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Windows XP Tweeks, Tips and Troubleshooting | PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3

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  • How do I disable Windows® XP Error Reporting?
  • My Windows XP System keeps restarting
  • How do I format my hard drive under WinXP?
  • I got an error that NTLDR is not found during bootup
  • Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG
  • How do I delete an "undeletable" file?
  • How Do I Do a Repair Installation
  • Windows® XP - Search Problems
  • Changing Drive Letters in Windows XP?
  • Outlook Express keeps prompting for your password
  • Multibooting with Windows XP
  • Where did my Desktop Icons go?
  • Disable Windows Messenger in Windows® XP Pro
  • CLEAN UP START UP ITEMS USING MSCONFIG
  • HOW TO AUTO DELETE TEMPORARY FOLDER
  • Changing Title on Windows Media Player
  • Outlook Express - Title Tweaks
  • WINDOWS XP HOME ADVANCED FILE PERMISSIONS
  • DISCOVER HIDDEN WINDOWS XP ICONS
  • TWEEKING MOUSE POINTERS
  • ADMINISTRATOR IN WELCOME SCREEN
  • REMOVE PAST ITEMS ICONS IN TASKBAR.
  • DISABLE WINDOWS PICTURE AND FAX VIEWER
  • FIX IEXPLORER 6 SLOW PAGES LOADED.
  • ALLOW MORE THAN 2 SIMULTANEOUS DOWNLOADS ON IEXPLORER 6.

  • Lot More  here..



    How do I disable Windows® XP Error Reporting?
    When a program abnormally terminates, Windows XP offers to send an error report to Microsoft.
    You can control this behavior via the registry:
  • 1.Use the Registry Editor to Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\ErrorReporting.
  • 2.Edit the DoReport Value Name, a REG_DWORD data type, and set the data value to 0 to disable sending. A data value of 1, the default, enables sending.
    My Windows XP System keeps restarting

    Problem:
    Every time I get on line I get an error message that states "This system is going to shut down, save all information. This shut down was initiated by NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM ......windows must restart because the remote procedure call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly." What does this mean and how can it be fixed?

    Solution:
    You have the MSBlaster worm. To remove it, perform the following tasks: The following instructions are in three parts:

  • 1. Stop it from running
  • 2. Remove it from your system
  • 3. Make sure it doesn't come back
    Before beginning, if you have an always-on internet connection, it's a good idea to disconnect it.
  • 1. Stop it from running:
    Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to bring up the Task Manager, then on the Processes tab, click msblast.exe and then "End process." Reply "Yes" to the warning message that comes up. This stops the worm from running, so your system will not shut down. However, it doesn't remove it, and if that's all you do, it will start up again the next time you boot.
  • 2. Remove it from your system:
  • A. Start the registry editor program, regedit, by going to Start>> Run, and type: REGEDIT [Enter] Navigate to HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run by clicking the plus signs next to each of the folders in the left hand pane. When you get to the last of them, Run, click the word Run itself. In the right pane of the resulting window, find an entry called "Windows Auto Update". Right-click it and delete it.
  • B. Go to Start> Search. Search in all files and folders for msblast, delete all files found. You should have successfully removed the worm from your system. If you do not take necessary steps to prevent future infections, it could come back just as easily as it did the first time.
  • 3. Make sure it doesn't come back:
  • A. Make sure you're running a firewall that prevents worms like this from getting in. You can enable the built-in Windows XP firewall, or download and install another one such as the free version of ZoneAlarm. To enable the built-in firewall, go to Control Panel, double-click Networking and Internet Connections, then click Network Connections. Right-click your connection, then click Properties, and on the Advanced tab, click the option "Protect my computer and network..."
  • B. If you've disconnected your internet connection, reconnect it. Download and install the Microsoft patch at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e70a0d8b-fe98-493f-ad76-bf673a38b4cf&displaylang=en
    That will remove the vulnerability that the worm exploits.
  • C. Be sure to use a good anti-virus program and that you update the definitions on a regular basis.

    How do I format my hard drive under WinXP?
    There are several ways to format in XP:

    1 During install
    2. Using Diskmanagement under administrative tools
    3. Using the recovery console
    4. Using start run cmd then the format command.
    5. Right click on the drive in explorer and select format.
    6. Using a Win98 boot disk

    Note: WinXP will not let you mess with the boot partition or system partition since both contain items required to boot and run winXP. Thus, you should use the install process to format system and boot drive.

