Tips for Windows XP

  1. First Things to Change on a new XP Windows System
    1. Right Click on th Recycle Bin, select "Properties" and uncheck "Display delete confirmation dialog" box. You can always get the deleted file from the Recycle Bin anyway.
    2. Turn on ClearType

      Start/Control Panel/Display/Appearance/Effects then set "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" to "ClearType"

    3. Download Firefox.

      Add these extensions: Linky, HTML Validator, Reload Every, Dictionary Search, Web Developer, Open Link In..., AdBlock, StumbleUpon, Linky, GreaseMonkey, Google Browser Sync, Tamper Data.

    4. add "C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe" to the startup menu so it launches at reboot
  2. Easy (Fairly) Safe Steps to Make Windows XP Faster
    1. Set XP for high performance.

      Right Click on "My Computer", select "Properties", select the "Advanced" tab, under the "Performance" area select "Settings", select "Adjust for best performance" then select "OK".

    2. Disable Automatic Searching of Network Folders and Printers

      In Internet Explorer select "Tools/Folder Options.../View" and uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and printers."

    3. Turn off Auto Indexing

      Windows comes with an annoying indexing service, it's better to turn it off and use Google or Yahoo's desktop search engine instead. In windows explorer, right click on your "C:" drive. Select "Properties", then look at the "General" tab. At the bottom uncheck "Allow Indexing Service..."

    4. Look at your "Recycle Bin" and empty it if you really don't need those files.
    5. Disk Cleanup

      On that same tab select "Disk Cleanup" and wait a few minutes. A window will appear with checkboxes. Check "Temporary Internet Files", "Offline Web Pages", "WebClient/Publisher Temporary Files", and "Temporary files". Check the others at your own risk. Leave the "Office Setup Files" as is. Don't make Office mad at you. Then select "OK".

    6. Defrag the drive

      Whether or not this helps is up for debate, but it won't hurt your system. In windows explorer, right click on your "C:" drive. Select "Properties", then look at the "Tools" tab. Select "Defragment Now...", then select "Defragment".

      Better yet, you can schedule a job to defrag your drive. Create a batch file, defragger.bat, 

      date/t & time/t
C:\WINDOWS\system32\defrag.exe C: -v 
date/t & time/t

      And then schedule "defragger.bat > c:\defrag.txt" to run once a week or month (or if your obsessive like me, once a day at 2am). See note below for details on scheduling.

    7. Remove extra startup processes

      Select the "Start" button, then "Programs", then "Startup". Look at the programs that are automatically started each time you reboot. Right click on any that are not necessary and delete them.

    8. Remove extra programs

      Select "Start", "Settings", "Add Remove Programs" and waste anything you don't need anymore.

    9. Remove spyware and adware

      Download the free Microsoft Spyware detector or Ad-aware.

    10. Remove extra graphical effects

      Right click "My Computer", select "properties" select "advanced", select "performance settings". Check "adjust for best performance" and uncheck every check.

  3. How to schedule a task in windows xp

    To schedule a task, click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, select System Tools, select Scheduled Tasks.

  4. Set the Start Directory in Windows Explorer

    Right-click on the Windows Explorer icon (on the desktop, if you've dragged it there or via the start menu). Select "Properties". To have Explorer start at the top of the C: drive, replace the value of "Target with the following:

    %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, C:\
  5. Excel - How to exchange rows and columns?

    Select the data and copy it to the clipboard
    Click where you want the data - must be outside the selected area.
    Choose edit / paste special and check the "transpose" box

  6. Certificates
    1. How to create a self-signed certificate 
      makecert -r -pe -n "CN=mydomain.com" -b 01/01/2000 -e 01/01/2036 -eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1 -ss my -sr localMachine -sky exchange -sp "Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider" -sy 12
    2. How to install the newly created certificate

      Open "Internet Information Services", right click on "Default Web Site", select the "Directory Security" tab, select the "Server Certificate..." button.

    3. How to apply it to a virtual directory

      Open IIS, right-click on the virtual directory, select the "Directory Security" tab. Under "Secure communications", select "Edit..." then check "Require secure channel (SSL)".

