List Of Useful Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to keep things moving when you're using your computer, and they let you perform tasks without lifting your hands from the keyboard. These are some of the basics that you should know--at least if you want to cut down on the number of times you reach for the mouse every day.

1. Ctrl Alt Del is the mother of all keyboard shortcuts, affectionately known as the "three-fingered salute," since it's so useful when your Windows box locks up. Pressing the combo once (simultaneously) opens the Windows Task Manager. (From within the Task Manager, you can force-quit a crashed program, see a list of processes or applications running on your machine, check performance parameters such as how hard your CPU is working, or track your network usage.) Is your machine totally locked up? Reach over, grab the mouse and click Shut Down.

2. Ctrl S saves the file you're working on. Ever lost your homework, a spreadsheet at work, or some video you've been editing? Hit Ctrl S (simultaneously) to save. Hit it early and often! (Want to open a file from within the program you're running? Ctrl O universally opens the File/Open window.)

3. Ctrl C copies text, files, or icons that you've highlighted, Ctrl V pastes them where you point your mouse (hey, you can't completely eliminate using it), and Ctrl X cuts whatever you've highlighted out of the document (or folder, photo, movie clip, or whatever it is you're working on). Ctrl A highlights the entire file you're working on or everything in a folder or on your desktop.

4. Alt Tab lets you switch on the fly between all of your open windows. Press the combination once to switch to your last open window or multiple times to switch to any other open window. Holding down Alt Tab will bring up a system window that shows you what apps are running and which one you're switching to.

5. Ever wonder why almost every Windows program has the F in File underlined, not to mention the E in Edit, and so on so forth across the top of the Window? Hit Alt that letter to open that particular menu; you can either use the arrow keys to move around within that window, or keep your eyes peeled for more underlined letters to use more Alt key combinations.

6. The Windows key (the one that looks like the Windows logo, or a flag) R opens the Run dialog. From here, you can launch a command-line window by typing cmd, but you can do a lot more. You can, for example, paste in a folder path, such as C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\Expenses, and Windows will open it automatically. You can also use the Run dialog to open Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, or Notepad. Just type winword to launch Word, type excel to launch Excel, and notepad to launch Notepad.

7. Windows E launches Windows Explorer, defaulting to My Computer.

8. F2 renames a selected file or folder. (This is so much easier than right-clicking!)

9. F3 launches Search if you're on the desktop or in a folder.

10. Windows M minimizes all open windows, and Windows D shows your desktop. (These results look similar, but they're slightly different; Windows M minimizes all windows that support the command, while Windows D actually raises the desktop to the top.) This is a great one for when the boss pops up in your cubicle. Once the boss gone, hit Shift Windows M to bring up your minimized windows, or Windows D to drop your desktop back down again.

How To Download Music For Free Using Windows Media Player

Are you scared that the RIAA is about to track you down for illegally downloading songs.
Well, here is a method of obtaining many songs absolutely free that is virtually untrackable
by modern technology. This has to do with capturing streaming audio, which in many cases, believe it or not
are plain old mp3s just waiting for you to "download." I have found most of the current top-40 as well as many others you may like, so keep searching. The music is waiting for you to find it.

Step 1:
First of all, you need to find a good site that hosts streaming audio. My favorite that has brought me many songs to date is hxxp://www.windowsmedia.com . Some others are just as good, but this is the site that I will be referencing (plus, I know you guys love to steal from Microsoft).

Step 2:
Alright, go up to the left hand corner where there is an empty text box. This is the search box, just fill it with a songname or artist just like you would in kazaa and click search. This will bring up a page with links to many websites hosting a stream by that artist. The ones with music notes are just that...music, this is what you want. In many cases, this is all you need. Just right click on one of the links and click "save as" to save the song. This works if the file extension is .mp3 or .wma or .asf or well-other known formats. If this worked, you are finished, otherwise continue reading.
Step 3:
However, if you encounter a .asx file, there are a few more steps you will have to endure. First of all, do exactly like the above example and save the file locally. After the file is downloaded, check to see how large the file is. If it is a large file in the megabyte range, then you should be able to play it in your favorite music program. However, if it is less than 1 kilobyte, open it as a textfile. You will then see many script commands that communicate to windows media player. Don't worry about these, just look for some URLs which will most likely be pointing to a .asf file. It will have at least one if not more. Open the new found URL in your browser and save it like in step 2 and you should be good to go. (I use Mozilla, because Internet Explorer likes to open things rather than save them as I tell it)

NOTE: If any of the URLs are preceded with "mms://" instead of "http://" find another URL, because this technique will not work.

