This file has in it Miscellaneous OS tricks for whatever OS I can think
of.  Just run with it :).


Trick #1 - Weird File listing.
OS: Linux/UNIX Clones.
Descripton: I found this one out awhile ago, and it has no real purpose,
other than entertainment.  Instead of just listing files with "ls," type
in "ls -w 500."  It will make a weird design on the screen if you have
enough files.  Best directory to do this in is /dev.

Trick #2 - Interesting program.
OS: Windows95 (98?)
Description: In the windows directory there's a file called Winipcfg.exe.
Not really sure what it does, but it's just interesting and kills time for
about 5 - 10 minutes.  Then you realize it has no purpose and that's that.

Trick #3 - Closing Ports.
OS: Linux Slackware (UNIX, other distributions?)
Description: In the /etc directory, there's a file called "services."  In
there there is every port on your comp.  All you have to do is uncomment
them out by putting a "#" in front of them.  Be surprised how many people
don't know that.

Trick #4 - Modem songs.
OS: Any.
Description: Get any terminal dialing program, and go into it, and type in
"atdt xxxxxx" where xxxxxx is the number.  Like atdt 32132133332222321
plays the song "Hot Cross Buns."  I get real bored sometimes...

Trick #5 - Keeping your system up 24/7.
OS: Linux.
Description: This is just a script.  If you put the line
"/etc/ppp/keepalive.sh" in your crontab, by typing crontab -e, and then
adding it, it will call that script every 2 minutes and stop your comp,
running pppd, from logging off.  Heres the script:
------------------------------------START--------------------------------
#!/bin/sh
if [ -f /var/run/ppp0.pid ] ; then
 ping -c8 -l3 <your nameserver> 2>&1 | grep "0 packets" > /dev/null && \
 { /usr/sbin/ppp-off > /dev/null 2>&1 ; sleep 2 ; /usr/sbin/pppd }
else
 /usr/sbin/pppd
--------------------------------------END--------------------------------
Comp will stay connected to ISP and your pppd client wont time out on you
anymore either.

Trick #6 - Making a regular script file executable.
OS: Linux/UNIX.  All Distributions.
Description: Command is chmod.  Find the file you want to be executable,
and type in "chmod 700 <filegoeshere>" then all you have to do is type in
the file name and the file will run.

Trick #7 - Linking DOS BAT Files.
OS: Windows/DOS.
Description: I was very surprised when I learned that a majority of DOS
user's didn't know what a .bat file was.  A .bat file is short for a batch
file.  An example of a batch file would be this (inside it):
cd C:\
del *.*
Now, obviously that would be very bad.  So don't do it.  But the point
here is that a batch file does X amount of commands programmed into it.
Primitively, without using any special, complicated commands, if you want
one batch file to link to another, at the bottom of the batch file put in
this "C:\x."  X is the name of the file, and if it's in a another
directory, it's "C:\X\x."  You get the point.  That will just load the
next batch file and so on.

Trick #8 - Nbtstat.
OS: Windows, Linux/Unix.
Description: Simple.  Goto the prompt at either linux, or DOS, and type in
"nbtstat."  A little menu will pop up that list's commands.  That's that.

Trick #9 - Netstat
OS: Windows, Linux/Unix.
Description: Again, without getting too complicated, just goto a command
prompt and type in "netstat."

Trick #10 - ASCII.  
OS: Windows, Linux/UNIX.  
Description:  ASCII is a special name for the characters like ÿéô, etc.
To make ASCII charactes, hold on Alt (either one) and use the keypad on
the right of your keyboard.

Trick# #11 - Null Byte File.
OS: Windows.
Description: This is a very mean trick.  As I mentioned above, their's
ASCII characters in windows.  If you create a file, and add an extension
on it, and after the "." you hold Alt and press 255 on the keypad, an
underscore will come up.  Press enter, and you have a null byte file.  Not
a space, just a null byte.  It's a bitch to delete :).

Trick #12 - Ctrl-Alt-Del.
OS: Windows.
Description: If you encounter a security that for some reason or another
isn't in the task bar, you can press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and the name of the
program, or a shortened version of it, will be in the box.  Click on it,
then on End Task, and wait about a minute, another window will come up,
click on End Task again, and the security prog is gone :).

Trick #13 - Systat.
OS: Linux/Unix.
Description: Just like nbtstat, and netstat again.  Type it at the prompt,
look at the command parameters, and you'll understand why its a nifty lil'
trick.

Trick #14 - Netscape trick.
OS: Windows.
Description: This is a really weird trick, and works only sometimes.  Not
sure why it does.  If you click the left and right mouse button at the
exact same time in Netscape on its opening page repeatedly for awhile and
do it every now and again itll crash and get a fatal exception error.

Trick #15 - PAP/CHAP Secrets.
OS: Linux.
Description: In LINUX PPP, sometimes you need a username and passwd store
in the PAP/CHAP Secrets file.  The catch is simple.  It's in plain, human,
readable text.  The file is in /etc/ppp.  Never passwd the opportunity up.
Defaulty, even an anonymously logged in user has the ability to d/l the
file...

Trick #16 - Back Orifice.
OS: Windows, Linux/UNIX
Description: Goto www.cultdeadcow.com/tools/ to see full description for
it.  It is a server/client that makes it so that if you send someone the
server and they run it, you can fire up the client and have just as much
power as they do.  Format HD's, delete files, make files, everything.


That does it for this file.  Too tired to write anymore.  More later
maybe.

-phooey