  7. To use 'vi' from the SFU package in the cmd shell

    Set the terminal type to interix, i.e., set TERM=interix

  8. Shortcuts:
    1. Windows-F - Quick way to launch the "Find" utility
    2. Windows-E - Quick way to launch Windows Explorer
    3. Shift-F3 - Toggle selected text between upper-case, lower-case, and title case
    How to get rid of that annoying "Send Error Report to Microsoft" popup:
(even though most sites recommend not doing this)
1. On the "My computer" icon, right click and select "Properties"
2. Select the "Advanced" tab, and then "Error Reporting"
3. Select "Disable error reporting" and uncheck the "But notify me..." option.






To see what speed your processor is
In the file browser, right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties".
The speed and RAM details are on the "General" tab.

To create an Emergency Repair Disk:
Start/Run/rdisk


To map a drive:
net use z: \\vulcan\development /user:MyDomain\myusername  /persistent:yes 


-----------------------------------------------------------
from http://www.jsiinc.com/reghack26.htm#T501
How do I pipe the entire contents of a batch file (commands and responses) to a log file?

The syntax is:
Drive:\BatFolder\BatchName.bat>Drive:\LogFolder\LogName.log 2>&1

If you wish to fully log a scheduled job, put the command in another batch file. Example: c:\zzz\batch0.bat contains:

c:\zzz\batch1.bat>c:\temp\batch1.log 2>&1

Then schedule c:\zzz\batch0.bat:

AT hh:mm cmd /c "c:\zzz\batch0.bat" 
-----------------------------------------------------------
From http://ci.ml.org/ntsecrets/info/secrets.htm
Question: How do I schedule a batch job to run automatically?
Answer: Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks

-----------------------------------------------------------
*******************************************************************
From ZDNet:

Scheduling a reboot of your server

If you would like to reboot your Windows NT server, but don't want
to have to be there to do it, you can use the shutdown Windows NT
Resource Kit utility, along with the at command, to schedule a
reboot of your server.

(You can download the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit Support Tools,
which include the shutdown utility, by going to
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/recommended/ntkit/
default.asp. The at command is included with Windows NT Server 4.0.)

The shutdown utility requires that you use several parameters.
These include /L (to specify that you want to shut down the local
computer), /R (to specify that you want to reboot after the
shutdown of your server), and /Y (to specify that you want to
answer "yes" to all questions). For example, to shutdown and reboot
your local server, you should type:

shutdown /L /R /Y

When you're ready to schedule the shutdown command to run, begin by
starting the Schedule service in the Services icon within Control
Panel. After starting the Schedule service, schedule shutdown to run
by typing the following command: at time /next:date command. For
example, to schedule the shutdown to run every Saturday at 3:00 P.M.,
type the command:

at 15:00 /every:Saturday c:\ntreskit\shutdown /L /R /Y


to change the title on a command window in NT
c:>title my new title

to change the permissions on the command line (like chmod)
attrib -r myfile.dat

To put multiple commands in a console, separate them with '&'

c:>dir & pwd

You can change the Start menu delay in displaying sub-menus.  Bring up
REGEDT32.  Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Desktop,
MenuShowDelay:.  Set REG_SZ: to anything between 0 (fastest) and 4000
(slowest).

Launch Windows NT faster by adjusting the boot delay to 5 seconds or
less.  To make the change, open Control Panel/System and select the
Startup/Shutdown tab.  In the Show List For control, change the
setting to the desired boot delay value.  To bypass the boot menu
altogether, set the delay value to 0. 

To refresh explorer enter F5.

C:\>path=%PATH%;c:\fincher\bin

If you want to be able to depress the TAB key to complete the file name you are typing at a command prompt, edit:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Command Processor
Double Click on CompletionChar or add value of REG_DWORD, set it to 9. You will need to reboot. 

c:>nbtstat -R
Successful purge and preload of the NBT Remote Cache Name Table.

c:>netstat -a
network status command for ports

net use z: \\othermachinename\c
to map a drive from another machine to z

c:> net use //shows mapped drives

c:> net user username // shows characterics of user like when the password expires

c:> net view /domain: mycompanydomain  // finds machines on the net

c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\Hosts
is where the local dns filelookup table lives.


c:START notepad
does a batch invocation, like & in unix

CNTL-ESC is the same as the windows key.

net send mfincher howdy mitch
to send a message to mfincher on windows network

net send /users "this is sent to all users of the machine."

net send mfincher "this is a message only for mitch"


In InternetExplorer to expand all folders below the currently selected
one, press the "*" on the numeric keypad (not the "*" on the 8 key).


