Security - Password Recovery

Here you will find links to password recovery sites:
Thanks Dave T.

http://www.reactive-software.com/

Networking - VLAN Explanation (Cisco)

This is a pretty good VLAN explanation from Cisco:
Thanks Dave T.

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/lan/28201900/1928v8x/eescg8x/02vlans.htm

Security - Advanced Packet Filtering

This is a pretty good article (Primer) on Packet Filtering:
Thanks David T.

http://www.itprc.com/advfilter.pdf

Windows Vista - Installing Admin Pak

Here is a pretty good article about installing the Adminpak on Vista.
Exchange Admin still does not work (as of 12/22/06).

http://www.petri.co.il/running_win_2003_adminpak_on_vista_rtm.htm

Security - Ethical Hacking

This is a decent article on how to test your internal network.

Ethical Hacking

Humor - Working with a Mac

This is hilarious...One of the funniest ones I have seen in a while:
This one's for you Anthony C. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZQ_It0weI

Humor - Perpendicular Demo

This is really pretty funny....I think you will enjoy it:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/research/recording_head/pr/PerpendicularAnimation.html

Security - General

This will be a post with Security Related Links:

http://www.securelab.com/

Software - Offline Browser Utility - HTTRACK

This is a tool you can use to replicate a web site to offline status:

http://www.httrack.com/

Shopping - Gadgets

This will be a link to Gadget sites. Enjoy!

http://iwantoneofthose.com/

Security - Default Passwords

This is a great link to a site that has default username/passwords.
Thanks Kurt K.

http://www.phenoelit.de/dpl/dpl.html
http://routerpasswords.com

Windows Updates - AutoPatcher

This is a great tool to get all your patches installed at once:
Thanks Kurt K.

http://www.autopatcher.com

WIndows 2003 - 10 Command Lines

Here are 10 command lines that can help you manage your Windows 2003:

10 Command Lines

Monitoring - Web Based

This site is a great way to monitor your services and ports from up to 4 different locations. They have a free plan for 1 monitor, $5.00 per month for 3, and $10.00 per month for 6.

Check it out!

Click on the link on the Top Right of Blog.

Check your IP Address: (Thanks Kurt K.)
http://www.ip-adress.com/

Books

Listing of various book links

http://debian.yaako.org/books/?M=A

Security - Virus/Spyware Listing / Fixes

This entry is for Virus/Spyware listing and fix sites

http://www.viruslist.com/

Windows - Troubleshooting & Tips

Good Tip site(s)

http://roadtoknowwhere.com/
http://www.amptron.com/html/bios.beepcodes.html

Hardware - Troubleshooting

This entry will contain links to various troubleshooting tools that can be utilized.

Dead Pixel Test: http://www.gdargaud.net/Hack/DeadPixels.html

Software - VLC Media Player

This thing not only play audio but can also handle DIVX, VCD, & DVDs

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Software - PDF Creator

Need to create PDFs? Here is a free PDF Creator:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Software - Gimp Image Editor

I hear this is as good as Photoshop. Give it a try!

http://www.gimp.org/windows/

Software - CD Burning Software

This looks like a pretty good free burning software. The price is right and works on the following:
Operating systems: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server

http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

Windows XP - Tweaks

This will be an ever evolving entry with links to different Windows XP "Tweaks"

http://zavenx.googlepages.com/xptweaks
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Software - Zip Genius

Zip Genius is great because it can create and handle several archive formats, including ZIP, RAR, CAB, ACE, 7-zip, ARC, SQX; also, it can read and decompress CD/DVD images in ISO9660 format (.ISO, .NRG, .CMI) and it runs on Win9x and above. Thanks Kurt K.

http://www.zipgenius.it

Software - TCP Parameter Adjuster

This is a good GUI to adjust your TCP parameters:
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/578

Software - ISO Mounter

Microsoft ISO Mounter: http://www.winxpnews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=031104TI-Virtual_CD-ROM&mid=1054312471497461

Software - Microsoft Games

Here are 4 freebie Microsoft Games: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/morefun/4freebiegames.mspx

Software - Belarc Advisor

Belarc Advisor is a great tool for Hardware/Software Inventories:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Software - Web Based Tools

This entry will continue to grow:

Web Based FTP client (50 MB up/down limit) http://www.web2ftp.com

Multitude of Troubleshooting tools: http://www.dnsstuff.com

Win2k3 SBS - Troubleshooting Docs

This entry will contain several troubleshooting docs I have run across support Win2k3 SBS. It will be updated as necessary so come back and check it out later.

