Take advantage of Windows 7 Gadgets to create room on the Taskbar
As you may know, Microsoft first introduced Gadgets in Windows Vista, where they existed in a docked container called the Sidebar. In Windows 7, Microsoft did away with the Sidebar, and now Gadgets are free to be positioned anywhere on your desktop. I love this feature and have used it to move to the next level and am now really taking advantage of Gadgets.
In my case, I have a multiple-monitor configuration with three monitors, and I use one monitor almost exclusively for displaying Gadgets, as shown in . Of course, I use several of Windows 7’s native Gadgets and a handful of other gadgets that I have either developed myself or found on Microsoft’s Desktop and Sideshow Gadgets site.
I use one monitor almost exclusively for displaying Gadgets.
In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show some of the ways that I am taking advantage of Gadgets in Microsoft Windows 7.
This blog post is also available in PDF format in a TechRepublic download.
No Sidebar
As I mentioned in the introduction, the disappearance of the Sidebar is what really got me into using Gadgets more extensively. My guess is that Microsoft did away with the Sidebar container because it got in the way of the Aero Snap feature, which relies on the edge of the desktop to be a snapping point, so to speak.
Being able to place Gadgets anywhere on the desktop and dedicating a monitor to display Gadgets is the first way that I am now taking full advantage of Gadgets.
Removing Clock and Calendar
Because I have Windows 7’s Clock and Calendar Gadgets on my third monitor where I can see them all the time, I began thinking that I really didn’t need to have the Clock and Calendar in the Notification Area of the Taskbar. That space could be put to better use for displaying icons for my running application. So I decided to see if I could hack into the registry to disable them. However, I discovered that there is a much easier way to disable the Clock and Calendar in the Notification Area.
To begin, right-click on the clock and select the Customize Notification Icons command, as shown in . When you see the Notification Area Icons window, shown in , click the Turn System Icons On or Off option.
To begin, right-click on the clock and select the Customize Notification Icons command.
Select the Turn System Icons On or Off link.
You’ll then see the System Icons window. When you do, select Off from the drop-down list adjacent to Clock, as shown in . Then click OK twice — once to close the System Icons window and once to close the Notification Area Icons window.
Set the Clock to Off.
Now, without the Clock and Calendar in the Notification Area, as shown in , I have more room on the Taskbar for my application icons.
With the Clock and Calendar removed from the Notification Area, there is more room on the Taskbar.
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Better Meters
I usually keep Windows Task Manager minimized to the Notification Area so that I can keep tabs on CPU usage, and with a couple of clicks I can expand Windows Task Manager and see memory and network usage. By having the Network icon in the Notification Area, I can keep tabs on my network connection.
However, by using three Gadget meters from the folks at AddGadget.com – All CPU Meter, Network Meter, and Drives Meter – I get everything those tools in the Notification Area provide and much more!
The All CPU Meter Gadget identifies your CPU brand, tracks CPU usage by core, and also displays the total amount of memory in your system as well as how much is being used and how much is free. The Network Meter Gadget monitors both wired and wireless connections and shows a host of valuable information, including signal quality, bandwidth usage, download speeds, IP addresses, and more. The Drives Meter displays free space, used space, read speed, write speed for up to four drives. Furthermore all three of these meters offer many configuration options. Each one of these meters is free of charge and available on Microsoft’s Desktop and Sideshow Gadgets site.
With these meter Gadgets running on my desktop, I no longer need to have Windows Task Manager and the Network icon in the Notification Area. To remove them, I just close Windows Task Manager. Then I return to the System Icons window, shown in and set the Network icon to Off.
While I was there, I set the Volume icon to Off. I use the volume controls on my Microsoft keyboard anyway. There are also a couple of volume control gadgets on Microsoft’s Desktop and Sideshow Gadgets site.
After removing them, I have even more room on the Taskbar for my application icons.
February 12, 2011
February 11, 2011
MCSE 70-299 Practice Test
Is Windows 2003 Implementing Security exam right for you?
This MCSE Exam prepares you for various job roles, which include systems engineer, systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts and technical consultants. If you would like to know more about the Windows 2003 Security Admin 70-299 test please visit the Microsoft website.
The test is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems in network environments.
What to expect in Windows 2003 Implementing Security exam?
