Awesome Techs

Previously I have posted about “How to boot and install win xp from a usb drive”. Now I think its time to post about the win 7 installation. So now I am posting about how to install windows 7 from a USB drive, in a much simpler way.

While searching in internet I found 3 ways of doing this thing. I will explain all of them here.

1st Method: (The simple one)

* Requires a valid ISO image.

Download Microsoft’s official tool to install Windows 7 from your USB stick.

Links below:

From CNET: http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7-U…?tag=mncol;pop
MS Store: http://images2.store.microsoft.com/p…B-DVD-tool.exe – Microsoft Store Info Here.

To install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool:

1. Click to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool installation file.
2. When you are prompted to either save the file to disk or run it, choose Run.
3. Follow the steps in the setup dialogs. You’ll have the option to specify where to install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

Note: You need to be an administrator on the computer you are installing the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool on. The tool requires the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 or higher.

2nd Method: (Reliable method, Supports multiple types of image files)

Requirements:

• USB Flash Drive (4GB minimum)
• Windows 7 Image file
• UNetbootin ( download it from here).

Now insert the USB drive, run UNetbootin, and select Disk Image as ISO( or select the type of image file of which you have).

Browse your local drive for Windows 7 that you downloaded and click Open.

Now Select Type as USB and choose the drive.Once done, it will look like a bit similar to the screenshot shown below.

Click OK and it will begin extracting all installation files to the USB drive. The whole process will take some time(10-15 minutes), so have patience.

Once the installation is complete, reboot your computer. Now while your system is starting up press the appropriate button(usually F1, F2, F12, ESC, Backspace, or Escape) to bring up Bios Boot Menu. Change the startup order to boot USB by default, usually you will have to press F6 to move the selected USB device on top. Once done, save changes and restart the system.

3rd Method:( Try this if both above methods are not working)

Using Ultra ISO application.
1) Download the free UltraISO trial by clicking on this
2) Start UltraISO as administrator
3) “Burn” the iso image to the USB stick by following these steps

With UltraISO:
- Open the image of Vista/Win7 with UltraISO
- Under BOOTABLE tab choose WRITE DISK IMAGE
- Choose your USB stick under “Disk Drive“
- Choose a method (It’s recommended to use USB-HDD+)
- Press Write
PS: Make sure to change your BOOT order in BIOS to boot from your USB drive first.

I have seen lots and lots of tutorials on this, but none of them worked for me as it was never explained well. Now I did this and I am booting Ubuntu 9.10 and Mac (iAKTOS v7) fine. So I have the right and responsibility to publish this.

Step 1:

Now the first step will be downloading the image for Mac. I used iATKOS v7 as it was the first one I found while I was searching for it. So if you don’t want to take your effort and search it, just download it from here.

Magnet URL magnet link)

If the above link is not working – copy This ->

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:ce66138e8e39b9f42377002d879a485d62cabd33&dn=iATKOS_v7&tr=http%3A%2F%2Fdenis.stalker.h3q.com%3A6969%2Fannounce

Step 2:

After download completes, just  burn it to a disk. (The disk will be bootable)

Step 3:

Now you will have to create a primary partition and assign  boot flag to the partition. But creating a primary partition will defer according to the OS you are using, but basically it all are the same.

So If you are using

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

Right click My computer and select manage. Then select disk management under Storage. Now check if you have a free primary partition already. You won’t be having it in most cases. So you are going to create it now. First make a free space around 15 GB in any of the primary partitions, and Shrink the volume with free space to get a free unallocated partition of ~15GB. Then you create a new primary partition with Quick-format option and Compression enabled. Give it a proper Label, so that you will easily recognize it while installing MAC. Now right click it and make that partition Active.

Any Linux

Install GParted. Open it. Then create a primary partition with NTFS filesystem. Make it bootable( you can find the option to make it bootable in manage flags option in the right click menu for a partition).

