Windows XP Tweaks (Maintenance Troubleshooting )

Disable AutoRun/AutoPlay

That pesky AutoRun/AutoPlay. You can try to disable it for different media types

in the optical drive’s Properties menu (right-click the drive letter), but we found

that this doesn’t stop all CDs from auto-running. Instead, open Regedit and go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\CDR

OM. Double-click AutoRun in the right window and change the Value Data from 1

to 0. (This change also prevents Windows from notifying you when a new CD is

inserted.)

Navigate Regedit

Try these shortcuts to easily navigate Regedit. Highlight a subkey and press the

asterisk key (*) on your numeric keypad to open all branches and sub-branches.

Use the minus key (-) on the number pad to collapse all subkeys. If you’re at the

top of the Regedit tree (My Computer) with a mass of subkey branches open

beneath, press the minus key to close all the subkeys. Don’t use the asterisk key

at any top-level keys because this opens every subkey in Regedit and may crash

the program. If you need to close down branches quickly and start at the top,

press and hold the left arrow key.

Restore All Programs List

Restoring your All Programs list in the Start menu to alphabetical order is a

simple matter of deleting a Registry key. Go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\

CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\MENUORDER

and delete the subkey Start Menu2. After reboot, the Registry rebuilds this key

and restores All Programs to alpha order. 3

Identify Third-Party Services

The Processes tab of the Windows Task Manager reveals all of the active

services that Windows is running in background, but it’s often hard to tell which of

these is vital to Windows’ functioning and which are installed by third-party

software. The easy way to see the difference is to open the much-ignored

System Configuration Utility. Click Start, select Run, type msconfig in the Open

field, and click OK. Next, click the Service tab and check the box labeled Hide All

Microsoft Services, and the list will show only third-party services running in

background.

Thwart Super Snoops

Password protect everything you like, but Windows still maintains a quiet record

of your activities in the Page File. Windows uses the Page File to swap programs

and data out of memory in order to make room for other active data. Enterprising

snoops might be able to open the Page File and see some of your recent work.

To prevent this, use a Registry switch that makes Windows clear the Page File at

shutdown.

Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\CONTROL

\SESSION MANAGER\MEMORY MANAGEMENT. Double-click the Value Name

ClearPageFileAtShutdown, and change the Value Data to 1. The shutdown

procedure may take longer, as Windows deletes the Page File data before

powering down.

Lock Down Display Settings

If you administer several office PCs, or you're just a draconian keeper of the

family PC, you may want to prevent users from changing their screen resolutions

or digging into the details of your monitor and video card settings. This Registry

tweak hides the Settings tab in the Display Properties window to make all

resolution and monitor settings inaccessible.

In Regedit, go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS

\CURRENTVERSION\POLICIES. Right-click the key and choose New and Key

to create a new key, and name it System. With the new System key highlighted,

right-click and choose New and DWORD Value. Name the value

NoDispSettingsPage. Double-click this new value and set the Value data to 1 to

remove the Settings tab from the Display Properties window. The effect will be

immediate. You can restore the Settings tab either by deleting this

NoDispSettingsPage value or setting the value data to 0. 4

Suppress That System Tray

If you are tired of long strings of icons across your Taskbar from the System

Tray, you can hide them altogether. In Regedit, go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\

MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\POLICIES\EXPLORER. In the

Edit menu, select New and DWORD Value. Name the new Value NoTrayItemsDisplay. Double-click the new item and give it a Value of 1. Reboot to see it take

effect or simply use the WinXP tip to relaunch Explorer and the Registry with the

new settings. Your System Tray will now only contain the system clock. To

restore your tray icons, return to the NoTrayItemsDisplay Value and change the

Value to 0 or eliminate the Value.

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 (nay harassment).

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.xx.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.

Open Folder in its own window Most of us have Windows Explorer to open new folders in the current window, but if you want the option to open a folder in its own window, you can add it to your context menu. Click Start, Run, type Regedit in the Open field, and click OK. Right-click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\DIRECTORY\SHELL key, select New, and click Key. Name this new subkey opennew and then doubleclick the Default value and type Open New &Window in the Value Data field. Create a subkey beneath opennew named command. Double-click the Default value for the command key and type explorer %1 in the Value Data field. Effective immediately, you’ll get a new option on any folder’s content menu to Open New Window. 

Registry Security Hole There’s a little known security hole on most of our PCs involving the Registry Editor. By default, WinXP runs Remote Registry Editing, which lets other PCs on a network change the Registry. To plug this hole, click Start, select Settings, and click Control Panel. Next, double-click Administrative Tools, Services, and locate the Remote Registry in the right panel. Right-click the item and click Properties. In the General tab, click the Startup Type drop-down menu, select Disabled, and click OK. Reboot for the change to take effect.

