How Do I Back Up My Drivers?

So it was time for me to leave Win7 build 7100 and go onto the final and so called stable release 7600.

One problem i had was how to get all my drivers intact since my 7100 was an upgrade and left all my vista drivers intact. formatting my pc to install 7600 would mean i would loose all my drivers.

I so hate going online to look for device drivers from OEM sites.

So I decided to ask the oracle and as I was patient, she answered my worries and brought me to this article on PC world.

There are a couple of software's that can do this *trick*

The first is driverback.bat, a batch file I wrote when I last answered this question in 2005 (if that link brings you to a web page of text rather than a file download dialog box, copy and paste that text into Notepad and save it as driverback.bat). This makes for an extremely easy backup and a reasonably easy restore, although it backs up far more files than you're likely to need. Another problem: It doesn't work in Vista--one more reason why I'm giving an alternative solution.

Running my batch file copies a great many files to a folder inside My Documents called driverback. Copy this folder to an external drive or burn it to CD for safe keeping.

To restore your drivers to a fresh XP installation, connect or insert the media containing your driverback backup. Select Start, Run, type sysdm.cpl, and press ENTER. Click the Hardware tab, then the Device Manager button.

Repeat the following steps for each item listed that displays a yellow question mark:

1. Right-click the item and select Update Driver.

2. In the resulting Hardware Update Wizard, select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and click Next.

3. Check Include this location in the search and point it to your driverback folder. Click Next.

4. If the installation pauses because it can't find a file, point it to your driverback folder.

If you're using Vista, don't trust my admittedly crude batch file, or just want two backups, consider Innovative Solution's free DriverMax (http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/). (Free, yes, but you still must register it if you wish to keep using it.)

Once installed and registered, it backs up and restores drivers with almost no fuss.

Other software’s around that can handle this task are . . .

windriversbackup v 1.09 from http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64610/description.html

DriverScanner from http://www.google.com

chily driver backup from http://www.chilydriverbackup.com/

driver-backup from http://www.driver-backup.com

World’s strangest aphrodisiacs

By Nicole Alper

Some people put on a strong aftershave. Others cue up a little Barry White. Still others go a different route when they’re looking to get in the mood: they drink a glass of cobra blood.

Sound strange? It won’t if you visit China. To some men there—and in other parts of Asia—imbibing the blood of a venomous snake is as conducive to seduction as the soulful tones of Barry.

The concept of the aphrodisiac—a substance that, when consumed, enhances sexual performance—exists in almost every culture, and dates back as far as ancient Egypt (when amorous couples reportedly ate wine-soaked water lilies to amp up their passion). Martha Hopkins, author of “InterCourses”: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook, explains that “historically, foods that mimicked certain body parts were believed to aid those same body parts, including sexual organs.” That would explain certain populations’ affinity for sea cucumber—as well as powdered rhino horn.

Thanks to centuries of traditional Chinese medicine—which links particular ingredients to an amplified sex drive—most aphrodisiacs can be found in Asia.

In Korea, the hagfish, or slime eel, takes the shape of an enviably large member and emits a slimy substance when touched, likely accounting for its status as an elixir of love. And there is perhaps no more symbolic aphrodisiac than the “balut”—a duck egg hosting a partially gestated fetus—hawked in the Philippines as commonly as movie theater popcorn.

World’s strangest aphrodisiacs

Spanish Fly: The secretions of a certain type of European blister beetle — which, when applied to human flesh, cause irritation and swelling — have been used to induce tumescence since the days of Julius Caesar. Cost: As little as $3 a bottle.

 

 

 

Other purported aphrodisiacs get their potency from actual toxins, which irritate (some might say “inflame”) the bodies of those who eat them. Perhaps the best-known example of this sort is good old Spanish fly—an acidic beetle secretion prized for its ability to cause swelling on contact; or “fugu” (blowfish), which can lead to both pleasurable tingling and much-less-pleasurable death.

Despite these risks—and despite the fact that there’s little medical evidence to back up most aphrodisiac claims—many cultures still embrace the belief that certain foods can kick up one’s sex drive. In the end, an aphrodisiac’s effectiveness likely has the simplest explanation: the power of suggestion—and some very wishful thinking.

“Aphrodisiacs are all about the imagination—whether you’re eating cobra or sipping hot chocolate,” says Hopkins. “The mind-set behind it is really what counts.”

Google enters social networking arena with Google Buzz

What's all the Buzz?

Google

Thanks in large part to the monumental success of social networking giant Twitter, Google has now created its own version of minute by minute status updates with Google Buzz, which was announced earlier today.

