Microsoft clear type technology greatly increases clarity of text on laptop LCD screens. By default this feature does not start until after you log on. But with the tweak below you will be able to make it start as windows loads so it will be enabled on the welcome login screen.
To revert back to the Win2k style logon so you can log on as the administrator and other options, press ctrl+alt+delete twice.
This works in Windows 2000 as well. Simply click and drag your My Computer icon onto the Task Bar near the right side icons next to the clock. This will create a cascading menu from where you can easily access just about anything on your system.
Want to
spice up your desktop with super smooth font text? Well 18418m129s ClearType settings are
the way to be my friend.
1.) Go into Display Properties
2.) Under Appearance Go to effects
3.) In Effects set the combo to ClearType instead of normal.
Now watch as your desktop and your text automatically transform to give you
that graphical edge you've always wanted.
How to
change the theme that windows xp uses to show the logon
and shutdown screens.
The colors it uses are at the following:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Colors
The Window and Font Sizes are at the following:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
The way i did it is getting my desktop to look like i wanted the logon and
shutdown screens to look and export the keys from:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
Under My Computer you will notice a new folder called shared documents. Microsoft has made it easy to share files and folders over a network by dragging icons into it. If you wish to remove this folder from My computer all you have to do is delete a key from the windows registry.
I've
forgotten where I picked this up but It's an alternative to sendto. It adds the
ability to create a new folder to move or copy items to.
Right click on a file / object, there's a menu item for 'copy to folder...' and
'move to folder...'
Paste these lines into a new text document, (undo the word wrap) rename it with
an extension .reg, double click then click 'yes'. Changes take effect imediately.
-------- ----- ------ ----- ----- -----
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Copy
To]
@=""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Move
To]
@=""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Send
To]
@=""
Super
fast user switching is a powertoy which makes it easy to switch the active
user. But you must be a member of the administrator group to see other users!
Quite useless for normal users, but this is done on purpose. I contacted Lou,
the programmer of fast.exe, and he said (quote):
"It actually has to do with permissions. As a regular user, you don't have
access to the (InteractiveLogon) service. This is because I didn't want to open
another hole in Windows. This is unavoidable."
The solution opens a hole, but makes super fast user switching usable. THIS IS
ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED USERS!
1. remove task.exe from the local_machine ~ windows ~ run registry entry (you
can use start --> run --> msconfig for that)
2. create a fast.cmd file wich contains the line below:
runas /noprofile /env /savecred /user:YOURMACHINE\Administrator
"c:\windows\system32\fast.exe"
replace YOURMACHINE by your machine name
3. copy fast.cmd to your windows directory
4. make a shortcut to c:\windows\fast.cmd, let the shortcut run minimized
5. copy the shortcut to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup
You have to run fast.cmd manually one time for each user to supply the
administrator password. This has to be done only once.
This solution won't work for XP home edition because that edition won't store
the security credentials.
For your information: the user process fast.exe will communicate with the
service task.exe to perform it's task. Meddling with the fast -service properties
won't work (I tried...).
Don't do this on production systems, it's meant for home use where security is
less important.
Here's
how you can remove those shortcut arrows from your desktop icons in Windows XP.
1. Start regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
3. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
You may need to restart Windows XP.
To change from FAT 32 to NTFS for more stability and security, open the command prompt and type: "Convert C: /FS:NTFS". Make sure there is a space between the C: and the foward slash (/). Once you press enter it will ask you for confirmation and press Y. Then press Y and enter once more to reboot. It will take between one hour and 15 minutes to convert to NTFS. Now you can set passwords for files and use encryption. This also works for windows XP Home.
Contrary
to the popular opinion that "Advanced" file security is only
available with WinXP Pro, it is also available with WinXP Home edition as well.
Specifically, I am referring to the "Security" tab that is available
in XP Pro in the properties menu of any file or folder when "Enable simple
file sharing" is unchecked in the Tools>Folder Options>View applet.
This "Security" tab is the same as WINNT and WIN2K which allows you
to use advanced options for file/folder security that apply to groups and users
such as Read,Write, Execute, etc. Although Microsoft claims that this is not
available in XP Home it is!
