Create a Shortcut to Lock Your Computer

                     Leaving your computer in a hurry but you don't want to log off? You can double-click a shortcut on your desktop to quickly lock the keyboard and display without using CTRL+ALT+DEL or a screen saver. To create a shortcut on your desktop to lock your computer:

1. Right-click the desktop. Point to New, and then click Shortcut. The Create Shortcut Wizard opens.


2. In the text box, type the following: rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation


3. Click Next. Enter a name for the shortcut. You can call it "Lock Workstation" or choose any name you like.


4. Click Finish.

You can also change the shortcut's icon (my personal favorite is the padlock icon in shell32.dll). To change the icon: Right click the shortcut and then select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Change Icon button. In the Look for icons in this file text box, type: Shell32.dll. Click OK. Select one of the icons from the list and then click OK You could also give it a shortcut keystroke such CTRL+ALT+L. This would save you only one keystroke from the normal command, but it could be more convenient.

Create a Password Reset Disk

              If you're running Windows XP Professional as a local user in a workgroup environment, you can create a password reset disk to log onto your computer when you forget your password. 

 

To create the disk:

1.Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.

2.Click your account name.

3.Under Related Tasks, click Prevent a forgotten password.

4.Follow the directions in the Forgotten Password Wizard to create a password reset disk.

5.Store the disk in a secure location, because anyone using it can access your local user account.

How to organize computer files and create new folders in Windows Vista

Free computer Help

Watch this video tutorial on how to create folders, organize files, cut, copy, and paste. It also shows you how to select multiple files at the same time so you can move them. You should read How to organize your computer filing system before watching this video.
 

This will also apply to Windows XP.

http://www.tips4pc.com/Articles/Windows%20Vista/how_to_organize_computer_files_a.htm

Extra Tips

•    To view your computer files in a folder by the date they were last modified, open a folder and on the View menu click Details. On the top of the column, click Date Modified.

•    Choose to Arrange by File type to put all the similar computer files together. This is handy when you want to move files around as it makes it easy to select them all together.

•    If you're backing up your information to a CD or DVD, be sure to create labels for your CDs that in some way describe their contents. For example, you might title the CD "2007 backup of my documents" or be more specific with something like "2007 Email contacts, my docs, xmas photos, resume, downloads"

•    After you delete an email, be sure to also clear out the deleted folder.

•    In Microsoft Word, you can change the default folder to where files will be saved.

On the Tools menu, click Options, and click File Locations

In the list, click Documents, and then navigate to your main directory; in this example, C:/My Documents/word documents

•    Hold down CTRL and click the mouse on the files you want to select. As long as you hold the CTRL key down you can keep adding files to your selection.

•    When you create new folders you should name them with something that describes what will be kept in that folder. Naming new folders, new folder 1 and new folder 2 will not help with organizing your computer files.

 How to: Install themes on XP

Although this is an easy process, many people don’t know how to do it and I hope this guide will provide an easy method to install custom themes in XP. Here are some examples of what you can change your custom interface into:

 
You will need:

 
* Any version of XP installed – most custom versions are already patched
* One small file
* Less than 5 minutes
 

Step 1

Download uxthemedll (218kb) : Download Here
For Xp Sp1 Users : http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Themes/UXTHEMEDLL-Pack-DLL-for-SP1-included.shtml
For Sp2 Users : http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Themes/UXTheme-Patch-For-Windows-XP-SP2-Final.shtml
 

Step 2

Navigate to C:\ WINDOWS\ System32
 

Step 3
Once there, there will be a file called: uxtheme.dll

Rename it to this:
uxtheme.dll.old
If you can’t delete or rename uxtheme.dll read this tutorial : How to replace File used By Windows
Note: this is important because if your new theme file becomes corrupt, you can use this one as a backup


Step 4
Now copy and paste the file you downloaded in Step 1 into the same directory:
C:\ WINDOWS\ System32
Note: At this point you may recieve warnings that you are replacing system files, this is normal and just cancel any windows trying to stop you. You may have to be an Administrator for this to work


Step 5
Reboot and you’re done, you can now install 3rd party theme files which you can find here:
Windows XP Themes: http://www.guimods.com/category/windows-xp-themes/


Step 6
After Downloading custom theme unzip or copy it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes . Now change your theme and have fun.





Another type of installation:

How to Install XP Themes Tutorial

Prepare Your Computer

1.    Because Micro$oft wants you buy everything from them, Windows XP wants theme files to be digitally signed. If they aren't then XP won't let you use the themes. You must first patch your uxthemes.dll file in your C:\Windows\System32 directory. This can be easily done using the Uxthemes Patch which you can download here. The patch supports Windows XP, SP1, SP2, XP 64 bit and Windows Server 2003. Run the patch, it will "fix" your uxtheme.dll file so you can use 3rd party visual styles. Disregard any warnings about files being changed, that is what we want to do. After you run the patch reboot your computer. Note: We recommend you create a restore point before running the patch just for good measure. We did not author this file we have used it our selves with no problems, use it at your own risk.

