. That way if you only need a car for a specific number of hours, your money doesn't go to waste. Give it a try if renting a car per hour is for you.
6/11/08
My Gallons
Here is a new website to help you save money on gas. Most fuel companies give you rebates and other perks for gasoline purchases. This company let's you prepay gasoline at today's current gas price to be used at a later date. You then use their prepaid debit card at their 200,000 gasoline locations and fill up your gas tank. When your debit card runs out of cash you refill it again. It's that simple.
6/10/08
Magic Jelly Bean key finder
This software usually comes up as spyware or a virus because Microsoft doesn't want you to have this great utility that can save you money. If you have a license and want to say the key. This software will help you to do this.
6/9/08
Glass Keyboard
If your in the market for a new keyboard, then you need to look at this new glass design keyboard. Just be careful you don't break it.
6/8/08
iPhone 3G cost only $100 to Manufacture
Apple has made major improvements to it's iPhone 3G and it costs half of what the first generation iPhone was valued at. I just hope that Apple will get reasonable to lower it's price.
6/7/08
10000 Free Legal Albums
It looks like the record industry is giving in and changing their ways of doing business. Right now as it's illegal to download music unless the record labels makes it free and legal. For now everyone has to just wait until that day comes. Enjoy your free downloads.
6/6/08
6/5/08
Change the Product key in XP
As it appears in TechRepulic.com
For most Microsoft Windows XP installs, you’ll never need to worry about the validity of the product key assigned to your copy of the OS. However, software does tend to get installed without authorization, even in the most carefully managed shops, and so from time to time you may need to reset the Windows XP product key.
For example, perhaps a user installed a pirated copy of XP but now wants to go legal. Maybe you’ve been hired by an organization that installed 100 pirated copies of XP but now has a legitimate volume-licensing key (VLK). Perhaps an end user purchased an additional retail license for XP but needs to use his original CD to install the software. When situations like these arise, changing XP’s product key is often the most practical-or only-solution.
Determining if you have a valid product IDHopefully you already know if you’re dealing with a pirated copy of XP. But if you’re unsure, a quick way to tell is to install Service Pack 1. Shortly after releasing Windows XP, Microsoft realized that most pirated XP installations were using two specific VLKs, the most popular of which begins with “FCKGW.” These VLKs produce product IDs that match either XXXXX-640-0000356-23XXX or XXXXX-640-2001765-23XXX, where X is any number.
If you try to install SP1 and get the following error message:
The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid. Please contact your system administrator or retailer immediately to obtain a valid Product Key…”
You are dealing with a pirated copy of Windows. For more information about obtaining a valid product key, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 326904.
You can also directly check the operating system’s product ID by right-clicking on My Computer, clicking Properties, and selecting the General tab. The machine’s product ID will be located under the Registered To section. If the ID matches either of the two models commonly associated with VLK fraud, you’ll need to obtain a valid XP product key before proceeding. None of the procedures described below will work without a legitimate product key.
Two methods of changing Windows XP’s product keyYou can change a Windows XP installation’s product key either by editing the registry or by using one of two Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts. The registry editing method is outlined in Knowledge Base articles 321636 and 328874 and works on Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Corporate Edition.
The script method is outlined in article 328874 and is designed to work on Corporate Edition installations that use a VLK and do not require activation. It may work on a Home or Professional installation, but I have not tested this scenario.
The script method is the practical solution for changing the product keys on a large number of machines. Regardless of the method you choose, make sure to backup important data before changing a product ID, since an unexpected problem could render the machine unbootable and necessitate a complete reinstallation of Windows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning
The following instructions involve editing your system registry. Using the Windows Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that require the reinstallation of your operating system and possible loss of data. TechRepublic does not support problems that arise from editing your registry. Use the Registry Editor and the following directions at your own risk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editing the registryBegin by opening the Registry Editor and navigating to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrent VersionWPAEventsIn the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows.
