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October 3, 2006 at 2:47 pm #2248369
Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Lockedby tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
I want to automate/schedule the display properties (WinXP Pro) to change the desktop wallpaper to a specific picture.
I need to schedule this to happen because it shows the wallpaper before you logon to the network and will ruin the scare.
If the scare works perfectly, the scream will play as Windows loads, and the desktop paper will appear scaring the daylights out of my co-worker!
P.S. I still need a nice scream and have decided to look for a nice closeup of a big spider.
Thanks for any help from the rest of you pranksters!
(by the way when she was gone for a few days last week I plastic wrapped her phone, typewriter, keyboard, walkie-talkie and pen tray) she thought that was a riot.
Tink
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October 3, 2006 at 3:47 pm #3138854
Hoo!
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
This sounds like fun, but I don’t think it can be done with a single command. I think you’ll have to use a script, but I have no idea which commands would apply here. Let me do some research.
Hmm, change the startup sound…change the default log-in background…mumble…mumble…
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October 3, 2006 at 4:17 pm #3138846
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October 3, 2006 at 5:47 pm #3138829
Spiders
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
This page is the first of many from a Google search for “spider close-up”: http://tinyurl.com/k5rvs
Don’t know where you could find a good scream
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October 6, 2006 at 3:43 am #3280177
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October 6, 2006 at 10:03 am #3282026
Here is one that blends into screen
by meshigemetore · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Spiders
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October 6, 2006 at 11:33 am #3281976
Scary spider…ooohhh
by big rod · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Spiders
here’s a couple shots of a wolf spider that should be nicely sized for a background
http://rodneys.us/pics/creatures/IMG_2372.jpgspiders with frickin’ laser beams http://rodneys.us/pics/creatures/IMG_2377.jpg
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October 3, 2006 at 11:07 pm #3138775
Needs a script
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
If you have Admin rights to the user’s PC, you can copy on a script and change the wallpaper at a preset time by remotely creating a scheduled task. You can also minimize all of the windows so you get the full effect. Then you change it back again.
I did this a few years ago to flash up a quarter second of a bit of soft porn on a colleague’s PC at random intervals. Everyone else was in on the joke and denied seeing the change.
That was two jobs ago so I may have some problems finding the script as I’m off on vacation in a couple of days but I’ll see what I can do,
Neil 😀
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October 3, 2006 at 11:46 pm #3138769
Here’s a start
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Needs a script
The following vbscript will minimise all icons, change the wallpaper to a bmp of your choice, wait 10 seconds and then put it all back. The example used is one of the windows bmps but I suspect that you’ll change that…
‘—————————————–
Set oShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Set oFSO = CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject”)
set oDesktop=CreateObject(“Shell.Application”)‘ Minimise all of the windows for full effect
oDesktop.MinimizeAll
‘ Get and save the old wallpaper
sOldWallpaper = oShell.RegRead(“HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”)
‘ New wallpaper
‘ Replace the following two lines with
‘ sWallPaper=”Path to your gruesome file”sWinDir = oFSO.GetSpecialFolder(0)
sWallPaper = sWinDir & “\Prairie wind.bmp”‘ Update in registry
oShell.RegWrite “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”, sWallPaper
‘ Let the system know about the change
oShell.Run _
“%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters”, _
1, True
‘‘ Play a sound
sSoundFile = “c:\windows\media\tada.wav”
sCommand = “sndrec32 /play /close ” & chr(34) & sSoundFile & chr(34)
oShell.Run sCommand, 0, Truewscript.sleep 10000 ‘ Time to sleep in ms
‘ Put it all back
‘ Update in registryoShell.RegWrite “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”, sOldWallPaper
‘ Let the system know about the change
oShell.Run _
“%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters”, _
1, True
‘oDesktop.UndoMinimizeAll ‘windows back
‘————————————-
You will need to set this as a task on the user’s PC timed to go off several times during the day. That way, you can have the camera ready!
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October 4, 2006 at 12:24 pm #3281162
cool!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Here’s a start
I think this is what I”m looking for but here’s a stupid question…where do I put the script?
Tink 🙂
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October 4, 2006 at 3:15 pm #3281121
Stupid answer
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to cool!
In a file… :^0
Actually, since it’s vbscript, I would say save it as a .vbs file (scream.vbs ?) and schedule it.
But vbs is not my forte, so Neil would probably be the better one to answer this question.
