You can disable the Window XP boot logo (the gray screen that appears right after you start your computer), which will shave a few seconds off your booting time. To do this follow these steps:
1. Go to the 'C:\' folder and double-click on the 'boot.ini' file.
2. On the 'timeout' line, change the 30 to 1 so it reads 'timeout=1'.
3. On the last line, insert '/noguiboot' right after '/fastdetect'.
This line should now look something like this:
\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /noguiboot /NoExecute=OptIn
4. Click on the 'File' menu and select 'Save'.
5. Reboot your computer and the Windows XP logo should now be gone.
Note: Do not change anything else in this file or your computer may not reboot correctly or may not reboot at all.
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Showing posts with label Computer Tricks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Computer Tricks. Show all posts
Automatically start Windows XP from hibernation state
If you hibernate Windows on your laptop or desktop instead of turning it off, you can schedule your system to "wake up" when you want.
Here's how to set up this schedule:
1. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Scheduled Tasks.
2. Launch the Scheduled Task Wizard by double-clicking Add Scheduled Task.
3. Click Next and select the program that you want to start when your system wakes up. Click Next.
4. In the following three screens, select the Daily option, the time that you want your system to wake up, and then type a username and password with Administrative privileges.
5. On the last page, select the Open Advanced Properties check box and click Finish.
6. When you see the Properties dialog box for the scheduled task, choose the Setting tab and select the Wake The Computer To Run This Task check box.
7. Click OK.
Now, you're computer will be ready and waiting for you each morning.
Here's how to set up this schedule:
1. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Scheduled Tasks.
2. Launch the Scheduled Task Wizard by double-clicking Add Scheduled Task.
3. Click Next and select the program that you want to start when your system wakes up. Click Next.
4. In the following three screens, select the Daily option, the time that you want your system to wake up, and then type a username and password with Administrative privileges.
5. On the last page, select the Open Advanced Properties check box and click Finish.
6. When you see the Properties dialog box for the scheduled task, choose the Setting tab and select the Wake The Computer To Run This Task check box.
7. Click OK.
Now, you're computer will be ready and waiting for you each morning.
Stop Viruses From Disabling Protection
Some viruses protect themselves by blocking security Web sites, antivirus programs, and other tools that could be used against them, including Windows' System Configuration utility and Registry Editor. They cleverly block antivirus Web sites by altering your Hosts file, a text file with no extension that individual programs use to assign a specific IP address to a Web page. The Hosts file will be in a different folder depending on your operating system:
Windows XP: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 2000: C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 98/Me: C:\Windows
To correct the problem, double-click the Hosts file and choose Notepad to open it. Delete any line in the file that refers to an antivirus Web site. Or you can simply delete the Hosts file and Windows will re-create it automatically with zero entries. Now browse to an online virus scanner to check your hard drive and remove the virus.
Windows XP: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 2000: C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 98/Me: C:\Windows
To correct the problem, double-click the Hosts file and choose Notepad to open it. Delete any line in the file that refers to an antivirus Web site. Or you can simply delete the Hosts file and Windows will re-create it automatically with zero entries. Now browse to an online virus scanner to check your hard drive and remove the virus.
Run Scheduled Tasks during idle time
If you have a scheduled task running or are planning to schedule a task, you can have Windows automatically run the scheduled task when your computer goes into idle mode. Simply follow these steps:
1. Go to 'Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Scheduled Tasks'
2. Click on the "Add Scheduled Task' icon
3. Click on the 'Next 'button and select a program to schedule
4. Click 'Next' then select the 'Daily' radio button
5. Click 'Next' until you rach the last screen then select the 'Open Advanced Properties For This Task When I click Finish' check box and then click on the 'Finish' button
6. Click on the 'Settings' tab near the top of the new dialog box
7. In the Idle Time section, select the "Only start the task if the computer has been idle for at least' check box
8. Select how long you want your computer to be idle before starting the scheduled task
9. Click 'Apply' then OK
From now on, Windows will run the scheduled task when your computer is idle for the specified time you chose. However, Windows could run the scheduled task numerous times a day, depending on how many times your computer goes into idle mode.