    Here is the easiest way to perform a "Clean Install" of XP:

    Using Windows XP CD:
    Insert your XP CD in the drive while running your current installation of XP.
    You will be given some options here. You can select:
    Clean Install
    New Installation
    Advanced
    ...and others I believe. But since this tutorial teaches a Clean Installation of XP, select "Clean Install".

    Put a checkmark in the box to "designate where you want to install XP" (or some such dialog). Typically, you will choose to install XP on your C: drive.
    Next, you will need to select the file system you wish to use. I recommend selecting NTFS as it is more sucure than the FAT32 system.
    Setup will then format the partition you chose and then you can install XP clean on that partition. Be sure that if you have more than one partition, you select the correct one.
    Install your Windows XP Operating System.
    Using Windows 98 Boot Disk:

    Get yourself a Windows 98 boot-diskette with fdisk. Delete all partitions and THEN boot from the CD. If XP's setup finds formatted partitions, it proceeds without user intervention. If it doesn't find any, setup will prompt you for partitioning and formatting.

    Using Floppy Drive:

    If you are not able to boot from your CD-ROM, try changing the boot order in your BIOS so that your CD-ROM boots first. If you happen to have a machine that doesn't offer a bootable CD-ROM, you can create the 6 boot discs (below) to allow booting from your Floppy drive.

    Windows XP Professional Utility: Setup Disks for floppy boot install
    (requires 6 floppies)
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291

    Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for floppy boot install
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33290

    I got an error that NTLDR is not found during bootup

    If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a Win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root of the C:\ drive.

    For NTFS:
  • Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
  • At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
  • Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
  • Typically this will be #1
  • Enter in the administrator password when requested
  • Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that is assigned to the CD ROM drive.
  • COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\:
  • COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\
  • Take out the CD ROM and type exit
    Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG

    If you get the error:
    Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

    Follow these eight steps:
  • 1.Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
  • 2.At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
  • 3.Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
  • Typically this will be #1
  • 4.Enter in the administrator password when requested
  • 5.cd \windows\system32\config
  • 6.Depending on which section was corrupted: ren software software.bad or ren system system.bad
  • 7.Depending on which section was corrupted 
    copy \windows\repair\system
copy \windows\repair\software
  • 8.Take out the CD ROM and type exit
    How Do I Do a Repair Installation
  • Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. For more information about how to do this, please refer to your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
  • Insert your Windows XP compact disc (CD) into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
  • (You can also boot with a Windows 98/Me Startup disk with CD support and run WINNT.EXE in the I386 folder on the CD)
  • When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
  • >When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER:
  • To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
  • At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is displayed. Do not select this option.
  • On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
  • Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press the R key to repair Windows XP.
    How do I delete an "undeletable" file?

    Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs. Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other undeletable file) is located in. At the command prompt type DEL where is the file you wish to delete. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.

    Windows® XP - Search Problems

    Windows XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all. The cause is the lack of a PersistentHandler value in the Registry for this type of file.

    You can correct this by clicking Start, Run and entering REGEDIT Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and locating the entry for the file type in question. For example, .txt, .adm, .asp. Expand the branch for that file type, and if the PersistentHandler subkey does not exist, create it. Do this by clicking on the file extension key and going to Edit, New, Key. Name the Key, PersistentHandler. Click on the PersistentHandler sub-key. In Regedit's right pane, double click on the Default value and enter the following (copy and paste may be your best bet):

    {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}
    If the PersistentHandler sub-key does exist, do not change the default value. This could have very undesired consequences.
    Close Regedit and reboot the computer. This file type will now be searched for "A word or phrase in the file" type searches.
    Changing Drive Letters in Windows XP?

    When you add drives to your computer, such as an extra hard drive, a CD drive, or a storage device that corresponds to a drive, Windows automatically assigns letters to the drives. However, this assignment might not suit your system; for example, you might have mapped a network drive to the same letter that Windows assigns to a new drive. When you want to change drive letters, follow these steps:

  • Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
  • Under Computer Management, click Disk Management. In the right pane, you’ll see your drives listed. CD-ROM drives are listed at the bottom of the pane.
  • Right-click the drive or device you want to change, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
  • Click Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the drive letter you want to assign, and then click OK.
  • You will not be able to change the boot or system drive letter in this manner. Many MS-DOS-based and Windows-based programs make references to a specific drive letter (for example, environment variables). If you modify the drive letter, these programs may not function correctly.
    Outlook Express keeps prompting for your password

    This fix also applies to Outlook, other programs that store passwords in the Protected Storage System Provider sub branch of the Registry. It also corrects some issues with Internet Explorer and Autocomplete.

