; context_defrag.INF
; Adds Defrag to the right click context menu in Windows XP
[version]
signature="$"
[DefaultInstall]
AddReg=AddMe
[AddMe]
HKCR,"Drive\Shell\Defrag\command",,,"DEFRAG.EXE %1"
Then, right-click and choose Install. This will add a context menu to XP that allows you to automatically defrag drives using the command line version of the built-in defragmentation utility. To use it, navigate to a drive in My Computer, right-click, and choose Defrag. A command line window will appear, and that drive will be defragged. When it's copmlete, the windows just disappears.
To remove this functionality, Open regedit.exe and navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\
Then delete the Defrag folder and close Regedit.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
You'll see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this, all of the Shared Documents folders (which are normally under the group called "Other Files Stored on This Computer") will be gone.
You do not need to reboot your system to see the change.
gpedit.msc
Then Press Enter. Now you will see GPEDIT which allows you to edit certain features of Windows XP.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\MenuShowDelay
By Default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 1, to speed it up.
If this doesn't work, then try the following:
Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Effects and turn off the option titled Show menu shadow. You will get a much better overall performance.
Note: Do not set the value to 0 or your start menu will not function properly.
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\FontSmoothing (String Value)
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\FontSmoothingType (Hexadecimal DWORD Value)
Make sure both of these values are set to 2 and you'll have ClearType enabled on the Welcome Screen and on each new user by default.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Run\MSMSGS
After doing so, Windows Messenger will no longer start when you logon. However, if you run any program that requests the use of Windows Messenger (such as Outlook Express), the registry key will be re-created, and Windows Messenger will load on Startup again. For this reason, I recommend you look at How to Completely Remove Windows Messenger
1. Open Control Panel
2. Click on Performance and Maintenance
3. Click on System
4. Then click on the Advanced tab
5. Click on the error reporting button at the bottom of the window.
6. Select Disable error reporting.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs
Edit the appropriate keys to link to the relevant file that you have created.
To add EFS options to the shortcut menu
1. In the Run dialog box, type regedit.
2. Navigate to the subkey
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Enter EncryptionContextMenu for the value name, and 1 for the Value Data.
You may need to have Administrative Rights to edit the Registry.
1) Open Help and Support and type logon hours in the search box.
2) Go to Full text matches and click on Net user. See the examples for settings a user's logon hours.
Some examples would be:
net user johnsw /time:M-F,08:00-17:00
net user johnsw /time:M-F,8am-5pm
net user marysl /time:M,4am-5pm;T,1pm-3pm;W-F,8:00-17:00
net user johnsw /time:all (This means that the user can always log on)
3) Open a Command Prompt window.
4) Enter the appropriate net user command for the user(s) you wish to restrict access for.
Click Change the way a user logs on or off and deselect Use the Welcome Screen. Note: All other users must be logged off to do this.
Now, whenever a user is logged on you can simply press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and Select Lock Computer.
1. Right-Click and open area of your desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2. In the location box, type
%windir%\System32 undll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
3. Click Next, in the Name box type a name for the shortcut such as Lock Computer, and then click Finish.
NOTE: You must be using the "Domain Style" Logon type to be able to lock your computer.
See Lock a Computer to find out how to do this.
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit and the click OK.
2. In the Registry Editor, drill down to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Right-click LegalNoticeCaption, click Modify, type something like My Windows XP Machine, and then click OK.
4. Right-Click LegalNoticeText, click Modify, and then type your logon message.
5. Close the editor and your new message will appear at every logon.
This tip applies to computers that are part of a domain or that use the "Domain Style" logon type. For Standalone, peer-to-peer networks or Workgroups the custom screen appears just before the Welcome screen.
1. Click Start, click Run, and type control userpasswords2.
2. Clear the Users must enter a username and password to use this computer check box.
3. Click Apply.
4. Enter the username and password you wish to automatically log on with, and then click OK.
5. Click OK again and you're all done.
To convert a volume to NTFS do the following:
1. Open Command Prompt (Start, Run, cmd)
2. In the command prompt window type
convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs
For example, typing convert D: /fs:ntfs would convert Drive D to NTFS.
You may need to choose to perform the conversion next time the computer starts if the volume is currently in use.
