If you find yourself using Windows without a mouse or simply prefer using the keyboard for task switching, here are the keyboard combinations you'll need:
CTRL+ESC
ESC
TAB
Now you can navigate the taskbar using LEFT, RIGHT and TAB keys
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Faster way to get to your desktop
To get to your desktop in a hurry, you can either:
Right click on the taskbar and select "Minimize All Windows," or
Press CTRL+ESC and then ALT+M.
Right click on the taskbar and select "Minimize All Windows," or
Press CTRL+ESC and then ALT+M.
Creating logical drives on the fly
If you have very deep directories (directories with many sub directories inside sub directories), you may find it easier to create a logical drive that points to the directory you want to work in. On the other hand, you may want to simply create aliases to existing drives for those programs looking for a particular drive. Whichever the reason you want to create a logical drive, you can do so using the SUBST command.
For example, to create an alias called D for your C drive, run following command from the "Command Prompt" (or the "DOS Prompt"):
SUBST D: C:\
To create a logical drive called E, that points to your C:\WORK directory:
SUBST E: C:\WORK
To delete the aliases or logical drives that you create using SUBST command, run SUBST with the drive name to delete and the parameter "/D"
SUBST D: /D
SUBST E: /D
For example, to create an alias called D for your C drive, run following command from the "Command Prompt" (or the "DOS Prompt"):
SUBST D: C:\
To create a logical drive called E, that points to your C:\WORK directory:
SUBST E: C:\WORK
To delete the aliases or logical drives that you create using SUBST command, run SUBST with the drive name to delete and the parameter "/D"
SUBST D: /D
SUBST E: /D
How to connect two computers and access their drives through the Internet
You can connect two computers over the Internet and use a given computer's drives just like you'd use local drives -- run programs, copy, get a list of files, etc. Here's how:
Make sure that both computers (computer A and B) have "TCP/IP" and "NetBEUI" protocols installed and properly functioning.
Make sure that the "Remote Access Serives" are setup and properly functioning.
Find out the IP address of computer A.
You can do this by going to the network icon in the "Control Panel"
For example, let's assume that "205.159.67.4" is the IP address of computer A.
Enable file sharing and share a path of your choice on computer A.
For example, share "C:\" as "INTERNET_DRIVE"
Log both computers on to the Internet (dial and connect to your internet service provider for example). If you're on an Intranet, you don't have to connect to the Internet.
Go to computer B's "DOS/Command Prompt" and type:
NET USE X: \\205.159.67.4\INTERNET_DRIVE
If you get an user name/password or logon error, use the following command instead (after replacing uname with the actual user name and pword with the matching password):
NET USE X: \\205.159.67.4\INTERNET_DRIVE /USER:uname pword
This will map computer B's drive X to computer A's shared path INTERNET_DRIVE, which is computer A's C: drive.
Now you can use drive X over the Internet just like any other drive on your local computer.
Make sure that both computers (computer A and B) have "TCP/IP" and "NetBEUI" protocols installed and properly functioning.
Make sure that the "Remote Access Serives" are setup and properly functioning.
Find out the IP address of computer A.
You can do this by going to the network icon in the "Control Panel"
For example, let's assume that "205.159.67.4" is the IP address of computer A.
Enable file sharing and share a path of your choice on computer A.
For example, share "C:\" as "INTERNET_DRIVE"
Log both computers on to the Internet (dial and connect to your internet service provider for example). If you're on an Intranet, you don't have to connect to the Internet.
Go to computer B's "DOS/Command Prompt" and type:
NET USE X: \\205.159.67.4\INTERNET_DRIVE
If you get an user name/password or logon error, use the following command instead (after replacing uname with the actual user name and pword with the matching password):
NET USE X: \\205.159.67.4\INTERNET_DRIVE /USER:uname pword
This will map computer B's drive X to computer A's shared path INTERNET_DRIVE, which is computer A's C: drive.
Now you can use drive X over the Internet just like any other drive on your local computer.
Screen savers are programs too!