Now, it’s time to reactivate Windows using your new product key. Click Start | Run and enter the command:
%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe /awhere %systemroot% is your Windows directory. In many cases, this command will look like:
C:windowssystem32oobemsoobe.exe /aAt this point, Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard.
Figure A
Product Activation Wizard
Select the option to telephone a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows, as shown in Figure A, and click Next. Now, select the Change Product Key option and enter your new product key as shown in Figure B. Finally, click Update and close the window. If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the Remind Me Later option. When the wizard is finished, reboot the system.
Figure B
Enter new product key
When Windows reboots, your next step will depend on which Windows XP version you are using. If you have XP Home or Professional, you’ll be prompted to reactivate your copy of Windows through the normal activation process. If you have XP Corporate, no activation is required and your machine should have a valid product ID. You can verify this by running the %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a command again. When the wizard loads this time, you should see a message indicating that your copy of Windows has already been activated.
Using a WMI scriptAlthough the registry editing process is effective, it can be tedious and impractical if you need to change the product key on more than a few machines. So Microsoft provides two WMI scripts, one for XP machines with SP1 and one for XP machines without SP1.
View the code for the WMI script, ChangeVLKey2600.vbs, designed for use on XP machines without SP1.
View the code for the WMI script, ChangeVLKeySP1.vbs, for XP machines with SP1 already installed.
Copy the appropriate script’s code into a text file and save it as either ChangeVLKey2600.vbs or ChangeVLKeySP1.vbs. The scripts can act in conjunction with a valid product key as part of a login script to change the product ID on multiple machines. You can also execute the script from the command line to change the key on a single computer.
For example, if you wanted to change the product key on an XP machine without SP1 and had already saved the script to root directory on the C: drive, you would click Start | Run and enter the following command:
C:changevlkey2600.vbs xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxOf course, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx in this scenario is a valid product key.
The script should take only a few seconds to run and won’t prompt you for further action unless there’s a problem, such as an invalid product key. As with the registry editing method, you can verify that Windows is now using a valid product key by running the command:
%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe.exe /aThe Product Activation Wizard will load and should tell you that your copy of Windows has already been activated.
For most Microsoft Windows XP installs, you’ll never need to worry about the validity of the product key assigned to your copy of the OS. However, software does tend to get installed without authorization, even in the most carefully managed shops, and so from time to time you may need to reset the Windows XP product key.
For example, perhaps a user installed a pirated copy of XP but now wants to go legal. Maybe you’ve been hired by an organization that installed 100 pirated copies of XP but now has a legitimate volume-licensing key (VLK). Perhaps an end user purchased an additional retail license for XP but needs to use his original CD to install the software. When situations like these arise, changing XP’s product key is often the most practical-or only-solution.
Determining if you have a valid product IDHopefully you already know if you’re dealing with a pirated copy of XP. But if you’re unsure, a quick way to tell is to install Service Pack 1. Shortly after releasing Windows XP, Microsoft realized that most pirated XP installations were using two specific VLKs, the most popular of which begins with “FCKGW.” These VLKs produce product IDs that match either XXXXX-640-0000356-23XXX or XXXXX-640-2001765-23XXX, where X is any number.
If you try to install SP1 and get the following error message:
The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid. Please contact your system administrator or retailer immediately to obtain a valid Product Key…”
You are dealing with a pirated copy of Windows. For more information about obtaining a valid product key, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 326904.
You can also directly check the operating system’s product ID by right-clicking on My Computer, clicking Properties, and selecting the General tab. The machine’s product ID will be located under the Registered To section. If the ID matches either of the two models commonly associated with VLK fraud, you’ll need to obtain a valid XP product key before proceeding. None of the procedures described below will work without a legitimate product key.
Two methods of changing Windows XP’s product keyYou can change a Windows XP installation’s product key either by editing the registry or by using one of two Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts. The registry editing method is outlined in Knowledge Base articles 321636 and 328874 and works on Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Corporate Edition.
The script method is outlined in article 328874 and is designed to work on Corporate Edition installations that use a VLK and do not require activation. It may work on a Home or Professional installation, but I have not tested this scenario.
