Creating SYSTEM Folders in Windows XP (con, prn, aux, etc)

Just curious around the working of Windows XP.. i found one interesting stuff!
Folders with name: CON, PRN, AUX, CLOCK$, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, & LPT9 cant be created using Windows Explorer or Command Prompt directly!

This is prevented as XP terms these folders as SYSTEM Folder Names reserved only for the Operating System..
But our curious brains dont stop pondering over such pessy stuff!

I searched around the net & found this trick to create system folders on XP through command prompt!

Try this:
CREATION
Syntax:md \\.\\$path
Example:prompt>md \\.\\C:\con
Explanation: This would create a folder named "con" on your "C Drive"

Similarly to delete such folder:
DELETION
Syntax:rd/s \\.\\$path
Example:prompt>rd/s \\.\\C:\con
Explanation: This would remove the folder named "con"!
Note: rd(Remove Directory) command is used with "/s" switch as otherwise it would give error that "folder is not empty"!

On another hand...if you ever wondered how to create a folder with no name...then try this:
Create a New Folder from Windows Explorer
Select rename & type: "ALT+255"(Use Numpad)..thats it!
ALT+255 stands for blank character in ASCII...so it still accepts your folder name!

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Free Subdomains or Redirection URL's Available!

Over the internet, there has been various subdomain & redirection URL services coming up...
Just thought of compiling the list here...

http://www.freeurl.com
http://www.jwdx.com
http://www.cjb.net
http://www.dot.tk
http://www.v3.com
http://www.hotredirect.com
http://www.internetjump.com
http://www.zdos.com
http://www.webalias.com
http://www.reduce.to
http://www.warping.to
http://www.gosurfto.com
http://www.shorturl.com
http://www.has.it
http://www.1fx.net
http://www.get-2.com
http://www.myredirector.com
http://www.tr.cx
http://www.kickme.to
http://www.dk3.com
http://www.suite.net/url.htm
http://www.ontheweb.nu
http://www.globalredirect.com
http://www.linkworld.to
http://www.rename.net
http://www.webmask.com
http://www.guruguru.to
http://www.6x.to
http://www.b4.to
http://www.b6.to
http://www.h3.to
http://www.thx.to
http://www.tsx.to
http://www.tsx.org
http://www.2fbi.de
http://www.ubb.cc
http://www.IDz.net
http://zwap.to
http://www.xsub.ws
http://www.elite.to
http://www.2fbi.de
http://www.b6.to
http://www.quickurl.com
http://www.iidd.org/
http://www.ne1.net/

Few of the best ones...
http://www.dot.tk/ (Top Level Domain(TLD) Redirection)
http://www.uni.cc/ (redirection & DNS Services)
http://www.acidmist.com/
http://www.freedomain.co.nr (Best service with no ads)

If you know any more or find few deadlinks...just post in the comment & i would add to the list for the compilation!

Missing/Disappearing Battery/Power Icon/Meter in Windows XP SP2 on Acer, IBM Thinkpad, Toshiba, etc Laptops!

You got a brand new laptop with Windows XP SP2 & applied those Windows Update??
A few days later you get this annoying loss of POWER METER/BATTERY ICON from the system tray!

I did a few research & four possible solutions found are listed here...

Solution 1:
1. Right-click on My Computer, Click on Manage
2. Expand 'Services & Applications'
3. Highlight 'Services'
4. Look through list of services on the right....
5. Find Universal Plug & Play Device Host
6. Right-click on it.
7. Click properties.
8. Change startup type to 'Disabled'
9. Do exactly the same with 'SSDP discovery service'

Restart & you would get your Icon BACK!

Solution 2:
1. Open Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.
2. In the sidebar, click on Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. Scroll down to Networking Services, select it, and click the Details... button.
4. Uncheck UPnP User Interface & other UPnP Service Listed.
5. OK your way out, close Add/Remove Programs, and reboot.
All tray icons should appear normally, without the need to log off and back on.

Solution 3:
1. START, RUN, type "regedit", then enter
2. Once in the Registry Editor, navigate the left directory tree to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. Then right click on the right window pane, click new, then string value.
4. Give the new string value the name "systray"
5. Your new value should now have the name "systray", the type "REG_SZ", and no/empty data.
6. Right click on your new "systray" value and click "modify".
7. Now give "systray" the value data: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\systray.exe"
8. Click ok and close the Registry Editor.
9. Restart your computer.

Solution 4:
1. Save the following "systray.zip" file & unzip it to extract "systray.reg"
Download(Save Target As): http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1b9773/n/systray_zip
2. Double click the file to add the contents to registry!
3. Then restart the PC & it would be solved...
Source: Digiportal Software

Above is also the general solution for any other System Tray Icons Failing/Disappearing from Loading...
Apart from this, no other concrete solution has been yet discovered by me...

Another part you must be worried regarding the services disable & unistallation of UPnP stuff! Well..as of now UPnP is not much used, so you can safely do the steps as i said...until microsoft provides an solution in future releases!

If you have another uncommon problem like Windows XP/2K/2K3 Server showing wrong battery time, then you need to get a hotfix from Microsoft...
Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889816

Please post the solution which worked for you as an comment to this post & also stat wat exactly was your problem, so others can be benefited from it!

