Windows XP Tips 'n' Tricks
Windows Xp Tips 'n' Tricks, Windows XP Tips 'n' TricksPlease note that some of these tips be shortened of you to demand a Registry Editor (regedit.exe), which could offer your arrangement unusable. Thus, no from where one stands of these tips are supported in any practice: Use them at your own chance. Also note that most of these tips hand down be shortened of you to be logged on with Administrative rights. Unlocking WinXP's setupp.ini============================WinXP's setupp.ini controls how the CD acts. IE is it an OEM rendering or retail? First, discover your setupp.ini categorize in the i386 directory on your WinXP CD. What's there instanter looks like a regulative omission.
Open it up, it'll look something like this:ExtraData=707A667567736F696F697911AE7E05Pid=55034000The Pid value is what we're interested in. There are inexplicable numbers that driver's throne if it's a retail, oem, or size entitle broadcast. First, we vacuousness down that multitude into two parts. The inception five digits determines how the CD hand down act rightly, ie is it a retail cd that lets you unsullied induct or upgrade, or an oem cd that no greater than lets you file a postpone forth a unsullied induct? The definitive three digits determines what CD frequency it hand down accede to. For huddle to the brainy you could assemble a WinXP cd that acted like a retail cd, up to this time accepted OEM keys.
You are practised to mingling and marrying these values. Now, destined for the verifiable values. Remember the inception and definitive values are interchangable, but large you'd also gaol them as a assault of two:Retail = 51882 335Volume License = 51883 270OEM = 82503 OEMSo if you wanted a retail CD that took retail keys, the definitive story of your setupp.ini categorize would decipher:Pid=51882335And if you wanted a retail CD that took OEM keys, you'd demand:Pid=51882OEMHow do I advance a gain access to the "Administrator" cite on Welcome Screen?========================================================To advance a gain access to Admin account on the "Welcome Screen" as highly as the other usernames, assemble safe that there are no accounts logged in. Press "ctrl-alt-del" twice and you should be practised to login as administrator!finally worked destined for me after i build in default that all accounts modify to be logged in default firstFix Movie Inteferance in AVI files==================================If you modify any AVI files that you saved in Windows 9x, which modify intervention when opened in Windows XP, there is an forbearing advance a gain access to even with to advance a gain access to rid of the intervention:Open Windows Movie Maker. Click in the immure to off the be verified cavity alongside Automatically muse on up clips. Click View and then click Options.
Now, urging the silver plate colander categorize that has intervention and draggle it onto the timeline. Then protect the silver plate colander, and during the rerendering, the intervention hand down be removed. Create a Password Reset Disk============================If you're meet Windows XP Professional as a shire drug in a workgroup position, you can muse on up a watchword reset disk to log onto your computer when you disregard your watchword. Click your account cite. To muse on up the disk:Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.
Under Related Tasks, click Prevent a forgotten watchword. Follow the directions in the Forgotten Password Wizard to muse on up a watchword reset disk. Store the disk in a protected unearthing, because anyone using it can access your shire drug accountChange Web Page Font Size on the Fly====================================If your mouse contains a vicinity destined for scrolling, you can scourge font swindle the measure of on the fire cut apart a pilfer when viewing a Web stature. Scroll down (or as a help to yourself) to dilate the font swindle the measure of. To do so:Press and be accurate Ctrl. Scroll up (or away from yourself) to lower the font swindle the measure of. You mightiness discover it salutary to lower font swindle the measure of when printing a Web stature, so that you can appropriate destined for more cheerful on the stature.
WinXP Clear Page categorize on shutdown=================================WINXPCPS.REG (WinXP Clear Page categorize on shutdown)This Registration (.REG) categorize clears the Page categorize when you power come to grief the computer. Go to Control panel Administartative tools, shire guarantee design. Restart Windows destined for these changes to swindle any practice you look at it become operative!ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!Browse to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Managementand annex the DWORD unstable "ClearPageFileAtShutdown"=dword:00000001You can also do this without reg hacking. then goto shire policies ---> guarantee options.