Take it away, Neil…
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October 4, 2006 at 3:40 pm #3281109
Bloody timezones
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to cool!
I’ll test it on my next door colleague tomorrow and post the full procedure on or before Friday.
It all assumes that you have local admin privileges on the target PC! What’s the point of being a SysAdmin, otherwise?
Basically, you edit the script to set the filename of the bitmap that you want to set as wallpaper and the sound (wav) you want to play. Save the bit between the dashed lines as something.vbs, copy vbs script, bitmap and wav to, say, c:\windows on the target PC. (Save it all on your own PC first and test it by double-clicking the vbs file).
Load it as a onetime scheduled task on the target PC (code tomorrow) and wait. Easiest is to load the scheduled task for, say, two minutes time when the user is siting at his or her desk but more subtle (and less traceable back to you) is to have it happen when you’re obviously not at your desk…
Neil ]:)
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October 6, 2006 at 11:00 am #3281996
Awesome!
by george.jenkins · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Here’s a start
I gotta learn VBS now! If for nothing else but to mess with my fellow staff….hehe
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October 11, 2006 at 3:44 pm #3281337
Help
by dcs2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Here’s a start
Hello, First time posting here. I am a newby of sorts and I cannot get the script to run. When I restart my machine the script itself pops up. I saved it in notepad as a vbs file.
I am sure I have done something stupid, although i feel like I am not as stupid as the guy who wants to turn you in to the FBI.
Thanks for you help in advance.
Davealso the time it takes for a sound player to load, will that make a difference. Maybe I should set the file to run with a certain pgm?
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October 12, 2006 at 7:33 am #3221567
Check Open With
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Help
If you indeed saved it as *.vbs then your must computer must think it needs to open VBS files using Notepad.
Use Explorer to check the “Open with” properties on the file. Make sure it is the Microsoft Windows Based Script Host and not Notepad.
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October 14, 2006 at 2:43 pm #3221247
Double check the file extension
by paul.caldararo · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Help
If it’s opening in Notepad, you might want to check the full filename – including the file extension. Sounds silly, but I’m wondering whether you may have inadvertently saved it in Notepad as a text file with a name something like Halloween.vbs.txt. THAT would indeed open with Notepad.
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October 14, 2006 at 6:38 pm #3221205
Thanks for the reply, New dilemma
by dcs2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Double check the file extension
Thanks for the reply. it was a file set to open with notepad. Once I changed it to open it with Windows script host the thing works like a charm. Thanks to all for that. OK now I want to pull this on so many people I couldnt possibly set it up on the same day. I was thinking I need a script to move the file to startup on the particular day. Can anyone do that for me easily. I am also open to any other ideas. I am so looking forward to this. Thanks to all
Dave -
October 16, 2006 at 7:58 am #3220578
Windows Task Scheduler
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Thanks for the reply, New dilemma
should do the trick.
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October 16, 2006 at 12:31 pm #3220498
Schedule a start date
by big rod · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Thanks for the reply, New dilemma
Go into the advanced properties by clicking the Advanced button on the Schedule tab and set a particular date to start it.
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October 19, 2006 at 6:24 pm #3220646
Easy peasy…
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Thanks for the reply, New dilemma
Add this line to the start of the program:
If date()<>“10/31/2006” then wscript.quit
Copy the program into startup any time before Halloween and, except on October 31, it will immediately exit without the user knowing it has run.
The command to fire off the wav file is set to return immediately so the sound can be as long as you like. The program sleeper timing only affects the display.
Neil
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October 5, 2006 at 3:16 am #3280953
Working solution
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Copy the bit between the dashed lines (NOT including the lines) into Notepad and save as “halloween.vbs”. Get a suitable bitmap (bmp) file showing the picture that you want at a suitable resolution. Get the wav file for a scream or whatever. Copy both into c:\windows on your target’s PC (and your own for testing). Edit Halloween.vbs to set a suitable time delay (line 7), change the bitmap name (line 24) and the wav name (line 38) to suit your files and set how long you want the change to stay up (line 45).
Test on your PC! Copy Halloween.vbs to the target PC C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
The program will start as she logs in and will wait for the preset delay before changing the wallpaper – just time to get settled.
I hoped that I’d find the code to ramp up the volume to Full but that will have to wait until next year.
Hope it works! Test it today. I’ve got one day left to debug it!
