How to Allow or Prevent User Installed Gadgets in Windows 7

This will will show you how to allow or prevent all users from being able to install a gadget or from adding a user installed gadget to the desktop in Windows 7. By default, user installed gadgets are allowed in Windows 7.
NOTE
When user installed gadgets is prevented, all users will only be able to add the default Windows 7 gadgets and not any user installed gadgets. The user installed gadgets are hidden and are not available to be added.



Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Desktop Gadgets. (See screenshot below)



3. In the right pane, right click on Turn Off user-installed desktop gadgets and click on Edit. (See screenshot above)

4. To Allow User Installed Gadgets -

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)
B) Go to step 6.

5. To Prevent User Installed Gadgets -

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)



7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to completely apply.
NOTE: User installed gadgets that are currently running may not be disabled until you do step 8.

Windows 7 AppLocker Documentation Available

For download

Windows 7

Microsoft has published and made available for download technical documentation designed to deliver an insight into one of the new features of the next iteration of Windows client and server operating systems. AppLocker Technical Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is now live on the Microsoft Download Center and up for grabs for administrators interested in controlling the applications that users are able to install and run in their environments.

“AppLocker is a new feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that replaces the Software Restriction Policies feature. AppLocker contains new capabilities and extensions that reduce administrative overhead and help administrators control how users can access and use files, such as executable files, scripts, Windows Installer files, and DLLs,” Microsoft revealed.

As far as the successor of Windows Vista is concerned, only the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 sport AppLocker. Via this feature, admins will be able to allow only certain applications to run, in accordance with the guidelines of a given organization. But the level of control goes even further. AppLocker can restrict the process of running licensed apps only to specific users. At the same time, the feature is capable of monitoring and producing an audit log with all applications run in an environment. And last but not least, AppLocker can also serve to block users with standard privileges from installing programs.

“Software Restriction Policies (SRP) were originally designed in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to help IT professionals limit the number of applications that would require administrator access. With the introduction of User Account Control (UAC) and the emphasis of standard user accounts in Windows Vista, fewer applications today require administrator privileges. As a result, AppLocker was introduced to expand the goals of the original SRP by allowing IT administrators to create a comprehensive list of applications that should be allowed to run,” Microsoft added.

Windows 7 AppLocker Documentation download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... ab2d5eca83

Download Windows 7 Security Audit Events

Also for Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows

Security does by no means stop with the implementation of products designed to safeguard Windows from malicious code or exploits. For those who are little shy of digging into the security events logged by the operating system, Microsoft has released a list designed to enumerate all the security audit events for the next iteration of its Windows client and server operating systems, namely Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Security Audit Events for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is an Excel file that is
currently up for grabs via the Microsoft Download Center.

“You can use Windows security and system logs to record and store collected security events so that you can track key system and network activities to monitor potentially harmful behaviors and to mitigate those risks. You customize system log events by configuring auditing based on categories of security events such as changes to user account and resource permissions, failed attempts for user logon, failed attempts to access resources, and attempts to modify system files. The information in this download can help you analyze the data included in event log data,” Microsoft informed.

The resource is divided into two parts, the first focused on Security Audit Events, and the second covering Complete Event Messages. Customers will be able to track a certain security audit event in relation to its ID, category and Subcategory, and summary. Microsoft is offering information on items such as Event ID 4774 in Account Logon>Credential Validation, which indicates that “An account was mapped for logon,” on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Another example is Event ID 6281 in System>System Integrity on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, which reveales that “Code Integrity determined that the page hashes of an image file are not valid. The file could be improperly signed without page hashes or corrupt due to unauthorized modification. The invalid hashes could indicate a potential disk device error.”

Download Windows 7 Security Audit Events
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... b261f35814

Windows 7 Filtering Platform New Features

Documentation available for download


Windows Vista

Interested in building networking filtering applications tailored to the next iteration of the Windows client? Then you need to get up to date with the new features that have been added to Windows Filtering Platform for Windows 7. In this regard, the Redmond company is offering for download documentation designed to provide an insight into what exactly the Windows 7 Filtering Platform brings to the table. The What is new in Windows 7 WFP (Windows Filtering Platform) version 1.1 is a resource that went live on the
Microsoft Download Center in June 2009, and which is currently offered to developers.

The WPF architecture was initially introduced with the precursors of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Vista and Windows Server 2008 allowed independent software vendors to build programs enjoying a high level of networking control, and Windows 7 will take it to the next level for C/C++ developers.

Essentially, WFP permits applications to “filter and modify TCP/IP packets, monitor or authorize connections, filter Internet Protocol security (IPsec)-protected traffic, and filter remote procedure calls (RPCs). Filtering and modifying TCP/IP packets provides unprecedented access to the TCP/IP packet processing path. In this path, you can examine or modify outgoing and incoming packets before additional processing occurs. By accessing the TCP/IP processing path at different layers, you can more easily create firewalls, antivirus software, diagnostic software, and other types of applications and services,” Microsoft revealed.

The Redmond company enumerated no less than 18 enhancements in WFP in Windows 7 compared to Vista. All the new features are detailed in the documentation offered for download. At this point in time Microsoft is getting closer and closer to release Windows to manufacturing, a move that is planned by the end of this month. The software giant is targeting October 22nd 2009 for the worldwide general availability of Windows 7.