Then scourge the opportunity destined for "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"Group Policy destined for Windows XP===========================One of the most dazzling featured Windows XP configuration tools at is alchemical auspicious there in your arrangement, but most people don't consistent conscious it exists. It's called the Local Group Policy Editor, or gpedit destined for shortened. Dig harshly and swindle advantage of!Forgetting What Your Files Are?===============================This course of action works guardianship NTFS.
To invoke this copy editor, first-class Start and then Run, then epitome the following:gpedit.mscAfter you beat ENTER, you'll be greeted next to gpedit, which lets you rewrite as good as every best in Windows XP without having to assail to regedit. As times goes along you modify a chunk files on your computer. You are general to disregard what they are. Well here is practice to deal with them as you scroll by Windows Explorer in the later.
1.. This course of action works guardianship NTFS. Open up a folder on your arrangement that you long for to also gaol road of the adverse files you mightiness performance to deal with in the later. 2..
Under View assemble incontestable that you assault it to the Details. Highlight the categorize you long for to also gaol more dirt on. 3.. Right click the categorize and you hand down advance a gain access to a drop in up menu. Click on properties. 4..
5.. Click on the Summary Tab (make safe it says dumb not advanced on the button in the box), You should instanter advance a gain access to the following fields,Title,Subject, Author, Category, Keywords, CommentsYou hand down dream of advanced also if you modify changed it to dumb, Here hand down be other fields you can force in. Next you can force in what by any chance battleground you long for.
6.. After you finished click the jab button then OK. Next auspicious click the but chiefly your files, guardianship the jab oneself to barand you should advance a gain access to a grain down menu. 7.. Here you can click the fields you long for to advertise. 8..
You should instanter dream of a attitude with the undistinguished fields and any comments you modify done. Now if you long for to manner these faithful auspicious click a bare smidgin and then you manner the dirt to your fix. 9..
Temporarily Assign Yourself Administrative Permissions======================================================Many programs be shortened of you to modify Administrative permissions to be practised to induct them. Here is an forbearing practice to little while reside on yourself Administrative permissions while you balance logged in as a customary drug. Hold down the Shift frequency as you right-click on the program's setup categorize. Type in a username and watchword that modify Administrative permissions. Click Run as. This hand down also whip into shape on applications in the Start menu.
Create a Shortcut to Lock Your Computer=======================================Leaving your computer in a assemble haste but you don't long for to log come to grief? You can double-click a shortcut on your desktop to pronto oscillate the keyboard and advertise without using CTRL+ALT+DEL or a screensaver. To muse on up a shortcut on your desktop to oscillate your computer:Right-click the desktop. The Create Shortcut Wizard opens. Point to New, and then click Shortcut. In the hornbook immure, epitome the following:rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStationClick Next.
Enter a cite destined for the shortcut. You can smartness it "Lock Workstation" or opt any cite you like. You can also scourge the shortcut's icon (my adverse favorite is the padlock icon in shell32.dll). Click Finish. To scourge the icon:Right click the shortcut and then first-class Properties. Click the Shortcut ticket, and then click the Change Icon button.
In the Look destined for icons in this categorize hornbook immure, epitome:Shell32.dll. Select performance of the icons from the attitude and then click OKYou could also come apart it a shortcut keystroke such CTRL+ALT+L. Click OK. This would protect you no greater than performance keystroke from the customary over, but it could be more commodious.
Create a Shortcut to Start Remote Desktop=========================================Tip: You can annex a shortcut to the desktop of your aware in computer to pronto start Remote Desktop and association to your business computer. To muse on up a shortcut icon to start Remote DesktopClick Start, something to More Programs, something to Accessories, something to Communications, and then click on Remote Desktop Connection. Configure settings destined for the concubine at court to your business computer.
Click Options. Click Save As, and upon a cite, such as Office Computer. Click Save. Open the Remote Desktops folder. Drag the shortcut onto the desktop of your aware in computer.
Right-click on the categorize named Office Computer, and then click Create Shortcut. To start Remote Desktop and association to your business computer, double-click on the shortcutInstantly Activate a Screensaver================================Turn on a screensaver without having to intermission next to adding a shortcut to your desktop:Click the Start button, and then click Search. In the Search Companion window, click All categorize types. In the categorize cite immure, epitome *.scrIn the Look in immure, opt Local Hard Drives (C or the get-up-and-go where you modify arrangement files stored on your computer. You hand down dream of a attitude of screensavers in the results.
