TOTAL IT SUPPORT: 2020-07-05

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

How To Bypass Windows 30 day Activation / Product Key Requirements

🖥️ Regaining Access to Windows XP After Activation Lockout: A Temporary Workaround for File Retrieval

Welcome to my first post in a series of practical computer guides. Today, I want to share a method I used when I was unexpectedly locked out of my Windows XP system after the 30-day activation period expired. This guide is particularly helpful for those who need temporary access to personal files or system tools, especially when reinstalling or entering a product key isn’t immediately possible.

⚠️ Important Note:
This method is shared for educational and recovery purposes only. Always ensure you comply with software license agreements and local laws. I do not promote or condone software piracy. This workaround is intended to help users retrieve files or continue essential operations until proper activation is completed.

🔐 Understanding the Activation Lock

Microsoft introduced activation in Windows XP to reduce unauthorised use of its operating system. After installation, users are required to activate Windows within 30 days. Failure to do so results in being locked out of the desktop, start menu, and most system functions, limiting access to the activation prompt only.

If you're in this situation and need to retrieve important documents or perform urgent tasks, there’s a way to temporarily access your system using built-in accessibility tools.

🧭 Step-by-Step: Temporary Access Through Microsoft Narrator

Step 1: Start Your PC and Enter the Activation Screen

Turn on your computer.
Log in to your user account.
When prompted to activate Windows, click Yes. This brings up the Activate Windows screen.

Step 2: Launch Microsoft Narrator

Press Windows key + U to open Microsoft Narrator.
Accept the disclaimer by clicking OK.
The Narrator Options window will appear.

Step 3: Open Internet Explorer via Narrator Options

In the top-left corner of the Narrator Options window, click the small computer icon.
From the dropdown menu, choose About Narrator.
On the next screen, click the Microsoft Website link.

Even without an active internet connection, this step opens Internet Explorer, giving you an interface to browse the system.

Step 4: Open Windows Explorer and Access the Desktop

In Internet Explorer's address bar, type the following:
```
makefile
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
```
Press Enter.

You should now have access to the familiar Windows interface, including the desktop, taskbar, and Start menu.

📁 Use Case: Accessing Personal Files or Backups

At this point, you can:

Copy important files to external storage
Access Control Panel tools
Perform limited administrative tasks

🔄 Note: Do not close the Narrator window. If you do, Windows may recognize the workaround and redirect you back to the activation screen. If this happens, simply repeat the process.

💡 Final Thoughts

This method is not a permanent solution and should not be considered a replacement for activation. It serves as a temporary tool for users who need urgent access to their data and are in the process of resolving their licensing or activation issues.

Always consider purchasing or recovering a valid product key to activate your system properly. Regular access to updates, features, and security improvements depends on a genuine installation.

Feel free to leave a comment or share your experience if you’ve found this guide useful. Your feedback helps others who may be in the same situation.

Stay informed. Stay secure.

Let me know if you'd like an SEO-optimized title, meta description, or content tags to help with Blogger visibility!

Complete Guide to the Windows Shutdown Command – Explained with Easy Examples

📌 Complete Guide to the Windows Shutdown Command – Explained with Easy Examples

If you've ever wanted to automate, schedule, or customize how your Windows PC shuts down or restarts, the shutdown command is your go-to tool. Available in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and newer, this command offers a variety of options to control system shutdown behavior — from restarting remotely to forcing apps to close.

Let’s break it all down in simple terms for users of all experience levels.

🔧 Shutdown Command Syntax

Here’s what the basic command looks like:

bash
shutdown [/i | /l | /s | /r | /g | /a | /p | /h | /e | /o] [/hybrid] [/f] [/m \\computername] [/t xxx] [/d [p:|u:]xx:yy] [/c "comment"] [/?]

💡 Tip: If you’re confused by this format, check out Microsoft's guide on How to Read Command Syntax.