Download Windows 7 Filtering Platform New Features Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... fbe5985d85

Hack Windows XP into a Mac Desktop

 

How to Turn XP into a Mac

1. Remove all unused shortcuts and icons. Right click the desktop and go to “Arrange desktop icons by” and uncheck “Show desktop icons”. You should now have a completely clean desktop. Don’t be afraid. You can still access the My Computer, My Documents, and Recycle Bin standbys from Windows Explorer.
2. Install RKLauncher. RKLauncher (also called RKDock) is a free Windows version of the animated Mac taskbar, or “dock.” You can download it here. RKLauncher comes with a pretty cool theme. If you want to make your dock look exactly like a Mac though, try RealDock for RKLaucher, a great clone of the Mac Dock appearance. RKLauncher’s official build hasn’t been updated lately, so if you would like something more up-to-date, grab a nightly build from Aqua-Soft. The farther down you go, the newer the build. Another good dock program is ObjectDock by Stardock, you can skin it to be anything you want and it does the animations and everything.
3. Hide the taskbar. It doesn’t make sense to have both ObjectDock/RKDock and the Windows taskbar. Right click a blank space in ObjectDock, go to the settings tab, select behavior then on the box with check marks select “Hide the Windows Taskbar”, and hit OK. RKLauncher should work similarly. This makes the taskbar disappear. You can also just move the taskbar to the front of the screen.
4. Add Widgets. Widgets are desktop toys to entertain and to inform. Think of them like things you’d put on a real desk: a picture frame, a newspaper to a dancing hula girl! But they’re on your PC desktop, not your real desk. You’ll get it once you see it. They could be a fun addition to your boring computer. Download free widgets from the Yahoo Widgets page. You’ll download a widget machine called Yahoo! Widget Engine, which comes with widgets like a picture frame, analog clock, calendar, and weather display. You can get more widgets like RSS news feeds and a dancing hula girl from the widgets gallery. Yahoo! has also released an engine that can help you make your own widgets and is available here
5. Get Safari for Windows Just Get the new Safari 3 Beta, for Windows here, or get Firefox here. You can skin Firefox to look like Safari.
6. Change your wallpaper to look like Mac OS X Tiger. Or you can get a high resolution wallpaper here which won’t make your computer mimic a mac desktop but will add a sense of style and a unique touch.
7. Install your Expose from docs.kr. With this program (screen shot shows the ‘Windows Vista Flip’ move) you can set your Windows to spread out at the stroke of a key! A free download!
8. Move your buttons. ShellWM is a “titlebar-only” shell replacer. It lets you have the maximize, minimize and close buttons on the left for free. You’ll want to download this theme.
9. Change your mouse pointers. For the full effect, download a new set of mouse pointers. Save these to your computer (preferably in C:\WINDOWS\Cursors). It may be a good idea to make a folder within this for easier setup.) To setup these cursors, choose Mouse from the Control Panel, click the Pointers tab, and set your new pointers appropriately. For a the best OS pointer, use FLyakiteOS. If you don’t feel like changing cursors manually, you can install them all with a simple Mac OS X Mouse Cursors Installer
10. Keep tweaking and playing. Try customizing all of the applications you downloaded. Whatever suits you!

Tips

• If RKLauncher doesn’t work well, an alternative to try are RocketDock. Rocketdock is updated more often, and has more themes to choose from.
• You can also use the Mac OS X Install DVD
  
  
  • If you have a recent Mac OS X Install DVD (2005 and newer) that uses an x86 architecture, you can install OS X directly on your computer using InsanelyMac, which will circumvent the hardware detection used by the OS X install disc.
  • If you have an older Mac OS X Install DVD (2004 and older) that uses a PowerPC architecture, you can emulate PowerPC’s architecture using PearPC. PearPC is a tool which will allow you to run Mac OS X in an x86 environment, without putting in any effort. The emulation method is much slower than the method using InsanelyMac above.
  • Do not resort to using OS X unless you are aware of the legal action Apple can take if they know you are using that software.
• Since installing Mac OS X on a PC is illegal you could also try installing Linux (Ubuntu Linux is the most popular linux out there) on your PC. Since Linux is fully constumizable you can use this guide to make it look like OS X.
• For the simplest way, install this patch. It lets you access Windows XPs built in skinner. Then go to customize.org and download all the window’s themes you want.
• If you have enough money, an easier way would always be just to buy your own Mac, of course.

Warnings:

• Widgets could make your computer run slowly.
• Be warned this method may cause you to never have your windows desktop taskbar again.
• Beware of legal issues with installing Mac OS X onto a computer that it is not licensed for.
• The Shock 4Way 3D program makes your mouse disappear in the other 3 screens.

Flv player to Enable WMP to play FLV files : WINDOWS 7

The sharing video on the internet sites, such as Google Video, YouTube, MetaCafe, can download as the flv file format. But how can I Play .FLV Files in Windows Media Player in Windows 7 by simply?

I find a windows 7 flv player which call PlayFLV. And PlayFLV is free and open source. With lightweight PlayFLV Plugin, you can enableWindows Media Player to playback FLV files easily. After installtion, just double-click the FLV file and you can view them in Windows Media Player. So you with no extra player apps in Windows 7.

Download PlayFLV

Update: I've use Real Player to play FLV files in Win7 for a long time. It works great.
And instead of Real Player, I try VLC Player and also works well.

You'll need to provide administrator permission to copy this file :WINDOWS 7

While I was saving a files downloaded from internet, I got this error message "You'll need to provide administrator permission to copy this file" in Windows 7. When I was copying some files from my external HD, "you'll need to provide administrator permission to move to this folder" appeared. And I deleted an AVI file created with CamStudio, computer says "You'll need to provide administratorpermission to delete this file" with the choices "Continue", "Skip", and "Cancel". After I choose "Continue", the Windows 7 system OS gives me others following message :

"File Access Denied"
"You need permission to perform this action"
"You require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes to this file"

Can anyone help me to solve these?

Try it:

Right click on the folder you want to delete or copy to ( or the drive in "my computer")--> Under the security tab choose "edit" --> Go to the "Users (***/users) where the * are the name of your login --> Tick the box which says "full control".