Tips and Tricks-XP - Ideas that click..!!!

150. System Restore Calendar Missing

2008-06-09T13:44:00.001+05:30

If you open System Restore and try to choose a restore point but the calendar is missing, it's probably the Hypertext Markup Language Component association (.htc) that is missing or corrupt.

Cut and paste everything below into notepad, save it as a .reg file, and then double-click on it and let it put the information into the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.htc]
"Content Type"="text/x-component"
@="htcfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\text/x-component]
"CLSID"="{3050f4f8-98b5-11cf-bb82-00aa00bdce0b}"
"Extensi on"=".htc"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3050f4f8-98b5-11cf-bb 82-00aa00bdce0b}]
@="Microsoft Html Component"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3050f4f8-98b5-11cf-bb82-00aa00bdce0b}\InProcServer32]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\mshtml.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="A partment""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.htc]
"Content Type"="text/x-component"
@="htcfile

149. Auto logon for Windows XP (Easy)

2008-06-09T13:36:00.001+05:30

Would you rather not have to log on after your computer starts? If you’re the only person who uses your computer, you can make life a little easier by skipping the Welcome screen completely and having Microsoft Windows XP take you straight to your desktop.

To automatically log on to Windows XP upon startup

1.Click Start, and then click Run.
Note: Remember your user name at the top of the Start menu, because you’ll need it later.

2.In the Open box, type 'control userpasswords2' (without quotes) and click OK.

3.Clear the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box. Click OK.

4.Click the User name box, type the user name that was displayed on the Start menu in step 1. If you normally type a password to log on, type your password in both the Password and Confirm Password boxes. Otherwise, leave these boxes blank. Click OK.

Auto logon now allows anyone to start and use your computer without typing a password.

Note: Keep in mind that you should not enable auto logon if you need privacy for any files on your computer. If you need to maintain privacy, create separate user accounts for everyone in your home, and protect your account with a password.

148.Create a keyboard shortcut to open a folder

2008-06-09T13:30:00.000+05:30

Do you have a folder that you'd like to be able to open quickly and easily whenever you want? If you create a keyboard shortcut for that folder, you can open it anytime by pressing a key combination, no matter which other programs you have open.

To create a keyboard shortcut to open a folder

1.Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.

2.In Windows Explorer (the program that appears when you open folders such as My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures, or My Music), right-click the folder to which you want instant access, click Send To, and then click Desktop.

3.On your desktop, right-click the new shortcut, and then click Properties.

4.On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key box. Now press the letter on your keyboard that you want to use to open the folder.

Note: In the Shortcut key box, Microsoft Windows XP automatically adds CTRL+ALT before the key you press, because to use the shortcut to open a folder, you have to hold down both the CTRL and ALT keys simultaneously, while pressing the letter you chose. This way, your folder won't open every time you type that letter.

5.Click OK.

6. Now test your shortcut. Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys, and then press the letter you chose.

147. Hide 'User Accounts' from users

2008-06-09T13:25:00.001+05:30

Go to Start/Run, and type:

GPEDIT.MSC

Open the path

User Config > Admin Templates > Control Panel

doubleclick "Hide specified Control Panel applets"

put a dot in 'enabled', then click 'Show"

click Add button,

type "nusrmgt.cpl" into the add box

146. Boot Defragment for fast booting

2008-06-09T13:21:00.000+05:30

A very important new feature in Microsoft Windows XP is the ability to do a boot defragment. This basically means that all boot files are placed next to each other on the disk drive to allow for faster booting. By default this option is enabled but some upgrade users have reported that it isn't on their setup.

1. Start Regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
3. Select Enable from the list on the right.
4. Right on it and select Modify.
5. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable.
6. Reboot your computer.

145. How to change drive letters

2008-06-09T13:19:00.001+05:30

To change drive letters (useful if you have two drives and have partitioned the boot drive, but the secondary drive shows up as "D")

Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management, Disk Management, then right-click the partition whose name you want to change (click in the white area just below the word "Volume") and select "change drive letter and paths."
From here you can add, remove or change drive letters and paths to the partition.

144. Reduce Temporary Internet File Space

2008-06-09T13:17:00.001+05:30

The temporary internet files clutter your hard drive with copies of each page visited. These can build up over time and take up disk space. Even more bothersome is that instead of getting new pages each time IE often takes the page out the temp internet files. This can be a problem if you are viewing a website that is updated all the time. If you are on a slow connection such as a 56K or lower then this can be good but if you are on a fast broadband connection, like me, then you can get away with decreasing the size of your temp internet files to just one meg without any performance decrease.

Launch Internet Explorer.
Select the Tools from the menu bar.
Then select Internet Options... from the drop down menu.
Once the internet options has loaded click on the general tab.
Under the temporary internet files section click the settings button.
A settings window will load. Slide the slider all the way to the left so the size indicated in the text box on the right is one.
Click OK
Click Ok

143. Everything You Ever Needed to know about Microsoft Passport

2008-06-09T13:09:00.003+05:30

Whether you know it or not, if you've ever signed up for a Hotmail account, you have a Passport account, too. And that's a good thing, because if you want to access Microsoft's Web support site these days, you must enter a Passport ID and a password. So what gives? What is this thing called Passport?

Microsoft Passport is an online identification system that assigns a unique ID to individual Web surfers. Once you sign up for Passport, Microsoft provides access to a variety of its own services, including the new Windows Messenger chat program in Windows XP. And, thanks to a lot of crafty business development work from Microsoft, you can also use Passport to sign in to dozens of non-Microsoft sites, including Starbucks.com and Costco Online.

Microsoft intends to make Passport the undisputed ID system for the Internet, and its ambitious plan has consumer watchdogs, privacy advocates, and Microsoft's competitors up in arms. We'll tell you what all the controversy is about and whether you really need a Passport.

What is Passport?
Passport is Microsoft's online authentication service. Once you have a Passport account, you can use your e-mail address and password to log in to and shop a variety of Web sites and services. Many in-house Microsoft sites (such as tech support) and services (such as Windows Messenger in Windows XP) require a Passport account or will soon, along with a growing number of non-Microsoft sites, including OfficeMax.com and Victoria's Secret.

Passport is a part of Microsoft's .Net initiative, an ambitious plan to deliver software and services to businesses and consumers via the Web. Ultimately, Microsoft wants to turn Passport into the premiere authentication system for the Internet, but the company expects plenty of competition in the near future.

Passport comes in two flavors: sign-in and wallet. You need a sign-in account to use Microsoft's consumer services, including free e-mailer Hotmail, MSN Internet Access, and Windows Messenger. If you have a Hotmail or MSN account, you already have Passport: simply use your Hotmail or MSN address and password at sites that require a Passport sign-in.

The Passport wallet service lets you buy services and products online without having to reenter billing and payment information at every participating site; it's similar to Amazon.com's one-click shopping. Currently, however, only a limited number of non-Microsoft Web sites use the Passport sign-in and wallet. To date, Microsoft hasn't announced any plans to increase the number of sites.

How do I get Passport, and what am I in for?
When you create a Passport account, you're allowing Microsoft to maintain your online identity. Although that sounds vaguely Orwellian, it's really not as intrusive as you might think--especially if you skip the wallet option. To sign on at the official Passport site, for example, simply enter an e-mail address and a password. You don't have to provide your name, address, or any other personal information.

If you want both a Passport and an e-mail account, sign up for Hotmail, Microsoft's free e-mail service. You'll need to surrender a few extra personal details, here, including a sign-in name, password, zip code, e-mail address, country of residence, region or city, and a secret question and answer (in case you forget your password and need to recover it). Once your Hotmail account is active, your e-mail address and password will get you into Passport-enabled sites.

A Passport wallet account requires the most information, including purchasing information (for example, credit card numbers and billing addresses). Often referred to as e-wallets, online ID services such as the Passport wallet offer online shoppers many conveniences. For instance, you won't have to reenter billing and payment information every time you make a purchase online. Microsoft isn't the only player in the fledgling online ID market. Both VeriSign and Liberty Alliance, the latter is an industry consortium led by Sun Microsystems, are developing competing authentication systems.

Can I use Passport on my site?
As you may have heard, Microsoft has also made Passport available to Web developers, so if any Webmaster wants his or her site to have a built-in ID system, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. To put Passport on your site, you must install Passport Manager software on your Web server. For more information on how to Passport-enable your site, check out this Business Services page. One of the benefits of online authentication systems such as Passport is that they save Net businesses from the expense and hassle of creating their own ID schemes. Currently, Microsoft is waiving licensing fees for businesses, though it plans to charge a "nominal" annual fee in the future.

What is .Net, and how is Passport related to it?
Microsoft .Net is Microsoft's platform for delivering Web services to a variety of Internet-connected devices (such as handhelds and phones), regardless of programming language or operating system, including Mac, Linux, and Windows. In theory, .Net will allow different applications on different platforms to communicate and share data over the Internet. It's the foundation of Microsoft's software-as-services business model. (The Redmond company ultimately plans to charge subscription fees for the use of its applications.) Windows XP features the first batch of .Net services, including Windows Messenger, Web Publishing Wizard, and the Online Print Ordering Wizard (for purchasing paper prints of digital photos). Passport is the authentication system for .Net, so you'll need a Passport account to use future and current .Net services.

Will Passport help Microsoft monopolize the Internet?
Microsoft already dominates the PC software market, from operating systems to browsers to office suites. But it's too early to say who will control the online authentication market. Passport isn't the only player in the online ID game. Liberty Alliance, a consortium led by Sun Microsystems, General Motors, Fidelity Investments, and other industry titans, plans to launch a competing service. However, it's unclear when this service will be ready or even what its name will be. So far, Passport is the best-developed online authentication scheme. In any event, once the competing Net ID systems are available, Microsoft claims that Passport will be interoperable with them, similar to the way banks and their respective ATMs share financial information.

What's all the hoopla about Passport and security?
In the wake of two recent, well-publicized security breaches involving Hotmail and Microsoft's Internet Information Server, some analysts and privacy advocates question Microsoft's ability to ensure customer security. Microsoft is also a popular target among unscrupulous hackers, who are constantly trying to find holes in various Microsoft programs.

To be fair, Microsoft does as much as any other company to protect your data from hackers and thieves. According to the company, your information is stored on secure servers in a controlled environment, safe from hackers and physical intruders. When you log in to or buy something from a Passport-enabled site, the server sends your billing and contact information in encrypted form (using the Triple DES encryption). Still, potential Passport customers should consider these security issues before signing up--or deciding not to.