    This is caused by a damaged Registry key. To Remove the broken Key in Windows XP
  • 1) Click Start, click Run, and then type regedt32 in the Open box.
  • 2) Locate the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider
  • 3) Right click the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider key, and then Select Permissions.
  • 4) In the Permissions for Protected Storage System Provider dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Make sure that the has Full Control access. Select "Replace permission entries..."
  • 5) Click OK.
  • 6) Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each subkey that is listed under the Protected Storage System Provider registry key; otherwise, you may receive the following error message when you try to delete the Protected Storage System Provider key: Registry editor could not delete the key currently selected. The key or one of its subkeys does not give you delete access. Note: The sub keys under Protected Storage System Provide will look something like this: S-1-5-21-1085031214-1202660629-1708537768-1003
  • 7) At this point, you can delete the Protected Storage System Provider key by clicking Delete on the Edit menu. If you prefer, you can first export a copy of this key, and then delete the key. To export the key, right click the Protected Storage System Provider key, and select Export. The exported file can be re-imported by double clicking on it.
  • 8) When you click Delete, you receive the following message: Registry editor will delete the currently selected key and all its subkeys. Do you want to continue the operation?
  • Click Yes to finish the process.
  • 9) Start Outlook Express. When Outlook Express checks your mail account(s) you will be able to re-enter your password(s). This process repopulates the Protected Storage System Provider registry key with the correct information for that computer's SID.
    Where did my Desktop Icons go?

    Right click on the Desktop, choose Properties, Desktop tab and click on "Customize Desktop". Internet Explorer, My Computer, My Documents and My Network Places can be added or removed here.
    If all of your desktop icons are missing, right click on the Desktop, select Arrange Icons By, then select Show Desktop Icons.

    Disable Windows Messenger in Windows® XP Pro

    If you're running Pro, you can use GPEDIT.MSC to prevent Messenger from loading. Otherwise, even disabling it in startup won't cause it to "always" not run. Outlook, OE and some MS web pages can still make it load.

  • 1) Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC
  • 2) For "per machine" restriction, go to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Messenger For "per user" restriction, go to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Messenger
  • 3) You can now modify whether it starts initially and/or whether its to run at all.

    Note: Outlook and Outlook Express will take longer to open, unless you turn off Messenger Support. In Outlook Express its in Tools, Options, General tab. In Outlook its in Tools, Options, Other. One additional Registry edit is needed to prevent a serious delay in opening OE if you use the Contacts Pane and have disabled or removed Messenger.

    CLEAN UP START UP ITEMS USING MSCONFIG
    Do you ever uninstall programs and they are still listed under startup items in msconfig? Personally, I found myself with 30 such items from old installs. Microsoft leaves you no way to clean up this list, but have no fear, I have figured it out for you.
  • 1. Open MSconfig (goto Start->Run->type MSconfig and Enter)and click on the startup items tab
  • 2. Open Regedit and naviate to HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Sharedtools/MSconfig/start upreg
  • 3. Compare the list of registry keys under startup reg with their counterparts in msconfig.
  • 4. Delete the keys which are no longer valid.
  • 5. hurreeeyyy! You've cleaned up msconfig.
    HOW TO AUTO DELETE TEMPORARY FOLDER
  • First go into gpedit.msc
  • Next select -> Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Terminal Services/Temporary Folder
  • Then right click "Do Not Delete Temp Folder Upon Exit"
  • Go to properties and hit disable. Now next time Windows puts a temp file in that folder it will automatically delete it when its done! Note from Forum Admin: Remember, GPEDIT (Group Policy Editor) is only available in XP Pro.
    Changing Title on Windows Media Player

    Have you used someone's new Hewlet Packard with their OEM version of Windows XP? You've seen that HP has their own icon in the Start Menu, underneath Run, that goes to their Help Site. Now, you can have your icon that does anything you want (website, program, etc) and says anything you want. Basically, you are "branding" Windows XP (Home or Pro), great for if you are a computer builder and sell them, or you just want to make Windows XP your own. It involves Regedit.

