Drag n Drop to Folder Shortcut

Did you know that you can drag and drop a file/folder to a folder shortcut in Windows? This not really big thing but can use it if you really like to organize your computer or reduce the number of clicks.

How it works? 

1. Create a shortcut to any folder you like.

For example I keep a folder called "Software" to keep all the executables files. It is in D: drive as I do not want the C:(Windows Drive) to be filled with my files. Giving enough space to Windows to run. Create a short cut for the Software folder. 

2. Move the shortcut to where you work most from

Desktop is one of the areas we store most of our files. By default the Desktop files sit on the C: (Windows Folder). If you are using other partition to store actual files and shortcut to the folder can be sit on the desktop.


3. Move and view files through the shortcut.

Normally we use to view the files but you can drag and drop files to the folder shortcut and it will go and sit on the destination folder. You do not really go through my computer and select the driver and then folder and copy and paste the files.

It is working on Windows XP, Windows Vista Windows 2008 server and Windows 7. (Pretty much all the windows versions)

KB970892 update failed

SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 update KB970892 has been failed in Windows 2003 for some reason and it is keep on stopping the SQL services every time it tries to install the update. Lets see how it can be solved in details.


Windows update related to SQL server Service pack 3 (KB970892) is been failing to install in Windows XP, Windows 2003 Environments. If you have a close look at the Event Viewer you can notice couple of Error messages related to this.

Product: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Update 'GDR 4053 for SQL Server Database Services 2005 ENU (KB970892)' could not be installed. Error code 1603. Additional information is available in the log file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\LOG\Hotfix\SQL9_Hotfix_KB970892_sqlrun_sql.msp.log.

Annoying part is if the Windows Update is set to Automatic them every time it tries this update will stop the SQL services which cause SQL Database driven websites to go offline.

Simple Registry Hack will fix this issue. I tried it on Windows 2003 Server and it should work on Windows XP in the same way around. Source NetScanTool Pro Inside Out Comment.


1. Go to Run, type regedit, and click ok, or press Enter.
2. Back up your registry, if you don't know how to do this, google it...
3. In Regedit, go to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL
Server\MSSQL.1\Setup]
4. find the Resume REG_DWORD, and change its decimal value from 1, to 0.
5. Check MSSQL.2 and MSSQL.3 for the Resume key and change the value to 0 from 1.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\Setup
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\Setup

5. install the update, and restart the machine.

This worked like a magic and solve the KB970892 installation problem.

BookMark: Networking Windows with Mac OS X

If you are having problems networking your Windows Computers with Mac computers this web page will provide all the hacks tricks and tweaks you should know. Without wasting your time here is the website; MacRumorsGuides Networking Windows with Mac OS X


Even though Mac and PC is having a bad relationship they can talk to each other and share files and folders without any problem. MacRumorsGuide came in handy to make it happened.

ISSUE1: Mac did not detect the Windows computer

After making the folder in Windows machine shared go to Mac computer.

Go to Go (You have to open the Finder) and Connect to Server. Do not forget to type smb:/// Without smb:// mac will not identify your computers in the network. This is something most of the Windows users are not familiar with.

ISSUE2: Mac cannot Authenticate Windows 2003

Mac computer recodnice the Windows computer and requesting the user name and the password but dose not accept it even you try the Administrator account. Thats because Windows 2003 by default tries to encrypt everything that send to and send from it. So Mac does not undestand Windows 2003 language.

Two Solutions suggested by MacRumorsGuide

Case 1, your server is nothing more than a regular file server. In this case open up regedit (Start > Run > "regedit" {return}), and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ LanManServer \ Parameter \ RequireSecuritySignature, and set it's value to "0".

Case 2, your server is also a Domain Controller. In which case you need to open the DC's Security Policy (Administrative Tools > Domain Controller Security Policy). Navigate to Local Policies > Security Options, and disable "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)" & "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if client agrees)". Reboot your sever, and you should be good to go.

MacWindows The Web site for Macintosh-Windows integration
MacRumorsGuides Networking Windows with Mac OS X

How to Play FLV (Flash Video) Files in Windows Media Player?

How to Play FLV (Flash Video) Files in Windows Media Player?

By default Windows Media Player (WMP) will not play flv and report that it does not have the correct codecs to play it.

There are two options (either of these two will work)

1) Downloading codecs package such as K-Lite . K-Lite is a tremendous codecs package that supports for various file formats such as 3gp, mp4 etc. Almost any movie format that you can think of or find on the internet, K-Lite will have a codec to play it. Installing the package will enable Windows Media Player to decode and play the file.

K-lite can be downloaded from here

2) Download a simple FLV plugin for Windows Media Player with no extra bells and whistles. The plugin is very lightweight and does exactly what it says - Plays FLV files and nothing extra.

PlayFLV plugin can be downloaded from here

How to: Restart a computer via remote desktop

Normally when you log in to a computer via remote desktop it disable the Restart, Shut down functions.

I don’t think it is a good idea to shut down a machine via remote desktop. How you would going to switch on the computer. Then How to restart your computer via remote desktop? There are couple of ways you can do this

1. Alt+F4 is one of the easiest ways you can do it. Then select the Restart.
2. Ctr+Alt+End and the select the Restart
3. Start > Run > then type shutdown.exe

There are many more ways you can do it and it may change depending on the Windows version you use. I have use this in Windows XP and Windows 2003 but I havent got any chance to test this on Windows vista.

Error Message: Unable to Log You on Because of an Account Restriction

You will get error message Error Message "Unable to Log You on Because of an Account Restriction" when you try to login to a computer using remote desktop.

Reason for this error message is the user account does not have a password. Simply login to the user account from the local machine and go to control panel > user account to setup a password.

Cool the problem will be solved.

how to login to computer using remote desktop. (windows XP)

Start > All Programs> Accessories > Communication > Remote desktop Connection

In windows Vista

Start > type "Remote desktop" in the search area. (I think thats coool and easy)

How to assign the user to "Allow log on through Terminal Services" using local policy (gpedit.msc)

This is helpful in windows 2003 when you try to add a user and
give terminal services right to the user.

By default in Windows 2003 it is only enabled for the Administrator.
All the other user group need to be assigned before it is been used.

1.Type "GPEDIT.msc" in RUN
2.Go to Computer Configurtions
3.Go to Windows Settings
4.Go to Security Settings
5.Go to Local Policies
6.Go to User Rights Assignment
7.Double click Allow Log on through Terminal Services
8.Add the User to the list. You can use the advance button to display all the users and groups and select one.

That it. It let the new user log into the machine through Remote Desktop.