*~C~* *Cabinet Files - Restore* From Start, Run, type "msconfig" without the quotes. Click the expand button lower right. You can then expand and extract to any location. Detailed version: 1. Click Start, and then click Run. 2. In the Open box, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK. 3. Click Expand File. 4. In the "File to restore" box, type the name of the file that you want to restore. 5. In the "Restore from" box, type the path to the Windows XP .cab file from which you want to restore the file, or click Browse From to locate the Windows XP .cab file. *NOTE:* The Windows XP .cab files are stored in the I386 folder on the Windows XP compact disc (CD). 6. In the "Save file in" box, type the path to which you want the new file extracted, or click Browse To to locate the folder that you want. 7. Click Expand. 8. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click OK. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart. Description and Explanation of a Cabinet File *Cab Files Treated as Folders* XP treats Cab files like folders, to stop this type regsvr32 /u cabview.dll at the command prompt (Start/Run/CMD) To reverse it type regsvr32 cabview.dll. *Cab Files Install and Relocate* 1. Insert your windows XP CD*. *2. Click on, Perform Additional Tasks. 3. Click on, Browse this CD. 4. Look for the I386 folder, right click on the folder and copy. 5. Get into, My Computer and create a unique folder. 6. Right click on your new folder and paste. Then alter the source path: Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup In the right pane, double click SourcePath and type in exactly, the path to where the cab files can be found. (The folder to where the cab files have been copied to). Registry, exit. *Caps - Show File and Folder Names Using the Correct Case * Some versions of Windows will attempt to adjust the capitalization of files and folders that are in all uppercase to make them more visually pleasing. For example, if you create a folder named "C:\ALLINCAPS" Windows will actually display it as "C:\Allincaps". This feature can be disabled using this tweak. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "DontPrettyPath" and set it to equal "1" to display the file using their original capitalization or "0" to adjust the caps. Restart Windows for the change to take effect. *Cdaudio.Exe* Cdaudio.exe May Cause an Error Message *CD - Backup *HOW TO: Back Up Information to a CD Recorded CD-ROM Is Missing Files or Folders, or Is Unreadable Q: Will XP Pro allow me to back up various files and folders daily be adding only newer or changed files or do I have to copy the entire folder each time I back up? A: You will need to use packet writing software to format the CD-R/W first. Common packet writing programs are the latest versions of Direct CD (bundled with Easy CD Creator and is not available as a stand alone program but can be install as such www.roxio.com ) InCD (available as a stand a lone program from www.nero.com ) DLA ( comes bundled with the retail version of RecordNow Max or Click n Burn from http://www.stompinc.com/index.phtml?stp it is available as a stand a lone product only if you own an HP writer and can be downloaded from the HP site). XP's native burning software is mastering software. You can not do a one step write to a CD. You must send the file to a caching area and then select the option to Write to CD. You also can not save directly to the CD Writers drive letter. You need to save to the location of the cache. It is found here "C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning" By using the Tweakui for XP Powertoy you can relocate the CD Burning directory to a more readily accessible location. Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Windows XP] *CD-CD-RW* CD-R Drive or CD-RW Drive Is Not Recognized As a Recordable Device HOW TO: Erase Files From a CD-RW Disc *CD-Rom* CD-Rom and DVD Articles and Burning Issues You cannot view the files on a CD or DVD in Windows Explorer: Close Windows Explorer. Go to Start/Control Panel/Double click System/Hardware/Device Manager. Expand DVD/CD-ROM. Click the appropriate device, and then click Uninstall on the Action menu. When you are prompted to confirm that you want to remove the device, click OK. On the Action menu, click Scan for hardware changes. Quit Device Manager and Control Panel. You Cannot View the Files on a Disc After You Replace a CD-R or CD-RW Drive with a DVD or CD-ROM Drive CD-ROM Drive or DVD-ROM Drive Missing After You Install Windows XP "Incorrect Function" Error Message When You Access the CD-ROM Drive, DVD-ROM Drive, or CD-RW Drive CD Recording software will cause Windows to become unstable. Windows has prevented these drivers from loading. Recorded CD-ROM Is Missing Files or Folders, or Is Unreadable Restore AutoPlay Icon CD-ROM Access Is Missing - Error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, or Code 39 After You Remove Easy CD Creator CD Rom or DVD Not Listed in Explorer/My Computer Save the file to your hard drive. Navigate to where you saved it and double click the file. A confirmation dialog will appear when the script is done. You