  • 1. Start up Notepad and creat a new registry file (*.reg) and copy and paste the following into it:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] @="YOUR COMPANY NAME" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon] @="YOUR ICON HERE" 00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00 ,68,00,70,00,6c,00,69,00,\ 6e,00,6b,00,2e,00,69,00,63,00,6f,00,00,00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\InProcServer32] @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00 ,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\ 00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00 ,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\ 64,00,6f,00,63,00,76,00,77,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c ,00,00,00 "ThreadingModel"="Apartment" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance] "CLSID"="{3f454f0e-42ae-4d7c-8ea3-328250d6e272}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag] "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}" "method"="ShellExecute" "Command"="YOUR TITLE HERE" "Param1"="YOUR FUNCTION HERE" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{2559a1f 6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] @="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex\MayChangeDefaultMenu] @="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=dword:00000000
  • 2. Edit where it says YOUR ICON HERE to a path to an icon (ex. c:\\icon.ico), it must be 24x24 pixels and in *.ico format. Use double back slash for path names.
  • 3. Edit both places where it says YOUR TITLE HERE to what you want it to say in the Start Menu (ex. Elranzer Homepage).
  • 4. Edit where it says YOUR FUNCTION here to what you want it to do when you click it, it can be anything... your website, a local HTML document, a program, a Windows funtion, whatever your imagination can provide (ex. http://www.shareodie.com/).
  • 5. Save this file as brand.reg, double-click it to enterin your information, and refresh Explorer (log off/on) to see it in the Start Menu!! This works in both Home and Professional (and probably 64-Bit Professional) Editions!
    Outlook Express - Title Tweaks Change the window title of Outlook Express to anything you want!
    In regedt32 and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{EE383506-901D-43C6-8E40-9A61901DF7CC}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0.
    Add a new string key called WindowTitle and make its value the desired window title. Then close the registry editor, and restart Outlook Express (if it's running.) Your new title now shows up in the title bar!
    WINDOWS XP HOME ADVANCED FILE PERMISSIONS

    This is actually an addition to my previous post entitled "Get XP Pro file security with XP Home". In the aforementioned post I outlined how to access *Advance file Permissions* on NTFS file systems for XP Home simply by booting into *Safe Mode*, rt-clicking any file or folder, and navigating to the *Security tab*.

    This gives the user the ability to allow or deny read, write, execute, read & write, display contents, full-control, inheritance, and take ownership permissions, with many more options available to apply to different users and groups stored on the computer.

    Well, you don't have to do this in *Safe Mode* (XP Home). Although it is a little less intuitive, you can simply go to your command prompt - Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt. Now type "cacls" in the window (without the quotes).

    This gives you the ability to add, remove or modify file permissions on files and folders through the command prompt. Type "cacls /?" for help on different options and variables. You do not need to be in safe mode to use this so it makes it a little quicker than using the safe mode security tab GUI. Remember - this only applies to NTFS.

    Here also is a very useful link to find a lot of extras and tweaks straight from the horse's mouth - the Microsoft Resource Center. You will find a lot of very useful web-based extras here, most of them left unknowing to the general public - such as, "Online Crash analysis" - a site that looks like Windows Update but you can upload your crash "dump logs" (when you get those system or application crash error reports).

    Microsoft will then analyze the log file and tell you some more info about WHY the system crashed (ie. faulty hardware/software/conflicts, etc).

    DISCOVER HIDDEN WINDOWS XP ICONS

    Windows XP Pro and Home contains icons for folders and files that cannot normally be seen, you can select to view hidden files from the folder options menu, but there are still some that remain hidden.

    You can set windows to view these files as normal hidden files, so that when you use the view hidden files and folders toggle from the folder options menu that these will be turned on/off along with the normal hidden files.

    These files are usually system files and should not be altered/deleted unless you really know what you are doing, if you don't yet still wish to change them I might suggest that you create back-ups of your system first.

    I will personally accept no responsibility for any damage caused by using this tweak. To view the hidden files you need to open up regedit, if you are not sure how to do this, select run from the start menu and type in 'regedit' without the apostrophe's. In the regedit window, expand out the groups by clicking on the '+' next to the name in the left hand column of regedit, and navigate to the below address.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER \SOFTWARE \MICROSOFT \WINDOWS \CURRENTVERSION \EXPLORER \ADVANCED

    when you have clicked the advanced folder on the left pane, look down the list at the titles in the right hand pane, one of those titles is 'ShowSuperHidden' double click the title and in the window that appears set the value to equal 1 to show the super hidden files and 0 to hide them.

