Remove services from auto-startup on Windows

Every service you install is usually run on system startup. Sometimes these services do so without asking you before and sometimes they might even be malicious or just too heavy in resources. To select specific services that shall not be started by boot, open msconfig by calling a Run prompt through the main menu and ... Read more

Fix “System error 1290 has occurred.” error on Windows

This error usually comes up when you try to start a new service that would get the same service ID as another service in the process: System error 1290 has occurred. The service start failed since one or more services in the same process have an incompatible service SID type setting. A service with restricted ... Read more

Getting information about your system from dxdiag on Windows

DirectX Diagnostic tool dxdiag is a useful tool on Windows that gives you loads of information about your system, such as GPU, CPU and BIOS info. It is common that tech support asks you to attach your dxdiag report to support requests since it helps to narrow down the problem. Before Windows 8, dxdiag was ... Read more

Hide files by merging them with Winrar on Windows

Apart from alternate data streams, there is another, perhaps easier way to hide files within others. All you need for it is WinRar (download the 32 or 64 bit version, depending on what operating system you use). To simplify things, I also like to install WinRar's context menu items. First off, you need the files ... Read more

Uninstall USB Drivers on Windows 7

In the time you used your current Windows 7 system you undoubtly have plugged in a lot of different USB devices into your computer, most of them never to be used on it again. You will have notices that for every different device, Windows comes up with a message telling you that it automatically installs ... Read more

Use Alternate Datastreams to Hide Important Files (Windows, NTFS)

There is a feature in NTFS data system that lets you easily hide your files from nosy people using your computer which is called Alternate Data Streams. What they basically do is to hide files behind others, using them as a "container", but they only are executable if you enter a specific syntax in your ... Read more