Computer Tips & Tricks

[Ken]

Hey,
How about we do a thread and everyone adds some tips & tricks.
Even if they may seem easy to you, perhaps someone else may not know of them. So even if they are really simple, lets post them...

If you can not delete a folder or send it to recycle bin, sometimes, you can cut and then paste it in recycle bin!

Recently, I put my new box running XP Pro online. And you guys know that I have 1000000000000000000000000 favorite sites marked. Well, in moving my 100000 GB's of favs from 98SE to XP, I had a few go bad, you know, file names too long, links that had corrupted pics of Noevo, Brembo & Immy....

Well, some links had even changed properties! I tried many things to delete some of the bad links or whatever they morphed into. (Immy's butt image caused many of the probs...) Couldn't delete them! Hmmm, Dang it Immy! Then I had a thought...See if you can cut it and then paste it in recycle bin...
YEAP! It worked! No more permanent file of Immy's butt or whatever it was!
I couldn't of hit the "Empty Recycle Bin" button faster!


No excuses! Everyone add a tip!

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Great idea Ken!

Here's one:

Opening Explorer in a Different Directory

Tired of Windows Explorer always opening up with My Documents?

Customize it, by changing the properties for the Windows Explorer icon and replace the

Target field with: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\yourfolder


Works great!

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Here's another:

Stop Windows Explorer From Changing The Case of Filenames.


By default, Explorer changes the case of your filenames so that a file you name c:\iLikeTOTypeTHiS appears as c:\Iliketotypethis. Microsoft calls this PrettyPath, and you can disable it by performing the following steps:

Start regedit.exe.

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.

Double-click DontPrettyPath (or create this key with a type of REG_DWORD if it doesn't exist).

Set the value to 1 to keep the case as you type it or 0 to adjust the case as Explorer requires.

Click OK.

Close regedit.

Restart the machine

[MadDoctor]

Free Up Some RAM! (credit goes to messiah)

If you have just run an intensive or specifically large application or game, you know about that groggy feeling your system can have. That's usually because of the leftovers taking up your valuable memory. You can free it, however, by clicking your heels together 3 times and saying: "Let my memory go." Er, I mean, using a program to free that trapped memory. There are many good programs to do this at Tweakfiles.

If you don't want to download a big fancy program, you can actually make one yourself very easily using Visual Basic runtimes (you don't even need VB to do this).

Here's what you do:
Open up Notepad (Start, Run, "notepad" (OK)). Depending on how much memory you have, put the appropriate values in...
Under 128mb Ram:
Mystring = (16000000)

128mb or More:
Mystring = (80000000)

Save it as "Memory.vbe" (including the quotes!). Close as many programs as you can, then run (double click) this handy little script to free your memory whenever your computer is feeling sluggish.

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Originally posted by MadDoctor
Free Up Some RAM! (credit goes to messiah)

If you have just run an intensive or specifically large application or game, you know about that groggy feeling your system can have. That's usually because of the leftovers taking up your valuable memory. You can free it, however, by clicking your heels together 3 times and saying: "Let my memory go." Er, I mean, using a program to free that trapped memory. There are many good programs to do this at Tweakfiles.

If you don't want to download a big fancy program, you can actually make one yourself very easily using Visual Basic runtimes (you don't even need VB to do this).

Here's what you do:
Open up Notepad (Start, Run, "notepad" (OK)). Depending on how much memory you have, put the appropriate values in...
Under 128mb Ram:
Mystring = (16000000)

128mb or More:
Mystring = (80000000)

Save it as "Memory.vbe" (including the quotes!). Close as many programs as you can, then run (double click) this handy little script to free your memory whenever your computer is feeling sluggish.

Nice!!

[Annalysa]

Cheesey tips to see if your system may have a virus.

This would be pre Xp as I have not played with it enough to know if this will all work but I can check when I go to work tomorrow


There the obvious...



Right click on my computer go to properties and preformance and see if anything is running in msdos compatiblity mode

Dos prompt type in mem and look under total under 1mb should always be 640k unless you are running like powerquest or second chance


Go to safemode -- if it tells you your master boot record has be changed

Missing files or desktop icons

access denied on opening programs or other executables.

