Windows XP: FAQ - Windows XP

System Setup

Can I reduce the size of Windows XP?

In the event that all the hardware is already installed, you can delete the% SystemRoot% \ Driver Cache \ i386 \ (that is, the default C: \ Windows \ Driver Cache \ i386 \). However, in this case, when adding any new hardware, Windows will prompt for an installation CD. You can also disable System Restore, thereby removing the information that is stored in the System Volume Informatiоn folder.

And one more folder can be deleted -% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ dllcache \ (it stores the protected system files used to automatically restore the originals if they are damaged). By the way, by default, the size of this folder is 400 mb (it is specified in the registry by the SFCQuota (0xFFFFFFFF) parameter in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon key), but it can be changed to zero with sfc: sfc / cachesize = 0 (if you put, for example, 10, then the folder size will decrease to 10 mb)

And what is this in XP, Help is so truncated?

In fact, the help system in Windows XP is even more detailed than, for example, in NT, but it is divided into several parts - the one that appears through the Help and Support item of the Start button, is intended, to put it mildly, for unskilled users. This "main" help does not contain information about very many aspects of operating system management, so to get really important information, you will have to walk through the help files of individual applets, for example, those in the section Computer Management (Start / Control Panel).

What can I do to optimize Windows XP?

To start - to disable unnecessary system services (services), thus speeding up the system. At the same time, and a little bit of memory ...

Here is a list of services that, in principle, can be safely disconnected:

Automatic Updates. Given that you can update the system manually, it makes sense to turn off this service. Especially in the event that there is no permanent connection to the Internet. You should only remember not only to disable the service, but also to cancel Automatic Updates in the System Properties tab with the same name.

• Computer Browser. He is updating the list of computers on the network. In the absence of a network is not needed.
• Cryptographic Service. The service of secure exchange of keys and encryption of transmitted data in the local network. If there is no local network, then this service can be disabled, if the network is - think for yourself ...
• DHCP client. Is engaged in automatic allocation of IP-addresses. If there is no network (neither local, nor the Internet - even through a modem), then this service is not needed.
• Event Log. It keeps a log of system, program events and events in security systems. In principle, you can turn off. Nothing terrible will happen.
• Messenger. Responsible for receiving and sending messages sent by the administrator. In the absence of a network (and administrator) is absolutely useless.
• Network Connections. Manage all network connections. If there is no network (including no Internet), then this service is not needed.
• Print Spooler. If there is no printer, then it is not needed.
• Portable media serial number. It is responsible for obtaining the serial number of the portable music device that is connected to the computer. Personally, I have nothing like this ...
• Protected Storage. Protection of important data, incl. User keys; Prohibits unauthorized access. If there is no network (including the Internet), then this service can be disabled (if security does not excite - you can disable and if there is a network).
• Remote Registry Service. It is intended for remote control of the registry (only needed by network administrators).
• System Event Notification. Monitors system events. If everything is already configured and working normally, you can disable it.
• SSDP Discovery. Provides the operation of plug-in devices that support UPnP (Universal Plug & Play system, which, according to the idea, should connect the computer with a wide variety of household appliances, such as a vacuum cleaner or a refrigerator.
• Task Scheduler. Running applications at a specified time. If this feature is not used, you can disable this service.
• Telephony. Interaction with the modem. No modem - turn off the service
• Telnet. Provides the ability to connect and remote work via the protocol telnet. If you do not know (and do not want to know) what it is, then this service can be turned off.
• Uninterruptible power supply. Controls the operation of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). If UPS with feedback is not present, it is not needed.
• Terminal Service. It is used to connect to a computer over a network and remotely manage it. Home user it in general to anything.
• Windows time. Synchronizes time on the local machine and server; If there is no time server, then the service is not needed.
• Wireless zero configuration. Service automatic configuration of wireless networks standard 803.11 and 803.11b. If there is no wireless network, then why should this service work?