The script method is the practical solution for changing the product keys on a large number of machines. Regardless of the method you choose, make sure to backup important data before changing a product ID, since an unexpected problem could render the machine unbootable and necessitate a complete reinstallation of Windows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning
The following instructions involve editing your system registry. Using the Windows Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that require the reinstallation of your operating system and possible loss of data. TechRepublic does not support problems that arise from editing your registry. Use the Registry Editor and the following directions at your own risk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editing the registryBegin by opening the Registry Editor and navigating to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrent VersionWPAEventsIn the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows.
Now, it’s time to reactivate Windows using your new product key. Click Start | Run and enter the command:
%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe /awhere %systemroot% is your Windows directory. In many cases, this command will look like:
C:windowssystem32oobemsoobe.exe /aAt this point, Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard.
Figure A
Product Activation Wizard
Select the option to telephone a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows, as shown in Figure A, and click Next. Now, select the Change Product Key option and enter your new product key as shown in Figure B. Finally, click Update and close the window. If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the Remind Me Later option. When the wizard is finished, reboot the system.
Figure B
Enter new product key
When Windows reboots, your next step will depend on which Windows XP version you are using. If you have XP Home or Professional, you’ll be prompted to reactivate your copy of Windows through the normal activation process. If you have XP Corporate, no activation is required and your machine should have a valid product ID. You can verify this by running the %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a command again. When the wizard loads this time, you should see a message indicating that your copy of Windows has already been activated.
Using a WMI scriptAlthough the registry editing process is effective, it can be tedious and impractical if you need to change the product key on more than a few machines. So Microsoft provides two WMI scripts, one for XP machines with SP1 and one for XP machines without SP1.
View the code for the WMI script, ChangeVLKey2600.vbs, designed for use on XP machines without SP1.
View the code for the WMI script, ChangeVLKeySP1.vbs, for XP machines with SP1 already installed.
Copy the appropriate script’s code into a text file and save it as either ChangeVLKey2600.vbs or ChangeVLKeySP1.vbs. The scripts can act in conjunction with a valid product key as part of a login script to change the product ID on multiple machines. You can also execute the script from the command line to change the key on a single computer.
For example, if you wanted to change the product key on an XP machine without SP1 and had already saved the script to root directory on the C: drive, you would click Start | Run and enter the following command:
C:changevlkey2600.vbs xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxOf course, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx in this scenario is a valid product key.
The script should take only a few seconds to run and won’t prompt you for further action unless there’s a problem, such as an invalid product key. As with the registry editing method, you can verify that Windows is now using a valid product key by running the command:
%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe.exe /aThe Product Activation Wizard will load and should tell you that your copy of Windows has already been activated.
6/4/08
Clock Watch
Here is a neat Clock Sync software for your computer when you need to have your time in constant sync. This will save you time from constantly resetting your computer or server to keep the accurate time daily.
6/3/08
How to install programs in Vista without UAC
I am one of many user's who hate that annoying UAC prompt to install a program in Vista. The idea is good, but there should be a better way on installing updates with programs that you already have on your computer.
Try This little hack to keep UAC from popping up when doing updates.
Try This little hack to keep UAC from popping up when doing updates.
6/2/08
Wireless Router Upgrade
If you have an old router, here's a great upgrade to boost it's signal, if your willing to risk it all.
Yes, the manufacture will void this upgrade. But if you do it correctly, then your router will gain more on what it currently has now.
Yes, the manufacture will void this upgrade. But if you do it correctly, then your router will gain more on what it currently has now.
6/1/08
Block Cell Phone Spam
It's just going to get worse when it comes to cell phone spam. In the meantime if the spam is coming from an email account, here is how you can stop it for now.
5/31/08
Totlol * Fun *
The online video website for children of all ages that's monitored by parents. You'll be amazed on how many fun and hilarious videos are on this website.
My Favorite
My Favorite
5/30/08
Firefox Mobile
It's an amazing new browser for mobile phones that's similar to the iPhone. One can now have various functions with a single touch.
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