Windows XP: Tips on Windows XP Part 1 - Part 2

then - part 2 "

Tips for Windows XP Part 1

Windows XP has united in itself, probably, all the best features of previous Windows-based. But alas, with the new features there are new problems: the striking splendor interface considerably slows down the system, along with the need to install and run often useless in this case, the programs and services that slow down system startup, eat up system memory, excessive load on the processor and so forth. At the same time, you can significantly speed up your system performance and get the job done more familiar and comfortable, slightly changing certain settings. In this article we will give advice on the organization of effective work in Windows XP (all tips are valid with respect to Windows XP Professional Edition, but Windows XP Home Edition, some of them do not apply).

It should be borne in mind that many of the steps for configuring the system can only be realized by connecting the editor gpedit.msc group policies, which is used to configure Group Policy, the regedit Registry Editor or Editor Administration Services services.msc. Who wishes to learn more about the tricks and secrets of working in Windows XP can apply to many sites of the World Network.

Setting interface

Changing the screen on login

To change the startup screen in the system registry (Start> Run> regedit) under HKEY_USERS \ .Default \ ControlPanel \ Desktop SCRNSAVE.EXE change the parameter value logon.scr on the name of the new screen. It should be borne in mind that the file saver plug should be located in Windows \ System32, otherwise the path to it is necessary to specify.

Adding icons to the desktop

Many, perhaps seem strange absence of the default in Windows XP on the desktop "My Computer" icon and the "My Documents". However, it is easy to correct. Double-click on the Display icon in Control Panel, and then click the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop, and then turn on the checkbox for the desired desktop icons (Fig. 1).



Fig. 1. Window adding desktop items

Remove icons from the desktop

Remove from the desktop icons unnecessary it is not difficult - it simply drag them to the trash. But in Windows XP you can do in a different way, causing the computer to automatically remove unused icons using the Cleanup Wizard. By default the wizard cleans every 60 days, removing all icons that have not been used during this time or longer.

However, you can run the wizard at any time. To do this, Control Panel, open Display, and on the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop. After that, the group of Desktop Cleanup on the General tab, click Clean Desktop Now. As a result, all the unused icons are moved to the folder "Unused labels", which will appear on the desktop. Naturally, you can move the icon to return to the desktop.

Smooth screen fonts for ClearType technology

ClearType display technology to screen fonts can significantly improve font display resolution and achieve the same precise mapping of words on a computer screen as a paper page. As a rule, this technology is used for flat-panel monitors. On monitors ClearType fonts desktop will appear slightly blurred, if the screen is not flat - in this case, the best option to turn off ClearType.

To apply the technology ClearType, click on the component control panel screen and click the Effects button on the Appearance tab. Then in the dialog that opens, check the Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts and select ClearType (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Customize font smoothing

You can make it so that smoothing technology ClearType will work even when the system is booted, rather than included in its completion. To do this in the registry (Start> Run> the regedit) in the HKEY_USERS \ .Default \ ControlPanel \ Desktop section, set the value FontSmoothing 2 and under HKEY_USERS \ .Default \ ControlPanel \ Desktop parameter FontSmoothingType also value 2 (Fig. 3) .



Fig. 3. Enable ClearType technology to boot the system

Displaying the program in the main menu

There is nothing surprising in the fact that many users prefer to place the most frequently used programs at the top of the "Start" menu - launch applications much easier here. Ways to display the programs are more than enough - now there is another.

Right-click the program you want to display at the top of the "Start" menu - this action can be performed directly in the "Start" menu and in Windows Explorer, the "My Computer" folder or anywhere on your desktop. Click Fix to "Start" menu.

As well the program can be deleted from the list set out the menu items with a click of the right mouse button and select the command in the menu that opens, Delete from the menu "Start" (fig. 4).

The very same procedure for the programs on the list set out the menu items, as before, can be changed by dragging them to a new position.



Fig. 4. Uninstall a program from the main menu

Working with disks, files and folders

Dragging can vary

When you carry out an operation in Windows Explorer drag-and-drop with any file, you can determine the future behavior of the system without having to call the contextual menu. While pressing the Ctrl key file is copied, with Shift - move, while pressing the Alt key will trigger the creation of a label.