may need to reboot for the change to take effect. Download . Can't download while playing a CD or running/watching a DVD movie? Disable digital CD playback. *CD-Rom - Explore* Right-click the "Start" button and click "Explore CD-Rom". To do this: Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Directory\shell\Explore CD-Rom @="" HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Directory\shell\Explore CD-Rom\command @="c:\\windows\\EXPLORER.EXE /e,x: " (Where x is the letter to your CD-Rom). *CD-Rom - Incorrect Contents* When you view the contents of a CD-ROM in Windows Explorer, you can see the name of the CD-ROM in the left pane, and the folders are displayed in the right pane. However, after you remove the CD-ROM and insert a different CD-ROM, the right pane may still display the folders from the first CD-ROM even though the left pane correctly displays the name of the new CD-ROM. To work around this problem, use either of the following methods: Manually refresh Windows Explorer by pressing F5 or by clicking Refresh on the View menu in Windows Explorer. Or do not use Folder view in Windows Explorer. Incorrect Contents Are Displayed in Windows Explorer *CD-Rom - Listen To CDs Without A Click * Since the advent of Microsoft’s Windows Media Player, playing an audio CD has been a click-free task. However, after installing WinXP, when you insert an audio CD for the first time, the Audio CD dialog box appears. The Play Audio CD Using Windows Media Player is already highlighted, so there’s no need to click it. But before you click OK, click the checkbox next to Always Do The Selected Action. This will restore CD playing to its former click-free glory. Click OK and the CD will play. *CD-Rom Stops Auto-playing* Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services/Shell Hardware Detection/Return this service to Automatic. Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet\Services\Cdrom AutoRun = 1 Create a system restore point: The Restore point will be identified as Automatic Restore Point with the date and time the script was run. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_sysrestorepoint.htm Then run this regedit: Restore AutoPlay Icon http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by right clicking on the file and selecting Edit. Note: This REG file contains numerous settings regarding Autoplay, in addition to the icon settings and may correct your problem. *CD-Rom Backup* HOW TO: Back Up Information to a CD Recorded CD-ROM Is Missing Files or Folders, or Is Unreadable *CD-Rom Burning * Burning CDs in Windows XP How to Use the Built in CD Burning in Windows XP Compact Disc Recorded in Windows XP Is Missing Files or Folders, or Is Unreadable *CD-Rom Burning - Add to Autoplay Options* Add Your CD Burning Program to AutoPlay Actions TweakUI/My Computer/AutoPlay/Handlers/Edit *CD-Rom Burning - Disable* Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called 'NoCDBurning' and edit the value according to 0 = Allow CDR, 1 = Disable CDR. *CD-Rom Burning - Disable Native CD burning in XP * Right click the CD in My Computer/Properties/Recording/Uncheck "Enable CD recording on this drive." Disable Native CD Burning and Allow Limited Users Access to CD Burning *CD-Rom Burning - Allow limited users access to CD Burning:* To allow Limited User's to burn CD's, click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Look in the right pane for AllocateDASD and double click the entry. Set the value to 2. On PRO, this is exposed in Local Security Policy under Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options "Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable media" For XP Pro, you can do this by clicking Start, Run and entering SECPOL.MSC. Go to Local Policies, Security Options, look in the right pane for Devices: Allowed to Format and eject removable media. Set this option to Administrators and Interactive Users*.* Or use this regedit: CD Burning for Limited Users *CD-Rom or DVD Disappeared * Remove the Upperfilters and Lowerfilters values completely from the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to the branch indicated above, locate the Upperfilters and Lowerfilters values. Right click each and select Delete. If you desire, you can right click on the {4D36E965..........} branch and select Export. This will create a REG file that can be re-imported should you find a need to. You may also want to delete the following 4 Registry keys, as per the instructions above: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdr4_2K HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdralw2k HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdudf HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UdfReadr Or apply this manual edit: Save the file below to your hard drive. Navigate to where you saved it and double click the file. A confirmation dialog will appear when the script is done. You may need to reboot for the change to take effect. CD Rom or DVD Not Listed in Explorer/My Computer Your registry might be corrupted. (Code 19) CD-ROM Access Is Missing and Messages Error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, or