5 Reasons You Should Be Scared of Apple

Robert Evans over at cracked.com wrote this great article about the force known as Apple, led of course by Steve Jobs.  Evans reminds us of their over-the-top quest to keep everything Apple top secret until Mr. Jobs is ready to sit in a comfy chair in his jeans and turtle neck to reveal the next great wonder of the world on their way to world domination.  Don't believe me?  This is an excerpt from a recent US Patent Office filing from Apple listing none other than Steve Jobs himself:

"Apple can further determine whether a user pays attention to the advertisement. The determination can include performing, while the advertisement is presented, an operation that urges the user to respond; and detecting whether the user responds to the performed operation. If the response is inappropriate or nonexistent, the system will go into lock down mode in some form or other until the user complies. In the case of an iPod, the sound could be disconnected rendering it useless until compliance is met. For the iPhone, no calls will be able to be made or received."

OpenSSH for Windows

OpenSSH for Windows is a free package that installs a minimal OpenSSH server and client utilities in the Cygwin package without needing the full Cygwin installation.  The OpenSSH for Windows package provides full SSH/SCP/SFTP support. SSH terminal support provides a familiar Windows Command prompt, while retaining Unix/Cygwin-style paths for SCP and SFTP.

Find more information and download OpenSSH for Windows from SourceForge.

Windows Update error 80072efd on Windows 7

For a couple months now I haven't been able to update my precious Windows 7.  I would get a message that the updates failed with, "Windows Update error 80072efd."  I tried all the steps from the Windows Help and Support window (running the Windows Update troubleshooter and adding the Windows Update websites to the Windows firewall exception list) to no avail.  Out of desperation I found a reference to correct this problem on Vista by running netsh winhttp reset proxy.  It worked!

Open a command prompt as administrator (Start / All programs / Accessories, right-click “Command Prompt” and select "Run as administrator").

At the command prompt run:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

Try Windows Update update again.

What's In Your Wallet, er, ah, Safe?

How to Convert a VMware VMDK to Hyper-V VHD Virtual Server Files

How to Convert a VMware VMDK to Hyper-V VHD Virtual Server Files

Don't Tax Me Bro!

Hey, Obama: Don't Tax Me, Bro!

Visit The PowerCram Store

Open a Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows 7, Vista and Windows 2008

Often, even if you are logged on as a user which belongs to the local Administrators group, you may have to open a command prompt (or other program) as "administrator."  Simply right-click the shortcut (Start, All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt) and select Run As Administrator.

Applies to:

• Windows 7
• Windows 2008
• Windows Vista

Installing BackTrack 4 Final

Installing BackTrack 4 Final couldn't be easier.  I've expanded just a little on the simple installation instructions from BackTrack.  Follow these simple instructions and you'll be using BackTrack 4 Final in no time.  NOTE: These instructions assume you are going to use the entire disk on your computer for BackTrack.

First, boot the the BackTrack 4 Final DVD.  Either allow it to start on its own or select your preferred screen size.

At the command line enter startx.

Double-click install.sh on the desktop.

Select your region/city for the correct timezone, click Forward.  Select your keyboard layout, then Forward.  Use the default disk partitioning option of Guided.  Click Forward.

Click Install and watch it go.

The installation should only take a few minutes.

When it's done it will prompt you to remove your DVD and reboot.  That's it.  Now you're BackTracking.

NOTE: when your system starts your default username will be root, with the password of toor.

See How to Start Networking in BackTrack 4

Keyboard Shortcut to open Windows Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista

Microsoft changed things up again. Back in the day (Windows 2000, 2003, XP, etc.) you could easily open Windows Task Manager using Ctrl + Alt + Del, then pressing T.  Now in Windows 7 and Windows Vista you can still use Ctrl + Alt + Del which displays a screen whith options like Lock this Computer, Switch User, Log Off, Change Password, and Start Task Manager.  However, pressing T does nothing, and in fact, no keyboard shortcuts work on this screen to choose one of the items from the list - even tab and arrow keys don't let you pick from the list.  You have to use your mouse pointer.  Stupid, stupid, STUPID!  Way to go Microsoft!

So to launch Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista you would have to go through this double step process of pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del, then reaching over to your mouse and clicking on Start Task Manager.  I can understand Microsoft trying to make things easier for new users and for the masses.  But for heaven's sake please leave old keyboard shortcuts in place for those of us who have been using Windows for a while.

Enough ranting and raving.  Although this has probably been the case all along (this old dog had to learn a new trick), you can use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly and bypass the hassle and frustration introduced by MS with Vista.