To have a batch file "sleep" or "wait" use:
perl -e "sleep(3);"
  9. To start and stop IIS from the command line 
    net START "World Wide Web Publishing Service"
net STOP "World Wide Web Publishing Service"
  10. To access a cd drive from a distant virtual machine

    When installing software on a virtual you often need to access a cd drive on a different machine. Go to the machine with the cd drive and share the cd drive as "d". On the virtual map a drive like "M:" to that other drive eg, "\\mymachine001\d". Enjoy.

  11. To view which programs are associated with which extensions 
    assoc
  12. To print a window.
    1. PrtScrn will put a snapshot of the entire screen into the Clipboard;
      "Alt-Print Scrn" will save only the active window.
      Ctrl-"PrintScrn" -- pastes the current window into the clipboard
    2. Open "Paint" program and do a paste.
  13. Display a complete tree

    In Windows NT Explorer and in Microsoft Outlook, if you select a folder then press "*" on the numeric keypad (Num Lock can be on or off), the entire tree of sub-folders under the selected folder will be expanded. Pressing "-" on the keypad will collapse the tree again.

  14. Misc
    1. End of line characters 
      		dos is CRLF
		mac is CR
		Unix is LF
    2. recursively copy over a network: 
      xcopy /e mydir1\* \\venus\\usr\mydir1
    3. Postscript command for duplex printing Right before the line starting with "%%BeginProcSet: ", insert the following two lines:
      % Enable Duplex printing
<< /Duplex true >> setpagedevice
    4. Windows NT reboot
      You can force NT to automatically reboot after a crash by setting the value of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\CrashControl\AutoReboot to 1.
    5. To remove a directory:
      rd x:\folder /S
      Replace x:\folder with the drive letter and name of the folder you want to delete. use
      rd x:\folder /S /Q
      to have rd use "quiet" mode so it won't give you all the messages and warnings.
    6. To configure your ip settings 
      winipcnfg
    7. To flush (or reset) your dns settings 
       ipconfig /flushdns
    8. To see your proxy settings: 
      proxycfg
    9. Toimport your proxy settings from IE 
      proxycfg -u
    10. Misc windows key settings: (from Ian P. Springer [ips@fpk.hp.com]) 
      [Windows]F: Opens the Find dialog box
[Windows]M: Minimizes all open windows
[Windows]R: Opens the Run dialog box
[Windows][Break]: Opens the System Properties dialog box
[Windows][Tab]: Cycles through the programs on your taskbar
[Windows][F1]: Opens Windows NT Help (regardless of the program you're
working in--pressing [F1] by itself opens the current program's Help)