Code 39 After You Remove Easy CD Creator : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;;Q314060 NOTE : If you are getting a code 39 message, it may be that additional third-party filter drivers were added to UpperFilters and LowerFilters values in addition to Adaptec filter drivers. In that case, you may try to remove the non-Adaptec filter drivers first, leaving the Easy Creator filters in place to see if the Code 39 goes away. If you still receive an error code 39, 32, or 31 message, remove the Upperfilters and Lowerfilters values completely in the preceding key. *CDR-CDRW* When you attempt to record (burn) data to a compact disc recordable (CD-R) drive or compact disc rewritable (CD-RW) drive, you may not have the option to send data to the CD-ROM drive. To resolve this issue, edit the Windows registry to identify the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive as a recordable drive. To do this, follow these steps. 1. Click Start, and then click Run. 2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. 3. Expand the following registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CD Burning\Drives 4. On the File menu, click Export. 5. In the File name box, type backup of drives key, and then click Save . *NOTE:* You can restore this registry subkey by double-clicking the backup of drives key.reg file that you saved. 6. In the left pane of the Registry Editor window, click the Volume{ /GUID /} folder under Drives , where /GUID /is a 32-character hexadecimal globally unique identifier. *NOTE:* If you have more than one CD-ROM drive in the computer, an additional Volume{ /GUID /} folder is listed for each drive. 7. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click Drive Type. 8. In the Value data box, type 1 or 2 , depending on the drive type, and then click OK. The drive type should be 1 if it is a CD-R and 2 if it is a CD-RW. 9. Quit Registry Editor. 10. Click Start , and then click My Computer. 11. Under Devices with Removable Storage , right-click the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu that appears. 12. If the Recording tab is displayed, the drive is successfully recognized by Windows as a recordable device. 13. Click Cancel . *NOTE:* If you have more than one CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or CD-RW drive in the computer and the Recording tab is not displayed, an incorrect drive may have been configured as "recordable" in the Windows registry. To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps: 1. Follow steps 1 through 9 to edit the Drive Type value of the Volume{ / GUID /} folder whose value you previously changed. 2. In the Value data box, type 3 , and then click OK. The drive type value of 3 indicates that the drive is a standard CD-ROM and is not writable. 3. In the left pane of the Registry Editor window, click the next Volume{ /GUID /} folder. 4. Follow steps 7 through 8 to change the Value data entry to 1 or 2 , depending on the drive type. 5. Quit Registry Editor, and then follow steps 10 through 12 to confirm that the Recording tab is displayed in the properties dialog box of the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive. Note that this may not work in all cases. This is only a workaround in a situation where the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is capable of functioning in Windows XP and for some reason has been misidentified. If the drive is not on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), the drive may not work with the built-in CD copying functionality, regardless of this registry setting. CD-R Drive or CD-RW Drive Is Not Recognized As a Recordable Device *CD-RW* HOW TO: Erase Files From a CD-RW Disc Compact Disc Recorded in Windows XP Is Missing Files or Folders or Is Unreadable *Change Default Directory for Installing Applications in the Program Files folder:* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version Name: ProgramFilesDir Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ Value: C:\Program Files default *Change User Pictures *How to Add or Change a User's Picture Restore User Default Pictures *Check Disk* How to schedule a CHKDSK on every boot To change this behavior: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon In the list look for "SFCScan", this should be set to (0) if it is set to (1) the scan will happen at every boot. Chkdsk Runs Each Time That You Start Computer After Upgrade to Windows XP Another Option: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager Look for the REG_MULTI_SZ value with the following name: BootExecute. This value contains commands that will be executed at startup. The default value is: autocheck autochk * After scheduling one or more chkdsks, the entry will contain one or more autochk lines. Delete each of these lines and put the default one in place. If you always want a check to be performedf at startup, change the value to: autocheck autochk /f * If you don't want any checks to be performed, delete all autocheck entries. *Scandisk after a Bad Shutdown - *Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: CHKNTFS/T:4 Where 4 is the