1. Go to 'Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Scheduled Tasks'
2. Click on the "Add Scheduled Task' icon
3. Click on the 'Next 'button and select a program to schedule
4. Click 'Next' then select the 'Daily' radio button
5. Click 'Next' until you rach the last screen then select the 'Open Advanced Properties For This Task When I click Finish' check box and then click on the 'Finish' button
6. Click on the 'Settings' tab near the top of the new dialog box
7. In the Idle Time section, select the "Only start the task if the computer has been idle for at least' check box
8. Select how long you want your computer to be idle before starting the scheduled task
9. Click 'Apply' then OK
From now on, Windows will run the scheduled task when your computer is idle for the specified time you chose. However, Windows could run the scheduled task numerous times a day, depending on how many times your computer goes into idle mode.
Remove Items from the Add/Remove list
If you share your computer with other people in your house and they have a habit of uninstalling programs from the Add/Remove list, or you don't want them seeing what is installed on your computer, you can take out any program from the list without actually uninstalling it. Just follow these steps.
1. Click on your Start button, select Run and type in 'regedit'.
2. Look for this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall
3. Look for the program you want to hide under the Uninstall subkey and highlight it (If you see all numbers and letters, highlight that key and look in the right pane for the programs name).
4. Select Export from the File menu and select a name and location for the .reg file that will be created.
5. Now delete the program under the Uninstall subkey.
If you ever decide to uninstall a program, simply double-click on the .reg file to restore the uninstall data then launch the Add/Remove Programs.
1. Click on your Start button, select Run and type in 'regedit'.
2. Look for this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall
3. Look for the program you want to hide under the Uninstall subkey and highlight it (If you see all numbers and letters, highlight that key and look in the right pane for the programs name).
4. Select Export from the File menu and select a name and location for the .reg file that will be created.
5. Now delete the program under the Uninstall subkey.
If you ever decide to uninstall a program, simply double-click on the .reg file to restore the uninstall data then launch the Add/Remove Programs.
Defragmenting For More Speed
If you have applications on your hard drive that formerly ran fast but are getting slower and slower, you could try defragmenting your hard drive to get them running faster again. This process will arrange the files in contiguous sectors, rather than scattered all over the drive.To defragment your hard drive, follow theses simple steps:
1. Click on the Start button and select 'Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter'.
2. Select the desired drive and then click on the 'defragment' button to start the process.
Keep in mind that this process could take from 1 to 2 hours depending on the size of your hard drive. After the defragmentation process, your windows will get a bit faster.
Increase Net Browsing Speed
Most of the time you spend on the Internet, you probably welcome the addition of graphic elements, such as digital photographs. However, if your Internet connection is bogged down and your browsing speed is frustratingly sluggish, you can speed things up considerably (even if it's only temporarily) by eliminating pictures from your view. To do this, follow these steps:
Internet Explorer 5 or later
1. Go to 'Tools->Internet Options'
2. Click on the 'Advanced' tab
3. Scroll down the 'Settings' window until you see 'Multimedia'
4. Remove the check from the 'Show Pictures' check box.
5. Click 'Apply' then click OK to close the dialog box.
Netscape Navigator 4 or later,
1. Go to 'Edit->Preferences'
2. Click on 'Advanced' in the 'Category' panel.
3. Remove the check mark from the 'Automatically Load Images' option
4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Now when you open the next web page, it will load much faster but without any pictures. If you want to replace the pictures in your browser, simply replace the checkmark in the settings.
Internet Explorer 5 or later
1. Go to 'Tools->Internet Options'
2. Click on the 'Advanced' tab
3. Scroll down the 'Settings' window until you see 'Multimedia'
4. Remove the check from the 'Show Pictures' check box.
5. Click 'Apply' then click OK to close the dialog box.
Netscape Navigator 4 or later,
1. Go to 'Edit->Preferences'
2. Click on 'Advanced' in the 'Category' panel.
3. Remove the check mark from the 'Automatically Load Images' option
4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Now when you open the next web page, it will load much faster but without any pictures. If you want to replace the pictures in your browser, simply replace the checkmark in the settings.
Make a Custom Screensaver in Windows XP
You can customize your Windows XP screensaver with your own photos. To do so, follow these steps -
1. Create a folder on your hard drive and copy all the pictures you want diplayed into the new folder.
2. Right-click on an empty space on the Desktop, and select 'Properties'. When the Display Properties menu appears, Select the 'Screensaver' tab.