bonus: [Ctrl][Shift][Esc] start Task Manager
    11. Command line programs
      DescriptionCommand
      Add/Remove Programs appwiz.cpl
      Administrative Tools certmgr.msc
      Check Disk Utility chkdsk
      Clipboard Viewer clipbrd
      Command Prompt cmd
      Component Services dcomcnfg
      Computer Management compmgmt.msc
      Date and Time Properties timedate.cpl
      Device Manager devmgmt.msc
      Direct X Control Panel (If Installed) - directx.cpl
      Direct X Troubleshooter dxdiag
      Disk Cleanup Utility cleanmgr
      Disk Defragmnt dfrg.msc
      Disk Management diskmgmt.msc
      Disk Partition Manager diskpart
      Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) - control color
      Display Properties control desktop
      Display Properties desk.cpl
      Event Viewer eventvwr.msc
      Findfast findfast.cpl
      Folders Properties control folders
      Fonts Folder fonts
      Fonts control fonts
      Free Cell Card Game freecell
      Game Controllers joy.cpl
      Group Policy Editor gpedit.msc
      Hearts Card Game mshearts
      IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) - ipconfig /flushdns
      IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) - ipconfig /all
      IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) - ipconfig /showclassid
      IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) - ipconfig /displaydns
      IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) - ipconfig /setclassid
      IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) - ipconfig /registerdns
      IP Configuration (Release All Connections) - ipconfig /release
      IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) - ipconfig /renew
      Iexpress Wizard iexpress
      Indexing Service ciadv.msc
      Internet Properties inetcpl.cpl
      Java Control Panel (If Installed) - javaws
      Keyboard Properties control keyboard
      Local Security Settings secpol.msc
      Local Users and Groups lusrmgr.msc
      Logs You Out Of Windows logoff
      Microsoft Chat winchat
      Minesweeper Game winmine
      Mouse Properties control mouse
      Mouse Properties main.cpl
      Netstat netstat
      Network Connections control netconnections
      Network Connections ncpa.cpl
      Network Setup Wizard netsetup.cpl
      Notepad notepad
      Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) - nvtuicpl.cpl
      ODBC Data Source Administrator odbccp32.cpl
      Object Packager packager
      On Screen Keyboard osk
      Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) - ac3filter.cpl
      Password Properties password.cpl
      Performance Monitor perfmon.msc
      Performance Monitor perfmon
      Phone and Modem Options telephon.cpl
      Power Configuration powercfg.cpl
      Printers Folder printers
      Printers and Faxes control printers
      Private Character Editor eudcedit
      Quicktime (If Installed) - QuickTime.cpl
      Regional Settings intl.cpl
      Registry Editor regedit
      Remote Desktop mstsc
      Removable Storage Operator Requests ntmsoprq.msc
      Removable Storage ntmsmgr.msc
      Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) - rsop.msc
      SQL Client Configuration cliconfg
      Scanners and Cameras sticpl.cpl
      Scheduled Tasks control schedtasks
      Security Center wscui.cpl
      Services services.msc
      Shared Folders fsmgmt.msc
      Shuts Down Windows shutdown
      Sounds and Audio mmsys.cpl
      Spider Solitare Card Game spider
      System Configuration Editor sysedit
      System Configuration Utility msconfig
      System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) - sfc /purgecache
      System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) - sfc /revert
      System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) - sfc /scannow
      System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) - sfc /scanboot
      System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) - sfc /scanonce
      System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) - sfc /cachesize=x
      System Properties sysdm.cpl
      Task Manager taskmgr
      Telnet Client telnet
      Traceroute tracert <hostname or IP>
      User Account Management nusrmgr.cpl
      Utility Manager utilman
      Windows Firewall firewall.cpl
      Windows Magnifier magnify
      Windows Management Infrastructure wmimgmt.msc
      Windows System Security Tool syskey
      Windows Update Launches wupdmgr
      Windows XP Tour Wizard tourstart
      Wordpad write
    12. Command looping in winnt 
      Consider the following command:

FOR /L %g IN (1,1,254) DO ping -n 2 200.200.200.%g

In English, this command states that we want to "do" the ping command as long 
as the %g variable is within the range from 1 to 254. We specify the range for 
%g by using the syntax (start, step, end). Start indicates the starting value 
for %g (1 in this example), step indicates the number with which we want to 
increment %g (1 in our example), and end indicates the number at which we want 
to stop pinging. We've also limited the number of pings to 2 by using -n 2 
(instead of the typical 4 for each computer. 

When you run this command, you'll see that your computer pings the following 
IP addresses:

200.200.200.1
200.200.200.2
200.200.200.3
...
200.200.200.254

This tip was contributed by Rafael Sanchez, fariceo@yahoo.com.
    13. Create a CD disk that automatically launches a web page Create an autorun.inf file with the following contents and it will launch internet explorer and show the "index.htm" page:
      [autorun]
      label=Eagles 2000
      open=explorer.exe index.htm
    14. Simulate a sleep or wait call

      "-n" is the number of pings, which could roughly be proportional to the amount of time to wait in seconds. This is not really elegant, or even recommended, but in a pinch, it'll work to wait 5 seconds.

      C:\WINDOWS\system32\ping.exe 127.0.0.1 -n 5 -w 5000  > nul
    15. Loop over arguments using SHIFT in a command batch file 
      rem loops through the arguments and qparses the qqc file
rem example of how to use SHIFT to process arguments - also see FOR
@echo on
:LOOP
echo "Compiling %1"
cd C:\mrInterviewSource
cd %1
call c:\home\mfincher\bin\qparse.bat %1
SHIFT
IF "%1" == "" GOTO END
GOTO LOOP

:END
echo "All Done."
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