NOTE: Partitioning your hard drive will result in loss of all data on your hard drive!
If you already have two hard drives or have a partitioned hard drive skip the next step.
To Partition a Hard Drive:
1. Insert a Windows 98 Boot Disk in your computer and Restart it.
2. When Prompted, Choose to boot without CD-ROM Support.
3. When Command prompt starts, type fdisk.
4. When prompted, choose Y to enable Large Hard-Disk Support.
5. Select the Option to delete any current partitions.
6. When all Current Partitions have been deleted, Choose the Option to Create a new Partition.
7. Select A Primary Partition and when prompted choose NOT to use the maximum file size available.
8. Choose a suitable size for this partition (This will be Your Partition for the earlier operating system).
9. When the primary partition has been created, you will automatically be prompted to create a Secondary Partition.
10. By Default, the default file size for this partition will be the maximum available. Choose this option.
11. When you have created the Secondary Partition you will be prompted to create a logical drive, do NOT do this!
12. Return to the main menu and activate the second partition, then create a logical drive on the secondary/extended partition.
13. After doing this, you will need to reset the system. LEAVE THE BOOT DISK IN THE DRIVE!
14. Choose NO CD-ROM Support and when you are presented with Command Prompt type format C: /v:DISK1.
15. When this drive has been formatted, you can format the next partition. Format Drive D by typing format D: /v:DISK2.
16. When you have finished formatting the two partitions, they are ready for use. Install the earlier version of windows on drive C.
NOTE: YOU MUST INSTALL THE EARLIER VERSION OF WINDOWS ON DRIVE C ONLY!
Now you are ready to install XP.
- Insert the Windows XP Setup CD when you are in Windows 98 and choose New Installation.
- Enter The Product Key and then Click on Advanced options and Check I want to choose the drive letter and partition during Setup.
- Now you can install Windows XP - Half Way through setup you will be prompted to choose a partition to install XP on. Make Sure you choose the one without an operating system currently installed on.
Wasn't that quick and easy?
1. Start the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
2. Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options
3. Scroll down to Interactive logon: Do not display last user name
4. Set it to Enable
1. Open My Computer, Click on Tools, Then Folder Options.
2. Click on the View tab, Then Select Show Hidden Files and Folders and uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.
3. Open C:\boot.ini
4. Create a new line Under the line that looks something like
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
and copy and paste in the blank line below so that it looks something like
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional SafeBoot" /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal.
5. Save and Exit. If you get problems saving, go to the file, right-click it and click properties and uncheck Read-Only.
Simply find the Key SFCDisable in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon and edit it the value to FFFFFF9D.
Note: If you want to re-enable File Protection, just re-set the value to 0.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Advanced
Then create a DWORD value, call it EnableBalloonTips, leave the value set to 0.
Note: You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList\Administrator
and give it the value 1.
To Remove the Administrator from the Welcome Screen, just delete the value.
Note : If Administrator does not appear in the UserList Key, just add "Administrator" as a DWORD Value.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\AutoChkTimeOut
You can change the value to anything from zero to 259,200 seconds (3 days). With a timeout of zero, there is no countdown and you cannot cancel the operation.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\AutoRun
and change the Value to the File Location of the Batch file you wish CMD to run.
Note: If the Autorun Value Doesn't exist Just Create it as a String Value.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Explorer\Advanced\TaskbarGroupSize
Change the Value to one of the following options depending on which one suits you best:
- Group app with "oldest" window first (default) - 0
- Group app with most windows open first - 1
- Group any app with at least two windows open - 2
- Group any app with at least three windows open - 3
- Group any app with at least four windows open - 4
The first and second option tells Windows only to use grouping when the space in your taskbar is getting short. This means, while there there is enough space in your taskbar to display all Windows no grouping will be done. Option three to five tell Windows to ALWAYS use grouping, regardless if there is enough space to display all windows.
msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
Remove the word "hide" from the line and save the file. You will now have an entry in add/remove programs.
Now you can go to Add/Remove programs and remove Windows Messenger.
OR (XP Pro Only) leave it installed, but tell Windows to never let it run. If you're running XP Professional, you can use GPEDIT.MSC to prevent Messenger from loading. Otherwise, even disabling it in startup won't cause it to "always" not run.
- Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Messenger
- You can now modify whether it starts initially and/or whether it's to run at all.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
change the value of the string "Window Title" to whatever you want on the title bar of Internet Explorer - to have no title except the title of the web pages you are browsing do not enter anything for a value.
1. Go to Start > Run and in the Open: box type control userpasswords2
2. Select the Advanced tab in the User Accounts window
3. Press the Advanced button below the Advanced user management header
4. Select Users in the Local Users and Groups
5. In the right pane, right-click the user name for which you want to change the setting, and select Properties
6. On the General tab, check Password never expires
7. Click Apply and OK (all the way out)
- Click Start
- Click Control Panel
- Click User Accounts
- Click on the account which you want to create a password disk
- Click Prevent a forgotten password which starts the Forgotten Password Wizard. This is found under Related Tasks
- Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and click Next
- Enter the password in the Current user account password box
To use the recovery disk, at the Welcome screen:
- Click the user name whose password is on the recovery disk
- Click the question mark button
- This causes the "Did you forget your password" message to appear.
- Click use your password reset disk
- This will start the Password Reset Wizard.
From this point, just follow the wizard's instructions and you will be able to set a new password. It is different if you are part of a domain.
Windows XP Home Edition startup disks will not work for Windows XP Professional installations and vice-versa.
Windows XP Professional floppy boot disk here and Windows XP home edition floppy boot disk here.
Current user only:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer
All users:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer
Add a new DWORD value called ThumbnailSize and give it a hexidecimal value that is between 32 and 256, inclusive (that is, the lowest possible value is 32 and the highest is 256): A value of 32 will give you the smallest possible thumbnails, and 256 will give you the biggest. Experiment a bit to find your sweet spot.
- Enter msconfig (Start, Run, msconfig)
- Select the "BOOT.INI" tab
- Click On the line that looks like multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(0)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
Which should be highlighted by default, and check the "NOGUIBOOT" box.
If you need to go back, or have trouble, you can simply remove the new switch from your boot.ini file.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lnkfile\
Then Delete the IsShortcut value from this Key.
Note: Deactivating the Shortcut arrow will also disable any shortcut key defined for your shortcuts!
You may need to Restart your Computer before the Changes will take effect.
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32
Then Copy and Paste the BMP into this folder and it will then be displayed as your OEM logo.
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Change the value SCRNSAVE.EXE to the path of the Screen Saver that you wish to use on the Welcome Screen.
You can also change how long it takes for the Screen Saver to Display. Just edit the Value ScreeenSaveTimeOut to the number of Seconds you wish for the Screen Saver to take to display. Also, Make sure that the value ScreenSaveActive is set to 1.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
Then, add a String value (Right-click, New, String Value) and call it BackBitmapIE5
change the value of this string to the path of the BMP you wish to be displayed as the toolbar background and it should then display when you open Internet Explorer.
NOTE: If Internet Explorer is open, you will need to re-open it to see the changes.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer
Create a DWORD value called NoDrives. Next, you will need to find out what value you need to put in this registry key so that it corresponds to the drive that you wish to hide. To find out what key you will need to add Click Here. When you have found out what value you need to add to this key, enter it. After you log off and back on again, that drive should no longer appear in Explorer.
You can also Download the JC-XP Drive Hider Which will automate this process for you.
Click Here to Download the Program
Once you've read through the intro screen (or let the Narrator do it), click OK and you'll see a dialog box of Narrator options. Assuming you want to leave Narrator running, select the desired options, then minimize its dialog box. And if you've opened the Utility Manager, feel free to close it. To turn Narrator off, click the Exit button or right-click its taskbar item and select Close.
- Goto Control Panel, then goto Power Options.
- Click on the APM Tab, then check the "Enable Advanced Power Management support."
- Shut down your PC.
Your PC should now successfully complete the Shut Down process.
To Modify the items in this list:
- Go to Start, Run
- Type %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
- You are now in the SendTo Menu, delete Items, or Add Shortucts to locations that you want to appear in the Send To Menu.
With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Click Start and select Run.
Type the following where D: is the CD-ROM drive letter:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
Follow the instructions on the screen.
NOTE: To run the Recovery Console, restart your computer and select the Recovery Console option from the list of available operating systems.