Did you know that screen savers are "executable programs?" They are; which means, you can create short cuts to them just like you'd create short cuts to other executable programs. When you create the short cut, instead of looking for "Program files" look for files with the SCR extension (*.SCR). If you're using Windows 95, you'll find these files in C:\Windows\System (default directory) and if you're using Windows NT, you can find screen saver files under C:\WinNT\System32.
Now you can start your favorite screen saver just by double clicking on it's short cut without having to setup a default screen saver! Not only that, you can setup screen savers by right clicking on them and selecting "Configure."
Now you can start your favorite screen saver just by double clicking on it's short cut without having to setup a default screen saver! Not only that, you can setup screen savers by right clicking on them and selecting "Configure."
CMD.EXE or COMMAND.COM
Windows NT comes with two "command line shells" -- one called CMD.EXE and the other called COMMAND.COM. If you're wondering which one to use, following information might help:
CMD.EXE is the Windows NT's native command prompt (or shell), which means it is more portable among different hardware platforms. For example, if you type SET and press ENTER inside a CMD.EXE prompt, you'll notice that CMD.EXE exposes more environment variables than COMMAND.COM. On the other hand, COMMAND.COM is the more "MS-DOS compatible" version of the two shells. For example, this shell will call AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT (located in the SYSTEM32 directory inside your Windows NT directory) just like MS-DOS used to call AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.
So, if you're having trouble running your old DOS command line programs from Windows NT, try running them inside a COMMAND.COM shell, not CMD.EXE.
CMD.EXE is the Windows NT's native command prompt (or shell), which means it is more portable among different hardware platforms. For example, if you type SET and press ENTER inside a CMD.EXE prompt, you'll notice that CMD.EXE exposes more environment variables than COMMAND.COM. On the other hand, COMMAND.COM is the more "MS-DOS compatible" version of the two shells. For example, this shell will call AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT (located in the SYSTEM32 directory inside your Windows NT directory) just like MS-DOS used to call AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.
So, if you're having trouble running your old DOS command line programs from Windows NT, try running them inside a COMMAND.COM shell, not CMD.EXE.
Find out if it's time to upgrade your processor
If you're not sure if you need to upgrade your processor speed, here's a way to find out:
Run Performance Monitor -- "Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Performance Monitor"
Press CTRL+I to add a counter to the chart.
Set "Object" to "System" and "Counter" to "Processor Que Length"
Click on "Add"
Now, run your day to day programs and watch the "Processor Que Length" counter which you just added to the Performance Monitor. If this counter is greater than 20 for long periods of time, this suggests that your computer is waiting that long until your processor is ready handle next set of instructions -- it's time for a processor upgrade!
Run Performance Monitor -- "Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Performance Monitor"
Press CTRL+I to add a counter to the chart.
Set "Object" to "System" and "Counter" to "Processor Que Length"
Click on "Add"
Now, run your day to day programs and watch the "Processor Que Length" counter which you just added to the Performance Monitor. If this counter is greater than 20 for long periods of time, this suggests that your computer is waiting that long until your processor is ready handle next set of instructions -- it's time for a processor upgrade!
You know how to change the wallpaper; here's a way to change the startup and exit screens
Don't like those exit screens that you see when you shutdown your computer? Well, change them!
Edit LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS files in your Windows directory (C:\Windows for example) using Paint Brush or any other bitmap editor. Once you edit them, don't forget to save them as LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS (notice the SYS extension instead of the normal BMP extension).
So you're thinking, it wouldn't look right if you change exit screens without changing the startup screen...
Load LOGOS.SYS file in your Windows directory (C:\Windows for example) into Paint Brush or any other bitmap editor. Once you finish editing, save it as LOGO.SYS in your Windows directory.
Edit LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS files in your Windows directory (C:\Windows for example) using Paint Brush or any other bitmap editor. Once you edit them, don't forget to save them as LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS (notice the SYS extension instead of the normal BMP extension).
So you're thinking, it wouldn't look right if you change exit screens without changing the startup screen...
Load LOGOS.SYS file in your Windows directory (C:\Windows for example) into Paint Brush or any other bitmap editor. Once you finish editing, save it as LOGO.SYS in your Windows directory.
