Iastor.sys (iaStor.sys) or Intel Matrix Storage Manager is a storage file for accessing the drivers, hardware, and software of RAID devices. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a type of hard drive arrangement in which the same data is copied onto multiple hard drives in order to backup files. Iastor.sys runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 and can be found in the Drivers subfolder of the primary hard drive’s System32 folder.   How Iastor.sys Works Iastor.sys manages and controls RAID devices in order to maintain file Read More

Windows Desktop Search is a user-configurable software that is bundled with the MSN Toolbar and allows users to search files on their computer’s hard drive. The program has a bad reputation for using significant memory once installed on computers that do not have sufficient RAM. Many Windows users decide to remove Windows Desktop Search in order to free computer resources and revert to using the traditional Windows Explorer method to find files on their computer. How to Disable Windows Desktop Search Some users prefer to disable Windows desktop search instead Read More

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) enable users to connect to a remote private network through the Internet. Virtual private networks therefore span the Internet because the user connects over the Internet to the remote VPN server. With a VPN, data is first encrypted and encapsulated before it is sent to the remote VPN server. When the VPN server obtains the data, it decrypts the packet so that is can be interpreted. VPNs are usually implemented to: Enable remote access users to connect to and access the network. Provide connectivity between two Read More

Application and Terminal Servers Security Issues Organizations use Application servers to make data available on the network. For instance, the application server role makes Web applications and distributed applications available to users. A Web server usually contains a copy of a World Wide Web site and can also host Web based applications. Application servers can also run database and e-mail servers. Defining a standard security strategy for application servers is usually not possible because each application could indeed have its own specific security requirements. One common security configuration though is Read More

An Overview on the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) Service The NNTP service is a component of IIS that supports client/server and server/server elements of NNTP. Through the NNTP service, you can implement private news servers to host discussion groups, or you can implement public news servers to provide customer support and help resources to Internet users. You can specify that users need to be authenticated to both read and post to items to newsgroups, or you can allow access to everybody. The NNTP service can also integrate with the Read More

Xpnetdiag.exe is the process for an XP Network Diagnostic program that runs on the Windows XP Operating System. XP Network Diagnostic allows users to troubleshoot problems associated with LANs (Local Area Networks), WANs (Wide Area Networks), and WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks). XP Network Diagnostic can be used when the user is no longer able to access the Internet, even though all hardware associated with the network is running properly and the user’s Internet service is still activated. Xpnetdiag.exe runs exclusively on Windows XP, though similar diagnostic programs exist for Read More

Notepad is a great text writing program that is available on Windows operating systems. The user can hide Notepad depending on the version of windows being used. Finding Notepad through the Start Menu List To open notepad through the start menu, follow this process: Click Start (on Vista/Windows 7 it is a Windows Button) on the task bar.  Click "All Programs" and scroll up the list to the "Accessories" menu. Click Notepad to open the program. Note: Not all versions of Microsoft Windows have the start menu in this format. Read More

WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is a part of the Microsoft Windows OS. Developers use Windows Management Instrumentation to create applications for event monitoring, the purpose of which is to alert PC users in case of a problem. Scripts and management applications use WMI to execute operations or get data in different languages. Programmers who work with Microsoft Visual Basis and C++ use WMI. Windows Management Instrumentation is used for finding, controlling and setting information about networks, applications and desktop systems. WMI is located in a shared service host, with other Read More

Windows Powershell is a program that consists of a command-line prompt and provides users with the ability to perform specific operations that cannot be achieved through other means. Windows Powershell is built on top of the .NET Framework and is fully integrated into all .Net Framework applications as well as third party applications, including graphical user interfaces. Windows Powershell can be used as a stand alone program or combined with a variety of scripting languages in order to expand its natural functions. How Powershell Works Windows Powershell allows users to Read More

Sticky Keys is a Microsoft Windows accessibility feature, designed to aid computer users who have problems holding down multiple keys at once. Microsoft created this feature in order to improve user accessibility to specific Operating System commands that require specific, multiple-key combinations to run.  For example, if a normal Windows key combination requires the pressing of the “CTRL” and a letter key at the same time, the Sticky Keys feature lets you press a single key multiple times to execute the command. Although Sticky Keys is an enabling, assistive technology, many Read More