Neil ]:)
‘—————————————–
Set oShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Set oFSO = CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject”)
set oDesktop=CreateObject(“Shell.Application”)‘ Set the value to the number of seconds that you want to wait. i.e. 300000 is five minutes
wscript.sleep 300000
‘ OK, now DO IT!
‘ Minimise all of the working windows for full effect
oDesktop.MinimizeAll
‘ Get and save the old wallpaper
sOldWallpaper = oShell.RegRead(“HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”)
‘ New wallpaper. This should be a bitmap (.bmp) of a suitable resolution
‘ Copy the bmp to C:\Windows
‘ Replace the filename with your gruesome bitmapsWinDir = oFSO.GetSpecialFolder(0)
sWallPaper = sWinDir & “\sky.bmp”‘ Update in registry
oShell.RegWrite “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”, sWallPaper
‘ Let the system know about the change
sCommand = _
“%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters”
oShell.Run sCommand,1,True‘ Play a sound
‘ Copy a scream or whatever wav file into C:\WindowssSoundFile = sWinDir & “\tada.wav”
sCommand = “sndrec32 /play /close ” & chr(34) & sSoundFile & chr(34)
oShell.Run sCommand, 0, False‘ Time to display the Halloween wallpaper in ms
wscript.sleep 10000
‘ Put it back – Update in registry
oShell.RegWrite “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”, sOldWallPaper
sCommand = _
“%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters”
oShell.Run sCommand,1,True‘ Put the Windows back
oDesktop.UndoMinimizeAll
‘————————————--
October 5, 2006 at 12:06 pm #3280378
Awesome!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Working solution
I tested it and it works!
Well it worked the first time and then it kept trying to find the files in C: rather than C:\Windows. So I took out the line that gets the value for sWindir and simply put in the C:\windows manually. Works perfectly now!
I can’t wait! [i] Rubbing hands gleefully[/i]
Thanks a bunch Neil!
Tink -
October 6, 2006 at 6:22 am #3282154
Minor Issue
by lackeym · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Working solution
I can’t wait to try this out on someone…
In my testing, I did discover something that could prevent this from working. If the user has their desktop set to not display any icons, the background will not change with the script. Everything else about the script works fine and the registry gets updated, just no background change.
Does anybody know of a fix for this?
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October 6, 2006 at 7:17 am #3282125
It won’t work
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Minor Issue
You have to enable desktop icons and then restart the desktopbefore you do the wallpaper switch:
I haven’t time to play with this as I’m off for three weeks on Monday but here’s a starting point:
‘Icons on
iCurrState = WSHShell.RegRead _
(“HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop”)oShell.RegWrite _
“HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop” _
, 0, “REG_DWORD”For Each Process in GetObject(“winmgmts:”). _
ExecQuery (“select * from Win32_Process where name=’explorer.exe'”)
Process.terminate(0)
Next‘Icons back the way they were
oShell.RegWrite _
“HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop” _
, iCurrstate, “REG_DWORD”For Each Process in GetObject(“winmgmts:”). _
ExecQuery (“select * from Win32_Process where name=’explorer.exe'”)
Process.terminate(0)
Next
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October 6, 2006 at 8:16 am #3282083
Long wait
by jg@fj · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Working solution
300000secs is not 5 minutes its 5000 minutes so unless wscript.sleep works in millieseconds this script will give a very long wait indeed.
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October 6, 2006 at 8:19 am #3282077
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October 5, 2006 at 2:38 pm #3280306
I found the perfect scream!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
This is the gal who plays in the original King Kong film. She screams at the end of the file. I cut it out and amplified it.
OOOh I can’t wait!
Tink
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October 5, 2006 at 3:01 pm #3280297
That’s a classic
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to I found the perfect scream!
I’ll have to get my Ray Harryhausen tribute collection out and watch KK just to hear it again.
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October 6, 2006 at 12:55 am #3280209
Need that ‘Amplified Scream’
by unni_kcpm · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to I found the perfect scream!
Dear Tink,
Please send me your ‘Amplified Scream’, let also “TRY” the vbs with your Scream.
Another Prankster.
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October 6, 2006 at 12:56 am #3280208
Need that ‘Amplified Scream’
by unni_kcpm · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to I found the perfect scream!
Dear Tink,
Please send me your ‘Amplified Scream’, let also “TRY” the vbs with your Scream.