amount of waiting time*. * Automating Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows An Explanation of CHKDSK and the New /C and /I Switches Use the scheduler and run chkdsk with the automatic switches for unattended operation (chkdsk /? will list the options for you). To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, click All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks. You can also use TweakUI to automatically login if you have logged off the system to allow chkdsk access. *Classic Color Palettes* Choose among Windows XP's color palettes: Right click the desktop, select Properties, click the Appearance tab, and choose a new palette under Color Scheme. At the time of this writing, using Windows XP RC1, the only choices available other than the default blue were olive green and silver. For a larger selection of palettes, and if you don't mind giving up the "new-and-improved" feel of Windows XP, select Windows Classic under Windows and Buttons. Now click the down arrow under Color Scheme and you'll see lots of choices. Select any one to see what it looks like in the preview area, then click OK to apply it. *Classic Start Menu* If you've been used to previous versions of Windows, you'll notice some big changes when you click the Start button. If you like the new layout, then great. But if you don't, feel free to go back to the familiar. Right click the Start button (or a blank area of the Start menu) and select Properties. On the Start Menu tab of the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, select Classic Start Menu, then click OK. *Classic Start Menu - Force Use* Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer. Value Name: NoSimpleStartMenu, Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value), Value Data: (1 = force classic menu, 0 = default). Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called 'NoSimpleStartMenu' and edit the value according to the settings below. Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect. *Classic View* Click Start, Run and enter CONTROL You should get an Explorer window with the Common Tasks pane. At the top is the option to Switch to Category view. If you don't get the Common Tasks pane, click on the Folders button on the Toolbar. *Clear History *Temp Files: IE/Tools/Internet Options/Delete Temporary Internet Files Temp Files: C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp & TIF Cookies: C:\Documents and Settings\\Cookies History: C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History Typed URL's: Start/Run/Regedit: Open your registry and find the key below and delete any value you want to remove. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs Clearing History May Not Remove Pages You Visited Today in Internet Explorer Clear Recent File Lists Prevent History of Typed URL's and Prevent Document History Registry Edits Removes your Internet history in Internet Explorer and Netscape. Clears the address list drop-down, cached files, history and cookies. In Windows it clears the TEMP folder and Recycle Bin, the run history, recent documents, and find files history. It also deletes locked files ("index.dat" and files that are in use by applications). Clean out Usage Tracks in Windows *Clear Recent MRU* Clear Recent File Lists in XP (Typed URL's, Media Player Play List, Run Commands, Search History...). Download here . Use the DelExplorerMRU.inf to remove the Most Recently Used file list, such as: Paint, Wordpad, Internet Explorer URL's, Search keywords, Wallpaper selections etc. Download here . *Clear Search History *HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru. Delete the key. To prevent keeping a history altogether, right click ACMru/Permissions/Deny all users and groups listed. *Clear System Restore Points* Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup. "More Options" tab, see the option to delete all but the last restore point. *Clear Type* Microsoft ClearType *Clear Type - Active Clear Type on the Welcome Screen* Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Control Panel/Desktop. In the right pane, right click "FontSmoothingType", modify, change the value to 2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Name: NoCommonGroups Data Type: dword Value: 00000001 A value of 1 hides the common groups, a value of 0 displays them. * Clock - Hide * On the right side of your Windows XP Taskbar, you see a clock and a number of notification icons (also known as the "tray" of the Taskbar in previous versions of Windows). Unlike its predecessors, Windows XP provides a number of options for customizing this "Notification Area." For example, if you don't want the clock there (unnecessary if you have one on your desk already), Right click a blank area of the Taskbar and select Properties. Under Notification area, deselect Show the Clock, then click OK. *Cluster Size* The Default Cluster Size for the NTFS and FAT File Systems *Cmaudio.ax* Problems When You Are Using an Out-of-Date Version of the C-Media Cmaudio.ax Driver File *Command Prompt - Add to the Right Click * Download here or see: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm *Command Prompt - Change the command prompt to C: * Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\AutoRun. In the right pane, double click Autorun and type in: cd\ as the value data. *Command Prompt - Run Startup Programs* This setting allows you to specify commands or programs to be automatically executed whenever a command processor is launched. For example, to set environment variables or parameters using a batch file. Create a new string value called "AutoRun" and set the value to equal the commands to be automatically executed. Multiple commands should be seperated by double ampersands e.g. "command1 && command2". The changes will take effect the next time the command processor is used. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] Value Name: AutoRun Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value) Value Data: Command to Execute *Command Prompt - Quick Edit* Quick Edit allows you to easily cut and paste text in the command prompt window using the mouse. The ability to use the Edit menu options is still possible. Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key: Per User: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console] Per System: System Key: [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Console] Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "QuickEdit" and set it according to (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled). Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect. *Common Dialog - History* By default, Windows Explorer-style dialog boxes (for example, the Open dialog box and the Save As dialog box) provide both a most-recently-used (MRU) list of file names and an AutoComplete list of previously typed file names. To prevent the MRU list and the AutoComplete list of file names from appearing, use the procedures that are described in this section. *How to Prevent the MRU List of File Names from Appearing * NOTE : After you complete this procedure, the MRU list does not appear in Windows Explorer-style dialog boxes; however, this list is not removed from the registry. *Windows XP Professional:* Log on as the user. Click Start, and then click Run. Type gpedit.msc, and then click OK. In the left pane under User Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand Windows Components, expand Windows Explorer, and then click Common Open File Dialog. In the right pane, double-click Hide the dropdown list of recent files. Click Enabled, and then click OK. Click File, and then click Exit. *Windows XP Home Edition: *Log on as the user. Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit, and then click OK . Locate and then click the following key in the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Comdlg32 NOTE : If the Comdlg32 key does not exist, follow these steps: Click the Policies key. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key. Type comdlg32, and then press ENTER. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type nofilemru, and then press ENTER. On the Edit menu, click Modify. Type 1, and then click OK. On the File menu, click Exit. *How to Prevent the AutoComplete List of File Names from Appearing * To prevent the AutoComplete list from appearing in typical Windows Explorer-style dialog boxes, turn off the AutoComplete functionality for Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer: Start Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options. Click the Content tab, and then click AutoComplete. Under Use AutoComplete for, click to clear the Web Addresses check box, and then click OK. Click the Advanced tab, click to clear the Use inline AutoComplete check box in the Browsing section (if this check box has been selected). Click OK. *Common Groups - Hide* In the Start Menu, groups (subfolders) in the upper part of the Programs menu are specific to each user, while groups (subfolders) in the lower part are common to all users. In order to prevent a user from viewing the common groups, make the following Registry change: *Common Tasks* Remove Common Tasks from Desktop. This Regedit or small VB Script utility will modify the System Registry to remove Common Tasks from your Desktop. Regedit or VB Script * Common Tasks - Don't Match Folder Type (by Keith Miller) * *Common Tasks - Show Common Tasks in Folders (Missing or greyed out)* Check your settings here: Start/Run/gpedit.msc/User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Explorer. In the right pane, double click Turn on Classic Shell and choose Enable. Another checkpoint: Start/Control Panel/System/Advanced/Performance/Settings/Visual Effects/Use common tasks in folders. *Communicate* Windows Messenger: Get Started with Real-Time Communication Find out about using Windows Messenger to communicate with instant messaging Windows Messenger: Instant Messaging Find out about using Windows Messenger for voice communication Windows Messenger: Voice Communications Find out about using Windows Messenger to communicate with video Windows Messenger: Video Communications Find out about using Windows Messenger to send files or photos Windows Messenger: Send a File or Photo Find out about