Will anyone sell my Passport information?
Security aside, privacy groups such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center are apprehensive about Microsoft's and other Passport participants' plans for your data. For example, once you start using your Passport account, will vendors track your Net activities and purchases? Will they sell your personal data to marketers? Microsoft says they won't. Passport's privacy policy lets you, the consumer, choose (during account setup) whether to grant Microsoft the right to share your data with third parties. And Passport's architecture doesn't allow Microsoft to see what you're buying online, according to Directions on Microsoft analyst Matt Rosoff. Microsoft possesses only the information you surrendered at sign-up (e-mail address, password, and so on). While Microsoft can share this information with its Passport partners--such as when you sign on to a participating site--it can't share it with other companies without your consent.

But what about Passport partner sites? Unfortunately, things get a little murky here. While Microsoft insists that its partners must have privacy policies, it does not dictate the terms of these policies. Microsoft "strongly encourages" Passport users to read its partners' privacy policies before they log in to or share information with a partner site.

What's a Kids Passport?
Microsoft offers a Passport service for pups, but it's designed to keep your children safe while they surf (rather than to get them shopping). Many Web sites customarily collect personal information from visitors, regardless of age. But according to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), commercial sites must obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information on anyone under 13. Microsoft's Kids Passport service is designed to help enforce that rule.

The Kids Passport lets parents control what information their children share with Passport sites. When your child tries to sign on to or share information with a Passport site, he or she is denied access until approval is received from a parent. If you're in the same room as your child, you can walk over to the PC and enter your Passport ID and password to allow her access to, say, MSN.com. If you're at work, your child can e-mail you a request for permission to enter the site. Kids Passport is free, but you will need to provide a credit card number to set up an account. (Microsoft says it uses this information to verify your identity.)

Passport options

Can I use Passport if I don't have Windows?
Despite the Microsoft label, Passport isn't just for Windows. Whether you have a Mac, a Linux machine, or a Unix box, you can sign up for Passport as long as you have a Web browser.

Can I pass on Passport and still buy stuff on the Web?
If you'd rather not shop the Microsoft way, don't panic. You don't need Passport to shop online--well, not yet, anyway. Major retail Web sites such as Amazon.com and Kmart's BlueLight.com have their own proprietary authentication systems. For instance, once you've made a purchase at Amazon, the site stores your name, credit card number, and mailing address in its own database. As frequent Amazon shoppers know, the next time you buy the latest Harry Potter epic, your billing and payment information will appear automatically in the appropriate fields (after you enter your password, of course). And, like Amazon, Passport offers single-click shopping.

That said, however, you will need Passport to shop at many participating sites, such as Starbucks.com. Some vendors, however, including Costco Online, accept Passport but also allow you to register directly with the site without going through Passport.

Can I use Windows XP without Passport?
We've all heard rumors that Microsoft forces XP users to sign up for Passport. Well, we're happy to report that it's not true. Neither XP's product activation nor its product registration will automatically register you for the Passport service.

That doesn't mean XP is Passport-free. Some elements of the OS do require a Passport account, including Windows Messenger, the built-in upgrade to Microsoft's MSN Messenger chat program. (Of course, MSN Messenger also requires Passport, so it's not a major change.)

Do I really need Passport?
If you regularly access Microsoft content sites, such as MSN or bCentral, or if you want to use Hotmail, Windows Messenger, or even MSN Messenger, you will need a Passport account. You'll also need one if you use Microsoft software and want access to online technical support. But plenty of sites on the Web are still Passport-free.

142. Make older programs run in Windows XP (Compatibility Mode)

2008-06-09T13:05:00.000+05:30

If you're having trouble running older programs originally developed for previous versions of Windows, you're not out of luck. Luckily for consumers, Microsoft built Compatibility Mode into XP. Compatibility Mode allows you to run a program using the shell of the original program it was developed for.

Here's how to access a program's Compatibility Mode in XP:

Find the executable or program shortcut icon you'd like to run.
Right-click the icon and select Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab and place a checkmark next to the text labeled "Run this program in compatibility mode."
Select the operating system that the program was originally intended to run on.
You may need to fine-tune the three fields under "Display Settings" if an older program requires 640x480 resolution or 256 colors.
Click Apply.

Try starting the program after making these changes. If it still gives you trouble, try a different operating system. If the program was written for Win95 and worked fine in Win98, there's nothing that says it still won't work fine with Win98.

141. Renew IP address

2008-06-07T21:21:00.001+05:30

Often using a LAN inside a home, users will encounter one or more PC's that refust to renew the IP address and bring the network back to a fully usable state. However this took care of that problem for us I hope it will for other XP home and PRO users.

Releasing and Renewing an IP address on Windows NT/2000/XP

Click the Start menu in the lower left hand part of the screen.
Click Run.
In the space provided type "ipconfig /release" and click OK. Note that there is a space between ipconfig and the /release.
To renew the IP address from the DOS prompt, type "ipconfig /renew". Note that there is a space between ipconfig and the /renew.

Releasing and Renewing an IP address on Windows XP

Click the Start menu in the lower left hand part of the screen.
Click Run.
In the space provided type "ipconfig /release" and click OK. Note that there is a space between ipconfig and the /release.
Type "ipconfig /renew". Note that there is a space between ipconfig and the /renew.

140. Apply MAC style to your XP

2008-06-03T19:45:00.009+05:30

If you want to apply Mac OS X style to your XP download MAC OS XP. It is a transformation pack for XP & follow the steps described below.

---------------DOWNLOAD

Preview after applying the softwares

Important Note !!!
- Please make backup before replace your system files.
- Also create restore point for easier to us to change back to normal.
- These files can only work in Windows XP SP2 (English version ONLY).
- Do all work in your own risk

STEP 001
Double click on "MAC OS X( P ) Setup.exe" ,And press install button.
Now you will get 10 application as described below
1) Bootskin
3)Cursor pack
3)Logon
4)Replacer
5)RK_Launcher_041_Beta_Nightly
6)System Files
7)TclockLight
8)UXtheme21
9)Visual
10)Wallpapers

STEP 002
Booting screen install
Double click on "bootskin.exe" ,And press install button.
Now you will get 2 application as described below
1)Bootskin_free
2)DaMAC

+ install 'bootskin_free.exe'
+ Open bootskin (Start -> All programs -> WinCustomize -> Bootskin )
+ Drag 'DaMAC.bootskin' into bootskin window.
+ Select DaMAC and click apply.
+ Close it

STEP 003
Cursor installing
Double click on "Cursor Pack.exe" ,And press install button.
Now you will get 15 Cursors.
+ Copy all the cursors and go to "C:\WINDOWS\Cursors" and paste them there.
+ After that go to Control Panel -> Mouse -> Pointers.
+ Click browse there and replace the normal window cursors with the Mac ones.
+ Click apply and then OK.

STEP 004
Log on screen installing
Double click on "logon.exe" ,And press install button.
Now you will get 2 application as described below
1)Logonstudio_public
2)Mac_OSX_Leopard_Logon

+ Install 'Logonstudio_public.exe'
+ Open logon studio (Start -> All programs -> WinCustomize -> Logon Studio)
+ Press Load button and browse to Mac_OSX_Leopard_Logon
+ Click Apply
+ OK

STEP 005
Object Dock installing
Double click on "RK_Launcher_041_Beta_Nightly.exe" ,And press install button.

+ Copy the folder' RK_Launcher_041_Beta_Nightly' and paste it into C Drive
+ Open the folder
+ Double click 'RK Launcher.exe'
+ Now you will get the dock on te bottom of desktop.
+ Right click on the free space in Dock
+ Click setting
+ On the behaviour tab, Check 'start with windows'.
+ OK

STEP 006
Clock installing
Double click on "tclocklight.exe" ,And press install button.

+ Copy the folder' tclocklight' and paste it into C Drive
+ Open the folder
+ Double click 'tclock.exe'
+ Thats it !!

STEP 007
Apply wallpaper
Double click on "wallpaper.exe" ,And press install button.

+ Copy the folder' mac-osx-leopard-wallpaper' and paste it into C Drive
+ Open the folder 'mac-osx-leopard-wallpaper'
+ Set any of the picture as your wallpaper

STEP 008
Theme Patching
Double click on "uxtheme21.exe" ,And press install button

+ Open the folder 'uxtheme21'
+ Double click on 'Universal UXTheme Patcher v2.1'
+ Click on Patc button
+ Reboot your system

STEP 009
Theme applying
Double click on "visual.exe" ,And press install button

+ Open the 'visual' folder
+ Double click on 'Leopard'
+ Press OK button

STEP 010
System file Converting
+ Start windows in SAFEMODE
- To open Windows in safe mode press F8 button before booting starts.
+ Double click on "System Files.exe" ,And press install button
+ Double click on "Replacer.exe" ,And press install button
+ Open 'replacer' . Then drag original 'explorer.exe' (%windir%\explorer.exe)into the 'replacer'. Follow the instruction. After that, replace it with the new 'explorer.exe' files with it include in this pack.
+ Open 'replacer'. Then drag original 'shell32.dll' (%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll)
into the 'replacer'. Follow the instruction. After that, replace it with the new 'shell32.dll' files with it include in this pack.
+ Open 'replacer'. Then drag original 'xpsp2res.dll'(%windir%\System32\xpsp2res.dll) into the 'replacer'. Follow the instruction. After that, replace it with the new 'xpsp2res.dll' files with it include in this pack.
+ For My Documents GUI, Open 'replacer'. Then drag original 'mydocs.dll' (%windir%\System32\mydocs.dll) into the 'replacer'. Follow the instruction. After that, replace it with the new 'mydocs.dll' files with it include in this pack.
+ Open 'replacer'. Then drag original 'msgina.dll'(%windir%\System32\msgina.dll) into the 'replacer'. Follow the instruction. After that, replace it with the new 'msgina.dll' files with it include in this pack.
+ Then, restart your PC

139. Restoring Access to CD ROMs

2008-05-30T17:31:00.002+05:30

If you removed CD Burning software, or for some other mystical reason, can not longer access your CD ROM's,
in most cases following registry keys needs to be deleted:

Locate and delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values under the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

138. Speed up mouse motion

2008-05-30T17:27:00.001+05:30

Some of you people notice that no matter how high you put the speed of your mouse, it is still not at it's maximum point. A way to fix this, on most options, has a little choice under the mouse speed.

Go to Control Panel -> Mouse. Click on Pointer Options, and then you will see a bar. The first bar is the motion speed. Under that, "Enhance Pointer Precision," is shown, uncheck that and see how much faster your mouse will go.