Another Prankster.
Thanks.
kcpmenon@yahoo.co.uk-
October 6, 2006 at 9:31 am #3282042
Can I get a copy of that too!
by pipestone_it_guy · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need that ‘Amplified Scream’
N/T
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October 6, 2006 at 9:35 am #3282036
Here’s the scream!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need that ‘Amplified Scream’
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October 6, 2006 at 11:17 am #3281988
How ’bout that Tink?
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Here’s the scream!
“Sorry, this GeoCities site is currently unavailable.
The GeoCities web site you were trying to view has temporarily exceeded its data transfer limit.”
You’ve been “TRed.” That’s even better than being Slashdotted.
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October 6, 2006 at 11:41 am #3281972
anyone have a place I can post a sound file?
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to How ’bout that Tink?
stupid geocities.
anyone have place where I can post a sound file for everyone to hear?Thanks
Tink 🙂 -
October 6, 2006 at 5:15 pm #3282171
It’s good now
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to anyone have a place I can post a sound file?
Must have been the initial rush. Whoa! :0 That’s great!
Just played it & my wife jumped three feet. Cool!
Good thing I cleaned up the back yard today or she’d be throwing things at me. B-)
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October 6, 2006 at 8:14 pm #3281860
Ahhh…
by yanipen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to I found the perfect scream!
Tink,
Send me your email address, and neil’s too. I have a very nice scream sound clip in my collection.
Here’s my email address: yanipen@yahoo.com
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October 6, 2006 at 1:16 am #3280205
Black on Black
by dogknees · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Set all colours and all backgrounds to black.
But, make sure you know how to get it back to normal without being able to see what’s happening.
Works even better if you use the classic screen rather than the XP version.
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October 6, 2006 at 2:23 am #3280193
Boo-hoo doesn’t work with Win2K
by john · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Not sure why, as I am no expert at VB, but despite some attempts to edit it, the sound bit works but the wallpaper doesn’t when I try it on a Win2K box ( Works fine Ok on an XP box )
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October 6, 2006 at 3:39 am #3280179
Sorry, I only ever tried it on XP
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Boo-hoo doesn’t work with Win2K
It may be that the Registry entry doesn’t exist or is different. Run up Regedit and see if you’ve got a HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper value. I’m also not sure if the user32.dll entry points are the same.
Neil
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October 6, 2006 at 3:43 am #3280178
Win2k
by byenarygal · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Boo-hoo doesn’t work with Win2K
Have you tried changing the path names?
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October 6, 2006 at 7:43 am #3282107
I’m not Win2K but
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Boo-hoo doesn’t work with Win2K
I had problems with the pic not switching also until I realized, it doesn’t accept jpgs, and then the 1st bmp I tried was too large in file size for Windows to load properly.
I shrank the bmp from 300 some KB to 191 KB and it works perfect now.
http://static.flickr.com/97/262243453_b78e559239_o.jpg
Tink
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October 6, 2006 at 8:01 am #3282097
Hah! Typical tech!
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to I’m not Win2K but
RTFM!
I quote: “Get a suitable bitmap (bmp) file showing the picture that you want at a suitable resolution.”
I mean….
Well…
What’s a fella got to do? Spoon-feed ’em?
:p
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October 6, 2006 at 8:16 am #3282082
Brain Fart!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Hah! Typical tech!
sorry, I’m a speed reader, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I get every bit of info input into the brain properly. Especially when I’m trying to do legit work at the same time.
But yes, you did provide that info…just slap me upside the head next time to wake me up ok?
Tink 🙂
P.S. the original BMP was actually 72 dpi but the dimensions made the file size too large. I cut the dpi down to 36 and the dimensions down half. still looks good as wallpaper.
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October 6, 2006 at 5:25 am #3280151
Hide Desktop Icons?
by mhill · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Is there some code I can add to also hide the desktop icons… so the Scaree can get the full effect?
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October 6, 2006 at 6:50 am #3282136
Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
by logos-systems · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
Even if I knew how to accomplish what you?ve asked help on I would not. The same technology that allows you to pull your prank is the same technology required to create the next hacker?s bug, or Trojan Horse. No as far as I?m concerned this post thread should be turned over to the FBI?s Cyber Crime Unit!
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October 6, 2006 at 7:03 am #3282131
Tosser! And I’m being kind, here.
