23 Ways To Speed up Windows XP, Not only Defrag

Since defragging the disk won't do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of yours or your customers' PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.




1.) To decrease a system's boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software -- the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine -- and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer(now even better ones are available).

2.) If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.

3.) Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you're not sure, here's how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it's important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.

Hide Drives Without Registry

Here is a cool technique which hides entire hard disk drives by a simple procedure.
This is the best security tip to be employ against unauthorised users.

1) Go to Start > Run > type "diskpart".
A DOS window will appear with following description.

DISKPART>

2) Then type "list volume"-


3) Suppose you want to hide drive E then type "select volume 3"
Then a message will appear in same window { Volume 3 is the selected volume}

"No Audio Device" Windows Problem - Here's the solution!

IF got this "No Audio Device" and try every thing to solve this and nothing worked than try this.

Hidden Program In Windows

Go to Start > Run > and type in eudcedit - this will open up a font editor -
allowing you to design your own custom fonts and characters to be used in things like MS Word.
MS Microsoft Word Font Character Hidden Secret Program Windows XP

20 Things the Average Person Doesn’t Know About Windows XP

1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Go to the Command Prompt in the Accessories menu from the All Programs start button option, and then type ’systeminfo’. The computer will produce a lot of useful info, including the uptime. If you want to keep these, type ’systeminfo > info.txt’. This creates a file called info.txt you can look at later with Notepad. (Professional Edition only).

2. You can delete files immediately, without having them move to the Recycle Bin first. Go to the Start menu, select Run… and type ‘gpedit.msc’; then select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer and find the Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin setting. Set it. Poking around in gpedit will reveal a great many interface and system options, but take care — some may stop your computer behaving as you wish. (Professional Edition only).

3. You can lock your XP workstation with two clicks of the mouse. Create a new shortcut on your desktop using a right mouse click, and enter ‘rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation’ in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That’s it — just double click on it and your computer will be locked. And if that’s not easy enough, Windows key + L will do the same.

Shut Down Your Pc Faster

Shut Down Your Pc Faster Like Never Before!!

Go To -

Start ->
Run ->
Type = "Regedit" and Press Enter

Now, navigate to -

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control


Click on the "Control" Folder.
Select "WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
Right click on it and select Modify.
Set it a value lower than 2000 (Mine is set to 200).

Thats it guys and see the difference when u shut down ur PC.

Display or Hide Icons in control Panel

Hi.....here is the steps to hide or display icons in the Control panel. For eg., if u want to hide add/remove icon jusy follow below steps........


* Go to Start > Run and type regedit then press Enter.
* In the Registry Editor window, find the path like this,

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don’t load

* Right click on ” don’t load ” folder and select New > String Value.

* Name the created String Value related to the Control Panel icon you want it to be hidden. To illustrate, I would like to hide the icon, Add/Remove Programs Option, so I must name the String Value appwiz.cpl . Each String Value name is specific and varies with the Control Panel icon.


* Double click on appwiz.cpl .

* Type Yes to hide the Add/Remove Programs Option icon and then click OK button.

* Open Control Panel, the Add/Remove Programs Option icon is now hidden.

* In case you want the icon to display again, just type No instead of Yes in Value Data dialog.

Can't see Hidden files/folders in Computer ?

If u can't see Hidden files/folders in my computer. Even U enable the option "Show hidden files/folders" in "Tools -> Folder Options", its automatically disabled again.


Solution1: Go to your Start menu, click on Run and open up your Registry Editor by typing "regedit" without the quotes and pressing OK.

Once there go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Advanced\F older\Hidden\SHOWALL

Delete the value CheckedValue. (Its type should be REG_SZ and data should be 0 or 1.)

Create a new DWORD value called CheckedValue (same as above, except that the type is REG_DWORD) by right clicking on the right pane->New->DWORD Value. Modify the value data to 1 (0x00000001).


Solution 2: Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Advanced
In right-side pane, change value of "Hidden" to as following:

1 - To show hidden file
2 - To not show hidden files

If it doesn't work, then scan your computer with an good anti-virus software.

Double-Click on any drive -- opens search option (Virus Effect)

That's a virus named as ravmon.exe and autorun.inf and sometimes Because of NewFolder.exe

Scan first with a good antivirus
then try this trick.

First show the hidden files and folders options then try this method

1. Go to Start-->run and type cmd then click ok

2. If u want to remove the infected file from D drive then type D: in command prompt and press enter

3. Type autorun.inf and press enter autorun.inf file is opened


4. Now type "attrib autorun.inf -s -h -r" ( this removes System ,Hidden n Read Only attribute for a files )and press enter

5. Now delete the file by typing
"del autorun.inf" and press enter

6. Now type autorun.inf and press enter now, u will find no infected autorun.inf file.

7. same way do for all other drives then restart ur pc

Increase Hard Disk speed in Windows

If you like to increase/optimize your Hard Disk I/O - read/write speed without buying expensive software utilities to do that job or changing the HD, just follow next steps. With doing these steps you will increase Hard disk speed (depends of manufacture and specification, but its worth to try). The most speed improvement is visible with IDE drives;

In any case, it won't harm your system, so try it yourself and let me know what you find!

Steps:

1. Run SYSEDIT.EXE from the start & then Run command.
2. Expand the system.ini file window.
3. Scroll down almost to the end of the file untill you find a line called [386enh].
4. Press Enter to make one blank line, and in that line type
5. Irq14=4096 (note: This line IS CASE SENSITIVE)
6. Click on the File menu, then choose Save.
7. Close SYSEDIT and reboot your computer.
8. Restart windows!

The speed improvement will be noticed just after the system reboots, any system info. software can be used to check the improvement.

Watch STAR WARS in command prompt (Secret Movie)

Command Prompt can be used to watch movies. It is generally considered as a boring application which is not used by people that often.

When I am going through some sites I came across a post which contains the method of watching STAR WARS in the command prompt. All you have to do is follow these steps :
Go to Start > Run
Type cmd to open command prompt.
Type this:

telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl

Press Enter and enjoy the movie !!!!

Windows Explorer crashes suddenly when Right-Clicking on a File

Windows Explorer crashes with the message ’Explorer.exe must be closed‘ whenever a file is right clicked.

The desktop restarts and all folder windows that were open earlier are closed. The error started occurring irregularly after the installation of an application that included shell integration. Here is the way to troubleshoot and solve the problem and prevent it from occurring.

A new installation always brings about some changes to the system registry. If the installation involved creation of a command in the context menu,

Show your favorite name in windows taskbar

In windows XP, You can display your name or any other favorite word in
windows taskbar just beside the digital time area and you can surprise
your friends to show them your name in windows taskbar.

Follow the given steps to display the name in windows task bar:

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with
administrative rights.

Start your pc very fast

First Click on the start button then press Run
and type Regedit
press enter
this will open Registery Editor
now look for the key

HKEY_LOACAL_MECHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contr ol\ContentIndex

now there find the Key Called
"Startup Delay"
Double Click On ItNow where its Base
Click Decimal
Now its Default Value Is 4800000
Change The Value To 40000
here u go u have done it
now close the Registery Editor and Restart Your Computer

Shortcut Keys for Windows XP

General keyboard shortcuts

• CTRL+C (Copy)
• CTRL+X (Cut)
• CTRL+V (Paste)
• CTRL+Z (Undo)
• DELETE (Delete)
• SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
• CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
• CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
• F2 key (Rename the 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)

"Windows\System32\config\system" file missing or corrupt

How to overcome this problem in Windows XP?

Here is a solution:

1. Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

copy %windir%\Repair\system %windir%\System32\Config

2. If it doesnt work, then again boot into "Recovery Console" and give following commands:

fixmbr

bootcfg /scan

bootcfg /rebuild

fixboot

Clearing the Page File on Shutdown

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

1.Click on the Start button
2.Go to the Control Panel
3.Administrative Tools
4.Local Security Policy
5.Local Policies
6.Click on Security Options
7.Right hand menu - right click on "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"

Controlling the Desktop Cleanup Wizard

By default, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard will pop up every 60 days to cleanup your desktop.
To stop this:

1.Right click on the desktop.
2.Select Properties
3.Click on the Desktop tab
4.Click on the Customize Desktop button
5.Uncheck Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Hiding the Windows Version on the Desktop

If your version of WindowsXP is displaying on the desktop and
you would like to remove it:

1.Start Regedit
2.Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
3.Edit or Create the DWORD entry PaintDesktopVersion
4.A value of 0 will hide the version from the desktop
5.Logoff or reboot
reg file
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000000

To make this change for all future users, edit

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop in the same manner.

Saving Desktop Settings

If you desktop or folders on your desktop do not retain their settings:
Start Regedit

1.Go go

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions

2.Create or edit the DWORD value NoSaveSettings
3.Give it a value of 0
Reg file
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions]

"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000