Taking ownership of Windows files

Registry 'hack' for taking ownership of Windows files. A simpler work-around for the usually cumbersome series of steps you normally otherwise have to take to achieve the same results: Copy and paste the following script into notepad and save the file with a .reg extension. (for example, TakeOwnership.reg) You will then be able to double-click on the file and have the registry auto-updated with the necessary settings.

You'll most likely get a prompt asking "Adding information can unintentionally change or delete values...blah blah blah...etc, ...Are you sure you want to continue". Just click 'Yes' if you're sure you want the 'Take Ownership' feature installed.

This is the menu option (highlighted in yellow) that this registry update will add to your right-click context menu in Windows Explorer:

Copy Code below:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"

Windows 7 tips and secrets

85 Windows 7 tips, tricks and secrets

courtesy of techradar

You do not have permission to access [drive]. Contact your network administrator to request access

For example: "You do not have permission to access \\my-pc\k. Contact your network administrator to request access"

When this error results from trying to access a PC's shared drive (not just a sub-directory but the entire shared drive) from another client PC on a (wireless) network, it could be that in addition to setting sharing permissions on the drive share, you have to remember to also set security access permissions for the drive itself :

• Right-click on the drive, 
• Click properties,
• On the 'Security' tab (NOT 'Sharing' tab), click Edit,
• On Security dialogue, click Add,
• Type Everyone (click Check Names) and click OK,
• Apply the necessary permissions (like Full Control, Read, Modify, etc),
• Click OK (2x)

View Background Image in Opera/Chrome/IE with a javascript bookmarklet

Create a new book mark (preferably on your bookmarks bar or) wherever you choose within easy access, and then select and paste in all of this code as the URL/address:

javascript:var backup=document.body.onclick;void(document.body.onclick=function(event){var bodyStyle=window.getComputedStyle(document.body,null).getPropertyValue('background-image');var bgStyle=window.getComputedStyle(event.target,null).getPropertyValue('background-image');if(bgStyle!='none')window.open(bgStyle.replace(/url\("?/,'').replace(/"?\)$/,''));else if(bodyStyle!='none')window.open(bodyStyle.replace(/url\("?/,'').replace(/"?\)$/,''));document.body.onclick=backup;backup=undefined;});

To view any web page's background image, first click on the bookmark then click on the background image you wish to view.

It should work, amazingly well, if the page does have a background image!

Got it set up in IE9, Chrome18, Opera11, no probs

---

These steps are not necessary in Mozilla's Firefox browser, which already has an in-built "View Background Image" option on its right-click context menu.

But this just saves the hassle of having to copy a URL from Chrome/Opera/IE into Firefox just to view a background image.

Tip of the hat to MyOpera for the tip.

How to Install Windows Movie Maker 6.0 on Windows 7

If you'd gotten quite used to 'Windows Movie Maker' in Windows Vista, you'll probably notice right away after you start using Windows 7, that the new so-called 'Windows Live Movie Maker' is pretty crap!!! to put it mildly...

here's an excellent solution:
How to Install Windows Movie Maker 6.0 on Windows 7

Although as far as I could make out, this depends on you having access somehow, to the old 'Windows Movie Maker' files from a Vista machine.

10 Windows 7 commands every administrator should know

Reposted: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-windows-7-commands-every-administrator-should-know/

Upgrading Windows Vista sp2 to Windows 7...chronicle...

Finally took the plunge and upgraded my 22 month old win Vista sp2 machine to Windows 7:

Downloaded and installed Windows 7 upgrade advisor....and my PC passes all tests.
(Ran my anti-virus before hand, as advised, and then disabled it before beginning win7 setup)

It went something like this:

Inserted upgrade DVD and clicked on Setup.exe

After selecting the "Upgrade" option (as opposed to "Custom")...

5-point-menu displayed (Started at 12:30pm):

#1.Copying Windows files

#2.Gathering files, settings & programs.
machine does an auto restart after #2 after 30 mins (1pm)

#3.Expanding Windows files.

#4.Installing features & updates.
after a further 30mins, another auto restart (1:35pm)

#5.Transferring files, settings & programs. (install spends ages upon ages at "694374MB of 949330MB transferred"), then after 62% - 714027MB -(3.39pm) another auto restart.

949073 (72%) copied as of 4pm. ...and again, spends ages (30mins) at "949073MB of 949330MB  transferred "!

949330MB, finally done at 4:28pm. Another auto restart!

Resumed with request for vista product key:

Three choice menu
1. Install all latest updates (i.e. use recommended settings)
2. Install only important updates
3. Ask to Install updates later

(I choose option 2)

Date & time setting appears.

Network choices are next:
1.Home
2.Work
3.Public

(4:40pm) Windows 7 logon screen...yea!!! Yeehah!!! Woohoo!!! Yippeee!!!

The very 1st dialog I see after logging on is: "Setup has detected that the .Net framework version 4 needs to be repaired. Do not restart your computer until Setup is complete."

4:47pm, taskbar finally appears...mousing over the update icon shows "Windows is downloading updates"

4:58pm, yet another auto restart!
"Logging off..." screen is displayed for ages! (13 mins)
I finally give up and push reset button. Had to do this twice as 1st restart appeared to hang on black, blank screen (panic!!!)

Finally, (5:20pm, back at the Win7 desktop....Woohoo!!!)

Every thing seems to be working just fine, as before. So far I've hardly had to re-install any of my previous programs, applications, games, device drivers, etc., Swell!

Don't forget to click on 'Start Menu' -> right-click 'Computer' -> select 'Properties',
(alternatively goto Control Panel->System and Security->System), then under "Windows activation" entering your new product-key and then click to "Activate" your new copy of Windows 7.

Oh, and also don't forget to re-enable anti-virus.

For anyone having any doubts about upgrading...I say go for it. Hopefully your experience will be fairly painless as mine has been.

PS: I noticed hours later - I did need to re-install Windows Movie Maker (needs to be downloaded and is now part of package called Windows Live Essentials).

Also, strangely enough, I had IE9 installed previously, and this got rolled back to IE8 by the Win 7 install...quite odd!