🧩 What Each Switch Means (In Simple Words)

/i – Opens a visual "Remote Shutdown Dialog" box. Must be used alone.
/l – Logs off the current user. Doesn’t work for remote computers.
/s – Shuts down the local or remote computer.
/r – Restarts the PC after shutdown.
/g – Restarts and reopens registered apps.
/a – Cancels a scheduled shutdown.
/p – Powers off immediately without a timer. No warnings.
/h – Puts the PC in hibernation mode.
/e – Logs the shutdown reason for diagnostics.
/o – Opens Advanced Boot Options (must be used with /r, and Windows 8+).
/hybrid – Shuts down and enables fast startup (Windows 8+).
/f – Forces apps to close without warnings.
/m \\computername – Performs the action on a remote PC.
/t xxx – Sets a countdown timer (0 to 10 years) before shutdown.
/d [p:|u:]xx:yy – Logs the reason (planned or unplanned) with specific codes.
/c "comment" – Adds a comment (up to 512 characters).
/? – Shows help info about the shutdown command.

💡 Helpful Tips

Any manual shutdown gets logged in Event Viewer (source: USER32).
You can save command outputs using redirection like > filename.txt.
Combine switches smartly for precise control.

✅ Real Examples You Can Use

1. 🔄 Restart the PC with a reason code

bash
shutdown /r /d p:0:0

This restarts the computer and logs the reason as "Other (Planned)."

2. 👋 Log off immediately

bash
shutdown /l

Logs off your current session without any warning.

3. 🔌 Shut down a remote server with a message

bash
shutdown /s /m \\SERVER /d p:0:0 /c "Planned restart by Tim"

Shuts down a server named "SERVER" in 30 seconds with a planned restart reason and a comment.

4. ⚡ Instant shutdown

bash
shutdown /s /t 0

Shuts down your PC immediately, no warning, no delay.

📎 Shutdown Command Availability

You can use the shutdown command in the following Windows versions:

Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 10 and 11

🔁 Keep in mind that some switches may vary slightly between versions. Test accordingly.

🧠 Related Commands

logoff – Ends your session (just like /l in shutdown).
taskkill – Closes applications or background processes.
schtasks – For scheduled tasks, including shutdowns.
powercfg – For advanced power settings and hibernation options.

📅 Final Note

Using the shutdown command can help you manage PCs remotely, automate power-offs, or simply make maintenance easier. Whether you're an IT admin or a curious home user, mastering this command gives you power at your fingertips.

How to Run Hiren’s BootCD From a USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

How to Run Hiren’s BootCD From a USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

Introduction
If you're looking for a way to run Hiren’s BootCD from a USB flash drive, you’ve come to the right place. This method allows you to boot essential system recovery tools directly from your USB drive—no need for a CD! Follow this simple step-by-step guide to get your USB drive set up and ready to go.

Step 1: Connect a USB Pen Drive (1GB or More)

Begin by selecting a USB flash drive with at least 1GB of storage. Make sure it's formatted and ready to use.

Step 2: Download and Run USB Disk Storage Format

Download the USB Disk Storage Format utility (USBFormat.zip, 34KB).
Extract and run it to format your USB drive properly.

Step 3: Download grubinst_gui and Run as Administrator

Download grub4dos (grub4dos.zip, 179KB), which includes the grubinst_gui tool.
Run grubinst_gui as Administrator to prepare the USB drive for booting.

Step 4: Copy Hiren’s BootCD to the USB Drive

Insert your Hiren’s BootCD (version 10.3 or newer) into your CD drive.
Copy all files from the CD to the USB flash drive.

Step 5: Copy grldr and menu.lst to the USB Drive

From grub4dos.zip (or the HBCD folder), copy grldr and menu.lst to your USB drive—these files are essential for booting.

Step 6: Test Your USB Drive

Before finalising the setup, test your USB drive to ensure everything is working correctly.

Important Notes: Setting Up Your BIOS for Booting

To boot from the USB flash drive, restart your computer and enter BIOS setup by pressing the designated key during startup (commonly Del, F1, F2, Insert, or F10).

In AMI BIOS:

Enable USB Function Support, USB Function for DOS, and ThumbDrive for DOS.
Set 1st Boot Device to USB RMD-FDD.

In PHOENIX/AWARD BIOS:

Set 1st Boot Device to USB-ZIP.

Save your settings and exit BIOS. Your computer should now boot from the USB stick.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you face a "cannot run background program" error when installing GRUB4DOS, try Syslinux as an alternative.
Ensure your BIOS is correctly set to allow booting from a USB device.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully boot Hiren’s BootCD directly from your USB flash drive—an ideal portable solution for system troubleshooting and repairs. Try it out and keep your essential tools handy wherever you go!

