-*- mode: outline; coding: utf-8; fill-column: 80 -*-

* Determining windows version.

Run winver.exe: <Win> + R winver <RET>.

Or type: <Win> + <Break>.

Under cmd.exe use built-in command ver.

For Win 2000 and upper check registry key:

  cmd> reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentVersion

To check 32/64-bit OS use PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE env var (it has such values:

x86, AMD64, IA64).

* Windows update.

  http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/

You can search driver by keywords from Device Manager like:

  VEN_10DE DEV_0247

  VID_22B8 PID_2A62

Also you can find updates on:

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/ru-ru/default.aspx

* XP.

** Check system files integrity.

  cmd> sfc /Scannow

To complete repair you may need original installation CD (you can mount it

from .iso image for example with DemonTools).

Works for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003.

See

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222471/

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747/ru

** Repair boot.

If you only damage boot sector of master or system partition boot from Windows

XP installation CD, enter to recovery console and run:

  cmd> fixboot

  cmd> fixmbr

See

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/ru

** Automatically connect to shared resource.

Add to autorun such .bat file:

  net use x: \\server\share /user:username password

See

  http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/net_use.mspx

* Activate windows.

  http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?sGuid=bab9e103-6365-44dd-9337-93f0cd9dd4b7&displaylang=en

                Windows Product Key Update Tool Instructions

** Activate Windows XP.

Replace %WINDIR%/system32/winlogon.exe with valid in Safe Mode and run Windows Product Key Update

Tool.

* Windows images.

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e

                Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File

* Vista

** Samba.

By default, you cannot authenticate and share files to and from Mac OS X or

Linux Samba due to a well known authentication method turned off by default.

To enable this,

*** Only for Windows Vista Ultimate/Business/Enterprise Editions.

Goto Start->Run and open gpedit.msc or secpol.msc

Select Continue on the User Account Control prompt. This will launch the Group

Policy Object Editor for the Local Computer Policy.

In the Group Policy Object Editor, expand:

-> Computer Configuration

-> Windows Settings

-> Security Settings

-> Local Policies

-> Security Options

Open the "Network security: LAN Manager authentication level" policy and

change the Security Setting to:

Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated

*** Windows Vista Home Edition.

Since Windows Vista Home Edition does not feature the Group Policy Editor, you

may do the following to enable this feature:

Goto Start->Run-> and type regedit.

Select Continue on the User Account Control prompt.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

Create the following DWORD value (if it doesn't exist): LmCompatibilityLevel

And set its value to: 1

* Map dir to disk.

To create:

  cmd> subst [to-disk: [from-disk:]path]

To remove:

  cmd> subst disk: /d

* CMD.

** How run cmd on 64-bit OS.

From 64-bit process:

  %windir%\System32\cmd.exe (for 64-bit)

  %windir%\SysWOW64\cmd.exe (for 32-bit)

From 32-bit process:

  %windir%\System32\cmd.exe (for 32-bit)

  %windir%\Sysnative\cmd.exe (for 64-bit)

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384187%28VS.85%29.aspx

                File System Redirector

* Standard scripts.

  compmgmt.msc - Computer management

  devmgmt.msc - Device manager

  diskmgmt.msc - Disk management

  dfrg.msc - Disk defrag

  eventvwr.msc - Event viewer

  fsmgmt.msc - Shared folders

  gpedit.msc - Group policies

  lusrmgr.msc - Local users and groups

  perfmon.msc - Performance monitor

  rsop.msc - Resultant set of policies

  secpol.msc - Local security settings

  services.msc - Various Services

  msconfig - System Configuration Utility

  regedit - Registry Editor

  msinfo32 - System Information

  sysedit - System Configuration Editor

  win.ini - windows loading information(also system.ini)

  winver - Shows current version of windows

  mailto: - Opens default email client

  command - Opens command prompt

  appwiz.cpl - Add & Remove Programs

  timedate.cpl - Date/Time Properties

  desk.cpl - Display Properties

  inetcpl.cpl - Internet Options

  mmsys.cpl - Sound Settings

  sysdm.cpl - System Properties

  password.cpl - Password Options

  main.cpl - Mouse and Keyboard Options

  control fonts - Fonts Folder

  control printers Printers Folder

* Path.

