Windows System Tips

A Faster Way To Shut Down And Log Off Your Windows XP

2010-03-13T00:28:00.001-08:00

If you’re experiencing slow shutdowns and log offs on your Windows XP, this trick will help you.

Instead of accessing the shutdown menu via Start->Turn Off Computer, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

Press “Shut Down” at the top of the Task Manager and choose what you want your Windows XP to do.

How To Speed Up Your Windows XP By Disabling File Indexing

2010-03-13T00:27:00.003-08:00

File indexing is a Windows service that like many others, is totally useless – unless you do a lot of searching on your computer. As most users don’t, it’s a good idea to disable it to speed up actions like opening and closing files and folders on your Windows XP.
To disable the Indexing Service:
Go to “My Computer” and right click on your hard drive. At the bottom of the window that opens, you should see a check box titled “Allow Indexing Service to index the disk for fast file searching.” …

How To Bypass The Recycle Bin When Deleting Files

2010-03-13T00:27:00.001-08:00

If you are absolutely sure you want to delete a file, why send it to the Recycle Bin? Windows lets you bypass it really easily:

To delete a file or a group of files, select them with and when they are highlighted, press Shift+Delete. Press “Yes” in the confirmation box that opens and you’re done!

How Do I Install Net Meeting

2010-03-13T00:25:00.000-08:00

Wondering how to install Netmeeting on Windows XP? Well you don't have to install it! Why? It is already pre-installed with Windows XP, but (by design they say) it isn't linked to anywhere on your programs menu. Here is how to load it:

1: Click START then RUN
2: Enter "conf" without the quotes

That's it

Set up and Use Internet Connection Sharing

2009-12-31T05:04:00.001-08:00

With Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Windows XP, you can connect one computer to the Internet, then share the Internet service with several computers on your home or small office network. The Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Professional will automatically provide all of the network settings you need to share one Internet connection with all the computers in your network. Each computer can use programs such as Internet Explorer and Outlook Express as if they were directly connected to the Internet.
You should not use this feature in an existing network with Windows 2000 Server domain controllers, DNS servers, gateways, DHCP servers, or systems configured for static IP addresses.

Enabling ICS

The ICS host computer needs two network connections. The local area network connection, automatically created by installing a network adapter, connects to the computers on your home or small office network. The other connection, using a 56k modem, ISDN, DSL, or cable modem, connects the home or small office network to the Internet. You need to ensure that ICS is enabled on the connection that has the Internet connection. By doing this, the shared connection can connect your home or small office network to the Internet, and users outside your network are not at risk of receiving inappropriate addresses from your network.
When you enable ICS, the local area network connection to the home or small office network is given a new static IP address and configuration. Consequently, TCP/IP connections established between any home or small office computer and the ICS host computer at the time of enabling ICS are lost and need to be reestablished. For example, if Internet Explorer is connecting to a Web site when Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, refresh the browser to reestablish the connection. You must configure client machines on your home or small office network so TCP/IP on the local area connection obtains an IP address automatically. Home or small office network users must also configure Internet options for Internet Connection Sharing. To enable Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Discovery and Control on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, run the Network Setup Wizard from the CD or floppy disk on these computers. For ICS Discovery and Control to work on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later must be installed.

To enable Internet Connection Sharing on a network connection

You must be logged on to your computer with an owner account in order to complete this procedure.
Open Network Connections. (Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double–click Network Connections.)

Click the dial–up, local area network, PPPoE, or VPN connection you want to share, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.

On the Advanced tab, select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
If you want this connection to dial automatically when another computer on your home or small office network attempts to access external resources, select the Establish a dial–up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet check box.

If you want other network users to enable or disable the shared Internet connection, select the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection check box.

Under Internet Connection Sharing, in Home networking connection, select any adapter that connects the computer sharing its Internet connection to the other computers on your network. The Home networking connection is only present when two or more network adapters are installed on the computer.

To configure Internet options on your client computers for Internet Connection Sharing

Open Internet Explorer. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Internet Explorer.)

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

On the Connections tab, click Never dial a connection, and then click LAN Settings.

In Automatic configuration, clear the Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script check boxes.

In Proxy Server, clear the Use a proxy server check box.

How to Remove Windows XP's Messenger

2009-12-31T04:53:00.001-08:00

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.

