15 Top Windows XP secrets (Tutorial)

[lazos1993]

1. Useful key shortcuts available:

 

- Windows key + D - shows the desktop

- Windows key + M - minimizes all open windows

- Windows key + Shift + M - maximizes all open windows

- Windows key + E - Runs Windows Explorer

- Windows key + R - shows the RUN dialog

- Windows key + F - shows Search window

- Windows key + Break - shows System Properties box

- Windows key + TAB - Go through taskbar applications

- Windows key + PAUSE Display the System Properties dialog box

- Windows key + U Open Utility Manager

- ALT + TAB - Cycle through opened applications

- Hold down CTRL while dragging an item to Copy it

- CTRL + ESC Display the Start menu

- ALT + ENTER View the properties for the selected item

- F4 key Display the Address bar list in My Computer or

- NUM LOCK + Asterisk (*) Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder

 

2. Lock Windows to protect computer

You can lock Windows to protect the computer when leaving the station easily by creating a shortcut with the path rundll32.exeuser32.dll, LockWorkStation. The Windows key + L is also a shortcut to this feature.

 

3. Edit sysoc.inf to list all software

To show all software that can be removed from your computer (including protected Windows services), you can manually edit (using notepad for example) the sysoc.inf file located in Windows\inf\. Just remove the word hide next to the software pack.

*Note* - use this at your own risk. Removing critical components of the system will make Windows instable.

 

4. Windows XP comes with IPv4 and IPv6

Windows XP comes both IPv4 and IPv6 support. To enable IPv6, you can install the protocols needed with the command "ipv6 install" in the command-prompt. Then type ipv6 /? to see the options. The installation will not remove the IPv4 protocols so your current configuration will still work.

 

5. Access Task Manager with shortcut

To access the Task Manager easier, you can make a shortcut that points to %windir%\system32\taskmgr.exe.

 

6. Stop treating ZIP files like Folders

If you don't want your Windows XP to treat ZIP files like folders, you can disable this component by running regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll at the command prompt or Run dialog. If you start missing it, you can enable it by typing regsvr32 zipfldr.dll.

 

7. Run program as diffrent user

You can run a program as a different user. Right click an application and select Run As command.

 

8. Switch users leaving applications opened

You can switch users leaving the applications opened too (*NOTE* use this only when needed since it could lead to system instability).

Go to Task Manager - processes and end the process explorer.exe. This will end only your session and not all applications. Then go to Applications tab, click New task and type runas /user:domainname\username explorer.exe. A password prompt will appear to login to the desired username. The user's session will start, with all your previously applications running.

I recommend to open first a command-line prompt and type runas /? to see all the options available.

 

9. Rename multiple files in Windows at once

Rename multiple files in Windows at once. Select them all, right click and select Rename. Enter the desired name. They will be renamed using what you specified, with a number in brackets to distinguish them.

 

10. Task kill feature in Windows

Windows has a task kill feature similar to Linux. Go to a command prompt and run the command tasklist to see running processes with PID numbers. Then type tskill <PID> to end the specific task. This forces an instant closing of the task.

 

11. Edit features with GPEDIT.MSC

You can edit many features by running gpedit.msc. You can add log on/log off scripts here and many features.

 

12. Edit accounts in the command prompt

You can edit accounts by running "control userpasswords2" at the command prompt.

 

13. Use systeminfo.exe to see System Information

You can use the systeminfo.exe command in the command prompt to see System Information, including all Windows updates and hotfixes.

 

14. Disable system services for maximum performance

There are system services that you can disable to free up the system's load. To access the interface that permits you to make changes to system's services, type services.msc and the command prompt.

This is a list of services that are *usually* useless and can be safely disabled.

Alerter

Application Layer Gateway Service,

Application Management

Automatic Updates

Background Intelligent Transfer

Clipbook

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Distributed Transaction Coordinater

Error Reporting Service

Fast User Switching Compatibility

IMAPI CD-Burning

Indexing Service

IPSEC Services

Messenger

Net Logon

Net Meeting

Remote Desktop Sharing

Network DDE

Network DDE DSDM

Portable Media Serial Number

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager

Remote Registry

Secondary Logon

Smartcard

SSDP Discovery Service

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

Upload Manager

Webclient

Wireless Zero Configuration

WMI Performance Adaptor

 

*NOTE*: Make sure you don't need them since some applications you're using could depend on them. If you make any application to fail by disabling any of the services, go back and enable it again.

 

15. Repair Windows XP by using the XP installation CD

If your system failes to start due to an error related to missing HAL.DLL, invalid Boot.ini or any other critical system boot files you can repair this by using the XP installation CD. Simply boot from your XP Setup CD and enter the Recovery Console. Then run "attrib -H -R -S" on the C:\Boot.ini file and delete it. Run "Bootcfg /Rebuild" and then Fixboot.

[lazos1993]

Opening Ports or Adding Allowed Programs with SP2's Firewall

 

1.Click on Start / Run

2.Enter in firewall.cpl

3.Click on the Exceptions tab

 

Adding a Port for Internet Access:

1.Click on the Add Port button

2.Name it whatever you want

3.Enter in the ports you want to open

 

Adding a Program for Internet Access

1.Click on Add Program... button

2.A list of all installed programs will be displayed

3.Highlight the one you want to include for Internet access

4.Click on the OK button

 

 

Common Control Panel Applets

 

The follow are some common Control Panel Applets that are located in the \windows\system32 directory.