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
This is a little elementary vbscript. An environment provided by Microsoft on every operating system since the Dawn of time to enable administrators to automate system management. There’s a zillion scripts out there that manipulate the PC environment. This one took me a minute to write and I’m by no means a Script King.
BUT!
The key points that you have overlooked, however, are that it is not possible to run the script on someone else’s PC [b]without the necessary rights[/b]and that it is not possible to run the script on someone else’s PC [b]without the necessary rights[/b].
(I know, I know. It’s only one point but it’s such a good one that I thought that I’d type it twice).
It’s about SECURITY! And not the mechanism to do dastardly things once the security is breached because that is easy to learn. Hell! Microsoft run courses – Vbscript for Administrators – because I’ve done a couple.
Neil
p.s. I’m not from the US so the FBI Cyber Crime unit can piss off! As can you.
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October 6, 2006 at 7:26 am #3282118
Geez, Neil
by tig2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Tosser! And I’m being kind, here.
That was awfully tame.
In case I have no other opportunity, safe travel next week! Enjoy your visit. Don’t point and laugh- we KNOW how funny we look!
Remember your walking shoes!
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October 6, 2006 at 7:57 am #3282100
I’m taking a notebook
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Geez, Neil
to upload my pictures from the camera so, given a suitable wireless access, I’ll post any items of interest and a few pics.
My mother doesn’t like me spending time on computers when I’m supposed to be visiting her but the notebook is a tiny Thinkpad so I’ll tell her it’s a special “camera thingy”.
I have two nice pairs of New Balance 785 – one grey, one brown. I’m not taking anything else. One empty suitcase and a credit card – at $1.80, I can’t miss.
😀
p.s. I’m not that hacked off with that idiot poster – at least he thinks he’s on the side of the good guys.
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October 6, 2006 at 7:10 am #3282128
Hmm feeling a bit…..
by ncc1701dhhr · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
Im sorry but it seems you are feeling a bit short
on abilitys???
It is a harmless prank and you need a life
all it realy shows is they take there respective
job’s seriously and are good at it,
These (Hacker) skills you speak of are also very much a part of of almost all top level IT jobs
used to improve and automate all types of work,
It is well beond my ability but I know they are
needed and not a threat as you make it sound.
OK im done …..Where dose this soap box go??? -
October 6, 2006 at 7:12 am #3282126
Gateway Prank
by chrissz1 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
That’s right! I’ve heard that things like this are gateway pranks to some serious national infrastructure destroying viruses and hacks. First you’re putting aluminum foil on everything in a colleague’s cubical, then asking someone to write a script to change their desktop wallpaper, and next it’s on to cyber-terrorism. Most terrorists start with pranks, you know.
Let’s all see this in the light in which it is intended…having fun. Lighten up! Maybe get a girlfriend. And pull a few pranks instead of always being the victim of them. -
October 6, 2006 at 7:23 am #3282122
It’s a prank
by tig2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
It is evident that you DON’T understand the scripting that you are reading. There is nothing here that can harm a system.
Before you start tossing off such remarks, perhaps you should understand what is in front of you.
You should also consider that attack is not the way to open a door to intellegent discourse. If you have a suggestion or recommendation, make it. But keep the flame thrower to yourself.
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October 6, 2006 at 7:38 am #3282112
Get a life
by gadgetgirl · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
You obviously don’t know anything about work/life balance, as you don’t believe in having a life at work.
It’s just a bit of fun. You know, that thing you do to help you LIVE. Have fun, have a laugh, enjoy yourself. As the original poster wants to do with this prank, because that’s all it is; a prank. I work in security; this IS purely a prank. If you sent this to the FBI, if they didn’t use it at Halloween themselves, they’d probably do you for wasting there time. It has nothing whatsoever to do with security.
I suggest you take steps to improve your work/life balance by getting a life.
GG
(Peers – yes, I know, it’s not like me, but he chose the wrong time, I’m now job hunting….)
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October 6, 2006 at 7:54 am #3282102
Oh Crap, GG
by tig2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Get a life
What happened???
Idiot finally get to you?
Did you hide the body???
Details girl! Are you Okay?????
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October 6, 2006 at 7:56 am #3282101
Please tell us
by nicknielsen · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Get a life
this is a preliminary job hunt and not a required job hunt.
Good luck with it.
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October 6, 2006 at 7:59 am #3282099
Hey babe! What’s going on?