How to enable passive CERN FTP connections through ISA Server 2000 or ISA Server 2004 Standard Edition: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300641

WMP - DRM FAQ for Windows Media Player

Questions about that pesky Digital Rights Management (DRM)? Here is a FAQ on DRM on Windows Media Player (WMP) including how to turn it off when ripping a CD.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/drm.mspx#q11_1

IE 7 - McAfee Won't update after IE 7 Installation

Having problems getting McAfee to update after you install IE7? Here is an article from McAfee that tells you how to fix the issue:

http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/faq3.asp?docid=410052.

Windows Vista - Startup Repair Tool

Microsoft has once again given us a dull knife to try and keep us from hurting ourselves! :) Read this article for a high level explanation as to how the Startup Repair Tool works.

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6131173.html?tag=nl.e138

How To - Setting up VMWare Server

Here is a pretty good article (8 parts) to setting up VMWare server. It talks about planning, configuration, etc.... Each article has a link at the bottom to go to the prev, next article but I will be posting all 8 links to make it a little quicker to get to. Enjoy!

http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid94_gci1226945,00.html
http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid94_gci1226972,00.html
http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid94_gci1226973,00.html

Windows SBS 2003 - Secured Wireless Networking

This is a link to a document on how to utilize a IAS server as a Radius server for your Wireless AP. You will only be able to use up to WPA (not WPA2) with the Microsoft Certificate Server. You will have to obtain a 3rd party Cert for the WPA2.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=464d1071-80f2-49e8-b67c-dc259cb6b3bb&DisplayLang=en

Windows XP - Debugging SVCHOST

Have you ever wondered what all those crazy SVCHOST processes were and what service is tied to it? Here is a decent article from Microsoft describing how to enumerate them.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056

Software - Virtualization - VMWARE

These guys are ingenious! This is a great way to scale your environment not to mention the testing possibilities here.
Free Server: http://www.vmware.com/download/server/
Free Player:http://www.vmware.com/download/player/

Even Pre-Built VMs: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/

Free Physical 2 Virtual Tool (including across the wire): http://www.vmware.com/whatsnew/converter.html

Windows - DLL Download Site

Missing or corrupted a DLL and don't have another machine close by to copy it from (or worse yet don't have a media to put it on :) ). Give this site a try:

http://www.afreedll.com/index.php

Security - Port Assignments

Always looking for that comprehensive TCP/UDP port listing? Well here it is:

http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers

Software - Freeware Links to Collections of Software

This entry will be added to as I run across additional links.

http://bearbottoms1.com/default.aspx
http://snapfiles.com/
http://tucows.com/
http://roadtoknowwhere.com/
http://www.pricelessware.org/thelist/index.htm
http://pinguy.infogami.com/blog/3a34
http://www.listible.com/list/places-to-find-free-software
http://freewaregenius.com/
http://www.softpedia.com/
http://www.itsecurity.com/features/103-free-security-apps-041607/
http://www.smosh.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2389&st=0
http://www.techsupportalert.com/
Site listing freeware alternatives: Click Here

And for your Portable Apps (fit on a thumb drive)
http://portableapps.com/
http://www.caseytech.com/18-portable-apps-that-every-tech-needs/
http://www.getusb.info/55-portable-apps-for-making-a-usb-super-stick/
http://www.app-stick.com/products.php?cat=30

Software - Fonts

If you are needing some additional fonts to "jazz" things up check this site out. I really like it because they also give you a preview area where you can put your sample text in to try it out before downloading the font.

http://fontso.com/

Software - Old Versions

Been looking for that old version of AOL or Adobe Reader? Hey, you know you still bump up against old Win9x machines that won't run the latest version :) Give this site a try:

http://www.old-versions.net/

Mcafee - Links to Downloads

Engine-only SuperDAT package - The engine-only SuperDAT package allows engine updates for McAfee Windows (32-bit) products to be performed outside the CommonUpdater process. It is available on McAfee’s downloads website.
The 5100 Engine only SuperDAT package is posted on McAfee website here:
http://www.mcafee.com/apps/downloads/security_updates/engines.asp?region=us&segment=enterprise

The Daily SuperDAT package can be accessed at this URL:http://www.mcafee.com/apps/downloads/security_updates/superdat.asp?region=us&segment=enterprise

The Daily XDAT package can be accessed at this URL:http://www.mcafee.com/apps/downloads/security_updates/dat.asp?region=us&segment=enterprise

The daily SuperDAT (sdatxxxx.exe) and XDAT (xxxxxdat.exe) packages will contain current DATs and the new AVV DATs for the 5100 Engine and next generation products.The current DATs in these packages are:
SCAN.DAT
NAMES.DAT
CLEAN.DAT
The new AVV DAT files for next generation products capable of using new functionality of the 5100 Anti-Virus Scanning Engine are:
AVVSCAN.DAT
AVVNAMES.DAT
AVVCLEAN.DAT
The daily SuperDat (sdatxxxx.exe) and XDAT Packages (xxxxxdat.exe) are now multilingual. This means there will only be one daily SuperDAT and one XDAT built which will work in all 13 supported languages.

