The problem: The default places bar sucks. I want to customize it.

How to change it.

1. Start

2. Type gpedit.msc

This opens up the Local Group Policy Editor. You can do cool things with this tool.

1. Navigate; User Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> Windows Components --> Windows Explorer --> Common Open File Dialog --> Items displayed in Places Bar

For Windows 8 Users; Navigate; User Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> Windows Components --> File Explorer --> Common Open File Dialog --> Items displayed in Places Bar

1. Double click and select the enable option.
2. Copy and Paste the directories you want quicker access to.
3. Done.

Notes

• Windows Vista/7 only. If your on XP, its time to grow up and move on.

• I tried this in Win7 Ultimate. I heard that the Local group policy editor is MIA in the Win7 "home" editions. Not sure if this is true or not. Don't care. I'm on Win7 Ultimate.

• [UPDATE 02/17/2013] - I upgraded to Windows 8, There is a minor change in step three. I have updated it accordingly. Instead of Windows Explorer, it is now File Explorer. All the steps are otherwise the same.

In Google Chrome, you can install custom user javascript (a.k.a "userscripts") that lets you do cool things to website. I think of them as power-ups for your browser. In recent builds of Google Chrome, attempting to download and install userscripts will be met by the following error;

Extensions, apps and user scripts can only be added from the Chrome Web Store

Like the message says, you must download userscripts from the Chrome Web Store. This is to protect your average Joe from malicious code which is fine and dandy, but i'm a pro and I know what the hell i'm doing. I don't wan't to make an extension, I just wan't to install the script.

The solution

1. Make a folder where you will store your userscripts. My Documents is good for most people, but it can really be anywhere. I personally store my userscripts in separate partition where all my development work is saved.
2. In Chrome, navigate to your extensions page; type in chrome://chrome/extensions/ or you could open up the Chrome Main menu -> Tools -> Extensions.
3. Drag and drop your .user.js to the extensions page. It will ask you if you want to install. Click yes.
4. There is no step 4. You're done.

FYI

The best place for userscripts is at userscripts.org.

Like always, if you find a new/cool/more efficient way to do this, let me know by tweeting @y00fie or sending me an email. I will update this post accordingly.

Yes, this is possible. By default, #Windows will not allow the logon over a network with a blank password. There is a KB article that details how to allow blank passwords for network logons. You can disable blank password restrictions by using a policy. To locate and change this policy:

1. Click Start, point to Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK to start the Group Policy Editor.
2. Open;

• Computer Configuration
• Windows Settings
• Security Settings
• Local Policies
• Security Options
• Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only.

1. Click Disabled, and then click OK.

Quit Group Policy Editor NOTE: By default, this policy is on (enabled). Under the cover, in Registry, this is controlled by

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa]
"LimitBlankPasswordUse"=dword:00000000
 Therefore, alternatively, this can be achieved by directly setting 

LimitBlankPasswordUse to ``. Setting it to 1 will restore the default behavior.