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.

Creating a Logon Banner

If you want to create a Logon Banner: A message box to appear below your logon on.

1.Open RegEdit
2.Go To
For Windows 9x and ME -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon
For Windows 2000 XP 2003 Vista -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

3.Create a new String value"LegalNoticeCaption "
4. Enter the Title of the window. What is displayed in the Title Bar.
5. Create a new string value "LegalNoticeText"
6. Enter the text for your message box that will appear even before the Logon window.

Disable and Delete                                         
thumbs.db file from Folders

Thumbs.db is is a cache file of the current thumb picture in that directory. To remove it, go for following steps:
1. Open Any Folder
2. Go to Tools Menu
3. Click On Folder Options
4. Go to “View” tab
5. In the section “Files And Folders” Click on “DO NOT CACHE THUMBNAILS”

Hide Hard Drive Partitions In Windows

If you want to hide any partition of your hard disk just follow these simple steps.

1. Goto Start > Run and type diskpart

A DOS window will appear with following description

DISKPART>


2. Then type list volume

All partitions will be listed, there will be also a volume number for each partitions

3. Suppose you want to hide drive E:, type select volume 3 (Here 3 is the volume number of E:, in your pc it may vary). A message will now appear in the window saing "Volume 3 is the selected volume".

4. Now type remove letter E . You may have to reboot the computer. Diskpart will remove the letter. Since Windows XP doesn't have the capability to identify the unknown volume, it won't display or show results from it. To access the content of the hidden drive, repeat the process, but in the foruth step, replace remove to assign, ie., assign letter E .

Hide all Desktop icons (9x/XP)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoDesktop (DWORD value):
Set to 1 to hide all icons.
Delete NoDesktop to undo.
Hit F5 to refresh the desktop.
Hide Network Neighborhood, My Network Places (9x)
Run Poledit.exe (You may have to install it: It is on your Windows CD in\tools\reskit\netadmin\poledit).
File > Open Registry > (double click) Local User > Shell > Restrictions
Check Hide Network Neighborhood or/and My Network Places
OK > File > Save
Reboot.

How to Rename the Recycle Bin

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, open Regedit and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

and change the name "Recycle Bin" to whatever you want (don't type any quotes).

To change drive letters

To change drive letters (useful if you have two drives and have partitioned the boot drive, but the secondary drive shows up as "D")

Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management, Disk Management, then right-click the partition whose name you want to change (click in the white area just below the word "Volume")  and select "change drive letter and paths." From here you can add, remove or change drive letters and paths to the partition.

Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information

           Something new in Windows XP-instead of using the command line program and typing ipconfig to find local area network information, you can use the following shortcut:

1.Click Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show All Connections.

2.Right-click the connection you want information about, and then click Status.

3.In the connection Properties dialog box, click the Support tab.

For even more information, click the Advanced tab. To automatically enable the status monitor each time the connection is active, in the connection Properties dialog box, select the Show icon in taskbar notification area when connected check box

Watch Any Movie In Paint (100%) Working                                                   

* First start a movie in any player.
* Then open Paint.
* Now, in the player when the movie is being played, press "Print screen" button on your key board.
* Now, Press ctrl+v in Paint
* Leave the movie player open and don't minimize it.
* Open Paint now and see the movie in the Paint
*you can edit it also

Configure FAX Services In Windows XP                                                                 

                        If you are using windows XP, you can use sending and receiving option for fax service built into windows XP. You can enjoy free facilities of fax from your computer, because buying a dedicated fax machine for home or small office may not be a feasible option. Using windows XP based fax services; you can read, save, forward, delete the fax messages. By default fax service is not installed in your windows XP, but if you have windows XP CD, you can install fax feature using Add or Remove Program option.

 

Follow the gives steps to install fax components:

•    To install this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
•    Make sure, you have installed modem driver on your computer before running fax components setup.
•    Now click on Start button and go to System Control Panel then double click on Add or Remove Program.
•    Select the Fax services check box under Add or Remove Windows components.
•    Now click Next to finish the fax installation wizard and close it.
After the fax components installed, now configure the fax setting before using it.
•    First click on Start button, go to All Programs> Accessories> Communications then click on Fax Console.
•    Now in fax configuration wizard, type the fax cover page information then click on Next.
•    Select the suitable modem for fax and also enable others send and receive options.
•    Now type the TSID (Transmitting Subscriber Identification) and click Next then type here CSID (Called Subscriber Identification) and again Next.
•    At the end select the printer to be automatically printing the fax and click to finish.

Hack Admin Password From User Mode


Disclaimer: Use this article for eductational purpose ONLY.

Follow these steps:

1. Open command prompt (Start->Run->cmd),
2. Enter the following command, then press ENTER
3. Enter the followin command, then press ENTER:compmgmt.mscThis should open the computer management console.
4. Go to local users & groups->users. Right click on any user and select "set password".
If you get a "access denied" do the following:


start>run>cmdthen use following commands
1) net user test /add (this command will make test named user)
2) net localgroup administrators test /add (this command will make test user as administrators rights)and use net user command to reset your admin. password

Gtalk -Tips & Tricks                                                                      

•    Wumpus Game : - First noted by a GoogleRumors commentor, if you add the buddy wumpus.game@gmail.com you can play the classic text-based game. Wumpus is an easter egg game that came with Google Talk (unfortunately, he didn't’t accept my invitation, so I can’t play).
•    Change the font size - While holding the control key, move the scroll wheel on your mouse either up or down. This trick works while being focused in either the read or write area.
•    Insert line breaks - If you want to have a message that spans multiple paragraphs, just hold shift and hit enter. You can add as many new lines as you want to create.
•    Bold Text - To write something bold, you can use an asterisk before and after the word, like *this* .
•    Italic Text - To use italics, use an underscore before an after the word, like _this_ .
•    Switch windows - Hitting tab will cycle through open windows. It will select minimized conversations, to expand them just hit enter. If you just want to cycle through IM's and don't care about the buddy list, control-tab will do that and will automatically expand a minimized conversation if you settle on one.
•    Invitation Tips - You don’t need to say Yes or No when someone wants to add you as a friend; you can simply ignore it, the request will go away. (On the other hand, someone with whom you chat often will automatically turn to be your friend, unless you disable this in the options).
•    Show Hyperlinks - You can show your homepage or blog URL simply by entering the it in your away message (at the top of the main window). It will automatically turn to a link visible to others.
•    Google Talk Game - “Google Talk” also was the name of a word game which uses Google.
•    A message can be 32767 characters long.

