Using SoftPerfect Network Scanner to Scan Network

Let’s talk about SoftPerfect network scanner, a simple network tool that you can use to quickly scan your home network and look for active computer’s shared folders and access to them.

This is a good and small network tool to quickly discover total network connected computers, detect insecure network shares, gather existing network information in real time, shut down/wake up remote computer, etc. And here is the best part: It’s free and you can go to this link to download it! :)
Here are key features of this network scanner:
- Pings computers.
- Detects hardware (MAC) addresses even across routers.
- Detects your internal and external IP addresses.
- Detects hidden shared folders (normally invisible on the network) and write accessible shares.
- Scans for listening TCP ports and SNMP services.
- Retrieves currently logged-on users.
- You can mount and explore network resources.
- Can launch external third party applications.
- Exports results to HTML, XML, CSV and TXT
- Supports Wake-On-LAN and remote shutdown.
Here is simple way to use this program to scan network and check for computer’s shared folders:
1) There is no installation needed and you do not need administrative privileges to run this tool, just double-click the downloaded file and run it.
2) Let’s do quick configuration, go to Options and click Program Options.

3) Go to Additional tab, tick on Resolve host names and Resolve MAC address options, so the program will resolve both hostname and MAC address.

4) Go to Shares tab, tick on Scan for shared resources and Check for write access options. Also check the Enumerate All radio button.

5) Ok. Let’s check your computer’s IP address by using ipconfig in command prompt (cmd.exe), after that key in the entire network range for scanning. Click Start scanning.
Example1: If computer’s IP is 10.10.0.100, you can key in IP range from 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
Example2: If computer’s IP is 192.168.1.253, you can key in IP range from 192.0.0.0 to 192.255.255.255
Example3: If computer’s IP is 192.168.100.200, you can key in IP range from 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

6) After successful network scanning, this network scanner will display all discovered computers with shared folders on your network. It will show you the hostname and MAC address of the computers as well. You can just double-click the shared folder to try accessing it.
Note: For the shared folder showed with lock symbol, you need to provide username and password in order to access it.
Note: ADMIN$, D$ and C$ are hidden and default shares on computer DAVID. It’s hidden because you won’t be able to see the folder if you type \\\\DAVID in address bar of file explorer.

Changing Remote Desktop Port in Microsoft Windows This article will show you how to change Remote Desktop port from default TCP 3386 to any port number you want as according to your requirement. This might be needed if the default port is already used by other application on your network. Without wasting more time, let’s start. The change is pretty simple by making minor change in registry, but you need to be careful when using registry editor. You Windows OS might not work well if you make incorrect registry change. This registry change works well in Windows 7, Vista and XP after testing, and you can try on other Windows OS too. 1) Let me use Windows 7 as example here: Go to Start and run registry editor program (regedit). 2) Registry editor window will appear, browse and locate following registry subkey – PortNumber. Right click to modify it. 3) Change to decimal mode, after that key in new port number. As an example, I change it to port 20000. Click OK and close registry program finally. Note: Please note that if you have enabled firewall on this Remote Desktop enabled computer, you need to configure firewall to permit Remote Desktop traffic on new port. If not, other users will face problem to connect to this computer. 4) Restart you computer or Remote Desktop program for the change to take effect. From now on other user can only connect to this Remote Desktop enabled computer by using client program in this format: IP-address:port-number (example: 192.168.1.100:20000) Copyright © IT Solution All rights reserved.

Yes! Sharing Internet by using Connectify software router easily!
You can easily share your DSL or Cable, or even 3G/4G Internet connection to other computer, laptop or other mobile devices by using this software on computer.

This is another way of Internet sharing other than using Internet Connection Sharing in Microsoft Windows OS. This Connectify software router is developed by connectify.me, and you can find Connectify Lite (Free) or Pro version (need to purchase) on the website.
Connectify Lite/Pro features:
-Work as software Access Point by sharing DSL/Cable Internet connection
-Share Internet from other wireless network
-Display connected computers or mobile devices
-Provide simple firewall feature
Additional Connectify Pro features
-Share 3G/4G Internet connection
-“Fling” drag and drop file transfer
-Repeater functionality
-Fully customizable SSID
The software can be installed in Windows 7 (both 32 and 64 bit versions), Windows Vista 32-bit with SP2 and Windows XP 32-bit with SP3. I think it can be installed on future newer Windows OS too.
Please take note that this software router can only operate in Ad-hoc mode if you install it in Windows XP or Vista due to OS limitation, however it can operate in Access Point (AP) mode if you install it in Windows 7 with compatible wireless adapter. Access Point mode allows you to create a wireless hotspot using the same wireless adapter that you are using to access the Internet but it can’t be done in Ad-hoc mode. This AP mode is good way to extend your wireless network coverage too.