First, NTFS must be your file system, this will not work with a FAT file
system. To enable "Advanced" security permissions in XP Home simply
boot into safe mode, rt-click any file or folder, and now you will have the
"Security" tab - just as in XP Pro! Simply make your changes and
reboot into normal mode. This is very useful when you have 'limited' users on
your computer and they are unable to run certain applications as a limited user
- you can simply boot into safe mode, change the permissions according to each
user, and reboot! The advanced tab is even there that will give you even more
permission options such as inheritance, etc.
Ok, I
can't believe someone submitted the Windows Key+E to launch explorer as a
'tweak', but I guess you'd be really happy to learn about it if you didn't
already know.
In the spirit of higher learning, here's a few more:
Windows Key + F - Launch Find tool
Windows Key + M - Mimimize all open windows
Windows Key + R - Launch the 'Run' button
Windows Key + U - Launch the utility manager (win2k & XP only?)
Alt + Tab (Hold Alt & Press Tab repeadly) - Task Switcher
Alt + F4 - kills the 'active' application - fun(?) for killing web popup
windows quickly when they are coming at you like spam madness!
Ctrl+Alt+Del - In Win9x/ME (why are you using that?) it launches a 14m3 version
of NT/2K/XP's Task Manager. In NT/2K/XP you get a menu with useful options for
lock computer, logoff, shutdown, change password, task manager etc.
Load the Local Security Settings under Administrative Tools. Open Local Policies and go to Security Options. You'll see an item listed for "Interactive Login: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL" and it should be listed as "Not Defined" by default. Double click on it to change the setting and change it to Enabled to use the Windows 2000 style login always. (Set back to Disabled to reenable the Windows XP login screen).
This is
my favorite tweak, bit long winded but cute, hope you enjoy it too
You can change the start button by using a hex editor - see regedit.com for
details how to do it.
(https://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/791/)
the offsets for XP are:
000412b6 - 000412bf
and
0004158a - 00041593
This method has a few limitations though, you can only use exactly 5 letters,
so try the following method from tweakersguide.com (but it's in German so
here's my rough translation)
First of all you will need to download a exe editor - Resource Hacker and
Hacker 2.0 are avaliable from www.downloads.com and are adequate for the task
in hand.
The first 3 steps stop the file we are going to tamper with from being restored
automatically when windows restarts
1) with notepad or a text editor open the file
c:\windows\system32\restore\filelist.xml (you might need to change it's
properites from read only first by right clicking on the file and selecting
properties, then remove the tich from the read only checkbox)
2) add the following line to the first section to exclude explorer.exe from the
protected file list
- %windir%explorer.exe
3) save the file (and apply the read only properties back if you wish)
The next 2 steps actually modify the explorer.exe file that is the windows
shell so back it up first if you are uncertain what you are doing (to back up
the file, open a cmd window and type -
copy c:\windows\explorer.exe c:\windows\explorer.bak)
4) Open the file c:\windows\explorer.exe with your exe editor and edit the text
in following lines
String Table > 37 > 1033
String Table > 38 > 1033
You just edit the text inside the "Start" to what ever you want and
compile if necessary (depends on your exe editor - you will if you use ResHack)
5) save the file as (file > save as) explorer.xp (back up this file to
another disk if you want to save a bit of hassle after you recover the machine
next time)
Now you need to copy the file you've modified best way I've found to do this is
to boot to safe mode command prompt although it's been suggested that you can
stop the explorer.exe process with Task Manager, copy the fie in a cmd prompt
then restart the process again - that worked for me but the origional returned
after a restart. The next 3 steps describe how you copy the file
6) restart the machine and start tapping F8 to get the start menu - choose safe
mode with command prompt
7) log on as Administrator and you'll be presented with a cmd prompt
8) To copy the modified file just type
copy c:\windows\explorer.xp c:\windows\explorer.exe
assuming that's where you saved it to with your exe editor)
9) Restart Machine and VOILA!
With this
tweak Start menu displays the classic Start menu in the Windows 2000 style and
displays the standard desktop icons.