Keyboard Shortcuts
•    Ctrl + E - It centralizes the selected text, or the current line.
•    Ctrl + R - It justifies to the right the selected text, or the current line.
•    Ctrl + L - It justifies to the left the selected text, or the current line.
•    Ctrl + I - The same thing does that Tab.
•    Tab - It is giving the area to each of the windows opened by Google Talk.
•    Ctrl + Tab - The same thing does that Shift + Tab .
•    Shift + Tab - The same thing does that Tab but in reverse.
•    Ctrl + Shift + L -Switch between points, numbers, letters, capital letters, roman numbers and capital roman numbers
•    Ctrl + 1 (KeyPad) - It does a simple space between the lines.
•    Ctrl + 2 (KeyPad) - It does a double space between the lines.
•    Ctrl + 5 (KeyPad) - A space does 1.5 between the lines.
•    Ctrl + 1 (NumPad) - It goes at the end of the last line.
•    Ctrl + 7 (NumPad) - It goes at the begin of the last line.
•    Ctrl + F4 - It closes the current window.
•    Alt + F4 - It closes the current window.
•    Alt + Esc - It Minimize all the windows.
•    Windows + ESC - Open Google Talk (if it's minimized, or in the tray)
•    F9 - Open Gmail to send an email to the current contact.
•    F11 - It initiates a telephonic call with your friend.
•    F12 - It cancels a telephonic call.
•    Esc - It closes the current window.

Gtalk Emotions
•    :-|
•    :-O
•    :-x
•    :-P
•    :-D
•    ;-)
•    :-(
•    :-)
•    B-)
•    :'(
•    :|
•    :O
•    :x
•    :P
•    :D
•    :)
•    :(
•    :)

Conference Calls
What you need to do to have conference calls: Open up a copy of Google Talk on all computers with which you wish to conference. After one copy is opened make a new shortcut for Google Talk but at the end of it add /nomutex. If you installed it to the default folder then your shortcut should read "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe" /nomutex. Open 2nd instances of the software on every user's computer. After this start a chain: User 1 should connect on one instance to user 2. User 2 will connect on his second instance to user 3. User 3 will connect using his second instance back to user 1. With this chain everyone is connected to everyone.

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.

Media Player shortcuts keys                                                              

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

Microsoft PowerToys to Customize Windows XP

PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. What are they? PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released.

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Alt-Tab Replacement
With this PowerToy, in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.
Down

Virtual Desktop Manager
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Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.
Download

Webcam Timershot
This PowerToy lets you take pictures at specified time intervals from a Webcam connected to your computer and save them to a location that you designate.
Download

Tweak UI
This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.

Download

Download

Download

Download

Moving The Taskbar
I bet you didn't know that you could move your taskbar if you wanted. Mostly I leave mine at the bottom, like the rest of the population, but occasionally I feel like going wild and have the taskbar at the top of my computer. The Taskbar is that thin bar at the bottom where you can see all your open programs, the start menu, the clock, etc. Now, in WinXP they made it very nice to move it. This is how:
•    Right Click on the Taskbar
•    Click, Lock the Taskbar, until there is no check there
•    Left Click on the task bar and move it to where you want it...it will always rest up against an edge, so top, left or right.
•    Then click, Lock the Taskbar, again and it won't move from that spot.
These are the same instructions for Windows 98, ME, 2k, only you don't have to unlock the taskbar, you just left click on it and move...this was easier, but also you sometimes accidentally moved the task bar when you didn't want it to move, ugh. Well, there you have it, now put your taskbar to the top and see if you like it.

How to log off, restart and shutdown, connected computer from one location?


Windows XP has a built-in feature (shutdown tools) that is used to shutdown any connected computers from any one computer. Using this feature, you can log off, restart and shutdown any computer in your network. This tip is very useful for you, if you are a Network Administrator at your company, because if you have experience to shutdown all connected computers daily in your local area network one by one, definitely that job is annoying responsibility for you.


Follow the given steps to configure shutdown tool on your computer:


To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.


To perform this task, first make sure your both computers are directly connected or connected to network.


Click Start button then type shutdown -i in Run option then press Enter for next.


A small windows dialog box will appear with the title "Remote Shutdown Dialog".


Here first click on "Add" button to add computer, a small Add computers window will open, here type the name or IP address of the computer (you can add many computer for same action) that you want to turned off, then press OK for next.


Now select the action "What do you want these computers to do (log off, restart or shutdown)". If you want to warn your users about this action, select the check box "Warn users of the action" then set time, display warning for 30 seconds or more.


Now select the option that describes the reason to shutdown the computers and also type some comments for users.


Now when you press the OK button, the users will see a "System Shutdown Windows "with time and comments that you had

Enable and disable Windows support for ZIP files (XP)

Click Start, then Run and type:
Enable: regsvr32 zipfldr.dll
Disable: regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
You may have to reboot.