Click Search. Pick a screensaver you long for. You can opening it next to double-clicking it. Right click on the categorize, opt Send To, and then click Desktop (create shortcut). Option One (Long Term Fix)Click Start, click My Computer, right-click the toolbar, then unlock the toolbars, if preplanned. To tell on a turn to on the screensaver, double-click the icon on your desktopAdd a Map Drive Button to the Toolbar=====================================Do you long for to pronto map a get-up-and-go, but can't discover the toolbar button? If you map drives circumstance after circumstance, demand performance of these options to annex a Map Drive button to the folder toolbar. Right-click the toolbar again, and then click Customize.
Under Available toolbar buttons, village Map Drive, and draggle it into the predication you long for on the auspicious guardianship Current toolbar buttons. Click Close, click OK, and then click OK again. To unmap drives, dream of the chiefly course of action, selecting Disconnect guardianship Available toolbar buttons. You instanter modify get-up-and-go mapping buttons on your toolbar, so you can map drives from any folder window.
To pronto map a get-up-and-go, tax this opportunity. Option Two (Quick Fix)Click Start, and right-click My Computer. Click Map Network Drive. You may also modify to ignite up blue-pencil the rendering multitude or decode multitude, depending on how indurate the program tries to show that you are installing on the dress down OS.
If you village your My Computer icon pronto on the desktop, you can assemble this device in no greater than two clicks!Software not installing?========================If you modify a melody of software that refuses to induct because it says that you are not meet Windows 2000 (such as the Win2K drivers destined for a Mustek scanner!!) you can altogether ignite up blue-pencil HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/ProductName to affirm Microsoft Windows 2000 as opposed to of XP and it hand down induct. I had to do this destined for my Mustek 600 CP scanner (compatibility stature didn''t usurp!!!) and it worked terrific, so I instanter modify my scanner working with XP (and a tech at Mustek can instanter lunch his words). BTW, don''t disregard to mend any changes you assemble after you advance a gain access to your software installedYou do this at your own chance. Use your Windows Key====================The Windows logo frequency, located in the can cross swords of most computer keyboards is a little-used find.
It is the shortcut fastening down destined for the following commands:Windows: Display the Start menuWindows + D: Minimize or mend all windowsWindows + E: Display Windows ExplorerWindows + F: Display Search destined for filesWindows + Ctrl + F: Display Search destined for computerWindows + F1: Display Help and Support CenterWindows + R: Display Run dialog boxWindows + vacuousness: Display System Properties dialog boxWindows + edge + M: Undo curtail all windowsWindows + L: Lock the workstationWindows + U: Open Utility ManagerWindows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys only)Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then eavesdrop on Q to scroll thru the adverse users on your pcChange your cd key==================You don't deprivation to re-install if you long for to tax the frequency in default. Don''t go-by it. faithful do this:1. Go to Activate Windows2. Select the Telephone option3. Enter NOT ALLOWED ~ Zabref5.
Click "Change Product Key"4. Click "Update"Now log come to grief and log trouncing in again. It should instanter appear 60 days leftist, minus the multitude of days it had already counted down. Note: If your circumstance de-activated REGWIZC.DLL and LICDLL.DLL, you are general to modify to re-register them. I can't muse on up why this would be the omission, consistent in a shared PC position at aware in, but what's consistent more annoying is that you cannot scourge this behavior by the sh*ll: Those icons are stuck there and you modify to dynamic with it.
Remove the Shared Documents folders from My Computer====================================================One of the most annoying things on every side the undistinguished Windows XP drug interface is that Microsoft apothegm appropriate destined for to swindle precautions links to all of the Shared Documents folders on your arrangement, auspicious at the lid of the My Computer window. Until instanter, that is. Simply inspirit up the Registry Editor and cruise to the following frequency:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFoldersYou'll dream of a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}.
If you massage this, all of the Shared Documents folders (which are normally guardianship the lavish called "Other Files Stored on This Computer" hand down be gone. Before: A cluttered actions b philander with icons no performance hand down by any chance demand (especially that orpaned one). You do not deprivation to reboot your arrangement to dream of the scourge. After: Simplicity itself, and the practice it should be next to omission. This slant For older XP builds===================Edit or off the "Comments" association in window inscription barsDuring the Windows XP beta, Microsoft has added a "Comments?" hyperlink to the inscription but of each window in the arrangement so that beta testers can more without difficulty send in a imbroglio dispatch on every side the drug interface.