Lost Send To option Have you lost the Send To option in your right-click menu? This handy item lets

you send a highlighted file to a mail recipient, a Zip folder, or even a burnable drive, but some utilities and programs make this setting disappear. To get it back on the menu, click Start, Run, and type Regedit in the Open field. Right-click the Registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ALLFILESYSTMEOBJECTS\SHELLEX \CONTEXTMENUHANDLERS. Select New and Key and name this new key Send To. Double-click Default in the right pane and type {7BA4C740-9E81- 11CF-99D3-00AA004AE837} in the Value Data box. Click OK, and the effect

should be immediate. 2

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XP Registry Edit tweaks

Xp Registry tricks

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Display Your Quick Launch ToolbarTip:


Is your Quick Launch toolbar missing from the taskbar?
To display your familiar Quick Launch toolbar:
Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Quick Launch.

Easy as that your Quick Launch bar appears. To add items to your Quick Launch toolbar, click the icon for the program you want to add, and drag it to the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar.

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How to remove recycle bin from your desktop Tip:

Open Regedit by going to START - RUN and type Regedit and hit enter. Then you should navigate to following entry in registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and delete it. This action should remove recycle bin from your desktop.

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How to stop new programs installed balloon from coming up tip:

Right click on START button and select properties. Click on Customize and go to Advanced tab and deselect check box saying "Highlight newly installed programs". This would help you stop this annoying feature from popping up every now and then.

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Unlock Toolbars to Customize Them Tip:

The new Windows XP now features locking toolbars, and you can adjust them. You may customize a lot of the Windows XP features such as the Taskbar, Start Menu, and even toolbar icons in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Remember your right-click:
* Right-click on a toolbar, and then click Lock the Toolbars to remove the check mark.
* Right-click on the toolbar again, and then click Customize.

You may add or remove toolbar buttons, change text options and icon options. When you've got the toolbar customized, click Close. Now right-click on the toolbar and then click Lock the Toolbars to lock them in place. com

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Want to remove shared documents folder from My Computer window tip:

Some don't like my shared documents folder option. If you are one of that, here is a trick to remove it.Open registry editor by going to START-RUN and entering regedit.
Once in registry, navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the my shared documents folder.

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How to improve on shutdown time ?
Close apps automatically & quickly at shutdown tip:

Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP and look for AutoEndTasks. On my computer default value is 0. Change it to 1. Thats all. Further more you can reduce the time it takes for Windows to issue kill directive to all active/hung applications.
In doing this only constraint that you should make sure exists is that HungAppTimeout is greater than WaitToKillAppTimeout. Change the values of WaitToKillAppTimeout to say 3500 (since default value for HungAppTimeout 5000 and for WaitToKillAppTimeout is 20000)

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Are you missing icons Tip:


Are you missing icons? You may be wondering where all the icons from your desktop are in Windows XP? Well if you're like me, you like to have at least My Computer, My Network Places, and My Documents on the your desktop.
You need to:
* Right-click on the desktop, and then click Properties.
* Click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize Desktop.
* Put a check mark in the box next to My Document, My Computer, My Network Places, or Internet Explorer, to add those familiar icons to your desktop. Easy yes!

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How to login as administrator if you don't see it available tip:

Unless and until you have run into issues and fixing XP (underwhich case you have to go to Safe Mode to login as Administrator), you can get to administrator screen by simply pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE twice at the main screen.

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Speedup boot up sequence by defragmenting all key boot files tip:

Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction . In right hand panel look for Enable. Right click on it and set it 'Y' for enable. This is the way I have it set on my computer. This will help speedup boot time.


Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information:

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Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information Tip:


Here's something new in Windows XP, instead of using the command line program and typing ipconfig to get local area network information, you can try using the following shortcut:
* Click on Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show All Connections.
* Right–click the connection you want information about, and then click Status.
* In the connection Properties dialog box, click the Support tab.
* For more information, click on the Advanced tab.

To automatically enable the status monitor each time the connection is active, in the connection Properties dialog box, select the Show icon in taskbar notification area when connected check box.

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Do you know you can have Virtual Desktops (like in Linux) with PowerToys ?

If you have powertoys installed on Windows XP Its available for free at Microsoft download webpage. It is very easy to enable Microsoft Virtual Desktop Feature. Simply right click on the Start Panel Bar also called TaskBar, Click on Tool Bar and select Desktop manager.
You would see a set of 5 icons placed on the right portion of the TAskBar. Click on number 1 to 4 to go to any of the desktops. Now you have have four different Active Desktops.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You may see a little degradation in performance.

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Customize Internet. Explorer Title bar tip:

This tip won't make your computer any faster but may help personalize your computer experience. Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet. Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its value to whatever custom text you want to see.

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Key Board Short cuts

Press To
CTRL+C Copy.
CTRL+X Cut.
CTRL+V Paste.
CTRL+Z Undo.
DELETE Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
CTRL while dragging an item Copy selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item Create shortcut to selected item.
F2 Rename selected item.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Highlight a block of text.
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
CTRL+A Select all.
F3 Search for a file or folder.
ALT+ENTER View properties for the selected item.
ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+Enter Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT+SPACEBAR Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
CTRL+F4 Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
ALT+TAB Switch between open items.
ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
SHIFT+F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
ALT+SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window.
CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name Display the corresponding menu.
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu Carry out the corresponding command.
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program.
RIGHT ARROW Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
LEFT ARROW Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
F5 Refresh the active window.
BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
ESC Cancel the current task.
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

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