Who's connected to you?
If you're running any TCP/IP services (such as WWW service, FTP service, POP3/SMTP services, or even just NetBIOS over TCP/IP) on your computer, you may want to find out who's connected to your computer and from where at a given time. This information is easy to obtain using NETSTAT command.
Go to the "DOS Prompt" or "Command Prompt"
Type
NETSTAT
For example, if you want to redisplay the TCP/IP connections every 10 seconds, type:
NETSTAT 10
Press ENTER
Go to the "DOS Prompt" or "Command Prompt"
Type
NETSTAT
For example, if you want to redisplay the TCP/IP connections every 10 seconds, type:
NETSTAT 10
Press ENTER
True size of a directory
One of the quickest ways to find out the size of a directory (or a folder) -- including the size of the files and directories inside it -- is to press ALT+ENTER on it.
For example, to find out how much space your Windows directory is occupying:
Run "Windows Explorer"
Select "C:\Windows" (or whatever your Windows directory is)
Press ALT+ENTER or right click and select "Properties..."
For example, to find out how much space your Windows directory is occupying:
Run "Windows Explorer"
Select "C:\Windows" (or whatever your Windows directory is)
Press ALT+ENTER or right click and select "Properties..."
Sunday, October 12, 2008
How to Create a Password Reset Disk for computers that are part of a domain
Note that this procedure requires one blank, formatted floppy disk.
To create a password reset disk for your local user account:
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. The Windows Security dialog box appears.
Click Change Password . The Change Password dialog box appears.
In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer) .
Click Backup . The Forgotten Password Wizard starts.
On the "Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard" page, click Next .
Insert a blank, formatted disk in drive A, and then click Next .
In the Current user account password box, type your password, and then click Next . The Forgotten Password Wizard creates the disk.
When the progress bar reaches 100 percent complete, click Next , and then click Finish . The Forgotten Password Wizard quits and you return to the Change Password dialog box.
Remove, and then label the password reset disk. Store the disk in a safe place.
In the Change Password dialog box, click Cancel .
In the Windows Security dialog box, click Cancel.
If you forget your password, you can log on to the computer with a new password that you create by using the Password Reset Wizard and your password reset disk.
To gain access to your local user account on a computer that is a member of a domain, or has been disconnected from a domain:
In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type an incorrect password in the Password box, and then click OK .
In the Logon Failed dialog box that appears, click Reset . The Password Reset Wizard starts. The Password Reset Wizard lets you create a new password for your local user account.
On the "Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard" page, click Next .
Insert the password reset disk in drive A, and then click Next .
On the "Reset the User Account Password" page, type a new password in the Type a new password box.
Type the same password in the Type the password again to confirm box.
In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint that will help you remember the password if you forget it. NOTE : This hint is visible to anyone who attempts to log on to the computer by using your user account.
Click Next , and then click Finish . The Password Reset Wizard quits and you return to the Log On to Windows dialog box. The password reset disk is automatically updated with the new password information. You do not have to create a new password reset disk.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your new password in the Password box.
In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer) , and then click OK . You are logged on to the local computer with your local account information.
To create a password reset disk for your local user account:
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. The Windows Security dialog box appears.
Click Change Password . The Change Password dialog box appears.
In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer) .
Click Backup . The Forgotten Password Wizard starts.
On the "Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard" page, click Next .
Insert a blank, formatted disk in drive A, and then click Next .
In the Current user account password box, type your password, and then click Next . The Forgotten Password Wizard creates the disk.
When the progress bar reaches 100 percent complete, click Next , and then click Finish . The Forgotten Password Wizard quits and you return to the Change Password dialog box.
Remove, and then label the password reset disk. Store the disk in a safe place.
In the Change Password dialog box, click Cancel .
In the Windows Security dialog box, click Cancel.
If you forget your password, you can log on to the computer with a new password that you create by using the Password Reset Wizard and your password reset disk.
To gain access to your local user account on a computer that is a member of a domain, or has been disconnected from a domain:
In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type an incorrect password in the Password box, and then click OK .