137. Stop modem dial up noise

2008-05-30T17:24:00.000+05:30

The noise that some dial up 33/56k modems make is awful, and the volume slider in modem properties never seems to stop it. Here's how I stopped mine. Make sure you're modem is NOT connected to the internet at the time.

Go to Control Panel/Phone and Modem Options and click on the Modem tab, click on the modem listed and click on properties. In the new dialogue box that comes up click on Advanced. In the text box under the words Extra Initialization Commands type ATM0 (number 0 not letter O). Click on OK, then OK again, etc.

136. Load Applications Faster

2008-05-30T17:04:00.001+05:30

Microsoft has this command in which to start up applications much faster just like Microsoft's Windows Media Player.

1) Choose an application that you want to start up quicker.

2) Create a shortcut and place it on the desktop.

3) Right click the shortcut item and click properties.

4) In the target field you will have it pointing to the location of the application. For Example it will say "C:\Program Files\Washer\washer.exe"

5) Add /prefetch:1 right after the last " marks in the target field. So you will have something that looks like this..

"C:\Program Files\Washer\washer.exe" /prefetch:1

6) Amazingly the application will start up quicker.

NB: For some applications like Kazaa Lite and some other 3rd party applicatins, this tweak will not work. You will get an error messege if it doesn't work properly. If you get the error, just simply remove the /prefetch:1 from the target field of the shortcut and the original shortcut will work fine again.

135. Minimize Outlook to the System Tray

2008-05-30T16:58:00.000+05:30

To Minimize Outlook XP to the System Tray / Taskbar:

Start-> Run -> Regedit and navigate to : HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 10.0 \ Outlook \ Preferences

Click on the right side of the screen, right-click and create:

DWord Value: MinToTray
Set value at: 1 (enable) or 0 (to disable MinToTray)

134. How to make Windows shell to look similar to a Mac OSX ?

2008-05-24T20:45:00.003+05:30

Ever wanted you Windows shell to look similar to a Mac OSX? Changing the icon size will add that final touch. Mac OSX has a max size of 128x128 icons. (Windows Max: 72x72).

Open Registry Editor.
Click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Then expand Control Panel.
Then expand Desktop.
Then expand Windows Metrics
Select the Shell Icon Size key.
Right click Shell Icon Size and select Modify.
Then type 128 in the box, and there you go!

Huge Mac OSX size icons!

133. Prevent personalized classic start menu

2008-05-24T20:38:00.000+05:30

The Classic Start menu (Windows 2000 look) defaults to hiding programs that haven't been used recently.

If you're using the Classic menu, and want to make it always show all programs:

1) Right-click the "Start" menu button
2) Select "Properties"
3) If you're not already using the Classic Start menu, click the radio button next to this option, then click "Customize" next to "Classic Start menu".
4) Scroll to bottom of the "Advanced Start menu options"
5) Uncheck "Use Personalized Menus"
6) Click "OK", then "Apply" to save.

132. Remove user name from Start Menu

2008-05-24T20:26:00.001+05:30

To remove username from start name click on start > Run and type "GPEDIT.MSC" (without the quotes).
Navigate to the following keys

USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE TEMPLATES > START MENU AND TASKBAR .
Find REMOVE USER NAME FROM START MENU
Right click on it. Check enabled >OK

NOTE: The group policy editor (gpedit) is only available in XP Pro

131. Select theme and color scheme for welcome screen

2008-05-24T20:17:00.002+05:30

With this tweaks you will be able to modify which color selection of the default theme is shown when the computer start up screen is displayed. Currently since there is only one theme you can only change the color scheme for the theme but in the future when more themes are available for XP you will be able to change which theme is used in the same place in the windows registry.

1. Start regedit, if you are unfamiliar with regedit please see our FAQ.
2. Navigate to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager
3. Locate the key ColorName
4. Right Click on it and select modify.
5. Change where it says "NormalColor" to "Metallic"
6. Click Ok, and exit regedit
7. Restart

Note: To go back to the old color scheme durring startup just change "Metallic" back to "NormalColor" Once more themes are released you will be able to modify the DllName key to select different themes.

130. Hide tray Icons

2008-05-23T20:46:00.001+05:30

Do you need to hide a program running in the background that shows in your System Tray? Try this reg hack to hide all tray icons. It’s not anything like the Windows XP tray icon hider, this one shows no trace of any icons. It would look like someone closed all background programs.

1) Click on START>RUN and type "regedit" (without the quotes).
Navigate to the following key;

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer

2) Add a "REG_DWORD" entry entitled "NoTrayItemsDisplay". Open it up and assign the Hex value of 1 to hide the Icons. The value of 0 is normal (default), showing the icons.

3) Close "regedit" and reboot computer and the icons should not be there anymore. Control Alt and Delete will bring up Windows Task Manager and items can be displayed and closed (if need be) from in there instead.

I found this hack to be very useful when covertly using telephone recording software. Now the girlfriend can be engaged in her game of SIMS™ while talking on the phone and being recorded and she has no idea. lol

129. Bring back Windows 2000 classic search on XP.

2008-05-23T20:34:00.003+05:30

To brings back the classisc Windows 2000 search box on your xp machine.
Start Start the Registry Editor (run -> regedit)

Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
and set it into "use search asst"="no".

128. Remove image and/or media preview in Explorer

2008-05-23T20:32:00.002+05:30

Windows XP Explorer has a 'feature' to provide a preview in the Details box on the left of the file you have selected, if it's supported. Image files, HTML pages, video clips, MP3s, etc are all previewed (even with the folder view open).

If you have a large movie clip and it either is corrupt (ie. no index from a partial download) or it uses an unsupported codec, then Explorer tries to load the whole file. This can slow your computer a lot and prevent deleting/renaming/moving/etc the file until it's finished.

Simply do the following steps:

1) Open a command window (Start->Run, type in 'cmd' hit enter)
2) To remove image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll
3) To readd image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
4) To remove media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll
5) To readd media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shmedia.dll

Thats it !!

127. You cannot create a folder named CON !!!

2008-05-19T21:14:00.004+05:30

It is fact that you cannot create a folder named "CON", nor can you rename an existing folder to "CON". "CON" and a number of other character strings are in fact reserved names that go back to the days of DOS and cannot be used to name folders or files. Other reserved names are:

* PRN
* AUX
* NUL
* LPT1
* COM1
* Potential drive letter - A: to Z:
* A number of others

If you try to name a folder using one of these reserved names, the name will automatically revert to the default, generally "New Folder". Moreover, if you try to use a reserved name to name a file such as a Notepad or Microsoft Word document you will generally receive an error message similar to the following:

Depending on exactly how you save the file, you may instead receive a warning message advising that a file with that name already exists. However, even if you choose "Yes" to overwrite the existing file, you will still not be allowed to save the file.

126. Change the email icon in the start menu

2008-05-18T14:42:00.001+05:30

This tweak will allow you to change the default icon for the e-mail shortcut in the start menu to whatever you want. You should be familliar with regedit prior to trying this.

1. Click on "Start" and go to "run"
2. In the run dialog type "regedit"
3. Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\" by expanding the appropriate branches of the tree.
4. Select the email client that you are currently using.
5. You can now modify the (default) key and rename the shortcut to whatever you want.
6. To change the icon expand the selected client and click on "DefaultIcon".
7. Change the (default) key to point to the icon file of your choice by double-clicking it. If you are going to use a .exe file with multiple icons inside you should specify with a comma after the target the index number. (Eg. C:\icons.exe, 2)
8. Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.

That's it! Have fun.

125. Associate an icon with a drive

2008-05-18T14:38:00.001+05:30

To set the icon of any drive (hard disk, cd rom or anything else) with a letter (C:\ etc.), run REGEDIT (Start -> Run -> regedit)

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

If one doesn't already exist, create a new KEY called "DriveIcons". Under this key, create a new key with the letter of your drive.

I.e. C for your C:\ drive.

To change the icon for that drive, create a key inside that one called DefaultIcon and set the path of (Default) to the location of your icon

eg C\DefaultIcon\
then (Default) = D:\Documents\C Drive Icon.ico

To change the name of that drive, create a key in the drive letter one (eg C\) called DefaultLabel and set the (Default) to what you want the drive to be called.
This is useful if you want to assign a long name to the floppy drive.

124. Add administator account to welcome screen

2008-05-18T14:34:00.001+05:30

Easy way to add the Administrator user to the Welcome Screen:

Start the Registry Editor

Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList \

Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > DWORD Value Name the new value Administrator. Double-click this new value, and enter 1 as it's Value data.

Close the registry editor and restart.

123. Change your logon screen to Windows 2000 style

2008-05-18T14:30:00.001+05:30

If you are already using classic style log on, this rather lengthy tweak will completely change the log on to the Windows 2000/NT style we're all used to.

Step1: Back up the following registry keys so you can revert to the default XP style later. Click each key in the left pane of the registry editor and select File-Export. Choose a name to save each key as a 'reg' file.

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Colors
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

Step 2: Create a new '.reg' file by copy-paste the following entries. Do this in Notepad or another text editor ... do not use a word processor like MS Word. Include only the text BETWEEN the lines starting and ending with //. Right click on the new 'reg' file and select "Merge". Log off or reboot to see the changes.

//START COPY BELOW THIS LINE//
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"="0"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Colors]
"ActiveBorder"="212 208 200"
"ActiveTitle"="10 36 106"
"AppWorkSpace"="128 128 128"
"Background"="58 110 165"
"ButtonAlternateFace"="181 181 181"
"ButtonDkShadow"="64 64 64"
"ButtonFace"="212 208 200"
"ButtonHilight"="255 255 255"
"ButtonLight"="212 208 200"
"ButtonShadow"="128 128 128"
"ButtonText"="0 0 0"
"GradientActiveTitle"="166 202 240"
"GradientInactiveTitle"="192 192 192"
"GrayText"="128 128 128"
"Hilight"="10 36 106"
"HilightText"="255 255 255"
"HotTrackingColor"="0 0 128"
"InactiveBorder"="212 208 200"
"InactiveTitle"="128 128 128"
"InactiveTitleText"="212 208 200"
"InfoText"="0 0 0"
"InfoWindow"="255 255 225"
"Menu"="212 208 200"
"MenuText"="0 0 0"
"Scrollbar"="212 208 200"
"TitleText"="255 255 255"
"Window"="255 255 255"
"WindowFrame"="0 0 0"
"WindowText"="0 0 0"
"MenuHilight"="0 0 0"
"MenuBar"="212 208 200"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"BorderWidth"="1"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CaptionHeight"="-270"
"CaptionWidth"="-270"
"IconFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"IconSpacing"="75"
"IconTitleWrap"="1"
"IconVerticalspacing"="-1125"
"MenuFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"MenuHeight"="-270"
"MenuWidth"="-270"
"MessageFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ScrollHeight"="-240"
"ScrollWidth"="-240"
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"
"SmCaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,

122. Block incoming attacks

2008-05-18T14:27:00.000+05:30

Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections
Right click on "Local Area Network" And go to "Properties", In the scroll box, Click on "Internet Protocol (IP/TCP)" and then click on the "Properties" button, In the new window, Click on the "Advanced.." button, Then in the other new window go to the "Options" tab, Click on "TCP/IP Filtering" and hit "Properties", Check off "Enable TCP/IP filtering (All adapters)" next In the Above "TCP Ports" Click on the Radio button "Permit Only" and then add in the ports that you want people to be able to access... If you're running a web server add in 80, If you're running an FTP server add in 21... And so on... Then hit "OK" And close all the other windows, And reboot when it asks you too.

