Determine Win7 version on install DVD

I recently faced the question on how to determine the version of an given blank Windows 7 DVD.

After some web search and I had tried several ways here’s how you do this.

Visual Studio, TFS and WinMerge

WinMerge is a great and handy tool for comparing and merging source code and other textual file types within a team development environment.

I use it since a few years and therefore I also want to use it with VS2010 and TFS and it’s very simple.

Just go through

Tools > Options > Source Control > Visual Studio Team Foundation Server > Hit <Configure Tools>

Here you can setup custom tools for comparing and merging.

Add a new tool and provide the installation path to WinMerge and some command line arguments like (explanation follows):

Hit <OK> and do the same with merge.

Command line switches for WinMerge are (copied from the WinMerge documentation):

• /r compares all files in all subfolders (recursive compare).

• /e enables you to close WinMerge with a single Esc key press.

• /f applies a specified filter to restrict the comparison. The filter can be a filemask or the name of a file filter

• /x closes WinMerge (after displaying an information dialog) when you start a comparison of identical files.

• /s limits WinMerge windows to a single instance.

• /ul prevents WinMerge from adding the left path to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list.

• /ur prevents WinMerge from adding the right path to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list.

• /u prevents WinMerge from adding either path (left or right) to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list.

• /wl opens the left side as read-only.

• /wr opens the right side as read-only.

• /minimize starts WinMerge as a minimized window.

• /maximize starts WinMerge as a maximized window.

• /dl specifies a description in the left side title bar, overriding the default folder or filename text.

• /dr specifies a description in the right side title bar, just like /dl.

• leftpath specifies the folder, file or project file to open on the left side.

• rightpath specifies the folder, file or project file to open on the right side.

• outputpath Specifies an optional output folder where you want merged result files to be saved.

• conflictfile Specifies a conflict file, typically generated by a Version control system.

Resources:
flurfunk.sdx-ag.de
www.prowebconsult.com
Winmerge manual

Multi-Startpage with Firefox

Ever get rid that firefox doesn't open multiple pages on startup?

The settings dialog only offers to set the current page as startpage, not the opened tabs. But a a short research on the internet results, that is it possible to sett multiple startpages by manual.

So just enter the urls to the pages separated by pipes an you get multiple startpages with firefox.

German version on www.baer-torsten.de

Two ways of disabling Ctrl-Alt-Delete on logon

Especially in domain environments users are forced to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete (German: Strg-Alt-Enf) to logon any machine by default.

Some like this feature, I not.

I have found two ways to disable this on Windows 7^® and Vista^®.

Not Requiring Ctrl-ALT-DEL at logon
Vista requiring ctrl-alt-del before login

The two ways are:

1. Advanced User Accounts Control Panel (NETPLWIZ; %systemroot%\system32\netplWiz.exe)
2. Local Security Policy

The Advanced User Accounts Control Panel is reachable via

• <Win> + <R> ⇒ type Netplwiz ⇒ hit <Enter>
• Start button or <Win> ⇒ press Run ⇒ type Netplwiz ⇒ hit <Enter>
• Start button or <Win> ⇒ press "Help and Support" ⇒ search for "Secure Login" or Ctrl-Alt-Del ⇒ usually the first result ⇒ hit "Click here to open Advanced User Accounts"
• Control Panel ⇒ User Accounts ⇒ User Accounts ⇒ Manage User Accounts ⇒ Advanced
  [not reproduceable]

If Panel is open switch to Advanced Tab and under Secure Logon tick the checkbox right before Require Users to Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

The Local Security Policy is reachable via

• Start or <Win> ⇒ Control Panel ⇒ System and Maintenance ⇒ Administrative Tools ⇒ Local Security Policy ⇒ Local Policies
  
• <Win> + <R> ⇒ Type gpedit.msc ⇒hit <Enter> ⇒ Local Computer Policy ⇒ Computer Configuration ⇒ Windows Settings ⇒ Security Settings ⇒ Local Policies

Select Security Options and double click on Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL and select Enabled.

Have fun.