====== Tips & Other Information ======

===== Windows Hacks =====

==== Best Practices ====

  * Don't keep your important files on local storage devices. Use a NAS!
  * Backup often & keep a copy offsite
  * Use portable programs when possible

==Recommended Portable Applications==
  * [[https://www.7zip.com/|7-Zip]] for compression. Use .zip format, compression method BZip2 (uses all CPU cores)
  * [[https://www.audacityteam.org/|Audacity]] for recording audio.
  * [[https://joshmadison.com/convert-for-windows/|Convert]]
  * [[https://www.gimp.org/|GIMP]] for editing images.
  * MQTT Explorer
  * NTP Monitor
  * Space Sniffer
  * VLC Player
  * PuTTY / WinSCP

==== Batch Files ====
Create batch files for commonly used tasks & place them in C:\Program Files (x86), then append 'C:\Program Files (x86)' to the default PATH so you can run them from anywhere:
  SETX PATH /M "%PATH%;C:\Program Files (x86)"

Reboot a remote computer: reboot.bat
  @echo off
  shutdown -m \\%1 -r -f

See who is logged in to a remote computer: who.bat
  @echo off
  query user /SERVER:%1

Reset Edge (if it is stuck on another monitor/display): fix_edge.bat
  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" -window-position=100,100 https://google.com/

Create/update a local copy of a network share on the drive where this batch file is run: sync.bat  (Keep it on a USB drive & use it to periodically backup a folder on the network.)
  @echo off
  SET SHARENAME=insertsharenamehere
  SET FOLDERNAME=insertfoldernamehere
  robocopy "\\%SHARENAME%\%FOLDERNAME%" "%CD:~0,3%%FOLDERNAME%" /E /MIR

==== Registry Tweaks ====

Make all menu items show up when you right click something (show more options by default)
  REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /ve /d "" /f

Disable per-user proxy configuration
  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxySettingsPerUser /t REG_DWORD /d 000000001 /f

Allow Windows update to check online for updates
  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DoNotConnectToWindowsUpdateInternetLocations /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f
  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DisableWindowsUpdateAccess /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f
  
Enable administrative share C$
  REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\system /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Disable the blurry background during login
  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001 /f

===== Helpful internet resources =====
== Texas ==
  * [[https://www.smartmetertexas.com/|Texas Smart Meter]]
  * [[https://texashistory.unt.edu/|University of North Texas - Portal to Texas History]]
  * [[http://cohweb.houstontx.gov/ActiveIncidents/Combined.aspx|City of Houston - Active Incidents]]
  * [[https://www.crimereports.com/|Crime Reports]]
  * [[https://www.houstontx.gov/health/Pollen-Mold/|Houston Pollen/Mold Info]]

==Education==
  * [[https://www.khanacademy.org/|Khan Academy]]

==Maps==
  * [[https://msc.fema.gov/portal/|FEMA Flood Map Service Center]]
  * [[https://www.harriscountyfws.org/|Harris County Flood Warning System]]
  * [[https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/|Houston Traffic]]
  * [[http://www.marinetraffic.com/|Marine Traffic]]
  * [[https://www.flightradar24.com/|Live Air Traffic]]
  * [[http://gedean.net:8080/|PiAware SkyAware]]
  * [[http://wikimapia.org/|WikiMapia]]
  * [[https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/|Wundermap]]
  * [[https://app.regrid.com/us/|United States Parcel Data]]
  * [[https://lightbox-tx.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer|ArcGIS]]

==Ham Radio==
  * [[http://www.eham.net/exams/|eHam Test Exams]]
  * [[http://aprs.fi/#!lat=29.73970&lng=-95.83020|APRS]]
  * [[http://www.n2yo.com/|N2YO - Live Satellite Orbit Tracking]]
  * [[http://www.broadcastify.com/|Broadcastify]]
  * [[http://www.radioreference.com/|Radio Reference]]
  * [[http://www.liveatc.net/|Live Air Traffic Control]]