3. Choose 'My Pictures' from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the 'Settings' button and select the folder where the pictures you want to show are placed. You can also change the settings for the screen saver here.
5. When you are finished, Click OK then Apply.
Done. Now you'll see your pictures when the screensaver appears.
1. Create a folder on your hard drive and copy all the pictures you want diplayed into the new folder.
2. Right-click on an empty space on the Desktop, and select 'Properties'. When the Display Properties menu appears, Select the 'Screensaver' tab.
3. Choose 'My Pictures' from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the 'Settings' button and select the folder where the pictures you want to show are placed. You can also change the settings for the screen saver here.
5. When you are finished, Click OK then Apply.
Done. Now you'll see your pictures when the screensaver appears.
Change your Hard Drive's Icon
If you want change the boring icon of your hard drive to some other icon of your own choice, then here are ways to do so.
The first way is to create an inf file. First you must find the icon you want to use then the icon's index number. To find the index number, right-click on any shortcut on your Desktop (except for folders) and select 'Properties'. Click on the 'Change Icon' button then click on the 'Browse' button and look for the icon you want to use. Now count all of the icons with the first icon being number zero. Count each row from top to bottom then work your way to the right counting each row. The number you end at will be your index number. Now click on the 'Cancel' button twice to exit the windows so you actually change the icon for that shortcut. Now open Notepad and copy these lines into it:
[autorun]
ICON=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL,23
Change 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL' to where your icon is located and change '23' to your icon's index number. Now save the file as 'autorun.inf' to the 'C:\' folder. Restart your computer and your hard drive icon should now be changed.
The second option requires using the Registry. Click on the Start button and select Run. Type in 'regedit' and press OK. Look for the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
In the right pane right-click on an empty space and select 'New->Key'. Name the new key 'DriveIcons'. Now create another new key and name it 'C' or the letter of the drive you are changing. Now, create one last key and name it 'DefaultIcon'. And finally, right click on the 'Default' key in the right pane and select 'Modify'. Insert the full path and name where your icon is located followed by a comma then the icon's index number (no spaces). Restart your computer and your hard drive icon should now be changed.
The first way is to create an inf file. First you must find the icon you want to use then the icon's index number. To find the index number, right-click on any shortcut on your Desktop (except for folders) and select 'Properties'. Click on the 'Change Icon' button then click on the 'Browse' button and look for the icon you want to use. Now count all of the icons with the first icon being number zero. Count each row from top to bottom then work your way to the right counting each row. The number you end at will be your index number. Now click on the 'Cancel' button twice to exit the windows so you actually change the icon for that shortcut. Now open Notepad and copy these lines into it:
[autorun]
ICON=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL,23
Change 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL' to where your icon is located and change '23' to your icon's index number. Now save the file as 'autorun.inf' to the 'C:\' folder. Restart your computer and your hard drive icon should now be changed.
The second option requires using the Registry. Click on the Start button and select Run. Type in 'regedit' and press OK. Look for the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
In the right pane right-click on an empty space and select 'New->Key'. Name the new key 'DriveIcons'. Now create another new key and name it 'C' or the letter of the drive you are changing. Now, create one last key and name it 'DefaultIcon'. And finally, right click on the 'Default' key in the right pane and select 'Modify'. Insert the full path and name where your icon is located followed by a comma then the icon's index number (no spaces). Restart your computer and your hard drive icon should now be changed.
Create Your Own Logon Message
Want to see a custom message when you or someone else on your network logs onto your Windows box ? If yes, then follow these steps:
1. Click on the Start button then select Run.
2. Type in 'regedit' and press OK
2. Look for the follow key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Right-click on 'LegalNoticeCaption', select 'Modify' and type in the Caption you'd like to appear when you log in.
5. Close regedit and reboot your computer
Your new message will appear at every logon, right before the Welcome screen.
1. Click on the Start button then select Run.
2. Type in 'regedit' and press OK
2. Look for the follow key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Right-click on 'LegalNoticeCaption', select 'Modify' and type in the Caption you'd like to appear when you log in.
5. Close regedit and reboot your computer
Your new message will appear at every logon, right before the Welcome screen.
Lock a Folder without using any Software
Want to lock your folders but don't want to use a Software ?? No problems! Windows provides you with it's own folder locking system.