Sources:
Google & Annoyances.org
Notes: This article has been tested on my Acer Aspire 3002NLC Laptop & also found to be working on other company models like IBM Thinkpad, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony Vaio, etc..

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Downloading Videos from YouTube, Google, Yahoo & Many Other Sites..

Ever since YouTube shot to fame...many online video sites have come up!
People love to watch Videos Online...but few of them are so nice, that a copy on your HardDisk is a Must!
To facilitate the downloads...a superb plugin has been developed by "Javi Moya" called the Video Downloader!
Its a extension based for FIREFOX Browser...If you dont have firefox, just click the Download Button on the sidebar on page!
Next Download the extension from Mozilla's Official Website: VideoDownloader Extension
Installing the extension is simple & automatically done in Firefox!

Another online utility that can be used from right here allows you to get the download URL of your fav video..
Just suffix the URL of video, e.g.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSRpu7bI04 to link below...& paste it in your browser address bar to get the download link instantly!
http://videodownloader.net/get/?url=

E.g.http://videodownloader.net/get/?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSRpu7bI04

Got the video you want??? But you want to play it back on the desktop!!
Get the FREE FLV Player which enables you to play the FLV format files from Youtube & various other sites...
Download: FLV Player

You got the Video...you played it back on your computer! But you want it on your iPOD too...
Yes its possible with the Replay Converter: Replay Converter

Various Video download sites covered by this extension are:
Angry Alien, Blennus, Blip.tv, Break.com, Dailymotion, Double Agent, eVideoShare, Free Video Blog, Google Video, Grinvi, iFilm, Keiichi Anime Forever, Metacafe, MySpace, MySpace Video Code, Putfile, Totally Crap, vidiLife, vSocial, AnimeEpisodes.Net, Badjojo, Blastro, Bofunk, Bolt, Castpost, CollegeHumor, Current TV, Dachix, Danerd, DailySixer.com, DevilDucky, Double Agent, EVTV1, FindVideos, Hiphopdeal, Kontraband, Lulu TV, Midis.biz, Music.com, MusicVideoCodes.info, Newgrounds, NothingToxic, PcPlanets, Pixparty, PlsThx, Revver, Sharkle, SmitHappens, StreetFire, That Video Site, VideoCodes4U, VideoCodesWorld, VideoCodeZone, Vimeo, Yikers YouTube and ZippyVideos.

Sources:
VideoDownloader Website: VideoDownloader
Google

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INTEX / ZEBRONICS Fake RTC8139D/RTL8139D Lan Chipset Drivers

Continuing my further research on the low quality LAN/NIC cards available in India...
This new INTEX / ZEBRONICS card has chipsets printed saying RTC8139D or even RTL8139D....
But both these chipsets are fake...

The driver supplied with has to installed otherwise.. even Windows XP fails to autodetect and install it as a Realtek LAN Card...

The Drivers supplied are written by Silan MicroElectronics Inc, China (www.silan.com.cn)

I have tested both the cards from INTEX & ZEBRONICS with XP & SP2 and the drivers supplied worked well..
Here are those drivers which upon installation lists the LAN/NIC Card as Realtek 8139d Card..which is totally fake...
INTEX_NIC_Fake_RTL8139d.zip
Zebronics_NIC_Fake_RTL8139d.zip

Once again.. i would recommend everyone not to fall for these cards...due to low cost...
Go for standard companies like DLINK or INTEL..
Even Original Realtek Cards are available..but proper detection has to be done in order to confirm whether its original or not...
Original Realtek/Dlink/Intel based cards get automatically installed in Windows XP without any driver disk requirement...

UPDATE (27th October, 2009):

Intex Drivers can be downloaded from (Link Updated: 23rd September 2009):
Intex Technologies

or i have uploaded the latest drivers available on website to:
8139D_RTC Based Chipset
8139D_RTL Based Chipset

UPDATE (27th October, 2009)

TechCom Drivers can be downloaded from:
TechCom India

or i have uploaded the latest drivers available on website to:
8139dII_TechCom Chipset

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Myson MTD80X LAN/NIC Drivers for Windows/Linux/OS2

Myson Century Inc (http://www.myson.com.tw) manufactured a LAN/NIC Card chipset named MTD80X which many low-quality manufacturers like Frontech, Intex, or Techcom used in their LAN/NIC Cards sold in India...

Now the biggest problem is, there isnt a proper driver available for download from the manufacturers site.. They dont have that chipset listed in the products...

Hence, i decided to upload the rare drivers out here for you all..
Original Diskette Drivers for MTD80X (All Windows, Linux & OS2): Myson_NIC_Windows.zip

Another version of drivers available are faked someone...for getting them detected as Realtek RTL8139 LAN/NIC Card in Windows..but the chipset is MTD80X (Windows Only)
MTD80X_RTL8139_Fake.zip

Hope these drivers help others..
Both are working fine..except in Windows XP with SP2..
The Faked ones only list the LAN/NIC card as Realtek RTL8139 in Device Manager..no other driver change..

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