Windows 7 network share refresh problems

Recently when I have attempted to access network shares using a Windows 7 client, I would often be unable to see newly created files/folders. Even if I create the folder myself via the client, sometimes it would not appear, and pressing F5/refresh would not help!

Sometimes I would also delete a file, and whilst the file would be deleted it would still show in the folder view!

After a bit of digging, the following seemed to do the trick:

1. Backup your registry.

2. Edit your registry and go to  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters

3. Create the following DWORD values:

• FileInfoCacheLifetime = 0
• FileNotFoundCacheLifetime = 0
• DirectoryCacheLifetime = 0

4. Reboot the machine.

Android push email settings for gmail and hotmail/live mail

Recently I acquired a Galaxy Tab, and found that the stock Samsung email app is much more screen real-estate friendly than the GMail app.

Now to get push email working on the Samsung app, you need to configure your email accounts using the Microsoft Activesync profile.

For gmail, the settings are as follows:

Email or account: Google\email@Gmail.com 
Server: m.Google.com
SSL enabled
username: Google\email@Gmail.com
password: password

For hotmail or live mail, the settings are as follows:

Email or account: myemail@live.com
Server: m.hotmail.com
SSL enabled
username: myemail@live.com
password: password

Restore 'free space' to Windows Explorer status bar

If like me you've been missing the 'free space' information in your status bar of Windows Explorer since installing Vista or Windows 7, then I have found a solution!

Classic Shell is a collection of features that were available in older versions of Windows but are removed from Vista and Windows 7. Most importantly, it can restore the old status bar with the free space info. It also has a classic start menu for Windows 7, can add a toolbar for Windows Explorer and restore some of the cosmetic changes made to IE9.

Free phone holder stand in 30 seconds

Recently I took a trip to Sydney and I had the forethought to load my HTC Desire with a few episodes of Top Gear. Whilst in the air, I started watching and found myself thinking 'hmmm I need a stand so I don't have to hold this stupid phone'.

Whilst sadly my genius didn't bring me any brilliant ideas at the time, a quick google when I got home found an excellent solution to my problem, and best of all, it's free!

Essentially, just take one plastic card, such as an old hotel or security swipe card, and bend it in two spots to create your own phone holder that other companies would charge you exorbitant amounts for!

The first bend should be slightly off centre, and then the second bend should be about 1 centimetre deep or enough to hold your phone. Here are the results:

Here's a link to the page where I got the idea from:

Cheap and Quick Portable stand

Windows 7 / Vista sidebar gadgets

If you're after some sweet looking gadgets with a consistent look then check out this site: blog.orbmu2k.de. I find they look great and are very useful for things such as cpu/gpu temp monitoring.

Windows 7 - Move the recycle bin to the Taskbar

To move the Recycle Bin to the Taskbar, you need to re-enable the Quick Launch Toolbar, by doing the following:

1. Right-click the taskbar, choose Toolbars / New Toolbar

2. In the folder selection dialog, enter the following string and hit OK:

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

3. Turn off the “lock the taskbar” setting, and right-click on the divider. Make sure that “Show text” and “Show title” are disabled and the view is set to “large icons”.

4. Create a short-cut to the Recycle Bin within that Toolbar/folder. The Recycle Bin will be fully functional.

5. Use your favourite Tweak tool to remove the Recycle Bin from the Desktop.

6. Rearrange the toolbar as you please, and then lock the taskbar again.

How to re-lock a Bitlocker drive

So you've turned on Bitlocker encryption for a drive. You've unlocked it and done your work, but how do you re-lock it? Here's how to add an entry to the right-click context menu to re-lock the drive.

1. Open up Notepad and type in the following, replacing 'E:' with the drive letter of your Bitlocker drive:

manage-bde -lock E: forcedismount

2. Save the file as lock.bat somewhere accessible, such as C:\Windows or C:\Program Files\

3. Open up Registry Editor. Navigate to the following Key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell

4. Create a new key named runas with the default value set to Lock.

5. Now right-click on runas in the left window pane and create a new key called command.

6. Set the value of the Default Entry to c:\windows\lock.bat or whatever locaiton you chose at step 2.

7. Navigate back to the runas key and create a new String Value called AppliesTo. Set the value to E: or whichever drive you have encrypted.

8. Goto Windows Explorer and test your new right-click context menu entry!