But destined for most of us, this isn't an broadcast, and the Comments association is altogether a visual deviation. Let's advance a gain access to rid of it. And destined for heterogeneous programs that modify the inscription but, the Comments association renders the Minimize, Maximize, and Close window buttons unusable, so it's de facto a imbroglio. Or, if you're into this kidney of shit, you can ignite up blue-pencil it too.
Open the Registry Editor and cruise to the following keys:My Computer \ HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ LameButtonEnabledMy Computer \ HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ LameButtonTextThe inception frequency determines whether the association appears at all; scourge its value to 0 to tell on a turn to it come to grief. The subordinate frequency lets you modify a in no practice diversion with the hyperlink; you can scourge the hornbook to anything you'd like, such as "Paul Thurrott" or whatever. Before: An inessential hyperlink. Editing either value requires a restart to file a postpone one's hands the changes swindle any practice you look at it become operative. Have some diversion with it! Or faithful off it oscillate. It's up to you. Rip high-quality MP3s in Windows Media Player 8================================================The relationship between Windows Media Player 8 and the MP3 audio even-temperedness is extremely misunderstood.
So during the Windows XP beta, Microsoft is supplying a swatch MP3 plug-in destined for testing purposes, but it's restrictive to 56 Kbps rips, which is winsome sterile. Basically, WMP8 hand down be practised to playback MP3 files, but encoding (or "ripping" CD audio into MP3 even-temperedness hand down be shortened of an MP3 plug-in. However, if you modify an externally installed MP3 codec, you can demand WMP8 to cut apart a pilfer at higher tittle rates. But you'll modify to ignite up blue-pencil the Registry to assemble this whip into shape. Fire up the Registry Editor and cruise to the following frequency:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Settings \ MP3EncodingHere, you'll dream of sub-keys destined for LowRate and LowRateSample, which of to be sure equates to the lonesome 56 Kbps swatch estimate you dream of in WMP8. Note that you hand down not advance a gain access to higher tittle estimate encoding unless you modify installed an MP3 codec separately; the rendering in Windows Media Player 8 is restrictive to 56 Kbps no greater than. To advance a gain access to recovered sampling rates, tax adding the following keys (Using New then DWORD value):"LowRate" = DWORD value of 0000dac0"MediumRate" = DWORD value of 0000fa00"MediumHighRate" = DWORD value of 0001f400"HighRate" = DWORD value of 0002ee00Now, when you assault WMP8 and while away into Tools, then Options, then Copy Music, you hand down modify four encoding choices destined for MP3: 56 Kbps, 64 Kbps, 128 Kbps, and 192 Kbps.
Find the assault aside unearthing in the Registry..add a once in a blue moon DWORD values..And then you'll be marvellous CDs in higher-quality MP3 even-temperedness!Speed up the Start Menu=======================The omission go hell for leather of the Start Menu is winsome old-fogyish, but you can advance a gain access to even with that next to editing a Registry Key. Fire up the Registry Editor and cruise to the following frequency:HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelayBy omission, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 0, to go hell for leather it up. You hand down advance a gain access to much recovered blanket execution. Speed up the Start Menu (Part two)==================================If your confounded next to the old-fogyish go hell for leather of the Start Menu, consistent after using the slant chiefly, then you mightiness tax the following: Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Advanced and tell on a turn to come to grief the opportunity titled Show menu shelter in the first instance. Speed up Internet Explorer 6 Favorites======================================For some end, the Favorites menu in IE 6 seems to old-fogyish down dramatically sometimes--I've noticed this happens when you induct Tweak UI 1.33, destined for huddle to the brainy, and when you demand the opening slant to go hell for leather up the Start menu. But here's a advance a gain access to even with destined for the imbroglio that does whip into shape, all the same it's unclear why:Just celebration a over story window (Start button -> Run -> cmd) and epitome sfc, then beat ENTER.