In the Logon Failed dialog box that appears, click Reset . The Password Reset Wizard starts. The Password Reset Wizard lets you create a new password for your local user account.
On the "Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard" page, click Next .
Insert the password reset disk in drive A, and then click Next .
On the "Reset the User Account Password" page, type a new password in the Type a new password box.
Type the same password in the Type the password again to confirm box.
In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint that will help you remember the password if you forget it. NOTE : This hint is visible to anyone who attempts to log on to the computer by using your user account.
Click Next , and then click Finish . The Password Reset Wizard quits and you return to the Log On to Windows dialog box. The password reset disk is automatically updated with the new password information. You do not have to create a new password reset disk.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your new password in the Password box.
In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer) , and then click OK . You are logged on to the local computer with your local account information.
Create a Password Reset Disk
Microsoft has enhanced security features in XP including the the ability to create a floppy diskette to recover your password incase it is forgotten.
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click User Accounts
Click on the account which you want to create a password disk
Click Prevent a forgotten password which starts the Forgotten Password Wizard . This is found under Related Tasks
Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and click Next
Enter the password in the Current user account password box
To use the recovery disk, at the Welcome screen
Click the user name whose password is on the recovery disk
Click the question mark button
This causes the Did you forget your password message to appear.
Click use your password reset disk
This will start the Password Reset Wizard.
From this point, just follow the wizard's instructions and you will be able to set a new password. It is different if you are part of a domain, see next tip.
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click User Accounts
Click on the account which you want to create a password disk
Click Prevent a forgotten password which starts the Forgotten Password Wizard . This is found under Related Tasks
Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and click Next
Enter the password in the Current user account password box
To use the recovery disk, at the Welcome screen
Click the user name whose password is on the recovery disk
Click the question mark button
This causes the Did you forget your password message to appear.
Click use your password reset disk
This will start the Password Reset Wizard.
From this point, just follow the wizard's instructions and you will be able to set a new password. It is different if you are part of a domain, see next tip.
Automatically defrag drives with a new context menu item
Create a new Registry import file named context_defrag.inf in Notepad (be sure to save with it with the Save as type set to All Files and not Text Documents) and place the following text inside:
; context_defrag.INF
; Adds Defrag to the right click context menu in Windows XP
[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
[DefaultInstall]
AddReg=AddMe
[AddMe]
HKCR,"Drive\Shell\Defrag\command",,,"DEFRAG.EXE %1"
Then, right-click and choose Install. This will add a context menu to XP that allows you to automatically defrag drives, using the command line version of the built-in defragmentation utility. To use it, navigate to a drive in My Computer, right-click, and choose Defrag. A command line window will appear, and that drive will be defragged. When it's complete, the window just disappears.
; context_defrag.INF
; Adds Defrag to the right click context menu in Windows XP
[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
[DefaultInstall]
AddReg=AddMe
[AddMe]
HKCR,"Drive\Shell\Defrag\command",,,"DEFRAG.EXE %1"
Then, right-click and choose Install. This will add a context menu to XP that allows you to automatically defrag drives, using the command line version of the built-in defragmentation utility. To use it, navigate to a drive in My Computer, right-click, and choose Defrag. A command line window will appear, and that drive will be defragged. When it's complete, the window just disappears.
Missing Administrator account
Once you have created regular user accounts, the default Administrator account vanishes from the Welcome screen, which you see when the computer starts up. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete twice at the Welcome screen to retrieve the standard logon dialog. You can log on as Administrator from here. To switch among accounts, just click the Log Off button on the Start menu. You'll then see the Log Off Windows dialog box. Click the Switch User button, and you'll be taken to the Welcome screen where you can select and log on to other accounts.
Stop Password Expiration
After you have run Windows XP for a while, you may receive this message when you log on: "Your password will expire in 14 days.....".