This way you can close the ports that you do not need to be open to the outside world. An alternative to this tweak could be running a firewall or enabling windows built in firewall. Please note that in order for other computers to connect to you, for example sending a file over AOL Instant Messenger or using Windows Messenger to send a file, make sure that the required port is not blocked on your system. Otherwise, nothing will go through.

121. NTFS vs. FAT 32? Which is best?

2008-05-16T19:57:00.001+05:30

Q. I have just upgraded from Me to XP pro and I am using the FAT32 system,
Should I go to ntfs system or should i remaim on the fat32 system.
I have 1.50 gb free space.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages?

A. Basically, yes, NTFS is very secure and if security is high on your list of needs, you probably should convert.

Since you have made the move from WinMe to XP-Pro, I assume you are not using this computer for much in the way of gaming. Some users have been surprised to find that their Win9x games would not load on WinNT/2000 platforms. Still others find that their favorite DOS games paly betteer or at least as well. There, isn't that as clear as mud? Is it a crap shoot? Oh yeah it is. Best advise on gaming, find the shareware version and see how it plays out in XP before commiting to a purchase. For older games? Flip a coin, maybe will, maybe won't.

If security is not an issue for you, but you want to maximize the disk space utilization on your system, NTFS still may be a good choice. The current 32 bit file system is adequate and stable.

Do the research and make your best educated decision.

Here is a good link that explains all about NTFS: http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/ntfs/

120. Disable the Turn off computer button on the Welcome screen

2008-05-10T20:21:00.004+05:30

By default, the Microsoft Windows XP logon screen displays a Turn off computer button. This display seems convenient, until one of your kids happens to shut down your computer and close all your programs. To prevent this from happening, you can disable the Turn off computer button. You can still shut down your computer; you just have to log on with a computer administrator account first.

To disable the Turn off computer button on the Welcome screen

1.Log on to your computer as an administrator. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.Click Performance and Maintenance.

3.Click Administrative Tools.

4.Double-click Local Security Policy.

5.Expand Local Policies by clicking the plus sign next to it, and then click Security Options.

6.In the right pane, double-click the Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on policy.

7.Click Disabled, and then click OK.

Windows XP removes the Turn off computer button from the Welcome screen—so no more shutting down without logging on!

119. Help save energy and the environment by putting your monitor to sleep

2008-05-10T20:10:00.001+05:30

You can save electricity and reduce your impact on the environment by activating your monitor’s sleep feature in Microsoft Windows XP. Activating sleep settings on just one computer may prevent considerable CO2 emissions each year. Letting your monitor sleep allows it to go into a low-power mode when you’re not using it. To wake your monitor, you simply touch your mouse or keyboard.

To set Windows XP to automatically turn your monitor off when your computer isn’t being used

1.Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.

2.In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Screen Saver tab. Then, click the Power button.

3.In the Power Options Properties dialog box, click the Turn off monitor list, and select a time to automatically turn off your monitor. Five minutes is a realistic setting. If you have a portable computer, set the time for both Plugged in and Running on batteries.

4.Click OK twice.

Windows XP will let your monitor sleep after your computer has been idle for the specified number of minutes. To reactivate your monitor, move your mouse, or press a key. You’ll save almost as much power as if you had manually turned your monitor off, but you won’t have to press your monitor’s power button.

118. How can I check if the file is encrypted with EFS or not?

2008-05-08T11:19:00.004+05:30

When you try to access a file on an NTFS file system volume, you may receive an "access is denied" error message. The file's NTFS permissions indicate that you can access the file. Sometimes this means that the file is encrypted with EFS.

To determine if a file has been encrypted:

Start Windows Explorer, and then click Detail on the View menu to view the details of the folder's contents.
Click Choose Columns from the View menu, and then click to select the Attributes check box to add the Attributes column to the current view, and to view the file attributes.
You can also right-click any portion of the details header-column and click the Attributes column to be displayed.

If there is an "E" in the Attributes column for that file, the file is encrypted.

You can also use the CIPHER command from a CMD window:

Run the CIPHER command without any parameters to display the encryption status of files and folders.

A U means that the file/folder is un-encrypted. An E means that it is encrypted.

117. How to recover a Boot Record in Windows?

2008-05-02T16:57:00.002+05:30

The boot record stores the first bits of software executed once the system BIOS hands control of the computer over to software.

The boot record stores instructions used to start Windows XP. Each drive partition can store a boot record.

Occassionally a boot record will be damaged and need to be repaired. This damage may be caused by a hardware error, software error, user error, or even malware such as a boot sector virus.

How to Recover a Boot Record in XP:

To recover the boot record in XP, use the fixboot command in the Recovery Console. The fixboot command will write a new boot sector to the partition.

Steps :

1. Boot with the XP installation CD.
2. When prompted, press R to repair a Windows XP installation.
3. If repairing a host with multiple operating systems, select the appropriate one (XP) from the menu. If you have only one operating system, enter 1 to select it.
4. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
5. To fix the MBR, use the following command: fixmbr

This assumes that your installation is on the C:\ drive. You will be presented with several scary warning lines the reading of which will make you want to say no. Microsoft is exceptionally vague regarding the conditions under which fixmbr can cause problems although they are clear about the consequences (losing all data on the hard drive), so use this at your own risk.

Type Y and ENTER to fix the MBR.

Type exit to leave the recovery console and reboot.

116. how to add Internet Explorer to your Sendto folder

2008-05-02T16:44:00.002+05:30

To Add Internet Explorer to your SendTo folder

* Start - Run (type) "sendto" (no quotes) File - New - Shortcut
* In the command line, (highlight and paste the below - including quotes)
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"

Note: IE supports opening: .gif, jpg, htm, html, .txt, ico, etc.

Windows Vista users will need to navigate to the following location:
Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
[or]
Start | Run (type) shell:sendto (click Ok)

Right-click in the right pane and select: New > Shortcut
In the command line, (highlight and paste the below - including quotes)
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"

115. Questions you should ask yourself when buying a new computer

2008-05-01T10:07:00.001+05:30

1. Is it the latest technology?
Make sure that you are getting the latest technology. With computers changing so rapidly, you could run the risk of having an outdated system in a very short period of time. It also may not be a bad idea to make sure that your new system is upgradeable.

2. Does it have everything I need?
Do you need a new monitor with it? Does it come with the software that you need? Do you need a new printer? Will the printer that your system comes with fit your needs? If you are buying a package deal, make sure that what you are getting is going to be good enough for you. At the same time, make sure you are not getting things that you will never use.

3. What technical support is included?
Almost all computers are essentially made from the same parts. It is the technical support that can often set one company apart from the others. There is great peace of mind in knowing that if a problem should arise, you have competent tech support at your service! Make sure that they have a toll free number and check to see what their hours of operation are. Be sure to check on the actual coverage. Many times the computer stores extended service coverage will only start when the manufactures warranty has expired.

Be sure to ask plenty of questions when purchasing a new computer. Feel free to shop around. The Internet has made shopping for computers very easy and most manufactures web sites have excellent descriptions and visual references to their systems and system components. If you do a little homework before you buy your new computer, you will help ensure that your system will work well for you.

114. Internet Explorer / Mozilla Firefox Shortcut keys

2008-04-25T16:41:00.009+05:30

Shortcut	Utility
Ctrl + A	Select all items on a webpag
Ctrl + C	Copy a selected item to the clipboard
Ctrl + V	Paste an item from the clipboard into a document
Ctrl + D	Add the current page/document to your favorites
Ctrl + E	Open the IE search utility
Ctrl + F	Open the FIND box to search the current document
Ctrl + H	Open the History utility
Ctrl + I	Open the Favorites utility
Ctrl + L or Ctrl + O	Go to a new location/document
Ctrl + N	Open a new window
Ctrl + T	Open a new tab
Ctrl + P	To Print the current page/document
Ctrl + R or F5	To Refresh the current page/document
Ctrl + S	Save the current document/page
Ctrl + W	Close the current window / tab
Alt + Home Key	To go to your default homepage
Alt + Right arrow key	To go forward one page
Alt + Left arrow key	To go back one page
F11	To get the full page view
Alt + Spacebar + X	Window Maximize
Alt + Spacebar + R	Window Restore
Alt + Spacebar + N	Window Minimize

113. Restrict a User's Logon hours.

2008-04-23T21:10:00.002+05:30

This tip is probably most useful for family computers with kids who use the computer and want to monitor/restrict their computer usage to some degree. Basically, you have to define (via command line) the hours that the user is allowed to login.

Go to Start > Run and type cmd.

Start > All programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.

You can specify the hours in the following ways:

First, this limits the user “bobby” to login Monday - Friday between 8am and 5pm using military time:

net user bobby /time:M-F,08:00-17:00

This does the same as above, but using a 12-hour clock:

net user bobby /time:M-F,8am-5pm

And here’s a more expressive command where you can mix and match and specify different times for different days:

net user bobby /time:M,4pm-7pm;T-TH,16:00-18:00;F-SU,11am-9pm

These commands restrict a user from logging on, however they do not force a logoff when a user is already logged in. These logon hours do not have an effect Administrator level accounts.

To remove the time restrictions, type this in the CMD window:

net user bobby /time:all

112. Place your name in taskbar

2008-04-22T18:05:00.003+05:30

To place your name is XP task bar, just do it.

Go to control panel
Select Date, Time, Language, and Regional option menu.
Click on ' Change the format of numbers, dates and times'.
On regional option menu select 'customize'.
Select Time menu.
Type your name on AM symbol tag and PM symbol tag after AM & PM
Click OK.

