Disable USB devices on a Network

Interesting to know how many users in a company can infect a network by attaching a USB device. The risk has been out for a while and even though you can apply this fix. It still doesn't guarantee that it will work all the time.

with Compliments to www.howtodothings.com


Click Start Menu > go to run command and type "regedit" without quotes. Registry Editor will open.
Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder then SYSTEM >CURRENT CONTROLL SET > SERVICES >USBstor, located at the left pane.
Find "Start" in the right pane with the blue icon.
Double click "Start". A box titled "Edit DWORD value" will open.
Write down "4" in the "Value Data" Field. Illustration 1.1
Click OK and then close the Registry Editor.

Your USB flash drive is now disabled. Whenever you insert a flash drive, Windows won't detect it and will not open it.

To enable it again, repeat steps 1 through 4 and then change the value to 3. The default value for enabling a USB flash drive is 3.

Note: Performing this trick will only Disable USB Mass Storage devices and will not affect other USB Devices such as USB Keyboard, USB Mouse, Scanner, Printer etc....always backup your registry to prevent losing your valuable data.

Pay As You Go Broadband

Virgin mobile now gives you Pay As You Go Broadband with no contract. Any user can easily download at 100mb, 200mb, 500mb or 1gig with prices as $10,$20,$40 and $60. Who can't go wrong to want portable broadband.

Hard Drive Health Monitor

This is another Hard Drive Health monitoring software to check the life cycle of your current hard drive. It's a great utility to confirm how long your hard drive has to live.

Driver Agent

Need a software driver but can't seem to find it. This is where this premium service comes in to save you valuable time and money. Just install the application and within minutes your time saving driver shows up for download.

Monitor Security Threats

Want to know how vulnerable your computer is. Monitor the threats with Secunia. The software scans your computer for the latest software threats. If your computer is vulnerable it will tell you what to do next.

Online Scan

E-mail on the Go

The next time your driving and need to send an email from your cell phone you might want to consider sending an email via voice message. The premium service will save you from getting into an accident.

Voice Message Providers
Jott
Voice on the Go

DLink Wifi Widget

DLink has a new Wifi Widget that enables users to tweak their home networks. Your going to need a firmware update in order for this Widget to work correctly. But in the end you'll get Internet, Network and Wireless realtime send and receive rates.

Firmware Update

Microsoft Events & Error Message Page

Getting Windows Events & Error Messages but don't know what they mean. This link from Microsoft will give you a better understanding of what they mean.
Not all Events & Errors are created equal.

Another Free Widget

Here's another free Widget that you can use on your Twitter, Blogger, Myspace, WordPress, Live Journal and Friendster accounts.
The setup is so user friendly that once you customize it, your done. Try it out because it's free.

Simplaris Blogcast

In need of Blogging your RSS feeds to Facebook. Here is an easy way to do so with the help of Simplaris Blogcast.

This is how you do it as per PCworld.com

Simplaris Blogcast
What a pain it is to spend all that time writing a blog post...and then have to manually add it as a link in your feed using Facebook's "Post Link" feature. Make it simple--or rather, automated--by using Simplaris Blogcast. With this app, you simply paste in the URL for your blog's XML or RSS feed, and just like an RSS reader, Blogcast pulls in the most recent headlines and a digest (you decide how long) once a day (or immediately, depending on what blogging software you use). And for the truly lazy, it doesn't even have to be your own blog: Blogcast works with any feed you give it; but, alas, you can only bring in one feed at a time.

Uniblue Registry Editor

Having registry errors and can't seem to resolve the problems. Don't wait until your computer stops responding to fix the problem. Correct it now with Uniblue.

Fast Download

Advanced IP Scanner

Going crazy trying to figure out what current IP's your system is running. Use the Advanced IP Scanner to scan all your systems IP addresses for free.


Fast Download

All Experts

Need help on resolving a problem you can't seem to solve. All Experts can help you put the problem to rest with it's dedicated volunteer staff. When in doubt ask an expert.

Windows Icon Volume Missing

Missing the Windows Icon Volume button.
Hope this information will help you with help from en.allexperts.com


SYMPTOMS
On a Windows XP-based computer, you may experience one or both of the following behaviors: • The Volume icon is no longer displayed in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar.
• When you try to add the volume control icon to the notification area (in the Sounds and Audio Devices utility in Control Panel, click to select the Place volume icon in the taskbar check box on the Volume tab), you receive the following error message:
Windows cannot display the volume control on the taskbar because the Volume Control program has not been installed. To install it use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
As a result, you cannot start the Volume Control program and adjust the volume and sound level settings of your computer.
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the Sndvol32.exe file is damaged or missing.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of Sndvol32.exe from the Windows XP compact disc to the system_root\System32 folder on your computer's hard disk. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key as you insert the CD-ROM to prevent it from starting automatically.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
4. Type the following lines at the command prompt, pressing ENTER after each line, where CD-ROM drive is the drive letter of the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD-ROM, and system_root is the path and folder name where the Windows system files are located (generally C:\Windows):
CD-ROM drive:
cd i386
expand sndvol32.ex_ system_root\system32\sndvol32.exe


Note that there is a space between "ex_" and "system_root" in this command.

For example, if your computer's CD-ROM drive is drive E, and the folder that contains the Windows system files is C:\Windows, type the following lines at the command prompt (pressing ENTER after each line):
e:
cd i386
expand sndvol32.ex_ c:\windows\system32\sndvol32.exe
5. Type exit to quit the command prompt.
6. Verify that you can start Volume Control and that the Volume icon is displayed in the notification area (if you selected this option).

MORE INFORMATION
By default, the Volume icon is not displayed in the notification area in Windows XP.

For additional information about how to display the volume control icon in the notification area, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
279435 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279435/EN-US/) HOW TO: Display the Volume Icon in the Notification Area in Windows
For additional information about icons that are displayed in the notification area, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310578 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310578/EN-US/) Windows System Tray Icons
For additional information about how to troubleshoot sound problems, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307918 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307918/EN-US/) HOW TO: Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP

Capture Window Screen Shots

This software will do what Windows can't do for you. Capturing Window screen shots in milliseconds with the mouse cursor. And if you don't want to install it on a computer. You can install it via portable.

Portable Download

Spam Fighting Software

It's always going to be out there and SPAM mail can be annoying. So when you decide that your ready to fight SPAM, take a look at these spam fighting links below.

Spam Fighter Standard
Cloud Desk for Outlook
I Hate Spam 5.0

USB cable Fix

Tired of damaging your USB cables or devices. This is the best solution for the USB fix.

Remove Outlook Duplicate Entries

Outlook has it's moments where when you sync it's files, it comes up with duplicate entries. Here is your best bet in removing these duplicate entries.

Identity Finder Home Ed

If you have a personal computer and always worried about the sensitive information that it can have. This software is a great buy. It detects credit card information and private data on your computer. You then can choose to delete or shred the information for security.

YouSendIt Outlook Add On

If your always sending large files in Outlook and mail keeps on coming back because the file is to big. You might want to look at YouSendIt.com Outlook Add On. Now sending a large file will be easier and simple to do.