** Max path length.

260 chars. Use MAX_PATH macros from 'windows.h'.

** Allowed characters.

Not allowed:

 * characters from 0 to 31

 * < (less than)

 * > (greater than)

 * : (colon)

 * " (double quote)

 * / (forward slash)

 * \ (backslash)

 * | (vertical bar or pipe)

 * ? (question mark)

 * * (asterisk)

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365247.aspx

                Naming Files, Paths, and Namespaces

* Memory.

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff542275%28v=VS.85%29.aspx

                Boot Parameters to Configure DEP and PAE

** PAE.

All 32-bit Windows XP support only 4 GiB RAM. To enable PAE (Physical Address

Extension) edit 'c:\boot.ini', add option '/pae':

  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MS Windows XP Prof" /fastdetect /pae

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff557168%28v=VS.85%29.aspx

                /pae option

  http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/pae/paedrv.mspx

                PAE support

** NX.

NX (no execute) in Windows realised in Data Execution Prevention (DEP)

technology.

On 64-bit processes, DEP is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. For

32-bit Windows DEP is supported in Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows XP

with SP2, Windows Vista, and later versions of Windows.

To enable NX on 32-bit Windows edit 'c:\boot.ini', add option

'/noexecute=...' (alwayson/optout/optin/alwaysoff):

  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MS Windows XP Prof" /fastdetect /noexecute=alwayson

To see current DEP status run:

  cmd> wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_Available

  cmd> wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_SupportPolicy

  cmd> wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_Drivers

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff557134%28VS.85%29.aspx

                /noexecute parameter

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912923

                How to determine that hardware DEP is available and configured on your computer

* Life cycle.

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx

                End of support for Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows XP Service Pack 1

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx

                Windows Service Pack Road Map

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx

                Windows Life-Cycle Policy

  http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect

                Life-Cycle Policy by product

* NTFS junction points.

To craete use 'junction.exe' from Mark Russinovich or 'linkd.exe' from

Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit.

'junction.exe' included with Sysinternals suite.

  cmd> md c:\Program-Files

  cmd> junction c:\Program-Files "c:\Program Files"

  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb896768.aspx

                Junction v1.05, Published: July 24, 2007

  http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=205524

                How to create and manipulate NTFS junction points

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point

* Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit.

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927229

                Windows 2000 Resource Kit Tools for administrative tasks

                separate tools downloads

* Microsoft security tools.

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=CD057D9D-86B9-4E35-9733-7ACB0B2A3CA1&displayLang=en

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B1E76BBE-71DF-41E8-8B52-C871D012BA78&displayLang=en

                Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1.1 (for IT

                Professionals)

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?familyId=4a2346ac-b772-4d40-a750-9046542f343d&displayLang=en

                Enhanced Mitigation Evaluation Toolkit

  http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2009/10/27/announcing-the-release-of-the-enhanced-mitigation-evaluation-toolkit.aspx

                Announcing the release of the Enhanced Mitigation Evaluation

                Toolkit (old version 1.0)

  http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2010/07/28/announcing-the-upcoming-release-of-emet-v2.aspx

* Disabling UAC.

To disable UAC on the test computer, you must be able to log on with or provide the credentials of a

member of the local Administrators group.

Starting with Windows 7, UAC is disabled by following these steps:

  1. On the Start menu, type "UAC" and then click Change User Account settings.

  2. Move the slide bar to the bottom (Never Notify) and then click OK.

On Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, UAC is disabled by following these steps:

  1. Start Control Panel and double-click User Accounts.

  2. In the User Accounts tasks window, click Turn User Account Control on or off.

  3. Clear the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box, and then click OK.

* Fix file association.

Check current association:

  $ cmd /c assoc | grep -i "^\.mp3"

.mp3=mp3file

Get list of all available commands:

  $ cmd /c ftype

...

AIMP.mp3="C:\Program Files\AIMP2\AIMP2.exe" "%1"

...

and select one on them:

  $ cmd /c assoc .mp3=AIMP.mp3

* Clean up Windows system directories.

You can safely remove SP restore files:

  %Systemroot%\$NtServicePackUninstall$

Also check such directories:

  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files\Common Files

  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\USER\Application Data

  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290402

                HOW TO: Remove the Service Pack Restore Files and Folders in Windows