I emphasize that this list is not final, because the need for a particular system service is determined by the tasks that are performed on a particular computer, so everyone should decide for themselves what can be disabled and what is not. The main thing is not to overdo it, remembering that the consequences of ill-considered actions can be unpredictable. And more about the consequences. In order to reduce the risk of "mashing" the system, it makes sense to make a backup copy of that branch of the registry before starting experimenters with services, which is responsible for starting the system services: open regedit, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Serviсes, select File, And there - the item Export Registry Key.

Another method that allows you to speed up the system and release some of its memory is to disable Dr.Watson, the default debugger for each application failure. To disable this "doctor", you will need to find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ AeDebug key in the registry and change the Auto parameter value to 0. After this registry modification, if the application crashes, the system will offer to either close It, or pass it to debugger for debugging (if you select the second, Dr.Watson will launch and create a log file).

The next step is the optimization of the interface, designed to speed up its operation. Go to System Properties, open the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Performance section and select the Adjust for best performance item in the Visual Effects tab that opens, completely disabling all effects. And you can turn them off individually, leaving those without which you can not live well ...

Now we will start the start menu. Initially, it opens with some delay (by default - 400 milliseconds), which you can adjust by changing the registry value of the key MenuShowDelay, located at HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ ControlPanel \ Desktop. If the parameter is set to 0, the menu will appear without delay.

There - in the registry - there is another parameter, the change of which will lead to some acceleration of the interface - MinAnimate, which includes animation when minimizing and maximizing windows, is located at HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ ControlPanel \ Desktop \ WindowsMetrics. Value 1 - the animation effect is on, 0 - off. If this key is not in the registry, then create it (type - String). And do not forget - for such changes to take effect it is necessary to restart the computer.

The opening of folders with a large number of files on the NTFS-partition is rather slow, because Windows updates the last access to files every time, and this, of course, is spent some time. To disable this function, you need to run regedit and create a parameter of type DWord at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ FileSystem, naming it NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and assigning it a value of 1.

In addition to all of the above, to optimize the system, you can use programs specifically designed for this, for example, Tweak-XP - a set of two dozen utilities to configure Windows XP.

How to remove the "hidden" components of Windows XP?

Unlike Windows 9 * / NT, during the installation of Windows XP, it is not possible to select the necessary components. In my opinion, this is the right decision by Microsoft - first you need to install the operating system with all its bells and whistles, and then, after working, you can decide what to leave and what not.

However, in this case it also turns out, as our unforgettable Boris Yeltsin would say, in some way: in the "Add / Remove Windows Components" window that is present in the "Add or Remove Programs" applet of the Control Panel, delete something Almost nothing, because many of the components of Windows are hidden from the playful pens of not very experienced users.

So, does this problem have no solution? - Of course, there is a solution. Open the system folder Inf (by default - C: \ Windows \ Inf), find the sysoc.inf file in it, open it and delete the word HIDE in all rows. The main thing at the same time is to leave the file format unchanged, that is, only HIDE should be deleted, leaving commas before and after this word.

For an example - the original string and the one that should get:
Msmsgs = msgrocm.dll, OcEntry, msmsgs.inf, hide, 7
Msmsgs = msgrocm.dll, OcEntry, msmsgs.inf ,, 7
Save the file sysoc.inf, open "Add / Remove Windows Components" and see a much longer list than the one that was on this page before carrying out the above operation. However, in this case too many can not be removed. By the way, the same can be done in the case of Windows 2000 ...

Can I create a skin for Windows XP myself?

You can - recently appeared the program Windowblinds XP, specifically designed to change the appearance of Windows XP.

Can I replace the picture in the "Start" menu next to my name on my picture?

You can, not only to your photo, but also to any other graphic file, and it's very simple: after clicking on this picture the "User Account" window will pop up, in the lower right part of which there is a link "Browse for more pictures" (review Other images), with which you should find that picture / picture that will be displayed opposite the username.

How to Russify English WinXP?

Partially (40 percent) russify the interface of the English version of Windows XP Professional with a patch that changes the language resources in a couple of files.