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Get a life
Trust reorganisation? Mad boss?
Tell us!
Neil 🙁 😡
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October 6, 2006 at 8:05 am #3282092
Sincerely, thanks guys
by gadgetgirl · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Get a life
I unintentionally cross threaded, cos I sounded off here…
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=201842&messageID=2105269
I still don’t understand who/why they’re letting her get away with not doing a DOH requirement.
Totally befuddled.
Thanks for the support though – Tig, yes, just doing my Hulk impression I’m so mad
Nick – nope, forced, see link….I’M NOT A BLOODY TRAINER… sorry, soapbox…
Neil – double dippy tart boss….restructure after merger in APRIL, and if I thought I could get away with whistle blowing in my particular post….GG
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October 6, 2006 at 8:09 am #3282090
GG
by tig2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Sincerely, thanks guys
Watch your home mail- I am so very sorry.
Emailing G&T… Hope it helps!
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October 6, 2006 at 8:14 am #3282086
sorry to hear
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Sincerely, thanks guys
things took a turn the wrong way for ya GG. I’ve had that happen too…your’e happily working in your IT job and then suddenly you’re Customer Service?
Hope you find something better soon!
Tink
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October 6, 2006 at 3:25 pm #3282211
I love it….
by tenagra71 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Get a life
ROTFLMAO – “they’d probably do you for wasting their time”. Freakin classic… hahahaha Almost sounds like a subplot for The Soprano’s.
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October 6, 2006 at 8:11 am #3282088
Whoa!
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
[b]Definitely lighten up![/b]
We’re all professionals here, and we know our duties and our loyalties. As network admins we have rights to areas that most do not and we have our unspoken moral values that we abide by.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a good prank now and then! After all, the workplace can get rather dull without something to liven things up.
Besides, the prank is harmless to the user as well the computer, and I have the permission of the CEO to perform it. In fact he said he’s going to make sure he’s here early to see the prank happen.
Tink 🙂
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October 6, 2006 at 3:13 pm #3282215
Agreed… Lighten up…
by tenagra71 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Whoa!
Professional is one thing, but I can’t stand the “No room to wiggle” rule when it comes to having a little fun. My way old IT boss NEVER thought any kind of prank on a PC was funny. But he would tinfoil an office in a heartbeat. As if the PC is any different than the phone or calculator covered in tinfoil. Is not a PC a too to do work just like the phone?
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October 6, 2006 at 8:35 am #3282066
Tell the FBI????
by byenarygal · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
Maybe you should stop and think that the same skills it takes to become a hacker are the same skills it takes to stop a hacker.
Get a life!
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October 6, 2006 at 4:51 pm #3282181
Maybe I should call the FBI on my spouse
by mobill122 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Tell the FBI????
Last April Fool’s Day…. she got on my PC while I was gone… hid my desktop icons…and put a ” Blue Screen Of Death ” background on the desktop screen !*&%!(*&%!(*&%!
I walked in….almost had a heart attack…when I saw the screen. I had just installed a Raid setup… I figured I was dead!
She said she only wished she had a web cam turned facing me, so she could have recorded the event for her online friends !
Living with a software engineer is H@LL ! !
GRRrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
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October 6, 2006 at 9:59 am #3282029
DON’T BE SUCH AN ANAL PRICKWAD!
by why me worry? · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
He isn’t doing this to be malicious, as I’m sure his intentions are good natured and clean fun given the occassion. I once pulled off a hilarious gag on April fools back in the mid 90s’ when Windows 95 was the defacto O/S. I had taken the logo.sys file, which is a bitmap that makes up the Windows 95 splash screen upon boot, and replaced it with a PhotoShoped distortion of Bill Gate’s mugshot. When all of the PCs’ booted, the infamous Windows 95 logo was replaced with this funky looking image of Bill Gates getting punched out. Believe me, even the CEO got a good laugh out of it and the entire office was rolling on the floor from laughter. I reset the systems back to normal thereafter, but I knew I could pull it off because the people I worked with, as well as the execs, all had a sense of humor and enjoyed gags like this. Even the CEO pulled a few gags on some of us here and there by flipping over our monitors or posting sticky notes on our monitors with things like “Where’s the anykey?…signed…CEO”. It makes for an interesting and lively environment and reminds us that we are human and need to laugh sometimes. If all you do at your job is stare at a monitor and get penalized for laughing, then you and your entire office needs mental therapy.