START > RUN > type GPEDIT.MSC > USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE
TEMPLATES > START MENU AND TASKBAR > FIND FORCE CLASSIC START MENU >
CHECK ENABLED > OK > REBOOT
Remove
user name from Start Menu
START > RUN > GPEDIT.MSC > USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE
TEMPLATES > START MENU AND TASKBAR > FIND REMOVE USER NAME FROM START
MENU > RIGHT CLICK PROPERTIES > CHECK ENABLED > OK
For all
of you with 512 MB RAM or more, here's my advice.. get rid of that swap file!
You will be surprised that Windows XP will run fine without it once you have
the RAM available.
If you do not feel comfortable with going without a swap file, then set it to a
minimum of 50 MB. To do this, Right-click on the My Computer Icon on your
desktop, then select Properties. Click Advanced, then Settings, Then Advanced.
In the section describing virtual memory, click the CHANGE button, then select
NO PAGING FILE if you want no swap file.. or CUSTOM SIZE if you want to start
at 50 MB.
This will not only improve system performance, but you will be amazed as to how
fast your system will run.
Just like
Windows 2000, Windows XP still fails to set the DMA mode correctly for the IDE
device designated as the slaves on the primary IDE and secondary IDE channels.
Most CD-ROMS are capable of supporting DMA mode, but the default in XP is still
PIO. Setting it to DMA won't make your CD-ROM faster, but it will consume less
CPU cycles. Here's how:
1. Open the Device Manager. One way to do that is to right click on "My
Computer", select the Hardware tab, and Select Device Manager.
2. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" and double-click on
"Primary IDE Channel"
3. Under the "Advanced Settings" tab, check the "Device 1"
setting. More than likely, your current transfer mode is set to PIO.
4. Set it to "DMA if available".
Repeat the step for the "Secondary IDE Channel" if you have devices
attached to it. Reboot.
Here is
another way to figure out which services to set as Automatic and which to set
as manual or disabled.
Step1:
- set ALL your services to *manual* setting
step2:
- reboot computer and wait for windows XP to load. XP will boot pretty slowly,
since it has to turn on each service seperately. Use your computer for a bit,
doing what you normally do during a computing session. This will allow any
other services to activate (such as DHCP or other services that didn't load
during the boot process).
step3:
- go back to the list of services, and see which ones are Started.
- Change the services that are marked as Started, to *Automatic*
- This way windows will automatically load all of the services that you
normally use, and the ones that you don't use will stay unloaded.
This isn't really a "gamer's tweak" because some
"unecessary" services might still load. But I think this is a good
optimization for a normal user.
Note: If you set windows audio service to manual you will not have any sound!
Windows Explorer caches DLLs (Dynamic-Link Libraries) in memory for a period of time after the application using them has been closed. This can be an inefficient use of memory.Find the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]. Create a new sub-key named 'AlwaysUnloadDLL' and set the default value to equal '1' to disable Windows caching the DLL in memory. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.I tried this after running a intense program,then watched the task manager;memory recovered it self.
According to Microsoft, Windows 2000 does not qualify for an upgrade to the XP Home Edition. Windows 2000 Professional users can only upgrade to XP Professional. If the XP upgrade disk is run from inside Windows 2000, the software will report that no qualifying operating system is seen, and therefore the XP upgrade cannot be used. However, if the computer is set to boot from the XP CDROM, the install program will indicate that it sees no qualifying program for the upgrade, and asks the user to insert the install disk for 1 of several qualfying operating systems to verify ownership. Windows 2000 Professional is a qualifying system on the list, in spite of Microsoft statements that it can only be upgraded to Windows XP Professional. To upgrade from Windows 2000 to XP Home Edition, boot from the XP CDROM (by changing BIOS settings), and when asked insert your Windows 2000 install CDROM to prove ownership of an operating system eligible for an upgrade. The XP install can then proceed on any available free hard drive space. If the free space is on a hard drive already containing Windows 2000 (space created for example by programs such as Partition Magic), the XP install will automatically set up a dual-boot system. This asks you each time you turn the computer on which OS you want. This allows people to retain Windows 2000, while migrating applications and data piece by piece to Windows XP.
In a command
window you can use the TAB key as "complete" key - like in
unix/linux.
Example:
Start a cmd window and go to root (c:\)
type cd - hit key - and you will now scroll the directories, also hidden ones.