The presence of new images and software on your system

mp3s or images coming up as vbs- loveletter

moving icons second stage of magistr

Update antivirus constantly........... There are generally ways to get rid of virus's manually if you dont have antivirus software.. Google is your friend.

I would think more but I dont have to its my day off -- and I have to work for the next 8 days in a row

[Juggernaut]

Originally posted by MadDoctor
Save it as "Memory.vbe" (including the quotes!). Close as many programs as you can, then run (double click) this handy little script to free your memory whenever your computer is feeling sluggish.

Hey MadDoc, why do u have to include the quotes on the filename?

[MadDoctor]

Originally posted by Juggernaut


Hey MadDoc, why do u have to include the quotes on the filename?

Not sure. messiah could tell us I guess. All I know is it doesn't work (for me) if I don't. Downhill says it does work without the quotes.

[mikemean]

OR, you could download MAXMEM from analogX

Originally posted by MadDoctor
Free Up Some RAM! (credit goes to messiah)

If you have just run an intensive or specifically large application or game, you know about that groggy feeling your system can have. That's usually because of the leftovers taking up your valuable memory. You can free it, however, by clicking your heels together 3 times and saying: "Let my memory go." Er, I mean, using a program to free that trapped memory. There are many good programs to do this at Tweakfiles.

If you don't want to download a big fancy program, you can actually make one yourself very easily using Visual Basic runtimes (you don't even need VB to do this).

Here's what you do:
Open up Notepad (Start, Run, "notepad" (OK)). Depending on how much memory you have, put the appropriate values in...
Under 128mb Ram:
Mystring = (16000000)

128mb or More:
Mystring = (80000000)

Save it as "Memory.vbe" (including the quotes!). Close as many programs as you can, then run (double click) this handy little script to free your memory whenever your computer is feeling sluggish.

[TonyT]

Tip # 42
Never put larger than 12 oz mugs in the cup holder.

[TonyT]

Tip # 43

A good thing to backup is your Restricted Sites Zone entries in IE.

In Regedit, export this key to re-merge later after a format or on another system:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

Save the backup file as Domains.reg

[blacklab]

For those of you still using Windows Explorer, goto

http://download.com.com/3000-2248-10...ml?legacy=cnet

and download PowerDesk. This program runs rings around Explorer. Two windows, drag & drop just like Windows 3.11 File Manager.

[TonyT]

just like Windows 3.11 File Manager.

On the same note, Windows File manager is still packaged with Windows version after 3.1.

Start\Run\winfile Presto!

[MadDoctor]

Win95 and Win98 OS can physically address AND USE up to 4gig of memory.

The ONLY requirement to use over 512meg of memory is that the line "maxfilecache=524288" be included in the [VCache] section of the system.ini file, to stop file name caching from creating problems.

Now go make that Win98 machine scream.....

[mountainman]

Can someone post a good list of all of the useful "start==>run==>" programs with Windows?

For instance, like this:

winipcfg - view your IP settings and internet connection device
regedit - view and edit all of your registry entries and settings
msconfig - set-up your system configurement and add/delete start-up programs

These are the only ones I know.

If someone knows a lot and can describe them well, please make a NICE, LONG list.

Just my .02.

[YARDofSTUF]

YoS cheap tip #1:

using TweakUI adn Xteq Xsetup are ok, but enabling teh same options in both programs can cause teh option or trick to be disabled or undone. (tested on winME and XP)

[Dakota]

XP Command line tools:

bootcfg
View your boot loader settings, such as your default OS and selection timeout, as well as your boot entries and load options.

defrag
You probably already guessed that this defrags your hard drive. Type only "defrag" into your command prompt to get a list of possible arguments, such as the drive letter and the type of output.

diskpart
Manages your disk partitions. After you type "diskpart" into your command prompt, your prompt will become "DISKPART." Type a question mark to get a list of possible arguments. Type exit to leave diskpart.

driverquery
Will get you a nice list of your drivers and their properties.