This technique is especially useful to avoid prosecution because streaming audio, and downloading it appear the same to a web server, therefore you are seen as just another "legal" listener, so "download" away my friend and don't blame me if this soon becomes illegal (if it isn't already).

Step 4:
If you are picky then search for a program that will convert these file types to mp3s. I assure you there are many sites out there.

If this technique does not work for some reason, there is another technique which is manually recording streaming audio, with an audio capture program. I use the one that came with my soundcard (Audigy 2ZS, great soundcard), but I would recommend it only as a last resort such as with "mms://" files. There is a degredation in quality compared to the other formats and it records every sound your PC makes while it is recording so don't chat on AIM while recording (lol I can hear random doors slamming now).

Windows Power Tweaks

Configure Remote Access Client Account Lockout (Windows 2000/XP)

Configure Remote Access Client Account Lockout (Windows 2000/XP) You can use the remote access account lockout feature to specify how many times a remote access authentication has to fail against a valid user account before the user is denied access. Use this tweak to set the number of failed logins before the account is locked-out and the time before the lockout is reset.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteAccess\
Parameters\AccountLockout

Disable the Ability to Right Click on the Desktop (All Windows)

This tweak removes the context menu that would normally appear when the user right clicks on the desktop or in the Explorer right results pane.
Open your registry and find or create the key below. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "NoViewContextMenu" and set it according to the value data below.
Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect.
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]Value Name: NoViewContextMenuData Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled

REGISTRY EDITINGS
To open Windows Registry:
1. Click Start and Run
2. type "regedit" (without quotes)

[u]Enabling DVD Functionality in Media Player:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\Settings. Value Name: EnableDVDUI, Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value), Value Data: yes or no. Create a new string value called "EnableDVDUI" and set it to "yes" to enable DVD functionality.

How to Increase Shutdown Time For Services To Close Properly:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control. On the Edit menu, click Add Value. Value Name: WaitToKillServiceTimeout, Data Type: REG_SZ , String: In milli-seconds; default is 20,000. Ok/Exit/Reboot.

Speed Up Menu Display:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop In the right pane select, "MenuShowDelay". Right click, modify and set the value to 100. Reboot.

Speed Up Browsing (Windows Explorer and IE):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace In the left pane find: {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} Value and delete it.

Activate Clear Type on the Welcome Screen:
HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Control Panel/Desktop. In the right pane, right click "FontSmoothingType", modify, change the value to 2.

Change the Text in Internet Explorers Title Bar:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main. In the right pane, change the value of the string, "WindowTitle".

How to Change Name and Company Information After You Install Win XP:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOrganization. Under "Value data", type the name that you want, and then click OK. To change the name of the registered owner, do the following: In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOwner. Under "Value data", type the name that you want, and then click OK/Exit.

Get Rid of the "Links" Folder in Favorites:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar. Set the String value of "LinksFolderName" to equal a blank string. Open IE and delete the Links folder from the Favorites menu. The next time you start Internet Explorer the Links folder will not be recreated.

Run Explorer Full Screen
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console. In the right pane find FullScreen and modify the value to 1. Then go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\Main. In the right pane find FullScreen and modify the value to yes. Exit/Reboot.

Configure Internet Downloads:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings. To increase the number of simultaneous connections that are allowed to 10, follow these steps: On the Edit menu, click Add Value , and then add the following registry values: "MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=Dword:0000000a "MaxConnectionsPerServer"=Dword:0000000a.

Disable Crash Control Auto Reboot:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl In the right pane, "AutoReboot" set the Value to 1. To disable set the value back to 0.

Disable Run Commands Specified in the Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer. Value Name: DisableLocalMachineRun, DisableLocalMachineRunOnce, DisableCurrentUserRun, DisableCurrentUserRunOnce. Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value), Value Data: (0 = enable run, 1 = disable run). Create a new DWORD value for each of the optional values above depending on which Run function to stop and set the value to "1" to disable. Restart Windows for change to take effect.