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October 6, 2006 at 11:19 am #3281987
Sheesh Why Me
by tig2 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to DON’T BE SUCH AN ANAL PRICKWAD!
Y’all just don’t mince words!
Sounds like it was a great joke. Had something similar done to me back in the NT days- someone had gotten into my pc and changed the start-up .wav for one that had the sound of windows breaking and a voice saying “Oh Sh*t!”.
Unfortunately, I discovered it when I went to boot up in a meeting. Boy was my face red!
My pass protected screensaver kicks on after 60 seconds of inactivity now… even in my home office!
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October 6, 2006 at 3:32 pm #3282210
Similar prank…
by tenagra71 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Sheesh Why Me
Friend sent me a vbs file disguised as a wav. Told me to listen to it and enjoy. So I turn my speakers on to an OK volume for my cube size and launched the file. In about 2 seconds, my volume in Win2K was cranked and a goofy voice boomed out of my speakers, “Hey everybody, I’m watching porno over here!”. Yup – red faced… I stood up and looked around like, “Who did that”, trying to look sorta serious as we have 5 ft high cube walls. man, talk about people gophering and laughing…. He got me good.
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October 8, 2006 at 7:25 am #3281622
Now THAT is funny
by nogood · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Similar prank…
I seriously just LMAO. Anyone who would do that to you at work, must be a true friend. lol.
I wonder if someone did that to Logos-System at some point, which is why he’s so red faced and uptight about pranks. -
October 11, 2006 at 7:13 am #3281481
Yup – red faced
by wschindewolf · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Similar prank…
I got nailed by that one, too. Back when some people around here still had a sense of humor.
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October 6, 2006 at 11:24 am #3281985
I Agree!
by george.jenkins · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to DON’T BE SUCH AN ANAL PRICKWAD!
Win95 was easy to update with tasks. I dropped in April Fools jokes into \\%computername%\windows\tasks and the office loved them. Altered times of day, etc. Had sheep running on desktops, desktops flipping over, icons moving, etc. I reset everything when finished. If I didn’t return them to normal then the joke would be back on me for not knowing how to reset the computer into proper working mode…
Key phrase: “All in good fun!”
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October 6, 2006 at 5:55 pm #3281908
HELP!
by pennatomcat · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to DON’T BE SUCH AN ANAL PRICKWAD!
Been playing with computers for 30 years, but I still can’t find that “anykey.”
Anal Prickwad?? With my experiences as a sailor and as a truck driver, I thought that I’ve heard it all, but I was wrong! 🙂
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October 11, 2006 at 7:08 am #3281483
Mental Therapy
by wschindewolf · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to DON’T BE SUCH AN ANAL PRICKWAD!
“If all you do at your job is stare at a monitor and get penalized for laughing, then you and your entire office needs mental therapy.”
That pretty well sums up the mentality of my workplace. Local government! I’m fine…it’s the rest of them that need therapy!!
I can’t even check out the links that are posted if they are not specifically job related – proxy server & web history reports. I even got chewed on for going to pctoys.com.
PS: Why Me Worry? Cool avatar!
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October 6, 2006 at 11:13 am #3281991
Obvious Noob!
by george.jenkins · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
Your lack of knowledge in sysadmin stands out a mile by your post. If you were looking for flamage, you got it!
Remember, security first…noob!
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October 6, 2006 at 12:37 pm #3281941
I am a “noob” and….
by btljooz · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Obvious Noob!
even [b]I[/b] know that was a [i][b][u]TROLL[/u][/b][/i]!!!!!! 😉
byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!
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October 6, 2006 at 1:08 pm #3281922
HERE – HERE!!
by mr. tinker · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Obvious Noob!
And well said!!!
I enjoyed the script so much, that I scheduled it on my kids PC’s on my home network to kick off all at the same time!!! << same scream, but differnt pics, and every hour till from 3:30 pm till 9:30>> This is gonna be a fun Halloween for me!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Excellent prank!
Tinker -
October 6, 2006 at 2:12 pm #3282232
Enjoy
by neilb@uk · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to HERE – HERE!!
We don’t celebrate Halloween over here so this is a quick adaptation of one I did for April Fools Day some years ago for NT boxes to flash up a soft porn image for a split second at random intervals (only one guy wasn’t in on the joke. What boobs? we can’t see any boobs!)
