Rapidshare search

Rapidshare is a file hosting goldmine if you know how to search it properly. There are basically two ways to do that. First, you can use Google search parameters to search Rapidshare. Several websites offer a basic search interface that does nothing more than to add the parameters to your searches and display the Google search results. Then there is a different kind of website that has its own database and performs searches using it.

The second kind of site tends to be more up to date because they use several sources for finding new Rapidshare files including user submitted ones. I do not like the first kind of sites to search Rapidshare that much because I can enter those parameters by myself into a search engine like Google and get the desired results.

To be able to compare the Rapidshare search engines I have performed searches for the terms “video”, “avi” and “windows”. Finding files is one thing but finding working files on file hosting websites and keeping the file database up to date deleting files that have been removed from the file hosting website properly is another. This has also been born in mind.

I did check three results for each search term, namely the first, fifth and tenth entry to see if the links were not broken.

A basic search engine and site that does nothing more than to offer a search form and a results page.

Video: More than 5000 results. Gave no exact number unfortunately. All three results that I tested were valid and could be downloaded.

Avi: This search revealed more than 5000 results as well. All three results worked fine.

Windows: The search revealed 2096 results, the test downloads were working.

Removed because of Zango Ads on site

Removed as well.

Offers Web and Database search for files hosted on Rapidshare. Offers additional functions that increase the value of this service. Has a Rapidshare link checker for instance and offers keyword email updates.

Video: 1471 links were found in their database for the term video. Passed all three test downloads.

Avi: Not found in their database.

Windows: 2100 links found for the term Windows. All three downloads were working fine.

A basic search engine that seems somewhat slow at this time. You can limit the file size of the files that are displayed in the search results. Users can report broken links.

Video: 500+ results found. All three tests were working.

Avi: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Windows: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Is not displaying the amount of search results. Search is tag driven and the file size is shown for each file. Is listing dead files as well, wonder what that is good for. Great Speed.

Video: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Avi: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Windows: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Alternatives:

RapidShare Data
Xoogo

The alternative Rapidshare Search Engines have been added because some of the initial sites have been deleted or added malicious software to their sites.

Unlock the supersecret Administrator account

Unlock the supersecret Administrator account



Deep inside the bowels of Windows Vista, there's a secret Administrator account, and it's different from the normal administrator account you most likely have set up on your PC. This Administrator account is not part of the Administrator group. (Confused yet? You should be.) It's a kind of superadministrator, akin to the root account in Unix, and by default it's turned off and hidden. (In describing this hack, we'll always use the capital "A" for the secret Administrator account, and a lowercase "a" for a normal administrator account.)

In versions of Windows before Windows Vista, the Administrator account wasn't hidden, and many people used it as their main or only account. This Administrator account had full rights over the computer.

In Windows Vista, Microsoft changed that. In Vista, the Administrator account is not subject to UAC, but normal administrator accounts are. So the Administrator can make any changes to the system and will see no UAC prompts.

Turning on the Administrator account is straightforward. First, open an elevated command prompt by typing cmd into the Search box on the Start menu, right-clicking the command prompt icon that appears at the top of the Start menu, then selecting Run as administrator -- or just use the shortcut you created in the previous hack.

Then enter this command and press Enter:

Net user administrator /active:yes

From now on, the Administrator account will appear as an option on the Welcome screen, along with any user accounts you may have set up. Use it like any other account. Be aware that it won't have a password yet, so it's a good idea to set a password for it.

If you want to disable the account and hide it, enter this command at an elevated command prompt and press Enter:

Net user administrator /active:no