-> Does this version of Windows allow me to make changes to the config.sys file? And then in the Millennium it is impossible to force the computer to remember, say, such line: files = 200

In Windows XP (as in WinNT / 2K), a similar file is called config.nt. It can be modified, including setting the number of simultaneously available files during the operation of the MS-DOS subsystem. One should only understand that in Windows XP, strictly speaking, there is no MS-DOS, and there is only its emulation.

Which drivers are more suitable for WinXP - from NT or 2K?

I would answer this question like this: the best drivers are specially written for Windows XP, but this answer is likely to satisfy very few people, so I'll continue. As it seems to me, the best way to find the missing driver is a method of scientific poking, consisting in the sequential installation of all the drivers that are available, especially since Windows XP provides a very simple way to return to the old version of the driver - one click on the "Roll Back Driver" , Which is located on the "Driver" tab of the window with the properties of the corresponding device.

Why do I need the Compatibility tab in the properties of the .exe file?

This tab is designed to "cheat" programs. Given that Windows XP is a sort of "hybrid" operating system that users and Windows 98, and Windows NT, and Windows 2000 will switch to, Microsoft has decided not to wait for software developers to release patches and updated versions of programs that are compatible With Windows XP, and she added a special function to the operating system "compatibility mode", which is precisely configured on the Compatibility tab.
Putting a checkmark in front of the inscription "Run this program in compatibility mode for" on this tab and selecting one of the offered operating systems (Windows 95, 98, Me, NT or 2000), we thereby make the program believe that it does not work in Windows XP , But in the selected operating system. It should be noted that Windows XP not only informs the program that it is not Windows XP, but also emulates the structure of the system registry of the corresponding operating system, which makes it possible to make most of the programs that are not formally designed to work in this OS work in Windows XP, and Only some of them (those that check the OS kernel) will not succumb to this trick and refuse to work.

On the same tab, by the way, you can change some other settings for launching a specific application - set the screen resolution to 640x480, reduce the color to 256 colors and disable the common skin for the entire operating system.

I want to replace the file in the System32 folder, but Windows swears and does not. What to do?

Does not - and correctly does: there is no need to break the system. This is triggered by a file protection system that is not disabled for the boot partition of the hard drive even if you disable the System Restore by removing the appropriate check box on its setup page.

On the other hand, if you can not, but really want to, and while you clearly understand what you are doing and how this whole thing can end (and the result can be very deplorable), then you can use a tiny utility called SetSfс, which allows you to change the parameters of the recovery system Windows 2K / XP, and also to disconnect it completely - including for the boot partition.

Where are the utilities mentioned in the review of Windows XP?

During the installation of Windows XP, they are not automatically installed, so you will have to install them after installing the operating system. And they are located on the Windows XP Pro installation CD, in the Support \ Tools folder

Can I shoot digital audio from an audio CD in XP?

You can - Windows XP allows the transfer of audio data from the CD in digital form via the IDE-loop (without using the wiring, which is usually connected CD-ROM with a sound card). To use this very useful feature, go through the Control Panel / System to the Hardware tab, click on the Device Manager button and select the CD-ROM in which Properties (Properties CD) on the same tab is set to "Enable Digital CD-Audio for This CD-ROM device ". After that, the postings mentioned above can be discarded.

How do I start the defragmenter from the Explorer context menu?

Download the file context_defrag.vbs. After installation (to do this, just click on the file) in the context menu of Explorer will appear the item defrag, which allows you to quickly start defragmenting the hard drive

How to expose the rights to users who work on the computer?

In Windows XP, each user can set certain rights - what to do is allowed and what is not, and if there are many users, they can be divided into groups, assigning certain rights to each group. Users and groups are managed through the Users Accounts applet located in the Control Panel. Immediately after installing WinXP, you will see two users in this applet: the one who was created during the installation (with administrator rights) and the second guest (Guest), which by default is disabled. In fact, immediately after the installation, several more users appear (for example, a user known as NT since the user named Administrator), but they are not shown in the list. This is the general principle of building Windows XP: the operating system is designed for everyone, in other words - for Teapots, too, so "extra" can only be reached after some additional manipulation. In general, this is correct - less wood will be broken ...