By default, Windows XP is set up with passwords which will expire after 42 days. 14 days in advance, Windows will start warning you of this fact. If you do not want your passwords to expire:
Go to Start > Run and in the Open: box type control userpasswords2
Select the Advanced tab in the User Accounts window
Press the Advanced button below the Advanced user management header
Select Users in the Local Users and Groups
In the right pane, right-click the user name for which you want to change the setting, and select Properties
On the General tab, check Password never expires
Click Apply and OK (all the way out)
By default, Windows XP is set up with passwords which will expire after 42 days. 14 days in advance, Windows will start warning you of this fact. If you do not want your passwords to expire:
Go to Start > Run and in the Open: box type control userpasswords2
Select the Advanced tab in the User Accounts window
Press the Advanced button below the Advanced user management header
Select Users in the Local Users and Groups
In the right pane, right-click the user name for which you want to change the setting, and select Properties
On the General tab, check Password never expires
Click Apply and OK (all the way out)
Speed up the Start Menu
You can use this tip to speed up the Start Menu in Windows XP release candidate 1. You can customize the speed of the Start Menu by editing a Registry Key.
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type Regedit in the box, and then click OK.
Expand the menu in the left panel and select the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop folder.
Scroll down in the right panel and double click on the MenuShowDelay file.
In the Value Data box, change to default value for the menu speed from 400 to a lesser number, such as 1.
Click OK.
Caution: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer.
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type Regedit in the box, and then click OK.
Expand the menu in the left panel and select the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop folder.
Scroll down in the right panel and double click on the MenuShowDelay file.
In the Value Data box, change to default value for the menu speed from 400 to a lesser number, such as 1.
Click OK.
Caution: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer.
Easy sendto menu modification
first open - X:Documents and SettingsusernameSendTo (it is hidden) where X is your drive letter and username is your username make and delete shortcuts to folders at will
Change the text in Internet Explorers title bar to anything you want
In regedit navigate to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
change the value of the string "Window Title" to whatever you want on the title bar of Internet Explorer - to have no title except the title of the web pages you are browsing do not enter anything for a value.
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
change the value of the string "Window Title" to whatever you want on the title bar of Internet Explorer - to have no title except the title of the web pages you are browsing do not enter anything for a value.
Remove Shared Documents
Open Regedit(Start- Run- Regedit) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Explorer My Computer NameSpace DelegateFolders There will see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. By Deleting this you can remove the 'Other Files stored on This Computer' group.
Remove shortcut arrow from desktop icons
Here's how you can remove those shortcut arrows from your desktop icons in Windows XP.
Start regedit.
Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTlnkfile
Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
You may need to restart Windows XP.
Start regedit.
Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTlnkfile
Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
You may need to restart Windows XP.
Disable error reporting
Open Control Panel
Click on Performance and Maintenance.
Click on System.
Then click on the Advanced tab
Click on the error-reporting button on the bottom of the windows.
Select Disable error reporting.
Click OK
Click OK
Click on Performance and Maintenance.
Click on System.
Then click on the Advanced tab
Click on the error-reporting button on the bottom of the windows.
Select Disable error reporting.
Click OK
Click OK
Turn off hibernation
Control Panel-Screen Saver Power-Hibernate Tab-uncheck hibernation box-reboot and hiberfil.sys is no more.
WinXP Clear Page file on shutdown
Go to Control panel Administrative tools, local security policy. then goto local policies ---> security options. Then change the option for "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"
Win XP Won’t Completely Shutdown
Goto Control Panel, then goto Power Options.
Click on the APM Tab, then check the "Enable Advanced Power Management support."
Shut down your PC. It should now successfully complete the Shut Down process.
Click on the APM Tab, then check the "Enable Advanced Power Management support."
Shut down your PC. It should now successfully complete the Shut Down process.
Turn Off System Recovery-Windows XP
Right click on My Computer and choose Properties. Click on the System Restore tab and check the box Turn off System Restore. (This will increase Windows performance & save disk space)
Reduce Temporary Internet File Space
The temporary internet files clutter your hard drive with copies of each page visited. These can build up over time and take up disk space. Even more bothersome is that instead of getting new pages each time IE often takes the page out the temp internet files. This can be a problem if you are viewing a website that is updated all the time. If you are on a slow connection such as a 56K or lower then this can be good but if you are on a fast broadband connection, like me, then you can get away with decreasing the size of your temp internet files to just one meg without any performance decrease.
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