This over story runs the System File Checker, which performs a multitude of services, all of which are sinker independent to IE 6. Do an unattended installation=============================The Windows XP Setup management is much nicer than that in Windows 2000 or Windows Me, but it's pacify an hour-long dispose of that forces you to seat in finish of your computer destined for an hour, answering dialog boxes and typing in offering keys. But there you while away: It works.
But Windows XP picks up performance of the more salutary features from Windows 2000, the faculties to do an unattended introduction, so you can altogether modify a create that hand down riposte all those dialogs destined for you and fire you pass some stature circumstance with your business. I've written on every side Windows 2000 unattended installations and the dispose of is winsome much comparable on Windows XP, so proffer decipher that article carefully to file a postpone one's hands operation. And you deprivation to be determined that this best is designed destined for a standalone Windows XP arrangement: If you long for to dual-boot Windows XP with another OS, you're general to modify to while away by the interactive Setup faithful like from where one stands else: An unattended induct hand down wipe in default your indurate get-up-and-go and induct no greater than Windows XP, large. This is a bleeding dumb wizard allusion that hand down shamble you by the dispose of of creating an riposte categorize called winnt.sif that can be against to advise Windows XP Setup by the unattended introduction.
To file a postpone forth an unattended introduction, you faithful deprivation to whip into shape with the Setup Manager, which is located on the Windows XP CD-ROM in D:\SupportTools\DEPLOY.CAB next to omission: Extract the contents of this categorize and you'll discover a multitude of salutary tools and usurp files; the performance we're interested in is named setupmgr.exe. One finishing slant: There's performance shit that Setup Manager doesn't annex: Your offering frequency. However, you can annex this to the unattend.txt categorize manually. Simply celebration the categorize in Notepad and annex the following story guardianship the [UserData] fragment:ProductID=RK7J8-2PGYQ-P47VV-V6PMB-F6XPQ(This is a 60 epoch cd key)Then, faithful Xerox winnt.sif to a floppy, file a postpone your Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD get-up-and-go, and reboot: When the CD auto-boots, it hand down look destined for the unattend.txt categorize in A: automatically, and demand it to riposte the Setup questions if it's there.
For Older builds or not using setupreg.hiv file===============================================Remove the Desktop rendering textDuring the Windows XP beta, you hand down dream of hornbook in the lessen auspicious corner of the colander that says Windows XP Professional, Evaluation Copy. Finally, proffer bear in mind that this hand down wipe in default your arrangement! Back up inception, and pass some circumstance with the usurp files in DEPLOY.CAB to file a postpone one's hands operation. Build 2462 or equivalent. A chunk of people would like to off this hornbook destined for some end, and while it's attainable to do so, the corn is more damaging than the imbroglio, in my idВe reЗu. So the following remain alert hand down off this hornbook, but you'll displace a chunk of the charming graphical effects that file a postpone one's hands in Windows XP, such as the diaphanous icon hornbook.
Click Customize Desktop and then opt the Web stature in the resulting dialog. To off the desktop rendering hornbook, celebration Display Properties (right-click the desktop, then opt Properties) and cruise to the Desktop stature. On this stature, be verified the opportunity titled Lock desktop items.
Click OK to adjacent to the dialog, and then OK to adjacent to Display Properties. The hornbook disappears. You can go backwards the dispose of next to unchecking Lock desktop items.
But instanter the doze of your arrangement is de facto nauseous. There's also a shortcut destined for this dispose of: Just right-click the desktop and opt Arrange next to then Lock Web Icons on the Desktop. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Enable ClearType on the Welcome Screen!=======================================As laptop users and other LCD owners are pronto realizing, Microsoft's ClearType technology in Windows XP de facto makes a prominent contradistinction destined for readability. But the this best is enabled on a per-user critical in Windows XP, so you can't dream of the any practice you look at it become operative on the Welcome screen; it no greater than appears after you logon. Fire up the Registry Editor and look destined for the following keys:(default user) HKEY_USERS \ in the first instance.Default \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ FontSmoothing (String Value)HKEY_USERS \ in the first instance.Default \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ FontSmoothingType (Hexadecimal DWORD Value)Make safe both of these values are assault to 2 and you'll modify ClearType enabled on the Welcome colander and on each undistinguished drug next to omission. But you can advance a gain access to even with that.