In the event that you have administrator rights, the Users Accounts applet will enable you to add or remove users, change the user's password or the corresponding icon image, and change the login method. By default, when you log on to the system, the Welcome screen screen with icons and user names is displayed, but if you select the "Change the way users log on and off" option and remove the check box from the "Use the Welcome screen" option in the window that appears, Occur on NT-shnomu - through a window in which it is proposed to enter a user name and password.

And where are the groups where the ability to edit existing users, in short, where everything that was in NT / 2K? - To gain access to control over users, which can be called "complete", you'll have to look into the applet Computer Management (Start / Administrative Tools / Computer Management) and click on the plus sign that opens Local Users and Groups ...

But it's not all tricks: there is also the Local Security Setings applet (it's there, in Administrative Tools), with which you can, for example, change the password lifetime and set specific rights for each existing user group.
How do I log in to the system as an administrator (Administrator user)? The easiest way is to disable the Welcome screen mode (see the previous question). In addition, you can log in as Administrator if you start the system boot in Safe mode. Finally, there is a third, most cunning way: after the screen "Welcome screen" appears, press Ctrl + Alt + Del

How to enable MP3 encoding with high bitrate?

Create a reg-file (calling it, for example, mp3.reg) as follows:

Regedit 4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Settings]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Settings \ MP3Encoding]
"LowRate" = dword: 0000dac0
"MediumRate" = dword: 0000fa00
"MediumHighRate" = dword: 0001f400
"HighRate" = dword: 0002ee00
And import it into the registry (click on the file - install). After making such a change, the integrated MP3 codec will be included in the registry, but its maximum bitrate will be limited to 192 kilobits.
The second way of encoding with a high bit rate is the use of an external MP3 codec for encoding not an embedded one.

How can I change the synchronization interval of a computer's system clock with a time server?

We find in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ ControlSet001 \ Services \ W32Time \ TimeProviders \ NtpClient
We select the parameter SpecialPollInterval and change its value: it should be equal to the required interval between the synchronizations of the system time expressed in seconds (for example, 172800 - 2 days, 43200 - 12 hours)

How to change the number of open program windows, when it reaches the taskbar grouping mode into one button?

The mode of grouping several open windows into one button is one of numerous not immediately noticeable, but very convenient innovations. Its meaning is that when the number of open windows of a certain value is reached, they are grouped and displayed on the taskbar in the form of a single button, clicking on which calls the drop-down menu with all the open windows of this program. A very convenient feature, for example, when walking on the Internet using Internet Explorer - already the first dozen open pages without using the grouping mode, litter the task bar.

To change the number of open program windows, which leads to the inclusion of the grouping mode, you need to start Regedit, find the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced key in the registry and change the TaskbarGroupSize parameter. If there is no such parameter, you need to create it (in the form of DWORD) and configure it: click on the parameter with the right mouse button and select Modify in the context menu (for example, the setting for TaskbarGroupSize of value 5 will cause Windows to enable the grouping mode with five open windows of the same type)

By the way: how can we even include this grouping regime? Very simple: right-click on the taskbar, select Prop
Erties and on the Taskbar tab, set the checkbox next to "Group similar buttons ..."

Can I change fonts to smoothed ones in the "Welkome" window?

Elementary: open the registry, find the key HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Control Panel \ Desktop, find the parameter FontSmoothingType in it and change its value to 2. The next time the system is restarted, we wait for the "Welkome" screen to appear, and then enjoy the effect ...

And what, in XP there is no fax?

Yes, but automatically when installing the operating system Fax service is not installed. To use its capabilities, including sending, receiving and monitoring faxes, open the 'Add or Remove Programs' applet via the Start / Control Panel, click on the 'Install / Uninstall Windows Components' icon, check 'Fax Services' and click Next button. After that, you will be asked to insert an installation CD with Windows XP and the process of installing the fax service will begin.