How to Remove Windows XP's Messenger

2009-12-31T04:49:00.000-08:00

Adjust the size and spacing of your icons

2009-05-24T02:53:00.001-07:00

By default, icons are 32x32 pixels in size and occupy 43x43 pixel space. You can easily adjust these settings by right clicking on the Windows Desktop and selecting "Properties | Appearance" tab. Icon size can be changed by selecting "Icon" from the "Item" drop-down list and the icon spacing can be changed by selecting "Icon spacing (horizontal)" / "Icon spacing (vertical)" items.

How to bypass problematic CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files

2009-05-24T02:52:00.000-07:00

Are you having trouble booting your Windows 95 or DOS 5.x-6.x system after modifying CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT files. Of course, you could try to create a system boot disk and boot from it, but here's an easier way:

* Simply hold SHIFT key down while Windows or MS-DOS is bootig.

How to open your URLs without manually opening your browser

2009-05-24T02:50:00.000-07:00

1. Select "Start | Run"
2. Type your URL

Give your 16bit program its own space

2009-05-24T02:49:00.002-07:00

If one of your 16bit Windows programs is crashing often or if you suspect it is causing other 16bit Windows programs to stop responding, try giving it it's own memory space.
Select the shortcut of the 16bit Windows program in question and go to it's properties ("Right click | Properties"). Go to the "Shortcut" tab and make sure "Run in Separate Memory Space" is checked.

Speedup your 1X, 2X, and 3X CD-ROM

2009-05-24T02:49:00.001-07:00

Following steps could speedup your < 4X CD-ROM run as much as twice as fast:
1. Right click on "My Computer" and choose Properties
2. Select "Performance | File System | CD-ROM" and follow the instructions.

Speed-up the response of your Start Menu

2009-05-24T02:46:00.000-07:00

Feel like your Start Menu takes just too long to open pop-up (sub) menus? This could delay could add up if you have to travel through a few pop-up menus to get to your word processor every day. Here's how you can speed thing up a little:

Run Registry Editor (regedit.exe in Windows 95 and regedt32.exe in Windows NT).
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Modify "MenuShowDelay" parameter to contain something from 2 to 20. If you don't see the MenuShowDelay parameter, add it as a string item and set the value.

Direct DOS print outs to network printers

2007-06-21T00:10:00.000-07:00

If you want to print from a DOS program to a network printer, you have to bind the printer port used by the particular DOS program to the network printer path.
For example, let's say your DOS program prints to LPT1 (most DOS programs do) and your printer is on the network at the following network path:\\MY_SERVER\PRINTER
Go to the "DOS/Command Prompt"
Type the following command:
NET USE LPT1: \\MY_SERVER\PRINTER
and press ENTER.

Windows tips are just a double click away...

2007-06-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

As you know, Windows will show a tip at the startup with the heading "Did you know..." Maybe you've disable it to stop it from getting in the way of getting to your work when you turn on the computer. If you still find the tips it provide useful, here's how to make the "welcome window" show up only when you want to -- by double clicking.
Right click on the desktop or a folder
Select "New Shortcut"
Type "welcome.exe" without the quotes and press ENTER
Type "Windows Welcome Window" and press ENTER
Now you can just double click on the newly created icon/shortcut whenever you feel like reading a tip.

Too lazy to type the full directory name?

2007-06-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can avoid typing full directory names when changing directories from the Command Prompt?
Let's say you have a directory named MyNewYorkOfficeFilesFolder that you want to changed to. Instead of typing:

CD MyNewYorkOfficeFilesFolder
next time try:

CD myn*
If you have multiple directories starting with the letters "myn" then you'd have to use more characters before the *, until the name can be distinguished from the rest of the directory names in the current directory.
If you have multiple directories to change to such as:

MyNewYorkOfficeFilesFolder\AGroup\Outbox
you can use:

CD myn*\a*\o*

How to export the Outlook address book

2007-06-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to export your Outlook Address Book to another program? Outlook 97 and Outlook 98 doesn't come with a built-in method to export the address book, but if you have Outlook Express 4.x here's an indirect method:

Run Outlook Express 4.x (if you don't already have it, install Explorer 4.x full version)

Select "File Import Address Book..." from the main menu

Select "Microsoft Exchange Personal Address Book"

Click "Import" and click "Close" once the importing is completed

To export the address book:

Select "File Export Address Book..." from the main menu

Select "Text File (Comma Separated Values)"

Click "Export"

Type a file name in the "Save exported file as" input box.