Daily DAT.zip Packages - DAT-xxxx.zip package will only contain these files:
SCAN.DAT
NAMES.DAT
CLEAN.DAT
INTERNET.DAT
PKGDESC.INI
VALIDATE.EXE
PACKING.LST
LEGAL.TXT

Active Directory - Documentation

Here is the link for the 2003 Active Directory Documentation:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/ad/default.mspx

If you still need it...Here is the Windows 2000 Active Directory Documentation Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/technologies/activedirectory/default.mspx

Windows - Event ID Parser Site

This is a great site to look up Event IDs, descriptions and learn more about Windows Events. As of 10/25/06 the Event ID database contained 8,578 event IDs and 448 event sources, with 13,600 comments provided by 2,914 contributors.

http://www.eventid.net

Software - Screen Capture - Screen Hunter

Looking for a screen capture tool that is free and really feature rich? Here it is! This product is free for personal use:

http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter.htm

Software - Irfanview Image Editor with Batch resizer

This is an excellent tool. You can view not only images but even .avi files. It also has a batch resizer and rename tool built in that will allow you to resize your images at the click of a button! (Thanks Anthony C.) Give it a try:

http://www.irfanview.com/

SQL Server - How to identify your SQL Server version and edition

If you are like me you have had more than one occasion where you did not know what service pack level your SQL server was at. Here is a Microsoft article explaining how to tell:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321185#2

Windows 2003 - Performance Advisor

This Microsoft tool will give you suggestions of performance bottlenecks. Check it out:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=09115420-8c9d-46b9-a9a5-9bffcd237da2&displaylang=en

Windows Vista - Versions Explanation

Here is an excellent site explaining all the different versions and their capabilities. Now if Microsoft would only take a lead on documentation like this :) :

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

Windows XP - Unnecessary offline file synchronization may cause "Access denied" error messages

Ever get that annoying "Access Denied" message when you are logging off and offline folder synchronization is happening? Here is a Microsoft article explaining it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313323

Software - Network boot disk creator

Here is the link to Bart's Network Boot Disk creator:

http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/network/

Windows XP - Remote Shutdown issue

If a screen saver is active, you may not be able to remotely shut down your Windows XP-based computer. Check out this Microsoft article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329142&Product=winxp

Windows XP - Cannot Start Windows XP After You Install Windows 2000

If you have issues restarting Windows XP after installing Windows 2000 this Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q283433

Software - WMIC - Windows Command Line WMI Tool

WMIC is a command line WMI tool, built into WinXP Pro and Win2003. Check out the Internet Storm handlers story about some uses for it. This is very powerful!:

http://www.incidents.org/diary.php?storyid=1229

Windows XP - Shutdown issues

Another article suggesting another possible problem with Windows XP shutdowns (from Microsoft):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q315664&ID=KB;EN-US;q315664

Windows XP - Computer restarts when you try to shut down your computer

Had a problem with a restart instead of a shutdown? This Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q311806&ID=KB;EN-US;Q311806

Windows XP - Control Panel stops responding

Ever had a problem with Control Panel not responding? This Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;843551&Product=winxp

Disabling the Local Administrator account in Windows

Ever wanted to completely disable the Local Administrator account? Here is a Microsoft article explaining how to do it in Windows 2000 and Windows XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q281140&ID=KB;EN-US;Q281140&LN=EN-US&rnk=10&SD=gn&FR=1&qry=&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINXP&

Windows XP - Shutdown issues

This is an article offering several suggestions for Windows XP shutdown issues:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Windows 2000 - High rate of collisions on 100-megabit networks

How to solve some issues related to High Rate of Collisions on 100MB networks (from Microsoft):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315237

Windows XP - WPA Explanation

This is a pretty good article explaining Windows WPA:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Windows 2000 - Secure Delete

Use this Microsoft tool to make sure you delete even the encrypted data:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q315672&ID=KB;EN-US;q315672

Multi-Boot - How to Multiple Boot Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, and MS-DOS

This article describes how to configure an Intel-based computer to multiple boot the following Microsoft operating system:
•MS-DOS
•Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
•Microsoft Windows NT
•Microsoft Windows 2000
•Microsoft Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q217210

Windows XP - How to print to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program

Ever had problems printing from a MS-Dos based program on Windows XP to a network printer? This Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314499

Windows XP - Recovering from a corrupted registry

Ever had a corrupted registry that prevented you from booting Windows XP. This Microsoft article should help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q307545&ID=KB;EN-US;Q307545&LN=EN-US&rnk=47&SD=gn&FR=1&qry=&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINXP&

