Computer Tips & Tricks

[Ken]

K, everyone's not playing... Am I going to have to start threatening here!

Let's go with some tips and tricks people!!!

[Noevo]

Here's some good stuff

http://forums.speedguide.net/search....der=descending

[lvslr]

A good site:


Annoyances.org!

[lvslr]

Windows XP

Logon and Shutdown

·Do you want to switch quickly between different users in your machine? Use windows key + L to go to your Welcome screen. However, if you have Fast User Switch disabled (either by your choice, or because your computer is a member of a domain), windows key + L is a fast way to lock your machine to others while you have to leave your desk.
·If you have multiple users logged on the machine and Fast User Switching enabled, you can bypass the Welcome screen to switch users by going to the User tab in Task Manager, right click on a user and choose Connect.
·To shutdown remotely your machine. Create a file called "RemoteShutdown.js" consisting of the following single line:
(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();
Save it on your desktop or anywhere else convenient. When you want to shut down your machine remotely, double-click the file and select your desired shutdown option.
Working with Files

·To rename several files at once, select all of them in any folder view, or in the Windows Explorer, rename the FIRST one in the list, and the rest will follow.
·To turn off filenames, hold down the Shift key when you click to open a folder in Windows Explorer or when you switch into thumbnail view. This will turn of the file names, giving more space for the thumbnails. Doing it again turns them back on.
·Try grouping your files. In the top menu bar select View – Arrange icons by . . . - Type, and then View – Arrange icons by . . . - Show in groups.
·You can change the size and quality of the shell’s thumbnails. Start regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER (only for you) or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (for all the users in this computer) and in Software – Microsoft – Windows – CurrentVersion – Explorer, add or modify the following entries:
·ThumbnailSize – Double Word, decimal value between 32 and 256
·ThumbnailQuality – Double Word, decimal value between 50 and 100
Your Music

·Set your own Album Art for folder + Media Player. If you don't like the album art or have a folder of downloaded music that you want to add art to, you can simply select any graphic from your browser and save it inside of the folder you want and call it "Folder.jpg". When you now play any music that resides in that folder, the Media Player will automatically pick it up and display it.
Internet Explorer

·You can use the Search Companion in Internet Explorer to perform many Internet related actions. Try:
·go msft
·Go yp cheesecake factory
Interface

·Get rid of balloon tips: Start regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER and set EnableBalloonTips=0x00000000
·Disable the Search companion to go back to the traditional search view: Start regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER and in Software – Microsoft – Windows – CurrentVersion – Explorer – CabinetState, set the value of Use Search Asst to “no”
·Turn off the low disk space notification: Start regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER and in Software – Microsoft – Windows – CurrentVersion – Policies - Explorer, and set the value of NoLowDiskSpaceChecks to DWORD = 1. (This modification requires a logoff or reboot to work)
·You can force your taskbar to group windows. Any application that has any number you decide of windows open will automatically cluster, regardless of how full your taskbar is. To set this: Start regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER and in Software – Microsoft – Windows – CurrentVersion – Explorer - Advanced, and create a REG_DWORD with the name TaskbarGroupSize and the value you want to reach before the windows are clustered together on the taskbar. (This modification requires a logoff to work).
Keyboard

· windows key + Break opens the Control Panel System applet.
· windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons
· windows key + D shows the Desktop
· windows key + L shows the Welcome screen, or locks the machine if Fast User Switching is disabled.

[brembo]

SIT!
ROLL OVER!
SHAKE!
STAY!

Good computer, heres yer conditioned line, yes...good computer, good computer.

[Jstyr]

If your having problems with Windows blue screening, or application crashes, try running the system file checker. It's located under Start/programs/accessories/system tools/system information. Once in here to to the tools button and you'll see the option. This basically lets you fix corrupted files in your system and has helped me in the past.

You'll also see the internet explorer repair tool here which won't hurt to run especially if you are having browser issues.

Get Adaware from lavasoft and run it often to prevent spyware on your system....this can lead to system corruption and various errors.

Get Regcleaner from www.bootdisk.com under the utility files. This is a great easy ti use program that lets you adjust your start-up programs properly and remove old program fragments left in the registry.

[brembo]

Originally posted by Ken



No excuses! Everyone add a tip!

Don't squat with spurs on.

[AMPLIFRIER]

if you have a multi boot system......perform defrag on one os from another os......that way.....any files that would be in use can be moved.

better defrag



AMP

[CableDude]

Originally posted by jumpinduo
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.

Add this to your list.

For Windows 98/ME

Microsoft Hardware Diagnostic tool

hwinfo /ui


http://support.microsoft.com/search/...;en-us;Q185956

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

A great thread. Let's keep it alive!

Changing Thumbnail Options in XP

You can change the size of the Thumbnails view in My Computer by opening up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigating to the following location:

Current user only:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer

All users:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer

Add a new DWORD value called ThumbnailSize and give it a hexidecimal value that is between 32 and 256, inclusive (that is, the lowest possible value is 32 and the highest is 256): A value of 32 will give you the smallest possible thumbnails, and 256 will give you the biggest. Experiment a bit to find your sweet spot.

[Shagster]

I know this happens in win98...

The green line on top of the screen on startup and random restarts during startup...

To solve most of startup problems rename the following files so windows can't find them (these have to do with tape drives, nothing will be hurt unless you have a tape drive installed)

drvwq117.vxd
drvwppqt.vxd

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Originally posted by THEshaggy
I know this happens in win98...

The green line on top of the screen on startup and random restarts during startup...

To solve most of startup problems rename the following files so windows can't find them (these have to do with tape drives, nothing will be hurt unless you have a tape drive installed)

drvwq117.vxd
drvwppqt.vxd

nice!

Keep 'em coming!

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Another XP tweak.

Do Not Highlight Newly Installed Programs

Tired of that annoying little window that pops up to tell you that new software is installed? If it gets in the way when you’re logging off, turn it off completely.

To do this Click Start, right-click at the top of the Start menu

Where your name is displayed, and then click Properties.

In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, on the Start Menu tab, click Customize.

Click the Advanced tab, and then clear the Highlight newly installed programs check box.

Click OK, and then click OK again

[Norm]

Tons of tips for XP

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...s/moretips.asp

Tons of links for XP

http://forums.speedguide.net/showthr...threadid=79383

There, I did my part.

How about you?

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Alphabetize your start menu

Don't you hate how Windows adds new programs to the end of the start menu? The fix is quick and simple, right click on the menu and select sort by name. Ah isn't that better?


Or download download Q-Sort to alphabetize your favorites folder and start menu.

(Curiosity of Suzie from the Must Have Downloads thread).

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Originally posted by Norm

How about you?

Nah! hehe

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Get Rid of Unwanted Balloon Tips

Open up the Registry Editor and expand the tree to display the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced

Then, created a new DWORD value named EnableBalloonTips and set it to 0x00000000.

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Disable zip folders

Are the ZIP folders too slow for you? Disable it by unregistering the file zipfldr.dll.

start-run-regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Cab files are not folders

XP treats Cab files like folders, to stop this type 'regsvr32 /u cabview.dll' at the command prompt.

To reverse it type 'regsvr32 cabview.dll'

[Joint Chiefs of Staff]

Regedit stays expanded

When I open regedit and expand a folder and open regedit later the folder stays expanded. How can I disable this?

How can you disable it? Why, through the Registry, of course! You'll need to be in the admin account, or yours must have admin privileges.

In regedit, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Regedit and look for the value LastKey.

Double-click it and clear the string. Then right-click the Regedit key (in the lefthand pane) and select Permissions. Set Permissions to Deny for any/all users/groups.

Voila!