16 Windows XP Goodies !!!

1. Installer music
Start > Run > "C:\Windows\system32\oobe\images\title.wma" > Ok

2. Hibernate
Start > Turn Off Computer... > press Shift key to change the "Stand By" button to "Hibernate"

3. Hidden Devices
Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > select "View" and Show hidden devices

4. Character Map
Start > Run > "charmap.exe" > Ok

5. Clipboard Viewer
Start > Run > "clipbrd.exe" > Ok

6. Dr Watson
Start > Run > "drwtsn32.exe" > Ok

7. IExpress Wizard
Start > Run > "iexpress.exe" > Ok

8. Old Windows Media Player 5.1
Start > Run > "mplay32.exe" > Ok

9. ODBC Data Source Administrator
Start > Run > "odbcad32.exe" > Ok

10. Object Packager
Start > Run > "packager.exe" > Ok

11. System Monitor
Start > Run > "perfmon.exe" > Ok

12. Network shared folder wizard
Start > Run > "shrpubw.exe" > Ok

13. File siganture verification tool
Start > Run > "sigverif.exe" > Ok

14. System Configuration Editor
Start > Run > "sysedit.exe" > Ok

15. Driver Verifier Manager
Start > Run > "verifier.exe" > Ok

16. Windows for Workgroups Chat
Start > Run > "winchat.exe" > Ok

Need MORE stuff?

http://is-it-true.org/nt/hottips.shtml
http://pcbuyersguide.com/software/system/WinXP-MoreTips.html
http://windows.about.com/cs/registrytips/
http://windows2000.about.com/cs/systemtips/index_2.htm
http://windowsnt.miningco.com/library/tips/bltiparc03.htm
http://windowsxp.devx.com/articles/perfen/default.asp
http://www.activewin.com/tips/
http://www.activewin.com/winxp/tips/shutdown/1.shtml
http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/shtdwnxp.htm
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749-8-7248268-4.html
http://www.computerbits.com/archive/2002/0100/bair0102.html
http://www.dag-konsult.com/nt4.asp
http://www.govital.net/~soz/lists/Windows_XP.htm
http://www.hal-pc.org/~jamesl/win95tt.html
http://www.idg.net/english/crd_xp_784171.html
http://www.jwarfcomputers.com/tips_&_tricks.htm
http://www.lmross.com/html/xp_tricks.html
http://www.magportal.com/c/comp/win/
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/driver/XP_kernel.asp
http://www.ntcompatible.com/faq3.shtml
http://www.ntfaq.com/index.cfm
http://www.nthelp.com/
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm
http://www.pcbuyersguide.com/software/system/WinXP-tips.html
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,73848,00.asp
http://www.pureperformance.com/
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/info/xpsrctree.shtml
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/supergeek/story/0,24330,3338109,00.html
http://www.timos-welt.de/cubase/xp_tips_e.htm
http://www.tipsdr.com/
http://www.tweakxp.com/
http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/whistler.asp
http://xptheme.iceq.co.uk/articles.cfm

GMail Drive

GMail Drive is a free namespace extension ("add-on") for Microsoft Windows. It allows a user to access a virtual drive stored in a Gmail e-mail account by causing the contents of the Gmail account to appear as a new network share on the user's workstation. In order to use this add-on, a user needs a Gmail e-mail account. The add-on enables a user to use the normal Windows desktop file copy and paste commands to transfer files to and from the Gmail account as if it were a drive on the user's computer.

Function

For GMail Drive to operate, the user's computer must be connected to the Internet and must have access to Gmail. A broadband connection is preferable though not necessary. GMail Drive uses the inbox of the users Gmail account to store files and creates a virtual filesystem on top of your Google GMail account so enables you to save and retrieve files stored on your GMail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive literally adds a new drive to your computer under the My Computer folder, where you can create new folders, copy and drag'n'drop files to.

When you create a new file using GMail Drive, it generates an e-mail and posts it to your account. The e-mail appears in your normal Inbox folder, and the file is attached as an e-mail attachment. Gmail Drive periodically checks the mail account (using the Gmail search function) to see if new files have arrived and to rebuild the virtual drive's directory structures.

Multiple computers can connect to one Gmail account thus allowing GMail Drive to act as a multi-user file server.

Consequently, restrictions on the Gmail service are also enforced when using Gmail Drive. For example, users are not able to upload files greater than 10 MB. In the past, Gmail also prevented users from transferring certain file types, such as an executable or zip archive. Some users bypassed this restriction by renaming the file extension.

Change your default search engine..

