Managing Microsoft Windows

How to manage Microsoft Windows without losing your sanity:

• ! ! ! FOR THE LOVE OF SANITY, DO NOT INSTALL ON PHYSICAL HARDWARE, only a virtual machine ! ! !
• Install TightVNC and enable service mode (console access) and regular mode (on port 5901) for desktop session access
• Install Cygwin with:
  • ssh server
  • rsync
• Install OpenControl Center agent
• Install Emergency Management Services (EMS) redirection
• Install Recovery Console
• Install Classic Shell
• Install Firefox
• Install Everything Search Engine
• Put windows version on desktop
  Registry edit:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\PaintDesktopVersion
  Set DWORD value 1
• Install JDiskReport for disk usage analysis
• Use WSUS Offline Update
  Update Microsoft Windows and Office without an Internet connection

• sysinternals tools
• Windows Servers Tools (Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit [SDK])
  • Vista

Utils

• WinMerge - Does visual file/folder diffs
• HashTab - Provides file hashes in the file properties dialog
• 4t Tray Minimizer - Provides the much-needed winshade functionality to the Windows "windows manger"
• gVim - Graphical vim for Windows

Malware Detection / Removal

• rootkit revlealer
• Junkware Removal Tool
• ComboFix
• ClamAV
• ADWCleaner
• RKill
• TDSSKiller
• Etc from bleepingcomputer.com
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• 360 total security (varius systems checks / fixes)
• Secunia PSI (keeps apps updated)

Exchange

MFCMAPI