How to delete files bypassing the "trash"?

Start -> Run and give the command gpedit.msc
In the opened console, select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer and mark "Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin" (I'm not sure that there is such a point in Windows XP Home Edition)

How do I rename the Administrator account folder?

First we log into the system under the Administrator account and create a folder with the desired name in the Documents and Settings directory. Then, through the context menu My computer / Properties / Advanced, we reach the User Profiles, where we copy the administrator profile to the created folder. After that, open the HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ ProfileList key in the registry and find the branch corresponding to the profile of the administrator (by the value of the ProfileImagePath key) and correct this parameter to the desired one. Now you can logout ...

How can I make the pagefile.sys swap file to be erased / re-created when rebooting?

Open the registry and find the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Management
Where we set the value "ClearPageFileAtShutdown" = dword: 00000001
It should be noted that this key does not erase the swap file, but cleans it, i.e. Fills it with zeros, but the file on the disk remains. The same result can be obtained by clicking the Local Security Policy applet in the Administrative Tools section (Local Policies, Security Options, Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile when system shuts down).

How can I lock a computer? Through Crtl + Alt + Del it does not work ...

Now for this purpose another combination is installed - Win + L. In addition, you can create a * .cmd file and lock the machine by running it. The contents of this file should be: rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation

How to make the hanging and ceasing to answer tasks be killed automatically?

In the registry at HKCU \ Control Panel \ Desktop is the key HungAppTimeout, the value of which specifies the interval (in milliseconds) through which the non-responding application is considered to be hung. In addition to this key, in the same branch are the WaitToKillServiceTimeout keys (sets the waiting time before the "kill" of the hung service), and AutoEndTasks (when setting its value in 1 system, the permission is given to kill the hung processes independently).

Where do the programs download when the system starts? My Startup folder is empty ...

When the operating system is loaded, some programs are issued from the system registry, where there is a special branch HLKM \ SOFTWARE \ MICROSOFT \ WINDOWS \ CURRENTVERSION \ RUN (and similar ... \ RUNONCE). These branches write values, each of which corresponds to one program run at startup ... Just do not rush - if you are not sure what the program is written for, before deleting it, be sure to save the selected lines (via the "Export" registry editor item). For a snack - a little secret. In Windows XP there is a utility called msconfig, which allows you to manage boot parameters very comfortably. Run this utility through the Start button - Run ....

Can I enter the computer in the hibernate state from the command line?

Can. This is done by the following command:
% Windir% \ System32 \ rundll32.exe powrprof.dll, SetSuspendState

How do I change the time-server used to adjust the system time?

This can be done through the "Date and Time Properties" applet, which is easiest to reach with a double click on the time in the system tray; Changing the address of the time server is done in this applet on the Internet Time tab.

Is it possible to disable the message about insufficient free disk space?

Can. To block the occurrence of such a message, open the registry, find the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Exploreer and enter the new NoLowDiskSpaceChecks parameter of DWORD type, assigning it a value of 1.

How to disable the appearance of a proposal to send an error report?

Start the msconfig utility (the Start -> Run -> msconfig button), select the Services tab and check out the Error Reporting Service, then click the OK button and affirmatively respond to the prompt to reboot. Or it is negative, but in this case the disabling of the error reporting service will occur only after the next reboot of the operating system.

Can I make a certain folder open by a hotkey?

You can, but this requires that the shortcut from this folder is on the desktop. Find the folder that you want to open with hotkeys, right-click on it, select Sent To, and in it - the command Desktop (create Shortcut); Or - "grab" the folder with the right button, move it to the desktop, release it and select Create Shortcuts Here in the menu that opens. After that, we right-click the created shortcut, select Properties in the shortcut menu and in the Shortcut tab in the Shortcut key field (in Russian it probably will sound like a Quick call), type the combination of keys that will open the folder. It should be noted that in the form of hot keys you can use both the CTRL + ALT + letters and the CTRL + SHIFT + letter.