For example type, "C:\MYADRBOK.CSV"

Click "Next"

Optionally select the fields you wish to export and click "Finish"

Click "Close" once the exporting is completed

You're now ready to import the newly exported Outlook address book (C:\MYADRBOK.CSV file for example) into the program you were trying to export to. CSV (comma separated values) text files are supported by almost all programs with the ability to import information from external programs. Refer to the documentation for further instructions.

Copying data from DOS / console mode program screens

2007-06-21T00:05:00.001-07:00

If you're still using DOS or console mode (also refereed to as character mode) programs that doesn't provide a way to export data, you maybe looking for a way to capture what's displayed on such programs. Try this:

Start a DOS box or a Command Prompt (DOS box) inside Windows.

"Start Programs Command Prompt / DOS"

Run the character mode program that you want to import data from, and go to the screen with the data you want to capture.

Right click the title bar of the DOS box

Select "Edit Mark"

Click and drag the mouse until you select the data area that you want to copy. Press ENTER when you've finished selecting.

Switch to the Windows program that you want to import the just copied data to, and select its paste function.

How to access mail of free yahoomail account through outlook express.

2007-02-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! Mail disabled free access to its POP3 service in April 2002. This resulted in many people (including myself) to look for alternative free POP3 services. But this exercise can be very difficult because of the fact that your Yahoo! Mail address could be with several people and informing all of them about your new email address could prove to be a nightmare.

Now in order to avoid this difficulty follow this tricks.

How to receive or send mail of your free email account of yahoo mail through outlook express?

1) Collect or download YPOPs from the following link:
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-3702.html
or
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2153.html
or
http://sourceforge.net/projects/yahoopops

2) Install YPOPS

(YahooPOPs! is an open-source initiative to provide free POP3 access to your Yahoo! Mail account.
This application emulates a POP3 server and enables popular email clients like Outlook, Netscape, Eudora, Mozilla, Calypso, etc., to download email from Yahoo! accounts.
This application acts like a gateway. It provides a POP3 server interface at one end to talk to email clients and an HTTP client (browser) interface at the other which allows it to talk to Yahoo! )

3) Now open outlook express 6 and follow the follow the following procedure.
a) File->Manage Identities ->New
b) Give a name of that identity and select ok, window asks do you want to switch that identity click yes.
c) Now Internet connection wizard open , provide a display name then click next.
d) In the email address field provide your yahoo mail address click next.
e) In the next screen select my incoming mail server is POP3 , set the value of incoming mail server and outgoing mail server 127.0.0.1 click next.
f) Type the account name (yahoo mail address) ,enter password ,select remember password click next, click finish.
g) Now go to Tools ->Accounts -> Mail -> Properties
h) Under general tab give the mail account name Say YPOPS
i) Select server tab check my servers requires authentication.
j) Select advanced tab, change servers time out to long -5 minutes.
k) Select leave a copy of message on the server.
l) Select remove from servers when deleted from servers item.
m) Under YPOPs configuration verify that smtp is enabled.
n) In order to verify whether smtm is enabled or not first see is there any icons of YPOPs in your system tray? If it is there right click upon it from the pop up menu select configure, explore Advanced preference by clicking on + sign beside it., select Network and verify whether smtp is enabled or not. If it is not enable it click ok.

4) Now you are ready to send or receive your yahoo mail using outlook express. Before sending or receiving only one thing should be checked whether YPOPs is in your system tray or not. If it is not there open YPOPs first immediately it comes to your system tray and you can send or receive yahoo mail without difficulties.

