SASANK@TECHNOMANIA

This is a great trick you can play on your friends. To disable the display of local or networked drives when you click My Computer.

1.Go to start->run.Type regedit.Now go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

2.Now right click in the right pane

3.create a new DWORD item and name it NoDrives (it is case sensitive).

4.Now modify it's value and set it to 3FFFFFF (Hexadecimal) .

5.Now restart your computer.

6.So, now when you click on My Computer, no drives will be shown(all gone...).

7.To enable display of drives in My Computer, simply delete this DWORD item that you created.

8.Again restart your computer.

9.You can now see all the drives again. Magic........lol....

please comment here regarding the trick and subscribes to this post so as to remain updated about the blog..............

"In the Run box, type "Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks". This frees up any idle tasks running in the background so that Windows XP can devote its full attention to what you want it to do. For example playing graphic intensive games."

While it DOES free up idle tasks, according to Microsoft, it can take up to 15 minutes to do so. You would not want to run this task before playing a game or using your machine as it will actually cause any tasks waiting for the system to become idle to be performed immediately.

Quote from Microsoft:

"When called from the command line, the ProcessIdleTasks work is done in the background asynchronously. It can take 10 to 15 minutes for idle tasks to complete. Task Manager will report processes running, and the disk will likely be active during this time"

The complete article can be found here:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/performance/benchmark.mspx

"In the Run box, type "Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks". This frees up any idle tasks running in the background so that Windows XP can devote its full attention to what you want it to do. For example playing graphic intensive games."

While it DOES free up idle tasks, according to Microsoft, it can take up to 15 minutes to do so. You would not want to run this task before playing a game or using your machine as it will actually cause any tasks waiting for the system to become idle to be performed immediately.

Quote from Microsoft:

"When called from the command line, the ProcessIdleTasks work is done in the background asynchronously. It can take 10 to 15 minutes for idle tasks to complete. Task Manager will report processes running, and the disk will likely be active during this time"

The complete article can be found here:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/performance/benchmark.mspx

This tweak is useful if you boot to the default OS most of the time and only boot to the other OS's on a limited basis.

1)Locate and Open the hidden file "boot.ini" in notepad or your favorite text editor. This file will likely be in the root directory on the boot partition of your "master" HD. For example, mine is located in "C:\boot.ini" even though I have Win98 loaded on this partition and the boot.ini file was generated when I loaded WinXP on "D:/"

2) Locate the line - timeout=30 (default is 30 seconds). Change this value to any time desired. I chose 10. Be careful not to choose too low of a setting or you may not have time to select your other OS's. Also, be careful not to change other lines as this may prevent your PC from booting at all.

3)Save the file. The next time you boot your PC, the changes will take effect.

Note: You can also adjust this in Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings > Time to display list of operating systems

This tweak is useful if you boot to the default OS most of the time and only boot to the other OS's on a limited basis.

1)Locate and Open the hidden file "boot.ini" in notepad or your favorite text editor. This file will likely be in the root directory on the boot partition of your "master" HD. For example, mine is located in "C:\boot.ini" even though I have Win98 loaded on this partition and the boot.ini file was generated when I loaded WinXP on "D:/"

2) Locate the line - timeout=30 (default is 30 seconds). Change this value to any time desired. I chose 10. Be careful not to choose too low of a setting or you may not have time to select your other OS's. Also, be careful not to change other lines as this may prevent your PC from booting at all.

3)Save the file. The next time you boot your PC, the changes will take effect.

Note: You can also adjust this in Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings > Time to display list of operating systems

Let's say you have a game installed called HIGH NEEDS and the executable is called HN.exe

Here's what to do:

-Create a new textfile in the game-app wathever-directory (let's say C:\HN), but instead of giving it the .txt extension you name it HN.bat
-Right-click this file and choose 'Edit', you'll see it'll open notepad. Put this line in:
cmd /c start /High HN.exe
-Save (make sure you save it as .bat, not as .txt) and close.

Now create a shortcut to this file and place it on your desktop. Every time you doubleclick this shortcut HIGH NEEDS will open with priority set to 'high'. (ofcourse you can also create a batchfile on your desktop, containing the full path of the app you want to start but the nice thing of creating a shortcut is you can give it an icon).

These are all the settings: Realtime, High, AboveNormal, Normal, BelowNormal, Low.

Let's say you have a game installed called HIGH NEEDS and the executable is called HN.exe

Here's what to do:

-Create a new textfile in the game-app wathever-directory (let's say C:\HN), but instead of giving it the .txt extension you name it HN.bat
-Right-click this file and choose 'Edit', you'll see it'll open notepad. Put this line in:
cmd /c start /High HN.exe
-Save (make sure you save it as .bat, not as .txt) and close.

Now create a shortcut to this file and place it on your desktop. Every time you doubleclick this shortcut HIGH NEEDS will open with priority set to 'high'. (ofcourse you can also create a batchfile on your desktop, containing the full path of the app you want to start but the nice thing of creating a shortcut is you can give it an icon).

