disable dim screen at secure Desktop win7

Since I replaced my monitor for a bigger one I find it more annoying that the whole screen gets dimmed during secure desktop so I was looking for a way to stop the dimming.
This can be achieved by lowering your UAC setting one notch (one below default)

Although not really what I wanted because I don't like the fact my security is lowered a bit.

Explanation from Microsoft:
This setting is the same as "Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer," but you're not notified on the secure desktop.

Because the UAC dialog box isn't on the secure desktop with this setting, other programs might be able to interfere with the visual appearance of the dialog box. This is a small security risk if you already have a malicious program running on your computer.

Note: The outcome of the registry change as described here also lowers the security

Eventvwr: Customer Experience Improvement Program EventID 1008

To prevent this message in your eventvwr: A problem prevented Customer Experience Improvement Program data from being sent to Microsoft, (Error 80004005).
Disable the consolidator Task 

uninstall and clean tool from Microsoft Support

URL: http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall
(Fixit-portable)

What it fixes...

• Removes bad registry key on 64 bit operating systems.
• Windows registry keys that control the upgrade (patching) data that become corrupted.
• Resolves problems that prevent new programs from being installed.
• Resolves problems that prevent programs from being completely uninstalled and blocking new installations and updates.
• Use this troubleshooter for an uninstall only if the program fails to uninstall using the windows add/remove programs feature.

remove service from Services

If you need to remove a service from services you can with a simple command:
Prerequisite:  stop the service before removing
To remove "AMD External Events Utility" service for example:
run cmd.exe with elevated privileges, type the following:
sc delete "AMD External Events Utility"

C:\Windows\system32>sc delete "AMD External Events Utility"
[SC] DeleteService SUCCESS
C:\Windows\system32>

Microsoft Security Essentials issues

Using MSE I noticed slow rendering of icons on my desktop and sometimes high CPU usage of MsMpEng.exe process.
As a "Solution" I added these in to the excluded files Settings of MSE and so far so good.

"import" vmx file in VirtualBox

I prefer to use Virtualbox over vmware but received a vmware image consisting of vmx and vmdk files. I managed to get a Win2000 vmx image up and running in Virtualbox 4.1.6
Before the import I removed the vmwaretools. This was mentioned as a prerequisite. I used VMware player to startup the vmx and did an uninstall of vmwaretools

BTW ovftool from vmware could not convert the vmx file to ovf: complaining about unsupported hardware so I left this path and did the following:

from http://dietrichschroff.blogspot.com/2008/10/using-vmware-images-with-virtualbox.html I used the tip to replace all scsi references in the vmx file to ide using notepad. In the vmdk there was no reference to lsilogic so I left these untouched.
Created a new VM in Virtualbox and choose use existing disk and pointed it to the vmdk files.
I had to tick enable IO APIC

It booted fine and found several new hardware and after the usual reboot I installed the Virtualbox Guest additions and it is working fine.

How to disable and re-enable hibernation on a computer that is running Windows

source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920730

Let me fix it myself

To make hibernation unavailable, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
3. When you are prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4. At the command prompt, type powercfg.exe /hibernate off, and then press ENTER.
5. Type exit and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.

To make hibernation available, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
3. When you are prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4. At the command prompt, type powercfg.exe /hibernate on, and then press ENTER.
5. Type exit and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.