Windows Tips and Tricks by Pravin Sharma Part 3

2007-02-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

Tip 1: Changing the Picture Displayed for a User
You can change the picture that gets displayed for a particular user:
1. Go to the Control Panel.
2. Select User Accounts.
3. Click on the Account to change.
4. Click on Change my picture.
5. You can then browse to the picture you want to use.
Tip 2: Displaying the QuickLaunch Toolbar
By default, WindowsXP does not show the QuickLaunch toolbar.
To enable it again:
1. Right click on an open area of the toolbar.
2. Select Toolbars.
3. Select Quick Launch.
4. Now you can add programs like withWin98
Tip 3: Common Command Console Utilities :
WindowsXP comes with quite a few console utilities you can easily run from the command line:
• Computer Management - compmgmt.msc
• Disk Managment - diskmgmt.msc
• Device Manager - devmgmt.msc
• Disk Defrag - dfrg.msc
• Event Viewer - eventvwr.msc
• Shared Folders - fsmgmt.msc
• Group Policies - gpedit.msc
• Local Users and Groups - lusrmgr.msc
• PerformanceMonitor - perfmon.msc
• Resultant Set of Policies - rsop.msc
• Local Security Settings - secpol.msc
• Services - services.msc
• Component Services - comexp.msc
Tip 4: Changing the Internet Explorer Title :
1. Start Regedit.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Int ernet Explorer\Main\Window Title
3. Enter what you want appear in the title bar.
Tip 5: Adding / Removing Additional Programs
By default, WindowsXP does not display all the programs you can add or remove.
To show this list:
Edit the \Windows\Inf\sysoc.inf file
In the Components section, simply remove the word hide.
This will leave two commas together (like on the rest of the items).
Then you can go to the Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs / Add/Remove Windows Components and the
new items will be displayed.
[Components]
NtComponents=ntoc.dll,NtOcSetupProc,,4
WBEM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wbemoc.inf,hide,7
Display=desk.cpl,DisplayOcSetupProc,,7
Fax=fxsocm.dll,FaxOcmSetupProc,fxsocm.in f,,7
NetOC=netoc.dll,NetOcSetupProc,netoc.inf ,,7
iis=iis.dll,OcEntry,iis.inf,,7
com=comsetup.dll,OcEntry,comnt5.inf,hide ,7
dtc=msdtcstp.dll,OcEntry,dtcnt5.inf,hide ,7
IndexSrv_System = setupqry.dll,IndexSrv,setupqry.inf,,7
TerminalServer=TsOc.dll, HydraOc, TsOc.inf,hide,2
msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,,6
ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7
fp_extensions=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Exte nsions,fp40ext.inf,,7
AutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,au.inf,hide ,7
msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hi de,7
msnexplr=ocmsn.dll,OcEntry,msnmsn.inf,,7
smarttgs=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,msnsl.inf,,7
RootAutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,rootau. inf,,7
Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,,7
AccessUtil=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.in f,,7
CommApps=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,communic.inf, HIDE,7
MultiM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,multimed.inf,HI DE,7
AccessOpt=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,optional.inf ,HIDE,7
Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,HI DE,7
MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf, HIDE,7
ZoneGames=zoneoc.dll,ZoneSetupProc,igame s.inf,,7

Tip 6: Speeding Up Network Browsing:
There are a lot of things which can negatively impact how fast XP will browse network shares.
One has been previously covered regarding browsing to Win9x computers.
Other things you can try, especially when there is slow browsing to network shares with a lot of files:
1. Remove current shortcuts in My Network Places.
2. Change the registry so shared folders on remote computers are not automatically added to My Network Places
when you even open a document from that shared folder
3. Start Regedit
4. Create a DWORD value:
5. HKEY_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer NoRecentDocsNetHood to 1.
6. I have also seen setting the following help as well.
HKEY_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer UseDesktopIniCache to 1.
7. Increase the amount of data is buffered at one time to send to a client. On the computer with the shared
directory:
1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControl Set\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
3. Create a DWORD Key called SizReqBuf
4. Give it a value of Hex FFFF
Tip 7: Viewing Your IP Address Information
There are several ways you can determine your IP address information:
IPCONFIG
1. Start / Run / cmd
2. IPCONFIG /ALL
This opens a command window. One advantage is that you can send the information to a text file (IPCONFIG /
ALL > c:\ip.txt)
But sometimes the window shows show much information you need to scroll around to fine it.