These are all the settings: Realtime, High, AboveNormal, Normal, BelowNormal, Low.

USB Devices like i-pod,pen drives e.t.c; brings viruses/worms which are bad since it disables a lot of features as well as it ruins memory the slows down the whole thing. It disables much of the removal process like Windows RegEdit.exe, MsConfig.exe and also TaskMan.exe. Variations of these also disables your keyboard during normal booting, floods your disk with virus files in the root directory and also the windows directory and some also floods your directory with Folder looking icons that is an executable..

So here are some tips in avoiding this:
1. Always make all files visible like system and also hidden files with their extension shown.Go to Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Option > View
* Enable Show Hidden File
* Disable Hide Extensions for know file type
* Disable Hide Protected OS files

2. Never Use the Autorun functionality in Windowswhenever you put a disk(flash, memory card, usb drive devices and other form of removable drive) it is always a practice to scan it first. but to avoid being the first to be infected by a wild one, always use Windows Explorer to browse the files.

Use the left side(Folder Window), to browse the files.
Whenever you see an autorun.inf file, delete it! remove the disk and insert it again to avoid clicking it.
To disable autorun go to gpedit.msc >> computer config >> admin templates >> system >> turn off autoplay

3. Always update Virus database!

Step 1. Open up notepad
Step 2. Typelol=msgbox("Whatever you want message to say",20,"Whatever you want the window to be titled")
Ex:lol=msgbox("Warning your computer has been infected by a virus ",20,"Virus Alert")

Step 3. Save the text as Whateveryouwant.vbs

The number 20 represents the type of window style the message will be in. You can experiment with different styles you want

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go 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 on Windows 9x delete

You can add your name or anything you like that consists of 8 characters or less. This will replace the AM or PM next to the system time. But you can corrupt some trial licenses of software that you may have downloaded.

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International
3. Add two new String values, "s1159" and "s2359"
4. Right click the new value name and modify.
Enter anything you like up to 8 characters.

If you enter two different values when modifying, you can have the system tray display the two different values in the AM and PM.

Here is how to add any application to the Context Menu when you right click on any Folder. This way you do not have to always go to the Start Menu. When you right click on any folder, you can have access to that application, the same as using Sent To.

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
3. Add a new Key to the "Shell" Key and name it anything you like.
4. Give it a default value that will appear when you right click a folder, i.e. NewKey (use an "&" without the quotes, in front of any character and it will allow you to use the keyboard)
5. Click on the Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\NewKey
6. Add a New Key named Command
7. Set the (Default) value of the application you want to run
8. For example: c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe (Include the full path and parameters if you need them)

When you want to right click on any folder and want to open up an Explorer window of that folder.

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
3. Add a new Key "RootExplore " under the "Shell" Key
4. Set the (Default) value to "E&xplore From Here "
5. Right Click the "RootExplore " Key and add a new Key "Command"to the RootExplore
6. Set the (Default) value of Explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i

If you want to create a Logon Banner: A message box to appear below your logon on.

1.Open RegEdit
2.Go ToHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon
3.Create a new String value"LegalNoticeCaption "
4. Enter the Title of the window. What is displayed in the Title Bar.
5. Create a new string value "LegalNoticeText"
6. Enter the text for your message box that will appear even before the Logon window.

To make Windows use multiple Start Menu Columns instead of a single scrolling column, like Windows 9x had, Also if you are using Classic Mode in XP

1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to the keyHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer\ Advanced
3. Create a string value "StartMenuScrollPrograms"
4. Right click the new string value and select modify
5. Set the value to "FALSE"

DISABLING DRIVES IN MY COMPUTER
To turn off the display of local or networked drives when you click on My Computer:
1.Open RegEdit
2.Go toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer
3.Add a New DWORD item and name it NoDrives
4.Give it a value of 3FFFFFF
5.Now when you click on My Computer, none of your drives will show.
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CHANGE THE LOCATION OF WINDOWS INSTALLATION FILES
If you need to change the drive and or path where Windows looks for its installation files:
1.Open RegEdit
2.Go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Setup
3.Edit the value next to SourcePath
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CHANGE THE CAPTION ON TITLE BAR
Change the Caption on the Title Bar for OutLook Express or the Internet Explorer:For Outlook Express:
1. Open RegEdit
2. Go toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OutLook ExpressFor IE5 and up use:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\IDENTITIES \{9DDDACCO-38F2-11D6-93CA-812B1F3493B}\ SOFTWARE\ MICROSOFT\ OUTLOOK EXPRESS\5.0
3. Add a string value "WindowTitle" (no space)
4. Modify the value to what ever you like.

