Tips and stuff - by a newbie, for uber newbies. - matthew (w)
Links:
http://fraviamb.cjb.net = RCE messageboard.. this one.
http://win32asm.cjb.net = Win32 asm tutorials, useful to know
http://board.win32asmcommunity.net = Dont ask for cracks. only for learning win32asm
http://tsehp.cjb.net = maintained still i think... essays and such
http://msdn.microsoft.com = for looking up functions, under windows ... win32 api reference
http://protools.cjb.net = tools you need
http://softice.tsx.org = softice for 9x and nt
http://www.exetools.com = forum and cracking tools, their ftp has the latest stuff. get password from the message board
http://astalavista.box.sk = compare your cracks to theirs
http://icedump.cjb.net = addon to softice, dump screens, listen to music
http://cracking4newbies.cjb.net = faq for cracking and softice
http://www.wotsit.org/ = right link i think. try .com .net .. file formats listed
Find some crack me sites. dont remember the links.
Those are off the top of my head, might have forgotten something.
Tools:
Procdump32 (dump process' to disk)
Icedump (add functions to softice.. dump screens and play music)
Softice/Driver Studio (debug at the hardware level if you wish)
File Analyzer (shows some usefull info about files)
DumpPE (dumps PE stuff, info... )
FileMonitor (monitors programs' access to the file-related api(?)
RegistryMonitor (monitors programs access to the registry)
ResHacker (basic functional resource editor)
W32dasm (win32 dissassembler. make dead listings)
IDA (same, generally)
SoftSnoop (api monitor)
FrHed (freeware hex editor for windows)
UN-PACK (good unpacker, alternate to procdump, but different)
Masm 7 package (by hutch, if you want to learn to program)
RadAsm (IDE for programming win32 assembly. bit new but very good)
Revirgin (more advanced. i dunno how to use it, good for api and pe)
Documentation:
Platform SDK (from MS.. tonnes of info. function lists, like msdn)
ID-RIP (get the whole site from somewhere, follow along with the tutes)
Sandman's tutes (find them somewhere. follow along too, thats how you learn)
Win32asm by iczelion (win32asm tutes)
Other misc tutes for win32asm (explain some PE, odbc, etc)
Find more essays for cracking at tsheps site
Tips:
Put a big cork board next to your computer to pinup not only deadlistings, code, functions, and addresses, but playboy women.
Get an electric kettle and a stack of instant noodle (mr. noodle or ichiban, whatever). get a water cooler for the kettle, or just keep some water nearby so you can eat at all times when you cant make it into society.
Coffee machine if possible, drinking more than 200 cups within a day might kill you though.
Toilet in room. If possible have it done. Cannot leave computer always. Use a bottle for those times when you cant get upstairs at 3:00am or you'll wake your parents.. sad but true.
Jolt Cola. its like coke/pepsi (cant really think of which) and coffee, the ultimate drink. hard to find here in canada at least
Learn to spell. Talking on message boards with bad grammer and spelling looks bad. If you really suck say you speak another language.
More realistic tips:
Keep a notepad handy, pen too.
Just follow through the tutorials, you'll pick stuff up.
If you dont succed, take a break, then try again.
If you keep failing, wait a while, then try again with clear memory (sleeeep). Or just move on and dont get frusterated. But come back later.
Learn assembly. Maybe not right away, but sometime. Usefull to make patchers and keygens too.
There, a generic list of things to help newbs. just refer them to this from now on

add to it too if you want, i'm only a newb myself.