Example

111. Notepad simple tips

2008-04-21T21:59:00.003+05:30

Here are a few tips for using Notepad:

Type ".LOG" at the top of your document if you're keeping a journal. Notepad will automatically time stamp each entry.
F5 inserts the date and time.
In Notepad, open a document. In the File Name box, type in a URL,
such as http://www.google.com . Notepad will open the source code of that webpage.

110. Invert Windows screen

2008-04-21T21:55:00.001+05:30

This is one of the scariest tricks which turns Windows upside down. You can press Ctrl, Alt and then any of the four arrow keys (Ctrl-Alt-Down will rotate screen by 180 degrees)!
NB: It has been noticed that this doesn’t work on certain Windows XP machines (It is dependent on video driver).

109. Create a password for Guest Account

2008-04-14T10:20:00.000+05:30

This tutorial shows how to create a password for the Guest Account in your computer. This is very useful to protect your sharing files form stealing by other computer in the same network. Which means, only computer user with password for your guest account can copy your sharing files from your computer.

tutorial is now starting:

1. Start > Right Click "My Computer"
2. Select "Manage"
3. Navigate to "System tools/Local users and Groups/Users" and Right Click "Guest" ( Select "Set Password...)
4. A warning window will pop-up, and Select "Proceed"
5. Then enter the password for Guest Account and select OK.
6. You're done, so when other computer is trying to open the sharing folder in "My Network Place" or "//your-computer-name", he/she will asked to enter the password.

108. Windows Utilities Shortcuts

2008-04-09T21:37:00.001+05:30

Here are some popular shortcuts to handy Windows utilities:

Simply type the shortcut command in to the Run textbox (Start>> Run), then click OK.

Shortcut	Utility
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
dfrg.msc	Disk Defragmenter
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders Manager
gpedit.msc	Group Policies Editor
lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups Manager
perfmon.msc	Performance Monitor
secpol.msc	Local Security Settings
services.msc	Services

107. Find out what programs are installed

2008-04-09T21:34:00.001+05:30

To find out what Microsoft products are installed on your computer, follow the instructions below:

1. Go to Start>> Help and Support
2. In the left column of the Help and Support window and under "Pick a Help Topic", select "Windows basics".
3. In the left pane, click the plus (+) symbol to expand "Core Windows tasks".
4. Click "Searching for information".
5. In the right pane, under "Pick a task:", click "Get information about your computer".
6. In the right pane, under "What do you want to do?", click "View a list of Microsoft software installed on this computer".

Once you have the information in view, you can Print this information by clicking the Print button located in the toolbar above the list of information.

106. Remove "Help and Support" link from XP Start Menu

2008-04-06T18:54:00.001+05:30

If you would like to remove the help and support link from the Start Menu, here's how:

Right click the Taskbar
Choose Properties
In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window, select the Start Menu tab
Click the Customize button
In the Customize Start Menu window, choose the Advanced tab
Uncheck the Help and Support option (see image below)
Click OK, then OK again to exit the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window

105. Personalize your Explorer window

2008-03-28T14:59:00.007+05:30

Feel bored with the white background for your thumb drive explorer?

To fresh it with a colorful wallpaper, copy the code below (green color) and paste it into notepad and save as desktop.ini:

[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
ICONAREA_IMAGE=ur_desired_wallpaper.jpg
ICONAREA_TEXT=222

ICONAREA_IMAGE=ur_desired_wallpaper.jpg replace it with ur wallpaper name with the file location and file extension.

ICONAREA_TEXT=222 means that u can change the text color, click on the link below to find out the code for desired color.
http://html-color-codes.com/

U can also personalize the icon for ur hard drive/thumb drive, and it is simple. All u need to do is copy the code below (purple color) and paste it into notepad and save as autorun.inf .
[autorun]
icon=iconname.ico

PS: Both desktop.ini and autorun.inf MUST place it on the root, eg. F:/, G:/. But for the wallpaper and icon, it is not necessary, u can place it into a sub-folder with anyname, eg. if u put the wallpaper into a subfolder named HERE, u must change the ur_desired_wallpaper.jpg to HERE/ur_desired_wallpaper.jpg. Same thing with the icon.

Before:

After:

104. Change Text on XP Start Button

2008-03-27T16:37:00.002+05:30

Step 1 - Modify Explorer.exe File

In order to make the changes, the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows needs to be edited. Since explorer.exe is a binary file it requires a special editor. For purposes of this article I have used Resource Hacker. Resource HackerTM is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems.

You can download this file from downloading section of this site or by clicking here

The first step is to make a backup copy of the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer. Place it in a folder somewhere on your hard drive where it will be safe. Start Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer.exe.

The category we are going to be using is "String Table". Expand it by clicking the plus sign then navigate down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout rather than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable. We’re going to modify item 578, currently showing the word “start” just as it displays on the current Start button.

There is no magic here. Just double click on the word “start” so that it’s highlighted, making sure the quotation marks are not part of the highlight. They need to remain in place, surrounding the new text that you’ll type. Go ahead and type your new entry. In my case I used Click Me!

You’ll notice that after the new text string has been entered the Compile Script button that was grayed out is now active. I won’t get into what’s involved in compiling a script, but suffice it to say it’s going to make this exercise worthwhile. Click Compile Script and then save the altered file using the Save As command on the File Menu. Do not use the Save command – Make sure to use the Save As command and choose a name for the file. Save the newly named file to C:\Windows.

Step 2 – Modify the Registry

!!!make a backup of your registry before making changes!!!

Now that the modified explorer.exe has been created it’s necessary to modify the registry so the file will be recognized when the user logs on to the system. If you don’t know how to access the registry I’m not sure this article is for you, but just in case it’s a temporary memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else) Run and type regedit in the Open field. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

In the right pane, double click the "Shell" entry to open the Edit String dialog box. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.

Close Registry Editor and either log off the system and log back in, or reboot the entire system if that’s your preference. If all went as planned you should see your new Start button with the revised text.

103. Funny trick for notepad

2008-03-27T10:56:00.004+05:30

A funny trick You can do using Notepad in Windows XP.

Open Notepad.
Type the words as follows:

Bush hid the facts

Now save the file (give it any name you like), close the notepad.
open it again.yuu will see Square characters (or) Chinese letters instead of the words you had written.
It Works Only with XP.

102. I don't hate Mozilla ! Orkut is banned !!!!!

2008-03-26T21:59:00.001+05:30

I was asked by my friend that he is the only user in his computer, his account is having administrative rights, but he is not able to open Orkut, and it says Orkut is banned. Another friend had told that he is not able to use Mozilla Firefox and it asks him to use Internet Explorer. I just told it must be some virus, but really didn't care much about that. But none of the antivirus software could detect or remove this malware.

My friend had given me a pen drive. I remembered it while browsing net on Firefox. When I put that in my PC and double clicked, it didn't open. I knew at once: I had activated a virus. But I didn't have any idea about the kind of virus that might have come to my PC, until I switched back to Firefox. Immediately a message box was displayed: I DNT HATE MOZILLA BUT USE IE OR ELSE... with title as USE INTERNET EXPLORER U DOPE. I just remembered the experiences of my friends. I tried to locate the virus by running the Task Manager. But there were no suspicious entries there. I had to bow the owner of the virus. I used Internet Explorer to search about it. The first entry in Google took me to the Mozilla Forum page, and after going through some pages, I came to know that the same virus also displayed another message when you opened Orkut. Orkut is banned you fool, The administrators didnt write this program guess who did?? MUHAHAHA!! with title ORKUT IS BANNED. Well, a similar message was displayed for YouTube also. So I went through all the posts, and finally found a solution given here:

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL and go to the processes tab

Look for svchost.exe under the image name. There will be many but look for the ones which have your username under the username

Press DEL to kill these files. It will give you a warning, Press Yes

Repeat for more svchost.exe files with your username and repeat. Do not kill svchost.exe with system, local service or network service!

Now open My Computer

In the address bar, type C:\heap41a and press enter. It is a hidden folder, and is not visible by default.

Delete all the files here

Now go to Start --> Run and type Regedit

Go to the menu Edit --> Find

Type "heap41a" here and press enter. You will get something like this "[winlogon] C:\heap41a\svchost.exe C:\heap(some number)\std.txt"

Select that and Press DEL. It will ask "Are you sure you want to delete this value?", click Yes

Now close the registry editor.

Now the virus is gone. But be sure to delete the autorun.inf file and any folder whose name ends with .exe in the pen drive.

101. Lock a folder without any software

2008-03-19T12:56:00.006+05:30

To lock a folder with out any software just follow the steps

1. Copy and paste the following code (in green color) in to Notepad.

2. Type your password in place of "Type your password here"

3. Save the file with *.bat extension instead of *.txt

4. Now double click to open the file.

5. When you open it, a new folder named Locker will be created in the same place.

6. Move all the folders and files you want to lock into this folder.

7. Now double click the batch file again and in the confirmation type 'y' to lock the folder, and the locker folder will disappear.

Whenever you want to unlock the folder, open the batch file and enter the password, the locker folder will reappear again.

/***********Start Copying here************/

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Locker
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%==type your password here goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End

/****************Stop Copying here*************/

100. Change the command prompt startup directory

2008-03-12T17:46:00.001+05:30

B y default, when you open a command prompt window (Start>> Run. Type in: cmd [Enter]), it opens to the default user profile directory (see fig #1). Changing this setting requires a registry change. Be sure to make a backup copy before making any changes.

How to change the startup directory:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.
Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
Single click the entry titled: Command Processor to empty its contents in to the right pane.
In the right pane, double click the entry titled: Autorun
Double click the Autorun entry.
Place the actual path that you would like the command prompt to start at in to the "Value data:" text box.
Exit the Windows Registry.

Example: To set the Startup Directory at: C:\Windows, enter CD /d C:\Windows in the Value data text box.

Note: If the Autorun entry is not present, create a new string. Here's how:

Right click an empty area of the right pane.
Select New>> String value
Name the new string value: Autorun
Continue with Step #5 above.

Fig #1

99. Delete invalid entries from MSCONFIG Startup Menu

2008-03-12T17:44:00.002+05:30

MSCONFIG is a commonly used program used to manage the programs installed on your system. As you've probably noticed, you cannot delete entries from the list. Even if you have completely removed a program from your system, it still may show up in MSCONFIG's startup list. To delete invalid entries from here, you will need either a 3rd party program or edit the Windows Registry. Prior to deleting entries in the Windows Registry, please make a backup copy. Follow the instructions below to remove the invalid entries:

1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.
2. Navigate to the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\Startupreg

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\Startupfolder

3. Expand the "Startupreg" entry by clicking the "+" symbol. You will now notice all of the disabled items below. Do the same for the "Startupfolder" entry.
4. Once you have located the invalid entry(s), right click and delete.