For no splash screen, add a dword value "NoSplash" set to 1The Key {9DDDACCO-38F2-11D6-93CA-812B1F3493B} can be any key you find here. Each user has his own Key number.The Key 5.0 is whatever version of IE you have

For Internet Explorer:
1. Open RegEdit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. Add a string value "Window Title" (use a space)
4. Modify the value to what ever you like.
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ADD/DELETE PROGRAMS TO RUN EVERY TIME WINDOWS STAR

You can start or stop programs from executing at boot up by adding or deleting them to/from the run Keys in the Registry. Windows loads programs to start in the following order; Program listed in the Local Machine hive, then the Current User hive, then theWin.ini Run= and Load = lines. then finally programs in your Start Up folder.

To add or remove programs in the Registry
1.Open RegEdit
2.Go to the desired KeyHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion \RunHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion \RunServicesHKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion \RunHKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion \RunServices
3. Add a new String Value and name it anything you like
4. For the value data, enter the path and executable for the program you want to run.
By adding the value to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive instead allows the program to start only when that user is logged on.

If you add the value to the RunOnce key the program will run once and be removed from the key by Windows.

Task manager is such an important tool in Windows XP Which describes the functions and applications running on your system which you can’t see.
It is also helpful in terminating the process which is not responding.
If such an important tool is disabled on your pc, Then don’t get frustrated.
Here’s the solution for enabling it.
1. Click “START” button and go to “RUN” and type ‘regedit’
2. Registry window will be opened,
Then Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER-->SOFTWARE-->MICROSOFT-->WINDOWS
-->CURRENT VERSION

3.Create a Key “System”
4.In System, create a new”DWORD”Value: Disable Task Mgr
5.Set the Data value to 0 to enable Task Manager.

If you were blocked from accessing the registry at the first point
then try this
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Sometimes, a virus such Brontok variants could disable your built-in Windows registry editing tool, which is regedit. It might also because of limited account’s level access where you are only a normal user and not an administrator with full access of the system. Now, one simple way to indicate the problem is whenever you are trying to open the regedit program through “run”, you will get the following message:
“Registry Editing Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator”

I began computing in the days of DOS, and I still can't give up the command prompt. When it comes to doing down-and-dirty tasks like mass deleting or renaming of files, nothing beats it. I find myself frequently switching back and forth between Windows Explorer and the command prompt.Often, when using Windows Explorer, I want to open the command prompt at the folder that's my current location.
That takes too many steps: opening a command prompt and then navigating to my current folder.
However, there's a quicker way: you can add an option to the right-click context menu that will open a command prompt at your current folder.
For example, if you were to right-click the
C:\My Stuff folder,
you could then choose to open a command prompt at
C:\My Stuff.To add the option, run the Registry Editor, then go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Classes/Folder/Shell.
Create a new key called Command Prompt. For the default value, enter whatever text you want to appear when you right-click a folderfor example, Open Command Prompt.
Create a new key beneath the Command Prompt key called Command.
Set the default value to Cmd.exe /k pushd %L.
That value will launch Cmd.exe, which is the XP command prompt.
The /k switch puts the prompt into interactive mode.
That is, it lets you issue commands from the command prompt; the command prompt isn't being used to issue only a single command and then exit. The pushd command stores the name of the current directory, and %L uses that name to start the command prompt at it.
Exit the Registry.
The new menu option will show up immediately.

Note that it won't appear when you right-click a file; it shows up only when you right-click a folder.While many of us like fussing around with the Registry rather than doing things the easy way, there's also a way to add this option to your right-click context menu without editing the Registry.
Download and install a free copy of Microsoft's Open Command Window Here PowerToy from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp.

Try this , if you have windows XP professionalthis is for broad band connections/dial up running Windows XP.
1. log on as Administrator.
2. start - run - type gpedit.msc
3. expand "local computer policy"
4. then expand "administrative templates"
5. then expand "network branch"
6. Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler"
7. on right window double click "limit reservable bandwidth"
8. on setting tab check the "enabled"
9. change "Bandwidth limit %" to 0reboot if promptedthis is because Windows XP reserve 20% of the bandwidth for its self.
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TECH :2Host Resolution Priority Tweak host name resolution priority
===================================================================
Windows 2k/XP
First,
open the Windows Registry using Regedit, and (after backing up) navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\ServiceProvider

Note the following lines (all hex dwords):
Class = 008 (8) - indicates that TCP/IP is a name service provider, don't change.
LocalPriority = 1f3 (499) - local names cache
HostsPriority = 1f4 (500) - the HOSTS file
DnsPriority = 7d0 (2000) - DNS
NetbtPriority = 7d1 (2001) - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS

What we're aiming to do is increase the priority of the last 4 settings, while keeping their order. The valid range is from -32768 to +32767 and lower numbers mean higher priority compared to other services. What we're aiming at is lower numbers without going to extremes, something like what's shown below should work well:
Change the "Priority" lines to:
LocalPriority = 005 (5) - local names cache
HostsPriority = 006 (6) - the HOSTS file
DnsPriority = 007 (7) - DNS
NetbtPriority = 008 (8) - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS