Version: 11.1
Revision: 12 Build 8.1
Microsoft WGA without class action status!
Yesterday, I’ve heard this news from somebody else! They told me that there was a lawsuit that is trying to sue Microsoft for adding “Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)” anti-piracy patch onto Windows XP users and disguised it as a high priority update in “Windows Update Center”. Nonetheless, if it had been given “class action status,” this could allow anyone who had owned a copy of Windows XP disk, then, they would have been able to join the lawsuit without hiring a lawyer. So, in my own judgment, this anti-piracy patch, it sounds very dodgy. It also acts like a monitoring software and eats all of your computer resources at boot-up! Even worse, it may retrieve sensitive data and send them back to their headquarters for analysis. Therefore, I would recommend everybody to keep an eye on “WGA” connections and block it from accessing your network.
Copyrighted By Lair360
Version: 12.1
Revision: 33 Build 12 (BlackBox 2)
BlackBox for the benchies!
Introduction: this utility was designed to collect information about your hardware components, operating systems, memory type and many more. It can also benchmark your computer and notebooks, such as: system processor, memory, graphics adapter and hard drive to determine your overall performance against your opponent’s computer and their hardware. However, this feature is locked for Windows XP user. It will only allow you to benchmark if you have Windows Vista or Windows 7.
HWM BlackBox
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Url*1 - http://blackbox.hardwaremania.com/en/
Url*2 - http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/HWM-BlackBox.shtml
Notes: this utility was specially designed to work inside your USB dongle. Therefore, you don’t have to install it and waist your time!
Copyrighted By Lair360
Version: 12.1
Revision: 33 Build 13
Modify your ATi Radeon Memory!
Introduction: A couple of days ago in the IT department, I was modifying my “ATi Catalyst Driver” for Windows XP, just before installation. It took me quite a while but it’s worth the performance!
On the other hand, this tweak will only change your memory to their maximum capacity. For example, if I have this chipset: ATi Radeon HD 4870 (1GB). But, the driver only states your card as 512 MB, then you will need to change that digit into 1024 MB. Simple…
Tips: For better navigation, I would suggest you to download these software and install them before you continue with the tutorials. These program will analyze your GPU and notify you with the correct chipset.
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/ (Notepad++)
http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html (Hwinfo32)
1.] Install “HWiNFO32” and run the application.
2.] Wait for it to load and look at the GPU chipset. It is located at the upper – right –corner in your dialogue box.
3.] Keep your previous application running and search for the installation folder.
By default, it should be in your system hard drive. If not, you may have left it somewhere…
Default directory
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C:\ATI\Support\9-8_legacy_xp32-64_dd_ccc\Driver\XP_INF
4.] Look for this file: “CX_85695.inf” and open it with “Notepad-Plus”. You will immediately see a bunch of codes.
5.] Scroll down to line ‘5100’ and look for this string: ‘MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration’.
Example
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[ati2mtag_M10.GeneralConfigData] MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=128 MaximumNumberOfDevices=4 SessionImageSize = 16
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Notes: if you can’t find your ATi Radeon Chipset, you may want to press “Ctrl + F”, paste the codes into your search box and click: “Find Next”.
6.] Modify your GPU memory and save your changes.
Warning: if your cards support 1GB of VRAM, you will need to apply this figure: “1024 MB”. However, you cannot go over the card’s overall capacity! So, be careful and check your card’s memory limit!
Example (Default).
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[ati2mtag_RS600M.GeneralConfigData] MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=256 MaximumNumberOfDevices=4 SessionImageSize = 16
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Example (Modified).
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[ati2mtag_RS600M.GeneralConfigData] MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=512 MaximumNumberOfDevices=4 SessionImageSize = 16
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Figure MB * = ATi Mobility Cards (Not compatible with all ATi Radeon cards).
Figure MB ^ = This is only for 64-Bit operating systems with 2GB VRAM.
Warning: this modification will only work if your cards support 128 MB or more!
Please avoid changing your 64 MB VRAM (Low Memory GPU). This may cause your computer to black out or crash!
128 MB
256 MB
384 MB *
512 MB
640 MB *
768 MB *
1024 MB
2048 MB ^
7.] Install your modified driver and have fun!
Copyrighted By Lair360
Version: 1.2a
Revision: 32 Build 11
FireFox – Save your bandwidth and money!
Introduction: when I was surfing the net with FireFox, I didn’t know that I was using more bandwidth than ever! It’s like I am using 13% more bandwidth (network prefetch). Also, if you are using broadband, prefetch was enabled by default to make your browser collect / download web-pages and images in-advance. This also includes 3rd party contents by using rel=”prefetch” within the hidden configuration.
On the other hand, you might want to disable this feature, because, there is a chance that your ISP provider, they will charge you “pay-per-byte” for network bandwidth or exposing your privacy within the server. Nevertheless, if you don’t want to get cookies / images from websites that you’re actually visiting. All you need to do is follow the instructions below:
1.] Execute Firefox and type: “about:config” in the address bar.
2.] Press “Enter” and type: “network.prefetch-next” in the filter dialogue box.
3.] Edit your configuration and change your value as “false”.
4.] Restart Firefox and use CCleaner to clear your temporary files, prefetch files and ect…
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http://www.ccleaner.com
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When everything is done, you can relax and save money! Nevertheless, when this setting is disabled, there is a higher chance that your computer is protected from attackers.
Copyrighted By Lair360
Version: 11.1
Revision: 22 Build 12
HD Tune – Hard Drive Monitor
Introduction: If you are really worried about your internal hard drive, there is no need to worry! You can easily use this software to check / analyze your drive’s health, temperature, status and supported features. Nevertheless, this tool is not just about monitoring your hard drive. What it does, it can benchmark your hard drive and alert you if the temperature is over the standards.
Secondly, this software, it can examine your hard drive for bad / faulty sector. It can also perform a full scan (slower) if you desire! However, the it may take longer…
If you want to use this software, just to monitor your HDD, you can easily fetch the software from these links.
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http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/HD-Tune.shtml
http://majorgeeks.com/HD_Tune_d4130.html
Finally, if you want to analyze external hard drive or test HDD caches, you will need to buy their “HD Tune Pro” edition.
For support or bug reports, please use the author’s website.
http://www.hdtune.com/
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Copyrighted By Lair360