Windows Tips and Tricks by Pravin Sharma Part 1

2007-02-20T21:13:00.001-08:00

Tip 1: Controlling the Desktop Cleanup Wizard
By default in Windows XP, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard will pop up every 60 days to cleanup your desktop.
To stop this:
1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click on the Desktop tab.
4. Click on the Customize Desktop button.
5. Uncheck Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard.
Tip 2: Getting Rid of Unread Email Messages.
To remove the Unread Email message by user's login names:
1. Start Regedit.
2. For a single user: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Win dows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
3. For all users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wi ndows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
4. Create a DWORD key called MessageExpiryDays
5. Give it a value of 0
Tip 3: Renaming Multiple Files in a Directory:
1. Using the Windows Explorer, select all the files you want to rename.
2. Press F2 or right click and select Rename.
3. Enter the prefix for the name you want (e.g. Newname).
4. This will automatically rename the rest of the files Newname (1).jpg, Newname (2).jpg etc.
5. Make sure you include the extension if you have the Explorer configured to show them.
Tip 4: One way to run a chkdsk (this is like Scandisk that was withWin9X), is to
1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Right click on the drive you want to check.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click on the Tools tab.
5. Click on the Check Now button.
6. Check to Automatically fix file system errors - This is the same as running chkdsk /f.
7. If you want to Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, check that box - This is the same as running
chkdsk /R. It can also add a lot of time to the scan.
8. Reboot if necessary
You can also run chkdsk from the command line with will give you more options.
The following switches are available:
/F - fix any errors
/R - identifies bad sectors
/V - with FAT32, displays a verbose output
With NTFS Volumes:
/I - Performs simpler check (stage 2)
/C - Skips the checking of cycles within folder structures
Tip 4: Creating a Shutdown/Reboot Icon
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:
1. Right click on an open area of the desktop.
2. Select New / Shortcut.
3. Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - no quotes
4. Press the Next button.
5. For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click on 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]x: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 marksWindowsXP 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:
1. Right click on an open area of the desktop.
2. Select New / Shortcut.
3. Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - no quotes.
4. Press the Next button.
5. For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click on 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]x: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.
Tip 5: Using the System File Checker
You can run the System File Checker to verify protected system files.
Command line switches are:
sfc [/scannow] [/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/revert] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]
/scannow - Scans all protected system files immediately.
/scanonce - Scans all protected system files once.
/scanboot - Scans all protected system files every time the computer is restarted.
/revert - Returns the scan to its default operation.
/purgecache - Purges the Windows File Protection file cache and scans all protected system files
immediately.
/cachesize=x - Sets the size, inMB, of the Windows File Protection file cache.

Windows Tips and Tricks by Pravin Sharma Part 2

2007-02-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

Tip 1:
Stop Password Expiration message of windows xp
After you have run Windows XP for a while, you may receive this message when you log on: "Your password will expire in 14 days.."
By default, Windows XP is set up with passwords which will expire after 42 days. 14 days in advance, Windows will start warning you of this fact. If you do not want your passwords to expire:
Go to Start > Run and in the Open: box type control userpasswords2
Select the Advanced tab in the User Accounts window
Press the Advanced button below the Advanced user management header
Select Users in the Local Users and Groups.
In the right pane, right-click the user name for which you want to change the setting, and select Properties.
On the General tab, check Password never expires
Click Apply and OK, exit!
or
you can follow the following procedure:
1) Right click on My Computer and select Manage
2) Expand Local Users and Groups and click on Users
3) Right click upon the user name for which you want to change the setting, and select Properties.
4) On the General tab, check Password never expires
Click Apply and OK, exit!
Tip 2: Add Safe Mode to the Boot Menu Tip:
If you find that you frequently need to boot to Safe Mode, you can actually add it right to the Boot Menu, so you don't need to hit F8 to get to the hidden menu. Here is how to add it:
1. Right-click My Computer, and choose Properties (or press Windows Key & Break together).
2. On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button, which brings up the Startup and Recovery window.
3. Click the Edit button, which will open the boot.ini file in Notepad. Look under the [Operating Systems] for your default OS. Copy the entire line, and paste it on the line below.
4. Change the description in the quotations to say "Safe Mode" or whatever description you want. Then add the following to the end of the line you just copied:
/safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog
If you want networking support, then change "minimal" to "network" without the quotes. You may want to make a copy of the c:\boot.ini file (which is hidden and read only) before you begin this process.
or
1) Open a command prompt
2) Copy the current c:\boot.ini to another name (just in case)
3) With your favorite text editor, edit c:\boot.ini
4) Copy then edit the current boot line to another line. For example:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WIND OWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
might copy and then change to:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WIND OWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Safeboot" /fastdetect
5) Start MSCONFIG
6) Click on the BOOT.INI tab
7) Highlight the second line with the additional name of Safeboot
8.) Check the /SAFEBOOT box with option you want
Minimal - Minimal set of drivers
Network - With Network Support
Dsrepair - Directory Services Repair
Minimal (Alternate Shell) - Standard Explorer Desktop
9) You will now have this option every time you start XP
Tip 3: How to remove solid background behind desktop icon
1. Right click upon my computer select properties, click on Advanced tab,under Performance section choose settings,select Visual Effects tab,choose custom radio button,select use drop shadows for icon label on the desktop,click Apply and then ok, exit.
2. Right click the Desktop and select Arrange Icons by and make sure that "Lock Web items on desktop" is NOT checked.
3. Make sure that there is no live web content on the desktop. Right click the desktop and select Properties / Desktop Tab / Customize Desktop Button / Web Tab. Make sure that all checkboxes are cleared.
4. If you are using a desktop wallpaper, make sure that it is an image file (.jpg, .bmp, etc) and not an HTML (.htm) file.
Tip 4: Identify Faulty Device Drivers
If you are having problems with lockups, blue screens, or can only get to safe mode,
often the problem is due to a faulty device driver.
One way to help identify them is through the use of the Verfier program.
1. Start / Run / Verifier.
2. Keep the default of Create Standard Settings.
3. Select the type of drivers you want to confirm.
4. A list of drivers to be verified on the next boot will be shown.
5. Reboot.
6. If your computer stops with a blue screen, you should get an error message with the problem driver.
7. To turn off the Verifier, run verifier /reset.
Tip 5: Removing Thumbs.db Files
When viewing a folder with the Thumbnail view, WindowsXP creates a thumbs.db file.
This is a cache of the current pictures in that directory.
If you want to turn this feature off and save a little disk space
1. Start the Windows Explorer.
2. Go to Tools / Folder Options / View.
3. In the first section under Files and Folders, check Do not cache thumbnails.
4. Now you can search for the thumbs.db file on your computer and remove them. No more should be created.