    TWEEKING MOUSE POINTERS

    It seems that even without pointer precision disabled, the mouse under XP is still influenced by an acceleration curve. This is especially noticeable in games. To completely remove mouse acceleration from XP, you will need to go into the registry and adjust the Smoothmou---YCurve values. Here is how its done.

  • 1. Click Start button
  • 2. Select Run
  • 3. Type 'regedit' in the open textbox
  • 4. Open the tree 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER', select control panel, then select mouse
  • 5. Right clicking, modify the SmoothMou---Curve and SmoothMouseYCurve hexidecimal values to the following: 
    
SmoothMou---Curve:
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
00,a0,00,00,00,00,00,00
00,40,01,00,00,00,00,00
00,80,02,00,00,00,00,00
00,00,05,00,00,00,00,00
SmoothMouseYCurve:
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
66,a6,02,00,00,00,00,00
cd,4c,05,00,00,00,00,00
a0,99,0a,00,00,00,00,00
38,33,15,00,00,00,00,00
    If done correctly, you will notice you are holding a markedly more responsive mouse.
    ADMINISTRATOR IN WELCOME SCREEN

    When you install Windows XP an Administrator Account is created (you are asked to supply an administrator password), but the "Welcome Screen" does not give you the option to log on as Administrator unless you boot up in Safe Mode.

    First you must ensure that the Administrator Account is enabled:
  • 1 open Control Panel
  • 2 open Administrative Tools
  • 3 open Local Security Policy
  • 4 expand Local Policies
  • 5 click on Security Options
  • 6 ensure that Accounts: Administrator account status is enabled Then follow the instructions from the "Win2000 Logon Screen Tweak" ie.
  • 1 open Control Panel
  • 2 open User Accounts
  • 3 click Change the way users log on or log off
  • 4 untick Use the Welcome Screen
  • 5 click Apply Options You will now be able to log on to Windows XP as Administrator in Normal Mode
    REMOVE PAST ITEMS ICONS IN TASKBAR.

    Some times, When you check your Taskbar properties or when you hide or unhide icons you can see old icons from Uninstalled or old programs you dont have anymore. This Tweak will help you how to get rid of this problem on How To clear the Past Items or Icons list in the TaskBar, follow the following steps:

  • 1. Open Regedit Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TrayNotify
  • 2. Delete the IconStreams and PastIconsStream values
  • 3. Open Task Manager, click the Processes tab, click Explorer.exe , and then click End Process .
  • 4. In Task Manager, click File , click New Task , type explorer , and then click OK .
    DISABLE WINDOWS PICTURE AND FAX VIEWER By default, Windows XP opens all picture files (gif,jpg, etc) with the included Windows Picture and Fax Viewer no matter what other picture viewers you have installed. To disable the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, unregister shimgvw.dll. This can be done from command prompt: regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll. Hope that helps.
    FIX IEXPLORER 6 SLOW PAGES LOADED.
    ALLOW MORE THAN 2 SIMULTANEOUS DOWNLOADS ON IEXPLORER 6.

    This is to increase the the number of max downloads to 10.

  • 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  • 2. Locate the following key in the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Internet Settings
  • 3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value , and then add the following registry values:

    "MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=Dword:0000000a "MaxConnectionsPerServer"=Dword:0000000a

  • 4. Quit Registry Editor.
MORE WINDOWS XP TWEEKS AND TIPS

  • Windows activation information is in C:\Windows\System32\Wpa.dbl
    Copy this file before you reinstall windows (i.e. clean install on a new hard drive) and you won't have to go through the annoying software activation/registration process .

  • Cleanup Add/Remove Programs list is in:
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

  • Enable Boot Defrag (places boot files together):
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
     (Change "Enable" key value to "Y")

  • Speed up Disk Cleanup by disabling compression of old files:
    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Compress old files
     Delete the value of the "(Default)" key (The value is: B50F5260-0C2111D2-AB56-00A0C9082678).

