Batch : Rename Hostname via Batch File

This is an example of a batch file to rename the Hostname or Computer Name as per your preferences, it is much faster way to do computer renaming for many computers.

Note that the batch file must be "run as administrator" mode in order to works.

@ECHO OFF CLS >NUL CHCP 65001 :asktorename REM To ask whether to Rename the Hostname or not. ECHO. ECHO. ECHO. ECHO               ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ ECHO               ║         RENAMING THE HOSTNAME           ║ ECHO               ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝ ECHO. CHOICE /M "──────────────► DO YOU WANT TO RENAME THE HOSTNAME "     IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO eof     IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO askforname GOTO eof REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :askforname REM To ask User for the preferred hostname. ECHO. ECHO. SET /P NEWNAME="PLEASE TYPE THE NEW HOSTNAME: " ECHO. ECHO "     ► ► ► THE NEW HOSTNAME IS ───► %NEWNAME%" CHOICE /M "     ► ► ► IS THIS CORRECT "     IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO asktorename     IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO dorenhost GOTO eof REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :dorenhost REM To proceed Rename the Hostname as per Input by User. ECHO. ECHO "     ► ► ► OK, RENAMING HOSTNAME → %NEWNAME%, PLEASE WAIT..." WMIC COMPUTERSYSTEM where name="%COMPUTERNAME%" CALL RENAME name="%NEWNAME%" TIMEOUT /t 3 /NOBREAK ECHO. ECHO "     ► ► ► RENAMING HOSTNAME COMPLETE" ECHO. ECHO "THE NEW HOSTNAME WILL TAKE EFFECT AFTER COMPUTER RESTART" TIMEOUT /t 5 /NOBREAK GOTO eof REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :eof START SHUTDOWN /r /f /t 10 COLOR >NUL CHCP 437 EXIT /b

!!! HAPPY COMPUTING !!!

VMWare : VMWare Tools for Windows XP 32-bit

VMWare Tools for Windows XP 32-bit, the tools is deprecated thus use at own risks.

1. Download the old version of VMWare Tools v.10.0.2 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nnjHGeavqOCjWIQSTCC6x-ksxnrCNCKX/view?usp=sharing)

2. Copy the Zip file into the VM Guest.

3. Extract the Zip inside the VM Guest.

4. Install a compatible CDROM or ISO Emulator (https://wincdemu.sysprogs.org/) or any preferred utility for Windows XP.

5. Mount the ISO file, search for "WinPreVista.ISO" and mount it as a CDROM drive.

6. Double-Click the drive for autorun, or browse it and run the setup according to your architecture. Such as "setup.exe" for 32-bit OS or "setup64.exe" for 64-bit OS.

7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installations.

8. Once completed, eject or un-mount the drive and restart the VM.

!!! HAPPY COMPUTING !!!

Windows XP - Serial (RS-232) Port Emulator

Again my friend have requested my help to solve yet another communication port issue and this time its a RS-232 (COM) port or mostly known as COM1 or COM2 ports.

The problems arises when a software always detect the availability of the port each time it starts which if failed will return an error message. To avoid this annoying message the workaround is to install a COM1 port (which the software detects) and sadly Windows doesn't allows that.

Although you may be able to install the port (manually), Windows will try to detect the physical port availability and if failed it will give you a "bang sign" (exclamation mark) in your device manager.

The simplest workaround is to emulate the port hence the word "Emulator", I've found a FREE program that just works the magic.

Download the program here courtesy of HW-Group.

The installations is very easy and depending on the operating environment, you need to select accordingly, mine is "Standalone Application".

After installation complete, just run the application and configure accordingly, as I need it to emulate "COM1" port the following was my settings.

Note : the "IP Address" was a loopback address, this is to avoid any IP Address conflict in the network.

Now you might want the emulator to start automatically each time the computer startup and also each time the program start it automatically create the port for you.

Select "Settings" tab --> Select (tick) --> "Create VSP Port when HW VSP Start-up" option.

Now you also need to add it into "Startup" folder for the program to auto launch each time :-

1. Create a shortcut of the program.

2. Move it to :-
--> For Windows XP = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.
--> For Windows 7 = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.

3. Now Right-click on the shortcut --> Select "Properties" --> at the "Shortcut" tab --> under "Run" dropdown box --> Select "Minimized" --> Click "OK" button.

Note : This is to ensure the program doesn't pop-up / displayed during start.

Of course this small utility have more capabilities but mostly are designed to work with its own products from HW-Group. There are many virtual port emulator available and with tons of features and functions, but I just need to emulate the port to avoid the error message thus a simple yet easy to configure utility is the main objective.

Happy Computing !

Windows XP - Enable Auto Login

A friend of mine asked me how to configure windows to automatically login each time the system boot up.

Well this very simple but be warned, the username and password is stored in ASCII mode (in other words, plain text !). If the computer doesn't have any security issues then please proceed, else you might want to consult your Administrator for this.

1. Run --> regedit.

2. Browse --> HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.

3. Look for --> AutoAdminLogon --> Modify --> 1 --> OK.
          * 1 = Enable, 2 = Disable

4. Next modify --> DefaultPassword --> [your password] --> OK.
          * If not available, create a STRING VALUE.

5. Modify also --> DefaultUserName --> [your username] --> OK.
          * If not available, create a STRING VALUE.

6. Restart the computer and it should auto-login by itself.

Please take note that the username and password must match the same you have created in the "Computer Configuration", otherwise it will not work.

Again, emphasizing that the username & password is stored in plain text, it will create another vulnerability access on the computer. Unless really necessary to do this, else stay away from doing this.

BE WARNED !!!

Windows XP - Reset Activation

Encounter several scenarios where the activation just went missing, thus user have to re-activate again but it have been to late to notice until user were unable to login to Windows since it kept on prompting for activation.

Boot into "Safe Mode". To do this, turn the laptop on and press F8 as it is booting up. Go into "Safe Mode" by choosing the "Safe Mode" option.

Once you are at the desktop in "Safe Mode", Click "Start" then click "Run".
At the run command prompt type the following EXACTLY

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

*NOTE: The "Oo"'s in Oobe are "oh's" - not "zero's" There is one space after rundll32.exe. It is case sensitive as far as I know.

Click OK

Wait a few seconds - the screen may blip a few times or so.

This just reset Windows Activation for 30 days.

Reboot the PC into normal mode - log in and re-activate Windows.