To lock a folder ::: Simplest WaY !!!

2006-11-26T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hi friends try this..

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 whn u double click key the control panel will change to normal folder..

Try this out .....

ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!

Dynamically changing TCP/IP DNS addresses

2006-11-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

If you connect to the Internet, a Domain Name Server (DNS) is generally required to convert English Internet addresses to their natural numeric IP addresses -- to convert www.chami.com to 1.2.3.4 for example.

If you have a need to dynamically change your DNS servers from your program, you can do so by calling the the following "SetTCPIPDNSAddresses()" function with a list of DNS IP addresses separated by a single space.

Listing #1 : Delphi code.
uses Registry;

procedure
SaveStringToRegistry_LOCAL_MACHINE(
sKey, sItem, sVal : string );
var
reg : TRegIniFile;
begin
reg := TRegIniFile.Create( '' );
reg.RootKey := HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE;
reg.WriteString(
sKey, sItem, sVal + #0 );
reg.Free;
end;

Listing #2 : Delphi code.
procedure
SetTCPIPDNSAddresses(
sIPs : string );
begin
//
// if using Windows NT
//
SaveStringToRegistry_LOCAL_MACHINE(
'SYSTEMCurrentControlSet' +
'ServicesTcpipParameters',
'NameServer',
sIPs );

//
// if using Windows 95
//
SaveStringToRegistry_LOCAL_MACHINE(
'SYSTEMCurrentControlSet' +
'ServicesVxDMSTCP',
'NameServer',
sIPs );
end;

For example, if you want to set two DNS server addresses -- 1.2.3.4 and 5.6.7.8 here's how your function call would look like:

Listing #3 : Delphi code.
SetTCPIPDNSAddresses(
'1.2.3.4 5.6.7.8' );

Writing your first BATch file

2006-11-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

Generally speaking, batch files (files with the BAT extension such as AUTOEXEC.BAT) are text files that can contain a list of multiple commands to be executed. For example, you could write a BAT file to copy multiple files or change the directory or anything you can do using the "Command/DOS Prompt" commands.
It's very easy to create BAT files:

Go to the "DOS Prompt" or "Command Prompt"
Type following commands in red line by line (press ENTER after each line):

COPY CON MYBAT.BAT

ECHO Hello, world! This is my test BAT file!

CD C:\WORK\9TO5\FOLDERA
DIR C:\WORK\9TO5\FOLDERA

^Z

Please note that "^Z" is a single character produced by pressing CTRL+Z

Run newly created BAT file by typing "MYBAT" and pressing ENTER.
In the above code, we're first saying "hello" to the world, changing the current directory to "C:\WORK\9TO5\FOLDERA" (example directory - you may type in your mostly visited directory here), and finally getting the directory of "C:\WORK\9TO5\FOLDERA"

Although we used the command line to create "MYBAT.BAT" itself, you can create your future BAT files using any text editor. You can then experiment with different commands in your new BAT file.