This test consists of Multiple Choice, Hot Area, Drag, and Drop, Build list and reorder, and Build a Tree questions. The test can be adaptive and simulation questions might be asked. This test includes Case study type questions. You will be required to attempt approximately 50 questions in 150 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 700.
How to prepare for Windows 2003 Implementing Security exam?
The Microsoft exam 70-299 exam measures an individual's ability to implement and administer security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network. Before taking the 70-299 exam, you should practice the following:
*Plan security templates based on computer roles
*Troubleshoot security template problems in a mixed operating system environment
*Configure registry and file system permissions, account policies, .pol files, audit policies, user rights assignment, security options, system services, restricted groups, and event logs
*Deploy security templates by using Active Directory-based Group Policy objects (GPOs) and by using command-line tools and scripting
Microsoft Windows Vista configuring exam will consist of Simulations, MCQs, Drag & Drop, Tree questions and hot area questions. Microsoft 70-620 certification exam is available in different languages such as English and German.
The Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam tests a candidates ability to plan, implement, and maintain security in a Windows Server 2003 network in medium to very large network environments. It is advised that you have a minimum of six to twelve months experience in administering clients and network operating systems in medium to very large corporations.
There are no prerequisites for the Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam. Once you pass the Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam the candidate will achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status if it is the first Microsoft certification exam that you pass.
The Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam is one of the more difficult of the core exams for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications based on Windows Server 2003. This Microsoft 70-299 exam measures the skills related to planning, implementing, and maintaining security in medium to very large network environments based on the Windows Server 2003 operating system. This Microsoft 70-299 Exam and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam is intended for MCSE candidates who work in medium to very large computing environments supporting 250 to more than 5000 users and use Windows Server 2003 as its network operating system and Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Server Professional on its client computers.
This MCSE Exam prepares you for various job roles, which include systems engineer, systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts and technical consultants. If you would like to know more about the Windows 2003 Security Admin 70-299 test please visit the Microsoft website.
The test is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems in network environments.
What to expect in Windows 2003 Implementing Security exam?
This test consists of Multiple Choice, Hot Area, Drag, and Drop, Build list and reorder, and Build a Tree questions. The test can be adaptive and simulation questions might be asked. This test includes Case study type questions. You will be required to attempt approximately 50 questions in 150 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 700.
How to prepare for Windows 2003 Implementing Security exam?
The Microsoft exam 70-299 exam measures an individual's ability to implement and administer security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network. Before taking the 70-299 exam, you should practice the following:
*Plan security templates based on computer roles
*Troubleshoot security template problems in a mixed operating system environment
*Configure registry and file system permissions, account policies, .pol files, audit policies, user rights assignment, security options, system services, restricted groups, and event logs
*Deploy security templates by using Active Directory-based Group Policy objects (GPOs) and by using command-line tools and scripting
Microsoft Windows Vista configuring exam will consist of Simulations, MCQs, Drag & Drop, Tree questions and hot area questions. Microsoft 70-620 certification exam is available in different languages such as English and German.
The Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam tests a candidates ability to plan, implement, and maintain security in a Windows Server 2003 network in medium to very large network environments. It is advised that you have a minimum of six to twelve months experience in administering clients and network operating systems in medium to very large corporations.
There are no prerequisites for the Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam. Once you pass the Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam the candidate will achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status if it is the first Microsoft certification exam that you pass.
The Microsoft 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam is one of the more difficult of the core exams for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications based on Windows Server 2003. This Microsoft 70-299 exam measures the skills related to planning, implementing, and maintaining security in medium to very large network environments based on the Windows Server 2003 operating system. This Microsoft 70-299 Exam and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network exam is intended for MCSE candidates who work in medium to very large computing environments supporting 250 to more than 5000 users and use Windows Server 2003 as its network operating system and Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Server Professional on its client computers.
February 7, 2011
What is Form1?
Everytime I start Windows XP (Prof. SP3), a program activates: Form1. I don't know what it does or why it executes when Windows starts. I went to search in my task manager wich process causes Form1. It seems to be called system.exe.
After Windows fully starts I always close that program via task manager, because I can not right-click on it and it won't maximize when I left-click it.
Does anybody know what this program does and why it's there?
Thanks in advance.
After Windows fully starts I always close that program via task manager, because I can not right-click on it and it won't maximize when I left-click it.
Does anybody know what this program does and why it's there?
Thanks in advance.
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