Try: cd doc - hit key - You get up "Documents and Settings" - hit
enter. in Documents and Settings type cd and hit key several time - and you
will scroll through the names of the directories - also the hidden ones.
This will
help increase your bandwidth for any network connection in Windows XP PRO.
1. Make sure your logged on as actually "Administrator". do not log
on with any account that just has administrator privileges. To log in as an
administrator:
-click on start->logoff->logoff
-in the logon screen hold Ctrl+Alt+Del.
-in the user field type 'Administrator' <-case sensitive.
-in the password field type the password for the administrator (if you don't
have one leave blank)
-press ok
2. Start - run - type gpedit.msc
3. Expand the "Computer configuration" branch
4. Expand the "Administrative templates" branch
5. Expand the "Network" branch
6. Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in left window
7. In right window double click the "limit reservable bandwidth"
setting
8. On setting tab check the "enabled" item
9. Where it says "Bandwidth limit %" change it to read 0-- Click
apply, OK, exit gpedit.msc
10. Go to your Network connections (start->my computer->my network
connection-> view network connections). Right click on your connection,
choose properties then under the General or the Networking tab (where it lists
your protocols) make sure QoS packet scheduler is enabled.
11. Reboot , now you are all done.
This is more of a "counter what XP does" thing. In other words, XP
seems to want to reserve 20% of the bandwidth for itself even with QoS disabled.
So why not use it to your advantage. To demonstrate the problem, start up a big
download from a server with an FTP client. Try to find a server that doesn't
max out your bandwidth. In this case you want a slow to medium speed server to
demonstrate this. Let it run for a couple of minutes to get stable. The start
up another download from the same server with another instance of your FTP
client. You will notice that the available bandwidth is now being fought over
and one of the clients download will be very slow or both will slow down when
they should both be using the available bandwidth. Using this "tweak"
both clients will have a fair share of the bandwidth and will not fight over
the bandwidth.
Edit your
link to start Internet Explorer to have -nohome after it. For Example:
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE -nohome"
This will load internet explorer very fast because it does not load a webpage
while it is loading. If you want to go to your homepage after it is loaded,
just click on the home button.
when you
connect to a web site your computer sends information back and forth, this is
obvious. Some of this information deals with resolving the site name to an IP
address, the stuff that tcp/ip really deals with, not words. This is DNS
information and is used so that you will not need to ask for the site location
each and every time you visit the site. Although WinXP and win2000 has a pretty
efficient DNS cache, you can increase its overall performance by increasing its
size.
You can do this with the registry entries below:
************begin copy and paste***********
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters]
"CacheHashTableBucketSize"=dword:00000001
"CacheHashTableSize"=dword:00000180
"MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000fa00
"MaxSOACacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000012d
************end copy and paste***********
make a new text file and rename it to dnscache.reg. The copy and paste the
above into it and save it. Then merge it into the registry
when you
connect to a web site your computer sends information back and forth, this is
obvious. Some of this information deals with resolving the site name to an IP
address, the stuff that tcp/ip really deals with, not words. This is DNS
information and is used so that you will not need to ask for the site location
each and every time you visit the site. Although WinXP and win2000 has a pretty
efficient DNS cache, you can increase its overall performance by increasing its
size.
You can do this with the registry entries below:
************begin copy and paste***********
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters]
"CacheHashTableBucketSize"=dword:00000001
"CacheHashTableSize"=dword:00000180
"MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000fa00
"MaxSOACacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000012d
************end copy and paste***********
make a new text file and rename it to dnscache.reg. The copy and paste the
above into it and save it. Then merge it into the registry
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https://www.microsoft.com/technet/mpsa/start.asp - Sec Test for XP
In
regedit navigate to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
change the value of the string "Window Title" to whatever you want on
the titlebar of Internet Explorer - to have no title except the title of the
web pages you are browsing do not enter anything for a value.