How do I add the contents of the Desktop to the Start menu?

We find in the system registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders. It contains the Desktop parameter, which defaults to "% USERPROFILE% \ Desktop". Change this value to "% USERPROFILE% \ Start Menu \ Desktop". In addition, you will need to copy the folder% USERPROFILE% \ Desktop (the% USERPROFILE% folder is in the Documents and Settings folder) to the folder% USERPROFILE% \ Start Menu \ Desktop and reboot, then the menu that appears when you press the Start button appears The Desktop drop-down submenu.

How (and whether it is possible at all) to reduce the size of huge files Pagefile.sys and Hyberfil.sys?

Let's start in order. Pagefile.sys is a swap file (or virtual memory) where the system resets temporarily unnecessary data from the RAM. Its size is selected by default by the operating system itself, but it can be changed via Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Perfomance -> Settings. After clicking on the Settings button, a two-tabbed window will appear, select the Advanced tab in it, press the Change virtual memory button and set the virtual memory size, which is considered sufficient. There, by the way, you can choose which part of the hard disk should be a swap file.

Hyberfil.sys is the file used by the system when it enters sleep mode. Its size is equal to the size of RAM; In principle, if you are not going to use the sleep mode (Hybernate) to turn off the computer (although I personally think this shutdown mode is very convenient), you can turn it off (Start -> Control Panel -> Power Options -> Hibernate, where to remove the daw with Enable Hibernation), after which the Hyberfil.sys file will be unnecessary ...

How do I remove all system icons from the desktop, including the shopping cart?

To do this, you either have to manually make changes to the system registry, or - which is much easier and safer - to use one of the specialized utilities, for example - the free Microsoft Powertoys for Windows XP. Powertoys is a set of extensions for XP, which includes, among other things, TweakUI, a utility for customizing the user interface, with which you can change or disable many things, including which system icons should be displayed on the desktop.

How to disable autorun CD?

The setup of the system response to the CD inserted into the drive is done through CD Properties, which are called up by clicking the right mouse button on the CD-ROM. However, in this case, you can not determine the operation of the system when installing data-CD (I do not know why, but there is no data-CD item in CD Properties), so if you want to disable autorun of such disks, you should press and hold the left Shift while loading the disk .

Another way is to edit the registry: we find the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ CDRom and assign the value Autorun (its type is REG_DWORD) to 0.

Where did the Security tab go in the properties of NTFS volumes and why did the Sharing tab become so simpler?

Considering that Windows XP is a system not only for experienced users, but for everyone else, its developers have done everything not to blame novice eye users with incomprehensible concepts and notations. These concepts are also referred to as Security with Sharing, so to bring the appearance of the properties tabs of the disk to the kind that Windows 2000 users are already accustomed to, you will have to look at the folder properties (Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> Advanced Settings), where it will be necessary to remove the dummy from the "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"; Then in the properties of the disk not only the Security tab will appear, but also the Sharing tab will change - it will be possible to set the access rights levels.

How do I assign a drive letter to another drive?

For starters - a couple of words about how the assignment of drive letters to Windows drives occurs, especially since it happens somewhat differently than it does in Windows 9 * / Me.

During the installation of Windows XP, the letter C: is assigned to the boot disk, the letters D :, E: and so on, to all the other hard disks detected during the installation, and the last letter is assigned to the CD drive, and later when installing new disks, for example, Writing CD-drive or another hard drive, they will be assigned the following from unoccupied letters, that is, already installed disks do not change the letters.

This principle of assigning letters to drives naturally leads to the fact that a long-standing CD drive has a smaller letter than a newly installed hard drive, which can confuse users who switched to XP with Windows 9 * and are accustomed to having CD-drives Always the last letters. But there are no hopeless positions: in XP, as in Windows 9 *, you can reassign the disks to other letters, that's only done a little differently - manually through the computer management console. Quickly get to it like this: Start (Start) -> Run (Run):
Compmgmt.msc

The result of this command execution is the opening of the console, in which you should select Disk Management. Disk Management is a powerful tool for managing disks, which allows, among many other things, to change the assigned drive letters.

