Win2000Mag UPDATE, February 8, 2000 [2/3]
Konstantin Gusev
Check out Microsoft Support Online article Q237399
(http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q237/3/99.asp) for
two Secedit commands you can run to apply the default permissions for
Windows 2000 Professional (Win2K Pro) and Windows 2000 Server (Win2K
Server).
* DISABLING THE WINDOWS LOGO KEY
Administrators commonly disable browsing on public terminals by
defining a system policy that revokes user access to Windows Explorer,
the Run command, and the Find command. But even after you've removed
Explorer, users can access disabled features using shortcuts with the
Microsoft Windows logo key (e.g., logo key+E). Here's a quick script
you can use with the Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit
utility regini.exe to disable the right and left Windows logo keys and
lock down your public or high-security systems.
Create a file with an .ini extension, enter the commands below, and
run the script by entering its full name (e.g., nologoskey.ini) at a
command prompt. You must reboot the system to disable the Windows logo
keys. Of course, you can also make these modifications manually with a
Registry editor and reboot.
;
; This mapping disables both Windows logo keys
;
\Registry\Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
Scancode Map = REG_BINARY 24 \
0x00000000 0x00000000 3 \
0xE05B0000 0xE05C0000 \
0x0
See Microsoft Support Online article Q181348
(http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q181/3/48.asp) for an
explanation of the binary values that appear in the script. The article
states that if you encounter problems, you can delete the Registry key
this script creates
(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\KeyboardLayout\Scancode
Map)
with a Registry editor running locally or over the network. If you
delete the key, you need to reboot the system to restore access to the
Windows logos keys.
* AUTOMATIC LOGON IN WIN2K AND NT 4.0
When you're debugging code such as a device driver that takes down a
system, you'll appreciate knowing how to enable an automatic system
logon. The Registry's Winlogon key contains many entries that control
how the logon process works. Two of these entries let you set up a
system for automatic logon after a system restart or a logoff so that
you can use the extra time to focus on cleaning up your code. Go to the
following Registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Enter a valid account name in the DefaultUserName (type REG_SZ) entry
and the password for the account in the DefaultPassword (type REG_SZ)
entry. If either entry doesn't appear in the Winlogon key, create it
with a Registry editor.
If you forget to enter a DefaultPassword, the OS automatically
changes the AutoAdminLogon key value from 1 (true) to 0 (false), which
disables the AutoAdminLogon feature. If the AutoAdminLogon entry
disappears, you can recreate it manually--it has a data type of REG_SZ.
A value of 1 enables AutoAdminLogon and a value of 0 disables the
feature. Reboot the system to activate the changes.
When automatic logon is enabled and you want to log on to the system
as a different user, hold down the Shift key after logging off or
restarting and you'll see the regular logon dialog box--a technique
that works with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 (Win2K). Keep in mind
that if you configure a system for automatic logon, anyone can restart
the system and log on, so making this change exposes a potential
security vulnerability. See Microsoft Support Online article Q97597
(http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q97/5/97.asp) for
details.
* KEEPING RAS CONNECTIONS ACTIVE AFTER LOGOFF
The KeepRasConnections value entry in the Registry's Winlogon key
controls whether RAS maintains active connections after a user logs
off. If you want your dial-up or VPN connections to remain live, go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon, add the value entry KeepRasConnections:
REG_SZ: 1, and reboot. This entry doesn't typically appear in the
Winlogon key; you must create it with a Registry editor. See Microsoft
Online Article Q158909
(http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q158/9/09.asp) for
more information.
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5. ========== NEW AND IMPROVED ==========
(contributed by Carolyn Mascarenas, prod...@win2000mag.com)
* RAID STORAGE
Storage Concepts announced FibreRAID 2000, a high-performance, realtime
RAID storage system. Available in one chassis, FibreRAID 2000 provides
transfer speed for high-bandwidth applications, such as High-Definition
Television (HDTV), uncompressed broadcast video storage, medical
imaging, and government and military applications. FibreRAID 2000
provides up to 200MBps realtime storage. The scalable system allows for
as many as eight drives and two parity disks or as few as four drives
and one parity disk.
FibreRAID 2000 integrates most workstations including Windows NT-
based platforms, Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, and Mercury
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* KEEP YOUR PC RUNNING SMOOTHLY
Iolo Technologies announced System Mechanic 3.2, a software suite of 12
tools that provide preventative maintenance for your PC. System
Mechanic lets you search for, diagnose, and solve problems that
reoccur, decrease speed, or hinder reliability. The new NetBooster tool
increases data transfer speed over an Internet or network connection by
as much as 300 percent. The new Incinerator tool lets you securely
delete confidential files. You can also clean and optimize the Windows
Registry. To prevent programs from crashing, System Mechanic removes
duplicate files and drivers that you've installed in various locations.
The software also removes space-wasting debris left behind by sloppy
applications and system crashes.
System Mechanic 3.2 runs on Windows 2000 (Win2K), Windows NT, and
Windows 9x systems. Pricing is $59.95. Contact Iolo Technologies, 877-
239-4656.
http://www.iolo.com
* PUT YOUR DATABASE ONLINE
Webteacher Software released Webdata 2.35, software that lets the
nonprogrammer or nontechnical user put a database online. The software
self-installs on any UNIX or Windows NT server, and then integrates an
existing database into an adaptable online platform. You don't need to
know Common Gateway Interface (CGI), SQL, or ODBC. You can set up,
maintain, and work with the data using your Web browser.
Webdata 2.35 runs on Windows 2000 (Win2K), NT, Windows 9x, and UNIX
systems. Pricing is $199. Contact Webteacher Software, 510-790-6451.
http://www.webteacher.com
* PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Lund Performance Solutions and Demand Technology Software announced
Performance Gallery/Sentry, realtime monitoring software for Windows
2000 (Win2K) and Windows NT networks, servers, and workstations. When
your system exceeds built-in thresholds, the software sends you message
alerts. The software also transforms realtime and historical
performance data into full-color graphs and tables. To show specific
data sets, time periods, and exception thresholds, you can choose from
more than 60 professional-quality charts designed by performance
experts. Enhancements from previous releases include improved online
help and faster file loading. For pricing, contact Lund Performance
Solutions, 541-926-3800.
http://www.lund.com
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* HOT THREAD: CAN ANYONE SUGGEST A GOOD SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 WIN2K SERVER?
The following text is from a recent threaded discussion on the Windows
2000 Magazine online forums (http://www.win2000mag.com/support).
January 31, 2000 04:59 P.M.
Can anyone suggest a good SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 Win2k server?
I am looking for an ISP class messaging server solution that runs on
Win2K. Something that is stable and supports delegated administration,
and multiple domains. Exchange doesn't cut it...it does too many more
things than what I am interested in, and the overhead involved is not
worth it. Thanks.
Thread continues at
http://www.win2000mag.com/Support/Forums/Application/Index.cfm?CFApp=70&Mess
age_ID=88554
* TIP: FILENAME COMPLETION FOR DOS WINDOW