98. Upgrading to Windows XP

2008-03-11T17:38:00.001+05:30

You can upgrade a computer that runs Windows 98, 98SE, or Me to Windows XP Home Edition. Those same versions, along with Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional, can be upgraded to Windows XP Professional.

(1).To ensure a smooth upgrade and avoid networking problems, follow these tips before starting the upgrade:

(2)Install all network cards. XP will detect them and automatically install the right drivers.

(3)Have your Internet connection available. The XP setup process will connect to a Microsoft server to download the latest setup files, including changes that have been made since XP was released.

Some programs are incompatible with XP and can cause networking problems. Un-install these programs. After the upgrade is complete and the network is working, re-install XP-compatible versions of these programs: Internet Connection Sharing, NAT, Proxy Server Anti-Virus Firewall.

97. Turn off XP Animations

2008-03-11T17:36:00.002+05:30

You can turn off window animation ("exploding" windows), displayed when you play around with minimizing/maximizing open windows. This makes navigating Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP a lot quicker, especially if you don't have a fast video controller, or if you got tired of seeing it all the time (like I did). :)To do this, run Regedit (or Regedt32) and go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER Control Panel Desktop WindowMetrics or if you are the only user of your Windows computer go to:

HKEY_USERS .Default Control Panel Desktop WindowMetrics

Right-click on an empty spot in the right hand pane. Select New -> String [REG_SZ] Value. Name it MinAnimate. Click OK. Double-click on "MinAnimate" and type 0 to turn OFF window animation or 1 to turn it ON. Click OK. Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows. Done.

TweakUI, the famous Microsoft Power Toy [110 KB, free, unsupported] can also turn off animated windows. Just remove the check mark from the "Window Animation" box under the General tab.

96. Windows XP and Symmetric Multiprocessing

2008-03-11T17:35:00.001+05:30

Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) is a technology that allows a computer to use more than one processor. The most common configuration of an SMP computer is one that uses two processors. The two processors are used to complete your computing tasks faster than a single processor. (Two processors aren't necessarily twice as fast as a single processor, though.)

In order for a computer to take advantage of a multiprocessor setup, the software must be written for use with an SMP system. If a program isn't written for SMP, it won't take advantage of SMP. Not every program is written for SMP; SMP applications, such as image-editing programs, video-editing suites, and databases, tend to be processor intensive.

SMP in Windows XP

Operating systems also need to be written for SMP in order to use multiple processors. In the Windows XP family, only XP Professional supports SMP; XP Home does not. If you're a consumer with a dual-processor PC at home, you have to buy XP Professional. Windows XP Advanced Server also supports SMP.

In Microsoft's grand scheme, XP Professional is meant to replace Windows 2000, which supports SMP. In fact, XP Professional uses the same kernel as Windows 2000. XP Home is designed to replace Windows Me as the consumer OS, and Windows Me does not support SMP.

The difference between XP Professional and XP Home is more than just $100 and SMP support. XP Professional has plenty of other features not found in XP Home; some you'll use, others you won't care about. Get more information on the differences by reading this article

95.Display Message at startup

2008-02-25T12:56:00.002+05:30

If you would like to display any message in a popup window when Windows is started, here's how:

1. Go to Start> Run, then type in: regedit
2. Hit [Enter] on your keyboard
3. Follow this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogo
4. Modify the key LegalNoticeCaption with your text of choice.
5. Modify the key LegalNoticeText with your text of choice.
6. Restart Windows for this to take affect.

94.Place a custom popup menu on your taskbar

2008-02-23T16:45:00.003+05:30

If you would like to create a popup menu on your taskbar that contains all of your frequently accessed programs, here's how:

Go to Start>> Accessories>> Windows Explorer.
With Windows Explorer open, select a location for a new folder. Then, go to File>> New>> Folder.
Name the new folder whatever you would like and then place all of your frequently used programs in this folder.
Next, right click an empty portion of your taskbar then select Toolbars>> New Toolbar from the resulting menu.
With the New Toolbar window showing, browse to the location of your new folder. Once the new folder is selected, click OK.

Your newly created folder will now reside within the taskbar. To easily see the contents of this folder, click the double arrows (usually to the right of the name) to view its contents. If you would like to remove this new folder from the taskbar, right click an empty portion of the taskbar and select Toolbars. Then click the "New Folder" entry within the resulting list.

93.Create invisible titles for desktop icons

2008-02-23T16:41:00.005+05:30

In this first step, you will need to make sure that Windows XP is configured to use drop-shadow icon titles. Here's how:

Right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
Click the Advanced tab in the resulting window.
Click the Settings button inside the Performance pane
Click the Visual Effects tab.
Scroll down until you see the entry "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop". If it's not checked, go ahead and check it now.
Click OK.

Now Windows will not include a rectangular background around the icon text.

In this next step, we will create our invisible title. Since Windows will not accept a space as a file name, we will need to use a character that is invisible. The ANSI character "0160" is a non-breaking space and is visually indistinguishable from a space. We will need to insert this ANSI character into the icon title box, here's how:

Right click an icon and select Rename (or single click the icon and press F2)
Hold down the Alt key and type 0160 on your numeric keypad, then release the Alt key.
Press Enter.

Note: You will now see a highlighted rectangle that represents the invisible title but a single click on a blank area of your desktop will make this disappear.

To make a second icon have an invisible title, just insert the special ANSI character twice into the icon title box. (eg: ALT + 01600160) This is necessary because Windows will not allow duplicate file names.

92.Remove Unwanted Hidden Programs

2008-02-23T16:35:00.006+05:30

If you want to remove programs that are installed with Windows but are not visible in "Add/Remove Windows Components" (such as MSN Messenger in WinXP), edit a file called "C:\WINDOWS\INF\SYSOC.INF".

Go to: Start>> Run>> type in: C:\WINDOWS\INF\SYSOC.INF [Enter]

In there you will find a listing of programs, and you will note that some programs have the word 'hide' at the end. Simply remove the word 'hide' but leave the preceding comma. Examples:

BEFORE:msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

AFTER:msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

Exit saving changes.

Now when you open Add/Remove Windows Components, you will see the now viewable, in this example, "Windows Messenger".

91.Changing Drive Label in Explorer(Windows2000 & XP)

2008-02-16T23:20:00.005+05:30

Normally the Explorer shows drive labels as "Compact Disk", "Removable Disk" ect.

To change the name of this label for specific drives:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer
3. Create a key called DriveIcons
4. Within DriveIcons, create another key with the drive letter you want to change (..\DriveIcons\K)
5. Create another within the drive letter key called DefaultLabel
6. Give the Default Value for this key the label you want to appear for that drive letter. (Jazz Drive etc.)
7. Restart the computer

90.Restore Missing Windows Update Link

2008-02-13T14:07:00.006+05:30

Microsoft has made available to all Windows users, a web site that provides Updates to its Operating Systems. By default, a link is provided in the Start Menu. If for some reason you have removed this link or it has just mysteriously disappeared, then here is a simple method to recover this link to your Start Menu: Here is the address to the Windows Update website: windowsupdate.Microsoft.com
On the above link, point your mouse directly over the Windows Update link. While holding your mouse over the link, left-click the link and keep the left button depressed. While continuing to hold the left mouse button down, mouse over the Start Menu and wait a moment for the menu to expand. Once the menu has expanded vertically, continue holding down the left mouse button and mouse over the "All Programs" button. The All Programs menu will also expand. Once the All Programs menu has expanded, slide the mouse pointer up the programs menu until you have chosen a location within the menu for your link to reside (you should see a black horizontal line while you're moving your pointer around in the programs menu). Once you've chosen the location for your link, remove your finger from the left-click button and the link will now pop into place. You can right click the newly placed link and rename it "Windows Update" or just leave it as is. Now, you can left click the link again and hold the left click button depressed while sliding the mouse pointer into the Start Menu area (you should again see a black horizontal line while you're moving your pointer around in the Start Menu). Once you have chosen a location within the Start Menu for your link to reside, just lift your finger from the left-click button and again, the link will pop into place. Congrats! You've just added the Windows Update URL to your Start Menu.

89.Lock a folder without any software

2008-02-13T10:13:00.005+05:30

First select a folder for example I'll use a folder name movies in D drive D:\movies\
in the same drive u create a text file and type
ren movies movies.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
and save it as loc.bat
again u type in a notepad as
ren movies.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} movies
and save it as key.bat
now in D drive u can see two batch files loc and key.. when u double click loc the movie folder will change to control panel and when u double click key the control panel will change to normal folder..
Try this out .....

88. Improve system performance by disabling last access/update feature

2008-02-07T12:15:00.003+05:30

NTFS file system in XP maintains liast access/update details for each file and directory. This information is useful sometimes but for an average user this may not be of much use most of the times. Doing this takes considerable resources and as such it may make sense to diable it. Even after disabling it you still have access to last modified info which would still be available. To disable lass access update feature, do as follows:

Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem] and look for the data key "NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate" and set its value to 1 to disable lass access update feature.

87.How to kill the IE About windows that popup from time to time

2008-02-07T12:13:00.003+05:30

There is an Internet Explorer vulnerability to which allows some web sites to open a hidden popup tracking minimized window either upon your first visit or when you leave their web site or even when you close your browser while one of their web pages is still displayed. They do this by using the little known "about:" browser built-in command into their HTML/DHTML/XML code. Sometimes this window Go undetected as these are not resizable as you come to expect of a typical window app. If you do not have anything specific with www.about.com, there could be a registry tweak that you can do. Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) by going to START-RUN and type regedit and navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings\ZoneMap\ProtocolDefaults]
and add two DWORD keys"about" and "about:" and set its value to 4.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Doing this tweak would mean that you would not be able to use the blank about page as your startup page. There is a workaround for this by adding it to your zone ...but I do not like it and hence not mentioning it here.

86. Are you using an computer that is accessed by more than one ? Secure your privacy by cleaning pagefile.

2008-01-26T16:47:00.005+05:30

I read about this tweak a long time ago and even found out couple of ways of achieving the same results but wasn't sure of the importance. But you know what, there is reason for everything. Assume your are working on computer where you don't really own the computer or is shared with someone else. Do you want maintain privacy and avoid other know what you were doing etc. Then this tweak may be of interest to you. Go to Control panel Administrative tools, local security policy. Then goto local policies ---> security options.Then change the option for "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"

85. How to restart Windows without restarting your computer

2008-01-26T16:43:00.004+05:30

When you click on the SHUTDOWN button, make sure to simultaneous press SHIFT Button. If you hold the Shift key down while clicking on SHUTDOWN button, you computer would restart without restarting the Computer. This is equivalent to term"HOT REBOOT".

84.Transparent Desktop Icons

2008-01-15T17:32:00.003+05:30

If you would like the background of the desktop icons to have a transparent appearance, here's how:

Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System
Once at the System Properties windows, select the Advanced tab
Under the Performance category, select the Settings button
In the Performance Options windows select the Visual Effects tab
Scroll down the list of settings and place a checkmark next to the entry titled: Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop.

83.Ten tips to increase your Windows security

2008-01-14T17:02:00.004+05:30

1-always protect your Administrator account by creating password, just go to Control Panel > User Accounts, select your account and the click on "create a password for your account".

2-Protect your account by Password protect your screen saver, go to Control Panel > Display, Click on the Screen Saver tab and then check on resume password protect.

3- Setup a BIOS Password to protect your PC Setup application.
4- Always force you windows automatic update on, go to Control Panel > Automatic Updates and then Select the first option to have each update download and install automatically.
5- Install an Internet Security Suite such as "Kaspersky Internet Security", "Norton Internet Security" or "Mcafee Internet Security". And turn on software automatic update.
6- If you don’t have enough budgets to buy an Internet Security Suite, Turn on the Windows Firewall. Go to > Control Panel > Windows Firewall and click on under the General tab. And Install an antivirus program, turn on automatic updates, and set up a regular scanning schedule.
7- Never use same username and/or password for all of your accounts in Internet.
8- Turn off file sharing in Windows Explorer. Open Explorer, click Tools > Folder Options >View. Then Scroll to the bottom, uncheck Use simple file sharing, and click Apply.
9- Increase your Internet Explorer security settings. Click Tools > Internet Options> Privacy and move the slider to High.
10- Turn on your Internet Explorer’s pop-up blocker. Click Tools > Internet Options > Popup Blocker Settings > and then choose default.

82.How to block websites without any Softwares

2008-01-08T17:41:00.003+05:30

1] Browse C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
2] Find the file named "HOSTS"
3] Open it in notepad
4] Under "127.0.0.1 localhost" Add 127.0.0.2 www.sitenameyouwantblocked.com , and that site will no longer be accessable.
5] Done!
-So-
127.0.0.1 localhost 127.0.0.2 www.blockedsite.com
- www.blockedsite.com is now unaccessable

81.Create a duplicate user profile with a different name

2007-12-24T10:45:00.003+05:30

To create a duplicate of an user profile with a different user name, try this:

Create a new user account
Logon to that account to initialize the newly created profile
Log off from the newly created profile
Login as built-in Administrator
Open Control Panel System applet
Click the Advanced tab
Click Settings under User Profiles
Select a profile to copy from and choose Copy To
Browse to the profile to copy to (C:\Documents and Settings\username)

A new profile is now created which is the duplicate of your user profile.

80. Messing with Partitions

2007-12-21T09:50:00.002+05:30

Before using Disk Administrator to make changes to the partitions, you may want to make sure you save your current configuration. To do this, click Start > Programs > Administrator tools > Disk Administrator > Partition > Configuration > Save. Insert a formatted floppy disk into your drive and click OK. You can restore the partition structure later by clicking on Partition > Configuration > Restore.

79.How to change secure Attention Sequence Title

2007-12-19T17:27:00.002+05:30

To change the title of the Secure Attention Sequence (SAS = Ctrl+Alt+Delete), perform the following steps:

Start the registry editor (regedit.exe).
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.
From the Edit menu, select New> String value.
Enter a name of Welcome, and press Enter.
Double-click the new value, add the text you want to display after Windows Security (e.g., for 5 Star Support), and click OK.
Close the registry editor.
Press the SAS sequence to see the new dialog box title.

78.Auto Logon to Windows XP

2007-12-17T22:29:00.002+05:30

Windows XP has the ability to store your password and other pertinent information in the registry so that you can automate the logon process. Keep in mind though, while this is a very convenient method, it has its security risks. Anyone using your computer will have access to your account and your network. Only use this setting if the other people within your network are trusted.

Warning: This tweak involves editing the Windows registry. Mistakes made while editing can have serious effects on your Windows installation. Be sure that you have made a backup copy of the registry prior to making any changes.

Here is how to configure Windows XP to auto logon:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.
Drill down to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Click the Winlogon entry in the left pane once to empty its contents into the right pane.
Find the DefaultUserName entry in the right pane and double click it.
In the Value data test box, type in your user name. Click OK.
Back in the right pane, locate the entry titled; DefaultPassword. Double click this entry and type in your password in the value data text box. Click OK.

Note: If the DefaultPassword entry does not exist. You will need to create this entry. Here's how:

a. Hold your mouse over the right pane and right click an empty area.
b. Click New>> String Value.
c. A new entry at the bottom of the right pane will now appear. Name it DefaultPassword. Press Enter.
d. Now, double click your new DefaultPassword entry and type in your password in the Value Data box.

Back in the right pane, locate the entry titled AutoAdminLogon. Double click this entry and change the value from 0 to 1. Click OK. The "1" entry turns the feature ON and the "0" turns the feature OFF.

Note: If the AutoAdminLogon entry does not exist, follow the instructions above and create this new string entry.

Exit the Windows Registry and restart your computer.

77.Add Safe Mode to Boot Menu

2007-12-15T23:04:00.001+05:30

Safe Mode is most commonly used for troubleshooting purposes. If you find yourself booting to safe mode often. You may find it helpful to include the option for safe mode in your boot menu. Below, is a method you can use to save yourself from having to press F8 during startup to access Safe Mode:

Right click My Computer and click Properties.

Click the Advanced tab.

Under Start Up and Recovery, click the Settings button.

Click Edit. The boot.ini file will open in Notepad.

Copy the line that reads as follows: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)’WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect.

Paste the line you just copied after the original one.

Change the copied line from "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" to "Windows XP Safe Mode" or something similar.

At the end of this line add the following: /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog.

Save the boot.ini file by clicking File then Save.

Restart your computer and Safe Mode should be available at the boot menu.

Note: Your actual Boot.INI may vary to a small degree. The above is an example only. Be sure to copy your boot.ini file prior to making any changes to it.

76.Hide file name on thumbnail view

2007-12-15T21:42:00.001+05:30

Hold down the shift key when switching to thumbnail view to hide the file names. Do it again to bring them back.

75.Rename multiple files

2007-12-15T21:41:00.001+05:30

You can rename multiple files all at once: Select a group of files, right-click the first file, and select "Rename". Type in a name for the first file, and the rest will follow.

74. Windows XP Won't Completely Shutdown ?

2007-12-15T17:23:00.002+05:30

Having a problem getting Windows XP to shut completely down? Try this:
Go to Control Panel, then go to Power Options.
Click on the APM Tab, then check the "Enable Advanced Power Management support". Click OK.
Shut down your PC.
It should now successfully complete the Shut Down process.

73.Create shutdown/reboot button

2007-12-15T17:21:00.001+05:30

Shutdown/Restart Button Want a quicker way to shut down, log off or reboot your computer, instead of going through the several clicks involved in doing it the normal way? Here's how you can create icons on the desktop that will allow you to perform any of these tasks with one click:
Right click an empty spot on the desktop.
In the context menu, select New>> Shortcut.
In the Create Shortcut wizard, where it asks you to type the location of the item, type the following: shutdown -s -t 00 (for shutdown), shutdown -r -t 00 (for restart) or shutdown -l -t 00 (for logoff). You will now have the option of naming this icon.
Click Next.
You can now change the icon to something other than the default. Just right click your new desktop icon and choose Properties.
Select the 'Change Icon...' button while inside the 'Shortcut' section.
Choose from any of the icons listed and apply the change.

72.How create shutdown/reboot icon

2007-12-15T17:18:00.001+05:30

WindowsXP has a program called SHUTDOWN.EXE which allows you to easily create icons to shutdown or restart your computer. To create a shutdown shortcut on the desktop:
Right click on an open area of the desktop
Select New / Shortcut
Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - (no quotes)
Press the Next button
For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click the Finish button.
For a reboot, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"
Shutdown [{-l-s-r-a}] [-f] [-m [\ComputerName]] [-t xx] [-c "message"] [-d[u][p]:xx:yy]
Parameters:
-l - Logs off the current user, this is also the defualt. -m ComputerName takes precedence.
-s - Shuts down the local computer.
-r - Reboots after shutdown.
-a - Aborts shutdown. Ignores other parameters, except -l and ComputerName. You can only use -a during the time-out period.
-f - Forces running applications to close.
-m [\ComputerName] - Specifies the computer that you want to shut down.
-t xx - Sets the timer for system shutdown in xx seconds. The default is 20 seconds.
-c "message" - Specifies a message to be displayed in the Message area of the System Shutdown window. You can use a maximum of 127 characters. You must enclose the message in quotation marks.

71.Break out of a continuous reboot loop

2007-12-14T17:52:00.001+05:30

Below are instruction on troubleshooting an XP system that is stuck in a continuous reboot loop. This tip assumes you can start the system and are able to log on. As soon as you log on, the system reboots itself. In many cases, it may not even wait until you are logged on before rebooting itself. By default, Windows XP is configured to deal with a system failure by rebooting and in doing so, should repair the failure. But, in some cases, the system failure is serious enough to cause a continuous reboot loop.

If your system is stuck on a continuous reboot, you can disable the automatic restart behavior. Follow these steps:

Press [Windows][Break] to open the System Properties dialog box.
On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Startup And Recovery section.
In the System Failure section, deselect the Automatically Restart check box, and click OK.
To enable the changes, click OK in the System Properties dialog box.

This change configures the system to halt after encountering a system failure error, which allows you to investigate the problem error in more detail. You'll then have to manually restart the system.

Keep in mind that you'll have to work fast in order to make the change before the system reboots. You may have better luck making the change if you launch the system in Safe Mode.

70.Disable "net send" Messenger service on XP

2007-12-14T17:47:00.002+05:30

To disable the "net send" Messenger service on Windows XP, follow these steps:

Go to the Start menu in the lower left corner of your screen. Select Programs: Administrative Tools: Services. A Services window will appear.
Select the Messenger service in the right-hand list of local services by double-clicking on it. A Messenger Properties window will appear.
In the General tab, set the Messenger service's Start Type to Disabled using the pull-down list of Start Types.
Also in the General tab, click the Stop button in the Service Status section. Your computer will stop the service if it is currently running.
Click OK. The Messenger Properties window will disappear.
Click the File: Exit tab in the Services window, and it will disappear.