As is the norm for all things Google, they took a basic idea from someone else and put it on steroids so it would do everything the former did and so much more that we didn't know we needed it to do. Without getting into too much detail, I'll point out the four things that Google Buzz does that set it apart from the other heard of status update clients.

1. Blends with Gmail
2. Ranks updates based on your taste
3. Easily insert pictures and videos
4. Mobile connectivity (No news on a dedicated BlackBerry app just yet, but it's only a matter of time before it gets released.)
5. Choose who sees your updates
[PCWorld]

Even though Google is entering into the arena of social networking and status updates a little late in the game, there's still a good chance that Buzz will generate quite a bit of just that.  Hopefully it won't crash and burn much like the much anticipated Google Wave did and will take off and catch on with users.

Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7

Many people familiar with prior versions of Windows are curious what happened to the built-in Administrator account that was always created by default. Does this account still exist, and how can you access it?

The account is created in Windows 7 or Vista, but since it’s not enabled you can’t use it. If you are troubleshooting something that needs to run as administrator, you can enable it with a simple command.

Note: You really shouldn’t use this account for anything other than troubleshooting. In fact, you probably shouldn’t use it at all.

Enable Built-in Administrator Account

First you’ll need to open a command prompt in administrator mode by right-clicking and choosing “Run as administrator” (or use the Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut from the search box)

Now type the following command:

net user administrator /active:yes

You should see a message that the command completed successfully. Log out, and you’ll now see the Administrator account as a choice. (Note that the screenshots are from Vista, but this works on Windows 7)

You’ll note that there’s no password for this account, so if you want to leave it enabled you should change the password.

Disable Built-in Administrator Account

Make sure you are logged on as your regular user account, and then open an administrator mode command prompt as above. Type the following command:

net user administrator /active:no

The administrator account will now be disabled, and shouldn’t show up on the login screen anymore.

How to Unlock Hidden Themes in Windows 7

Found this on the internet thanks to GOOGLE. had to blog this ASAP. followed the instructions and it worked so flawlessly. Windows 7 is a really sweet OS, just like my “Ma”.

1. Go to “start menu” and type “folder options”
2. Go to it then “view”. Then uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
3. Keep folder options for now.
4. Press “windows key + r”
5. Type: “\Windows\Globalization\MCT\”
6. Go to “MCT-AU”
7. Go to “themes”
8. then double click “AU.theme”
9. Now go back to “\Windows\Globalization\MCT\” and do the others eg. GB and US.
10. Now go back to “folder options” and check “Hide protected operating system files”.
11. Close “folder options” and now check themes in personalization. you should see all the unlocked themes.

PS: cant wait for GOOGLE BUZZ to be released . . . .

Microwave Cooking - Health Risks

The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking

by Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell

Is it possible that millions of people are ignorantly sacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience of microwave ovens? Why did the Soviet Union ban the use of microwave ovens in 1976? Who invented microwave ovens, and why? The answers to these questions may shock you into throwing your microwave oven in the trash.
Over 90% of American homes have microwave ovens used for meal preparation. Because microwave ovens are so convenient and energy efficient, as compared to conventional ovens, very few homes or restaurants are without them. In general, people believe that whatever a microwave oven does to foods cooked in it doesn't have any negative effect on either the food or them. Of course, if microwave ovens were really harmful, our government would never allow them on the market, would they? Would they?

Who invented microwave ovens?

The Nazis, for use in their mobile support operations, originally developed microwave "radiomissor" cooking ovens to be used for the invasion of Russia. By being able to utilize electronic equipment for preparation of meals on a mass scale, the logistical problem of cooking fuels would have been eliminated, as well as the convenience of producing edible products in a greatly reduced time-factor.
After the war, the Allies discovered medical research done by the Germans on microwave ovens. These documents, along with some working microwave ovens, were transferred to the United States War Department and classified for reference and "further scientific investigation." The Russians had also retrieved some microwave ovens and now have thorough research on their biological effects. As a result, their use was outlawed in the Soviet Union. The Soviets issued an international warning on the health hazards, both biological and environmental, of microwave ovens and similar frequency electronic devices.
Other Eastern European scientists also reported the harmful effects of microwave radiation and set up strict environmental limits for their usage. The United States has not accepted the European reports of harmful effects, even though the EPA estimates that radio frequency and microwave radiation sources in America are increasing at 15% per year.