fsutil
This is a handy command. You can do everything from managing your hardlinks to querying the free space in a volume. Type "fsutil" into your command prompt, and you'll see a list of options. I choose "fsinfo" from the list, so I type "fsutil fsinfo" into the prompt. Now I get even more options, but I choose drives by typing "fsutil fsinfo drives." It's fun, it's easy, and you'll get the hang of it. Explore this utility. There are a lot of cool features and hidden twists.

getmac
This gets the MAC (Media Access Control) address.

gpresult
Get the RSoP, user settings, and computer group policy settings.

netsh
A network configuration tool. Type "netsh" to enter the tool, or "netsh /?" to learn more about it. To exit this tool, type "exit" at the "netsh>" prompt.

openfiles
Allows an administrator to display or disconnect open files in XP professional. Type "openfiles /?" for a list of possible parameters.

recover
This command attempts to recover readable information from a damaged disk. Type "recover" to get the syntax.

reg
The console registry tool. Get syntax help when you type "reg" into the prompt. You can export the registry, copy, restore, compare, and more.

schtasks
The administrator can schedule, run, change, or delete tasks on a local or remote machine. Type "schtasks /?" without the quotes for a list of options.

sfc
The system file checker scans protected system files and replaces the ones you (or your applications) hacked beyond repair with the real, official Microsoft versions. Type "sfc" into the command prompt to get a list of options.

shutdown
You can shut down or restart your own computer, or an administrator can shut down or restart a remote computer. Type "shutdown" into your command prompt to see a list of possible arguments.

systeminfo
Basic system configuration information, such as the system type, the processor type, your time zone, your virtual memory settings, and much more.

tasklist
Want to know what's going on behind the scenes? Type "tasklist" into the command prompt, and get a list of current processes.

taskkill
Now that you know what's going on behind the scenes, maybe you want to shut a few of these extraneous tasks down. That's where taskkill comes in. Type "taskkill /?" for a quick lesson in the syntax of the command, then shut down all those random processes. I just killed my MS messenger by typing "taskkill /PID 1680." I got the PID from running tasklist, above.

[Ken]

Great stufferz guys, keep it up!

If you want to keep the favicons, or small icons, from sites, on your links bar, quick launch, etc..., and hate them resorting to the default IE icon everytime that you delete cookies, then this will solve that problem.

The easy way is to first clear you cookies and TIF files, then go to the site you want to have a button for, drag the link to the bar of your choice.
If the small icon doesn't show up on the bar with the short cut, just click on the link and hold it then drag it an inch and let it go. Do this a couple times if necessary...

Then head back to Inet options> Settings> view files. Look for the icon in there. Right click on it, Properties, copy, then paste in your address window. It will open a page at the site that will only have a tiny icon (favicon), Right click on the favicon and select "Save as".
Put it in a folder in your pictures such as "My Favicons" or whatever you choose that is easy for you to find and remember.

When you save it, be sure that you add a diferent number to eack favicon...
example:
The red "SG" for speedguide is in my folder, named as "SGfavicon1.ico"
For [H]OCP, it is "Hfavicon2.ico"

Note that I added the "SG....1" to "favicon.ico"

Then just Right click on the shortcut on the bar, properties, change icon, browse... Then find your favicon folder, click on the icon that you want for the link, then, OK, apply and OK again.
Batta bom, batta bing, it's a done deal! You will always have that icon represent that shortcut.

Another secrete is that you can, if you choose, have that same favicon represent what links you choose, and as many as you want. It doesn't matter...

Now come on!! Let's get some tips & tricks posted!
Hey YOU!, Yeah YOU! Quit just reading this and post a tip! I know that you know some!...

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Want to keep people from accessing Windows, even as the default user. If you do not have a domain do attempt this.

1. Open RegEdit
2. got to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon
3. Create a dword value "MustBeValidated"
4. Set the value to 1

This forced logon can be bypassed in Safe Mode

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Disable Compressed Folders

Windows Me and XP include a built-in feature to manage compressed ZIP files and folders. This tweak allows you to disable it and install a third-party application.

To disable the compressed folder feature click on Start -> Run and enter the following command:

regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

To enable ZIP folder support run this command:

regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.