controling your online status when using Windows Messenger Windows Messenger: Control Your Online Status Find out about sharing applications and the whiteboard with Windows Messenger Windows Messenger: Applications and Whiteboard Sharing *Compaq* Compaq is committed to bringing you the best computing experience available, whether you are purchasing a new PC with Windows XP installed or you already own a Microsoft Windows XP Ready PC. Our qualifying accessories and Presario PCs meet all the minimum hardware requirements to make it easy to upgrade to Windows XP Home Edition. Support . *Compatibility Mode - Explained* Using Program Compatibility Mode *Compatibility Wizard *Windows XP Program Compatibility Wizard (detailed walk through) HOW TO: Use the Program Compatibility Wizard *Compressed Files and Folders - Change Display Color* Start/Run/Regedit HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer. Value Name: AltColor, Data Type: REG_BINARY (Binary Value), Value Data: 00 00 ff 00 (default). Create a new binary value, or modify the existing value, named "AltColor" and set it to equal the hexadecimal RGB color value for the files and folders. Restart Windows for the change to take effect. *Note:* The option to "Display compressed files and folders with alternate color" must be enabled in explorer. *Compressed Folders - Disable Compressed Folders in Windows XP * Windows XP includes a built-in feature to manage compressed ZIP files and folders. This tweak allows you to disable it and install a third-party application. To disable the compressed folder feature click on Start/Run and enter the following command: regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll. To enable ZIP folder support run this command: regsvr32 zipfldr.dll. Restart Windows for the change to take effect. *Compressed Folders - Extract Files From* Extracting files from a compressed folder is just as easy as getting them in there. Right-click the *.zip file and select Extract All. Identify a destination folder (click Browse, and so on), click Next, then click Finish. As an alternative, click and drag a file from inside the compressed folder to another location, then let go. *Compressed Folder - Restore Icon *Start/Run and Type: regsvr32 zipfldr.dll *Computer Jargon* Computer Jargon by Babylon *Confirm Open after Download *Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/File Types/[File type in question]/Advanced/Confirm open after download. *Containing Text - Search Issue* Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all. The cause is the lack of a PersistentHandler value in the Registry for this type of file. Fix: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work *Content Advisor* Remove the Content Advisor and Ratings Password HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ratings Open your registry, find the key below. Single click on the key to highlight it, press the DELETE key, or alternatively select Delete from the Edit menu. Close Internet Explorer, re-open it, and the Content Advisor feature should be disabled. *Content Advisor - Apply per user* Content Advisor On (vb script). Download it (you may want to right click and use Save Target As) and save it to your desktop. Then place it in the startup folder of each account you want it activated in. Next, download the Content Advisor Off (vb script) and place it in each startup folder that you don't want/need it activated in. Both scripts can be found here: (scroll to the very bottom) http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm *Content Advisor Restrictions* These settings allow you to control the Content Advisor feature of Internet Explorer. Including the option to disable Content Advisor, require a supervisor password and view unrated content. Open your registry (Start/Run/Regedit) and find the key below, create it if it does not already exist. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ratings\.Default] Value Name: Allow_Unknowns, Enabled, PleaseMom Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value) Value Data: (0 = disable, 1 = enable restriction) Create a new DWORD value for each required restriction from the list below. * *Enabled* - (1 = enable content advisor, 0 = disable) * *Allow_Unknowns* - (1 = display unrated sites, 0 = restrict unrated sites) * *PleaseMom* - (1 = allow supervisor password, 0 = no supervisor override) Restart Internet Explorer for the changes to take effect. *Context Menu - Customizing Windows Explorer Context menu (right click menu in windows explorer) * Ever wondered how does the right click menu (which is actually a context menu) work? For example, when I right click in windows explorer, I see an option which says "open command window here". This is seen because you have following entries in the registry. [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd] @="Open Command Window Here" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd\command] @="C:\WINDOWS\System32\cmd.exe /k cd "%1"" If You have never used a tweaking utility and have newly installed Windows XP, You would not see this option. You would have to navigate to [[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive] go and create two subkeys ("cmd" and within that "command" and would have to put the text "Open Command Window Here" without quotes in default string value of "cmd" key and the text "C:\WINDOWS\System32\cmd.exe /k CD"%1"" without quotes in default string value of command key). After this You need to REBOOT for these changes to take effect. *Context Menus (Right Click) - Deleting entries* Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT. Go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers Expand the above branch and look through the sub-keys. Locate the one that corresponds to the entry you wish to remove and right click that sub-key and select Edit. You may wish to right click the desired sub-key and select Export. This will create a REG file that you can double click to re-import the information, if you find out you deleted the wrong one, or want it back. *Context Menus - Deleting entries* Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\OpenWithList HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers You can also go to a specific File extension (example: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt\ShellNew) and right click on the ShellNew key and select Delete, if the item shows up in the New context menu. Expand the above branch and look through the sub-keys. Locate the one that corresponds to the entry you wish to remove and right click that sub-key and select Edit. You may wish to right click the desired sub-key and select Export. This will create a REG file that you can double click to re-import the information, if you find out you deleted the wrong one, or want it back. *Right Click - Submenus * The new OpenExpert is the answer to this problem! Instead of messing around with a fixed association of a file type with only one application, it adds an "Open with" item to the context menu of the chosen file type with all the applications you decide. *Control-Alt-Delete - Enable* To Enable or Disable the CTRL+ALT+DELETE Sequence 1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts. 2. Click the Advanced tab. 3. In the "Secure logon" section, select or clear the "Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete" check box. If you want to set up a requirement for a user to press CTRL+ALT+DEL before the classic logon is displayed, in the same manner as it behaves on Windows XP Server: 1. Click Start/Run/Regedit, and then click OK. 2. Select the Winlogon subkey at the following registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon 3. Click Edit, click New, and then click "DWORD value". 4. Change the value name to "DisableCAD" (without the quotes) and press ENTER. 5. Keep the data value set to 0 which is displayed as 0x00000000(0). If the Welcome screen is enabled, the computer can be locked if you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE (to open Task Manager), and then click Lock Computer or click Switch User on the Shut Down menu. Control, Alt, Delete Process Explained and Key Commands *Control-Alt-Delete - Use Crtl + Alt + Delete to Restart the Computer * Normally when you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete the Windows task list is displayed. Using this tweak the key combination will instead reboot the computer. Open the SYSTEM.INI file found in the Windows directory using Notepad. Under the [386Enh] section create or modify the value named "KybdReboot". Set the value to equal "True" to cause the system to reboot on the key combination or "False" to show the task list. For example: [386Enh] KybdReboot=False Restart Windows for the change to take effect. Control, Alt, Delete Process Explained and Key Commands *Control Panel Applets* This tweak does not prevent the control panel applets from running, they just do not show up in control panel any more. Start/Run/gpedit.msc. User Configuration/Administrative Templates Folder/Control Panel Folder. Select Show only specified Control Panel Applets (right pane) properties. Select the enable button/click the Show button. A new window will pop up that will display control panel objects that are OK to show. Items not on this list will not be displayed in control panel when this feature is enabled. Here are the Windows XP Pro Control Panel applets: System Properties = sysdm.cpl Network Connections = ncpa.cpl ODBC Administrator = odbccp32.cpl Display Properties = desk.cpl Add or remove programs = appwiz.cpl Internet Properties = Inetcpl.cpl Game Controllers = joy.cpl Phone and modem Options = telephon.cpl Time and Date Properties = timedate.cpl Region and Language Options = intl.cpl Power Options = powercfg.cpl Mouse Properties = main.cpl Accessibility Options = access.cpl Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl Sound and Audio Devices = mmsys.cpl User Accounts = nusrmgr.cpl Speech Properties = sapi.cpl *Control Panel - Classic* You can remove the "common tasks" pane from the left side of your open folder windows: inside a folder window, click the Folder Options icon, select Use Windows Classic Folders, then click OK. Similarly, you can switch from the new, task-oriented Control Panel (great for new users or those who want to perform common tasks without wading through dialog boxes) back to the "classic" version. Open the Control Panel (select Start, Control Panel), and in the common tasks pane on the left side of the window, click Switch to Classic View. *Control Panel - Display *This setting specifies the visual style of the Control Panel. Allowing you to either force the use of the new XP style, classic style or allow the user to select the preferred style. Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called 'ForceClassicControlPanel' and edit the value according to the settings (0 = force new, 1 = force classic). Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect. *Control Panel - Icons Missing* Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load Look in the right pane and you'll see the Control Panel Icons that have been disabled. You can either right click on the "don't load" subkey and select Delete to restore all disabled icons, or you can right click on each of the items in the right pane and select Delete to selectively restore them. Scroll up to Control Panel Applets for a listing of what each one is. The change will be seen the next time you open Control Panel. *Control Panel - Tools* (Reference ) Have You noticed the new view of control panel in XP. Well as its says, its a view and you can switch to a classic view anytime. But if you like the view but want to customize the categories, there is again a good article on How to do this : How to Add a Control Panel Tool to a Category (Q292463) . You can get complete details by visiting the site but in brief a control Panel tool can be included in a particular category by adding a registry DWORD entry for the tool in the following registry key: Go to Start/Run/Regedit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2. Value category ids are: 0x00000000 : Other Control Panel Options (any tool that does not specify a category ID is placed in this category) 0x00000001 : Appearance and Themes 0x00000002 : Printers and Other Hardware 0x00000003 : Network and Internet Connections 0x00000004 : Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices 0x00000005 : Performance and Maintenance 0x00000006 : Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options 0x00000007 : Accessibility Options 0xFFFFFFFF : Do not put the tool in any category (for special tools such as Add/Remove Programs which only start directly). *Control Userpasswords2 - Add to Control Panel * *Copying User Profiles* How to Copy User Profiles *Copying User Profiles - Copy To Button Disabled* This issue can occur if the account that you are trying to copy is currently logged on; you cannot copy a user profile while you are logged on as that user. To resolve this issue, verify that the user account is not logged on before you try to copy its profile. If you are currently logged on as this user, log off, log on again by using a different user account, and then copy the profile. If you are not logged on as the user account that you are trying to copy, that account may be logged on in a different session (using Fast User Switching). To force that account to be logged off, start Task Manager, click the Users tab, click the user account, and then click Logoff. To work around this behavior, you can also create a user who has administrative privileges, log on as that user, and then copy the profile of the first user. "Copy To" Button in System Properties Dialog Box Is Unavailable *Crash Report* Windows® Online Crash Analysis If you experience a blue screen crash event, or Stop error, while using Microsoft Windows XP, you can upload the error report for analysis. http://oca.microsoft.com/welcome.asp *CTFMON* CTFMon is involved with the language/alternative input services in Office XP. CTFMON.exe will continue to put itself back into MSConfig when you run the Office XP apps as long as the Text Services and Speech applets in the Control Panel are enabled. Not required if you don't need these features. OFFXP: What Is CTFMON and What Does It Do? *Customize Your Computer* Get started customizing your computer Get Started Customizing Your Computer Change your desktop background Change Your Desktop Background Add a colorful screen saver Add a Colorful Screen Saver Work with themes Work with Themes Change the screen size Change the Screen Size Work with sound effects Work with Sound Effects Customize your mouse and pointer Customize Your Mouse and Pointer Customize the Start Menu Customize the Start Menu Microsoft ClearType Tuner: Customize Your Screen for Your Eyes Microsoft ClearType Tuner: Customize Your Screen for Your Eyes Accessibility: 80 How-to Articles Accessibility: 80 How-to Articles Share a Computer with Fast User Switching Share a Computer with Fast User Switching Expand Your Workspace with Multiple Monitors and Dualview Expand Your Workspace with Multiple Monitors and Dualview Powered by FreeFind /Note: This compilation of information are from various sources. All credit due to its authors. Home Page Win98 - 10/09/2002 11:37 PM - Home Page WinXP © Copyright Kelly Theriot MS-MVP(DTS) 2002. All rights reserved. /