 

In most cases, the foods used for research analysis were exposed to microwave propagation at an energy potential of 100 kilowatts/cm3/second, to the point considered acceptable for sanitary, normal ingestion. The effects noted by both German and Russian researchers is presented in three categories:

• Category I, Cancer-Causing Effects

• Category II, Nutritive Destruction of Foods

• Category III, Biological Effects of Exposure

 

Ten Reasons not to Use Your Microwave Oven

Based on Swiss, Russian and German clinical studies

1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2. The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in micro-waved food.

3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating micro-waved foods.

4. The effects of micro-waved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all micro-waved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in a microwave oven.

7. Micro-waved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This has been a primary contributor to the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in the United States.

8. The prolonged eating of micro-waved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9. Continual ingestion of micro-waved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10. Eating micro-waved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Safety tips for using microwave ovens

I personally showed much interest in microwave oven in my own kitchen and am finding that it had been difficult to get people to give up their microwave ovens. Some of the generation who grew up with microwave ovens apparently don't know any other way to heat food (really!).

• If you choose to use a microwave oven, Consumer Reports magazine suggests you stay as far as possible from the oven while it is in operation.

• Make sure the oven door closes properly. make sure no soil or food residues accumulate around the door seal.

• When cooking in a microwave, use heat-resistant glass, not plastic. The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA warns against using foam trays, plastic wraps, and cold-storage containers such as margarine tubs, whipped-topping bowls and cottage cheese cartons. According to the FSIS flyer "A Microwave Handbook," these containers "are not heat stable at high temperatures. They can melt or warp from the food's heat, possible causing chemicals to migrate into the food."

Where to look on a food label, whether you want to protect your heart, lose weight, or build bone!!

By Sally Kuzemchak, RD , Sally Kuzemchak writes frequently about nutrition and health and has worked in weight management and diabetes education as a registered dietitian. She lives in Ohio with her husband and son.

Quick: How often do you look at the food labels and nutrition facts on the products you buy?

If you said frequently, you're being smart about your health: Adults who read food labels and nutrition facts slash twice as many calories from fat as those who don't give them a look, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. But that doesn't mean you have to read every line of the food label, every time you shop. Whether you want to gain energy, protect your heart, lose weight, or more, you can make the best choices for your objective by scanning a few select pieces of information in the nutrition facts. Here's where to look depending on your health goal, plus the spot that deserves a second glance.

To Gain Energy

Focus on...whole grains Scan the ingredients list for the word whole before grains like wheat, corn, barley, rye, and rice. (Millet, amaranth, quinoa, and oats are whole grains, too.) Whole grains sustain energy because they keep blood sugar stable. Refined carbohydrates (such as white sugar and flour) cause big spikes and drops in sugar levels that can leave you feeling drained, says Tara Gidus, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Daily goal: At least three 1-ounce servings of whole grains

Glance at...Iron Look for 10% Daily Value (1.8 mg) or more per serving Without enough iron in your blood, your cells don't get oxygen they need, and that causes fatigue, says Nancy Clark, RD, author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. It's especially important to add iron-enriched packaged foods to your diet if you don't eat red meat.

Daily goal: 18 mg for age 50 and younger; 8 mg for age 51 and older

To Lower Cholesterol

Focus on...Saturated Fat
Look for 1g or less per 100 calories. (If the food has 200 calories per serving, it should have no more than 2g of saturated fat.)

Most of the cholesterol in your blood doesn't come from high-cholesterol foods; it's actually made by your body--and the culprit is saturated fat. The more you consume, the more cholesterol your body makes. So even if you see cholesterol free stamped on the package, the food may still be a bad choice if it's loaded with saturated fat. Of course, you can still indulge in a little saturated fat-filled ice cream or cheese now and then--you just have to plan for it. A 1/2-cup scoop of your favorite flavor, for example, may have 13g! Save it for a splurge and shoot for a minimal amount of sat fat the rest of the day.

Daily goal: No more than 10% of your daily calories (for a 1,600-calorie day, that's 17.5g of saturated fat)

Glance at...Trans Fat

Look for 0g in the nutrition facts and no hydrogenated anything in the ingredients list

Trans-free products are easier to find these days, but manufacturers can still claim "no trans fats" if there's less than 0.5g per serving; eat two servings and you may get nearly 1g of trans fat--enough to raise your "bad" LDL cholesterol and worse, reduce your "good" HDL cholesterol. That's why you have to scan the ingredients list, too: "Don't eat it if you see the word hydrogenated," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, director of the Yale Prevention Research Center in New Haven, CT. "Look for trans-free products that list liquid canola and olive oils instead."

Daily goal: As close to 0g as possible