If you find yourself using any of these frequently, then you can simply make shortcuts to them on your desktop.

 

appwiz.cpl >>Add/Remove Programs

desk.cpl >> Display Properties

firewall.cpl >> Firewall Settings

inetcpl.cpl >> Internet Options

mmsys.cpl >> Sound and Audio

ncpa.cpl >> Network Connections

nusrmgr.cpl >> User Accounts

powercfg.cpl >> Power Options

sysdm.cpl >>System Properties

wscui.cpl >> Security Center

wuaucpl.cpl >> Automatic Updates Configuration

 

 

Hiding a XP Computer from Network Neighborhood

 

If you want to share files from a XP computer,

yet want to remove it from showing up in the Network Neighborhood,

Run net config server /hidden:yes

 

 

Easy Way to Share Multiple Folders

 

If you need to share multiple folders, running the program SHRPUBW.EXE will bring up a simple dialog box to let you:

Browse to the folder you want to share

Enter in a Share name

Ender in a Share description

Set permissions. Several choices are available

Restart the process from within the same program

 

 

Setting Capslock, Numlock, Scroll Lock

 

If you want to set the startup state for any or all of these keys,

you just need to edit the registry.

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Keyboard

Open InitialKeyboardIndicators

Change the value to one of the following numbers

0 - All Keys off

1 - Caps Lock on

2 - Num Lock on

4 - Scroll Lock on

For multiple keys, add their values:

3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on

5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on

6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on

7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on

Log off and back on again

 

 

Restoring Desktop Icon to the Quicklaunch Bar

 

If you mistakenly deleted the icon for the Desktop on the Quicklaunch toolbar

Go to C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

(where user_name is replaced by your login name)

Create a Text file called ShowDesktop.SCF with the following contents:

[shell]

Command=2

IconFile=explorer.exe,3

[Taskbar]

Command=ToggleDesktop

 

 

Not Displaying Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages

 

To turn these off:

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system

If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages

Give it a value of 1

 

 

Repair Install

 

If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot,

you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings.

Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.

The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer

If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first.

Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD

At the second R=Repair option, press the R key

This will start the repair

Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement

Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS

It will then check the C: drive and start copying files

It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.

You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation)

When prompted, click on the Next button

When prompted, enter your XP key

Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name

The computer will reboot

Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install

Activate if you want (usually a good idea)

Register if you want (but not necessary)

Finish

At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.

 

 

Bringing Up the Shutdown Dialog Box

 

Create a new txt file somewhere on your system, open it and put in this one line:

(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();

Save and Close the file. Change the extension to js and your got it.

You can make a shortcut to that file to make it easy to shut down your system.

 

 

Poweroff at Shutdown

 

If your computer does not turn off the power when doing a shutdown,

you may need to edit the registry. I have all the correct BIOS and Power settings and still needed to do this.

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Edit the key PowerOffActive and give it a value of 1

You can do the same in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

 

 

Disable Shared Documents

 

To disable the Shared Documents folder that shows up on the network

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer \

Create a new DWORD Value

Give it the name NoSharedDocuments

Give it a value of 1

Log off or reboot

 

 

Clearing the Page File on Shutdown

 

Another way to set the computer to clear the pagefile without directly editing the registry is:

Click on the Start button

Go to the Control Panel

Administrative Tools

Local Security Policy

Local Policies

Click on Security Options

Right hand menu - right click on "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"

Select "Enable"

Reboot

If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown

Set the value to 1

 

 

Changing Drive Letters

 

If you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:

Right Click on My Computer

Select Manage

Select Disk Management

For a Fixed Disk:

Select it

Right click

Select Change Drive Letter and Path

Click on the Edit button

Enter in the letter you want to use

For a Removable Disk:

In the lower, right hand panel, right click on the Disk or CD ROM #

Select Change Drive Letter and Path

Click on the Edit button

Enter in the letter you want to use

 

WindowsXP Command Line Utilities

 

While there are a lot of command line utilities in WindowsXP, here are some that I have been using lately.

bootcfg - Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini file settings.

driverquery - Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties.

getmac - Returns the media access control (MAC) address and list of network protocols associated with each address for all network cards in each computer

gpresult - Displays Group Policy settings and Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP) for a user or a computer

netsh - You can use commands in the Netsh Interface IP context to configure the TCP/IP protocol

schtasks - Schedules commands and programs to run periodically or at a specific time

systeminfo - Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system

 

 

Increasing System Performance

 

If you have 512 megs or more of memory, you can increase system performance

by having the core system kept in memory.

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\DisablePagingExecutive

Set the value to be 1

Reboot the computer

 

 

 

[Morian]

Nice nice! Thank you!

You write all this? if not add credits or source...

[ManiakMike]

Nice Share i like those shortcuts

- Windows key + D - shows the desktop

- Windows key + M - minimizes all open windows

I didn't know about them and they are really useful ^_^

[GeneralKenody]

...

Edited May 15, 2022 by GeneralKenody

[Coolis®]

very nC!

but where is cresdits? or this are yours ;D

[ManiakMike]

This stuff is from an E-book :P so there is no author ...(i think so)

[Enable^^]

senk people!

[Jigsaw*]

nC share man...w0w there are many shortcutKeys

[kriamst]

i didn't knew many of those shortcuts, some are actually useful