If XP
will not install from the CD or if you have a new drive with no operating
system on it yet try these:
Install Windows XP from the hard drive with Windows 98 already installed:
Boot Windows 98
Insert the XP CD into your CD reader
Explore Windows XP through My Computer
Copy i386 folder to C:\
Go into C:\i386 folder and double click on winnt32.exe to launch the setup from
the hard drive
Install Windows XP from DOS (ie. no OS on a new hard drive):
Boot with a Windows 98 Start Up disk
Insert the Windows 98 CD into the CD reader
Run smartdrv.exe from the Win98 directory on the windows 98 CD (file caching)
Type cd.. to back up to the root directory
Insert Windows XP CD into the CD reader
Copy the i386 folder to C:\
Go into C:\i386 folder on C: and type winnt32.exe to launch the setup from the
hard drive.
For added security you should always clear the page file upon shutting down your computer. Windows uses this file as extra ram. Lets say that you are working on a confidential MS Word doc. When you load this document it is loaded into ram. To save ram windows places certain items in the page file. The page file can then be opened and the document can be extracted as well as any other open program or files. However Microsoft has implemented a feature that will clear the page file but they do not have it enabled by default. Please note, this will slightly increase the amount of time it takes to shut down your computer but it is well worth it.
Format
the partition you are going to use for the install. Restart your computer. Go
into the BIOS Change your boot order and Make the CD-ROM your boot drive. Inser
the CD and restart the PC. When prompted, Press Any key to boot from CD-ROM..
That's it.
Note: Make sure that your computer is bootable by CD, otherwise this will not
work.
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If you deleted a program instead of uninstalling it, most likely the program will still be listed in the windows uninstall list. Follow the directions below to remove programs from list manually.
If you want to share with permissions per user, go to folder options, next go to the tab view and disable 'use simple file sharing'. Now you can set permissions for your shares per user. It doesn't matter if you use the FAT system and even not the NTFS.
Some people say it isnt possible to uninstall XP. Fact is, it is! Use your Win98 Cd-ROM Autostart thing and go to DOS. There go to your XP-Drive and do a format -u. This will delete any XP-Files. Add to format -u an r and it restores the overwritten files from the last os (you won't see the RESTORED_OS-Folder since it is implemented in the Partition
For a
one-click method to quickly shut down or reboot your system without the fuss of
going through the Start menu, make use of the Shutdown command, a command line
utility in XP.
Here's how you can set up a restart button on your desktop:
1. Create a shortcut (Right-click on desktop, select New > Shortcut).
2. For location, type the following:
shutdown -r -t 0
3. Click Next, enter a name for the shortcut ("Restart" is
appropriate), and click Finish.
When you click your Restart shortcut, Windows XP will reboot *automagically*!
The "-r" switch tells XP to reboot. If you'd like the shortcut to
shut off your PC instead, change it to "-s"; to simply log off,
change it to "-l". The "-t 0" sets the timeout (in
seconds), so up this value if you find the need for it. To force running
applications to close, add "-f" -- be careful with this one!
For more information on Shutdown, type "shutdown" in a command prompt
window (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt), or
search for Shutdown in Windows XP's Help and Support Center.
Disable
the Windows registry editors, Regedit.exe and Regedit.exe.
If this setting is enabled and the user tries to start a registry editor, a
message appears explaining that a setting prevents the action.
To prevent users from using other administrative tools, use the "Run only
allowed Windows applications" setting.
START > RUN > GPEDIT.MSC > USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE
TEMPLATES > SYSTEM > FIND PREVENT ACCESS TO REGISTRY EDITING TOOLS >
RIGHT CLICK > PROPERTIES > CLICK ENABLE > OK > REBOOT
To use
this setting, type the fully qualified path and name of the file that stores
the wallpaper image. You can type a local path, such as
C:\Windows\web\wallpaper\home.jpg or a UNC path, such as
\\Server\Share\Corp.jpg. If the specified file is not available when the user
logs on, no wallpaper is displayed. Users cannot specify alternative wallpaper.
You can also use this setting to specify that the wallpaper image be centered,
tiled, or stretched. Users cannot change this specification. Note: You need to
enable the Active Desktop to use this setting.
START > RUN > GPEDIT.MSC > USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE
TEMPLATES > DESKTOP > ACTIVR DESKTOP > FIND ACTIVE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
> RIGHT CLICK PROPERTIES > CHECK ENABLED > FIND WALLPAPER > OK
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