Step 4:

Put the iATKOS v7 DVD in your dvd drive and boot from it. Before pressing “I Agree” just read the whole thing. Its not a copyright info junk. Its the Read Me for iAtkos installation. If you need, just save it by the option given to your hard-disk. Now click I Agree. Now Open the Disk Utilities and then you will find the Mac Os Primary partition you just created from your operating system. Right Click on that and select Erase. In the erasing dialogue box, select file system as Mac extended File system. And now click on erase. After erase completes,  Exit the disk utility from the utility menu which will be there on the left top corner of you monitor. Now you will be able to select the destination. Select it and click on next. Now you will see an advances/ customize button on the left bottom side of the dialogue box. Click it and you will be presented with all the drivers. Most of the systems will work with the default selection, but some does not. Here you will have to be careful. In my opinion, just select the needed drivers from network, and systems. (Only needed drivers). If you have read the I Agree part fully, you will be able to make selection without any confusion. And you may have to select the PS/2 mouse and Keyboard driver from the system drivers sub-menu, or else your keyboard and mouse may not work. Now after making customization just click ok and proceed with install. After the installation completes restart the system. Check if the Mac is working fine. If its not working you might have done something wrong with the driver selection.

By the way, be sure read the Read Me from the I Agree part. This is a must. If you messed up your system, it not my responsibility.Just take your time and read it. Or play with it some time, with all the combination of the driver sections. Now I will tell you about the Dual Boot Part.

Step 5:

This is the easiest part. Just boot into a Ubuntu 9.10 live Cd/DvD. Mount the partition with Linux installation.

Your Ubuntu partition is now mounted. You will need to use the Terminal.

Double check if your partition is correct.

mount | tail -1

You will see an output similar to this:

/dev/sda2 on /media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 type ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit)

Use Tab Completion in Terminal to complete the path.

To make sure this is indeed the Ubuntu boot partition, run ls /media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444/boot, substituting 0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 with your volume’s UUID from before, which should output something like this:

config-2.6.18-3-686      initrd.img-2.6.18-3-686.bak  System.map-2.6.18-3-686
grub                     lost+found                   vmlinuz-2.6.18-3-686
initrd.img-2.6.18-3-686  memtest86+.bin

If what you have is not similar, unmount it and try another partition.

Now that everything is mounted, we just need to reinstall GRUB by specifying the correct directory and the correct drive name:

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 /dev/sda

If you get BIOS warnings try:

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 /dev/sda --recheck

Replace /dev/sda with the location you want to install GRUB on.

If all went well, you should see something like this:

Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd0)   /dev/sda

Now in terminal, just type,

 sudo update-grub

If you see your Mac OS Partition label in the output, its ok. Now if you reboot , Mac will load.

But still again if Mac doesn’t load don’t panic. We have one more way to do this.

Download This File: PC_EFI_v80

Extract it, and copy the boot_v8 file to/boot, use this command to do that,

sudo cp /pc_efi_v80/boot_v8 /boot

Now again enter the command:

sudo update-grub

Now reboot the system, while shutting down, remove the live CD, and press enter.( You will be asked to do so, so do it!)

Now there will be an option to boot from MAC if you done all the Steps in this guide.

Step 6:

Boot From MAC

Comments, feel free to ask any doubts and put any comments unless its spam.

config-2.6.18-3-686      initrd.img-2.6.18-3-686.bak  System.map-2.6.18-3-686
grub                     lost+found                   vmlinuz-2.6.18-3-686
initrd.img-2.6.18-3-686  memtest86+.bin

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 /dev/sda

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/0d104aff-ec8c-44c8-b811-92b993823444 /dev/sda --recheck

Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd0)   /dev/sda

The first reason for any normal computer user to use Windows 7 is its cooler look and faster performance. Extended support for themes, desktop gadgets, sidebar etc are helping windows 7 to look nice. The people who uses linux for every day use is increasing day by day, but still its not even close to the numbers of windows users. The main reason is being the ugly user interface, which is not the truth but what most people think.

Now in a KDE desktop, for example Kubuntu, all these effects which windows 7 boasts to have, are there. But what about the Gnome Lovers, so thats why I am writing this blog post today. Gnome can be made lot more cooler than even windows 7 with the use of some tools. Cairo-Dock/Glx-Dock is on of this kind application.