69.Disable XP's splash screen ( Boot Screen )

2007-12-14T17:44:00.001+05:30

The Windows XP splash screen is designed to hide all of the behind the scenes boot information that is ordinarily never needed to view. However, if you need to troubleshoot a startup problem, it may be necessary to view this information to determine the trouble. To find out, you can disable the splash screen by making a small change to the Boot.ini file. Follow the steps below:

1. Press [Windows][Break] to open the System Properties dialog box.
2. On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Startup And Recovery section.
3. In the Startup And Recovery dialog box, select the Edit button in the System Startup section.
4. The Boot.ini file will open in Notepad; locate the line that ends with the /fastdetect switch.
5. Position your cursor right after the parameter, press the spacebar, and add the /SOS switch.
6. Save the Boot.ini file, and close Notepad.
7. Click Cancel to close both the Startup And Recovery dialog box and the System Properties dialog box.
8. Restart the system.

When the system restarts, the splash screen will no longer appear. You can observe some of the operations that Windows XP performs during the startup stage.

To revive the splash screen, simply repeat the above steps to edit the Boot.ini file and remove the /SOS switch.

68.Change preferences for speed searching

2007-12-13T22:55:00.001+05:30

Users accustomed to the straightforward search feature in Windows 2000 and earlier versions may not want to waste time with the animated Search Companion and separate search categories in Windows XP. In the Search window, select Change preferences, then Without an animated screen character. Click on Change preferences again, then Change files and folders search behavior, then Advanced…, and finally OK. Now searching for files will be straightforward.

67.Create auto-play CDs

2007-12-13T22:53:00.001+05:30

The application CDs that you buy launch automatically, and your burned CDs can do the same. They can invoke a setup program or display an HTML page that links to the CD's contents. Use Notepad to create a three-line text file based on the lines below, and name it Autorun.inf. Place the file in the CD's root directory.

[autorun]

open=setup.exe

icon=icon.ico

Replace setup.exe with the program that should launch when the CD is inserted, and replace icon.ico with the file containing the CD's icon. In both cases, be sure to omit the drive letter.

66.How can I add the Administrative Tools icon to the desktop in Windows XP?

2007-12-12T17:45:00.001+05:30

The administrative Tools folder is in fact a sub-folder of the Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs folder, but dragging it or moving it around your computer might cause it to stop functioning.

There are 2 methods of adding the Administrative Tools folder to the Quick Launch toolbar:

One method is by dragging it from the Control Panel folder, and NOT from the Programs folder.
The other method is by editing the registry.

Follow these steps to add the Administrative Tools icon to the Windows XP/2003 desktop by editing the registry:

Open Registry Editor.
In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Create the following key:

{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
(just copy/paste, including the brackets)
Note: As always, before making changes to your registry you should always make sure you have a valid backup. In cases where you're supposed to delete or modify keys or values from the registry it is possible to first export that key or value(s) to a .REG file before performing the changes.

Close Registry Editor.

There is no need to reboot. Just wait a few seconds and see how the icon appears:
Done!

65.Shutdown remotely by a doble click

2007-12-11T17:53:00.001+05:30

To shutdown remotely your machine. Create a file called "RemoteShutdown.js" consisting of the following single line:
(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();
Save it on your desktop or anywhere else convenient. When you want to shut down your machine remotely, double-click the file and select your desired shutdown option.

64. Protect your data during a power outage

2007-12-11T17:50:00.002+05:30

I'm sure that many of you have been victims of data loss due to a power outage. In some cases, devastated by this event. Most people that need certain safe guards from power outages use a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). It used to be that a UPS would only be used at places such as data centers or critical business applications. Since the cost of a UPS has come down considerably over the years, this is now a cost effective solution for personal computers too.

A UPS is nothing more than a battery backup. So, knowing that the UPS is giving you 'battery' power during a power outage, you know that you are not going to be able to continue working on your computer, but you will have enough time to save the work that you've already started. That is its sole purpose.

If you have unsaved data and are away from your computer during a power outage, you can configure your 'Power Option' settings to ensure that your computer will go in to Hibernate mode before the battery backup power is gone. Once a computer enters Hibernate mode, it takes all of the data that is in memory and stores it on your hard drive. Here is how to configure this setting:

1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> Performance and Maintenance>> Power Options.
2. In Power Option Properties, select the Hibernate tab.
3. Place a checkmark in the checkbox titled: Enable hibernation. Click Apply
4. Click the Power Schemes tab.
5. In the Power Schemes drop down menu, select Max Battery from the list.
6. In the "System hibernates" category, select a time that is less than your maximum backup battery life. Click Apply
7. Exit all windows.

63.Identify the 'uppercase' viruses

2007-12-10T21:32:00.002+05:30

One big problem today in this Computer Age is that spyware and virus makers are more cunning than ever. They have employed the trick of small-case L (l) and big-case I to confuse you from identifying the viruses or spywares from the running processes in your system. For example, Isass.exe and lsass.exe. Which of these two is the virus and which is the important security process? If you look closely at the two, the first is the virus. If you change its font to Times New Roman you would notice that it is actually Isass.exe, the virus. Here is another example. Kernel.dlI versus Kernel.dll. It is not very obvious but the first Kernel.dlI is the virus. Change the font to Times New Roman again, and it would show you Kernel.dlI. Clever isn’t it? These spyware and virus makers are now making their creations look like Windows system files, so you should be very careful when you are inspecting the files on your system. You should not assume that what you see is what it is.

To avoid this kind of mistake, I suggest you change your systems font to Times New Roman or Bookman where I and l are very clearly identifiable. It would be less confusing that the Arial font, which was used above to confuse you.

Another great way to help with this kind spyware and virus identification is for you to get a virus scanner or spyware program that you must run once in a while. They can identify these nasty files and delete it.

62.Re-create NT installations disks

2007-12-10T18:00:00.001+05:30

You can re-create NT installation disks if you lose or damage your original set. Format three floppy disks and load your 4.0 CD-ROM in the drive. Form the Run dialog box, browse to the i386 folder on the CD-ROM and select winnet32.exe and click Open. Alter the Run command like to d:\i386\winnt32/ox (where the first d is the CD-ROM drive letter). Click OK and follow the prompts.

61.Compressing data

2007-12-10T17:58:00.002+05:30

Windows XP lets you compress and decompress directories and files on NTFS partition. Compression reduces storage requirements for seldom-accessed files without degrading overall drive performance. You can compress and expand files and directories form My Computer or Explore - just right-click on item, select Properties and enable Compress form the list of attributes.

60.Key to the CD Key

2007-12-10T17:56:00.002+05:30

The CD Key is required to reinstall the operating system. If you have lost it, you can retrieve it form the Windows registry. Open Regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT \CurrentVersion. Look at ProductId. The CD Key is digits 6 thought 15.

59.Auto Complete file and folder name

2007-12-10T17:54:00.001+05:30

You can automatically fill in file and folder names at the command prompt, much like a UNIX terminal. Launch the Registry editor and move down to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\Microsoft\Command Processor. Select CompletionChar and set its value of to 9. Restart the system for the changes to take effect. Now, at the Command Prompt window, type in the first few characters of the file or folders and press Tab to complete it automatically.

58.Speed up your PC on startup

2007-12-09T17:59:00.001+05:30

On run window type ' msconfig'.

From the opened window (system configuration) select the startup.

And now unlock the unwanted items.
click OK. And restart the computer.

57.Turn a folder into a taskbar toolbar.

2007-12-09T11:42:00.002+05:30

First, unlock your taskbar.
Next, drag the icon of the desired folder to the space between the taskbar buttons and the clock. (Wait for the no-entry cursor to change to an arrow. It's a very tiny space; you will have to hunt for it.)
You can rearrange and resize the taskbar toolbar you just created.
You can even turn the taskbar toolbar into a menu by resizing it until only its name is visible.

56.Turn folder into a desktop toolbar

2007-12-09T11:41:00.001+05:30

You can turn a folder into a desktop toolbar by dragging the icon of the desired folder to the edge of the screen. You can then turn it into a floating toolbar by dragging it from the edge of the screen into the middle of the screen. (It helps if you minimize all application windows first.)

55.Close several window at once

2007-12-08T15:12:00.002+05:30

To close several windows at once, hold down the Control key while clicking on the taskbar buttons of each window. Once you have selected all the windows you want to close, right-click the last button you selected and pick "Close Group".

54. Arrange windows side by side

2007-12-08T15:10:00.001+05:30

To arrange two windows side-by-side, switch to the first window, then hold the Control key while right-clicking the taskbar button of the second window. Select "Tile Vertically".

53.View pages in a new window

2007-12-07T21:56:00.001+05:30

In Internet Explorer, hold the Shift key while clicking on a link to open the Web page in a new window.

52. How to Remove Windows XP's Messenger

2007-12-06T17:12:00.003+05:30

Theoretically, you can get rid of it (as well as a few other things). Windows 2000 power users should already be familiar with this tweak. Fire up the Windows Explorer and navigate your way to the %SYSTEMROOT% \ INF folder. What the heck is that thingy with the percentage signs? It's a variable. For most people, %SYSTEMROOT% is C:\Windows. For others, it may be E:\WinXP. Get it? Okay, on with the hack! In the INF folder, open sysoc.inf (but not before making a BACKUP copy first). Before your eyes glaze over, look for the line containing "msmsgs" in it. Near the end of that particular line, you'll notice that the word "hide" is not so hidden. Go ahead and delete "hide" (so that the flanking commas are left sitting next to one another). Save the file and close it. Now, open the Add and Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. Click the Add / Remove Windows Components icon. You should see "Windows Messenger" in that list. Remove the checkmark from its box, and you should be set. NOTE: there are other hidden system components in that sysoc.inf file, too. Remove "hide" and the subsequent programs at your own risk.

51.How to Convert a FAT Partition to NTFS

2007-12-06T17:10:00.001+05:30

To convert a FAT partition to NTFS, perform the following steps.
Click Start, click Programs, and then click Command Prompt.
In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run.
At the command prompt, type CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS.Convert.exe will attempt to convert the partition to NTFS.
NOTE: Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the conversion from FAT to NTFS is minimal, it is best to perform a full backup of the data on the drive that it is to be converted prior to executing the convert command. It is also recommended to verify the integrity of the backup before proceeding, as well as to run RDISK and update the emergency repair disk (ERD).
Convert.exe will attempt to convert the partition to NTFS.