There are a couple of refinements that I didn’t have time to adapt, max up volume being one.
It would seem that it also doesn’t work if Desktop is set to hide icons.
Better one next year…
😀
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October 6, 2006 at 2:38 pm #3282224
boy someone needs a sense of humor
by roland.penton · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
nuff said
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October 6, 2006 at 3:16 pm #3282212
What the???
by tenagra71 · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
I swear, I must have worked for you somewhere before… Loosen your tie, Wad. Sheesh. BTW – does your comment mean that if I write a script that changes the default install of XP pro, that I have hacked a clients PC and microsoft can have the FBI sent after me for hacking the code? What a dork… And if your answer is “YES”, then what the heck kind fo consulting for IT do you do? Anti-IT??
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October 6, 2006 at 5:09 pm #3282175
Idiot
by timbo zimbabwe · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
“Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals ”
Lighten up, Francis….
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October 9, 2006 at 4:25 pm #3280561
Are you for real?
by feral · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Are You All Hackers! Are You All Criminals
“The same technology that allows you to pull your prank is the same technology required to create the next hacker?s bug, or Trojan Horse”
It also allows us to administer our systems mate, I believe he is going to use a script to execute this however, if he does not have admin rights I doubt the prank will work at boot though it could be made to work after the system has loaded.
“No as far as I?m concerned this post thread should be turned over to the FBI?s Cyber Crime Unit!”
This statement would make myself or anyone else here seriously not consider using your consultancy services in any capacity, you remind me of the techie at my ISP who said “turn off your firewall and open the command prompt and type in telnet” seriously silly and an over the top reaction to something which really required a little more rational thought.
I would hardly consider wasting the time of a law enforcement agency on something so trivial, the prankster has not broken any laws from what I can see, he has broken a few policies and change management rules if they exist in his organisation.
I would suggest you pull your head in and think before spouting off about cybercrime.
Cheers
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October 6, 2006 at 7:36 am #3282114
interesting
by vtassone · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
My wife likes to come home from work and unwind on tetris for awhile. I’m going to set the machine to break into her game and tell her to go do the dishes…… On the serious side, I haven’t done any programing since the days of CP/m and Dos. This doesen’t look that complicated.
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October 6, 2006 at 5:59 pm #3281906
Are you brave, insane, or having a
by pennatomcat · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to interesting
brain fart. Your wife could make that VERY complicated! 🙂
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October 6, 2006 at 7:49 pm #3281871
This is great
by brothertech · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
I ran across this discussion when it was around 70 replies. I thank you all for the excellent laugh I received in regards to everything written.
I have found in life that you shoud NEVER take yourself or others too seriously. Life is just too short to get wrapped around a pole. You eventually make yourself look foolish.
P.S.
Neil, your script goes into the saved pile for sure!Thank you all!
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October 7, 2006 at 11:47 am #3281738
I agree.
by halvbria · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to This is great
I must agree with brothertech on this one. As a college student that will soon be entering the IT field I really enjoy reading posts like this on Tech Republic. Reading through this one kept me laughing. As for the script, a test run on the room mates computer will surely be interesting. Thanks again everyone.
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October 20, 2006 at 8:39 am #3219805
Extra note on setting up the prank
by tink! · about 15 years, 10 months ago
In reply to Need help with Scheduling a task for Halloween
For those of you planning this, just an extra note:
I am having it run at startup and will be setting her volume [b]ALL the way up[/b] the night before. But she normally has singing songbirds chirping when she logs in. Obviously she will turn down her volume if she hears her songbirds blasting when she logs in. Sooo…I took the wav file of her songbirds and made a copy that is cut down to about an eighth of the normal volume. That way when it is played with the volume all the way up, it sounds normal.
(I didn’t want to disable the songbirds as that would also raise suspicion of something amiss)
FYI these sound file adjustments are done using a [i]trial software called [/i][b]WavePad[/b]. I don’t remember which download site I got if off of (probably Cnet) but I’m sure y’all can find it. It’s got some really great features and is very user-friendly (I think anyway).
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October 31, 2006 at 2:56 pm #3216101
Worked perfect
by witewolf1 · about 15 years, 9 months ago
In reply to Extra note on setting up the prank
I ran this on a couple of co-workers computers. On one I used the spider and the other a snake. Scared both of them pretty good. Thanks for the script.
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