With Cairo Dock we can make the Gnome desktop look like anything we want. The best feature of this cairo-dock is, it is customizable to very high extend. Cairo-Dock is a bar to launch applications hosted (or dock, to the way Mac OS X) incorporating in its latest versions, management of plugins as desklets (or widgets) directly displayed on the desktop of user icons such “interactive”. Incorporated by Fabrice Rey (aka Fabounet) and developed on Ubuntu (also works on other distributions and desktop environments Linux in 32 or 64 bit) it allows quick launching favorite applications directly from the user’s desktop.  A manager of transparency as Compiz Fusion, Beryl, Compiz or Metacity associated with xcompmgr is necessary.  The dock also works under XFCE (with the composite manager xfwm4 or Compiz), and normally with KDE since Kwin manages the composition display.

You can find the installation instruction HERE. Information for Ubuntu Users are available HERE.

PS: If you are experiencing any issues after the install, just right click and quit the application and then launch it by using the -c switch. like cairo-dock -c.

Also if you are using Radeon cards, you may want to add the boot parameter radeon.modeset=1.

If you got any doubts ask me, through he comments. Here are some desktops which uses Cairo-Dock.

The latest version of Opera Browser comes with a bundle of nice features. Well private browsing is nothing new as almost all well known browsers are having this feature. But windows7 Integration, i have to tell you, its awesome. Its like this version of opera have integrated to windows7 better than Internet explorer 8.

The interface has been completely re-done with Aero Glass for Windows 7 or Vista users. The menu bar has been rolled up into a single button similar to the way Office 2007 works, with easy access to all common functions all from one place.

Windows 7 users can hover their mouse over the taskbar Opera button to see previews of each of the open tabs, and moving your mouse over a specific tab will enable the Aero Peek effect and show the Opera window with the contents of that particular tab. Well this is how Internet Explorer 8 works right? And thats not all. You can even middle-click on the thumbnail preview to close a tab.

If you have created a shortcut of opera on your taksbar, then you can simply right click it and it gives you options for selecting items from your Speed Dial, opening a new tab, or starting a new private browsing session in a separate tab.

Download

This build still represents early work in progress; as before many things are known not to work. It can still crash, cause you to swear and speak badly of you behind your back. You have been warned!

• Windows MSI/ Windows Classic
• Unix/Mac builds will be provided later this week

Known issues (will be fixed in the next snapshot)

• 99% score on Acid3
• Regression in DOM performance

Opera 10.5 Beta [Opera Desktop Team] via – LifeHacker

BitDefender Internet Security 2010 is comprehensive Internet security software that offerr protection against malware, spyware, virus, Trojan, spam, hackers without slowing down the PCs. BitDefender Internet Security 2010 comes with user-friendly interface with designed for expert or novices that interface adapt to the chosen profile and provide quick access to the main security functionality.

Now Bitdefender offers free license for 3 months.

• Protects against viruses and other malware using industry-leading technology
• Scans all Web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic in real-time
• Provides an unmatched detection rate of new threats
• Guard the files and conversations with top-of-the line encryption
• Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, Web or instant messaging
• Blocks spyware programs that track your online activities
• Connect securely to any network at home, at the office, or away
• Parental Control blocks access to inappropriate websites and e-mail
• Antispam stops unwanted e-mail from reaching Inbox
• Free technical support for the entire duration of the product license.

To get the free license follow the steps:

1. Visit the promotional page at the following URL:http://www.bitdefender.ro/media/html/ro/romanialibera/
2. Then click on “Descarca acum” (top of the page) to download bitdefender_isecurity.exe file.
3. Once downloading the file, run it to install BitDefender Internet Security 2010.

Alternatively, use direct download links below to download and install the BitDefender Internet Security 2010:

BitDefender_isecurity.exe

Grab fast as offer expires December 15, 2009.

PS:If you see the installation in Romanian language, then copy the downloaded “bdis.msi” file from C:\Windows\Temp to another folder and again run that installation file (bdis.msi).

Also this version is windows7 ready.

Windows 7 can be activated using an activation crack based on royalty-OEM mechanism. But that is not all. Now hackers have found a way to activate windows 7 even without a key. This hack will removing and disable the Windows Activation Technologies (WAT).

In windows 7 & windows 2008, the activation mechanism is comprised of SPP (Software Protection Platform) and SLC (Software Licensing Client), which manages and handles licensing and activation matters on the operating system to the core components or files which are required for its operation. So now what hacker do is, block the access to these Mechanisms. This will disable the start ups of any activation mechanisms and by thus windows 7 will never ask for the validation of activation.

Currently, two leading Windows 7 non-loader crack is RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA.