20 things you didn't know about Windows XP

20 things you didn't know about Windows XP

You've read the reviews furthermore digested the key feature enhancements furthermore operational changes. Now it's time toward delve a bit deeper furthermore uncover some regarding Windows XP's secrets.

1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Whereas previous versions regarding Windows were coy about how long they went between boots, XP is positively proud regarding its stamina. Go toward the Command Prompt in the Accessories menu from the All Programs start button option, furthermore then type 'systeminfo'. The computer will produce a lot regarding useful info, including the uptime. If you want toward keep these, type 'system info > 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 toward the Recycle Bin first. Go toward the Start menu, select Run... furthermore type 'gpedit.msc'; then select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer furthermore find the Do not move deleted files toward the Recycle Bin setting. Set it. Poking around in gpedit will reveal a great many interface furthermore 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 regarding the mouse. Create a new shortcut at your desktop using a right mouse click, furthermore enter 'rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation' in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That's it -- just double click at it furthermore your computer will be locked. And if that's not easy enough, Windows key + L will do the same.

4. XP hides some system software you might want toward remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can tickle it furthermore make it disgorge everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file /windows/inf/sysoc.inf, search beneficial to the word 'hide' furthermore remove it. You can then go toward the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components furthermore there will be your prey, exposed furthermore vulnerable.

5. For those skilled in the art regarding DOS batch files, XP has a number regarding interesting new commands. These include 'eventcreate' furthermore 'eventtriggers' beneficial to creating furthermore watching system events, 'typeperf' beneficial to monitoring performance regarding various subsystems, furthermore 'schtasks' beneficial to handling scheduled tasks. As usual, typing the command name followed by /? will give a list regarding options -- they're all far too baroque toward go into here.

6. XP has IP version 6 support -- the next generation regarding IP. Unfortunately this is more than your ISP has, so you can only experiment with this at your LAN. Type 'ipv6 install' into Run... (it's OK, it won't ruin your existing network setup) furthermore then 'ipv6 /?' at the command line toward find out more. If you don't know what IPv6 is, don't worry furthermore don't bother.

7. You can at last get rid regarding tasks at the computer from the command line by using 'taskkill /pid' furthermore the task number, or just 'tskill' furthermore the process number. Find that out by typing 'tasklist', which will also tell you a lot about what's going at in your system.

8. XP will treat Zip files like folders, which is nice if you've got a fast machine. On slower machines, you can make XP leave zip files well alone by typing 'regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll' at the command line. If you change your mind later, you can put things back as they were by typing 'regsvr32 zipfldr.dll'.

9. XP has ClearType -- Microsoft's anti-aliasing font display technology -- but doesn't have it enabled by default. It's well worth trying, especially if you were there beneficial to DOS furthermore all those years regarding staring at a screen have given you the eyes regarding an astigmatic bat. To enable ClearType, right click at the desktop, select Properties, Appearance, Effects, select ClearType from the second drop-down menu furthermore enable the selection. Expect best results at laptop displays. If you want toward use ClearType at the Welcome login screen as well, set the registry entry HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Control Panel/Desktop/FontSmoothingType toward 2.

10. You can use Remote Assistance toward help a friend who's using network address translation (NAT) at a home network, but not automatically. Get your pal toward email you a Remote Assistance invitation furthermore edit the file. Under the RCTICKET attribute will be a NAT IP address, like 192.168.1.10. Replace this with your chum's real IP address -- they can find this out by going toward www.whatismyip.com -- furthermore get them toward make sure that they've got port 3389 open at their firewall furthermore forwarded toward the errant computer.

11. You can run a program as a different user without logging out furthermore back in again. Right click the icon, select Run As... furthermore enter the user name furthermore password you want toward use. This only applies beneficial to that run. The trick is particularly useful if you need toward have administrative permissions toward install a program, which many require. Note that you can have some fun by running programs multiple times at the same system as different users, but this can have unforeseen effects.

12. Windows XP can be very insistent about you checking beneficial to auto updates, registering a Passport, using Windows Messenger furthermore so on. After a while, the nagging goes away, but if you feel you might slip the bonds regarding sanity before that point, run Regedit, go toward HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/Advanced furthermore create a DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips with a value regarding 0.

13. You can start up without needing toward enter a user name or password. Select Run... from the start menu furthermore type 'control userpasswords2', which will open the user accounts application. On the Users tab, clear the box beneficial to Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer, furthermore click at OK. An Automatically Log On dialog box will appear; enter the user name furthermore password beneficial to the account you want toward use.

14. Internet Explorer 6 will automatically delete temporary files, but only if you tell it to. Start the browser, select Tools / Internet Options... furthermore Advanced, go down toward the Security area furthermore check the box toward Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.

15. XP comes with a free Network Activity Light, just in case you can't see the LEDs twinkle at your network card. Right click at My Network Places at the desktop, then select Properties. Right click at the description beneficial to your LAN or dial-up connection, select Properties, then check the Show icon in notification area when connected box. You'll now see a tiny network icon at the right regarding your task bar that glimmers nicely during network traffic.

16. The Start Menu can be leisurely when it decides toward appear, but you can speed things along by changing the registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay from the default 400 toward something a little snappier. Like 0.

17. You can rename loads regarding files at once in Windows Explorer. Highlight a set regarding files in a window, then right click at one furthermore rename it. All the other files will be renamed toward that name, with individual numbers in brackets toward distinguish them. Also, in a folder you can arrange icons in alpha betised groups by View, Arrange Icon By... Show In Groups.

18. Windows Media Player will display the cover art beneficial to albums as it plays the tracks -- if it found the picture at the Internet when you copied the tracks from the CD. If it didn't, or if you have lots regarding pre-WMP music files, you can put your own copy regarding the cover art in the same directory as the tracks. Just call it folder.jpg furthermore Windows Media Player will pick it up furthermore display it.

19. Windows key + Break brings up the System Properties dialogue box; Windows key + D brings up the desktop; Windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons.

20. The next release regarding Windows XP was code named Longhorn.

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