Windows XP - How to troubleshoot problems during installation when you upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP

Having issues upgrading from Windows 98 or ME to Windows XP? Maybe this article from Microsoft will help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310064

Windows 2000 - How To Use Group Policy to Deploy Windows XP in a Windows 2000-Based Network

How to deploy Windows XP in a Windows 2000 Based Network (from Microsoft):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314953

Windows XP - Performance Options

Want to get the most speed out of your Windows XP workstation? Check out this Microsoft article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417/en-us

Security - How to capture network traffic with Network Monitor

This is a good article from Microsoft on how to use the Network Monitor tool:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;148942

Security - Locking down services on XP Client Workstation

This is an article that explains all the different default services available on a Windows XP workstation and their recommended setting.

Note this link requires a free account for viewing

http://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid45_gci1126483,00.html?Offer=sb092305

Modem Automatically Attempts to Establish a Dial-Up Connection When You Start Your Computer or Start a Program

Trying to get that autodial to stop every time you boot your computer. Here is a Microsoft article that may just have the solution for you:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q316530&ID=KB;EN-US;Q316530&LN=EN-US&rnk=32&SD=gn&FR=1&qry=&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINXP&

L2TP/IPsec NAT-T update for Windows XP and Windows 2000

This is an update you will want to check out:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818043#appliesto

Backup - Files that are automatically skipped by the backup program (Ntbackup.exe) during the backup and restore processes

Ever wondered which files are skipped during the NTBackup process? Your search is over. This Microsoft article explains it:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/104169/en-us

RDP - File Settings

Always wondered what settings were available for Remote Desktop Connection (RDP)? Here is a pretty good article listing them:

http://dev.remotenetworktechnology.com/ts/rdpfile.htm

Outlook Express - How to manually remove and/or install

Had problems permanently killing off Outlook Express? What if you wanted to bring it back, do you know the steps required? This Microsoft article will walk you through it step by step. This applies to Outlook Express versions 5.01 - 6.0:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q263837&ID=KB;EN-US;q263837

Windows XP - How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Need to reinstall TCP/IP? Try resetting it first. Get step by step instructions in this Microsoft article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299357

Windows XP - Slow SMB performance when you copy files from Windows XP to a Windows 2000 domain controller

Wonder why file copies are so slow going from an XP Workstation to a Windows 2000 Domain Controller? This Microsoft article demystifies some of it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q321169

Software - Startup Run Manager

The StartupRun utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically when Windows boots. This utility can work in all 32-bit Windows operating systems: Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. This utility is standalone executable, and it doesn't require any installation process or additional DLLs. Just put the executable (strun.exe) in any folder you want and run it.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/strun.html?track=lc_security_testing_tools

Windows XP - Taskbar for Multiple Monitors

Always wondered why you could not get that pesky taskbar to appear on all your monitors in a multiple monitor environment in Windows XP. It is by design! Check out this Microsoft article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q326351

Windows 2000 - Upgrading Windows 2000 Group Policy for Windows XP

This Microsoft article describes how to upgrade your Windows 2000 Group Policies to support the Windows XP Group Policies:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307900

Windows XP - A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro

Always wondered what that SVCHOST process is in Task Manager? This Microsoft article shows you how to decrypt it:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314056

Windows XP - Setup boot disks

Have you always wondered how you can make boot up disks for Windows XP when your computer does not support a bootable CD Rom? Your search is over. Here is the Microsoft article that tells you how to do it:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q310994/

Software - Windows Disk Useage Statistics Viewer

If you have been looking for a tool to allow you to how graphically (and via tree mode) where your largest files are this is the tool for you!

http://windirstat.info/

Here is a sample screenshot

Windows XP - Your computer stops responding when you restart to complete the installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

If you have had an issue upon restart after a Windows XP or Tablet PC 2005 Service Pack 2 installation the problem may be with your BIOS version or the Processor that you are using. This Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;885626&Product=winxp

Windows XP - Clients Cannot Connect to a Windows 2000 Terminal Services Server

If you get a security error (Event ID: 1003) when you try to connect to a Windows 2000 Terminal Server with a Windows XP client, this Microsoft article may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q323597

Windows XP - Windows stops responding during shut down

Have you had problems getting your Windows XP machine to shut down properly? This link from Microsoft may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q307274&ID=KB;EN-US;Q307274&LN=EN-US&rnk=43&SD=gn&FR=1&qry=&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINXP&

Windows XP - Cannot Schedule Shut Down and Restart

Have you had problems getting a Windows XP machine to shut down properly when scheduling the Shutdown.Exe command? This Microsoft link may solve the problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814761