And what about WinXP with the renaming of the boot (or system) disk?

And with this in XP things are fine. True, assigning a different letter to the boot / system drive is not as easy as it is for other drives, but in principle, nothing particularly complicated. As an example, take and change the letters of the disks C: and D:

To do this, start the Registry Editor (it is mandatory under the administrator account), find the HKLM \ SYSTEM \ MountedDevices key and allow the administrator (that is, himself) full access to this key. This is done through the Security menu -> Permissions. After that, we find in HKLM \ SYSTEM \ MountedDevices the drive letter that you want to change (in our case, "\ DosDevices \ C:") and change it to any of those that are not already used,
For example, on Z: (that is, we should have it like this: "\ DosDevices \ Z:").

The next step is to replace the letter at the disc D:
Select \ DosDevices \ D: and change D: to C:, resulting in "\ DosDevices \ C:" Finally, select \ DosDevices \ Z: and rename it to \ DosDevices \ D :, and then reboot the computer.

Note: in case you do not need to change the drive names from C: to D: and vice versa, and you just need to replace C: with an unused letter, just change the value of \ DosDevice \ C: to any unused letter.

Two important points:

If you change the letter on the disk, you should consider where the swap file will be: if the disk on which the disk is to be located disappears, the system will immediately inform the swap file after the login window that the swap file is too small and will return to the log window again , And this process will continue indefinitely, or rather, until you understand that - alas, and ah - it is necessary to reinstall the system. The only joy of this is that the system can be installed on top of the one that has been installed, and this will not allow reinstalling previously installed programs.

Changing the drive letter will cause programs that use the absolute addressing method to stop working, so you will have to reinstall them or manually edit all the paths in the registry that have changed in connection with the change of the drive letter.

Can I disable working with zip archives as folders?

Actually, working with zip-archives, as with ordinary folders - it's very convenient, and there is, I think, only one reason for disabling this feature is a weak and braking machine. This option is disabled very simply - by typing regsvr32 / u zipfldr.dll
(Reverse inclusion - regsvr32 zipfldr.dll).

How to automate login to the system - without entering a login and password?

Start -> Run, enter the command
Control userpasswords2
After opening the applet that manages user accounts, select the checkbox next to "Users Must Enter A User Name and Password to Use This Computer" on the Users tab. After clicking on the OK button, the "Automatically Log On" dialog box appears, where you will be asked to provide a username and password.

How to enable UDMA66 mode on motherboards built on Intel chipsets?

In Windows 2000 and XP, this mode is by default locked, and for its activation, you need to make some changes to the system registry.
Open the system registry and find the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Class \ {4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} \ 0000
Then create in it a new parameter "EnableUDMA66" of type DWORD and set its value equal to 1 (setting this parameter to "0" will result in the blocking of the mode).
Please note: to activate the installation, you must restart Windows.

How to run programs in Windows XP as a service?

The easiest way to install the program as a service (service) is to use the special utility srvinstw.exe from the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit. This utility allows you to easily install both new services and remove unnecessary ones.

In addition, the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit includes specially designed console programs instsrv.exe and srvany.exe. To work with them, you will need to log in as Administrator (Administrator), copy these files to a folder
% SystemRoot% \ System32, and then run the following command:

Instsrv new_service% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ srvany.exe

Where "new_service" is any name of a new service convenient for you (just this will be the name of the service being created). Note that in the event that the invented service name contains spaces, it will need to be enclosed in quotation marks. After performing this "smart" operation, a new service will appear in the "Computer Management" -> 'Services' dialog box, and it will be necessary to set the method of its start in its properties - Automatic, if the service should start at system startup, Manual - if manually, or Disabled - disabled.

But that's not all: in the registry section corresponding to the name of the created service (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ NEW_SERVICE \ Parameters) it is necessary to create a string parameter "Application" (without quotes), whose value should be the full path to the executable file Program that you want to run as a service.