Disable Low Disk Space Message:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. Create or modify: NoLowDiskSpaceChecks REG_DWORD and set the value to 1. Logoff/Reboot.

Disable/Turn Off System Beeps:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound In the right pane, right click "Beeps", modify, set the value to no. Exit, reboot.

How to Burn DVD With Selectable Subtitles

I have searched for a long time how to successfully make one of those fancy DVD's with selectable sustitles. Since the internet is a great resource to find movies and subtitles I guess this tutorial/application will come in handy with a lot of people.

You can just download this application:

VSO ConvertXToDVD v2.1.5 Build 173

http://rapidshare.com/files/2888291/ConverXtoDVDv2.1.5.rar.html

1.You add your video file to the project.
2.Use the drop-down menu and when you see something of subtitles just right click on it and add your subtitle file.
3.Convert the Movie to DVD
4.Burn it with the in-build DVD Burner
5.Take some popcorn
6.Enjoy watching your DVD

How To Improve Browsing Performance In Internet Explorer

The most common cause of poor performance in Internet Explorer is large pictures, sounds, videos, or other multimedia files that appear or are played automatically when you access a Web page. If you are using a slow connection to access the Internet, these files may take a long time to appear or be played. To improve browsing performance in Internet Explorer, you can prevent pictures, sounds, videos, and other multimedia files from appearing or being played automatically when you access Web pages. To do so, use the appropriate method.

Internet Explorer versions 5, 5.5, and 6
1. Start Internet Explorer, and then click Internet Options on the Tools menu.

2. On the Advanced tab, click to clear one or more of the following check boxes in the Multimedia area:

•Show Pictures (prevents pictures from appearing automatically)

•Play Sounds (prevents sounds from being played automatically)

•Play Videos (prevents videos from being played automatically)

•Play Animations (prevents animations from being played automatically)

3.Click Apply.

4.Disable the AutoComplete feature for forms and passwords:
a. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
b. Click the Content tab, and then click AutoComplete.
c. Click to clear the Forms and User names and passwords on forms check boxes, click OK, and then click OK.

5.Click the Security tab, and then click Custom Level.

6.Click Disable for one or more of the items in the following Active Content areas:
•ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins (prevents Internet Explorer from automatically using items that show active content)
•Java (prevents Internet Explorer from viewing Java programs automatically)

•ScriptingNOTE: If you disable ActiveX, Java, and scripting, you may not be able to view Web sites that use these features.

7.Click OK, and then click OK.


Windows and System settings

It is possible to modify some Windows and system settings that may help improve browsing performance in Internet Explorer. The following methods may help improve browsing performance in Internet Explorer.

Hard disk optimization :

You can use the Disk Cleanup tool to free some hard disk space. Additional disk space may help improve browsing performance for Internet Explorer.Refer microsoft article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186099/) Description of the Disk Cleanup tool You can also use ScanDisk to check the hard disk for problems that may be using disk space. To use ScanDisk:
1.Make sure the hard disk is not running in MS-DOS Compatibility mode. To check this:
a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
b. Double-click the System icon, and then click the Performance tab.
c. In the Performance status box, check for items that show MS-DOS Compatibility mode. For additional information about troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility mode issues refer the link (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/130179/) Troubleshooting MS-DOS compatibility mode on hard disks
2. Click Start, click Run, type scandisk in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Click the drive you want to scan, and then click Start

Windows virtual memory

Allow Windows to manage the virtual memory on your computer. To enable virtual memory:

1.Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2.Double-click System, click the Performance tab, and then click Virtual Memory.
3.Click Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings. (Recommended).
4.Click OK, click Close, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

Video adapter driver and resolution
Updating your video adapter driver or lowering the display resolution may help improve browsing in Internet Explorer. Check with the manufacturer of your video adapter to obtain the latest driver for the adapter. To lower the display resolution:

1.Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2.Double-click the Display icon, and then click the Settings tab.
3.In the Screen Area box, click a lower resolution, and then click OK.

Whenever you wanna take a screenshot of a good movie or whatever you press "the print screen" button and all you see is a black screen. Well, not anymore.

All you have to do is open you Windows Media Player (All Versions)
click on the right mouse button and goto Tools > Options... > In the tabs goto Performance
and down there you'll see "Video acceleration" move the button from full to NONE
Press Apply and you'r done!