Sharing Internet (Cable or DSL) by Using Connectify Lite

In this case I’ve a computer which is equipped with wired network adapter and also wireless adapter, and the wired adapter is connected to Internet via DSL/Cable connection. I will then use Connectify software router for sharing Internet connection with other computers.
This is the way to do it on that computer with Internet connection:
1) Select wired network adapter in Internet to share option, after that select Wi-Fi as Share over option. Select Wi-Fi Ad-Hoc, Encrypted (WEP) mode and then set password, so that WEP password authentication is required for other computers to join this wireless network and access to Internet. Finally click Start Hotspot.
Note: As this is XP computer and so no AP mode is supported, you can only configure it as Open ad-hoc wireless hotspot or WEP encrypted wireless hotspot. As WEP is vulnerable and easily to be cracked, and so I don’t really recommend to use Connectify this way in Windows XP, you should use this software router in Windows 7 that supports AP mode and much secure encryption (WPA2, WPA).

2) On other computer, you should configure TCP/IP on their local area connection to obtain an IP address automatically after connecting to this wireless hotspot. Those computers will be assigned IP address in the 192.168.42.x range and able to access Internet through this Connectify enabled computer (default gateway is 192.168.42.1).

3) On that Connectify enabled computer, you willl be able to see the connected computer name if you click on Clients tab of Connectify software as shown here.

Recommended Articles:
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Microsoft Windows
Quick Guide to Configure Wireless Router as Access Point
Using SoftPerfect Network Scanner to Scan Network

 

Powerline Ethernet Adapter – Simple Way to Extend Home Network

Have you heard about powerline ethernet adapter? Ha! This is simple and useful adapter that you can use to extend home network by making use of home’s powerlines and connect to other computers or network devices.

Here are benefits of this adapter:
Convenient - This adapter is convenient to be used if you want to reduce the usage of network cables and make use of powerlines to extend network.
Plug and Play - Plug in powerline adapter and other network devices and it will work.
Fast & Secure – 85 Mbps, 200 Mbps or higher transmission speed over powerline network.
Secure - Data transmission over powerlines is secured with 128bits AES, 56bits DES or other encryptions.
Easy to Expand Network - Can add new powerline adapter to expand network, but must be compatible with existing powerline adapters.

Let’s explore on how to use it. It’s easy to use as it is plug & play. You need to have at least a pair of this adapter in order to make it works. As you can see example below, I use a pair of powerline adapter to share Internet via wireless router in room A with a computer in room B.

You just need to plug the powerline adapter into power outlet in room A, and then use a network cable to connect router’s LAN port to powerline adapter’s network port. After that walk to room B, plug the powerline adapter into power outlet and also use a network cable to connect computer’s network card to powerline adapter’s network port. That’s it! Both devices should now be able to talk to each other after waiting for some times, the effect is same as you connect computer and router with network cable directly.
Please note the data transmission over powerlines is secured with default encryption key, and so you are advised to change it as according to product manual. You should also install powerline utility in order to manage the adapters better. If you are interested, have a look on these powerline ethernet adapters.
Note: Some of the powerline adapter might comes with 4 or more network ports, so you can connect more network devices to single adapter.

How to Enable Windows 8 Remote Desktop Feature

How to Enable Windows 8 Remote Desktop Feature? You will think about this if you want to connect and access this Remote Desktop enabled computer from other Windows computer in order to manage the system, use application, print document or access other resources.
This remote desktop connection feature can be enabled in Windows 8 Enterprise and Windows 8 Pro, and you can connect to it from a computer running any edition of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows RT.

Let’s follow these step-by-step instructions to get it works:

1) On start screen, click Desktop tile in order to go to Windows desktop environment that you are familiar with.
2) When you are in typical Desktop environment, move your finger or cursor to the upper or lower right in order to open the Charms bar, after that click on Search charm.
3) Search charm will appear, select Settings and type system and proceed with searching, after that click on System from search result.
4) Proceed to click on Remote settings in System window.
5) Immediately your will be shown Remote tab in System Properties window, this is the location you could enable this Remote Desktop access feature. Click on Allow remote connections to this computer option if your Remote Desktop client could be initiated from older windows OS, such as Windows XP or Vista.

Check the box next to Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) if the Remote Desktop clients are from Windows 7 or Windows 8. This is much secure way to establish Remote Desktop connection.

You are also required to click Select Users button to choose the users that can connect to this computer remotely. Continue to read more below before clicking Apply and OK button.
Note: If you click Select Users button in System Properties window, you can add the users that can connect to this computer remotely. By default the current user id that you use to enable this Remote Desktop will be allowed to connect remotely (which is Denis the current logged on user in this case). You can click Add... to add other users.
Note: Please note that the Remote Desktop must be enabled (in your respective network location type) as exception in Windows Firewall, so that this Remote Desktop traffic will be permitted by firewall! If not this Remote Desktop traffic will be dropped by this firewall and you could not access Windows 8 computer remotely.

If you are interested about the Remote Desktop port number, the port number is TCP3389.
Note: Please also make sure Block all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed programs check box is not enabled in Windows firewall! If it’s check, then no remote connection can be made from other computers.
That’s it! You have done it. You can now connecting to this computer from other computer with remote desktop client.