Auto Mail Setup for Touché Software(PMS-Prolific) – Step-by-Step Training Guide

📧 Auto Mail Setup for Touché Software – Step-by-Step Training Guide

Dear All,

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up Auto Mail in all outlets where Touché software is being used. Please read each step carefully and ensure the Night Audit process is completed properly at your outlet.

📌 If you have any questions or face any issues during the setup, feel free to contact the support team.

✅ Let’s Follow the Steps:

1️⃣ Take a Backup

Before beginning any installation, take a backup of the following:

Frontend
Devices

📂 Save the backup to your local drive for safety.

2️⃣ Install SQL Server 2005 BC

🔧 Go to the following shared path:

sql
\\10.10.40.100\Software\TEA JUNCTION FULL SETUP

👉 Install SQLServer2005_BC from this location.

3️⃣ Extract and Upgrade Touché

Copy Touche7.7.6.rar from:

sql
\\10.10.40.100\Software\TEA JUNCTION FULL SETUP\Release

Paste it into your WISH Folder (usually D:\WISH).
Extract the .rar file.
Right-click TUpgrade.exe and Run as Administrator.

4️⃣ Locate Touché Directory

Click on:
[Please locate your Touché Directory]

Choose:

makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\AutoFire.exe

Enter the password when prompted.
Press Execute to begin the upgrade process.

5️⃣ Copy DLL and Register

Copy all DLL files from:
```
makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\dll
```
and the net folder.
Open Run, type:
```
makefile
C:\Windows\System32
```
and paste all the contents there.
Locate register.bat in the same folder, right-click, and Run as Administrator to register the required files.

6️⃣ Register via Command Prompt

Click Start, type CMD, and Run as Administrator.
In the Command Prompt, type the following:
```
bash
cd D:\WISH\FRONTEND\net
```
Press Enter.
Then type:
```
makefile
d:
```
Press Enter, then:
```
makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\net\registry
```
Press Enter again to complete the registration.

7️⃣ Copy and Update CLI Files

Copy AutoFire and prnrep1 from:

sql
\\10.10.40.100\Software\TEA JUNCTION FULL SETUP\tjcli

Paste into:
```
makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\CLI
```
Replace existing files if prompted.
Edit both files, and in column 25, rename with the correct outlet name.

8️⃣ Add SMTP File

Copy the SMTP file from:

sql
\\10.10.40.100\Software\TEA JUNCTION FULL SETUP\tjcli

Paste it into:

makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\System

9️⃣ Create Report Folder

🗂 Create a new folder named Report in:

makefile
D:\Report

This is where Auto Mail reports will be stored.

🔟 Edit INI File for SMTP Activation

Open the Ini.oui file located at:

makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND\SYSTEM

Scroll to the bottom of the file and add the following lines:
```
ini
[MAIL]
SMTP=Y
```
Save and close the file.

✅ Final Step – Test the Auto Mail

Go to:

makefile
D:\WISH\FRONTEND

Click on AutoFire.exe and run it to test whether the Auto Mail is working properly.

📅 Summary

All actions in this training follow a structured flow to ensure Auto Mail is set up correctly across all Touché-enabled outlets. Please remember to perform a Night Audit after setup completion.

🔒 This guide is to be followed precisely and monitored for quality assurance.

If you encounter any issues during the process, please contact IT support immediately.

Posted on [Insert Today’s Date]
Training Coordinator – IT Department

How to Manage Adobe Licenses with Admin Console

1St. Log in with Adobe Admin Console page .... "https://adminconsole.adobe.com/team"

2Nd. Make User who used Adobe License For Creative Cloud. Like This...

3Rd. Logoff current page and Relogin with Add License Login id like
abc@gmail.com

Click On Forgot Password Option

Then Open new Page Like

Then Click on Next button and you got a mail in your Inbox where you reset your password and then re-login admin console page...

Then Click on Plan and Create Plan with your Purchase Cloud Product. What you want.

Then click on Download Button

Then install All recommended Software Ans used it...

Thanks.

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