  • IE - delete individual entry in the Auto-Complete drop-down list of the web address text box:
    Open the list with the drop-down button (arrow) > highlight the item by using Down Arrow
    keyboard key > press Del.

  • Reset TCP/IP configuration to defaults:
    Command Line = netsh int ip reset IPlog.txt Netsh.exe is in C:\Windows\Sytem32, IPlog.txt is a log file of changed registry keys.

  • Network Connection utility:
    Command Line = netstat -a complete list of open network connections.
    Command Line = netstat -o Windows process ID for each open connection.

  • Speed up HDD by using DMA (Direct Memory Access) technology:
    Device Manager > Primary IDE Controller > Primary (Secondary) IDE Channel > Advanced Settings > select "DMA if available".

  • Lock Kernel in RAM (disable moving system code from RAM to HD virtual RAM cache):
    HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management Select "DisablePagingExecutive" key and change value from 0 to 1.

  • Specify start folder in Win. Explorer (Edit Windows Explorer shortcut to expand root folder):
    Target = %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,c:\

  • Restore the Show Desktop icon in Quick Launch toolbar:
    Create a Desktop.scf file (use Notepad) in: C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ Quick Launch\ Text in the Desktop.scf file:
    [Shell]
    Command=2
    IconFile=Explorer.exe,3
    [Taskbar]
    Command=ToggleDesktop

  • Create Windows XP Shutdown shortcut:
    Target = C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe -s -t 10 -c "Shutdown Message"
    Start in = C:\Windows\System32\
    Switches:
    -l log off
    -s shut down
    -r reboot
    -t xx time to shutdown (xx=seconds)
    -c “text” warning message before the shutdown
    -a abort (use “shutdown.exe –a” in Start > Run to abort the countdown)

  • IE - control initial window size, position and home page:
    Tools > Internet Options > Home Page > Address
    javascript: resizeTo(800.600);moveTo(0.0);document.location.href='http://www.thisismysiteoftesting.com'

  • Windows 2000-style login:
    Control Panel > User accounts > Change the way users log on or off > uncheck “Use the Welcome screen”, (also disables Fast User Switching).
    Note: If using Windows XP Welcome Screen and it’s not showing Administrator login, press Ctrl+Alt+Del > release Del and press it again, while still holding Ctrl+Alt (displays Win2000 login).

  • To force users to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to login (Windows XP): 
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
     Select "DisableCAD" key and change value to 0, (if the key doesn’t exist, create a DWORD Value).
    Note: This setting can also be changed in Local Security Settings (Start > Programs > administrative Tools). Change: Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options > Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL = Enabled.

  • To stop displaying last logged user name: 
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
     Select "dontdisplaylastusername" and change value from 0 to 1, (if the key doesn’t exist, create a DWORD value).
    Note: This setting can also be changed in Local Security Settings (Start > Programs > administrative Tools). Change: Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options > Interactive logon: Do not display last user name = Enabled.

  • Outlook - Stop blocking specific attachment:
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0 (10.0 for Office XP)\Security
    New string value: name = "Level1Remove"; value = "pdf;doc;xls;mdb;jpg;tif;gif" [string of extensions, separated by semicolon]

  • Clean up custom Notification (Show Hidden Icons):
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\TrayNotify
    Delete keys: IconStreams and PastIconStream (Binary)
    Note: This is an extreme step that will completely clear the Notification Area. Also, restart Explorer to clear the current list. Ctrl+Alt+Del > task Manager > Processes > select explorer.exe > End Process (DO NOT CLOSE TASK MANAGER!) > File > New task > type Explorer >OK.


    terms and conditions:

    • THIS TUTORIAL IS JUST FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEBODY USE IT FOR Illegal ACTIVITIES.
    • Making changes of system files and system resources may cause in your system not responding and unusable, please make sure that, you have a backup of all the files and restore point is ready.
    • Tweeking Windows XP or any Windows OS means you are tampering the Microsoft's product, It may cause you loose the warranty you have.
    • If you don't understand instructions in this tutorial, you probably shouldn't use it.
    • Manually editing the Registry or other system files may render Windows operating system inoperable.
    • IF YOU AGREE ALL THE ABOVE TERMS THEN ONLY GO FOR THE TUTORIAL I PROVIDED HERE, IF YOU DISAGREE PLEASE QUIT THIS PAGE

      Thanks
      NAvin - Webmaster / Owner technohub.in

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