Install the XP Theme Files

1.    Themes are usually downloaded as a .zip file which must first be scanned using a virus scanning program, then unzipped to a temporary folder you can create on your desktop. Inside that folder you will most likely find a wallpaper image, .msstyles file, a .theme file and possibly a font file. it all depends on what the author has chosen to include in their theme package.

2.    If your theme package contains one or more font files (.ttf) copy them to your C:\Windows\Fonts\ folder.

3.    You may also find one or more .theme files (like axis.theme. Copy it/them to your C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder. You will see a folder called Luna already in there, leave that alone, it is your existing Micro$oft XP Theme.

4.    Locate the .msstyles file, create a folder in the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder, I usually name it what the .msstyles file is named (like axis.msstyles so the folder would be axis).

5.    If you find a file called ShellStyle.dll, create a folder called Shell inside the first folder you created. Create another folder inside that called NormalColor. Copy ShellStyle.dll into the NormalColor folder.

6.    Most of the time you will unzip the file and everything will be properly ordered and only need to be copied to your C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder.

7.    To install the wallpaper copy the wallpaper image file to your My Pictures folder.


How to Use the XP Theme

1.    While in your My Pictures folder that contains your wallpaper, click on the wallpaper file once to highlight it. In the menu on the left side of the window you will see at the top Picture Tasks. Click on Set as desktop background. You should see the wallpaper on your desktop.

2.    If the wallpaper needs to be stretched to fill the screen close the My Pictures window. Right click on the desktop, select Properties. The Display Properties window comes up, choose the Desktop tab. Your wallpaper should be highlighted in the list, using the Position box choose if you want it Tiled, Centered or Stretched.

3.    While in Display Properties if your theme had a .theme file select the Themes tab and select your theme from the list. If your theme only had a .msstyles file go to the Appearance tab and select your theme from the Windows and Buttons list.

4.    After you are done making your choices you can go to the Themes tab and save your theme by clicking Save As..., and then name it something.

5.    That's all there is to it and all without buying any programs.

How to make your Desktop Icons Transparent

Go to ontrol Panel > System, > Advanced > Performance area > Settings button Visual Effects tab "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the Desktop"

How to enjoy Windows Media Player using shortcuts keys

In Windows Media Player, you can use the combination of different keyboard keys to accomplish routine task. By using these keys, you can increase the working speed in media player, otherwise require a conventional mouse to select menus and buttons options. Basically keyboard shortcuts keys help you to save time and you can perform any tasks without leaving the keyboard keys.

Shortcut keys Action

ALT+1 Adjust zoom to 50 percent
ALT+2 Adjust zoom to 100 percent
ALT+3 Adjust zoom to 200 percent
ALT+ENTER Display the video in full mode
ALT+F Go to media player File Menu
ALT+T Go to media player Tools Menu
ALT+V Go to media player View Menu
ALT+P Go to media player Play Menu
ALT+F4 Use to close media player

CTRL+1 Display media player in full mode
CTRL+2 Display media player in skin mode
CTRL+B Use to play the previous item in media player
CTRL+F Use to play the next item in media player
CTRL+E Use to Eject CD or DVD from CD or DVD drive
CTRL+P Use to Play or Pause the item in media player
CTRL+T Use to Repeat the items in media player
CTRL+SHIFT+B Use to Rewind a file in media player
CTRL+SHIFT+F Use to Fast Forward a file in media player
CTRL+SHIFT+S Use to play items slower than a normal speed
CTRL+SHIFT+ G Use to play items faster than a normal speed
CTRL+SHIFT+ N Use to play items at normal speed in media player
F8 Use to mute the volume in media player
F9 Use to decrease the volume in media player
F10 Use to increase the volume in media player
ENTER or SPACEBAR Use to play an item

Make A Autorun File For any Cd

Did You Notice, whenever You Insert any game 0r software cd, or simply consider Windows Xp Operating system cd. As soon as You Insert the disk in CD-ROM, It automatically runs the cd.

If you want to make a autorun file for that CD you are ready to burn just read this...

1) You open notepad
2) now you writ: [autorun]
OPEN=INSTALL\Setup_filename.EXE
ICON=INSTALL\Setup_filename.EXE

Now save it but not as a .txt file but as a .inf file.

But remember! The "Setup_filename.EXE" MUST be replaced with the name of the setup file. And you also need to rember that it is not all of the setup files there are called '.exe but some are called '.msi


3) Now burn your CD with the autorun .inf file included.


4) Now set the CD in you CD drive and wait for the autorun to begin or if nothing happens just double-click on the CD drive in "This Computer"