Search from the Address Bar in Internet Explorer (All Windows)


Save time with this tweak that allows you to specify the search engine to query by typing a request directly into the Internet Explorer address bar.
Once you have defined the search engines you can then search by typing the shortcut name followed by the keywords. For example you could search Google for "regedit"
with the command "google regedit".
Open you registry and find the key below.
For each search engine you wish to add follow these steps:
Create a new sub key and name it after the shortcut you'd like to type in the address bar to access the engine. For example; "google" to access Google or "yahoo" to access Yahoo!
Open the new sub key and set the value of (Default) to equal the search engine query URL, inserting "%s" in place of the keywords. For example:
Google = http://www.google.com/search?q=%s
Yahoo = http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?p=%s
AltaVista = http://www.altavista.com/q?q=%s
Restart Internet Explorer for the changes to take effect.
Note: This tweak only applies to Internet Explorer 6.0 and above.

changing add the some setting to your system registry.
copy this below line copy the below text and paste into a notepad and save it by
"anyname.reg" just double click on it , it will prompts u to enter the registry ,
just click on yes. It will done


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl]"provider"="gogl"@=
"http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"" "="+""&"="%26""+"="%2B"
"#"="%23""?"="%3F""="="%3D"

Delelte NTUninstall folders in windows folder?

Do you have the $NTUninstall folders in windows folder? Can they be deleted?


These $NTUninstall folders are created when you install a Microsoft Service Pack, a hotfix, or certain security updates. These folders contain the uninstall information for the update you install. That means, you will be unable to remove an update in future, if you delete these folders. You may leave them there unless you need hard drive space. Each Qxxxxxx represents an update from Microsoft. To know more about an update, type the URL in your browser:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=xxxxxx
Replace the xxxxxx with the actual numbers. Don't use the prefixes Q or KB
You will also see the corresponding Uninstall entries in Add/Remove Programs list. To manually remove the hotfix entries from Add/Remove Programs, try this:
Start Registry Editor and locate the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Uninstall
Backup the key by exporting to a file
Look for the hotfix number in the sub-keys
Delete the entire listing for the hotfix.
Close Regedit
By doing the above, only the Add/Remove entry is removed; the update will not be removed.
Additional information
In Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the user is able to choose whether to show or hide updates for Windows and other programs in this view. A new Show updates check box appears above the list, which enables the user to toggle between showing or hiding installed updates. For more information on this feature, see section Filtering out updates from the Change or Remove Programs list in the following article:

KNOW ABOUT FIREWALLS

What is a Firewall?

A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that creates a protective barrier between your computer and potentially damaging content on the Internet. It helps guard your computer against malicious users and many computer viruses and worms.Firewalls help safeguard your computer by enforcing restrictions on incoming traffic. Firewalls can also help mask your computer's identity, so hackers' attempts to probe or scan your computer cannot return
the type of information that makes it easy to invade.

IF YOUR ISP GIVES U A STATIC IP ADDRESS........

More risk if you use broadband [DSL or a cable modem] A dial-up connections uses a different
IP address every time it connects to the Web so it is a moving target. Static IP is not provided
for Dial-Up users. Hackers don't target the Dial-Up users due to this reason. DSL or cable connections use a network address [IP Address] that doesn't change. A firewall helps obscure your network address, even though it always stays the same.ICF helps protect the system from Worms and Messenger Service ADs Virus Alert About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826955
Virus Alert About the Nachi Worm: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826234 Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=129972
Virus Alert About the W32.Lirva.A@mm Worm:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812811
About Firewall - Links:Install a firewall to help protect your computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/firewall.aspWindows XP's native firewall - The Internet Connection Firewall [ICF]
Windows XP users: Never connect to internet without enabling the ICF. Failing to enable ICF results in Worm attacks over internet. Finest example is the Blaster Worm which attacked "Unprotected" and "Unpatched" systems. Some reading here:What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants:http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
Microsoft Support WebCasts on Internet Connection Firewall:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324731ICF Turned ON by default - Microsoft Windows Code Named
"Longhorn" Preview Release:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=829967

How to enable Internet Connection Firewall?

Open Network Connections by typing NCPA.CPL in the RUN box.Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect.Under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select the following option:Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet box.a VERY neat Disscussion is here...

5 safety tips for using a public computer

1.>Don't save your logon information.
Always log out of Web sites by clicking "log out" on the site. It's not enough to simply close the browser window or type in another address. Many programs (especially instant messenger programs) include automatic login features that will save your user name and password. Disable this option so no one can log in as you.

2.>Don't leave the computer unattended with sensitive information on the screen.
If you have to leave the public computer, log out of all programs and close all windows that might display sensitive information.

3.>Erase your tracks.
Web browsers such as Internet Explorer keep a record of your passwords and every page you visit, even after you’ve closed them and logged out.To disable the feature that stores passwordsBefore you go to the Web, turn off the Internet Explorer feature that "remembers" your passwords.
1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. Click the Content tab, and then click AutoComplete.
3. Click to clear both check boxes having to do with passwords.To delete your temporary Internet files and your historyWhen you finish your use of a public computer, you should delete all the temporary files and your Internet history.
1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. On the General tab, under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, and then click Delete Cookies.
3. Under History, click Clear History.To delete other files saved by corporate portals, such as Sharepoint Portal ServerIf you're using a corporate Web site that allows you to view internal corporate documents, you may be inadvertently storing sensitive documents on the public computer.
1. Delete all the files in the temporary folder of your user account which you can find by browsing to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp.2. If your company uses Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, empty the temporary folder (My Documents\SharePoint Drafts).