Suppose you want to lock the folder games in d: which has the path D:\Games. In the same drive create a text file and type
ren games games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Now save this text file as loc.bat
Create another text file and type in it
ren games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} games
Now save this text file as key.bat
Now you can see two batch files loc and key. Press loc and the folder named games will change to control panel and you will not be able to view its contents. Press key and you will get back your original folder.
Check it out!!!!!!!
Suppose you want to lock the folder games in d: which has the path D:\Games. In the same drive create a text file and type
ren games games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Now save this text file as loc.bat
Create another text file and type in it
ren games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} games
Now save this text file as key.bat
Now you can see two batch files loc and key. Press loc and the folder named games will change to control panel and you will not be able to view its contents. Press key and you will get back your original folder.
Check it out!!!!!!!
Speed Up the Start Menu
The default speed of the Start Menu is pretty slow, but you can fix that by editing a Registry Key. Fire up the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay
By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 0, to speed it up.
If this doesn't work for some reason, then you might try the following: Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Effects and turn off the option titled Show menu shadow.
You will get much better overall performance.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay
By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 0, to speed it up.
If this doesn't work for some reason, then you might try the following: Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Effects and turn off the option titled Show menu shadow.
You will get much better overall performance.
Change Yahoo Messenger Title Bar
You can change the text that appears at the very top of the Yahoo! messenger window by editing the 'ymsgr.ini' file which is usually located in the messenger folder. Find the ymsgr.ini file and open it. Then at the end, type this :
[APP TITLE]
caption=YOUR TEXT
Changing YOUR TEXT to whatever you want it to say. Then save the file and close messenger. When you restart messenger you will see your new message.
Note: It's very easy to find ymsgr.ini file through search & it is usually located on the drive where the Messenger is Installed.
[APP TITLE]
caption=YOUR TEXT
Changing YOUR TEXT to whatever you want it to say. Then save the file and close messenger. When you restart messenger you will see your new message.
Note: It's very easy to find ymsgr.ini file through search & it is usually located on the drive where the Messenger is Installed.
Creating a Shutdown/Reboot Icon
Windows XP 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 icon, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"
Thats it!
Use this icon to easily shut down/reboot your windows with a click of a button.
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 icon, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"
Thats it!
Use this icon to easily shut down/reboot your windows with a click of a button.
Modify the Size of Icons on the Desktop
As you may be aware, you can change the size of icons in Explorer by selecting the Large icon/Small icon from the view menu. You can actually make the icons even bigger!
1. Start the Registry editor (start>run>type 'regedit')
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Double click on "Shell Icon Size"
4. Modify to the size you want (increase by 16), e.g. 48 or 64. Click OK
5. Close the registry editor
If large icons are selected in Explorer you will now see the new size, you don't need to logoff, just change folders.
It's also possible to change the icons for the small icon/start menu.
1. Start the Registry editor.
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Right Click in the windows and select New - String
4. Name it "Shell Small Icon Size".
5. Double click the new value and set to the size you want, its 16 by default, but again could be 32,48,64 etc.
Logoff and on again for the change to take effect.
To change the number of colours the icons use perform the following:
1. Start the Registry editor.
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Double click on "Shell Icon BPP".
4. Modify to 4 for 16 colours, 8 for 256, 16 for 65536, 24 for 16 miillion and 32 for true colour
5. Close the registry editor
Again you need to logoff for the change to take effect.
1. Start the Registry editor (start>run>type 'regedit')
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Double click on "Shell Icon Size"
4. Modify to the size you want (increase by 16), e.g. 48 or 64. Click OK
5. Close the registry editor
If large icons are selected in Explorer you will now see the new size, you don't need to logoff, just change folders.
It's also possible to change the icons for the small icon/start menu.
1. Start the Registry editor.
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Right Click in the windows and select New - String
4. Name it "Shell Small Icon Size".
5. Double click the new value and set to the size you want, its 16 by default, but again could be 32,48,64 etc.
Logoff and on again for the change to take effect.
To change the number of colours the icons use perform the following:
1. Start the Registry editor.
2. Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
3. Double click on "Shell Icon BPP".
4. Modify to 4 for 16 colours, 8 for 256, 16 for 65536, 24 for 16 miillion and 32 for true colour
5. Close the registry editor
Again you need to logoff for the change to take effect.