Compressed Zip-folder will help reduce the amount of

With the ability to use compressed Zip-folder Windows XP, you can significantly reduce the amount of disk space occupied by folders and their constituent elements. Zip-folder takes up less space on the disc and will be copied or transferred to other computers.

Working with compressed folder in the same way as with conventional, uncompressed. After you create a compressed folder (you can define the image clasp on the folder icon), the user has the ability to compress files, programs, or other folders by dragging them to a compressed folder. You can open files directly from compressed folders or retrieve them before opening. Some programs can be run directly from the compressed Zip-folder without first removing them.

Use Zip-folders in Windows XP 64-Bit Edition is not available.

To create a folder, select the Zip-compressible data, right-click and select Send to> Compressed Zip-folder (Fig. 5).



Fig. 5. Create Zip-folder

Rename a group of files

In Windows Explorer, it is very convenient to rename a group of files. Just select files in a window, then right click on one of them and rename it. As a result, all selected files will be renamed to that name with the addition of individual numbers in brackets.

Burn to CD

Conveniently enough in Windows XP built-in record CDs. To implement this feature, it requires presetting the recording parameters. To do this, right-click the CD-ROM icon in "My Computer" folder and select the Enable CD recording on this drive tab Recording. After that, laser discs can be recorded with a simple drag or using the Send command from the context menu.

Disabling startup CD

By default, the system proceeds to read data from the device immediately after the medium is inserted into it. As a result, for example, immediately run the installer file for the program ROM or the music starts to sound carriers. To disable this feature, run the group policies editor by going to Start> Run> gpedit.msc. Then select Computer Configuration> Administrative Templates> System and select the Disable autorun in the "on" state (Fig. 6).



Fig. 6. Disable AutoPlay

Hide Drives from My Computer window

To implement this feature, run the group policies editor by going to Start> Run> gpedit.msc. Then select User Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Windows Explorer and turn on the Hide these specified drives in Windows "My Computer" (Fig. 7).



Fig. 7. Window hide drives

This option deletes the folder "My Computer" and "Explorer" icon corresponding to the selected disk. In addition, the drive letters representing the selected disks will not be displayed in the standard Open dialog box.

Tips for working in Internet Explorer

Generating the address in Internet Explorer

If the Internet Explorer address write any address, such as microsoft, and then press the key combination Ctrl + Enter, the browser will automatically add the missing pieces http: // www. and .com. As a result, in this example, the address will be recorded as http://www.microsoft.com.

How to speed up the launch of Internet Explorer

In order to increase the speed of Internet Explorer download, you must turn off loads the homepage. It should be borne in mind that we are talking about how to disable loaded home page - set this effect does not give a blank page.

To do this, right-click the shortcut of Internet Explorer and then click Properties. After this need to label the tab at the end of the command line to start the program add the «-nohome» (Fig. 8).



Fig. 8. Internet Explorer properties window changes

Automatically delete temporary files

Built-in Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6 will automatically delete temporary files. Open the Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon, and on the Advanced tab, check the position Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder when you close the browser (Fig. 9).



Fig. 9. You can set up the removal of temporary files

Add button in the Internet Explorer toolbar

If the correct key is in the list of standard buttons, you need to add it by right-clicking on the toolbar in Internet Explorer window, select Settings, and click on the desired button in the Available buttons (Fig. 10).



Fig. 10. Configure Internet Explorer toolbar

It is more difficult to add a custom user button. In this case, run the group policies editor by going to Start> Run> gpedit.msc. Then in the window that appears, select User Configuration> Configure the Windows> Customize Internet Explorer> Custom browser interface. And then double-click on the Customize Toolbar option in the dialog box, create a new custom button, by clicking on the Add button and specifying a title for the button, action, color and black-and-white icons (Fig. 11).



Fig. 11. Adding a custom button on the Internet Explorer toolbar

Internet Explorer in full screen

In most cases, Internet Explorer is more convenient to work in full-screen mode, it would be preferable to set the default mode. To do this in the registry (Start> Run> regedit) first, find the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Console and change it a key value FullScreen from 0 to 1, and then under HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ InternetExplorer \ Main, set FullScreen Yes value instead No (Fig. 12).



Fig. 12. Install the full-screen mode for Internet Explorer software

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